Anti-Photoaging Effect of Hydrolysates from Pacific Whiting Skin via MAPK/AP-1, NF-κB,TGF-β/Smad,and Nrf-2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in UVB-Induced Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light promotes the breakdown of collagen in the skin and disrupts the extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, leading to skin wrinkling. Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) is a fish abundant on the Pacific coast. In the current study, we investigated the anti-wrinkle effect of hydrolysate from Pacific whiting skin gelatin (PWG) in UVB-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts and the molecular mechanisms involved. PWG effectively restored type 1 procollagen synthesis reduced by UVB-irradiation. Also, we found that PWG inhibited collagen degradation by inhibiting MMP1 expression. Furthermore, PWG decreased cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β associated with inflammatory responses and increased antioxidant enzymes, HO-1, SOD, GPx, CAT, and GSH content, a defense system against oxidative stress. In terms of molecular mechanisms, PWG increased collagen synthesis through activating the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway and decreased collagen degradation through inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinases/activator protein 1 (MAPK/AP-1) pathway. It also suppressed the inflammatory response through suppressing the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and increased antioxidant enzyme activity through activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2/heme oxygenase 1 (Nrf-2/HO-1) pathway. These multi-target mechanisms suggest that PWG may serve as an effective anti-photoaging material.     

Transplantation of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells for acute thoracolumbar disc disease with no deep pain perception in dogs

Thirty-four dogs with no deep pain perception due to acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease underwent decompression surgery within 1 week of diagnosis. All dogs underwent hemilaminectomy. Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) were transplanted into the injured spinal cord parenchyma for the AD-MSCs transplant dogs. Long-term outcome was evaluated at the end of the follow-up period (> 6 months). AD-MSCs combination treatment showed better recovery outcomes compared to decompression surgery alone. These results indicate that this stem cell therapy is a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome the limitations of treatment for spinal cord injury in clinical medicine.     

EFFECT OF METHYLCELLULOSE ON UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL QUALITY IN DOGS

This study was performed to evaluate and optimize a small bowel contrast technique using barium and methylcellulose in dogs. Ten healthy dogs underwent both a conventional upper gastrointestinal study that used only barium and a modified study that used barium and methylcellulose. The control group received 10 mL/kg of 40% barium suspension. Experimental groups were divided into three subgroups given 15 mL/kg of different viscosities (low, moderate, and high viscosity) of 0.5% methylcellulose after 4 mL/kg of 40% barium suspension. Compared with the control group, dogs receiving methylcellulose had higher-quality upper gastrointestinal studies. Moderate viscosity of methylcellulose was superior to the other methylcellulose groups. In conclusion, the use of methylcellulose is a simple and effective method for improving the image quality in an upper GI examination.     

Ginsenoside Rh1 inhibits the invasion and migration of THP-1 acute monocytic leukemia cells via inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway

Ginsenoside Rh1 has been reported to possess antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities, but its effects on monocytes remain to be determined. Herein, we investigated the effects of Rh1 on the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2, activation of MAPK signaling, and chemotaxis of monocytes. Treatment of Rh1 decreased the levels of MCP-1 and CCR2 and the expression of VLA5 and activated β1 integrin on the cell surface, and attenuated the phosphorylation of MAPKs. Based on these results, the inhibitory effects of Rh1 on monocyte function should be regarded as a promising new anti-inflammatory response with a potential therapeutic role against inflammation-dependent diseases.     

Genetic relationships among cultivated and wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna angularis</Emphasis> (Willd.) Ohwi et Ohashi and relatives from Korea based on AFLP markers

