• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.189-193
• /
• 2012

This experiment was conducted to study variations of serum testosterone and seminal characteristics of Markhoz male goats. Blood samples were obtained via jugular vein, and semen was collected by using an artificial vagina from 14 fertile male goats (2-3 years of age), at 15-day intervals starting on 15 July and ending on 30 October 2010 (during breeding and non-breeding season). Semen volume, total sperm (volume${\times}$concentration), live sperm (%), abnormal sperm (%) and semen pH were significantly superior during the late summer and early autumn (breeding season). Variation of sperm density, motility and progressive motility was not significant during the sampling period. The results presented show that the lowest and highest levels of lactate dehydrogenase in the seminal plasma were recorded in late October (2.82 U/ml) and in late August (4.81 U/ml), respectively. Moreover, the study indicated that the serum testosterone concentration was higher during late summer and early autumn (p<0.05) than at any other of sampling period. There were negative correlations between volume and sperm density (-0.135, p<0.05), and positive correlations between volume and percentage live sperm (0.224) and percentage progressive motility (0.194, p<0.01). Sperm density was correlated with live sperm (0.200, p<0.05) and progressive motility (0.202, p<0.01). The correlation between live sperm and progressive motility was 0.554 (p<0.01). Furthermore, the results in this study indicated a significant positive correlation between live sperm and LDH (0.450) and a negative correlation between sperm density and LDH concentration (-0.272) (p<0.01). Significant, but positive correlations were found between sperm motility and LDH (0.542) and testosterone concentration (0.522), respectively (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the best obtained semen was collected in late summer (during decreasing photoperiod) and early autumn (September and October). This also coincides with the natural breeding season of Markhoz goats in Iran.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권22호
• /
• pp.9847-9851
• /
• 2014

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a haematological cancer characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells.The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE) in multiple myeloma with and without free light chain excretion(FLCe-MM and NFLCe-MM); as well as to investigate possible alterations in oxidative stress parameters. Materials and Methods: Total thiol (T.thl), oxidative stress index (OSI), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were examined in addition to the PON1 and ARE enzyme activities in twenty one FLCe-MM and nineteen NFLCe-MM subjects. Routine parameters like lipid panel, serum total protein, albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid and hemoglobin levels were compared with the oxidative stress markers. Results: Serum total protein, BUN, creatinin, and uric acid levels were significantly higher (p=0.04, p=0.001, p=0.001 and p=0.0022, respectively), while hemoglobin and albumin levels were significantly lower in FLCe-MM patients (p=0.009 and p=0.04,respectively). PON1 and ARE activities were significantly lower in patients with FLCe-MM compared to those with NFLCe-MM (p=0.001 and p=0.008, respectively). Conclusions: Depending on our results of prognostic markers of MM such as age, hemoglobin, albumin, and creatinine we feel confident to presume FLCe-MM as a subgroup with a worse prognosis. A decrease in PON1 and ARE activities may contribute to the prognosis and may be used as a prognostic tool in MM.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 1998

Bioequivalence of two cilostazol tablets, the $Pletaal^{TM}$ (Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and the $Losazol^{TM}$ (Kyoung Dong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), was evaluated according to the guideline of KFDA. Fourteen normal male volunteers (age $20{\sim}28$ years old) were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After two tablets containing 50 mg of cilostazol were orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentration of cilostazol in plasma was determined with an HPLC method using UV detector. The pharmacokinetic parameters $(C_{max},\;T_{max}\;and\;AUC_t)$ were calculated and ANOVA was utilized for the statistical analysis of parameters. The results showed that the differences in $C_{max},\;T_{max}\;and\;AUC_t$ between two tablets were 3.14%, 10.0% and 7.35%, respectively. The powers $(1-{\beta})$ for $C_{max},\;T_{max}\;and\;AUC_t$ were 89.67%, 80.97% and 83.87%, respectively. Detectable differences $({\Delta})$ and confidence intervals were all less than 20% except $T-{max}$, but confidence interval of $T_{max}$ was also less than 20% at the significance $level({\alpha})$ of 0.1. All of these parameters met the criteria of KFDA for bioequivalence, indicating that $Losazol^{TM}$ tablet is bioequivalent to $Pletaal^{TM} tablet$.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제45권4호
• /
• pp.524-528
• /
• 2002

Citrullinemia는 유전성 대사 질환 중 하나로서 argininosuccinic acid synthetase 결손에 의해 발생하는 질병이다. 구토, 기면 또는 보챔, 경련, 의식장애와 같은 증상이 고암모니아혈증에 의해 초래되고 고암모니아혈증을 신속히 치료해야만 비가역적인 뇌손상을 줄일 수 있다. 저자들은 소변 유기산 분석과 혈중 및 요중 아미노산 분석에 의해 citrullinemia 1례를 경험했기에 이에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 2004

Pine needles are known as a traditional medicine and their ingestion has been shown to be beneficial to human beings. Following induction of the neoplastic process in rats by azoxymethane (AOM), we determined the effects of pine needle supplementation on colon carcinogenesis and on antioxidant systems in the blood and liver. Five week old male Fisher 344 rats were injected with AOM (15 mg/kg) once a week for two weeks. After the second injection, 18 rats were randomly assigned into two groups and were fed a casein-based high-fat diet (120 g fat and 1 g cholesterol/kg diet) with or without pine needle powder (10%w/w). After 6 weeks, rats receiving pine needle powder showed a 40% lower incidence of the number of colonic preneoplastic lesions (aberrant crypts) and a 52% lower incidence of aberrant crypt foci (p<0.01). A significantly elevated level of erythrocyte catalase activity was observed in the pine needle supplemented group (17.4$\pm$1.1 vs. 24.5$\pm$1.5, p<0.01). Pine needle supplementation also increased liver glutathione peroxidase activity (7.5$\pm$0.6 vs. 14.6$\pm$0.6, p<0.01). Other antioxidant parameters such as erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, liver catalase activity, and plasma total antioxidant potential (TRAP), showed no statistical differences between the two groups. Our data demonstrate that pine needle supplementation improves the antioxidant system and suppresses the formation of colonic preneoplastic lesions in AOM-treated rats. This result provides additional insights into the chemo-preventative properties of pine needles.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제61권5호
• /
• pp.548-558
• /
• 2018

Objective : Diagnosing acute cerebral infarction is crucial in determining prognosis of stroke patients. Although many serologic tests for prompt diagnosis are available, the clinical application of serologic tests is currently limited. We investigated whether $S100{\beta}$, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), D-dimer, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) can be used as biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction. Methods : Focal cerebral ischemia was induced using the modified intraluminal filament technique. Mice were randomly assigned to 30-minute occlusion (n=10), 60-minute occlusion (n=10), or sham (n=5) groups. Four hours later, neurological deficits were evaluated and blood samples were obtained. Infarction volumes were calculated and plasma $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, D-dimer, and HSP70 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The average infarction volume was $12.32{\pm}2.31mm^3$ and $46.9{\pm}7.43mm^3$ in the 30- and 60-minute groups, respectively. The mean neurological score in the two ischemic groups was $1.6{\pm}0.55$ and $3.2{\pm}0.70$, respectively. $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 expressions significantly increased after 4 hours of ischemia (p=0.001). Furthermore, $S100{\beta}$ and MMP-9 expressions correlated with infarction volumes (p<0.001) and neurological deficits (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in D-dimer expression between groups (p=0.843). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) showed high sensitivity and specificity for MMP-9, HSP70 (AUC=1), and $S100{\beta}$ (AUC=0.98). Conclusion : $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 can complement current diagnostic tools to assess cerebral infarction, suggesting their use as potential biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2013

Korean red ginseng, the processed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has been frequently used for various therapeutic purposes in oriental medicine. The present study investigated the possible effect of Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) for the treatment of liver fibrosis in mice injected with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) for 4 wk. Liver injuries were assessed by blood biochemistry and histopathology in mice treated with $CCl_4$ alone or $CCl_4$+ RGE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg). Concomitant treatment with RGE and $CCl_4$ (three times/wk for 4 wk) effectively inhibited liver fibrosis as evidenced by decreases in plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, as well as by the percentages of degenerative regions, numbers of degenerative hepatocytes, and collagen accumulation in hepatic parenchyma. Treatment with $CCl_4$ for 4 wk increased mRNA levels of transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in fibrogenic liver, whereas RGE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) significantly blocked the induction of fibrogenic genes by $CCl_4$. Similarly, RGE also prevented transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$-mediated induction of fibrogenic genes in human hepatic stellate cell lines. More importantly, RGE markedly reduced the number of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in liver tissue. This study implies that RGE efficaciously protects against the liver fibrosis induced by chronic $CCl_4$ treatment, and may therefore have potential to treat liver disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.70-85
• /
• 2004

