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Chondrocyte phenotype is preserved when cells are round and the actin cytoskeleton is cortical. Conversely, these cells rapidly dedifferentiate in vitro with increased mechanoactive Rho signaling, which increases cell size and causes large actin stress fiber to form. While the effects of Rho on chondrocyte phenotype are well established, the molecular mechanism is not yet fully elucidated. Yap, a transcriptional co-regulator, is regulated by Rho in a mechanotransductive manner and can suppress chondrogenesis in vivo. Here, we sought to elucidate the relationship between mechanoactive Rho and Yap on chondrogenic gene expression. We first show that decreasing mechanoactive state through Rho inhibition results in a broad increase in chondrogenic gene expression. Next, we show that Yap and its co-regulator Taz, are negative regulators of chondrogenic gene expression, and removal of these factors promotes chondrogenesis even in environments that promote cell spreading. Finally, we establish that Yap/Taz is essential for translating Rho-mediated signals to negatively regulate chondrogenic gene expression, and that its removal negates the effects of increased Rho signaling. Together, these data indicate that Rho is a mechanoregulator of chondrogenic differentiation, and that its impact on chondrogenic expression is exerted principally through mechanically-induced translocation and activity of Yap and Taz.

We describe fluorescent probes to detect formaldehyde (FA) in aqueous solutions and cells. The probes rapidly respond to FA in aqueous solutions and have great selectivity toward FA over other biologically relevant analytes. The results of cell studies reveal that probe 1 can be utilized to monitor endogenous and exogenous FA in live cells.

Solid stress, one of the physical hallmarks of cancer, affects trafficking and infiltration of immune cells, promotes metastasis and tumorigenic pathways, and impedes therapeutic delivery. Despite these clinical ramifications, questions remain regarding the origins and consequences of solid stresses and the differential response of tumor versus normal cells to solid stresses. Answering these fundamental questions requires probing solid stresses at the cellular scale, where biological and immunological responses manifest, as well as in vivo, where the complexities of the tumor microenvironment are present. Here, we report the first in vivo and multi-scale measurements of solid stress in mouse models of breast cancer using multi-modal intravital microscopy of deformable hydrogels complemented with mathematical modeling. Utilizing the capabilities of these methods, such as the high-resolution, longitudinal, and 3-D measurements of local solid stress, we measure and compare solid stresses (i) at the single cell vs tissue scale, (ii) primary vs metastatic tumors, (iii) in vivo vs in vitro settings, and (iv) in vivo vs post-mortem. Surprisingly, we find solid stress transmission is scale-dependent, as tumor cells experience a factor of 6 reduction in stress in comparison to stress measured at the tissue scale. This finding implicates the presence of potential biophysical mechanisms that tumor cells utilize to protect themselves against lethally high solid stresses. This insight into the scale-dependence of solid stress genesis will further inform the discovery of new therapeutic strategies that sensitize cancer cells to solid stresses to induce cell death.

Excessive intake of high-lipid foods and lifestyle changes can easily cause hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is clinically considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In this study, the effects of a Vitis labrusca extract (HP01) on coagulation, platelet aggregation, and lipid metabolism were investigated in hyperlipidemic rats. A rat model of high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced hyperlipidemia was used. Hemostatic parameters and lipid levels were investigated after HP01 treatment of hyperlipidemic rats. Different doses of HP01 (200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day, p.o.) were administered for 3 weeks, and prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and platelet aggregation and bleed time (BT) were determined. The levels of thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) and serotonin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Simultaneously, hepatic function and blood fat indexes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also measured. In comparison with the data obtained for rats in the untreated HFD group, HP01 (200 mg/kg) treatment prolonged PT but did not affect aPTT. HP01 treatment did not alter plasma TXB(2), PGI2, or serotonin levels. However, HP01 showed some effects in improving liver function by reducing the levels of hepatic lipids. ALT, MDA, and hepatic TG levels significantly decreased, whereas GSH, GPx, CAT, and SOD levels significantly increased. These results confirm the HP01 extract will improve thromboplastic and the liver metabolic disorders in hyperlipidemia by oxidative stress response.

