• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Modeling has been used for elucidating the mechanism of complex biosystems. In spite of importance and uniqueness of adolescent calcium (Ca) metabolism characterized by a threshold Ca intake, its regulatory mechanism has not been covered and even not proposed. Hence, this study aims at model-based proposing potential mechanisms regulating adolescent Ca metabolism. Methods: Two different hypothetic mechanisms were proposed. The main mechanism is conceived based on Ca-protein binding which induces renal Ca filtration, while additional mechanism assumed that active renal Ca re-absorption regulated Ca metabolism in adolescents. Mathematical models were developed to represent the proposed mechanism and simulated them whether they could produce adolescent Ca profiles in serum and urine. Results: Simulation showed that both mechanisms resulted in the unique behavior of Ca metabolism in adolescents. Based on the simulation insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is suggested as a potential regulator because it is related to both growth, a remarkable characteristic of adolescence, and Ca metabolism including absorption and bone accretion. Then, descriptive modeling is employed to conceptualize the hypothesized mechanisms governing adolescent Ca metabolism. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that modeling is a powerful tool for elucidating an unknown mechanism by simulating potential regulatory mechanisms in adolescent Ca metabolism. It is expected that various analytic applications would be plausible in the study of biosystems, particularly with combination of experimental and modeling approaches.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.871-884
• /
• 2009

Gene expression profiling is a useful tool for identifying critical genes and pathways in metabolism. The objective of this study was to determine the major differences in the expression of genes associated with metabolism and metabolic regulation in liver and mammary tissues of lactating cows. We used the Michigan State University bovine metabolism (BMET) microarray; previously, we have designed a bovine metabolism-focused microarray containing known genes of metabolic interest using publicly available genomic internet database resources. This is a high-density array of 70mer oligonucleotides representing 2,349 bovine genes. The expression of 922 genes was different at p<0.05, and 398 genes (17%) were differentially expressed by two-fold or more with 222 higher in liver and 176 higher in mammary tissue. Gene ontology categories with a high percentage of genes more highly expressed in liver than mammary tissues included carbohydrate metabolism (glycolysis, glucoenogenesis, propanoate metabolism, butanoate metabolism, electron carrier and donor activity), lipid metabolism (fatty acid oxidation, chylomicron/lipid transport, bile acid metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, steroid metabolism, ketone body formation), and amino acid/nitrogen metabolism (amino acid biosynthetic process, amino acid catabolic process, urea cycle, and glutathione metabolic process). Categories with more genes highly expressed in mammary than liver tissue included amino acid and sugar transporters and MAPK, Wnt, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Real-time PCR analysis showed consistent results with those of microarray analysis for all 12 genes tested. In conclusion, microarray analyses clearly identified differential gene expression profiles between hepatic and mammary tissues that are consistent with the differences in metabolism of these two tissues. This study enables understanding of the molecular basis of metabolic adaptation of the liver and mammary gland during lactation in bovine species.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.677-682
• /
• 1998

The present study was designed to examine the metabolism of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), an anionic compound which is transported into liver via "multispecific organ ic anion transporter", with rat hepatic microsomes. TLC analysis indicated that the fluorescent metabolites were not produced to a measurable extent, which made it possible to assess the ANS metabolism by measuring the fluorescence disappearance. The metabolism of ANS was remarkably inhibited by the presence of SKF-525A as well as by the substitution of 02 by CO gas. ANS metabolism by microsomes also required NADPH as a cofactor. These results indicated that the microsomal monooxygenase system might be mainly responsible for the ANS metabolism. The maximum velocity ($V_{max}$) and Michaelis constant ($K_m$) were calculated to be $4.3{\pm}0.2$ nmol/min/mg protein and $42.1{\pm}2.0\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Assuming that 1g of liver contains 32mg of microsomal protein, the $V_{max}$ value was extrapolated to that per g of liver ($V_{max}^I$). The intrinsic metabolic clearance ($CL_{int}$) under linear conditions calculated from this in vitro metabolic study was 3.3ml/min/g liver, being comparable with that (3.0ml/min/g liver) calculated by analyzing the in vivo plasma disappearance curve in a previous study. Furthermore, the effects of other organic anions on the metabolism of ANS were examined. Bromophenolblue (BPB) and rose bengal (RB) competitively inhibited the metabolism of ANS, while BSP inhibited it only slightly. The inhibition constant ($K_i$) of BPB ($6\;{\mu}M$) was much smaller than that of RB ($200\;{\mu}M$). In conclusion, the microsomal monooxygenase system plays a major role in the metabolism of ANS, and other unmetabolizable organic anions (BPB and RB) compete for this metabolism.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.165-178
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of diabetes education program on Glucose Metabolism(blood sugar, HbA1c) and Lipid Metabolism(total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein), Self-efficacy in non-insulin independent diabetes mellitus. The study design was a non equivalent control group pre-test post-test design. Data for the study were collected from March 12 to June 19, 2001. Sixty-two research subjects were assigned to experimental(36) and control(26) groups. The collected data was analyzed using the Chi-Square test, t-test by spsswin program The results are as follows : 1. Experimental group had higher level of glucose metabolism than control group(FBS ; t=-3.317, p=.002, HbA1c; t=-4.956, p=.000). 2. Level of lipid metabolism were partly a significant different between experimental group and control group(Triglyceride ; t=-2.108, p=.039). 3. Experimental group had higher efficacy score than control group(t=4.651, p=.000). In conclusion, the study supported the effects of diabetes education program to increase metabolism an d self-efficacy. Further study with a longitudinal design is suggested to verify the effect of diabetes education program in NIDDM and standardized diabetes education program.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2017

There are two kinds of body fluid metabolism in Traditional Korean Medicine based on 'Internal Classic'("內經"); one is metabolism of body fluid(津液) meaning metabolism of physiological substance, and another is metabolism of humor meaning a metabolic process that excretes waste out of the body. 'Phlegm-retained fluid'(痰飮) is a typical pathological condition caused by abnormal fluid metabolism in Traditional Korean Medicine. As a result of reviewing the literature on 'phlegm-retained fluid'(痰飮), the following facts were found; 'Phlegm-retained fluid'(痰飮) is formed by abnormal state of metabolism of body fluid(津液). In other words, because of the action of various etiologies, qi(氣) and body fluid(津液) metabolism can have abnormal conditions and these metabolic disorders cause formation of 'phlegm-retained fluid'(痰飮). Treatments for 'phlegm-retained fluid'(痰飮) include the following: Eliminating the causes of illness, recovery of metabolism of qi(氣) and body fluid(津液), and functional recovery of pancreas and kidney related to body fluid(津液) metabolism. These treatments are distinguished from promotion of sweating(發汗) and helping urination, the treatments for humor metabolism abnormality.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.81-92
• /
• 2018

It is widely accepted that altered metabolism contributes to cancer growth and has been described as a hallmark of cancer. Our view and understanding of cancer metabolism has expanded at a rapid pace, however, there remains a need to study metabolic dependencies of human cancer in vivo. Recent studies have sought to utilize multi-modality imaging (MMI) techniques in order to build a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of cancer metabolism. MMI combines several in vivo techniques that can provide complementary information related to cancer metabolism. We describe several non-invasive imaging techniques that provide both anatomical and functional information related to tumor metabolism. These imaging modalities include: positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) that uses hyperpolarized probes and optical imaging utilizing bioluminescence and quantification of light emitted. We describe how these imaging modalities can be combined with mass spectrometry and quantitative immunochemistry to obtain more complete picture of cancer metabolism. In vivo studies of tumor metabolism are emerging in the field and represent an important component to our understanding of how metabolism shapes and defines cancer initiation, progression and response to treatment. In this review we describe in vivo based studies of cancer metabolism that have taken advantage of MMI in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. MMI promises to advance our understanding of cancer metabolism in both basic research and clinical settings with the ultimate goal of improving detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2013

