• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.123-128
• /
• 2006

Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, and ocular inflammation, and which may involve the joints, skin, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Although the exact pathogenesis for BD is not completely understood, it has been suggested that the disease is triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by environmental factors, such as microbial agents. It is noted that multiple genes, including MHC (major histocompatibility complex) and non-MHC genes, are implicated in the pathogenesis of BD. This study tries to determine whether IL-6 gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to Behcet's disease in Koreans. Gene polymorphisms were typed by VNTR (variable number of tandem repeat), RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), DHPLC (denaturing high performance liquid chromatography).There were no evidences for genetic association conferred by the IL-6prom polymorphism. However, significant differences in the IL-6vntr genotype and allele frequencies were found between patients with BD and controls. The IL-6vntr*C allele appeared to be an additional susceptibility gene to Korean BD. Further studies in other populations and gene are required to confirm these results.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.209-219
• /
• 2015

In order to explore an effect of interaction of Streptococcus gordonii, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis that are bacteria relevant to periodontal disease on its growth, the bacteria were incubated in trypticase soy hemin menadione broth at $37^{\circ}C$ $CO_2$ incubator for 7 days through anaerobic jar by single and co-culture with heat treated dead bacteria under anaerobic gas pack. In order to confirm growth level, absorbance was measured and for confirming colony structure and form, it was observed with scanning electron microscope. In order to confirm an effect on pathogenicity of P. gingivalis, real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was implemented for expression analysis for rgpA gene that produces HRgpA which is gingipain. As a result, the following conclusion was obtained. Colony formation of S. gordonii and P. gingivalis was increased by other dead bacteria and in case of F. nucleatum, its colony formation was showed an aspect of being increased by dead bacterium of P. gingivalis but decreased by dead bacterium of S. gordonii. Therefore, it is considered that the strains being used for this study would affect interactively through bacterial cell itself as well as their interaction factor at the time of colony formation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.39-42
• /
• 2019

Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, and infectious disease of all species of domestic animals caused by the neurotoxin of Clostridium tetani (C. tetani). This disease is usually known to develop after microbial contamination in the deep or penetrating wound sites. In February 2017, a farmer who was raising 76 cows injected foot and mouth disease vaccine to three or more cows with one syringe. Their clinical symptoms were observed 2 to 16 days after the vaccination. The initial symptoms were stiffness, rigidity of the neck and limbs, pricked ears, and prolapse of the third eyelid. Subsequently, there was recumbency with extension of the limbs, convulsions and opistotonus and the affected 20 cows were all died. Two dead cows were submitted to Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency for disease diagnosis. At necropsy, a focal edematous abscess of 15 to 20 cm in diameter was grossly observed in the subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue of scapular region and filled with a large amount of greenish pus. The feed was full in oral cavity and slightly observed in the trachea and lobes of lung. Histopathologically, focal granulomatous nodules with eosinophilic materials in the tissue were observed. In the lung, aspiration pneumonia and gram (+) bacteria were seen. The C. tetani was isolated in samples anaerobically cultured using reinforced clostridial medium and identified by PCR. To our knowledge, no previous outbreak of tetanus in cattle has affected such a high number of animals; neither has it been associated with misuse of the same syringe and needle to administer multiple individuals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.135-146
• /
• 2022

Obesity is closely associated with profound dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. Recent reports have suggested that alterations in gut microbiota can be linked to diet-induced obesity. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of Weissella confusa WIKIM51 isolated from kimchi were investigated, as evidenced by: i) reduced lipid accumulation and downregulated adipogenesis-related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; ii) suppressed gains in body weight and epididymal fat mass; iii) reduced serum lipid levels, for example, triglyceride and total cholesterol; iv) increased serum adiponectin levels and reduced serum leptin levels; v) downregulated lipogenesis and upregulated β-oxidation-related genes in the epididymal fat; and vi) altered microbial communities. The collective evidence indicate the potential value of W. confusa WIKIM51 as a functional food supplement for the prevention and amelioration of obesity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.32-44
• /
• 2002

