• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1186-1194
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• 2022

The intake of probiotic lactic acid bacteria not only promotes digestion through the microbiome regulated host intestinal metabolism but also improves diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, and suppresses pathogenic harmful bacteria. This investigation aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects in intestinal epithelial cells and to study the clinical efficacy of the selected the Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum groups. The physiological and biochemical properties were characterized, and immunomodulatory activity was measured against pathogenic bacteria. In order to find out the mechanism of inflammatory action of the eight viable and sonicated Bifidobacterium spp., we tried to confirm the changes in the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), and chemokines, (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, IL-8) and inflammatory enzymatic mediator (nitric oxide) against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 infection in Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 cells. The clinical efficacy of the selected B. breve and B. longum group was studied as a probiotic adjuvant for acute diarrhea in children by oral administration. The results showed significant immunomodulatory effects on the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, MCP-1, IL-8 and NO, in sonicated Bifidobacterium extracts and viable bifidobacteria. Moreover, each of the Bifidobacterium strains was found to react more specifically to different cytokines. However, treatment with sonicated Bifidobacterium extracts showed a more significant effect compared to treatment with the viable bacteria. We suggest that probiotics functions should be subdivided according to individual characteristics, and that personalized probiotics should be designed to address individual applications.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of inflammatory biomarkers in acute infectious diarrhea among children. Methods: Clinical parameters including fever, bacterial and viral etiology based on stool culture and multiplex polymerase chain reaction, and nine biomarkers including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and leukocytes in blood and calprotectin, lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase, polymorphonuclear elastase, leukocytes, and occult blood in feces were evaluated in children who were hospitalized due to acute diarrhea without underlying disease. Results: A total of 62 patients were included. Among these patients, 33 had fever, 18 showed bacterial infections, and 40 patients were infected with 43 viruses. Of all the biomarkers, CRP was significantly correlated with fever (p<0.001). CRP, ESR, calprotectin, lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase, fecal leukocytes, and occult blood were significantly associated with infection with bacterial pathogens (p<0.001, p=0.04, p=0.03, p=0.003, p=0.02, p=0.03, p=0.002, respectively). The combination of CRP and fecal lactoferrin at their best cut-off values (13.7 mg/L and $22.8{\mu}g/mL$, respectively) yielded a sensitivity of 72.2%, and a specificity of 95.5% for bacterial etiology compared with their individual use. Conclusion: Blood CRP is a useful diagnostic marker for both fever and bacterial etiology in acute pediatric diarrhea. The combination of CRP and fecal lactoferrin yields better diagnostic capability for bacterial etiology than their use alone for acute diarrhea in children without underlying gastrointestinal disease.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.138-143
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• 1998

Chronic diarrhea in children is a common problem with numerous causes. Although most of these causes are benign, critical illness may present as chronic diarrhea. In a patient of chronic diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections are the most common causes in children of all ages and antibiotics may cause chronic diarrhea by altering intestinal microflora, which can result in the emergence of bacterial overgrowth. Overgrowth of Clostridium difficile may cause pseudomembranous colitis. We experienced 25-month-old boy who suffered from chronic diarrhea and partially treated with antibiotics irregularly. Colonoscopic findings of this child showed multiple plaques with white to yellowish exudate which adhere to the mucosal surface of a variable length of rectum. Histollogically, each plaque comprised a pseudomembrane of mucous debris, inflammatory cells, and exudate overlying groups of partially disrupted glands. A latex agglutination test on patient's stool was positive to toxin A of Clostridium difficile. He was recovered after stopping the antibiotics he has been prescribed, and being given vancomycin for 2 weeks. We report this case with brief review of literature.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2021

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease and a chronic gastrointestinal disorder. Rubi Fructus (RF), the fruit of Rubus coreanus Miquel, is known to exert several pharmacological effects including anti-oxidative, anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the improving effect and mechanism of RF on intestinal inflammation is not been fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory effect of RF on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. We evaluated the effects of RF on DSS-induced clinical signs by analyzing weight loss and colon length. The inhibitory effects of RF on inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, as well as the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), were determined in colitis tissue. Our data indicated that mice treated with DSS showed clinical symptoms of colitis, including weight loss, colon length decrease and diarrhea. However, we observed that RF treatment significantly improved these clinical symptoms of weight loss, colon length decrease and diarrhea induced by DSS. RF inhibited the enhanced levels of COX-2 and PGE₂ caused by DSS. We also showed that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of RF by suppressing the activation of NF-kB in DSS-treated colon tissues. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate the prospect of developing new drugs from RF for UC treatment.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.59-69
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• 2016

Objectives： Presently Mume Fructus (MF) undergoes fumigation, which produces benzo[a]pyrene. As a primary analysis with the aims to minimize the production of benzo[a]pyrene and to suggest standards for processing the MF, the steaming method was chosen among the various processing methods, and reviewed through a series of experiments.Methods： Methods：Pitted and un-pitted MF were steamed and processed into samples. After testing level of benzo[a]pyrene, the samples were analyzed for amount of polyphenol and flavonoids. Scavenging activities of the samples for the DPPH and ABTS radicals were tested. In order to measure anti-inflammatory effects of the samples, cell survival rate was investigated using CCK-8 Assay. Also, water extracts of dried and steamed MF were administered to the RAW 264.7 cells to compare expressions of NO, PGE₂, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In addition, anti-diarrhea effects of the herbal medicine were tested on animal models with diarrhea induced by MgSO₄ and Castor oil.Results： Regardless of pitting, processed MF contained no benzo[a]pyrene. Anti-oxidation effect increased in relation to the frequency of steaming process. However, extracts of dried and steamed MF suppressed different kinds of inflammation factors, and extract of dried MF showed superior anti-diarrhea effect than extract of steamed MF.Conclusions： It is suggested that steaming method of MF is recommended for processing the herbal medicine without the production of benzo[a]pyrene. But regarding that dried and steamed MF showed differences in their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diarrhea effects, it is recommended to perform further researches on different efficacies of MF according to their processing methods.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2001

Diarrhea is the frequent passage of loose, watery stool (frequency: ${\geq}4/day$, weight: ${\geq}250g/day$) Most antibiotics can cause inflammatory change of the colon or Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). Typical presentations of PMC are watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis ($12,000~20,000/\textrm{mm}^3$), hypoalbuminemia, hypovolemia and recent or concurrent use of antibiotics. Diagnostic methods of PMC are stool assay, sigmoid scopy, abdominal CT, abdominal US, etc. The age-related susceptibility noted with PMC is impressive but unexplained. Two stroke patients had diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever hypoalbuminemia and a history of recent or concurrent use of antibiotics. By use of Shirhyung- Tang, we could improve clinical symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever hypoalbuminemia, etc.) and so report clinical course of two stroke patients with antibiotics-associated PMC.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.531-536
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• 1998

We had previously reported that the protective effect of taurine against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury was due to its antioxidant effects, which inhibited lipid peroxidation and neutrophil activation. In this study, we examined the effect of taurine on reducing the inflammatory parameters of trintrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rats. In order to induce IBD, ethanolic TNBS was given to rats intracolonically. Then they received 500 mg/kg.day of taurine orally and were sacrificed one week after IBD induction. While ulceration and inflammation of distal colon with formation of granuloma in the vehicle-treated IBD rats two days after administration of TNBS were observed, treatment with taurine ameliorated colonic damage and decreased the incidence of diarrhea and adhesion. also, colon weight as an index of tissue edema, which was mardedly increased in the IBD rats, became significantly lower after administration of TNBS were observed, treatment with taurine ameliorated colonic damage and decreased the incidence of diarrhea and adhesion. Also colon weitht as an index of tissue edema, which was markedly increased in the IBD rats, became significantly lower after taruine treatment. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the vehicle-treated IBD rats was substantially increased, compared with that of normal control. the taurine-treated animals significantly reduced MPO activity (35% lower) when compared with that of the vehicle-treated animals. Taurine treatment decreased both basal and formyl-methionyl leucyl phenylalanine-stimulated reactive oxygen generation from colonic tissue in the IBD rats. These results suggest that the administration of taurine reduce the inflammatory parameters in this IBD rat model by increasing defending capacity against oxidative damage.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.691-695
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• 2005

There is scientific evidence that administration of probiotics is effective in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea in children and the prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea and nosocomial/community acquired diarrhea. Probiotics prevent relapse of recurrent pouchitis and decrease the initial onset of pouchitis in ulcerative colitis. Probiotic organisms suppress growth of pathogens as well as their epithelial attachment and/or invasion either directly by secreting antimicrobial substances or by stimulating host expression of protective molecules. Additionally, probiotics enhance mucosal barrier function and can stimulate host production of immunosuppressive molecules that downregulate inflammatory responses or allergic immune response. Mechanisms of action explain therapeutic effects and randomized controlled trials are warranted before recommendations for therapeutic or preventive use can be given.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

These commensal intestinal bacteria can enhance the immune system and aid in nutrient absorption but can also act as opportunistic pathogens. Among these intestinal bacteria, the anaerobic Bacteroides fragilis are divided into enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (ETBF) which secrete the B. fragilis toxin (BFT) and non-enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (NTBF) which do not secrete BFT. ETBF can cause diarrhea and colitis in both humans and livestock but can also be found in asymptomatic individuals. ETBF is predominantly found in patients with inflammatory diarrheal diseases and traveller's diarrhea. Several clinical studies have also reported an increased prevalence of ETBF in human patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colitis and colorectal cancer. In small animal models (C57BL/6 wild-type mice, germ-free mice, multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) mice, rabbits and Mongolian gerbils), ETBF have been found to initiate and/or aggravate IBD, colitis and colorectal cancer. BFT induces E-cadherin cleavage in intestinal epithelial cells resulting in loss of epithelial cell integrity. Subsequent activation of the ${\beta}$-catenin pathway leads to increased cellular proliferation. In addition, ETBF causes acute and chronic colitis in wild-type mice as well as enhances tumorigenesis in Min mice via activation of the Stat3/Th17 pathway. Currently, ETBF can be detected using a BFT toxin bioassay and by PCR. Advances in molecular biological techniques such as real-time PCR have allowed both researchers as well as clinicians to rapidly detect ETBF in clinical samples. The emergence of more sensitive techniques will likely advance molecular insight into the role of ETBF in colitis and cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.sup2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2008

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially Crohn disease, in children is remarkably increasing in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary for pediatrician to be aware of the initial presentation of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Laboratory tests, radiologic studies, and endoscopic procedures are helpful in differentiating between them. At the time of presentation, most of children with IBD have abdominal pain, diarrhea, hematochezia and/or weight loss. However, atypical presentation of these diseases may contribute to a delay in diagnosis.