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This study evaluated the mutagenicity and acute toxicity of the juice extract of nutricultured Brassica napus containing vanadium (BECV). The BECV was prepared by nutriculture for 7 days in Jeju water containing vanadium. The mutagenic effects of BECV were investigated using the bacterial reverse mutation test, chromosome aberration test, and micronucleus test. Based on the results of the mutagenicity test, we propose that BECV is not a mutagenicity-inducing agent. In the acute oral toxicity study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered a single limiting dose of 0.014, 0.14, or 1.4 μg BECV/kg body weight; the rats were then observed for 7 days. No acute lethal effect was observed at the maximal dose of 1.4 μg BECV/kg body weight. In the subacute study, male and female rats were administered once daily, by oral gavage, a dose of 0.028, 0.14, and 0.7 μg/kg body weight of BECV for 28 days. No significant toxicity was observed not only hematological, biochemical, and pathological parameters but also the body and organ weights when compared to controls. The level of BECV with no observed adverse effects in male and female rats was 0.7 μg/kg body weight (concentration of vanadium in BECV) in the subacute toxicity study.

Bruton&rsquo, s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is known as a direct regulator of inflammasome, which is an intracellular target to therapeutically modulate innate immunity. Although there is great interest in developing small molecule-based drugs with BTK inhibition, there are only a few drugs available in the market, due to the difficulty of drug discovery and the potential side effects. To select suitable drug compounds to inhibit BTK signaling, molecular drug screening bioassay processes of single ginsenosides integrated with in silico molecular simulation were performed. The experimental results for the ginsenoside compositions (Rb2 and Rb3) exhibited showed that they effectively suppressed the activity of BTK expression in a rational agreement with molecular docking calculations of the compounds against the BTK binding site. They implemented a possible inhibiting effect of BTK signaling through increasing their molecular affinity for targeting BTK, enabling them to be useful in treating BTK-mediated diseases.

The purpose of this study was to determine the antidiabetic effect of an extract of nutricultured Brassica napus containing vanadium (BECV). The BECV was prepared following nutriculture of B. napus with a Jeju water vanadium concentrate for 7 day. The BECV was administered to db/db mice for 8 weeks at different dosages (0.028, 0.14, and 0.7 μg/kg; as vanadium concentration in BECV). After 8 weeks, the BECV results showed mouse blood glucose concentrations to significantly decrease, in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the results for control mice. In addition, the concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin were significantly lower after 8 weeks of administration of 0.7 μg/kg BECV. Therefore, the BECV may have protective effects against type 2 diabetes.

This study was conducted to compare the volatile flavor compounds of Artemisia annua L. after extraction by simultaneous steam distillation extraction (SDE) and solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Via SDE and SPME processes, 79 (1,254.00 mg/kg) and 39 (488.74 mg/kg) compounds were identified respectively. The compounds extracted by SDE included 27 alcohols, 13 aldehydes, 22 hydrocarbons, 3 esters, 12 ketones, 1 oxide and 1 N-containing compound, on the other hand, using the SPME method, 7 alcohols, 5 aldehydes, 1 ester, 18 hydrocarbons, 7 ketones, and 1 oxide were extracted. The major volatile flavor compounds of Artemisia annua L. isolated by the two methods were caryophyllene oxide, β-caryophyllene, camphor, β-selinene, γ-muurolene, 1,8-cineol, (E)-pinocarveol and pinocarvone. The sesquiterpene named caryophyllene oxide was the most abundant volatile flavor compound with relative contents of 234.16 mg/kg and 195.44 mg/kg obtained by the SDE and SPME methods, respectively. Among the identified volatiles, sabinene, β-pinene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, yomogi alcohol, myrtenol, (Z)-nerolidol, p-cymen-8-ol and eugenol were detected by the SDE method only while (E)-anethole and α-cubebene were detected by the SPME method only. This study confirmed that the composition and contents of the volatile flavor compounds vary between different extraction methods. More volatile flavor compounds were identified using the SDE method than the SPME method.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and anti-adipogenic effect of extracts from Alnus firma (A. firma), which is an edible plant that grows in mountainous areas. The total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin content as well as the antioxidant activity of a 70% ethanolic extract of A. firma (AFE) was assessed. Furthermore, the effects of AFE on lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells were investigated. The results revealed that the total phenolic, flavonoid and pro-anthocyanidin content of AFE as 436.26±3.30 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, 73.82±0.54 mg quercetin equivalents/g and 149.25±6.06 mg catechin equivalents/g, respectively. In addition, AFE exerted significant antioxidant effects in terms of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothia-zoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, reducing power, oxygen radical absorbance capacity and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity. As for its anti-adipogenic activity, AFE significantly inhibited ROS production and lipid accumulation during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells compared with those in control cells. In addition, AFE regulated adipogenic transcription factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, CCAAT/enhance-binding protein α and adipocyte protein 2. These results indicated that A. firma is a potential candidate for a functional food supplement.

Cirsium setidens Nakai is an edible herb. Previously we found that fermented Cirsium setidens Nakai (FCSN) has a large amount of major bioactive compound compared to Cirsium setidens Nakai. In this study, we aimed to examine the anti-obesity effect of FCSN using 3T3-L1 cells in vitro and high calorie diet-induced obese (HDIO) zebrafish model in vivo. Our results demonstrated that FCSN significantly inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. FCSN was shown to reduce the expressions of crucial adipocyte differentiation markers, including PPARγ and aP2. FCSN also decreased the production of ROS due to the up-regulated expressions of SOD1, SOD2, GPx, and catalase. Furthermore, we observed that FCSN also altered the levels of energy metabolism and β-oxidation-associated genes such as AMPK, ACC, and CPT-1. In addition, ATGL, a key lipolysis enzyme, was stimulated while the differentiation of 3T3-L1 was suppressed by FCSN. Strikingly, we found that FCSN dramatically increased both the energy metabolism and β-oxidation associated genes and subsequently prevented the increase of body fat accumulation in high calorie diet-induced obese zebrafish. Taken together, this is the first study that demonstrates that FCSN has the beneficial activity to suppress adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and ameliorate an obese-associated health condition in vivo.

