Modification of the characteristics of silkworm powder by treatment with alkaline protease

Kim, Sung-Kuk,Jo, You-Young,Lee, Kwang-Gill,Kim, Hyun-Bok,Kim, Yong Soon,Ju, Wan-Taek,Jung, Da-Eun,Kweon, HaeYong Korean Society of Sericultural Science 2015 International Journal of Industrial Entomology Vol.31 No.1

Enzymatic modification of proteins is often used to increase the biological activity of materials. Silkworm powder has been investigated as a functional food resource, but no study has been performed on its modification by commercial food enzyme. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the feasibility of such modification of silkworm powder by alkaline protease. The activity of the enzyme was confirmed using an azocasein assay. Subsequently the silkworm powder was hydrolyzed by enzymatic treatment. UV visible spectrometry showed that the supernatant of silkworm powder subjected to enzymatic treatment had a stronger absorption band than the untreated powder. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of silkworm powder decreased on enzymatic treatment. Thus the results indicate that commercial enzymes might be used to modify the characteristics of silkworm powder.

Original Articles : Peginterferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus-related Liver cirrhosis

( Kyung Hoon Kim ),( Byoung Kuk Jang ),( Woo Jin Chung ),( Jae Seok Hwang ),( Young Oh Kweon ),( Won Young Tak ),( Heon Ju Lee ),( Chang Hyeong Lee ),( Jeong Ill Suh ) 대한간학회 2011 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.17 No.3

Background/Aims: Pegylated interferon (peginterferon) and ribavirin combination therapy is less effective and associated with a higher frequency of serious complications in chronic hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis than in noncirrhotic patients. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon and ribavirin treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. Methods: Eighty-six patients with clinically diagnosed liver cirrhosis were treated with either peginterferon alpha-2a (n=51) or peginterferon alpha-2b (n=35) plus ribavirin. The sustained virologic response (SVR) and adverse effects were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Of the 86 patients (55 males), 48 patients (55.8%) had HCV genotype 1 infection and 38 (44.2%) had genotype non-1 infection. The overall SVR rate was 34.9% (30/86), and the rates of SVR in the genotype 1 and non-1 patients were 20.8% (10/48) and 52.6% (20/38), respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed that having HCV genotype 1 (P=0.003) and high baseline viral load (>8.0×10(5) IU/mL, P=0.012) were the independent predictive factors for SVR failure. In 20.9% (18/86) of the patients, treatment was not completed due to adverse events (27.8%), loss to follow-up (50.0%), and other reasons (22.2%). Conclusions: Peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy was relatively effective and feasible for clinically diagnosed HCV patients, especially in those with genotype non-1 infection and low baseline viral load. (Korean J Hepatol 2011;17:220-225)

Characteristics of First Diagnosed Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Cirrhotic Patients during 15 Years : Multicenter Retrospective Study in Daegu-Gyeongbuk Province

( Wang Yong Choi ),( Woo Jin Chung ),( Byoung Kuk Jang ),( Jae Seok Hwang ),( Sang Jin Kim ),( Heon Ju Lee ),( Moon Joo Hwang ),( Young Oh Kweon ),( Won Young Tak ),( Soo Young Park ),( Su Hyun Lee ) 대한간학회 2016 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2016 No.1

