• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.435-439
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• 2011

Sildenafil citrate (SIL) a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) has been used for long time as a first line oral drug for erectile dysfunction. Though it has beneficial effects on erectile organ it also has some adverse effects in other cells and/or tissues related to reproductive system when exposed to longer duration. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the long term effect of SIL on sperm parameters in Wistar albino rat. The animals are divided into two groups, for group I - rats were treated with saline (vehicle alone) and group - II oral administration of 5 mg/kg b.w. of SIL was administrated orally once in a day for 120 days. At the end of the trial period animals were sacrificed and epididymal sperm were subjected to various analysis. Results showed significant reduction in sperm count, motility, viability and morphologically intact sperm in long term PDE5I exposed animals when compared to control. Acrosomal status and fertility test also showed significant reduction in long term PDE5I exposed animals. The present study clearly indicated that long term SIL has shown to induce alteration in sperm quality and quantity, leading to decline in fertility rate. Indicate that SIL impinge on spermatogenesis as well as epididymal function. Understanding the molecular down-stream events involved in long-term exposure to PDE5 inhibitor can be valuable to supervise on related infertility issues and to suggest corrective measures.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Background : Use of Ma Huang is controversial. Multiple reports of adverse effects led the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to announce about prohibiting dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids/Ma Huang. Objective : The objective of the study was to review the evidence from literature and rigorous clinical trials on the dosage, effectiveness, and adverse effects. Methods : Literature searches were conducted in U.S. FDA database after 2003 and digital Uibujeonok(醫部全錄). Hand searches of medical journal and bibliographies of identified articles were conducted. Results : Ma Huang has been used in Korean Oriental Medicine to treatment asthma and other ailments. Recently, Ephedrine/Ma Huang are used for weight loss or to enhance athletic performance in Europe and America, Korea. Ephedrine/Ma Huang are associated with increased risk of psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal symptoms, and heart palpitations. In addition to that, a risk of serious adverse events, including heart attack, stroke, epilepsy and psychiatric problem are also have been reported. Therefore, max dose of total alkaloids of ephedrine is studied in need of a specialist's part. Conclusion : In most reports, Ma Huang effectively promoted short-term weight loss and enhancement of athletic performance, But, safety with long-term use requires further investigation.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2005

Benzodiazepine (BDZ) has the possibilities of development of tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and abuse/addiction, as well as chronically adverse effects. Although many guidelines have proposed the restricted prescription of them, their uses in many psychiatric areas as well as primary practice are still wide spread. So we tried to reappraise the clinical characteristics of BDZ and then to consider the appropriate use. Firstly, meta-analyses on long-term use of BDZ indicated the cognitive impairment, which could be improved after discontinuation of BDZ. Next, there have been some evidences that the long-term use of BDZ does not develop tolerance, contrary to our concern, and maintains good anxiolytic effects. Also, physiological dependence should be discriminated from abuse/addiction, assuming the reality that the risk of BDZ abuse/addiction is surely overestimated. These issues are discussed in detail.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.234-238
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• 2009

Effects of ginseng on in vivo antioxidant capacities with age were studied in rats. All rats were reared in the conventional system. Ginseng-treated rats were supplied with ginseng water extracts (25 mg/kg/day) continuously from 6 weeks of age to spontaneous death. None of the rats showed any discernible adverse effects of treatment with ginseng-containing water. There was no significant difference in body weight (BW) gains with age between treated and control groups. However, ginseng extracts did cause a decrease in the level of serum low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, glucose, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the treated rats. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in liver cytosol decreased with age in the control group. However, these enzyme activities were well maintained in the ginseng-treated rats and, especially, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were consistently higher than in control rats. The levels of total sulfhydryl group (T-SH) and glutathione reductase (GR) were unchanged, and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activity gradually decreased with age in both groups. There were no differences in T-SH, GR, or GST between the control and treatment groups. These results indicate that long-term administration of ginseng retards age-related deterioration in some biochemical parameters such as cholesterol, glucose, and lactate dehydrogenase in serum and it has an enhancing effect on antioxidant capacity in the liver.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.171-172
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• 1996

