• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.106-111
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• 2007

The current study was conducted to determine the optimum length of feed withdrawal for pre-harvest broilers. A total of three hundred broilers were sampled from an industrial population, and 30 chicks for each weight group (e.g., 1.5 and 2.5 kg) were randomly assigned to feed withdrawal treatments for 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h. Weight loss, yield, muscle pH, objective meat color and weights of gastro intestinal contents, crop, gizzard, provenriculus, small intestine, caecum, and rectum were determined. Live weight loss was significantly (p<0.05) increased as length of feed withdrawal extended. A significant (p<0.05) carcass yield for both 1.5 and 2.5 kg groups coincided after 9 and 6 h feed withdrawal, respectively. Net weights of intestinal contents for crop and gizzard were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by 6 h, and the reduction for proventriculus and small intestine occurred from 3 h. A noticeable effect of feed withdrawal on pH for breast muscle at 3 h postmortem occurred only when chicks were fasted for 3 h of which pH (6.05) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that for other groups including the control (5.74). There was a linear tendency of higher lightness (Hunter L* value) numerically for chicks fasted for longer periods. The highest coefficient of determinations of regression models to estimate weight loss as a function of fasting period and body weights were achieved, when the models included both linear and quadratic terms for fasting period, and linear term for both 1.5 ($R^2=0.76$) and 2.5 kg ($R^2=0.78$) body weight groups. Given the practical aspect, approximately 1.5 kg of body weight is dominant, weight loss could be predicted by the following function; live weight $loss=26.6-0.28{\times}(fasting period)^2+12.34{\times}pasting\;period-0.012{\times}body\;weight$, $R^2=0.76$. Current data implied that the optimum fasting time for pre-slaughter chicks varied depending on slaughter weight; 6 and 9-h fasting were recommendable for 2.5 and 1.5 kg chicks, with little effect on objective meat color.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 1996

The matrix tablet containing sodium alginate and $CaHPO_4$ can release drugs in a controlled fashion from hydrogel with gelling and swelling due to their interaction as water penetrates the matrices of the tablet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate release characteristics of the matrix tablet varying the amount of sodium alginate, $CaHPO_4$ and other excipients such as chitosan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluid. The practically soluble ibuprofen was used as a model drug. The release profiles of matrix tablet in the gastric fluid as a function of sodium alginate/$CaHPO_4$ ratio was not pronounced because of low solubility of drug and stability of alginate matrices. However, release rate of drug from the matrix tablet in the intestinal fluid was largely changed when sodium alginate/$CaHPO_4$ ratio was increased, suggesting that the ratio of sodium alginate/$CaHPO_4$ was an important factor to control the gelling and swelling of the matrix tablet. The incorporation of other excipients into the matrix tablet also influenced the release rate of drug. The chitosan and HPMC decreased the release rate of drug. No release of drug was occurred when $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 was added into the tablet. The retarded release of matrix tablet when excipients were added resulted from the hindrance of swelling and gelling of the matrix tablet containing sodium alginate and $CaHPO_4$. The hardness and bulk density of the matrix tablet was not correlated with release rate of drug in the study. From these findings, the ratio of sodium alginate and $CaHPO_4$ in the matrix tablet in addition to incorporation of excipients could be very important to control the release rate of drug in dosage form design.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2012

Ginsenosides are low molecular weight glycosides found in ginseng that exhibit neuroprotective effects through inhibition of $N$-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor channel activity. Ginsenosides, like other natural compounds, are metabolized by gastric juices and intestinal microorganisms to produce ginsenoside metabolites. However, little is known about how ginsenoside metabolites regulate NMDA receptor channel activity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside metabolites, such as compound K (CK), protopanaxadiol (PPD), and protopanaxatriol (PPT), on oocytes that heterologously express the rat NMDA receptor. NMDA receptor-mediated ion current ($I_{NMDA}$) was measured using the 2-electrode voltage clamp technique. In oocytes injected with cRNAs encoding NMDA receptor subunits, PPT, but not CK or PPD, reversibly inhibited $I_{NMDA}$ in a concentration-dependent manner. The $IC_{50}$ for PPT on $I_{NMDA}$ was $48.1{\pm}4.6\;{\mu}M$, was non-competitive with NMDA, and was independent of the membrane holding potential. These results demonstrate the possibility that PPT interacts with the NMDA receptor, although not at the NMDA binding site, and that the inhibitory effects of PPT on $I_{NMDA}$ could be related to ginseng-mediated neuroprotection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.501-510
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• 2002

Background: The various pathogeneses of acute respiratory distress syndrome have been suggested but not established yet. In the present study, the role of group II phospholipase $A_2$($PLA_2$) in the pathogenesis of gut ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) induced acute lung injury (ALI), especially in the pulmonary oxidative stress with infiltration of neutrophils was investigated. Material and Method: To induce ALI, reperfusion of mesentery was done for 120 min after clamping of superior mesenteric artery for 60 min in Sprague-Dawley rats that weighed about 300g. To exmaine the role of group II $PLA_2$ in ALI, especially endothelial injury associated with the action of neutrophils, lung myeloperoxidase activity, lung leak index, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein were measured, and pulmonary $PLA_2$ activity changes in gut I/R were also measured. The role of group II $PLA_2$in the neutrophilic generation of free radicals was assessed by inhibiting group II $PLA_2$ with rutin, manoalide and scalaradial. Furthermore, to verify the oxidative stress in the lung, histologic and free radical detecting cytochemical electron microscopy were done. Result: After reperfusion, ALI was developed with accumulation of neutrophils in the lung, which was confirmed by the increase of myeloperoxidase activity, lung leak index and bronchoalveolar lavage protein (p<0.001). The pulmonary and intestinal group II $PLA_2$ activities significantly increased after gut I/R which were reversed by rutin(p<0.001). In vitro, cytochrome-c reduction assay denoted the inhibitory effects of rutin, scalaradial and manoalide on the production of free radicals from isolated human neutrophils. Histologically, neutrophilic accumulation and pericapillary edema in the lung after gut I/R was detected by light microscopy which was suppressed by rutin. In $CeCl_3$ cytochemical electron microscopy, the increased production of hydrogen peroxide in the lung after gut I/R was confirmed and also the production of hydrogen peroxide was decreased by rutin. Conclusion: On the basis of these experimental results, the inhibition of group II $PLA_2$ seemed to mitigate gut I/R-induced ALI by suppressing the production of free radicals from the infiltrated neutrophils. Collectively, group II $PLA_2$ seems to play a crucial role in gut I/R-induced ALI by neutrophilic oxidative stress.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.365-376
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• 1995

Antigenic localization in Parofonimn iloktsuenensis worm tissues (tegument, intestine and vitelline gland) in different developmental stages of 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks and 33 weeks from albino rats (Sprague-Dawley) infected with P iloktsuenensis was observed by electron microscopy. These worm tissues of different developmental stage of R iloktsuenensis was observed on electromicrograph by immunogold labeling method using R iLoktsuenensis infected rat serum of 10 weeks. Antigenic localization was demonstrated as labeling of gold particles in tissues on electronmicrograph. In tegument, gold particles were labeled on tegumental tissue, generally more numerous on secretory granules in tegumental syncytium 2 weeks than those on the other elder developmental stages, but there was a little variation in antigenicity according to individual worm tissue. In general, antigenicity in tegumental tissue was not strong (gold particles: 0.1-5/1 Mm2). In intestine, a large number of gold particles (15-18/1 Mm2) were labeled in intestinal epithelium. Gold particles were concentrated especially on secretory granules in cytoplasm, and gold particles were labeled not only in cytoplasmic protrusions, but also in intestinal luminal contents. Intencity of labeling of gold particles was not correlated with developmental stage of worms. In vitelline gland, a large number of gold particles were labeled on vitelline globules. The gold particles in vitelline globules (8- 11/1 Mm2) were concentrated in protoplasm among segmental globules . Key words: Pnragonimus iloktsuenensis, immunogold labeling method, tissue antigen ultrastructure.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2020

