• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

Aloe products are one of the top selling health-functional foods in Korea, however the adequate level of intake to achieve desirable effects are not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the intestinal uptake and metabolism of physiologically active aloe components using in vitro intestinal absorption model. The Caco-2 cell monolayer and the everted gut sac were incubated with $5-50{\mu}M$ of aloin, aloe-emodin, and aloesin. The basolateral appearance of test compounds and their glucuronosyl or sulfated forms were quantified using HPLC. The % absorption of aloin, aloe-emodin, and aloesin was ranged from 5.51% to 6.60%, 6.60% to 11.32%, and 7.61% to 13.64%, respectively. Up to 18.15%, 18.18%, and 38.86% of aloin, aloe-emodin, and aloesin, respectively, was absorbed as glucuronidated or sulfated form. These results suggest that a significant amount is transformed during absorption. The absorption rate of test compounds except aloesin was similar in two models; more aloesin was absorbed in the everted gut sac than in the Caco-2 monolayer. These results provide information to establish adequate intake level of aloe supplements to maintain effective plasma level.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.410-416
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• 2022

Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire-blight disease in apple and pear trees, was first isolated in South Korea in 2015. Although numerous studies, including omics analyses, have been conducted on other strains of E. amylovora, studies on South Korean isolates remain limited. In this study, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis of the strain TS3128, cultured in three media representing different growth conditions. Proteins related to virulence, type III secretion system, and amylovoran production, were more abundant under minimal conditions than in rich conditions. Additionally, various proteins associated with energy production, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, and ion uptake were identified under minimal conditions. The strain TS3128 expresses these proteins to survive in harsh environments. These findings contribute to understanding the cellular mechanisms driving its adaptations to different environmental conditions and provide proteome profiles as reference for future studies on the virulence and adaptation mechanisms of South Korean strains.

• Journal of Web Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2018

Gelidium elegans, a red alga native to the Asia Pacific region, contains biologically active polyphenols. We conducted a molecular biological study of the anti-diabetic effect of Gelidium elegans extract (GEE) in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. Mice that had been administered GEE had significantly lower body mass, water consumption, and fasting blood glucose than db/db controls. Moreover, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), an indicator of the glycemic status of people with diabetes, was significantly lower in mice that had been administered GEE. We also found that 200 mg/kg/day GEE upregulates the insulin signaling pathway by activating insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and increasing the expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4). In parallel, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity was lower in GEE-treated groups. In summary, these findings indicate that GEE regulates glucose metabolism by activating the insulin signaling pathway and downregulating the MAPK signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 1974

Varietal difference in nitrogen metabolism was investigated under water culture system with high (50 or 80ppm) and low (10 or 40 ppm) levels of nitrogen and with two-week minus nitrogen treatment at maximum tillering and heading stage using a leading local variety, Jinheung and high-yielding IR667 line (newly bred tropical variety). 1. In high nitrogen level Jinheung showed higher yield than IR667. vise versa in low nitrogen level. 2. Poor yield of IR667 at high nitrogen may be due to ammonium toxicity that was eliminated by minus nitrogen from culture solution. 3. IR667 was more sensitive to the change of nitrogen environment. 4. With high nitrogen medium Jinheung showed nigher nitrogen uptake and higher capacity of protein synthesis than IR667, and vise versa at low nitrogen medium. 5. From the above facts it could be concluded that Jinheung has higher metabolic adaptability for heavy nitrogen while IR667 has higher structural adaptability for heavy mitrogen and that better productive adaptability will be resulted in the combination of both characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 1972

