• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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• 2006.06b
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• pp.337-347
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• 2006

Papers made from unbleached and bleached bagasse chemimechanical pulp were chemically modified by acetylation. The effects of irradiation on unbleached and bleached also reduced papers of bagasse chemimechanical pulp before and after acetylation were investigated in this study. Chemimechanical pulp was prepared from bagasse and then bleached with hydrogen peroxide. Unbleached and hydrogen bleached pulps were reduced by Sodium borohydride in different procedures. Paper sheets were prepared from pulps and then acetylated using a technical grade of acetic anhydride. Accelerated photo-aging was run on the samples using fluorescent lamps to verify photo-stability of paper sheets before and after pretreatments. Brightness reversion (as Post-color number) and other optical properties of the paper sheets were measured. Efficient inhibition of photo-yellowing of papers made from bagasse CMP was achieved by acetylation. The acetylated unbleached CMP was noticeably photo-bleached during irradiation. Sodium borohydride reduction followed by acetylation had the same effect as acetylation alone at the same degree of reaction time and reductive treatment did not affect the yellowing rate to any great extent. The pre-reduced, acetylated unbleached papers were, however, not brightened during irradiation. Calculation done by Kubelka-Munk equation showed that reductive treatment had little effect in reducing the photo-yellowing of paper made from CMP pulp; a small stabilization effect was observed in the case of bleached CMP, while unbleached CMP was slightly more prone to discolor in the later phase of photo-reversion. The improved stability towards light may was closely related to the decrease in the phenolic hydroxyl content as a result of blocking by acetyl groups during treatment with acetic anhydride. The results support the hypothesis that phenolic hydroxyl has an important role in the process of photo-reversion of high-yield pulps. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the acetylation of paper manufactured from peroxide bleached Bagasse CMP significantly retards light-induced discoloration. The inhibition of yellowing is connected with a decrease in the phenolic hydroxyl content of both unbleached and peroxide bleached papers.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death, and inflammatory bowel disease is a risk factor for this malignancy. We previously reported colon cancer chemoprevention potential using American ginseng (AG) in a xenograft mice model. However, the nude mouse model is not a gut-specific colon carcinogenesis animal model. Methods: In this study, an experimental colitis and colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis mouse model, chemically induced by azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was established and the effects of oral AG were evaluated. The contents of representative ginseng saponins in the extract were determined. Results: AG significantly reduced experimental colitis measured by the disease activity index scores. This suppression of the experimental colitis was not only evident during DSS treatment, but also very obvious after the cessation of DSS, suggesting that the ginseng significantly promoted recovery from the colitis. Consistent with the anti-inflammation data, we showed that ginseng very significantly attenuated azoxymethane/DSS-induced colon carcinogenesis by reducing the colon tumor number and tumor load. The ginseng also effectively suppressed DSS-induced proinflammatory cytokines activation using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay array, in which 12 proinflammatory cytokine levels were assessed, and this effect was supported subsequently by real-time polymerase chain reaction data. Conclusion: AG, as a candidate of botanical-based colon cancer chemoprevention, should be further investigated for its potential clinical utility.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.146-155
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• 2021

This study observed the anti-inflammatory effect of the polysaccharide derived from the mycelium of Tremella fuciformis in mice with colitis induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The experimental groups were normal, DSS, DSS-TFL50, DSS-TFH100, and suflasalazine. Body weights, colon lengths, and organ weights were measured, and the plasma level of pro-inflammatory cytokine and mRNA and protein expression in colon tissue were analyzed. Body weight loss, a symptom of DSS-induced colitis, was suppressed by DSS-TF and the speed of weight recovery proceeded rapidly. In addition, DSS-TF showed a significant inhibitory effect on the decrease of colon length typically caused by colon damage. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β cytokine levels in plasma were reduced in DSS-TF and positive control groups. TNF-α, COX-2 and IL-1β mRNA expression in colon tissue were inhibited in DSS-TF and positive control, and it was significantly different from that of the DSS group. The protein expression of inflammation-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α and COX-2) in the colon tissue was significantly increased by DSS compared to that of the normal group, but by DSS-TFL50, DSS-TFH100 and sulfasalarin decreased. In conclusion, the polysaccharide derived from the mycelium of Tremella fuciformis showed the anti-inflammatory effect on DSS-induced colitis in mice.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.56.1-56.17
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• 2022

Background: At the therapeutic doses, diclofenac sodium (DFS) has few toxic side effects on mammals. On the other hand, DFS exhibits potent toxicity against birds and the mechanisms remain ambiguous. Objectives: This paper was designed to probe the toxicity of DFS exposure on the hepatic proteome of broiler chickens. Methods: Twenty 30-day-old broiler chickens were randomized evenly into two groups (n = 10). DFS was administered orally at 10mg/kg body weight in group A, while the chickens in group B were perfused with saline as a control. Histopathological observations, serum biochemical examinations, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to assess the liver injury induced by DFS. Proteomics analysis of the liver samples was conducted using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology. Results: Ultimately, 201 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were obtained, of which 47 were up regulated, and 154 were down regulated. The Gene Ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were conducted to screen target DEPs associated with DFS hepatotoxicity. The regulatory relationships between DEPs and signaling pathways were embodied via a protein-protein interaction network. The results showed that the DEPs enriched in multiple pathways, which might be related to the hepatotoxicity of DFS, were "protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum," "retinol metabolism," and "glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism." Conclusions: The hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens might be achieved by inducing the apoptosis of hepatocytes and affecting the metabolism of retinol and purine. The present study could provide molecular insights into the hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.700-709
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenoside Rd is a natural compound with promising neuroprotective effects. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not well-understood. In this study, we explored whether ginsenoside Rd exerts protective effects on cerebral endothelial cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) treatment and its potential docking proteins related to the underlying regulations. Method: Commercially available primary human brain microvessel endothelial cells (HBMECs) were used for in vitro OGD/R studies. Cell viability, pyroptosis-associated protein expression and tight junction protein degradation were evaluated. Molecular docking proteins were predicted. Subsequent surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology was utilized for validation. Flow cytometry was performed to quantify caspase-1 positive and PI positive (caspase-1+/PI+) pyroptotic cells. Results: Ginsenoside Rd treatment attenuated OGD/R-induced damage of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in vitro. It suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation (increased expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and GSDMD-N terminal (NT)) and subsequent cellular pyroptosis (caspase-1+/PI + cells). Ginsenoside Rd interacted with SLC5A1 with a high affinity and reduced OGD/R-induced sodium influx and potassium efflux in HBMECs. Inhibiting SLC5A1 using phlorizin suppressed OGD/R-activated NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis in HBMECs. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rd protects HBMECs from OGD/R-induced injury partially via binding to SLC5A1, reducing OGD/R-induced sodium influx and potassium efflux, thereby alleviating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1234-1244
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• 2022

Oral streptococci are considered as an opportunistic pathogen associated with initiation and progression of various oral diseases. However, since the currently-available treatments often accompany adverse effects, alternative strategy is demanded to control streptococci. In the current study, we investigated whether short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including sodium acetate (NaA), sodium propionate (NaP), and sodium butyrate (NaB), can inhibit the growth of oral streptococci. Among the tested SCFAs, NaP most potently inhibited the growth of laboratory and clinically isolated strains of Streptococcus gordonii under anaerobic culture conditions. However, the growth inhibitory effect of NaP on six different species of other oral streptococci was different depending on their culture conditions. Metabolic changes such as alteration of methionine biosynthesis can affect bacterial growth. Indeed, NaP enhanced intracellular methionine levels of oral streptococci as well as the mRNA expression level of methionine biosynthesis-related genes. Collectively, these results suggest that NaP has an inhibitory effect on the growth of oral streptococci, which might be due to alteration of methionine biosynthesis. Thus, NaP can be used an effective bacteriostatic agent for the prevention of oral infectious diseases caused by oral streptococci.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2395-2407
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• 2022

The sodium-cooled fast reactor is among the innovative nuclear technologies selected in the framework of the development of Generation IV concepts, allowing the irradiation of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuels (MOX). A fundamental step for the safety assessment of MOX-fuelled pins for fast reactor applications is the evaluation, by means of fuel performance codes, of the integral thermal-mechanical behaviour under irradiation, involving the fission gas behaviour and release in the fuel-cladding gap. This work is dedicated to the performance analysis of an inner-core fuel pin representative of the ASTRID sodium-cooled concept design, selected as case study for the benchmark between the GERMINAL and TRANSURANUS fuel performance codes. The focus is on fission gas-related mechanisms and integral outcomes as predicted by means of the SCIANTIX module (allowing the physics-based treatment of inert gas behaviour and release) coupled to both fuel performance codes. The benchmark activity involves the application of both GERMINAL and TRANSURANUS in their "pre-INSPYRE" versions, i.e., adopting the state-of-the-art recommended correlations available in the codes, compared with the "post-INSPYRE" code results, obtained by implementing novel models for MOX fuel properties and phenomena (SCIANTIX included) developed in the framework of the INSPYRE H2020 Project. The SCIANTIX modelling includes the consideration of burst releases of the fission gas stored at the grain boundaries occurring during power transients of shutdown and start-up, whose effect on a fast reactor fuel concept is analysed. A clear need to further extend and validate the SCIANTIX module for application to fast reactor MOX emerges from this work; nevertheless, the GERMINAL-TRANSURANUS benchmark on the ASTRID case study highlights the achieved code capabilities for fast reactor conditions and paves the way towards the proper application of fuel performance codes to safety evaluations on Generation IV reactor concepts.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.164-173
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hyperglycemia is a major cause of diabetes and diabetesrelated diseases. Sodium butyrate (NaB) is a short-chain fatty acid derivative that produces dietary fiber by anaerobic bacterial fermentation in the large intestine and occurs in foods, such as Parmesan cheese and butter. Butyrate has been shown to prevent obesity, improve insulin sensitivity, and ameliorate dyslipidemia in diet-induced obese mice. Therefore, this study examined the effects and mechanism of NaB on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines induced by high glucose (HG) in THP-1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: THP-1 cells were used as an in vitro model for HG-induced inflammation. The cells were cultured under normal glycemic or hyperglycemic conditions with or without NaB (0-25 μM). Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate the protein and mRNA levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, acetylated p65, acetyl CREB-binding protein/p300 (CBP/p300), and p300 using THP-1 cells. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT), histone deacetylase (HDAC), and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion activity were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: HG significantly upregulated histone acetylation, acetylation levels of p300, NF-κB activation, and inflammatory cytokine release in THP-1 cells. Conversely, the NaB treatment reduced cytokine release and NF-κB activation in HG-treated cells. It also significantly reduced p65 acetylation, CBP/p300 HAT activity, and CBP/p300 gene expression. In addition, NaB decreased the interaction of p300 in acetylated NF-κB and TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NaB suppresses HG-induced inflammatory cytokine production through HAT/HDAC regulation in monocytes. NaB has the potential for preventing and treating diabetes and its related complications.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.267-274
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• 2022

This paper is a result of research conducted on the 800,000 m³/d capacity of A Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and 400,000 m³/d capacity of B WTP plant in operation in the Nakdong River region. We evaluated the effect of algae broom on the WTP operation based on the running data of both WTP and the data on the pre-oxidation process field test for algae control using sodium permanganate (SPM) at the B WTP. The study results showed that during the algal bloom period, the coagulant dose increased by 102% in A WTP and 58% in B WTP, respectively, and the chlorine dose also increased by 38% and 29%, respectively, which may affect Total trihalomethane (THM) production. Data such as algal populations and Chl-a, residual chlorine and THM, algal populations, and ozone dose appeared also highly correlated, confirming that algal broom affects WTP operations, including water quality and chemical dosage. As a result of the field test of B WTP, THMs appeared lower than that of the control, suggesting the possibility of the SPM pre-oxidation process as an alternative to algae-related water quality management. Furthermore, in terms of GHG emissions due to energy consumption, it was observed that the pre-oxidation process using SPM was approximately 10.8%, which is a very low ratio compared to the pre-ozonation process. Therefore, these results suggest that the SPM pre-oxidation process can be recommended as an alternative to low-carbon water purification technology.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

The objective of this study is to identify the effects of endurance exercise and selenium on mitochondrial transcription factor in old Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. In this experiments, endurance exercise were treadmill-run at 24 m/min, 30 min/day, 5 days/week, 6 weeks and 5 umol/kg of sodium selenite was injected intraperitoneally. In exercise group, selenium group, and combination group, the mitohondrial biogenesis-related genes, including PGC-$1{\alpha}$, NRF-1, and Tfam expression level were significantly increased compared to control group. Consistent with the increased biogenesis-related genes, the cytochrome C in the treated groups, which was the indicator of mitochondrial content, was significantly increased compared to control group. Especially, combination of exercise and selenium may be effective in the increase of mitochondrial biogenesis, activity and insulin sensitivity. Therefore, exercise and selenium treatment is likely to promote diabeticmitochondrial malfunction and then improve diabetes.