• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.313-317
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• 2001

The Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan has set up six research groups concerning the endocrine disrupting chemicals. One of these projects was "A study on development of testing methodology for health effects due to exposure of environmental endocrine disruptors". In this paper, three topics are described. In OECD collaboration for pre-validation of uterotrophic assay, the most sensitive response to ethnyl estradiol was noted in the ovarectomized rats treated subcutaneously for 7 days. Secondly, it was suggested that changes of the serum $\alpha_{2u}$-globulin level may be a sensitive parameter for detecting the estrogenic activities of chemicals. Finally, development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of preoptic area in the brain oj male rats was inhibited by the treatment with estrogenic chemicals, and their masculine behaviors and reproductive abilities were impaired after sexual maturation. In conclusion, these parameters are considered to be sensitive endpoints for testing estrogenic chemicals.chemicals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 1983

The effect of hydrochlorothiazide on the pharmacokinetics of carteolol in rabbits was studied. Animals were divided into two groups (group I and group II). Group I received carteolol (12mg/kg) and group II received carteolol (12mg/kg) with hydrochlorothiazide (20mg/kg) orally. The carteolol concentration in serum was measured by spectrofluorometric method and its pharmacokinetic parameter values were calculated. The serum concentration of carteolol in group II was significantly increased when compared with those in group I at 10min (p<0.01), and at 30min (p<0.05) after p. o. administration. In addition, the absorption rate constant of carteolol in group II was slightly increased and Tmax of carteolol in group II was significantly shortened (p<0.05) and Cmax of carteolol in group II was significantly increased (p<0.02) when compared with those in group I. But elimination rate constant and biological half-life of carteolol were similar in both groups.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.197-201
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• 1988

Pivaloyloxymethyl ester of cefoperazone was synthesized by treating sodium cefoperazone with chloromethyl pivalate and its chemical structure was determined by spectroscopic trials. The pharmaceutical properties of the ester were investigated to assess its potential as a prodrug of cefo perazone. Cefoperazone pivaloyloxymethyl ester was microbiologically inactive itself in vitro, but hydrolyzed into the parent drug in vivo. After a single oral dose of each drug to rabbits, serum concentrations of cefoperazone were determined by high performance liquid chromatographic assay. The ester showed higher and more sustained blood level than cefoperazone. Therefore, the total area under the serum concentration-time curve of the derivative was 16.8 times larger than that of the parent drug.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was undertaken to study the action mechanism of Rhizoma Davalliae (RD) at parameter related to regulating bone density. Methods : We measured alkaline phosphatase activity and the contents : calcium, hydroxyproline, osteocalcin, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone after the ovariectomized rats had been treated with RD for 30 days. Results : The following changes occurred: First, the serum calcium content and the calcitonin content, which decreased in ovariectomized rats, increased with RD treatment. Second, the serum alkaline phosphatase activity, the parathyroid hormone ativity, the osteocalcin content, the urinary calcium content, and the hydroxyprolin content-which increased in ovariectomized rats-decreased with RD treatment. Conclusions : These results show that RD treatment can recover abnormal calcium metabolic process by sex hormone inequality, promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone absorption.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1003-1011
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• 2013

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different dietary lysine levels on the apparent nutrient digestibility, the serum amino acid (AA) concentration, and the biochemical parameters of the precaval and portal vein blood in growing pigs. In Experiment 1, 15 noncannulated pigs received diets with different lysine densities (0.65%, 0.95%, and 1.25% lysine) for 13 d. A total collection digestion test was performed, and blood samples were collected from the precaval vein at the end of the experiment. In Experiment 2, four cannulated pigs were fed the same diets of Experiment 1. The experiment used a self-control experimental design and was divided into three periods. On d 5 of each period, at 0.5 h before feeding and hourly up to 8 h after feeding, single blood samples were collected from catheters placed in the portal vein. In Experiment 1, some serum AAs (including lysine), serum urinary nitrogen (SUN), and total protein (TP) concentrations were significantly affected by the dietary lysine levels (p<0.05). Moreover, the 0.65% lysine treatment showed a significant lower apparent digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, crude protein, and phosphorus than the other treatments (p<0.05). In Experiment 2, serum lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, isoleucine (p = 0.0588), triglyceride, and SUN (p = 0.0572) concentrations were significantly affected by the dietary lysine levels (p<0.05). Additionally, almost all of the determined serum AA and total AA concentrations reached their lowest values at 0.5 h before feeding and their highest values at 2 h after feeding (p<0.05). These findings indicate that the greatest absorption of AA occurred at 2 h after feeding and that the dynamic profile of serum AA is affected by the dietary lysine levels. Moreover, when the dietary lysine content was 0.95%, the growing pigs achieved a better nutrient digestibility and serum metabolites levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1880-1886
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• 2007

