• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.522-535
• /
• 2024

Objective: Transition period is considered from 3 weeks prepartum to 3 weeks postpartum, characterized with dramatic events (endocrine, metabolic, and physiological) leading to occurrence of production diseases (negative energy balance/ketosis, milk fever etc). The objectives of our study were to analyze the periodic concentration of serum beta-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA), glucose and oxidative markers along with identification, and validation of the putative markers of negative energy balance in buffaloes using in-silico and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Methods: Out of 20 potential markers of ketosis identified by in-silico analysis, two were selected and analyzed by qRT-PCR technique (upregulated; acetyl serotonin o-methyl transferase like and down regulated; guanylate cyclase activator 1B). Additional two sets of genes (carnitine palmotyl transferase A; upregulated and Insulin growth factor; downregulated) that have a role of hepatic fatty acid oxidation to maintain energy demands via gluconeogenesis were also validated. Extracted cDNA (complementary deoxyribonucleic acid) from the blood of the buffaloes were used for validation of selected genes via qRTPCR. Concentrations of BHBA, glucose and oxidative stress markers were identified with their respective optimized protocols. Results: The analysis of qRT-PCR gave similar trends as shown by in-silico analysis throughout the transition period. Significant changes (p<0.05) in the levels of BHBA, glucose and oxidative stress markers throughout this period were observed. This study provides validation from in-silico and qRT-PCR assays for potential markers to be used for earliest diagnosis of negative energy balance in buffaloes. Conclusion: Apart from conventional diagnostic methods, this study improves the understanding of putative biomarkers at the molecular level which helps to unfold their role in normal immune function, fat synthesis/metabolism and oxidative stress pathways. Therefore, provides an opportunity to discover more accurate and sensitive diagnostic aids.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.4 s.48
• /
• pp.533-541
• /
• 2004

Atopic dermatitis, also called congenital fever, is a allergic eczema of chronic itching disease. It is a recurrent and familial disease and appears on a wide age group from infant to adult. It is very common, and the ratio of occurrence is about $9{\~}l2\%$ of a child. However. it is showing trend of continuous increase by social and natural environment, food culture, and life style, recently. The human skin plays a barrier role against a physical and chemical stimulus from external environment. According to the latest study, the decreased amount of ceramide in horny layer impairs the bier function and moisture-maintaining function of skin in atopic dematitis patient. Ceramide is a kind of the sphingolipid in which a fatty acid is connected to sphingosin. Ceramide constitutes about $40\%$ of total lipid between keratinocytes and has the function of defense wall and building regular structure to suppress moisture vaporization in horny layer. In horny layer of skin a comified cell is composed of multi-layer structure of a brick shape, and, as for this cornified cell, it is strongly connected by ceramide, cholesterol, and free fatty acid. Here, we described the effects of a cream containing ceramide on the recovery of skin harrier function of atopic dermatitis patient. The safety and efficacy of latex and liquid formula were evaluated as cosmetics for atopic dermatitis. The latex products was composed of intercellular lipid components-ceramide, cholesterol, and free fatty acid-to restore skin barrier function in atopic dermatitis patients. The liquid one contained beta-glucan, magnolia extracts, and licolice extracts, which have skin immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. It is also confirmed that their possibility on new cosmetic market of atopic dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.976-982
• /
• 1998

The effects of the glycoprotein (PAG) isolated from Pteridium aquilinum on the immune function was examined in mice. PAG was intraperitoneally administered into BALB/C mice for 14 days and the antibody forming ability to hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and the blastogenic responses of splenocytes were measured. PAG treatment significantly increased antibody formation to HEL in a dose-dependent manner. Blatogenesis of splenocytes in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, B-cell specific mitogen) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA, T-cell specific mitogen) was also increased after treatment with PAG, indicating that the PAG increases both humoral and cellular immunities. To examine whether the immune function of PAG was via a direct effect on the lymphocytes, splenocytes were isolated from BALB/C mice, exposed to various concentrations of PAG in vitro and the blastogenic responses were measured. In vitro exposure to PAG significantly increased blastogenesis of splenocytes to LPS up to $500{\;}{\mu}g/kg$, whereas the blastogenic response to PHA was not altered by PAG treatment. To identify the fraction responsible for the increase in the immune function, the effect of periodate digest, pronase digest or purified polysaccharide on the antibody production to HEL was examined. Crude protein fraction of PAG significantly increased the antibody formation to HEL. On the other hand, both crude and purified polysaccharide fractions did not have any effects on the antibody production ability. These data indicated that 1) PAG increased both humoral and cellular immune functions, 2) the increase in humoral immunity was probably via a direct action of PAG on lymphocytes and 3) the protein portion of PAG was responsible for the increase in humoral immunity.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.309-315
• /
• 2003

