Co-solvent system of [EMIM]Ac and DMF to improve the enzymatic saccharification of pussy willow (<i>Salix gracilistyla</i> Miq.)

Han, Song Yi,Park, Chan-Woo,Kim, Nam-Hun,Lee, Seung-Hwan De Gruyter 2017 Holzforschung Vol.71 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>A co-solvent system consisting of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac)/N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) with different mass ratios was tested to improve the enzymatic saccharification of pussy willow (<I>Salix gracilistyla</I>Miq.). This system effectively lowered the viscosity and increased the biomass loading in the system. The water-soluble fraction obtained from the pure [EMIM]Ac remained constant or increased slightly as the amount of DMF was increased to 70%. At [EMIM]Ac/DMF ratios of 5/5 and 3/7, longer pretreatment times and higher temperatures increased the water-soluble fraction. The crystallinity of the pretreated product was increased by increasing amounts of DMF. The yield of enzymatic saccharification by means of this co-solvent system was comparable to that based on a pure [EMIM]Ac pretreatment, even though the glucose yield was slightly lower in case of DMF amount >70%. Expectedly, longer pretreatment times and higher temperatures improved the yield of enzymatic saccharification.</P>

Hepatoprotective Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria, Inhibitors of $\beta$-Glucuronidase Production Against Intestinal Microflora

Han Song Yi,Huh Chul Sung,Ahn Young Tae,Lim Kwang Sei,Baek Young Jin,Kim Dong Hyun The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea 2005 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.28 No.3

The hepatoprotective activity of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis HY7401, Lactobacillus acidophilus CSG and Bifidobacterium longum HY8001), which inhibited $\beta$-glucuronidase productivity of intestinal microflora, on t-BHP- or CCl$_4$-induced hepatotoxicity of mice were evaluated. These oral administration of lactic acid bacteria lowered $\beta$-glucuronidase production of intestinal microflora as well as Escherichia coli HGU-3. When lactic acid bacteria at a dose of 0.5 or 2 g (wet weight)/kg was orally administered on CCl$_4$-induced liver injury in mice, these bacteria significantly inhibited the increase of plasma alanine transferase and aspartate transferase activities by $17-57\%$ and $57-66\%$ of the $CCI_4$ control group, respectively. These lactic acid bacteria also showed the potent hepatoprotective effect against t-BHP-induced liver injury in mice. The inhibitory effects of these lactic acid bacteria were more potent than that of dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate (DDB), which have been used as a commercial hepatoprotective agent. Among these lactic acid bacteria, L. acidophilus CSG exhibited the most potent hepatoprotective effect. Based on these findings, we insist that an inhibitor of $\beta$-glucuronidase production in intestine, such as lactic acid bacteria, may be hepatoprotective.

Transcriptional induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in osteoclast precursors is involved in RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis

Han, Song Yi,Lee, Na Kyung,Kim, Kyung Hee,Jang, In Whan,Yim, Mijung,Kim, Jae Hong,Lee, Won Jae,Lee, Soo Young American Society of Hematology 2005 Blood Vol.106 No.4

<B>Abstract</B><P>Regulation of osteoclast differentiation is key to understanding the pathogenesis and to developing treatments for bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To gain insight into the mechanism of the receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL)-specific induction of the osteoclast differentiation program, we took a suppression-subtractive hybridization screening approach to identify genes specifically induced via the RANKL-Rac1 signaling pathway. Among identified targets, we show that RANKL selectively induces cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 expression via Rac1 that results in turn in production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in RAW 264.7 cells. By using transient transfection assays, we found that the -233/-206 region of the COX-2 promoter gene was critical for RANKL-induced promoter activity. This RANKL-responsive region contained an NF-κB site that, when mutated, completely abolished the induction of NF-κB DNA-binding activity by RANKL. Blockade of COX-2 by celecoxib inhibits differentiation of bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage precursor cells (BMMs) into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) osteoclastic cells. This inhibition can be rescued by the addition of exogenous PGE2, suggesting that COX-2-dependent PGE2 induction by RANKL in osteoclast precursors is required for osteoclast differentiation.</P>

