• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2010

Objective: This study was performed to clarify the role of HomeoboxA (HOXA) and its related signaling molecules in the decidualization of primary cultured endometrial cells. Methods: Human endometrial tissues were obtained by curettage of hysterectomy specimens from patients with conditions other than endometrial diseases. Tissues were minced and digested with Trypsin-EDTA for 20 min, $37^{\circ}C$. Cells were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium in $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 24 hrs. Cells were treated with HOXA10 siRNA and added transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ (10 ng/mL) for 48 hrs to induces decidualization in vitro. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was accomplished to observe the expression of HOXA10, prolactin, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor (PPAR)-$\gamma$, and wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnt). Results: HOXA10 expression was increased (1.8 fold vs. non-treated control) in TGF-${\beta}1$ treated cells. Decidualization marker, prolactin, was significantly increased in TGF-${\beta}1$ treated cells compared with HOXA10 siRNA treated cells. Endometrial cell differentiation marker, COX-2 was down-regulated by HOXA10 siRNA even if cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$. Wnt4 was down-regulated by treated with HOXA10 siRNA, this expression patters was not changed by TGF-${\beta}1$. Expression of PPAR-$\gamma$ was down regulated by TGF-${\beta}1$ in regardless of HOXA10 siRNA treatment. Conclusion: TGF-${\beta}1$ which is induced by progesterone in endometrial epithelial cells may induces stromal cell decidualization via HOXA10 and Wnt signaling cascade.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 2015

Heat conditioning at an early age has been known to help chickens cope with heat stress later in life. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of heat conditioning at 5 days of age in broilers repeatedly exposed to high ambient temperature later in life. A total of 256 day-old Arbor Acre boiler chicks were housed in two identical rooms with a 23-h light/1-h dark cycle and provided with feed and water ad libitum. At 5 days of age, the birds in one room were exposed to $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours, while those in the other room served as controls. On day 21, half of the birds in each room were moved into the other room so that each room contained both control and heat-conditioned birds. After a 7-day adaptation period, the birds in one room were exposed to high ambient temperature ($21^{\circ}C{\rightarrow}31^{\circ}C$) for 3 days, whereas those in the other room were kept at normal temperature. The same 3-day exposure to high ambient temperature was repeated two weeks later. Hence, there were four treatment groups (CON+CON: control+control; CON+HS: control+high ambient temperature; HC+CON: heat conditioning+control; and HC+HS: heat conditioning+high ambient temperature). Repeated heat stress resulted in decreased feed intake, water intake, body weight gain, and spleen weight (p<0.05) and increased rectal temperature (p<0.05), mortality, and plasma corticosterone concentrations. The relative weight of the spleen was increased in the heat-conditioned group (p<0.05). Plasma biochemicals were also influenced by high temperature. Thus, no beneficial effects of heat conditioning at an early age were detected in broilers repeatedly exposed to high ambient temperature later in life.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 1996

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of sprinkler and fan cooling system on the physiological parameter, milk production and milk composition for Holstein cows in hot, humid climates. Thirty cows were assigned to one of two sections of open-sided loose barn. Water nozzles of sprinkler system were spaced in line at 1.2m intervals. Forced air was provided by 85cm diameter fans at rate of 3.4㎥/sec. The results obtained from these experiments are as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in meteorological data between control and fan + sprinkler cooling system(treatment group). 2. Skin temperature and rectal temperature of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (32.96 : 39.53$^{\circ}C$ vs 34.02 : 41.21$^{\circ}C$ respectively) (P<0.05). 3. Serum cortisol concentration of the treatment group(0.90$\mu\textrm{g}$/dL) was lower than that of control group(1.44$\mu\textrm{g}$/dL)(P<0.05). 4. Milk production of cows cooled with a sprinkler and fan cooling system was significantly higher than that of no cooling system (P<0.0l). 5. Lactose, protein and solid-not-fat content of milk were not changed by the treatments. Milk fat content of the control(3.23%) was low compared with the treatment group(3.38%). Somatic cell count was reduced by 26.63% in the treatment. The results indicate that a sprinkler and fan cooling systems can provide an effective means to relieve heat stress and enhance productivity of lactating Holstein cows during hot and humid summer season.

• Laboratory Medicine Online
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2016

Background: The cell cycle-dependent enzyme thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is known to increase during cancer cell proliferation and has been reported as a prognostic marker for various hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. This study aimed to determine the reference interval in Korean healthy controls and to evaluate the usefulness of TK1 as a biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients. Methods: We enrolled 72 previously untreated patients with B-cell lymphoma and 143 healthy controls. Serum TK1 levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay ($Liaison^{(R)}$, DiaSorin, USA). We established the reference intervals in healthy controls. The diagnostic performance of serum TK1 was studied using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and the correlation between the cutoff level for serum TK1 and clinical characteristics of B-cell lymphoma was evaluated. Results: The reference range (95th percentile) of serum TK1 in healthy controls was 5.4-21.8 U/L. There was a clear difference in TK1 levels between patients with B-cell lymphoma and healthy controls ($40.6{\pm}68.5$ vs. $11.8{\pm}4.4U/L$, P <0.001). The area under the curve of serum TK1 for the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma was 0.73 (cutoff, 15.2 U/L; sensitivity, 59.7%; specificity, 83.2%). An increased TK1 level (${\geq}15.2U/L$) correlated with the advanced clinical stage (P <0.001), bone marrow involvement (P =0.013), international prognostic index score (P =0.001), lactate dehydrogenase level (P =0.001), low Hb level (<12 g/dL) (P =0.028), and lymphocyte count (P =0.023). Conclusions: The serum TK1 level could serve as a useful biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.413-420
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• 2005

Purpose: Neuroreceptor PET studies require 60-120 minutes to complete and head motion of the subject during the PET scan increases the uncertainty in measured activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of the data-driven head mutton correction on the evaluation of endogenous dopamine release (DAR) in the striatum during the motor task which might have caused significant head motion artifact. Materials and Methods: $[^{11}C]raclopride$ PET scans on 4 normal volunteers acquired with bolus plus constant infusion protocol were retrospectively analyzed. Following the 50 min resting period, the participants played a video game with a monetary reward for 40 min. Dynamic frames acquired during the equilibrium condition (pre-task: 30-50 min, task: 70-90 min, post-task: 110-120 min) were realigned to the first frame in pre-task condition. Intra-condition registrations between the frames were performed, and average image for each condition was created and registered to the pre-task image (inter-condition registration). Pre-task PET image was then co-registered to own MRI of each participant and transformation parameters were reapplied to the others. Volumes of interest (VOI) for dorsal putamen (PU) and caudate (CA), ventral striatum (VS), and cerebellum were defined on the MRI. Binding potential (BP) was measured and DAR was calculated as the percent change of BP during and after the task. SPM analyses on the BP parametric images were also performed to explore the regional difference in the effects of head motion on BP and DAR estimation. Results: Changes in position and orientation of the striatum during the PET scans were observed before the head motion correction. BP values at pre-task condition were not changed significantly after the intra-condition registration. However, the BP values during and after the task and DAR were significantly changed after the correction. SPM analysis also showed that the extent and significance of the BP differences were significantly changed by the head motion correction and such changes were prominent in periphery of the striatum. Conclusion: The results suggest that misalignment of MRI-based VOI and the striatum in PET images and incorrect DAR estimation due to the head motion during the PET activation study were significant, but could be remedied by the data-driven head motion correction.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.373-386
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate effects of the brown seaweed residues supplementation on in vitro fermentation, and milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows. Therefore, two experiments consisting of an in vitro and an in vivo growth trial were used. In in vitro experiment, brown seaweed residues(BSR) was supplemented in basal diet with 0, 1, 2 and 4% respectively, and incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h. The pH value, ammonia-N and VFA were investigated. The pH value tended to increase with increasing BSR during the incubation. Particularly, pH was significantly higher in BSR treatments compared with control at 9 h(p < 0.05). While, ammonia-N concentration was not significantly different across treatments during the whole incubation. BSR supplementation did not affect total VFA production, but acetate was linearly increased in BSR treatments compared with control at 12 h(p < 0.05), and its concentration was highest(92.70 mM) in 4% BSR among treatments. The concentration of iso-butyrate tended to increase in BSR treatments in comparison to control during the incubation. In addition, the concentration of iso-valerate was higher in BSR treatments compared with control at 12 and 24 h. In growth trial, BSR was added(800 g/d/animaI) to diets of dairy cow. Dry matter intake was not affected by BSR supplementation, but daily milk yield(kg) significantly increased in BSR treatment compared with control(p < 0.05). However, milk composition(%) and milk yield(kg) were not significantly different between treatments. Milk fat(% and kg/d) tended to slightly decrease in BSR treatment compared with control(3.59% and 1.06 kg/d vs. 3.32% and 1.01 kg/d), The contents of C16:0 and C20:4 in milk significantly increased in BSR treatment compared with control reflecting from dietary fatty acid composition. The content of C18:0 in milk which is end product of biohydrogenation of CI8 unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen significantly increased in BSR treatment compared with control(p < 0.05). C18:2 content in milk tended to decrease, but tended to increase trans-II C18:l and CLA contents in milk in BSR treatment compared with control. In conclusion, it could be summarized that BSR may stabilize rumen pH, and it could improve milk yield and CIA content in milk with more than 4% of diet. Therefore, BSR could be beneficially used in dairy diets as a feed additive.