• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat a wide range of neurological disorders (e.g., paralysis and stroke) and skin problems (e.g., atopic dermatitis and eczema) in oriental medicine. This study was designed to investigate whether GEB extract inhibits melanogenesis activity in murine B16F10 melanoma. MATERIALS/METHOD: Murine B16F10 cells were treated with 0-5 mg/mL of GEB extract or $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin (a positive control) for 72 h after treatment with/without 200 nM alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) for 24 h. Melanin concentration, tyrosinase activity, mRNA levels, and protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (Trp)1, and Trp2 were analyzed in ${\alpha}$-MSH-untreated and ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells. RESULTS: Treatment with 200 nM ${\alpha}$-MSH induced almost 2-fold melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity along with increased mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1 and Trp2. Irrespective of ${\alpha}$-MSH stimulation, GEB extract at doses of 0.5-5 mg/mL inhibited all these markers for skin whitening in a dose-dependent manner. While lower doses (0.5-1 mg/mL) of GEB extract generally had a tendency to decrease melanogenesis, tyrosinase activity, and mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2, higher doses (2-5 mg/mL) significantly inhibited all these markers in ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects of the GEB extract at higher concentrations were similar to those of $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin, a well-known depigmenting agent. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GEB displays dose-dependent inhibition of melanin synthesis through the suppression of tyrosinase activity as well as molecular levels of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2 in murine B16F10 melanoma. Therefore, GEB may be an effective and natural skin-whitening agent for application in the cosmetic industry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.841-845
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• 2003

In order for engineered tissues to find clinical utility, the engineered tissues must function appropriately. However, smooth muscle (SM) tissues engineered in vitro with a conventional tissue engineering technique may not exhibit contractile functions, because smooth muscle cells (SMCs) cultured in vitro typically revert from a contractile, differentiated phenotype to a synthetic, nondifferentiated phenotype and lose their ability to contract. SMCs in vivo typically reside in mechanically dynamic environments. We hypothesized that cyclic mechanical stretch induces the features of SMCs in in vitro engineered tissues to be similar to those of SMCs in native tissues. To test the hypothesis, aortic SMCs were seeded onto elastic, three-dimensional scaffolds and cultured in vitro under a cyclic mechanical stretching condition for 4 weeks. A significant cell alignment in a direction parallel to the cyclic stretching direction was found in the SM tissues exposed to cyclic stretching. The cellular alignment and alignment direction were consistent with those of native vascular SM tissues, in which SMCs in vivo align in the radial direction (parallel to stretching direction). In control tissues (SM tissues engineered without stretching), cells randomly aligned. The expression of SM ${\alpha}-actin$ and SM myosin heavy chain, phenotypic markers of SMCs in a contractile state, was upregulated in the stretched tissues by 2.5- and 2.0-fold, respectively, compared to SMCs in the control tissues. The cellular features of alignment and contractile phenotype of SMCs in the SM tissues engineered under a mechanically dynamic environment could allow the engineered SM tissues to exhibit contractile functions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권8호
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• pp.894-900
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• 2005

Purpose : Because of the unavailability of marrow transplantation, umbilical cord blood (CB) is increasingly being used. We evaluated the potential of ex vivo expansion and clonality in CD34+ cells separated from cord blood source and mobilized peripheral blood (PB) in a serum-free media. Methods : The CD34+ cells, selected from CB and mobilized PB, were expanded with hematopoietic growth factors. They were then cultured for burst-forming units of erythrocytes (BFU-E), colony-forming units of granulocytes and monocytes (CFU-GM) and colony-forming units of megakaryocytes (CFU-Mk) at culture days 0, day 4, day 7, and day 14 with various growth factors. Results : The CB-selected CD34+ cells showed significantly higher total cell expansion than those from the PB at day 7 (2 fold increase than PB). The CB-selected CD34+ cells produced more BFU-E colonies than did the PB on culture at days 7 and at day 14. Also, the CB-selected CD34+ cells produced more CFU-Mk colonies than did the PB on culture at day 4 and at day 7. Conclusion : The ex vivo expansion of the CB cells may be promising in producing total cellular expansion, CFU-Mk and BFU-E compared with PB for 7 to 14 days. The growth factors combination including megakaryocyte growth and development, flt3-ligand and interleukin-3 showed more expansion in the view of total cells and clonal maintenance compared with less combination.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.153-158
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• 2010