Phospholipase D activates HIF-1-VEGF pathway via phosphatidic acid

Han, Songyi,Huh, Jeongsoon,Kim, Wooseong,Jeong, Seongkeun,Min, Do Sik,Jung, Yunjin Nature Publishing Group 2014 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.46 No.12

<P>Growth factor-stimulated phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), generating phosphatidic acid (PA) which may act as a second messenger during cell proliferation and survival. Therefore, PLD is believed to play an important role in tumorigenesis. In this study, a potential mechanism for PLD-mediated tumorigenesis was explored. Ectopic expression of PLD1 or PLD2 in human glioma U87 cells increased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein. PLD-induced HIF-1 activation led to the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a HIF-1 target gene involved in tumorigenesis. PLD induction of HIF-1α was significantly attenuated by 1-butanol which blocks PA production by PLD, and PA <I>per se</I> was able to elevate HIF-1α protein level. Inhibition of mTOR, a PA-responsive kinase, reduced the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in PLD-overexpressed cells. Epidermal growth factor activated PLD and increased the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in U87 cells. A specific PLD inhibitor abolished expression of HIF-1α and secretion of VEGF. PLD may utilize HIF-1-VEGF pathway for PLD-mediated tumor cell proliferation and survival.</P>

Mineralized hyaluronic acid nanoparticles as a robust drug carrier

Han, Song-Yi,Han, Hwa Seung,Lee, Sang Cheon,Kang, Young Mo,Kim, In-San,Park, Jae Hyung Royal Society of Chemistry 2011 Journal of materials chemistry Vol.21 No.22

<P>Hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (HA-NPs), mineralized by calcium phosphate, were synthesized as a robust carrier of the anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX). The HA-NPs were readily mineralized in the presence of calcium nitrate and ammonium phosphate, which was confirmed by various instruments such as FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Mineralization reduced the particle size of the HA-NPs in PBS (pH 7.4) from 263 nm to 142 nm, indicating the formation of compact nanoparticles. Mineralized HA-NPs were highly stable at pH 7.4, whereas their particle size rapidly increased in a mildly acidic solution, which was due to the dissolution of calcium phosphate. When DOX-loaded bare HA-NPs were exposed to buffer solutions of various pH, most of the DOX (>80%) was released within 48 h, and the release behavior was not dependent upon the pH of the solution. Notably, the mineralized HA-NPs released DOX in a sustained manner at pH 7.4, whereas a rapid release of DOX was observed in the acidic solution. The release rate of DOX from the mineralized HA-NPs was higher in the solution with a lower pH. These results indicate that mineralized HA-NPs have potential as robust nanoparticles that can release DOX at specific sites under mildly acidic conditions, such as in the extracellular matrix of tumor tissue and in intracellular compartments (<I>e.g.</I>, endosome and lysosome) of the cell.</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>The mineralized hyaluronic acid nanoparticles have potential as the robust carrier that can release hydrophobic drugs at specific sites under mildly acidic conditions. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c1jm10466g'> </P>

Usefulness of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in young children with febrile urinary tract infection

Han, Song Yi,Lee, I Re,Park, Se Jin,Kim, Ji Hong,Shin, Jae Il The Korean Pediatric Society 2016 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.59 No.3

Purpose: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a serious bacterial infection that can cause renal scarring in children. Early identification of APN is critical to improve treatment outcomes. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a prognostic marker of many diseases, but it has not yet been established in urinary tract infection (UTI). The aim of this study was to determine whether NLR is a useful marker to predict APN or vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 298 pediatric patients ($age{\leq}36months$) with febrile UTI from January 2010 to December 2014. Conventional infection markers (white blood cell [WBC] count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP]), and NLR were measured. Results: WBC, CRP, ESR, and NLR were higher in APN than in lower UTI (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that NLR was a predictive factor for positive dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) defects (P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was high for NLR (P<0.001) as well as CRP (P<0.001) for prediction of DMSA defects. NLR showed the highest area under the ROC curve for diagnosis of VUR (P<0.001). Conclusion: NLR can be used as a diagnostic marker of APN with DMSA defect, showing better results than those of conventional markers for VUR prediction.

Effect of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose Nanofibers on the Properties of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite

Han, Song-Yi,Park, Chan-Woo,Lee, Seung-Hwan Institute of Forest Science 2017 Journal of Forest Science Vol.33 No.2

Enzymatic treatment was conducted to hydrolyze pure cellulose nanofiber (PCNF), holocellulose nanofiber (HCNF), and lignocellulose nanofiber (LCNF) for 6, 24 and 72 hours and thus-obtained nanofibers (1, 3, 5, 10 wt%) were used to reinforce polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Glucose production yield was increased by enzymatic hydrolysis. Tensile strength and elastic modulus of all PVA nanocomposite reinforced three nanofibers were improved by increasing enzymatic hydrolysis time of nanofibers and these values were higher in order of nanocomposite reinforced with PCNF>HCNF>LCNF. Furthermore, tensile properties of nanocomposite with PCNF were increased by nanofiber content. Thermal stability of PVA was improved by adding nanofibers and by increasing nanofiber content.

Biodegradability and Risk Assessment of Biomass-based Polymeric Materials

Han, Song Yi,Park, Chan Woo,Jang, Jae Hyuk,Lee, Seung Hwan Institute of Forest Science 2015 Journal of Forest Science Vol.31 No.4

With the intention to solve environmental problems caused by synthetic plastics from petroleum resources, biodegradable polyurethane foams and thermosetting moldings were prepared from biomass, such as wood and wheat bran by liquefaction method. Biodegradability of these biomass-based polymeric materials was investigated. In activated sludge, polyurethane foams from liquefied wheat bran and thermosetting molding from phenolated wood were decomposed approximately 14% and 29% for 20 days, respectively. One of the wood fungi, Coriolus versicolor was able to grow without supplemental nutrition, only with distilled water and polyurethane foam as a nutrition source. Risk assessments were also conducted and results showed that estrogenicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity were not observed in the extractives of biomass- based polymeric materials.

Effect of soy isoflavones supplement on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women

Hansongyi Lee,Ryowon Choue,Hyunjung Lim 대한지역사회영양학회 2017 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.11 No.3

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are expected to improve menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis in women. However, their efficacy is still inconclusive, and there was limited data for postmenopausal women in South Korea. We examined the effects of soy isoflavones on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, double-blind study design was used. Eighty-seven participants who had undergone natural menopause were randomly administered either 70 mg/day isoflavones (n = 43) or placebo (n = 41) for 12 weeks. We assessed the Kupperman index for climacteric symptoms and the menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire for quality of the life. Biomarkers of bone metabolism were also measured in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), N- and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type Ι collagen (NTx, CTx), and urine-deoxypyridinolin (u-DPD). RESULTS: Scores of the Kupperman index were decreased in both the isoflavones group (-7.0 ± 15.8, P = 0.0074) and placebo group (-6.3 ± 14.6, P = 0.0064) during the intervention, but no significant difference was noted between the groups. Regarding the bone formation markers, the level of serum BALP increased by 6.3 ± 4.1% (P = 0.004) and OC increased by 9.3 ± 6.2% (P < 0.001), meanwhile those of the placebo were not changed. For the bone resorption markers, NTx, CTx, and u-DPD were not significantly different in either group. MENQOL was significant decreased in the isoflavone group (-0.6 ± 0.5) and placebo group (-0.6 ± 0.4), with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.0228). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 70 mg isoflavones supplement has beneficial effects on bone formation markers; however, it showed no benefit compared to the placebo on climacteric symptoms or quality of life.

Impact of the Various Protein Sources on Immuno-cytokine Levels and Protein Quality

Hansongyi Lee,Ryowon Choue 한국식품영양과학회 2012 한국식품영양과학회 학술대회발표집 Vol.2012 No.10