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Cho JM, Chae J, Jeong SR, Moon MJ, Shin DY, Lee JH. Immune activation of Bio-Germanium in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 130 human subjects: Therapeutic opportunities from new insights. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240358. [PMID: 33075061 PMCID: PMC7572073 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Germanium has long been considered a therapeutic agent with anticancer, antitumor, antiaging, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Numerous clinical studies have explored the promising therapeutic effects of organic germanium on cancer, arthritis and senile osteoporosis. The immune activation property of organic germanium is considered the foundation of its various therapeutic effects. However, previous human clinical studies investigating immune activation with organic germanium compounds have certain limitations, as some studies did not strictly follow a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. To build a more clinically substantiated foundation for the mechanism underlying its immunostimulation, we structured by far the most rigorous clinical study to-date with a group of 130 human subjects to examine changes in immune profiles following germanium supplementation. We used Bio-Germanium, an organic germanium compound naturally synthesized via a yeast fermentation process. An 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 130 subjects with leukocyte counts of 4–8 (×103/μL) divided into the Bio-Germanium group and the placebo group. Anthropometric measurements; blood collection; biochemical analysis; urinalysis; and natural killer cell activity, cytokine and immunoglobulin assays were conducted. Results showed the Bio-Germanium group exhibited NK cell activity increases at effector cell:target cell (E:T) ratios of 50:1, 10:1, 5:1 and 2.5:1 (12.60±32.91%, 10.19±23.88%, 9.28±16.49% and 7.27±15.28%, respectively), but the placebo group showed decreases (P<0.01). The difference in the IgG1 change from baseline to follow-up between the Bio-Germanium and placebo groups was significant (P = 0.044). Our results and earlier clinical study of Bio-Germanium confirm that Bio-Germanium acts as an effective immunostimulant by increasing the cytotoxicity of NK cells and activating immunoglobulin, B cells and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (P<0.05). As we have added newly discovered clinical findings for germanium’s immunostimulation mechanism, we believe Bio-Germanium is a highly promising therapeutic agent and should certainly be further explored for potential development opportunities in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Min Cho
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisuk Chae
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sa Rang Jeong
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jung Moon
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Yeob Shin
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Ho Lee
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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Cho JM, Chae J, Jeong SR, Moon MJ, Ha KC, Kim S, Lee JH. The cholesterol-lowering effect of unripe Rubus coreanus is associated with decreased oxidized LDL and apolipoprotein B levels in subjects with borderline-high cholesterol levels: a randomized controlled trial. Lipids Health Dis 2020; 19:166. [PMID: 32646501 PMCID: PMC7350759 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-020-01338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rubus coreanus (R. coreanus) possesses properties that may decrease cholesterol levels. METHODS The effects of unripe R. coreanus (uRC) consumption on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol levels related to decreased circulating apolipoprotein (Apo) B and oxidized LDL levels were evaluated. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included subjects with borderline-high cholesterol levels (between 200 and 239 mg/dL) who consumed one capsule daily containing 600 mg of freeze-dried uRC extract (n = 39) or the placebo (n = 38). RESULTS After 12 weeks, the uRC group showed reductions of 21.23 ± 4.36 mg/dL in total cholesterol levels (P = 0.007) and 15.61 ± 4.16 mg/dL in LDL cholesterol levels (P = 0.032). In addition, significantly greater reductions in Apo B levels were observed in the uRC group (- 3.48 ± 3.40 mg/dL), but Apo B levels were increased in the placebo group (6.21 ± 2.84 mg/dL; P = 0.032). Furthermore, a remarkably lower oxidized LDL level was detected in the uRC group (57.76 ± 2.07 U/L) than in the placebo group (66.09 ± 3.47 U/L) after 12 weeks of consumption (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS Because of its cholesterol-lowering effect, uRC shows great promise as a therapeutic agent for subjects with borderline-high total blood cholesterol levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03649620 (8/28/2018, retrospectively registered).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Min Cho
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jisuk Chae
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sa Rang Jeong
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Jung Moon
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ki-Chan Ha
- Healthcare Claims & Management Incorporation, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunoh Kim
- B&Tech Co., Ltd., R&D Center, Gwangju, 61239, South Korea.