This study examines the identities of Korean English teachers who have lived in various English-speaking countries but now serve as certified public school teachers in Korea. Data were collected fr...

Emerging evidence suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution may induce adverse effects on the central nervous system. However, no study explored the associations in large industrial complex (IC) areas which are one of the major contributors to air pollution. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the pollution status and the association between residential proximity and incidence of neurological diseases near two major ICs characterized as multi-purposed ICs in Korea. A retrospective cohort of residents near the ICs was constructed using Korea's health insurance data and monitored from 2008 to 2019. Emission amounts of the ICs and the air pollution status in the nearby (exposed) and remote (control) area were evaluated using data from national regulatory networks, and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for neurological diseases of the exposed group compared to the control group were calculated using Cox proportional regression models. Overall, the complexes emitted large amounts of VOCs, CO, NOx, and PM10, and annual levels of ambient PM (2.5, 10), gaseous substances (NO

In this study, we developed a rapid on-site detection method by using direct ultrafast PCR coupled with a microfluidic chip to identify the presence of chicken meat in processed ground meat products. Chicken-specific PCR primer targeting mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene was newly designed, and its specificity was confirmed against 17 other animal species and 4 different chicken meat samples from different countries of origin. The sensitivity of the chicken-specific ultrafast PCR was 0.1 pg of chicken DNA. To evaluate the limit of detection of the direct ultrafast PCR method, different percentages of chicken meat mixed with pork or beef were prepared. The limit of detection of the direct ultrafast PCR method for the chicken meat-pork and chicken meat-beef mixtures was 0.1% for both raw meat and autoclaved meat. This method was used for 15 commercialized processed ground meat products. In this method, the target sequence was successfully amplified, and the presence of chicken meat in processed ground meat products was identified within approximately 25 min, including the time for sample preparation. Thus, our study shows that this developed direct ultrafast PCR method is a rapid and accurate method for on-site detection of chicken DNA in commercial food products. HIGHLIGHTS

In this paper, we characterize $C^2$-smooth totally geodesic isometric embeddings $f\colon \Omega\to\Omega'$ between bounded symmetric domains $\Omega$ and $\Omega'$ which extend $C^1$-smoothly over some open subset in the Shilov boundaries and have nontrivial normal derivatives on it. In particular, if $\Omega$ is irreducible, there exist totally geodesic bounded symmetric subdomains $\Omega_1$ and $\Omega_2$ of $\Omega'$ such that $f = (f_1, f_2)$ maps into $\Omega_1\times \Omega_2\subset \Omega$ where $f_1$ is holomorphic and $f_2$ is anti-holomorphic totally geodesic isometric embeddings. If $\text{rank}(\Omega'), Comment: 10 pages

Background Staphylococcus aureus (SA) nasal carriage (SA carriage) and IgE-sensitization to SA enterotoxin (SE IgE-sensitization) are known to be associated with chronic airway disease. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the differences in risk factors, type 2 inflammation and respiratory symptoms between SA carriage and SE IgE-sensitization. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of a community-based adult population to evaluate the environmental exposure and health impact of the Pohang Industrial Complex, Korea. Participants were examined based on self-reported questionnaires, nasal swab, and blood sampling. Results There were 307 participants, and the overall prevalence of SA carriage and SE IgE-sensitization was 26.1% (80/307) and 25.7% (79/307), respectively. An urban environment was significantly correlated with SA carriage, whereas age and obesity were significantly correlated with SE IgE-sensitization. SA carriage was not associated with an increase in total IgE and blood eosinophil count, whereas SE IgE-sensitization was associated with an increased total IgE and blood eosinophil count. SA carriage was significantly correlated with cough persisting for more than three weeks (OR, 3.044; 95% CI, 1.137–8.153) and sputum (OR, 2.429; 95% CI, 1.008–5.854). SE IgE-sensitization was a significant correlation with only sputum (OR, 2.452; 95% CI, 1.066–5.640). SA carriage and SE IgE-sensitization showed a synergistic effect on the prevalence of cough and sputum. Conclusion SA carriage was associated with the urban environment, and SE IgE-sensitization was associated with the elderly and obesity. SA carriage and SE IgE-sensitization had different correlation with type 2 inflammation and airway symptoms.

The Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) program provides useful information on chemical exposure, serves as the basis for environmental health policies, and suggests appropriate measures to protect public health. Initiated on a three-year cycle in 2009, it reports the concentrations of major environmental chemicals among the representative Korean population. KoNEHS Cycle 3 introduced children and adolescents into the analysis, where the blood and urine samples of 6167 participants were measured for major metals, phthalates, phenolics, and other organic compounds. Lead, mercury, cadmium, metabolites of DEHP and DnBP, and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid levels of the Korean adult population tended to decrease compared to previous survey cycles but remained higher than those observed in the US or Canada. Both bisphenol A (BPA) and trans,trans-muconic acid concentrations have increased over time. Heavy metal concentrations (blood lead, and cadmium) in children and adolescents were approximately half that of adults, while some organic substances (e.g., phthalates and BPA) were high. BPA showed higher levels than in the US or Canada, whereas BPF and BPS showed lower detection rates in this cycle; however, as these are increasingly used as a substitute for BPA, further research is necessary. As environmental chemicals may affect childhood health and development, additional analyses should assess exposure sources and routes through continuous observations.

Background Glypican-3 (GPC3), a membrane-bound heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is a biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Aptamers specifically binding to target biomolecules have recently emerged as clinical disease diagnosis targets. Here, we describe 3D structure-based aptaprobe platforms for detecting GPC3, such as aptablotting, aptaprobe-based sandwich assay (ALISA), and aptaprobe-based imaging analysis. Results For preparing the aptaprobe–GPC3 platforms, we obtained 12 high affinity aptamer candidates (GPC3_1 to GPC3_12) that specifically bind to target GPC3 molecules. Structure-based molecular interactions identified distinct aptatopic residues responsible for binding to the paratopic nucleotide sequences (nt-paratope) of GPC3 aptaprobes. Sandwichable and overlapped aptaprobes were selected through structural analysis. The aptaprobe specificity for using in HCC diagnostics were verified through Aptablotting and ALISA. Moreover, aptaprobe-based imaging showed that the binding property of GPC3_3 and their GPC3 specificity were maintained in HCC xenograft models, which may indicate a new HCC imaging diagnosis. Conclusion Aptaprobe has the potential to be used as an affinity reagent to detect the target in vivo and in vitro diagnosing system. Graphical Abstract

Wild ginseng (Panax ginseng) adventitious root cultures were prepared by elicitation using methyl jasmonate and investigated further to find new secondary metabolites. Chromatographic fractionation of wild ginseng adventitious root cultures led to the isolation of eleven compounds. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were identified as four known flavanone derivatives (1–4), one new curcubinoyl derivative, jasmogin A (5) and six new curcubinoyl-flavanone conjugates, jasmoflagins A-F (6–11) by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Newly isolated curcubinoyl derivatives showed inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-stimulated nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Therefore, our present study suggested that elicitor stimulated plant cell cultures might contribute to the production of new metabolites.

Binge drinking patterns easily produce a state of oxidative stress that disturbs liver function. Eventually, this leads to alcoholic liver disease. A safe and effective therapy for alcoholic liver disease remains elusive. Enzyme-treated Z. latifolia extract (ETZL) was studied as a potential agent for treating alcohol-induced liver disease. In addition, its underlying mechanisms were elucidated. In the binge model, ETZL was pretreated with alcohol (5 g/kg) three times at 12-h intervals. Our results showed that ETZL pretreatment decreased the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and TG. ETZL treatment appeared to prevent an increase in hepatic TG and MDA levels, and there was a decrease in total GSH following alcohol treatment. Histopathological examination showed that lipid droplets were significantly reduced in the ETZL group compared to the control group. ETZL also exhibited radical scavenging activity. It significantly reduced t-BHP-induced cytotoxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HepG2 cells. ETZL also enhanced NRF2 nuclear translocation and increased expression of the downstream target genes HO-1, NQO1, and GCLC as an antioxidant defense. Finally, ETZL treatment significantly reduced cell death. Our study suggests that ETZL ameliorates binge ethanol-induced liver injury by upregulating the antioxidant defense mechanism.

