Different maturation of gut microbiome in Korean children.

Introduction: Gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health and is influenced by food intake, age, and other factors. Methods: In this study based in Korea, we examined the bacterial taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota in infants (≤ 1 year), toddlers (1-<4 years), and school-aged children (4-13 years) and compared them with those of healthy adults to investigate the microbiota changes in early life and their association with the resistome. We used whole metagenome sequences obtained by Illumina HiSeq sequencing and clinical information of 53 healthy children, and sequence data of 61 adults from our previous study. Results: Our results indicate that the bacterial proportion of the gut in the population ranging from infants to adults forms three clusters: the Ruminococcus-Eubacterium (G1), Bifidobacterium-Escherichia (G2), and Bacteroides-Faecalibacterium (G3) groups. The gut microbiota of infants and toddlers (100% of infants and 85% of toddlers) constituted mostly of G2 and G3 groups, whereas 90% of adults showed G1-type gut microbiota. School-aged children showed a transitional gut microbiota composition of both infants and adults (31%, 38%, and 31% in G1, G2, and G3, respectively). Notably, the three clusters of microbiota showed significantly different patterns of bacterial diversity (p < 0.001): G2 showed the lowest Shannon index, followed by G3 and G1 (1.41, 2.08, and 2.48, respectively; median Shannon index). When combined with the adult group, alpha diversity showed a positive correlation with age (R2 = 0.3). Furthermore, clustering the composition of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) identified two clusters (A1 and A2), and most of G1 (95%) and G3 (80%) belonged to A1. However, G2 showed the least diversity and the highest abundance of ARGs. Nine ARG families showed a significant difference among age groups; three tetracycline resistance genes, tet32, tetO, and tetW, showed a positive correlation, and six other genes, ampC, TEM, ileS, bacA, pmr transferase, and cepA, showed a negative correlation with age. Discussion: In conclusion, our results highlighted that a delayed persistence of the Bifidobacterium-dominant enterotype with a lower bacterial diversity was observed in Korean children up to 13 years of age, which suggests a different maturation process with a delayed maturation time.

Characterization of physicochemical properties of casein mixture preparation extracted from organic milk for use as an emulsifier in organic processed foods.

BACKGROUND: Sodium caseinate (SC) is not considered suitable for use as an emulsifier in organic processed food in the food industry because of the use of prohibited synthetic chemical substances during its production. Casein mixture preparation (CMP), one of the permissible substances specified in the regulations, was isolated from organic milk using citric acid and dibasic potassium phosphate for organic processed foods. RESULTS: To compare CMP and SC, model emulsions stabilized with each substance were prepared at various concentrations and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. The emulsions' stability was determined using Turbiscan under various environmental stresses. The zeta potential of SC and CPM showed a high surface charge (≤ 30 mV) at all protein concentrations. Because the concentration of the protein preparation increased to 0.75% (w/v), the particle size of the CMP emulsion decreased with the surface load increased as much as that of SC. The CMP and SC emulsions were stable at neutral pH and room temperature. However, at acidic pH and high temperature, both emulsions were destabilized by creaming and flocculation and increased the creaming migration rates. CONCLUSION: Overall, our data suggest the use of CMP as an emulsifier substitute for SC in organic processed foods. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of stretching the scalene muscles on slow vital capacity.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine whether stretching of the scalene muscles would improve slow vital capacity (SVC). [Subjects and Methods] The subjects of this study were 20 healthy female students to whom the study's methods and purpose were explained and their agreement for participation was obtained. The SVC was measured using spirometry (Pony FX, COSMED Inc., Italy). The intervention used was stretching of the scalene muscles. Stretching was carried out for 15 min, 10 times at per each portion of scalene muscles: the anterior, middle, and posterior parts. [Results] Expiratory vital capacity (EVC) and tidal volume (Vt) noticeably increased after stretching. However, there were no changes in any of the SVC items in the control group. [Conclusion] This study demonstrated that stretching of the scalene muscles can effectively improve SVC. In particular, we confirmed that stretching of the scalene muscles was effective in increasing EVC and Vt, which are items of SVC.

Beneficial effect of xylose consumption on postprandial hyperglycemia in Korean: a randomized double-blind, crossover design.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that xylose selectively inhibited the activity of sucrase. Xylose supplementation may have a beneficial effect on the postprandial glycemic response. However, no studies have investigated patients with IFG or the effectivity of a dose of D-xylose less than 10 % (w/w). METHODS: The present study determined the effect of xylose consumption on postprandial hyperglycemia in normal (n = 25) and hyperglycemic subjects (n = 50). Subjects in this double-blind crossover design study were randomly assigned to consume a sucrose drink (Control, sucrose 50 g + deionized water 100 g) or a sucrose drink additionally containing 5 g (Test 1, sucrose:xylose = 10:1), 3.33 g (Test 2, sucrose:xylose = 15:1), or 2.5 g (Test 3, sucrose:xylose = 20:1) of D-xylose separated by a one-week interval. RESULTS: Normal subjects in all test groups exhibited a significant decrease in serum glucose levels 15 min and 30 min after consuming the xylose-containing drinks compared to the control group. Significantly lower serum levels of insulin were observed at 15 min and 30 min after consuming the xylose-containing drinks compared to the control group. The test 1 group also exhibited a significantly lower insulin area under the curve than the control group. Hyperglycemic subjects (n = 50) in all test groups exhibited a significant decrease in serum glucose levels at 30 min compared to the control group. However, the test 1 group exhibited a significant increase in serum glucose levels at 120 min compared to the control group. Glucose-related markers did not significantly differ in each group. CONCLUSION: Xylose supplementation may exert a beneficial effect on postprandial glycemic responses in subjects with normal glucose levels and prediabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02654301 . Registered 12 January 2016.

A randomized trial of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: There have been considerable disagreements regarding the therapeutic effects of probiotics in atopic dermatitis (AD). We performed this study to examine whether the oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 improves pediatric AD. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, either L. plantarum CJLP133 at a dosage of 0.5 × 10(10) colony-forming units or placebo in children aged 12 months to 13 yr was given twice a day for 12 wk. SCOring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) scores, eosinophil counts, serum total IgE, and cytokines were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-four of 58 patients in the probiotic group and 39 of 60 patients in the placebo group completed the study. The SCORAD score at week 14 was lower in the probiotic group than in the placebo group (p = 0.044). The mean change in the SCORAD score from weeks 2 to 14 was 9.1 in the probiotic group, which was greater than the mean change of 1.8 in the placebo group (p = 0.004). No statistical differences in the total use of topical corticosteroids were found between two groups (p = 0.815). In the probiotic group, the total eosinophil count was significantly lower at the end of the intervention compared to the baseline measurements (p = 0.023). Logarithmic IFN-γ and IL-4 were significantly decreased by the end of the intervention compared to baseline measurements in the probiotic group (p < 0.001 and 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that supplementation with probiotic L. plantarum CJLP133 is beneficial in the treatment of pediatric AD.

Therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 for house-dust mite-induced dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.

Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 was isolated from Kimchi, a Korean fermented food, and its potential to improve mouse atopic dermatitis after onset was studied. Dermatitis was developed through house dust-mite extract application onto NC/Nga mice, and then CJLP133 feeding was started. CJLP133 suppressed dermatitis-like skin lesions and decreased high serum IgE levels through balancing between IL-4 and IFN-γ in serum. CJLP133 diminished skin thickening, mast cell accumulation into inflamed site, and lymph node enlargement. In lymph node cells, CJLP133 repressed secretion of T cell cytokines such as IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. However, CJLP133 decreased ratios of IFN-γ and IL-5 to IL-10 in lymph node cells, while it did not decrease ratios of IL-4 and IL-5 to IFN-γ. Conclusively, CJLP133 exhibited therapeutic potential for atopic dermatitis in mice through orderly increment of type 1 helper T cell activation and regulatory T cell activation. These results suggest that CJLP133 could treat human atopic dermatitis.

Dietary D-psicose reduced visceral fat mass in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

UNLABELLED: D-Psicose, a C-3 epimer of D-fructose, has shown promise in reducing body fat accumulation in normal rats and plasma glucose level in genetic diabetic mice. Effects of D-psicose on diet-induced obesity are not clearly elucidated, and we investigated food intake, body weight, and fat accumulation in rats fed high-fat (HF) diet. Sprague-Dawley rats became obese by feeding HF diet for 4 wk, and were assigned either to normal or HF diet supplemented with or without D-psicose, sucrose, or erythritol for 8 wk. Changing HF to normal diet gained less body weight and adipose tissue due to different energy intake. D-psicose-fed rats exhibited lower weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and fat accumulation than erythritol- and sucrose-fed rats. This effect was more prominent in D-psicose-fed rats with normal diet than with HF diet, suggesting combination of psicose and calorie restriction further reduced obesity. There was no difference in serum cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C/HDL-C ratios between D-psicose group and other groups. Liver weight in 5% psicose group with normal diet was higher than in other groups, but histopathological examination did not reveal any psicose-related change. D-Psicose inhibited the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) to adipose tissue in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that D-psicose produces a marked decrease, greater than erythritol, in weight gain and visceral fat in an established obesity model by inhibiting MSC differentiation to adipocyte. Thus, D-psicose can be useful in preventing and reducing obesity as a sugar substitute and food ingredient. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We can develop D-psicose as a sugar substitute and food ingredient since it can prevent obesity in normal people, but also suppress adiposity as a sugar substitute or food ingredients with antiobesity effect in obese people. D-psicose can be unique functional sweetener because of its function of reducing visceral fat mass and weight gain.

Microarray analysis of gene expression profile by treatment of Cinnamomi Ramulus in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 cells.

It has been reported that components of Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR) demonstrate an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthesis (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and by suppressing nitric oxide (NO) production in the central nervous system (CNS) as well as in the periphery. In this study, microarray analysis was performed to investigate the effect of CR on the gene expression and associated pathways of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Microglia plays an important role in the processes of several inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative diseases. Activated microglia can produce various pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and toxic mediators, which may initiate or amplify the inflammatory responses in the CNS. In the present study, the negative control group was cultured in normal medium, the positive control group was activated with 1 microg/ml of LPS, and the CR group was previously treated with 10 microg/ml of CR before LPS stimulation. With the cutoff value of 1.5-fold change in the expression, 341 genes including pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and transcription factors were found to be up-regulated in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells (Supplemental Table 2). CR reduced the LPS-induced up-regulation of such inflammatory genes as Ccl5, Cd80, Cxcl10, Grin2a, Ifi203, Ifit1, Il1alpha, Il6, Lilrb3, Nos2 (iNOS), Rab2b, Rsad2 and Vpreb1. This resulted in a full list of 38 and 37 annotated genes whose expression is up- and down-regulated by CR respectively (Supplemental Table 3). RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of LPS-induced TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and iNOS mRNAs were attenuated in the presence of the CR extract. The results imply that CR has the anti-inflammatory effect of down-regulating the expression of various genes related to inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells, and that CR could be a candidate for the prevention or therapeutic treatment of inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative diseases.