• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.542-549
• /
• 2020

A previous study reported that Ulmus macrocarpa Hance water extract (UME) can improve hyperlipid metabolism and the involvement of suppressed lipid synthesis through adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway regulation was suggested. Further exploration of the lipid metabolism between liver and peripheral tissue was necessary to confirm that work, and so this study aimed to extend the possibility that UME can regulate serum lipids. After a 6-week in vivo trial of oral administration of UME to rats with induced hyperlipidemia, serum levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were seen to decrease while HDL cholesterol increased. The UME administrations also decreased the TC and TG levels from the control in liver analysis. However, the suggestion that UME regulates the AMPK pathway to improve hyperlipid states through the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis seems to be only one part of the extract's effect. Indeed, serum concentrations of apolipoproteins A and B were returned to baseline levels of the control group in response to UME administration whilst the liver lipid content was much reduced; this cannot occur through the suggested suppression of hepatic lipogenesis alone. Therefore, a possible mechanism of UME could be that it improves blood circulation by modulating serum lipid levels through both the prior stimulation of lipid oxidation and the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.922-928
• /
• 2000

The effects of animal species and supplements on rumen fluid characteristics, plasma urea-N (PUN) concentration, plasma urea-N pool size, urea-N degradation in the gut and urea-N net flux (urea-N synthesis rate) were studied in goats and sheep, with some minor differences detected. The animals were fed either chopped rice straw ad libitum+200 g soybean meal (SBM), or chopped rice straw ad libitum+190 g soybean meal+300 g sago meal (SBM+SM) for 14 days. The supplements were isonitrogenous (80 g crude protein/animal/d). [$^{14}C$]-urea was used as the marker for urea metabolism studies. Two animals from each species were fed either supplement in a cross-over design in two periods. The results showed that rumen pH was significantly (p<0.001) lower in animals fed SBM+SM than those fed SBM supplement. The ammonia concentrations of rumen fluid were significantly (p<0.01) higher in sheep (382.9 mg N/L) than goats (363.1 mg N/L) when fed SBM supplement but lower (282.5 mg N/L) than that of goats (311.0 mg N/L) when fed SBM+SM supplement. Total VFA concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals fed SBM+SM supplement than those fed SBM supplement. Goats had significantly (p<0.01) higher molar proportions of acetate (79.1, 77.7%, respectively) than sheep (75.8, 74.0%, respectively) in both supplements. The molar proportion of acetate was significantly (p<0.05) higher, while that of butyrate lower in animals fed SBM supplement than those fed SBM+SM supplement. In animals fed SBM supplement, the molar proportion of propionate was significantly (p<0.01) higher in sheep (18.0%) than in goats (15.6%), but in animals fed SBM+SM, the molar proportion of butyrate was significantly (p<0.01) higher (9.6%) in sheep than in goats (7.2%). Plasma urea-N concentration, plasma urea-N pool size, urea-N degradation in the gut, urea-N net flux and the fraction of urea-C from the blood entering the rumen were not significantly different between goats and sheep fed either supplement. However, PUN concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower in animals fed SBM+SM supplement (average of 13.8 mg N/100 ml) than in those fed SBM supplement (average of 16.5 mg N/100 ml). The urea net flux was significantly (p<0.05) higher in goats (average of 14.5 g N/d) than sheep (average of 12.9 g N/d), and animals fed SBM supplement showed higher (average of 14.9 g N/d) urea net flux than animals fed SBM+SM supplement (average of 12.9 g N/d). A significant (p<0.05) positive correlation was observed between urea-N net flux and urea-N degradation; urea-N net flux and pool size; urea-N net flux and urea excretion in the urine; and PUN and rumen ammonia in goats. While in sheep, significant (p<0.05) positive correlation was observed between urea-N net flux and urea excretion in the urine; and PUN and rumen ammonia.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.587-598
• /
• 2000

