• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1182-1189
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• 2007

An intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of somatostatin 1-28 (SRIF) was used as a thirst-controlling peptide antagonist to investigate whether or not thirst-controlling peptides are involved in the significant decrease in feed intake during the initial stages of feeding large-type goats on dry forage. A continuous ICV infusion of SRIF was conducted at a small dose of $4{\mu}g$ ml/h for 27 h from day 1 to day 2. Goats (n = 5) were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes for 2 h twice daily and water was given ad libitum. Feed intake was measured during ICV infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) and SRIF. The feed intake during SRIF infusion increased significantly compared to that during ACSF infusion. In comparison to the ACSF treatment, plasma osmolality during the SRIF treatment significantly decreased during the first half of the 2 h feeding period. The factor causing the decrease in plasma osmolality during the ICV infusion of SRIF was a decrease in plasma Na, K, Cl, and Mg concentrations. In comparison to the ACSF infusion treatment, parotid saliva secretion volumes during the 2 h feeding period in the SRIF infusion treatment were significantly larger. While there was no significant difference in cumulative water intake (thirst levels) between the SRIF and the ACSF treatments upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period, based on the plasma osmolality results it is thought that thirst level increases brought about by alfalfa hay cube feeding in the first half of the feeding period were reduced. It is thought that the somatostatin-induced increases in feed intake during the 2 h feeding period in the present experiment were caused by decreases in plasma osmolality brought about by the somatostatin infusion. As a result, it is suggested that the significant decrease in feed intake during the initial stages of feeding in large-type goats given roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, was due to the actions of thirst-controlling peptides.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2012

Objectives: Lifting heavy weights involves the Valsalva manoeuvre, which leads to intraocular pressure spikes. We used data from a case-control study to further investigate the hypothesis that occupational lifting is a risk factor for retinal detachment. Methods: The study population included 48 cases (patients operated for retinal detachment) and 84 controls (outpatients attending an eye clinic). The odds ratios (OR) of idiopathic retinal detachment were estimated with a logistic regression model (adjusted for age, sex and body mass index). Three indexes were used to examine exposure to lifting; 1) maximum load lifted, 2) average weekly lifting, 3) lifelong cumulative lifting. Results: For all indexes, the most exposed subjects showed an increased risk of retinal detachment compared with the unexposed (index 1: OR 3.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-10.48; index 2: OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.32-7.97; index 3: OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.27-8.74) and dose-response relationships were apparent. Conclusion: These results reinforce the hypothesis that heavy occupational lifting may be a relevant risk factor for retinal detachment.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2020

Background/Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in children and adolescents. Materials & Methods: Medical records of 31 DTC cases that were diagnosed and treated at Korea Cancer Center Hospital between 2002 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Most cases were papillary carcinoma (n=26), with female predominance (n=25). Median age was 16.4 years (range, 11.9-18.6 years). Extrathyroidal extension was present in 24 cases. Twenty cases had tumor involvement at cervical lymph nodes and three had lung metastasis. Twenty-two patients received radioactive iodide treatment with a median cumulative dose of 300 mCi (range, 100-920 mCi). During a median follow-up of 68.2 months (range, 2.3-191.4 months), serum thyroglobulin level was elevated in 15 patients. Among them, two cases had remnant thyroid tissue, 4 had recurrence at cervical lymph nodes, and the remaining 9 did not have any detectable lesion. All were alive, and 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 45.2±10.1%. Age £15 years, tumor size, lymph node status (N1b), and distant metastasis had negative effects on EFS. On multivariate analysis, age and tumor size had prognostic significance. Conclusion: For DTC of children and adolescents (£18 years old), age ≤15 years and tumor size were prognostic factor. Therefore, patients in this age group need meticulous follow-up. Further studies are necessary to answer the potential influence of age on the incidence and behavior of DTC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.500-506
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted with twenty crossbred male calves (7-15 days old) divided into 4 different experimental groups on the basis of body weights to study the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration and immune response of the calves. All the calves were fed on milk and calf starter up to 13 weeks and afterwards, they were fed on concentrate mixture and oat hay up to 32 weeks of age. In addition, the calves in groups I, II, III and IV were supplemented with 0, 125, 250 and 500 IU feed grade DL-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0 day and subsequently at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 months of age to monitor the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in crossbred calves. After 24 weeks of experimental feeding, 4 animals from each group were intramuscularly inoculated with single dose (3 ml) of Haemorrhagic septiceaemia (Pasteurella multocida P52 strain) oil adjuvant vaccine. The cumulative group mean serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration (${\mu}g/100ml$) was 88.12, 210.11, 235.21 and 294.02 in-groups I, II, III and IV, respectively and differed significantly (p<0.001) among the four groups. Lymphocyte stimulation indices (LSI) did not differ among the groups significantly. The pooled mean ELISA antibody titer against Pasteurella multocida (P52 strain) was 788.02, 926.85, 1,214.00 and 1,109.51 for group I, II, III and IV, respectively, which indicated higher antibody titer in groups supplemented with vitamin E as compared to the control group. It may be concluded that vitamin E supplementation increased the ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in serum and dietary supplementation of vitamin E at higher level has a humoral immune enhancing effect against killed bacterial antigen.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2015

Background: Cancer has emerged as a major health problem globally as a consequence to the increased longevity of the population, changing the environment and life style. Chemoprevention is a new and promising strategy for reducing cancer burden. Recently, some natural products have been identified for their chemopreventive activity to reduce the cancer incidence. Ginseng is known for its potential to treat various ailments in human beings. The present study was designed to explore the anticancer and antioxidative potential of Panax ginseng against chemical-induced skin carcinogenesis in mammals. Methods: Skin tumors were induced in Swiss albino mice by a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene ($100{\mu}g/100{\mu}L$ acetone) and, 2 wks later, promoted by repeated applications of croton oil (thrice in a wk in 1% acetone) till the end of the experiment (i.e., 16 wk). Hydroalcoholic ginseng root extract at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight/d was orally administered at the periinitiation, postinitiation, and peri-post-initiation stages. Results: Ginseng root extract treatment caused a significant reduction in tumor incidence, cumulative number of tumors, tumor yield, and tumor burden, as compared to the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-croton oil-treated control group. Further, biochemical assays revealed a significant enhancement in the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin C, and total proteins but a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation levels in both the liver and skin with ginseng root extract treatment, as compared to carcinogen-treated control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that P. ginseng has the potential to become a pivotal chemopreventive agent that can reduce cancer in mammals.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.82-86
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• 1997

Pharmacokinetics of a new capsaicin analog, DA-5018 were evaluated after a subcutaneous injection or topical application of $[^{14}C]$--labelled or unlabelled DA-5018 to rats and rabbits. After subcutaneous injection of $_{14}$c-labelled or unlabelled DA-5018, 0.5 mg/kg (equivalent to DA-5018) to rats, the plasma total activity peaked at 2 hr with the terminal half life of 5.34 hr, however, unlabelled-DA-5018 peaked at 1 hr with the terminal half life of 1.26 hr. Moreover, the AUC (0.726 versus 0.2337g hr/ml) and MRT (7.82 versus 3.55 hr) increased significantly based on total radioactivity compared with intact DA-5018. Above data indicated that DA-5018 is extensively metabolized in rats and the terminal half- life of the metabolite(5) had a longer half-life than that of DA-5018. The cumulative percentages of biliary excretion of dose after subcutaneous injection of $[^{14}C]$DA-5018 was 40.2%, however, the value was only 2.14% when unlabelled DA-5018 was injected. After topical application of 0.1% or 0.3% $_{14}$C-labelled or unlabelled DA-5018 cream, 500 mg/kg to rats, the plasma and tissue concentrations except applied skin were under the detection limit. After consecutive 7 days topical application of unlabelled DA-5018, 0.1% and 0.3% cream to rats, the plasma concentrations were also under the detection limit. But the urinary excretion of DA-5018 was significantly increased by repeated topical administration. After topical application of unlabelled DA-5018, 0.1% and 0.3% cream to rabbits, the plasma and urine concentrations were under the detection limit. Above data indicated that the skin permeation of DA-5018 was lower and the metabolism of DA-5018 was higher in rabbits than that in rats.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.551-554
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• 2012

The present laboratory investigation was conducted to assess the effect of heavy metals on carbon mineralization. Soil was treated with three concentrations (50, 100 and $150{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}$ soil) of two heavy metals (Cd and Zn) in a factorial combination of treatments replicated four times. Determination of carbon mineralization was carried out at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 56 days after metal treatments.. The amount of $CO_2$-C released from heavy metal treated soils was found to be decreased at an increasing rate during the first 28 days, followed by slow release as incubation progressed. The total amounts of $CO_2$-C released were 448, 382 and $348mg\;kg^{-1}$ soil respectively for soils treated with 50, 100 and $150{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}$ soil of Zn. The corresponding figures for Cd treated soils were 406, 354 and $282mg\;kg^{-1}$ soil implying that dose-dependent reduction in cumulative $CO_2$-C released from soils. The inhibition of carbon mineralization was found to be high in Cd treated soils than that of Zn treated. Therefore, tolerance and adaptation of the microbial community is likely to be related to the concentration and the type of metal. According to the results, carbon mineralization can be considered as possible indicator of soil pollution by means of heavy metals.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 1997

Ion exchange resin complexes of famotidine have been prepared by the reaction of famotidine solution with activated ion exchange resins. Complex formation efficiency between famotidine and ion exchange resin was about $80{\sim}90%$ in average, calculated by HPLC determination. Drug release characteristics from the resin complexes were evaluated by the modified percolation method. Famotidine release was dependent on the type of ion exchange resins. In the case of weakly acidic resin complexes, the cumulative released amount of famotidine was more than 90% for 1hr in pH 1.2 buffer solution. However, in the case of strongly acidic resin complexes, it was less than 5% for 3hr in the same medium. Strongly acidic resins revealed some advantages over weakly, acidic resins for overcoming instability of famotidine in gastric juice. In addition, strongly acidic resin complexes showed controlled release of famotidine in pH 6.8 buffer solution, showing the result of about 60 to 70% of drug release for 5hr. After oral administrations of famotidine-resin complexes to rats as dose of 40 mg equivalent/kg, the pharmacokinetic parameters of famotidine were obtained by model independent analysis and compared with those of famotidine solution or suspension. $C_{max}$ of famotidine-resin complex was lower than that of famotidine solution or suspension. MRT, MAT, and MDT of the complexes were greater than those of famotidine solution or suspension. From these results, it was expected that famotidine was released slowly from the complexes and absorbed continuously into systemic circulation. It was recognized that drug release from the complexes was the rate-limiting step in drug absorption, since there were close correlations between in vitro drug release and in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4939-4944
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• 2016

Background: An upward trend has been noted for the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) in Vietnam, but information is limited on modifiable factors associated with this form of cancer. This case-control study was conducted to ascertain any relationship between habitual tea consumption and PCa risk. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and fifty-three incident patients with histologically confirmed PCa and 419 (340 community-based and 79 hospital-based) controls, matched by age, were recruited in Ho Chi Minh City during 2013-2015. Information on frequency, quantity and duration of tea consumption, together with demographics, habitual diet and lifestyle characteristics, was obtained by direct interviews using a validated questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations between tea consumption variables and PCa risk. Results: The control subjects reported higher tea consumption levels in terms of cumulative exposure, frequency and quantity of tea drank than the PCa patients. After accounting for confounding factors, increasing tea consumption was found to be associated with reduced risk of PCa. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.52 (95% CI 0.35-0.79) and 0.30 (95% CI 0.18-0.48) for participants drinking 100-500 ml/day and > 500 ml/day, respectively, relative to those drinking < 100 ml/day. Significant inverse dose-response relationships were also observed for years of drinking and number of cups consumed daily (P <0.01). Conclusion: Habitual tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of PCa in Vietnamese men.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2010

In our previous work on levodopa delivery at pH 2.5 using iontophoresis, we found that cathodal delivery showed higher permeation than anodal delivery and electroosmosis plays more dominant role than electrorepulsion. In this work, we studied the transdermal transport of levodopa at very low pH (pH=1.0) where all levodopa molecules are cations, and evaluated some factors which affect the transdermal transport. The transport study at pH 2.5 was also conducted for comparison. The contribution of electrorepulsion and electroosmosis on flux was also evaluated. Using stable aqueous solution, the effect of electrode polarity, current density, current type and drug concentration on transport through skin were studied and the results were compared. We also investigated the iontophoretic flux from hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogel containing levodopa. In vitro flux study was performed at $33^{\circ}C$, using side-by-side diffusion cell. Full thickness hairless mouse skin were used. Current densities applied were 0.2, 0.4 or $0.6\;mA/cm^2$. Contrary to the pH 2.5 result, anodal delivery showed higher flux, indicating that electrorepulsion is the dominant force for the transport, overcoming the electroosmotic flow which is acting against the direction of electrorepulsion. Cumulative amount of levodopa transported was increased as the current density or drug concentration was increased. When amount of current dose was constant, continuous current was more beneficial than pulsed current in promoting levodopa permeation. Similar transport results were obtained when hydrogel was used as the donor phase. These results indicate that iontophoretic delivery of zwitterion such as levodopa is much complicated than that can be expected from small ionic molecules. The results also indicate that, only at very low pH like pH 1.0, electrorepulsion can be the dominant force over the electroosmosis in the levodopa transport.