Echinostoma revolutum is a zoonotic food-borne intestinal trematode that can cause intestinal bleeding, enteritis, and diarrhea in human and birds. To identify a suspected E. revolutum trematode from a red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) and to reveal the genetic characteristics of its mitochondrial (mt) genome, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and complete mt genome sequence of this trematode were amplified. The results identified the trematode as E. revolutum. Its entire mt genome sequence was 15,714 bp in length, including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and one non-coding region (NCR), with 61.73% A+T base content and a significant AT preference. The length of the 22 tRNA genes ranged from 59 bp to 70 bp, and their secondary structure showed the typical cloverleaf and D-loop structure. The length of the large subunit of rRNA (rrnL) and the small subunit of rRNA (rrnS) gene was 1,011 bp and 742 bp, respectively. Phylogenetic trees showed that E. revolutum and E. miyagawai clustered together, belonging to Echinostomatidae with Hypoderaeum conoideum. This study may enrich the mitochondrial gene database of Echinostoma trematodes and provide valuable data for studying the molecular identification and phylogeny of some digenean trematodes.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.187-196
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary single or mixed supplementation of plant extract, fermented medicinal plants and Lactobacillus on performance, nutrient availability, blood characteristics, cecal microflora and intestinal digestive enzymes activity in broiler chickens and to prove the possibility of plant derived compounds and Lactobacillus as an antibiotic growth promoter alternative. A total of eight hundred forty, 1-d-old male broiler chicks (Ross strain) were randomly divided into 7 groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds each. The treatments were NC (antibiotic-free diet), PC (basal diet with 0.05% antibiotics and 0.03% anticoccidials), PE (basal diet with 0.1% plant extract), FMP (basal diet with 0.1% fermented medicinal plants), LB (basal diet with 0.1% probiotics), PE+LB (basal diet with 0.1% plant extract and 0.1% probiotics) and FMP+LB (basal diet with 0.1% fermented medicinal plants and 0.1% probiotics). The final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion rate in all treated groups tended to be improved or significantly improved as compared to those of NC (P<0.05). PE was significantly high in the final body weight, body weight gain of all treated groups (P<0.05). But the growth performance was significantly lower in all treated groups except PE than PC (P<0.05). No synergic effect in growth performance was found when plant extracts and Lactobacillus were mixed and fed to broilers. The ratio of albumin to globulin was significantly lower in all groups than NC (P<0.05). And the stress indicator (lymphocyte/heterophil ratio) of NC was significantly reduced than other treatments (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed on the numbers of cecal microbes and Lactobacillus. The number of cecal E. coli and Salmonella in FMP and LB were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The activity of intestinal digestive enzymes except to sucrase of treated groups significantly decreased compare to those of controls (P<0.05). These results suggest the possibility that plant extracts and Lactobacillus could be used as the alternative of antibiotic growth promoters by improving the performance of broiler chicks.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effects of ticlopidine on the pharmacokinetics of carvedilol after oral or intravenous administration of carvedilol in rats. Carvedilol was administered orally (3 mg/kg) or intravenously (1 mg/kg) without or with oral administration of ticlopidine (4, 12 mg/kg) to rats. The effects of ticlopidine on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 activity were also evaluated. Ticlopidine inhibited CYP2C9 activity in a concentration-dependent manner with 50% inhibition concentration ($IC_{50}$) of $25.2\;{\mu}M$. In addition, ticlopidine could not significantly enhance the cellular accumulation of rhodamine 123 in MCF-7/ADR cells overexpressing P-gp. Compared with the control group (given carvedilol alone), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was significantly (12 mg/kg, p<0.05) increased by 14-41%, and the peak concentration ($C_{max}$) was significantly (12 mg/kg, p<0.05) increased by 10.7-73.3% in the presence of ticlopidine after oral administration of carvedilol. Consequently, the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of carvedilol was increased by 1.14- to 1.41-fold and the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) of carvedilol in the presence of ticlopidine was increased by 36.2-38.5%. Compared to the i.v. control, ticlopidine could not significantly change the pharmacokinetic parameters of i.v. administered carvedilol. The enhanced oral bioavailability of carvedilol may result from inhibition of CYP2C9-mediated metabolism rather than P-gpmediated efflux of carvedilol in the intestinal and/or in liver and renal eliminatin of carvedilol by ticlopidine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1336-1342
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• 2005