With the increasing use of insects as a food source, specific and sensitive detection methods for edible insects are required. To detect six insects (silkworm, mealworm, two-spotted cricket, rice grasshopper, white-spotted flower chafer beetle larvae, and rhinoceros beetle larvae) that have been approved for food consumption in Korea, an ultrafast PCR system was developed based on a microfluidic chip. Insect species-specific primer sets for the identification of the six edible insects were selected targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and estimated for their specificity against 10 species of insects, which amplified only target insect species. The sensitivity of each primer set was independently validated in triplicate and was as little as 1 pg of DNA extracted from all insects. A total of 16 commercially processed products were used to verify the availability of these assays and to monitor the presence of labeled insect species. The ultrafast PCR assays developed in this study take approximately 20 min, and additionally confirm target species through post-PCR melt curve analysis. Thus, six species of edible insects could be rapidly and accurately identified in commercial food products using specific and sensitive ultrafast PCR methods.

Limonene is a cyclic terpene found in citrus essential oils and inhibits methamphetamine- induced locomotor activity. Drug dependence is a severe neuropsychiatric condition that depends in part on changes in neurotransmission and neuroadaptation, induced by exposure to recreational drugs such as morphine and methamphetamine. In this study, we investigated the effects of limonene on the psychological dependence induced by drug abuse. The development of sensitization, dopamine receptor supersensitivity, and conditioned place preferences in rats was measured following administration of limonene (10 or 20 mg/kg) and methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) for 4 days. Limonene inhibits methamphetamine- induced sensitization to locomotor activity. Expression of dopamine receptor supersensitivity induced by apomorphine, a dopamine receptor agonist, was significantly reduced in limonenepretreated rats. However, there was no significant difference in methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preferences between the limonene and control groups. These results suggest that limonene may ameliorate drug addiction-related behaviors by regulating postsynaptic dopamine receptor supersensitivity.

Interest in using insects as an alternative source of food for humans is increasing. However, few analytical methods provide accurate information about the presence of insect species in processed foods. In this study, we developed a fast real-time PCR assay based on a TaqMan probe that can be performed within 40 min to detect edible rice grasshopper in commercial food products. A rice grasshopper-specific primer pair and probe targeting the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene were newly designed, having an amplicon size of 110 bp. The specificity of this primer pair and probe was verified using 19 insects and five crustaceans and no cross-reactivity was obtained against the non-target species. The absolute limit of detection (LOD) was 0.5 pg of rice grasshopper DNA, and as low as 0.1% of rice grasshopper was detected in raw, heat-treated, and autoclaved binary insect mixtures. To evaluate the effect of food matrix, binary mixtures containing rice grasshopper in wheat were used additionally, and at least 0.1% of target species was detected using this assay. The applicability of this assay was confirmed using nine commercial food samples labeled as containing rice grasshopper or locust. The fast real-time PCR developed in this study is a specific and sensitive method for identifying edible rice grasshopper in various food samples.

Objective: To investigate cosmetic potential of Syzygium aromaticum L. (S. aromaticum L.) and to determine its antioxidant and anti-wrinkling effects. Methods: Using high-performance liquid chromatography, eugenol component was quantitated. The antioxidant activity of S. aromaticum L. was analyzed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase like activities. To determine cell viability, elastase and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) activity, human dermal fibroblasts (HS68) were treated with S. aromaticum L. The inhibitory effect of S. aromaticum L. on tumor necrosis factor alpha induced MMPs expression in HS68 was analyzed by realtime-PCR. Results: The eugenol content was confirmed in S. aromaticum L. S. aromaticum L. was observed to have high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase like activity. S. aromaticum L. had no cytotoxicity against the HS68 and dose-dependently increased elastase inhibition. Moreover, S. aromaticum L. significantly decreased MMP-1 content and inhibited gene levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-9. Conclusions: The findings suggest that S. aromaticum L. has great potential as a cosmeceutical ingredient with antioxidant and anti-wrinkling effects.

This study examined the effects of input- and output-based planning on Korean college students’ communication strategy use and speaking anxiety. Two groups of 84 Korean female college students (n=168) have participated in the study, with one group performing reading activities, and the other performing writing activities prior to speaking tasks. The findings of the study indicate that the two groups did not show any meaningful differences in their overall communication strategy use. However, significant differences were found between the groups in light of social-affective strategies and meaning negotiation strategies. Particularly notable is that these strategies were utilized to a greater extent by the writing group, compared to its counterpart, i.e., the reading group. In contrast, the effects of different types of planning were found to be nonsignificant for speaking anxiety. In other words, both groups showed similar levels of speaking anxiety, regardless of planning conditions, although their anxiety decreased over time as a result of strategic planning. These findings bear meaningful implications for the role of strategy training for language learners and for the importance of creating optimal conditions to maximize effectiveness of learning.

The consumption of silkworms as edible insects has recently increased because of their good nutrition content. Many insect-based products are processed into a powder because of their unappetizing appearance. In this aspect, powdered silkworm has the possibility to be mixed with other insects. Thus, the development of a detection method for silkworm is necessary to provide accurate label information to consumers. In this study, we developed a real-time PCR assay using a TaqMan probe for detection of silkworm. The newly designed silkworm-specific primer pair and probe target the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. They were tested for their specificity using 15 insect species, and were confirmed to amplify only silkworm species. The limit of detection of this method was 0.001 ng of silkworm DNA, and as little as 1% of silkworm in two or more insect mixtures was detected. This developed method was applied to 30 processed foods including edible insects and was validated with four different real-time instruments. Therefore, the silkworm-specific real-time PCR assay may provide a specific and sensitive method for detection of silkworm in raw and processed foods.

Wild ginseng (Panax ginseng) adventitious root cultures were prepared by elicitation using methyl jasmonate and investigated further to find new secondary metabolites. Chromatographic fractionation of wild ginseng adventitious root cultures led to the isolation of eleven compounds. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were identified as four known flavanone derivatives (1–4), one new curcubinoyl derivative, jasmogin A (5) and six new curcubinoyl-flavanone conjugates, jasmoflagins A-F (6–11) by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Newly isolated curcubinoyl derivatives showed inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-stimulated nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Curcubinoyl moiety is structurally similar with methyl jasmonate, which was used as an elicitor. Therefore, our present study suggested that elicitor might increase the content of active constituents and also contribute to the production of new metabolites by participation as precursors in biosynthesis. Taken together, plant cell cultures are useful not only for efficient production of active compounds but also development of new secondary metabolites.

Korean universities are offering incentives to faculty members to increase the number of flipped learning (FL) courses. Despite the purported benefits, integrating flipped learning into courses poses numerous challenges, ranging from instructional issues to budgetary concerns. This study examines how flipped learning was incorporated into content courses for pre-service language teachers. For data collection, interviews were conducted with two faculty members (one in the department of Korean education and the other in the department of English education) who taught the flipped courses. Particular focus was placed on tracing the entire process of flipped courses in order to identify the benefits and challenges at various stages of design and implementation. The teachers believed that their students could emulate attributes of effective teaching. The English teacher reported that FL allowed her students to repeatedly access the video contents, which helped them practice and improve listening skills, and better understand course content. She, however, questioned whether the video lectures were sufficient to cover the course content, and claimed that FL would not succeed without learner autonomy. In contrast, the Korean teacher thought that FL was effective for students as it increased the amount of learning materials for them to process. Strategies for successful flipped learning are suggested, along with pedagogical implications.