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of first diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in liver cirrhotic patients in Daegu-Gyeongbuk province in Korea during recent 15 years. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively medical records of 15,716 liver cirrhotic patients of 5 university hospitals with KCD-6 codes in Daegu-Gyeongbuk province from 2000 to 2014. Results: 1. Among 15,716 cirrhotic patients, 1,339 patients(8.5%) diagnosed as HCC. Mean age was 61.2±10.9 years old, men were 975(72.8%) and women were 364(27.2%). The mean time to diagnose as HCC after initial diagnose as cirrhosis was 3.91±2.79 years. 2. Mean annual incidence of HCC was 2.79%. At time of diagnosis, Child-Turcotte-Pugh(CTP) class A was 45.3%, B was 44.8% and C was 9.96%. Mean CTP score was 7.02±1.82. Underlying liver disease were HBV(61.5%), alcohol(19.2%), HCV(9.0%), NAFLD(1.9%) and others. 3. Mean time to diagnose as HCC were 4.01±2.85 years for HBV, 3.48±2.59 years for HCV, 3.96±2.87 years for alcohol, 3.00±1.91 years for NAFLD after initial diagnose as cirrhosis. Mean time to diagnose HCC were 4.98±3.29, 3.47±2.13, 2.28±1.28 years when accessed by five-year intervals (p<0.001), mean CTP score were 7.25±1.87, 6.98±1.80, 6.64±1.67 (p=0.003) 4. There were not significant clinical and laboratory differences in patients diagnosed as HCC within 5 years and beyond 10 years after initial diagnosed as cirrhosis. Conclusions: The time intervals between initial diagnosis as cirrhosis and HCC are significantly reduced. It may caused by active cancer surveillance and advanced diagnostic modalities. Among the various causes of liver cirrhosis, NAFLD has the shortest time interval to diagnoses HCC. So, we need to carefully monitor cirrhotic patients caused by NAFLD.

Long-term Supplementation of Oral Branchedchain Amino Acid Improves Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) Score in Advanced Liver Cirrhosis Patients

Jung Gil Park,Soo Young Park,Young Oh Kweon,Won Kee Lee,Si Hyun Bae,Jae Young Jang,Do Young Kim,June Sung Lee,Ki Tae Suk,In Hee Kim,Heon Ju Lee,Woo Jin Chung,Byoung Kuk Jang,Jeong Ill Suh,Jeong Heo,Wo 한국간담췌외과학회 2014 한국간담췌외과학회 학술대회지 Vol.2014 No.4

Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir Combination Therapy for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Infection in Real World

( Jae Young Oh ),( Byung Seok Kim ),( Chang Hyeong Lee ),( Jung Eun Song ),( Heon Ju Lee ),( Jung Gil Park ),( Jae Seok Hwang ),( Woo Jin Chung ),( Byoung Kuk Jang ),( Young Oh Kweon ),( Won Young Tak 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Aims: In previous clinical studies, daclatasvir (DCV) and asunaprevir (ASV) combination therapy showed both high rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) and low rate of serious adverse events. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of DCV and ASV combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection in real world. Methods: A total of 279 patients (186 treatment-naïve patients) with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection, who received DCV and ASV combination therapy, were enrolled from five institutes in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do area. We evaluated the rates of rapid virologic response (RVR), end-of-treatment response (ETR), and SVR at 12 weeks after completion of treatment (SVR12). And we also investigated rate of adverse events and predictive factors of SVR12 failure. Results: The mean age was 58.5 (range 30-84) years, and 140 patients (50.2%) were men. Seventy-seven patients (27.6%) had liver cirrhosis. Baseline nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) sequences were available from 268 patients. Among them, 6 patients (2.1%) had NS5A resistance- associated variants (RAVs). The rate of RVR was 96.6% (258/267), and ETR rate was 94.5% (223/236). Among 214 patients who were checked HCV RNA level at 12 weeks after completion of treatment, 195 patients (91.1%) achieved SVR12. Adverse events occurred in 20 patients (7.2%). Four patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events such as elevation of liver enzymes and severe nausea. Other adverse events included fatigue, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of appetite, skin rash, and mild dyspnea. In a multivariate analysis, predictive factors of SVR12 failure were baseline NS5A RAVs (P=0.012) and failure of RVR (P=0.02). Conclusions: DCV and ASV combination therapy provided high rates of RVR, ETR, SVR12 for chronic HCV genotype 1b patients in real world. DCV and ASV combination therapy was well tolerated without serious adverse events.

