• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2017

Background: The present study investigated the effect of ginseng berry hot water extract (GBx) on blood flow via the regulation of lipid metabolites and blood coagulation in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Sixty rats were divided into five groups in descending order of body weight. Except for the control group, the other four groups were fed a HFD containing 45% kcal from fat for 11 wk without GBx. GBx groups were then additionally treated by gastric gavage with GBx dissolved in distilled water at 50 (GBx 50) mg/kg, 100 (GBx 100) mg/kg, or 150 (GBx 150) mg/kg body weight for 6 wk along with the HFD. To investigate the effects of GBx on rats fed a HFD, biochemical metabolite, blood coagulation assay, and histological analysis were performed. Results: In the experiments to measure the serum levels of leptin and apolipoprotein B/A, GBx treatment attenuated the HFD-induced increases in these metabolites (p < 0.05). Adiponectin and apolipoprotein E levels in GBx-treated groups were significantly higher than the HFD group. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were increased in all GBx-treated groups. In the GBx-treated groups, the serum levels of thromboxane $A_2$ and serotonin were decreased and concentrations of serum fibrinogen degradation products were increased (p < 0.05). Moreover, histomorphometric dyslipidemia-related atherosclerotic changes were significantly improved by treatment with GBx. Conclusion: These results suggest the possibility that GBx can ameliorate blood flow by decreasing intima-media thickness via the regulation of blood coagulation factors related to lipid metabolites in rats fed a HFD.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 2018

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the Republic of Korea remains high when compared to the incidence in other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) are very important in terms of controlling the burden of TB. The tuberculin skin test (TST) has long been the "gold standard" assay for the diagnosis of LTBI. However, it can show false positive results due to Bacille Calmette-$Gu{\acute{e}}rin$ (BCG) vaccination and infection with many environmental nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) using Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific antigens, was developed for the detection of LTBI. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay is one of the most commonly used forms of the IGRA. In order to compare the diagnostic efficacy of the TST and IGRA in relation to LTBI among BCG-vaccinated healthy donors, whole blood samples were collected from 51 participants, and the results of the TST and IGRA were compared. Of the 51 cases, 18 cases (35.3%) were positive and 33 cases (64.7%) were negative when using the TST, while four cases (7.8%) were positive and 47 cases (92.2%) negative when using the IGRA. There was no correlation between the size of the induration in the TST and the $IFN-{\gamma}$ protein level. In conclusion, the TST showed higher cross-reactivity among the BCG-vaccinated healthy participants, therefore, the IGRA might be the most suitable assay for the rapid screening of LTBI in BCG-vaccinated healthy population, or for TB contact investigation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.600-607
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of substrate to inoculum ratio (S/I ratio) on the biochemical methane potential (BMP) and anaerobic biodegradability ($D_{deg}$) of different piggery slaughterhouse wastes, such as piggery blood, intestine residue, and digestive tract content. These wastes were sampled from a piggery slaughterhouse located in Kimje, South Korea. Cumulative methane production curves for the wastes were obtained from the anaerobic batch fermentation having different S/I ratios of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5. BMP and anaerobic biodegradabilities ($D_{deg}$) of the wastes were calculated from cumulative methane production data for the tested conditions. At the lowest S/I ration of 0.1, BMPs of piggery blood, intestine residue, and digestive tract content were determined to be 0.799, 0.848, and $1.076Nm^3kg^{-1}-VS_{added}$, respectively, which were above the theoretical methane potentials of 0.539, 0.644, and $0.517Nm^3kg^{-1}-VS_{added}$ for blood, intestine residue, and digestive tract content, respectively. However, BMPs obtained from the higher S/I ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 were within the theoretical range for all three types of waste and were not significantly different for the different S/I ratios tested. Anaerobic biodegradabilities calculated from BMP data showed a similar tendency. These results imply that, for BMP assay in an anaerobic reactor, the S/I ratio of anaerobic reactor should be above 0.1 and the inoculum should be sufficiently stabilized to avoid further degradation during the assay.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.70-75
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• 2017