The present research work was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects as well as the safety aspects of lactobacilli as probiotic. Lactobacilli were isolated from poultry faecal samples, feed samples and from some known preparations procured from poultry feed manufacturers. L. acidophilus and L. sporogenes were tested for the antibacterial activity against four poultry pathogens viz. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cell free supernatant (CFS) of L. acidophilus exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity against Salmonella spp. at original pH (4.50${\pm}$0.02). At the adjusted pH (6.50${\pm}$0.02) significantly higher antibacterial activity was recorded against indicator organism except for P. aeruginosa. Likewise, L. sporogenes exhibited similar antibacterial activity at original as well as adjusted pH except for E. coli. Antibacterial activity against E. coli was significantly higher at adjusted pH than at original pH of CFS. The competitive exclusion of E. coli by lactobacilli over the intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) was checked. L. acidophilus strain I, which was of poultry origin, exhibited maximum attachment over IEC as compared to other three strains of non-poultry origin viz. L. acidophilus strain II, L. sporogenes strain I and II. Overall, L. acidophilus exhibited higher competitive exclusion as compared to L. sporogenes. All the lactobacilli of poultry origin were most sensitive to penicillin G, amoxycillin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol, least sensitive to sulphamethizole, ciprofloxacin, neomycin, norfloxacin and pefloxacin and resistant to metronidazole and nalidixic acid. The isolates from probiotic preparations were most sensitive to ampicillin, amoxycillin and tetracycline, least sensitive to sulphamethizole, norfloxacin, neomycin and ceftriazone and resistant to nalidixic acid and metronidazole. Eight of the multiple drug resistant lactobacilli isolates were studied for the presence of plasmids. Plasmids could be extracted from six isolates of lactobacilli. These plasmids could be responsible for bacteriocin production or for antibiotic resistance of the strains. The lactobacilli need further studies regarding their safety for use in the probiotic preparations.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.291-296
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• 2010

This study was to investigate the effect of baicalein, an antioxidant, on the bioavailability of nicardipine after orally or intravenously administered nicardipine in rats. Nicardipine was administered orally (12 mg/kg) or intravenously (4 mg/kg) with or without orally administered baicalein (0.4, 2 or 10 mg/kg) to rats. In the inhibitory effect of baicalein on CYP3A4 activity, baicalein inhibited CYP3A4 activity with $IC_{50}$ values of 9.2 ${\mu}M$. The cell-based P-gp activity test using rhodamine-123 also showed that baicalein (30-10 ${\mu}M$, p<0.01) significantly inhibited P-gp activity. Compared with the control group (given nicardipine alone), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was significantly (2 mg/kg, P<0.05; 10 mg/kg, P<0.01) increased by 25.9-60.0%, and the peak concentration ($C_{max}$) was significantly (10 mg/kg, P<0.01) increased by 40.0% in the presence of baicalein after orally administration of nicardipine. Consequently, the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of nicardipine was increased by 1.26- to 1.60-fold and the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) was significantly (2 mg/kg, P<0.05; 10 mg/kg, P<0.01) increased by 26.0-59.9%. Compared to the i.v. control, baicalein did not significantly change pharmacokinetic parameters of nicardipine in i.v. administration. Accordingly, the enhanced oral bioavailability of nicardipine might be mainly due to increased intestinal absorption caused by P-gp inhibition rather than to reduced elimination of nicardipine by baicalein. The increase in the oral bioavailability might be mainly attributed to enhanced absorption in the small intestine via the inhibition of P-gp and reduced first-pass metabolism of nicardipine via the inhibition of the CYP3A subfamily in the small intestine and/or in the liver by baicalein. Based on these results, nicardipine dosage should be adjusted when given concomitantly with baicalein.