In this study, to analyze the effect of wet compression technology on the aero-thermodynamic performance of a centrifugal compressor, a numerical analysis study was conducted on the design point and off-design point. Wet compression technology sprays water droplets at the inlet of the compressor. During the compression process, water droplets evaporate, reducing the heat of compression and reducing the compression work, which improves the efficiency of the compressor. In wet compression technology, detailed research is needed for the application to compressors because the droplet behavior affects the internal flow. The main parameters for wet compression technology are the droplet size and injection rate selection, and the flow inside the compressor changed by the droplet behavior was analyzed. When the droplet size and injection rate were changed at the design point and the off-design point, it was confirmed that a small droplet size was effective in both areas, and it was confirmed that the performance improved as the flow rate increased. The internal flow changed greatly depending on the size of the droplet. As a result, the centrifugal compressor to which the wet compression technology was applied had a lower outlet temperature than dry compression at both the design point and the off-design point and had increases in the pressure ratio and efficiency. However, the surge margin decreased by about 2% in the surge region. The reason is that due to high-speed rotation, particles move in the outer diameter direction and are driven into a tip-leakage flow, and many stagnant flows occur without flowing into the main flow. Through the study results, it was possible to understand the effects of wet compression technology on the performance and efficiency increase of centrifugal compressors and the effects of particle behavior on the internal flow of the compressor at the off-design point.

Ginsenosides have been reported to improve memory impairments. However, the effects of metabolized minor ginsenosides on neuronal damage and cognitive function remain unclear. We investigated the effects of SGB121, ginsenoside F1 enriched ginseng extract, on scopolamine-induced cytotoxicity and cognitive deficits in vitro and in vivo, respectively. We observed that SGB121 reversed the scopolamine-induced apoptosis; mitochondrial membrane potential reduction; and dephosphorylation of Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3β), and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in SH-SY5Y cells. Oral SGB121 administration in ICR-mice once-daily for 7 days significantly recovered scopolamine-induced memory impairment analyzed using Y-maze test and passive avoidance task. In mouse hippocampi, SGB121 restored scopolamine-induced decrease in ERK and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Furthermore, SGB121 decreased acetylcholinesterase expression both in SH-SY5Y cells and in mouse hippocampi. SGB121 demonstrated protective effects against neurotoxicity and memory impairments, suggesting its potential as oral therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases.

Background and Purpose: In the development of vaccines, it is important to increase the antigen of the vaccine. We have confirmed the potential of Morus alba L., a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activator, as an adjuvant as a method for increasing the antigenicity of the vaccine. Experimental Approach: TLR4 is highly expressed on immune cells, therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the underlying immunological processes of Morus alba L. as an oral adjuvant in a mouse model. Mice were immunized with two types of antigen (ovalbumin (OVA) or inactivated influenza vaccine) combined with Morus alba L. Key Results: In the OVA antigen model, the co-administration of Morus alba L. significantly promoted phagocytosis in murine peritoneal macrophages. The maturation and function of dendritic cells were significantly up-regulated the expression of MHC-II, CD86, and CD80 compared to OVA alone. The titers of OVA-specific IgG, IgG subtype responses, and IgA were increased, the proliferation of T and B-cells was markedly enhanced, and the production of IL-12, IFN-, and IL-4 was better than OVA alone. In the inactivated influenza H1N1(PR8) vaccine model, the co-administration of Morus alba L. with vaccine significantly increased the IgM, IgG, and IgG subtype responses. The immunization of mice with Morus alba L. adjuvant reduced mortality in mice after a lethal challenge with influenza virus. Conclusion and Implications: Morus alba L. is a novel mucosal adjuvant for vaccination that provided safe and effective adjuvant effects and successfully induced both serum and mucosal antibody responses and cell-mediated responses.

