• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.125-134
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• 2024

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a major problem for human health worldwide. The mechanisms of vitamin D in the male reproductive system are unknown. After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were developed, doubts were raised about their possible effects on male fertility. Based on vitamin D's function in the immune system, its potential role as an adjuvant for COVID-19 vaccines is intriguing. The aims of this study were to assess the effects of vitamin D first on sperm parameters and sex hormones, and then as an immune adjuvant on sperm parameters and sex hormones after study participants had received their second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Phase 1 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) included 72 men with idiopathic infertility, and phase 2 had 64 participants who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Both groups were instructed to take 50,000 IU of vitamin D twice monthly for 3 months. Sperm parameters and sex hormones were assessed pre-and post-supplementation. Results: Regular vitamin D intake for 3 months significantly increased the participants' vitamin D levels (p=0.0001). Both phases showed a positive correlation between vitamin D intake and sperm parameters. Vaccination had no negative effects on sperm parameters and sex hormones. Vitamin D was associated with follicle-stimulating hormone (p=0.02) and testosterone (p=0.0001) in phase 2 after treatment. Conclusion: Our results support vitamin D supplementation as an immune adjunct to COVID-19 vaccination for improving sperm parameters and hormone levels. COVID-19 vaccination is not harmful for male fertility potential, and vitamin D is an effective factor for male fertility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권7호
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• pp.940-945
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• 2011

In order to determine whether oxalate from grasses affects feed intake, blood calcium (Ca) and other blood parameters of adult sheep, two feeding trials were conducted. In Trial 1, one group of sheep received guineagrass (0.47% soluble oxalate) and another group received setaria (1.34% soluble oxalate) for 28 d. In Trial 2, one group of sheep received guineagrass while another group received the same grass treated with an oxalic acid solution (at a rate of 30 g oxalic acid/kg dry matter of hay) for 72 d. All sheep received concentrate mixtures (0.5% of body weight) throughout the experiment. In both trials, it was observed that plasma Ca concentration (11.0-11.7 mg/dl) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in sheep fed high oxalate-containing grasses than in sheep fed low oxalate-containing grasses (12.4-13.7 mg/dl). No differences (p>0.05) were observed in concentrations of magnesium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone in plasma between the feeding of low and high oxalate-containing grasses. In addition, no differences (p>0.05) were observed in roughage dry mater (DM) intake, total DM intake or body weight of sheep. This study suggests that sheep may consume oxalate-rich forage, but Ca bioavailability may decrease with increasing oxalate levels in the ration.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.165-169
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• 2011

The present study investigated the physiological evaluation of cloned mini-pigs in a transportable isolator. Transportable isolator was designed and manufactured by our research team for transporting gnotobiotic pig. Until now, no previous reports are available regarding the physiological activities and harmful effects when pigs were transported in this isolator. Five cloned mini-pigs of 1~2 year (s) old female with a body weight between 80~90 kg were used. The effects of transportable isolator on stress-related hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, and heart rate were evaluated. In addition, it was also examined the effects of transportable isolator on blood chemistry factors (alanine aminotransferase: ALT, aspartate aminotransferase: AST, blood urea nitrogen: BUN, glucose, and creatinine). Blood was sampled just before the beginning of transport (T0), at the end of transport (30min after the transport; T1), and 30 min after the end of transport (T2). At the same time, heart rate was also evaluated. As a result, heart rate had no significant (p>0.05) differences at the various-time points of study (T0, T1, T2). However, heart rate was slightly higher than normal range in T1 and T2. The ACTH level was higher than normal range. Whereas, the cortisol level was lower than normal range. There were no statistical significant differences both ACTH and cortisol level between different time groups. Also, there were no significant differences in blood chemistry factors. Therefore, our present study shows that transportable isolator has no harmful effect on stress and physiological condition in cloned mini-pigs.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2010

Object : This study was to evaluate the effect of Ginseng Radix, aqueous extracts of the root part of Panax ginseng on the 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil(PTU)-induced rat hypothyroidism. Methods : Aqueous extracts of Ginseng Radix(GR; yield = 11.70%) were administered, once day for 42 days from 2 weeks before start of PTU treatment as an oral dose of 300 and 150 mg/kg(body weight), and hypothyroidism was induced by daily subcutaneous treatment of PTU 10mg/kg for 28 days. The changes in the body weight, thyroid gland weights, serum levels of thyroid hormone-thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), tri-iodothyronine(T3) and thyroxine(T4), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein(LDL), high density lipoprotein(HDL) and triglyceride, liver antioxidant defense system-lipid peroxidation, $H_2O_2$, superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) were observed with histopathology of thyroid glands. Results : Results were compared with LevoT4 0.5mg/kg treated rats. GR extracts suppressed the decreases in the body weight, thyroid gland weights, T3 and T4, TG, liver $H_2O_2$ and SOD activities as results of PTU treatment. And GR extracts suppressed the increases of HDL contents, liver CAT activities, thyroid gland weight as results of PTU treatment. In addition, marked hyperplasia of follicular cells with decreases of follicular colloid contentsand sizes were demonstrated at histopathological inspections. However, these PTU-induced histopathological changes related to hypothyroidism were dramatically decreased by treatment of both different dosages of GR extract, respectively Conclusions : This study suggest that GR extracts have favorable effects on the thyroid hormone productions with beneficial effects on the hypothyroidism mediated by the modulatory effects on the antioxidant defense system.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.110-116
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• 2011

This study examined the growth effects of yeast hydrolysate (YH) and a traditional Korean herbal mixture (HM, a mixture of safflower seed and gasiogapi extract). Three-week old male SD rats were divided into the following five groups: negative control (saline), positive control (foremilk 0.5 g/kg/day), YH (YH 0.5 g/kg/day), HM (HM 0.2 g/kg/day), and YH+HM (YH 0.5 g/kg/day and HM 0.2 g/kg/day). Tibia bone length was 9.22 mm in the normal control rats, while both the YH and YH+HM groups had significantly longer tibia bones than the control rats (9.75 mm and 10.46 mm, respectively). The proximal epiphyses of YH, HM, and YH+HM measured 0.75, 0.70, and 0.75 mm, respectively, while the length in the control group was 0.50 mm. Plasma insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level was slightly higher in the YH group (1.36 mg/mL) than in the control rats (1.29 mg/mL), but the difference was not significant. Plasma IGF-1 level was significantly increased in the HM (1.49 mg/mL) and YH+HM (1.53 mg/mL) groups compared to the control group (1.29 mg/mL). Growth hormone (GH) levels in YH (17.45 ng/mL), HM (15.49 ng/mL), and YH+HM (16.07 ng/mL) were significantly different compared to the control group (3.63 ng/mL).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권10호
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• pp.1061-1068
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• 2009

만성 신질환 환아들의 치료는 신대체 요법과 더불어 적절한 식이 요법, 수분, 전해질 및 산-염기의 관리, 신장 골형성 장애의 예방 및 치료, 빈혈과 고혈압, 성장 지연의 치료 등으로 이루어진다. 식이 요법은 환아들의 성장이 충분히 이루어질 수 있도록 탄수화물, 지방, 단백질 및 열량의 공급이 적절하게 이루어져야 한다. 수분, 전해질 및 산-염기의 상태를 확인하고 적절하게 관리해야 한다. 혈청 칼슘, 인, 부갑상선 호르몬 농도가 사구체 여과율에 따른 적절한 목표치 안에서 유지될 수 있도록 인 결합 제제와 비타민 D 제제를 투여하여 신장 골형성 장애를 예방하여야 한다. 적혈구 생산 촉진제와 철분 제제를 투여하여 혈색소 값을 11-12 g/dl로 유지하여야 한다. 수분 및 염분의 균형과 적절한 항고혈압제의 투여로 고혈압을 조절해야 한다. 사람 재조합 성장 호르몬을 투여하여 최종 성인 키를 호전시키도록 한다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.578-584
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• 2017

Purpose: Excess intake of sodium is a major diet-related risk factor for human diseases including hypertension and cancer as well as obesity and inflammation. However, findings are still controversial, and evidence is lacking in Koreans. Therefore, for better understanding of the role of dietary sodium intake in disease etiology, this study investigated the effects of dietary sodium intake on adiposity, inflammation, and hormones in Koreans. Methods: A total of 80 males and females joined the study. The general characteristics and dietary intake data were investigated by trained interviewers using a questionnaire and 24-h dietary recall, respectively. For the markers of adiposity, body weight, body mass index, percent of body fat, visceral fat area, and waist and hip circumference were measured. For the inflammation and hormone markers, leptin, adiponectin, insulin, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and interleukin-6 were also analyzed. Results: Multivariate linear regression analyses suggested that dietary sodium intake was not associated with adiposity. However, dietary sodium showed a significant association with insulin level: Plasma insulin concentration increased with sodium intake independent of other dietary intake or percent of body fat (${\beta}=0.296$, adjusted $r^2=0.276$, p < 0.01). Other markers for inflammation and hormonal responses were not associated with dietary sodium intake. Conclusion: Findings suggested that dietary sodium intake may be a critical modifying factor in the level of plasma insulin. However, it showed a limited effect on obesity and other inflammation markers and hormone levels. These findings should be confirmed in larger, well-designed investigations.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권9호
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• pp.501-506
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• 2015

Based on the potential beneficial effects of growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP)-6 on muscle functions, a newly synthesized GHRP-6-biotin conjugate was tested on cultured myoblast cells. Increased expression of myogenic marker proteins was observed in GHRP-6-biotin conjugate-treated cells. Additionally, increased expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and collagen type I were observed. Furthermore, GHRP-6-biotin conjugate-treated cells showed increased metabolic activity, as indicated by increased concentrations of energy metabolites, such as ATP and lactate, and increased enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. Finally, binding protein analysis suggested few candidate proteins, including desmin, actin, and zinc finger protein 691 as potential targets for GHRP6-biotin conjugate action. These results suggest that the newly synthesized GHRP-6-biotin conjugate has myogenic stimulating activity through, at least in part, by stimulating collagen type I synthesis and several key proteins. Practical applications of the GHRP-6-biotin conjugate could include improving muscle condition. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(9): 501-506]

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.466-471
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• 2006

We investigated the changes in body weight (BW), plasma sex steroid hormone profiles, and testicular development of cultured male eel Anguilla japonica during an artificial maturation process. Eels that received weekly intraperitoneal injections of eel's ringer solution containing human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) were examined. In the ringer-treated control, BW changes decreased slowly during the experimental period. Plasma testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and $17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) levels In the control remained low and did not show significant changes. Moreover, all germ cells in the testes of the control were spermatogonia. In the HCG-treated male eels, however, BW changes increased gradually from the fifth week and then decreased slowly. The plasma T level increased rapidly (p<0.05) in the second week and then decreased slowly. The plasma 11-KT level increased dramatically (p<0.05) in the second week and was maintained until the end of the experiment. The plasma DHP level increased progressively from the second week and peaked in the eighth week (p<0.05). The testes of HCG-treated male eels were more developed than those of the control; most were at the spermatozoa and spermatid stages and showed active spermiation. Thus, spermatogenesis and spermiation in the cultured eel can be induced by repeated injections of HCG.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권7호
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• pp.3083-3088
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• 2012

We investigated the prognostic value of pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) expression according to clinicopathological features among localized or locally advanced prostate cancer cases receiving hormone therapy. A retrospective study involved 64 patients receiving combined androgen blockade treatment was performed. PTTG1 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining using initial needle biopsy specimens for diagnosis. Associations of PTTG1 with various clinicopathological features and disease-free survival were examined via uni- and multivariate analyses. No association between PTTG1 expression and clinical T stage, Gleason score, pretreatment PSA levels, risk groups was found (p =0.682, 0.184, 0.487, 0.571, respectively). Univariate analysis revealed that increased PTTG1 expression, T3 stage and high risk group were associated with increased risk of disease progression (p =0.000, 0.042, and 0.001), and high PSA level had a tendency to predict disease progression (p =0.056). Cox hazard ratio analysis showed that PTTG1 low expression (p =0.002), PTTG1 high expression (p =0.000) and high risk group (p =0.0147) were significantly related to decreased disease-free survival. In conclusion, PTTG1 expression determined by immunohistochemical staining in needle biopsy specimens for diagnosis is a negative prognostic factor for progression in localized or locally advanced prostate cancer receiving hormone therapy.