Cocaine is a powerful reinforcer that has become a popular drug of abuse in man. CNS effects that are related to the abuse of cocaine include feeling of well-being and euphoria. Brain dopamine systems are thought to mediate reinforcement and it is often assumed that cocaine's inhibition of dopamine uptake is the mechanism underlying its reinforcing effects. With increase in cocaine use among general population in recent years, adverse effects of the drug have occurred in all social strata and age groups. Therefore, it has been recognized that the epidemic of cocaine abuse is a growing major concerning public health. One of the most troubling aspects of cocaine abuse is its use by pregnant women. Drug abuse during pregnancy puts two lives at risk. Cocaine produces toxic effects on the fetus at concerntrations that are apparently nontoxic to the mother. Not only does cocaine cross the placenta via diffusion and via rapid penetration to mucous membranes, due to its high lipid solubility, but cocaine can also be found in breast milk, the effects of the cocaine can persist long after the child is born. Although it is known that prenatal cocaine exposure is associated with developmental risk to the fetus ana newborn, few studies have been conducted to assess the mechanisms whereby either short-term or long-term administration of cocaine can exert its harmful effects on the mother or the child. Therefore, it was our great interest to investigate the pharmacological and neurobehavioral changes in offspring that are prenatally exposed to cocaine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.983-989
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• 2019

Objective: Many types of delayed adverse reactions, such as long-term numbness, occur after injecting contrast medium, but few clinical studies have reported effective treatments for these reactions. We report that herbal medicine can have a positive clinical effect in patients who have experienced long-term numbness after contrast medium injection. Method: A patient who had felt numbness in her head and whole limbs presented at Semyung University Korean Medicine hospital. Her numbness had first started 2 days after injection of contrast medium, and she had felt it constantly for almost 2 years. After admission at the hospital, she took "modified Samul-tang" herbal medicine (120 cc three times per day) from 29 January 2019 to 2 February 2019. We measured her numbness using a numeric rating scale (NRS) on 29 January and 2 February and we compared both scores to determine the degree of favorable and clinical effects of herbal medicine. Result: The NRS score for numbness was 5 for her head and limbs on the first day (29 January), but after 4 days (2 February), the NRS score decreased to 0 for her head and both arms and hands, and it decreased from 5 to 2 for both her legs and feet. Conclusion: Korean herbal medicine can have positive clinical effects on treating adverse reactions due to injection of contrast medium.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 2014

Ambient air pollution (AAP) and particulate matters (PM) have been closely associated with adverse health effects such as respiratory disease and cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have examined the adverse health effects associated with short- and long-term exposure to AAP and outdoor PM on respiratory disease. However, the effect of PM size ($PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$) on cardiovascular disease has not been well studied. Thus, it remains unclear how the size of the inhalable particles (coarse, fine, or ultrafine) affects mortality and morbidity. Airborne PM concentrations are commonly used for ambient air quality management worldwide, owing to the known effects on cardiorespiratory health. In this article, we assess the relationship between cardiovascular diseases and PM, with a particular focus on PM size. We discuss the association of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$, nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), and elemental carbon with mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and altered blood pressure, based on epidemiological studies. In addition, we provide evidence that the adverse health effects of AAP and PM are more pronounced among the elderly, children, and people with preexisting cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Finally, we critically summarize the literature pertaining to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and stroke, and introduce potential studies to better understand the health significance of AAP and PM on cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.61.1-61.10
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• 2022

