• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2020

Objectives While sciatic neuropathy is one of the common symptoms which have the lifetime incidence of 13~40%, still there is no consensus about the standardized and the most effective conservative treatment. In addition, the importance of systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical are growing as they could suggest possible effective treatment strategy for future studies. Therefore, we conducted systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate analgesic effect of acupuncture on sciatica in rat models. Methods Systematic search was conducted for all controlled comparative preclinical trials which assessed analgesic effect of acupuncture in sciatica rat models. Database of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI and 6 Korean databases were used. The primary outcome was pain, which is evaluated by stimulus behavior tests in rat models. We assessed the methodological quality with Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation's risk of bias tool. RevMan 5.3 was used for meta-analysis and subgroup analysis was conducted according to treatment site, acupuncture point, treatment period and frequency used in electroacupuncture. Results 14 studies were finally included following our inclusion criteria. The data from meta-analysis indicated that the acupuncture significantly improved the result values of behavior tests for pain evaluation, compared to no-treatment control group in animal models (standardized mean difference=4.43, 95% confidence interval 3.16 to 5.69, Z=6.84, p<0.00001; χ²=68.02, p<0.00001; I²=82%). The results of subgroup analysis indicate that acupuncture treatment of unilateral site, distal acupoints, longer treatment period and applying 2/100 Hz frequency in electroacupuncture could be more effective. Conclusions Systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies are getting important for the future clinical studies and the improvement of heatlh care. Therefore the results of the study would provide evidence and better design for the forthcoming studies.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2019

Background: Brennan's rodent paw incision model has been extensively used for understanding mechanisms underlying postoperative pain in humans. However, alterations of physiological parameters like blood pressure and heart rate, or even feeding and drinking patterns after the incision have not been documented as yet. Moreover, though eicosanoids like prostaglandins and leukotrienes contribute to inflammation, tissue levels of these inflammatory mediators have never been studied. This work further investigates the antinociceptive effect of protein C after intra-wound administration. Methods: Separate groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were used for quantitation of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and leukotriene B4 level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as well as estimation of cardiovascular parameters and feeding and drinking behavior after paw incision. In the next part, rats were subjected to incision and $10{\mu}g$ of protein C was locally administered by a micropipette. Both evoked and non-evoked pain parameters were then estimated. Results: COX, particularly COX-2 activity and leukotriene B4 levels increased after incision. Hemodynamic parameters were normal. Feeding and drinking were affected on days 1 and 3, and on day 1, respectively. Protein C attenuated non-evoked pain behavior alone up to day 2. Conclusions: Based upon current observations, Brennan's rodent paw incision model appears to exhibit a prolonged period of nociception similar to that after surgery, with minimal interference of physiological parameters. Protein C, which is likely converted to activated protein C in the wound, attenuated the guarding score, which probably represents pain at rest after surgery in humans.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 2008

The chloroform extract of Croton roxburghii (Family: Euphorbiaceae) was evaluated for its antipyretic effects in Brewer's yeast induced hyperthermia in rats. The anti-inflammatory effect of the Croton roxburghii was also evaluated by using carrageenan, dextran, histamine, serotonin induced rat paw oedema and cotton pellet induced granuloma (chronic) models in rats. The chloroform extract of Croton roxburghii (CECR) exhibited significant anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory effect at the dose 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Maximum inhibition (55.32%) was notedat the dose of 200 mg/kg after 3 h of drug treatment in carrageenan induced paw oedema, whereas the Indomethacin (standard drug) produced 61.33% of inhibition. The extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in dextran induced paw edema in a dose dependent manner. In the chronic model (cotton pellet induced granuloma) the CECR (200 mg/kg) and Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) showed decreased formation of granuloma tissue by 52.32% and 56.32% respectively. The extract also exhibited a significant antipyretic response in Brewer's yeast induced pyrexia in rats. Thus, the present study revealed that the CECR exhibited significant antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activity in the tested animal models.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.251-256
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• 2012

A novel series of benzothiazole derivatives were synthesized and assayed in vivo to investigate their hypoglycemic activity by streptozotocin-induced diebetic model in rat. These derivatives showed considerable biological efficacy when compared to glibenclamide, a potent and well known antidiabetic agent as a reference drug. All the compounds were effective, amongst them 3d showed more prominent activity at 100 mg/kg p.o. The experimental results are statistically significant at p<0.01 and p<0.05 level.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2010

Objectives:This study was performed to examine the side effect of inflammatory reactions of Pharmacopuncture lubricants (CF and JsD) using animal model. Methods:Pharmacopuncture lubricants (CF and JsD) were treated repeatedly the same point in Sprague-Dawley rats. And after finish the treatment, we obtain the tissue of muscle layer in rats where Pharmacopuncture lubricants were treated. And we observed the tissue how the change occurred in HE staining. Results: 1. There was no evidence to make inflammation induced by pharmacopuncture lubricants except 4 weeks treated group. 2. Only 4 weeks treated group(CF, JsD) were showed some infectional tissue's view in H-E staining. But it is not certain due to Pharmacopuncture lubricants. Conclusion:It appears that prolonged usage of pharmacopuncture lubricant on the specific point can induce inflammation, so we may be careful for treating time and point using pharmacopuncture lubricant in clinics.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.204-214
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• 2022