Cirsium setidens Nakai, a wild perennial herb, grows mainly in Gangwon province, Korea, and has been reported to contain bioactive ingredients with various medicinal activities, including the treatment of edema, bleeding, and hemoptysis. However, the potential antiobesity effects of C. setidens Nakai have not been fully investigated. This study evaluated the antiobesity effect of standardized C. setidens Nakai ethanolic extract (CNE) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in obese C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet. CNE suppressed the expression of lipogenic genes and increased the expression of lipolytic genes. The antiadipogenic and antilipogenic effects of CNE appear to be mediated by the inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) expressions. Moreover, CNE stimulated fatty acid oxidation in an AMPK-dependent manner. CNE-treated groups of C57BL/6J mice showed reduced body weights and adipose tissue weight and improved serum lipid profiles through the downregulation of PPARγ, C/EBPα, fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) and the upregulation of adiponectin and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) in obese C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet. These results suggest that CNE may have an antiobesity effect on adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo and present the possibility of developing a treatment for obesity with nontoxic natural resources.

The production of excessive reactive oxygen species by exposure to oxidative stress and solar radiation are primary factors in skin damage. We examined the effects of a citrus-based juice mixture and its bioactive compounds on antioxidant and anti-ageing activities in human dermal fibroblasts and hairless mice via the regulation of antioxidant enzymes and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The citrus-based juice mixture reduced H2O2-induced cell damage and intracellular reactive oxygen species production in human dermal fibroblasts. Citrus-based juice mixture pretreatment suppressed the activation of the H2O2-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by activating the expression of activator protein 1 and matrix metalloproteinases. Moreover, it increased the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione reductase, catalase and manganese superoxide dismutase. In addition, oral administration of the citrus-based juice mixture decreased skin thickness and wrinkle formation and increased collagen content on an ultraviolet light B-exposed hairless mouse. These results indicate that the citrus-based juice mixture is a potentially healthy beverage for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced premature skin ageing.

This study was performed in order to provide basic data for predicting the usefulness of Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) as a food raw material. The changes in the physicochemical properties of freeze-dried and hot air-dried Jicama were investigated and analyzed. The moisture content of raw Jicama was 81.84%. The crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and carbohydrate content of hot air-dried Jicama powder were 2.85, 0.79, 7.93 and 88.44%, while those of freeze-dried Jicama powder were 3.93, 0.83, 7.92 and 87.32%, respectively on dry basis. Regarding the color values, the lightness of freeze-dried Jicama (92.86) was higher than that of the hot air-dried Jicama (88.01), whereas the redness (-0.67) and yellowness (3.21) of freeze-dried Jicama were lower than those of the hot air-dried Jicama (0.43) and (11.96), respectively. The brown index was lower in the freeze-dried Jicama (0.029) than in hot air-dried Jicama (0.107). The total sugar content showed no significant differences between freeze (46.49 mg/g) and hot air-dried Jicama (45.11 mg/g). Finally, the amylose content was higher in freeze-dried Jicama (5.66%) than in hot air-dried Jicama (6.63%).

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of hot water and ethanol extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner flower on lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with both hot water and ethanol extracts for up to 8 days following standard induction of differentiation. Regarding anti-adipogenic activity, compared with the control, the hot water and ethanol extracts significantly inhibited lipid accumulation (37.4 and 66.6%, respectively) and ROS production (46.4 and 46.8%, respectively) during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Treatment with hot water and ethanol extracts significantly inhibited mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), thereby reducing the mRNA expression of adipocyte-specific fatty acid binding protein (aP2). Moreover, both the extracts significantly inhibited mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX4). Overall, our research suggests that N. nucifera Gaertner flower extracts might be a valuable source of bioactive compounds that exhibit anti-adipogenic activity and could have applications in the field of medicine and food industry.

Sesame is an important oilseed crop, which has been used as a traditional health food to ameliorate the prevention of various diseases. We evaluated the changes in the anti-allergic activities of sesame by bioconversion. SDS-PAGE of non-fermented sesame proteins showed major allergen bands, while that of fermented sesame showed only a few protein bands. Additionally, we investigated the effectiveness of fermented sesame by bioconversion in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)- and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced HaCaT cells. In HaCaT cells, fermented sesame inhibited the mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), thymus and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22), activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Moreover, fermented sesame inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). Fermented sesame exerts anti-allergic effects by suppressing the expression of chemokines and cytokines via blockade of NF-κB and STAT1 activation.

The aim of this study was to develop rapid screening method for the identification of Chineseherbal medicine species with similar appearance, Polygonum multiflorum, Cynanchum wilfordii and C. auriculatum,by using genetic markers. As a genetic marker, psbA-trnH gene in chloroplast was selected due to differences insequence among the three species. Species-specific primers were designed based on the sequences of the marker geneof P. multiflorum, C. wilfordii, and C. auriculatum, and the expected size of PCR products was 160, 147, and 119 bp,respectively. Under the developed conditions, cross-reaction was not detected among these three plant species. Toconfirm the efficiency of our species-specific primers, the optimized method was applied to a variety of processedproducts composed of mostly P. multiflorum and C. wilfordii, demonstrating that our method was a rapid and easyscreening assay. Our findings suggest this screening method can be utilized to prevent the distribution of economicallymotivated adulteration food and to improve consumer's right.Key words : species-specific primer, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), adulterated food

