• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 2009

A series of experiments were conducted to determine the suitable freezing and thawing temperatures for the freezing of boar semen in 5 ml maxi-straws. The ultrastructure, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and artificial insemination (AI) of frozen-thawed semen were also be evaluated. The 5 cm freezing height gave the best results not only in post-thaw motility rate (54.00%), but also in normal acrosome morphology rate (NAR) (80.23%). There was no significant difference in the post-thaw motility between different thawing temperatures and corresponding thawing times (p>0.05); the group of $52^{\circ}C$ and 25 s gave the highest motility rate (45.00%). As a whole, not only from the motility but also the NAR, thawing at $42^{\circ}C$ was better than the other two treatments. In the freezing packages, 5 ml maxi-straw gave a little lower mobility (40%), viability rate (49.58%), plasma membrane integrity rate (53.91%) and NAR (52.65%) than the 0.25 ml straw, but there was no significant difference between the two straw volumes (p>0.05). The IVF capacity of frozen-thawed semen in this experiment was similar to fresh semen. From ultrastructure observation, the main damage to boar spermatozoa after freezing was seen in the acrosome, such as swelling and formation of vesicles. After AI in recipient Shanghai White sows, frozen-thawed semen from 5 ml maxi-straws and pellets produced 72.2% and 80% conception rate and 7.8 and 8 litter sizes, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the 5 ml maxi-straw and the pellet (p>0.05).

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.80-89
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• 2016

The effects of Cudrania tricuspidata (CT) extract on markers of osteoporosis were examined in ovariectomized rats. We classified 26 rats into five groups and provided a pellet chow diet and tap water throughout the 27-wk experimental period. During the last 15 wk, we added oral injections to each group as follows: sham-operated (SHAM, n=4) and ovariectomized-control (OVX, n=5) with distilled water, alendronate with 10 mg/kg/d of alendronate sodium (ALEN, n=5), CT (CT100, n=6) with 100 mg/kg/d of CT, and CT (CT300, n=6) with 300 mg/kg/d of CT. After the experimental period, blood, urine, and micro-CT images were assessed. The CT100 and OVX groups did not show any significant differences in urinary n-terminal telopeptide (NTx) (p<0.05 ), but with increases in CT concentration, the NTx level was slightly reduced. Serum osteocalcin was significantly higher in the CT groups than in all other groups (p<0.05 ). Notably, the serum calcium levels of all groups were within the normal range, but urinary calcium levels in the CT groups were significantly lower than the OVX group (p<0.05 ). In addition, the CT groups exhibited higher trabecular BMD than the OVX groups while showing similar BMD to the ALEN group (p<0.05 ). The Tb.Th of the ALEN group was lower than all other groups. Based on the overall analysis of results, CT prevented bone loss by inhibiting bone resorption and enhancing bone formation. Although alendronate showed a similar effect in preventing bone loss, it did so by solely inhibiting bone resorption, and its long-term use reportedly causes paradoxical effects such as hip fractures. Thus, for osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy, we conclude that CT extract is an effective natural treatment without severe side effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.305-315
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• 2021

Background: Panax stipuleanatus represents a folk medicine for treatment of inflammation. However, lack of experimental data does not confirm its function. This article aims to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of triterpenoid saponins isolated from P. stipuleanatus. Methods: The chemical characterization of P. stipuleanatus allowed the identification and quantitation of two major compounds. Analgesic effects of triterpenoid saponins were evaluated in two models of thermal- and chemical-stimulated acute pain. Anti-inflammatory effects of triterpenoid saponins were also evaluated using four models of acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, xylene-induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in mice. Results: Two triterpenoid saponins of stipuleanosides R₁ (SP-R₁) and R₂ (SP-R₂) were isolated and identified from P. stipuleanatus. The results showed that SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ significantly increased the latency time to thermal pain in the hot plate test and reduced the writhing response in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ caused a significant decrease in vascular permeability, ear edema, paw edema, and granuloma formation in inflammatory models. Further studies showed that the levels of inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin 6 in paw tissues were downregulated by SP-R₁ and SP-R₂. In addition, the rational harvest of three- to five-year-old P. stipuleanatus was preferable to obtain a higher level of triterpenoid saponins. SP-R₂ showed the highest content in P. stipuleanatus, which had potential as a chemical marker for quality control of P. stipuleanatus. Conclusion: This study provides important basic information about utilization of P. stipuleanatus resources for production of active triterpenoid saponins.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 2024

In this study, NASICON-type Li_1+XGa_XTi_2-X(PO₄)₃ (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4) solid-state electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries were synthesized through the sol-gel method. In addition, the influence on the ion conductivity of solid-state electrolytes when partially substituted for Ti⁴⁺ (0.61Å) site to Ga³⁺ (0.62Å) of trivalent cations was investigated. The obtained precursor was heat treated at 450 ℃, and a single crystalline phase of Li_1+XGa_XTi_2-X(PO₄)₃ systems was obtained at a calcination temperature above 650 ℃. Additionally, the calcinated powders were pelletized and sintered at temperatures from 800 ℃ to 1,000 ℃ at 100 ℃ intervals. The synthesized powder and sintered bodies of Li_1+XGa_XTi_2-X(PO₄)₃ were characterized using TG-DTA, XRD, XPS and FE-SEM. The ionic conduction properties as solid-state electrolytes were investigated by AC impedance. As a result, Li_1+XGa_XTi_2-X(PO₄)₃ was successfully produced in all cases. However, a GaPO₄ impurity was formed due to the high sintering temperatures and high Ga content. The crystallinity of Li_1+XGa_XTi_2-X(PO₄)₃ increased with the sintering temperature as evidenced by FE-SEM observations, which demonstrated that the edges of the larger cube-shaped grains become sharper with increases in the sintering temperature. In samples with high sintering temperatures at 1,000 ℃ and high Ga content above 0.3, coarsening of grains occurred. This resulted in the formation of many grain boundaries, leading to low sinterability. These two factors, the impurity and grain boundary, have an enormous impact on the properties of Li_1+XGa_XTi_2-X(PO₄)₃. The Li_1.3Ga_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ pellet sintered at 900 ℃ was denser than those sintered at other conditions, showing the highest total ion conductivity of 7.66 × 10^-5 S/cm at room temperature. The total activation energy of Li-ion transport for the Li_1.3Ga_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ solid-state electrolyte was estimated to be as low as 0.36 eV. Although the Li_1+XGa_XTi_2-X(PO₄)₃ sintered at 1,000 ℃ had a relatively high apparent density, it had less total ionic conductivity due to an increase in the grain-boundary resistance with coarse grains.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.99-111
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• 2011

The present experiment was performed to evaluate the chondrogenic differentiation potential of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ATMSCs) in the chondrogenic induction medium (CIM) with transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) and to evaluate the chondrogenic differentiation of ATMSCs seeded in gelatin-chondroitinglucosamine scaffold (GCG-scaffold). ATMSCs and mouse chondrocytes were cultured in the basic medium and CIM without TGF-${\beta}1$ (CIM1) or with TGF-${\beta}1$ (CIM2) for chondrogenic differentiation potential. The chondrogenic differentiation of ATMSCs was evaluated by glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis and histochemical staining. In pellet culture, GAG synthesis of ATMSCs and chondrocyte was increased in culture on 14 days, but higher in CIM1 than basic medium, especially highest in CIM2. Cartilage matrix was observed in ATMSCs cultured in CIM2 on 14 days by Safranin O and trichrome staining. In well plate culture, proliferation of ATMSCs was continuously increased in culture on 10 days and higher in CIM than basic medium. The cell adhesion rate of ATMSCs seeded in flask or scaffolds was continuously increased during culture period, but higher in scaffold than flask. GAG synthesis of ATMSCs seeded in scaffolds showed no change in control group. In the CIM groups, GAG synthesis of ATMSCs was continuously increased than control group during culture period, especially very high in CIM2 and in the GCG-scaffold was slightly higher than the gelatin scaffold (G-scaffold). The present results demonstrated that ATMSCs showed an low chondrogenic differentiation potential, compared to mouse chondrocytes for 14 days of culture. TGF-${\beta}1$ is important factor in chondrogenic differentiation of ATMSCs. Gelatin scaffold was considered to increasing the effective chondrogenic differentiation environment. ATMSCs seeded in GCG-scaffold was more effective in chondrogenesis than in G-scaffold. Conclusively, the present results demonstrated that the treatment of chondroitin and glucosamine in the scaffold was more effective to promote the cartilage matrix formation.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2010

Purpose: Adipose tissue is located beneath the skin, around internal organs, and in the bone marrow in humans. Its main role is to store energy in the form of fat, although it also cushions and insulates the body. Adipose tissue also has the ability to dynamically expand and shrink throughout the life of an adult. Recently, it has been shown that adipose tissue contains a population of adult multipotent mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells that, in cell culture conditions, have extensive proliferative capacity and are able to differentiate into several lineages, including, osteogenic, chondrogenic, endothelial cells, and myogenic lineages. Materials and Methods: This study focused on endothelial cell culture from the adipose tissue. Adipose tissues were harvested from buccal fat pad during bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for surgical correction of mandibular prognathism. The tissues were treated with 0.075% type I collagenase. The samples were neutralized with DMEM/and centrifuged for 10 min at 2,400 rpm. The pellet was treated with 3 volume of RBC lysis buffer and filtered through a 100 ${\mu}m$ nylon cell strainer. The filtered cells were centrifuged for 10 min at 2,400 rpm. The cells were further cultured in the endothelial cell culture medium (EGM-2, Cambrex, Walkersville, Md., USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, human EGF, human VEGF, human insulin-like growth factor-1, human FGF-$\beta$, heparin, ascorbic acid and hydrocortisone at a density of $1{\times}10^5$ cells/well in a 24-well plate. Low positivity of endothelial cell markers, such as CD31 and CD146, was observed during early passage of cells. Results: Increase of CD146 positivity was observed in passage 5 to 7 adipose tissue-derived cells. However, CD44, representative mesenchymal stem cell marker, was also strongly expressed. CD146 sorted adipose tissue-derived cells was cultured using immuno-magnetic beads. Magnetic labeling with 100 ${\mu}l$ microbeads per 108 cells was performed for 30 minutes at $4^{\circ}C$ a using CD146 direct cell isolation kit. Magnetic separation was carried out and a separator under a biological hood. Aliquous of CD146+ sorted cells were evaluated for purity by flow cytometry. Sorted cells were 96.04% positivity for CD146. And then tube formation was examined. These CD146 sorted adipose tissue-derived cells formed tube-like structures on Matrigel. Conclusion: These results suggest that adipose tissue-derived cells are endothelial cells. With the fabrication of the vascularized scaffold construct, novel approaches could be developed to enhance the engineered scaffold by the addition of adipose tissue-derived endothelial cells and periosteal-derived osteoblastic cells to promote bone growth.