Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in reproductive women, which is characterized by depleted level of lactic acid bacteria and overgrowth of anaerobes such as Gardnerella ...vaginalis spp. Lactic acid bacteria have been known to be beneficial for amelioration of BV, since they produce antimicrobial substances against G. vaginalis spp. The objectives of this study were to characterize different fractions of cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus paracasei CH88 (LCFS) and investigate antibacterial activity of the LCFS fractions against G. vaginalis in-vitro and in-vivo. Antibacterial activity of the LCFS was stable during thermal treatment up to 120 °C for 30 min and maintained at pH ranging from 3.0 to 13.0 except pH 5.0. Fraction below 3 kDa of the LCFS partially lost its antibacterial activity after treatment with proteolytic enzymes. Precipitated protein fraction below 3 kDa of the LCFS (< 3 kDa LCFSP) inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of G. vaginalis. Treatment of L. paracasei CH88 or the < 3 kDa LCFSP attenuated G. vaginalis-induced BV in mice by inhibiting the growth of G. vaginalis, reducing exfoliation of vaginal epithelial cells, and regulating immune response. These results suggest that L. paracasei CH88 may have potential in ameliorating G. vaginalis-induced BV.
The objective of this study was to determine reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by fagopyrin F-rich fraction (FFF) separated from Tartary buckwheat flower extract exposed to lights and to ...investigate its antibacterial photodynamic inactivation (PDI) against
and its biofilm. ROS producing mechanisms involving FFF with light exposure were determined using a spectrophotometer and a fluorometer.
and its biofilm inactivation after PDI treatment of FFF using blue light (BL; 450 nm) were determined by plate count method and crystal violet assay, respectively. The biofilm destruction by ROS produced from FFF after exposure to BL was visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). BL among 3 light sources produced type 1 ROS the most when applying FFF as a photosensitizer. FFF exposed to BL (5 and 10 J/cm
) significantly more inhibited
viability and biofilm formation than FFF without the light exposure (
< 0.05). In the PDI of FFF exposed to BL (10 J/cm
), an apparent destruction of
and its biofilm were observed by the CLSM and FE-SEM. Antibacterial PDI effect of FFF was determined for the first time in this study.
Coconut haustorium (CH) is formed inside coconut shell during coconut germination. This study aimed to investigate the compositions and contents of CH phytochemicals. Phytochemical compositions and ...contents in CH were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) and spectrophotometrical method. Five phenolic acids and four flavonoids were identified in CH. Ferulic acid and myricetin were the most abundant among phenolic acids and flavonoids identified in CH, respectively. Nepetariaside and 1-methylene-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one glucuronide were the most abundant terpenoids and steroid derivatives identified in CH, respectively. To our knowledge, this study screened several classes of phytochemicals in CH for the first. Terpenoids and steroid derivatives were likely to be more major phytochemicals than phenolic acids and flavonoids in CH. The functionality of CH itself and the compounds found in CH might be utilized in functional foods or cosmetics.
Blood trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been associated with cardiovascular disease. Black raspberry (
Rubus occidentalis
, BR) has been regarded to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. This ...study aimed to investigate how BR extract affects serum lipid profile, gut microbial composition, metabolites in rats fed TMAO with a high-fat diet. Dietary TMAO increased serum LDL cholesterol, while BR extract decreased its level. α-Diversity of gut microbiota was not changed; however, in the rats fed TMAO,
Macellibacteroides
and
Mucispirillum
were enriched, while
Ruminococcaceae
was reduced. The BR supplementation could restore
Macellibacteroides
,
Clostridium
, and
Ruminococcaceae
. The BR supplementation increased cecal hippuric acid and serum farnesoid X receptor-antagonistic bile acids, including ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), tauro-α-muricholic acid, and tauro-UDCA. The BR supplementation tended to upregulate
Cyp7a1
and
Abcg5
expressions while downregulating
Srebf2
and
Hmgcr
expressions. BR extract affects the gut bacterial community and microbial metabolites, lowering serum LDL cholesterol in rats with elevated serum TMAO.
Background: Few studies have evaluated the impact of air pollution levels on the severity of exacerbations. Thus, we compared the relative risks posed by air pollutant levels on moderate and severe ...exacerbations.
Methods: Exacerbation episodes of 618 from 143 adult asthmatics were retrospectively collected between 2005 and 2015 in a tertiary hospital of Korea. Air pollution GPS data for the location closest to each patient's home were obtained from the national ambient monitoring station. The relative impacts of air pollutants on asthma exacerbations were evaluated via a time-trend controlled symmetrical, bidirectional, case-crossover design using conditional logistic regression models on the day of the exacerbation (T-0) and up to 3 days before the exacerbation (T-1-T-3).
Results: Overall asthma exacerbation were associated with O
3
levels in summer and winter (OR: 1.0121.003-1.02 and 1.0091.003-1.016), SO
2
levels in spring and summer (OR: 1.0091-1.018 and 1.021.006-1.035) and NO
2
levels in winter (OR: 1.0071.003-1.011). Analyses of the temporal relationship between O
3
concentrations and exacerbations demonstrated that 63.2% of episodes in the summer occurred when the O
3
concentrations on T-1 were significantly higher than those on control days, while 51% of exacerbation episodes in the winter occurred. Severe and moderate exacerbations were similarly associated with O
3
levels in winter (OR: 1.012 1.003-1.02 vs. 1.01 0.999-1.021, p > 0.05) and in summer (OR: 1.006 1.002-1.009 vs. 1.009 1.003-1.016, p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Asthma exacerbations may be associated with the seasonal elevation of O
3
, SO
2
and NO
2
levels in summer and winter with the similar relative risk between moderate and severe exacerbations.
