• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2018

For the specific detection of human Parvovirus B19 (HuPaV-B19), we designed ten specific PCR primers from 3,800~4,500 nucleotides of HuPaV-B19 complete genome (NC_000883.2). Seventeen candidate PCR primer sets for specific detecting HuPaV-B19 were constructed. In specific reaction of HuPaV-B19, seventeen PCR primer sets showed specific band, however five PCR primer sets were selected basis of band intensity, amplicon size and location. In non-specific reaction with seven reference viruses, four PCR primer sets showed non-specific band, however one PCR primer set is not. Detection sensitivity of final selective PCR primer set was $100fg/{\mu}L$ for 112 minute, and PCR amplicon is 539 base pairs (bp). In addition, nested PCR primer set was developed, for detection HuPaV-B19 from a low concentration of contaminated samples. Selection of nested PCR primer set was basis of sensitivity and groundwater sample tests. Detection sensitivity of final selective PCR and nested PCR primer sets for the detection of HuPaV-B19 were $100fg/{\mu}L$ and $100ag/{\mu}L$ basis of HuPaV-B19 plasmid, it was able to rapid and highly sensitive detection of HuPaV-B19 than previous reports. We expect developed PCR primer set in this study will used for detection of HuPaV-B19 in various samples.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2021

Physiological agents trigger a signaling process called "inside-out signaling" and activated platelets promote adhesion, granule release, and conformational changes of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (αIIb/β₃). Activated αIIb/β₃ interacts with fibrinogen and initiates a second signaling step called "external signaling". These two signaling pathways can cause hemostasis or thrombosis, and thrombosis is a possible medical problem in arterial and venous vessels, and platelet-mediated thrombosis is a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, modulating platelet activity is important for platelet-mediated thrombosis and cardiovascular disease. Esculetin is a coumarin-based physiologically active 6,7-dihydroxy derivative known to have pharmacological activity against obesity, diabetes, renal failure and CVD. Although some studies have confirmed the effects of esculetin in human platelet activation and experimental mouse models, it is not clear how esculetin has antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. We confirmed the effect and mechanism of action of escultein on human platelets induced by collagen. As a result, esculetin decreased Ca²⁺ recruitment through upregulation of inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor. In addition, esculetin upregulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent pathways and inhibits fibrinogen binding and thrombus contraction. Our results demonstrate the antiplatelet effect and antithrombotic effect of esculetin in human platelets. Therefore, we suggest that esculetin could be a potential phytochemical for the prevention of thrombus-mediated CVD.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2021

Diabetes is mainly evaluated by fasting blood sugar. The genetic and environmental factors influence the development of type 2 diabetes. In this study, the relationship between diabetes and family history of diabetes in Koreans was analyzed in consideration of body mass index and age. The study subjects were 4,274 subjects who received a medical examination at a university hospital. The main statistical analysis method was multiple logistic regression analysis. In addition, subjects were analyzed by dividing them by gender and the median of age and body mass index. Diabetes prevalence was 8.9% of all subjects, and subjects with a family history of diabetes were 14.5%. The risk of diabetes was 2.80 times higher in subjects with a family history of diabetes than subjects without a family history of diabetes. In addition, in younger subjects, the risk of diabetes was 3.36 times higher in subjects with a family history of diabetes compared with subjects without a family history of diabetes. In this study, the family history of diabetes was significantly associated with diabetes. The relationship between family history of diabetes and diabetes was slightly higher in the younger group than in the older group. In order to obtain an accurate assessment of the association between diabetes and family history of diabetes, further prospective cohort study in the future is necessary.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.334-339
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• 2021

In the present study, antioxidant and MUC5AC mucin inhibition activities were measured in Ecklonia cava (E. cava) extract. The E. cava extract showed the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of 607.40±19.44 ㎍ GAE/mg and 13.33±5.28 ㎍ QE/mg, respectively. The free radical scavenging activity of E. cava extract was high in the DPPH radical scavenging activity (RC₅₀ 7.08 ㎍/mL) and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity (RC₅₀ 4.74 ㎍/mL). Also, we investigated whether E. cava extract affects airway MUC5AC mucin gene expression, production and secretion induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) from NCI-H292 cells. Cells were treated with E. cava extract and then stimulated with PMA for 24 h. The E. cava extract inhibited the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin from NCI-H292 cells. This result suggests that E. cava extract can inhibit the gene expression of mucin induced by PMA through directly acting on airway epithelial cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.211-222
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• 2022

After more than two years of efforts to end the corona pandemic, a gradual recovery is starting in countries with high vaccination rates. Easing public health policies for a full-fledged post-corona era, such as lifting the mandatory use of outdoor mask and quarantine measures in entry have been considered in Korea. However, the continuous emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and limitations in vaccine efficacy still remain challenging. Fortunately, T cells and memory T cells, which are key components of adaptive immunity appear to contribute substantially in COVID-19 control. SARS-CoV-2 specific CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells are induced by natural infection or vaccination, and rapid induction and activation of T cells is mainly associated with viral clearance and attenuated clinical severity. In addition, T cell responses induced by recognition of a wide range of epitopes were minimally affected and conserved against the highly infectious subsets of omicron variants. Polyfunctional SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell memory including stem cell-like memory T cells were also developed in COVID-19 convalescent patients, suggesting long lasting protective T cell immunity. Thus, a robust T-cell immune response appears to serve as a reliable and long-term component of host protection in the context of reduced efficacy of humoral immunity and persistent mutations and/or immune escape.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2023