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes between oral micronized progesterone and dydrogesterone as a luteal phase support in stimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 183 IUI cycles during January 2007 to August 2009. Superovulation was achieved by using gonadotropins combined with or without clomiphene citrate. The luteal phase was supported by oral micronized progesterone 300 mg/day (n=136 cycles) or dydrogesterone 20 mg/day (n=47 cycles) from day of insemination. Results: There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics such as age of female, infertility factors, number of mature follicles ($\geq$16 mm), total motile sperm counts, and endometrial thickness on triggering day between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rates per cycle were similar between the two groups (21.3% in the micronized progesterone group vs. 19.1% in the dydrogesterone group, p=0.92). The clinical miscarriage rate tended to be 3-fold higher in the micronized progesterone group (34.5% vs. 11.1%, p=0.36). Conclusion: Supplementation of oral dydrogesterone as a luteal support has similar clinical outcomes compared with oral micronized progesterone. Large-scaled randomized study would be required to confirm our findings.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 1996

Fumonisin B$_1$ is hepatotoxic in all species, but liver carcinogenic and nephrotoxic in rat. Our objective was to investigate the effects of multiple iv dose of FB$_1$. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously (iv) with FB$_1$ at 1 mg/kg singly (T1), or daily for 2 (T2) or 3 (T3). T1 rats did not show any cytotoxicity in both liver and kidney. However, the most dramatic change occurred in this group was mitotic figures in liver, which increased 5.5-fold to that of control. Hepatotoxic effects were shown in T3, based on histopathology and serum chemistry. A few scattered single cell deaths occurred primarily in the centrilobular area of the liver in T2. Similar but more lesions in liver and a small number of degenerating cells with hypereosinophilic cytoplasm in outer stripe of medulla of kideny were found in T3 rats. Serum chemical profiles included liver enzymes increased, in which cholesterol was very sensitive. This study suggests that multiple exposure of low dose FB$_1$ cause cytotoxic in the liver earlier time point than kideny. FB$_1$$ also stimulates mitosis in liver that may be associated with carcinogenesis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.764-772
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• 2010

Staphylococcus aureus lipase is regarded as a virulence factor. The response of lipase activity to various factors can provide important insights concerning the prevention of S. aureus during meat fermentation. This study was conducted to evaluate the main effects of nutrients used in culture media, and their combined effects on the inhibition of lipase activity and cell growth of pathogenic S. aureus SK1593 isolated from fermented pork meat. A Plackett-Burman design was used to evaluate the main effects of variables, including olive oil, soybean oil, grapeseed oil, sesame oil, $CuSO_4$, $MgCl_2$, $KNO_3$, $CaCl_2$, and KCl. Significant negative effects on lipase activity were detected with soybean oil, grapeseed oil, $KNO_3$, and $CaCl_2$. Additionally, these nutrients were further selected as variables for the investigation of their combined effect on lipase activity, via response surface methodology. In order to confirm the regression model, a situation that only inhibits lipase activity was simulated. The predicted lipase activity and cell growth of the simulated situation were 14.0 U/mL and $9.6\;{\log}_{10}$ (CFU/mL), respectively, and the estimated value of those in the same medium showed 15.14 U/mL and $9.4\;{\log}_{10}$(CFU/mL) respectively. The lipase activity of the simulated medium was inhibited approximately 5-fold as compared to the basal medium, but no significant differences in cell counts were noted to exist between the basal and simulated media. These results suggest that soybean oil, grapeseed oil, $KNO_3$, and $CaCl_2$ can be used to inhibit the growth of pathogenic S. aureus during the process of meat fermentation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.545-551
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• 2003

A cDNA of bovine brain glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was isolated from a cDNA library by recombinant PCR. The isolated cDNA has an open-reading frame of 1677 nucleotides, which codes for 559 amino acids. The expression of the recombinant bovine brain GDH enzyme was achieved in E. coli. BL21 (DE3) by using the pET-15b expression vector containing a T7 promoter. The recombinant GDH protein was also purified and characterized. The amino acid sequence was found 90% homologous to the human GDH. The molecular mass of the expressed GDH enzyme was estimated as 50 kDa by SDS-PAGE and Western blot using monoclonal antibodies against bovine brain GDH. The kinetic parameters of the expressed recombinant GDH enzymes were quite similar to those of the purified bovine brain GDH. The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values for $NAD^+$ were 0.1 mM and $1.08\;{\mu}mol/min/mg$, respectively. The catalytic activities of the recombinant GDH enzymes were inhibited by ATP in a concentration-dependent manner over the range of 10 - $100\;{\mu}M$, whereas, ADP increased the enzyme activity up to 2.3-fold. These results indicate that the recombinant-expressed bovine brain GDH that is produced has biochemical properties that are very similar to those of the purified GDH enzyme.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.393-402
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vitamin D and periodontal diseases based on the raw data of the 5th National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey of 2010. The subjects in this study were 1,327 people, and those whose data on major variables were missing and who suffered from diabetes and/or osteoporosis were excluded. As for data analysis, R2.15.1 program and PASW Statistics 18.0 were utilized. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. As for all the respondents aged 50 and up, there was no significant relationship between vitamin D and periodontal diseases. 2. As for the post-menopausal women including the women who underwent bilateral ovariectomy, the vitamin D-deficit group 1 (<10) were 6.66-fold more likely to suffer from periodontal diseases than the vitamin D-sufficient group (${\geq}30$) (OR, 6.66; 95% CI, 1.004~44.19). The above-mentioned findings ascertained that vitamin D had a significant negative correlation to periodontal diseases among the post-menopausal women including the women who underwent bilateral ovariectomy. This finding should be taken into account in terms of the prevention and management of periodontal diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.211-218
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• 1995

To clarify the correlation of the proteinase activity with pathogenicity of Clonorrhis sinensis, the proteinase activity either in excretory-secretory products (ESP) or in crude extracts of adult C. sinensis was examined. Substrate gel electrophoresis of the ESP and crude extracts revealed four distinct enzyme bands, which were differently inhibited by the specific proteinase inhibitors. The proteinase of the ESP with molecular mass of 24 kDa, was purified 23-fold with 14.5% yield by spectra gel ACA 44 gel filtration. It exhibited optimal pH at 7.5 in sodium phosphate (0.1 M). Its activity was inhibited specifically by N-ethylmaleimide (NEMI and antipain whereas potentiated 1.9 folds in the presence of 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT). Cytotoxicity of the proteinase increased in a dose- dependent manner up to 120 ㎍/ml while reduced by NEM and antipain, indicating that cysteine proteinase was responsible for the cytotoxicity. This result shows that the 24 kDa cysteine proteinase is deeply correlated with the pathogenicity of C. sinensis infection.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.54-65
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop healthy, appetizing high-protein snacks with enhanced isolated soy protein for diabetic patients and determine the blood glucose and insulin response after being consumed by these patients. MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty adult patients aged between 30 and 75 years, with a ≤ 10-year history of type 2 diabetes and hemoglobin A1c of < 7.5%, were enrolled in this study. They made 3 clinical visits at one-week intervals. The control group consumed 50 g carbohydrates (white bread), whereas the test groups consumed high-protein grain (HP_G) or high-protein chocolate (HP_C) after an 8-hrs fast. Blood (2 ㎤) was drawn at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min before and after consumption to analyze the blood glucose and insulin concentrations. RESULTS: Compared to the commercial snacks, the developed high-protein snacks had below-average calorie, carbohydrate, and fat content and a 2.5-fold higher protein content. In diabetic patients who consumed these snacks, the postprandial blood glucose increased between 15 min and 2 h after consumption, which was significantly slower than the time taken for the blood glucose to increase in the patients who consumed the control food product (P < 0.001). Insulin secretion was significantly lower at 45 min after consumption (P < 0.05), showing that the high-protein snacks did not increase the blood glucose levels rapidly. The incremental area under the curve (iAUC), which indicated the degree of blood sugar and insulin elevation after food intake, was higher in the control group than the groups given the 2 developed snacks (P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in insulin secretion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the postprandial blood glucose and insulin response suggest that high-protein snacks are potential convenient sources of high-quality protein and serve as a healthier alternative for patients with type 2 diabetes, who may have limited snack product choices. Such snacks may also provide balanced nutrition to pre-diabetic and obese individuals.