• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.7.1-7.13
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• 2017

Background: Selenium is one of the trace minerals whose deficiency is known to lead to complications of female reproduction. The identified gaps in researches regarding selenium and pregnancy include optimizing the dosage of selenium supplementation, timing of supplementation, finding the best form and type of selenium, and selenium administration combined with other antioxidants. Hence, this study was conceptualized to address one of the identified gaps, that is, to find out the best timing of selenium administration around the time of pregnancy. Specifically, this study aimed to assess the effects of maternal Selenium-supplementation, administered at various stages of periconception period, on murine blastocyst morphology, percent occurrence of good quality blastocysts, and implantation status. Methods: ICR female mice were randomly assigned into the unsupplemented group (Group I) receiving basal diet without selenium, and treatment groups given with $3.0{\mu}g$ selenium-supplement per day during pregestation only (Group II), pregestation-throughout-gestation (Group III) and gestation only (Group IV). Both blastocyst morphology and implantation status were assessed. Results: The morphometric measurements of blastocysts appeared to be unaffected by selenium-supplementation at different stages of periconception. Selenium-supplementation at pregestation only (Group II) and gestation only (Group IV) produced higher percent occurrence of good quality blastocysts and lower percent pre-implantation loss than Group III. Among all the treatment groups, Group III (Selenium-supplementation during pregestation-to-gestation) yielded the lowest quality blastocysts and highest percent pre-implantation loss. Conclusion: Maternal selenium-supplementation during pregestation and gestation stages of the periconception period yielded a high percent occurrence of good quality blastocysts and pre-implantation success.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study has been undertaken to investigate the effects of Leonuri Sibirici Herba and Pruni Persicae Semen on pregnant rats. Method : In this experiment, the pregnant rats were administered by water extracts of Leonuri Sibirici Herba and Pruni Persicae Semen. The levels of weights, ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, creatinine, progesterone, Na and K in serum and reproductive indices of the rats were measured after treatment. Results : 1. The levels of body weight gains were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Leonuri Sibirici Herba group and Pruni Persicae Semen group. 2. In the levels of reproductive indices of the rats, the number of corpora lutea, implantation, viable fetuses, pre-implantation loss, post-implantation loss, fetal weight and placental wight were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Leonuri Sibirici Herba group and Pruni Persicae Semen group. 3. The levels of BUN, creatine, ALT, AST and ALP were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Leonuri Sibirici Herba group and Pruni Persicae Semen group. 4. The level of progesterone was not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Leonuri Sibirici Herba group and Pruni Persicae Semen group. 5. The levels of Na and K were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Leonuri Sibirici Herba group and Pruni Persicae Semen group. Conclusion : Reviewing these experimetal results, it appeared that Leonuri Sibirici Herba and Pruni Persicae Semen had not toxicity on pregnant rats.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.33-38
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• 2013

Objectives : The present study has been undertaken to investigate the effects of Carthami Semen and Jogyeongjongok-Tang on pregnant rats. Method : In this experiment, the pregnant rats were administered by water extracts of Carthami Semen and Jogyeongjongok-Tang. The levels of weights, ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, creatinine, progesterone, Na and K in serum and reproductive indices of the rats were measured after treatment. Results : The levels of body weight gains were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Carthami Semen group and Jogyeongjongok-Tang group. In the levels of reproductive indices of the rats, the number of corpora lutea, implantation and viable fetuses, post-implantation loss, fetal weight and placental wight were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Carthami Semen group and Jogyeongjongok-Tang group. But pre-implantation loss was significantly increased in comparison with Control group in Carthami Semen group. The levels of BUN, creatine, ALT, AST and ALP were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Carthami Semen group and Jogyeongjongok-Tang group. The level of progesterone was not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Carthami Semen group and Jogyeongjongok-Tang group. The levels of Na and K were not significantly changed in comparison with Control group in Carthami Semen group and Jogyeongjongok-Tang group. Conclusion : Reviewing these experimetal results, it appeared that Carthami Semen and Jogyeongjongok-Tang had not toxicity on pregnant rats.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2009

Abnormal development and fetal loss during the post-implantation period are key concerns in the production of cloned animals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). We hypothesized that the problems in cloned porcine offspring derived from SCNT are related to interactions between the conceptus and the endometrial environment. In the present study, we investigated expression patterns in the formation of placenta-related genes (Cdx2 and GATA6) in whole in vivo normal porcine embryos (from single cell to blastocyst) and each tissue of a normal fetus at Days 25, 35 and 55 by quantitative mRNA expression analysis using real-time PCR. The expression of Cdx2 and GATA6 mRNA increased to around the blastocyst stage. These genes were gradually decreased from the peri-implantation to post-implantation stage. Moreover, we examined the expression patterns of Cdx2 and GATA6 in Day 35 normal and SCNT cloned fetuses by the same methods. And, the level of Cdx2 and GATA6 gene expression in the extraembryonic tissue of SCNT was significantly higher than that of control tissues. From the present results, it can be postulated that the aberrant expression of Cdx2 and GATA6 genes in the endometrial and extraembryonic tissues at pre- and peri-implantation stages may be closely related to the lower efficiency of animal cloning.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 1998

