• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1227-1234
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• 2011

We investigated the immunostimulatory effects of doenjang, a famous Korean traditional food made from fermented soybean paste, on the immunohistochemical reaction in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and immune response in mice. Male C57BL/6N mice (6 weeks-old) were divided into 4 experimental diet treatment groups and a basal diet (control) group, and fed with different diets for 4 weeks. The immunoreactive density of $CD4^+/CD8^+$ lymphocytes were strongly stained in the jejunum and colon in Group III. The immunoreactivity of universal nitric oxide synthase (uNOS) was strongly stained in the myenteric plexus in the colon of all doenjang-fedgroups (I, II and III). The colonic immunoreactive density of protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ (PKC-${\alpha}$) was strongly increased in Groups II and III, while that of stem-cell factor (c-kit) was increased in colonic mucosa of all doenjang-fedgroups (I, II and III) and especially increased in the colonic muscle layer of Group III. These morphological and immunological results indicated that the intake of doenjang could improve the mucosal immune reaction, gastrointestinal motility, blood circulation in the GI tract, and the immuneactivity of the body. These results provide experimental evidence about the health benefits of doenjang.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.376-382
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• 2002

Purpose : To identify clinical and laboratory features of atypical Kawasaki disease(KD), and to develop criteria for early diagnosis of atypical KD patients. Methods : All patients with KD treated at our hospital from January 1998 to June 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among a total of 167 patients, 28(16.8%) were atypical KD of which seven(25%) were infants. Among the five cardinal symptoms, oral mucosal change(96.4%) occurred most frequently, followed by conjuntivitis(57.1%) and rash(46.4%). Most notable laboratory findings were anemia, and increased erythrocyte sedementation rate(ESR) or C-reactive protein(CRP). Coronary artery abnormalities developed in seven(25.8%) atypical KD patients, compared with 14.4% in typical KD patients. We considered oral mucosal change as major criterion, and conjunctivitis, rash, hematocrit <35% and ESR >30 mm/hr or CRP >3.1 mg/dL as minor criteria. Proposed modification in diagnostic criteria for atypical KD include fever of ${\geq}5$ days＋major criterion＋${\geq}2$ minor criteria, or fever of ${\geq}5$ days＋4 minor criteria. Conclusion : The modified diagnostic criteria has yielded a sensitivity 89.3%. Our diagnostic criteria may be used for early diagnosis of atypical KD.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2012

We examined the distribution of uterine mast cells in cycling mice of different ages between 7 weeks and 38 weeks by toluidine blue staining. Mast cell density increased gradually depending on the age and culminated at 30 weeks after birth. Of the estrous stages, uteruses at metestrus showed markedly higher density of mast cells than those at the other stages in cycling mice of all ages analysed in this study and the majority of the mast cells were found in myometrium. We also discriminated types of the uterine mast cells in cycling mice at 10 weeks old by Alcian blue-safranin double staining. Mucosal type was most abundant among three types, including connective-tissue types and mixed types, through the entire estrous cycles. The portion of mixed types increased slightly after estrous. The abundance of uterine collagen protein determined by Masson trichrome staining was exactly consistent with the density distribution of the uterine mast cells during estrous cycles. Taken together, these results may imply that uterine mucosal mast cells, together with collagen proteins, are heavily involved in tissue remodeling of cycling mouse uterus.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2009

Purpose: Colitis is a condition associated with a spectrum of altered morphologic changes and cellular adhesion. E-cadherin plays a key role in the establishment and maintenance of epithelial tissue structure and cell-cell adhesion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate E-cadherin expression in colonic epithelium of various colitis in children. Methods: The expressions of E-cadherin were examined in 39 cases of colonic mucosal biopsy specimen using immunohistochemical staining. When more than 50 percent of cells exhibited uniformly the same intensity and pattern of immunostaining as the adjacent normal mucosa, the antigen expression was considered normal. Abnormal expression was defined when less than 50 percent of cells stained, when cells showed a heterogeneously weak or altered distribution, or when complete absence of staining was observed. Results: Fifteen cases with non-specific colitis (38.5%), 7 cases of with Crohn's disease (17.9%), 5 cases of infectious colitis and milk protein sensitive proctocolitis (12.8%), 3 cases of ulcerative colitis (7.7%), 2 cases of Henoch-Schonlein purpura colitis (5.1%), one case of Behcet's disease and ischemic colitis (2.6%) were included in this study. E-cadherin expression was decreased in all kinds of colitis. Reduced expression of E-cadherin was observed in 77 percent of cases. E-cadherin was weaker or no expression in reparative epithelium and "ulcer associated cell lineage". Conclusion: Altered expression of E-cadherin occurs during mucosal inflammation in any kinds of colitis. These changes may be involved in promoting cell migration during epithelial restitution of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.63-68
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• 2015

Objectives : Gastric lesions affect many people around the world and their development are results of the imbalance between destructive and protective factors in the gastric mucosa. Lycium chinense has been widely used as a traditional Korean medicine, it was recently reported that they have potent anti-inflammatory effects in chronic hepatitis models. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Lycium chinense extract (LCE) on HCl-Ethanol induced gastric lesion mice.Methods : The ICR mice were divided randomly into five groups of six animals each. Group A was normal mice, and group B was treated orally with 0.5 ml 150 mM HCl-60% Ethanol. Mice in group C and D were pre-treatment of LCE (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg bodyweight, p.o before HCl/ethanol treatment) and group E was orally administered sucralfate (10 mg/kg).Results : 150mM HCl/60% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury mice were ameliorated mucosal damage upon histological evaluation by treatment of LCE. Pre-treatment of LCE attenuated reactive oxidative species (ROS) and produces peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) in stomach tissues. As results of stomach protein analyses, LCE effectively reduce inflammatory-related factors such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in gastric lesion mice. In addition, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inhibitor of phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (p-IκB) were down-regulated in LCE-administrated gastric lesion mice.Conclusions : Our discovery supports that the therapeutic activity of LCE ameliorate the development of gastric lesion via suppressing the oxidative stress and gastric partial inflammation induced by 150 mM HCl/60% ethanol.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.74-76
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• 2019

Gram-positive anaerobic bacilli Actinomyces spp. commonly reside on mucosal surfaces of the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. Here, we first report the draft genome sequence of Actinomyces georgiae KHUD_A1, isolated from dental plaque of a Korean elderly woman. The genome is 2,652,059 bp in length and has a GC content of 68.06%. The genome includes 2,242 protein-coding genes, 9 rRNAs, and 64 tRNA. We identified 157 KHUD_A1 strain-specific genes, including genes encoding CPBP family intramembrane metalloprotease, bile acid: sodium symporter family protein, Txe/YoeB family addiction module toxin and Phd/YefM family antitoxin. The sequence information of A. georgiae KHUD_A1 will help understand the general characteristics of the bacterial species and the genome diversity of the genus Actinomyces.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.321-333
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• 2021

Purpose: Reflux esophagitis is a disease caused by the reflux of stomach contents and stomach acid etc. into the esophagus due to defect in the lower esophageal sphincter and is currently increasing worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a mixture of Citrus Reticulata and Scutellariae Radix (CS) extract on acute reflux esophagitis in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups for examination: normal group (Normal, n = 8), water-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Control, n = 8), tocopherol 30 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Toco, n = 8), CS 100 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS100, n = 8), CS 200 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS200, n = 8). The experimental groups were administrated of each treatment compounds and after 90 min, acute reflux esophagitis was induced through surgery. Rats were sacrificed 5 h after surgery. We measured the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in serum and analyzed the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, inflammatory, and tight junction-related proteins by western blot in the esophageal tissues. Results: CS administration significantly protected the esophageal mucosal damage due to reflux esophagitis, and the level of ROS in the serum was significantly reduced with CS administration as compared to Control. In addition, CS administration significantly suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways and increased protein expressions of tight junction protein. Conclusion: These results suggest that the CS not only regulates the expression of inflammatory proteins by inhibiting oxidative stress, but also reduces damage to the esophageal mucosa by inhibiting the expression of tight junction proteins.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2000

Several studies have shown that the stomach has sufficient alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity to metabolize some amount of orally administered alcohol and the sex-related differences in the first-pass metabolism of alcohol might be associated with differences in the activity of gastric ADH(GADH). The aim of this study was to asses the sex-related differences in GADH in 48 male and 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 1, 4, 10, 15, 20, and 30 weeks which each aged group had same sex ratio. The GADH activity was determined spectrophotometrically at 37$^{\circ}C$. The formation of NADH was monitored at 340nm for 10 minutes in the 1 ml of reaction mixture (0.5 M of Tris-HCl, pH 7.2 + 1.5 M of ethanol + 2.8 mM of NAD + 30 $\mu$l gastric mucosal supernatant). The GADH activity (nM of NADH/min/mg of cytosolic protein) was calculated using molecular extinction coefficient of 6.22 $\textrm{cm}^2$/$\mu$M for NADH. The GADH activities were 2.94$\pm$0.82 (n=48) in female rats and 3.34$\pm$2.17 (n=48) in male rats and had not significant difference between sex. However, the GADH activities were significantly (p<0.01) higher in female (1.91$\pm$0.59 and 3.30$\pm$0.49) than in male (0.68$\pm$0.43 and 1.92$\pm$0.81) of 1 and 4 weeks rats. However, it was significantly (p<0.05) higher in male (6.48$\pm$1.81, 3.65$\pm$1.04 and 5.13$\pm$1.30) than in female (4.23$\pm$1.23, 2.18$\pm$0.77 and 2.56$\pm$0.93) of 10, 20 and 30 weeks rats, respectively. Therefore, the results suggested that sex-related differences of the GADH activities in same aged rats were existed by age.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.121-124
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• 2002

This work was initiated to develope a recombinant oral poliovaccine (OPV), which is highly advanced in safety (minimizing VAPP) by introducing Type 2,3 poliovirus epitopes into our RPS-Vax system. We have introduced several potential vaccine epitopes of poliovirus Type 2, and 3 into RPS-Vax system, resulting in production of recombinant polioviruses. Any of these chimeric viruses, however, were not detected for their foreign gene expression by serotype-specific mouse antiserum. We have designed several folding units to stabilize the introduced vaccine protein and attached short epitope-concatamer or epitope-multimer to them, followed by production of chimeric viruses. Only those who have an HIV-1 Tat-mediated folding unit were nicely detected for the introduced foreign proteins by anti-Tat antiserum and type-specific peptide-induced antisera. Nevertheless, introduced epitopes were not detected in Western blot experiment with each serotype-specific antiserum. None of the mice inoculated with these chimeric viruses showed preventative immunity when challenged with Lansing and Leon wildtype 2 and 3 poliovirus, and the antiserum did not show neutralizing capacity in vitro. Conformational epitope covering B/C loop region of type 2 and 3 were newly designed by computer modeling, and introduced into the RPS-Vax vector system, followed by production of chimeric viruses. Introduced epitope regions were nicely detected by anti-Tag23 mAb or peptide antibody, but still not detected by poliovirus antiserum. Nevertheless, neutralizing antibody was detected in the Tg-PVR mice even when inoculated once with these chimeric viruses. Also, the immunized mice showed perfect preventative immunity against the wild Type poliovirus Lancing or Leon. When boosted appropriately, those chimeric virus-inoculated Tg-PVR mice produced equivalent amounts of neutralizing antibody to those in Sabin 2/3-immunized mice. These data strongly suggest that our recombinant poliovirus (RPS-PV2 and RPS-PV3) can be used as a safe and effective rec-OPV instead of any preexisting poliovaccine.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2008

Survivin is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family that have been known to inhibit activated caspases in apoptosis. In contrast to most IAP family members, survivin mRNA is expressed during fetal development, is not found in normal adult tissues and is overexpressed again in the cancer. Though survivin expression has been documented in most human cancers, little is known about its expression in OSCC and its potential value as a predictor of cancer survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate survivin expression in OSCC and to evaluate its value as a prognostic marker. We evaluated survivin expressions in cancer lines and OSCC samples and investigated the relationships between survivin expressions and clini-co-pathological parameters including stage, differentiation, proliferation, lymph node metastasis, blood vessel density, and gelatinolytic activity. With immunohistochemistry, we analyzed survivin expression in 38 OSCCs. Patients' clinico-pathological parameters and their survival rate were analyzed to reveal their correlations with Survivin expressions. We cultured oral cancer cell lines and evaluated the correlation between gelatinolytic activities and survivin expressions of them. Survivin protein was observed both in nuclei and cytoplasm of tumor specimens while little or not observed in normal gingival mucosal tissues. Additionally, survivin expressions were correlated with lymph node metastasis, tumor proliferation and survival rate. Survivin expression was observed in 100% of 38 samples of OSCC and its expression levels are statistically associated with the proliferative activity of the tumors, lymph node metastasis and the survival of the patients. Based on these results, survivin is commonly expressed in OSCC and may thus provide valuable prognostic information related with lymph node metastasis, proliferation and survival rate as well as a potential therapeutic target in OSCC.