• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.235-241
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• 2020

We aimed to determine the effect of timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols on the pregnancy rate per insemination and pregnancy loss compared with AI performed at detected estrus in dairy cows and Korean Hanwoo cattle under heat stress. In dairy cattle, 1,250 sets of data that underwent AI during heat stress (temperature-humidity index ≥ 72) were categorized according to their TAI protocols or as controls: 1) PGF_2α-36 h-estradiol benzoate (EB)-36 h-TAI (PG-EB group, n = 113); 2) GnRH-7 days-PGF_2α-56 h-GnRH-16 h-TAI (Ovsynch group, n = 455); or 3) GnRH-6 days-Ovsynch (G6G group, n = 136). The remaining cows underwent AI at detected estrus (AIDE group, n = 546). The probability of pregnancy per AI 45 days after AI was higher (P < 0.01) in the PG-EB (odds ratio [OR]: 1.68), Ovsynch (OR: 1.48), and G6G (OR: 1.79) groups than in the AIDE group. However, the prevalence of pregnancy loss between 30 and 45 days after AI did not differ among the groups. In Hanwoo cattle, 617 sets of data inseminated artificially under heat stress were categorized into AIDE (n = 281), PG-EB (n = 194), and combined Ovsynch or G6G (n = 142) groups. The probability of pregnancy per AI 45 days after AI and the prevalence of pregnancy loss between 30 and 45 days after AI did not differ among the groups. Thus, implementation of a TAI protocol (PG-EB, Ovsynch, or G6G) in dairy cows under heat stress improves the pregnancy rate per AI versus AIDE, whereas there is no beneficial effect of TAI on the pregnancy rate of Hanwoo cattle under heat stress.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the stimulating effect on oocyte maturation and cumulus cell expansion in TC199 media by human cord serum (HCS) supplementation. Immature mouse oocyte cumulus complexes (OCCs) were cultured in TC199 media supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA), HCS and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) instead of luteinizing hormone (LH) respectively, and the expression of cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation were observed. After 4hr and 24hr culture with or without OCCs, media containing 0.4% BSA, 10% HCS and 10 IV hCG respectively were collected and analyzed for changing concentrations of estradiol $(E_2)$, progesterone $(P_4)$, testosterone (T), and $PGF_{2\alpha}$. There were no elevation of $E_2$, T, and $PGF_{2\alpha}$ by OCCs culture, but minute elevation of $P_4$ level by 24hr OCCs culture in hCG supplementation (p=0.048). The stimulating pattern of cumulus expansion of OCCs by HCS and hCG supplementation was similar to our previously report using Ham's F-10 media, however oocyte maturation rates after 24hr OCCs culture in all media were increased by $20\sim30%$ compared to Ham's F-10 media. These results suggest that LH in HCS induce cumulus expansion probably by $P_4$ secretion of OCCs, and TC199 is efficient media for immature mouse oocyte maturation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the action of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the motility of immature pig uterine smooth muscle. ATP appeared contractile responses in a dose-dependent manner, showing the maximal contraction at the concentration of $10^{-3}M$ in the uterine smooth muscle strip. The contractile responses by $ATP(10^{-4}M)$ were not affected by atropine $(10^{-6}M)$, phentolamine $(10^{-6}M)$, propranolol $(10^{-6}M)$, pyrilamine $(10^{-6}M)$, cimetidine $(10^{-6}M)$, and theophyulline $(5{\times}10^{-5}M)$, but were inhibited uncompetitively by quinidine. The effects of these drugs on the contractile responses by prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ were also comparable to those observed with ATP. When muscle strips were pretreated with indomethacin $(5{\times}10^{-5}M)$ for 20 min., the contractile responses by $ATP(10^{-4}M)$ were completely inhibited. But the contractile responses by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were not affected by indomethacin. These results suggest that ATP elicited the contraction through noncholinergic- and nonadrenergic-receptor mediated by prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ in pig uterine smooth muscle.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.182-189
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• 2022

To evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea (PD), a literature review of a randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed where electroacupuncture was used as a treatment intervention in patients diagnosed with PD. Relevant clinical studies (N = 226) were retrieved from multiple databases according to the study inclusion/exclusion criteria, and interventions and outcomes were analyzed. As a result of the review, there were 6 RCTs which met the criteria. In all 4 studies that measured pain indicators (visual analog scales), electroacupuncture showed significantly positive changes. In addition, positive changes were observed in most indicators (MMDQ, PGF2a, PGE2, 6-keto PGF1, TXB2, clinical efficacy score, uterine arterial blood flow parameters, and blood viscosity). 2 studies showed that electroacupuncture had a stronger therapeutic effect than NSAIDs. No major side effects were reported. Electroacupuncture may be an effective and safe treatment for PD however, further RCTs are required.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.591-600
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• 2023

