• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.313-318
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary pattern and its association with cardio-cerebrovascular disease have not been studied in Baoji city by now. This study was aimed to identify the dietary patterns among Chinese adults in Baoji, and explore the association between these dietary patterns and cardio-cerebrovascular disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 4,968 participants were included in this study at 12 counties. With multistage stratified random sampling and semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire, the prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and dietary intake were investigated in 2013. We used factor analysis to establish dietary patterns. RESULTS: A total of 4,968 participants over 15 years old were included in this study. Five dietary patterns were identified in Baoji: protein, balanced, beans, prudent, and traditional patterns. The protein dietary pattern mainly included animal and plant proteins and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The balanced pattern included carbohydrates, protein, and fat and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The beans pattern was mainly beans and beans products and was negatively associated with hypertension. The prudent pattern only included staple foods and pickled vegetables and was positively associated with hypertension as well as coronary heart disease. The traditional pattern was representative of local Baoji traditional recipes and was positively associated with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns showed many protective effects on cardio-cerebrovascular disease. Based on these results, Baoji city residents should be encouraged to choose protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns and abandon prudent and traditional patterns to prevent incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2016

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure. The study aimed to investigate the protective effect of carnosic acid (CA) on APAP-induced acute hepatotoxicity and its underlying mechanism in mice. To induce hepatotoxicity, APAP solution (400 mg/kg) was administered into mice by intraperitoneal injection. Histological analysis revealed that CA treatment significantly ameliorated APAP-induced hepatic necrosis. The levels of both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in serum were reduced by CA treatment. Moreover, CA treatment significantly inhibited APAP-induced hepatocytes necrosis and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) releasing. Western blot analysis showed that CA abrogated APAP-induced cleaved caspase-3, Bax and phosphorylated JNK protein expression. Further results showed that CA treatment markedly inhibited APAP-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and MCP-1 mRNA expression and the levels of phosphorylated $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and p65 protein in the liver. In addition, CA treatment reduced APAP- induced hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Conversely, hepatic glutathione (GSH) level was increased by administration of CA in APAP-treated mice. Mechanistically, CA facilitated Nrf2 translocation into nuclear through blocking the interaction between Nrf2 and Keap1, which, in turn, upregulated anti-oxidant genes mRNA expression. Taken together, our results indicate that CA facilitates Nrf2 nuclear translocation, causing induction of Nrf2-dependent genes, which contributes to protection from acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2018

Carbon monoxide (CO) is well-known as toxic gas and intrinsic signaling molecule such as neurotransmitter and blood vessel relaxant. Recently, it has been reported that low concentration of CO exerts therapeutic actions under various pathological conditions including liver failure, heart failure, gastric cancer, and cardiac arrest. However, little has been known about the effect of CO in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD). To test whether CO could exert a beneficial action during oxidative cell death in PD, we examined the effects of CO on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cell death in C6 glioma cells. Treatment of CO-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) significantly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner. CORM-2 treatment decreased Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3 activity, which had been increased by 6-OHDA. CORM-2 increased phosphorylation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) which is a transcription factor regulating antioxidant proteins. Subsequently, CORM-2 also increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutases (CuZnSOD and MnSOD), which were antioxidant enzymes regulated by Nrf2. These results suggest that CO released by CORM-2 treatment may have protective effects against oxidative cell death in PD through the potentiation of cellular adaptive survival responses via activation of Nrf2 and upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, leading to increasing antioxidant defense capacity.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2000

Candida albicans is one of the most frequently isolated fungal pathogens in human. Recently, the prevalence of candida infection has markedly increased, partially due to the increase of immunocompromised hosts. Proposed virulence factors of the pathogenic Candida are the ability to form hyphae to adhere to epithelial cell surfaces, and to secrete acid proteinases and phospholipases. We measured the relative cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and the ability of proteinase production (PROT), phospholipase production (PLase), adherence to host epithelium (ADH), and hyphal transition (Germ). The relative risk of virulence factors was analyzed by lethality test in murine model of hematogeneously disseminated candidal infection. According to Cox's proportional hazard analysis, the statistically significant virulence factors were PROT, ADH, and CSH. PROT was the highest risk factor of them. To evaluate the applicability for the diagnosis and treatment of Candidiasis, we examined the protective effect of the active and passive immunizations with the materials purified from virulence factors and antibodies to them in Candia-infected mice model. The mean survival times of active and passive immunized groups were slightly longer than those of non-immunized groups.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-49
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the anti-osteroarthritic effects of Bangkibokryeong-tang(Fanjifuling-tang(BBT)) on the papain-induced osteoarthritis C57BL/10 mouse. Methods : Osteoarthritis was induced by injection of papain(6 ${\mu}l$) into knee joint of mouse. Osteoarthritic mice were divided into 4 groups(normal, control, joins(R), BBT). The injection did not fit the normal group. A week later, after the injection of papain, control group was taken normal saline 200 ${\mu}l$, positive control group was taken joins(R)(100 mg/kg), treated group was taken extract of Bangkibokryeong-tang(Fanjifuling-tang(BBT))(400 mg/kg). After then, we examined hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, inflammation cytokines, expression of inflammation factor mRNA, hemotology, histology through the micro CT-arthrography, and etc. Results : 1. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity have not expressed. 2. The levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, MCP-1, Thromboxane B2, Leukotriene B4, Prostaglandin E2 in serum were significantly decreased. 3. In hematology, the levels of neutrophils and monocytes were significantly decreased. 4. The expression of inflammation factor mRNA like TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, COX-2, iNOS-II were significantly inhibited. 5. In micro CT-arthrography, cartilage volume was less decreased. 6. The degree of osteoarthritis induced damage of joint of BBT group is low in histopathologic observation(hematoxylin&eosin(H&E), Safranin-O). Conclusions : According to this study, BBT has effect of anti-osteoarthritis. Further clinical research for the cartilage protective effect is necessary.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.274-279
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate whether the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to Tanerella forsythia are associated with periodontal status. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of chronic periodontitis were considered candidates for the study; thus 80 chronic periodontitis patients and 28 healthy persons (control group) were invited to participate in this investigation. The presence of T. forsythia was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using primers designed to target the respective 16S rRNA gene sequences. Peripheral blood was collected from each subject to identify the IgG1 and IgG2 serum antibodies against T. forsythia. All microbiological and immunological laboratory processes were completed blindly, without awareness of the clinical status of the study patients or of the periodontal sites tested. Results: The bivariate analysis showed that lower mean levels of clinical attachment level (CAL) and probing depth were found in the presence of the IgG1 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia; however, only the difference in CAL was statistically significant. In the presence of the IgG2 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia, the periodontal parameters evaluated were higher but they did not show statistical differences, except for plaque. The unadjusted linear regression model showed that the IgG1 antibody against whole-cell T. forsythia in periodontitis patients was associated with a lower mean CAL (${\beta}=-0.654$; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.27 to -0.28; P<0.05). This statistically significant association remained after adjusting for possible confounders (${\beta}=-0.655$; 95% CI, -1.28 to -0.29; P<0.05). On the other hand, smoking was a statistically significant risk factor in the model (${\beta}=0.704$; 95% CI, 0.24 to 1.38; P<0.05). Conclusions: Significantly lower mean levels of CAL were shown in the presence of the IgG1 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia in periodontitis patients. Thus, the results of this study suggest that IgG1 antibody to T. forsythia may have been a protective factor from periodontitis in this sample.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.33-39
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• 2020

