• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.685-695
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• 2009

Background: Calcification is the most frequent cause of clinical failure of bioprosthetic tissues that are fabricated from Glutaraldehyde (GA)-fixed porcine valve or bovine pericardium. We recently used a multi-factorial approach of employing different mechanisms to investigate how to reduce the calcification of bioprosthetic tissues. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the synchronized synergism using ethanol, L-lysine and $NaBH_4$ in glutaraldehyde treated porcine pericardium from the standpoint of calcification and tissue elasticity. Material and Method: Porcine pericardium was fixed with 0.625% GA (commercial fixation). An interim step of ethanol (80%; 1 day at room temperature) or L-lysine (0.1 M; 2 days at $37^{\circ}C$) or $NaBH_4$ (0.1 M; 2 days at room temperature) was followed by completion of the GA fixation (2 days at $4^{\circ}C$ and 7 days at room temperature). The tensile strength and thickness of the samples were measured. The treated pericardiums were implanted subcutaneously into three-week old Sprague-Dawley rats for 8 weeks. The calcium content was assessed by atomic absorption spectroscopy and the histology of the samples. Result: The amount of calcium in the pericardium pretreated with ethanol (13.6${\pm}$10.0 ug/mg, p=0.008), L-lysine (15.3${\pm}$1.0 ug/mg, p=0.002) and both (16.1${\pm}$11.1 ug/mg, p=0.012) was significantly reduced compared with the control (51.2${\pm}$8.5 ug/mg). However, $NaBH_4$ pretreatment (65.7${\pm}$61.8 ug/mg, p=0.653) and combined pretreatment that including ethanol, L-lysine and $NaBH_4$ (92.9${\pm}$58.3 ug/mg, p=0.288) were not significantly different from the controls(51.2${\pm}$8.5 ug/mg). Both the combined pretreatment using ethanol and L-lysine (7.60${\pm}$1.55, p=0.76) and the combined pretreatment that included ethanol, L-lysine and $NaBH_4$ (7.47${\pm}$1.85, p=0.33) increased the tensile strength/thickness ratio compared with that of the controls (4.75${\pm}$1.88). Conclusion: The combined pretreatment using ethanol and L-lysine seemed to decrease the calcification of porcine pericardium fixed with glutaraldehyde, as compared to single pretreatment, and it increase the tissue elasticity, but to the degree that showed synchronized synergism. $NaBH_4$ pretreatment seemed to increase the calcification of porcine pericardium, irrespective of whether single or combined pretreatment was used.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.507-513
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• 2004

Aflatoxins are produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus that grow in improperly stored cereals. Aflatoxin B1 ($AFB_1$) is a potent hepatocarcinogen in a variety of experimental animals including human beings. In spite of a high attention to the hepatocarcinogenecity of $AFB_1$, the relative toxicity of aflatoxins ($AFB_2$ and $AFG_1$) is not fully clarified. Sprague-Dawley male rats were orally administered with $AFB_1$, $AFB_2$, and $AFG_1$ at the dose of 250 ${\mu}g/kg$ (additionally including a dose of $1250{\mu}g/kg $ for $AFB_1$) body weight. Animals were then killed at 12, 24 or 48 hrs following aflatoxin exposure. Subsequently the immunohistochemical examination of p53, cytochrome p450 1A1 (CYP450 1A1), and glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P) were performed. The level of the 8-OxodG in the liver was determined. Expressions of CYP450 1A1 and p53 were high in the liver of rats through 48 hrs after treatment of $AFB_1$ at the single dose of $250{\mu}g/kg $. This pattern was more clear as increasing doses. The treatment of $AFB_2$ and $AFG_1$ did not affect the expression of CYP450 1A1 but it caused weak expression of p53. The activity of GST were not found in the liver of rats treated with aflatoxins. The formation of 8-OxodG by $AFB_1$ increased in a dose-dependent manner up to 24 hrs after a single treatment of $AFB_1$ thereafter decreased to the level of control. The treatment of $AFB_2$ and $AFG_1$ did not affect the levels of 8-OxodG in the liver of rats with increasing time. These results in the present study indicate that $AFB_1$ among aflatoxins with low comparable levels is the most toxic as determined by early biomarkers such as CYP450 1A1, p53, GST-P, and 8-OxodG.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.795-807
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• 1996

