• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.1089-1094
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• 2004

Diseases in the gastro-intestinal track are on an increasing trend. In order to diagnose a patient, the various signals of the digestive organ, such as temperature, pH, and pressure, can offer the helpful information. Among the above mentioned signals, we choose the pressure variation as a monitoring signal. The variation of a pressure signal of the gastro-intestinal track can offer the information of a digestive trouble or some clues of the diseases. In this paper, a pressure monitoring system for the digestive organs of a living pig is presented. This system concept is to transmit the measured biomedical signals from a transmitter in a living pig to wireless receiver that is positioned out of body. The integrated solution includes the following parts: (1) the swallow type pressure capsule, (2) the receiving set consisting of a receiver, decoder box, and PC. The merit of the proposed system if that the monitoring system can supply the precise and repeatable pressure in the gastro-intestinal track. In addition, the design of low power consumption enables it to keep sending reliable signals while the pressure capsule is working in the digestive organ. The subject of the study for the pressure monitoring system is in-vivo experiments for a living pig. We achieved the pressure tracings in digestive organs and verified the validity of system after several in-vivo tests using pressure monitoring system. As a result, we found each organ has its own characterized pressure fluctuation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2012

The major commercial ginsengs are Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng), P. quinquifolium L. (American ginseng), and P. notoginseng (Burk.) FH Chen (Notoginseng). P. ginseng is the most commonly used as an adaptogenic agent and has been shown to enhance physical performance, promote vitality, increase resistance to stress and aging, and have immunomodulatory activity. These ginsengs contain saponins, which can be classified as dammarane-type, ocotillol-type and oleanane-type oligoglycosides, and polysaccharides as main constituents. Dammarane ginsenosides are transformed into compounds such as the ginsenosides $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, and $Rk_1$ by steaming and heating and are metabolized into metabolites such as compound K, ginsenoside $Rh_1$, proto- and panaxatriol by intestinal microflora. These metabolites are nonpolar, pharmacologically active and easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. However, the activities metabolizing these constituents into bioactive compounds differ significantly among individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. To overcome this difference, ginsengs fermented with enzymes or microbes have been developed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.540-547
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• 2017

Background: In general, after Panax ginseng is administered orally, intestinal microbes play a crucial role in its degradation and metabolization process. Studies on the metabolism of P. ginseng by microflora are important for obtaining a better understanding of their biological effects. Methods: In vitro biotransformation of P. ginseng extract by rat intestinal microflora was investigated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h, and the simultaneous determination of the metabolites and metabolic profile of P. ginseng saponins by rat intestinal microflora was achieved using LC-MS/MS. Results: A total of seven ginsenosides were detected in the P. ginseng extract, including ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd. In the transformed P. ginseng samples, considerable amounts of deglycosylated metabolite compound K and Rh1 were detected. In addition, minimal amounts of deglycosylated metabolites (ginsenosides Rg2, F1, F2, Rg3, and protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides) and untransformed ginsenosides Re, Rg1, and Rd were detected at 24 h. The results indicated that the primary metabolites are compound K and Rh1, and the protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides were more easily metabolized than protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides. Conclusion: This is the first report of the identification and quantification of the metabolism and metabolic profile of P. ginseng extract in rat intestinal microflora using LC-MS/MS. The current study provided new insights for studying the metabolism and active metabolites of P. ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 1995

The metabolism of ginseng saponins by human intestinal bacteria was studied using human feces under anaerobic culture conditions. $Ginsenoside-Rb_1$, $-Rb_2$ and -Rc(protopanaxadiol type) were mainly metabolized to compound-K(C-K), $20-O-[{\alpha}-L-arabinopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}6)-{\beta}-{_D}-glucopyranosyl]-20(S)-protopanaxadiol(compound-Y,\;C-Y)$, $20-O-[{\alpha}-L-arabinopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}6)-{\beta}-{_D}-glucopyranosyll-20(S)-protopanaxadiol(ginsenosied-MC,{\;}MC)$, respectively, and $ginsenoside-Rg_1$ and -Re(protopanaxatriol type) to their aglycon, 20(S)-protopanaxatriol, though the pathway and rate of the metabolism were affected by fermentation medium. C-K was not decomposed any more, while C-Y and Mc were both gradually hydrolyzed to C-K.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.75-81
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• 2011

Objectives : Magnoliae officinalis Cortex (MOC) has been used in traditional medicine for digestive diseases in Korea, China and Japan. However, Machili thunbergii Cortex (MTC) also has been used as a substitute of MOC in Korea sometimes. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate and compare the effects of MOC and MTC on intestinal motility of isolated small intestinal segments from ICR mouse. Methods : Changes in motility were recorded via isometric transducers connected to a data acquisition system and amplitude, frequency and area under the curve (AUC) of intestinal spontaneous phasic contraction were compared. Results : The MOC extracts ($1{\sim}{\mu}g/mL$) dose-dependently decreased both amplitudes and frequencies of the spontaneous phasic contraction, but not AUC. However, high concentration of MOC (100 ${\mu}g$/mL) evoked tonic contraction. And it was not inhibited by tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, and nifedipine, a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonist. These results suggested that MOC (100 ${\mu}g$/mL)-induced tonic contraction is not mediated by nerve or L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel. On the other hand, the MTC extracts dose-dependently inhibited amplitude and AUC, but not the frequency. Conclusions : Although both MOC and MTC affected intestinal motility, MOC is more effective on intestinal motility than MTC. And MOC has been used as a traditional medicine for a long time but not MTC. Thus, we suggested that MTC should not be used in Korea as a substitute of MOC and MOC might be useful traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disease. The mechanism of MOC is still remained to elucidate.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1995

Jejunal and ileal atresias are the most common cause of congenital intestinal obstruction and accounts for about 1/3 of all cases of intestinal obstruction in newborns. Despite the relative frequency of this anomaly, its survival rate was less than 10% up to 1950, more recently the survival rate has risen rapidly to 90% with the introduction of modern surgical techniques and the use of total parenteral nutrition. In 1969 Thomas described a tapering jejunoplasty to manage the discrepancy in the size of the proximal dilated lumen & contracted distal lumen, and to preserve absorptive surface when the dilated jejunum involved a long length, and Grosfeld et al.(1979) facilitated this method by using GIA staplers. Author have also used GIA stapler to resect the antimesenteric portion of the dilated proximal bowel in 8 cases of jejunoileal atresias with good results. The following results were obtained ; 1. There we 3 jejunal atresias & 5 ileal atresias, and male to female sex ratio was 5 : 3. 2. The type of atresia was as follows ; type IIIa was 3 cases, type IIIb was 4 cases, type IIIb+IV was 1 case. 3. In non-complication cases(5 cases), the mean hospital day was 16 days, and oral feeding was feasible from 6.2 days after operation. 4. The complications(anastomotic leakage, pneumonia) were frequently occurred in type IIIb cases and in low birth weight cases(75%). 5. Mortality rate was 25% including DAMA(discharge against medical advice) discharge case.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.53.1-53.12
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• 2023

Background: Mammalian orthoreovirus type 3 (MRV3), which is responsible for gastroenteritis in many mammalian species including pigs, has been isolated from piglets with severe diarrhea. However, the use of pig-derived cells as an infection model for swine-MRV3 has rarely been studied. Objectives: This study aims to establish porcine intestinal organoids (PIOs) and examine their susceptibility as an in vitro model for intestinal MRV3 infection. Methods: PIOs were isolated and established from the jejunum of a miniature pig. Established PIOs were characterized using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence assays (IFAs) to confirm the expression of small intestine-specific genes and proteins, such as Lgr5, LYZI, Mucin-2, ChgA, and Villin. The monolayered PIOs and three-dimensional (3D) PIOs, obtained through their distribution to expose the apical surface, were infected with MRV3 for 2 h, washed with Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline, and observed. Viral infection was confirmed using PCR and IFA. We performed quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR to assess changes in viral copy numbers and gene expressions linked to intestinal epithelial genes and antiviral activity. Results: The established PIOs have molecular characteristics of intestinal organoids. Infected PIOs showed delayed proliferation with disruption of structures. In addition, infection with MRV3 altered the gene expression linked to intestinal epithelial cells and antiviral activity, and these effects were observed in both 2D and 3D models. Furthermore, viral copy numbers in the supernatant of both models increased in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: We suggest that PIOs can be an in vitro model to study the infection mechanism of MRV3 in detail, facilitating pharmaceutical development.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.441-452
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• 2022