Plant cell cultures have been exploited to provide stable production and new secondary metabolites for better pharmacological activity. Fractionation of adventitious root cultures of Echinacea purpurea resulted in the isolation of eleven constituents, including three new compounds. The structures of the three new compounds were determined to be an alkylamide (1), a polyacetylene (2) and a lignan (3) on the basis of combined spectroscopic analysis. To discover new types of antiresorptive agents, we screened for new compounds that regulate osteoclast differentiation, and survival. Among three new compounds, echinalkamide (compound 1) had considerably inhibitory effects on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, and on proliferation of osteoclasts and efficiently attenuated osteoclastic bone resorption without toxicity. In addition, echinalamide treatment inhibited the osteoclast—specific gene expression level. Echinalkamide achieved this inhibitory effect by disturbing phosphorylation of MAPK and activation of osteoclast transcription factors c-Fos and NFATc1. Conclusionally, our study investigated that echinalkamide remarkably inhibited osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast specific gene expression through repression of the MAPK–c-Fos–NFATC1 cascade.

A ginsenoside F2-enhanced mixture (SGL 121) increases the content of ginsenoside F2 by biotransformation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SGL 121 on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in vitro and in vivo. High-fat, high-carbohydrate-diet (HFHC)-fed mice were administered SGL 121 for 12 weeks to assess its effect on improving NAFLD. In HepG2 cells, SGL 121 acted as an antioxidant, a hepatoprotectant, and had an anti-lipogenic effect. In NAFLD mice, SGL 121 significantly improved body fat mass, levels of hepatic triglyceride (TG), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In HepG2 cells, induced by oxidative stress, SGL 121 increased cytoprotection, inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. SGL 121 activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and improved lipid accumulation induced by free fatty acids (FFA). Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression was significantly reduced in NAFLD-induced liver and HepG2 cells treated with SGL 121. Moreover, SGL 121 activated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. The effect of SGL 121 on the improvement of NAFLD seems to be related to its antioxidant effects and activation of AMPK. In conclusion, SGL 121 can be potentially used for the treatment of NAFLD.

Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We formulated a combination of three herb mixtures (HPC03) and observed lipid-lowering efficacy. HepG2 cells were treated with oleic acid to induce an NAFLD model (in vitro). Also, we investigated potential of HPC03 in an ovariectomize- (OVX-) induced NAFLD model (in vivo). We separated the mice into six groups, as follows: SHAM, OVX, OVX + β-estradiol, and OVX + HPC03 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Rats were administered with/without HPC03 for 12 weeks. HPC03 dose dependently inhibited the lipid accumulation involved in lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. The body weight, fat mass, and weights of the liver were decreased in the OVX group than that in the other groups. HPC03 had decreased adiposity that was induced by OVX. HPC03 treatment reduced liver lipid deposition and prevented the increase in serum and liver triglyceride export when there was a deficiency in estradiol. HPC03 improves OVX-induced fatty liver and lipid metabolism. These findings suggest that HPC03 from postmenopausal women has a protective effect during NAFLD conditions.

Increasing number of consumer chemicals have been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in human populations. However, many studies that investigated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF) as an outcome reported inconsistent associations. In the present study, we employed a subset (n = 1292) of a nationally representative adult population participating in Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015–2017, and assessed associations of major phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and parabens with both eGRF and albuminuria. In order to address a potential collider issue, a covariate-adjusted standardization method was applied, in addition to the conventional creatinine-correction, for adjusting urine dilution. Regardless of adjustment method, urinary DEHP metabolites showed significant positive associations with albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR). In addition, urinary metabolites of other heavy molecular weight phthalates such as MCOP and MCNP showed significant positive associations with ACR in the female population, but only following the covariate-adjusted standardization. For eGFR, conventional creatinine-correction resulted in positive associations with most of measured phthalate metabolites. However, with the covariate-adjusted standardization, most of positive associations with eGFR disappeared, and instead, significant negative associations were observed for MnBP, BPA, and EtP. Secondary analysis following stratification by CKD status, as well as principal component analysis (PCA), generally supported the observed associations. The present observations highlight the importance of urine dilution adjustment method for association studies on eGFR, and suggest potential effects of several consumer chemicals on adverse kidney function among humans.