This study was aimed at identifying the bioactive components of the crude and stir-baked hawthorn for invigorating spleen and promoting digestion, respectively, to clarify the processing mechanism of hawthorn by applying the partial least squares(PLS) algorithm to build the spectrum-effect relationship model. Firstly, different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions were prepared, respectively. Then, the contents of 24 chemical components were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of different polar fractions of crude hawthorn and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions were evaluated by measuring the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate. Finally, the PLS algorithm was used to establish the spectrum-effect relationship model. The results showed that there were significant differences in the contents of 24 chemical components for different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions, and the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate of model rats were improved by administration of different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions. The bioactive components of crude hawthorn identified by PLS models were vitexin-4″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, neochlorogenic acid, rutin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, citric acid, malic acid, quinic acid and fumaric acid, while neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, rutin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, citric acid, quinic acid and fumaric acid were the bioactive components of stir-baked hawthorn. This study provided data support and scientific basis for identifying the bioactive components of crude and stir-baked hawthorn, and clarifying the processing mechanism of hawthorn.
Animals ; Rats ; Spleen ; Crataegus ; Quinic Acid ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Vanillic Acid ; Algorithms ; Digestion

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of combination of intradermal needling with oral motor therapy and simple oral motor therapy on salivation in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: A total of 60 children with salivation in cerebral palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with intradermal needling (kept for 24 hours each time at Jiache [ST 6], Dicang [ST 4], tongue three needles, etc. ) and oral motor therapy, while the control group was only given oral motor therapy. The intradermal needling was performed 3 times a week, and oral motor therapy was performed 5 times a week, 4 weeks as a course, totally 3 courses of treatment were required. The classification of teacher drooling scale (TDS), drooling severity and Kubota water swallow test, dysphagia disorders survey (DDS) score were compared before treatment and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment in both groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment in the observation group and after 12 weeks of treatment in the two groups, the classification of TDS and drooling severity were improved (P<0.05), and the observation group was better than the control group after 12 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the DDS scores of oral period in the observation group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 83.3% (25/30), which was higher than 53.3% (16/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of intradermal needling with oral motor therapy can improve salivation symptoms and swallowing function in children with cerebral palsy, the effect is better than oral motor therapy alone, and the effect is earlier.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Palsy/therapy* ; Child ; Deglutition Disorders/therapy* ; Humans ; Salivation ; Sialorrhea/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is an effective orally administered antibody used to protect against various intestinal pathogens, but which cannot tolerate the acidic gastric environment. In this study, IgY was microencapsulated by alginate (ALG) and coated with chitooligosaccharide (COS). A response surface methodology was used to optimize the formulation, and a simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion (SGID) system to evaluate the controlled release of microencapsulated IgY. The microcapsule formulation was optimized as an ALG concentration of 1.56% (15.6 g/L), COS level of 0.61% (6.1 g/L), and IgY/ALG ratio of 62.44% (mass ratio). The microcapsules prepared following this formulation had an encapsulation efficiency of 65.19%, a loading capacity of 33.75%, and an average particle size of 588.75 μm. Under this optimum formulation, the coating of COS provided a less porous and more continuous microstructure by filling the cracks on the surface, and thus the GI release rate of encapsulated IgY was significantly reduced. The release of encapsulated IgY during simulated gastric and intestinal digestion well fitted the zero-order and first-order kinetics functions, respectively. The microcapsule also allowed the IgY to retain 84.37% immune-activity after 4 h simulated GI digestion, significantly higher than that for unprotected IgY (5.33%). This approach could provide an efficient way to preserve IgY and improve its performance in the GI tract.
Alginic Acid/chemistry* ; Chitin/chemistry* ; Chitosan ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Digestion ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Liberation ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism* ; Immunoglobulins/metabolism* ; Oligosaccharides

In recent years, mass spectrometry has been widely used to study membrane protein structure and function. However, the application of mass spectrometry to study integral membrane protein is limited because there are many hydrophobic amino acids in the trans-membrane domain of integral membrane protein to cause low sequence coverage detected by LC-MS/MS. Therefore, we used vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1), a human integral membrane protein, as a model to optimize the digestion conditions of chymotrypsin, and developed an in-gel digestion method of chymotrypsin to improve sequence coverage of membrane protein by mass spectrometry. By exploring the effects of calcium concentration, pH value and buffer system on the percentage of sequence coverage, number of total detected and types of unique peptide, and the size of unique peptide, sequence coverage and peptide diversity could be considered under condition of Tris-HCl buffer with 5-10 mmol/L calcium ion concentration and pH value 8.0-8.5. This method could make the sequence coverage of membrane protein to reach more than 80%. It could be widely used in the study of membrane protein structure and function, identification of interaction site between membrane proteins, and identification of binding site between membrane protein and small molecular drug.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Chymotrypsin/metabolism* ; Digestion ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Trypsin ; Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases

OBJECTIVES: The study purpose is to develop a content system for a healthy dietary education program for after-school care in lower grade in elementary school. METHODS: The contents of healthy dietary education in the 2015 revised curriculum and textbooks and the major education programs related to dietary life that are currently used in elementary school education were analyzed. Focus group interviews were held with field experts related to lower grade in elementary care class. Accordingly, the structuring of the education area and the detailed education contents were systematized. RESULTS: From the analysis results, the contents of curriculum, textbook, and administrative department were classified as hygiene safety, health, and culture. The goal of the educational content system was divided into three areas: nutritional dietary life, food hygiene and health, and food culture. The subjects consisted of dietary balance, healthy body weight, digestion and absorption, food hygiene, Korean agricultural products, traditional food, and table manners. The curriculum was composed of 12 content elements. CONCLUSIONS: In order to ensure that after-school care students can grow into healthy, growth-oriented and creative talents, the role of the caring guide is important, and associated guidelines are needed in the future.
Absorption ; Aptitude ; Body Weight ; Curriculum ; Digestion ; Education ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Hygiene

OBJECTIVES: The study purpose is to develop a content system for a healthy dietary education program for after-school care in lower grade in elementary school. METHODS: The contents of healthy dietary education in the 2015 revised curriculum and textbooks and the major education programs related to dietary life that are currently used in elementary school education were analyzed. Focus group interviews were held with field experts related to lower grade in elementary care class. Accordingly, the structuring of the education area and the detailed education contents were systematized. RESULTS: From the analysis results, the contents of curriculum, textbook, and administrative department were classified as hygiene safety, health, and culture. The goal of the educational content system was divided into three areas: nutritional dietary life, food hygiene and health, and food culture. The subjects consisted of dietary balance, healthy body weight, digestion and absorption, food hygiene, Korean agricultural products, traditional food, and table manners. The curriculum was composed of 12 content elements. CONCLUSIONS: In order to ensure that after-school care students can grow into healthy, growth-oriented and creative talents, the role of the caring guide is important, and associated guidelines are needed in the future.
Absorption ; Aptitude ; Body Weight ; Curriculum ; Digestion ; Education ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Hygiene

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the secretory function of parotid glands by dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) sialography and determine the clinical performance of this technique in diagnosing and evaluating Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 29 healthy volunteers (25 women and 4 men; mean age, 34.8 ± 6.3 years; age range, 26–47 years) and 25 primary SS (pSS) patients (23 women and 2 men; mean age, 37.7 ± 7.9 years; age range, 25–50 years) with decreased secretory function. The volume of the parotid gland ducts was precisely measured for both groups at single pre- and 6 post-gustatory-stimulated phases. Time-dependent volume change ratio curves were generated, four parameters were derived from the curves: the slope of the increase in the first post-stimulation phase (slope(1st)), the peak value, the time-to-peak, the total saliva secretion post-stimulation. All values were used to quantitatively evaluate the secretory function of the parotid gland. The repeated measurement analysis, Mann-Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic curve were applied. RESULTS: Time-dependent volume change ratio curves demonstrated that there is a statistically significant difference between the two groups (F = 8.750; p = 0.005). A quickly increasing curve was shown in the volunteer group, whereas a slowly increasing curve was shown in the pSS patient group. The slope(1st), peak value and total saliva secretion post-stimulation of the patient group were significantly lower than those of the volunteer group (p = 0.005, p = 0.003, and p = 0.002, respectively). The time-to-peak between the two groups was not significantly different (p = 0.383). The slope(1st) can be used as a discriminator to diagnose SS patients (p = 0.015; odds ratio = 4.234; area under the curve = 0.726). CONCLUSION: Dynamic MR sialography is proven to be an effective method in evaluating salivary gland function and has a great potential in diagnosing and evaluating pSS patients.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Odds Ratio ; Parotid Gland ; ROC Curve ; Saliva ; Salivary Glands ; Salivation ; Sialadenitis ; Sialography ; Volunteers

The intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid (HA) for the treatment of synovitis and osteoarthritis is still controversial. As a consequence, corticosteroids remain the most frequently employed therapeutic agents, despite their potential systemic and local deleterious effects. This study examined the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chondroprotective activities of low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW-HA and HMW-HA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis in horses compared to triamcinolone acetonide (TA). LPS was injected in the metacarpophalangeal joints, which were treated intra-articularly with either TA (as control) or LMW-HA or HMW-HA. Joint clinical evaluation and synovial fluid (SF) analysis were performed at 0, 8, 24, and 48 h. The white blood cell counts (WBC), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, chondroitin sulfate (CS) and HA concentrations, oxidative burst, and HA molecular weights were measured. TA reduced the lameness, swelling, and PGE2 release but increased the SF CS concentrations enormously at 24h and 48h, and decreased the SF HA modal molecular weight. These results indicate the breakdown of articular cartilage aggrecan and SF HA. In contrast, LMW-HA and HMW-HA were less effective in reducing the inflammation symptoms, but preserved the joints because only a modest increase in CS occurred at 24 h, decreasing at 48 h, and the SF HA was maintained. The HA-treatment also had anti-inflammatory actions, and LMW-HA was the most effective in reducing the release of cytokine. In summary, the HA treatment inhibited efficiently the digestion of cartilage proteoglycans and SF HA breakdown.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aggrecans ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; Digestion ; Dinoprostone ; Horses ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Joints ; Leukocyte Count ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; Molecular Weight ; Necrosis ; Osteoarthritis ; Proteoglycans ; Respiratory Burst ; Synovial Fluid ; Synovitis ; Triamcinolone ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT), as a simple and versatile method, achieves successful transformation in the yeast-like cells (YLCs) of Tremella fuciformis with lower efficiency. Establishment of a more efficient transformation system of YLCs is important for functional genomics research and biotechnological application. In this study, an enzymolysis-assisted ATMT method was developed. The degradation degree of YLCs depends on the concentration and digestion time of Lywallzyme. Lower concentration (≤0.1%) of Lywallzyme was capable of formation of limited wounds on the surface of YLCs and has less influence on their growth. In addition, there is no significant difference of YLCs growth among groups treated with 0.1% Lywallzyme for different time. The binary vector pGEH under the control of T. fuciformis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpd) promoter was utilized to transform the enzymolytic wounded YLCs with different concentrations and digestion time. The results of PCR, Southern blot, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and fluorescence microscopy revealed that the T-DNA was integrated into the YLCs genome, suggesting an efficient enzymolysis-assisted ATMT method of YLCs was established. The highest transformation frequency reached 1200 transformants per 106 YLCs by 0.05% (w/v) Lywallzyme digestion for 15 min, and the transformants were genetically stable. Compared with the mechanical wounding methods, enzymolytic wounding is thought to be a tender, safer and more effective method.
Agrobacterium ; Blotting, Southern ; Digestion ; Genome ; Genomics ; Methods ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Oxidoreductases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Wounds and Injuries

The infection status with Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae (CsMc) was examined in freshwater fishes from Yangcheon (a branch of Gyeongho-gang), which is located in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, the Republic of Korea. Total 2,201 fishes in 26 species were examined by the artificial digestion method through 7 years. CsMc were detected in 1,171 (53.2%) fishes in 21 spp. (80.8%) and their density was 85 per fish infected. Total 532 (99.6%) out of 534 Pungtungia herzi (index fish) examined were infected with 147 CsMc per fish infected. Metacercarial densities in this fish were highest in 2015 (179 CsMc), followed by 2012 (168), 2013 (152), 2016 (145), 2014 (114), and 2017 (89) respectively. In the gobioninid fish group, i.e., P. herzi, Sarcocheilichthys spp., Squalidus spp., Pseudogobio esocinus, Hemibarbus longirostris, and Hemibarbus labeo, 841 (92.7%) fishes were infected with 117 CsMc per fish infected. Total 250 (54.7%) acheilognathinid fish (bitterlings), Acheilognathus spp. and Acanthorhodeus spp. were infected with 5.8 CsMc. In the rasborinid fish (chubs) group, i.e., Zacco platypus, Zacco temminckii, and Zacco koreanus, 77 (13.7%) out of 563 fish examined were infected with 2.4 CsMc in average. The susceptibility indices of CsMc were 49.09 in the overall positive fish group, 104.15 in the gobioninid group, 3.17 in the acheilognathinid group and 0.35 in the rasborinid fish group respectively. Only 1 CsMc was detected in 3 fish species, Coreoperca herzi, Channa argus, and Lepomis macrochirus, respectively. Conclusively, it was confirmed that CsMc are moderately prevalent in fishes from Yangcheon in Sancheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea.
Clonorchis sinensis ; Cyprinidae ; Digestion ; Fishes ; Fresh Water ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Korea ; Metacercariae ; Methods ; Platypus ; Republic of Korea