품종에 따른 국내산 누에의 항산화 활성 비교

박종우(Jong Woo Park),이창훈(Chang Hoon Lee),정찬영(Chan Young Jeong),강상국(Sang Kuk Kang),주완택(Wan-Taek Ju),김성완(Seong-Wan Kim),김남숙(Nam-Suk Kim),권해용(Hae Yong Kweon),김기영(Kee Young Kim) 한국생명과학회 2021 생명과학회지 Vol.31 No.11

최근 건강 기능성 식품으로 주목받고 있는 누에는 다양한 품종이 생산되고 있지만, 품종에 따른 기능성의 차이에 대한 연구는 미흡한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 국내 농가에서 사육되고 있는 누에의 품종에 따른 항산화활성을 분석하였고, 우수한 항산화 활성을 나타내는 특화 품종으로서의 육성 가능성을 살펴보고자 하였다. 항산화활성의 비교를 위하여 백옥잠, 골든실크, 연녹잠 및 한생잠 등 4개 품종을 사육하고 5령 유충기 3일째 및 7일째 누에에 대하여 물 및 에탄올 추출물을 제작하였다. 그 결과, 물을 이용한 5령 3일째의 골든실크에서 가장 높은 추출 수율이 나타냈으나 총 페놀화합물과 및 플라보노이드 함량은 각각 5령 3일째 연녹잠의 물 추출물(86.11±4.04μg/mg of gallic acid equivalent) 및 70% (v/v) 에탄올 추출물(46.70±2.81 μg/mg quercetin equivalent)에서 가장 높게 나타났다. DPPH 라디칼 소거능 분석에서 백옥잠과 연녹잠이 최대 78%의 라디칼 소거능을 나타냈으며, 연녹잠의 IC50 값은 11.94±1.93 ug/ml이었다. 연녹잠의 최대 SOD 유사 활성은 약 47%로 백옥잠 보다 높았으며, 비타민 C 40 μg/ml 농도의 SOD 유사 활성 45%와 유사했다. 아질산염 소거능 분석에서 pH 1.2 조건에서 백옥잠과 연녹잠이 85%로 가장 높게 나타났으며, pH 3.0에서는 백옥잠이 25%, 연녹잠이 20%의 아질산염 소거 활성을 나타냈다. 또한 연녹잠 추출물 48 μg/ml 농도의 환원력은 0.7 abs 수준으로 gallic acid 3.6 μg/ml 농도의 환원력과 유사한 수준으로 4개 품종 중 가장 우수했다. 이와 같은 결과를 종합해 볼 때 항산화 활성 지표 분석에서 공통적으로 우수한 성적을 보인 5령 3일째의 연녹잠이 항산화 활성이 우수한 품종으로 육성하기에 적합할 것으로 판단된다. Although varieties of silkworms, which have recently attracted attention as a health functional food, are being produced, studies on the differences in the functionality of different silkworm varieties are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, the antioxidant activities of different silkworm breeds bred in domestic farms were analyzed, and the potential for their cultivation as specialized varieties with excellent antioxidant function was investigated. To compare antioxidant activity, four varieties of silkworms, white Bakokjam, Golden silk, Yeonokjam, and Hanseongjam, were bred; water and ethanol extracts of these silkworms were prepared on the 3rd and 5th days of the 5th instar larval stage. The highest extraction yield was seen for the water extract from the Golden silk variety on the 3rd day of the 5th instar; the highest total phenolic compound and flavonoid contents were observed for the water extract (86.11±4.04 μg/mg GE) and 70% (v/v) ethanol extract (46.70±2.81 μg/mg QE). Bakokjam and Yeonokjam exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity of up to 78% and showed the highest nitrite scavenging activity (85%) at pH 1.2. The maximum SOD-like activity of Yeonokjam was about 47%. Furthermore, 48 μg/ml of the Yeonokjam extract showed a reducing power of 0.7 abs, which was the best among the four varieties. Considering these results, the Yeonokjam (on the 3rd day of the 5th instar) had antioxidant activity and represents a silkworm cultivar that would be suitable for cultivation as a health food.

