• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.666-674
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenosides and their metabolites have antidepressant-like effects, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We previously identified 14-3-3 ζ as one of the target proteins of 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), a fully deglycosylated ginsenoside metabolite. Methods: Corticosterone (CORT) was administered repeatedly to induce the depression model, and PPD was given concurrently. The tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST) were used for behavioral evaluation. All mice were sacrificed. Golgi-cox staining, GSK 3β activity assay, and Western blot analysis were performed. In vitro, the kinetic binding analysis with the Biolayer Interferometry (BLI) was used to determine the molecular interactions. Results: TST and FST both revealed that PPD reversed CORT-induced behavioral deficits. PPD also ameliorated the CORT-induced expression alterations of hippocampal Ser9 phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-Ser9 GSK 3β), Ser133 phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-Ser133 CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Moreover, PPD attenuated the CORT-induced increase in GSK 3β activity and decrease in dendritic spine density in the hippocampus. In vitro, 14-3-3 ζ protein specifically bound to p-Ser9 GSK 3β polypeptide. PPD promoted the binding and subsequently decreased GSK 3β activity. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated the antidepressant-like effects of PPD on the CORT-induced mouse depression model and indicated a possible target-based mechanism. The combination of PPD with the 14-3-3 ζ protein may promote the binding of 14-3-3 ζ to p-GSK 3β (Ser9) and enhance the inhibition of Ser9 phosphorylation on GSK 3β kinase activity, thereby activating the plasticity-related CREBeBDNF signaling pathway.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.500-508
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• 2024

Objective: Due to current selection practices for increased egg production and peak persistency, the production profile, age at maturity, and body weight criteria for commercial layers are constantly changing. Body weight and age at the time of photostimulation will thus always be the factors that need to be adequately addressed among various production systems. The current study was carried out to determine the effects of pullets' body weight (low, medium, and heavy) on their performance, welfare, physiological response, and hormonal profile. Methods: With regard to live weight, 150 16-week-old pullets were divided into three groups using a completely randomized design (CRD) and held until the 50th week. One-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data under the CRD, and the least significant difference test was used to distinguish between treatment means. Results: In comparison to the medium and light birds, the heavy birds had higher body weight at maturity, an earlier age at maturity, and higher egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, egg yolk index, breaking strength, egg surface area, egg shape index, egg volume, and hormonal profile except corticosterone. However, the medium and light birds had lower feed consumption rates per dozen eggs and per kilogram of egg mass than the heavy birds. Light birds showed greater body weight gain, egg production, and egg specific gravity than the other categories. At 20 weeks of age, physiological response, welfare aspects, and catalase were non-significant; however, at 50 weeks of age, all these factors-aside from catalase-were extremely significant. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that layers can function at lower body weights during photostimulation; hence, dietary regimens that result in lighter pullets may be preferable. Additionally, the welfare of the birds was not compromised by the lighter weight group.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2024

Global warming is a key challenge subjecting animals to heat stress conditions resulting in multiple physiological alterations in tropical climate. Dietary approach seems to be the more friendly approach to curb the adverse effects of heat stress in rabbits. Some herbs have been categorized to have high potential for promotion of immune responses for amelioration of heat stress. Thus, this research aims to evaluate the potential of Mistletoe (Viscum album), Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus amarus) leaf meal as herbal supplements for the alleviation of heat stress in female rabbits by measuring improvement in sex and stress hormonal responses in serum biochemistry. 80 Rabbit does were exposed to 4 dietary groups supplemented with each of Mistletoe, Moringa, Phyllanthus and a control in an 84-day trial at the summit of thermal stress in South west Nigeria. Growth indices were monitored throughout the study, blood samples were compiled at the end of the trial to assess serum biochemistry, stress and sex hormonal responses of the Does using standard protocols. The results revealed that final weight and weight gain of Does fed on Phyllanthus were significantly (p < 0.05) higher (11.46% and 14.25%, respectively) than Does on control. The herbal supplements enhance glucose, protein, albumin and globulin, reduced cholesterol, and creatinine of Does under heat stress conditions. Among the herbal treatment groups, mistletoe, moringa and phyllanthus had 12.42%, 18.39% and 16.90%, respectively, lower corticosterone than control groups which had 39.76ng/ml. Triiodothyronine of Does fed control were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than Does on Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus supplements. Estradiol and Follicle stimulating hormone of rabbit Does fed on moringa supplement were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than other treatments. In conclusion, the herbal supplements tend to mitigate the detrimental outcome of thermal stress on Does by suppressing stress hormones. Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus enhanced sex hormones while Phyllanthus amarus confered growth promoting effects on the Does.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.100-112
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• 2011

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture on memory, depression, and plasma stress hormone levels in rats that were under immobilization stress. Materials and Methods : The immobilization-only group was given two hours of immobilization stress for 10 consecutive days. The immobilization and high frequency EA group was given two hours of immobilization stress simultaneously with high frequency (100Hz) electroacupuncture stimulation on the right ST-36 (Zusanli) for 10 consecutive days. We conducted the inhibitory avoidance and forced swimming tests to recognize whether immobilization stress and electroacupuncture have effects on memory and depression. We collected blood samples from the tail of each rat at 30, 60, 90, and 120-minute intervals during the immobilization stress and EA stimulation to measure plasma concentrations of ACTH, corticosterone, melatonin, and norepinephrine induced by immobilization stress and electroacupuncture. Results : There was a significant effect of high frequency on the increase in anamnesis based on the result of the inhibitory avoidance test, but there was no significant effect of decreasing depression based on the result of the forced swim test. Also, there was no significant effect on the response indicated by stress hormones. Conclusions : 1. High frequency electroacupuncture (100Hz) improved anamnesis in immobilization stress states under the inhibitory avoidance task. 2. High frequency electroacupuncture (100Hz) did not reduce depression induced by immobilization stress under the forced swimming test. 3. High frequency electroacupuncture (100Hz) did not decrease stress hormones through blood sampling.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.287-295
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• 2016

Involuntary physical activity induced by the avoidance of electrical shock leads to improved endurance exercise capacity in animals. However, it remains unknown whether voluntary stand-up physical activity (SPA) without forced simulating factors improves endurance exercise capacity in animals. We examined the effects of SPA on body weight, cardiac function, and endurance exercise capacity for 12 weeks. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 8 weeks, n=6 per group) were randomly assigned to a control group (CON) or a voluntary SPA group. The rats were induced to perform voluntary SPA (lifting a load equal to their body weight), while the food height (18.0 cm) in cages was increased progressively by 3.5 every 4 weeks until it reached 28.5 cm for 12 weeks. The SPA group showed a lower body weight compared to the CON group, but voluntary SPA did not affect the skeletal muscle and heart weights, food intake, and echocardiography results. Although the SPA group showed higher grip strength, running time, and distance compared to the CON group, the level of irisin, corticosterone, genetic expression of mitochondrial biogenesis, and nuclei numbers were not affected. These findings show that voluntary SPA without any forced stimuli in rats can effectively reduce body weight and enhance endurance exercise capacity, suggesting that it may be an important alternative strategy to enhance endurance exercise capacity.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.4 s.20
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• pp.288-294
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• 2005

Purpose: Superficially spreading (SS) early gastric cancer (EGC) is characterized by wide horizontal extension without deep vertical invasion. It is a relatively rare form of EGC, and it's clinicopathological (C-P) characteristics are not evident. This study aimed to clarify their C-P characteristics. Materials and Methods: We defined SS EGC as invading less than the submucosal layer that measured more than 60 mm in diameter or wider than $5{\times}5cm \;(25cm^2)$ in width. The C-P characteristics and prognosis were compared between 69 patients with SS EGC and 319 patients with the common type EGC (EGC except SS type). Results: For SS EGC lymph node metastases, Lauren's diffuse type, lymphatic invasion were significantly higher than in common type EGC. In patients with SS EGC, all of the metastatic lymph nodes were anatomically distributed within the paragastric region, with fewer along the left gastric artery and common hepatic artery. In 6 cases of SS EGC with resection marqins less than 10 mm, there was no death during the follow-up period (4 to 13 years after operation) if margins were not involved. Age (>58 yrs), tumor site (upper 1/3), lymph node metastasis, submucosal invasion were statistically significant poor prognostic factor in univariate survival analysis. In multivariate survival analysis, age and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors. However, tumor diameter or width was not a significant prognostic factor. Conclusion: Although SS EGC has histologically distinct properties, gastrectomy with free surgical margins and appropriate lymph node dissection $(D1+{\beta})$ could be a suitable treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.127-138
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects of feeding the broilers that are exposed to extreme heat stress (EHS, $33{\pm}2^{\circ}C$) with extreme heat stress diet (EHSD) containing adequate amount of soy oil and other nutrients on their growth performance. 500 broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomized into five dietary treatment groups according to a randomized block design on the day they were hatched. Each group was further divided into four repeat pens with each repeat pen comprising 25 chickens. The five dietary treatment groups were: T1 (Normal ambient condition + basal diet (BD), T2 (EHS +BCD), T3 (EHS + extreme heat stress diet (EHSD) prepared from BD with tallow replaced with soy oil and containing molasses 2%), T4 (EHS + EHSD prepared from BD with tallow replaced with soy oil and containing molasses 2% and methionine and lysine of 1.5 times greater quantities than in BD), and T5 (EHS + EHSD prepared from BD with tallow replaced with soy oil and containing molasses 2%, methionine and lysine of 1.5 times greater quantities than in BD, and vitamin C 200 ppm) with inverse lighting. The body weight gain of the broilers increased significantly in T4 and T5 as compared with that in T1 and T2. Weights of the lymphoid organ, bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen were similar between all groups. Serum concentrations of IgG, IgG and IgM were higher in T4 and T5 than inT1 and T2, but the corticosterone concentration decreased significantly in them. In T4 and T5, Lactobacillus in the cecum increased, but Escherichia, coliform, and total aerobic bacteria decreased rather significantly, compared with those in T1 and T2. Contents of acetic acid, propionic acid and total SCFA were significantly higher in T4 and T5 than in T1 and T2.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.481-487
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• 2011

Rearing density is a major factor in welfare production and health of broiler chicks. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of rearing density on the behavioral characteristics of Korean native chicks. In the study, 20, 30, and 40 chicks per pen (3.17 $m^2$) were used in each treatment and randomly allotted to 6.3 bird/$m^2$, 9.5 bird/$m^2$, and 12.6 bird/$m^2$ density, respectively. The broilers' behavior was recorded for 12 hours continuously during 1 to 8 weeks of age. The time budgets (standing, sitting, and walking) and frequencies of certain behaviors (drinking, feeding, preening, scratching, dust bathing, flapping, aggressive pecking, and pecking) in the broilers were checked during the day. The behavioral characteristics in the early period (1 to 4 weeks) were compared to the later period (5 to 8 weeks) to know the changes in each behavior as the chicks matured. It was observed that 40 chicks per pen showed significant decrease in feed intake and body weight. Corticosterone hormone was higher in the order of 12.6 bird/$m^2$ > 9.5 bird/$m^2$ > 6.3 bird/$m^2$ (p<0.05). The behaviors of standing and sitting were the highest in groups of 30 and 40 respectively. The walking behavior was gradually decreased as rearing density increased. The frequencies of the other behaviors also decreased in a high density treatment; especially for feeding, drinking, preening, and pecking. These tendencies widened the gaps of behaviors as time passed. It was concluded that a group of 20 chicks (6.3 bird/$m^2$) was the proper rearing density among these three treatments. Broilers in the lower rearing density showed more activity than that with higher density and therefore this environment may lead to better welfare condition.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 2014

This experiment evaluated the interaction effect of extreme heat diet(EHD), inverse lighting, and cool water on the growth performance of broiler chickens under extreme heat stress. There were 4 experimental groups (T1: EHD 1, 10:00-19:00 dark, 19:00-10:00 light, cold water $9^{\circ}C$; T2: EHD 2, 10:00-19:00 dark, 19:00-10:00 light, cold water $9^{\circ}C$; T3: EHD 1, 09:00-18:00 dark, 18:00-09:00 light, cold water $14^{\circ}C$; T4: EHD 2, 09:00-18:00 dark, 18:00-09:00 light, cold water $14^{\circ}C$), each group composed of 25 broilers and the experiment was repeated 3 times. EHD 1 contained soybean oil, molasses, methionine and lysine. EHD 2 contained all nutrients of EHD 1 and vitamin C additionally. As a result, T1 and T2 displayed higher body weight increase and diet intake compared to T3 and T4 (p<0.05). The weights of their liver and gizzard were similar but the weights of the thymus and bursa F were higher for T1 and T2 compared to that of T3 and T4 (p<0.05). It was observed that T1 and T2 displayed higher concentrations of blood triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C and blood sugar compared to that of T3 and T4 but LDL-C level was higher for T3 and T4 compared to that of T1 and T2 (p<0.05). T1 and T2 displayed higher levels of immunity substances such as IgG, IgA and IgM compared to T3 and T4 but the blood level of corticosterone displayed to be lower for T1 and T2 compared to T3 and T4 (p<0.05). The T1 and T2 contained a higher amount of fecal lactobacillus compared to that of T3 and T4 but the T3 and T4 contained a higher amount of fecal E. coli, total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria compared to that of T1 and T2 (p<0.05). T1 and T2 displayed higher concentrations of cecal acetic acid, propionic acid and total short chain fatty acids compared to T3 and T4 but T3 and T4 displayed higher concentrations of butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid and isovaleric acid compared to T1 and T2 (p<0.05). These results have been observed that broiler chickens exposed to extreme heat stress with feeding EHD, inverse lighting and cold water would improve blood lipid, and elevate the production of immunity substance, beneficial microorganisms, and short chain fatty acids. This provision would also reduce the blood sugar consumption rate as energy sources and these effects will improve the growth performance of the broilers exposed to extreme heat.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-32
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• 2005

The optimum population of a society or country can be defined as 'the population growth path that maximizes the welfare level of the society over the whole generations of both the present and the future, under the paths allowed by its endowments of production factors such as technology, capital and labor'. Thus, the optimum size or growth rate of population depends on: (i) the social welfare function, (ii) the production function, and (iii)demographic economic interrelationship which defines how the national income is disposed into consumption(birth and education of children included) and savings on the one hand and how the demographic and economic change induced thereby, in turn, affect production capacities on the other. The optimum population growth path can, then, be derived in the process of dynamic optimization of (i) under the constraints of (ii) and (iii), which will give us the optimum population growth rate defined as a function of parameters thereof. This paper estimates the optimum population growth rate of Korea by: specifying (i), (ii), and (iii) based on the recent development of economic theories, solving the dynamic optimization problem and inserting empirical estimates in Korea as the parametric values. The result shows that the optimum path of population growth in Korea is around TFR=1.81, which is affected most sensitively, in terms of the size of the partial elasticity around the optimum path, by the cost of children, share of capital income, consumption rate, time preference, population elasticity of utility function, etc. According to a survey implemented as a follow up study, there are quite a significant variations in the perceived cost of children, time preference rate, population elasticity of utility across different socio-economic classes in Korea, which implied that, compared to their counterparts, older generation and more highly educated classes prefer higher growth path for the population of Korea.