The purposes of the present study were to evaluate the effect of estrone on the prevention of implantation and pregnancy and the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone or sodium and potassium in the plasma or uterine fluid of pregnant rats injected a single dose of 0, 0.1, 0.4 or 1.0 mg on days 5, 9, or 13 of pregnancy. The body weight gains of pregnant rats were significantly decreased in administering estrone on day 5 of pregnancyi no effect obtained on days 9 or 13. Numbers of viable fetuses were significantly decreased and pre- and post-implantation loss increased by administering estrone 0.1, 0.4 or 1.0 mg and numbers of implantation sites significantly increased by administering estrone 0.1 mg but significantly decreased or not occurred by 0.4 or 1.0 mg on day 5 of pregnancy, respectively, but no effect obtained on days 9 or 13. Plasma estradiol concentrations of pregnant rats were significantly increased on 1, 2 or 18 days after treatment with estrone (1.4 or 1.0 mg and 3 days after 0.4 mg on day 5 of pregnancy, respectively. But plasma progesterone concentrations had no effect on the treatment with estrone. Plasma sodium contents were significantly increased on 1 day after treatment with estrone 0.1 or 1.0 mg and 3 days after 0.1 mg on day 5 of pregnancy, respectively, except potassium content were no detectable change. Sodium contents in uterine fluid were significantly increased on 1 day after treatment with estrone 1.0 mg and 3 days after 0.1, 0.4 or 1.0 mg on day 5 of pregnancy, respectively. And potassium contents were significantly increased on 1 or 2 days after treatments with estrone 0.1 mg but significantly decreased on 3 days after 0.4 or 1.0 mg on day 5 of pregnancy, respectively. It is suggested that the prevention of implantation and failure of pregnancy could be induced by treatment with estrone 0.4 mg on day 5 of pregnancy and might be interrelated with changes of plasma estradiol concentration and sodium and potassium contents in uterine fluid.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2010

This study investigated the potential effects of amitraz on the pre- and postnatal development, behavior, and reproductive performance of offspring of parent rats given amitraz during pre-mating, gestation, and lactation. The test chemical was administered via the drinking water containing 0, 40, 120, and 360 ppm to male rats from 2 weeks before mating to the end of 14-day mating period and to females from 2 weeks before mating, throughout mating, gestation and lactation up to weaning. Based on fluid consumption, the male rats received an average of $0,\;5.7{\pm}1.33,\;13.2{\pm}2.08,$ and $35.8{\pm}3.42$ mg/kg/day amitraz, and the female rats received an average of $0,8.7{\pm}4.42,\;20.1{\pm}9.60,\;and\;47.6{\pm}22.38$ mg/kg/day amitraz, respectively. At 360 ppm, an increase in the incidence of abnormal clinical signs, a suppression in the body weight gain, a decrease in the food consumption and litter size, an increase in the post-implantation loss, and a decrease in the seminal vesicle weight were observed in the parent animals. In addition, a suppression in the body weight gain, a decrease in the grip strength, a delay in the negative geotaxis, an increase in the pre- and post-implantation loss, and a decrease in the number of live embryos were observed in the offspring. At 120 ppm, suppressed body weight gain and reduced food consumption were observed in the parent rats. Suppressed body weight gain and decreased grip strength were also observed in the offspring. There were no signs of either reproductive or developmental toxicity at 40 ppm. Under these experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of amitraz for parent rats and their offspring was estimated to be 40 ppm in rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the potential toxicity and safety of ethyl hydrogen adipate (EHA) by determining its effect on the reproductive function and development of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0 (control), 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg/day. One male and five females of the 800 mg/kg/day died. Body weight loss was observed in the males of the 800 mg/kg/day and in females of the 400 and 800 mg/kg/day. In addition, mating indices decreased and pre-implantation loss rates increased in parental animals of the 400 and 800 mg/kg/day. The gestation index decreased in the male and female rats of the 800 mg/kg/day. Moreover, the body weight of the pups from the 800 mg/kg/day group decreased on post-parturition day 4. These results indicated that the no-observed-adverse-effect level of EHA for parental males and females was 400 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively, and that for pups was 400 mg/kg/day.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.59-59
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• 1999