Background: Although there are growing demands for stem cell-based therapy for companion animals in various diseases, a few clinical trials have been reported. Moreover, most of them are the results from only one or a few times of stem cell injection. Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe a long-term treatment with allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in a dog with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is a rare canine disease. Methods: The dog with RA received intravascular injection of allogeneic ASCs derived from two healthy donors once a month for 11 months. To assess therapeutic effects of ASCs, orthopedic examination and clinical evaluation was performed. Cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the plasma were measured using ELISA analysis. Results: Despite this repeated and long-term administration of allogeneic ASCs, there were no side effects such as immunorejection responses or cell toxicity. The orthopedic examination score for the dog decreased after ASCs treatment, and the clinical condition of the dog and owner's satisfaction were very good Conclusions: Although ASCs has been suggested as one of the options for RA treatment because of its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions, it has never been used to treat RA in dogs. The present report describes a case of canine RA treated with allogeneic ASCs for long-term in which the dog showed clinical improvement without adverse effects.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2013

Purpose - This study examines the adverse press coverage that has increased in proportion to the remarkable growth of various kinds of franchise businesses in the food service industry. Today, the trust of franchisees in relation to their franchisor, and the maintenance of good relations between the two, has become a significant social issue. This study investigates relationship satisfaction and the long-term commitment between the franchisor and franchisee. Research design, data, methodology - We used a path analysis to investigate the relationship between justice and trust, trust and relationship satisfaction, justice and relationship satisfaction, trust and long-term commitment, and relationship satisfaction and long-term commitment. Structural Equation Modeling and a Sobel test were used to investigate the mediating effects of trust and relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from 237 Food Franchisees in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in order to test the theoretical model and its hypotheses. Two research methodologies are generally used in the distribution management field. For this study, an empirical method was used. Results - A causal analysis was carried out to test if the research model has a sufficient fit index (for instance, χ² = 46.694, df = 10, p = .000, GFI = 0.946, AGFI = 0.850, RMR = 0.034, NFI = 0.966, CFI = 0.973), and the results showed that the model was sufficient, thus demonstrating the suitability of the research model. Each hypothesis had a positive influence, both on long-term commitment and relationship satisfaction. Justice with the franchisor had a positive influence on trust. Relation satisfaction cognized by franchisees was found to positively influence long-term commitment. The franchisee perception of justice in relation to the franchisor had no significant influence on long-term commitment. The study investigated the hypothesis that trust could mediate justice and long-term commitment, and that relationship satisfaction could also mediate long-term commitment Both trust and relationship satisfaction were found to be important for long-term commitment. Specifically, trust sub-factors and justice sub-factors influenced long-term commitment. Identification-based and knowledge-based trust were more important than calculus-based trust. Distributive justice was deemed more important than procedural justice; distributive justice should thus be strengthened. Conclusions - Both franchisor and franchisee were independent businesses. Evidently however, the franchisor could not ensure profit without long-term commitment from the franchisee. As for the success of the franchise business, the franchisor should carry out appropriate strategies leading to a satisfactory relationship. For example, transparency makes it possible to maintain and enhance trust and to improve relationship satisfaction. Just relations between franchisor and franchisee should make it possible to maintain and enhance the franchisee's trust. The franchisor should provide a variety of information with respect to the franchisee's business success. Finally, in order to improve the franchisee's long-term commitment, the franchisor should ensure a just approach with trust and relationship satisfaction among their strategies.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of sensorimotor function at the shoulder joint according to long-term cane usage in stroke patients without apraxic behavior, in terms of the presence of shoulder joint pain, accuracy of tracking task, proprioceptive joint position sense, and nine-hole pegboard. Methods: Nineteen stroke patients with long-term cane usage (cane usage group) and nineteen stroke patients without cane usage (non-cane usage group) were recruited. All subjects were tested in pain presence, a tracking task for visuomotor function, joint reposition, and nine-hole pegboard in the shoulder joint regarding the non-affected side. Results: In the accuracy index for tracking task and the nine-hole pegboard test, significant differences were observed between the cane usage group and the non-cane usage group. However, although a higher emergence of shoulder pain and a lower accuracy for joint reposition sense were detected in the cane usage group in comparison to the non-cane usage group, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that long-term cane usage could induce to decrease in delicate movement and coordination in the non-affected upper arm in stroke patients. In addition, they could experience high frequency of shoulder pain and poor joint reposition sense. Therefore, careful evaluation and observation will be required concerning stroke patients with long-term cane usage.