Fucoidan increases the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) through interleukin (IL)-8 produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). It has been demonstrated that fucoidan can regulate the chemotaxis of PMNs by activating F-actin polymerization. The objectives of this study are to investigate the direct effect of fucoidan on the chemotaxis of porcine PMNs and to examine whether this effect is associated with changes in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity. The chemotactic activity of porcine PMNs was evaluated by modified Boyden chamber assay. Akt phosphorylation activity, a main downstream of PI3K, was measured by Western blotting assay. Fucoidan itself has no chemoattractant effect for PMNs. However, direct treatment of PMNs with fucoidan showed higher chemotactic activity to porcine recombinant (pr) IL-8 than that of PMNs without fucoidan. The increased chemotactic activity of fucoidan-treated PMNs to pr IL-8 was suppressed by treatment of wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3K. Treatment of PMNs with fucoidan also increased Akt phosphorylation level. This increase was also suppressed by wortmannin. These results suggested that fucoidan can upregulate chemotactic activity of porcine PMNs to IL-8, which is associated with PI3K activation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.327-337
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• 2021

Fibrinolytic enzymes with a direct mechanism of action and safer properties are currently requested for thrombolytic therapy. This paper reports on a new enzyme capable of degrading blood clots directly without impairing blood coagulation. This enzyme is also non-cytotoxic and constitutes an alternative to other thrombolytic enzymes known to cause undesired side effects. Twenty-four Bacillus isolates were screened for production of fibrinolytic enzymes using a fibrin agar plate. Based on produced activity, isolate S127e was selected and identified as B. subtilis using the 16S rDNA gene sequence. This strain is of biotechnological interest for producing high fibrinolytic yield and consequently has potential in the industrial field. The purified fibrinolytic enzyme has a molecular mass of 27.3 kDa, a predicted pI of 6.6, and a maximal affinity for Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe. This enzyme was almost completely inhibited by chymostatin with optimal activity at 48℃ and pH 7. Specific subtilisin features were found in the gene sequence, indicating that this enzyme belongs to the BPN group of the S8 subtilisin family and was assigned as AprE127. This subtilisin increased thromboplastin time by 3.7% (37.6 to 39 s) and prothrombin time by 3.2% (12.6 to 13 s), both within normal ranges. In a whole blood euglobulin assay, this enzyme did not impair coagulation but reduced lysis time significantly. Moreover, in an in vitro assay, AprE127 completely dissolved a thrombus of about 1 cc within 50 min and, in vivo, reduced a thrombus prompted in a rat tail by 11.4% in 24 h compared to non-treated animals.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate whether herb mixture extract (HME) would affect allergic contact dermatitis induced by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-chlorobenzene (DNCB) in mice. For this, the level of blood IgE was identified. To evaluate anti-inflammatory effect of HME, we tested HMC-1 cells stimulated by PMA+A231867. Methods : In order to evaluate allergic contact dermatitis effects we observed HME on contact-hypersensitive skin of Balb/cmice induced by 0.5% DNCB and measured concentration of IgE in blood of Balb/c mice. In order to evaluate anti-inflammatory effect of cytokine expression we used the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : We confirmed deep wounds, erosions, progress of keratinization and drop out of dead skin cells from Balb/c mice induced by 0.5% DNCB. We also observed a remarkable decrease in symptoms of atopic dermatitis in the group that received injection of 200mg/kg HME. In addition, in the measurement outcome for IgE concentration in blood, we confirmed that IgE concentration was increased by treatment with DNCB only, while it was markedly decreased by treatment with HME. We confirmed that cytokine expression decreased through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and pERK, pJNK, and pp38 also decreased through western blot test Conclusions : According to the above results, HME has some effect on alleviating symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis and has anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2022

Quercetin, a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, exhibits a strong anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of quercetin on chemotactic activity of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) to culture supernatant from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, we determined whether this effect is related to interleukin (IL)-8 and changes in cytoskeleton. The chemotactic activity of PMNs was evaluated by a modified Boyden chamber assay. Total cellular filamentous (F)-actin levels were measured by method of fluorescence microscopy. The levels of IL-8 mRNA and protein were measured by real time polymerase reaction method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Quercetin (0-50 µM) itself has no chemoattractant effect for PMNs. The culture supernatant from PBMCs (2 × 10⁶ cells/mL) treated with LPS (1 ㎍/mL) showed remarkable increase in chemotaxis of PMNs. However, this effect was reduced dose-dependently by treatment with quercetin. In addition, PBMCs treated with LPS revealed enhanced levels in IL-8 protein and mRNA. Co-treatment of LPS with quercetin (50 µM) in PBMCs decreased IL-8 production and expression. Treatment of quercetin (0-50 µM) on PMNs to rpIL-8 (10 nM) decreased dose-dependently the chemotactic activity of PMNs. Treatment of quercetin on PMNs to IL-8 also reduced their total cellular F-actin level. These results suggested that quercetin attenuates chemotactic activity of PMNs, which is mediated by down-regulation of IL-8 production from LPS-stimulated PBMCs and inhibition of F-actin polymerization in PMNs.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.411-418
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of chestnut inner skin tea, brown rice-green tea and Cassia lora tea on the activation of physiological functions (regional cerebral blood flow, mean arterial blood pressure, proliferation of immunocytes in vitro and in vitro, suppression of cancer cell proliferation) in mouse and rat. We used 8 weeks-old balb/c male mice, 300g ICR rats and L1210 cell lines. Regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure(BP) were measured using Leser-Doppler Flowmetry(LDF) and the proliferation of cells was measured using a colorimetric tetrazolium assay(MTT assay). The experimental results are as follows : 1. rCBF was increased by Cassia tora tea, but decreased by chestnut inner skin tea in rats. 2. BP was increased by brown rice-green tea in rats. 3. Proliferation of mouse thymocytes and splenocytes were significantly increased by chestnut inner skin tea in vitro. 4. Proliferation of mouse thymocytes was decreased by Cassia tora tea and brown rice-green tea in vitro. 5. Proliferation of mouse thymocytes was decreased by Cassia tora tea and brown rice-green tea in L1210 transplanted mice. 6. Proliferation of splenocytes was accelerated by chestnut inner skin tea in L1210 transplanted mice. 7. Proliferation of L1210 cells was inhibited by chestnut inner skin tea and Cassia tora tea in L1210 transplanted mice.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 2009

Canine brucellosis produce abortions and infertility in dogs and is currently diagnosed by serological methods such as rapid slide agglutination test with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME RSAT) and immunochromatographic assay (ICA). Bacterial isolation is considered gold standard for Brucella diagnosis and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an alternative method to bacterial isolation. A total of 36 whole blood samples were collected from dogs reared in area of Chuncheon and were subjected to serology (2-ME RSAT and ICA for B. canis, Rose Bengal test and C-ELISA for B. abortus), blood culture and 3 types of PCRs (BSCP31, 16s rRNA, and OMP-2). All blood samples were negative by serology and blood cultures. The BCSP31 and the OMP-2 PCR detected 5 samples were positive whereas the 16S rRNA PCR detected all samples were negative as serological methods and blood culture did. From the results observed in the present study, we conclude that 16S rRNA PCR could be used for direct PCR for canine blood samples.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.62-65
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• 2001

Persimmon has been known to help alcohol intoxication in Korea for a long time and is prepared as a processed food. The effect of dried persimmon snacks on alcohol metabolism was determined in vivo. Eight Korean men (25~27 years old) were administered 3.5 mL/kg of alcohol (22.5%, w/v) with or without a dried persimmon snack (2g/kg). The levels of alcohol in the blood and of acetaldehyde in the blood and the urine were determined by alcoholmeter and assay using alcohol dehydrogenase and HPLC, respectively. All subjects showed decreased levels of alcohol in blood, and six subjects showed a decrease of alcohol in urine after consumption of ethanol with dried persimmon snacks. Concentration of acetaldehyde in the blood an urine decreased significantly in three and five of the eight subjects, respectively. Reduction was more significant for alcohol than for alcohol than for acetaldehyde with administration of ethanol and dried persimmon snacks. This in vivo result suggests that dried persimmon snacks are effective in decreasing th concentration of alcohol after alcohol intake.