• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1992

Serum level of ${\beta}$ subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (${\beta}-hCG$) was studied to evaluate its predictability of pregnancy outcome in 98 in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET) patients using gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) agonist. Serial serum ${\beta}-hCG$ levels were established for 42 singleton pregnancies, 20 normal multiple pregnancies, 18 preclinical abortions, 14 clinical abortions and 4 ectopic pregnancies. In comparison to normal singleton pregnancies, multiple pregnancies showed significantly higher ${\beta}-hCG$ levels on the post-ET day 10 to 13 and day 24 to 25. Clinical abortions did not show significantly lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels in early pregnancy except the post-ET day 16-17, but showed significantly lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels from the post-ET day 22, compared with singleton pregnancies. Preclinical abortions showed significantly lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels than those of singleton pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies showed lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels than those of singleton pregnancies without statistical significance. In conclusion, determination of serum ${\beta}-hCG$ level in early pregnancy is a useful tool for the prediction of preclinical abortions and multiple pregnancies and serial measurement of serum ${\beta}-hCG$ levels will be helpful in predicting clinical abortion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.857-862
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Opuntia humifusa supplementation on lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) protein expression at resting state in various organs of rats fed a high-fat diet. Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats, 6 weeks of age, were randomly divided into two groups: a control diet group (CG, n=8) and an experimental diet group (EG, n=8). They were given a high-fat diet (CG) or a diet supplemented with 5% of O. humifusa (EG) for 8 weeks. The results showed that the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of the kidney and the liver were significantly lower in the EG group than in the CG group (p<0.01). In addition, the MDA levels in the skeletal muscle of the EG group tended to be lower than those in the CG group, but this difference was not significant. The Cu, Zn-SOD protein expression in the kidney of the EG group was significantly increased compared with that of the CG group (p<0.01). The Mn-SOD protein expression in the skeletal muscle of the EG group was significantly increased compared with that of the CG group (p<0.01). These results suggest that O. humifusa supplementation has antioxidative properties, which are exerted in a specific organ manner, and that it inhibits the action of lipid peroxidation and the expression of SOD in rats fed a high-fat diet.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.345-350
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• 2018

This study examines the role of six species of microalgae, including Phaeodacylum tricrnutum (PT), Chaetoceros gracilis (CG), Nanochloris oculata (NO), Pavlova lutheri (PL), Chlorella ellipsoidae (CE), and Scendedemus obliquus (SO), on hair loss prevention and scalp improvement. To determine the effects of microalgae extracts on hair loss prevention and scalp improvement, antioxidant activity, cell proliferation in HaCaT cells and HFDPC cells, and the inhibition level of 5-alpha reductase activity were examined. In the study of antioxidant activity, the $EC_{50}$ values of DPPH anti-radical activities indicated that the SO, CG, and ST9 treatment groups demonstrate significant antioxidant activity. In the study of the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, CG (6.6~42.1%), ST9 (26.0~44.0%), and SO (7.8~44.3%) demonstrated significant effects. Furthermore, SO promoted the proliferation of HaCaT cells and a human epidermal cell line during a 6-day treatment. In the study of the proliferation of HFDPC cells, a hair follicle dermal papilla cell line, CG, and SO significantly stimulated cell proliferation. Finally, PT, CG, and SO significantly inhibited 5-alpha reductase activity. These results suggest that among the six microalgae used in this study, CG and SO have antioxidant effects, induce cell proliferation, inhibit 5-alpha reductase activity, and can be used for hair loss prevention and scalp improvement.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to compare different superovulation treatments using PMSG or PG600$^{ }$ and to determine the optimal time of oocyte recovery after hCG administration. A total of 90 prepubertal Yorkshire x Landrace gilts crossed with Duroc, 6~7 months old and 100~120 kg of body weight, were used. PMSG (1,500 IU/head) or 5~7.5 ml of PG600$^{ }$(400 IU of PMSG and 200 IU of hCG) were administrated subcutaneously, and then 1,000 IU of hCG were administered intramuscularly at 72 hours after PMSG or PG600$^{ }$ injection. At carious time of 44, 46, 48 and 50 hours after hCG injection, superovulated gilts were slaughtered in a local abattoir. Ovaries together with oviducts were excised from the body immediately after slaughtered and transported to laboratory in 39$^{\circ}C$ saline. Ovaries were examined fur the number of corpus hemorrhagicum and unovulated follicles present in the surface of ovary. The unovulated follicles were categorized into small (1~3 mm in diameter) and large (4~8 mm) groups according to their diameter. Oocytes were recovered by flushing both oviducts with micropipette tip (1~100 $\mu$l) attached to a 10-ml disposable syringe. The number of CH on ovary and recovered oocytes at 46, 48 and 50 hr after hCG injection in PG600$^{ }$ treated groups were significantly higher than the other group. Group of phCG 50 hr among PMSG treated groups had a greater number of CH and recovered oocytes(P<0.05). The number of CH on ovary and recovered oocytes at 50 hr after hCG injection in 1$\frac{1}{2}$ vial(7.5 ml) of PG600$^{ }$ treated groups was significantly higher than 1 vial(5 ml) of PG600$^{ }$ treated group(P<0.05). In conclusions, considering a number of corpus hemorrhagicum and recovered oocytes after superovulation in gilts, effective time of oocyte recovery by treatment with PMSG and hCG was post-hCG 50 hr and with PG600$^{ }$ plus hCG was post-hCG 46, 48 and 50 hr. Also, admini-stration of 1$\frac{1}{2}$ vial(7.5 ml) of PG600$^{ }$ treated group had a great number of CH and recovered oocytes.covered oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2011

This study was carried out to confirm the effects of luteotrophin, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and an anti-luteolytic agent, flunixin meglumin (FM), on pregnancy rates in Hanwoo with in vitro produced (IVP) embryo transfers (ET), and to research the effects on the estrus cycle. Treatments included hCG and FM administration 3~10 minutes prior to ET. Also, pregnancy rates were compared with lidocane treatment and FM treatment prior to ET. The results are shown below. 30-day pregnancy rate was 76.7% in the hCG-treated group and 75.7% in the FM-treated group. Both rates were higher than the 70% rate for the control group. 42-day pregnancy rate was 76.7% in the FM-treated group. This was higher than 66.7% recorded for both the hCG-treated and control groups. The pregnancy rate of the hCG-treated group was high at Day 30 (76.7%) but low at Day 40 (66.7%), and there were no differences from the FM-treated and control groups. The recurrent estrus rate of infertile individuals at 2 weeks after ET was 36.4% in the hCG-treated group, under 71.4% in the FM-treated group and 80.0% in the control group. The non-pregnancy rate of individuals without recurrent estrus was 18.2% in the hCG-treated group, which was higher than the 0% rate in both the FM-treated and control groups. The pregnancy rates were higher in the FM-treated group than the Lidocane-treated group with 72.3% versus 67.5% in the heifers and 48.9% versus 43.6% in the cows. From the above results, the FM treatment proved more effective than the hCG treatment and no treatment whatsoever in increasing pregnancy rates after ET. In addition, hCG treatment was shown to be undesirable due to the deviations it caused in the reproductive physiology of the hCG-treated recipients. Therefore, in our study, the FM treatment resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than either lidocaine treatment or no-treatment in the trials of ET.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.861-869
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• 2007

The enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR; EC1.1.1.34) catalyzes the first committed step of isoprenoids biosynthesis in MVA pathway. Here we report for the first time the cloning and characterization of a full-length cDNA encoding HMGR (designated as CgHMGR, GenBank accession number EF206343) from hazel (Corylus avellana L. Gasaway), a taxol-producing plant species. The full-length cDNA of CgHMGR was 2064 bp containing a 1704-bp ORF encoding 567 amino acids. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that the deduced CgHMGR had extensive homology with other plant HMGRs and contained two transmembrane domains and a catalytic domain. The predicted 3-D model of CgHMGR had a typical spatial structure of HMGRs. Southern blot analysis indicated that CgHMGR belonged to a small gene family. Expression analysis revealed that CgHMGR expressed high in roots, and low in leaves and stems, and the expression of CgHMGR could be up-regulated by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The functional color assay in Escherichia coli showed that CgHMGR could accelerate the biosynthesis of $\beta$-carotene, indicating that CgHMGR encoded a functional protein. The cloning, characterization and functional analysis of CgHMGR gene will enable us to further understand the role of CgHMGR involved in taxol biosynthetic pathway in C. avellana at molecular level.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.668-673
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• 2006

The effects of Acanthopanacis cortex water extract on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in Sprague-Dawley male rats treated with 2.5% 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the dorsal skin were evaluated. The concentration of TBARS in plasma and liver was increased in ACD rats and was significantly decreased in Acanthopanacis cortex fed group (ACFG) compared to CG (control group). Serum Ig E level was significantly increased in CG compared to normal group, while that of ACFG was significantly decreased. The epidermal thickness of CG was significantly increased compared to that of normal group, while that of ACFG was significantly decreased compared to that of CG These results indicated that the Acanthopanacis cortex water extract administration improved lipid preoxidation, antioxidative activity, serum Ig E level and epidermal thickness in rats with ACD.

• 프린팅코리아
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.98-100
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• 2009

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1711-1717
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• 2017

Objective: This experiment was studied the effects of various levels of crude glycerin (CG) in dairy goat diet on daily intake, milk yield, milk composition, some physical properties and some quality changes of goat milk after sterilization. Methods: Twelve 75% Saanen dairy goats (body weight = $49{\pm}3kg$; days in milk = $60{\pm}12d$) were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of three experimental diets consisting of 0%, 5%, and 10% CG (dry matter basis) which were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements of goats. Experimental dairy goats were evaluated for feed and milk yield. Milk samples were analyzed for their composition, including fatty acids, casein profile, fat globule size, and color, and were sterilized to evaluate milk heat stability. Results: There were no significant differences between 0% and 5% CG treatments infeed. Increasing CG supplementation from 0% to 5% increased milk yield from $2.38{\pm}0.12$ to $2.64{\pm}0.23kg/goat/d$. In addition, milk samples from 5% CG treatment had the highest total solids, fat content and lactose content, and largest fat globule size. Increasing CG to 10% resulted in a decrease in milk fat. After sterilizing at $116^{\circ}C$, $F_0=3min$, goat milk samples from 5% CG treatment had slightly higher sediment content and comparatively higher degree of browning. Conclusion: Considering milk yield, milk fat content and quality of sterilized milk, 5% CG supplementation in a total mixed ration has a potential for implementation in dairy goats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

Background : Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder under immunological influence. Gamichunggumgangwha-tang (CG, Jiaweiqingjinjianghuo-tang) and Gamiyukmigiwhang-tang (YM, Jiaweiliuweidihuang-tang) are herbal tonics for asthma from traditional herbal medicine. Objective : To evaluate the effect of CG and YM on immune cell & serum OA-specific IgE in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a rat asthma model. Materials and Methods : Rats were sensitized with OA; at day I sensitized group and CG and YM groups were systemically immunized by subcutaneous injection of 1mg OA and 300mg of Al(OH)3 in a total volume of 2ml. At the same time, 1 ml of 0.9% saline containing $6{\times}10^9$ B. pertussis bacilli was injected by Lp. 14 days after the systemic immunization, rats received local immunization by inhaling 0.9% saline aerosol containing 2% (wt/vol) OA. A day after local immunization, BALF was collected from the rats. Rats were orally administered with each of CG and YM extract for 14 days since the day after local immunization. Lymphocyte, CD4＋ T cell and CD8＋ T cell counts, CD4＋/CD8＋ ratio in BALF, change of serum OA-specific IgE level, CD4＋ T cell and CD8＋ T cell percentages in the peripheral blood were measured and evaluated. Results : CG and YM showed an alleviating effect on asthmatic responses of rats. CG decreased total cell, lymphocyte, CD4＋ T cells in BALF, and serum OA-specific IgE level as compared with the control group. YM decreased lymphocytes as compared with the control group. CD4＋/CD8＋ ratio in BALF from the CG and YM groups and serum OA-specific IgE level from the YM group didn't show any significant variation from the control group. Conclusion : CG alleviated asthmatic hyperreactivity of the immune system through CD4＋ T cells and serum IgE. Further the study of this immune system modulating mechanism is expected.