• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.802-810
• /
• 2007

Fibrobacter succinogenes, a Gram-negative, anaerobic ruminal bacterium is a major fibre digesting species in the rumen. It intensively degrades plant cell walls by an erosion type of mechanism, burrowing its way through the complex matrix of cellulose and hemicellulose with the release of digestible and undigested cell wall fragments. The enzymes involved in this process include a combination of glucanases, xylanases, arabinofuranosidase(s) and esterases. The genome of the bacterium has been sequenced and this has revealed in excess of 100 putative glycosyl hydrolase, pectate lyase and carbohydrate esterase genes, which is greater than the numbers reported present in other major cellulolytic organisms for which genomes have been sequenced. Modelling of the amino acid sequences of two glycanases, CedA and EGB, by reference to crystallized homologs has enabled prediction of the major features of their tertiary structures. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with mass spectroscopy has permitted the documentation of proteins over expressed in F. succinogenes grown on cellulose, and analysis of the cell surfaces of mutant strains unable to bind to cellulose has enabled the identification of candidate proteins with roles in adhesion to the plant cell wall substrate, the precursor to cellulose biodegradation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2011

An efficient nucleophilic [$^{18}F$]fluorination has been studied to reduce byproducts and preparation time. Instead of conventional aqueous solution of $K_2CO_3-K_{222}$, several organic solution containing inert organic salts were used to release [$^{18}F$]fluoride ion and anion bases captured in the polymer cartridge, concluding that methanol solution is the best choice. Comparing to azeotropic drying process, one min was sufficient to remove methanol completely, resulting in about 10% radioactivity saving by reducing drying time. The polymer cartridge, Chromafix$^{(R)}$ (PS-$HCO_3$) was pretreated with several anion bases to displace pre-loaded bicarbonate base. Phosphate bases showed better results than carbonate bases in terms of lower basicity. tert-Butanol solvent used as a reaction media played another critical role in nucleophilic [18F]fluorination by suppressing eliminated side product. Consequent [$^{18}F$]fluorination under the present condition afforded fast preparation of reaction solution and high radiochemical yields (98% radio-TLC, 84% RCY) with 94% of precursor remained.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.11-26
• /
• 2003

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid deposition and associated loss of neunons in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes. Several causes of evidence support that the congnitive disturbance is closed associated with the deficit of cerebral acetylcholine neurotransmission, and the effect of carboxyl terminal 105 amino acid fragment (CT105) of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) on the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines. We tested it on the scopolamine-induced amnesia model of the ICR mouse using the Morris water maze with repeated orally administration of 1st Green-Tea extract (200 mg/kg) and 2nd Green-Tea extract (200 mg/kg). The Green-Tea prevents impairment of learning and memory and neuronal loss in mouse models of cognitive disturbance and it demonstrated selectivity for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Furthermore, the repeated administration of Green-Tea, CT105-induced alzheimer's mouse model showed central cholinergic activity by ameliorates learning and memory impairment, and isolation of CD14 microglia showed significantly decreases intracellular release of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because of its composite profile, oral therapeutic index and a prophylactic, Green-Tea is considered the better therapeutic candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.41 no.8
• /
• pp.560-567
• /
• 2008

The importance of lipids in cell signaling and tissue physiology is demonstrated by the many CNS pathologies involving deregulated lipid metabolism. One such critical metabolic event is the activation of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), which results in the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids and the release of free fatty acids, including arachidonic acid, a precursor for essential cell-signaling eicosanoids. Reactive oxygen species (ROS, a product of arachidonic acid metabolism) react with cellular lipids to generate lipid peroxides, which are degraded to reactive aldehydes (oxidized phospholipid, 4-hydroxynonenal, and acrolein) that bind covalently to proteins, thereby altering their function and inducing cellular damage. Dissecting the contribution of $PLA_2$ to lipid peroxidation in CNS injury and disorders is a challenging proposition due to the multiple forms of $PLA_2$, the diverse sources of ROS, and the lack of specific $PLA_2$ inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the role of $PLA_2$ in CNS pathologies, including stroke, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple sclerosis-Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and Wallerian degeneration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.475-483
• /
• 1994