Gu-Chang is a disorder characterized by recurring ulcers confined to the oral mucosa. Despite much clinical and research attention, the causes remain poorly understood. In this paper, we will compare Gu-Chang with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis(RAS) in order to know what is the similiarity between Gu-Chang and RAS. So we will arrange various oriental and western medical literatures which are important. As a result of arrangement of the causes, symptoms and therapys of Gu-Chang, we can conclude through the studies as follows. 1. The etiologies of Gu-chang are following. In the Sthenia syndrome, there are evil heat of external factor, heat of heart and spleen, insomnia, heat of upper warmer, stress and diet, heat of lung and heart, excessive heat of upper warmer, inappropriate food intake, heat conveyance of organ, heat of stomach merdian, moistured heat of spleen and stomach and stasis of liver energy. In the Asthenia syndrome, there are deficiency of stomach energy, deficiency of upper warmer leading to heat, deficiency of middle warmer leading to cold, deficiency of lower warmer leading to heat, deficiency of middle energy, deficiency of blood, decreased fire and deficiency of soil, yin fire of lower warmer, deficiency of heart yin, deficiency of spleen yin and deficiency of qi and blood. 2. In western medicine the causes of RAS is presumed as local, microbial, systemic, nutritional, genetic, immunologic factors. 3. Once Gu-chang is compared with RAS, in the deficiency of yin leading to hyperactivity of fire, deficiency of yin leading to floating of fire and stasis of liver energy, recurring of Gu-chang is similar to RAS. Although recurring of Gu-chang due to tripple warmer of excessive fire has no recurrance, since there are the degree of Pain, site of lesion, dysphagia etc, it is similar to major RAS. It is may be believed that Sthenia Gu-chang is similar to major RAS, shape of recurring, site of lesion, degrree of Pain and white color of Asthenia Gu-chang are similar to minor RAS, but there is no similarity concerning herpes RAS in the literatures that describe the symptoms. 4. Generally, the treatment of Gu-chang is divided into Asthenia and Sthenia Syndrome. The method of cure to Sthenia syndrome is heat cleaning and purge fire, Asthenia syndrome is nourish yin to lower and adverse rising energy and strength the middle warmer and benefit vital energy. 5. Following is the medication for Sthenia syndrome. Heat of heart and spleen is Do Jok San, Yang Gyek San, Juk Yup Suk Go Tang, evil heat of external factor is Yang Gyek San Ga Gam, Stasis of liver energy is Chong Wi Fae Dok Yum, moistured heat of spleen and stomach is Chong Gi Sam Syep Tang. The medication for Asthenia Syndrome is following. Deficiency of upper warmer leading to heat is Bo Jung Ik Gi Tang, deficiency of middle warmer leading to cold is Bu Ja Lee Jung Tang, deficiency of lower warmer leading to heat is Yuk Mi Ji Hwang Tang, deficiency of yin leading to hyperactivity of fire is Ji Baek Ji Hwang Hwan, deficiency of yin leading to floating of fire is Lee Jung Tang Ga Bu Ja Medicine for external use were Yang Suk San, Boo Wyen San, Rok Po San, Yoo Hwa San ate. 6. In western medicine, there is no specific treatment for RAS, and management strategies depend on dinical presentation and symptoms and includes antibiotics, oral rinses, glucocorticoids, immunomodulatory drugs, vitamines, analgesics, laser and antiviral agents.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.190-196
• /
• 2010

Nowadays many people use antibiotics to protect processed foods from many pathogenic bacteria. The abuse of antibiotics, however, can run the risk of creating resistant forms of bacterium. Our study focus is on making new substances that can not only replace antibiotics but also be friendly to the environment. In our experiments, we used fermented citrus fruit, soil microbes and coenzyme Q10 as probiotics and prebiotics. Chickens in the experimental group were fed these substances via oral route while those in the control group were not. After specific time periods, blood and feces samples were collected to test for Salmonella spp.. It is interesting that fermented citrus fruit was the most effective in suppressing this bacterium. Furthermore, dissection of the experiment group chickens shows that their livers did not change to a yellow color, in contrast to the control group. The results confirmed our proposal that the chickens fed with these materials can be protected from infection by Salmonella and other pathogens. These probiotics and prebiotics are highly practical because they are natural substances that can be easily recycled in the environment. It can also be used as an animal feed ingredient because of its safety.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
• /
• 2003.07b
• /
• pp.37-54
• /
• 2003

It has been recognized that the hen. like its mammalian counterparts. provides young chicks with antibodies as protection against hostile invaders. This system facilitates the transfer of specific antibodies from serum to egg yolk. and provides a supply of antibodies called immunoglobulin Y(IgY) to the developing embryo and the hatched chick. The protection against pathogens that the relatively immuno-incompetent newly hatched chick has. is through transmission of antibodies from the mother via the egg. Egg yolk. therefore. can be loaded with a large amount of IgY against pathogens which can immobilize the existing or invading pathogens during the embryo development or in day-old chicks. Thus. the immunization of laying hens to various pathogens results in production of different antigen-specific IgY in eggs. Egg yolk contains 8~20 mg of immunoglobulins (IgY) per $m\ell$ or 136~340 mg per yolk suggesting that more than 30 g of IgY can be obtained from one immunized hen in a year. By immunizing laying hens with antigens and collecting IgY from egg yolk. low cost antibodies at less than ＄10 per g compared to more than ＄20.000 per g of mammalian IgG can be obtained. This IgY technology opens new potential market applications in medicine. public health veterinary medicine and food safety. A broader use of IgY technology could be applied as biological or diagnostic tool. nut-raceutical or functional food development. oral-supplementation for prophylaxis. and as pathogen-specific antimicrobial agents for infectious disease control. This paper has emphasized that when IgY-loaded chicken eggs are produced and consumed. the specific antibody binds. immobilizes and consequently reduces or inhibits the growth or colony forming abilities of microbial pathogens. This concept could serve as an alternative agent to replace the use of antibiotics. since today. more and more antibiotics are less effective in the treatment of infections. due to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.418-424
• /
• 2021

Skin inflammation (dermatitis) is caused by varying skin damage due to ultraviolet radiation and microbial infection. Currently prescribed drugs for dermatitis include anti-histamine and steroid drug classes that soothe inflammation. However, incorrect or prolonged use of steroids can cause weakening of skin barriers as well as osteoporosis. Therefore, treating dermatitis with a drug that has minimal side effects is important. Statins, also known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are cholesterol-lowering drugs that have been widely treated for hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, recent studies have shown the anti-inflammatory effects of statins in both experimental and clinical models for of osteoarthritis. This study investigated the possible anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin and fluvastatin in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), which are crucial components of skin barriers. Stimulation of HaCaT cells with IL-1β increased the expression of the COX2 protein, a major player of inflammatory responses. However, this induction of the COX2 protein was downregulated by pretreatments with atorvastatin and fluvastatin. Treatment with IL-1ß-induced the upregulation of other inflammatory genes (such as iNOS and MMP-1) and these expressions were similarly lowered by these two statin drug treatments. Taken together, these results indicated that atorvastatin and fluvastatin can reduce IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses in HaCaT cells. In conclusion, the findings suggest that atorvastatin and fluvastatin can be potential modulators for ameliorating skin inflammation.