• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.96-105
• /
• 2023

Probiotic supplements have promising therapeutic effects on chronic diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the anti-obesity effects of two potential probiotics, Bifidobacterium bifidum DS0908 (DS0908) and Bifidobacterium longum DS0950 (DS0950). Treatment with DS0908 and DS0950 postbiotics significantly induced the expression of the brown adipocyte-specific markers UCP1, PPARγ, PGC1α, PRDM16 and beige adipocyte-specific markers CD137, FGF21, P2RX5, and COX2 in C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, both potential probiotics and postbiotics noticeably reduced body weight and epididymal fat accumulation without affecting food intake. DS0908 and DS0950 also improved insulin sensitivity and glucose use in mice with HFD-induced obesity. In addition, DS0908 and DS0950 improved the plasma lipid profile, proved by reduced triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, DS0908 and DS0950 improved mitochondrial respiratory function, confirmed by the high expression of oxidative phosphorylation proteins, during thermogenesis induction in the visceral and epididymal fat in mice with HFD-induced obesity. Notably, the physiological and metabolic changes were more significant after treatment with potential probiotic culture-supernatants than those with the bacterial pellet. Finally, gene knockdown and co-treatment with inhibitor-mediated mechanistic analyses showed that both DS0908 and DS0950 exerted anti-obesity-related effects via the PKA/p38 MAPK signaling activation in C3H10T1/2 MSCs. Our observations suggest that DS0908 and DS0950 could potentially alleviate obesity as dietary supplements.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.86-94
• /
• 1996

In the life management safety evaluation of constructs base on a fracture mechanics, the size of defect is the very important parameter. ICFPD (Induced Current Focusing Potential Drop)technique has been developed for detecting and sizing of defects that exist not only on surface but also inside and interior of structural components. The principle of this technique is to induce a focusing current at an exploration region by a straight induction wire through which an alternating current (AC)flows that has constant amplitude and frequency. The potential distributed on the surface of metallic material is measured by potential pick-up pins that are settled on the probe. In this paper, this NDI technique was applied to the evaluation of surface cracks and blind cracks in plate specimens. The results of this study show that in the case of surface crack, the distribution of potential drop is varied with the inched angle of surface crack, and the potential drops in the crack region and the crack edge region are varied with the inclined angle and depth of crack. The distribution of potential drop for the blind crack is distingulished from that for the surface crack, and the potential drop in the crack region is varied with the depth of crack.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2001.05a
• /
• pp.443-450
• /
• 2001

This paper shows the reduction effect of tile earthquake-induced liquefaction potential of soils that improved by Vibro-Replacement Stone Columns. The Vibro-Replacement Stone Columns method transforms soft cohesive soils into a composite mass of compacted granular or crushed stone columns by using vibrating equipment and water jets. This study investigated and analyzed the behavior of the stone columns and composite ground using the results of in situ test and measurement at the job-site. This paper shows the evaluation of the earthquake-induced liquefaction potential of soils using in situ test. There are different types of in situ test used in the evaluation the liquefaction potential. In the particular study the Standard penetration test, and Cone penetration test were used. The N value of Standard Penetration test has been used all over for a very long time. The evaluation of the liquefaction of soil was performed using the worldwide renewed Cone penetration test

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.194-199
• /
• 2018

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential in treating bone deficiency. Human adipose-derived stem cells (HASCs) are multipotent progenitor cells with multi-lineage differentiation potential. Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HAMSCs) are capable of promoting osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. In this study, we investigated the effect of HAMSCs on HASCs by a transwell co-culture system. HAMSCs promoted proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, angiogenic potential and adiponectin (APN) secretion of HASCs. Moreover, the positive effect of HAMSCs was significantly inhibited by U0126, a highly selective inhibitor of extracellular signaling-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. These observations suggested that HAMSCs induced bone regeneration in HASCs via ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathway.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.194.2-194.2
• /
• 2003

The inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis and nitric oxide production by corresponding inducible isozyme have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents. In our continuous search for cancer chemopreventive agents from natural products, we have evaluated the inhibitory potential of PGE$_2$ and NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. As a result, pinosylvin (3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a stilbenoid, mainly found from the heartwood and leaves of the Pinus sylvestris, showed potential inhibitory activity of LPS-induced PGE$_2$ and NO production in a dose-dependent manner. (omitted)

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.56-61
• /
• 2014

This study attempted to confirm the antioxidative potential of luteolin against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative damage and to investigate its molecular mechanism related to glutathione (GSH)-dependent enzymes in HepG2 cells. Treatment with luteolin resulted in attenuation of t-BHP induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress-mediated cell death. In addition, accelerated expression of GSH-dependent antioxidative enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), and heme oxygenase (HO)-1, as well as strengthened GSH content was induced by treatment with luteolin, which was in accordance with increased nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor for phase 2 enzymes, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the cytoprotective potential of luteolin against oxidative damage can be attributed to fortified GSH-mediated antioxidative pathway and HO-1 expression through regulation of Nrf2 in HepG2 cells.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.193-203
• /
• 1999

The corrosion of steel reinforcements in concrete is of great concern in recent years. This study is focused on the corrosion behavior of steel bars induced by internal chlorides in concrete at early ages. The main objective of this study is to determine the chloride thresholds causing depassivation and active corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete. To examine the threshold concentration of chloride ion, the half-cell potential, chemical composition of expressed pore solutions of concrete and the rate of corosion area of the specimens were measured. Major variables include the added amount of chlorides in concrete, types of binders, and water-to-binder ration. From the present comprehensive experimental results, the factors influencing chloride-induced corrosion are investigated, and the chloride thresholds causing active corrosion of steel bars are proposed. The present study will enable to specify the realistic chloride limit in concrete which can be used in the future technical specification.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.801-808
• /
• 2022

Background: Diesel exhaust particle (DEP) is a harmful kind of particulate matter known to exacerbate pre-existing respiratory diseases. Although their adverse effects on airway pathologies have been widely studied, the mechanistic analysis of signaling pathways and potential targets in reducing DEP-induced mucin secretion and pro-inflammatory cytokine production remain elusive. We, for the first time, investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extracts on mucin overproduction and airway inflammation induced by DEP. Methods: The effects of KRG and saponin on DEP-induced expression of MUC5AC and interleukin (IL)-6/8 were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in human airway epithelial NCI-H292 cells. We conducted Western blotting analysis to analyze the associated signaling pathways. To evaluate the effects of saponin treatment on DEP-induced MUC5AC expression and inflammatory cell infiltrations in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and real-time PCR were implemented. Results: The KRG extracts markedly attenuated DEP-induced MUC5AC expression in vitro by inhibiting the TLR4/TRIF/NF-𝛋B pathway. Furthermore, KRG and saponin inhibited DEP-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6/8 production. The in vivo study revealed that saponin blocked DEP-induced inflammation, mucin production and MUC5AC expression. Conclusion: Our study revealed that KRG extracts have inhibitory effects on DEP-induced expression of MUC5AC and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This finding provides novel insights into the mechanism by which saponin alleviates diesel-susceptible airway inflammation, elucidating its potential as a phytotherapeutic agent for inflammatory pathologies of airway.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.459-469
• /
• 1995

As S-nitrosothiols were proposed as nitrergic carriers in vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle, we have investigated the relaxant properties of several S-nitrosothiols in the porcine retractor penis(PRP) muscle and compared them with the effects of exogenously added NO, electrical field stimulation(EFS) of NANC nerves and sodium nitroprusside(SNP). Also the influences of oxyhemoglobin and hydroquinone on the relaxant responses were investigated. In addition, effects of NO on membrane potentials and its involvement in the generation of inhibitory junction potential(IJP) were investigated with conventional intracellular microelectrode technique. The results were summerized as follows. 1. Frequency-dependent relaxations of PRP muscle were induced by EFS to NANC nerve. Tetrodotoxin($1{\times}10^{-6}M$) abolished the relaxations of PRP muscle induced by EFS, and L-NAME(($2{\times}10^{-5}M$) and methylene blue($4{\times}10^{-5}M$) inhibited the relaxations. L-NAME-induced inhibition of the relaxations was reversed by L-arginine($1{\times}10^{-3}M$), but not by D-arginine. 2. Exogenous NO($1{\times}10^{-5}-1{\times}10^{-4}M$), sodium nitroprusside(($1{\times}10^{-7}-1{\times}10^{-4}M$) induced dose-dependent relaxations of PRP muscle. All S-nitrosothiols($1{\times}10^{-7}-1{\times}10^{-4}M$) tested relaxed the PRP muscle in dose-dependent manner and the potency order was SNAP>GSNO>CysNO>SNAC. 3. Oxyhemoglobin($5{\times}10^{-5}M$) blocked the relaxation induced by exogenous NO and inhibited EFS-, S-nitrosothiols-, and SNP-induced relaxation. 4. Hydroquinone($1{\times}10^{-4}M$) also abolished the relaxations induced by exogenous NO, and reduced the relaxations induced by S-nitrosothiols, but did not affect EFS- and SNP-induced relaxations. 5. SNP($2{\times}10^{-6}-5{\times}10^{-6}M$) relaxed muscle strips but the membrane potentials were not affected. 6. EFS with several pulses(1ms, 2Hz, 80V) produced an inhibitory junction potential(IJP) with muscle relaxation. They were abolished by TTX($2{\times}10^{-6}M$). $N^G$-nitro-$_{\small{L}}$-arginine(L-NNA, $2{\times}10^{-5}M$) abolished the muscle relaxation, but had no effect on IJP.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2000

Objective : Somatosensory evoked potential(SSEP) has been known to be a good method for evaluating brain stem function, but it is not sufficient to check the fine changes of cortical functions. A fine change of cortical function can be expressed with somatosensory evoked cortical field potential(SSEFP) rather than general SSEP. To confirm the usefulness of SSEFP for evaluating the cortical function, the authors simultaneously measured SSEFP and the intracranial pressure-volume index(PVI) in kaolin-induced hydrocephalic rats. Method : Hydrocephalus was induced with injection of 0.1ml kaolin-suspended solution into the cisterna magna in 60 Sprague-Dawley rats. The authors measured PVI and SSEFP 1 week after injection of kaolin-suspended solution. To evaluate the severity of induced hydrocephalus, we measured the transverse diameter of the lateral ventricle on the coronal slice of the rat brain 0.40mm posterior to the bregma. Result : The typical wave form of SSEFP in control rats showed a negative-positive complex wave at early latency. In SSEFP of normal rats, N0 is 10.0 msec, N1 15.3 msec, P1 31.2 msec and N1-P1 amplitude $15.4{\mu}V$. As hydrocephalus progressed, the peak latency of N1 and P1 were delayed. In mild hydrocephalus, negative peak waves were split. The N1-P1 amplitude was decreased only in severe hydrocephalus. The changes of the characteristics of SSEFP according to the severity of hydrocephalus were well correlated with the changes of PVI. Shunting normalized the characteristics of SSEFP in relation to ventricular sizes and PVI in hydrocephalic rats. Conclusion : SSEFP may be useful for evaluating the impairment of cortical function in hydrocephalus.