• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.552-557
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• 2007

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone that is primarily synthesized by the ventricular cardiac myocytes. Increased plasma BNP levels have been observed in patients suffering with congestive heart failure, ventricular hypertrophy and myocaridits and also during heart transplantation rejection. We investigated the serum BNP level as a predictive marker for rejection after heart transplantation. Material and Method: To test the usefulness of measuring the BNP level in cardiac transplant patients, consecutive blood samplings for BNP, right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies, hemodynamic measurements and transthoracic echocardiogram were all done in 10 such patients between January 2004 and August 2005 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Asan Medical Center. Two groups were identified with using the median value: the low BNP group (n=28, BNP: ${\le}290$ pg/mL) and the high BNP group (n=29, BNP: >290 pg/mL). We retrospectively analyzed rejection, the ejection fraction, tricuspid regurgitation, left ventricular hypertrophy, the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and the right atrial pressure between the 2 groups. Result: There were no differences in age, gender, rejection, the ejection fraction, tricuspid regurgitation, left ventricular hypertrophy and the right atrial pressure between the 2 groups (p>0.05). However, a higher pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and a higher mean pulmonary atrial pressure were observed in the high BNP group (p<0.05). Further, BNP has linear correlation with the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r=0.590, p<0.001). Using the cut-off value of 620 pg/mL, the BNP predicted a high PCWP (>12 mmHg) with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 91.1% (AUC: $0.900{\pm}0.045$, p<0.001). Conclusion: The BNP level after heart transplantation does not show any significant correlation with rejection, yet it might be a predictive marker of ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of embryo sources such as in vivo vs. in vitro produced blastocyst, and culture systems on the membrane permeability and viability of bovine blastocyst following GMP vitrification. To produce in vivo embryos, six cows were superovulated by administration of follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$(PG $F_{2{\alpha}}$). in vitro embryos were produced by two different culture systems, oviduct co-culture (OCS) and defined culture system (HECM-6; DCS). Ovaries were picked up at a local slaughterhouse and transported to laboratory in 3$0^{\circ}C$ saline within 2 h. Ovaries were washed with same saline three times and then placed in saline on warm plate adjusted at 3$0^{\circ}C$ during aspiration. The blastocysts produced were assigned for membrane permeability and viability following GMP vitrification. The membrane permeability of blastocysts was checked in 0.5 M sucrose solution on warm plate at 35$^{\circ}C$ for 0, 2, 5 and 7 min, respectively. Then the diameters (width and length) of embryo cytoplasms were measured by a eyepiece meter, and they were converted to their volume by 4/3 $\pi$ $r^3$. The blastocysts were cryopreserved by GMP vitrification method, where they were sequentially placed into vitrification solution before being loaded into GMP vessels and immersed into L$N_2$ within 20 to 25 sec. Post-thaw blastocysts were serially washed in 0.25 and 0.15 M sucrose in HM and TCM-199 for 5 min each, and then cultured in TCM 199 supplemented with 10% FCS for 24 or 48 h. The volume change of in vivo blastocyst at 0, 2, 5 and 7 min (100, 37.1, 34.3 and 31.6%) was significantly more shrunk than those of in vitro blastocysts derived from OCS (100, 59.8, 48.9, 47.9%) and DCS (100, 57.2, 47.3 and 46.9%) (P＜0.05). The viability of post-thaw blastocyst derived from in vivo (93.6%) was also significantly different from those in OCS and DCS (81.9 and 83.6%; P＜0.05). In the present culture system, the morphology of embryos produced in vitro was similar to that of in vivo embryos, but the quality in membrane permeability and post-thaw viability showed a big difference from their sources as in vivo or in vitro derived from OCS and DCS. The results indicated that the quality of in vivo embryos in membrane permeability and post-thaw viability was better than those of in vitro embryos derived from OCS or DCS.

