• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, erythrocyte micronucleus test of pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts was conducted in order to up-cycling to a high value-added industry using by-products discarded in the production process of Schisandra chinensis products and active ingredients such as dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans in Schisandra chinensis. Methods : The micronucleus test was performed according to the 'OECD Guidelines'. Including the negative control group(0 mg/kg) and the positive control group(CPA 70 mg/kg), pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts were orally administered to ICR mouse at doses of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg. After sacrificing the experimental animals bone marrow cells were collected and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte were counted. And genetic toxicity was confirmed according to the frequency of micronucleus. Results : As a result of the micronucleus test, there were no changes in body weight, clinical signs, or death in any group. But, a significant increase was observed in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte among polychromatic erythrocytes in the positive control group administered with CPA compared to the negative control group(p<0.05). Whereas, no significant increase was observed in the group administered with pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts compared to the negative control group. Conclusions : Pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts did not induce micronucleus in bone marrow cells of ICR mouse up to a concentration of 2,000 mg/kg, and it was judged that no genetic toxicity was observed.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, acute oral toxicity test of pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts was conducted in order to up-cycling to a high value-added industry using by-products discarded in the production process of Schisandra chinensis products and active ingredients such as dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans in Schisandra chinensis. Methods : Pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts were orally administered to SD-rats(female, n=3) without a control group according to the 'OECD guidelines'. After, mortality and clinical signs were observed, and the deceased animals were subjected to an autopsy. In addition, acute oral toxicity test was sequentially performed in step I (300 mg/kg), step II(300 mg/kg), step III(2,000 mg/kg), and step IV(2,000 mg/kg) according to the mortality. Results : There were no abnormalities caused by pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts in step I and step II. However, one animal each died in step III and step IV. In addition, clinical signs(salivation, decrease in food intake, prone position, decrease of locomotor activity, loss of locomotor activity, convulsion, hypothermia, lacrimation, staining around mouth, soiled perineal region, reddish urine, chromaturia, decrease of fecal volume, lying on side, blackish stool, no stool, compound-colored stool, refusal to feed, excitement, hypersensitivity, rigidity, dorsal position, etc.) were observed. But, no clinical signs were observed from 5th day, and experiment animals recovered completely. Conclusions : As a result of this study, pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts may exhibit acute toxicity at concentrations of 2,000 to 5,000 mg/kg, and the GHS classification was designated as 'Category 5'.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.141-155
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• 2022

Rock bream iridovirus (RBIV) causes high mortality and economic losses in the rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) aquaculture industry in Korea. Viral open reading frames (ORFs) expression profiling at different RBIV infection stages was investigated using microarray approaches. Rock bream were exposed to the virus and held for 7 days at 23 ℃ before the water temperature was reduced to 17 ℃. Herein, 28% mortality was observed from 24 to 35 days post infection (dpi), after which no mortality was observed until 70 dpi (end of the experiment). A total of 27 ORFs were significantly up- or down-regulated after RBIV infection. In RBIV-infected rock bream, four viral genes were expressed after 2 dpi. Most RBIV ORFs (26 genes, 96.2%) were significantly elevated between 7 and 20 dpi. Among them, 12 ORF (44.4%) transcripts reached their peak expression intensity at 15 dpi, and 14 ORFs (51.8%) were at peak expression intensity at 20 dpi. Expression levels began to decrease after 25 dpi, and 92.6% of ORFs (25 genes) were expressed below 1-fold at 70 dpi. From the microarray data, in addition to the viral infection, viral gene expression profiles were categorized into three infection stages, namely, early (2 dpi), middle (7 to 20 dpi), and recovery (25 and 70 dpi). RBIV ORFs 009R, 023R, 032L, 049L, and 056L were remarkably expressed during RBIV infection. Furthermore, six ORFs (001L, 013R, 052L, 053L, 058L, and 061L) were significantly expressed only at 20 dpi. To verify the cDNA microarray data, we performed quantitative real-time PCR, and the results were similar to that of the microarray. Our results provide novel observations on broader RBIV gene expression at different stages of infection and the development of control strategies against RBIV infection.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.1144-1172
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• 2022

