• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the 4-week repeated-dose oral toxicity of gami-jakyak gamcho buja decoction (Mecasin) to develop safe treatments. Methods: In order to investigate the 4-week oral toxicity of Mecasin, we administered Mecasin orally to rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups of five male and five female animals per group: group 1 being the control group and groups 2, 3, and 4 being the experimental groups. Doses of Mecasin of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg of body weight were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution of 10 mL/kg was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rate, weight, clinical signs, and gross findings for four weeks. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weights or food consumption between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. Serum biochemistry revealed that some groups showed significant decrease in inorganic phosphorus (IP) (P < 0.05). During necropsy on the rats, one abnormal macroscopic feature, a slight loss of fur, was observed in the mid dosage (1,000 mg/kg) male group. No abnormalities were observed in any other rats. In histopathological findings, the tubular basophilia and cast of the kidney and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen were found. However, those changes were minimal and had occurred naturally or sporadically. No other organ abnormalities were observed. Conclusion: During this 4-week, repeated, oral toxicity test of Mecasin in SD rats, no toxicity changes due to Mecasin were observed in any of the male or the female rats in the high dosage group. Thus, we suggest that the doses in a 13-week, repeated test should be 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg respectively.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2000

Bone is continuously remodeled during adult life with the resorption of old bone by osteoclasts and its subsequent replacement by osteoblast. Bone homeostasis is maintained by a balance between activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, but an imbalance between resorption and formation results in bone diseases including osteoporosis. Osteoblasts line up on the bone surface, especially regions of new bone formation, lay down bone matrix (osteoid) in orderly lamellae and induce its mineralization. Thus, the increased activity of osteoblasts is helpful to treat and prevent osteoporosis. In this study, we examined whether 80% EtOH extract of yukmijiwhang-whan is capable of affecting osteoblast proliferation using human osteoblast-like cell line, MG-63 and Saos-2. In an in vivo experiment, extract of yukmijiwhang-whan was administered for 9 weeks to ovariectomized (OVX) rats. At necropsy, uterus weights were measured, and trabecular bone areas (TBAS) of tibia and the sixth lumbar vertebra were measured by bone histomorphology. The maximum cell proliferation of MG-63 caused by extract of yukmijiwhang-whan at $5\;{\times}\;10^{-6}\;mg/ml$ was approximately 115% compared with control. In Saos-2, cell proliferation was approximately 145% of control at $5\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;mg/ml$ and maximum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was approximately 143% of control at $5\;{\times}\;10^{-5}\;mg/ml$. In animal study, however, the tibia and lumbar TBAS of the yukmijiwhang-whan group did not increased than the OVX control group. In conclusion, the 80% EtOH extract of yukmijiwhang-whan increased proliferation of osteoblasts but did not prevent bone loss in OVX rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 2010

Antibiotics in veterinary medicine have been used to treat disease, promote growth rate and improve feed efficiency. However, alternative sources are needed because of of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and residues of antibiotics. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of CS682, a fermentation product of Korean soil bacteria, on safety, growth rate and feed efficiency, and to evaluate its value as an alternative for antibiotics used as a feed additive. Two dosages of CS682 (0.1% and 1%) were fed to chickens for 28 days. The results showed that, when compared to chickens in the control group, growth and feed efficiency was improved. Also, mortality, hematology, general clinical signs and necropsy were examined. Chickens in the treatment groups showed no adverse effects. A total of 72 weaning pigs were used to confirm the effects of CS682 at one dose level (0.1%) regarding feed efficiency. Supplementation with 0.1% CS682 also resulted in improved weight gain and feed efficiency ratio. Based on these results, CS682 may be effective in improving feed efficiency safely as a feed additive.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2003