This study was conducted to identify the effects of caffeine on the lipid and protein components or blood chemistry levels of the serum as well as the total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the rat(Sprague-Dawley, female) liver. Acute test were conducted to determine those effects. The acute test was conducted by dividing rats into 7 groups according to the time lapsed after a single oral administration of 100mg/kg caffeine(that is control, 2hrs, 4hrs, 8hrs, 24hrs, 48hrs and 72hrs lapsed group). The concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, A/G ratio, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, free fatty acid, phospholipid as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were measured in the serum of each experimental groups. The concentrations of the carbonyl group, malondialdehyde(MDA) and the patterns of the SDS-PAGE(Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) were analyzed to determine the oxidative damages and metabolic changes on the lipid and protein components in the serum, and total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of the rat liver. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows; 1. The concentrations of serum glucose were significantly higher(p<0.01) between 4(143.0mg/dl) and 8hrs(138.0mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(101.1mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). While on the other, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin and albumin/globulin(A/G) ratio in comparison to those of the control. 2. The concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) between 4(77.4mg/dl, total cholesterol) and 8hrs(64.7mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol) in comparison to those of the control(62.8, 46.7mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). On the other hand, the concentrations of triglyceride in serum were significantly lower(p<0.01) after 8hrs(38.8mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(66.5mg/dl). 3. The activities of AST in serum was significantly higher(p<0.05) from 2hrs(149U/L) to 8hrs(178U/L) in comparison to the control(112U/L) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). The activities of ALT in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) at 4(45.5U/L), 24(49.3U/L), 48(46.8U/L) and 72 hrs(42.3U/L) in comparison to that of the control(39.7U/L) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the activities of ALP in comparison to that of the control. 4. The concentrations of free fatty acid in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) at 8hrs(65.0mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(37.6mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). However, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of carbonyl group and malondialdehyde within serum, and liver homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions in comparison to that of the control. 5. The patterns of SDS-PAGE in serum, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the liver showed no significant differences.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-26
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• 1997

Chunggeumtang has been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for respiratory disease. The effect of Chunggeumtang on tracheal smooth muscle is not konwn. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of Chunggeumtang on histamine and acetylcholine induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats and guinea pigs. Guinea pig(500g, male) and Sprague Dawley rats (250g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of the thoracic trachea from each rat and guinea pig was cut into equal swegments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force diplacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of histamine (His) and acetylcholine (Ach) which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine and acetylcholine($10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M$). Contractions evoked by His ($ED_{50}$) and Ach ($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Chunggeumtang. In guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was $6.1%after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and 49.4% (p<0.01) after $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was $6.7%\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and $54.2%\;(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. Also, in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $30.6%\;(p<0.05)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and $53.0%\;(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $24.1%\;(p<0.05)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and $55.3%\;(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. Propranolol and indomethacin($10^{-7}M$) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Chunggeumtang. Following treatment with propranolol, the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 27.6% in guinea pig induced by acetylcholine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 28.7% (p<0.05) in rat induced by acetylcholine contraction and the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 16.2% in guinea pig induced by histamine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 28.7% (p<0.05) in rat induced by histamine contraction. Indomethacin, the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 20.0% in guinea pig induced by acetylcholine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 16.9% (p<0.05) in rat induced by acetylcholine contraction and the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 16.4% in guinea pig induced by histamine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 23.1% (p<0.05) in rat induced by histamine contraction. Methylene blue($10^{-7}M$) did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Chunggeumtang. Also, I could find the effects of Chunggeumtang and Chunggeumtanggamorphine on the tracheal smooth muscle in guinea pig and rat did not change significantly. These results indicate that Chunggeumtang can relax histamine and acetylcholine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves sympathetic effects and the release of cyclooxygenase products.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.2 s.42
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• pp.222-230
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• 1993

Industrial glues, known as 'Bonds' in Korea, contain many kinds of organic solvents, and glue sniffing of youths became one of the social problems in Korea. Mixed exposures to solvents by glue sniffing may induce chronic toxicities different from those by exposures to solvents of single component. To test effects of the glue sniffing on weight gain or central nervous system, two groups of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to air(control group) or vapors of the glues to narcotic status(exposed group), and weight check, tail flick test, hot plate test, rotarod treadmill test were done on the 14th,24th, 36th, 45th, 53rd, 86th, 102nd, 117th, 134th and 151st days after the first exposure. On the 188th day, their brains were excised and examined by a pathologist. Weight gain, controlled against time change, showed significant difference between the groups, but response times in tail flick test, hot plate tests, and rotarod treadmill test didn't. In pathological examination with blind method, no macroscopic or microscopic differences were found between the two groups. These results suggests that organic lesion in central nervous system may not ensue glue sniffing, but, before firm conclusion, more studies in various exposure conditions should be followed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 2013

This study was aimed at investigating whether dietary therapy using medicinal enzyme powder is effective in reducing constipation caused by loperamide in rats. Nine-week-old male Sprague Dawley were subdivided into 4 groups: normal diet group (C), loperamide treatment and normal diet (CL), medicinal enzyme powder diet (E), and loperamide treatment and medicinal enzyme powder diet (EL). Constipation was induced by subcutaneous injection of loperamide (1.5 mg/kg) 3 days prior to sacrifice. The treatment with loperamide led to an increase in weight gain, a decrease in the number and wet weight of fecal pellets, and a decrease in intestinal motility. The administration of the medicinal enzyme powder significantly reduced weight gain but increased intestinal mobility compared with the loperamide-treated group. The treatment with loperamide in the normal diet group reduced the activities of both suggesting that constipation may be involved in the low level of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). Additionally, the loperamide treatment in the medicinal enzyme powder diet group increased the level of GOT, but reduced the level of GPT. Loperamide treatment also reduced cholesterol and increased the atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factors (CRFs). Interestingly, the treatment with the medicinal enzyme powder effectively attenuated both the increase in AI and the reduction in high density lipopretein (HDL)-cholesterol, caused by the treatment with loperamide. Although there were no significant differences in the blood protein level, including hemoglobin and hematocrit, between the normal diet group and the loperamide-treated group, the administration of the medicinal enzyme powder to the loperamide-treated group effectively increased the levels of both hemoglobin and hematocrit. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the medicinal enzyme powder can help to combat the negative events caused by constipation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.204-209
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of Kocat-D1, which is widely used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes in Shandong, China. Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks of age) were separated into 4 groups: a normal control, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat group (DM control), Kocat-D1-1 (diabetic rat treated with 0.25 g/kg/day hot water extract), and Kocat-D1-2 (diabetic rat treated with 1 g/kg/day hot water extract). After eight weeks of treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels of the Kocat-D1-1 ($334.3{\pm}32.9\;mg/dL$) and Kocat-D1-2 group ($259.5{\pm}35.0\;mg/dL$) were significantly lower when compared to the DM control group ($451{\pm}42.6\;mg/dL$). Furthermore, the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), albumin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the serum of the Kocat-D1-2 group were significantly normalized when compared to the DM control group. However, significant differences were not observed between the Kocat-D1-1 group and the DM control group. Histochemical staining of the liver of the Kocat-D1-2 group revealed no fat accumulation. The insulin level was significantly upregulated in the Kocat-D1-2 group ($0.13{\pm}0.02\;ng/mL$) when compared to the DM control group ($0.05{\pm}0.04\;ng/mL$). The relative volume of $\beta$-cells in the pancreas of the Kocat-D1-2 group ($49.4{\pm}4.2%$) also increased significantly when compared to the DM control group ($12.9{\pm}7.9%$). These results suggest that Kocat-D1 exerts an anti-hyperglycemic effect through the enhancement of insulin secretion.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2011

