• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.60-74
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• 2024

Objectives: This review aimed at investigating the research trends of animal experiment on the acupuncture for premature ovarian failure (POF). Methods: Studies were searched from PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINK, KISS, RISS, OASIS, KMBASE up to November 2023. Terms as POF, acupuncture, electroacupuncture were used. Results: Of 189 screened, 13 studies are selected and analyzed. The combined results showed that treatment group was effective of improving serum sex hormones level, ovarian morphology, expression related mRNA and protein compared with control group. The most frequently used acupoints were SP6, CV4. Conclusions: Included studies showed that acupuncture might have effect on POF. Further research should be conducted to verify its therapeutic mechanisms and effectiveness.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2008

To assess effects of contaminants on fish in Nakdong river, feral yellowfin goby Acanthogobius flavimanus were caugt in two different sites and its hepatic monooxygenase enzyme, including cytochrome P450 (CYP), NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450R), NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R), ethoxyresorufin deethylase (EROD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) were quantitatively determined. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI) and three sex steroid hormone (17$\beta$-estradiol, E2; testosterone, T; 11-ketotestosterone, 11-KT) levels of the fish were also investigated. HSI of fish from polluted site (site 1) were significantly higher than that of unpolluted site (site 2), but GSI levels were significantly lower in polluted site. No significant differences in plasma 11-KT and T levels were observed in two sites surveyed. E2 level was, however, significantly (p<0.05) higher in female fish from site 1 than site 2. In addition, hepatic EROD activity and CYP level of site 1 fish were lower than those of site 2 fish, whereas relatively high levels of P450R, b5R and GST activities were found in site 1. The results imply that yellowfin goby, especially female fish in Nakdong river estuary are affected from contaminants disrupting sex steroid hormone system.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.425-454
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• 2022

This study analyzed the 77 most popular sexuality education books for children and young adults published in Korea, based on various criteria, including subject matters, format, implied readers, and author's occupational background. Among the key topics of the International technical guidance on sexuality education developed by UNESCO, the most mentioned was that it is natural to have curiosity on one's own feelings and body and that sex education books can help them learn about them. Respect on one's own body, knowledge of sexual and reproductive organs, eggs and sperms, menstrual cycle, effect of hormones were also easily found topics from the books. The least mentioned topics were HIV/AIDS and Gender-based violence. 63.5% of the analyzed books were books with/without illustrations. Other formats include picture books, comic books, and photo-illustrated books. Publication of books aimed for particular gender started to increase from 2019. Diversity of authors' occupation were also shown starting 2019. Further research on the role of sex education books is crucial to help all children and young adults develop their own sexuality and understand that of other people, and ultimately to live in a harmonious society.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

Objective: A 14-d trial was conducted to determine the effects of feeding corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) on growth performance, apparent ileal digestibility, serum hormones levels and gene expression of $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ in ducklings. Methods: A total of 704 ducklings were blocked on the basis of sex and body weight (BW), and then allocated randomly to one of the following two treatments: i) CON, basal diet and ii) $AFB_1$, diets with 100% of normal corn replaced with $AFB_1$ contaminated corn. There were 22 pens per treatment and 16 birds per pen. The concentration of $AFB_1$ was 195.4 and $124.35{\mu}g/kg$ in the contaminated corn and $AFB_1$ diet, respectively. Results: The $AFB_1$ decreased average daily gain, average daily feed intake, d 7 BW, final BW in the whole trial, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during d 8 to 14 and d 1 to 14 by 10% to 47% (p<0.05), while FCR during d 1 to 7 was increased (p<0.05). $AFB_1$ did not affect mortality to 7 d of age, and then increased to 5.8% from 8 to 14 d of age (p<0.01). Apparent ileal gross energy digestibility was reduced by $AFB_1$, whereas apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and amino acid was improved (p<0.01). Feeding $AFB_1$ diets increased serum concentration of leptin and insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1) (p<0.05), but had no effect on neuropeptide Y, ghrelin, cholecystokinin-8 or insulin (p>0.05). Dietary treatments did not influence relative expression of jejunal $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ gene (p>0.05). Conclusion: Taken together, feeding corn naturally contaminated with $AFB_1$ reduced growth performance, improved apparent ileal digestibility, and affected serum leptin and IGF-1 in ducklings from d 1 to 14.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.432-444
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• 2001