Background: N-acetylcysteine(ACE) is used both orally and intravenously in a variety of experimental pathologies resembling human disease states which exhibit endothelial toxicity as a result of oxidative stress, including acute pulmonary oxygen toxicity, septicemia and endotoxin shock. Despite these observations in vivo, it is not certain how this thiol drug produces its protective effects. ACE is a cysteine derivative which is able to direct1y react with oxygen radicals and may also act as a cysteine and glutathione(GSH) precursor following deacetylation. In this paper, we tried to know whether the therapeutic doses of ACE can modify the inflammatory function of the neutrophils and can increase the glutathione level of plasma in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients. In addition, the effect of ACE to the purified neutrophil in terms of superoxide release and glutathione synthesis were observed. Method: Firstly, we gave 600mg of ACE for seven days and compare the release of superoxide, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence from the neutrophils, neutrophil chemotaxis, and plasma GSH levels before and after ACE treatment in COPD patients. Secondly, we observed the dose dependent effect of ACE to the purified neutrophil's superoxide release and GSH levels in vitro. Results: 1) Usual oral therapeutic doses(600mg per day) of ACE for seven days did affect neither on the neutrophil's superoxide release, chemiluminescence, chemotaxis, nor on the plasma GSH concentration in the COPD patients. 2) ACE decreases the purified neutrophil's superoxide release and increase the GSH production in dose dependent fashion in vitro. Conclusion: Despite the fact that oral ACE treatment did not affect on the neutrophil's inflammatory function and plasma GSH concentration in COPD patients in usual therapeutic doses, it decreases the superoxide release and increases the GSH production from the isolated neutrophils in high molar concentrations. These findings suggest that to obtain an antioxidative effects of ACE, it might be needed to increase the daily dosage of ACE or therapeutic duration or change the route of adminisration in COPD patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.487-494
• /
• 1996

The neurogenic responses of tracheal smooth muscles to electrical field stimulation (EFS) is biphasic, consisting firstly of cholinergic contraction followed by a slow and sustained relaxation. It is well known that a sustained relaxation involves the inhibitory non-adrenergic non-cholinergic systems. This study was done to Investigate the relaxing agents and their action mechanisms by use of an organ bath with plati- ilum . The tracheal smooth muscle relaxation due to EFS was suppressed by L-NAME, the WO (Nitric Oxide) synthase inhibitor, and these effects were reversed by L-arginine, the precursor of NO. Also, L-WAME (HG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) increased the basal tension. Nitroprusside, the NO-donor, suppressed the tracheal basal tension greatly. Methylene blue, the inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, decreased EFS-induced relaxations and increa ed basal tension. Forskolin and isoprenaline, which are activators of adenylate cyclase, suppressed tracheal basal tension in the same way as nitroprusside. TEA (tetraethylammonium), the non-specific K'channel blocker, and apamin, the Ca"-activated K'channel blocker, increased tracheal basal tension and EFS-induced relaxations. Our results indicate that Pr3 Is released upon stimulation of the NANC (Won Adrenergic Won Cholinergic) nerves in guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle and that the release of NO related with the K+ channel, as well as the release of other inhibitory agents< e. g.)VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide), PHI (Peptide Histidine Isoleusine) > mediated via CAMP (cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate) may be Involved In sustained relaxation.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.31 no.1 s.57
• /
• pp.75-84
• /
• 1995

Acid secretion and NO synthase activity were determined in isolated gastric glands following hypoxia/reoxygenation and acidosis to investigate the involvement of NO in acid secretion. Isolated gastric glands were exposed to hypoxia (30 min)/reoxygenation (1 h) and/or to acidosis (pH 6.0 and 4.0). Acid secretion was measured by the ratio of $[^{14}C]-aminopyrine$ accumulation between intra- and extraglands. NO synthase activity was determined by percent conversion to $[^{14}C]-citrulline\;from\;[^{14}C]L-arginine$, a precursor of NO. The results indicate that dibutyryl cAMP stimulated acid secretion dose-dependently but had no effect on NO synthase activity in basal gastric glands. Hypoxia/reoxygenation significantly suppressed acid secretion both in unstimulated and stimulated gastric glands, which was exaggerated by acidosis. Constitutive NO synthase, activity, not responded to dibutyryl cAMP, was also inhibited by hypoxia/reoxygenation and acidosis. In conclusion, pathologic state of gastric mucosa such as hypoxia/reoxygenation and acidosis suppresses both acid secretion and NO release but the role of NO in acid secretion stimulated by dibutyryl cAMP in basal gastric glands is not significant.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2011

This study experimentally investigated dicyclohexylammonium 2-cyanoacrylate (CA) as a potential comonomer for polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber precursors. The P(AN-CA) copolymers with different CA contents (0.19-0.78 mol% in the feed) were polymerized using solution polymerization with 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator. The chemical structure and composition of P(AN-CA) copolymers were determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analysis, and the copolymer composition was similar to the feeding ratio of the monomers. The effects of CA comonomer on the thermal properties of its copolymers were characterized differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in nitrogen and air atmospheres. The DSC curves of P(AN-CA) under nitrogen atmosphere indicated that the initiation temperature for cyclization of nitrile groups was reduced to around $235^{\circ}C$. The heat release and the activation energy for cyclization reactions were decreased in comparison with those of PAN homopolymers. On the other hand, under air atmosphere, the P(AN-CA) with 0.78 mol% CA content showed that the initiation temperature of cyclization was significantly lowered to $160.1^{\circ}C$. The activation energy value showed 116 kJ/mol, that was smaller than that of the copolymers with 0.82 mol% of itaconic acids. The thermal stability of P(AN-CA), evidenced by thermogravimetric analyses in air atmosphere, was found higher than PAN homopolymer and similar to P(AN-IA) copolymers. Therefore, this study successfully demonstrated the great potential of P(AN-CA) copolymers as carbon fiber precursors, taking advantages of the temperature-lowering effects of CA comonomers and higher thermal stability of the CA copolymers for the stabilizing processes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.176-182
• /
• 2011

The study objective was to prepare biodegradable branched dextran microspheres encapsulated with His-tagged interferon-alpha (BDM-hIFN-${\alpha}$) and evaluate its activity in vitro and in vivo. The glycidyl methacrylate derivatized dextrans (Dex-GMA) as precursor was primarily synthesized by substituting hydroxyl groups of either the branched or linear type of dextran with GMA. Dex-GMA microspheres loaded with hIFN-${\alpha}$ was then prepared by the water-in-water emulsion technique. In vitro release and Western blotting experiments demonstrated the retained activity of hIFN-${\alpha}$ released from branched dextran microspheres at 24 h by inducing phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator transcription-1 (STAT-1), a down-stream effector of IFN-${\alpha}$, in HepG2 cells. Animal data further revealed a peak of plasma levels of IFN-${\alpha}$ in rats injected intravenously with BDM-hIFN-${\alpha}$ at 10 min post-injection, but a sharp decline at 2 h. High plasma levels of neopterin, a plasma protein induced by IFN-${\alpha}$, were also detected in rats injected with BDM-hIFN-${\alpha}$ at 10 min post-injection. Notably, plasma levels of neopterin remained high at 4 h, but largely declined thereafter.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.1497-1500
• /
• 2014

Cervical cancer continues to be an important public health problem in Thailand. While the high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been established as the principle causative agent of both malignancies and the precursor lesions, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), other factors may also be involved like other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as smoking. Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular Gramnegative bacterium which has a tendency to cause chronic infection featuring inflammation and therefore might be expected to increase the risk of cervical cancer. In the present nested case-control study, 61 cases of cervical cancer and 288 matched controls with original serum samples were identified from the Khon Kaen Cohort, established in the North-East of Thailand, by linkage to the Khon Kaen population based cancer registry. C. trachomatis specific IgG antibodies at recruitment were measured by microimmunofluorescence and assessed for association with cervical cancer using STATA release10. No significant link was noted either with all cancers or after removal of adenocarcinomas. The results suggest no association between Chlamydia infection and cervical cancer development in North-East Thailand, but possible influencing factors must be considered in any future research on this topic.