Comparison of response to LPS-induced sepsis in three DBA/2 stocks derived from different sources.

Sepsis, one of the most fatal diseases in the world, is known to culminate in multiple organ failure due to an uncontrolled inflammatory response. Hence, the use of animal models in sepsis research is very important to study complex immune responses. The current study was undertaken to compare commercial stocks with KFDA stocks of DBA/2 mice as an animal model for sepsis study.

Characterization the response of Korl:ICR mice to loperamide induced constipation.

Animal models of constipation induced with drugs and diet have been widely employed to investigate therapeutic effects and the action mechanism of drugs against this disease. ICR mice were selected to produce this disease model through oral administration of loperamide (Lop), even though SD rats are commonly utilized in studies of constipation. To compare the responses of ICR mice obtained from three different sources to constipation inducers, alterations in stool number, histopathological structure, mucin secretion and opioid-receptor downstream signaling pathway were measured in Korl:ICR (Korea FDA source), A:ICR (USA source) and B:ICR (Japan source) injected with low and high concentrations of Lop (LoLop and HiLop).

Chemical characterization of tomato juice fermented with bifidobacteria.

The objective of this research was to characterize the chemical properties of tomato juice fermented with bifidobacterial species. Tomato juice was prepared from fresh tomatoes and heated at 100 degrees C prior to fermentation. Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium infantis were inoculated in tomato juice and kept at 35 to 37 degrees C for up to 6 h.

Gel-based proteomics approach for detecting low nitrogen-responsive proteins in cultivated rice species.

Nitrogen fertilization is essential for increasing rice production to meet the food demands of increasing world's population. We established an in vivo hydroponic rice seedling culture system to investigate physio-biochemical/molecular responses of various rice japonica and indica cultivars to low nitrogen (N). Three-week-old seedlings grown in Yoshida's nutrient solution manifested stable and reproducible symptoms, such as reduced shoot growth and length under low N.

Biological activities of thermo-tolerant microbes from fermented rice bran as an alternative microbial feed additive.

To evaluate the commercial potential of new microbial feed additive, Issatchenkia orientalis Y266 and Bacillus subtilis B266 from commercial fermented rice bran were tested for their tolerance or resistance to pH, bile, oxgall, and temperature. It was found that the strains grew very well up to pH 3.0 and resistant to relatively high concentrations of bile salt and oxgall.