Urea in the oral cavity is hydrolyzed mainly by bacterial ureases to ammonia, which in turn, raises pH of the oral environment, maintaining oral pH homeostasis, thereby inhibiting dental caries. Streptococcus salivarius has been shown to be a major contribution to oral ureolysis. Synthesis of urease by S. salivarius appears to be constitutive, but can be greatly enhanced in the acidic environment. It has been presumed that ureolytic activity of S. salivarius strains isolated from caries-active site is greater than that of strains from caries-free site. However, no in vivo study has supported the presumption. The present study was performed to observe the ureolytic activity of S. salivarius strains isolated from different environments in the same individual, finding out whether the ureolytic activity is related to dental caries. For the purpose, S. salivarius strains were isolated from caries-active site (>C2), a caries-free site of the tooth, and the dorsum of the tongue of each of 50 patients having decayed teeth. The strains isolated from the patients who harbored S. salivarius in more than two sites were selected and then their ureolytic activities were measured. In order to examine clonal diversity of the strains, their ureC genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then restricted with EcoRV, and the protein profiles of the strains were compared by SDS-PAGE. The results were as follows: 1. Of 50 patients, 13 patients harbored S. salivarius in more than two sites; a total of 61 S. salivarius strain were isolated from the patients and selected for the study. 2. Of 17 isolates from the caries-active site of 9 patients harboring S. salivarius in more than two sites including carious lesion, 10 (58.8%) showed a high ureolytic activity (> 200 ${\mu}mol/min/mg$). While, 19 out of 44 isolates (43.2%) from the caries-free site of the teeth and the dorsum of the tongues of 13 patients were the strains with a high ureolytic activity. 3. Of 9 patients harboring S. salivarius in more than two sites including caries-active site. 6 patients were found to have the strains in the caries-active site showing a lower ureolytic activity than the strains in the other sites. 4. Of 34 isolates with ureolytic activity higher than 40 ${\mu}mol/min/mg$, 32 isolates produced 0.54-Kbp PCR products regardless of the sites of bacterial collection. In contrast, of 27 isolates with ureolytic activity lower than 40${\mu}mol/min/mg$, 26 isolates yielded 1.3-Kbp PCR products or none regardless of the sites. 5. Different clonal types of S. salivarius with relatively higher and lower ureolytic activities were found in the same individuals and even in the same sites. 6. None of strains showing different ureolytic activity appeared to be the same clonal type. The overall results suggest that ureolytic activity of the isolates does not appear to be related to differences of the environments but related to their own genetic traits.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Several studies have suggested that hyperlipidemia might be a causative factor contributing to the progression of initial glomerular injury through the development of glomerulosclerosis. We examined the potential beneficial effect of atorvastatin - which blocks the rate limiting step of cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase - in PAN-induced nephrosis. Materials and Methods : Glomerulosclerosis was induced in Sprague-Dawley male rats by repeated administration of PAN. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 3 groups : group I(control), group II(PAN 20 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection), group III(PAN 20 mg/kg subcutaneous injection and atorvastatin 50 mg/kg/day per oral). On the 11th week, upon sacrifice of the experimental animals, blood sampling, 24-hr urine collection and nephrectomy were performed. Results : Group III had significantly lower BUN and higher serum albumin($30.9{\pm}17.2\;vs.\;17.3{\pm}2.5\;mg/dL;\;2.3{\pm}0.1\;vs.\;2.5{\pm}0.2\;g/dL$, P<0.05) compared with group II. In the lipid profiles, group III was associated with a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL($291{\pm}173\;vs.\;167{\pm}72\;mg/dL:\;57{\pm}53\;vs.\;27{\pm}12\;mg/dL$, P>0.05) compared with group II. Atorvastatin administration lowered the glomerular sclerosing index significantly(26.2% vs. 13.3%, P<0.05). Conclusion : Puromycin-induced glomerulosclerosis could be ameliorated by the reduction of hyperlipidemia with atorvastatin. This suggests that hyperlipidemia contributes to the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.688-696
• /
• 2017

In this study, the physicochemical properties and anti-wrinkle effect of polysaccharides with different molecular weights from Gloiopeltis furcata were investigated. Crude polysaccharides were isolated by viscozyme treatment followed by ethanol precipitation and lyophilization. Crude polysaccharides were hydrolyzed by acid (0.1 N HCl) and the molecular weight fractions were generated by centrifugal filter (<10 kDa, 10 to 100 kDa, and 100 kDa>). The yield of polysaccharides with different molecular weight fractions was 8.4-39.6%. The major constituents in molecular weight fractions were total sugar (81.37-85.82%), uronic acid (27.89-32.85 g/100 g), sulfate (33.38-39.04%), and protein (0.35-3.16%) The L, a, and b value of the 100 kDa group were decreased, but viscosity increased. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity of the 100 kDa group at $180.07{\mu}M$ was the highest among groups. The protective effects of 100 kDa group at 0.5 and $5{\mu}g/mL$ against $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity in L132 cell were 87.34% and 103.85%, respectively. The matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity of 100 kDa group decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The pro-collagen synthesis activity of 100 kDa group at $0.05-0.5{\mu}g/mL$ was 64.91-77.80%. The polysaccharides with different molecular weights from Gloiopeltis furcata investigated herein are useful as a potential candidate for cosmedical materials.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.420-426
• /
• 1999

We examined the immune response in flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, with immunization of formalin killed Edwardsiella tarda as an antigen. The ELISPOT-assay (enzyme-linked immunospot assay) was optimized technically and applied to count the number of total and specific antibody secreting cells (TASC and SASC) in lymphocytes of different lymphatic organs. Incubation of lymphocytes on 96 well plate for more than 2.5hrs came out enough time in ELISPOT-assay for counting the antibody secreting cells in the anterior kidney and spleen. However, too much of plate-coated antigen or rabbit anti-flounder immunoglobulin for SASC or TASC counting, respectively, was appeared to decrease the sensitivity of the assay system. Specificity of the system was also confirmed by the absence of TASC in lymphocytes treated with cycloheximide to prevent protein synthesis. The peak numbers of SASC appeared at wk 3 post immunization after that there was a sharp decrease and reached to almost zero at wk 7. In the spleen and kidney, the timing and numbers of SASC on peak response were concurrent without preferential organ distribution. The specific antibody level in the sera increased rapidly between wk 2 and 3 after immunization, i.e. like the specific cellular response found with ELISPOT-assay on that period, However, the remained high level of specific serum antibody from wk 5 after immunization until the end of experiment was clearly distinguishable from the kinetics of SASC response decreased sharply.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.168-177
• /
• 2015

Here we study the anti-obesity effects of by-product from soybean on mouse fed high fat diet. The body weight gain, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue weight, liver and epididymal adipose tissue weight in freeze-dried soybean-soaking-water (SSW) powder fed group showed lower level than those in high fat diet (HFD) group by determining with weight measuring and histological methods. Also, histological analyses of the liver and fat tissues of SSW grouped mice revealed significantly less number of lipid droplets formation and smaller size of adipocytes compared to the HFD group. Moreover, the levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index were decreased in the SSW groups. Especially, in SSW group, the levels of phosphorylation of two lipid oxidation enzymes, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylasse (ACC) were elevated hence that may activate fatty acid oxidation. But AST and ALT levels were not changed in blood. By micro-CT analysis of abdomen, SSW groups significantly showed a tendency to decrease visceral and subcutaneous fats as well as fat-deposited areas compared to HFD group. Taken together, we suggest that soybean soaking water has a function in ameliorating obesity through inhibiting lipid synthesis as well as stimulating fatty acid oxidation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.62 no.3
• /
• pp.229-237
• /
• 2019

More effective treatments are needed for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that water extracts of blackberry fruits (BF) and leaves (BL) and their combinations (BFL) reduce fat deposition in HepG2 cells and modulate shor-tchain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal bacteria in vitro. HepG2 cells were treated with BF, BL, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 for 1 h, and 0.5 mM palmitate was added to the cells. Moreover, low ($30{\mu}g/mL$) and high doses ($90{\mu}g/mL$) of BL and BF were applied to fecal bacteria in vitro, and SCFA was measured by GC. BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 reduced triglyceride deposition in the cells in a dose-dependent manner, and BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 had a stronger effect than BF. The content of malondialdehyde, an index of oxidative stress, was also reduced in BL, BF, and BFL1:2 with increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The mRNA expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c was reduced in BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 compared to the control, and BFL1:2 had the strongest effect. By contrast, the carnitine palmitolytransferase-1expression, a regulator of fatty acid oxidation, increased mostly in BFL1:2 and BFL1:3. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ expression was reduced in BL compared to that in BF and BFL1:2 in HepG2 cells. Interestingly, BL increased propionate production, and BF increased butyrate and propionate production and increased total SCFA content in fecal incubation. BF increased the contents of Bifidobacteriales and Lactobacillales and decreased those of Clostridiales, whereas BL elevated the contents of Bacteroidales and decreased those of Enterobacteriales. In conclusion, BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 may be potential therapeutic candidates for NAFLD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.12
• /
• pp.1701-1707
• /
• 2016

The present study investigated the anti-obesity effect of pine cone (PC, Pinus koraiensis) supercritical extract in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with HFD, HFD+catechin, and HFD+PC [two different doses, 20 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) and 100 mg/kg b.w.] in each AIN93G supplement for 8 weeks. Treatment of HFD mice with both low and high doses of PC significantly reduced body weight gain compared to HFD mice. Liver weight of mice was reduced in both the low and high dose PC-supplemented groups (24.19% and 19.83%, respectively). Total adipose tissue weight of mice was reduced in both the low and high dose PC-supplemented groups (45.54% and 62.66%, respectively). Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol were reduced in the low and high dose PC-supplemented groups, and ratios of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol increased by 94.55% in the high dose PC-supplemented group. Serum leptin was significantly reduced in the low and high dose PC-supplemented groups (28.14% and 62.72%, respectively). These results were supported by genetic expression of protein and enzymes related to lipid metabolism assessed by real-time PCR. There was significant reduction of lipid regulatory transcription factors such as $PPAR-{\gamma}$, C/EBP, and SREBP and lipid enzymes such as fatty acid synthesis and lipoprotein lipase in the low and high dose PC-supplemented groups. However, there was no statistical difference between low and high dose PC treatments. These results suggest that pine cone supercritical extract supplementation is able to regulate serum lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels, followed by regulation of expression of lipid metabolic factors, resulting in reduction of weight gain in HFD-induced obese mice.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.44-52
• /
• 1999

Background : Airway infiltration by inflammatory cells, particularly of eosinophils, is one of the characteristic features of asthma. Several mechanisms for the recruitment of eosinophil is focused on the CD4+ T lymphocyte for the preferential production of Th2-c1erived cytokines. Interleukin-10(IL-10) is identified cytokine with potent antiinflammatory activity. This molecule has been shown to inhibit the release of cytokine from inflammatory cells including Th2 cell, and also to inhibit eosinophil survival. We therefore attempted to determine whether decreased synthesis of IL-10 in the lung of bronchial asthma may contribute to inflammation that is characteristics of this dease. Method: Subjects were patients with bronchial asthma(n=23) and normal controls(n=11). IL-10 produced from peripheral mononuclear cell(PBMC) and in bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid was measured by ELISA method. Degree of bronchial inflammation was assessed by total cell counts and eosinophil percents in BAL fluid, eosinophil infiltration on bronchial biopsy tissue and $PC_{20}$ for methacholine. Results: The IL-10 level produced by PBMC and in BAL fluid from patient with bronchial asthma were not different with normal controls(respectively, $901.6\pm220.4$ pg/ml, $810.9\pm290.8$ pg/ml for PBMC, $24.5\pm9.5$ pg/mL $30.5\pm13.5$ pg/ml for BAL fluid p>0.05). There were significant negative correlation between IL-10 in BAL fluid and eosinophil percents in BAL fluid or degree of eosinophil infiltration in bronchial biopsy (respectively r=-0.522, r=-0.4486 p<0.05). However there was no difference of IL-10 level according to $PC_{20}$ for methacholine. There were no correlation between IL-10 production by PBMC and peripheral blood eosinophil counts or serum eosinophilic cationic protein levels(respectively r=0.1146, r=0.0769 p>0.05). Conclusion: These observation suggest that IL-10 may participate but not acts the crucial role in regulation of the airway inflammation in bronchial asthma.