• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1576-1581
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• 2007

Dopamine reward pathway projecting from ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens is well known as playing an important role in alcohol dependence. It is supposed that this dopamine pathway is modulated by $5-HT_3$ nervous system, and it was reported that ondansetron (OND), $5-HT_3$ receptor antagonist, reduced drinking amount and increased abstinence rate in alcohol-dependent patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combination of OND and naltrexone (NTX), non-specific opioid receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice. In 40 C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, while OND 0.01 mg/kg, or NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated respectively, or OND 0.01 mg/kg and NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated simultaneously for ten days, medication effects on 2-hr alcohol, 22-hr water, 24-hr food intake and body weight were studied. When vehicle group was compared with 3 medication groups respectively, using a repeated measure ANOVA, NTX alone and vehicle groups showed a significant medication by time interaction (p=0.042) in 2-hr alcohol intake, but in the other 2 groups, OND and NTX combination group and OND alone group, there was no significant interaction with vehicle group in 2-hr alcohol intake. From these results, it is suggested that there is no effect on alcohol intake in mice treating with OND, and naltrexone#s suppression effect on alcohol intake in mice is attenuated when treating with OND and NTX simultaneously. It is supposed that a further study looking at the interactions of serotonin, dopamine and opioid nerves systems will be needed.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.359-372
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• 2013

Objectives The object of this study was to observe the effects of Hyeongbangjihwhang-tang (HB; Soyangin prescription) on the 5/6 NTX induced CRF rats. Methods Each of Hyeongbangjihwhang-tang aqueous extracts 200mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 35 days from 4 weeks after 5/6 NTX surgery. Four groups, each of 8 rats per group were used in this study, were sham group, CRF group, ${\alpha}$-Tocoperol group and HB group. Changes on the left remnant kidney weights, serum BUN, creatinine levels, caspase-3, PARP immunoreactivities were observed to nephroprotective effects, and relative immunomodulatory effects were monitored based on the changes of lymphatic organ weights and splenic cytokine contents. In addition, the changes on the kidney MDA, GSH contents and SOD, CAT activities were also calculated for antioxidant effects, and the effects on the CRF related cachexia were demonstrated based on the changes of body and epididymal fat pad weights, serum TG, TC, LDL and HDL levels. Results and Conclusions 1) HB was significantly decreased the left remnant kidney weights, serum BUN, creatinine levels and caspase-3, PARP immunoreactivities. 2) HB was significantly increased lymphatic organ weights and splenic cytokine contents. 3) HB was significantly increased body and epididymal fat pad weights, and was significantly decreased serum TG, TC, LDL and HDL levels. 4) HB was significantly decreased MDA contents, and was significantly increased GSH contents and SOD, CAT activities. The results obtained in this study suggest that HB significantly retarded immunosuppressions and cachexia related to the 5/6 NTX induced CRF through modulations of oxidative defense systems. Especially HB showed the highest favorable effects more than those of ${\alpha}$-tocoperol.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are expected to improve menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis in women. However, their efficacy is still inconclusive, and there was limited data for postmenopausal women in South Korea. We examined the effects of soy isoflavones on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, double-blind study design was used. Eighty-seven participants who had undergone natural menopause were randomly administered either 70 mg/day isoflavones (n = 43) or placebo (n = 41) for 12 weeks. We assessed the Kupperman index for climacteric symptoms and the menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire for quality of the life. Biomarkers of bone metabolism were also measured in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), N- and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type Ι collagen (NTx, CTx), and urine-deoxypyridinolin (u-DPD). RESULTS: Scores of the Kupperman index were decreased in both the isoflavones group ($-7.0{\pm}15.8$, P = 0.0074) and placebo group ($-6.3{\pm}14.6$, P = 0.0064) during the intervention, but no significant difference was noted between the groups. Regarding the bone formation markers, the level of serum BALP increased by $6.3{\pm}4.1%$ (P = 0.004) and OC increased by $9.3{\pm}6.2%$ (P < 0.001), meanwhile those of the placebo were not changed. For the bone resorption markers, NTx, CTx, and u-DPD were not significantly different in either group. MENQOL was significant decreased in the isoflavone group ($-0.6{\pm}0.5$) and placebo group ($-0.6{\pm}0.4$), with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.0228). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 70 mg isoflavones supplement has beneficial effects on bone formation markers; however, it showed no benefit compared to the placebo on climacteric symptoms or quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.528-536
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a weekly teriparatide on the change in vertebral compression ratio, back pain, and vertebral fracture healing in osteoporosis patients with vertebral compression fractured induced by low energy trauma. Materials and Methods: From January 2016 to December 2017, 57 patients with severe osteoporotic vertebral fractures with a T score of -3.5 or less were included in this study. The changes in the vertebral compression ratio, visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) for at least 6 months were examined. The morphology of bone marrow edema and the presence of intervertebral cleft, osteocalcin, and N-terminal telopeptide (NTx) were also investigated. Results: The mean compression ratio was 20% in the experimental group (teripratide group) at 3 months, and 38% in the control group. A significant difference in the compression ratio of the vertebral body over time was observed (p<0.05; t-test). A comparison of the compression ratio of the vertebral body with the follow-up duration in each group showed no significant increase in the, compression (p=0.063) in the experimental group and a significant increase in the control group (p<0.05). The mean time to reach the plateau of the compression rate was one month in the experimental group and three months in the control group. The VAS score in the experimental and control group was 0.39 and 1.07 points, respectively. The ODI score in the experimental and control group was 33.72 and 39.52, respectively. At the last follow-up radiographs, there were no cases with an intervertebral cleft (0%) in the experimental group and 1 case (2.2%) in the control group. A significant difference in the osteocalcin level was observed between the injury and 6 months after the injury (p=0.003). In addition, there was no significant difference in the NTx level between the injury and 6 months after injury (p=0.960). Conclusion: In vertebral compression fractures patients with severe osteoporosis, a weekly teriparatide can promote the union of fractures, prevent further collapse of the vertebral body, and reduce the back pain faster.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.80-89
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• 2016

The effects of Cudrania tricuspidata (CT) extract on markers of osteoporosis were examined in ovariectomized rats. We classified 26 rats into five groups and provided a pellet chow diet and tap water throughout the 27-wk experimental period. During the last 15 wk, we added oral injections to each group as follows: sham-operated (SHAM, n=4) and ovariectomized-control (OVX, n=5) with distilled water, alendronate with 10 mg/kg/d of alendronate sodium (ALEN, n=5), CT (CT100, n=6) with 100 mg/kg/d of CT, and CT (CT300, n=6) with 300 mg/kg/d of CT. After the experimental period, blood, urine, and micro-CT images were assessed. The CT100 and OVX groups did not show any significant differences in urinary n-terminal telopeptide (NTx) (p<0.05 ), but with increases in CT concentration, the NTx level was slightly reduced. Serum osteocalcin was significantly higher in the CT groups than in all other groups (p<0.05 ). Notably, the serum calcium levels of all groups were within the normal range, but urinary calcium levels in the CT groups were significantly lower than the OVX group (p<0.05 ). In addition, the CT groups exhibited higher trabecular BMD than the OVX groups while showing similar BMD to the ALEN group (p<0.05 ). The Tb.Th of the ALEN group was lower than all other groups. Based on the overall analysis of results, CT prevented bone loss by inhibiting bone resorption and enhancing bone formation. Although alendronate showed a similar effect in preventing bone loss, it did so by solely inhibiting bone resorption, and its long-term use reportedly causes paradoxical effects such as hip fractures. Thus, for osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy, we conclude that CT extract is an effective natural treatment without severe side effects.