Congenital diarrheal disorders (CDDs) with genetic etiology are uncommon hereditary intestinal diseases characterized by chronic, life-threatening, intractable watery diarrhea that starts in infancy. CDDs can be mechanistically divided into osmotic and secretory diarrhea. Congenital tufting enteropathy (CTE), also known as intestinal epithelial dysplasia, is a type of secretory CDD. CTE is a rare autosomal recessive enteropathy that presents with intractable neonatal-onset diarrhea, intestinal failure, severe malnutrition, and parenteral nutrition dependence. Villous atrophy of the intestinal epithelium, crypt hyperplasia, and irregularity of surface enterocytes are the specific pathological findings of CTE. The small intestine and occasionally the colonic mucosa include focal epithelial tufts. In 2008, Sivagnanam et al. discovered that mutations in the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM, MIM# 185535) were the genetic cause of CTE (MIM# 613217). More than a hundred mutations have been reported to date. Furthermore, mutations in the serine peptidase inhibitor Kunitz type 2 (SPINT2, MIM# 605124) have been linked to syndromic CTE. In this study, we report the case of a 17-month-old male infant with congenital diarrhea. Despite extensive etiological workup, no etiology could be established before admission to our center. The patient died 15 hours after being admitted to our center in a metabolically decompensated state, probably due to a delay in admission and diagnosis. Molecular autopsy with exome sequencing revealed a previously reported homozygous missense variant, c.757G>A, in EpCAM, which was confirmed by histopathological examination.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Curcumin, a major component of the Curcuma species, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Although it was found to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, the functional role of curcumin as well as its molecular mechanism in anti-inflammatory response, particularly in intestinal cells, has been less investigated. The intestine epithelial barrier is the first barrier and the most important location for the substrate coming from the lumen of the gut. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We administered curcumin treatment in the human intestinal epithelial cell lines, T84 and Caco-2. We examined endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response by thapsigargin, qPCR of XBP1 and BiP, electrophysiology by wild-type cholera toxin in the cells. RESULTS: In this study, we showed that curcumin treatment reduces ER stress and thereby decreases inflammatory response in human intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, curcumin confers protection without damaging the membrane tight junction or actin skeleton change in intestine epithelial cells. Therefore, curcumin treatment protects the gut from bacterial invasion via reduction of ER stress and anti-inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data demonstrate the important role of curcumin in protecting the intestine by modulating ER stress and inflammatory response post intoxication.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 1997

Genus Metasonimus has been a subject of taxonomic debates for several years. In morphological aspects, M. vokogawci has been thought to have three subtypes, namely Yokogawa type (M. yokogawai in strict sense) , Miyata type and Koga type. But dif- ferences in the intestinal pathology induced by these subtypes have not been studied yet. In this study we compared the pathological reactions inducted by M. yokoBnwai and Metcgonimus Miyata type using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index. Metacercariae (Mc) of M. yokogcuani were collected by artificial digestion of Plecoslossw oLtiveLis and Mc of Metngonimus Miyata type were collected from Zacco pEntvpus. Three hundreds Mc of each species were infected orally to ICR mice. The mice were sacrificed at 3, 6. 10. 16 and 23 days after infection and the small intestines were resected into three portions (proximal. middle, and distal) . Immunohistochemical staining for PCNA was done using PC-10 (DAKO-PCNA, CA, USA) The PCNA indices in M. Wokosnwci infected group on the 6th and 23rd day after infection were lower than in the control and Miyata type infect ed groups (p < 0.05) from all of the three intestinal regions. On the other hand, the control group and Ifetngonimus Miyata type infected group did not make any differences in PCNA indices. The villus/crypt WIC) ratio was also decreased significantly in M. Wokogcwni infected mice but not in Metagonimus Miyata type infected ones. It is suggested that M. wokogawci induce villous atrophy through a decrease in the cell proliferation at the crypt. The results of this study suggested that M. WokoBnwai induce more serious intestinal pathology than Metcsonimuf Miyata type.