• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 2017

Sulfites are used as food preservatives and excessive sulfite might disturb the body systems including the brain. Curcumin shows protective effects on the nervous system toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective role of curcumin in sulfite-induced anxiety in rats. Male rats were divided into five groups. The rats in groups I to V received distilled water (vehicle of sulfite, 1 mL/d), olive oil (vehicle of curcumin, 1 mL/d), curcumin (100 mg/kg/d), sulfite (25 mg/kg/d), and sulfite+curcumin, respectively, by daily gastric gavage for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks the rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze for anxiety. The results showed that concomitant treatment of curcumin during sulfite consumption prevented the reduction of the time spent in the open arm and entrance to the open arm (the indexes of anxiety). Besides, an increase was found in motor activity of the rats in the sulfite+curcumin group compared to the sulfite-treated animals. Exposure of sulfite in rats can induce anxiety, and curcumin can act as an anti-anxiety agent.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.266-275
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• 2015

Exposure to cadmium (Cd) has harmful effects on the liver and kidney. Resveratrol (RES) is an herbal substance that functions as a protective mediator. This study aimed to investigate the effects of RES on the histology of liver and kidney in Cd-exposed mice. Male mice were divided into 4 groups daily receiving normal saline (1 mL normal saline/d), Cd (1 mg/kg/d), RES (20 mg/kg/d), and Cd plus RES, respectively. After 4 weeks, the liver and kidney components were evaluated using stereological methods. The total volume and number of hepatocytes, and volume of fibrous tissue were respectively increased by 34%, 58%, and a 3-fold in the Cd-exposed mice in comparison to the control animals (P<0.03). On the other hand, the volume of the main vasculature (sinusoids and central veins) was decreased by 36% in the Cd group compared to the control mice (P<0.03). Considering the kidney, the results showed a 3-fold increase in the total glomeruli volume and a 7-fold increase in fibrous tissue in the Cd-treated group compared to the control mice (P<0.03). After Cd treatment, a 32% reduction was observed in the volume and length of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules. RES-treatment alone did not induce any structural changes. In comparison to the Cd group, an increase in the normal components of the liver and kidney and a decrease in the formation of the fibrous and degenerated tissues were observed in the Cd+RES-treated mice (P<0.03).

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.339-344
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• 2007

Statement of problem. Various anodic oxidation techniques can be applied to dental implant surfaces. But the condition for optimal anodized surfaces has not been described yet. Purpose. The purpose of this investigation was to compare an implant that was oxidized by another method with $TiUnite^{TM}$ through resonance frequency analysis and histomorphometry. Material and methods. Turned (control), $TiUnite^{TM}$ and another oxidized fixtures, which used $Ca^{2+}$ solution for anodic oxidation, were placed in the tibiae of 5 New Zealand White rabbits. The bone responses were evaluated and compared by consecutive resonance frequency analysis once a week for 6 weeks and histomorphometry after a healing period of 6 weeks. Results. At the first week, both oxidized implants showed significantly higher implant stability quotient (ISQ) values than the control. No significant differences in resonance frequency analysis were found between the two oxidized groups for 6 weeks. The means and standard deviations of bone-to-implant contact (BIC) ratios were $71.0{\pm}4.2$ for $TiUnite^{TM}$, $67.5{\pm}10.3$ for the $Ca^{2+}$-based oxidation fixture, $22.8{\pm}6.5$ for the control. Both oxidized implants were significantly superior in osseointegration to the turned one. There was, however, no statistically significant difference between the two oxidized implants. Conclusion. $TiUnite^{TM}$ and the $Ca^{2+}$-based oxidation fixture showed superior early bone response than the control with respect to resonance frequency analysis and histomorphometry. No significant differences between the oxidized groups, however, were found in this investigation using the rabbit tibia model.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2023

Objective: Sleep deprivation (SD) is a common problem in today's stressful lifestyle and have physiological consequences, including reproductive dysfunction and infertility. As an antioxidant, olive oil may be effective in reducing testicular and spermatological damage by decreasing the production of free radicals. Methods: This study investigated the effects of olive oil on sperm quality and testicular structure using stereological methods to assess rats with SD. Results: When comparing SD group to grid floor+distilled water (GR) group, we found that the sperm count and motility, as well as the percentage of slow progressive sperm was significantly lower in SD group (p<0.05), but the percentage of immotile sperm was higher (p<0.01). However, no improvement was observed in sperm count or motility after concomitant treatment of SD group with olive oil. Stereological examinations revealed no significant change in the total volumes of the seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissue, and germinal epithelium in the study groups. Conversely, the total number of testicular cell types was significantly lower in SD group than in GR group. Although the total number of Sertoli and Leydig cells was significantly higher in the S +olive oil group than in the untreated SD group, no significant difference in the total number of other testicular cell types was observed between the two groups. Conclusion: SD potentially induced structural changes in testis that affected sperm count and motility. However, olive oil only improved the total number of Sertoli and Leydig cells in the animals with SD and did not improve sperm count and motility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2024

Objective: Hypothyroidism (HT) influences spermatogenesis and is associated with male infertility. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a biological product rich in growth factors, promotes tissue repair. In this study, the likely protective effects of PRP on testicular tissue damage in carbimazole (CBZ)-induced HT were evaluated. Methods: Forty male rats were divided into four groups. HT was induced by administering CBZ (1.35 mg/kg orally, for 45 days). Two doses of PRP (40 µL each, locally injected into the testis on days 15 and 30) were also given. After 45 days, blood samples were taken from the heart to measure triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and testosterone levels, and semen analysis was performed. For stereological assessment, the left testis was removed, fixed, embedded, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The right testis was excised to evaluate antioxidant levels. Results: CBZ was demonstrated to induce HT, characterized by significant reductions in T3 and T4. HT was associated with decreased testicular weight, impaired sperm parameters, reduced testosterone concentration, diminished antioxidant activity, reduced volumes of testicular components, and lower total numbers of testicular cells of various types. When HT samples were treated with PRP, improvement was observed for all of these changes. This protective effect could be attributed to the growth factors present in PRP. Conclusion: PRP appears to prevent the structural changes in the testes and the deterioration in sperm quality caused by CBZ-induced HT. This protective effect is likely due to mitigation of oxidative damage and elevation of testosterone levels.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.175-184
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium (CM) derived from endometrial stromal cells on mouse preantral follicle culture in a two-dimensional system to produce competent mature oocytes for fertilization. Methods: In total, 240 preantral follicles were isolated from female mouse ovarian tissue and divided into four groups. The preantral follicles were isolated three times for each group and then cultured, respectively, in the presence of alpha minimum essential medium (control), PRP, CM, and PRP+CM. The in vitro growth, in vitro maturation, and cleavage percentage of the preantral follicles were investigated. Immunocytochemistry (IHC) was also conducted to monitor the meiotic progression of the oocytes. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of the two folliculogenesis-related genes (Gdf9 and Bmp15) and two apoptosis-related genes (Bcl2 and Bax) were investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: In the PRP, CM, and PRP+CM groups, the preantral follicle maturation (evaluated by identifying polar bodies) were greater than the control group. The cleavage rate in the CM, and PRP+CM groups were also greater than the control group. IHC analysis demonstrated that in each treatment group, meiotic spindle was normal. In the PRP+CM group, the gene expression levels of Bmp15, Gdf9, and Bcl2 were greater than in the other groups. The Bax gene was more strongly expressed in the PRP and control groups than in the other groups. Conclusion: Overall, the present study suggests that the combination of CM and PRP can effectively increase the growth and cleavage rate of mouse preantral follicles in vitro.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.249-256
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• 2008

This experiment was conducted to investigate antitumor and immunomodulatory effects of Artemisia capillaris extracts against Hepa-lc1c7 and Sarcoma 180 cancer cells. In in vivo experimental tests using 210 ICR mice, on the $28^{th}$ day and the $42^{nd}$ day, all animals in vehicle controled HP (Hepa-lclc7 tumor cell inoculated vehicle control) and SP (Sarcoma 180 tumor cell inoculated vehicle control) showed tumor cells in the liver and spleen based on the histopathology. However, the incidences and the percentages of regions occupied by tumor cells were dramatically and dose-dependently decreased by mACH (Artemisia capillaris methanol extracts) treatment on the histomorphometry. Although the exact mechanism of inhibition of the incidences of tumor cells in the parenchyma whether inhibition of metastasis or proliferation is unclear, mACH dramatically reduce the percentages of regions occupied by tumor cells in the liver and spleen apart from the inoculation sites of Hepa-lclc7 and Sarcoma 180. In addition, they also effectively inhibit the abnormal changes on the kidney detected in the present study. The results suggest that Artemisia capillaris methanol extracts have prominent antitumor effects on the cancer cell lines Hepa-lclc7 and Sarcoma 180 m mice.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.128-141
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• 2005

Objective : This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Eucommiae Cortex on the osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods : We used Sprague-Dawley female rats in 8-week-old. They were divided into three groups. Sample group was ovariectomized and administered with 10 mg/100 g/day Eucommiae Cortex extract solution for 10 weeks. Control group was ovariectomized and sham group was conducted by sham's operation. And control group and sham group were administered with normal saline as the same way. We measured rats's body and uterus weight and also measured the serum levels of Ca, phosphorus and ALP. We stained the specimens of rat's tibial bones with Goldner's modified Masson's Trichrome and then examined bone histomorphometry with Bioquant computer program of image analysis system. We measured the thickness of osteoid and callus as static parameters and measured bone volume and mineral apposition rate as dynamic parameters. We observed the expressions of RANKL and OPG mRNA of the tibial bone by RT-PCR. Results : The body weight was significantly (p<0.05) increased in control and sample groups compared with sham group, respectively. The uterus weight was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in control and sample group compared with sham group. In the change of Ca, phosphorus and ALP there were no significant changes among three groups. There were no significant changes of trabecula cortical and osteoid bones' thickness and volume. But trabecula mineral apposition rate (MAR) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in sham and sample group compared with control group. In the expression of RANKL mRNA, sample group was decreased compared with control group, and in that of OPG mRNA, sample group was increased compared with control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Eucommiae Cortex has the beneficial effects on bone histomorphometry and metabolism in the ovariectomized rats. We suggest that Eucommiae Cortex be useful for the treatment of osteoporosis.

• 대한치과보철학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2004

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1325-1329
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• 2003

The preventive effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts (SMEs) on the progress of bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) was studied in rats. We measured body weight and bone histomorphometry in sham, OVX or SMEs-administered OVX rats. From light microscopic analyses, a porous or erosive appearances were observed on the surface of trabecular bone of tibia in OVX rats, whereas those of the same bone in sham rats and in SMEs-administered rats were composed of fine particles. The trabecular bone area and trabecular thickness in OVX rats decreased by 50% from those in sham rats, these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of SMEs for 7 weeks. In this study, the mechanical strength in femur neck was significantly enhanced by the treatment of SMEs for 7 weeks. In OVX rats, free T3 was normal in all cases, whereas free T4 was significantly increased. Although there was no difference between OVX and SMEs-administered rats in T3 level, we have found significant difference between them in T4 level. These results strongly suggest that SMEs are effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by OVX in rats.