• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.367-379
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• 2019

Although atopic dermatitis (AD) is known to be a representative skin disorder, it also affects the systemic immune response. In a recent study, myoblasts were shown to be involved in the immune regulation, but the roles of muscle cells in AD are poorly understood. We aimed to identify the relationship between mitochondria and atopy by genome-wide analysis of skeletal muscles in mice. We induced AD-like symptoms using house dust mite (HDM) extract in NC/Nga mice. The transcriptional profiles of the untreated group and HDM-induced AD-like group were analyzed and compared using microarray, differentially expressed gene and functional pathway analyses, and protein interaction network construction. Our microarray analysis demonstrated that immune response-, calcium handling-, and mitochondrial metabolism-related genes were differentially expressed. In the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology pathway analyses, immune response pathways involved in cytokine interaction, nuclear factor-kappa B, and T-cell receptor signaling, calcium handling pathways, and mitochondria metabolism pathways involved in the citrate cycle were significantly upregulated. In protein interaction network analysis, chemokine family-, muscle contraction process-, and immune response-related genes were identified as hub genes with many interactions. In addition, mitochondrial pathways involved in calcium signaling, cardiac muscle contraction, tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidation-reduction process, and calcium-mediated signaling were significantly stimulated in KEGG and Gene Ontology analyses. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the genome-wide transcriptional changes of HDM-induced AD-like symptoms and the indicated genes that could be used as AD clinical biomarkers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.986-995
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• 2019

Intestinal microbiota play a key role in maintaining the host's health, and variety and richness of this microbiota is directly influenced and modulated by the host's diet. Kimchi is a fermented food rich in dietary fibers and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). To investigate the effect of fermented kimchi on the host's response and the composition of intestinal microbiota, 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats six weeks old were divided into three experimental groups that received either a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with fermented kimchi (FK) or chitosan-added fermented kimchi (CFK) for four weeks. Body weights and feed intakes were measured weekly, and the intestinal contents were collected aseptically and were used for 16S rRNA gene profiling via pyrosequencing. As compared to the control, FK and CFK groups showed less body weight gain, feed efficiency, and blood triglyceride concentration. The diversity of intestinal microbiota was increased in both FK and CFK as compared to the control. At the phylum level, obesity-associated Firmicutes decreased, while leanness-associated Bacteroidetes increased. At the genus-level, the genera that consist of LAB, leanness-associated bacteria, and butyric acid-producing bacteria increased in FK and CFK as compared to the control. The overall results suggest that the consumption of fermented kimchi can reduce obesity and promote the host's health through mechanisms involving the modulation of intestinal microbiota.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1528-1539
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate the effects on microbial diversity and biochemical parameters of gradually increasing temperatures, from $5^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$ on corn silage which was previously fermented at ambient or low temperature. Methods: Whole-plant corn silage was fermented in vacuum bag mini-silos at either $10^{\circ}C$ or $20^{\circ}C$ for two months and stored at $5^{\circ}C$ for two months. The mini-silos were then subjected to additional incubation from $5^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$ in $5^{\circ}C$ increments. Bacterial and fungal diversity was assessed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) profiling and biochemical analysis from mini-silos collected at each temperature. Results: A temperature of $10^{\circ}C$ during fermentation restricted silage fermentation compared to fermentation temperature of $20^{\circ}C$. As storage temperature increased from $5^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$, little changes occurred in silages fermented at $20^{\circ}C$, in terms of most biochemical parameters as well as bacterial and fungal populations. However, a high number of enterobacteria and yeasts (4 to $5\;log_{10}$ colony forming unit/g fresh materials) were detected at $15^{\circ}C$ and above. PCR-DGGE profile showed that Candida humilis predominated the fungi flora. For silage fermented at $10^{\circ}C$, no significant changes were observed in most silage characteristics when temperature was increased from $5^{\circ}C$ to $20^{\circ}C$. However, above $20^{\circ}C$, silage fermentation resumed as observed from the significantly increased number of lactic acid bacteria colonies, acetic acid content, and the rapid decline in pH and water-soluble carbohydrates concentration. DGGE results showed that Lactobacillus buchneri started to dominate the bacterial flora as temperature increased from $20^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$. Conclusion: Temperature during fermentation as well as temperature during storage modulates microorganism population development and fermentation patterns. Silage fermented at $20^{\circ}C$ indicated that these silages should have lower aerobic stability at opening because of better survival of yeasts and enterobacteria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.514-523
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• 2019

We investigated the gene expression patterns and the mechanisms of action of the apoptotic response by microarray analysis of human keratinocyte HaCaT cells treated with ginsenoside Rb1, a saponin of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Genes related to apoptosis, the G2/M transition of the mitotic cell cycle, cell division, mitotic nuclear division, and intracellular protein transport were 2-fold up-regulated in HaCaT cells treated with the ginsenoside Rb1, whereas genes related to DNA repair, regeneration fission, and extracellular matrix organization were 2-fold down-regulated. Apoptosis signaling may be mediated by FAS and PLA2G4A, and pathway analysis indicated that STAT3 might be an upstream regulator of these genes. The activity of FAS and PLA2G4A was verified by qPCR, which showed that FAS was increased about 2-fold in HaCaT cells treated with $10{\mu}g/ml$ of ginsenoside Rb1 for 24 hr, PLA2G4A was increased about twice after 6 hours, and gene expression was increased more than 2-fold after 24 hr. Knockdown of STAT3 with siRNA decreased FAS expression and increased PLA2G4A expression but only FAS was passed from the upstream regulator STAT3. These results indicate that STAT3, which is an upstream regulator, induces apoptosis via FAS during treatment with ginsenoside Rb1.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.814-824
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate VFA, monosaccharides and metabolites in rumen fluid according to feeding methods. Three castrated Hanwoo steers were used to the $3{\times}3$ Latin square design, 10 day for the diet adaptation period. VFA and monosaccharides which were not detected by HPLC and HPAEC however, those were detected by $^1H-NMR$. Among the metabolites measured by $^1H-NMR$ carbohydrate metabolites, pyruvate was detected only in the rumen fluid before feeding and succinate was detected before and after feeding rumen fluid. In amino acid total 9 metabolites were detected. In lipid metabolites, ethylene glycol was significantly higher (P<0.05) in before feeding Con group. In aliphatic acylic metabolite, trimethylamine N-oxide was no significant difference observed compare to Con group. In this study, many metabolites were observed in the rumen fluid by $^1H-NMR$, and it confirmed that rumen metabolic products were changed by feeding methods.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.367-381
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to establish a mother and child cohort in the Chinese population, and investigate human breastmilk (HBM) composition and its relationship with maternal body mass index (BMI) and infant growth during the first 3 mon of life. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 101 Chinese mother and infant pairs were included in this prospective cohort. Alterations in the milk macronutrients of Chinese mothers at 1 mon (T1), 2 mon (T2), and 3 mon (T3) lactation were analyzed. HBM fatty acid (FA) profiles were measured by gas chromatography (GC), and HBM proteomic profiling was achieved by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). RESULTS: During the first 3 mon of lactation (P < 0.05), significant decreases were determined in the levels of total energy, fat, protein, and osteopontin (OPN), as well as ratios of long-chain saturated FA (including C16:0, C22:0 and C24:0), monounsaturated FA (including C16:1), and n-6 poly unsaturated FA (PUFA) (including C20:3n-6 and C20:4n-6, and n-6/n-3). Conversely, butyrate, C6:0 and n-3 PUFA C18:3n-3 (α-linolenic acid, ALA) were significantly increased during the first 3 mon (P < 0.05). HBM proteomic analyses distinguished compositional protein differences over time (P = 0.001). Personalized motherinfant analyses demonstrated that HBM from high BMI mothers presented increased total energy, fat, protein and OPN, and increased content of n-6 PUFA (including C18:3n-6, C20:3n-6 and n-6/n-3 ratio) as compared with low BMI mothers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, BMI of the mothers positively correlated with the head circumference (HC) of infants as well as the specific n-6 PUFA C20:3n-6 over the 3 time points examined. Infant HC was negatively associated with C18:0. CONCLUSION: This study provides additional evidence to the Chinese HBM database, and further knowledge of FA function. It also helps to establish future maternal strategies that support the healthy growth and development of Chinese infants.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.319-331
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• 2021

Heat stress (HS) causes adverse impacts on pig production and health. A potential biomarker of HS is required to predict its occurrence and thereby better manage pigs under HS. Information about the saliva metabolome in heat-stressed pigs is limited. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of acute HS on the saliva metabolome and identify metabolites that could be used as potential biomarkers. Growing pigs (n = 6, 3 boars, and 3 gilts) were raised in a thermal neutral (TN; 25℃) environment for a 5-d adaptation period (CON). After adaptation, the pigs were first exposed to HS (30℃; HS30) and then exposed to higher HS (33℃; HS33) for 24 h. Saliva was collected after adaptation, first HS, and second HS, respectively, for metabolomic analysis using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Four metabolites had significantly variable importance in the projection (VIP > 1; p < 0.05) different levels in TN compared to HS groups from all genders (boars and gilts). However, sex-specific characteristics affected metabolites (glutamate and leucine) by showing the opposite results, indicating that HS was less severe in females than in males. A decrease in creatine levels in males and an increase in creatine phosphate levels in females would have contributed to a protective effect from protein degradation by muscle damage. The results showed that HS led to an alteration in metabolites related to energy and protein. Protection from muscle damage may be attributed to the alteration in protein-related metabolites. However, energy-related metabolites showed opposing results according to sex-specific characteristics, such as sex hormone levels and subcutaneous fat layer. This study had shown that saliva samples could be used as a noninvasive method to evaluate heat-stressed pigs. And the results in this study could be contributed to the development of a diagnostic tool as a noninvasive biomarker for managing heat-stressed pigs.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2022

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent used in various human personal care products against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of TCS-resistant bacteria in sewage water in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, for the first time. TCS-supplemented Luria Bertani (LB) agar was used to isolate TCS-tolerant bacteria. A total of 17 TCS-resistant isolates were randomly selected from a large pool of bacteria that showed growth on TCS-supplemented LB agar. Based on gram staining and physiochemical characteristics, the isolated strains were identified as Salmonella typhi (n = 6), Escherichia coli (n = 4), Citrobacter freundii (n = 4), Proteus mirabilis (n = 1), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 1), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1). The Triclosan mean minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the isolates of Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 23.66 ㎍ ml^-1, 18.75 ㎍ ml^-1, 42 ㎍ ml^-1, 32 ㎍ ml^-1, 64 ㎍ ml^-1, and 128 ㎍ ml^-1, respectively. The antibiogram revealed that all isolates were resistant to penicillin G (100%) and linezolid (100%), followed by ampicillin (94%), tetracycline (76%), tazobactam (76%), sulbactam/cefoperazone (64%), polymyxin PB (58%), amikacin (29.41%), aztreonam (29.41%), imipenem (5%), and gentamicin (5%). This is the first known study regarding the isolation of TCS-tolerant bacteria from sewage water in Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan. It was concluded that all the TCS-resistant isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria, mostly belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2022

A gold amalgam voltammetric microelectrode (GAVM) system was developed for the quantification of dissolved biogeochemical species, such as O₂, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, and HS^- in sediment porewater. Commercially available Ag/AgCl and platinum electrodes were used as the reference and counter electrode, respectively, and a gold amalgam microelectrode was fabricated in the laboratory using 150-um diameter gold wire and a borosilicate capillary tube with a 1.6-mm diameter. A portable potentiostat (Metrohm, DropSens) was used for the application of voltage sweeping and to acquire the electric current. For sediment profiling, a commercially available actuator was customized and modified. The analysis method used in the system used the most widely used analysis method among the electrochemical analysis currently used The GAVM system was successively calibrated with the species and applied to estuarine sediments. The porewater analysis showed that the oxygen concentration was decreased to zero at a depth of 0.6 mm, and maximum Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ concentrations of 50 uM and 20 uM were detected at 2 and 3-cm depths, respectively. Maximum HS^- concentrations of 10 uM were detected at 4 cm in the deeper sediments. The GAVM system was successfully developed and applied to the sediment and can be used to better understand biogeochemical reactions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.362-368
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• 2022

The sensory characteristics of nine rice-based distilled soju were determined using check-all-that-apply (CATA) profiling. A total of 53 consumers evaluated the soju for two appearance attributes, nine aroma attributes, nine flavor/taste attributes, four mouth-feel related sensory attributes, and overall desirability. The total sum of CATA terms indicated that 14 characteristics showed frequency differences of over 10 and that there were significant differences among nine samples for eleven sensory attributes as determined using Cochran's q test (p<0.05). Based on correspondence analysis of CATA data, the samples were primarily separated by the first dimension, which accounted for 89% of the total variance among samples. The "brown color," "fruit taste," and "grain aroma" characteristics had higher frequencies than those for the "white color," "acetone aroma," and 'alcohol taste" characteristics. Overall, there was a higher preference for oak-aged samples than for samples aged in other containers. "sweet aroma', 'fruit aroma," and "sweet taste" seemed to positively affect consumer preferences, while "bitter taste," "alcohol taste," and "acetone aroma" appeared to negatively affect consumer preferences as determined by principal coordinate analysis.