• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.510-514
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• 2007

Twenty-five bacterial strains that secrete mucous materials were isolated from sediment obtained from King George Island, Antarctica. Seven of these strains proved capable of producing cryoprotective exopolysaccharides. The strain KOPRI 21653 was selected for the further study of an anti-ice-nucleating polysaccharide (ANP), which originated from a polar region. KOPRI 21653 was identified as Pseudoalteromonas arctica as the result of 16S rRNA analysis. The exopolysaccharide, P-21653, was purified completely from the KOPRI 21653 cell culture via column chromatography and protease treatment. The principal sugar components of P-21653 were determined to be galactose and glucose, at a ratio of 1:1.5, via GC-MS analysis. The cryoprotective activity of P-21653 was characterized via an E. coli viability test. In the presence of 0.1% (w/v) P-21653, the survival ratio of E. coli cells was as high as 82.6% over three repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The survival ratio decreased drastically to 71.5 and 48.1 %, respectively, in five and seven repeated cycle conditions; however, the survival ratios were greater over three (96.6-92.1%) to seven (100.5-91.6%) freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of 0.5 and 1.0% (w/v) P-21653. In addition, at much lower concentrations (0.1-1.0%), P-21653 resulted in survival ratios (83.1-98.4%) similar to those of two commercially available cryoprotectants ($V_{EG}$ plus X-1000, 92.9% and $V_{M3}$, 95.3%), which were utilized at the recommended concentrations (90%). The biochemical characteristics of exopolysaccharide P-21653 reflect that this compound may be developed as a useful cryoprotectant for use in medical applications and in the food industry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1414-1419
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• 2009

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of trivalent chromium from different sources on growth, carcass composition, and serum parameters in finishing pigs. Ninety-six crossbred pigs with an initial average body weight of 65.57${\pm}$1.05 kg were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to four treatments with three replicates. Pigs were offered one of four diets including a control diet or the control diet supplemented with 200 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium from either chromium chloride ($CrCl_{3}$), chromium picolinate (CrPic) or chromium nanocomposite (CrNano) for 40 days. After completion of the feeding trial, eight pigs from each treatment were selected to collect blood samples, and slaughtered to measure carcass composition. The results showed that supplemental chromium had no significant effect on growth performance, while CrNano increased carcass lean proportion and loin Longissimus muscle area (p<0.05), and decreased carcass fat proportion and 10th rib backfat depth (p<0.05). CrPic supplementation also resulted in lower fat proportion and larger Longissimus muscle area (p<0.05). The addition of Cr from CrNano or CrPic decreased serum glucose (p<0.05) and increased concentrations of total protein and free fat acid in serum (p<0.05). Serum urea nitrogen, triglyceride and cholesterol were decreased (p<0.05), and serum high density lipoprotein and lipase activity were increased (p<0.05) with the supplementation of CrNano. Serum insulin was decreased (p<0.05) by supplemental Cr from CrNano or CrPic, and serum insulin-like growth factor I was increased significantly in the CrNano treated group. These results suggest that chromium nanocomposite has higher efficacy on carcass composition in pigs compared to the traditional chromium sources.

• Mycobiology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.160-165
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• 2002

Aspergillus niger has been used as a host to express many heterologous proteins. It has been known that the presence of an- abundant protease is a limiting factor to express a heterologous protein. The protease deficient mutant of A. niger was obtained using UV-irradiation. A total of $1{\times}10^5$ spores were irradiated with $10{\sim}20%$ survival dose of UV, 600 $J/m^2$ at 280 nm, and the resulting spores were screened on the casein-gelatin plates. Ten putative protease deficient mutants showing the reduced halo area around colonies were further analyzed to differentiate the protease deficient mutant from other mutant types. Among ten putative mutants, seven mutants showed significant growth defect on nutrient rich medium and two mutants appeared to be the secretory mutants, which resulted in the impaired secretion of extracellular proteins including proteases. A mutant $pro^--20$ showed reduced halo zone without any notable changes in growth rate. In addition, the starchdegrading and glucose oxidase activities in the culture filtrate of $pro^--20$ mutant showed the similar range as that of the parental strain, which suggested that the $pro^--20$ mutant ought to be the protease deficient mutant rather than a secretory mutant. The reduced proteolytic activity of the $pro^--20$ was demonstrated using SDS-fibrin zymography gel. The reduced extracellular proteolysis was quantified by casein degradation assay and, comparing with the parental strain, less than 30% residual extracellular protease activity was detected in the culture filtrate of the $pro^--20$ mutant. The bio-activity of an exogenously supplemented hGM-CSF(human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor) in the culture filtrate of $pro^--20$ mutant was detected until eight times more diluted preparations than that of the parental strain.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.138-142
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• 2000

Effects of ginsenosides (Rb$_1$, Rb$_2$, Rc, Re, Rg$_1$, Rf) on L-glutamate (glutamate)-induced swelling of cultured astrocytes from rat brain cerebral cortex were studied. Following the exposure to 0.5mM glutamate for 1 hr, the intracellular water space (as measured by [$^3$H]O-methyl-D-glucose uptake) of astrocytes increased by about two-fold. Simultaneous addition of ginsenosides Rb$_2$ and Rc with glutamate reduced the astrocytic swelling in a dose-dependent manner. These ginsenosides at 0.5 mg/ml did not affect the viability of astrocytes for up to 24 hr which was determined by a colorimetric assay (MTT assay) for cellular growth and survival. These ginsenosides at 0.3 mg/ml inhibited the increase of intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ concentration ([Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/) induced by glutamate. These data suggest ginsenosides Rb$_2$ and Rc prevent the cell swelling of astrocytes induced by glutamate, maybe via inhibition of Ca$\^$2+/ influx.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-386
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• 2012

Objectives : The object of this study was to observe the effects of Gamioryung-san (GOS), which consists of 22 types of herbs, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy rats. Methods : Three different dosages of GOS were orally administered once a day for 28 days from 3 weeks after STZ treatment. Six groups, each of 8 rats per group were used. Changes on the body weights, blood glucose levels, serum BUN and creatinine levels, urine volumes, and UAER were observed with changes on the kidney malondialdehyde contents and glutathione, dismutase and catalase contents. In addition, histopathology of kidney, pancreas, thymus and spleen were observed. The results were compared with antioxidant silymarin 100 mg/kg, of which the effects on STZ -induced diabetes and related complications are already confirmed. Results : As a result of treatment of GOS 800, 400 or 200 mg/kg for 28 days, STZ-induced decreases of body weights, hyperglycemia, atrophic changes of pancreatic islets with decreases of insulin-immunoreactive cells and decreases of glucagon -immunoreactive cells were inhibited dose-dependently. Increases in kidney weight, serum BUN and creatinine levels, urine volumes, UAER, vasodilated atrophic glomerulus and abnormal tubules were inhibited dose-dependently. Also increases of kidney MDA contents and decreases of GSH contents, SOD and CAT activities, decreases of thymus and spleen weights, and atrophic changes at histopathological observation were also inhibited. The effects of GOS 400 mg/kg showed similar effects to silymarin 100 mg/kg. Conclusions : These results suggest that 400 mg/kg of GOS retarded the STZ-induced diabetic nephropathies as similarly to silymarin 100 mg/kg, through modulations of oxidative stress and immune systems.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.646-651
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• 2016

Cryopreservation of caudal epididymal spermatozoa is an effective technique to conserve genetic potentials of superior dogs when it is not possible to collect ejaculated spermatozoa. Although hen egg yolk is commonly supplemented into the semen extender, active substances within the egg yolk which protect sperm against cryoinjury remain to be discovered. Among its compositions, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been reported to have a cryoprotective property for sperm cryopreservation. However, the effects of LDL on dog epididymal spermatozoa during cryopreservation have not yet been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of LDL on epididymal spermatozoa quality following cryopreservation and thawing. After routine castration of 12 dogs, caudal epididymides from individuals were separated from the testes and cut into a few pieces in a Tris-buffer. Spermatozoa recovered from each sample were examined at once for sperm quality and divided into six groups of extender: no LDL, 20% egg yolk, 4%, 8%, 16%, and 24% LDL, before cryopreservation. The sperm aliquots were then equilibrated and conventionally frozen. After thawing, sperm motility, morphology, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity were evaluated. The results revealed that 4% LDL and 20% egg yolk yielded significantly higher sperm motility (57.69% and 52.69%, respectively, p<0.05) than other LDLs. In addition, 4% LDL yielded the significantly highest plasma membrane integrity (70.54%, p<0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of 4% LDL in Tris-glucose extender could be applied for cryopreservation of canine epididymal spermatozoa.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2009

Measurement of hemoglobin A1c is used as an objective indicator of long-term blood glucose control in diabetic patients. We evaluated recently introduced Norudia$^{(R)}$ HbA1c (Daiichi Pure Chemical Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) test reagent using enzyme method for HbA1c assay. Linearity, precision and correlation with VARIANT$^{TM}$ II Turbo HbA1c analyzer (BIO-RAD, Hercules, CA, USA) were evaluated. The reference range was determined from 201 healthy subjects. The Norudia$^{(R)}$ HbA1c test reagent was founded to be linear in a range of 5.6% to 14.0% ($r^2=0.9885$). The within-run and between-day precision were 0.954% and 1.03% for low level (HbA1c 5.24%), 0.67% and 1.28% for high level (HbA1c 9.01%), respectively. Comparison study between Norudia$^{(R)}$ HbA1c test reagent and VARIANT$^{TM}$ II Turbo showed good correlation with a slope of 1.0489. an intercept at -0.9717, and coefficient of correlation was 0.9907. The reference range of HbA1c obtained from this reagent was 4.07-5.50%. The Norudia$^{(R)}$ HbA1c test reagent showed good linearity, precision and correlation with HbA1c analyzer with HPLC method. In addition, the exclusive analyzer is not required for assay and then this kit may be useful for HbA1c assay in clinical laboratory.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2011

Four diazinon-degrading bacteria were isolated from agricultural soil by using an enrichment technique. The biochemical analysis and molecular method including RFLP indicated that these isolates were identical, and one strain designated DI101 was selected for further study. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that the strain DI101 clearly belongs to the Serratia marcescens group. The ability of the strain to utilize diazinon as a source of carbon and phosphorus was investigated under different culture conditions. The DI101 strain was able to completely degrade 50 mg/l diazinon in MSM within 11 days with a degradation rate of 0.226 $day^{-1}$. The inoculation of sterilized soil treated with 100 mg/kg of diazinon with $10^6$ CFU/g DI101 resulted in a faster degradation rate than was recorded in non-sterilized soil. The diazinon degradation rate by DI101 was efficient at temperatures from 25 to $30^{\circ}C$ and at pHs from 7.0 to 8.0. The degradation rate of diazinon was not affected by the absence of a phosphorus supplement, and addition of other carbon sources (glucose or succinate) resulted in the slowing down of the degradation rate. The maximum degradation rate ($V_{max}$) of diazinon was 0.292 $day^{-1}$ and its saturation constant ($K_s$) was 11 mg/l, as determined by a Michaelis-Menten curve. The strain was able to degrade diethylthiophosphate-containing organophosphates such as chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, parathion, and isazofos when provided as a source of carbon and phosphorus, but not ethoprophos, cadusafos, and fenamiphos. These results propose useful information for the potential application of the DI101 strain in bioremediation of pesticide-contaminated environments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5759-5762
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• 2012

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a health check-up program among Thai people at the National Cancer Institute in the years 2008-2009. The program included history taking, physical examination, chest X-ray, EKG, and laboratory tests. A total of 28,240 women and 9,665 men were included in the study, with mean ages of 44.5 and 46.9 years, respectively. The study showed that obesity, as assessed by a BMI over 25.0 kg/m2, in men and women was present in 41.4% and 30%, respectively. Biochemical study revealed that anemia was prevalent in 21.6% of men and 20.1% of women. High plasma glucose level (>115 mg/dL), cholesterol level (>200 mg/dL), triglyceride level (>190 mg/dL) in men was 13.8%, 63.8%, 22.6% and 7.7%, 61.1%, 8.9% in women. Hepatitis B virus infection was found 7.5% in men and 4.1% in women. In this study, 177 new cancer cases were detected, of which 35 were breast, 19 were cervical and 26 were colorectal, most of these cancers being detected at early stage. In addition, precancerous states was also found including 718 cases of benign and 99 cases of adenoma in situ. In conclusion, an annual check up may detect abnormalities that have no obvious clinical symptoms of disease. Early detection of asymptomatic neoplasms and precursor lesions should contribute to a prompt provision of treatment and further decline of death from cancer.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2013

Objective: The study evaluated the impact of pharmacist inventions with the implementation of pharmacistinvolved nutritional support service at neonate intensive care unit in a tertiary teaching hospital. Method: A retrospective and observational study was carried out. The total of 58 infants in neonate intensive care unit was enrolled between January 2011 and October 2012. The pharmacist-involved total parenteral nutritional program was initiated in June of 2012. During the program, pharmacist actively participated in the multidisciplinary round with performing the interventions from reviewing the amount of combined total parenteral nutrition and enteral fluid intakes, the amount of total calories, the glucose infusion rate, and the amounts of proteins per weight in kilogram. The outcome was compared with the results from the control group which reflected the prior period of the program initiation. Result: The number of days of regaining birth weight was significantly shorter (14.5 vs. 19 days, p=0.049) and the percentage of total calorie days with >90 kcal/kg/day was increased significantly (40 vs. 13%, p=0.008) in intervention group compared to the values in control group. In addition, the total mean daily caloric intakes ($84.78{\pm}13.8$ vs. $74.86{\pm}15.36$ kcal/kg/day, p=0.018) was significantly higher in intervention group than those results in control group. There were no significant differences in safety parameters between two groups related to nutritional services of necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, proven sepsis, and also parenteral nutrition-induced hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: Pharmacist-involved total parenteral nutrition managed program was successfully implemented. The outcome showed the improved effectiveness of total parenteral nutrition with pharmacist interventions and no differences in adverse reactions. This could prove the positive effects of pharmacist involvement on nutritional therapy for neonate population.