• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal world-wide gynecological disease among women due to the lack of molecular biomarkers to diagnose the disease at an early stage. In addition, there are few well established relevant animal models for research on human ovarian cancer. For instance, rodent models have been established through highly specialized genetic manipulations, but they are not an excellent model for human ovarian cancer because histological features are not comparable to those of women, mice have a low incidence of tumorigenesis, and they experience a protracted period of tumor development. However, the laying hen is a unique and highly relevant animal model for research on human ovarian cancer because they spontaneously develop epithelial cell-derived ovarian cancer (EOC) as occurs in women. Our research group has identified common histological and physiological aspects of ovarian tumors from women and laying hens, and we have provided evidence for several potential biomarkers to detect, monitor and target for treatment of human ovarian cancers based on the use of both genetic and epigenetic factors. Therefore, this review focuses on ovarian cancer of laying hens and relevant regulatory mechanisms, based on genetic and epigenetic aspects of the disease in order to provide new information and to highlight the advantages of the laying hen model for research in ovarian carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1168-1177
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• 2022

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by dopaminergic neuronal death in the midbrain. Recently, the association between alterations in PD pathology and the gut microbiota has been explored. Microbiota-targeted interventions have been suggested as a novel therapeutic approach for PD. Agathobaculum butyriciproducens SR79^T (SR79) is an anaerobic bacterium. Previously, we showed that SR79 treatment induced cognitive improvement and reduced Alzheimer's disease pathologies in a mouse model. In this study, we hypothesized that SR79 treatment may have beneficial effects on PD pathology. To investigate the therapeutic effects of SR79 on PD, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced mouse models were used. D-Amphetamine sulfate (d-AMPH)-induced behavioral rotations and dopaminergic cell death were analyzed in unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. Treatment with SR79 significantly decreased ipsilateral rotations induced by d-AMPH. Moreover, SR79 treatment markedly activated the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway in the striatum. In addition, SR79 treatment affected the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and its downstream target genes in the striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. Our findings suggest a protective role of SR79 in 6-OHDA-induced toxicity by regulating the AKT/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and astrocyte activation. Thus, SR79 may be a potential microbe-based intervention and therapeutic strategy for PD.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.7-14
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• 2020

Objectives : Pyeongwi-san is widely used in Korean medicine for acute indigestion or gastrodynia. As a therapeutic agent for digestive diseases of modern people, in order to confirm the mechanism of Pyeongwi-san on digestive tract disease and the difference of therapeutic efficacy between its formulation, a comparative efficacy test was conducted on digestive tract disease animal model. Methods : For LPS enteritis animal model, male SD rats were intraorally treated with different formulation types of Pyeongwi-san, and then intraperitoneally administered LPS one hour later to induce enteritis. After 5 hours, blood was collected and TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6 and PGE2 were confirmed by ELISA. For acute gastritis animal model, male SD rats were intraorally treated with different formulation types of Pyeongwi-san according to the prescribed concentration, and then intraorally administered 60% ethanol and 150 mM HCl one hour later to induce acute gastritis. After 5 hours, blood was collected and TNFα,IL-6 were confirmed by ELISA. Results : In the LPS-administered enteritis animal model, Pyeongwi-san decreased TNFα, IL-1β, PGE2 and especially IL-6. Pyeongwi-san also decreased IL-6 in acute gastritis animal model. In addition, there was no significant difference in efficacy between the two formulations when compared with inflammatory markers. Conclusions : The efficacy of Pyeongwi-san was confirmed in the inflammatory markers related to digestive inflammatory diseases, and the efficay between two formulations of Pyeongwi-san was relatively similar. Further studies are needed to investigate the new applicability of Pyeongwi-san on different inflammatory diseases that have similar inflammation markers identified in this experiment.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.359-371
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review the effect of oral administration of herbal medicines on the improvement of memory in Alzheimer's disease animal model reported in Korean domestic journals. Methods: The Korean databases (Koreantk, KISS) were searched with memory as a popular search term. During the searches, only animal study reports were reviewed. Data of animal models, intervention, observation methods of measuring indicators were extracted from the databases. Results: Typically, 36 articles were reviewed. Twenty-two studies used scopolamine to induce Alzheimer's disease, 24 studies used complex herbal medicines, and 12 studies used simple herbal medicines. Polygalae Radix and Acori Rhizoma were the most frequently used herbal medicines to improve memory in Alzheimer model. To evaluate the effect of herbal medicines, 36 studies used macroscopy, 16 studies used molecular biological analysis, 21 studies used biochemical analysis, 15 studies used histological analysis, and 11 studies used hematological analysis. Each study showed significant improvement with respect to memory indicators. Conclusions: Overall, the results suggest that treatment employing herbal medicines is an effective option to treat memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.14
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• pp.14.1-14.9
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• 2023

Administration of Scopolamine can be considered a psychopharmacological model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We made an animal model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by administering Scopolamine to Blab/c mice. In this study, we investigated the effects of Resplex Alpha on memory impairment and cognitive function in mice in a mouse animal model of Scopolamine-induced memory impairment. Through Y-mazed and passive avoidance behavioral assays, we observed that Resplex Alpha recovered Scopolamine-induced short-term memory and cognitive functions. The results of our study imply that Resplex Alpha may be beneficial in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2020

Several novel animal models that represent the pathophysiological process of endolymphatic hydrops (ELH) of Meniere's disease (MD) have been developed. Animal models are important to identify and characterize the pathophysiology of ELH and to corroborate molecular and genetic findings in humans. This review of the current animal models will be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of and developing proper treatments for MD. Surgical animal models will be replaced by medication-induced animal models. Study models previously developed in guinea pigs will be developed in several smaller animals for ease of conducting molecular analysis. In this review, we provided updated resources including our previous studies regarding the current and desirable animal models for MD.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2020

Several novel animal models that represent the pathophysiological process of endolymphatic hydrops (ELH) of Meniere's disease (MD) have been developed. Animal models are important to identify and characterize the pathophysiology of ELH and to corroborate molecular and genetic findings in humans. This review of the current animal models will be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of and developing proper treatments for MD. Surgical animal models will be replaced by medication-induced animal models. Study models previously developed in guinea pigs will be developed in several smaller animals for ease of conducting molecular analysis. In this review, we provided updated resources including our previous studies regarding the current and desirable animal models for MD.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.287-294
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• 2004

Diabetic complication is one of major risk factors leading to vascular disease such as atherosclerosis, stroke, coronary heart disease and etc. Several factors affecting the acceleration of diabetic vascular complication have been known such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, immune complex and genetic factors. To screen and develop new therapeutics agents for diabetic vascular complication, it is strongly needed to develop animal models for diabetic complications. However in rodents models, diabetic complications is not well developed. Furthermore to assess the possibility of new therapeutics for diabetic vascular complications, diabetic animal models which have the risk factors of diabetic complications is needed. We aim to develop and establish an diabetic animal model which have diabetic complications with hyperlipidemia which is one of risk factors for diabetic complications. We induced insulin -dependent diabetes by intra. venous injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg/day) in RICO rats which is a spontaneous animal model for hyperlipidemia. Our models (STZ RICO) showed hyperglycemia, persistent high level of plasma cholesterol and triglyceridemia with severe diabetic renal changes until 28 weeks after induction of diabetes. STZ-RICO rats could be used for the evaluations of newly developed diabetic drugs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.428-438
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• 1999

A study was conducted to estimate cost of major dairy cattle diseases. Forty (n=40) of the 167 dairy herds in Gyeongnam (Chinju) area were stratified and selected randomly for participation in the national animal health monitoring system. Gyeongsnag University veterinarians, Gyeongnam Livestock Promotion Institute veterinarians and clinic veterinarian visited each herd once a month for a total periods of 12 months. At a each visit data on disease, production, management, finance, treatments, preventive activities, animal events, and any other relevant events were collected. Monthly and annual cost estimates of disease treatment were in computed in each herd and stratum(including cost of prevention). Results were expressed as cost per head and given separately for cows, young stock, and calves. In cows, the most expensive seven diseases entities (from the most to the least) were : (1) clinical mastitis; (2) breeding problems; (3)gastrointestinal problems; (4) multiple system problem; (5) birth problems; (6) metabolic/nutritional disease; (7) lameness. In young stock, the most costly disease were the multiple system problems, breeding problems, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease, and lameness. In calves, the most costly disease problems were gastrointestinal problems, respiratory disease, integumental, multiple system problems, and metabolic/nutritional problems.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.607-613
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• 2019

Objective: Intramuscular fat (IMF) content plays an important role in meat quality. Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes related to pig IMF, especially using pig populations with high IMF content variation, can help to establish novel molecular breeding tools for optimizing IMF in pork and unveil the mechanisms that underlie fat metabolism. Methods: We collected muscle samples of 453 Chinese Lulai black pigs, measured IMF content by Soxhlet petroleum-ether extraction method, and genotyped genome-wide SNPs using GeneSeek Genomic Profiler Porcine HD BeadChip. Then a genome-wide association study was performed using a linear mixed model implemented in the GEMMA software. Results: A total of 43 SNPs were identified to be significantly associated with IMF content by the cutoff p<0.001. Among these significant SNPs, the greatest number of SNPs (n = 19) were detected on Chr.9, and two linkage disequilibrium blocks were formed among them. Additionally, 17 significant SNPs are mapped to previously reported quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of IMF and confirmed previous QTLs studies. Forty-two annotated genes centering these significant SNPs were obtained from Ensembl database. Overrepresentation test of pathways and gene ontology (GO) terms revealed some enriched reactome pathways and GO terms, which mainly involved regulation of basic material transport, energy metabolic process and signaling pathway. Conclusion: These findings improve our understanding of the genetic architecture of IMF content in pork and facilitate the follow-up study of fine-mapping genes that influence fat deposition in muscle.