Efficacy and Safety of Lactobacillus Plantarum C29-Fermented Soybean (DW2009) in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 12-Week, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Early intervention using dietary supplements may be effective in alleviating cognitive impairment among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study investigated the efficacy and safety of Lactobacillus plantarum C29-fermented soybean (DW2009) as a nutritional supplement for cognitive enhancement. One hundred individuals with MCI were randomly assigned to take DW2009 (800 mg/day, n = 50) or placebo (800 mg/day, n = 50) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was change in the composite score of cognitive functions related to memory and attention, measured by computerized neurocognitive function tests. Associations between changes in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and cognitive performance for each treatment group were evaluated. Compared to the placebo group, the DW2009 group showed greater improvements in the combined cognitive functions (z = 2.36, p for interaction = 0.02), especially in the attention domain (z = 2.34, p for interaction = 0.02). Cognitive improvement was associated with increased serum BDNF levels after consumption of DW2009 (t = 2.83, p = 0.007). The results of this clinical trial suggest that DW2009 can be safely administered to enhance cognitive function in individuals with MCI. Increased serum BDNF levels after administering DW2009 may provide preliminary insight into the underlying effects of cognitive improvement, which suggests the importance of the gut-brain axis in ameliorating cognitive deficits in MCI.

Justicia procumbens Extract (DW2008) Selectively Suppresses Th2 Cytokines in Splenocytes and Ameliorates Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Asthma.

DW2008 is an anhydrous ethanol extract of Justicia procumbens produced by Dong-Wha Pharmaceutical, Inc., Co. as a candidate anti-asthmatic drug. In this study, DW2008 selectively reduced T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in mouse splenocytes and ameliorated ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation by downregulating pulmonary infiltration of differential inflammatory cells and Th2 cytokines more than a decoction or ethanol extract of J. procumbens did in a mouse asthma model. DW2008 also significantly inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness and reduced the thickness of the airway epithelium. HPLC analysis showed that the major peaks (justicidin A and B) of DW2008 were higher than those of the other extracts. Justicidin A and B significantly suppressed Th2 cytokine levels in mouse spleen cells and exhibited a protective effect in ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation. Our findings indicate that DW2008 effectively inhibits allergic airway inflammatory reactions and airway hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of asthma, suggesting its potential as an anti-asthmatic agent.

Modified harvest system for enhancing Factor VIII yield in alternating tangential flow perfusion culture.

This study describes the development and experimental verification of a modified harvest system to enhance Factor VIII (FVIII) yield in an alternating tangential flow (ATF) perfusion culture. The main innovation of the modified harvest system is the use of check and pinch valves, eliminating the need of a peristaltic pump for harvest. The system was applied to perfusion cultures of Chinese hamster ovary cells, which co-express both recombinant human FVIII (rhFVIII) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). The modified harvest system showed comparable cell growth with the conventional harvest system using a peristaltic pump. The perfusion rate was successfully controlled using the system. In addition, the modified harvest system achieved an approximately 13.6-fold increase in the final concentration yield of FVIII activity and a 1.47-fold increase in the production yield of FVIII activity compared with a peristaltic pump. Enhancement of the yield of FVIII activity resulted from the reduction of FVIII antigen ( FVIII: Ag) retention. As a result of transmembrane pressure (TMP) measurement, the reduction of the retained FVIII: Ag was due to the increased TMP, which was caused by the characteristic function of a check valve, compared with a peristaltic harvest system. The modified harvest system developed in this study could be useful to enhance the production yield of other recombinant proteins in ATF perfusion culture.

The effects of a single intravenous injection of novel activin A/BMP-2 (AB204) on toxicity and the respiratory and central nervous systems.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single intravenous injection of a novel osteoinductive material, activin A/BMP-2 (AB204), to rodents on toxicity and their respiratory functions and central nervous system (CNS). A single intravenous injection of AB204 was given to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats in doses of 0, 0.625, 2.5 and 10 mg/kg to observe the mortality rate, the general symptoms for 14 days. The experimental groups were also given 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg of AB204, respectively, and the respiration rate, the tidal volume and the minute volume were measured for 240 min. The experimental groups of imprinting control region (ICR) mice were given a single intravenous injection of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg of AB204, respectively. Their body temperature was taken and general behaviors were observed to evaluate the effect of AB204 on the CNS for 240 min. The study on toxicity of a single intravenous injection found no death or abnormal symptoms, abnormal findings from autopsy, or abnormal body weight gain or loss in all the experimental groups. No abnormal variation associated with the test substance was observed in the respiration rate, the tidal volume, the minute volume, body temperature or the general behaviors. On the basis of these results, the approximate lethal dose of AB204 for a single intravenous injection exceeds 10 mg/kg for SD rats and a single intravenous injection of ≤0.8 mg/kg AB204 has no effect on their respiratory system for SD rat and no effect on their CNS for ICR mice.

Effect of transmembrane pressure on Factor VIII yield in ATF perfusion culture for the production of recombinant human Factor VIII co-expressed with von Willebrand factor.

In this study, we evaluated three cell retention devices, an alternating tangential flow (ATF) system, a spin-filter, and a Centritech Lab III centrifuge, for the production of recombinant human Factor VIII co-expressed with von Willebrand factor. From the results, it was found that the FVIII activity in bioreactor was significantly higher in the ATF perfusion culture than two other perfusion cultures. Moreover, the FVIII activity yield was unexpectedly low in the ATF perfusion culture. We have, therefore, studied the reasons for this low FVIII activity yield. It was revealed that the inactivation and the surface adsorption of FVIII onto the harvest bag were not the main reasons for the low yield in the ATF perfusion culture. The FVIII activity yield was not increased by the use of a hollow fiber filter with 0.5 µm pore size instead of 0.2 µm pore size. Additionally, the retention of FVIII molecules by the hollow fiber filter was a dominant factor in the low FVIII activity yield in the ATF perfusion culture. We demonstrated that FVIII yield was significantly improved by controlling transmembrane pressure (TMP) across the hollow fiber filter membrane. Taken together, these results suggest that TMP control could be an efficient method for the enhancement of FVIII yield in an ATF perfusion culture.

The toxicological evaluation of repetitive 2- and 4-week intravenous injection of Activin A/BMP-2 chimera (AB204) into rats.

The subchronic (28-days) toxicity of an Activin A/BMP-2 chimera (AB204) was assessed in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats received repetitive intravenous injection of AB204 in doses of 0, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg for two weeks and in doses of 0, 0.08, 0.16 and 0.32 mg/kg/day for four weeks. No animal was dead and no change caused by the AB204 was observed in general symptoms, weight variation, and food and water intake as well as blood test and autopsy findings. In conclusion, the no observed adverse effects level (NOAEL) of the AB204 on rats was determined to be 0.32 mg/kg/day.

Preparation and characterization of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres for controlled release of human growth hormone.

The purpose of this research was to assess the physicochemical properties of a controlled release formulation of recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) composite microspheres. rHGH was loaded in poly(acryloyl hydroxyethyl) starch (acHES) microparticles, and then the protein-containing microparticles were encapsulated in the PLGA matrix by a solvent extraction/evaporation method. rHGH-loaded PLGA microspheres were also prepared using mannitol without the starch hydrogel microparticle microspheres for comparison. The detection of secondary structure changes in protein was investigated by using a Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) technique. The composite microspheres were spherical in shape (44.6 +/- 2.47 microm), and the PLGA-mannitol microspheres were 39.7 +/- 2.50 microm. Drug-loading efficiency varied from 93.2% to 104%. The composite microspheres showed higher overall drug release than the PLGA/mannitol microspheres. FTIR analyses indicated good stability and structural integrity of HGH localized in the microspheres. The PLGA-acHES composite microsphere system could be useful for the controlled delivery of protein drugs.