• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.269-275
• /
• 2008

The ore minerals, mainly composed of sericite, talc, and halloysite, were investigated for their inhibitory effect on the allergic inflammation in mice by measuring the serum IgE level, inflammatory cytokine production, and histamine and ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase releases. When the mice were ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged prior to the ore mineral treatment, the IgE level in the serum decreased significantly. The ore minerals significantly reduced the productions of IL-4 and the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid challenged with OVA. The inflammatory infiltrates, found in the lung of the OVA-challenged mouse, were also notably decreased following the ore mineral treatment. The ore minerals significantly reduced the release of histamine and ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase from the RBL-2H3 cells. These results suggest that the ore minerals may be useful as potent inhibitors of the allergic inflammation in mice.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.719-726
• /
• 2002

Nutritional adequacy of growing Thoroughbred horses raised in an alternate feeding system - grazing during late spring through late fall and stable feeding for the rest of seasons - was assessed by determining vitamin E and trace mineral levels in the serum and blood chemistry related to nutrition and health. During the stable feeding in winter and early spring, 50 growing female horses were fed concentrates (1.4% of their body weight), grass hay (0.62%) and alfalfa hay (0.37%). For the grazing period, the same horses were fed supplementary concentrates (1.1%) during late spring through early summer, and concentrates (1.1%) and alfalfa hay (0.5%) during late summer through late fall. Blood samples were collected before grazing in early spring, and during grazing in early summer through late fall. Serum vitamin E, BUN, GTP, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels were increased (P<0.01) by grazing compared to those measured before the initiation of grazing. Horses had lower (P<0.01) serum Fe contents in early summer than in late fall or in time of stable feeding. Stable feeding increased (P<0.01) serum Cu content compared to grazing in both early summer and late fall. In late fall, serum Zn level increased (P<0.01) compared to that found in the other seasons. Blood glucose and creatinine levels decreased (P<0.01) after grazing. Results indicate that supplementations of some minerals and vitamin E are not always necessary in diets for growing horses and should be done after careful evaluation of diets with regard to concentrations and biological availability of minerals.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.28-35
• /
• 2009

Purpose : We compared body growth, blood cell counts, and chemistry among infants receiving soy-based formula (SF), breast milk (BM), and casein-based formula (CF). Methods : Full-term neonates delivered at our hospital from June 2001 to August 2003 were recruited and divided into 3 feeding groups (BM=20, SF=19, CF=12 ) according to the parents wishes. Breast feeding or artificial formulae were given during the initial 3 months of age; thereafter, weaning foods were added freely. Height, weight, head circumference, skin-fold thickness, and mid-arm circumference were measured at birth and 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, and 36 months of age. Cell counts and blood chemistry were analyzed at 5, 12, and 36 months of age. Result : At 5 months of age, body weight was the lowest in the SF group; the height was similar among all groups. Thereafter, there were no differences in height or weight among the groups until 36 months of age. Hemoglobin was the lowest in the BM group at 5 and 12 months of age (P< 0.05 ). At 5 months of age, serum cholesterol, BUN, phosphates, and K+ were significantly lower in the SF group; thereafter, all chemical parameters were similar until 36 months of age. Conclusion : Infants fed with SF showed normal growth during the first 3 years of life as compared to infants fed with BM and CF. Low values of serum phosphates and K+ at 5 months of age in the SF group, despite the high mineral content, suggest that further investigation is needed for effective mineral absorption.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.1742-1752
• /
• 2013

A basal diet (0.8 g/kg dNa) was formulated in which each of the two sources ($NaHCO_3$ and $Na_2SO_4$) were supplemented in such a way to attain four levels (1.7, 2.6, 3.5, and 4.4 g/kg) of total dNa, respectively, under $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement. Eight dietary treatments were replicated four times, with 40 birds in each replicate (n = 1,280). The diets supplemented with $Na_2SO_4$ to attain higher levels of dNa showed highest BW gain and feed intake (FI) during d 1 to 10 (interaction effects) while 2.6 g/kg dNa exhibited improved BW gain and gain:feed (FG) during d 11 to 20. Linear rise in daily water intake (DWI) was associated with diets containing increasing dNa during d 1 to 42 ($p{\leq}0.036$). During the first 10 d, DWI:FI was found highest in $NaHCO_3$ diets while $Na_2SO_4$ diets showed highest DWI:FI during last 10 d of the experiment ($p{\leq}0.036$). Increasing dNa and changing $Na_2SO_4$ with $NaHCO_3$ salt increased pH and resulted in poor growth performance. Dressing weight ($p{\leq}0.001$) and abdominal fat ($p{\leq}0.001$; quadratic effect) were reduced, whereas breast ($p{\leq}0.001$) and thigh (p<0.001) weights were aggravated with increasing dNa (linear effects). Present findings suggested higher levels of dNa from $Na_2SO_4$ as the supplemental salt in broiler diets would produce better growth performance, especially in first ten days of life, and improve carcass and body organ characteristics.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2004

Background : Steroid-induced osteoporosis(SIO) is one of the serious complications of long-term steroid therapy, especially in growing children. Recently bisphosphonates have been used to treat or prevent SIO in adult, which is rare in children with glomerular diseases. We studied the effect of pamidronate on SIO using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Methods : Forty four children receiving moderate-to-high doses of steroids were enrolled. They had no history of bone, liver, or endocrine disease. Patients were stratified by their baseline bone mineral density(BMD) findings. All patients received corticosteroids for 3 month and oral calcium supplementation(500 mg/day) daily. Among them, 28 patients were treated with placebo and 16 were treated with pamidronate(125 mg) for 3 months. Blood chemistry and bone mineral density(BMD) were measured at baseline, and 3months. In addition, parathyroid hormone(PTH), serum osteocalcin, and urinary dipyridinoline levels were evaluated. Results : In overall population, the mean lumbar spine BMD decreased from $0.754{\pm}0.211(g/cm^2)$ to $0.728{\pm}0.208(g/cm^2)$ in the placebo group(P<0.05) and increased from $0.652{\pm}0.194(g/cm^2)$ to $0.658{\pm}0.226(g/cm^2)$ in the pamidronate group(P>0.05). Conclusion : Pamidronate appears to be effective in preventing SIO in children with glomerular diseases requiring long-term steroids therapy. Further careful observation and follow-up might be needed for children receiving bisphosphonates such as pamidronate.