• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2004

Background : Steroid-induced osteoporosis(SIO) is one of the serious complications of long-term steroid therapy, especially in growing children. Recently bisphosphonates have been used to treat or prevent SIO in adult, which is rare in children with glomerular diseases. We studied the effect of pamidronate on SIO using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Methods : Forty four children receiving moderate-to-high doses of steroids were enrolled. They had no history of bone, liver, or endocrine disease. Patients were stratified by their baseline bone mineral density(BMD) findings. All patients received corticosteroids for 3 month and oral calcium supplementation(500 mg/day) daily. Among them, 28 patients were treated with placebo and 16 were treated with pamidronate(125 mg) for 3 months. Blood chemistry and bone mineral density(BMD) were measured at baseline, and 3months. In addition, parathyroid hormone(PTH), serum osteocalcin, and urinary dipyridinoline levels were evaluated. Results : In overall population, the mean lumbar spine BMD decreased from $0.754{\pm}0.211(g/cm^2)$ to $0.728{\pm}0.208(g/cm^2)$ in the placebo group(P<0.05) and increased from $0.652{\pm}0.194(g/cm^2)$ to $0.658{\pm}0.226(g/cm^2)$ in the pamidronate group(P>0.05). Conclusion : Pamidronate appears to be effective in preventing SIO in children with glomerular diseases requiring long-term steroids therapy. Further careful observation and follow-up might be needed for children receiving bisphosphonates such as pamidronate.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.620-626
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of taro powder on body weight and lipid metabolism in high fat and cholesterol fed mice. C57BL6 mice were divided into four groups; normal (normal) diet group, a high fat and cholesterol (HF) diet group, and high fat and cholesterol diet groups with 20% taro powder (HF-taro 20%) and 30% taro powder (HF-taro 30%). After 8 weeks, body weight in the HF group increased to 175% of the normal group, while those of HF-taro 20% and HF-taro 30% group decreased by 12.5 and 14% compared to the HF group. The HF-taro 20% and HF-taro 30% groups had significantly reduced epididymal adipose tissue weight. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the HF group than those in the normal group, while their amounts were significantly diminished in the HF- taro 20% and HF- taro 30% groups. Furthermore, the leptin and insulin concentrations in blood plasma decreased significantly in the HF-taro 20% and HF-taro 30% groups. Accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver was significantly inhibited in the HF- taro 20% and HF-taro 30% groups through liver weights, a blood analysis, and histological findings. These results suggest that taro powder may be an effective material for anti-obesity by reducing plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of selenium feeding and supplementation in diet on the concentration of selenium in blood and velvet antler of spotted deer(Sika deer). Three spotted deer were fed high selenium concentration(6mg/kg DM). Absorption and retention rates of selenium were examined by evaluating selenium concentrations in feces and urine. Stress-related hormones and serum biochemical parameters in blood were also evaluated for the purpose of detecting any negative effect by the high level of selenium feeding. Eight spotted deers were randomly assigned to two groups and were fed with one of two diets for 20 days, which were with or without the addition of 6mg selenium /kg diet. Concentration of selenium in velvet antler was evaluated. Selenium concentration in blood of spotted deer fed high level selenium for 30 days was significantly increased(p<0.05), retention rate of selenium reached 59.15%. No differences in level of stress-related hormone and biochemical parameters(NEFA, ALT, AST) in blood were observed by feeding high level selenium. The diet with selenium significantly increased concentrations of selenium in top(0.11 vs 0.45ppm; p<0.001), middle(0.08 vs 0.21ppm; p<0.01) and basepart(0.08 vs 0.15ppm; p<0.05) of velvet antler.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2004

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess changes of the attitudes and opinions about disclosure of cancer diagnosis to patients. Methods: We analyzed the attitudes and opinions of in-patients with metastatic cancer, their families, physicians, nurses, medical students, nursing students. Three questionnaires were used for in-patients, families, and surroundings in hospital. Data was collected in the St. Mary hospital for 3 months from October, 2002. We investigated the preference of disclosure, the reason the patients should be informed of disclosure, when, how and who to tell the cancer diagnosis to patients. 242 persons participated in these questionnaires (50 in-patients, 50 their families, 51 physicians and nurses, 41 medical students, 50 nursing students). Only 34 in-patients with metastatic cancer were enrolled, and so 16 in-patients with lymphoma were added. All in-patients were undergoing anticancer chemotherapy. Results: 89.3% of the participants wanted to be told about disclosure of cancer and terminal illness (in-patients 98.0%, their families 88.0%, physicians and nurses 90.2%, medical students 73.2%, nursing students 94.0%, in-patients with metastatic cancer 97.1%). 79.8% of the respondents hoped that the moment to tell the truth was immediately when the disease was diagnosed (in-patients 94.0%, their families 80.0%, physicians and nurses 68.6%, medical students 68.3%, nursing students 86.0%). 64.4% of all prefered to be told the truth once for alt including patients' diagnosis, present status and prognosis (in-patients 81.6%, their families 66.0%, physicians and nurses 56.0%, medical students 48.8%, nursing students 70.0%). Most indicated the first reason to be told the truth was the possibility to participate in treatment design. 86.4% responded that physicians were the proper persons to disclose the diagnosis. Conclusion: Not only in-patients, families but also physicians, nurses, medical students and nursing students all preferred the disclosure of cancer diagnosis. This preference was increased compared with the previous papers. The first reason to be told the truth was the possibility to participate in treatment design. Most of the participants wanted to be told the truth once for all.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.790-800
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• 2017

As men get older, total testosterone levels decline gradually, and concentrations of free and bioavailable testosterone decline sharply with each decade beyond their 30s. Andropause or testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is defined as a decrease in sexual satisfaction or decline in general well-being accompanied by low levels of testosterone in older men. This male climacteric is characterized by nervousness, reduced potency, decreased libido, irritability, fatigue, depression, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and hot flushes. Cirsium japonicum (CJ) is used as a traditional medicine for hemorrhage, blood congestion, and inflammation in Korea. However, there is no report on the efficacy of CJ treatment for TDS. In this study, we observed the mitigating effect of CJ extract (CE) and fermented CJ extract (FCE) on symptoms of TDS. In elderly male rats, total and testosterone levels, hind limbs muscles, forced swimming time, and total and motile sperm counts significantly increased after daily intake of CE and FCE for 6 weeks. In contrast, sex hormone binding globulin, retroperitoneal fat, total serum cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in CE and FCE groups. However, there was no difference in prostate specific antigen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels among all groups, which means CE and FCE did not have putative adverse effects. In a cell experiment, we also observed that CE and FCE enhanced expression of genes related to testosterone biosynthesis but reduced genes involved in testosterone conversion. On the whole, these positive effects on TDS were greater in FCE compared to CE. Thus, these results suggest the potential of FCE as a promising natural product for recovering testosterone levels and alleviating TDS.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2003

Physiological responses (cortisol, glucose, lactic acid, osmolality and hematology) of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) to stressors associated with confinement and subsequent transport were investigated. Specimens were subjected to confinement stress for 3 h, prior to transport for 15 h. Two different size cohorts of the fish, large (839.6$\pm$162.7 g) and small (98.2$\pm$14.8 g), were used. Experimental cohorts of the fish were divided into 3 groups for blood sampling: group A, sampled at the beginning of confinement and 3 h before transport (BT, -3 h), after confinement and at the beginning of transport (BT, 0 h), 3 h after transport had begun (AT, 3 h), and after 15 h transport (AT, 15 h); group B, sampled at BT, 0 h, at AT, 3 h, and at AT, 15 h; and, group C, sampled at AT, 3 h, and at AT, 15 h. In the cohort of large fish, plasma cortisol levels of the A group were increased over time, from 4.2 ng/ml (BT,-3 h), to 92.0 ng/ml (BT, 0 h), 118.5 ng/ml (AT, 3 h) and 105.5 ng/ml (AT, 15 h). A similar pattern was evident in the B group, in which cortisol increased from 47.5 ng/ml (BT, 0 h) to 53.5 ng/ml (AT, 15 h); and, for the C group, in which cortisol increased from 43.5 ng/ml (AT, 3 h) to 71.5 ng/ml (AT, 15 h). Glucose levels of the A group also were significantly increased, from 39.5 mg/dl (BT,-3 h), to 121.0 mg/dl (BT, 0 h),298.0 mg/dl (AT, 3 h) and 260.5 mg/dl (AT, 15 h). Lactic acid levels increased markedly during transport, from less than 1 mmol/L (BT, 0 h) to 12.0 mmol/L (AT, 15 h). Plasma osmolality increased from 405.5 mOsm/kg (BT, -3 h, for group A) to values near 500 mOsM/kg subsequent to confinement and transport. In the small-size cohort, plasma cortisol, glucose, lactic acid and osmolality levels showed similar but less pronounced trends than those observed for the large-size cohort. This research provides baseline data on cortisol, glucose, lactic acid, osmolality and hematological responses to confinement and transport, which should be useful to aquaculturists working with olive flounder and to scientists studying other flatfish species.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.939-948
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• 2008

The effects of goat's beard (Aruncus dioicus var ramtschaticus Hara) ethanol extracts (AD) on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic symptoms and oxidative stress in rats were assessed. Experimental plots were divided into normal controls (NC), diabetes controls (DM), diet with 0.3% AD after diabetes induction (SA), and diet with 0.6% AD after diabetes induction (SB), then fed for 5 weeks. In the SA and SB groups as compared with the DM group, diabetic symptoms including weight loss, increase in feed and water intake, and enlargement of the liver and kidney were improved. The levels of blood glucose and serum fructosamine were reduced by $17.9{\sim}27.2%$ and $25.6{\sim}32.6%$, respectively. The activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in the serum were reduced by $25.6{\sim}30.3$, $42.37{\sim}55.51$, $26.85{\sim}30.44$ and $37.29{\sim}39.11%$, respectively, whereas the level of HDL-cholesterol was increased by $37.29{\sim}39.11%$. Hepatic total (T) and O type (O) activities of xanthine oxidoreductase, O/T ratio(%) and level of lipid peroxide were significantly decreased, while the level of glutathione was increased, and also the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase were increased by $56.84{\sim}94.90%$ and $57.14{\sim}68.92%$, respectively. In the above results, it was noted that AD has an antidiabetic effect which alleviated hyperglycemia and the AD reduced and/or prevented the tissue damage caused by diabetes yia the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating systems concurrent with an increase in ROS scavenging.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.169-180
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• 2020

This study examined the effects of a probiotic complex (PC) containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, organ weight, immune parameters, fecal microbial count, and noxious odor in broiler chicks. A total of 216 birds (4-day-old) were fed a basal diet (CON) and a diet supplemented with 0.25% (PC1) and 0.5% (PC2) of PC until 35 days of age. No difference in body weight, feed intake, and FCR was observed among the groups. The intestinal mucosal weight of the PC1 group was greater than that of the CON group without affecting weights of the other organs. Intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels in the PC2 group increased significantly (P<0.05) compared with that in the CON group. The PC2 group also had a strong tendency for elevated blood sIgA levels. Dietary PC did not affect the level of interleukin-1β in the blood and mucosal tissues or alter maltase, sucrase, and leucine aminopeptidase activities in the intestinal mucosa. The PC2 group had higher colony-forming units (cfu) for L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae, but lower cfu for E. coli than those in the CON group. Compared to the CON diet, the PC2 diet resulted in a decreased H₂S concentration and a tendency toward decreased CH₃SH concentration. In conclusion, a 0.5% PC diet showed increased sIgA and desirable microbial population, and decreased noxious odor in the feces, suggesting that PC could be applied as an environmentally friendly feed additive in broiler chicks.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.72-76
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• 2006

A 1-year-old, female English cocker spaniel (ECS) dog was presented with 3-month history of vomiting and retaking of the vomitus, and chronic weight loss. The client had noticed mild abdominal distension 10 days before. The dog was diagnosed as chronic hepatitis with hepatic cirrhosis based on complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry profiles, radiography, ascites assessment, bile acid evaluation, and liver biopsy through exploratory laparotomy and necropsy. CBC and serum chemistry profiles revealed mild anemia, slightly elevated hepatic enzymes (ALT and AST), increased creatinine kinase (CK), hyperammonemia, and hypoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia. Ascites was transudate according to analysis of components. Bile acid assessment (fasting; $174.4{\mu}mol/L$ and postprandial; $198.4{\mu}mol/L$) showed strongly suspected hepatic insufficiency. On radiological findings, ascites was evident. Atrophied liver (especially left side lobes) and distended mesenteric vasculatures were observed by exploratory laparotomy. Histopathological examination of marginal lesion of left lateral lobe of liver by biopsy revealed the necrosis of hepatic cells, dilation of sinusoids, infiltration of neutrophils in sinusoids, and vacuolation of hepatic cytoplasm. The patient had been managed with careful low protein diet and specific supportive therapy (ursodeoxycholic acid, prednisolone, vitamine E, and interferon). Vomiting and ascites disappeared with medical management. The dog was monitored periodically by CBC, serum chemistry and radiographic examination. The dog survived more 18 months with medical therapy. After spontaneous death, necropsy and histopathologic examination were performed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2014

The present study was designed to explore the antioxidant effect of Bamboo powder and its immunoreactivity in pigs. We investigated the functional properties of Bamboo extracts by means of measuring the contents of total polyphenols and flavonoid as well as determining ABST, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and anticancer activity. The total phenolic compound and flavonoids contents of Bamboo extracts were 171.25 mg/g and 127.5 mg/g, respectively. The DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, ABST radical scavenging activity of Bamboo extracts were 17.3%, 12.5% and 21.5%, respectively. Evidenced by MTT and cell cycle assay, Bamboo dose-dependently inhibited the cell proliferation and induced G0/G1-phase arrest in CHO cells at concentrations of 100, 250, and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ Bamboo extracts. More than 80% of apoptotic cells were observed by staining with annexin V in 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ Bamboo-treated CHO cells, indicating that Bamboo had potent anticancer activities. Next, to investigate the effect of Bamboo on cytokine, immunoglobulin concentration, and blood compositions, flatting pigs were fed with Bamboo powder for 38 days. Flatting pigs were divided into 4 groups; basal diet (control), basal diet supplemented with 1% Bamboo powder (T1), 2% Bamboo powder (T2), and 3% Bamboo powder (T3). The level of hemoglobin increased in the all Bamboo-fed groups compared with the normal control group. In particular, platelet levels in the all Bamboo-treated groups increased by approximately 90% compared with the levels from pig on a normal control. Serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA) in the pigs fed Bamboo powder were modestly increased, and the interferon-${\gamma}$ level also was strongly increased in 2% or 3% Bamboo-fed groups compared with the levels in control groups. Together, these results demonstrated that Bamboo extracts had an effective capacity of scavenging for ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radicals and showed correlation with potent phenol and flavonoid contents, thus suggesting its antioxidant potential. Moreover, administration of Bamboo in 2~3% improved blood parameters and platelets, and especially immunity-related ones such as IgG, IgA, and interferon-${\gamma}$, leading to be potential feed additives in flatting pigs.