This study aimed to determine whether smoking affects the metabolic syndrome and its components through long-term follow-up. Of the 10,030 cohort subjects in the community-based Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) from 2001 to 2018, 2,848 people with metabolic syndrome and 4,854 people with insufficient data for analysis were excluded for this study. The study population comprised 2,328 individuals (1,123 men, 1,205 women) who were eligible for inclusion. The mean age of the participants was 49.2±7.5 years, and 21.9% were current smoker. In log rank test, current smoker had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of metabolic syndrome compared with non smoker (P<0.001). In the Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for key variables, metabolic syndrome (hazard ratio [HR] 1.57, P<0.001), high fasting glucose (HR 1.40, P<0.01), hypertriglyceridemia (HR 1.60, P<0.001), low HDL-cholesterol (HR, 1.30, P<0.01), and abdominal obesity (HR 1.32, P<0.01) in current smoker compared with non smoker were statistically significant, respectively, but not hypertension (HR 1.00, P>0.05). After adjustment for confounders, the time (P-time<0.001) and group (P-group<0.001) effects on metabolic syndrome score change were statistically significant. Furthermore, the interaction analysis of time and smoking group on the change in metabolic syndrome score was statistically significant (P-interaction<0.001). In long-term follow-up, smoking worsens metabolic syndrome.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2023

Platelets are activated at the sites of vascular injury by a number of molecules, including adenosine diphosphate, collagen and thrombin. The full platelet aggregation is absolutely essential for the normal hemostasis. Glycyrrhiza glabra is a well-known medicinal herb that grows in various parts of the world and is known to have various effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-osteoporotic and skin-whitening. However, the platelet inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract (GGE) has not been identified. In this study, we investigated if GGE inhibited platelet aggregation. We observed that GGE inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation, Ca²⁺ mobilization, and thromboxane A2 generation. In addition, GGE suppressed phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), Akt and elevated phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP). Taken together, GGE showed strong antiplatelet effects and may be used to block platelet-mediated cardiovascular diseases.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2023

Amifostine was developed to protect cells, but it is known to induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis, and the exact mechanism is unknown. In this study, we investigated how the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system interacts with p53 to prevent apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cytoprotective effects induced by amifostine. HCT116 colon cancer cells sublines HCT116/p53+,HCT116/p53+, HCT116/p53-, HCT116/E6 and HCT116+ch3/E6 cells were used for evaluation. Amifostine induced G1 arrest and increased toxicity two-fold in p53- cells regardless of MMR expression. Both G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of p53 protein peaked at 24 h after the start of amifostine exposure. Both G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of p53 protein peaked at 24 h after the start of amifostine exposure. Amifostine induced the expression of p21 protein in both p53+ and p53- cells. As for apoptosis, compared to p53- cells, p53+ cells showed 3.5~4.2 times resistance to amifostine-induced apoptosis. HCT116+E6 with both p53 and MMR loss showed maximum apoptosis at 48 h, and HCT116+ch3/E6HCT116+ch3/E6 with p53 loss showed maximum apoptosis at 24 h. As a result, it was confirmed through in vitro experiments that amifostine-induced G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are mediated through a pathway dependent on MMR and p53 protein.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2024

In vitro antimicrobial activities of hot water extracts of Chamaecyparis obtuse, for clinical metallo-β-lactamase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MBLPA.) was compared to commonly used conventional antimicrobial agents. All MBLPA was susceptible to colistin or amikacin, but also to imipenem 88.6%, meropenem 100%, piperacillin 85.7%, ceftazidime 97.1%, gentamicin 97.1%, and ciprofloxacin 100% were non-susceptible. MIC range to imipenem, meropenem, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin for MBLPA were each 1 - >128 ㎍/mL, 4 - >128 ㎍/mL, 4 - >128 ㎍/mL, 8 - >128 ㎍/mL, 4 - >128, and 2- >128 ㎍/mL. MIC range to aztreonam for MBLPA were 1 - 128 ㎍/mL. MIC₉₀ to imipenem, meropenem, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin for MBLPA were each 32 ㎍/mL, >128 ㎍/mL, >128 ㎍/mL, >128 ㎍/mL, >128 ㎍/mL, and 128 ㎍/mL. MIC₉₀ to colistin and amikacin were each 1 ㎍/mL and 64 ㎍/mL. The hot water extracts of C. obtuse leaf had the lowest MIC range (0.25 - >0.5 μL/mL), MIC₅₀ (>0.5 μL/mL), and MIC₉₀ (>0.5 μL/mL) of the clinical MBLPA tested, and it was possible more potent than various conventional antimicrobial agents for MBLPA infection patients. Therefore, it suggested the possibility of using extract components of C. obtuse or their derivatives to treat MBLPA infection patients.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2017

Probiotic principles can be applied in aquaculture for the purpose of growth and immunity stimulation, disease prevention and eventually better production performance. This study was to assess effects of combinations of microbes containing two Bacillus sp., plus one Lactobacillus sp. as the basal preparation (BSL-LAB), and additional Nitrosomonas sp. (nitrifying bacteria consortium, NBS) in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The effects examined were growth parameters, hematologic parameters, innate immunity and pathogen challenge test. Fish were assigned to 4 treatments as Control (no probiotics), Group A (Bacillius and Lactobacillus to culture water), Group B (Bacillius and Lactobacillus both in water and feed), Group C (same as Group B with additional Nitrosomonas in feed). Fish were allocated to the above 4 groups, each group being composed of triplicate 30 fish, for a 7-week feeding in the laboratory. Positive effects were observed both in growth and pathogen sensitivity with all three probiotic combinations. Such effects were attributed to improved innate immune functions. This result indicates that the tested probiotic microbes are beneficial to olive flounder aquaculture.