Multi-Strain Probiotics Enhance the Bioactivity of Cascara Kombucha during Microbial Composition-Controlled Fermentation

Thach Phan Van,Quang Khai Phan,Hoa Pham Quang,Gia Bao Pham,Ngoc Han Ngo Thi,Hong Tham Truong Thi,Anh Duy Do 한국식품영양과학회 2023 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.28 No.4

Kombucha is a widely consumed fermented tea beverage with diverse health benefits. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the use of cascara as a substrate results in a special kombucha beverage with high bioactivity. Traditional kombucha fermentation using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) can lead to inconsistent product quality because of the lack of control over microbial composition. We successfully isolated and identified yeast and bacteria, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Komagataeibacter rhaeticus, and Lactobacillus brevis that are appropriate starter cultures for cascara kombucha fermentation. We also demonstrated that a supplementation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and a mixture of S. cerevisiae and K. rhaeticus resulted in higher total polyphenol and flavonoid content of cascara kombucha compared with the traditionally fermented product using SCOBY as the inoculum. The free radical scavenging activity, inhibitory effects on α-amylase, tyrosinase activity, and antibacterial properties of cascara kombucha were also enhanced as a result of LAB supplement. These findings provide valuable insights into the controlled microbiological composition required for the fermentation of cascara kombucha, thereby ensuring consistent quality and enhanced bioactivity of the product. Further, the use of cascara as a substrate for kombucha production not only offers various health benefits and biological effects, but also repurposes by-products from the coffee industry, which contributes to sustainable development and is eco-friendly.

The Effect of Foreign Ownership and Product Market Competition on Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam*

Thach Xuan HA,Thu Thi TRAN 한국유통과학회 2021 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.8 No.11

In recent years, firm performance has been a topic that attracts many researchers. It is extremely important to identify the factors that change firm performance. In the current trend of competition and integration, foreign ownership, product market competition is found to reduce agency costs and impact firm performance. The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between foreign ownership, product market competition, and firm performance. Our research using a quantile regression model, through panel data of 290 companies listed on the Vietnam stock exchange (include Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi stock exchanges) from 2017 to 2019 that was collected by Thomson - Reuters DataStream has shown that foreign ownership and product market competition have a positive impact on Tobin’s Q but are not statistically significant with ROA. Critically, our quantile regression results suppose foreign ownership, product market competition have a significantly larger positive impact in high-performing firms relative to low-performing firms. The results help propose solutions to planners and managers to change foreign ownership and product market competition to increase business performance. Besides, through quantile regression analysis, managers need to pay attention to the impact on foreign ownership, product market competition; there will be a difference between high-performing firms relative to low-performing firms.

Influence of the Kilning Conditions on Enzymatic Activity of Rice (Oryza sativa) Malt

( Thach Minh Nguyen ),( Xich Lien Nguyen ),( Anh Hoang Kim ),( Soo Lee ) 한국유화학회 2009 한국응용과학기술학회지 Vol.26 No.1

Effects of a Phosphomimetic Mutant of RAP80 on Linear Polyubiquitin Binding Probed by Calorimetric Analysis

Thach, Thanh Trung,Jee, Jun-Goo,Lee, Sang-Ho Korean Chemical Society 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.4

RAP80 plays a key role in DNA damage responses by recognizing K63-linked polyubiquitin moieties through its two ubiquitin-interacting motif (UIM) domains. The linker between the two UIMs possesses a phosphorylation site, but the relationship between phosphorylation and polyubiquitin recognition remains elusive. We investigated the interaction between a phosphorylation-mimic RAP80 mutant S101E and linear polyubiquitins, structurally equivalent to the K63-linked ones, using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). ITC analysis revealed differential binding affinities for linear tetraubiquitin by otherwise equivalent UIMs in S101E. Mutational analysis supported such differential polyubiquitin recognition by S101E. Our results suggest a potential crosstalk between polyubiquitin recognition and phosphorylation in RAP80.

Optimization of Rice (Oryza Sativa) Malting process by Second-Order Experimental Design

( Thach Minh Nguyen ),( Xich Lien Nguyen ),( Anh Hoang Kim ),( Soo Lee ) 한국유화학회 2008 한국응용과학기술학회지 Vol.25 No.3

Molecular Determinants of Polyubiquitin Recognition by Continuous Ubiquitin-Binding Domains of Rad18

Thach, Trung Thanh,Lee, Namsoo,Shin, Donghyuk,Han, Seungsu,Kim, Gyuhee,Kim, Hongtae,Lee, Sangho American Chemical Society 2015 Biochemistry Vol.54 No.12

