• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine on pig growth, carcass quality, and sensory perceptions of pork meat by Thai consumers. Male crossbred pigs (n = 30) were separated into three groups of 10 pigs each: boars, immunocastrated pigs, and surgically castrated pigs. The immunocastrated group was immunized at 13 and 19 weeks of age with GnRH vaccine ($400{\mu}g/dose$). All pigs were slaughtered at 24 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected and testes size determined. Testes weight and back fat thickness were recorded at the time of slaughter, and meat samples were collected for sensory assessment by Thai consumers. Testosterone and progesterone concentration levels decreased significantly two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05), and the GnRH antibody titer of the immunocastrated pigs was significantly high two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05). GnRH vaccine significantly reduced the weight and size of testes. Thai consumers reported no significant differences in odor or flavor among meat samples from the three groups. In conclusion, immunocastration improved growth performance, removed the need for castration surgery, and avoided "boar taint" in the meat. It has also no distinct trace of the boar taint same as pork that is currently produced from physically castrated pig which is making it acceptable to consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.677-684
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• 1999

This study has dealt the effect of Ca regulating hormones and dietary Ca levels on Ca metabolism. Animals(BALB/c mice) were divided into three dietary groups(high and medium Ca and Ca free) and hormones including parathyroid hormone(PTH), calcitonin(CT), cholecalciferol(Vit D) were i.p. injected. After feeding experimental diets for five weeks, mice were anaethetized and sacrificed by heart puncture. We found that femur growth of mouse was slightly increased by high dietary Ca without showing statistical significance comparing to low dietary Ca group. The combination of PTH and CT showed the same effect when dietary Ca was high. At the same time, total mineral retention in bone was most affected by dietary Ca. In general, high Ca diet elevated Ca level in the serum. When dietary Ca was low, PTH stimulated Ca release from the bone into the serum, which was shown to be inhibited by CT treatment. Comparing to the control, PTH, Vit D and CT together tended to inhibit serum Ca level at high and medium dietary Ca. PTH and Vit D inhibited Ca reserve in the liver at all dietary levels of Ca. Both PTH and Vit D stimulated bone Ca retention when dietary Ca was low, but this effect was reversed when dietary Ca was high. When PTH, Vit D and CT were administered together, bone Ca level was greatly enhanced at low dietary Ca than at high dietary Ca, which suggests that these hormonal cooperation is needed for proper bone density maintenance especially when dietary minerals are not sufficient.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2019

Objectives Previous animal studies have shown that mixtures of Cynanchum wilfordii and Phlomis umbrosa extract (IPLUS-CWPU) increases femur length and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) secretion. IPLUS-CWPU may thus be a promising ingredient in functional foods aimed at growing child's height. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of IPLUS-CWPU on height growth in children with short stature. Methods For this purpose, we recruited 90 children aged 4 to 12 years who had heights ranging from the 5th to 25th percentiles of Korean children's growth curve and randomized to either the IPLUS-CWPU or the placebo group. Results The IPLUS-CWPU group showed a significant increase in the change of the height growth compared to the placebo group after 20 weeks of administration (p=0.02). The height growth velosity also showed a statistically significant difference in the test group compared to the placebo group at 10 weeks (p=0.04). The IGF-1 levels showed a tendency to increase in the IPLUS-CWPU group (p=0.08). Moreover, the IPLUS-CWPU significantly increased IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio (p=0.02). However, there were no significant differences in blood biochemical parameters including growth hormone, bone age, thyroid stimulating hormone, and osteocalcin levels. Conclusions In conclusion, the data of this trial indicate that IPLUS-CWPU is effective and safe, generally well-tolerated without severe adverse events, in the treatment of children with short stature over a 20 weeks period.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease. On the other hand, there is no treatment that can improve the thyroid function. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can improve the cellular activity. The effect of hypothyroidism is not obvious. This study examined the effects of LLLT on the thyroid gland function of a propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism mouse model. Materials and Methods Twenty-five male ICR mice were distributed into five groups of five animals each: Negative control (none PTU animal) and positive control (PTU animal) of unirradiated animals, and three experimental groups with LLLT (3J, 6J, and 12J). Each mouse was exposed to a distinct dose of a 632-nm laser once a week for three rounds. The positive control group and three LLLT groups were induced into a hypothyroidism state by PTU administration. The animals' thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine levels were measured using an ELISA kit, and their thyroid tissue was harvested and analyzed after sacrifice at the end of the experiment. The hormone level and morphological changes in the tissue of the five groups were compared. Results The thyroid hormone levels in the control group and LLLT groups were similar. On the other hand, the thyroid tissue of the LLLT groups showed some morphological changes that were similar to those of iodine deficiency thyroid. Conclusion LLLT did not affect the thyroid gland function in PTU-induced hypothyroidism mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.285-297
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Korean pine nut oil (PNO) has been reported to suppress appetite by increasing satiety hormone release. However, previous studies have rendered inconsistent results and there is lack of information on whether dietary Korean PNO affects the expression of satiety hormone receptors and hypothalamic neuropeptides. Therefore, our study sought to evaluate the chronic effects of Korean PNO on the long-term regulation of energy balance. MATERIALS/METHODS: Five-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed with control diets containing 10% kcal fat from Korean PNO or soybean oil (SBO) (PC or SC) or high-fat diets (HFDs) containing 35% kcal fat from lard and 10% kcal fat from Korean PNO or SBO (PHFD or SHFD) for 12 weeks. The expression of gastrointestinal satiety hormone receptors, hypothalamic neuropeptides, and genes related to intestinal lipid absorption and adipose lipid metabolism was then measured. RESULTS: There was no difference in the daily food intake between PNO- and SBO-fed mice; however, the PC and PHFD groups accumulated 30% and 18% less fat compared to SC and SHFD, respectively. Korean PNO-fed mice exhibited higher messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of Ghsr (ghrelin receptor) and Agrp (agouti-related peptide) (P < 0.05), which are expressed when energy consumption is low to induce appetite as well as the appetitesuppressing neuropeptides Pomc and Cartpt (P = 0.079 and 0.056, respectively). Korean PNO downregulated jejunal Cd36 and epididymal Lpl mRNA expressions, which could suppress intestinal fatty acid absorption and fat storage in white adipose tissue. Consistent with these findings, Korean PNO-fed mice had higher levels of fecal non-esterified fatty acid excretion. Korean PNO also tended to downregulate jejunal Apoa4 and upregulate epididymal Adrb3 mRNA levels, suggesting that PNO may decrease chylomicron synthesis and induce lipolysis. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, Korean PNO attenuated body fat accumulation, and appeared to prevent HFD-induced dysregulation of the hypothalamic appetite-suppressing pathway.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2022

Objective: Oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) have been linked to idiopathic male infertility (IMI). Various antioxidants have been tried to improve semen parameters and fertility potential in IMI patients, but with inconsistent results. The study aimed to compare the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Centrum multivitamins on semen parameters, seminal antioxidant capacity, and SDF in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (OA). Methods: This prospective controlled clinical study involved 130 patients with idiopathic OA and 58 fertile controls. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: the first group received CoQ10 (200 mg/day orally) and the second group received Centrum multivitamins (1 tablet/day) for 3 months. Semen parameters, CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, SDF, and serum hormone levels (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and prolactin) were compared at baseline and after 3 months. Results: Both CoQ10 and Centrum improved sperm concentration and motility, but the improvement was greater with Centrum therapy (p<0.05). Similarly, both therapies improved antioxidant capacity, but TAC and catalase improvement was greater (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively) with CoQ10, whereas ROS (p<0.01) and SDF (p<0.001) improvements were greater with Centrum administration. Centrum therapy was associated with reduced serum testosterone (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, both CoQ10 and Centrum were effective in improving semen parameters, antioxidant capacity, and SDF, but the improvement was greater with Centrum than with CoQ10. Therefore, Centrum-as a source of combined antioxidants-may provide more effective results than individual antioxidants such as CoQ10 in the treatment of infertile men with idiopathic OA.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1995

To examine whether colostral growth factors are transferred to the general circulation, concentrations of plasma cortisol, insulin, prolactin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors(IGFs) -I and -II, IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs) and total protein were measured in newborn calves fed colostrums, milk of milk replacer before and after feeding at 12 h intervals during the first two days after birth. Plasma protein concentrations increased with time after than in milk- or milk replacer-fed calves. The mean protein concentration was greater in colostrum-fed than in milk- or milk replacer-fed calves. Plasma cortisol levels transiently declined after each feeding regardless of the type of diet, while insulin levels tended to increase. Mean concentrations of these hormones did not differ between dietary groups, nor did they change with time after birth. Plasma concentrations of prolactin and growth hormone did not differ between dietary groups and also did not change with time after birth or after feeding. Concentrations of IGF-I and IGF-II transiently increased at the second feeding period, but these, as well as plasma IGFBP profiles, were not different between groups or before and after feeding. Results did not indicate significant transfer of colostral growth factors across the newborn ruminant small intestine.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 1999

Hyperthroidism in known to alter the activity of a number of enzymes involved in the catabolism of histidine to CO2. 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase(EC 1.5, 1.6, 10-formyl-THE dehydrogenase) catalyzes the NADP-dependent conversion of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and CO2. In previous studies, 10-formyl-THF dehydrogenase purified from rat and pig liver was coidentified with the cytosolic folate-binding protein. In this study, we investigated the effects of feeding thyroid powder (TP) and thiouracil(TU) on the folate-binding properties of 10-formyl-THE dehydrogenase, the uptake of an injected dose of [3H] folate, and the metabolism of labeled folate to pteroylopoly-${\gamma}$-glutamate in rat liver. The initial hepatic uptake(24hr) of the labeled folate dose was higher in TU-rats and slightly higher in TP-rats in controls. With longer time periods, decreased hepatic uptake of labeled folate was observed in TP-animals compared to euthroid animals, and high levels of hepatic uptake of labeled folate were maintained in TU-animals. This data shows that high levels of thyroid hormone decreased the retention of folate in rat liver. Folate polygutamate chain length was shorter in TU-rats than controls, which suggests that thyroid states do not affect the ability to synthesize pteroylpolyglutamates and that folate polyglutamate might be modulated by altered folate pool size. The ability of 10-formyl-THE dehydrogenase to bind folate in rat liver was similar in both TP-and TU-rats although dehydrogenase activity was changed by thyroid sates.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.18-27
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• 2013

This study is being conducted in order to confirm the effects of inhaling method for aromatherapy on cortisol which is a stress hormone by the saliva test method. An attempt is being made to dertermine if there are any differences between the effect of lavender and rosemary when concidering their effects on the cortisolsl. The test shows a statistically significant decrease in the cortisol levesl(Table 4), and as far as the comparison of the effects between lavender(N=10) and rosemary(N=10) is concerned, the lavender group show a p-value of .005 which means that there are no statistical significances; while the rosemary group show p-values of .081 meaning that there is a decrease in cortisol levels, which is statistically significant(Table 5). It has been proven that the saliva test method is a practical and scientific method when confirming the effects of aromatherapy and also a convenient method for both of the test coordinator and the subjects. Results of all 20 subjects showed similar results obtained by means of conventional blood tests. However, the rosemary group shows statistically significant decrease in cortisol level compared to the lavender group, thus proving that the test method for studying the effect of aromatherapy on stress is valid. Further studies should be conducted in order to investigate the differences in the effects of the cortisol level at different concentrations of the aroma.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.41-46
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• 1978

8 cases of subacute thyroiditis was diagnosed among 108 needle biopsy of the thyroid during the period from April 1976 to August 1978. Correlation of the histologic findings with the clinical staging proposed by Czernick was relatively well matched; cases with long clinical course or low thyroid hormone levels showed greater fibrosis and reduction of follicular elements in thyroid. Thyroid $^{131}I$ uptake or the uptake as seen on the thyroid scanning correlated inversely with the thyroid hormone levels. The clinical course of the patients seen in their initial stage of disease followed the classical pattern; hyperthyroid-like, hypothyroid-like and recovery. 3 among the 4, who were seen in their later clinical course showed hypothyroidism, which seemed the final outcome of their diseases.