| | - Jong Ho Lee
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
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Kim MS, Choi DH, Kwon H, Ahn E, Cho HY, Baek MJ, Shin JE, Moon MJ. Procedural and obstetric outcomes after embryo reduction vs fetal reduction in multifetal pregnancy. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019; 53:214-218. [PMID: 29418029 DOI: 10.1002/uog.19024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the obstetric outcome and incidence of procedure-related adverse events after embryo reduction (ER) vs fetal reduction (FR), in multifetal pregnancies undergoing reduction to twins or singletons. METHODS We analyzed retrospectively data from multifetal pregnancies that underwent transvaginal ER (n = 181) at a mean gestational age of 7.6 weeks or transabdominal FR (n = 115) at a mean gestational age of 12.9 weeks between December 2006 and January 2017. FR was performed after a detailed fetal anomaly scan. The two groups were compared with respect to obstetric outcomes, such as incidence of miscarriage, early or late preterm delivery, maternal complications and fetal loss, and procedure-related adverse events, including incidence of subchorionic hematoma and procedure-related fetal loss. RESULTS Compared with pregnancies that underwent ER, the incidence of procedure-related fetal loss was lower in the FR group (7.2% vs 0.9%; P = 0.039; odds ratio (OR), 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.89). Mean gestational age at delivery for twins was 34.2 weeks in the ER group and 35.7 weeks in the FR group (P = 0.014). Compared with the ER group, the FR group had lower miscarriage (8.8% vs 2.6%; P = 0.045; OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08-0.97) and overall fetal loss (13.3% vs 5.2%; P = 0.031; OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.14-0.91) rates. CONCLUSIONS The FR procedure is, overall, a better and safer approach to reducing morbidity and mortality in multifetal pregnancies. Spontaneous demise of one fetus may occur after ER, and FR has the advantage that chorionic villus sampling and ultrasound screening for increased nuchal translucency and anatomical defects can be conducted before the procedure. The ER approach is still reasonable when a patient's religious or other ethical concerns are of primary importance. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - D H Choi
- Fertility Center of CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - H Kwon
- Fertility Center of CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - E Ahn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - H Y Cho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - M J Baek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - J E Shin
- Fertility Center of CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - M J Moon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
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Park MN, Oh SW, Ahn BH, Moon MJ, Kang YS. Synthesis of poly(methyl urethane) acrylate oligomer using 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate for UV curable coating. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2009; 9:1277-1280. [PMID: 19441505 DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2009.c137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The poly(methyl urethane) acrylate oligomer was obtained by the reaction of methyl acrylate oligomer and 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate. Synthesis of poly(methyl urethane) acrylate oligomer was done with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-MEOH), methyl acrylate, 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN, initiator) and dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. Then 2-MEOH was used for functional chain transfer agent. The structure and property of the synthesized oligomers were characterized by FT-IR, FT-NMR, rheometer, and DSC. In this study, by synthetic method including the addition of 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate, thermal behavior of synthesized material was improved more than that reported in the previous study. Poly(methyl urethane) oligomer can be used for UV curable coatings, inks and adhesives. UV curable coating have high resistance against weather, ozone, aging, frictional wear, and heat. Besides they can absorb the shock and resist rust according to the thickness of film. It is used as an adhesive, paint, optical fiber coating agent, and waterproof agent because of these advantages at the present time.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Park
- Department of Chemistry Pukyong National University, Busan 608-737, Korea
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Jeong MJ, Yoo J, Lee SS, Lee KI, Cho A, Kwon BM, Moon MJ, Park YM, Han MY. Increased GTP-binding to dynamin II does not stimulate receptor-mediated endocytosis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 283:136-42. [PMID: 11322780 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.4681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Regarding the molecular mechanism of dynamin in receptor-mediated endocytosis, GTPase activity of dynamin has been thought to have a critical role in endocytic vesicle internalization. However, a recent report suggested that GTP-binding to dynamin itself activates the dynamin to recruit molecular machinery necessary for endocytosis. In this study, to investigate the role of GTP binding to dynamin II, we generated two mutant dynamin II constructs: G38V and K44E. G38V, its GTP binding site might be mainly occupied by GTP caused by reduced GTPase activity, and K44E mutant, its GTP binding site might be vacant, caused by its decreased affinity for GTP and GDP. From the analysis of the ratio of GTP vs GDP bound to dynamin, we confirmed these properties. To test the effect of these mutant dynamins on endocytosis, we performed flow cytometry and confocal immunofluorescence analysis and found that these two mutants have inhibitory effect on transferrin-induced endocytosis. Whereas fluorescent transferrin was completely internalized in wild-type (WT) dynamin II expressing cells, no intracellular accumulation of fluorescent transferrin was found in the cells overexpressing K44E and G38V mutant. Interestingly, the amount of GTP bound to K44E was increased when endocytosis was induced than that bound to WT. The present results suggested that the GTPase activity of dynamin II is required for formation of endocytic vesicle and GTP-binding to dynamin II per se is not sufficient for stimulating endocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Jeong
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Taejon, Yusung, 305-600, Korea
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Malli H, Kuhn-Nentwig L, Imboden H, Moon MJ, Wyler T. Immunocytochemical localization and secretion process of the toxin CSTX-1 in the venom gland of the wandering spider Cupiennius salei (Araneae: Ctenidae). Cell Tissue Res 2000; 299:417-26. [PMID: 10772256 DOI: 10.1007/s004419900141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescein and horseradish peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibodies were used to localize the predominant toxic peptide CSTX-1 in the venom gland of the spider Cupiennius salei. There was no polarity of CSTX-1 expression in repleted glands, whereas the glands of previously milked spiders showed a decreasing immunofluorescent response from the distal to the proximal portion. Detailed investigation revealed a new structure in the venom-secreting epithelium, which is postulated to be an evolutionary adaptation to increasing gland volume. CSTX-1 was found to be synthesized and stored as a fully active toxin within complex units, composed of long interdigitating cells running perpendicular to the muscular sheath and extending into the central lumen of the gland. These venom-producing units were found in all sectors of the gland, including the transitional region between the main gland and the venom duct. The venom is liberated from the venom-producing units into the glandular lumen following the contraction of the surrounding muscle layer. Free nuclei or other cellular fragments, which would have provided evidence for a holocrine secretion process, were not found in the glandular lumen or in the crude venom obtained by electrical stimulation. The fine regulation of the spider's venom injection process is postulated to be the function of the bulbous ampulla, situated in the anterior third of the venom duct.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Malli
- Zoologisches Institut, Universität Bern, Switzerland.
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