Objectives : Increasing evidence supports the biological and pharmacological activities of essential oils on the central nervous system such as pain, anxiety, attention, arousal, relaxation, sedation and learning and memory. The purpose of present work is to investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of cypress essential oil (CEO) against scopolamine (SCO)-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice. Methods : A series of behavior tests such as Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and fear conditioning tests were conducted to monitor learning and memory functions. Immunoblotting and RT-PCR were also performed in the hippocampal tissue to determine the underlying mechanism of CEO. Results : SCO induced cognitive impairments as assessed by decreased step-through latency in passive avoidance test, relatively low freezing time in fear conditioning test, and increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test. Conversely, CEO inhalation significantly reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice comparable to control levels. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of memory enhancing effect of CEO we have examined the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. CEO effectively elevated the protein as well as mRNA expression of BDNF via activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Conclusions : Our findings suggest that CEO inhalation effectively restored the SCO-impaired cognitive functions in C56BL/6 mice. This learning and memory enhancing effect of CEO was partly mediated by up-regulation of BDNF via activation of CREB.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

Objectives : Portulaca oleracea (PO) have been used as a traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases in Korea. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of PO ethanol extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation is not well-known. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory effect of PO on LPS induced inflammatory.Methods : Identification of PO was conducted by comparison with purified standards by HPLC. To measure out the cytotoxicity of PO, author performed the MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of PO, author examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin, (IL)-1β and IL-6) on RAW 264.7 cells. Author also examined molecular mechanisms such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-B (NF-κB) activation by western blot.Results : Three major components (peaks 1, 2, 3) were detected in both varieties and peak 1 was characterized as caffeic acid, peak 2 as p-coumaric acid, and peak 3 as ferulic acid by comparison of chromatographic properties with authentic standards. Extract from PO itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. PO inhibited LPS-induced productions of inflammatory mediators such as NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7cells. In addition, PO inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB activation in RAW 264.7 cells.Conclusions : Above experiment data can be an important indicator for the identification of PO and this study suggest that treatment of PO could reduce the LPS-induced inflammation. Thereby, PO could be used as a protective agent against inflammation.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.371-372
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• 2007

The major causes of electrical fire are classified to short circuit fault, overload fault, electric leakage and electric contact failure. The occurrence factor of the fire is electric arc or spark accompanied with electrical faults. Residual Current Protective Device (RCD), that is Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker(ELB) and Molded_case Circuit Breaker (MCB), of high sensitivity type used at low voltage wiring cuts off earth leakage and overload, but the RCD can't cut off electric arc or spark to be a major factor of electrical fire. As the RCDs which are applied low voltage distribution panel are prescribed to rated breaking time about 30[ms] (KS C 4613), the RCDs can't perceive to the periodic electric arc or spark of more short wavelength level. To be improved on such problem, this research development is proposed to a auxiliary control apparatus for RCD trip on electric arc or spark due to electrical fire. Some experimental results of the proposed apparatus is confirmed to the validity of the analytical results.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2015

P7C3 and its derivatives, 1-(3,6-dibromo-9H-carbazol-9-yl)-3-(p-tolylamino)propan-2-ol (1) and N-(3-(3,6-dibromo-9H-carbazol-9-yl)-2-hydroxypropyl)-N-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (2), were previously reported to increase neurogenesis in rat neural stem cells (NSCs). Although P7C3 is known to increase neurogenesis by protecting newborn neurons, it is not known whether its derivatives also have protective effects to increase neurogenesis. In the current study, we examined how 1 induces neurogenesis. The treatment of 1 in NSCs increased numbers of cells in the absence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), while not affecting those in the presence of growth factors. Compound 1 did not induce astrocytogenesis during NSC differentiation. 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) pulsing experiments showed that 1 significantly enhanced BrdU-positive neurons. Taken together, our data suggest that 1 promotes neurogenesis by the induction of final cell division during NSC differentiation.