Periodontitis is initiated by causative bacteria in the gingival sulcus. However, as the lesion is often deep and out of circulation system and biofilm is frequently formed on the bacteria cluster, use of antibacterial agents has been limited and the invasive method such as curettage is thought as an only treatment. Here we designed non-invasive photodynamic therapy (PDT), with the ointment which leads a photosensitizer deliverable into gingival sulcus. We assessed whether 650 nm light-emitting-diode (LED) penetrates the 3-mm soft tissue and effectively activates a photosensitizer toluidine-blue-O (TBO) through the thickness to remove Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum species. The oral ointment formulation was optimized to efficiently deliver the photosensitizer into gingival sulcus and its efficacy of PDT was evaluated in in vitro and in vivo models. Four weeks of TBO-formulation mediated-PDT treatment significantly attenuated periodontitis-induced alveolar bone loss and inflammatory cytokines production in rats. These results confirm that a 650 nm LED indeed penetrates the gingiva and activates our TBO formulation which is sufficiently delivered to, and retained within, the gingival sulcus; thus, it effectively kills the bacteria that reside around the gingival sulcus. Collectively, TBO-mediated PDT using LED irradiation has potential as a safe adjunctive procedure for periodontitis treatment.

We investigated whether β-adrenergic antagonists attenuates dietary fat absorption through the regulation of pancreatic lipase (PNLIP) expression in pancreatic acinar cells in the context of high fat diet feeding. Male six-week-old C57BL/6 mice were assigned into an ad libitum fed control diet (CON) and a high fat diet (HIGH). Within each diet group, subgroups of mice were treated with vehicle (VEH) or propranolol, a β-adrenergic antagonist (BB). Over 12 weeks, body weight gain observed in HIGHVEH was mitigated in HIGHBB (+103% vs. +72%). Increase in fecal fat amount observed in HIGHVEH was further increased in HIGHBB. Increase in PNLIP expressions observed in HIGHVEH pancreatic tissues was abolished in HIGHBB. PNLIP expression in mouse primary pancreatic acinar cells and 266-6 cell lines increased with isoproterenol treatment, which was blocked by propranolol. Isoproterenol increased PNLIP expression in a cAMP/protein kinase A/ cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB)-dependent manner. CREB directly bound to the CRE on the mouse PNLIP promoter and transactivated PNLIP expression. These results suggest that sympathetic activation increases dietary fat absorption through the upregulation of PNLIP expression and that a β-adrenergic antagonist attenuates obesity development partly through the downregulation of PNLIP expression and inhibition of dietary fat absorption in the context of high fat diet feeding.

Cattle manure is a good candidate as a solid fuel. But its heat value is relatively low. Urban waste, such as leaves, coffee sludge, and fruit skin, are being produced increasingly and they require cost and labor for collection and processing. This study evaluated ways to improve the lower heat value of cattle manure-based solid fuel by utilizing urban waste. Among the many type of urban waste, coffee sludge, fallen leaves, and tangerine skin were chosen. Various samples were prepared by mixing cattle manure and urban waste at a ratio of 5:5, and their heating value was analyzed at the Korea Chemical Convergence Research Institute. The results demonstrated that all samples had a heating value higher than 3,000 kcal/kg. Therefore, a mixture of urban waste and cattle manure can be a new renewable energy resource.

When livestock manure is processed into solid fuel, it can have huge benefits. This process not only provides a new energy source but helps initiate the recycling process. However, one large hurdle to the conversion of livestock manure into renewable energy is the generation of environmentally toxic and unpleasant odorous gas from fermentation of livestock manure. In this study, we developed an optimized odor reduction system to reduce odors down to environmentally acceptable level. The odor reduction system is operated via serial steps, including chemical treatment using alkali solutions, photooxidation treatment using UV and ozone, and plasma treatment before releasing the gas into air. At each reduction step, odor gas was collected and analyzed by Ewha Environment Co., Ltd, a certified gas analysis institute. The results demonstrate that the concentrations of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, and methylmercaptan, which are the main causes of odor, were reduced to lower levels than acceptable values. Dimethyl disulfide, trimethylamine, n-butyric acid, n-valeric acid, and isovaleric acid were not detected.