DLC(diamond-like carbon)필름은 다이아몬드와 유사한 강도, 낮은 마차계수, 높은 Optical band gap, NEA(negative electron affinity)등의 우수한 특성을 가지고 있어, 내마모 코팅이나 정보저장 매체의 윤활 코팅, FED(field emission display)의 전계방출소자등 다양한 분야에의 응용이 연구되고 있다. DLC 필름은 PECVD(plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition), IBAD(ion beam assisted deposition), Laser ablation, Cathodic vacuum arc등의 process를 이용하여 증착되고 있다. 특히 이러한 필름의 물성은 입사되는 이온의 에너지에 의해 좌우되는데, Lifshitz 등의 연구에 의하여 hyperthermal species를 이용한 DLC 필름의 성장은 초기에 subsurface로의 shallow implantation이 일어난 후 높은 sp3 fraction을 갖는 필름이 연속적으로 성장한다는 subplantation model이 제시 되었다. 본 연구에서는 기판과 subplantation 영역이 이후 계속하여 증착되는 순수 DLC 필름의 특성 변호에 미치는 영향에 대하여 관심을 가지고 실험을 행하였다. 본 실험에서는 상기 제시되어 있는 방법보다도 더욱 정확하고도 독립적으로 탄소 음이온의 에너지와 flux를 조절할 수 있는 Cs+ ion beam sputtering system을 이용하여 탄소 음이온의 에너지를 40eV에서 200eV까지 변화시키며 필름을 증착하였다. Si(100) 웨이퍼를 기판으로 사용하였고 증착 압력은 5$\times$10-7torr 였으며 인위적인 기판의 가열은 하지 않았다. 또한 Ion beam deposited DLC film의 growth process를 연구하기 위하여 200eV의 탄소 음이온을 시간(증착두께)을 변수로 하여 증착하였고, 이 때에는 Kaufman type의 gas ion beam을 이용하여 500eV의 Ar+ ion으로 pre-sputering을 행하였다. 탄소 음이온의 에너지와 증착두께에 따라 증착된 film 내의 sp3/sp2 ratio 의 변화를 XPS plasmon loss 와 Raman spectra를 이용하여 분석하였다. 또한 증착두께에 따른 interlayer의 결합상태를 관찰하기 위하여 AES와 XPS 분석을 보조로 행하였다.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.171-179
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• 2014

Purposes: Speech acceptability means the subjective judgement of listeners regarding the naturalness and normality of the speech. The purpose of this study was to determine the predicting variables for speech acceptabilities of children with cochlear implants. Methods: Twenty seven children with CI participated. They had profound pre-lingual hearing loss without any additional disabilities. The mean of chronological ages was 8;9, and mean of age of implantation was 2;11. Speech samples of reading and spontaneous speech were recorded separately. Twenty college students who were not familiar to the speech of deaf children evaluated the speech acceptabilities using visual analog scale. 1 segmental (articulation) and 6 suprasegmental features (pitch, loudness, quality, resonance, intonation, and speaking rate) of speech were perceptually evaluated by 3 SLPs. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed to evaluate the predicting variables. Results: The means of speech acceptability for reading and spontaneous speech were 73.47 and 71.96, respectively. Speech acceptability of reading was predicated by the severity of intonation and articulation. Speech acceptability of spontaneous speech was predicated by the severity of intonation and loudness. Discussion and conclusion: Severity of intonation was the most effective variable to predict the speech acceptabilities of both reading and spontaneous speech. A further study would be necessary to generalize the result and to apply this result to intervention in clinical settings.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.234-243
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• 2016

Purpose: Immediate loading of dental implants has been proved to be feasible in partially edentulous jaws. The purpose of this retrospective investigation was to assess the feasibility of immediately loading dental implants in fully edentulous jaws. Methods: A total of 24 patients aged between 53 and 89 years received a total of 154 implants in their edentulous maxillae or mandibles. Among the implants, 45 were set in fresh extracted sockets and 109 in consolidated alveolar bones. The implants were provisionally managed with chair-side made provisional resin bridges and exposed to immediate loading. Implants were followed up for 1-8 years, including radiographic imaging. Marginal bone levels were evaluated based on radiographic imaging. Results: A total of 148 out of the 154 implants survived over the follow-up period of 1 to 8 years, giving a survival rate of 96%. The time or region of the implantation, the pre-implant augmentation, and the length and diameter of the implants had no statistically significant influence on the survival or the success rate. The marginal bone level remained stable with only minimal loss of 0.3 mm after 60 months of loading. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, immediate loading is feasible for dental implants in edentulous jaws.