The author used a dog preparation, in which either the left lung or the lower left lobe rebreathed continuously from a bag, to compare $CO_2$ and $O_2$ tensions in the rebreathed gas with those in blood entering or leaving the lung. In the 10 dogs studied, alveolar pressures for both gases were greater than in the blood; the "upstream" gradient (alveolar pulmonary arterial blood) exceeded the "downstream" gradient (alveolar-pulmonary venous blood) for both gases, but the difference was only significant for $CO_2$. The author attributed this effect to the production of $CO_2$ in lung tissue metabolism and its uptake by the blood. The difference in $CO_2$ tension between blood leaving and entering lung increased while the downstream gradient fell, an effect which was independant of the level of anesthesia. There was no evidence of a fall in base excess in blood passing through the lung, as would occur from the production of metabolic acids during anaerobic metabolism at the low levels found in the rebreathing lung in this preparation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.345-352
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• 2006

Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) have a good capacity to produce heavily marbled meat of high value. The intramuscular fat in Hanwoo is known to be deposit from 12 months of age by degree of slightly visible and significantly developed in 28 months of age. Lipogenesis gene expression profiling in longissimus dorsi at early and late fattening stage will be helpful to understand the mechanism of intramuscular fat deposition in skeletal muscle. Therefore, we analysed the gene expression patterns of six genes related lipid metabolism (FABP4, GLUT4, LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD) between early and late fattening stage. The mRNA expression of FABP4 at late fattening stage (27 months old) was higher about 3.0 fold than at early fattening stage (12 months old) in each three individuals of Hanwoo. However, GLUT4 mRNA expression was not different at late fattening stage compared with at early fattening stage. On the other hand, The expression patterns of LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD genes related lipid metabolism were significantly over-expressed about 3.5 fold, 2.7 fold, 3.7 fold and 7.5 fold at late fattening stage, respectively. Thus, these results suggested that lipogenesis in skeletal muscle at late fattening stage is due to increasing uptake of fatty acid by FABP4 and lipogenesis gene expression such as LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.489-497
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• 2014

We examined the effects of unripe black raspberry water extract (UBR-W) on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in mice. C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups: those administered a control diet (CTL), high-fat diet (HFD), UBR-W and simvastatin for 12 weeks. In the HFD group, LDL cholesterol were significantly higher than in the CTL group. However, the UBR-W treated group showed dose-dependent reduction of plasma LDL levels. Hepatic total lipid, TC, and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in hyperlipidemic mice. However, supplementation with either UBR-W or simvastatin effectively reduced these lipid profiles and lipid peroxidation. UBR-W increased mRNA expression of the LDL receptor, sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) compared to that observed in the HFD group. In addition, UBR-W and simvastatin showed significantly reduced oxidized LDL uptake by the scavenger receptor CD36. These results suggest that UBR-W is useful for treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2022

Oxysterols are oxygenated metabolites of cholesterol generated by serial enzymatic reactions during bile acid synthesis. Similar to cholesterol, oxysterols move rapidly to the intracellular region and modulate various cellular processes, such as immune cell responses, lipid metabolism, and cholesterol homeostasis. Different nuclear transcription factors, such as glucocorticoid, estrogen, and liver X receptors, can be modulated by oxysterols in multiple tissues. The most abundant oxysterol, 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC), is a well-known selective modulator that can either activate or suppress estrogen receptor activity in a tissue-specific manner. The contribution of 27-OHC in atherosclerosis development is apparent because a large amount of it is found in atherosclerotic plaques, accelerating the transformation of macrophages into foam cells that uptake extracellular modified lipids. According to previous studies, however, there are opposing opinions about how 27-OHC affects lipid and cholesterol metabolism in metabolic organs, including the liver and adipose tissue. In particular, the effects of 27-OHC on lipid metabolism are entirely different between in vitro and in vivo conditions, suggesting that understanding the physiology of this oxysterol requires a sophisticated approach. This review summarizes the potential effects of 27-OHC in atherosclerosis and metabolic syndromes with a special discussion of its role in metabolic tissues.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.462-475
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• 2022