• 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.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2007

Vinclozolin(VCZ), a systemic dicarboximide fungicide, has been used in the control of diseases caused by microorganism of some species in fruits, vegatables and ornamental plants. Although VCZ itself is a very weak antagonist for androgen receptor binding, both melabolites M1 and M2 are effective antagonists. The present study was undertaken to examine whether prepubertal exposure to VCZ affects on the onset of puberty and the associated reproductive parameters such as hormone receptor expressions in female rats. VCZ(10 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 21(PND 21) through the day when the first vaginal opening(V.O.) was observed. Gross anatomy and weight of reproductive tissues were compared to test the VCZ's effects on the cell proliferation. Furthermore, histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes in progesterone receptor(PR), total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). As a result, delayed V.O. was shown in the VCZ group(PND $34.00{\pm}1.22$) compared to the control group(PND $38.20{\pm}1.92$; p<0.01). VCZ treatment significantly decreased the wet weight of ovaries and uteri compared to the control group(p<0.01). Graafian follicles and corpora lutea were observed only in the ovaries from the control animals, while numerous primary, secondary follicles and small atretic follicles were observed in the ovaries from VCZ group. Similarly, hypotrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelium was found in the VCZ group. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the transcriptional activity of PR in ovary(p<0.01) from VCZ group were significantly lower than those from the control group while in uterus were similar compared with the control group. The present studies demonstrated that the acute exposure to VCZ during the critical period of prepubertal stage could inactivate the reproductive system resulting delayed puberty in female rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2011

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is hormonal imbalance condition as the endocrine and metabolic disorder that induces the infertility and various complications in reproductive age women. Estradiol valerate (EV) is used hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women and is reported that excessive administration of EV induces the PCOS. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the factor to regulate the survival and maturation of developing neuronal cell and is also synthesized in ovary. And NGF is overexpressed in EV-induced polycystic ovary (PCO) as previously reported. Therefore, this study examined the possibility of NGF as can be used the biological marker in diagnosis of PCOS, the hormonal imbalance condition, using PCO and CHO (chinese hamster ovarian) cell lines. The concentration of EV treatment is optimized a 1 mg as not influence on the proliferation of CHO cell but 2 mg and 3 mg of EV treatment have the inhibition effect at initial stage. The morphological change was not observed in CHO cell after dose dependent manner treatment of EV. Expression of NGF mRNA and protein is significantly increased at 30 min after EV treatment in CHO cells compared to that of control. And NGF protein expression is strongly increased in PCO tissue, which observed many follicular cysts compared to normal ovary tissue. Taken together, overexpression of NGF may be act as a molecule to induce an abnormal development of follicle, suggesting that NGF can be used as a biological marker in diagnosis of PCOS.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2010

The principal objective of this study was to investigate the cooling effects of geothermal heat pump system (GHPS) in farrowing house. A total of 96 sows were allocated to 2 pig housings (GHPS and conventional housing) with 48 for four weeks in summer season. During the experimental period of four weeks, the highest outside temperature observed was approximately $34.1^{\circ}C$, GHPS decrease indoor temperature of pig housing up to $30.9^{\circ}C$, but conventional pig housing was similar to outside temperature. Dust concentrations (maximum 61.4%) of particulate matter less than $10{\mu}m$ (PM 10) in GHPS-housing were lower than the conventional housing. GHPS showed no signigicant difference in carbon dioxide emission, whereas the ammonia gas concentration was significantly decreased in GHPS-housing compared to that of conventional housing. Sows in GHPS-housing showed significantly lower respiratory rate than those of the control group. GHPS did not affect hormone level, litter size and birth weight, but weaning weight of piglets was influenced by GHPS. Feed consumption of sows was significantly increased in GHPS-housing compared to the conventional hosing. These results suggest that GHPS decrease dust concentration, ammonia gas emission and indoor temperature of pig housing and may affect performance in sows and weaned piglets.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2232-2239
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• 2012

This study set out to investigate the effects of the same amount of resting(30 minutes) after $VO_2max$ 20%, 40%, and 60% exercise on the variation of cortisol and catecholamine, serum stress hormones. The research efforts led to the following conclusions: First, there were no significant differences in serum cortisol concentration between the $VO_2max$ 20% group and the $VO_2max$ 40% group, but there were some significant differences in the significance level of p=.002 in the $VO_2max$ 60% group. Second, there were no significant differences in serum catecholamine concentration between the $VO_2max$ 20% group and the $VO_2max$ 40% group, but there were some significant differences in the significance level of p=.001 in the $VO_2max$ 60% group. Third, no significant differences were found in the changing rates of serum cortisol concentration between right after exercise and during break among different levels of exercise intensity according to measuring time. Fourth, there were significant differences in the changing rates of serum catecholamine concentration in the significance level of p=.000 right after exercise and in the significance level of p=.034 during break In short, there were significant differences only in the $VO_2max$ 60% group according to exercise intensity when the different groups took the same amount of break after exercise. The $VO_2max$ 60% group was also the only group that showed significant differences in the changing rates of cortisol and catecholamine. In conclusion, taking a break after exercise can generate huge effects only when the exercise intensity level is moderate or higher. That is, taking a break will have no significant effects when the exercise intensity level is lower than moderate.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