The antioxidant activity and chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid contents were investigated from different parts of Acanthopanax senticosus and A. koreanum. Antioxidant activity was assessed by various in vitro assays such as DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, reducing power assays and ORAC, and the chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid were validated by HPLC chromatography. Among the various extracts, the fruit extracts of A. senticosus and A. koreanum exhibited strongest antioxidant activities including ABTS, FRAP, reducing power and ORAC, however, strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed from the leaf extract of A. senticosus. In addition, the antioxidant activities of various extracts were correlated with total phenolic and proanthocyanidin contents. The major phenolic contents from various parts of these plants observed that leaf extract of A. senticosus expressed higher levels of chlorogenic acid (14.86 mg/dry weigh g) and caffeic acid (3.09 mg/dry weigh g) than other parts. Therefore, these results suggest that the leaf of A. senticosus may be an excellent natural source for functional foods and pharmaceutical agents, and the validated method was useful for the quality control of A. senticosus.

To protect from reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages, skin cells have evolved to have antioxidant enzymes, such as copper and zinc-dependent superoxide dismutase (SOD1), mitochondrial manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (SOD2), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR), and suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. Bioactive compounds analyses were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) system. The antioxidant activity of Ulmus macrocarpa Hance (UMH) extracts was estimated in vitro. The anti-aging activity of UMH extracts was estimated in vivo using the SKH-1 hairless mice. The UMH extracts reduced the H₂O₂-induced intracellular ROS production and the cell damages in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Moreover, the H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of JNK and p38 was detected in HDF and UMH extracts blocked the phosphorylation. These results suggest that UMH extracts can reduce the expression of MMPs and the reduced MMPs lead to the inhibition of collagen degradation. In addition, oral administration of the UMH extracts decreased the depth, thickness, and length of wrinkles on UVB exposed hairless mice. Therefore, UMH extracts play an advantage of the functional materials in antioxidant and anti-aging of skin.

Previous study showed that nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells, but the precise mechanism governing NO-induced apoptosis in mES remains unclear. This study investigated the mechanism of NO-induced apoptosis of mES cells via MAP kinase signaling pathway. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, induced apoptosis in mES cells with enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, treatment with SNP induced the activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9 as well as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (JNK, p38 MAP kinase and ERK). However, pretreatment with the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 and ERK inhibitor U0126 attenuated NO-induced cell toxicity, ROS production, and caspase-3 activation. Moreover, SB203580 inhibited the translocation of Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria. Taken together, these results suggest that NO-induced apoptosis in mES cells was mediated through p38 MAP kinase/ERK signaling pathway by triggering caspases activation and Bax translocation from the cytosol to the mitochondria.

Background: No serological marker currently exists to assess disease activity in patients with intestinal Behcet's disease (BD). We conducted this study to determine if the expression level of serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) can be used as a biological marker to assess disease activity in intestinal BD. Methods: A total of 88 patients with intestinal BD were enrolled prospectively. We assessed their clinical disease activities using the disease activity index for intestinal BD (DAIBD). At the time that the DAIBD was assessed, serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as well as levels of TREM-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured. Results: The mean ESR and mean levels of sTREM-1, CRP, and TNF-α in patients with intestinal BD were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. Levels of sTREM-1 were the most highly correlated with disease activity (r = 0.762 for the DAIBD score), followed by CRP levels (r = 0.383 for the DAIBD score) and ESR (r = 0.236 for the DAIBD score). However, serum levels of TNF-α level were not correlated with disease activity (r = −0.017 for the DAIBD score). Conclusions: Serum sTREM-1 levels were more highly correlated with disease activity than were CRP levels or ESR in patients with intestinal BD, suggesting that serum sTREM-1 level could be a potential marker for the assessment of disease activity of intestinal BD. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)

Jin-Ha Lee, Ji-Woo Seo*, Eun-Sook An, Ju-Hee Kuk, Ji-Won Park, Min-Seok Bae,Sang-Wook Park, and Myung-Sang YooHazard Substances Analysis Division, Gwangju Regional Korea Food and Drug AdministrationAbstract According to the Codex committee, the maximum allowable level for lead in fruits is 0.1 mg/kg. This surveywas conducted as a surveillance program following the establishment of safety guideline for fruits in Korea. Concentrationsof lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) were measured in 927 samples using a ICP-MS and amercury analyzer. The recoveries of microwave digestion method were 86.0-110.4% for Pb, 81.0-104.0% for Cd and 82.0-104.7% for As by standard addition method. The recovery of direct mercury analyzer was 106.5% for Hg. The averagelevels of Pb in µg/kg were 10.0±12.8 for apple, 8.8±10.9 for pear, 4.1±4.4 for persimmons, 14.9±12.3 for mandarin,7.1±6.5 for orange, 3.1±3.3 for banana, 8.8±8.9 for kiwi, and 9.3±9.7 for mango. The average levels of Cd in µg/kg were0.4±0.3 for apple, 2.0±1.6 for pear, 0.3±0.3 for persimmon, 0.1±0.1 for mandarin, 0.1±0.1 for orange, 1.3±1.8 for banana,0.5±0.5 for kiwi, and 0.7±0.6 for mango. The average levels of As in µg/kg were 2.0±2.1 for apple, 1.2±1.3 for pear,1.5±1.1 for persimmon, 0.8±0.3 for mandarin, 1.0±0.5 for orange, 1.8±1.2 for banana, 1.6±1.5 for kiwi, and 1.5±1.2 formango. The average levels of Hg in µg/kg were 0.5±0.4 for apple, 0.3±0.2 for pear, 0.2±0.1 for persimmon, 0.2±0.1 formandarin, 0.2±0.1 for orange, 0.2±0.0 for banana, 0.2±0.2 for kiwi, and 0.6±0.2 for mango. Based on the Korean publicnutrition report 2005, these levels (or amounts) are calculated only at 0.17% for Pb, 0.013% for Cd and 0.006% for Hgof those presented in provisional tolerable weekly Intake (PTWI) which has been established by FAO/WHO. Therefore,the levels presented here are presumed to be adequately safe.Keywords: heavy metal, monitoring, fruit, PTWI

