• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered an alternative source of neuronal lineage cells, which are difficult to isolate from brain and expand in vitro. Previous studies have reported that MSCs expressing Nestin ($Nestin^+$ MSCs), a neuronal stem/progenitor cell marker, exhibit increased transcriptional levels of neural development-related genes, indicating that $Nestin^+$ MSCs may exert potential with neurogenic differentiation. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of the presence of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in bone-marrow-derived primary cells (BMPCs) on enhanced neurogenic differentiation of BMPCs by identifying the presence of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in uncultured and cultured BMPCs. The percentage of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in BMPCs was measured per passage by double staining with Nestin and CD90, an MSC marker. The efficiency of neurogenic differentiation was compared among passages, revealing the highest and lowest yields of $Nestin^+$ MSCs. The presence of $Nestin^+$ MSCs was identified in BMPCs before in vitro culture, and the highest and lowest percentages of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in BMPCs was observed at the third (P3) and fifth passages (P5). Moreover, significantly the higher efficiency of differentiation into neurons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells and astrocytes was detected in BMPCs at P3, compared with P5. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that neurogenic differentiation can be enhanced by increasing the proportion of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in cultured BMPCs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1491-1495
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• 2004

Small Tail Han Sheep has significant characteristics of high prolificacy and non-seasonal ovulatory activity and is an excellent local sheep breed in P. R. China. Recently a novel member of the transforming growth factor $\beta$ (TGF$\beta$) superfamily termed bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) was shown to be specifically expressed in oocytes and to be essential for female fertility. Therefore, BMP15 is a candidate gene for reproductive performance of Small Tail Han Sheep. The whole genomic nucleotide sequence of BMP15 gene in Small Tail Han Sheep was searched for polymorphisms by PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing, and only one polymorphism was found. The polymorphism was a result of a 3 base pair deletion, which eliminated a single Leu codon (CTT). The allelic frequencies for A (without deletion) and B (with a codon deletion) are 0.73 and 0.27 respectively. The effects of BMP15 genotype on litter size were evaluated using the least squares model. This indicated that there was a significant association between litter size of Small Tail Han Sheep and a deletion in BMP15 gene (p=0.02<0.05). Small Tail Han Sheep ewes with AA and AB genotype produce on average 0.5 and 0.3 more lambs per litter than those ewes with BB genotype.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.245-251
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caponization on the bone characteristics, biomechanical property and histology in Taiwan country chickens fed to market age of 26 wks. Male Taiwan country chickens $D{\times}L_2$ were caponized or sham-operated at 8 wks of age, and selected healthy sham-operated and completely caponized chickens (prominent degenerated comb) were selected at 16 wks old and fed to 26 wks old for the trials. Fifteen intact male chickens (Intact), sham-operated chickens (Sham) and caponized chickens (Capon) were assigned for trial 1, and sixteen Intact and Capon were assigned for trial 2. Results in trial 1 showed that the abdominal fat and relative abdominal fat weights of Capon were significantly heavier than Intact and Sham (p<0.05), while the tibia weight and relative weight were the lightest (p<0.05). The tibia breaking strength, bending moment and stress of Capon were the poorest among groups (p<0.05). The trial 2 produced the similar observation that Capon were significantly lighter than Intact (p<0.05) in the tibia weight, relative tibia weight and their biomechanical properties. On histological determinations, Capon showed a thinner cartilage end and fewer chondrocytes (about 50%) and trabecular, and bigger marrow cavity; while decreased hemopoietic cells number with increased adipocytes than Intact observed by H&E stain and at low magnification. At high magnification, Capon showed a decrease in the chondrocyte size by 33 to 50%, with smaller nucleus located near the cell membrane, and exhibited monocellular form chondrocytes. Capon also showed a less strongly acidic sulfated mucosubstance with weaker dyeing property within cartilage zone, and smaller chondrocytes size by Alcian blue stain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.203-208
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to explore the efficacy of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate (AT), a commercial supplement containing tocopherols, in commercial broilers. Three hundred and thirty Ross broiler chicks (4-d old) were randomly distributed and allotted to five dietary treatments for six weeks. Each treatment comprised 3 pens as replicates containing 22 chicks per pen. The five dietary treatments were: 0 mg/kg AT (negative control); 10 mg/kg AT; 50 mg/kg AT; 100 mg/kg AT; and 200 mg/kg AT; respectively, supplied totally by the supplement under study. Supplementation of AT improved weight gain significantly (p<0.05), with higher values in the 100 and 200 mg/kg AT fed group than the control during all phases of study, but feed intake remained unaffected. The nutrient digestibility studies conducted after 15 and 35 days of experimental feeding showed significantly higher digestibility of CP, ether extract and gross energy, in these two groups over the control diet. Carcass traits like dressing percentage and the color of the breast meat did not differ significantly due to treatments, but significantly (p = 0.0152) lower abdominal fat percent was noted in the 200 mg/kg fed group. Higher (p = 0.0003) tibia bone strength was noticed in groups fed diets above 50 mg/kg AT because of higher bone mineral content. The serum levels of tocopherols were not influenced but the muscle tocopherols content showed a positive linear trend with the dietary levels supplemented. The thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level in meat also suggested that supplemental AT has a protective role in rancidity. Overall, it could be concluded that AT supplementation at higher levels was found beneficial for growth and increased chicken meat quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.192-203
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• 2019

A study was conducted to determine the influence of feed form and microbial enzyme supplementation on energy utilization, bone quality, and amino acid and mineral digestibility of broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty Ross 308, day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to eight diets formulated from commonly used ingredients in Tanzania. A 2 (pellet or mash) ${\times}$ 4 (control, Axtra XB, Quantum Blue (QB) and Axtra XB + QB enzyme) factorial array in a completely randomized design having six replicates per treatment (10 birds per replicate) was used. Birds were raised in climate-controlled rooms in a 3-phase; starter (0-10 days), grower (11-24 days) and finisher (25-35 days). Apparent metabolizable energy (AME), metabolizable energy intake, net energy of production, energy retained as protein (REp), and efficiency of metabolizable energy use for energy and protein retention were higher (p < 0.05) in birds fed pelleted diets. The AME and REp was higher (p < 0.05) with enzyme supplementation. Ash content, weight, length, width and breaking strength of tibia bones were highest (p < 0.05) in birds on pelleted diets. Tibia bone traits were improved (p < 0.05) when enzymes were included, particularly in a combination of QB and Axtra XB. However, potassium, magnesium, and zinc contents were highest (p < 0.05) when QB was supplemented. Digestibility of all amino acids was higher (p < 0.05) in birds supplied with pellets and with enzyme supplementation for most amino acids, except for serine. There was a positive interaction (p < 0.05) between feed form and enzymes on lysine and phenylalanine digestibility. Digestibility of Ca, P, K, S, Zn, and Fe was higher (p < 0.05) in birds fed pelleted diets, while those on mashed diets had higher (p < 0.05) digestibility of Cu and B. The digestibility of P, K, and Zn was highest (p < 0.001) when QB was added, while Ca, P, S, and B digestibility was highest when a combination of Axtra XB + QB was applied. Pelleted diets with or without enzymes improved energy utilization, digestibility of amino acids, and minerals, and increased bone strength in broiler chickens.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.817-824
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• 1995

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary protein level on Ca efficiency in bone mineral density in growing male rats. Twenty male rate were divided into two groups. The rats in one group were fed on casein 20% diet as control group and the others were fed on casein 40% diet as protein group. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. The total body, spine and femur bone mineral density and bone mineral content were measured using dual energy-x ray absorptiometry. Urinary calcium, phosphate, pyridinoline and creatinine, serum calcium, phosphate, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and osteocalcin were measured. Urinary Ca excretion, pyridinoline and crosslinks value and serum ALP content seem to be increased in high protein group. It appears that the growing rats in high protein group had a higher bone resprption and bone formation than those in control group. Animal fad a high protein diet had a siginficantly higher Ca efficiency in BMD, BMC of total body, spine and femur. The results of this show that increasing of dietary protein level (40%) is beneficial of improvement of Ca efficiency during growing period.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.130-143
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• 2019

Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and periodontal disease are bone destructive diseases mainly caused by inflammation. Various studies are being conducted to develop treatments for inflammatory bone destructive diseases. Many of these studies involve plant-derived natural compounds. In these studies, cell differentiation, signal transduction pathways, and bone resorption were measured at the cellular level. In disease-induced animal models, the amount of inflammatory mediators or matrix destructive enzymes and serum metabolic markers were measured. This study examined the effects of plant-derived natural compounds, such as flavonoids, on inflammatory bone destructive diseases. In addition, we structurally classified various substances used to maintain bone health and summarized the biological effects and related mechanisms of the components.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2003

Osteoporosis is characterized by bone loss and mobidity with osteoporotic fracture. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of on the bone mass and its related factors in estrogen-deficient animal model. The model rats of osteoporsis showed a significant decrease in bone density, bone ash density, calcium content of femur bone. At the 14th day after ovariectomy-surgery, rats were administered with DBE, extract of Dioscorea batatas, per orally, and continued for 10 weeks. And osteoporosis related parameters were determined to investigate the effect of DBE. Osteoporetic rats showed lower serum estrogen level, higher body weight than normal rats, and showed atrophy of uterine horns. DBE showed inhibitory effect on bone loss in osteoporetic condition, and reduced the increase of ALP activity and osteocalcin level in serum, and reduced the increase of OH-proline level in urine. But, DBE had no effect on cell proliferation and ALP activity in rat calvarial cell culture.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

Colostrum basic proteins (CBP) (MW 1$\sim$30 kDa) were isolated from bovine colostrum using a series of ultrafiltration processes and their effects on osteoblast cell proliferation and bone metabolism were investigated in cell line and animal models. Treatments with CBP (1, 10, 100 $\mu$g/mL) dose-dependently increased cell proliferation of osteoblastic MC3T3 cells. Alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker of osteoblastic phenotype, in the cells was also increased after treatments with CBP in a dose-dependent manner. Significant increases in bone density were observed in femur of ovariectomized rats which were fed a diet with 1% and 10% CBP, compared to rats fed a normal diet. These results suggest that CBP may increase bone mass and density and be useful for the prevention of bone-related diseases.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2004

The osteoporosis is a disease characterized by lower bone mineral content, deterioration of bone tissue and a reduction in the protein and mineral matrix of the bone. The bone becomes more porous leading to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture, particularly of the hip, spine and wrist. Osteoporosis can result in disfigurement, lowered self·esteem, reduction or loss of mobility, and decreased independence. Adequate calcium intake through milk and milk products in childhood and adolescence is a decisive marker for obtaining a maximum bone mass (peak adult bone mass) and f3r the prevention of osteoporosis. Calcium is one of the most critical nutrients associated with the osteoporosis. Dietary calcium is of great significance for healthy skeletal growth and development. The bone mineral content and bone mineral density of young adults is directly related to the calcium intake through milk and dairy products. Milk and milk products are the important sources of calcium as the richness and bioavailability of this nutrient is very high as compared to other food products. If enough calcium is not supplemented through diet, calcium from the bone will be depleted to maintain the blood plasma calcium level. The article focuses on the various issues related to osteoporosis manifestation and the role of dietary calcium especially calcium derived from dairy products.