• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.195-203
• /
• 2004

4-Tert-Octylphenol (OP) is a surfactant additive widely used in the manufacture of a variety of detergents and plastic products. OP can disrupt endocrine function in humans and animals. This study was carried out to obtain toxicokinetic parameters of OP in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male rats were administered with OP by single oral application of 200 mg/kg body weight. Blood, urine and tissues samples were taken at several time intervals after administration. Analysis of samples for OP was performed by column-switching high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, we exam-ined tissue distribution and accumulation of OP after single oral application of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, single intravenous injection of 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg or daily application of 50 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. After single oral administration of 200 mg/kg, Cmax of 213 $\pm$ 123 ng/ml was reached within the first 1.3 hr (Tmax) in the plasma. AUC was calculated for 1,333$\pm$484 ngㆍhr/ml. The final elimination half-life of plasma was longer than that of urine, but urinary clearance was lower than oral. A very small fraction of OP (Fe < 0.0017%) was excreted in urine within 24 hr. These results indicated that the major excretion route of OP was not urine. The mean maximal tissue distribution of OP was obserbed at 6 hr after treatment and slowly decreased time-dependently. High OP concentrations were detected in fat at 24 hr. The OP in fat was slowly released with longer elimination half-life and lower clearance than that of other tissues. OP was not accumulated in the liver following single oral application but 14-day oral treatments resulted in two-fold accumulation. It was probably due to the saturation of detoxification pathways. On the other hand, the mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 isoforms except CYP2C11 was not affected by OP at any dose. The expression of CYP2C11 mRNA decreased in a dose-dependent manner. This result suggests that OP changes expression of the male-specific cytochrome P450 isoforms in rat liver, and these changes are closely related to the toxic and estrogenic effect of OP.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.295-304
• /
• 2017

Opisthorchis viverrini infection induces chronic inflammation, and a minor proportion of infected individuals develop advanced periductal fibrosis (APF) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Inflammatory cytokines and/or their gene polymorphisms may link to these biliary pathologies. We therefore investigated associations among cytokine gene polymorphisms and cytokine production in 510 Thai cases infected with O. viverrini who presented with APF+ or APF-, as established by abdominal ultrasonography as well as in patients diagnosed with CCA. Levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined in culture supernatants after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with O. viverrini excretory-secretory (ES) products. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IFN-${\gamma}$, LT-${\alpha}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly increased in CCA patients compared with non-CCA (APF- and APF+) cases. Polymorphisms in genes encoding IL-$1{\beta}$-511C/T, IL-6-174G/C, IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G, and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A were then investigated by using PCR-RFLP or allele specific-PCR (AS-PCR) analyses. In the CCA cases, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A heterozygous and homozygous variants showed significantly higher levels of these cytokines than the wild type. By contrast, levels of cytokines in wild type of IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A were significantly higher than the variants in CCA cases. IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A polymorphisms were associated with advanced periductal fibrosis, whereas IL-6-174G/C polymorphisms were associated with CCA. To our knowledge, these findings provide the first demonstration that O. viverrini infected individuals carrying several specific cytokine gene polymorphisms are susceptible to develop fibrosis and CCA.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2001

Genomic DNA from the blood of crucian carp(Carassius carassiu) from lake and aquaculture facility in Kunsan, Korea was extracted in order to identify genetic differences by polymerase chain reaction-randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs(PCR-RAPD). Out of 12 primers, 6 generated 266 highly reproducible RAPD markers, producing approximately 2.1 polymorphic bands per primer in crucian carp from lake. The degree of similarity varied from 0.18 to 0.76 as calculated by bandsharing analysis in crucian carp from lake. The RAPD outlines obtained with DNA of two different crucian carp populations from Kunsan were different(0.47 from lake and 0.70 from aquaculture facility, respectively). The electrophoretic analysis of polymerase chain reaction-randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs(PCR-RAPD) products showed high levels of similarity between different individuals in crucian carp from aquaculture facility. This result implies the genetic similarity due to raising in the same environmental condition or inbreeding within the crucian carp from aquaculture facility in Kunsan. In other words, crucian carp may have high levels of genome DNA diversity due to the introduction of the wild population from the other sites of Knsan even if it may be the geographical diverse distribution of this species. Generally, the RAPD polymorphism generated by these primers may be useful as a genetic marker for strain or population identification of important aquacultural fish species, crucian carp. However, in future, additional populations and sampling sites will be necessary to complement weak points.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.233-240
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral health status and behavior in Korean diabetic adults. Methods: The study subjects were 11,840 adults who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(2010-2012). Diabetic status was defined by doctors and fasting blood sugar(FBS) level. Oral health status was assessed by decayed-missing-filled teeth(DMFT), community periodontal index(CPI), periodontal disease, denture needs, limitation of oral function, and chewing difficulty. The oral health behavior was evaluated by oral examination within a year, brushing times a day, and use of auxiliary oral product. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus diagnosed by doctor and FBS was 8.3% and 10.2%, respectively. The prevalence rate of periodontitis was 25.4%. The proportions of $DMFT{\geq}20$, $CPI{\geq}3$, periodontal disease, denture needs, oral function limitation and chewing difficulty in the confirmed diabetic group by doctor were significantly higher than those of the non-diabetic group(p<0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratio(aOR) for periodontal disease(aOR=1.73, 95% CI=1.41-2.12), presence of denture needs(aOR=1.40, 95% CI=1.06-1.84), limited oral function(aOR=1.43, 95% CI=1.15-1.78) and chewing difficulty(aOR=1.41 95% CI=1.13-1.77) in diabetic subjects were significantly higher than those of the non-diabetic subjects. There were similar associations between diabetes defined with FBS and oral health. In oral health behavior, diabetic subjects had significantly lower odds ratios for oral examination(aOR=0.76, 95% CI=0.60-0.98), brushing time ${\geq}2$ times(aOR=0.73, 95% CI=0.57-0.93), and auxiliary oral products(aOR=0.74, 95% CI=0.59-0.94). Conclusions: There was a significant relationship between oral health status and behavior in Korean diabetic adults. Further study is needed to evaluate the underlying mechanisms between diabetes mellitus and oral health status.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.290-302
• /
• 2014

Purpose : Susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) sequence is three-dimensional (3D), spoiled gradient-echo pulse sequences that provide a high sensitivity for the detection of blood degradation products, calcifications, and iron deposits. This pictorial review is aimed at illustrating and discussing its main clinical applications. Materials and Methods: SWI is based on high-resolution, 3D, fully velocity-compensated gradient-echo sequences using both magnitude and phase images. To enhance the visibility of the venous structures, the magnitude images are multiplied with a phase mask generated from the filtered phase data, which are displayed at best after post-processing of the 3D dataset with the minimal intensity projection algorithm. A total of 200 patients underwent MR examinations that included SWI on a 3 tesla MR imager were enrolled. Results: SWI is very useful in detecting multiple brain disorders. Among the 200 patients, 80 showed developmental venous anomaly, 22 showed cavernous malformation, 12 showed calcifications in various conditions, 21 showed cerebrovascular accident with susceptibility vessel sign or microbleeds, 52 showed brain tumors, 2 showed diffuse axonal injury, 3 showed arteriovenous malformation, 5 showed dural arteriovenous fistula, 1 showed moyamoya disease, and 2 showed Parkinson's disease. Conclusion: SWI is useful in detecting occult low flow vascular lesions, calcification and microbleed and characterising diverse brain disorders.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.775-778
• /
• 2006