Genetic variation and relationships among members of the azuki bean complex (Vigna angularis) including wild (V. angularis var. nipponensis), weedy, and cultivated types (V. angularis var. angularis), V. nakashimae, and rice bean (V. umbellata) from Korea were examined using the Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method. AFLP analysis of 50 accessions revealed 333 (72.1%) polymorphic fragments out of 462 fragments amplified using seven primer combinations. The number of polymorphic fragments within each species was 70 in the azuki bean complex and 41 in V. nakashimae, but there was no polymorphism in rice bean. The number of shared fragments among species ranges from 142 between the azuki bean complex and V. nakashimae to 166 between the azuki bean complex and rice bean. Within the azuki bean complex, the range of shared bands was from 231 between cultivated and weedy types to 238 between cultivated and wild types. A dendrogram generated from Jaccard’s similarity matrix was divided into three groups, which correspond to V. nakashimae, azuki bean complex, and rice bean. The relationship between azuki bean and rice bean is closer than between azuki bean and V. nakashimae. Phenetic distances averaged 0.502 between the azuki bean complex and V. nakashimae and 0.467 between the azuki bean complex and rice bean. Within the azuki bean complex, the weedy type was more closely related to wild than cultivated types. But UPGMA dendrogram of the azuki bean complex reveals that each type is not clearly isolated. These results will help to understand genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of Vigna in Korea.     

Identification of characteristic aroma-active compounds from water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.)

Characteristic aroma components of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.) were evaluated by aroma extract dilution analysis and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-olfactometry. Alpha-Terpinolene (plastic/cucumber-like) was the most intense aroma-active compound in water dropwort. Other potent aroma-active compounds included p-cymene (kerosene-like), alpha-terpinene (lemon), (E)-caryophyllene (woody), (Z,E)-alpha-farnesene (woody), hexanal (green), (Z)-3-hexenol (green), phenylacetaldehyde (honey), (E)-2-nonenal (cucumber), bornyl acetate (cooked vegetable), and gamma-terpinene (lemon). Of these, p-cymene was believed to be primarily responsible for the distinct kerosene-like aroma note of water dropwort. The aroma property of p-cymene was dependent on its concentration and was described as kerosene-like at relatively high concentrations but changed to citrus and green aroma notes at low concentrations.     

Contribution of individual polyphenolics to total antioxidant capacity of plums

To study the effect of polyphenolics on antioxidant capacities of plums, the amounts of total phenolics, total flavonoids and individual phenolic compounds, and vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC) of eleven plum cultivars was determined. There was a good linear relationship between the amount of total phenolics and total antioxidant capacity (r2 = 0.9887). The amount of total flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity also showed a good correlation (r2 = 0.9653). Although the summation of individual antioxidant capacity was lower than the total antioxidant capacity of plum samples, there was a positive correlation (r2 = 0.9299) of total antioxidant capacity of plum samples with the sum of the VCEACs calculated from individual phenolics. Chlorogenic acids and glycosides of cyanidin, peonidin, and quercetin were major phenolics among eleven plum cultivars. The antioxidant capacity of chlorogenic acids and anthocyanins showed higher correlation (r2) of 0.7751 and 0.6616 to total VCEAC, respectively, than that of quercetin glycosides (r2 = 0.0279). Chlorogenic acids were a major source of antioxidant activity in plums, and the consumption of one serving (100 g) of plums can provide antioxidants equivalent to 144.4-889.6 mg of vitamin C.     

Development of simple PCR-based markers linked to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ms</Emphasis> locus,a restorer-of-fertility gene in onion (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium cepa</Emphasis> L.)

In order to implement reliable marker-assisted selection systems for the restorer-of-fertility locus (Ms) in onions (Allium cepa L.), simple PCR-based codominant markers linked to the Ms locus were developed. Based on the EST probe sequences of previously reported RFLP markers, full-length genomic sequences of the gene encoding putative oligopeptide transporter (OPT) was obtained by RACE. The first intron contained two 108 and 439-bp indel polymorphisms between the two Ms allele-linked OPT alleles. A simple PCR marker for OPT was developed by designing a primer pair on the flanking regions of the 108-bp indel which is created by two tandem repeats. The second simple PCR marker was developed from the EST probe encoding photosystem I subunit O (PsaO). Two 14 and 39-bp tandem repeats were identified from the 5′ upstream sequences of the PsaO-coding gene, which were isolated by genome walking. Three different compositions of these tandem repeats were identified from diverse onion germplasm. A primer set binding to the flanking sequence of these polymorphic repeats was used to amplify three different marker haplotypes. The OPT marker was tightly linked to the Ms locus at a distance of 1.5 cM, but the analysis of the linkage relationship showed little linkage disequilibrium between the marker and the Ms locus. Even so, these simple PCR markers are valuable tools for the marker-assisted selection of segregating individuals in onion F₁ hybrid breeding programs.