• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2018

The term Butterfly tea refers to decoction of Mariposa christia vespertilionis leaves which is widely consumed by cancer patients throughout Malaysia and has gained a huge popularity among Malaysians, not only cancer patients but also researchers to discover the real potential of this plant. Herein, the study is aimed at evaluating the possible toxicity in 28-day subacute oral toxicity of ethanolic extract M. christia vespertilionis in male Sprague Dawley rats. The 28-day subacute toxicity study was conducted to detect the no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). In this study, a total of 30 rats were divided into the control, 5% DMSO (vehicle), low dose (75 mg/kg), medium dose (125 mg/kg) and high dose (250 mg/kg) groups. The extract was administered daily from day 1 until day 28. At the end of the study, the animals were humanely sacrificed and assessed for the effect extract of Mariposa christia vespertilionis leaves on body weight and relative organ weights and haematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters. The haematological and serum biochemical parameters for the assessment of kidney and liver injuries were carried out. Results of haematological and serum biochemistry results showed no changes in the control and treated groups. In the histopathology, evaluation of kidney tissues in all treated groups showed no significant (p > 0.05) lesions. In contrast to kidney, liver tissues showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in lesions observed in low dose (430 mg), medium dose (700 mg) and high dose (1480 mg) groups with very mild, mild and mild to moderate lesion of hepatic necrosis, in the respective groups, and very mild hepatic degeneration and hepatitis were scored in all three groups.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.9-15
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• 1973

Some effect on the protein metabolism in growing albino rats by feeding on the rice mixed with wheat or barley have been studied. The species of wheat and barley used in this experiment were either 80% polished or nonpolished wheat, barley and naked barley. The growing rats to be examined were fed on 30% wheat or barley mixed with rice diets for 8 weeks. The total nitrogen, creatinine, amino acid nitrogen and urea-nitrogen contents in the liver and the creatinine and urea-nitrogen contents in the urine have been measured. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The total nitrogen contents in the liver and the serum were no remarkable difference by feeding on each mixed diet, compared with the rice diet group. 2. The creatinine contents in the liver of the unpolished wheat and barley mixed diet groups were the similar to that of the rice diet group, but these were higher by feeding on the polished wheat and barley mixed with rice diets. 3. The amino acid nitrogen contents in the liver of the polished naked barley mixed with rice diet groups were the similar to that of the rice diet group, but these were higher by feeding on the other mixed diets than the rice diet. 4. The urea-nitrogen contents in the serum of the polished wheat and naked barley mixed with rice diet groups were higher than that of the rice diet group, but these were significantly lower by feeding on the polished barley mixed with rice diets than the others. 5. The creatinine and the urea-nitrogen contents in the urine of the original wheat and barley mixed with rice diet groups were higher than that of the polished wheat and barley mixed with rice diet groups. In the view of the above results, it could be seen that the protein metabolism was remarkable change according to polish of the wheat and barley.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.233-236
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• 2003

A 10 year old, intact female Yorkshire terrier was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Konkuk University. Upon admission, the patient had severe necrotic skin disease on face and abdominal wall, and also showed polyuria, polydipsia (PUPD), and polyphagia. A tentatative diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism was made on the basis of history takings, physical examination, and results of CBC and serum biochemistry. Hyperadrencorticism was confirmed by ACTH stimulation test and pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) was diagnosed according to the results of high dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST). After initiating mitotane therapy, severe skin problem and clinical signs including PUPD were improved. And we determined whether or not mitotane therapy well controlled serum cortisol level with ACTH stimulation test. This case was presented to show that the patient misdiagnosed and treated for more than 1 year as other dermatologic problem in 3 local animal clinics was treated and managed sucessfully with mitotane administration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2018

Background: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency leads to increased susceptibility to infection. We investigated whether serial changes in MBL levels are associated with the prognosis of patients diagnosed with septic shock, and correlated with cytokine levels. Methods: We enrolled 131 patients with septic shock in the study. We analyzed the serum samples for MBL and cytokine levels at baseline and 7 days later. Samples on day 7 were available in 73 patients. Results: We divided the patients with septic shock into four groups according to serum MBL levels (< $1.3{\mu}g/mL$ or ${\geq}1.3{\mu}g/mL$) on days 1 and 7. Patients with low MBL levels on day 1 and high MBL levels on day 7 showed a favorable prognosis for 28-day survival (odds ratio, 1.96, 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.87; p=0.087). The high MBL group on day 7 showed a significant decrease in monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, interferon-${\gamma}$, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels compared with the low MBL group on day 7. Conclusion: The increase in MBL levels of patients with septic shock may suggest a favorable prognosis and attenuate pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.141-151
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• 2009

We investigated the inhibitory effect of an oral administration of a Sophora flavescens Aiton ethanol extract (SFE) on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) by using NC/Nga model mice. The induction of atopic dermatitis-like lesion was conducted by the removal of the back hairs and topical application of a mite antigen (Dermatophagoides farinae, Df) on to the back skin twice a week for 8 weeks. SFE was orally administered at a different doses (100-400 mg/kg). Atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions were evaluated by dermatitis scores, skin histology and immunological parameters (serum levels of IgE, TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, and CTACK/CCL27). Oral administration of SFE significantly inhibited the clinical sign of Df-induced atopic dermatitis, including dermatitis score and leukocyte infiltration. Moreover, SFE suppressed significantly the serum IgE and Th2 chemokine (TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, and CTACK/CCL27) levels in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that oral administration of SFE could reduce significantly the clinical signs and Th2 chemokines in Df-induced atopic dermatitis model mice. Therefore, SFE may be effective substances for the management of AD in human.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.648-655
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• 2003

