• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2020

Background/Aims Emerging evidence shows that the mechanism of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with neurotrophic factors and tight junction proteins (TJPs). It is known that there are sex differences in the pathophysiology of IBS. The aim of the present study is to determine expression levels of neurotrophic factors, TJPs, and cytokines according to IBS subtype and sex. Methods From 59 IBS (33 IBS-constipation, 21 IBS-diarrhea, and 5 IBS-mixed) and 36 control patients, colonic mucosa mRNA expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and various TJPs were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was performed to determine levels of zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1). Serum levels of cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results TRPV1, GDNF, and NGF mRNA levels were significantly increased in those with IBS-constipation compared to those in controls (all P < 0.05). However, they showed no significant difference between those with IBS-diarrhea and controls. Expression level of TRPV1 correlated with that of GDNF (r = 0.741, P < 0.001) and NGF (r = 0.935, P < 0.001). ZO-1 RNA expression levels were lower (P = 0.021) in female IBS-diarrhea than those in controls, although they showed no significant differences between male IBS-diarrhea and controls. Serum IL-1β levels in female IBS were significantly higher than those of male IBS, especially in IBS-constipation (P < 0.001). Conclusion Our results suggest that neurotrophic factors and IL-1β are closely related to IBS-constipation and that decrease of ZO-1 is an important factor in female with IBS-diarrhea.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2001

Transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) is a multipotent growth factor affecting development, homeostasis and tissue repair. Many kinds of malignant tissues were reported to overexpress transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) gene. However, a little work has been done on the circulating $TGF-{\beta}1$ and the association of $TGF-{\beta}1$ with progression in patients with malignant tumors. In this study, we measured the plasma level of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in gastric cancer and prostate cancer patients and evaluated the utility of plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ as a possible tumor marker. We used Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system in order to measure plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ level in 134 gastric cancer patients, 50 prostate cancer patients and 290 normal controls. And the tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), was compared with $TGF-{\beta}1$ in the aspects of sensitivity and specificity. The mean plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ levels were $1.219{\pm}0.834$ (0.272-5.772) ng/mL in normal controls, $5.964{\pm}3.218$ (0.845-18.124) ng/mL in gastric cancer and $4.140{\pm}2.345$ (1.108-13.302) ng/mL in prostate cancer. In gastric cancer patients difference in plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ level was not detected according to cancer stage. In comparison with other tumor marker (CEA, PSA) $TGF-{\beta}1$ is more potent in sensitivity. These results indicate that the plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ level can be a potent tumor marker in gastric cancer and prostate cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.687-692
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• 2012

Schizandra chinensis extract has been known to possess a variety of efficacy including antitumor. However, it remains unclear how schizandrin, which is a major biological active ingredient of Schizandra chinensis, exerts antitumor effect. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which schizandrin inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. In in vivo test using tumor model mice injected with B16BL6 cell line, mice treated with 10 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ schizandrin showed a significant inhibition by $73.79{\pm}6.43%$ and $90.46{\pm}1.72%$, respectively, compared with positive tumor controls. Schizandrin did not exert a significant toxicity for the normal cells (HUVECs) and tumor cell lines (A549, B16BL6, Du145, Huh7). Treatment with schizandrin at 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head significantly inhibited the tumor-induced angiogenesis by $68.04{\pm}32.21%$ and $103.8{\pm}34.99%$ compared with the positive control group, respectively. Using in vivo lung metastasis model, tumor metastasis assay revealed that 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head schizandrin significantly decreased the metastatic lung tumor by $37.51{\pm}8.15%$ and $75.53{\pm}4.38%$ compared with positive controls, respectively. On the other hand, schizandrin did not affect the adherence of B16BL6 cell line to extracellular matrix protein. These results demonstrate that schizandrin exerts inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting angiogenesis. This study thus suggest that schizandrin may be a candidate molecule target for cancer drug development.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3213-3222
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• 2016

Background: Methyl donor status influences DNA stability and DNA methylation although little is known about effects on DNA methyltransferases. The aim of this study was to determine whether methyl-donor status influences DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) gene expression in cervical cancer cells, and if so, whether there are associated effects on global DNA methylation. Materials and Methods: The human cervical cancer cell line, C4-II, was grown in complete medium and medium depleted of folate (F-M+) and folate and methionine (F-M-). Growth rate, intracellular folate, intracellular methionine and homocysteine in the extracellular medium were measured to validate the cancer cell model of methyl donor depletion. Dnmt expression was measured by qRT-PCR using relative quantification and global DNA methylation was measured using a flow cytometric method. Results: Intracellular folate and methionine concentrations were significantly reduced after growth in depleted media. Growth rate was also reduced in response to methyl donor depletion. Extracellular homocysteine was raised compared with controls, indicating disturbance to the methyl cycle. Combined folate and methionine depletion led to a significant down-regulation of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b; this was associated with an 18% reduction in global DNA methylation compared with controls. Effects of folate and methionine depletion on Dnmt3a and 3b expression were reversed by transferring depleted cells to complete medium. Conclusions: Methyl donor status can evidently influence expression of Dnmts in cervical cancer cells, which is associated with DNA global hypomethylation. Effects on Dnmt expression are reversible, suggesting reversible modulating effects of dietary methyl donor intake on gene expression, which may be relevant for cancer progression.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2012

Purpose: Transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 ($TGFBR2$) is a tumor suppressor gene that plays a role in the differentiation of striated cells and remodeling of coronary arteries. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of this gene are associated with Marfan syndrome and sudden death in patients with coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular remodeling and T cell activation of $TGFBR2$ gene suggest that the $TGFBR2$ gene SNPs are related to the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) and coronary artery lesion (CAL). Methods: The subjects were 105 patients with KD and 500 healthy adults as controls. Mean age of KD group was 32 months age and 26.6% of those had CAL. We selected $TGFBR2$ gene SNPs from serum and performed direct sequencing. Results: The sequences of the eleven SNPs in the $TGFBR2$ gene were compared between the KD group and controls. Three SNPs (rs1495592, rs6550004, rs795430) were associated with development of KD ($P$=0.019, $P$=0.026, $P$=0.016, respectively). One SNP (rs1495592) was associated with CAL in KD group ($P$=0.022). Conclusion: Eleven SNPs in $TGFBR2$ gene were identified at that time the genome wide association. But, with the change of the data base, only six SNPs remained associated with the $TGFBR2$ gene. One of the six SNPs (rs6550004) was associated with development of KD. One SNP associated with CAL (rs1495592) was disassociated from the $TGFBR2$ gene. The other five SNPs were not functionally identified, but these SNPs are notable because the data base is changing. Further studies involving larger group of patients with KD are needed.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of adding dried blood mixed with Macsumsuk to the feed of broiler chickens. The blood had been dried at $200^{\circ}C$ in an ultra-high-temperature injection system and mixed in a 70:30 proportion of blood meal to Macsumsuk. The experiment consisted of four treatment groups of 150 chickens each. The control group received common broiler feed only, while treatment groups T1, T2, and T3 received feed supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0% of the blood meal/Macsumsuk mixture, respectively. The diets were fed for a total of 35 days. Compared with the controls, body weight gain was improved in groups T1 (1,621 g), T2 (1,749 g), and T3 (1,739 g) (1,621-1,749 g vs. 1,448.5 g, respectively) and feed efficiency increased (p<0.01). The carcass rate in group T3 was higher by 83.26% than that in the controls (75.96 %) (p<0.01). The water holding capacity (WHC) increased in groups T1 and T2 (62.27 and 63.80% respectively) compared with controls (p<0.01). The intestine length was longer in groups T1 and T2 (53.98-55.48) than in controls (45.81) (p<0.01). Adding 0.5-1.0% of the dried blood meal Macsumsuk supplement resulted in a significant reduction in the cholesterol content (39.28~47.34 mg/100 g) compared with the controls (50.44 mg/100 g) (p<0.001); furthermore, the proportions of fatty acids including oleic (C18:1n9), ${\gamma}-linoleic$ (C18:3n6), eicosenoic (C20:1n9), and arachidonic (C20:4n6) acids were significantly increased (p<0.01). Compared with controls, the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and proportion of UFA / SFA in group T1 was (68.66 vs. 69.35%, 51.22 vs 52.00%, and 2.19 vs. 2.26%, respectively) (p<0.05). However, the amino acid content of cystine and methionine of the treatment group (0.43~0.57%) was significantly higher than that of controls (0.38~0.46%) (p<0.05). Overall, supplementing the feed with 0.5-1.0% of the mixture of blood meal Macsumsuk improved productivity by increasing weight gain and feed efficiency, improved meat quality by increasing the water-holding capacity and levels of unsaturated fatty acids, and improved meat color.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.490-499
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was aimed to elucidate the effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii extract (TKE) on the angiogenesis and growth of tumor cells. Methods : Tube formation assay was performed by using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and anchorage dependent colony assay was performed by using B16-F10 melanoma, Hep G2 and HT1080, CT-26 and SNU-1 cells. Results : For HUVEC, TKE at a level of more than 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ suppresses cell growth. For HUVEC at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and greater TKE density, the formation of tubes was suppressed in a dose-dependant manner. TKE controls the colony formations of B16-F10 melanoma cells, CT 26 cells, and Hep G2 cells, and its effect is proportional to density. In HT1080 cells and SNU-1 cells, formation is suppressed regardless of density. Conclusions : From these results, it could be concluded that TKE has significant properties on anti-angiogenesis and growth inhibiting of tumor cells. It is suggested that TKE will be a good candidate for new drugs or therapeutics for anti-angiogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.556-566
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• 2011

A total of 31 Acinetobacter isolates were obtained from the rhizosphere of Pennisetum glaucum and evaluated for their plant-growth-promoting traits. Two isolates, namely Acinetobacter sp. PUCM1007 and A. baumannii PUCM1029, produced indole acetic acid (10-13 ${\mu}g$/ml). A total of 26 and 27 isolates solubilized phosphates and zinc oxide, respectively. Among the mineral-solubilizing strains, A. calcoaceticus PUCM1006 solubilized phosphate most efficiently (84 mg/ml), whereas zinc oxide was solubilized by A. calcoaceticus PUCM1025 at the highest solubilization efficiency of 918%. All the Acinetobacter isolates, except PUCM1010, produced siderophores. The highest siderophore production (85.0 siderophore units) was exhibited by A. calcoaceticus PUCM1016. Strains PUCM1001 and PUCM1019 (both A. calcoaceticus) and PUCM1022 (Acinetobacter sp.) produced both hydroxamate-and catechol-type siderophores, whereas all the other strains only produced catechol-type siderophores. In vitro inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum under iron-limited conditions was demonstrated by the siderophore-producing Acinetobacter strains, where PUCM1018 was the most potent inhibitor of the fungal phytopathogen. Acinetobacter sp. PUCM1022 significantly enhanced the shoot height, root length, and root dry weights of pearl millet seedlings in pot experiments when compared with controls, underscoring the plant-growth-promoting potential of these isolates.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.353-358
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• 2002

We examined the effect of 12 main monoterpenes in Pinus plants on growth inhibition of Escherichia coli and Aspergillus nidulans. We tested four concentrations of each compound by comparing the clear zone with controls. (R)-(-)carvone, (S)(+)carvone, (1R)(-)fenchone, (-)menthone, α-pinene, (1S) (-)verbenone and (+)β - pinene had a inhibition effect on E. coli. (R)-(-)carvone, (S)(+)carvone, (+) β-pinene, geranyl-acetate, α-pinene, and (1S)(-)verbenone had inhibitory effects on the growth of A. nidulans. Geranyl-acetate inhibit growth of A. nidulans, however not to E. coli. And (1R)(-)fenchone and (-)menthone inhibit growth of E. coli, but not to A. nidulans. Myrcene, sabinene, bornyl acetate, and limonene had no inhibitory effects on E. coli and A. nidulans, eventhough at the highest concentration. All these results suggested that some selected monoterpenes had antifungal activities depend on the species of microorganism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.247-251
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• 2015

This experiment was carried out to investigate effects of onion extract on growth performance, meat quality and blood profiles of White mini broilers. Total of 600 one-d-old male White mini broiler chicks were divided into four groups and fed control diets (non-medicated commercial diet or antibiotics medicated) or experimental diets (non-medicated diets containing 0.3% or 0.5% onion extract) for 5 wks. The final body weight (BW) and weight gain of the group fed non-medicated control diet were lower than those of medicated control group (p<0.01). The chicks fed diet with 0.3% or 0.5% onion extract showed a similar BW to that of medicated control group. The relative weight of various organs, such as liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, abdominal fat, and the activities of serum enzymes were not affected by dietary treatments. There were no significant differences in meat color among groups. Whereas, groups fed diets containing onion extract had slightly lower cooking loss and higher shear force value, but not significantly. The concentrations of serum free cholesterol and triacylglycerol in groups fed diet containing onion extract were significantly decreased compared with those of controls (p<0.01). In conclusion, the onion extracts exerted a growth-promoting effect when added in White mini broiler diets, reflecting potential alternative substances to replace antibiotics.