This study was conducted to examine the effects of different soy-oil and soy-lecithin levels on growth performance, nutrient utilization and serum parameters in broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old Arbor Acres chicks were randomly divided into 4 groups and treated as follows: basal diet with 2% soy-oil (SO); soy-oil and soy-lecithin mixture in proportion of 75/25 (SOL1), 50/50 (SOL2) and 2% lecithin (SL). At the end of the trial (42 d), birds in SOL1 group grew faster (p<0.05) and had better feed conversion efficiency (p<0.05) than other groups while SL group had the lowest performance (p<0.05). The utilization of ether extract was improved in SOL1 group (p<0.05) but apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and utilization of other nutrients decreased in SOL2 and SL group from 19 to 21 d. No significant effects were observed in apparent metabolizable energy, dry matter, crude protein and ether extract but the utilization of calcium and phosphorus was significantly improved in SL group (p<0.05) during 39 to 42 d. The birds fed with lecithin had lower serum total cholesterol and triglyceride than the control group (SO). Broilers fed with 2% lecithin (SL) had the highest insulin level (p<0.05). The results implied that soy-lecithin and soy-oil in a proportion of 25:75 had the highest growth performance and that soy-lecithin had cholesterol lowering capacity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.224-230
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• 2006

Japanese Quails were used to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E (dl-a-tocopheryl-acetate), lycopene, and their combination on egg production, egg quality, concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin E, A and cholesterol in serum and egg yolk. Quails (n = 120; 55 d old) were divided into four groups (n = 30/group) and fed a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with lycopene (100 mg/kg diet), vitamin E (250 mg dl-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl-acetate/kg diet) or a combination of lycopene and vitamin E (100 mg/kg lycopene plus 250 mg dl-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl-acetate/kg diet). Vitamin E and lycopene did not affect (p>0.05) body weight, feed intake or egg weight. Egg production and Haugh unit were greater (p<0.05) in each supplemental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). Serum and liver MDA levels were decreased in supplemented groups compared with the control group. Separately or as a combination, supplemental lycopene and vitamin E increased serum and egg yolk vitamin E and A but decreased cholesterol concentrations (p<0.05). In general, when a significant effect was found for a parameter, the magnitude of the responses to vitamin and lycopene supplements was greatest with the combination of the lycopene and vitamin E, rather than that observed with each supplement separately. Results of the present study indicate that supplementing with a combination of dietary lycopene and vitamin E reduced serum and yolk cholesterol concentrations and improved antioxidant status.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 1989

The effects of an antiprogesterone (RU 486) and an antiestrogen (tamoxifen) on ovulatory response and oocyte morphology were examined in pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)-primed immatare female rats (28 days of age): a comparison has been made on two different regirnens primed with a "control" dose (4 IU) and a "superovulatory" dose (40 IU) of PMSG. Females for control control regimen received three consecutive injections of lmg RU486, lmg tamoxifen, or vehicle at 24, 36 and 48hr, and were killed at 72l'r after PMSG. Animals for superovalatory regimen received lmg RU486, 2.5mg tamoxifen, or vehicle fouowlag the injection schedule comparable to control regimen, and were killed at 60 and 72hr after PMSG. Compared to vehicle group, there was a significant reduction in ovulatory response as judged by the proportion of rats ovulating andi or by the mean number of oocytes per rat for each treatment of RU486 and tamoxifen in both regimens. The activity of tamoxifen in inhibiting the ovulatory response was greater in control, but less in superovulatory regimen than that of RU486 based on the dose employed for each antisteroid. In both regimens, RU 486 did not have any effect 6n the changes in the proportion of degenerate oocytes as well as ovarian weight, well tamoxifen treatment resulted in a marked promotion of oocyte degeneration as well as a great reduction in ovarian weight, compared to each parameter of vehicle group. RU486 treatment in each regimen did not alter the serum levels of any steroid hormones observed. Howerver, tamoxifen treatment was associated with significant increases in serum 17$\beta$-estradiol and decreases in progesterone in both regimens; also significant increases in androgens in superovulatory regimen. The results illustrate the relative inhibitory activity of RU486 and tamoxifen indicating major steroid hormone involved in PMSG-induced ovulation: 17$\beta$-estradiol for control and progesterone for superovulatory regimen. It also appears that tamoxifen-associated elevation of circulating 17$\beta$-estradiol andi or androgens could be in part, a contributing factor to the promotion of oocyte degeneration presumably by producing a hostile oviductal environment after ovulation.ent after ovulation.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.518-523
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• 2018

Background: Lipemia, a significant source of analytical errors in clinical laboratory settings, should be removed prior to measuring biochemical parameters. We investigated whether lipemia in serum/plasma samples can be removed using a method that is easier and more practicable than ultracentrifugation, the current reference method. Methods: Seven hospital laboratories in Spain participated in this study. We first compared the effectiveness of ultracentrifugation ($108,200{\times}g$) and high-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) in removing lipemia. Second, we compared high-speed centrifugation with two liquid-liquid extraction methods-LipoClear (StatSpin, Norwood, USA), and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). We assessed 14 biochemical parameters: serum/plasma concentrations of sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, glucose, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase, calcium, and bilirubin. We analyzed whether the differences between lipemia removal methods exceeded the limit for clinically significant interference (LCSI). Results: When ultracentrifugation and high-speed centrifugation were compared, no parameter had a difference that exceeded the LCSI. When high-speed centrifugation was compared with the two liquid-liquid extraction methods, we found differences exceeding the LCSI in protein, calcium, and aspartate aminotransferase in the comparison with 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and in protein, albumin, and calcium in the comparison with LipoClear. Differences in other parameters did not exceed the LCSI. Conclusions: High-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) can be used instead of ultracentrifugation to remove lipemia in serum/plasma samples. LipoClear and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane are unsuitable as they interfere with the measurement of certain parameters.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.539-545
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• 2021

Objective: Endometritis is a major disease, that causes infertility in cattle, and is usually categorized as clinical or subclinical endometritis (SCE). The nutritional condition during the dry period is important for recovery after the last stage of the lactation period, and for postpartum production and reproduction. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between nutritional and metabolic characteristics in the dry period, and the risk of postpartum SCE. Methods: Multiparous Holstein dairy cows (n = 25, raised in a tied stall) were used. Endometrial cytological analysis was performed around 30 days post-partum, with 5% to 14% polymorphonuclear (PMN) as a cut-off point to define SCE. Serum levels of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), blood urea nitrogen, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were measured in the cows at the dry period to evaluate energy status, protein metabolism, and mineral metabolism. Results: The incidence of SCE in the cows was 60.0% (n = 15/25) and the mean PMN% in postpartum cows diagnosed as SCE was 8.05%±2.6%. Overall, 17 and 8 samples were collected from the cows in the far-off and close-up periods, respectively. The serum concentration of BHBA in the far-off period and serum glucose concentration in the closeup period were correlated with postpartum PMN% (r = 0.62, p<0.01; r = -0.74, p<0.05, respectively). Serum levels of calcium and magnesium in the dry period were associated with the incidence of postpartum SCE (healthy vs SCE cows, p<0.05). Conclusion: Blood levels of glucose, BHBA, calcium, and magnesium in dry periods could be useful parameters for predicting the risk of postpartum SCE. The present study also suggests that management in the close-up period is essential for promoting recovery from calving fatigue.