• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.229-237
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• 2022

This study investigated the growth characteristics of four strains of newly developed synthetic Korean native commercial chickens (KNCs). We investigated a suitable growth curve model in KNCs and estimated the number of days to reach a 2 kg market weight. Body weight was measured at 2-week intervals from birth to 12 weeks of age. The growth curves were estimated using von Berteralanffy, Gompertz, and logistic functions. The results showed that males were significantly heavier than females at all ages, but there were no significant differences in body weight between strains, except at birth and 2 and 6 weeks of age. The coefficients of determination and adjusted determination of growth function had high goodness-of-fit (97.4~99.7). Of the growth curve parameters, the mature weight and growth ratio were higher in males than in females, but the maturity rate was similar in males and females. The inflection point occurred at approximately 7 weeks of age for females and 8 to 9 weeks of age for males. The weights estimated from the growth curve functions almost agreed with the actual weights, except for male weights estimated using the von Bertalanffy function. The coefficients of determination of the regression equations for weight to age were 0.9583 to 0.9746. The 8- and 10-week-old body weights estimated using the regression equation, and the 12-week-old weight estimated using the logistic function were most similar to the actual weight. Using these models, the estimated age of KNCs to reach 2 kg was 62.0~64.6 days for males and 74.9~78.6 days for females.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

Objectives : Chronic mild stress (CMS) model is currently recognized as a better animal model of depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antidepressant-like effects of the Nelumbo nucifera leave extract using CMS model. Methods : The antidepressant-like effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract was determined by using animal models of depression. Male ICR mice were divided into four groups: saline-treated normal, without CMS; saline-treated stress control; CMS+ Imipramine(20mg/kg); CMS+Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract(200mg/kg). All mice except the normal group exposed an unpredicted sequence of chronic mild stressors for 5 weeks. The behavior of mice were detected by sucrose preference test, forced swim test and tail suspension test. Then concentration of corticosterone in serum was detected by enzyme immunoassay. Results : Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract administration by daily gavage from the 3rd week exhibited an antidepressant-like effect on CMS-induced depression in mice. Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract administration at dose of 200 mg/kg significantly increased the sucrose consumption, and decreased the immobility durations in forced swim test and tail suspension test. Furthermore the corticosterone level decreased than control group. Conclusions : Chronic mild stress can affect mouse behavior and corticosterone level and cause depression. The present experiments not only further confirm the antidepressant-like effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract in the sucrose preference test, forced swimming test and tail suspension test, but also the improving effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract on the depression-like symptoms in the CMS model. Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract has the antagonism on CMS and produce antidepressive effects.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.44.1-44.17
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• 2023

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern around the globe. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit broad-spectrum and efficient antibacterial activity with an added advantage of low drug resistance. The higher water content and 3D network structure of the hydrogels are beneficial for maintaining antimicrobial peptide activity and help to prevent degradation. The antimicrobial peptide released from hydrogels also hasten the local wound healing by promoting epithelial tissue regeneration and granulation tissue formation. Objective: This study aimed at developing sodium alginate based hydrogel loaded with a novel antimicrobial peptide Chol-37(F34-R) and to investigate the characteristics in vitro and in vivo as an alternative antibacterial wound dressing to treat infectious wounds. Methods: Hydrogels were developed and optimized by varying the concentrations of crosslinkers and subjected to various characterization tests like cross-sectional morphology, swelling index, percent water contents, water retention ratio, drug release and antibacterial activity in vitro, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected wound mice model in vivo. Results: The results indicated that the hydrogel C proved superior in terms of cross-sectional morphology having uniformly sized interconnected pores, a good swelling index, with the capacity to retain a higher quantity of water. Furthermore, the optimized hydrogel has been found to exert a significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and was also found to prevent bacterial infiltration into the wound site due to forming an impermeable barrier between the wound bed and external environment. The optimized hydrogel was found to significantly hasten skin regeneration in animal models when compared to other treatments in addition to strong inhibitory effect on the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α). Conclusions: Our results suggest that sodium alginate -based hydrogels loaded with Chol-37(F34-R) hold the potential to be used as an alternative to conventional antibiotics in treating infectious skin wounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.287-295
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. The chemotherapeutic agents used to treat HCC patients are toxic and have serious side effects. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of anticancer drugs that reduce side effects by targeting tumor cells without causing cytotoxicity in healthy hepatocytes. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from plant compounds, has emerged as a potential candidate for cancer treatment due to its diverse pharmacological properties. The effect of berberine on HepG2 cell viability was determined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. HepG2 cell proliferation was determined through a colony-forming assay. The effects of berberine on HepG2 cell migration were evaluated using a wound-healing assay. Berberine inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, as well as colony formation and migration. Berberine treatment increased the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins, including Beclin-1 and LC3-II, and elevated the activities and mRNA expression of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Additionally, in experiments utilizing the Cell-Derived Xenograft animal model, berberine treatment reduced tumor size and weight in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the potential of berberine as a versatile anticancer agent with efficacy in both cellular and animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings herein shed light on berberine's efficacy against HCC, presenting opportunities for targeted and personalized therapeutic interventions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2003

Although a variety of synthetic vascular grafts are available in modern vascular surgery, no ideal prosthesis ha,4 yet been developed. Small-caliber vascular grafts with low flow, as used in the lower extremity, continue to become thrombosed at unacceptable rates. We have developed and evaluated the new antithrombogenic blood contacting surfaces in canine model. Material and Method: Two now antithrombogenic blood contacting surfaces(Polyvinylalcohol -Polyurethane(PVA-PU) blend and natural Graphite-polyurethane(G-PU) blend) have been developed and evaluated in canine model, using vascular grafts and patches. The luminal surfaces of the test vascular grafts(5 mm ID) were fabricated by dipping a glass rod in PVA-PU blend solution(50 % PVA) using phase separation method. Mongrel dogs of either sex weighing 18-22 kg were anesthetized by endotracheal intubation using halothane and their lungs were ventilated with a volume-cycled ventilator, Maintenance anesthesia with 0.5-1.0% halothane and supplemental oxygen was used. Two pairs were used for comparison in the bilateral femoral arteries for both vascular grafts(PVA-PU vs. PU) and vascular patches(G-PU vs. PU). Bilateral groin incisions were made and the arteries were exposed and clamped. After an excision of 1 cm of the artery between clamps, a grail of 2.5 cm in length was implanted end-to-end using 6-0 polypropylene suture. The vascular patch was implanted as a form of on-lay patch. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 16 weeks for vascular grafts and 1, 2. 4 and 6 weeks for vascular patches. Result The vascular grafts of PVA-PU blends showed patent lumina in the 2 and 16 weeks animals, while those of PU showed a patent lumen in 2 weeks animal. PVA-PU graft of 16 weeks showed a fairly clean luminal surface. A light microscopic finding of this graft demonstrated good tissue infiltration through porosity, The animals with vascular patches showed patent arteries in both groups except 2 weeks animal. Scanning electron microscopy of the luminal surfaces of G-PU patches in 4 and 6 weeks animals showed endothelial cell covering with microvilli. PU patches showed qualitatively less endothelial cell covering. Conclusion: In conclusion, PVA-PU and G-PU blends can be a promising blood contacting surfaces for application in a synthetic vascualr graft. However, further animal study is needed to determine the real long-term effects of these methods of surface modifications.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the effect of mathematical transformation on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibrations for the prediction of chemical composition and fermentation parameters in corn silage. Corn silage samples (n=407) were collected from cattle farms and feed companies in Korea between 2014 and 2015. Samples of silage were scanned at 1 nm intervals over the wavelength range of 680~2,500 nm. The optical data were recorded as log 1/Reflectance (log 1/R) and scanned in intact fresh condition. The spectral data were regressed against a range of chemical parameters using partial least squares (PLS) multivariate analysis in conjunction with several spectral math treatments to reduce the effect of extraneous noise. The optimum calibrations were selected based on the highest coefficients of determination in cross validation ($R^2{_{cv}}$) and the lowest standard error of cross validation (SECV). Results of this study revealed that the NIRS method could be used to predict chemical constituents accurately (correlation coefficient of cross validation, $R^2{_{cv}}$, ranging from 0.77 to 0.91). The best mathematical treatment for moisture and crude protein (CP) was first-order derivatives (1, 16, 16, and 1, 4, 4), whereas the best mathematical treatment for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was 2, 16, 16. The calibration models for fermentation parameters had lower predictive accuracy than chemical constituents. However, pH and lactic acids were predicted with considerable accuracy ($R^2{_{cv}}$ 0.74 to 0.77). The best mathematical treatment for them was 1, 8, 8 and 2, 16, 16, respectively. Results of this experiment demonstrate that it is possible to use NIRS method to predict the chemical composition and fermentation quality of fresh corn silages as a routine analysis method for feeding value evaluation to give advice to farmers.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.663-667
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• 2010

Experiments were undertaken to assess the antinociceptive effect of bee venom (BV) in rodent animal models. Comparison of antinociceptive efficacy between Korean BV and commercially available American BV was the primary interest of the study. Korean BV was collected using BV collector devices in which an electrical impulse is used to stimulate the worker bee (Apis mellfera L.) to sting and release venom. After collection, whole BV was evaporated until dry using the BV collector. Commercially available dried American BV was purchased from Sigma Company in USA. Korean and American sourced BVs were diluted and amounts of 6 mg/kg body weight (BW), 0.6 mg/kg BW and 0.06 mg/kg BW were tested. BV was subcutaneously injected to produce an antinociceptive effect and the antinociceptive efficacy was evaluated using a writhing test in mice and a formalin test in rats. The antinociceptive effects of the two BVs tested were similar in mice for visceral pain and showed a dose-dependent response. The antinociceptive effect of Korean BV was not significantly different compare to American BV. These results suggest that Korean BV may be used to achieve an antinociceptive effect for use in medical therapies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1247-1247
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• 2001

Constituents of animal biofluids such as milk, blood and urine contain information specifically related to metabolic and health status of the ruminant animals. Some changes in composition of biofluids can be attributed to disease response of the animals. Mastitis is a major problem for the global dairy industry and causes substantial economic losses from decreasing milk production and reducing milk quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential of NIRS combined with multivariate analysis for cow's mastitis diagnosis based on NIR spectra of milk, blood and urine. A total of 112 bulk milk, urine and blood samples from 4 Holstein cows were analyzed. The milk samples were collected from morning milking. The urine samples were collected before morning milking and stored at -35$^{\circ}C$ until spectral analysis. The blood samples were collected before morning milking using a catheter inserted into the carotid vein. Heparin was added to blood samples to prevent coagulation. All milk samples were analyzed for somatic cell count (SCC). The SCC content in milk was used as indicator of mastitis and as quantitative parameter for respective urine and blood samples collected at same time. NIR spectra of blood and milk samples were obtained by InfraAlyzer 500 spectrophotometer, using a transflectance mode. NIR spectra of urine samples were obtained by NIR System 6500 spectrophotometer, using 1 mm sample thickness. All samples were divided into calibration set and test set. Class variable was assigned for each sample as follow: healthy (class 1) and mastitic (class 2), based on milk SCC content. SIMCA was implemented to create models of the respective classes based on NIR spectra of milk, blood or urine. For the calibration set of samples, SIMCA models (model for samples from healthy cows and model for samples from mastitic cows), correctly classified from 97.33 to 98.67% of milk samples, from 97.33 to 98.61% of urine samples and from 96.00 to 94.67% of blood samples. From samples in the test set, the percent of correctly classified samples varied from 70.27 to 89.19, depending mainly on spectral data pretreatment. The best results for all data sets were obtained when first derivative spectral data pretreatment was used. The incorrect classified samples were 5 from milk samples,5 and 4 from urine and blood samples, respectively. The analysis of changes in the loading of first PC factor for group of samples from healthy cows and group of samples from mastitic cows showed, that separation between classes was indirect and based on influence of mastitis on the milk, blood and urine components. Results from the present investigation showed that the changes that occur when a cow gets mastitis influence her milk, urine and blood spectra in a specific way. SIMCA allowed extraction of available spectral information from the milk, urine and blood spectra connected with mastitis. The obtained results could be used for development of a new method for mastitis detection.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2020