In this manuscript, several effective feeding and management systems to reduce environmental pollution in swine production have been briefly introduced. It is logical that reducing the excretion of nutrients in manure should be the first step to reduce the environmental impact of pig production. it is evident that the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus can be reduced when more digestible or available feedstuffs are used. Also, it is well known that proper feed processing can reduce anti nutritional factors (ANF) and improve nutrient digestibilities. Supplementation of effective feed additives can reduce excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus due to efficient feed utilization. These include enzymes (e.g., phytase), antibiotics, probiotics, organic acids and growth hormones ($\beta$-agonists and porcine somatotropin). One of the most effective ways to reduce pollutants from swine manure is to use synthetic amino acids in feed manufacturing. Many studies showed that reduction of 2 to 4% unit (U) of dietary protein with supplemental amino acid (AA) could dramatically reduce (15 to 20%) nitrogen excretion. Regarding feeding strategies, it has been recognized that phase feeding regimen could be used to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous excretion by feeding pigs in better agreement with age and physiological state. Feeding barrows and gilts separately, known as split sex feeding, can also decrease excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus. With the increasing concerns on the negative impact of animal production systems on the environment, animal nutritionists and producers should be aware that sustainability of animal agriculture is as important as high production performance. Therefore, some feeding and management strategies described in this manuscript will help to reduce environmental pollution in swine production. Proper combination of feeding regimen and environment-friendly diet formulation through nutritional approach will be more effective to reduce nutrient excretion in swine production system compared to single approach to do so.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.215-221
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• 2005

We investigated the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone on inflammatory response of iNOS and COX-2 expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide $(LPS;\;10{\mu}g/ml)$ for 24 hours were incubated with increasing amounts of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (1 and 100 nM). LPS was found to induce inflammatory response of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA and protein in VSMC. These processes were affected by male sex steroid hormones. For 3 hours, however, pretreatment of the cells with 100 nM each of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone suppressed LPS induced iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. RT-PCR analysis revealed that testosterone and dihydrotestosterone did not inhibit mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 stimulated by 24 hours of LPS incubation. Proliferation rate was slower in VSMC treated with testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Testosterone enhanced androgen receptor expression, and LPS significantly reduced androgen receptor protein expression in VSMC. These results indicate that the expression of both iNOS and COX-2 proteins was suppressed by testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in LPS stimulated VSMC and leading to reduction of vascular inflammation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1163-1168
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• 2004

In order to establish the experimental clinical model for evaluating the influences on the sexual hormones of SD-rat administrated with Methoxychlor(MET), it was dissolved in acetone and olive oil (1:19), which was administrated orally at doses of 200㎎/㎏ body weight/day for 7 days. The Testosterone value was measured in sera by Gamma Count with 1251 isotype, also weights of the body, testis and liver were measured for 15 weeks. Testosterone in the serum of intacted SD-rats was 0.51±0.43ng/㎖(n=5), but it was 0.69±0.18(n=2)ng/㎖l on 1 week. 0.28±0.05ng/㎖(n=2) on 3 week, 1.52±0.95ng/㎖(n=3) on 5 week, and 0.54±1.95 ng/㎖(n=3) 15 week post-dosing MET, respectively. Histologically, the numbers of spermatozoa and Leydig cells were reduced, which might influence to reduce sexual hormone, and AST and ALT was not increased in the serum due to administrating with MET, blood profile was not changed according to the administration of MET excepting MCH(Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin). This study suggest that change of male sexual hormone by MET be a experimental model for evaluating some drugs associate with sex hormone.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.145-155
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• 2001

Cytochrome P4502C19 (CYP2C19) is one of human polymorphic xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. The enzyme has been reported to catalyze more than 70 substrates, involving more than 100 reactions. These include several classes of therapeutic agents (e.g. anti-microbial. cardiovascular, psycho-active, etc.), sex hormones and insecticides. Associations of the CYP2C19 genotype/phenotype with individual differences in drug efficacy (e.g. diazepam, omeprazole, proguanil) and toxicity (e.g. mephenytoin, barbiturates) have been documented by many investigators. At least 11 allelic variants of CYP2C19 gene were reported to date. Most of the mutant alleles found in the poor metabolizer (PM) led to the production of truncated and/or inactive proteins. Except for the exon 6, single-nucleotide mutations were reported in all nine exons of the gene. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 shows marked interethnic variation with the population frequencies of PM phenotype ranging from 1∼2% up to more than 50%. The prevalence of CYP2C19 PM tends to be higher in Asian and certain Pacific Islanders than other race or ethnic specificity. Genotyping results of CYP2C19 also revealed that there are different proportions of individual mutant alleles among ethnic populations. This may, in part, explains the interethnic difference in the metabolism of certain drugs (i.e. diazepam), though they were from the same CYP2C19 phenotype. Recently, our research group has studied the genotype and phenotype of CYP2C19 and found that the PM frequency (7∼8%) in Thais is lower than other Asian populations. Molecular and clinical impacts of this finding warrant to further investigation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

Mammalian reproduction is regulated by a feedback circuit of the key reproductive hormones such as GnRH, gonadotropin and sex steroids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. In particular, the onset of female puberty is triggered by gain of a pulsatile pattern and increment of GnRH secretion from hypothalamus. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated that genistein (GS), a phytoestrogenic isoflavone, altered the timing of puberty onset in female rats. However, the brain-specific actions of GS in female rats has not been explored yet. The present study was performed to examine the changes in the activities of GnRH neurons and their neural circuits by GS in female rats. Concerning the drug delivery route, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection technique was employed to eliminate the unwanted actions on the extrabrain tissues which can be occurred if the testing drug is systemically administered. Adult female rats (PND 100, 210-230 g BW) were anaesthetized, treated with single dose of GS ($3.4{\mu}g$/animal), and sacrificed at 3 hrs post-injection. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ICV infusion of GS significantly raised the transcriptional activities of enhanced at puberty1 (EAP-1, p<0.05), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67, p<0.01) which are known to modulate GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus. However, GS infusion could not change the mRNA level of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS-2). GS administration significantly increased the mRNA levels of KiSS-1 (p<0.001), GPR54 (p<0.001), and GnRH (p<0.01) in the hypothalami, but decreased the mRNA levels of LH-$\beta$ (p<0.01) and FSH-$\beta$ (p<0.05) in the pituitaries. Taken together, the present study indicated that the acute exposure to GS could directly activate the hypothalamic GnRH modulating system, suggesting the GS's disrupting effects such as the early onset of puberty in immature female rats might be derived from premature activation of key reproduction related genes in hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine circuit.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.483-488
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• 2015

We studied oocyte steroidogenesis in the blackfin flounder Glyptocephalus stelleri as a region-specific species, in the East Sea of Korea during the spawning season. Maturing oocytes (0.76, 0.82, 0.88, and 0.91 mm in oocyte diameter) were incubated in vitro in the presence of [$^3H$] $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($[^3H]17{\alpha}$-OHP) as a precursor. Steroid metabolites were extracted from the incubated medium and oocytes, and the extracts were separated and identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major metabolites produced from $[^3H]17{\alpha}$-OHP were androgens [androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T)] and estrogens [$17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1)] and progestins [$17{\alpha},20{\alpha}$-dihydroxy-4-pregen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\alpha}P$) and $17{\alpha}20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$)] in maturing oocytes. The metabolic rate of $17{\alpha}20{\beta}$ was elevated (29.04%) in oocytes measuring 0.88 mm (nucleus migration stage following the induction of germinal vesicle breakdown), but was very low in oocytes measuring 0.76, 0.82, and 0.91 mm (0.42, 0.67, and 2.62%, respectively). From these results, we suggest that $17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$ acts as a maturation-inducing steroid in the blackfin flounder.