Despite the limitations of screening or early diagnosis of colorectal cancers (CRC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is frequently measured in practice and during health promotion programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of colonoscopy in healthy individuals with elevated CEA levels. From January 2003 to November 2008, 117,731 healthy persons underwent an opportunistic screening program in two health promotion centers; 1,497 subjects (1.3%) showed an elevated CEA level (>5 ng/ml). Among them, 174 patients were recruited to undergo a colonoscopy to determine if colorectal malignancies were present. A total of 372 age- and sex-matched persons were selected as controls from among the healthy subjects who had a normal level of CEA and had received surveillance colonoscopy. The primary outcome was the incidences of CRC in elevated CEA and normal CEA groups. The secondary outcome was the predictive factors of CRC in the elevated CEA group. The incidence of CRC was higher in the group with higher CEA-levels than in the group with normal CEA levels (4.6 vs. 1.3%; P = 0.031). In the CEA-elevated group, patients with CRCs were diagnosed at more advanced stages than were those in the CEA-normal group. The incidence of colorectal polyps was not different between the two groups. In the CEA-elevated group, anemia was an independent predictive factor of CRCs by multivariate analysis (P = 0.002). Anemia itself is not a predictive factor of CRC in the entire population, but is an independent predictive factor of CRC in healthy individuals with an elevated level of CEA. Therefore, colonoscopy should be recommended for healthy subjects with an elevated level of CEA accompanied with anemia in the absence of other adenocarcinomas to evaluate the presence of colorectal malignancy.

(−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been reported to inhibit cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis in a range of cancer cells. This study examined the cytotoxicity of EGCG glucoside on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma Hep2 cells. The EGCG glucoside treatment decreased the cell viability in Hep2 cells. Furthermore, EGCG glucoside caused apoptotic morphological changes with chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation, as observed by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and activated caspase-3 immunohistochemisty. However, the EGCG glucoside did not induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that oxidative stress is not involved in the apoptotic response. EGCG glucoside induces apoptosis in Hep2 cells through not the generation of ROS, but the activation of caspase-3.

Hydroquinone galactoside (HQ-Gal) as a potential skin whitening agent was synthesized by the reaction of lactase (beta-galactosidase) from Kluyveromyces lactis, Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus circulans, and Thermus sp. with lactose as a donor and HQ as an acceptor. Among these lactases, the acceptor reaction involving HQ and lactose with K. lactis lactase showed a higher conversion ratio to HQ-Gal (60.27%). HQ-Gal was purified using butanol partitioning and silica gel column chromatography. The structure of the purified HQ-Gal was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance, and the ionic product was observed at m/z 295 (C12H16O7Na)+ using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. HQ-Gal was identified as 4-hydroxyphenyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside. The optimum conditions for HQ-Gal synthesis by K. lactis determined using response surface methodology were 50 mM HQ, 60 mM lactose, and 20 U mL(-1) lactase. These conditions produced a yield of 2.01 g L(-1) HQ-Gal. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of diphenylpicrylhydrazyl scavenging activity was 3.31 mM, indicating a similar antioxidant activity compared to beta-arbutin (IC50=3.95 mM). The Ki value of HQ-Gal (0.75 mM) against tyrosinase was smaller than that of beta-arbutin (Ki=1.97 mM), indicating its superiority as an inhibitor. HQ-Gal inhibited (23%) melanin synthesis without being significantly toxic to the cells, while beta-arbutin exhibited only 8% reduction of melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells compared with the control. These results indicate that HQ-Gal may be a suitable functional component in the cosmetics industry.

Appreciably elevated levels of dextranase from Arthrobacter oxydans (AODex) isolated from sugar-cane farm soil was resulted from the culture on the Luria-Bertani (LB) medium containing 1%(w/v) soluble starch, glycerol, or dextran. The responsible gene (aodex) was cloned, its nucleotide sequence was determined, and expression of the encoded protein was achieved in Escherichia coli. An open reading frame was composed of 1,863 bp putatively encoding a 68.3 kDa protein. Recombinant A. oxydans dextranase (rAODex) was purified about 16 fold by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity column chromatography; Km value for dextran T2000 was 0.85 mg/mL (w/v). AODex treatment of stale sugar cane juice resulted in a yield of square and light-colored sugar crystals.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major green tea polyphenol, was tested for in vitro cytotoxicity against human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx Hep2 cells. EGCG-induced apoptotic cell death accompanied by a change in the cell cycle. However, EGCG did not result in caspase activation, nor did a caspase inhibitor block cell death. Furthermore, EGCG caused no change in the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The levels of p53 were increased in the EGCG-treated cells, with a corresponding decrease in Bcl-2 and Bid protein levels as well as an increase in the Bax level. In addition, EGCG induced the cytoplasmic release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria accompanied by a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and subsequently upregulated translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (EndoG) into the nucleus during the apoptotic process. Taken together, these findings indicate that the p53-mediated mitochondrial pathway and the nuclear translocation of AIF and EndoG play a crucial role in EGCG-induced apoptosis of human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma Hep2 cells, which proceeds through a caspase-independent pathway.