A teratogenic study of dimethyl dimethoxy biphenylate derivative (DDB-S) was carried out on Sprague-Dawley rats. DDB-S dissolved in saline was administered to male and female rats by intravenously injection at daily doses of 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg. A half of dams were sacrificed at 20th day of gestation to scrutinize the pregnant performances and fetal development. And the remaining dams were allowed to deliver. The growth, reflex, behaviour and reproductive function of F1 offsprings were examined. There was no treatment-related difference in body weight, food consumption and necropsy findings of dams. No gross, skeletal and visceral abnormalities was observed in F1 fetuses from dams treated with DDB-S. F1 offsprings did not show any treatment-related difference in growth, reflex, behaviour and reproductive performance. At caesarean section of F1 dams, no growth retardation and gross abnormality was observed in F2 fetuses. In conclusion, DDB-S did not show any potential teratogenic effect in rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to obtain information on the effects of amitraz on reproductive and developmental parameters in rats. The test chemical was administered via the drinking water containing 0, 40, 120, and 360 ppm to male rats from 2 weeks before mating to the end of 14-day mating period and to females from 2 weeks before mating, throughout mating, gestation and up to lactational day 4. During the study period, clinical signs, body weights, food intake, organ weights, reproductive and littering findings, necropsy findings, sperm parameters, and histopathology were examined. At 360 ppm, decreases in the body weight gain, food consumption, and the number of live pups and an increase in the post-implantation loss were observed. In addition, decreases in the seminal vesicle weight and sperm motility were found in males. At 120 ppm, a decrease in the food consumption was found transiently in both males and females, but no reproductive and developmental toxicity was observed in both sexes. There were no signs of either general or reproductive and developmental toxicity in the 40 ppm group. Based on these results, it was concluded that the repeated oral administration of amitraz to rats resulted in a decrease in the food consumption at 120 ppm and decreases in the seminal vesicle weight, sperm motility, and the number of live pups and an increase in the post-implantation loss at 360 ppm in rats. Under these experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of amitraz for general and reproduction/developmental toxicity was believed to be 120 ppm, and the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) of amitraz was believed to be 40 ppm in rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.1 s.68
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• pp.1-8
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential subacute toxicity of dimethyl disulfide by 3 weeks inhalation in F344 rats. The test article, dimethyl disulfide was exposed by inhalation to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 5, 25, or 125 ppm/6 hrs/ day for 3 weeks. Five rats/ sex/ group were sacrificed on day 4 after the initiation of treatment, while 5 rats/ sex/ group were sacrificed at the end of treatment period. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, and gross findings were examined. Slight decreases in body weight gain were noted in both sexes of the highest dose group in a dose dependent manner but were only statistically different from the control animals in males of the group. A slight non-significant reduction in food consumption were also noted in the both sexes of the highest dose group. There were no adverse effects on mortality, clinical signs, hematology, serum biochemistry, and necropsy findings at any dose tested. Based on these results, it was concluded that the 3 weeks repeated dose of dimethyl disulfide by inhalation resulted in suppressed body weight gain and decreased food consumption at 125 ppm of both sexes. In the present experimental conditions, the target organ was not determined in rats. The no­observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be 25 ppm/6 hrs/day for both sexes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2017

4-Nonylphenol (NP) is a surfactant that is a well-known and widespread estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). Although it has been known that the affinity of NP to ERs is low, it has been suggested that low-dose NP has toxicity. In the present study, the endocrine disrupting effects on reproduction, and the weight of gonads, epididymis, and uterus were evaluated with the chronic lower-dose NP exposing. This study was designed by following the OECD test guideline 443 and subjected to a complete necropsy. In male, NP had an effect on the weight of the testis and epididymis in both $F_0$ and $F_1$. In females, NP decreased the weight of ovary and uterus in $F_0$ but not in pre-pubertal $F_1$ pubs. Fertility of male and female in $F_0$ or $F_1$ was no related with NP administration. The number of caudal-epididymal sperm by body weight (BW) was not different between groups in both $F_0$ and $F_1$. Besides, the difference of the sperm number between generations was not detected. The number of ovulated oocytes was similar between groups in $F_0$, but significantly decreased in NP 50 group of $F_1$. The litter size and sex ratios of offspring in $F_1$ and $F_2$ were not different. The accumulated mating rate and gestation period were not affected by the NP administration. Those results shows that chronic lower-dose NP administration has an effect of endocrine disruptor on the weight of gonads and epididymis of $F_0$ and $F_1$ but not in reproduction. Based on the results, it is suggested that chronic lower-dose NP exposing causes endocrine disruption in the weight of gonad and epididymis but not in the reproductive ability of next generations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.135-139
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• 2015

