• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2015

Objectives: Schizandrae fructus (Schizandra chinensis) is one of very common herbs, it is known as natural antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agent. Also some reports show that its extract works to regulate of dyslipidemia. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Schizandrae fructus chloroform fraction (SFCF) on serum lipid levels in dyslipidemic mice. Methods: The levels of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting blood glucose in serum were measured. Histopathological and gene expression changes in liver tissue were also observed. Results: Oral administration of SFCF lowered levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride, which were elevated by high-fat diet. But SFCF did not affect on weight changes and serum AST, ALT levels in dyslipidemic mice. After carrying out gene ontological analysis, large numbers of genes in high-fat diet group were up-(347) or down-regulated (235). In SFCF treated mice, some changed expression of the genes was restored to normal levels, with a recovery rate of 17%. And it seems that fatty acid biosynthesis pathway was one of important key pathways to recovery. Conclusions: SFCF has beneficial effect on dyslipidemia, and could be used to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2007

The arylsulfatase gene (astA, 984 bp ORF) from Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora genome was amplified by PCR and subcloned into the pHCE-IA vector, in which the hyper consitutive expression (HCE) promoter from the D-amino acid aminotransferase (D-AAT) gene of Geobacillus toevii was employed. The transformant cell, Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3)/pHCE-AST, on LB agar plate containig 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate, showed an intense fluorescence at 360 nm, indicating that 4-methylumbelliferone was liberated by desulfatate activity. When BL21 (DE3)/pHCE-AST was grown on LB media containing 0.4% glucose or 0.4% glycerol, the arylsulfatase activity was higher at glycerol rather than at glucose. On 2% glycerol medium, the arylsulfatase activity reached 15.0 unit/ml, which was 2.6-fold higher expression level than that with 1% glycerol. The DNA ladder in agarose prepared from agar by this recombinant enzyme revealed similar resolution and migration patterns with a commercial agarose. This results suggests that arylsulfatase overexpressed in E. coli could be applicable to the economic production of electrophoretic-grade agarose.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.561-565
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• 2005

Bacterial arylsulfate sulfotransferase (ASST) catalyzes the transfer of sulfate group from a phenyl sulfate ester to a phenolic acceptor. The promoter region and the transcripti on start sites of Enterobacter amnigenus astA have been determined by primer extension analysis. Northern blot analysis resolved two mRNA species with lengths of 3.3 and 2.0 kb, which correspond to the distances between the transcriptional initiation sites and the two inverted repeat sequences (IRSs). By length, the 3.3 kb RNA could comprise the three-gene (astA with dsbA and dsbB) operon. ASST has three highly conserved cysteine residues. Reducing and non-reducing SDS-PAGE and activity staining showed that disulfide bond is needed for the activity of the enzyme. To identify the cysteine residues responsible for the disulfide bond formation, a series of Cys to Ser mutants has been constructed and the enzymatic activity was measured. Based on the results, we assumed that the first cysteine (Cys349) might be involved in disulfide bond mainly with the second cysteine (Cys445) and result in active conformation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2015

Curcumin is widely used as a traditional medicine. This work was aimed to investigate its possible protective effect against chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Fifty male albino rats were divided into five groups (n=10, each). The control group received a single dose of normal saline, the diethylnitrosamine (DENA) group received a single intra-peritoneal dose at 200mg/kg body weight, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th groups were given DENA and daily administrated curcunine (CUR) via intra-gastric intubation in doses of 300, 200 and 100 mg/kg b.wt. respectively for 20 weeks. Serum, and liver samples were used for determination of alpha feto-protein (AFP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukine-6 (IL-6), serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) levels as well the activities and gene expression of glutathione peroxidise (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and super oxide dismutase (SOD). Curcumin significantly lowered the serum levels of AFP, IL-2 and IL-6, ALT, ALT, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well gene expression of IL-2 and IL-6. In contrast it increased the gene expression and activities of Gpx, GRD, CAT and SOD. The protective effect of CUR against DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in albino rats was proven.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.777-782
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• 2004

The arylsulfatase gene (astA, 984 bp ORF) from the P. carrageenovora genome was amplified by PCR and subcloned into the pET21a vector. When the constructed plasmid pAST-A1 (6.4 kb) was introduced into E. coli BL21(DE3), the transformant on the LB plate containing IPTG showed a hydrolyzing activity for 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate and p-nitrophenyl sulfate. The highest arylsulfatase activity (2.1 unit/ml) was obtained at 10 mM IPTG. Most arylsulfatase activity was found in the cell lysate, whereas no significant activity was detected in the culture supernatant. The molecular weight of the recombinant enzyme was estimated to be 33.1 kDa by SDS-PAGE. After the reaction of agar with arylsulfatase for 12 h at $40^{\circ}C$, the gel strength of the agar increased by 2-fold, and 73% of the sulfate in the agar had been removed. This result suggests that arylsulfatase expressed in E. coli could be useful in the production of electrophoretic grade agarose.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.413-419
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• 2017

Four imipenem-resistant bacteria were isolated from the clinical specimens of a patient with pneumonia. To identify the isolates, we used the GN card of Vitek II system and performed a phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence. The isolates were identified as P. aeruginosa (2 strains), P. monteilii (1 strain), and P. putida (1 strain), and were tested for antibiotic resistance after determining the MIC of imipenem to be $${\geq_-}8{\mu}g/mL$$ using the AST-N225 card of Vitek II system. The imipenem-resistant genotypes were determined using PCR products amplified using specific ${\beta}-Lactamase$ gene primers. The MBL gene was identified in all four isolates. One strain of P. aeruginosa exhibited the VIM and SHV-1 type genes, while the other strain exhibited both VIM and OXA group II genes. According to the antimicrobial susceptibility test, the bacteria were more susceptible to amikacin than other antibiotics. DNA fingerprint analysis using ERIC-PCR to analyze the epidemiological relationship between strains estimated that both the P. aeruginosa isolates were similar, but exhibited different DNA band types. It is uncommon to find four strains of imipenem-resistant bacteria with different DNA band types in a single patient.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2009

4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA) is an aromatic amine that is widely used in the industrial synthetic process. Genotoxic MDA forms DNA adducts in the liver and is known to induce liver damage in human and rats. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with MDA-induced hepatotoxicity, we have identified genes differentially expressed by microarray approach. BALB/c male mice were treated once daily with MDA (20 mg/kg) up to 7 days via intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and hepatic damages were revealed by histopathological observation and elevation of serum marker enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP, cholesterol, DBIL, and TBIL. Microarray analysis showed that 952 genes were differentially expressed in the liver of MDA-treated mice and their biological functions and canonical pathways were further analyzed using Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA). Toxicological functional analysis showed that genes related to hepatotoxicity such hyperplasia/hyperproliferation (Timp1), necrosis/cell death (Cd14, Mt1f, Timp1, and Pmaip1), hemorrhaging (Mt1f), cholestasis (Akr1c3, Hpx, and Slc10a2), and inflammation (Cd14 and Hpx) were differentially expressed in MDA-treated group. This gene expression profiling should be useful for elucidating the genetic events associated with aromatic amine-induced hepatotoxicity and for discovering the potential biomarkers for hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.356-367
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• 2021

This study investigated the effect of swimming exercise on inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver using animal models of postmenopausal obese women. Experimental animals were divided into a sham-operate + non-swimming trained group (S/N), an ovariectomize + non-swimming trained group (O/N) and an ovariectomize + swimming trained group (O/S), and were bred while eating a high fat diet for 8 weeks. Fat accumulation in liver tissue, liver weight, and serum AST and ALT increased in O/N compared to S/N, but decreased in O/S compared to O/N. Compared to S/N, O/N decreased the gene expression of IκBα in liver tissue and increased gene expression of MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. But compared to O/N, O/S increased the gene expression of IκBα in liver tissue and decreased gene expression of MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. In conclusion, this study suggested that swimming exercise was effective in improving physical health by improving inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver in obese mice induced obesity by high fat diet after ovariectomy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.54-63
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• 2003

Objectives : This study aimed to elucidate the effects of TBE on hyperlipidemia. Methods : We studied the effects of TBE on hyperlipidemia through gene expressions related with lipid metabolism and serum triglyceride as well as total and HDL-cholesterol levels, and perceived histological changes. Results : The present studies demonstrate that TBE can reduce the rise in plasma cholesterol and TG levels induced by a high-cholesterol diet and also reverse pre-established hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglycemia. In the TBE group total cholesterol levels decreased, TG levels decreased, but HDL-cholesterol levels also decreased. In the analysis of absolute and relative liver weight, TBE inhibited the weight gain induced by a high-cholesterol diet. In the histological observations, lipid droplet and apoptotic change in the TBE treated group were less compared with the control group. In the serum biochemical analysis, a difference of serum AST and ALT changes among groups was not shown, but TG and total cholesterol levels were less and HDL level decreased compared with the control group. In the gene expression related with TG and cholesterol metabolism, DGAT decreased slightly but ACAT decreased more as compared with control and Lipidil groups. Conclusion : From this study, we can infer that TBE possesses a hypolipidemic effect by inhibiting the intestinal absorption and storage of exogenous and endogenous cholesterol.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.390-397
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• 2015

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic alcohol and excessive iron intake on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and the progression of alcoholic liver injury in rats. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups (Control, EtOH, Fe, and EtOH + Fe), and fed either control or ethanol (36% of total calories) liquid diet with or without 0.6% carbonyl iron for eight weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, liver malondialdehyde concentrations were measured by colorimetric assays. Liver histopathology was examined by Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the fixed liver tissues. The integrity of the hepatic mtDNA and nuclear DNA was measured by long-range PCR. The gene expression levels of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (Nd4) were examined by real-time PCR. Results: Serum ALT and AST activities were significantly higher in the EtOH+Fe group, as compared to the Control group. Similarly, among four groups, liver histology showed the most severe lipid accumulation, inflammation, and necrosis in the EtOH + Fe group. PCR amplification of near-full-length (15.9 kb) mtDNA showed more than 50% loss of full-length product in the liver of the EtOH + Fe group, whereas amounts of PCR products of a nuclear DNA were unaffected. In addition, the changes in the mtDNA integrity showed correlation with reductions in the mRNA levels of mitochondrial gene Cox1 and Nd4. Conclusion: Our data suggested that the liver injury associated with excessive iron and alcohol intake involved mtDNA damage and corresponding mitochondrial dysfunction.