Skin is the soft outer covering of vertebrates that provides protection from pathogenic infection, physical damage, or UV irradiation, and controls body temperature and water content. In this study, we examined the effects of oral intake of kimchi-derived Lactobacillus plantarum K8 lysates on skin moisturizing. In an in vitro study, we observed that the hyaluronic acid content increased in HaCaT cells treated with L. plantarum K8 lysates. Oral administration of L. plantarum K8 lysates effectively attenuated the horny layer formation and decreased epidermal thickening in DNCB-treated SKH-1 hairless mice skin. The damage to barrier function was reduced after 8 weeks of oral administration of L. plantarum K8 lysates as compared with that in the atopic dermatitis mice. For the test with volunteers, we manufactured experimental candy containing 2.1% L. plantarum K8 lysates, while control candy did not contain bacterial lysate. A significant increase in hydration in the experimental candy-administered group as compared with the control candy-administered group was observed on the face after 4 and 8 weeks, and on the forearm after 4 weeks. Decreases in horny layer thickness and TEWL value were observed on the face and forearm of the experimental group. Together, the in vitro cell line and in vivo mouse studies revealed that L. plantarum K8 lysates have a moisturizing effect. A clinical research study with healthy volunteers also showed an improvement in barrier repair and function when volunteers took L. plantarum K8 lysates-containing candy. Thus, our results suggest that L. plantarum K8 lysates may help to improve skin barrier function.

Based on the findings from previous studies scrutinizing side effects of different types of IGB offered on the market, it has been concluded that nausea and vomiting are very common side effects post gastric balloon placement.

The present study was undertaken to learn the outcome of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) in their only hearing ear. Timing to conduct a cochlear implantation was also determined in those who did not recover the hearing. The study group comprised 25 patients who confronted ISSNHL in their only hearing ear. A total of 192 patients, who had ISSNHL in one ear and had normal contralateral ear, served as the control. Demographically there were no significant differences between the groups. The recovery rate was similar between the groups: 64.0% in the experimental and 62.5% in the control group. The duration until the recovery of ISSNHL in the only hearing ear was 5-90 days (average 17.6 days). In the experimental group, 8 patients did not recover from ISSNHL, and underwent cochlear implantation in 6 with satisfactory results. These results suggest that the same treatment is applicable for patients with ISSNHL regardless of whether their contralateral ear is deaf or normal. For those who do not recover from ISSNHL in their only hearing ear, culminating in bilateral deafness, we may consider further definitive treatment including cochlear implantation as early as 3 months after initiating the treatment of ISSNHL.

A soybean cultivar for tofu, 'Saedanbaek', was developed from the cross between 'MD87L' with high protein content and 'SS99237 (Pokwangkong/Suwon193)' with good seed performance and high yield by National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) in 2010. 'SS99237-45-2-3-1' was selected by pedigree selection and designated as the name of 'Milyang 192'. It was prominent and had good result from regional adaptation yield trials (RYT) for three years from 2008 to 2010 and released as the name of 'Saedanbaek'. It has a determinate growth habit, white flower, grey pubescence, yellow seed coat, spherical seed shape and medium seed (20.7 grams per 100 seeds). 'Saedanbaek' has high content in protein (48.2%), and shows excellent result for making tofu. 'Saedanbaek' was resistant to bacterial pustule and moderately resistant to soybean mosaic virus, the major soybean diseases in Korea. The average yield of 'Saedanbaek' was 2.28 ton per hectare in the regional yield trials carried out for three years from 2008 to 2010.

No abstract