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolate HJL777 is a virulent bacterial strain in pigs. The high rate of salmonella infection are at high risk of non-typhoidal salmonella gastroenteritis development. Salmonellosis is most common in young pigs. We investigated changes in gut microbiota and biological function in piglets infected with salmonella via analysis of rectal fecal metagenome and intestinal transcriptome using 16S rRNA and RNA sequencing. We identified a decrease in Bacteroides and increase in harmful bacteria such as Spirochaetes and Proteobacteria by microbial community analysis. We predicted that reduction of Bacteroides by salmonella infection causes proliferation of salmonella and harmful bacteria that can cause an intestinal inflammatory response. Functional profiling of microbial communities in piglets with salmonella infection showed increasing lipid metabolism associated with proliferation of harmful bacteria and inflammatory responses. Transcriptome analysis identified 31 differentially expressed genes. Using gene ontology and Innate Immune Database analysis, we identified that BGN, DCN, ZFPM2 and BPI genes were involved in extracellular and immune mechanisms, specifically salmonella adhesion to host cells and inflammatory responses during infection. We confirmed alterations in gut microbiota and biological function during salmonella infection in piglets. Our findings will help prevent disease and improve productivity in the swine industry.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was conducted to examine whether Toosendan Fructus has an ameliorative effect on diabetes-induced alterations such as oxidative stress and inflammation in the pancreas of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of human type I diabetes. Methods : Extracts of Toosendan Fructus (ETF) were administered to NOD mice at three doses (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg). Mice at 18 weeks of age were measured glucose tolerance using intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. After 28 weeks of ETF treatment, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and proinflammatory cytokines in serum, western blot analyses and a histopathological examination in pancreas tissue, and on the onset of diabetes were investigated. Results : The results showed that levels of glucose, glucose tolerance, TC, TG, interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-1 ${\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-12 in serum were down-regulated, while IL-4, IL-10, SOD, and catalase significantly increased. In addition, ETF improved protein expression of proinflammatory mediaters (such as cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and a proapoptotic protein (caspase-3) in the pancreatic tissue. Also, in the groups treated with ETF (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg), insulitis and infiltration of granulocytes were alleviated. Conclusions : Based on these results, the anti-diabetic effect of ETF may be due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Our findings support the therapeutic evidence for Toosendan Fructus ameliorating the development of diabetic pancreatic damage via regulating inflammation and apoptosis. Our future studies will be focused on the search for active compounds in these extracts.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2723-2733
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• 2023

Transuranic nuclides (such as ²³⁸Pu, ²⁵²Cf, ²⁴⁹Bk, etc.) have a wide range of application in industry, medicine, agriculture, and other fields. However, due to the complex conversion chain and remarkable fission losses in the process of transuranic nuclides production, the generation amounts are extremely low. High flux reactor with high neutron flux and flexible irradiation channels, is regarded as the promising candidate for producing transuranic nuclides. It is of great significance to increase the conversion ratio of transuranic nuclides, resulting in higher efficiency and better economy. In this paper, we perform an optimization design evaluation of producing transuranic nuclides in high flux reactor, which includes optimization design of irradiation target and influence study of reactor core loading. It is demonstrated that the production rate increases with appropriately determined target material and target structure. The target loading scheme in the irradiation channel also has a significant influence on the production of transuranic nuclides.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.935-944
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• 2021

It has been suggested that bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, interferes with the endocrine system, causing reproductive dysfunction. Recently, BPA has been found in waste water due to incomplete sewage purification, possibly threatening health through its ingestion via tap water. In this study, young male mice (6 - 7 weeks old) were administered water containing BPA (50 mg·kg^-1) for four weeks, while control mice consumed water without BPA. Serum, epididymal spermatozoa and testicular sections were assessed after sacrificing the mice on day 28. No significant differences were obtained between the groups in the body, testis and seminal vesicle weights. However, the epididymal sperm motility and count levels were significantly reduced in BPA-fed mice. Significantly higher hepatotoxicity levels were also observed in mice ingesting BPA as compared to the control mice. The level of serum testosterone was reduced, and testicular sections revealed incomplete and irregular spermatogenesis in BPA-ingested mice. The sperm proteasomal-proteolytic activity level has been implicated in sperm function and is measured in motile spermatozoa using fluorometric substrates. High ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase activity levels were observed in the control mice without BPA. During a mating trial, a low pregnancy rate (71.4%) was observed in females mated with males who had consumed BPA (100% in the control mice). Overall, BPA adversely affected spermatogenesis and quality, as indicated by decreased sperm motility, concentration and serum testosterone levels, resulting in reduced fertility competence.

• The Journal of Health Technology Assessment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2013

Objectives: Balancing benefits and risks through the drug life cycle has been discussed for many decades. The objective of this study was to review the processes and tools currently proposed for benefit-risk assessment of medicinal drugs. It aimed to establish scientific and efficient drug safety management system based on the synthetic analysis of benefit-risk evidence. Methods: We conducted a review of exiting literatures published by regulatory agencies or initiatives. Not only quantitative methodologies but also qualitative method were compared to understand their key characteristics for the benefit and risk assessment of drugs. Results: Recently, benefit-risk assessments have more structured approaches to decision making as part of regulatory science. Regulatory agencies such as European Medicines Agency, FDA have prepared plans to apply benefit-risk assessment to regulatory decision making. Also many initiatives such as IMI (Innovative Medicine Initiative) have conducted research and published reports about benefit-risk assessment. For benefit-risk assessment, four kinds of methods are necessary. Frameworks such as BRAT (Benefit Risk Action Team) framework, PrOACT-URL provide guidance for the whole process of decision-making. Metrics are measurements of risk benefit. The estimation techniques are methods to synthesis and combine evidences from various sources. The utility survey techniques are necessary to explicit preferences of various outcome from stakeholders. Conclusion: There is the lack of widely accepted, validated model for benefit-risk assessment. Nor there is an agreement among academia, industry, and government on methods for the quantitative valuation. It is also limited by available evidence and underlying assumptions. Nevertheless, benefit-risk assessment is fundamental to improve transparency, consistency and predictability for decision making through the structured systematic approaches.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.403-408
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• 2023

Mullet is an important marine aquaculture fish species in Korea, with a total of 7,237 tons produced as of 2022, making it the 5th most produced marine aquaculture fish species. In this study, ectoparasites presumed to be isopods were discovered in the fins of farmed flathead grey mullet (average weight 550 g), and the characteristics of the parasites were confirmed. The length of the parasite was 5 to 18 mm, and 3 to 7 parasites were infected per fish. To analyze the characteristics of the parasites, molecular biological identification and phylogenetic analysis were performed using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and it was confirmed to be most closely related to Nerocila japonica in the Cymothoidae family. To confirm the parasite control effect, a direct exposure drug sensitivity test was conducted on five types of aquatic drugs and fresh water, trichlorfon was confirmed to be effective.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.18.1-18.27
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• 2024

Mastitis is one of the most widespread infectious diseases that adversely affects the profitability of the dairy industry worldwide. Accurate diagnosis and identification of pathogens early to cull infected animals and minimize the spread of infection in herds is critical for improving treatment effects and dairy farm welfare. The major pathogens causing mastitis and pathogenesis are assessed first. The most recent and advanced strategies for detecting mastitis, including genomics and proteomics approaches, are then evaluated. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, potential research directions, and future perspectives are reported. This review provides a theoretical basis to help veterinarians select the most sensitive, specific, and cost-effective approach for detecting bovine mastitis early.