• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2005

The rodent Hershberger assay is considered as a potential short term in vivo screening method for the detection of androgenic or anti-androgenic compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-androgenic activities of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP). A 10-day Hershberger assay was performed using immature Sprague-Dawley male rats castrated at 6 weeks of age. Tastosterone propionate (TP, 0.4 mg/kg/day) was administered s.c. to castrated male rats and followed by flutamide (1, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day) treatment for 10 days by oral gavage. Similarly, DEHP, DBP, or BBP were also administered by oral gavage at 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg/day after TP (0.4 mg/kg/day) administration. As expected, flutamide significantly inhibited the TP-induced re-growth of seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, and Levator ani plus bulbocavernosus muscles (LABC) at 1 mg/kg/day and above, and Cowper's glands and glans penis at 5 mg/kg/day and above. DEHP significantly (p<0.05) decreased the seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, LABC and Cowper's glands weights at 1000 mg/kg/day. BBP at 1000 mg/kg/day significantly inhibited TP-induced re-growth of the LABC in the immature castrated male rats, whereas ventral prostate, seminal vesicles, and Cowper's glands weights were unaffected. In contrast to DEHP, DBP did not affect accessory sex organ weights at any concentration. Body weights, combined adrenal glands, and kidney weights were not affected, but liver weights were significantly increased at high dosages in the DEHP, DBP, and BBP treatment groups. Our observations strongly suggest that DEHP acts as an androgen antagonist at the high dose (i.e., 1000 mg/kg/day).

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.315-319
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• 2003

A novel method is developed to yield virus titers in 10 h, is easy to .perform using 96-well plates, and applicable to both any Autographa californica nucleopolyhyderovirus (AcNPV) and Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV)-based recombinant baculovirus. This assay uses an antibody to a DNA-binding protein to detect the infected cells via immune-staining. The titer is determined by counting foci produced due to infection of virus under a fluorescent microscopy. The required incubation period was shortened considerably because infected cells expressed viral antigens at the post infection time of 4 h. Therefore, 10 hours were enough to estimate the virus titer including virus infection time, insect cell culture, and estimation of virus titer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1263-1270
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of exercise mode and anti-hypertensive drug responding status on the cardiovascular response and perceived exertion in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Seventy-five patients who participated in six-week exercise rehabilitation therapy performed a treadmill running and a cycle ergometer exercise at intensities of 60%HRR and 85%HRR respectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), rate pressure production (RPP), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. The results of cardiovascular response by the different exercise modes with moderate and intensive intensity of anti-hypertensive drug responder and nonresponder ACS patients were following: First cycle ergometer exercise induced significantly higher SBP, DBP, MAP, RPP and MAP than treadmill running exercise at the intensities of 60%HRR and 85%HRR in both anti-hypertensive responder and nonresponder ACS patients (p<0.05). Secondly anti-hypertensive nonresponder ACS patients had significantly higher DBP and MAP that anti-hypertensive responder ACS patients at all the exercise modes (p<0.05). Finally there was no difference of RPP between anti-hypertensive responder and nomresponder ACS patients, although anti-hypertensive nonresponder ACS patients showed higher blood pressure and RPP than anti-hypertensive responder ACS patients. In conclusion, cycle ergometer induced increased cardiovascular response at same intensities of treadmill running exercise and anti-hypertensive nonresponder ACS patients had even more increased cardiovascular response than anti-hypertensive responder ACS patients with no difference in perceived exertion during exercise. These results suggested that cycle ergometer exercise should be greatly careful with the risk of higher blood pressure, especially for those who are patients with hypertensive blood pressure.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2019

Phthalate is a chemical endocrine disrupter and interfere with the action of hormones, estrogens, androgens and thyroid hormones. It also affect cardiovascular, metabolic, immune and reproductive system in the human and animals. Curcumin is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity and -cancer properties in the human. We studied whether phthalates damage viability, mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm in boar semen. We also treated curcumin with/without phthalates in the boar semen. Fresh boar semen was treated with phthalates and/or curcumin for examining sperm characteristics. Sperm characteristics, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial activity, and membrane integrity were determined during storage of boar semen. Sperm motility and viability in dose-dependent manner decreased by di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, p<0.05). Phthalates also decreased mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm (p<0.05). However, sperm motility and viability were higher than untreated-curcumin when DBP, MBP and DEHP treated with a curcumin in boar semen (p<0.05). Mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm were higher in DBP- and MBP-treated semen with curcumin (p<0.05). In conclusion, phthalates can damage sperm viability and quality during the boar semen storage, and curcumin may protect the boar sperms from phthalates during storage term.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2008

This study investigated the anti-hypertensive effect of Phyllostachys pubescens culm extract (PCE) by examining its effects on renal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and blood pressure using the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) system. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured weekly for 8 weeks. Also, total antioxidant capacity and protein oxidation of tissues were examined by plasma Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity assay (TEAC) and hepatic protein carbonyl values, respectively. Twenty male SHR were randomly divided into four groups: PCE50, PCE100, and PCE500 (50, 100, and 500 mg of PCE per kilogram bodyweight daily, respectively), and control group. At week 2, the SBP in all PCE groups appeared to be significantly lower than the control (p<0.05), whereas the DBP were not different until week 4 (p<0.05). At week 8, SBP in the PCE500 was lower by 20% than the control. PCE groups considerably suppressed ACE dose-dependently compared with the control. Plasma TEAC and hepatic protein carbonyl values indicated increased antioxidative activity due to the PCE feed. No adverse effect was observed on the liver of SHR as there was no difference for the GOT and GPT values among the groups. Results of this study suggest that ACE inhibition may be one possible mechanism for the blood pressure lowering effect of PCE; thus, long term consumption of PCE may be beneficial in preventing high blood pressure along with the increased antioxidative status.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2021

Objectives: Phthalates, which are widely used as plasticizers, have been recognized as endocrine disruptors. In the present study, we provided information on the regulation of these chemicals and summarized the information available on their detection and toxicity in children's products and those of their alternatives. Methods: The regulatory frameworks related to phthalates in children's products in Korea, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU) were compared. Data on the detection concentration of 16 phthalates and seven phthalate alternatives that could be used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic products for children as well as on their toxicity classification and endocrine disruption toxicity were collected from the literature. Results: Korea adopted US and EU chemical standards for six phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DINP, DIDP, and DNOP), but not others (e.g., DIBP, DPP, DHP, and DCHP). Among the ten phthalates and seven substitutes for which regulatory standards were not determined, DIBP, DHP, DEHA, DIBA, DINA, and DEHT were detected in children's products made from PVC plastic. DIBP and DHP, which have a reproductive toxicity classification of 1B, were frequently detected in PVC toys. The reproductive toxicity, estrogenicity, and anti-androgenic activity of the unregulated phthalates and their alternatives have been reported in diverse in vitro and in vivo assays. Conclusion: The use of unregulated phthalates and their substitutes in children's products is increasing. Further monitoring and toxicological information on phthalate alternatives is required to develop proper management plans.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.364-375
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• 2011

Given that single blockade with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can achieve only partial and undurable suppression of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS), it has been hypothesized that dual blockage would be more beneficial in the management of blood pressure (BP) reduction and prevention of progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) than either agent alone. Thus, it has been suggested that the combination of an ACEI and an ARB might provide renal benefits to hypertensive patients over and above BP reduction. However, this might also expose patients to additive or synergistic side effects. We attempted to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the benefits and harms of combination therapy in hypertensive patients with or without kidney diseases. MEDLINE and KoreaMed were searched for relevant randomized clinical trials in adult hypertensive patients with or without diabetes (restricted to 1997, limited to trials published in English). Results were summarized using the random-effects model, and between-studies heterogeneity was estimated with $I^2$. A final analysis of ten trials (23,928 patients) revealed that the combination of an ACEI and an ARB reduced blood pressure (SBP/DBP) by 3.95/2.02 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.38 to -3.53/-2.33 to -1.71) compared with ACEI monotherapy, and 2.83/2.64 mmHg (95% CI, -3.25 to -2.41/-4.95 to -0.33) compared with ARB monotherapy. Eight trials (391 patients) demonstrated a significant reduction in 24h-proteinuria (weighted mean difference, 0.16 g/day, 95% CI, -0.26-0.05), but they did not translate into an improvement in GFR. Tests for heterogeneity showed no difference in effect among the studies. The combination therapy reduced proteinuria by 30% (95% CI, 23% to 37%) and 39% (95% CI, 31% to 48%) compared with ACEI monotherapy and ARB monotherapy, respectively. However, in patients who had proteinuria more than 0.5 g/day, the combination therapy failed to show significant reduction in urinary protein excretion. The current cumulative evidence suggests that diabetic patients with proteinuria on dual RAS blockade have an increase risk of adverse events such as hyperkalemia, hypotension, and so on, compared with ACEI or ARB alone. It is, therefore, proposed that the combination therapy should not be routinely used for the treatment of hypertension with or without compelling indications.