Objective: To research the trends of study related to rhinitis and acupuncture in PubMed, and to establish the hereafter direction of treating rhinitis with acupuncture Methods: We searched PubMed and chinese medical journals related to rhinitis and acupuncture. Results: 1. The pattern of the study was as follows: Review article(3), Randomized controlled trials(2), Clinical trial(11), Case report(12). 2. The effect of acupuncture on rhinitis is reported as follows: Acupucture treatment improves the scale of symptoms, nasal airways resistance and velocity of the mucociliary transport, decreasing absolute numbers of blood eosinophils, serum IgE and percentage of nasal eosinophils. Immunologically acupuncture treatment could reduce plasma IL-10 level, control IL-2, and balance between cell-specific pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10. After acupuncture treatment, there is statistically significant changes in IgA, IgE, E-rosette formative rate. 3. Many of these article have affirmative view for therapeutic effect of rhinitis with acupuncture. Statistical test was done only in 6 papers. There showed statically significant results in 4 articles, and in 2 article there showed some clinical improvement but no statically significant changes. 4. In Western countries, alternative treatments are frequent among adults with rhinitis or other allergic disease, and affirmative tendency for acupuncture treatment is increased.

• 한국재료학회지
• /
• 제16권5호
• /
• pp.277-284
• /
• 2006

The alloys were prepared by a non-consumable vacuum arc melting and homogenized at $1050^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs. Two kind of surface modifications were performed alkali treatment in 5.0M NaOH solution subsequent and heat treatment in vacuum furnace at $600^{\circ}C$, and were oxidizing treatment at the temperature range of 550 to $750^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. After surface modification, these samples were soaked in SBF which consists of nearly the same ion concentration as human blood plasma. Cytotoxicity tests were performed in MTT assay treated L929 fibroblast cell culture, using indirect methods. A porous and thin activated layer was formed on Titanium and Ti-8Ta-3Nb alloy by the alkali treatment. A bone-like hydroxyapatite was nucleated on the activated porous surfaces during the in vitro test. However, Ti-8Ta-3Nb alloys showed better bioactive properties than Titanium. According to XRD results, oxide layers composed of mostly $TiO_2$(rutile) phases. Cytotoxicity test also revealed that moderate oxidation treatment lowers cell toxicity and Ti-8Ta-3Nb alloy showed better results compared with Titanium.

• 한국임상약학회지
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.13-17
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to compare the bioavailability of $Ceclex^{(R)}$ SR TAB (test drug, cefaclor 375 mg/Tablet) with that of Ceclor $MR^{(R)}$ SR IAB (reference drug) and to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefaclor in healthy Korean volunteers. The bioavailability was examined on 24 healthy volunteers who received a single dose (375 mg) of each drug in the fasting state in a randomized balanced 2-way crossover design. After dosing, blood samples were collected for a period of 7 hours. Plasma concentrations of cefaclor were determined using HPLC with UV detection. The pharmacokinetic parameters $(AUC_{0-7h},\;C_{max},\;T_{max},\;AUC_{inf},\;K_e,\;t_{1/2},\;V_d/F,\;and\;CL/F)$ were calculated with non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. The ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the $T_{max}$, log-transformed $AUC_{0-7h$}$, log-transformed $C_{max},\;t_{1/2},\;V_d/F$, and $CL/F$. The ratios of geometric means of $AUC_{0-7h}\;and\;C_{max}$ between test drug End reference drug were $95.67\%\;(8.55\;vs\;8.18{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/ml)\;and\;103.86\%\;(2.85\;vs\;2.96{\mu}g/ml)$, respectively. The $T_{max}$ of test drug and reference drug was $2.56\pm0.15\;and\;2.23\pm0.13\;hrs,\;respectively.\;The\;90\%$ confidence intervals of mean difference of logarithmic transformed $AUC_{0-7h}\;and\;C_{max}$ were log0.90-log1.04 and log0.91-log1.13, respectively. It shows that the bioavailability of test drug is equivalent with that of reference drug.