In this study, the effects of Gamgung-tang gamibang on the hyperthyroidism induced by the intraperitoneal injection of 3,5,3-triiodothyronine was examined by the measurement of physical changes, body weight, the volume of food intake and rectal temperature, and heart weight, heart beat, blood pressure with contrast to propranolol, one of beta-blocking agents. the obtained results were as follows. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed to inhibit the decrease of body weight and rectal temperature, and decrease the food intake, so the inhibitory effects of Gamgung-tang gamibang extract on the experimental hyperthyroidism were exhibited. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed the inhibitory effects on the circulatory functions changed and enhanced by the experimental induced hyperthyroidism, the action of Gamgung-tang gamibang extract was less effective than the propranolol of D-CONT group. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed significant effects to inhibit the concentration of serum thyroid houmone, more effective than the propranolol, beta-blocking agents. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed the effective inhibitory reaction on the biochemical changes in serum, cholesterol, ketone bodies, free fatty acid, glucose in hyperthyroid rats induced by 3,5,3-triiodothyronine.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of dimethyl disulfide by a 2-week inhalation in F344 rats. The test article, dimethyl disulfide, was exposed by inhalation to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 33, 100, or 300 ppm/6 hrs/day for 2 weeks. At the end of treatment period, all males and females were sacrificed. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, and gross findings were examined. The mean body weights of the male 300 ppm group and the female 33 ppm or higher dose groups were significantly lower than those of the control group, respectively. The mean food consumption at male 300 ppm and female 100 and 300 ppm were significantly decreased compared with the controls. Some treatment-related serum biochemical changes, including decreased alkaline phosphatase at male 300 ppm and female 100 and 300 ppm, reduced total bilirubin at male 300 ppm, and decreased alanine aminotransferase at female 300 ppm, were observed in a dose-dependent manner, but these findings were considered to be of no toxicological significance. There were no adverse effects on mortality, clinical signs, hematology, and necropsy findings in any treatment group. Based on these results, it was concluded that the 2-week repeated dose of dimethyl disulfide by inhalation resulted in suppressed body weight gain and decreased food consumption at the dose of male 300 ppm and suppressed or reduced body weight gain and decreased food consumption at the dose of female 33 ppm or higher. In the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be 100 ppm/6 hrs/day for male rats and below 33 ppm/6 hrs/day for female rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4203-4208
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• 2012

Aim: This study assessed if onfFN mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with DTC can identify individuals with metastatic disease. Methods: Comparison of onfFN mRNA was made among 3 groups: disease-free, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis using real-time RT-PCR on 5 ml blood samples from each DTC patient. Results: Fifty-one patients were included: 30 (59%) were disease-free; 7 (13.7%) had lymph node metastasis; and 14 (27.5%) had distant metastasis. OnfFN mRNA levels in the 3 groups were significantly different (P=0.001) but with a large overlap and the expression being highest in the disease-free group. Subgroup analysis of the metastatic groups did not show any effect of age, cell type, and serum TSH, Tg, and antiTg on onfFN mRNA. The within-run and between-run root mean square coefficients of variations were <2%. Conclusion: OnfFN mRNA in patients with DTC cannot identify those with metastatic disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3869-3872
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• 2012

Background: The majority of patients with gastric cancer in developing countries present with advanced disease. Systemic chemotherapy therefore has limited impact on overall survival. Patients eligible for chemotherapy should be selected carefully. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing first-line palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 107 locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer patients who were treated with docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil (DCF) as first-line treatment between June 2007 and August 2011. Twenty-eight potential prognostic variables were chosen for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Among the 28 variables of univariate analysis, nine variables were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status, histology, location of primary tumor, lung metastasis, peritoneum metastasis, ascites, hemoglobin, albumin, weight loss and bone metastasis. Multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model, including nine prognostic significance factors evident in univariate analysis, revealed weight loss, histology, peritoneum metastasis, ascites and serum hemoglobin level to be independent variables. Conclusion: Performance status, weight loss, histology, peritoneum metastasis, ascites and serum hemoglobin level were identified as important prognostic factors in advanced gastric cancer patients. These findings may facilitate pretreatment prediction of survival and can be used for selecting patients for treatment.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2000

The preventive effect of herbal formulation, ‘Dae-Bo-Won-Chun’(DBWC), on the progress of bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) was studied in rats. From light microseopic analyses, a porous or erosive appearances were observed on the surface of trabecular bone of tibia in ovariectomized rats. Whereas those of the same bone in sham rats were composed of fine particles. The trabecular bone area and trabecular thickness in ovariectomized rats decreased by 50% from those in sham-operated rats, these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of DBWC at concentration of 10mg/kg per day for 7 weeks. The mechanical strength in femur neck was decreased by ovariectomy, and this was significantly suppressed by the administration of DBWC. Serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and thyroxine levels in ovariectomized rats were increased compared to those in sham-operated rats, and increases were completely inhibited by the administration of DBWC. These results strongly suggest that DBWC is effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats.