Tanshinone, a Natural NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor, Mitigates Testosterone-Induced Hair Loss.

Previous studies have shown that testosterone activates the GPRC6A-Duox1 axis, resulting in the production of HO which leads to the apoptosis of keratinocytes and ultimately hair loss. Here, we elucidated a molecular mechanism by which the non-genomic action of testosterone regulates cellular redox status in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Building upon this molecular understanding, we conducted a high-throughput screening assay of Nox inhibitors from a natural compounds library.

Measurement of the thickness and refractive index of a thin film by analyzing reflected interference fringes.

We propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, method to estimate the thickness and refractive index of a thin film by analyzing the reflectance as a function of the incidence angle. In most cases, interference fringes cannot be obtained from a film within a practical angular range unless it is much thicker than the wavelength. This problem was solved by adopting a high-index material as the medium of incidence, in which case several cycles of interference fringes were observed within a small range of incidence angles near the critical angle, allowing a fringe analysis.

Quantitative gas pressure measurement by molecular spectroscopy using chip-based supercontinuum in the mid-infrared.

We demonstrate the quantitative pressure measurement of gas molecules in the mid-infrared using chip-based supercontinuum and cepstrum analysis without additional measurements for baseline normalization. A supercontinuum generated in an on-chip waveguide made of chalcogenide glass having high nonlinearity passes through CO gas and provides a transmission spectrum. The gas absorption information is deconvoluted from the original supercontinuum spectral information containing temporal fluctuation by cepstrum analysis and extracted simply by applying a bandpass filter in the temporal domain.

Heating-mediated purification of active FGF21 and structure-based design of its variant with enhanced potency.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has pharmaceutical potential against obesity-related metabolic disorders, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Since thermal stability is a desirable factor for therapeutic proteins, we investigated the thermal behavior of human FGF21. FGF21 remained soluble after heating; thus, we examined its temperature-induced structural changes using circular dichroism (CD).

Folic acid pretreatment and its sustained delivery for chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Dietary uptake of folic acid (FA) improves cartilage regeneration. In this work, we discovered that three days of FA treatment is highly effective for promoting chondrogenic differentiation of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs). In a three-dimensional pellet culture, the levels of typical chondrogenic biomarkers, sulfated glycosaminoglycan, proteoglycan, type II collagen (COL II), SRY box transcription factor 9 (SOX 9), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and aggrecan (ACAN) increased significantly in proportion to FA concentration up to 30 μM.

and Inhibitory Activity of NADPH Against the AmpC BER Class C β-Lactamase.

β-Lactamase-mediated resistance to β-lactam antibiotics has been significantly threatening the efficacy of these clinically important antibacterial drugs. Although some β-lactamase inhibitors are prescribed in combination with β-lactam antibiotics to overcome this resistance, the emergence of enzymes resistant to current inhibitors necessitates the development of novel β-lactamase inhibitors. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of dinucleotides on an extended-spectrum class C β-lactamase, AmpC BER.

Structural and Biochemical Characterization of the Curcumin-Reducing Activity of CurA from Vibrio vulnificus.

Curcumin is a yellow-colored ingredient in dietary spice turmeric ( Curcuma longa Linn). This nontoxic polyphenol has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, apoptotic, and antioxidant activities. The ingested curcumin is reduced to multihydrated forms with more potent therapeutic potentials by the curcumin reductase (CurA) from commensal Escherichia coli.

The Probiotic, ID-JPL934, Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice Through Inhibition of Proinflammatory Cytokines Expression.

Despite the increasing prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), classified as immune-mediated disorders, the exact biological mechanisms leading to its development are undetermined, and treatment strategies remain elusive. Probiotics have been proposed as potential alternatives for treating IBD. The purpose of this research was to find therapeutic candidates of probiotics for colitis.

Effects of ID-CBT5101 in Preventing and Alleviating Osteoarthritis Symptoms in a Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Rat Model.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the articular cartilage and osseous tissue, and can be worsened by aging, overweight status, and post-traumatic arthritis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of ID-CBT5101 (tyndallized ) on bone metabolism and the inflammatory response in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat model of osteoarthritis. ID-CBT5101 was administered orally at doses of 10 or 10 CFU/day for 2 weeks before direct injection of monosodium iodoacetate (3 mg/50 μl of 0.

Effect of two treatment protocols for ketosis on the resolution, postpartum health, milk yield, and reproductive outcomes of dairy cows.

We determined the effect of ketosis treatment with propylene glycol (PG) or PG plus l-carnitine and methionine (Metabolase, Fatro, Bologna, Italy) on the resolution, postpartum health, milk yield, and reproductive performances of dairy cows. Blood from 475 Holstein cows was collected weekly until 4 weeks after calving to measure blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations. Cows with blood BHBA concentration ≥1.

Quantification of IDP-73152, a novel antibiotic, in plasma from mice, rats and humans using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for use in pharmacokinetic studies.

IDP-73152, a novel inhibitor of a bacterial peptide deformylase, was recently approved as a new, investigational drug in Korea for the clinical management of infections caused by Gram positive bacteria. The objective of this study was to develop/validate a simple and robust analytical method for the determination of IDP-73152 in plasma samples from rodents and humans, and to assess the feasibility of the assay for use in pharmacokinetic studies using animal models. Plasma samples were processed using a standard method for protein precipitation and an aliquot of the extract then injected onto an UHPLC-MS/MS system.

Therapeutic effect of tyndallized Lactobacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 on atopic dermatitis mediated by down-regulation of immunoglobulin E in NC/Nga mice.

The therapeutic effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 tyndallizate (RHT3201) on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice were investigated. After induction of dermatitis in NC/Nga mice with house-dust mite extract, each group was fed RHT3201 with 1 × 10(8) , 1 × 10(9) , or 1 × 10(10) cells orally once a day for 8 weeks. Dermatitis scores and frequency of scratching were improved by oral feeding with RHT3201.

Identification of novel aminopiperidine derivatives for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.

We have previously reported amidopiperidine derivatives as a novel peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibitor and evaluated its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but poor pharmacokinetic profiles have resulted in low efficacy in in vivo mouse models. In order to overcome these weaknesses, we newly synthesized aminopiperidine derivatives with remarkable antimicrobial properties and oral bioavailability, and also identified their in vivo efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP).

The Outcomes of Selection in a Closed Herd on a Farm in Operation.

A herd of Berkshire pigs was established in 2003 and subjected to selection without introduction of any genetic resources until 2007. The complete pedigree, including 410 boars and 916 sows, as well as the records from 5,845 pigs and 822 litters were used to investigate the results obtained from the selections. The index of selection for breeding values included days to 90 kg (D90kg), backfat thickness (BF) and number of piglets born alive (NBA).

Hanwoo cattle: origin, domestication, breeding strategies and genomic selection.

Hanwoo (Korean cattle) is the native, taurine type of cattle breed of Korea and its history as a draft animal dates back to 5000 Years. In earlier times Hanwoo was used extensively for farming, transportation. Over the period of time, Hanwoo has changed to be meat type cattle.

Proteomic analysis of cloned porcine conceptuses during the implantation period.

Differentially regulated proteins within porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived conceptuses were compared with conceptuses that were derived from natural matings on day 14 of pregnancy. Proteins that were expressed prominently on day 14 were identified in SCNT-derived conceptuses using 2-D PAGE and MALDI-TOF MS. Sixty eight proteins were identified as being differentially regulated in the SCNT-derived conceptuses.

Kinetics of O(6)-pyridyloxobutyl-2'-deoxyguanosine repair by human O(6)-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase.

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N-nitrosonicotine (NNN) are potent carcinogens believed to contribute to the development of lung tumors in smokers. NNK and NNN are metabolized to DNA-reactive species that form a range of nucleobase adducts, including bulky O(6)-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)but-1-yl]deoxyguanosine (O(6)-POB-dG) lesions. If not repaired, O(6)-POB-dG adducts induce large numbers of G → A and G → T mutations.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel imidazopyridines as potential antidiabetic GSK3β inhibitors.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of the imidazopyridine analogs as novel GSK3β inhibitors for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus are described. Most of the analogs exhibited excellent inhibitory activities (IC50<44 nM) against glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). The structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the imidazopyridine analogs and the binding mode of analog 23 in the catalytic domain of GSK3β, based on our X-ray crystallography study, are described.

Phenotypic characterization of Hanwoo (native Korean cattle) cloned from somatic cells of a single adult.

We investigated phenotypic differences in Hanwoo cattle cloned from somatic cells of a single adult. Ten genetically identical Hanwoo were generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer from a single adult. Weights at birth, growing pattern, horn and noseprint patterns were characterized to investigate phenotypic differences.

Enhanced biological effects of Phe140Asn, a novel human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mutant, on HL60 cells.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine secreted by stromal cells and plays a role in the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells and proliferation of neutrophils. Therefore, G-CSF is widely used to reduce the risk of serious infection in immunocompromised patients; however, its use in such patients is limited because of its non-persistent biological activity. We created an N-linked glycosylated form of this cytokine, hG-CSF (Phe140Asn), to assess its biological activity in the promyelocyte cell line HL60.

Identification of maturation and protein synthesis related proteins from porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation.

Background: In vitro maturation (IVM) of mammalian oocytes is divided into the GV (germinal vesicle stage), MI (metaphase I stage) and MII (metaphase II stage) stages, and only fully mature oocytes have acquired the ability to be fertilized and initiate zygotic development. These observations have been mostly based on morphological evaluations, but the molecular events governing these processes are not fully understood.The aim of the present study was to better understand the processes involved in the molecular regulation of IVM using 2-DE analysis followed by mass spectrometry to identify proteins that are differentially expressed during oocyte IVM.

Oviduct-specific enhanced green fluorescent protein expression in transgenic chickens.

In this study, we confirmed the ability of the 2-kb promoter fragment of the chicken ovalbumin gene to drive tissue-specific expression of a foreign EGFP gene in chickens. Recombinant lentiviruses containing the EGFP gene were injected into the subgerminal cavity of 539 freshly laid embryos (stage X). Subsequently the embryos were incubated to hatch using phases II and III of the surrogate shell ex vivo culture system.

Developmental arrest of scNT-derived fetuses by disruption of the developing endometrial gland as a result of impaired trophoblast migration and invasiveness.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (scNT)-derived pig placenta tissues of gestational day 30 displayed avascularization and hypovascularization. Most of the cytotrophoblast-like cells of the developing scNT-derived placenta villi were improperly localized or exhibited impaired migration to their targeting loci. Id-2, Met, MMP-9, and MCM-7 were barely detectable in the cytotrophoblast cells of the scNT-derived placenta villi.

Resurrection of an alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-targeted miniature pig by recloning using postmortem ear skin fibroblasts.

Animals with a targeted disruption of genes can be produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). However, difficulties in clonal selection of somatic cells with a targeted mutation often result in heterogeneous nuclear donor cells, including gene-targeted and non-targeted cells, and impose a risk of producing undesired wildtype cloned animals after SCNT. In addition, the efficiency of cloning by SCNT has remained extremely low.