Sarabi cows (n = 136) from the Sarabi Breeding Station were genotyped at bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRB3.2 locus by a genotyping system that used the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples. A two-step polymerase chain reaction was carried out in order to amplify a 284 base-pair fragment of target gene. Nested-PCR products were digested with three restriction endonuclease enzymes RsaI, BstYI and HaeIII. Digested fragments were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Twenty-six BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles were identified with frequencies ranging from 0.4 to 15.1%. Six new allele types observed in this study have not been reported previously. Identified alleles include: BoLA-DRB3.$2^*1$, $^*2$, $^*4$, $^*6$, $^*8$, $^*12$, $^*13$, $^*14$, $^*15$, $^*16$, $^*17$, $^*23$, $^*24$, $^*25$, $^*28$, $^*32$, $^*34$, $^*35$, $^*36$, $^*37$, $^*42$, $^*46$, $^*51$, $^*kba$, $^*laa$ and $^*vaa$. Their frequencies were found to be 0.4, 0.4, 0.7, 11.4, 1.1, 1.8, 2.9, 2.2, 4.4, 9.6, 1.1, 13.6, 0.4, 0.4, 1.1, 0.7, 0.4, 6.2, 2.2, 3.7, 1.1, 7.7, 1.5, 15.1, 2.6 and 7.3% respectively. The six most frequent alleles (DRB3.2 $^*6$, $^*16$, $^*23$, $^*46$, $^*kba$ and $^*vaa$) accounted for 64.7% of the alleles in the population of this herd. Numerous studies on this locus, covering different breeds, has revealed the existence of various alleles in this locus, and new investigations have introduced novel alleles. With respect to the high number of the observed alleles in this survey and the novelty of some alleles with no previous record of reporting, it is plausible to conclude that the BoLA-DRB3.2 locus is highly polymorphic in Iranian native Sarabi cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.1985-1990
• /
• 2020

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of fat-soluble vitamin injection on plasma and tissue vitamin status in nursery pigs. Methods: A total of 16 pigs (initial body weight: 7.15±1.1 kg) were allotted to 2 treatments at d 7 post-weaning. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with no supplemental vitamin A and i.m. injected with 300,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, 900 IU of d-α-tocopherol and 30,000 IU of vitamin D₃ with control pigs having no vitamin injection. Blood (d 0, 3, 7, and 14 post-injection) and tissue samples (liver, brain, heart, lung, and muscle; d 7 and 14 post-injection) were collected from pigs. Retinyl palmitate, retinol, and α-tocopherol concentrations were analyzed in plasma and tissues, while plasma was assayed for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD₃). Results: Plasma retinol and 25-OHD₃ concentrations increased by the vitamin injection from d 3 to 14 post-injection (p<0.05) whereas plasma retinyl palmitate was detected only in the vitamin treatment at d 3 and 7 post-injection (115.51 and 4.97 ㎍/mL, respectively). Liver retinol, retinyl palmitate, and retinol+retinyl palmitate concentrations increased by retinyl palmitate injection at d 7 and 14 post-injection (p<0.05) whereas those were not detected in the other tissues. The d-α-tocopherol injection increased α-tocopherol concentrations in plasma at d 3 and 7 post-injection (p<0.05) and in liver, heart (p<0.10), and muscle (p<0.05) at d 7 post-injection. Conclusion: Fat-soluble vitamin injection increased plasma status of α-tocopherol, retinol, retinyl palmitate and 25-OHD₃. As plasma levels decreased post-injection, vitamin A level in liver and vitamin E level in muscle, heart and liver increased. The α-tocopherol found in plasma after injection was distributed to various tissues but retinyl palmitate only to the liver.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.1024-1030
• /
• 1998

