Antiobesity and lipid-lowering effects of Bifidobacterium spp. in high fat diet-induced obese rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies have reported the preventive effects of probiotics on obesity. Among commensal bacteria, bifidobacteria is one of the most numerous probiotics in the mammalian gut and are a type of lactic acid bacteria. The aim of this study was to assess the antiobesity and lipid-lowering effects of <it>Bifidobacterium </it>spp. isolated from healthy Korean on high fat diet-induced obese rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups as follows: (1) SD group, fed standard diet; (2) HFD group, fed high fat diet; and (3) HFD-LAB group, fed high fat diet supplemented with LAB supplement (<it>B. pseudocatenulatum </it>SPM 1204, <it>B. longum </it>SPM 1205, and <it>B. longum </it>SPM 1207; 10⁸~ 10⁹CFU). After 7 weeks, the body, organ, and fat weights, food intake, blood serum levels, fecal LAB counts, and harmful enzyme activities were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Administration of LAB reduced body and fat weights, blood serum levels (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglyceride, glucose, leptin, AST, ALT, and lipase levels), and harmful enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, β-glucuronidase, and tryptophanase), and significantly increased fecal LAB counts.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that <it>Bifidobacterium </it>spp. used in this study may have beneficial antiobesity effects.</p

Impact of Chronic Cough on Health-Related Quality of Life in the Korean Adult General Population: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2016

PurposeChronic cough is a prevalent condition in the community and may pose considerable impairment to quality of life (QoL). However, its disease burden remains largely undefined in the general population. The present study investigated the relationship between chronic cough and health-related QoL in a Korean nationwide population database, with an emphasis on clinical conditions which may confound the impact of cough.MethodsThis study analyzed cross-sectional datasets of adults (aged ≥ 40 years) in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2016. Health-related QoL was assessed using the 3-level EuroQoL 5-dimension component (EQ-5D-3L) index score. The presence of chronic cough and other conditions were defined using structured questionnaires.ResultsThe prevalence of chronic cough was 3.48% ± 0.17% among adults aged ≥ 40 years. The overall EQ-5D-3L index score was significantly lower in subjects with than without chronic cough (0.79 ± 0.01 vs. 0.86 ± 0.00, P < 0.001). In subgroup analyses by age and sex, chronic cough had a notably large impact on QoL in women aged ≥ 65 years (vs. those without chronic cough: 0.55 ± 0.04 vs. 0.70 ± 0.01, P < 0.001), although the mean difference in the scores exceeded the minimally important difference score of 0.05 in all subgroups. In multivariate analyses, chronic cough was significantly associated with QoL, independent of confounders including depression, arthritis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In dimension analyses, chronic cough was more associated with anxiety/depression, pain/discomfort, and usual activities than with self-care or mobility in the EQ-5D.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated significant associations between chronic cough and health-related QoL in a nationwide large general adult population aged ≥ 40 years, which were independent of clinical confounders. The impact of chronic cough was greater in women aged ≥ 65 years. These findings indicate a considerable burden of chronic cough in the general population and warrant further investigations to assess the disease burden of chronic cough in a global scale

Genetic Variations Mir-10Aa\u3eT, Mir-30Ca\u3eG, Mir-181At\u3eC, and Mir-499Ba\u3eG and the Risk of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in Korean Women

This study investigated the genetic association between recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and microRNA (miRNA) polymorphisms in miR-10aA\u3eT, miR-30cA\u3eG, miR-181aT\u3eC, and miR-499bA\u3eG in Korean women. Blood samples were collected from 381 RPL patients and 281 control participants, and genotyping of miR-10aA\u3eT, miR-30cA\u3eG, miR-181aT\u3eC, and miR-499bA\u3eG was carried out by TaqMan miRNA RT-Real Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four polymorphisms were identified, including miR-10aA\u3eT, miR-30cA\u3eG, miR-181aT\u3eC, and miR-499bA\u3eG. MiR-10a dominant model (AA vs. AT + TT) and miR-499bGG genotypes were associated with increased RPL risk (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.520, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.038−2.227, p = 0.032; AOR = 2.956, 95% CI = 1.168−7.482, p = 0.022, respectively). Additionally, both miR-499 dominant (AA vs. AG + GG) and recessive (AA + AG vs. GG) models were significantly associated with increased RPL risk (AOR = 1.465, 95% CI = 1.062−2.020, p = 0.020; AOR = 2.677, 95% CI = 1.066−6.725, p = 0.036, respectively). We further propose that miR-10aA\u3eT, miR-30cA\u3eG, and miR-499bA\u3eG polymorphisms effects could contribute to RPL and should be considered during RPL patient evaluation

Identification of preferential target sites for human DNA methyltransferases

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) play an important role in establishing and maintaining DNA methylation. Aberrant expression of DNMTs and their isoforms has been found in many types of cancer, and their contribution to aberrant DNA methylation has been proposed. Here, we generated HEK 293T cells stably transfected with each of 13 different DNMTs (DNMT1, two DNMT3A isoforms, nine DNMT3B isoforms and DNMT3L) and assessed the DNA methylation changes induced by each DNMT. We obtained DNA methylation profiles of DNA repetitive elements and 1505 CpG sites from 808 cancer-related genes. We found that DNMTs have specific and overlapping target sites and their DNA methylation target profiles are a reflection of the DNMT domains. By examining H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modifications in the 808 gene promoter regions using promoter ChIP-on-chip analysis, we found that specific de novo DNA methylation target sites of DNMT3A1 are associated with H3K4me3 modification that are transcriptionally active, whereas the specific target sites of DNMT3B1 are associated with H3K27me3 modification that are transcriptionally inactive. Our data suggest that different DNMT domains are responsible for targeting DNA methylation to specific regions of the genome, and this targeting might be associated with histone modifications

