• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 1998

An apicomplexan parasite, Perkinsus sp. was observed from the cultured baby clams, Ruditapes philippinarum, collected from the coast of Kochang and Taean (South Korea), where it caused seasonal mortality of clams. Several milky-white cysts were observed on the surface of gill and visceral mass of parasitised clams. The trophozoites of parasite had eccentric nucleus and proliferated by schizogony in gill, mantle, hepatopancrease and reproductive tissues, resulting in the formation of granuloma and the intensive infiltration of hemocytes in the tissues. During incubation in FTM, trophozoites increased in size, resulting in prezoosporangia which appeared as round black spheres when colored with Lugols iodine solution. The prevalence of Perkinsus sp. in clams was Kochang, 73.1%; Taean, 94.8% (during 9-mo. survey) and showed size-dependent infection. Hemacolor kit was useful to reduce time for diagnosis of the trophozoite of Perkinsus sp. that has been responsible of massive motalities in the clam.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.828-836
• /
• 1996

The histological changes of gill, liver, spleen and muscle, and respiration and blood variables and liver glycogen content were examined in black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegeli. Fish were exposed to a high level of total ammonia nitrogen (10.4 mg/l) and recovered from exposure $(0.4{\pm}0.2mg/l)$ in a closed recirculating seawater system. In the process of exposure, mortality was $9\%$, and hyperplasia, necrosis or inflammation appeared in all tissues except for muscle. Oxygen consumption was decreased by $49\%$, and red blood cell (RBC) number, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were significantly decreased, while plasma glucose contents, activities of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) increased. Liver glycogen content significantly increased from $6.6\%\;to\;10.4\%$. A large amount of hemosiderin was observed in the splenic tissue. During the recovery period, RBC number, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, GOT and GPT activities were returned to the normal status. Histological status of liver tissue was returned to the normal, but liver glycogen content was not recovered. During the recovery period, spleen melanin-macrophages temporarily increased, but subsequently decreased to the normal status.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.239-253
• /
• 2019

We investigated the physiological responses of the river puffer, Takifugu obscurus, the tiger puffer, T. rubripes, a hybrids of the two (river puffer${\times}$tiger puffer) and a hybrid triploids to acute changes of salinity from 30 psu to 0 psu and from 0 psu to 30 psu. The blood and plasma factors of each species were elevated for 48, 72, or 96 hrs, and thereafter decreased due to hyper-osmoregulation and hypo-osmoregulation. In hyper-osmoregulation and hypo-osmoregulation, the cortisol concentration of river puffer, hybrids, hybrid triploids and tiger puffer increased for 12 or 48 hrs, and decreased thereafter. Chloride cells in the gill filaments of each species increased with increasing salinity, and melano-macrophages in the kidney tissue of each species increased with decreasing salinity. In conclusion, the hematological and stress responses of the hybrids were between those of the river puffer and tiger puffer, and the hematological responses of the hybrid triploids were higher than those of the other groups. The stress response of the hybrids was more sensitive than that of the hybrid triploids. In all groups, the histological responses of kidney in hyper-osmoregulation were more sensitive than those in hypo-osmoregulation.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.123-135
• /
• 2022

Oryeongsan (ORS), a formula composed of five herbal medicines, has long been used to treat impairments of the regulation of body fluid homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the antihypertensive and renal protective effects of ORS in rats with hypertension. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were divided into two groups with similar mean baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP). Then, 1 mL/kg of vehicle (distilled water) or 1.5, 3 g/kg of ORS extract were administered orally once a day for 4 weeks. SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. At the end of the experiment, blood was collected, and heart were removed for histology. By the 2 weeks after initiation of treatment, the ORS treated group had significantly lower SBP than SHR rats. The ORS treatment significantly improved blood pressure and echocardiogram parameters compared to hypertensive rats. Additionally, the left ventricular (LV) remodeling and LV dysfunction were significantly improved in ORS treated group hypertensive rats. Furthermore, an increase in fibrotic area has been observed in SHR rats compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Furthermore, administration of ORS significantly attenuated cardiac fibrosis in hypertensive rats. Therefore, these findings suggest that ORS has a protective effect on heart failure by alleviating hypertensive heart disease and cardiovascular dysfunction in SHR.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2018

Objectives: We investigated the efficacy and safety of miniscalpel acupuncture (MA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in an assessor-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial; this would provide information for a large-scale randomized controlled trial. Methods: Participants (n = 24) were recruited and randomly allocated to the MA group (experimental) or acupuncture group (control). The MA group received treatment once a week for 3 weeks (total of 3 treatments), while the acupuncture group received treatment two times per week for 3 weeks (total of 6 treatments). The primary outcome was pain as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes (intensity of current pain, stiffness, and physical function) were assessed using the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Assessments were performed at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 during treatment and at week 5 (2 weeks after the end of treatment). Results: Of the 24 participants, 23 completed the study. Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS, SF-MPQ, and WOMAC. However, there were no significant differences between the MA and acupuncture groups. No serious adverse event occurred and blood test results were within normal limits. Conclusion: Our results suggest that although both MA and acupuncture provide similar effects with regard to pain control in patients with KOA, MA may be more effective in providing pain relief because the same relief was obtained with fewer treatments. A large-scale clinical study is warranted to further clarify these findings.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2016

Objectives : The Knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients are not satisfied with the conventional therapies of KDOA, which results in the use of alternative therapies. The miniscalpel acupuncture is effective in treating chronic soft tissue, releasing contractures. However, there is little scientific evidence supporting the use of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis. This study was designed to obtain basic data for a further large-scale trial as well as provide information about the feasibility of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients. Methods : We describe the protocol for a randomized controlled pilot clinical trial of 5 weeks duration. Twenty patients will be recruited and randomly allocated to two treatment groups: miniscalpel acupuncture treatment(experimental group); and acupuncture and electro-acupuncture treatment(control group). Miniscalpel acupuncture will be performed once with a 1-week interval for 3 weeks. Electro-acupuncture will be administered twice per week for a period of 3 weeks. The primary outcomes will be measured by visual analogue scale and range of motion. The secondary outcomes will be short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Both primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 1, 2, 3 and 5 weeks(i.e. 2 weeks after treatment completion). Conclusions : This pilot study will provide a basic foundation for a future large-scale trial as well as information about the feasibility of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis.