• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.10
• /
• pp.1234-1244
• /
• 2022

Oral streptococci are considered as an opportunistic pathogen associated with initiation and progression of various oral diseases. However, since the currently-available treatments often accompany adverse effects, alternative strategy is demanded to control streptococci. In the current study, we investigated whether short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including sodium acetate (NaA), sodium propionate (NaP), and sodium butyrate (NaB), can inhibit the growth of oral streptococci. Among the tested SCFAs, NaP most potently inhibited the growth of laboratory and clinically isolated strains of Streptococcus gordonii under anaerobic culture conditions. However, the growth inhibitory effect of NaP on six different species of other oral streptococci was different depending on their culture conditions. Metabolic changes such as alteration of methionine biosynthesis can affect bacterial growth. Indeed, NaP enhanced intracellular methionine levels of oral streptococci as well as the mRNA expression level of methionine biosynthesis-related genes. Collectively, these results suggest that NaP has an inhibitory effect on the growth of oral streptococci, which might be due to alteration of methionine biosynthesis. Thus, NaP can be used an effective bacteriostatic agent for the prevention of oral infectious diseases caused by oral streptococci.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.1.1-1.11
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study evaluated the dentinal penetration depth of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in root canals with and without preparation and different irrigant activation protocols. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three bovine mandibular incisors were randomly allocated to 6 groups (n = 10): G1, preparation + conventional needle irrigation (CNI); G2, preparation + passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI); G3, preparation + Odous Clean (OC); G4, no preparation + CNI; G5, no preparation + PUI; G6, no preparation + OC; and CG (negative control; n = 3). Samples were filled with crystal violet for 72 hours. Irrigant activation was performed. Samples were sectioned perpendicularly along the long axis, 3 mm and 7 mm from the apex. Images of the root thirds of each block were captured with a stereomicroscope and analyzed with an image analysis software. One-way analysis of variance, followed by the Tukey post hoc test, and the Student's t-test were used for data analysis, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The NaOCl penetration depth was similar when preparation was performed, regardless of the method of irrigation activation (p > 0.05). In the groups without preparation, G6 showed greater NaOCl penetration depth (p < 0.05). The groups without preparation had a greater NaOCl penetration depth than those with preparation (p = 0.0019). Conclusions: The NaOCl penetration depth was similar in groups with root canal preparation. Without root canal preparation, OC allowed deeper NaOCl penetration. The groups without preparation had greater NaOCl penetration than those undergoing root canal preparation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to identify the therapeutic ability of a novel toll-like receptor (TLR) 5 agonist, KMRC011, on ulcerative colitis induced by Citrobacter rodentium and dextran sulfate sodium in a C57BL/6N mouse model. Ulcerative colitis was induced in the mice by the oral administration of 1% dextran sulfate sodium in sterile drinking water for seven days ad libitum, followed by C. rodentium infection on the seventh day by intra-gastric administration (DSS-CT group). KMRC011 was administered intramuscularly at both 24 h and 15 min before (Treatment 1 group), and at both 15 min and 24 h after (Treatment 2 group) the C. rodentium infection. The length of the large intestine and histopathological counts were significantly greater and mucosal thickness was significantly thinner in the Treatment 1 group compared to the DSS-CT and Treatment 2 groups. Il-6 and Il-10 mRNA expression levels were upregulated, while Ifn-γ and Tnf-α mRNA expression levels were significantly downregulated in the Treatment 1 group, compared to the DSS-CT group. NF-κB p65 expression level was elevated due to ulcerative colitis in the DSS-CT group, but was significantly downregulated in the Treatment 1 group. Overall, KMRC011 showed protective effects against murine colitis by inhibiting NF-κB signaling.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.613-619
• /
• 2000

We investigated the expression profiles of rat fibrotic liver induced by bile duct ligation and scission (BDL/S) using the 3'-directed cDNA libraries. The possibility that the 3'-directed cDNA library represents the mRNA population faithfully was examined by northern blots. During the northern analysis based on fibrotic liver expression profile, we found for the first time that purine specific sodium nucleoside cotransporter (SPNT) was upregulated in BDL/S-induced fibrotic liver. To determine whether the accumulation of bile juice could affect the expression of SPNT mRNA or not, we examined the change of SPNT mRNA expression at 3, 14, 28 days after BDL/S operation. No change in SPNT expression was observed in rat liver at 3 days after surgery. In contrast, there were significant increases in SPNT expression at 14 and 28 days after surgery. We also examined whether chronic liver damage affected SPNT mRNA expression. SPNT mRNA level was significantly increased in BDL/S-induced fibrotic rat liver, whereas no significant change was obserbed in fibrotic livers chronically exposed to carbon tetrachloride or dimethylnitrosamine. From the above results, although further study might be needed, it was considered that the increment of SPNT mRNA in BDL/S liver morphological compatibility to human was remarkable.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.670-675
• /
• 2008

A laccase was isolated from the culture filtrate of the basidiomycete Fomitella fraxinea. The enzyme was purified to electrophoretical homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel-filtration chromatography. The enzyme was identified as a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 47 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel-filtration chromatography, and had an isoelectric point of 3.8. The N-terminal amino acid sequence for the enzyme was ATXSNXKTLAAD, which had a very low similarity to the sequences previously reported for laccases from other basidiomycetes. The optimum pH and temperature for 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) were 3.0 and $70^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme also showed a much higher level of specific activity for ABTS and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP), where the $K_m$ values of the enzyme for ABTS and 2,6-DMP were 270 and $426{\mu}M$, respectively, and the $V_{max}$ values were 876 and $433.3{\mu}M/min$, respectively. The laccase activity was completely inhibited by L-cysteine, dithiothreitol (DTT), and sodium azide, significantly inhibited by $Ni^+,\;Mn^{2+}$, and $Ba^{2+}$, and slightly stimulated by $K^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.247-251
• /
• 1990

A bacterial strain which produce a high level of protease was isolated from a commercial salted fish, squid jetkal. This strain was identified as a strain belong to the genus Halobacterium and was found to be extremely halophilic : more than 2.0M of sodium chloride was required for the growth. The protease production by the strain was maximized when grown on Norberg & Hofsten medium containing 4.5M sodium chloride, 1.5% gelatin and 0.4% yeast extract (initial pH 7.0) for 108hrs at $38^{\circ}C$.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.113-120
• /
• 2004

Chromium compounds are known human and animal carcinogens. In this study, the effects of sodium chromate on apoptosis and cell cycle were investigated in order to unveil the elements of early cellular responses to the metal. Using Chinese hamster ovary cells(CHO-K1-BH4), we found taht chromium (VI) treatment induced apoptosis in these cells, as signified by nuclear fragmentation, DNA laddering on agarose gel electrophoresis, and an increased proportionof cells with hypodiploid DNA. Preceding these changes, chromium (VI) treatment increased caspase 3 pritease activity and also increased expression of p53 protein, while the level of bcl2 protein was not changed. Coincubation with caspase inhibitor, Z-DEVD-FMK, inhibited chromium-induced apoptosis. In the flow cytometric analysis using propidium iodide fluorescence, an increase of cell population in G2/M phase was shown in cells exposed to at least 160 $\mu\textrm{m}$ of sodium chromate for 72h, form 9.8% for 0$\mu\textrm{m}$ chromium (VI) to 26.4% for 320$\mu\textrm{m}$ chromium(VI). Taken together, these findings suggest that chromium(VI)-induced apoptosis is accompanied by G2/M cell cycle arrest, and that p53-mediated pathway may be involved in positive regulation of G2/M arrest and a concurred apoptosis in CHO cells.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.375-381
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate Na and K balances in healthy adult women. Anthropometric assessments, biochemical analysis of blood, 3-day dietary flood records and collections of 3-day food, 24-hr urine and faces were performed to evaluate intakes and excretions of Na and K in 20 college women living in Seoul. The mean BMI and blood pressure of the subjects were 21.08 and 110.25/67.50mmHg, respectively. Mean daily intake of energy was 1578.84kcal, 79% of Korean RDA. Also, daily intakes of Na and K ware 120.86mEq and 44.20mEq. The urinary and fecal excretions of Na were 99.88 and 4.45mEq/day, and those of K were 30.41 and 8.66mEq/day, respectively. The body retention, retention rate, and apparent absorption of Na were 17.11mEq, 13.23%, and 96.31%, and those of K were 5.82mEq, 8.69%, and 80.12%, respectively. The urinary and fecal Na/K ratio were 3.48 and 0.52. There were significantly positive correlations between 1) urinary Na, K excretions and intakes of Na or K, 2) urinary K and BMI, 3) serum K and serum globulin, and 4) urinary Na excretion and serum haptoglobin level, respectively. The results of this study show that Na intake was higher and K intake was lower than those of other advanced nations. Therefore, nutrition education show instruct people to reduce Na intake and to increase K intake.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.932-938
• /
• 2009

Browning of tea infusion is an obstructive factor influencing shelf life of ready-to-drink green tea. Effects of temperature and illumination on the browning of green tea infusion were investigated. It was shown that both elevated temperature and illumination led to the browning of green tea infusion, but temperature had greater effect on infusion color and level of catechins than illumination. The levels of unoxidized catechins such as (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg), (-)-epicatechin (EC), and total catechins remaining in the tea infusion were significantly correlated to color parameters of the tea infusion. Sodium ascorbate inhibited the infusion browning by suppressing the oxidation of tea catechins and it is considered to be a more suitable preservative for prolonging shelf life of ready-to-drink green tea than ascorbic acid because it has less effect on tea taste. The effects of temperature and illumination on the epimerization of catechins were also discussed.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.9 no.1_2
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1994

Nerve conduction impairment in lead neuropathy has been empirically linked to altered nerve myo-inositol metabolism. In most cases of neuropathy, abnormal myo-inositol metabolism is associated with abnormal $Na^+/K^+$ATPase provides a potential mechanism to relate defects of the myo-inositol metabolism in the peripheral nerve treated with lead. Therefore, the effect of lead on the rat sciatic nerve $Na^+/K^+$ATPase and other ATPase of sciatic nerve was studied. ATPase activity was measured enzymatically in sciatic nerve homogenates from 2-wk lead treated neuropathy rats and age-mached controls administered myo-inositol. $Na^+/K^+$ATPase components were assessed by ouabain inhibition or the omission of sodium and potassium ions. Lead reduced 50% reduction in the $Na^+/K^+$ATPase activity in homogenates of sciatic nerve. The 50% reduction in the $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase activity was selectively prevented by myo-inositol treatment. This study suggests that the toxic mechanism of the lead on peripheral nerve may be through reduction in $Na^+/K^+$ATPase activity which has been linked to axonal transport slowing in the rat model of lead neuropathy, via direct changes by the perturbation of the intracelluar sodium or potasium level.