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a modified Double-Ovsynch protocol vs artificial insemination following estrus detection (AIED) for the enhancement of reproductive performance in Hanwoo cattle. Methods: Four hundred twelve Hanwoo cows were allocated to two treatment groups. The first group of cows were administered gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) on Day 36 (±0.6), prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) on Day 46 (8 to 12 days later), and GnRH on Day 49, which was followed by Ovsynch, consisting of an injection of GnRH on Day 56, PGF_2α on Day 63, and GnRH 56 h and timed AI (TAI) 16 h later (modified Double-Ovsynch group, n = 203). The second group of cows underwent AIED (AIED group, n = 209) and were designated as controls. Results: The pregnancy per AI 60 days after the first AI was higher in the modified Double-Ovsynch (68.5%) than in the AIED (56.5%) group, resulting in a higher probability of pregnancy per AI (odds ratio: 1.68, p<0.05). Moreover, cows in the modified Double-Ovsynch group were more likely (hazard ratio: 1.28, p<0.05) to be pregnant by 150 days after calving than cows in the AIED group, and this difference was associated with a lower mean number of AIs per conception (1.27 vs 1.39, p<0.05) and a shorter median interval between calving and pregnancy (72 vs 78 days, p<0.1). Conclusion: The modified Double-Ovsynch protocol, adjusted according to the herd visit schedule, can be readily used to increase the pregnancy per AI following the first AI and to shorten the interval between calving and pregnancy in beef herds.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.44.1-44.10
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• 2023

Tumor hypoxia, oxygen deprivation state, occurs in most cancers and promotes angiogenesis, enhancing the potential for metastasis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family genes play crucial roles in tumorigenesis by promoting angiogenesis. To investigate the malignant processes triggered by hypoxia-induced angiogenesis across pan-cancers, we comprehensively analyzed the relationships between the expression of VEGF family genes and hypoxic microenvironment based on integrated bioinformatics methods. Our results suggest that the expression of VEGF family genes differs significantly among various cancers, highlighting their heterogeneity effect on human cancers. Across the 33 cancers, VEGFB and VEGFD showed the highest and lowest expression levels, respectively. The survival analysis showed that VEGFA and placental growth factor (PGF) were correlated with poor prognosis in many cancers, including kidney renal cell and liver hepatocellular carcinoma. VEGFC expression was positively correlated with glioma and stomach cancer. VEGFA and PGF showed distinct positive correlations with hypoxia scores in most cancers, indicating a potential correlation with tumor aggressiveness. The expression of miRNAs targeting VEGF family genes, including hsa-miR-130b-5p and hsa-miR-940, was positively correlated with hypoxia. In immune subtypes analysis, VEGFC was highly expressed in C3 (inflammatory) and C6 (transforming growth factor β dominant) across various cancers, indicating its potential role as a tumor promotor. VEGFC expression exhibited positive correlations with immune infiltration scores, suggesting low tumor purity. High expression of VEGFA and VEGFC showed favorable responses to various drugs, including BLU-667, which abrogates RET signaling, an oncogenic driver in liver and thyroid cancers. Our findings suggest potential roles of VEGF family genes in malignant processes related with hypoxia-induced angiogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 1988

To delineate the mechanisms of vasoconstriction and vasodilation in cerebral arteries the effects of some vasoconstrictors and calcium antagonists on the basilar artery (BA) and arterial circle of Willis (WC) were examined and also the role of endothelium in the action of these drugs was investigated in pigs, cats and rabbits. In pig cerebral arteries, dose-dependent contractile responses were elicited by KCI, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and angiotensin, but norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine (PE) and epinephrine (EP) elicited dose-dependent contractions only under pretreatment with propranolol 10-6 M. The magnitudes of maximal contractile effects of these drugs were different from each other, and 5-H~ was the largest and angiotensin the smallest. Some calcium antagonists dose-dependently inhibited KCI (35 mM)-induced contraction and the order of potency in inhibiting the contraction was nifedipine > > diltiazem > flunarizine > oxybutynin > isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) > glyceryl trinitrate. 5-HT (10-6 M)-induced contraction was dosedependently inhibited by nifedipine but slightly inhibited by diltiazem and ISDN. In rings with intact endothelium, KCI (35 mM)-induced contraction was not affected by acetylcholine (ACh) but $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ (lO-SM)-induced contraction was dose-dependently relaxed by ACh and adenosine. This endothelium-dependent relaxation was not affected by nifedipine (l0-6M)-pretreatment but markedly inhibited by methylene blue (50,uM)-pretreatment. In the porcine arterial rings without endothelium, ACh had no effect or even contracted the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}-induced$ contraction. However, the dosedependent relaxing effect of ACh appeared when the deendothelized porcine ring and rabbit thoracic aorta with intact endotheli urn were simultaneously suspended into a bath and this relaxing effect was also inhibited by methylene blue-pretreatment. In cat cerebral arteries, 5-HT and NE elicited dose-dependent contractile responses and ACh also produced dose-dependent contraction regardless of the existence of endothelium. ACh-induced contraction was most prominent. 5-HT (IO-SM)induced contraction was not relaxed but contracted additionally by ACh even in the intact endothelial ring. In rabbit cerebral arteries, 5-HT and NE elicited dose-dependent contractile responses and 5-HT-induced contraction was more prominent. In the intact endothelial preparations, 5-HT (lO-s M)-induced contraction was markedly relaxed by the addition of ACh( IO-SM) and this endothelium-dependent relaxing effect was inhibited by atropine (l0-7M)-pretreatment but notaffected by diltiazem (l0-6M)-pretreatment. These results suggest that ACh elicits endotheliumdependent relaxing effect mediated by muscarinic receptors in cerebral arteries of pig and rabbit, and that ACh acts as vasoconstrictor in cat cerebral artery.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.127-131
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the effects of parity and season on the embryo production in superovulated Hanwoo cows. Superovulation was performed from 1 to 8 times by repeated superovulation treatment of Hanwoo cows (n = 22). Irrespective of estrous cycle, donor cows were received a CIDR, progesterone (50 mg) and estradiol benzoate (2.5 mg). After 4.5 days, the donor cows were superovulated with total 28AU FSH (Antorin R-10) administrated twice daily in a decreasing dose for 4 days. On $6^{th}$ and $7^{th}$ of FSH injection, 2.5 mg and 15 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ were injected i.m, respectively. CIDR was removed at the $7^{th}$ FSH injection. The donor cows received $200{\mu}g$GnRH at 48 hrs after $1^{st}$ $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The donor cows were artificially inseminated three times after estrous detection at 12 hr intervals and embryos were recovered 7 days after estrous detection. The mean number of total ova, transferrable embryos, degenerated embryos and unfertilized oocytes were $11.6{\pm}7.9$, $5.5{\pm}4.4$, $3.0{\pm}3.3$ and $2.6{\pm}4.1$ per donor cows, respectively. A higher number of total ova were recovered in parity 3~5 ($14.3{\pm}1.3$) than 1~2 ($8.9{\pm}1.9$, P<0.05). The number of recovered normal embryos is significantly higher in parity 3~5 ($7.3{\pm}0.8$) than that of over 6 ($3.7{\pm}1.5$). Significantly higher number of total ova and normal embryos were recovered in summer ($16.4{\pm}2.3$, $8.1{\pm}1.4$) than in autumn ($10.1{\pm}1.8$, $4.5{\pm}1.1$) and winter ($6.3{\pm}1.8$, $3.3{\pm}1.1$), respectively (P<0.05). Transferable embryos were significantly higher in summer ($7.6{\pm}1.3$) than in winter ($3.0{\pm}1.0$, P< 0.05). The results were showed that parity and season affecting on the production of embryos in superovulated Hanwoo.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.47-54
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• 1988

Cholesterol a component of all eucaryotic plasma membranes. is essential for the growth and viability of cells in higher organisms. However. too much cholesterol can be lethal because of atherosclerosis resulting from the deposition of cholesterol ester plaques. It was attempted in this study to understand the preventive effect of ginseng saponin. one of the major components of the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. against hypercholesterolemia induced by high cholesterol diet. $^{125}I-LDL$ was injected intravenously to rabbits and rats. which were fed a high cholesterol diet with and/or without ginseng saponin for 12 days. The disappearance of the radioactivity occurred faster in the test group than the control. The effect of saponin fraction from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and the purified ginsenosilks. $Rb_1,\;Rb_2,\;Re\;and\;Rg_1,$ on LDL receptor biosynthesis in high cholesterol fed rat has been investigated. Analysis of LDL receptors from various organs such as liver. kidney. adrenal cortex and testis showed that the population of LDL receptors of test group significantly higher than that of the control. It was also found that liver homogenate containing ginsenosides $(10^{-3}-10^{-4}\%)$ stimulated the biosynthesis of bile acid form cholesterol. From the above results. it seemed that ginsenosides lower the cholesterol level by stimulating cholesterol metabolism. which result in the suppression of the inhibitory action of cholesterol on LDL receptor biosynthesis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 1992

This experiment was carried out to study the behavior of the estrus cycle in sows shortened uterine horns and to see whether the embryos could be recovered nonsurgically. The uteri of sows(n=4) were surgically shortened. It took about 3 hours to surgically remove the middle section of both uterine horns. The lengths of the shortened uterine horns were 18.7 to 29.5cm. After treatment, two sows exhibited natural estrus and the intevals from surgery to estrus were 8 days and 15 days, respectively. But the sows were not successful on synchronization and superovulation with PMSG and PGF$_2$$\alpha$. In the resurgery for confirmative examination, the sows had 6 and 7 corpus lutelin in ovaries, respectively. One sow had a small adhesion between the infundibulum and ovary, and the other sow had unilateral uterine obstruction at the sutured position and purulent materials in the uterus.