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is considered a clinically incurable condition despite various treatment options due to its diverse causes and complicated disease mechanisms. Since the early 2000s, multipotent human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been used in the treatment of NP in animal models. However, the effects of hMSC injections have not been studied in chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) mice models. Here, we investigated whether intrathecal (IT) and intrapaw (IP) injections of hMSCs can reduce mechanical allodynia in CPIP model mice. Methods: Seventeen CPIP C57/BL6 mice were selected and randomized into four groups: IT sham (n = 4), IT stem (n = 5), IP sham (n = 4), and IP stem (n = 4). Mice in the IT sham and IT stem groups received an injection of 5 μL saline and 2 × 10⁴ hMSCs, respectively, while mice in the IP sham and IP stem groups received an injection of 5 μL saline and 2 × 10⁵ hMSCs, respectively. Mechanical allodynia was assessed using von Frey filaments from pre-injection to 30 days post-injection. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia were also evaluated. Results: IT and IP injections of hMSCs improved mechanical allodynia. GFAP expression was decreased on day 25 post-injection compared with the sham group. Injections of hMSCs improved allodynia and GFAP expression was decreased compared with the sham group. Conclusions: These results suggested that hMSCs may be also another treatment modality in NP model by ischemia-reperfusion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.28-44
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• 1998

This study was conducted to suggest the ecological restoration strategies for the disturbed landscapes by theoretical study. Especially, it is aimed to suggest three objectives for restoration by using native plants ; (1) prevention or reduction of wind and water erosion, (2) provision of food and cover for variety of animal species, (3) improvement of the visual or aesthetic quality of disturbed sites. The main results were summarized as follows. 1. Cooperation between restoration ecologists and restoration practitioners is needed to delineate a scientific approach to restoration ; (1) Being aware of published literature that describes similar work and/or establish general principles. (2) Preparedness to carry out proper experiments to test ideas. (3) Preparedness to monitor fundamental parameters in a restoration scheme. (4) Providing information about the behavior of species. (5) Publish results. 2. There are three models of succession in theories of plant succession. The tolerance and facilitation models were recommended to ecological restoration. The inhibition model applies in most secondary succession, but the actual species which are introduced first may inhibit the germination and growth of slower-growing species, or they may prevent the growth of other species whose propagules arrive later. 3. The objectives of erosion control, wildlife habitat provision, and visual quality improvement are not mutually exclusive. However, many revegetation practices in the past have emphasized one of these aspects at the expense of the others. 4. A native plant community can be the model of ecological restoration. By stylization/abstraction of native plant community, trying to learn the most essential characteristics of community types - environmental factors ; dominant, prevalent, and "visual essence" species composition - in order to use such information in restoration. 5. After developing mass/spaces plan, match plant communities to the mass/space plan. In utilizing community grouping, there needs aesthetic ability to understand design elements. 6. Several hydrophytes such as Pennisetum saccharifluous, Themeda triandra, Cirsium pendulum show relatively good germination rates. In case of mesophytes and xerophytes, Arundinella hina, Artemisia princeps, Oenothera odorata and legumes seem to have quick-germinating abilities at barren sites. Pinus thunbergii, Rhus chinensis, Evodia daniellii, Alnus firma and Albizzia julibrissin can be considered as "late succession" woody plants because they show low germinating rates and slow growing habitat. 7. The seeds used for restoration should be collected within a certain radius of where it will be planted. Consideration in genetic issues in the collection and use of germplasm can increase the odds for successful restoration efforts. 8. The useful model in the "drift" pattern occurs so abundantly in naturally evolving landscapes. As one species diminishes in density, a second or third species are increased. Thus, dynamic interactions between species are created. Careful using of "drift phenomenon" in planting was recommended. 9. Virtually no stand of vegetation today is immune from the introduction and/or spreading of exotic species. Therefore, the perpetuation of a restored sites requires conscious monitoring and management. Thus, management would be the most important process in ecological restoration. 10. In order to keep the sites "natural", alternative management strategies would be applied in management ; Atenative management strategies are decelerating successional process, accelerating successional processes or modifying species composition. As management tools, mechanical, chemical, biological or environmental factor manipulation, e.g., fire could be used.