Although iron is an essential mineral, excess iron intake during pregnancy may increase oxidative stress in tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of iron overload during pregnancy on iron status and oxidative stress in maternal rats. Ten week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were mated with male rats. Non-pregnant (control) and pregnant rats were fed diets containing normal Fe (35 mg/kg diet), high Fe (350 mg/kg diet), or excess Fe (1,050 mg/kg diet) during pregnancy. Rats were sacrificed on pregnancy day 19. No significant difference in weight gain, diet intake, or litter size was observed according to iron intake levels. Furthermore, serum iron, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not different among the rats administered the three levels of Fe both in the control and pregnant groups. However, the iron levels were lower in pregnant rats than those in the control. The liver and spleen iron contents increased significantly in the excess Fe group. An increase in liver ferritin levels with increasing iron intake was observed. Protein carbonyl content, as a marker of oxidative stress, increased significantly in liver with increasing iron intake but not malondialdehyde. Glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver of pregnant rats fed excess iron decreased significantly. Bcl-2 protein expression in the liver declined remarkably with increasing maternal iron intake in pregnant rats. Taken together, iron overload during pregnancy had little effect on hematology. However, the deposits of iron in the liver and the decline in antioxidant enzyme activity implied increased oxidative stress in tissues of the excess Fe group. These results suggest that excess iron intake during pregnancy increases oxidative stress in maternal tissues and may also affect fetal tissues.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2014

Purpose: Association of low intake of calcium (Ca) and inadequate vitamin D (VD) status with higher prevalence rates of obesity has been reported. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of different levels of whey Ca and VD intake on lipid metabolism in growing rats. Methods: A total of 56 five-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups and fed for five weeks. Ca groups were divided into three levels, low, normal, and high (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%). VD subgroups in the low and high Ca groups were divided into three levels, low, normal, and high (10 IU, 1,000 IU, and 5,000 IU). The effects of Ca and VD on each group were evaluated by two way ANOVA. Results: Significantly higher amounts of abdominal fat, visceral fat, and epididymal fat were observed in the Low-Ca groups than in the Normal-Ca and High-Ca groups. Serum leptin levels of Low-Ca groups were higher than those of Normal-Ca and High-Ca groups. The highest serum parathyroid hormone concentration was observed in the low Ca low VD group. The levels of serum 25(OH)D were significantly increased with increasing dietary VD levels. Significantly higher serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol were observed in the low Ca groups than in the normal Ca and high Ca groups. Conclusion: These results indicate that low calcium intake increased serum lipid level and body fat amount.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.958-964
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• 2004

This study examined the effects of maternal calcium intake levels on mineral metabolism during pregnancy and lactation. Five week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal Ca (NCa, 0.5%) and low Ca (LCa, 0.15%) diets for 5 weeks during preconception. The low Ca intake group was divided into three groups and fed low Ca (0.15%), normal Ca (0.5%) and high Ca (1.5%) diets for 6 weeks during pregnancy and lactation. All of the rats were mated with normal male rats. The control group was consistently fed a normal Ca diet for 11 weeks. Pups were adjusted to 10 per dam. After weaning, dams and their weaned rats were sacrificed. We measured total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and mineral content in serum and weight, length, breaking force, ash and mineral content in bone and kidney. There was no significant difference in weight gain and food intake among the groups. Serum total protein and albumin were in the normal range but slightly decreased with a low Ca diet during preconception. Calcium supplementation above normal level increased bone weight, Ca content and breaking force in femur of maternal and their weaned rats. However, high maternal Ca intake significantly decreased Mg and Fe contents in maternal serum and bone and Mg and Zn contents in serum of weaned rats. Also, it induced Ca, P and Mg deposit in maternal kidney. Our experimental results suggest that Ca deficiency during preconception may deteriorate bone status of mother and their offsprings. Moreover, high Ca supplementation during pregnancy and lactation may lead to disturb mineral metabolism in bone and other tissues.