We synthesized a hydroquinone glucoside (HG) as a potential skin-whitening agent using Leuconostoc mesenteroides (B-1299CB BF563) dextransucrase with hydroquinone (HQ) as an acceptor and sucrose as a donor. The product was purified using butanol partitioning and silica gel column chromatography. The structure of the purified HG was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and the ionic product was observed at m / z 295 (C12, H16, O7 Na) + . HG was identified as 4-hydroxyphenyl-α- d -glucopyranoside. The optimum condition of HG synthesis, determined using a response surface methodology, was 450 mM HQ, 215 mM sucrose, and 0.55 U/mL dextransucrase; the final HG produced was 544 mg/L. The IC 50 of diphenylpicryl-hydrazyl scavenging activity was 3.85 mM indicating a higher antioxidant activity compared to β-arbutin (IC 50 = 6.04 mM). HG-mediated inhibition of lipid peroxidation was 3.51% that of HQ (100%) and much higher than that of β-arbutin (0.81% of HQ). In addition the IC 50 value of nitrite-scavenging activity was 14.76 mM showing a superior scavenging activity to that of β-arbutin (IC 50 = 27.09 mM).

Sodium fluoride (NaF) has been shown to be cytotoxic and produces inflammatory responses in humans. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the NaF-induced cytotoxicity in periodontal tissues are unclear. This study examined whether or not NaF induces apoptosis in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF), and its underlying mechanisms by monitoring various apoptosis-associated processes. NaF reduced the cell viability of HGF in a dose- and time-dependent manner. NaF increased TUNEL-positive cell and induced apoptosis with concomitant chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation in HGF. In addition, NaF increased the level of cytochrome c released from the mitochondria into the cytosol, enhanced the caspase-9, -8 and -3 activities, the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and up-regulated the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) 1. However, NaF did not affect the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is a strong apoptotic inducer. Furthermore, NaF up-regulated the Fas-ligand (Fas-L), a ligand of death receptor. Bcl-2, a member of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was down-regulated, whereas the expression of Bax, a member of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was unaffected in the NaF-treated HGF. These results suggest that NaF induces apoptosis in HGF through both the mitochondria-mediated pathways regulated by the Bcl-2 family and death receptor-mediated pathway.

The gene encoding sucrose phosphorylase (742sp) in Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-742 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence of the transformed 742sp comprised an ORF of 1,458 bp giving a protein with calculated molecular mass of 55.3 kDa. 742SPase contains a C-terminal amino acid sequence that is significantly different from those of other Leu. mesenteroides SPases. The purified 742SPase had a specific activity of 1.8 U/mg with a K (m) of 3 mM with sucrose as a substrate; optimum activity was at 37 degrees C and pH 6.7. The purified 742SPase transferred the glucosyl moiety of sucrose to cytosine monophosphate (CMP).

Two arbutin glucosides were synthesized via the acceptor reaction of a glucansucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-1299CB with arbutin and sucrose. The glucosides were purified by Bio-gel P-2 column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, and the structures were elucidated as 4-hydroxyphenyl beta-isomaltoside (arbutin-G1), 4-hydroxyphenyl beta-isomaltotrioside (arbutin-G2), according to the results of (1)H, (13)C, heteronuclear single-quantum coherence, (1)H-(1)H COSY, and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation analyses. Arbutin glucoside (4-hydroxyphenyl beta-isomaltoside) exhibited slower effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and similar effects on tyrosinase inhibition, and increased inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinase-1 production induced by UVB than arbutin.

In this study, two quercetin-α- d -glucopyranosides were synthesized via the acceptor reaction of a glucansucrase obtained from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-1299CB, with quercetin and sucrose. The two transfer products were purified via HPLC, and the structures of the products were identified as quercetin-4′-O-α- d -glucopyranoside (Q-G1) and quercetin-3′-O-α- d -glucopyranoside (Q-G1′), in accordance with the results of 1H, 13C, HSQC, H-H COSY, HMBC analyses. The primary product (Q-G1) evidenced slower effects on DPPH radical-scavenging activity (SC50 = 25.2 μM) than was seen with quercetin (SC50 = 6.5 μM). The water solubility of Q-G1 was 12.7 mM, whereas the quercetin was barely soluble in water. The Ki value of Q-G1 (674.5 μM) was almost identical to that of quercetin (673.3 μM) with regard to tyrosinase inhibition effects.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major constituent of green tea polyphenols. This study was aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms of EGCG-mediated inhibition against apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells by exposure to CoCl(2). Exposure to CoCl(2) caused the generation of ROS and induced cell death with appearance of apoptotic morphology and DNA fragmentation. However, EGCG rescued the loss of viability in the cells exposed to CoCl(2) and led the reduction of DNA fragmentation and sub-G(1) fraction of cell cycle. Also, EGCG attenuated the CoCl(2)-induced disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to cytosol and abolished the CoCl(2)-stimulated activities of the caspase cascades, caspase-9 and caspase-3. In addition, EGCG ameliorated the increase in the Bax to Bcl-2 ratio, a marker of apoptosis proceeding, induced by CoCl(2) treatment. Taken together, the present results suggest that EGCG inhibit the CoCl(2)-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells through the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway involved in modulating the Bcl-2 family.

Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1149 sucrose phosphorylase (SPase) gene, 1149sp, was isolated and characterized. It is composed of 1479 bp nucleotides and encodes a 1149SPase of 492 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 56.1 kDa. It has unique C-terminal amino acid sequence (439DVETPSDTTIKITRKDKSGENVAVLVANAADKTFTITANGEEILANTEADKQQL492). 1149sp was expressed in Escherichia coli and the purified 1149SPase specific activity was 1.49 U/mg for sucrose. The optimum temperature and pH for SPase activities were ranged broad between 20 and 50 °C, between pH 6.0 and 7.5, respectively. The optimum temperature and pH were 37 °C at pH 6.7 and it showed Km of 6.3 mM and kcat of 1.59 s−1 for sucrose. It had a broad range of acceptor specificity and transferred the glucosyl moiety of sucrose or glucose-1-phosphate to various acceptors.

