• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6663-6667
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• 2013

Purpose: The current research was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed given continuously as a basement agent for first-, second- to third line chemotherapy of patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Patients and Methods: Patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who were diagnosed in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Insitute, were enrolled. All received pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ (intravenous; on day 1), and another chemotherapieutic agent every 3 weeks until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. Then the patients were changed to a second line chemotherapy that was still based on pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ and another chemotherapeutic agent differing from the first line example, until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. When third line chemotherapy was needed, pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ and another new chemotherapeutic agent were combined until disease progression. Evaluation of efficacy was conducted after two cycles of chemotherapy using the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors. Toxicity was recorded according to NCI Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Results: From January 2010 to September 2013, 15 patients were enrolled. Their median age was 56 years (range 43 to 77 years). Eight patients were male and 7 female. Five patients (33.3%) achieved PR, while 6 patients (40.0%) remained stable, no CR on first line; and 1 PR (7.7%), 5 stable (38.5%) were recorded when pemetrexed was ordered in second line; 5 patients (41.7%) were stable after pemetrexed was combined in third line; no complete response was observed. Main side effects were grade 1 to 2 neutrophil suppression and thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities included elevated transaminase and oral mucositis, but no treatment related death occurred. Conclusions: Pemetrexed continuously as a basement agent from first-, second- to third line chemotherapy is mildly effective in treating patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with tolerable toxicity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.847-854
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• 2014

Different herbs and spices have been used as feed additives for various purposes in poultry production. This study was conducted to assess the effect of feed supplemented with black pepper (Piper nigrum), turmeric powder (Curcuma longa), coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum) and their combinations on the performance of broilers. A total of 210 (Cobb) one-d-old chicks were divided into seven groups of 30 birds each. The treatments were: a control group received no supplement, 0.5% black pepper (T1), 0.5% turmeric powder (T2), 2% coriander seeds (T3), a mixture of 0.5% black pepper and 0.5% turmeric powder (T4), a mixture of 0.5% black pepper and 2% coriander seed (T5), and a mixture of 0.5% black pepper, 0.5% turmeric powder and 2% coriander seeds (T6). Higher significant values of body weight gain during the whole period of 5 weeks (p<0.001) were observed in broilers on T1, T3, T5, and T6 compared to control. Dietary supplements with T1, T2, T3, and T6 improved the cumulative G:F of broilers during the whole period of 5 weeks (p<0.001) compared with control. The dressing percentage and edible giblets were not influenced by dietary supplements, while higher values of relative weight of the liver (p<0.05) were obtained in T5 and T6 compared to control. The addition of feed supplements in T5 and T6 significantly increased serum total protein and decreased serum glucose, triglycerides and alkaline phosphatase concentrations compared with the control group (p<0.05). Broilers on T6 showed significant decrease in the serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase concentration (p<0.05) compared to control. The broilers having T5 and T6 supplemented feed had relatively greater antibody titre (p<0.001) at 35 d of age than control. It is concluded that dietary supplements with black pepper or coriander seeds or their combinations enhanced the performance and health status of broiler chickens.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2020

Hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀×E. lanceolatus ♂) (mean weight 27.3±3.8 g, mean length 11.6±0.7 cm) were exposed to waterborne nitrite at 0, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600mg L^-1 for 96 hours. The hematocrit and hemoglobin values were significantly decreased by exposure to 100 mg L^-1 and 400 mg L^-1, respectively. In plasma components, no significant change was observed in magnesium. Glucose was significantly increased by 200 and 400 mg L^-1 nitrite but reduced by 800 mg L^-1. Cholesterol was significantly decreased by 400 mg L^-1 nitrite, but there was no significant change in total protein. GPT(glutamic pyruvate transaminase) was significantly increased by exposure to 200 and 400mg L^-1. ALP(Alkaline phosphatase) was significantly increased by 800 mg L^-1. The results of this study indicate that acute exposure to nitrite changes physiological parameters, such as hematological properties and plasma components.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.265-277
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• 2008

In order to investigate the protective effects of Gami Yugan-tang on liver damage in rats induced by $CCl_{4}$ and d-galactosamine, the serum transaminase(ALT & AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione S-transferase(GST), glutathione peroxidase(GPX) for enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation were measured. All animals were divided into 4 groups: normal group (untreated), control group (treated with 0.9% saline solution), sample I group (treated with 740mg/kg Gami Yugan-tang), and sample II group (treated with 1,480mg/kg Gami Yugan-tang). The results were as follows : 1. The results of liver damage in rats induced by $CCl_4$ : The protective effects of ALT were displayed in sample I and sample II, and AST, ALP, LDH, SOD, catalase, GST, GPX, and lipid peroxidation were noted in sample II group. It showed slight necrosis of hepatic cell and pathologic changes, for example, inflammatory cells infiltration were improved in sample II group compared to the control group. 2. The results of liver damage in rats induced by d-galactosamine : The inhibitory effects of AST, ALT, LDH, and ALP activities were noted in both sample I and sample II groups. The findings from this experiment suggests that Gami Yugan-tang has protective effects against liver damage in rats induced by $CCl_{4}$ and d-galactosamine.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.32.1-32.6
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• 2016

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of two different sizes of extruded pellets (EP) ($EP_1$ - 3 mm or $EP_2$ - 5 mm) and a moist pellet (MP) in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, reared in semi-recirculation system. A total of 450 fish with an average initial weight of $5.0{\pm}0.2g$ (mean ${\pm}$ SD) were fed one of the three experimental diets in triplicate groups. At the end of a 6-week feeding trial, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed efficiency of fish fed EP diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed MP (P < 0.05). Water quality parameters like turbidity, total ammonia nitrogen, and total phosphorous from tanks of fish fed $EP_1$ and $EP_2$ were significantly lower than those from tanks of fish fed MP. Blood plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glucose concentration were significantly higher in fish fed MP diet compared to fish fed EP diets (P < 0.05). Whole body crude protein contents in fish fed EP diets were higher than those from the fish fed MP diet. Whole body amino acid content like threonine, aspartic acid, serine, tyrosine, and cystine were found to be significantly higher in fish fed EP diets than those in fish fed MP diet. In considering overall performance of olive flounder, $EP_2$ diet could be recommended for the successful aquaculture of this important fish species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2023

Red yeast rice, also known as Hong Qu and red Koji, has been used for a long time in Asian functional food and traditional medicine. It consists of multiple bioactive substances, which can potentially be used as nutraceuticals. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) can range from simple steatosis or inflammation to fibrosis and cirrhosis, possibly through leaky gut and systemic endotoxemia. This study examined the liver and gut effects of red yeast rice (RYR) (Monascus purpureus) ethanol extract against binge ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. RYR extract was orally administered to C57BL/6N mice at a concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight per day for 10 days. Then, mice were administered binge alcohol (5 g/kg/dose) three times at 12 hr intervals. Binge alcohol exposure significantly elevated the endotoxin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity of plasma, as well as hepatic triglyceride levels; however, RYR treatments reduced these levels. In addition, RYR pretreatment significantly reduced the alcohol-induced oxidative maker protein and apoptosis maker in binge alcohol-induced gut and liver injuries. These results suggest that RYR may prevent alcohol-induced acute leaky gut and liver damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.659-670
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• 2017

Oxidative stress and inflammation are key factors responsible for progression of liver injury. A variety of functions of oyster hydrolysate (OH) are affected by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known regarding the effects of OH on a liver injury model. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of OH on acute liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine (LPS/D-GalN) in mice. Experimental groups were divided into six groups as follows (each group, n=10): control (saline), LPS/D-GalN, LPS/D-GalN+OH (100 mg/kg), LPS/D-GalN+OH (200 mg/kg), LPS/D-GalN+OH (400 mg/kg), and LPS/D-GalN+silymarin (25 mg/kg, positive control). The experimental acute liver injury model was induced with LPS ($1{\mu}g/kg$) and D-GalN (400 mg/kg). We first analyzed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in OH. OH showed high DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reduced ROS generation in Chang cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, OH showed anti-inflammatory activities, such as inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipooxygenase. Treatment with OH down-regulated tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and $IL-1{\alpha}$ expression levels in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OH significantly reduced LPS/D-GalN-induced increases in the concentrations of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase in serum. In the LPS/D-GalN group, liver tissues exhibited apoptosis of hepatocytes with hemorrhages. These pathological alterations were ameliorated by OH treatment. Consistently, hepatic catalase activity was low in the LPS/D-GalN group compared to the control group, and catalase activity was significantly restored by OH treatment (P<0.05). Furthermore, OH markedly reduced the LPS/D-GalN-induced increase in $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 levels in liver tissue. Taken together, these results show that OH has hepatoprotective effects on LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver injury via inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting that OH could be used as a health functional food and potential therapeutic agent for acute liver injury.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1996

Intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) may play a crucial role in a variety of neuronal functions. Here we report that in primary culture of mouse cerebellar granule cells nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in a specific developmental stage and involved in the regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Nicotine-mediated calcium responses were measured using $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ or fluorometrically using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. Maximal uptake of $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ evoked by nicotine in mouse cerebellar granule cells were revealed $8{\sim}12$ days in culture. In contrast, nicotine did not alter the basal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake in cultured glial cells. In cerebellar granule cells nicotine-evoked $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake was largely blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonists. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT). which removes endogenous glutamate, also prevented nicotine effects, implying the indirect involvement of glutamate in nicotine-mediated calcium responses. Fluorometric studies using fura-2 showed two phases of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises: the initial rising phase and the later plateau phase. Interestingly, the NMDA receptor antagonists and GPT appeared to inhibit only the later plateau phase of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises. The present results imply that nicotine mediated $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises are attributed to the calcium fluxes through both nAchRs and NMDA receptors in a time-dependent manner. Consequently, nAChRs may play an important role in neuronal development by being expressed in a specific developmental stage and regulating the intracellular calcium homeostasis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.761-767
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine the effects of exogenous zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) on anti-oxidative function and pork quality. After feeding a corn-soybean meal-based diet for two weeks, 48 pigs ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Chinese\;Black Pig$) were assigned randomly to four groups. Pigs in Group 1 were maintained under non-stress conditions, whereas pigs in Groups 2, 3 and 4 were aggressively handled for 25 min to produce stress. Pigs in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 received intramuscular administration of saline (control group; CON), 0 (negative control group; NCON), 0.8 (low dose group; LOW), and 1.6 (high dose group; HIGH) mg rabbit liver Zn-MT per kg body weight, respectively. Pigs were slaughtered at 3 and 6 h post-injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PX) while decreasing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. These responses were greater (p<0.05) at 6 h than at 3 h post Zn-MT injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) hepatic SOD mRNA levels in a time and dose-dependent manner and decreased (p<0.05) serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities (indicators of tissue integrity). Zn-MT administration decreased (p<0.05) lactate concentration and increased (p<0.05) pH and water-holding capacity in the longissimus thorasis meat. Collectively, our results indicate that intramuscular administration of Zn-MT to pre-slaughter stressed pigs improved tissue anti-oxidative ability and meat quality.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2003

The preparation method of a soluble dietary fiber from oak wood (Quercus mongolica) and the effect of the soluble dietary fiber on physiological function in rat fed high cholesterol diets was investigated. The best condition for steam explosion method was 25 kgf/㎤ pressure for 6 min. The exploded samples were delignified by the filtration treatment with 1% NaOH for several times, which is the best condition. The enzymatic hydrolysis of Cellusoft cellulase was more effective than Onozuka R-10 cellulase. The manufactured soluble dietary fiber was assayed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and it was dissolved in water. Average molecular weight distribution of manufactured soluble dietary fiber was about 348-1,200 and it was assumed the oligomer form fraction. In order to compare the manufactured soluble dietary fiber with commercial soluble dietary fiber (pectin) on the physiological function, Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal diet and five high cholesterol diet containing 1% cholesterol. The high cholesterol diet groups were classified to fiber free diet (FF group), 5% pectin (5P group), 10% pectin (l0P group), 5% manufactured soluble dietary fiber (5M group) and 10% manufactured soluble dietary fiber (10M group). Body weight gains in all soluble dietary fiber groups were lower than FF group. Food intakes were increased in all soluble dietary fiber groups than that of FF group. Food efficiency ratio (FER) was significantly decreased in all soluble dietary fiber groups than that of the FF group, and it was especially was highest in 10% supplemented soluble dietary fiber group. The weight of liver of the soluble dietary fiber supplemented groups were lower than those of the FF group, but weights of cecum and small intestine of all supplemented soluble dietary fiber groups were significantly increased, compared with that of FF group. The weights and water contents in feces were significantly increased by the soluble dietary fiber. The activity of the glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in soluble dietary fiber groups were significantly decreased than those of FF group. The hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity in all soluble dietary fiber supplemented groups were higher than that of FF group. The physiological effects of the manufactured soluble dietary fiber are the same as the commercial soluble dietary fiber (pectin). The preparation method of the soluble dietary fiber from the oak chips suited to its purpose. (Korean J Nutrition 36(1) : 9~17, 2003)