Hesperetin (3',5,7-trihydroxy 4'-methoxyflavanone) and its glycoside hesperidin (hesperetin 7-rhamnoglucoside) in oranges have been reported to possess pharmacological effects related to anti-obesity. However, hesperetin and hesperidin have not been studied on suppressive effects on appetite. This study examined that hesperetin and hesperidin can stimulate the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), one of appetite-regulating hormones, from the enteroendocrine STC-1 cells, and then examined the mechanisms involved in the CCK release. Hesperetin significantly and dose-dependently stimulated CCK secretion with an $EC_{50}$ of 0.050 mM and increased the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) compared to the untreated control. The stimulatory effect by hesperetin was mediated via the entry of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and the activation of TRP channels including TRPA1. These results suggest that hesperetin can be a candidate biomolecule for the suppression of appetite and eventually for the therapeutics of obesity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.90-97
• /
• 2018

Background: Antihyperglycemic effects of Panax ginseng berry have never been explored in humans. The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy and safety of a 12-wk treatment with ginseng berry extract in participants with a fasting glucose level between 100 mg/dL and 140 mg/dL. Methods: This study was a 12-wk, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 72 participants were randomly allocated to two groups of either ginseng berry extract or placebo, and 63 participants completed the study. The parameters related to glucose metabolism were assessed. Results: Although the present study failed to show significant antihyperglycemic effects of ginseng berry extract on the parameters related to blood glucose and lipid metabolism in the total study population, it demonstrated that ginseng berry extract could significantly decrease serum concentration of fasting glucose by 3.7% (p = 0.035), postprandial glucose at 60 min during 75 g oral glucose tolerance test by 10.7% (p = 0.006), and the area under the curve for glucose by 7.7% (p = 0.024) in those with fasting glucose level of 110 mg/dL or higher, while the placebo group did not exhibit a statistically significant decrease. Safety profiles were not different between the two groups. Conclusion: The present study suggests that ginseng berry extract has the potential to improve glucose metabolism in human, especially in those with fasting glucose level of 110 mg/dL or higher. For a more meaningful benefit, further research in people with higher blood glucose levels is required.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1544-1553
• /
• 2013

Despite the importance of acetate kinase in the metabolism of bacteria, limited structural studies have been carried out on this enzyme. In this study, a three-dimensional structure of the Escherichia coli acetate kinase was constructed by use of molecular modeling methods. In the next stage, by considering the structure of the catalytic intermediate, trifluoroethanol (TFE) and trifluoroethyl butyrate were proposed as potential inhibitors of the enzyme. The putative binding mode of these compounds was studied with the use of a docking program, which revealed that they can fit well into the enzyme. To study the role of these potential enzyme inhibitors in the metabolic pathway of E. coli, their effects on the growth of this bacterium were studied. The results showed that growth was considerably reduced in the presence of these inhibitors. Changes in the profile of the metabolic products were studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Remarkable changes were observed in the quantity of acetate, but other products were less altered. In this study, inhibition of growth by the two inhibitors as reflected by a change in the metabolism of E. coli suggests the potential use of these compounds (particularly TFE) as bacteriostatic agents.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2015

The objectives of this study were to investigate the individual characteristics, lifestyle habits, exposure levels, and genetic diversity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes involved in toluene metabolism in Korean and foreign workers exposed to toluene at a manufacturing plant. This study was conducted to determine the effects of culture or ethnicity on toluene metabolism. The results showed that blood and urinary toluene concentrations were dependent on the level of exposure to toluene. We analyzed the correlation between toluene metabolism and genetic diversity in glutathione S-transferase (GST) (M1), GSTT1, and cytochrome p-450 (CYP) $2E1^*5$ as well as lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking, and exercise habits). The results revealed significant correlations between toluene metabolism and GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic diversity, as well as smoking and exercise.