• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.570-582
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• 2020

Purpose: Obesity is a risk factor for various adult diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and cancer. With an increasing obesity population worldwide, the prevention of obesity with natural components has emerged as an alternative health care strategy. Ramulus mori (Sangzhi, RM) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia. It contains various phytochemicals, including stilbenes and 2-arylbenzofurans. In this study, we compared the anti-obesity effects of RM extracts and its major stilbene components (mulberroside A [MSA] and oxyresveratrol [ORT]) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. Methods: Five week-old, male C57BL/6J mice were grouped into 7 experimental groups: normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD + 1% RM water extracts (MW), HFD + 0.1% MSA, HFD + 1% RM ethanol extracts (ME), HFD + 0.1% ORT, and HFD + 1% Garcinia cambogia extracts (GC) as a positive control. All mice were fed experimental diet for 13 weeks. Results: Compared to the HFD group, total body weight and weekly body weight gain were significantly decreased in the ME, ORT, and GC groups. Glucose tolerance level was significantly decreased in all experimental groups, whereas plasma insulin level was decreased in MSA, ME, ORT and GC groups. Plasma glucose, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased in the MSA, ORT, and GC groups. Hepatic TG accumulation was also significantly decreased in the MSA, ME, ORT, and GC groups. Adipose tissue weight and size of adipocytes were significantly decreased in the MSA, ME and ORT groups, and were comparable to values obtained in the GC group. The levels of adiponectin and SREBP1c mRNA expressions were increased in the ORT and GC groups. Conclusion: These results indicate that ME, ORT and MSA exert significant anti-obesity effect, and have the potential to be developed as a weight control ingredient of functional foods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1276-1284
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• 2012

A 12-wk experiment was conducted to examine the hematological changes, survival, and respiratory exchange in the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, during starvation. The growth, survival and respiratory exchange rates of the starved group were lower than those of the fed group during the experiment. Blood analysis, including hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and mean corpuscular volume, did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between the fed and starved groups at the end of the experiment. There were no significant differences in plasma cortisol, glucose, $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, $K^+$, or aspartate aminotransferase between the fed and starved groups (p>0.05). Alanine aminotransferase levels were higher in the starved group than in the fed group, whereas plasma osmolality was lower in the starved group than in the fed group. It was shown that starved fish had various problems after four weeks, which did not occur in the fed group. Long-term starvation is infrequent in aquaculture farms. However, starvation studies of this kind are very useful for a basic understanding of how physiological changes affect fish health, life expectancy, and growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.874-878
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• 2013

Unlike Europe (particularly, Italy and Spain), where a number of studies have been conducted on the stressful effects of transport on rabbit welfare, few studies have been conducted on transportation of rabbits under hot, humid tropical conditions experienced in countries like Malaysia. We studied the effects of transportation in hot humid tropical conditions of Malaysia on physiometabolic changes in New Zealand white rabbits. Eighty experimental animals were divided into two groups of 40 bucks each and transported for either 3 or 1 h. Transportation caused a significant upsurge of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase activities (p<0.001) though did not significantly affect lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity (p = 0.0706). Both transportation periods caused elevation in plasma glucose levels, lactic acidosis and dehydration as evidenced through elevated packed cell volume and plasma protein concentration. It was concluded that regardless of the duration, transport of rabbits under hot humid tropical conditions, resulted in heat distress since the rabbits showed hyperglycemia, hypercalcemia, lactacidemia, lymphocytopenia, dehydration and increase in blood enzyme activities.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.484-489
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• 2011

This study examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor, could attenuate toxic effects of three fish anti-parasitic agents, trichlorfon, hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and formalin, all of which are known to exert side effects through free radical production. Common carp Cyprinus carpio were fed with NAC (approx. 50 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days prior to anti-parasite bathing for a 24 hr period. Mortality rates were examined during this 24 hr bathing period, and selected hematological and biochemical parameters were also assessed at the termination of anti-parasite exposure. The mortality rates and plasma glucose elevations caused by all three anti-parasitics were significantly reduced by NAC pretreatment. Trichlorfon, but not $H_2O_2$ or formalin, elevated plasma levels of aspartatetransaminase (AST) and alanine-transaminase (ALT), and these elevations were attenuated by NAC. There was no change in hematocrit values in any treatment. The results provide evidence for the attenuating effects of NAC against toxicity caused by anti-parasite agents that act through free radical-producing properties. The results found in this study also suggest that NAC may be administered to fish to minimize toxicity in fish parasiticide use.