We investigated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on protein glycosylation in early and end stage product, and light microscopic studies were done on the renal glomeruli of KK-mice of various ages and various duration of diabetes. Weaned KK-mice were fed high fat diets containing 20% corn oil(wt/wt), and sacrificed at 4,6, and 9 months of age. The high vitamin E diet was a high fit diet supplemented with an excess amount of d1-$\alpha$-tocopheryl acetate (2080IU/kg diet). We measured Hemoglobin $A_{IC}$ (Hb $A_{IC}$) as a glycosylation early product, and renal collagen-linked fluorescence as a glycosylation end product. In the diabetic group, levels of Hb $A_{IC}$ were increased within 2 months after onset of diabetes and remained at a constant level for the duration of experiment. 5 months after onset of diabetes, renal collagen linked fluorescence(CLF) was markedly increased. A quantative, morphologically demonstratable, progressive thickening of the basement membrane and calcification occured in the diabetic KK-mice. There is a statiscally positive correlation between CLF and histologic grade of diabetic nephropathy. Hepatic vitamin E levels correlated with those of Hb $A_{IC}$, renal CLF, and renal calcification. Treatment with vitamin I did not modify the level of blood glucose. However, we observered a significant lowering of CLF and Hb $A_{IC}$ in diabetic mice. Supplementation of vitamin E was found to delay the progression of diabetic nephropathy. (forean J Nutrition 31(6) : 1024-1030, 1998)0, 1998)

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.12-20
• /
• 2006

Some natural products are able to inhibit radiation effects and exert an antitumor effect with fewer adverse reactions; however, their antitumor effects are less than those of widely-used synthetic drugs. Propolis is a natural material that has been attracting attention, and we extracted this material with water and investigated the effect of continuous propolis administration on radioactivity-induced reduction of hemocytes, in addition to the antioxidant and antitumor effects of propolis. Following a 1-week adjustment period, water-soluble propolis was administered intraperitoneally to male ICR mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg every other day for 2 weeks. Following administration, 2 Gy whole-body irradiation was performed and the counts of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes and monocytes in the peripheral blood were determined 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after irradiation. These cells were considered since they are closely associated with immunity to radioactivity. In a second experiment, water-soluble propolis was similarly administered to the mice for 2 weeks after a 1-week adjustment period, and 2 Gy whole-body irradiation was performed. The antioxidant effects in hemocytes were then investigated using 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a radical generator. In a third experiment, $1\;{\times}\;10^6$ Sarcoma-180 cells were inoculated into the right thigh of mice, which were divided into four groups: control, water-soluble propolis-treated, 6 Gy irradiated and water-soluble propolis-treated + 6 Gy irradiated groups, and changes in tumor size were measured for 20 days. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA for multiple groups. In the three experiments, administration of water-soluble propolis inhibited the reduction of hemocytes caused by whole-body irradiation, showed antioxidant effects against radioactivity, and inhibited tumor growth, respectively. In conclusion, our data suggest that the antioxidant effect of watersoluble propolis inhibits hemocyte reduction caused by whole-body irradiation and enhances immunological inhibition of tumor growth.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1408-1414
• /
• 2019

Enzymes are widely used in industrial applications such as detergents, food, feed production, pharmaceuticals and medical applications and major contributors to clean industrial products and processes. To screen, identify, and characterize the enzymes the zymography techniques are routinely used. The zymography technique is a simple, sensitive, and quantifiable technique that is widely used to detect functional enzymes following electrophoretic separation in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. The method is a versatile two-stage technique involving protein separation by electrophoresis followed by the detection of enzyme activity in polyacrylamide gels under non-reducing conditions. It is based on SDS-polyacrylamide gel (PAG) copolymerization with substrates, which are degraded by the hydrolytic enzymes restored in enzyme reaction buffer after the electrophoretic separation. Any kind of biological sample can be applied and analyzed on zymography, including culture supernatants of microbes, plants extracts, blood, tissue culture fluids, enzymes in foods extracts and metaproteome. The advantage of zymography is that it is possible to directly detect the protein with activity on the electrophoretic gel as well as confirm the activity at the nanogram level. Thus, this zymography technology can be applied in various fields. However, these advantages are rather disadvantageous and can often lead to experimental errors. In this review, the advantages, disadvantages, and problem solving of zymography technique are described.