• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2011

Diblock copolymers composed of poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA), or methoxy polyethylene glycol(PEG), were synthesized via a combination of ring-opening polymerization and atom-transfer radical polymerization in order to prepare polymeric nanoparticles as an antifungal drug carrier. Amphotericin B (AmB), a natural antibiotic, was incorporated into the polymeric nanoparticles. The physical properties of AmB-incorporated polymeric nanoparticles with PCL-b-PDMAEMA and PCL-b-PEG were studied in relation to morphology and particle size. In the aggregation state study, AmB-incorporated PCL-b- PDMAEMA nanoparticles exhibited a monomeric state pattern of free AmB, whereas AmB-incorporated PCL-b- PEG nanoparticles displayed an aggregated pattern. In in vitro hemolysis tests with human red blood cells, AmBincorporated PCL-b-PDMAEMA nanoparticles were seen to be 10 times less cytotoxic than free AmB (5 ${\mu}g$/ml). In addition, an improved antifungal activity of AmBincorporated polymeric nanoparticles was observed through antifungal activity tests using Candida albicans, whereas polymeric nanoparticles themselves were seen not to affect activity. Finally, in vitro AmB release studies were conducted, proving the potential of AmB-incorporated PCL-b-PDMAEMA nanoparticles as a new formulation candidate for AmB.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.9
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• pp.51-71
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• 2000

The present experiments were designed to study the influence of WalgookwhanhabBojoongikgitang on immune functions of Balb/c mice under stress condition. WalgookwhanhabBojoongikgitang was orally administered to the mice for 15 days. On the 10th day the mice were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and then subjected to electric footshock for 5 days (2 sessions a day, 11 footshocks a 31 min-session). The immune responses to SRBC were determined by means of hemagglutination and BIT cell populations in the spleen were studied by FACS analysis on the 16th day. The results were as follows. 1. After electric footshock, IDlce became sluggish and crowded to one side of the cage. Increased antibody titer for SRBC, increased B cell population, and decreased T cell population in the spleen were also observed. These results confirm that electric footshock caused stress inducing immunological and behavioral changes in Balblc mice. 2. Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang administration significantly antagonized the effect of electric footshock on the antibody titer for SRBC. As a result, antibody titers for SRBC in the mice treated with Walgookwhanga-Bojoongikgitang were maintained at the similar levels as those of control group mice even after the electric foots hock. 3. Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang administration also antagonized the effect of electric footshock on the BIT populations in spleen. As a result, Band T populations in the mice treated with Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang were maintained at the similar levels as in the control group mice even after the electric footshock. Taken together, Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang seem to help Balb/c mIce to maintain their humoral immune response and immune cell populations at a normal range under the stress conditions, suggesting its possible therapeutic use as a immune function modulator.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

The bacterial toxin, tolaasin, causes brown blotch disease on the cultivated mushrooms by collapsing fungal and fruiting body structure of mushroom. Cytotoxicity of tolaasin was evaluated by measuring hemolytic activity because tolaasins form membrane pores on the red blood cells and destroy cell structure. While we investigated the inhibitions of hemolytic activity of tolaasin by $Zn^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$, we found that $Ni^{2+}$ is another antagonist to block the toxicity of tolaasin. $Ni^{2+}$ inhibited the tolaasin-induced hemolysis in a dose-dependent manner and its Ki value was $\sim10$ mM, implying that the inhibitory effect of $Ni^{2+}$ is stronger than that of $Cd^{2+}$. The hemolytic activity was completely inhibited by $Ni^{2+}$ at the concentration higher than 50 mM. The effect of $Ni^{2+}$ was reversible since it was removed by the addition of EDTA. When the tolaasin-induced hemolysis was suppressed by the addition of 20 mM $Ni^{2+}$, the subsequent addition of EDIA immediately initiated the hemolysis. Although the mechanism of $Ni^{2+}$ -induced inhibition on tolaasin toxicity is not known, $Ni^{2+}$ could inhibit any of fallowing processes of tolaasin action, membrane binding, molecular multimerization, pore formation, and massive ion transport through the membrane pore. Our results indicate that $Ni^{2+}$ inhibits the pore activity of tolaasin, the last step of the toxic process.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.289-296
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• 2010

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding and a cell-agglutinating proteins, and are concerted with a plants defence mechanism. In particular, chitin-binding lectins in locular fluid of cherry tomato fruit seemed to have a role in defending plants against fungi. The antifungal activity using lectin isolated from locular fluid of cherry tomato fruit was measured in the plant pathogen Cladosporium cucumerinum, Monosporascus cannonballus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani. Amoung the four strains, a potent antifungal activity was detected in Cladosporium cucumerinum and Monosporascus cannonballus, not in Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani. The molecular weight of this lectin isolated as double protein bands by SDS-PAGE was calculated to be 87 kDa and 47 kDa from the relative mobilities compared with those of reference molecular weight markers. The isolated lectin agglutinated human red blood cells (A, B, AB, O) treated with trypsin, and the most activity was found at B. The optimal temperature of isolated lectin was at $30^{\circ}C$. For the thermal stability, lectin was stable at $20-80^{\circ}C$. The optimal pH of this lectin was at 7.2, and showed complete loss below pH 9.0.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2000

Four clonal lines of ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, were produced through gynogenesis, mixed before hatching and reared communally. After 10 months, a randomly taken sample was subjected to a standardized shallow water stressor. Hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells count (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were obtained from stressed and non-stressed fish. DNA fingerprinting was used to confirm the clonal nature of the organisms and to identified the clonal line to which each fish belonged. 1 observed significant differences between clona] lines mostly in the hematocrit and MCV measured under no-stress conditions. Such differences are suggested to represent mainly genetic variance, on account of the common environment provided to all the experimental groups. The stress response ratio was lower than expected, mainly due to some unexpectedly high non-stress values. Heritability values (h$^2$) were medium to high for the no-stress measurements (mean 0.238) and very low or zero for the stressed groups'traits (excepting one high value of 0.484). 1 conclude that the use of communally reared clonal lines represents a good tool for the characterization of the physiological traits, thus allowing for their utilization as genetic selection criteria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.289-295
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• 2016

Sorbus commixta, a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, is native to Japan and Ulleung Island, Korea. This plant is also called maga-mok or mai-mok in Korea because the bud of the stem has a similar shape to the teeth of a horse. In this study, hot water extracts from different parts of S. commixta, such as leaf, stem, and immature and mature fruits, were prepared, and their antithrombosis and antioxidant activities were evaluated. The extraction yield and pH of stem extracts were 3.99% and 5.5, respectively. The stem extracts contained 89.2 mg/g of total polyphenols and 28.3 mg/g of total flavonoids. The hot water extracts prepared from the leaf, stem, immature, and mature fruit of S. commixta exhibited no hemolytic activity against human red blood cells, up to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. In an anticoagulation assay, the stem extracts showed strong extension in thrombin, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin times, whereas the other extracts had no anticoagulation activity. In a platelet aggregation inhibitory activity assay, all the extracts tested had no inhibitory activity against human platelets. With regard to antioxidation activity, the stem extracts showed stronger radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity than the other extracts. The calculated RC₅₀s, the concentration required for 50% radical scavenging activity, for DPPH anions, ABTS cations, and nitrite of the crude stem extracts were 119.7, 53.3, and 117.5 μg/ml, respectively, whereas they were 13.7, 5.2, and 14.9 μg/ml for DPPH anions, ABTS cations, and nitrite, respectively, for vitamin C. The results suggest that the stem extracts of S. commixta have strong potential for use as a novel resource for antithrombosis agents.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 2007

We investigated the immunomodulatory actions of water extract from Acanthopanax senticosus in male ICR mice. The mice were treated with fermented milk containing three added doses of freeze dried extract: 3 mg/kg (A), 9 mg/kg (B), and 27 mg/kg (C) of body weight with Acanthopanax senticosus: Codonopsis lanceolata (8:2) for 7 and 10 weeks, respectively. Organ weights, plaque-forming cell tests, agglutination tests, IgG tests, differential white cell counts, and histological tests were performed at the 7th and 10th weeks of dietary treatment. There were no significant differences in body weight and organ weight. The spleen indices of group B at 7 weeks and group C at 10 weeks were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). For the plaque-forming cell test, groups B and C at 7 weeks, and group C at 10 weeks, showed significant increases over the control group (p<0.05). The agglutination test decreased with an extended experimental period. Groups A, B, and C at 7 weeks, and groups B and C at 10 weeks, had greater antibody responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) than the control group. The IgG antibody production of group C at 7 weeks and groups B and C at 10 weeks were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). In groups B and C, lymphocyte percentage was higher than the control group, and their spleen and thymus tissues showed active immune reactions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.1053-1058
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• 2009

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most commonly encountered viral pathogens in newborn infants and is found in 0.3-2.4% of all live births. It has been demonstrated that 40-96% of seropositive mothers shed the virus via their breast milk. Breast milk containing CMV can cause almost one-third of CMV infections occurring in infants. A case of postnatal CMV infection in an extremely premature infant (gestational age $24^{+5}$ weeks, birth weight 750 g) transmitted via breast milk is presented. For neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) management of severe thrombocytopenia, anemia, and sepsis syndrome, the infant received repeated transfusions of platelets; intravenous (IV) immunoglobulins; and gamma- irradiated, filtrated packed red cells and was fed her mother's breast milk since the second week of life. CMV infection was diagnosed with positive CMV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and positive urine CMV culture at the second month of life. Considering the negative CMV IgM and urine CMV culture at birth, postnatally-acquired CMV infection was suspected and confirmed with completely identical nucleotide sequence alignments of the infantile blood isolate and the maternal breast milk isolate. To our knowledge, this is the first case of proven postnatal CMV infection transmitted via breast milk in an extremely premature infant in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1445-1450
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feed withdrawal (F) and heat acclimatization (A) on malebroiler and -layer chickens responses to acute heat stress (AHS) at four weeks of age. Totals of ninety male chicks of broiler or layer type were randomly allocated into 30 pens of grower batteries with raised wire floors. Chicks were subjected to F and A three times a week through the first three weeks of age. At each time, feed withdrawal and heat acclimatization (T = $35^{\circ}C$) lasted for six and four hours, respectively. Feed consumption (FC), body weight (BW), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly for broiler type chickens only. At four weeks of age, all groups of chickens were exposed to AHS (T = $39{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) for three hours. Before and after AHS challenge, body temperature (Tb), heterophil (H), and lymphocyte (L) counts were recorded, and H/L ratio was calculated. Antibody (Ab) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was assessed from all treatments without being exposed to AHS. Group F of broiler-type chickens weighed less (p<0.05) compared to control group. Also, both A and F groups of broiler-type chickens consumed less (p<0.05) feed when compared to control group. Acute heat stress elevated Tb of all treatment groups, however the increase was more profound (p<0.001) in broiler chicks. Broiler chicks of both A and F groups showed a tendency to have higher (p = 0.08) Tb when compared to control group. Acute heat stress elevated (p<0.001) H/L ratio in both types of chickens. Broiler chicks maintained higher (p<0.001) H/L ratio. Both F and A groups reduced (p<0.01) the level of elevation in H/L ratio compared to control groups of both types of chickens. Neither A nor F group affected the Ab production in response to SRBC. However, there was a tendency towards higher Ab responses in F group when compared to other groups in both types of chickens. Results of the present study demonstrate that previous history of feed withdrawal or episodes of heat exposures improved chicks'physiological withstanding of AHS and a tendency to improved humoral immune response.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2010

Purpose: Controversy exists regarding whether pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients with microscopic hematuria should undergo radiographic evaluation. Adult patients have indications such as shock and deceleration injury. This study was conducted to suggest indications for the use of CT to detect significant renal injury in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients with microscopic hematuria. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2009, patients less than 18 years of age with blunt abdominal trauma and microscopic hematuria who had undergone CT were included in this retrospective study. We analyzed the correlation between microscopic hematuria, shock, deceleration injury, and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) renal injury grade. Patients were divided into two groups: the insignificant renal injury group (AAST grade 1) and the significant renal injury group (AAST grades 2-5). We compared age, gender, mechanism of injury, degree of microscopic hematuria, evidence of shock, presence of deceleration injury, and associated injuries between the two groups. We analyzed the effect of each of the above each factors on renal injury by using a logistic regression analysis. Results: Forty-three children were included, and the median age was 15 years. Five children had a significant renal injury. No significant differences, except age and microscopic hematuria (more than 30 red blood cells per high power field (RBC/HPF), p = 0.005) existed between the insignificant and the significant injury groups. A positive correlation existed between renal injury and microscopic hematuria (rho = 0.406, p = 0.007), but renal injury was not correlated with shock and deceleration injury. In the multivariate regression analysis, microscopic hematuria was the only factor correlated with renal injury (p = 0.042). Conclusion: If a microscopic hematuria of more than 30 RBC/HPF exists, the use of CT should be considerd, regardless of shock and deceleration injury to detect significant renal injury in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients.