• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.117-126
• /
• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D and zinc are recognized for their roles in immune-modulation, and their deficiencies are suggested to be important risk factors for childhood infections. This study, therefore, undertook to assess the occurrence of infections in rural Indian schoolchildren, subsequent to daily supplementation with vitamin D-calcium or zinc for 6 months. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in apparently healthy 6-12 year-old rural Indian children, recruited to 3 study arms: vitamin D arm (1,000 IU D3 - 500 mg calcium, n = 135), zinc arm (10 mg, n = 150) and placebo arm (n = 150). The infection status was assessed using a validated questionnaire, and the biochemical parameters of serum 25(OH)D and serum zinc were measured by ELISA and colorimetry, respectively. The primary outcome variable was occurrence of infections (upper respiratory and total infections). RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D concentration in the vitamin D arm improved significantly by 34%, from 59.7 ± 10.9 nmol/L to 80 ± 23.3 nmol/L (P < 0.0001), but no improvement was observed for serum zinc concentration. While there was significant increase in the percentage of children reporting no or mild upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and total infections (TI) in all three groups, improvements in the supplemented groups were similar to the placebo group. However, the vitamin D arm reported lower URTI and TI status in the vitamin D sufficient versus insufficient children. Also, URTI and TI status were found to be significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in children with improved 25(OH)D versus unchanged 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D-calcium supplementation helped to improve the vitamin D status but exerts no effect on the occurrence of infections when compared to the placebo group. Improvement in the serum 25(OH)D concentrations and attainment of vitamin D sufficiency may exert a beneficial effect on the infection status and needs to be investigated further. To evaluate the efficacy of zinc supplementation, higher dosages need to be administered in future studies.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.197-207
• /
• 2006

Cajanus indicus is a herb with medicinal properties and is traditionally used to treat various forms of liver disorders. Present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 43 kD protein isolated from the leaves of this herb against chloroform induced hepatotoxicity. Male albino mice were intraperitoneally treated with 2mg/kg body weight of the protein for 5 days followed by oral application of chloroform (0.75ml/kg body weight) for 2 days. Different biochemical parameters related to physiology and pathophysiology of liver, such as, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were determined in the murine sera under various experimental conditions. Direct antioxidant role of the protein was also determined from its reaction with Diphenyl picryl hydraxyl radical, superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide. To find out the mode of action of this protein against chloroform induced liver damage, levels of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase were measured from liver homogenates. Peroxidation of membrane lipids both in vivo and in vitro were also measured as malonaldialdehyde. Finally, histopathological analyses were done from liver sections of control, toxin treated and protein pre- and post-treated (along with the toxin) mice. Levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase, which showed an elevation in chloroform induced hepatic damage, were brought down near to the normal levels with the protein pretreatment. On the contrary, the levels of anti-oxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase that had gone down in mice orally fed with chloroform were significantly elevated in protein pretreated ones. Besides, chloroform induced lipid peroxidation was effectively reduced by protein treatment both in vivo and in vitro. In cell free system the protein effectively quenched diphenyl picryl hydrazyl radical and superoxide radical, though it could not catalyse the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide. Post treatment with the protein for 3 days after 2 days of chloroform administration showed similar results. Histopathological studies indicated that chloroform induced extensive tissue damage was less severe in the mice livers treated with the 43 kD protein prior and post to the toxin administration. Results from all these data suggest that the protein possesses both preventive and curative role against chloroform induced hepatotoxicity and probably acts by an anti-oxidative defense mechanism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.528-533
• /
• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.405-416
• /
• 1999

The purposes of this study were to investigate changes in serum lipid levels with age and gender, and to determine which factors affect the serum lipid profiles. The anthropometric parameters(height, weight, waist girth, hip girth) and biochemical status(cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-chol.) were measured for clinically normal adults(male 89, female 91) in Yeongdong area. The results are as follows: 1. The obesity index was significantly higher in female($115.2{\pm}15.2%$) than in male($109.9{\pm}13.4%$), but waist/hip girth ratio(WHR) was significantly higher in male ($0.89{\pm}0.05$) than in female($0.81{\pm}0.06$). 2. Male subjects had higher triglyceride and atherogenic index and lower HDL-cholesterol and relative cholesterol than those of female subjects. 3. Prevalences of hypercholesteolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypoHDL-cholesterolemia were 9.0%, 9.0%, 14.6% respectively in male and 9.9%, 2.2%, 4.4% in female. 4. WHR positively correlated with serum cholesterol, TG, LDL/HDL and A.I., and negatively correlated with HDL-chol. and relative chol. Correlation analyses indicated that WHR seemed to be more closely associated with serum lipid levels(rather than obesity index). 5. Age showed positive correlations with waist girth, WHR, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL and A.I., but negative correlations with height, body weight and relative cholesterol. 6. There was significant differences in TG concentration between drinker($169.3{\pm}130.0mg/dl$) and non-drinker($111.4{\pm}64.5mg/dl$), and smoker($165{\pm}103.6mg/dl$) and non-smoker ($110.8{\pm}39.0mg/dl$). That is to say that as risk factors for hyperlipidemia are obesity index, serum lipid concentration, life style(such as alcohol drinking and smoking) and age. Specially major risk factors are drinking, smoking and regulated exercise in male and age is an important risk factor in female.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.177-182
• /
• 2003

Saururus chinensis Baill (Saururaceae) is a perennial plant that has been used for therapy of edema, jaundice and gonorrhea in Korean folk medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the inhibitory effects of Saururus chinensis Baill(SCB) on hepatoprotective effects in accutely Carbone Tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) treated rats. Saururus chinensis Baill (100 mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for 2 weeks, after the injection of CCl4 (3.3 ml/kg). We dxamined the biochemical parameters by measuring the levels of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Total cholesterol, Triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in serum and Malonedialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue of rats. cholesterol was siginificantly elevated in $CCl_4$-treated abnormal group (CTA). The higher level of HDL-cholesterol was found is Saururus chinensis Baill and CCl4 administered group (SCT), which showed the lower levels of Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. TG content in the SCT was decreased compared to CTA by 0.93 times. MDA content in the SCT was inhibited compared to CTA by 33.00%. These findings indicate that Saururus chinensis. Baill may have a protective effect against CCl4-treated hepatotoxicity in rats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.7
• /
• pp.1006-1013
• /
• 2015

Heat-stress remains a costly issue for animal production, especially for poultry as they lack sweat glands, and alleviating heat-stress is necessary for ensuring animal production in hot environment. A high ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producer Lactobacillus strain was used to investigate the effect of dietary GABA-producer on laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed Hy-line brown hens. Hy-Line brown hens (n = 1,164) at 280 days of age were randomly divided into 4 groups based on the amount of freeze-dried GABA-producer added to the basal diet as follows: i) 0 mg/kg, ii) 25 mg/kg, iii) 50 mg/kg, and iv) 100 mg/kg. All hens were subjected to heat-stress treatment through maintaining the temperature and the relative humidity at $28.83{\pm}3.85^{\circ}C$ and 37% to 53.9%, respectively. During the experiment, laying rate, egg weight and feed intake of hens were recorded daily. At the 30th and 60th day after the start of the experiment, biochemical parameters, enzyme activity and immune activity in serum were measured. Egg production, average egg weight, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and percentage of speckled egg, soft shell egg and misshaped egg were significantly improved (p<0.05) by the increasing supplementation of the dietary GABA-producer. Shape index, eggshell thickness, strength and weight were increased linearly with increasing GABA-producer supplementation. The level of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein and albumin in serum of the hens fed GABA-producing strain supplemented diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the hens fed the basal diet, whereas cholesterol level was decreased. Compared with the basal diet, GABA-producer strain supplementation increased serum level of glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.009) and superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, GABA-producer played an important role in alleviating heat-stress, the isolated GABA-producer strain might be a potential natural and safe probiotic to use to improve laying performance and egg quality in heat-stressed hens.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.236-245
• /
• 2016

Because microalgae represent high growth rate than terrestrial plants, and it can accumulate significant lipid and carbohydrate content, and other bioactive compounds such as carotenoid and polyphenol in their body, it has been considered as one of the promising resources in bio-energy, and other industries. Although many studies has been performed about the microalgae-derived biochemical accumulation under various abiotic conditions such as different temperatures, salinities and light intensities, the studies about simultaneous effect of those parameters has rarely been performed. Therefore, this study focused on evaluation of simultaneous effect of different salinity (10, 30, 50 psu) and temperatures (20, 25, $30^{\circ}C$) on the changes of biomass, lipid, starch and photosynthetic pigment accumulation. As results, the highest growth rate was achieved at $30^{\circ}C$ and 30 psu in the both algal cultures, and the photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll a and total carotenoid content, were increased in a temperature-dependent manner. The accumulation of lipid and starch contents exhibited different aspects under different combinations of temperature and salinity. From the results, it is suggested that the changes of microalgal lipid and starch accumulation under different salinities may be affected by the different temperatures.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.52-59
• /
• 1999

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the antenatal ambroxol administration to mothers who were in danger of imminent preterm delivery in preventing the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). Forty-two preterm newborn infants who were delivered at Yeungnam University Hospital from January 1996 to December 1997 were divided into two groups, 21 in ambroxol-treated group and 21 in control group. Six cases of the respiratory distress syndrome were developed from 21 ambroxol-treated infants, but 13 cases of RDS, from 21 control infants. This result indicated a significant reduction of the occurrence of RDS by antenatal administration o[ ambroxol (p<0.05). There were no differences in the occurrence of adverse effects of ambroxol in mothers between the two groups. There was also no difference between pre- and post-treatment hematologic and biochemical parameters in ambroxol-treated group. In conclusion, when premature delivery is expected, the administration of ambroxol before delivery enhances lung maturation in premature newborn infants and prevents the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome without significant adverse effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.424-435
• /
• 2020

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate variations in the immunophysiological responses to exercise-induced stress in Jeju and Thoroughbred horses. Methods: Blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of adult Jeju (n = 5) and Thoroughbred (n = 5) horses before and after 30 min of exercise. The hematological, biochemical, and immunological profiles of the blood samples were analyzed. Blood smears were stained and observed under a microscope. The concentration of cell-free (cf) DNA in the plasma was determined using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear cells were separated using Polymorphprep, and the expression of various stress-related and chemokine receptor genes was measured using reverse transcriptase (RT) and real-time PCR. Results: After exercise, Jeju and Thoroughbred horses displayed stress responses with significantly increased rectal temperatures, cortisol levels, and muscle catabolism-associated metabolites. Red blood cell indices were significantly higher in Thoroughbred horses than in Jeju horses after exercise. In addition, exercise-induced stress triggered the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and reduced platelet counts in Jeju horses but not in Thoroughbred horses. Heat shock protein 72 and heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 6 expression is rapidly modulated in response to exercise-induced stress in the PBMCs of Jeju horses. The expression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 in PBMCs was higher in Thoroughbred horses than in Jeju horses after exercise. Conclusion: In summary, the different immunophysiological responses of Jeju and Thoroughbred horses explain the differences in the physiological and anatomical properties of the two breeds. The physiology of Thoroughbred horses makes them suitable for racing as they are less sensitive to exercise-induced stress compared to that of Jeju horses. This study provides a basis for investigating the link between exercise-induced stresses and the physiological alteration of horses. Hence, our findings show that some of assessed parameters could be used to determine the endurance performance of horses.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.292-302
• /
• 2011

Adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin and resistin) are known to play a major role in development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and intervention program is effective in reducing CVD risk factors. However, intervention program to improve the CVD risk factors including adipocytokines has been less studied. This study investigated the effects of 12-weeks worksite intervention program on cardiovascular risk factors, adipocytokines and nutrients intakes in industrial workers. 157 industrial male workers (32 metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects, 125 healthy subjects using age-matched stratified random sampling) received 5 face-to-face counseling based on their health profiles. Anthropometry, biochemical parameters and nutrients intakes were measured. The diagnosis of MS was adapted from modified NCEP-ATP III criteria (2001) and Asia-Pacific definition criteria (2000) for waist circumference (WC). After the intervention program, WC, BMI, SBP, insulin, leptin and intakes of total energy and fiber were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while adiponectin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in MS subjects. The WC, BMI, SBP, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol, HbA1c, leptin and intakes of total energy, protein and fat were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and adiponectin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in normal subjects. Multiple linear regression revealed that adiponectin was positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01). Leptin was positively correlated with WC (p < 0.01), and resistin was positively correlated with HbA1c (p < 0.05) and intakes of total energy (p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). The results of the 12 weeks intervention showed a positive impact on adipocytokines and nutrients intakes of industrial workers to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Further research is needed to verify a tailored long-term worksite intervention program including adipocytokines as a protective factor for the CVD.