• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1904-1915
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• 2019

Resistant starch (RS) is metabolized by gut microbiota and involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are related to a variety of physiological and health effects. Therefore, the availability of RS as a prebiotic is a topic of interest, and research on gut bacteria that can decompose RS is also important. The objectives in this study were 1) to isolate a human gut bacterium having strong degradation activity on non-gelatinized RS, 2) to characterize its RS-degrading characteristics, and 3) to investigate its probiotic effects, including a growth stimulation effect on other gut bacteria and an immunomodulatory effect. Bifidobacterium adolescentis P2P3 showing very strong RS granule utilization activity was isolated. It can attach to RS granules and form them into clusters. It also utilizes high-amylose corn starch granules up to 63.3%, and efficiently decomposes other various types of commercial RS without gelatinization. In a coculture experiment, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29148, isolated from human feces, was able to grow using carbon sources generated from RS granules by B. adolescentis P2P3. In addition, B. adolescentis P2P3 demonstrated the ability to stimulate secretion of Th1 type cytokines from mouse macrophages in vitro that was not shown in other B. adolescentis. These results suggested that B. adolescentis P2P3 is a useful probiotic candidate, having immunomodulatory activity as well as the ability to feed other gut bacteria using RS as a prebiotic.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.917-923
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• 2009

The maize lipoxgyenase-1 is a non-traditional dual positional specific enzyme and the reaction proceeds via enzyme-initiated catalysis. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the maize lipoxygenase-1 is structurally more similar to soybean LOX1 than pea LOXN2 in that it has an additional external loop (residues 318-351) in the carboxy-terminal catalytic domain. We analyzed the dependence of product distribution on concentration of linoleic acid and monitored the formation of hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid as a function of enzyme concentration. Product distribution was strongly influenced by substrate concentration, such that kinetically-controlled regioisomers were enriched and thermodynamically-controlled regioisomers were depleted at high substrate concentration. Kinetic studies indicated that the formation of hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid saturated rapidly in an enzyme concentration-dependent manner, which implied that reactivation by reoxidation of inactive Fe(II) failed to occur. Our results support the previously proposed enzyme-initiated catalytic mechanism of the maize lipoxgyenase-1 and reveals that a substrate molecule serves as a hydrogen atom donor in its enzyme-initiated catalysis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.2 s.142
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• pp.121-128
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• 2007

Arthrostoma miyazakiense (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) is a hookworm species reported from the small intestines of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Japan. Five Korean raccoon dogs (N. procyonoides koreensis) caught from 2002 to 2005 in Jeollanam-do (Province), a southeastern area of South Korea, contained helminth eggs belonging to 4 genera (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and Capillaria spp.) and cysts of Giardia sp. in their feces. Necropsy findings of 1 raccoon dog revealed a large number of adult hookworms in the duodenum. These hookworms were identified as Arthrostoma miyazakiense based on the 10 articulated plates observed in the buccal capsule and the presence of right-sided prevulval papillae. Eggs of A. miyazakiense were $60-65{\times}35-40{\mu}m$ (av, $62.5{\times}35{\mu}m$), and were morphologically indistinguishable from those of Ancyiostoma caninum. The eggs were cultured to infective 2nd stage larvae via charcoal culture, and 100 infective larvae were used to experimentally infect each of 3 mixed-bred puppies. All puppies harbored hookworm eggs in their feces on the 12th day after infection. This is the first report thus far concerning A. miyazakiense infections in raccoon dogs in Korea, and the first such report outside of Japan.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2002

The present study was performed to investigate the excellent microbial anticaries substance, aminoglycoside antibiotic, which is more effective than chlorhexidine for the treatment of dental caries. The aminoglycoside antibiotic against Streptococcus mutans JC-2 from a novel alkaliphilic Bacillus alkalophilshaggy JY-827 exhibited no significant difference at the treatment concentration of $2.5{\times}10^{-7}M$, however, it inhibited the activity of the Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase by 70.2% and 99.8% at the concentrations of $2.5{\times}10^{-7}$M\;and\;2.5{\times}10^{-6}M$, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plot of the inhibitory aminoglycoside antibiotic showed competitive inhibition, with $K_i$ value of $6.4{\times}10^{-6}$ M. The aminoglycoside antibiotic did not show any cytotoxicity against human gingival cells. To evaluate the industrial applicability of the aminoglycoside antibiotic, a toothpaste containing this substance was prepared and tested on the extracted human teeth. The inhibitory rate of tooth calcification and calcium ion elution by the aminoglycoside antibiotic were 50% and 2.5 times, respectively. These results suggested that the aminoglycoside antibiotic from Bacillus alkalophilshaggy JY-827 is an effective agent against dental caries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.954-956
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• 2013

IOS/IEEE 11073 PHD 표준들은 u-헬스 측정기기와 u-헬스 게이트웨이간의 통신을 가능하게 하도록 설계되어 있다. 모바일 단말기를 데이터 취합을 위한 중계기로 활용하고 별도의 게이트웨이를 구성하여 헬스케어 의료기기를 연동하고 모니터링을 위한 인터페이스를 제공해 왔으나 스마트폰 애플리케이션 단계에서 IEEE 11073 플랫폼을 포함하여 헬스케어 의료기기를 활용하는 u-헬스케어 서비스를 제공하기에는 많은 제약이 있다. 이에 본 논문에서는 Android 4.0.x OS 스마트폰을 대상으로 Bluetooth HDP을 활용하여 u-헬스케어 시스템에서의 게이트웨이/서버 플랫폼 기능을 포함하는 헬스케어 의료기기의 모니터링 애플리케이션 시스템을 설계하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2013.10a
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• pp.865-866
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• 2013

의학기술의 발전과 소득수준의 증가에 따라 사라들은 단순히 전염병을 예방하거나 질병을 치료하는 수준이 아닌 '건강하게 오래 사는 것'을 원하면서 치료에서 예방으로, 의료 공급자 중심에서 의료 소비자 중심으로 의료산업의 패러다임이 변화하고 있다. 이에 건강을 미리 지키는 예방적 개념의 웰니스 산업의 빠르게 성장하고 있다. 이에 본 논문에서는 Continua Health Alliance(CHA) 에서 개인건강기기에 반드시 포함해야 하는 표준인 ISO/IEEE 11073을 활용하고 Bluetooth HDP를 통해 의료기기와 스마트TV간 연결을 확보하고 지속적으로 개인의 건강을 체크할 수 있는 건강관리 모니터링 앱을 통한 일상생활 속에서의 건강관리를 위한 스마트TV를 기반의 웰니스 솔루션을 설계하였다.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.80-91
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• 2019

The tripartite mission of 'academic medicine' is education, research, and patient care. Academic medical centers (AMCs) are carrying out the mission and ultimately aiming to improve the health of people and communities. Globally, AMCs are facing a tremendous financial risk stemming from the changes in health insurance reimbursement plans and a shortage of human resources. Innovative AMCs in the United States are trying to transform their physician-centered, and siloed structure into a patient-centered, and integrated structure. They are also building integrated systems with primary healthcare groups to provide continuous patient care from primary to tertiary levels and making strategic networks based on value-based payment and the patient-centered model. These changes have been proven to improve outcomes of patient care and increase fiscal revenues, which are both crucial in supporting education and research. To address the shortage of human resources, programs are being built to develop newly appointed faculty for the future. AMCs have different approaches to bringing changes into their organizations; however, there is a common emphasis on 'a patient-centered approach,' which helps them set more explicit organizational values and make strategic decisions based on their values. Korean AMCs are facing similar challenges to AMCs in the United States in spite of many differences between the countries' healthcare systems. The innovative efforts of AMCs in the United States to address the challenges will be helpful, well-worked examples for Korean AMCs with similar challenges.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2021

Traditional medicinal practices have used natural products such as adaptogens to treat inflammatory, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, bacterial, and viral diseases since the early days of civilization. Panax ginseng Myer is a common herb used in East Asian countries for millennia, especially in Korea, China, and Japan. Numerous studies indicate that ginseng can modulate the immune system and thereby prevent diseases. Although the human immune system comprises many different types of cells, multiple studies suggest that each type of immune cell can be controlled or stimulated by ginseng or its derivatives. Provisional lists of ginseng's potential for use against viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms suggest it may prove to be a valuable pharmaceutical resource, particularly if higher-quality evidence can be found. Here, we reviewed the role of ginseng as an immune-modulating agent in attempt to provide a valuable starting point for future studies on the herb and the human immune system.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.145-152
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• 2021

Microbial bioconversion using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) provides several human health benefits. Although whey and whey-derived bioactive compounds can contribute to an improvement in human health, the potential anti-obesity effect of whey bioconversion by LAB has not been well studied. This study aimed to investigate whether bioconversion of whey by Pediococcus pentosaceus KI31 and Lactobacillus sakei KI36 (KI31-W and KI36-W, respectively) inhibits 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Both KI31-W and KI36-W reduced intracellular lipid accumulation significantly, without decreasing 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation. In addition, obesity-related transcription factor (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ) and genes (adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein and lipoprotein lipase) were down-regulated significantly in 3T3-L1 cells in the presence of KI31-W and KI36-W. Collectively, these results suggest that bioconversion of whey by LAB exhibits anti-adipogenic activity and may be applied as a therapeutic agent for obesity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.3-4
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• 2017

Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies have enabled humans to generate and investigate the genomes of wild species. This includes the big cat family, such as tigers, lions, and leopards. Adding the first high quality leopard genome, we have performed an in-depth comparative analysis to identify the genomic signatures in the evolution of felid to become the top predators on land. Our study focused on how the carnivore genomes, as compared to the omnivore or herbivore genomes, shared evolutionary adaptations in genes associated with nutrient metabolism, muscle strength, agility, and other traits responsible for hunting and meat digestion. We found genetic evidence that genomes represent what animals eat through modifying genes. Highly conserved genetically relevant regions were discovered in genomes at the family level. Also, the Felidae family genomes exhibited low levels of genetic diversity associated with decreased population sizes, presumably because of their strict diet, suggesting their vulnerability and critical conservation status. Our findings can be used for human health enhancement, since we share the same genes as cats with some variation. This is an example how wildlife genomes can be a critical resource for human evolution, providing key genetic marker information for disease treatment.