• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.644-651
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• 2013

The fermented manure derivative known as Preparation 500 is traditionally used as a field spray in biodynamic agriculture for maintaining and increasing soil fertility. This work aimed at characterizing the product from a microbiological standpoint and at assaying its bioactive properties. The approach involved molecular taxonomical characterization of the culturable microbial community; ARISA fingerprints of the total bacteria and fungal communities; chemical elemental macronutrient analysis via a combustion analyzer; activity assays for six key enzymes; bioassays for bacterial quorum sensing and chitolipooligosaccharide production; and plant hormone-like activity. The material was found to harbor a bacterial community of $2.38{\times}10^8$ CFU/g dw dominated by Gram-positives with minor instances of Actinobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. ARISA showed a coherence of bacterial assemblages in different preparation lots of the same year in spite of geographic origin. Enzymatic activities showed elevated values of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, chitinase, and esterase. The preparation had no quorum sensing-detectable signal, and no rhizobial nod gene-inducing properties, but displayed a strong auxin-like effect on plants. Enzymatic analyses indicated a bioactive potential in the fertility and nutrient cycling contexts. The IAA activity and microbial degradation products qualify for a possible activity as soil biostimulants. Quantitative details and possible modes of action are discussed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.133-140
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• 2007

Background: It is well established that cross talk between natural killer (NK) cells and myeloid dendritic cells (DC) leads to NK cell activation and DC maturation. In the present study, we investigated whether type 1-polarized DC (DC1) matured in the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$ and type 2-polarized DC (DC2) matured in the presence of PGE2 can differentially activate NK cells. Methods: In order to generate DC, plastic adherent monocytes were cultured in RPMI 1640 containing GM-CSF and IL-4. At day 6, maturation was induced by culturing the cells for 2 days with cytokines or PGE2 in the presence or absence of LPS. Each population of DC was cocultured with NK cells for 24 h. The antigen expression on DC was analyzed by flow cytometry and cytokine production in culture supernatant was measured by ELISA or a bioassay for TNF-${\alpha}$ determination. NK cell-mediated lysis was determined using a standard 4h chromium release assay. Results: DC2, unlike DC1, had weak, if any, ability to induce NK cell activation as measured by IFN-${\gamma}$ production and cytolytic activity. DC2 were weakly stimulated by activated NK cells compared to DC1. In addition, IFN-${\gamma}$-primed mature DC appeared to be most resistant to active NK cell-mediated lysis even at a high NK cell/DC ratio. On the other hand, PGE2-primed DC were less resistant to feedback regulation by NK cells than IFN-${\gamma}$-primed mature DC. Finally, we showed that the differential effect of two types of DC population on NK cell activity is not due to differences in their ability to form conjugates with NK cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that different combinations of inflammatory mediators differentially affect the effector function of DC and, as a result, the function of NK cells, eventually leading to distinct levels of activation in adaptive immunity.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.27-32
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• 2015

Streptococcus mutans triggers dental caries establishment by two major factors. One is synthesis of organic acids which demineralize dental enamel and the other is synthesis of glucans which mediate the attachment of bacteria to the tooth surface. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the ethanol extracts of Aconitum koreanum (A. koreanum ) on the growth and acid production of S. mutans. Ethanol extracts of the A. koreanum showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition at the concentration of 0.016 mg/ml compared to the control groups (p<0.05). The extracts inhibited S. mutans adherence to hydroxyapatite treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by 50%, 54% at the concentration of 0.063, 0.125 mg/ml. On the study of activation of glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water insoluble glucan form sucrose, the ethanol extract of A. koreanum showed remarkable inhibition over the concentration of 0.016, 0.031, 0.063 and 0.125 mg/ml (p<0.05). Especially on the concentration of 0.063, 0.125 mg/ml, the extracts suppressed the glucan synthesis by 100%. We analyzed the component of the extracts of A. koreanum. The results showed that the extract of A. koreanum had strong phenolic compound, glycosides and organic acids. These results suggest that A. koreanum may inhibit the caries-inducing properties of S. mutans, and which may be related with strong phenolic compound, glycosides and organic acids.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.251-261
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• 2007

담즙산과 합성담즙산유도체가 여러 종류의 암세포에 세포자멸사(apoptosis)를 유도하고 항암효과가 있다고 알려져 있다. 합성 chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) 유도체가 여러 가지 암세포에 유도한 세포자멸사 in vitro 연구들이 보고되어져 왔다. 하지만 아직 까지 구강편평상피암종세포에 합성 CDCA 유도체가 유도한 세포자멸사 연구는 없었다. 그래서 본 연구는 합성 CDCA 유도체인 HS-1199와 HS-1200이 사람구강편평상피암종세포에 세포자멸사 효과와 세포자멸사 기작을 알기 위해서 수행되었다. 합성 CDCA 유도체로 처리된 사람구강편평상피암종세포(YD9 세포)에서 caspase-3의 활성화, DFF의 degradation, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP)의 분절화(HS-1200 only), DNA 분절화(HS-1200 only), 핵 응축, proteosome 활성화의 저해, 사립체막전위 (MMP)의 감소(HS-1200 only) 그리고 cytochrome c와 AIF의 사립체에서 세포질로의 유리와 같은 세포자멸사의 증거를 보였다. 그리고 두 개의 합성 CDCA 유도체 중에서 HS-1200이 HS-1199보다 더욱 더 강한 세포자멸사 효과를 보였다. 이 결과는 HS-1200이 YD9 세포에 항암효과를 가진다는 것을 증명한 것이다. 본 연구는 CDCA 유도체인 HS-1200이 사람구강편평상피암종세포에서 사립체 경로를 통한 caspase 의존적 세포자멸사를 강력하게 유도한다는 것을 증명했으며, 이러한 결과는 HS-1200이 사람구강편평상피암종의 치료적 전략으로서의 가능성이 높다고 생각한다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.241-248
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• 2005

This study is aimed at understanding the role of arsenic in Roxarsone in causing fatty livers in mule ducks. One hundred 10-week-old mule ducks were randomly divided into 5 groups. Ducks received 2 weeks of various treatments followed by 2 weeks of withdrawal. The treatments were non-treatment (control), 300 mg/kg Roxarsone inclusion for 2 weeks ($1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ week), Roxarsone inclusion for one week ($2^{nd}$ week only), restrict feeding, or Roxarsone analogue (3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenyl acid) inclusion. Results showed that feed intake and body weight in the Roxarsone groups and the restrict feeding group decreased significantly during the treatment period. However only the liver and heart weights were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the restrict feeding group. Fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activity showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the Roxarsone groups and the restrict feeding group, two-week-Roxarsone treatment significantly increased NADP-malic dehydrogenase (MDH) activity compared to the restrict (p<0.05). After 2 weeks drug withdrawal, the 1-week-Roxarsone or restrict feeding group showed significantly increased (p<0.05) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activity (p<0.05). Two-week-Roxarsone treatment significantly decreased (p<0.05) the high density lipoprotein (HDL) and increased (p<0.05) the low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) ratio. After drug withdrawal, the 1-week-Roxarsone or restrict feeding group showed significantly increased (p<0.05) creatine kinase (CK) activity. The 2-week-Roxarsone treatment group showed significantly increased (p<0.05) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. The restrict feeding treatment group showed significantly decreased (p<0.05) total protein (TP) concentration. After drug withdrawal, the related enzyme activities in the blood that reflected the liver function were restored to the normal physiological range, except for the total bilirubin concentration and CK activity in the 1-week-Roxarsone group. This group showed a significant increase (p<0.05). Thus, the reasons for liver enlargement in the Roxarsone and restrict feeding groups were different.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.13-17
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• 2011

Research in the area of equine artificial insemination (AI) has led to its increased application in field trials. However, procedures for equine semen collection, cooling and freezing of semen and artificial insemination need further improvement. In experiment 1, we investigated the percentage of total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) of sperms at after-collection, cooled-diluted, cooled-transported or frozen-thawed semen. In experiment 2, mares were inseminated with either cooled-diluted, cooled-transported or frozen-thawed semen. In experiment 3, we examined the effect of buffer (skim-milk extender), which was infused into the uterus at the time of AI with frozen-thawed semen. In experiment 4, we compared AI pregnancy rates for mares ovulating spontaneously versus after treatment with hCG. In experiment 1, the average percentage of TM was decreased from 75.3% to 14.4% at the stage of after-collection to frozen-thawed semen (p<0.05). The average percentage of PM was 58.2% and 59.6% at after-collection and cooled-diluted, but it was significantly increased 71.7% after frozen-thawed (p<0.05). In experiment 2, the pregnancy rates after AI using cooled-diluted, cooled-transported and frozen-thawed semen were 60%, 50% and 37.5%, respectively, and similar among treatments. In experiment 3, the pregnancy rate of mares infused with buffer at AI was 40% which was higher than that with no buffer (10%). In experiment 4, the pregnancy rates of mares were similar between ovulated spontaneously (25%) and ovulated with hCG (50%). The results suggest that equine semen that has been cooled-diluted, cooled-transported or frozen can be successfully used to establish AI, pregnancy and foal production. Also, the pregnancy rates after AI can be increased by infusing buffer into the uterus at AI or by inducing ovulation with hCG, but further study is need.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.925-934
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• 1997

This study was directed at inducing the production of antibodies by immunizing heifers with bovine sperm antigen and on measuring the serum antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA) and agglutination test. The effect of antisperm antibodies on fertilizing capacity of bovine spermatozoa was evaluated. 1. Three heifers between 12- and 15- month old were immunized with bovine spermatozoa or phosphate-buffered saline. In heifers immunized with bovine spermatozoa serum IgG level was highest between 3 weeks and 5 weeks postimmunization detected by IFA. The antibody levels persisted through week 7 and slowly declined until week 20 and then antisperm antibodies were localized on spermatozoa. The fluorescent antisperm antibodies were detected at 2~20 weeks and at 6~9 weeks postinoculation on acrosome and tail, respectively. Among 21 sera from repeat breeder cows, only one cow has shown positive antisperm antibody response detected by IFA. 2. In spite of vital rate of bovine sperm after swim-up was not significantly affected by different concentration of antisperm antibodies in sera, the numbers of bovine sperm after swim-up were significantly reduced in proportion to the increased concentration of antibodies. Above 1/512 dilution of antibody neither influence on vital rate and numbers of bovine sperm nor sperm agglutination after swim-up. The study has also shown that the vital rate and number of sperm after swim-up and capacitation were also significantly reduced by the addition of antisperm antibodies. Although antisperm antibodies did not influence on the acrosome reaction rate of sperm during swim-up, did significantly reduce the sperm acrosome reaction rate after capacitation. The studies have resulted that the bovine antisperm antibodies can prevent the sperm motility by agglutination and block the capacitation and acrosome reaction of bovine sperm.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.403-408
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• 2005

This study investigated the effects of chromium propionate on growth performance, serum traits and immune response in weaned pigs. Twenty-four 4 wk-old crossbred weanling pigs (initial body weight about 9.52${\pm}$0.48 kg) were randomly allotted into one of two groups, a control group (basal diet), chromium propionate group (diet supplemented with 200 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ (ppb) of chromium propionate). This experiment was conducted over nine weeks. Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 100 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ BW was used as the stress-inducing agent in the middle (4 wks) and final (8 wks) periods. The experimental results indicated that chromium propionate had no effect on growth performance (p>0.05). Chromium propionate supplementation reduced the percentage of LDL+VLDL (low and very low-density lipoprotein) and increased HDL (high-density lipoprotein), but did not affect other serum traits. Pigs supplemented with chromium propionate had higher antibody titers specific for sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and serum total globulin relative to the control during the final period (p<0.05). A challenge with LPS increased white blood cells in the chromium propionate group in both experimental periods (p<0.05). The chromium propionate group exhibited higher IgG and $\gamma$-globulin than the control during the middle experimental period (p<0.05). Moreover, the PHA (phytohemagglutinin) challenge result in the chromium propionate group was better than the control group (p=0.056). Greater neutrophil activity was displayed than in the control (p<0.05). This suggests that chromium propionate supplementation benefited the weaned pigs in lipoprotein and immune response.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.123-128
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• 2002

Physical activity is a primary cancer control strategy that has received little attention to date. However, an Increasing number of epidemiological studies have proposed that physical exercise may be beneficial by enhancing anticancer immune system responses. We investigated the effects of acute exercise on changes in nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. The amounts of NO generated by abdominal macrophages in mice were measured after exercise. Thirty-two mice, which were challenged with thioglycollate broth to activate peritoneal macrophages, were randomly assigned to control, exercise and recovery groups. The mice exercised on a motor-driven treadmill for 3 consecutive days, either moderately (18m/min, 30 min/day, 5％ grade) or severely (18-35m/min, 60 min/day, 5％ grade). The mice were killed immediately after exercise or after 6 hrs of recovery. Nitric oxide was quantified by the Griess assay. The exercised mice showed higher levels of NO generation than those of the control mice, but the intensity of exercise had no significant effect on NO generation. Mice allowed six hours of recovery after exercise showed higher levels of NO generation than that of animals sacrificed immediately after exercise, but there were no significant differences in NO generation with variations in the intensity of exercise. Increased levels of iNOS were found in the exercised groups, and this was greatest in the groups allowed six hours of recovery compared to those groups sacrificed immediately after exercise. The results of this study suggest that acute exercise may enhance an immune response by inducing macrophage-derived NO generation; these results support the epidemiological findings which support the benefits of exercise in the prevention and control of cancer. Further study is needed to determine the physiological significance of these findings, which could be applied to the use of therapeutic exercises to assist in the prevention and control of cancer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.1332-1338
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• 2003

This study was undertaken to examine the influence of soluble non-starch polysaccharides on growth performance, mucin secretion, and endogenous amino acid flows in weaner pigs. Different levels (0, 4 and 7.5%) of purified corn arabinoxylan (AX) or barley $\beta$-glucan extract (BG) were substituted for cellulose in a purified diet based on starch, sucrose and enzymatically hydrolyzed casein. All diets contained titanium oxide as an indigestible marker. Each experimental diet was fed to five, 6-wk old weaner pigs for 21 days. Average daily gain (p<0.05) and feed conversion ratio (p<0.01) were improved with dietary inclusion of 7.5% AX and BG, indicating high degradation rates of AX and BG in pigs. Crude mucin contents and endogenous nitrogen flow were increased (p<0.05) with increased levels of AX, but not with BG. Numerical increases in endogenous amino acid flow (EAAF) were observed with increased levels of AX but no definite trend with BG. Endogenous amino acid flow in pigs fed mixed NSP diets (4% BG and 3.5% cellulose) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those fed 7.5% BG diets. Among diets containing pure sources of soluble non-starch polysaccharides, endogenous amino acid flows were highest in 7.5% AX (p<0.05), intermediate in BG, and lowest in control diet. Increased flows (p<0.01) of threonine, proline and serine in pigs fed 7.5% AX diets are consistent with the increased flow of crude mucin determined in this treatment. In conclusion, mucin and endogenous amino acid flows were increased with dietary inclusion of AX, which could be related to its physicochemical property, particularly its high water-holding capacity. In contrast, $\beta$-glucan, due to its high degradation rate in pig, may be considered as unimportant factor in inducing mucin and endogenous amino acid secretions, at least at levels such as those used in this study.