Objective : Osteoporosis result from age-related decline in the number of osteoblast progenitors in the bone marrow. Probiotics have beneficial effects on the host, when administered in appropriate amounts. This study investigated the effects of probiotics expressing specific genes, especially the effects of genetically modified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2-expressing Lactobacillus plantarum CJNU 3003 (LP) on ovariectomized rats. Methods : Twenty-eight female Wistar rats (250-300 g, 12 weeks old) were divided into four groups : the sham (control), the ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis group (OVX), the OVX and LP (OVX/LP), OVX and genetically modified BMP-2-expressing LP (OVX/LP with BMP) groups. The three groups underwent bilateral OVX and two of these groups were administered two different types of LP via oral gavage daily. At 16 weeks post-OVX, blood was collected from the heart and the bilateral tibiae were extracted and were scanned by ex-vivo micro-computed tomography and stained with hematoxylin-and-eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome stain for pathological assessment. The serum levels of osteocalcin (OC), rat C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), BMP-2, and receptor activator of nuclear factor-ĸB ligand (RANKL) were measured. Results : The 3D-micro-computed tomography images showed that the trabecular structure in the OVX/LP with BMP group was maintained compared with OVX and OVX/LP groups. No significant differences were detected in trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) between control and OVX/LP with BMP groups (p>0.05). Furthermore, a tendency toward increased BMD, trabecular bone volume, Tb.Th, and trabecular number and decreased trabecular separation was found in rats in the OVX/LP with BMP groups when compared with the OVX and OVX/LP groups (p>0.05). The H&E and Masson's trichrome stained sections showed a thicker trabecular bone in the OVX/LP with BMP group compared with the OVX and OVX/LP groups. There was no difference in serum levels of OC, CTX and RANKL control and OVX/LP with BMP groups (p>0.05). In contrast, significant differences were found in OC and CTX-1 levels between the OVX and OVX/LP with BMP groups (p<0.05). Conclusion : Our results showed that the expression of genetically modified BMP-2 showed inhibition effect for bone loss in a rat model of osteoporosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.272-281
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• 2023

Chigger mites are the vector of scrub typhus. This study estimates the infestation status and ecological characteristics of chiggers on the chestnut white-bellied rat Niviventer fulvescens in Southwest China between 2001 and 2019. Chiggers were identified under the microscope, and infestation indices were calculated. The Preston's log-normal model was used to fit the curve of species abundance distribution. A total of 6,557 chiggers were collected in 136 of 342 N. fulvescens rats, showing high overall infestation indices (prevalence=39.8%, mean abundance=19.2, mean intensity=48.2) and high species diversity (S=100, H'=3.0). Leptotrombidium cangjiangense, Neotrombicula japonica, and Ascoschoengastia sifanga were the three dominant chigger species (constituent ratio=42.9%; 2,736/6,384) and exhibited an aggregated distribution among different rat individuals. We identified 100 chigger species, with 3 of them (Leptotrombidium scutellare, Leptotrombidium wenense, and Leptotrombidium deliense) as the main vectors of scrub typhus in China and nine species as potential vectors of this disease. Disease vector occurrence on N. fulvescens may increase the risk of spreading scrub typhus from rats to humans. Chigger infestation on N. fulvescens varied significantly in different environments. The species abundance distribution showed a log-normal distribution pattern. The estimated number of chigger species on N. fulvescens was 126 species.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2015

Murine mycoplasmosis, caused by Mycoplasma (M.) pulmonis, is a prominent disease in rodent animals. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific PCR assay to detect M. pulmonis in animals and to assess the suitability of this assay for the detection of mycoplasmal infection in rats experimentally infected with M. pulmonis. A new PCR assay using the M. pulmonis-specific primer pairs MPul-F and MPul-R was developed. The primers and probe for the assay were designed from regions in the 16S rRNA gene that are unique to M. pulmonis. The novel PCR assay was very specific and sensitive for M. pulmonis, detecting the equivalent of 5 pg of target template DNA. It detected only M. pulmonis and no other Mycoplasma species or other bacterial species. The newly developed PCR assay also effectively detected M. pulmonis infection in rats. These results suggest that this PCR assay using M. pulmonis-specific primer pairs of MPul-F and MPul-R will be useful and effective for monitoring M. pulmonis infection in animals.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1695-1700
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• 2005

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT, EC 2.1.1.6) is an S-adenosylmethionine (SAM, AdoMet) dependent methyltransferase, and is related to the functions of the neurotransmitters in various mental processes, such as Parkinson’s disease. COMT inhibitors represent a new class of antiparkinson drugs, when they are coadministered with levodopa. Based on x-ray structure of rat COMT (rCOMT), the three dimensional structure of human COMT (hCOMT) was constructed by comparative homology modeling using MODELLER. The catalytic site of these two proteins showed subtle differences, but these differences are important to determine the characterization of COMT inhibitor. Ligand docking study is carried out for complex of hCOMT and COMT inhibitors using AutoDock. Among fifteen inhibitors chosen from world patent, nine models were energetically favorable. The average value of heavy atomic RMSD was 1.5 $\AA$. Analysis of ligand-protein binding model implies that Arg201 on hCOMT plays important roles in the interactions with COMT inhibitors. This study may give insight to develop new ways of antiparkinson drug.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic and anti-hypertensive effects of six different plant extracts using a N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced rat model of hypertension. All extracts were administered orally for six weeks. At the end of the study period blood pressure, blood flow, aortic histopathology, and hepatic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression were measured. Subsequently, we also measured the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide (NO), and anti-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Based on these screening results, we selected extracts of Cinnamomum cassia (C. cassia) and Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) for further evaluation. C. cassia and S. miltiorrhiza extracts ameliorated hypertension and atherosclerosis in L-NAME-treated rats in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, a mixture of C. cassia and S. miltiorrhiza had an additive effect to reduce blood pressure, increase blood flow, and normalize aortic tissue. This mixture demonstrated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. In conclusion, although further analysis of the therapeutic mechanism is required, the anti-hypertensive and anti-atherosclerotic effects of this mixture are likely mediated by increased eNOS expression, and its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities.