Search

Introduction: In this study, we undertook a retrospective analysis of the epidemiological aspects and risk factors of murine typhus (MT) in Korea in the last decade (2006–2015). Materials and Methods: MT infections in Korea using a total of 411 cases obtained from the Diseases Web Statistical System of the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: In a total of 411 MT infection cases, the cumulative incidence rate was 0.08/100,000 populations. Men were slightly more infected by MT as compared to women (51.3% vs. 48.7%), and a higher incidence of MT was observed in people aged over 40 years (93.4%; P < 0.01). The seasonal pattern of outbreaks revealed that most infections occurred from October to November (69.1% of the total cases) (P < 0.01). Significantly more outbreaks occurred in the southern part (53.5%) of the Korean peninsula as compared to its northern (33.3%) and central (10.7%) parts, as well as the Jeju Island (1.0%) (P < 0.01). In addition, the number of MT infections was significantly higher in rural and sea-village (87.6%) than in urban areas (12.4%; P < 0.01). Conclusion: In conclusion, the rapid reemergence of MT outbreaks can be minimized through health education, and a strong enforcement of control measures against rats and their ectoparasites could markedly reduce the transmission of this infection to humans in high-risk areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycemia-induced pancreatic β-cell apoptosis causes serious health complications in diabetic patients. Recently, studies demonstrated that silk and silk-related materials have anti-diabetic effects. We previously reported that silk fibroin hydrolysate (SFH) has anti-diabetic effects through increased pancreatic β-cell mass in type 2 diabetic animals (C57BL/KsJdb/db). However, it is not known whether SFH has anti-apoptotic effects in hyperglycemic conditions. The present study investigates the anti-apoptotic effects of SFH on high glucose-induced apoptosis using RIN5F cells, a rat pancreatic β-cell line. Hyperglycemic conditions decreased RIN5F cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. High glucose treatment of 33 mM or higher caused a significant decrease in RIN5F cell viability. However, addition of SFH significantly recovered cell viability in the presence of high glucose. Flow cytometry analysis showed that high glucose treatment significantly increased early stage apoptosis in RIN5F cells. This was inhibited by SFH treatment, which significantly decreased not only early stage apoptosis but also decreased the production of nitrite. Additionally, SFH protected RIN5F cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that SFH has anti-apoptotic effects by protecting pancreatic β-cell from high glucose and/or oxidative stress. Our results supportin vivoanti-diabetic effects of SFH and validation of the traditional use of silkworm and silkworm materials in the treatment of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antidiabetic properties in silk materials, such as silkworm and silk fibroin, have been described in traditional folk medicine. In a previous study, we reported that the silk fibroin hydrolysate (SFH) had a protective effect against glucotoxicity in HIT-15 cells and an antidiabetic effect in a noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes, T2DM) mouse model. This study aimed to determine whether SFH ameliorates diabetic dyslipidemia and promotes pancreatic β-cell function in a T2DM animal model (C57BL/KsJdb/db). SFH significantly improved blood glucose levels after 4 weeks of treatment. T2DM animals had a normal serum blood glucose level after 6 weeks of SFH treatment. Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) levels were significantly lower in T2DM animals that were treated with SFH for 6 weeks. Glucose tolerance in T2DM animals also significantly improved after 6 weeks of SFH treatment. Furthermore, plasma total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acid, and triglyceride concentrations significantly decreased in SFH-treated T2DM animals compared to T2DM animals. This result showed that SFH ameliorated diabetic dyslipidemia in the T2DM model mice. Taken together, our results suggest that SFH could be used as a potential agent to treat dyslipidemia in patients who have type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Starting from 2013, the Korean ‘Marine Environment Management Act,’ in response to international regulation on marine pollution, will prohibit the marine disposal of land wastes such as animal husbandry by-products and waste produced during the slaughtering process. Currently, most bovine blood is wasted during the slaughtering process and causes environmental problems in Korea. Therefore, long-term measures are required to process blood waste produced during the slaughtering process. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential use of adult bovine serum obtained during the slaughtering process for use in cell cultures. Primary mouse astrocytes, primary human fibroblasts, and L6 cells were cultured with adult male, adult female, and castrated male bovine sera for comparison with fetal bovine serum (FBS). The performance of adult bovine serum was comparable to that of FBS in culture of astrocytes and fibroblasts. Compared to FBS, adult bovine serum supported enhanced proliferation and differentiation of L6 cells. These results suggest that adult bovine serum obtained from the slaughtering process has a potential use as a biological reagent. Moreover, recycling adult bovine serum will contribute to solving the environmental issues arising from the disposal of waste produced during the slaughtering process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: This study was to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid on the hippocampus of suckling rats in the presence of lead (Pb)-induced oxidative stress. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats received treatment with drinking water, divided into three groups, as follows: (1) distilled water; (2) 0.2% Pb; (3) 0.2% Pb+ascorbic acid (100mg/kg/day). Rat pups were euthanized at the age of 21days and their brain tissue was examined using light microscopy. Protein levels of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD), and catalase (CAT) in the hippocampus were determined by Western blotting. We found a significant decrease in levels of Cu/Zn SOD and Mn SOD among Pb-exposed pups. Ascorbic acid supplementation appeared to negate the decrease in protein levels for Cu/Zn SOD and Mn SOD. In the case of CAT, there was no effect from Pb administration alone and Pb plus ascorbic acid appeared to increase the levels. In histopathology, ascorbic acid decreased the number of damaged cells in cornu ammonis areas CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus (DG) in hippocampus. Our results showed that administration of ascorbic acid during pregnancy and lactation could ameliorate some of the oxidative damage induced by Pb exposure in the developing rat hippocampus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Common cytokine receptor γ chain (γc) family cytokines play crucial roles in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Unlike mammals, chickens possess two different γc transcripts. To determine if this difference is present in other avian species, γc cDNA and genomic clones from ducks and quails were investigated. Two different γc transcripts were identified in both species and designated as duck γc-a (duγc-a), duγc-b, quail γc-a (quγc-a), and quγc-b. Comparisons between the duck and quail γc cDNA and genomic sequences indicated that the two transcripts were produced by alternative splicing. Unexpectedly, the duγc-b contained the fifth intron, a frame-switching 88-bp insertion, resulting in a receptor molecule lacking a transmembrane region. These findings indicate a possibility that avian species, unlike mammals, express two different γc transcripts due to alternative splicing. This study is the first demonstration of an alternatively spliced γc isoform that lacks a transmembrane domain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chicken interleukin-17 (chIL-17) gene was previously characterized through cloning from a chicken intestinal expressed sequence tag (EST) cDNA library. To further investigate the biological properties of chIL-17, six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against a bacterially expressed chIL-17 recombinant protein were produced and their binding specificities characterized. Antibodies which were initially selected on the basis of their specific binding reactivity with recombinant chIL-17 in ELISA were further characterized by Western blot analysis. Monoclonal antibodies specific for chIL-17 identified 20 and 21kDa protein bands in the culture supernatant and cell lysate of CU205 cells. These mAbs also recognized specific bands for chIL-17 in the cell lysate from conconavalin A (Con A)-activated, but not from normal splenic lymphocytes. Furthermore, these mAbs detected a 16kDa protein in the lysate of CU205 cells treated with tunicamycin and stained an intracellular protein in CU205 cells in flow cytometric analysis. Together, these results indicate that these new mAbs are specific for chIL-17 and will be a useful tool for structural and immunological studies of IL-17 in poultry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lead is a neurotoxin that affects the developing central nervous system and may potentially induce apoptotic cell death. We investigated the effect of ascorbic acid against lead-induced neurotoxicity in the developing rat hippocampus. Female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control group, lead-treated group and lead plus ascorbic acid-treated group. Lead (0.2% lead acetate) was administered to female rats during pregnancy and lactation, in their drinking water. During this period, rats in the lead plus ascorbic acid-treated group received 100 mg/kg/day ascorbic acid, orally. At the end of the treatment, neuronal damage, apoptosis and blood lead levels were determined and the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were immunodetected in the hippocampus of 21-day-old male pups. Histopathological evaluation demonstrated that ascorbic acid significantly attenuates apoptosis in the developing hippocampus and also spares hippocampal CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) neurons. Simultaneous administration of ascorbic acid and lead lowered the level of Bax protein and increased Bcl-2 in pup hippocampus and reduced lead level in blood of dams compared with lead-treated only. Based on these results, it seems that ascorbic acid may potentially be beneficial in treating lead-induced brain injury in the developing rat brain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: When a cell is destined for apoptosis, will its genome reprogram its transcriptional machinery to overcome the life-threatening challenge? To address this issue, we performed a genome-wide transcriptome analysis in EPO (erythropoietin) deprivation-induced apoptotic erythroid cells using the SAGE method. The results show that the transcript contents for the majority of the genes remain unchanged in the apoptotic cells, including the apoptotic genes and the heat shock genes. Of the small number of genes with an altered expression, they are mainly associated with cellular structure. Our study reveals that there is no genetic reprogramming for the transcriptional machinery in the apoptotic genome. Apoptosis, as defined by programmed cell death, is not a crisis but a peaceful physiological process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Foods of plant origin, especially fruits and vegetables, draw increased attention because of their potential benefits to human health. The aim of the present study was to determine in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of four different extracts obtained from the fruits of Rubus coreanus (aqueous and ethanol extracts of unripe and ripe fruits). Among the four extracts, the ethanol extract of unripe fruits of R. coreanus (URCE) suppressed nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 murine macrophages. We also demonstrated that URCE by itself is a potent inducer of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Inhibition of HO-1 activity by tin protoporphyrin, a specific HO-1 inhibitor, suppressed the URCE-induced reductions in the production of NO and PGE2 as well as the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Our data suggest that URCE exerts anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages via activation of the HO-1 pathway and helps to elucidate the mechanism underlying the potential therapeutic value of R. coreanus extracts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]