In boars, unlike the cases in males of other species, gonadal hormones suppress voluntary feed intake. for this reason, barrows, compared with gilts or boars, eat too much feed resulting in excessive fat deposition. Two experiments were performed in the present study to investigate the effects of implantation of Revalor H[Experiment(Exp.) I: 140mg trenbolone acetate(a synthetic androgen) + 14mg estradiol-$17\beta(E_{2}\beta)$] and Compudose(Exp. II; 24mg $E_{2}\beta$) on growth efficiency, carcass characteristics and circulating concentrations of IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3(IGFBP-3). In Exp. I, sixty-four cross-bred finishing barrows weighing approximately 60kg were randomly divided into eight pens under a 2[control vs Revalor implant] $\times$ 2(ad libitum vs $80\%$ ad libitum feeding) $\times$2[control($103\%$ NRC-recommended level) vs low-energy($87\%$ NRC recommendation) diet] arrangement of treatments. In Exp. II, effects of Compudose were studied using 80 finishing barrows(10 animals/pen). In both Exps., all the animals were slaughtered at 100- to 110-kg body weight. Both Revalor and Compudose implants caused a decrease in feed intake and backfat thickness without affecting major physicochemical characteristics of the carcass and an increase in circulating IGF-I concentration. Moreover, Revalor implant exhibited greater effects than restricted feeding, low-energy diet, or Compudose in these variables. In addition, Revalor implantation suppressed weight gain, but enhanced the feed efficiency without exhibiting any interaction with the diet or feeding. In summary, results suggest that 1) both androgen and estrogen suppress voluntary feed intake and backfat deposition and enhance IGF-I secretion and 2) these effects of the gonadal steroid hormones in growth are likely to be mediated, in part, by IGF-I in finishing barrows.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of selenium feeding and supplementation in diet on the concentration of selenium in blood and velvet antler of spotted deer(Sika deer). Three spotted deer were fed high selenium concentration(6mg/kg DM). Absorption and retention rates of selenium were examined by evaluating selenium concentrations in feces and urine. Stress-related hormones and serum biochemical parameters in blood were also evaluated for the purpose of detecting any negative effect by the high level of selenium feeding. Eight spotted deers were randomly assigned to two groups and were fed with one of two diets for 20 days, which were with or without the addition of 6mg selenium /kg diet. Concentration of selenium in velvet antler was evaluated. Selenium concentration in blood of spotted deer fed high level selenium for 30 days was significantly increased(p<0.05), retention rate of selenium reached 59.15%. No differences in level of stress-related hormone and biochemical parameters(NEFA, ALT, AST) in blood were observed by feeding high level selenium. The diet with selenium significantly increased concentrations of selenium in top(0.11 vs 0.45ppm; p<0.001), middle(0.08 vs 0.21ppm; p<0.01) and basepart(0.08 vs 0.15ppm; p<0.05) of velvet antler.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.318-327
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Trinexapac-ethyl is a plant growth regulator (PGR) that inhibits the biosynthesis of plant growth hormone (gibberellin). It is used for the prevention of lodging, increasing yields of cereals, and reducing mowing of turf. The experiment was conducted to establish a determination method for trinexapac-ethyl and its metabolites trinexapac in agricultural products using LC-MS/MS.METHODS AND RESULTS: Trinexapac-ethyl and trinexapac were extracted from agricultural products with methanol/ distilled water and the extract was partitioned with dichloromethane and then detected by LC-MS/MS. Limit of detection(LOD) was 0.003 mg/kg and limit of quantification(LOQ) was 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. Matrix matched calibration curves were linear over the calibration ranges (0.01-1.0 mg/L) for all the analytes into blank extract withr²> 0.997. For validation purposes, recovery studies were carried out at three different concentration levels (LOQ, 10LOQ, 50LOQ,n=5). Recoveries of trinexapacethyl and trinexapac were within the range of 73.6-106.9%, 72.7-99.2%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 9.0%. All values were consistent with the criteria ranges requested in the CODEX guideline(CAC/GL 40, 2003).CONCLUSION: The proposed analytical method was accurate, effective and sensitive for trinexapac-ethyl and trinexapac determination and it can be used to as an official method in Korea.