Purpose: Allomyrina dichotoma larvae are one of the approved edible insects with nutritional value and various functional and medicinal properties. Previously we have demonstrated that the Allomyrina dichotoma larval extract (ADLE) ameliorates hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice through the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This study investigated the effects of ADLE on insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle and explored mechanisms for enhancing the glucose uptake in palmitate (PAL)-treated C2C12 myotubes. Methods: To induce insulin resistance, the differentiated C2C12 myotubes were treated with PAL (0.5 mM) for 24 hours, and then treated with a 0.5 mg/ml concentration of ADLE, and the resultant effects were measured. The expression levels of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), AMPK, and the mitochondrial metabolism-related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of lipogenesis- related genes were determined by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Results: The exposure of C2C12 myotubes to 0.5 mg/ml of ADLE increased cell viability significantly compared to PAL-treated cells. ADLE upregulated the protein expression of GLUT4 and enhanced glucose uptake in the PAL-treated cells. ADLE increased the phosphorylated AMPK in both the PAL-treated C2C12 myotubes and HFD-treated skeletal muscle. The reduced expression levels of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1 alpha (PGC1α) and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) due to the PAL and HFD treatment were reversed by the ADLE treatment. The citrate synthase activity was also significantly increased with the PAL and ADLE co-treatment. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expressions of fatty acid synthesis-related factors were reduced in the PAL and HFD-treated muscle cells, and this effect was significantly attenuated by the ADLE treatment. Conclusion: ADLE activates AMPK, which in turn induces mitochondrial metabolism and reduces fatty acid synthesis in C2C12 myotubes. Therefore, ADLE could be useful for preventing or treating insulin resistance of skeletal muscles in diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 1978

Uptake and distribution of labelled urea, $NH{_4}^+$, and $NO{_3}^-$ by Tongil and Jinheung rice grown with each nitrogen source until ear formation stage under water culture system were as follows. 1. When the previous nitrogen source was same as one tested the uptake rate ($mg^{15}N/g$ d.w. root 2hrs, at $28^{\circ}C$ light) was great in the order of $NH_4$ >urea> $NO_3$ and higher (especially $NH_4$) in Tongil than in Jinheung. Rate limiting step (slowest) seems to be exist at R (root)${\rightarrow}$LS(leaf sheath) for urea, LS${\rightarrow}$LB(leaf blade) for $NH_4$ and M(medium)${\rightarrow}$R for $NO_3$. The fast step of translocation appeare to be at M${\rightarrow}$R for urea R${\rightarrow}$LS for $NH_4$ and LS${\rightarrow}$LB for $NO_3$. 2. The uptake rate of $NH_4$ by the urea-fed plant increased almost linearly from $18^{\circ}C$ via $28^{\circ}C$ to $38^{\circ}C$ in Tongil ($Q_{10}$=1.21 and 1.32 respectively) while no change in Jinheung ($Q_{10}$=0.99 and 1.00 respectively). It decreased by 12% in Jinheung under dark but uo change in Tongil. 3. The uptake rate of nitrogen source by different source-fed plant was great in the order of $NH_4{\rightarrow}^{15}NO_3$ $NO_3{\rightarrow}^{15}NH_4$, $urea{\rightarrow}^{15}NO_3$ and higher (especially $NH_4{\rightarrow}^{15}NO_3$) in Tongil. In the case of $urea{\rightarrow}^{15}NH_4$ it was same in $NH_4{\rightarrow}^{15}NO_3$ for Tongil and slightly lower than that in $NO_3{\rightarrow}^{15}NH_4$ for Jinheung. It was lower (especially Tongil) in $NH_4{\rightarrow}^{15}NO_3$ than in $NH_4{\rightarrow}^{15}NH_4 $ 4. The uptake rate (in $NH_4{\rightarrow}^{15}NO_3$) was higher during 15 minutes than during 2 hours and always higher in Tongil. 5. $^{15}N$ excess % and content in each part, and uptake rate of root seems to have their own significance relatling with metabolism and translocation respectively. The change of nitrogen nutritional environment and source preference of varieties were discussed in relation to field condition and efficient use of nitrogen fertilizer.