A total of 1,708 small mammals (1,617 rodents and 91 soricomorphs), including Apodemus agrarius (n = 1,400), Microtus fortis (167), Crocidura lasiura (91), Mus musculus (32), Myodes (= Eothenomys) regulus (9), Micromys minutus (6), and Tscherskia (= Cricetulus) triton (3), were live-trapped at US/Republic of Korea (ROK) military training sites near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Paju, Pocheon, and Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province from December 2004 to December 2009. Small mammals were examined for their intestinal nematodes by necropsy. A total of 1,617 rodents (100%) and 91 (100%) soricomorphs were infected with at least 1 nematode species, including Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia obvelata, Heterakis spumosa, Protospirura muris, Capillaria spp., Trichuris muris, Rictularia affinis, and an unidentified species. N. brasiliensis was the most common species infecting small mammals (1,060; 62.1%) followed by H. polygyrus (617; 36.1%), S. obvelata (370; 21.7%), H. spumosa (314; 18.4%), P. muris (123; 7.2%), and Capillaria spp. (59; 3.5%). Low infection rates (0.1-0.8%) were observed for T. muris, R. affinis, and an unidentified species. The number of recovered worms was highest for N. brasiliensis (21,623 worms; mean 20.4 worms/infected specimen) followed by S. obvelata (9,235; 25.0 worms), H. polygyrus (4,122; 6.7 worms), and H. spumosa (1,160; 3.7 worms). A. agrarius demonstrated the highest prevalence for N. brasiliensis (70.9%), followed by M. minutus (50.0%), T. triton (33.3%), M. fortis (28.1%), M. musculus (15.6%), C. lasiura (13.2%), and M. regulus (0%). This is the first report of nematode infections in small mammals captured near the DMZ in ROK.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.396-400
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• 2005

A 13-year old, female Maltese dog was presented due to a five-month history of episodic syncope. A diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome (SSS) with mitral valve endocardiosis (MVE) was made based on history takings, physical and cardiac examination, complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry profiles, radiography, electrocardiography (ECG), atropine response test, hormonal assay, and echocardiography. In this case, SSS was definitely diagnosed by evaluation of ECG recording following atropine administration. Clinical signs were improved with medical management of theophylline (THEOLAN, KunWha Pharm, Seoul, Korea, 20 mg/kg, PO, BID). After 10 more month survival, the dog, died of respiratory distress and shock during the operation of abdominal mass removal in local animal hospital. Unfortunately, we were not able to perform necropsy after death due to owner's decline. This case demonstrates that theophylline can be used in management oF dog with SSS.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.255-258
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• 2012

A 14-year-old spayed female, Shihtzu dog, presented with anorexia, depression and respiratory distress. She had a history of mastectomy for mammary gland tumor before 2 weeks. Severe gingivitis, dental plaque, and calculus were confirmed on physical examination. On auscultation, the dog had a diastolic and systolic murmur at the left heart base and right heart apex respectively. The dog had valvular vegetation including tricuspid and aortic valves with regurgitation on echocardiography. Blood culture was performed to confirm bacterial endocarditis and identify pathogens of bacterial endocarditis. Before the result of blood culture was confirmed, antibiotic (cefalexin, 30 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) with furosemide (2 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) and benazepril (0.25 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) were administered empirically and the patient was well controlled. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was confirmed later. One week later, however, the patient died of acute respiratory distress caused by fulminant pulmonary edema. The owners denied necropsy of the patient.