Renal dipeptidase (RDPase, membrane dipeptidase, dehydropeptidase 1, EC 3.4.13.19) has been widely studied since it was first purified from porcine kidney brush border membrane. It was reported that RDPase activity in urine samples of acute and chronic renal failure patients decreases. Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive free radical involved in a number of physiological and pathological processes. NO is able to act in a dual mode, leading either to induction of apoptosis or to blunted execution of programmed cell death. NO inhibited the RDPase release from porcine renal proximal tubules, which could be blocked by L-NAME. Chitosan, the linear polymer of D-glucosamine in $\beta$(1\longrightarrow4) linkage, not only reversed the decreased RDPase release by NO but also increased NO production in the proximal tubule cells. The stimulatory effect of NO on RDPase release from proximal tubules in the presence of chitosan must be different from the previously proposed mechanism of RDPase release via NO signaling pathway. Chitosan stimulated the RDPase release in the proximal tubules and increased RDPase activity to 220% and 250% at 0.1% and 1%, respectively. RDPase release was decreased to about 40% in the injured proximal tubules and was recovered in proportion to the increase of chitosan. Chitosan may be useful in recovery of renal function from $HgCl_2$injury.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.636-642
• /
• 2009

The corpus luteum (CL) is a transient endocrine gland that produces progesterone, a product required for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. In the absence of pregnancy, the production of progesterone in the CL decreases and the structure itself regresses in size. The life span and function of the CL are regulated by complex interactions between stimulatory (luteotrophic) and inhibitory (luteolytic) mediators. When an ovum is released from a mature follicle, angiogenesis and rapid growth of follicular cells form the CL. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether steroidogenesis, proliferation, and hypoxiarelated proteins are expressed in caprine CL. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor $1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) were determined in caprine CL during the estrous cycle. Cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage protein did not vary significantly during the estrous cycle; however, there was an increased expression of $3{\beta}$ -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the early and middle stages, which rapidly decreased in the late stage. The same observations were made with respect to steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. Variations in progesterone content and expression of PCNA, HIF-$1{\alpha}$, and VEGF were consistent with this result. Thus, the steroidogenic proteins, PCNA, HIF-$1{\alpha}$, and VEGF in caprine CL are dependent on the stage of the estrous cycle.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.871-886
• /
• 2008

Objective : Gypsum fibrosum has been traditionally used in treatment of febrile diseases and recently been shown to have anti-inflammatory effect. Chronic renal failure has a serious clinical symptoms including proteinuria, azotemia, anemia, and hyperlipidemia and has characteristic histopathological changes, glomerular hypertrophy, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and crescentic sclerosis, We investigated the effects of gypsum fibrosum on renal functional and histopathological disorder in chronic renal failure rat model induced 5/6 nephrectomy. Methods : Using Sprague-Dawley rats, CRF was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy. The rats were divided into 3 groups, normal, conrol, and gypsum administered orally with gypsum fibrosum 500mg/kg/day. Body weight, 24 hr proteinuria, hematologic analysis, and histological morphologic changes were followed up after 8 weeks. The glomerular macrophage/monocyte infiltration, $TGF-{\beta}_1$, type IV collagen, and angiotensin II type1 receptor($AT_1$) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Resuls : In the CRF control group, functional parameters and histopathologic changes clearly indicated the development of CRF. 24 hr proteinuria significantly increased in the CRF control group over the normal group, and serum creatinine level was lower in the gypsum group than in the control group, LDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in the gypsum group than in the control group. Morphological investigations showed a variety of characteristic features of CRF, glomerular hypertrophy, increasing cellular density of glomerulus, deposition of extra-cellular matrix, fibrotic change, and glomerular sclerosis in the control group, but in the gypsum group, these features diminished significantly. In observation of renal type IV collagen and $AT_1$ expression, positive area significantly increased in the control group over the normal group, and it significantly decreased in the gypsum group compared to the control group. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that gypsum fibrosum inhibits $AT_1$ and type IV collagen expression in renal tissues and attenuates progression of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis in chronic renal failure rats, which lead to amelioration of renal function. From these results, we suggest that gypsum fibrosum may have renoprotective effects and could be a useful remedy agent for treating chronic renal failure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.573-578
• /
• 2008

Lactobacillus paraplantarum KM (Lp), Weissella sp. 33 (Ws), and Enterococcus faecium 35 (Ef) were used in single (Lp, Ws, Ef) or mixed cultures (Lp+Ws, Lp+Ef, Ws+Ef) for soy milk fermentation ($37^{\circ}C$, 12 h). After 12 h, the cell numbers, pH, and TA of soymilk were $7.4{\times}10^8-6.0{\times}10^9CFU/ml$, 3.8-4.5, and 0.59-0.70%, respectively. Changes in the contents of glycitin and genistin in soymilk fermented with Ef were not significant. The contents of isoflavone glucosides in soymilk fermented with the other cultures decreased significantly with an increase of aglycone contents (p<0.05). It corresponded well with a sharp increase in ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity during fermentation. About 92-100% of the daidzin and 98-100% of the genistin in soymilk were converted to corresponding aglycones by Lp, Ws, or Lp+Ef within 12 h.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.505-510
• /
• 2000

In this investigation, we fabricated RBSN (Reaction Bonded Silicon Nitride) using the static nitriding system which could be advantageous for commercialization. Firstly, Si compacts of different sizes were made, and then nitridation rates were investigated as a function of added static gas pressure. The reaction schedule was obtained by pre-experiments. In case of small samples, the variation of ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$ phases between the inside and the outside region of the specimens was examined after the samples were nitrided under 1 bar and 1.5 bar reaction pressure. On the other hand, large samples of Si compact with the size of 36 mm for diameter and 23 mm for thickness were nitrided for 26 hours of the total nitridation time, which showed a complete and homogeneous nitriding reaction from the outside to the inside of the samples, although the time was considerably shorter than that needed for convertional nitridation. Nitridation rates obtained at the early stage of reaction were proportional to the reaction gas pressures. The sequences of the nitridation reaction with the thickness were as follows 1) the outside, 2) the inside and 3) the intermediate area of the specimen. These results wer eobtained from the coloration of cross sectioned specimens that had various nitridation rates. Total nitriding reaction kinetics was controlled by chemical reaction, not by diffusion of the nitrogen gas.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.355-363
• /
• 2009

Increased oxidative stress by abnormal mitochondrial function can damage cell signal transduction and gene expression, and induce insulin resistance or diabetes. Autophagy, however, improve insulin resistance by clearance of malfunctioning mitochondria. Exercise also recovers the muscle dysfunction and degeneration by activating mitochondrial biogenesis. As it seems that exercise and autophagy might act as an orchestrated network to induce mitochondrial biogenesis, we investigated whether autophagy is involved in AMPK signal pathway stimulated by exercise or AICAR to increase mitochondrial biogenesis. And it showed that PGC-1 and mtTFA, but not autophagy marker LC3 mRNA expression were significantly increased by 6 hr of acute exercise. On the other hand, PGC-1 and mtTFA mRNA expression were upregulated by AICAR treatment to C2C12 myotube. However these genes were not inhibited by LC3 siRNA transfection. These results provide the evidence that autopahgy affects on mitochondrial biogenesis through different signal pathway from AMPK signal transduction.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.680-689
• /
• 2011

A dynamic analysis procedure is developed to provide a comprehensive estimation of the dynamic response spectrum for locomotive's wheels running over a Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) box girder bridge on the Korea high speed railway. The wheel force spectrum with the bridge behavior are analyzed as the dynamic procedure for various running speeds (50~450km/h). The high-speed railway locomotive (KTX) is used as 38-degree of freedom system. Three displacements(vertical, lateral, and longitudinal) and three rotational components (pitching, rolling, and yawing). For one car-body and two bogies as well as five movements except pitching rotation components for four wheel axes forces are considered in the 38-degree of freedom model. Three dimensional frame element is used to model of the PSC box girder bridges, simply supported span length of 40m. The irregulation of rail-way is derived using the exponential spectrum density function under assumption of twelve level tracks conditions based on the normal probability procedure. The dynamic responses of bridge passing through the railway locomotive with high-speed analyzed by Newmark-${\beta}$ method and Runge-Kutta method are compared and contrasted considering the developed models of bridge, track and locomotive comprehensively. The dynamic analyses of wheel forces by Runge-Kutta method which are able to analyze the forces with high frequency running on the bridge and ground rail-way are conducted. Additionally, wheel forces spectrum and three rotational components of vehicle body for three typical running speeds is also presented.