• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2017

Increased alcohol consumption is a burden on the world because it is associated with various health problems. However, the effects of silkworms on alcohol metabolism have not been studied yet. The hard-to-eat mature silkworms have become easier to ingest recently due to the development of technology, steam-lyophilising mature silkworm larvae. In this study, we investigated and compared the effects of SMSPs from three silkworm varieties, Baekokjam, Golden-silk and Yeonnokjam weaving white, golden, and light green cocoons on alcohol metabolism in vivo. Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with three SMSPs (0.1 g/kg or 1 g/kg body weight) or normal diet (AIN-76A) for 2 weeks were subjected to intragastric administration of absolute ethanol (3 g/kg body weight, 3 h). Three SMSPs did not affect the final body weight and liver weight. All 3 SMSPs were effective to reduce the enzymes in alcohol metabolism, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and liver damage and enzymes involved in liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Among SMSP from 3 varieties of silkworm, preadministration of 1 g/kg Baekokjam SMSP showed the most effective suppressive effect on the activities of ADH, ALDH, AST and ALT. The Baekokjam SMSP contained higher amounts of beneficial amino acids than Golden-silk or Yeonnokjam SMSP. These results suggest that Baekokjam SMSP might be used as a new and promising candidate for improving alcohol metabolism and liver injury through promoting rapid alcohol metabolism.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.657-662
• /
• 2015

Rapid and efficient engulfment of apoptotic cells is an essential property of phagocytes for removal of the large number of apoptotic cells generated in multicellular organisms. To achieve this, phagocytes need to be able to continuously uptake apoptotic cells. It was recently reported that uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2) promotes engulfment of apoptotic cells by increasing the phagocytic capacity, thereby allowing cells to continuously ingest apoptotic cells. However, the functions of Ucp2, beyond its possible role in dissipating the mitochondrial membrane potential, that contribute to elevation of the phagocytic capacity have not been determined. Here, we report that the anion transfer or nucleotide binding activity of Ucp2, as well as its dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, is necessary for Ucp2-mediated engulfment of apoptotic cells. To study these properties, we generated Ucp2 mutations that affected three different functions of Ucp2, namely, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, transfer of anions, and binding of purine nucleotides. Mutations of Ucp2 that affected the proton leak did not enhance the engulfment of apoptotic cells. Although anion transfer and nucleotide binding mutations did not affect the mitochondrial membrane potential, they exerted a dominant-negative effect on Ucp2-mediated engulfment. Furthermore, none of our Ucp2 mutations increased the phagocytic capacity. We conclude that dissipation of the proton gradient by Ucp2 is not the only determinant of the phagocytic capacity and that anion transfer or nucleotide binding by Ucp2 is also essential for Ucp2-mediated engulfment of apoptotic cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.638-642
• /
• 2004

In Australia, many cropping areas are affected by salt. In these regions, Chenopodiaceous plants, such as Atriplex, Kochia and Bassia spp have been planted to improve soil conditions. These plants have become invaluable feed resources for grazing animals in dry summers, but have a high sodium content. To assess the impact of high salt intake on grazing deer, two experiments were conducted. The first experiment used 30 fallow weaner deer to examine the effect of salt level in the diet on feed intake, water intake and body weight of fallow deer. Salt was added to lucerne chaff at 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6% and fresh water was offered all the time. Increasing the salt level in the diet from 0 to 6% didn't affect feed intake, osmotic pressure and mineral concentration in blood of fallow deer. However, water intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) in deer fed diets containing more than 3% salt. Body weight was lower (p${\leq}$0.056) for fallow deer in July and August when salt content was over 3%, suggesting they can ingest over 15 g sodium/day without significant depression in both feed intake and growth rate if the fresh water is available. In the second experiment, 18 red weaner deer were fed lucerne chaff diets containing 1.5, 4.5 and 6.0% salt with 6 deer/diet. The results revealed that feed intake and blood osmotic pressure were similar (p>0.05) for red deer fed different levels of salt although the feed intake declined from 1.91 to 1.67 kg with the increase of salt level from 1.5% to 6.0% in the diet. Water intake was significantly higher for deer fed diets containing over 4.5% salt, but there was no difference in body weight during the experiment. However, no recommendation can be made on the salt tolerance of red deer due to limited increment of salt level in the diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.431-438
• /
• 2014

The study was carried out in order to verify the effects of piglets' weight at birth on their surface temperature change (ST) after birth, and its relationship with ingestion time of colostrum. Piglets from four different sows were weighed at birth and divided into a totally randomized design with three treatments according to birth weight (PBW): T1 - less than 1.00 kg, T2 - 1.00 to 1.39 kg, and T3 - higher than or equal to 1.40 kg. The time spent for the first colostrum ingestion was recorded (TFS). Images of piglets' surface by thermal imaging camera were recorded at birth (STB) and 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min after birth. The air temperature and relative humidity were recorded every 30 min and the indexes of temperature and humidity (THI) were calculated. A ST drop after 15 min from birth was observed, increasing again after sixty minutes. Positive correlations were found between the PBW and the ST at 30 and 45 min after birth. The PBW was negatively correlated with the TFS. The THI showed high negative correlations (-0.824 and -0.815) with STB and after 15 min from birth. The piglet's surface temperature at birth was positively correlated with temperature thereof to 15 min, influencing therefore the temperatures in the interval of 45 to 120 min. The birth weight contributes significantly to postnatal hypothermia and consequently to the time it takes for piglets ingest colostrum, requiring special attention to those of low birth weight.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.547-553
• /
• 2001

This study was designed to observe the change of body composition and nutrient metabolites and the excretion of minerals during complete fasting for 10 days in thirty women. Average loss of body weight was 7.98kg and body fat was gradually reduced after 9 days fasting, but the loss of lean body mass was reduced after 7 days fasting. Serum glucose level was sustained at constant level, but serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, free acid and $\beta$-hydroxybutyrate were significantly increased during fasting but decreased after re-feeding. Urinary excretions of 3-methylhistidine, total creatinine, and urea were high in the beginning of fasting but gradually decreased. Serum level of parathyroid hormone was significantly reduced by fasting but regained after re-feeding. Serum level of minerals was at the constant level throughout the experimental period. The urinary excretion of minerals(Ca, K, Mg, P) was significantly increased in the early stage of fasting and then reduced from 7 days, but the excretion of Zn was continuously increased until the late stage of fasting. These results showed that amino acid fatty acid released from the breakdown of muscle protein and body fat, respectively, were utilized for energy during fasting. Body weight and BMI were reduced because of the increased muscle protein breakdown and body water excretion during early stage of fasting, but the significant body fat loss was after 9 days fasting. Therefore, it could be suggested to fast for longer than 10 days if the reduction of body fat was planned by fasting, and recommed to exercise and ingest more vitamins and minerals to replace the excreted minerals during fasting. (Korean J Nutrition 34(5) : 547~553, 2001)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.262-267
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the treatment of diabetes mellitus is the attainment of glycemic control. Hyperglycemia increases oxidative stress which contributes to the progression of diabetic complications. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of Daraesoon (Actinidia arguta shoot) in animal models of diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes received an oral administration of a starch solution (1 g/kg) either with or without a 70% ethanol extract of Daraesoon (400 mg/kg) or acarbose (40 mg/kg) after an overnight fast and their postprandial blood glucose levels were measured. Five-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed either a basal or high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) diet with or without Daraesoon extract (0.4%) or acarbose (0.04%) for 12 weeks after 1 week of adaptation to determine the effects of the chronic consumption of Daraesoon on fasting hyperglycemia and antioxidant status. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, rats that received Daraesoon extract (400 mg/kg) or acarbose (40 mg/kg) exhibited a significant reduction in the area under the postprandial glucose response curve after the oral ingestion of starch. Additionally, the long-term consumption of Daraesoon extract or acarbose significantly decreased serum glucose and insulin levels as well as small intestinal maltase activity in HFHS-fed mice. Furthermore, the consumption of Daraesoon extract significantly reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and increased glutathione levels in the livers of HFHS-fed mice compared to HFHS-fed mice that did not ingest Daraesoon. CONCLUSIONS: Daraesoon effectively suppressed postprandial hyperglycemia via the inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Chronic consumption of Daraesoon alleviated fasting hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in mice fed a HFHS diet.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.36 no.8
• /
• pp.791-796
• /
• 2012

Small gas turbine engines are used in aircraft as an auxiliary power unit (APU) to supply compressed air to start the main engine and for emergency electricity. When an aircraft is operating in an environment in which sand and dust is present in the ambient air, the engines as well as the APU ingest the sand and dust. This causes erosion of the engine and a degradation in its performance. The present study investigated the effect of sand and dust ingestion on small gas turbine engines. The concentration of sand and dust was $4.4{\times}10^{-5}kg$ per unit kg of air, which follows the specification in MIL-E-8593. The test was conducted for 10 h, and the engine performance before and after the test was compared. In addition, a tear-down inspection was conducted to examine the erosion patterns of sub-components such as the impeller and turbine wheel.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.189-194
• /
• 2009

To investigate the difference in the ecological niches between Pfiesteria piscicida and Pfiesteria-like species (Cryptoperidininopsis brodyi and Stoeckeria algicida), we have observed the feeding behavior of three potential predators on abalone larvae and measured the survival rates of abalone larvae as a function of initial predator concentration. When the predators were mixed with abalone larvae, P. piscicida and C. brodyi became active and exhibited attacking behavior on abalone larvae within a few seconds. They could ingest whole soft body of abalone larvae using a peduncle. In contrast, feeding and attacking behavior were not observed from S. algicida. Survival rates in abalone larvae decreased with an increase of the initial concentration of P. piscicida and C. brodyi. These results indicate that Pfiesteria and Pfiesteria-like species displaying the very same shape and size have different ecological niche in the marine food webs, which implies that identification to species level is definitely important to understand and discriminate the ecological roles of them.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.973-981
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the correlation with subjective oral health status and food preference in elderly people. Methods: Data were extracted from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2010-2012. The survey data included general characteristics of the subjects, food preference, and subjective oral health status. Food preference was analyzed by assigning score to 63 food categories. The subjective oral health status consisted of toothache within a month, self-perception of oral health, chewing difficulty, mastication difficulty, and speaking difficulty. Data were analyzed by frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test, t-test, and ANOVA using SPSS 22.0 program. Results: Elderly men had a tendency to have a liking for all food categories except for fruit. Difficulty in chewing and mastication was shown in those who had older age, lower education, lower monthly income, and national basic livelihood security. Difficulty in speaking was found in those who had older age, lower education, and national basic livelihood security. Self perception of oral health status was closely related to food preference for pulses and potatoes, fish, vegetables and others(p<0.05). Difficulties in chewing and mastication had relation to all food categories excepting cereals, lipids and sugars(p<0.05). Speaking difficulty were significantly different in pulses, potatoes, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, milk, dairy products, and others(p<0.05). Conclusions: Poor subjective oral health status was closely related to food preference. It is necessary to educate that maintenance of good oral health is to ingest the balanced nutrition in the elderly people.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.149-154
• /
• 2003

The immunomodulatory activity of PJ-P, a polysaccharide fraction extracted from Paeonia japonica, were reported in our previous paper. In the present study, we investigated that PJ-P inhibited cancer growth through activation of macrophages. The activities of peritoneal macrophage to induce tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin-1 (IL-1)$\beta$, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) as well as to ingest fluorescence-latex microbeads were enhanced by treatment of PJ-P. Direct cytocidal activity of PJ-P against cancer cells was not shown. However, in vitro, peritoneal macrophages treated with PJ-P had an activity to kill cancer cells. Furthermore, PJ-P significantly prolonged the survival of mice implanted intraperitoneally with B16F0 mel-anoma cells. These results suggest that PJ-P could be a useful immunomodulator and assistant of anti-tumor agent.