Multicenter Analysis of Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients with Hepatic Impairment

( Jeong Eun Song ),( Chang Hyeong Lee ),( Jae Seok Hwang ),( Woo Jin Chung ),( Byoung Kuk Jang ),( Heon Ju Lee ),( Jung Gil Park ),( Min Kyu Kang ),( Young Oh Kweon ),( Won Young Tak ),( Soo Young Par 대한간학회 2020 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2020 No.1

Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. Limited data are available for liver function in patients with COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatment outcomes in COVID-19 patients with liver enzyme abnormality. Methods: Clinical records and laboratory results were obtained from 874 patients (female, 566; male, 308; median age, 62 years) diagnosed of COVID-19 who were admitted to four tertiary hospitals in Daegu from February 20 to April 14, 2020 and followed up to April 30, 2020. Clinical features and treatment outcomes were compared between patients with elevated aminotransferase or not. Results: 362 of 874 (41.1%) COVID-19 patients had elevated aminotransferase. The median levels of ALT were 51 (37-79) U/L vs. 19 (14-24) U/L, respectively, AST were 44 (34-69) U/L vs. 20 (17-24) U/L, respectively in abnormal and normal aminotransferase groups. Males were more likely to have elevated liver enzymes when infected with COVID-19 (P<0.001) compared with normal aminotransferase group. No significant differences were found regarding to underlying liver diseases between two groups. The prevalence of initial symptoms was also similar in both groups except the COVID-19 patients with elevated liver enzymes had greater proportion of fever (52.2% vs. 39.9%, P=0.001) and dyspnea (34.3% vs. 19.6%, P<0.001). Liver enzyme abnormality was associated with disease severity (P<0.001) and bilateral involvement on chest radiographs (P<0.001). A significantly higher proportion of patients with elevated liver enzyme had received lopinavir/ritonavir (64.9% vs. 50.0%), hydroxychloroquine (63.0% vs. 48.4%) and antibiotics (87.6% vs. 70.1%). Patients with elevated liver enzyme had longer median hospital stays (22 days vs. 26 days, P=0.001) and higher mortality rate (12.4% vs. 2.9%, P<0.001) than patients with normal liver enzyme. Conclusions: Liver enzyme abnormality is common in COVID-19 patients. It is related to disease severity and poor treatment outcomes.

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the neural correlates of cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing behavior problems in adolescent bullies

Kim, Johanna Inhyang,Kang, Yun-Hyong,Lee, Jong-Min,Cha, Jungho,Park, Yeong-Hun,Kweon, Kuk-Ju,Kim, Bung-Nyun Elsevier 2018 Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological Vol.86 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The purpose of this study was to investigate the neural correlates of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for externalizing behavior problems in perpetrators of school bullying using assessments of brain activity and behavior. Twenty-five adolescent bullies participated in an 8-session intervention. Prior to and after participation, 24 adolescents were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and 23 completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Changes in the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and scores on the CBCL were analyzed. We also compared the identified changes into 2 groups (low and high delinquency) differentiated by a cutoff of 65 points on the delinquency subscale of the CBCL. Following the intervention, participants exhibited improvement in the subscores of the CBCL and decreases in the fALFF of the inferior parietal lobule, lingual, interior frontal and middle occipital gyrus. A positive correlation was observed between changes in the CBCL externalizing behavior scores and fALFF of the inferior frontal gyrus. The high delinquency group showed a greater decrease in delinquency and externalizing CBCL subscores across time than did the low delinquency group. The high delinquency group had more areas that showed change in fALFF post-intervention than did the low delinquency group. A positive correlation was observed between changes in the CBCL delinquency scores and fALFF of the precentral gyrus in the high delinquency group. The results indicate that this CBT for externalizing behavior problems in bullies had more positive effects on delinquent behavior in adolescents with high levels of delinquency, and these changes were associated with functional changes in brain activity.</P> <P>Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02670876 </P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> School bullying is a universal phenomenon that has significant negative effects on mental health for both the perpetrator and victim. </LI> <LI> We conducted cognitive-behavioral therapy targeting cognitive distortions related to externalizing problems commonly found in bullies. </LI> <LI> The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and neural correlates of this intervention on externalizing problems. </LI> <LI> We found a positive effect on externalizing problems and this was associated with changes in spontaneous neural activity in related brain regions. </LI> <LI> Further studies that include large homogeneous samples and well-controlled designs are warranted. </LI> </UL> </P>