<P>Rad18 is a key factor in double-strand break DNA damage response (DDR) pathways via its association with K63-linked polyubiquitylated chromatin proteins through its bipartite ubiquitin-binding domains UBZ and LRM with extra residues between them. Rad18 binds K63-linked polyubiquitin chains as well as K48-linked ones and monoubiquitin. However, the detailed molecular basis of polyubiquitin recognition by UBZ and LRM remains unclear. Here, we examined the interaction of Rad18(201–240), including UBZ and LRM, with linear polyubiquitin chains that are structurally similar to the K63-linked ones. Rad18(201–240) binds linear polyubiquitin chains (Ub<SUB>2</SUB>–Ub<SUB>4</SUB>) with affinity similar to that of a K63-linked one for diubiquitin. <I>Ab initio</I> modeling suggests that LRM and the extra residues at the C-terminus of UBZ (residues 227–237) likely form a continuous helix, termed the “extended LR motif” (ELRM). We obtained a molecular envelope for Rad18 UBZ-ELRM:linear Ub<SUB>2</SUB> by small-angle X-ray scattering and derived a structural model for the complex. The Rad18:linear Ub<SUB>2</SUB> model indicates that ELRM enhances the binding of Rad18 with linear polyubiquitin by contacting the proximal ubiquitin moiety. Consistent with the structural analysis, mutational studies showed that residues in ELRM affect binding with linear Ub<SUB>2</SUB>, not monoubiquitin. <I>In cell</I> data support the idea that ELRM is crucial in the localization of Rad18 to DNA damage sites. Specifically, E227 seems to be the most critical in polyubiquitin binding and localization to nuclear foci. Finally, we reveal that the ubiquitin-binding domains of Rad18 bind linear Ub<SUB>2</SUB> more tightly than those of RAP80, providing a quantitative basis for blockage of RAP80 at DSB sites. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Rad18(201–240) forms continuous ubiquitin-binding domains, comprising UBZ and ELRM, and provides a structural framework for polyubiquitin recognition by Rad18 in the DDR pathway at a molecular level.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/bichaw/2015/bichaw.2015.54.issue-12/bi5012546/production/images/medium/bi-2014-012546_0008.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/bi5012546'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

A Study on the Social Consciousness of Cambodia - Focus on Income Disparity Awareness -

( Thach Rasmey ),( Hanmo Jang ) 전남대학교 지역개발연구소 2019 지역개발연구 Vol.51 No.1

Adjusting disparity on income without investigation between policy implementation and people awareness, making some countries in South East Asia facing macro-economic problem. The Cambodian government also aims to reduce the disparity however there is not yet found any researches related to income disparity awareness in Cambodia. This paper aims to clarify consciousness about income disparity, and awareness on social situation in Cambodia. The questionnaire survey is conducted in both major city and rural; and using SPSS to perform statistical analysis. The result of this investigation is summarized as people having high social status have the most concern about income gap and their satisfaction for the society as a whole is low. Moreover, more than 70% of respondent aware that income disparity between urban and rural areas is too large. Furthermore, this study found that many people viewed that the current society is an unequal society which valued on educational background, college of origin, money and human relationships, beside there are not cherished nature and the environment. The result of this study means to contribute to rectify the economic policy of the Cambodian government.

Influencing Factors to Technology Adoption in Construction Enterprises: An Empirical Study in Korea

Thach, Nguyen Thao(탁응우옌타오),Ahn, Yong Han(안용한) 대한건축학회 2023 대한건축학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.43 No.1

Korean Red Ginseng inhibits apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells via estrogen receptor β-mediated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt signaling

Cuong Thach Nguyen,Truc Thanh Luong,Gyu-Lee Kim,Suhkneung Pyo,Dong-Kwon Rhee 고려인삼학회 2015 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.39 No.1

Background: Ginseng has been shown to exert antistress effects both in vitro and in vivo. However, the effects of ginseng on stress in brain cells are not well understood. This study investigated how Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) controls hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis via regulation of phosphatidylinositol- 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and estrogen receptor (ER)-b signaling. Methods: Human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells were pretreated with KRG and subsequently exposed to H₂O₂. The ability of KRG to inhibit oxidative stress-induced apoptosis was assessed in MTT cytotoxicity assays. Apoptotic protein expression was examined byWestern blot analysis. The roles of ER-β, PI3K, and p-Akt signaling in KRG regulation of apoptosis were studied using small interfering RNAs and/or target antagonists. Results: Pretreating SK-N-SH cells with KRG decreased expression of the proapoptotic proteins p-p53 and caspase-3, but increased expression of the antiapoptotic protein BCL2. KRG pretreatment was also associated with increased ER-β, PI3K, and p-Akt expression. Conversely, ER-b inhibition with small interfering RNA or inhibitor treatment increased p-p53 and caspase-3 levels, but decreased BCL2, PI3K, and p-Akt expression. Moreover, inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling diminished p-p53 and caspase-3 levels, but increased BCL2 expression. Conclusion: Collectively, the data indicate that KRG represses oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by enhancing PI3K/Akt signaling via upregulation of ER-b expression.

Emodin Attenuates Inflammasome Activation Induced by Helicobacter pylori Infection through Inhibition of VacA Translocation

Van Thach Phan,Do Anh Duy 한국미생물·생명공학회 2023 한국미생물·생명공학회지 Vol.51 No.4

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection is an essential strategy to decrease the risk of developing gastric cancer. However, the standard triple therapy has negative aspects associated with side effects and the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, alternative therapies are required to enhance the management of H. pylori infection effectively. In this study we examined the effect of emodin on the amelioration of inflammatory response due to H. pylori infection. Our results indicated that emodin treatment effectively decreased the expression of virulence genes, including sabA, vacA, cagL, cagA, sabA, and suppressed the adhesion ability of H. pylori to AGS cells. Emodin has been shown inhibitory effects on the inflammasome pathway through reductions in VacA translocation, lowering ROS stress, cleaved Caspase-1, NLRP3, and cleaved Gasdermin D levels, thereby lowered pyroptosis in infected cells. In summary, our study demonstrated that emodin has the ability to attenuate inflammation caused by H. pylori by modulating virulence gene expression and decreasing VacA translocation. Further study is required to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of emodin in treating H. pylori infection and better understand the underlying mechanisms.