In our previous study, black raspberry (BR) reduced the serum levels of trimethylamine-
N
-oxide and cholesterol in rats fed excessive choline with a high-fat diet (HFC). We hypothesized that gut ...microbiota could play a crucial role in the production of trimethylamine and microbial metabolites, and BR could influence gut microbial composition. This study aimed to elucidate the role of BR on changes in gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the rats. The phylogenetic diversity of gut microbiota was reduced in the rats fed HFC, while that in the BR-fed group was restored. The BR supplementation enriched
Bifidobacterium
and reduced
Clostridium
cluster XIVa. In the BR-fed group, most cecal bile acids and hippuric acid increased, while serum lithocholic acid was reduced. The BR supplementation upregulated
Cyp7a1
and downregulated
Srebf2
. These results suggest that BR extract may change gut bacterial community, modulate bile acids, and regulate gene expression toward reducing cholesterol.
Quantitative measures of the finger tapping task is important for objective assessment of bradykinesia. However, age-related changes in quantitative measures are still unclear.
The aim of this study ...was to quantitatively investigate age-related group differences in finger tapping performance.
Eighty-three healthy normal subjects with age ranging from aged 20 to 89 years participated in this study. All subjects were instructed to tap their index finger and thumbs as rapidly as possible and with as large amplitude as possible. Angular velocity of the finger tapping movement was measured using a gyrosensor. Quantitative variables include root mean squared (RMS) angular velocity, RMS angular displacement, peak power and peak frequency derived from angular velocity signals.
Significant age-related differences were observed in RMS angular velocity, peak power and peak frequency (P< 0.001). Specifically, the oldest age group had the slowest average speed, the lowest peak power and peak frequency. These results indicate deterioration in finger speed, intensity of the main movement component and tapping frequency due to aging.
The results suggest that the quantitative variables should be adjusted for age when clinicians assess Parkinsonian bradykinesia. The results contribute to the development of an accurate and quantitative assessment tool for bradykinesia.
Only a few reports have been published on women with an infectious respiratory viral pathogen, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Coronavirus delivering a baby. A laboratory confirmed ...case of MERS was reported during a MERS outbreak in the Republic of Korea in a woman at gestational week 35 + 4. She recovered, and delivered a healthy baby by emergency cesarean section (C-sec). We present the clinical course and the emergency C-sec in a pregnant woman with MERS.
Background. Fibroblast dysfunction is the main pathogenic mechanism underpinning idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily J member 2 (KCNJ2) plays critical roles ...in the proliferation of myofibroblasts and in the development of cardiac fibrosis. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the role of KCNJ2 in IPF. Methods. KCNJ2 mRNA expression was measured using real-time PCR in fibroblasts from IPF patients and normal controls (NCs). Protein concentrations were measured by ELISA in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained from NCs (n = 30), IPF (n = 84), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP; n = 9), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP; n = 8), and sarcoidosis (n = 10). Results. KCNJ2 mRNA levels were significantly higher in fibroblasts from IPF (n = 14) than those from NCs (n = 10, p<0.001). KCNJ2 protein levels in BAL fluid were significantly higher in IPF (6.587 1.441–26.01 ng/mL) than in NCs (0.084 0.00–0.260 ng/mL, p < 0.001), NSIP (0.301 0.070–5.059 ng/mL, p = 0.006), HP (0.365 0.000–3.407 ng/mL, p = 0.02), and sarcoidosis (0.170 0.057–1.179 ng/mL, p = 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed a clear difference between the IPF and NCs according to the KCNJ2 protein level (area under the curve = 0.893). The KCNJ2 protein cutoff level determined from the curves (0.636 ng/mL) showed a 90.0% specificity and 83.3% sensitivity in distinguishing IPF from NCs. Conclusion. KCNJ2 may participate in the development of IPF, and its protein level may be a candidate diagnostic and therapeutic molecule for IPF.
Buckwheat has been known to have bioactivities due to the presence of flavonoids. The aim of this study was to determine changes in flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, and quercitrin) in the stems, leaves, ...and flowers of common buckwheat (CB) and Tartary buckwheat (TB) during growth. Buckwheat stems, leaves, and flowers were collected at 5-day intervals until the 50th day after sowing. HPLC-UV/VIS and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS were used to analyze the flavonoids in buckwheat. CB and TB flowers (CBF and TBF, respectively) contained significantly higher rutin (29.5–45.3 mg/g and 64.9–79.6 mg/g, respectively) than the other parts. During growth, rutin decreased in the CBF and increased in the TBF. Quercitrin was detected only in CBF. CBF had significantly more quercitrin (8.1–18.8 mg/g) than quercetin (0.44–2.46 mg/g); TBF had at least ten times the amount of quercetin as CBF. The findings of this study provide information on changes in flavonoid composition for using buckwheat plants as a source of functional foods.
•Rutin was the major flavonoid in the buckwheat plants during growth.•Rutin was the highest in the Tartary buckwheat flowers among buckwheat plants.•Quercetin was the highest in Tartary buckwheat flowers among buckwheat plants.•Quercitrin was only detected in common buckwheat flowers.
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