Three epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) glucosides were synthesized by the acceptor reaction of a glucansucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-1299CB with EGCG and sucrose. After 1H, 13C, heteronuclear single quantum coherence, 1H–1H correlation spectroscopy, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, the glucosides were identified as (−)-epigallocatechin gallate 4′′-O-α- d -glucopyranoside (EGCG-G1), (−)-epigallocatechin gallate 7,4′′-di-O-α- d -glucopyranoside (EGCG-G2A), and (−)-epigallocatechin gallate 4′,4′′-di-O-α- d -glucopyranoside (EGCG-G2B). Two of the compounds (EGCG-G1 and EGCG-G2A) are reported for the first time. The EGCG glucosides exhibited antioxidant effects, depending on their structures (EGCG > EGCG-G1 > EGCG-G2A > EGCG-G2B). They also uniformly exhibited greater browning resistance than was observed in EGCG. Also, the water solubility of EGCG-G1, EGCG-G2A, and EGCG-G2B were 69, 126, and 122 times higher, respectively, than that of EGCG.

Codonopsis lanceolata is a perennial plant that has been used as a food and in traditional medicine for the treatment of cough, bronchitis, and inflammation in East Asia including Korea, Japan, and China. However, information regarding its toxicity is limited. Therefore, we performed a safety evaluation of aqueous C. lanceolata root extract (CLE) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Assessment of acute toxicity revealed that CLE did not influence mortality, clinical appearance, body weight gain, or necropsy findings at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight. In the subchronic oral toxicity, data revealed that several significant alteration in food consumption, water consumption, protein excretion, WBCs levels, TGs, BUN levels, and the absolute and relative weights in the liver, spleen and lungs. However, these changes were transient and were not considered treatment related because they showed no apparent dose dependent. These results suggest that CLE (1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg body weight/day) administered orally does not cause acute or subchronic toxicity to male or female rats. The 50% lethal dose (LD50) of CLE was determined to be greater than 5000 mg/kg.

Pretreatment with a methanolic extract of Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis (Compositae) herb inhibited hepatotoxicities caused by CCl4, D-galactosamine (GalN), alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT), and DL-ethionine in rats. An ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract fractionated from the methanolic extract showed a strong inhibitory effect. A major component, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (DCQA), isolated from the methanolic extract was examined for antihepatotoxicity. Pretreatment with DCQA (5 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced serum aminotransferases (alanine and aspartate), sorbitol dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities during CCl4- or GalN-induced hepatotoxicity, suggesting that DCQA is a major principle for the antihepatotoxic activity of L. fischeri var. spiciformis. DCQA also partially restored bile flow and reduced total bilirubin and cholic acid concentrations in rats with ANIT-induced cholestasis. Treatment with DCQA inhibited the increase in triglyceride, cholesterol, and total lipids in DL-ethionine-induced fatty liver. These results support the traditionally held belief that this plant can be used for the treatment of jaundice and hepatic failure.

Glucansucrases from Leuconostoc mesenteroides catalyze the transfer of glucosyl units from sucrose to other carbohydrates by acceptor reaction. We modified salicyl alcohol, phenol and salicin by using various glucansucrases and with sucrose as a donor of glucosyl residues. Salicin, phenyl glucose, isosalicin, isomaltosyl salicyl alcohol, and a homologous series of oligosaccharides, connected to the acceptors and differing from one another by one or more glucose residues, were produced as major reaction products. By using salicin and salicyl alcohol as acceptors, B-1355C2 and B-1299CB-BF563 dextransucrases synthesized most widely diverse products, producing more than 12 and 9 different kinds of saccharides, respectively. With phenol, two acceptor products and oligosaccharides were synthesized by using the B-1299CB-BF563 dextransucrase. Salicyl derivatives, as acceptor products, showed higher anti-coagulation activity compared with that of salicin or salicyl alcohol that were used as acceptors.

Lactic acid is an environmentally benign organic acid that could be used as a raw material for biodegradable plastics if it can be inexpensively produced by fermentation. Two genes (IdhL andIdhD) encoding the L-(+) and D-(−) lactate dehydrogenases (L-LDH and D-LDH) were cloned fromLactobacillus sp., RKY2, which is a lactic acid hyper-producing bacterium isolated from Kimchi. Open reading frames ofIdhL for andIdhD for the L and D-LDH genes were 962 and 998 bp, respectively. Both the L(+)- and D(−)-LDH proteins showed the highest degree of homology with the L- and D-lactate dehydrogenase genes ofLactobacillus plantarum. The conserved residues in the catalytic activity and substrate binding of both LDHs were identified in both enzymes.

The inhibition kinetics for isoacarbose (a pseudotetrasaccharide, IsoAca) and acarviosine-glucose (pseudotrisaccharide, AcvGlc), both of which are derivatives of acarbose, were investigated with various types of alpha-glucosidases obtained from microorganisms, plants, and insects. IsoAca and AcvGlc, competitive inhibitors, allowed classification of alpha-glucosidases into two groups. Enzymes of the first group were strongly inhibited by AcvGlc and weakly by IsoAca, in which the K(i) values of AcvGlc (0.35-3.0 microM) were 21- to 440-fold smaller than those of IsoAca. However, the second group of enzymes showed similar K(i) values, ranging from 1.6 to 8.0 microM for both compounds. This classification for alpha-glucosidases is in total agreement with that based on the similarity of their amino acid sequences (family I and family II). This indicated that the alpha-glucosidase families I and II could be clearly distinguished based on their inhibition kinetic data for IsoAca and AcvGlc. The two groups of alpha-glucosidases seemed to recognize distinctively the extra reducing-terminal glucose unit in IsoAca.

The Lipomyces starkeyi alpha-amylase (LSA) gene encoding soluble starch-degrading alpha-amylase was cloned and characterized from a derepressed and partially constitutive mutant for both dextranase and amylase activities. The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the cDNA fragment reveals an open reading frame of 1944 bp encoding a 619 amino acid (aa) mature protein (LSA) with a calculated molecular weight of 68.709 kDa that was estimated to be about 73 kDa, including His tag (4 kDa) based on SDS-PAGE (10% acrylamide gel), activity staining, and the Western blotting, using anti-amylase-Ab. LSA had a sequence similar to other alpha-amylases in four conserved regions of the alpha-amylase family: (I) (287)DIVVNH(292), (II) (372)GLRIDTVKH(380), (III) (399)GEVFD(403), (IV) (462)FLENQD(467). Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis showed one intron of 60 nucleotides in the genomic lsa at positions between 966 and 967 of cDNA. The cloned LSA amylase showed a maximum activity at pH 6 and optimum temperature of 40 (o)C, with greater than 90% stability between pH 5 and pH 8 for 16 h. It was inhibited by Cu(2+) and stimulated by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). Enzyme activity was not affected by 1 mM EGTA but was inhibited by 1 mM EDTA. LSA did not hydrolyze maltodextrins of G2 to G4, yet formed G2+G3 from G5, G2+G4 or G3+G3 from G6, and G3+G4 from G7. LSA did not hydrolyze soluble starch in the present of 2% (w/v) of acarbose. Kinetics of LSA was carried out by using starch as a substrate and the inhibition type of acarbose was the mixed non-competitive type (ki = 3.4 microM).

A novel carbohydrolase, which is a DXAMase, containing both dextranase and amylase equivalent activities, was purified fromLipomyces starkeyi KSM22. The purified DXAMase was also found to hydrolyze cellobiose, gentiobiose, trehalose and melezitose, while disproportionation reactions were exhibited with various di-and tri-saccharides, such as maltose, isomaltose, gentiobiose, kojibiose, sophorose, panose, maltotriose, and isomaltotriose with various kinds of oligosaccharides produced as acceptor reaction products. Furthermore, the purified DXAMase hydrolyzed raw waxy rice starch and produced maltodextrin to the extent of 50% as a glucose equivalent.

It was found that an exo-biopolymer (M.W. 1,000,000, molar ratio of 1.5:1.7:1.2:0.6:0.9, glucose:galactose:xylose:mannose:fructose, purity 99%) purified from the liquid culture broth of Hericium erinaceus mycelium enhanced the growth of rat adrenal nerve cells. The polymer also improved the extension of the neurites of PC12 cell. Its efficacy was found to be higher than those from known nerve growth factors such as Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Nerve Factor (BDNF). The effect of two standards has not been observed above 0.1 (mg l−1) of supplementation; however, the polymer did show the effect of cell growth and neurite extension at up to 1.0 (mg l−1) of addition. While the polymer improved both cell growth and neurite extension, NGF and BDNF did only outgrowth of the neurites. Maximum cell density and length of the neurites were observed as 1.5×105 (viable cells ml−1) and 230 μm, respectively in adding 0.8 (mg l−1) of the biopolymer for 8 days cultivation. The control growth was observed only as 1.2×105 (viable cell ml−1) of maximum cell density and 140 μm of maximum length, respectively. It was also confirmed that the polymer reacted with the nerve cells within 30 min after adding the sample, compared to 80 min in adding two other growth factors. Number of neurite-bearing cells remained relatively steady in adding the polymer even when the cell growth started to be decreased. It was interesting that the polymer effectively delayed apoptosis of PC12 cells by dramatically reducing the ratio of apoptotic cells to 20% from 50% of the control.

There is a lack of research describing the associations between thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT)/inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) genotypes and long-term clinical outcomes. We investigated whether TPMT/ITPA genotypes predicted long-term clinical response in Korean patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) undergoing thiopurine treatment. A total of 204 patients with IBD in whom thiopurine treatment was indicated were enrolled and categorized by TPMT and ITPA genotypes. Long-term follow-up clinical data for these patients were analyzed with specific focus on disease relapse. Of the 204 patients, 162 (79.4%) patients using thiopurines achieved remission and were included in an analysis of long-term clinical outcomes. There were no significant differences in disease relapse-free survival between wild and mutant types of TPMT (P=0.903) or ITPA (P=0.392), according to the results of the log-rank analysis. Our study suggests that TPMT and ITPA genotypes may not affect the rates of disease relapse in IBD patients treated with thiopurines. Further studies are indicated to confirm the utility of TPMT/ITPA genotyping to guide clinicians formulating individualized treatments for IBD patients requiring thiopurine therapy.

It has been proved that co-cultivation of human neuroblastoma cells and human fibrolast cells can enhance nerve cell growth and the production of BDNF in perfusion cultivation. In batch co-cultivation, maximum cell density was increased up to 1.76×106 viable cells/mL from 9×105 viable cells/mL of only neuroblastoma cell culture. The growth of neuroblastoma cells was greatly improved by culturing both nerve and fibroblast cells in a perfusion process, maintaining 1.5×106 viable cells/mL, which was much higher than that from fed-batch cultivation. The nerve cell growth was greatly enhanced in both fed-batch and perfusion cultivations while the growth of fibroblast cells was not. It strongly implies that the factors secreted from, human fibroblast cells and/or the environments of co-culture system can enhance both cell growth and BDNF secretion. Specific BDNF production rate was not enhanced in co-cultures; however, the production period was increased as the cell growth was lengthened in the co-culture case. Competitive growth between nerve cells and fibroblast cells was not observed in all cases, showing no changes of fibroblast cell growth and only enhancement of the neuroblastoma cell growth and overall BDNF production. It was also found that the perfusion cultivation was the most appropriate process for cultivating two cell lines simultaneously in a bioreactor.

The growth of rat adrenal nerve cells was remarkably enhanced by supplementing the cultured medium from the human fibroblast cell line, Hs 68. Maximum specific growth rate and length of the neurites were observed as 0.076 (1/hr) and 0.026 mm, respectively in 20% supplement of five day old medium. In adding more than 20% of the cultured medium both cell and neurite growth was severely decreased. It was interesting that the cultured medium from Hs 68 cells could play a role in the extension of the neurites rather than in the growth of neurite cells. It was also found that molecules lower than 50,000 daltons in the conditioned medium could improve the growth of neurite bearing cells and the extension of the neurites than larger molecules. The efficacy of the proteins (

Embryonic hypoxia/ischemia is a major cause of a poor fetal outcome and future neonatal and adult handicaps. However, biochemical cellular events in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells during hypoxia remains unclear. This study investigated the underlying mechanism of apoptosis in mES cells under CoCl2-induced hypoxic/ischemic conditions. CoCl2 enhanced the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in mES cells. The CoCl2-treated mES cells showed a decrease in cell viability as well as typical apoptotic changes, cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation and an extended G2/M phase of the cell cycle. CoCl2 augmented the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol from the mitochondria with a concomitant loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) and upregulated the voltage-dependent anion channel. In addition, CoCl2-induced caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation and upregulation of p53 level, whereas downregulated Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, a member of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family in mES cells. Furthermore, CoCl2 led to the upregulation of Fas and Fas-ligand, which are the death receptor assemblies, as well as the cleavage of Bid in mES cells. These results suggest that CoCl2 induces apoptosis through both mitochondria- and death receptor-mediated pathways that are regulated by the Bcl-2 family in mES cells.

A process for the production of mannitol from fructose (5% to 25%) usingLeuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1149 was investigated. Fermentations were carried out in batch or fed-batch fermentations without aeration at 28°C, pH 5.0. When 5% fructose was used in batch culture fermentation, the yield of mannitol was 78% of that expected theoretically. When the fructose concentration was increased to 10%, the yield dropped to 59.6% of the theoretical value. However, in the fed-batch culture, using 10% fructose, the yield was 81.9% of the theoretical value. In a 15% fructose fed-batch culture, with 5% fructose being added initially and the other 10% fructose being added as a continuous supply, the final yield was 83.7% of the theoretical yield. When 20% fructose was used in the same manner, the yield was 89.5% of theoretical yield.

A Gram-positive aerobic rod-shaped non-motile bacterium designated A23(T) was isolated from bamboo extract that had been used to remove odor and was characterized to determine its taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain A23(T) belongs to the phylum Actinobacteria. The highest degree of sequence similarities was determined to be with Leucobacter salsicius M1-8(T) (96.7%), Leucobacter exalbidus K-540B(T) (96.4%), Leucobacter chromiireducens subsp. chromiireducens L-1(T) (96.4%), Leucobacter komagatae IFO 15245(T) (96.4%) and Leucobacter aerolatus Sj10(T) (96.4%). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain A23(T) possesses menaquinone MK11, and its cell wall peptidoglycan contained 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid. The polar lipid profile of strain A23(T) contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unknown glycolipid. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C(16:0) (31.5%), anteiso-C(15:0) (43.2%) and anteiso-C(17:0) (13.9%), all of which corroborated the assignment of the strain to the genus Leucobacter. Based on these data, A23(T) (=KEMC 551-022(T) = JCM 17538(T)) should be classified as the type strain for a novel Leucobacter species, for which the name Leucobacter margaritiformis sp. nov. is proposed.

This study aimed to enhance the diagnostic accuracy by defining different cutoff liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values according to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and combining LSM with noninvasive models in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Several studies have indicated that ALT influences LSM using FibroScan.The study prospectively enrolled 200 patients (143 men, mean age 45.4 y) between June 2007 and November 2008 who had been diagnosed with CHB and underwent both liver biopsy and LSM on the same day.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) of LSM for predicting cirrhosis in patients with ALTor = upper limit of normal (ULN) was higher than that of all patients or those with ALTULN andor = 2x ULN (AUROC=0.884 vs. 0.849 and 0.867). The cutoff LSM values foror = F2,or = F3, and F4 were 6.0, 7.5, and 10.1 kPa, respectively, in patients with ALTor = ULN, whereas they were 8.9, 11.0, and 15.5 kPa, respectively, in those with ALTULN andor = 2x ULN. The combination of LSM and the age-spleen-platelet ratio index performed the best at predicting cirrhosis, regardless of ALT level (AUROC=0.917 in patients with ALTor = ULN, 0.909 in those with ALTor = 2x ULN, and 0.894 in all patients).Different cutoff LSM values according to ALT level and combination with age-spleen-platelet ratio index can enhance the performance of LSM in CHB, regardless of ALT level.

α-Glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20), an exo-glycosylase to hydrolyze α-glucosidic linkage, is characterized by the variety of substrate specificity. Enzyme also catalyzes the transglucosylation, on which industrial interests focus due to the production of valuable glucooligosaccharides. α-Glucosidase is a physiologically important enzyme in most of organisms (microorganisms, insects, plants and animals including human). Therefore, there are many types of α-glucosidases to display unique functions, in which we are interested. This report describes the recently analyzed unique functions of α-glucosidases by mainly focusing on honeybee α-glucosidase isoenzymes, dextran glucosidase, multiple forms of rice α-glucosidases, and Escherichia coli α-xylosidase.