Efficacy of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) supplement in management of constipation among nursing home residents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Constipation is a significant problem in the elderly, specifically nursing home and/or extended-care facility residents are reported to suffer from constipation. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial probiotic organisms that contribute to improved nutrition, microbial balance, and immuno-enhancement of the intestinal tract, as well as diarrhea and constipation effect. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of this LAB supplement in the management of nursing home residents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nineteen subjects (8M, 11F; mean age 77.1 ± 10.1) suffering with chronic constipation were assigned to receive LAB (3.0 × 10¹¹CFU/g) twice (to be taken 30 minutes after breakfast and dinner) a day for 2 weeks in November 2008. Subjects draw up a questionnaire on defecation habits (frequency of defecation, amount and state of stool), and we collected fecal samples from the subjects both before entering and after ending the trial, to investigate LAB levels and inhibition of harmful enzyme activities. Results were tested with SAS and Student's t-test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of questionnaire showed that there was an increase in the frequency of defecation and amount of stool excreted in defecation habit after LAB treatment, but there were no significant changes. And it also affects the intestinal environment, through significantly increase (<it>p </it>< 0.05) fecal LAB levels. In addition, tryptophanase and urease among harmful enzyme activities of intestinal microflora were significantly decreased (<it>p </it>< 0.05) after LAB treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>LAB, when added to the standard treatment regimen for nursing home residents with chronic constipation, increased defecation habit such as frequency of defecation, amount and state of stool. So, it may be used as functional probiotics to improve human health by helping to prevent constipation.</p

Blood amyloid-β oligomerization associated with neurodegeneration of Alzheimers disease

Introduction Oligomeric amyloid-ß is a major toxic species associated with Alzheimers disease pathogenesis. Methods used to measure oligomeric amyloid-β in the blood have increased in number in recent years. The Multimer Detection System-Oligomeric Amyloid-β (MDS-OAβ) is a specific method to measure oligomerization tendencies in the blood. The objective of this study was to determine the association between amyloid-ß oligomerization in the plasma and structural changes of the brain. Methods We studied 162 subjects composed of 92 community-based normal healthy subjects, 17 with subjective cognitive decline, 14 with mild cognitive impairment and 39 with Alzheimers disease dementia. All subjects underwent MDS-OAβ and three-dimensional T1 magnetic resonance imaging. To determine the structural changes of the brain that are statistically correlated with MDS-OAβ level, we used voxel-based morphometry with corrections for age and total intracranial volume covariates. Results We found brain volume reduction in the bilateral temporal, amygdala, parahippocampal and lower parietal lobe and left cingulate and precuneus regions (family-wise error, p < 0.05). Reduction was also found in white matter in proximity to the left temporal and bilateral lower parietal lobes and posterior corpus callosum (family-wise error, p < 0.05). Brain volume increment was not observed in any regions within grey or white matter. Discussion Findings suggest that substantial correlation exists between amyloid ß oligomerization in the blood and brain volume reduction in the form of Alzheimers disease despite of uncertainty in the casual relationship.This work was supported by a grant of the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI14C1251)

The long-term effects of the fenestration in patients with extracardiac Fontan circulation—a multicenter Korean cohort study based on national Fontan registry

IntroductionThe long-term effects of fenestration in patients with Fontan circulation remain unclear. We aim to evaluate the fenestration impact on early and late outcomes in patients with extracardiac Fontan (ECF) using a propensity score matching analysis.MethodsWe performed an extensive retrospective multicenter clinical data review of the Korean Fontan registry and included 1,233 patients with surgical ECF (779 fenestrated, 454 non-fenestrated). Demographics, baseline, and follow-up data were collected and comprehensively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the baseline presence or absence of surgical fenestration. Subsequently, patients were sub-divided according to the fenestration status at the last follow-up. Propensity-score matching was performed to account for collected data between the 2 groups using a multistep approach. The primary outcomes were survival and freedom from Fontan failure (FFF). We also looked at postoperative hemodynamics, cardiopulmonary exercise test results, oxygen saturations, and functional status.ResultsAfter propensity-score matching (454 matched pairs), there was no difference in survival or FFF between the 2 groups. However, ECF patients with baseline fenestration had significantly lower oxygen saturation (p = 0.001) and lower functional status (p &lt; 0.001). Patients with fenestration had significantly longer bypass times, higher postoperative central venous pressure, higher postoperative left atrial pressure, and less prolonged pleural effusion in the early postoperative period. The propensity score matching according to the fenestration status at the last follow-up (148 matched pairs) showed that patients with a persistent fenestration had significantly lower oxygen saturation levels (p &lt; 0.001). However there were no intergroup differences in the functional status, survival and FFF.ConclusionsOur results showed no long-term benefits of the Fenestration in terms of survival and FFF. Patients with persistent fenestration showed oxygen desaturation but no difference in exercise intolerance was shown between the 2 groups