• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.699-707
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• 1996

This study was designed to examine the involvement of lead in function of target organ, and the protective effect of selenium in lead-treated guinea pigs for 8 weeks. The effects of exposure to 0.5% lead acetate(lead) and/or 4ppm sodium selenite(selenium) in feed on serveral aspects were evaluated by measuring thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), triiodothyronine($T_3$), thyroxine($T_4$), serum biochemical activities, organ weights, and serum and organ lead concentrations in growing animals. The many indicators of endocrine function(TSH, $T_3$, and $T_4$ in serum), enzyme and biochemical activities(${\alpha}$-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, triglyceride, creatinine, $Ca^{2+}$ in serum), and organ weights(kidney, spleen and testis) were correlated with lead exposure or showed significantly different mean values between the exposed and controls. These changes on some aspects were reversed by combination-fed of selenium, but did not statistically significant. The organ(kidney, liver, spleen, testis and brain) and serum lead concentrations of lead-fed group were clearly higher than that of controls. Selenium supplementation resulted in a significant protection against lead accumulation in liver and testis. These results suggest that lead can cause a toxic effect on several organ and that selenium seems to has a protective effect on specific reaction by lead-induced organic function toxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.349-357
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• 1998

The aim of this experiments was to investigate the effect of Semen Plantaginis extract on. the renal function, plasma renin activity, plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and aldosterone in rats. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Water balance decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 2. Urine volume increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1ml/200g. 3. Urinary excretion of sodium decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1 ml/200 g, 2week. 4. Urinary excretion of potassium decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1 ml/200 g, 2week. 5. Urinary excretion of chloride decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 6. Free water clearance increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract 0.1 ml/200 g, 2 week and 0.2 ml/200 g. 7. Urinary excretion of creatinine increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 8. Plasma renin activity decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.2 ml/200 g. 9. Plasma levels of aldosterone decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 10. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.707-714
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• 2008

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan on growth performance, immunity and endocrine responses of weanling piglets. One hundred and eighty weanling piglets (Landrace$\times$Large White, $7.20{\pm}0.25kg$ BW and $28{\pm}2$ d of age) were randomly fed 1 of 5 treatment diets containing dietary ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan supplemented at 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 4 wks. Each treatment was replicated in 6 pens containing 6 pigs per pen. On d 14 and 28, body weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were recorded as measures of growth performance. Peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) were measured to study the effect of dietary ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan supplementation on immune function. Plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), growth hormone (GH) and ghrelin were measured to investigate endocrine response to ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan supplementation. Our results suggest that average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency had a quadratic increase trend with dietary ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan supplementation from d 14 to 28, whereas it had no significant effect on average daily feed intake (ADFI). The treatment group fed with 50 mg/kg dietary ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan supplementation showed a numerical increase in ghrelin, a similar change trend with ADG and no significant effect on GH. Lymphocyte proliferation indices, serum IgG and plasma PGE2 concentrations varied linearly with dietary supplementation levels of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan on d 14. Higher levels of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan may have a transient immuno-enhancing effect on the cellular and humoral immune function of weanling piglets via decreased PGE2. Taking into account both immune response and growth performance, the most suitable dietary supplementation level of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan is 50 mg/kg for weanling piglets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.651-662
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• 2006

Phthalate esters that are used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods such as dairy products are often mentioned as suspected endocrine disrupters. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate whether perinatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate(DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) affects several aspects of reproductive function in rats especially sexual differentiation of the brain. To this end, the dams were provided with pulverized soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day (GD) 15 to postnatal day (PDN) 21, the day of weaning, and serum sex steroid hormone, gonadotropin levels and sexual behaviors after maturation were assessed. At Postnatal week (PNW) 20-21, serum levels of sex steroids and gonadotropins in both male and female rats, as well as estrous cyclicity in females, were not changed by perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA, indicating that these chemicals did not affect sexual differentiation of the brain controlling the endocrine system of hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. On the other hand, inhibitory influences on sexual behaviors, especially on ejaculation in males and lordosis in females, were observed by perinatal exposure to these chemicals. These results suggest that these chemicals may act directly on discrete regions of the hypothalamus regulating sexual behaviors, but not regulating gonadotropin secretion, thereby affect sexual differentiation of the brain with a resultant decrease in sex-specific behaviors in adulthood.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of moderate caloric restriction on ${\beta}$-cell function and insulin sensitivity in middle-aged obese Korean women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifty-seven obese pre-menopausal Korean women participated in a 12-week calorie restriction program. Data on total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and fasting serum levels of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, blood pressure, leptin and anthropometrics were collected. A dietary intake assessment was based on three days of food recording. Additionally, ${\beta}$-cell function [homeostasis model assessment of ${\beta}$-cell (HOMA-${\beta}$), insulinogenic index (ISI), C-peptide:glucose ratio, and area under curve insulin/glucose ($AUC_{ins/glu}$)] and insulin sensitivity [homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), Quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and Matsuda index (MI)] were recorded. RESULTS: When calories were reduced by an average of 422 kcal/day for 12 weeks, BMI (-2.7%), body fat mass (-10.2%), and waist circumference (-5%) all decreased significantly (P < 0.05). After calorie restriction, weight, body fat percentage, hip circumference, BP, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, plasma glucose at fasting, insulin at fasting and 120 min, $AUC_{glu}$ and the insulin area under the curve all decreased significantly (all P < 0.05), while insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR, QUICKI and Matsuda index) measured by OGTT improved significantly (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate weight loss due to caloric restriction with reduction in insulin resistance improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in middle-aged obese women and thereby may help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease. On the other hand, there is no treatment that can improve the thyroid function. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can improve the cellular activity. The effect of hypothyroidism is not obvious. This study examined the effects of LLLT on the thyroid gland function of a propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism mouse model. Materials and Methods Twenty-five male ICR mice were distributed into five groups of five animals each: Negative control (none PTU animal) and positive control (PTU animal) of unirradiated animals, and three experimental groups with LLLT (3J, 6J, and 12J). Each mouse was exposed to a distinct dose of a 632-nm laser once a week for three rounds. The positive control group and three LLLT groups were induced into a hypothyroidism state by PTU administration. The animals' thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine levels were measured using an ELISA kit, and their thyroid tissue was harvested and analyzed after sacrifice at the end of the experiment. The hormone level and morphological changes in the tissue of the five groups were compared. Results The thyroid hormone levels in the control group and LLLT groups were similar. On the other hand, the thyroid tissue of the LLLT groups showed some morphological changes that were similar to those of iodine deficiency thyroid. Conclusion LLLT did not affect the thyroid gland function in PTU-induced hypothyroidism mice.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to define the content of requisite human structure and function knowledge needed for clinical knowledge of nursing practice. Subjects of human structure and function were divided into 10 units, and each unit was further divided into 21 subunits, resulting in a total of 90 items. Contents of knowledge of human structure and function were constructed from syllabus of basic nursing subjects in 4 college of nursing, and textbooks published by nurse scholars prepared with basic nursing sciences. The degree of need of 90 items was measured with a 4 point scale. The subjects of this study were college graduated 136 nurses from seven university hospitals in Seoul and three university hospitals located in Chonnam Province, Kyungbook Province, and Inchon. They have been working at internal medicine ward, surgical ward, intensive care unit, obstetrics and gynecology ward, pediatrics ward, opthalmology ward, ear, nose, and throat ward, emergency room, rehabilitation ward, cancer ward, hospice ward, and their working period was mostly under 5 years. The results were as follows: 1. The highest scored items of human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice were electrolyte balance, blood clotting mechanism and anticoagulation mechanism, hematopoietic function, body fluid balance, function of plasma, and anatomical terminology in the order of importance. The lowest scored items of human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice was sexual factors of genetic mutation. 2. The highest order of need according to unit was membrane transport in the living unit, anatomical terminology in movement and exercise unit, mechanism of hormone function in regulation and integration unit, component and function of blood in oxygenation function unit, structure and function of digestive system in digestive and energy metabolism unit, temperature regulation in temperature regulation unit electrolyte balance in body fluid and electrolyte unit, concept of immunity in body resistance unit, and genetics terminology in genetics unit. The highest order of importance according to subunit was membrane transportation in cell subunit, classification of tissues in tissue unit, function of skin and skin in skin subunit, anatomical derivatives of the skeleton subunit, classification of joints in joint subunit, an effect of exercise on muscles in muscle subunit, function of brain in nervous system subunit, special sense in sensory subunit mechanism of hormone function in endocrine subunit, structure and function of female reproductive system in reproductive system unit, structure and function of blood in blood unit, structure of heart, electrical and mechanical function in cardiovascular system unit, structure of respiratory system in respiratory system subunit, structure and function of digestive system in digestive system subunit, hormonal regulation of metabolism in nutrition and metabolism subunit, function of kidney in urologic system subunit, electolyte balance in body fluid, electolyte and acid-base balance subunit. 3. The common content of human structure and function knowledge need for all clinical areas in nursing was structure and function of blood, hematopoietic function, function of plasm, coagulation mechanism and anticoagulation mechanism, body fluid, electrolyte balance, and acid-base balance. However, the degree of need of each human structure and function knowledge was different depending on clinical areas. 4. Significant differences in human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice such as skin and derivatives of the skin, growth and development of bone, classification of joint, classification of muscle, structure of muscle, function of muscle, function of spinal cord, peripheral nerve, structure and function of pancrease, component and function of blood, function of plasma, structure and function of blood, hemodynamics, respiratory dynamics, gas transport, regulation of respiration, chemical digestion of foods, absorption of foods, characteristics of nutrients, metabolism and hormonal regulation, body energy balance were demonstrated according to the duration of work. 5. Significant differences in human structure and function knowledge necessary for nursing practice such as classification of tissue, classification of muscles, function of muscles, muscle metabolism, classification of skeletal muscles, classification of nervous system, neurotransmitters, mechanism of hormone function, pituitary and pituitary hormone, structure and function of male reproductive organ, structure and function of female reproductive organ, component and function of blood, function of plasma, coagulation mechanism and anticoagulation mechanism, gas exchange, gas transport, regulation of respiration, characteristics of nutrients, energy balance, function of kidney, concept of immunity, classification and function of immunity were shown according to the work area. Based on these findings, all the 90 items constructed by Korean Academic Society of Basic Nursing Science should be included as contents of human structure and function knowledge.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.292-297
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• 2006

Purpose : In medulloblastoma, craniospinal radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy improves the prognosis of tumors but results in significant endocrine morbidities. We studied the endocrine morbidity, especially growth pattern changes. Methods : The medical records of 37 patients with medulloblastoma were reviewed retrospectively for evaluation of endocrine function and growth. We performed the growth hormone stimulation test in 16 patients whose growth velocity was lower than 4 cm/yr. Results : The height loss was progressive in most patients. The height standard deviation score (SDS) decreased from $-0.1{\pm}1.3$ initially to $-0.6{\pm}1.0$ after 1 year(P<0.01). Growth hormone deficiency(GHD) developed in 14 patients. During the 2 years of growth hormone(GH) treatment, the improvements of height gain or progressions of height loss were not observed. Twelve patients(32.4 percent) revealed primary hypothyroidism. One of six patients diagnosed with compensated hypothyroidism progressed to primary hypothyroidism. Primary and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism were observed in two and one patients respectively. There was no proven case of central adrenal insufficiency. Conclusion : Growth impairment developed frequently, irrespective of the presence of GHD in childhood survivors of medulloblastoma. GH treatment may prevent further loss of height. The impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroidal axis is less common, while central adrenal insufficiency was not observed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.513-523
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• 2010

Cytokines that bind to and signal through the gp130 co-receptor subunit include interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, oncostatin M (OSM), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1), and ciliary neutrophic factor (CNTF). Apart from contributing to inflammation, gp130 signalling cytokines also function in the maintenance of bone homeostasis. Expression of each of these cytokines and their ligand-specific receptors is observed in bone and joint cells, and bone-active hormones and inflammatory cytokines regulate their expression. gp130 signalling cytokines have been shown to regulate the differentiation and activity of osteoblasts, osteoclasts and chondrocytes. Furthermore, cytokine and receptor specific gene-knockout mouse models have identified distinct roles for each of these cytokines in regulating bone resorption, bone formation and bone growth. This review will discuss the current models of paracrine and endocrine actions of gp130-signalling cytokines in bone remodelling and growth, as well as their impact in pathologic bone remodelling evident in periodontal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthropathies and osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.948-953
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• 2010

In this study, degradation of estrone (E1) and $17{\alpha}$-ethynylestradiol (EE2) by gamma-irradiation and subsequent reduction of estrogenic activity as a function of absorbed dose were conducted using the yeast two-hybrid assay. Relative potency of E1 and EE2 compared to estrogenic activity of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) was found to be 0.0144 and 0.1605, respectively. More than 90% of E1 and EE2 (both $5.0{\times}10^{-6}M$) was removed at an absorbed dose of 5 kGy, but more than 40% of estrogenic activity still remained. The addition of $TiO_2$ catalyst appeared to improve the removal efficiency of E1 and decrease estrogenic activity while there was no significant effect for EE2. Additionally, the calculated estrogenic activity of E1 and EE2 based on a regression model was well correlated with the observed activity.