• Mycobiology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2008

Hypoglycemic effects of exo-biopolymers (EBP) produced by submerged mycelial cultures of Coriolus versicolor, Cordyceps sinensis, Paecilomyces japonica, Armillariella mellea, and Fomes fomentarius were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The rats from each experimental group were orally administered with EBPs (100 mg/kg BW) daily for 2 weeks. Though the hypoglycemic effect was achieved in all the cases, however, C. versicolor EBP proved as the most potent one. The administration of the C. versicolor EBP substantially reduced (29.9%) the plasma glucose level as compared to the saline administered group (control). It also reduced the plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by 9.22, 23.83, 16.93, and 27.31%, respectively. The sugar and amino acid compositions of this EBP were also analyzed in detail.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1998

Objectives : To evaluate the relation of onset-age and plasma level of ${\beta}$-endorphin, Ethanol, ${\beta}$-endorphin, cortisol and blood glucose were compared in 48 male alcoholics and 29 normal controls Methods : Alcoholics are divided into two groups by onset-age of alcoholism. Blood samples were obtained before and after 0.75gm/kg of ethanol consumption at the 7th admission day. Results : 1) The ratio of onset-age before 25 years to after 25 years of the patient group was 2 to 3. 2) There was no significant difference in age at admission between two patient groups. 3) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ethanol levels among three groups. 4) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels among three groups. 5) There was no significant difference in change of plasma cortisol level among three groups. 6) There was no significant difference in change of fasting blood sugar level among two patient groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2006

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs on the improvement of blood glucose, lipid peroxides, lipids in the plasma and liver of strpetozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rats in the experimental group were orally administered with combined extract of safflower seed (100 mg, 200 mg/kg B.W.) with herbs (Ophiopogon japonicus Ker-Gaqler, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Mori Folium, Poria cocos, Rehmannia glutinosa, Eriobtrya japonica, Aralia continentalis Kitagawa, Zizyphus jujuba var, Cornus officinalis, Paeonia suffruticosa, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim and Schizandra chinensis Baill) for 4 weeks. Body weight gain and food efficiency ratio were significantly lower in diabetic groups than those of control group. These were no protective effect of the supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs. Concentration of blood glucose was significantly higher in the diabetic groups than those in the control group. Blood glucose concentration was remarkably lower supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed (200 mg/kg B.W.) with herbs. There was no significant difference of plasma lipid peroxides among experimental groups, while liver lipid peroxides of diabetic group was significantly higher in control group. But supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs was induced markedly lower in liver lipid peroxides in diabetic rats. Diabetic groups had markedly higher levels in triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, while had lower HDL-cholesterol level. Triglyceride levels of plasma and liver were significantly lower with combined extract of safflower seed with herbs. But total cholesterol, phospholipid and free fatty acid were no differing significantly among experimental groups.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to assess the zinc and copper status of type 2 diabetic women and to analyse the relation-ship among zinc and copper status, and diabetic control indices of diabetes. The mean age of diabetes was 57.9 years old. The mean duration of diabetes was 8.0 $\pm$ 6.5 years. The mean daily energy intake of diabetes was 1562 kcal. There were no significant differences of age, BMI, %body fat, nutritional intakes, total energy intake, and energy composition from carbohydrate, protein, and fat between diabetes (n = 50) and control group (n = 68). However, both zinc intake density (4.15 mg/1000 kcal) and zinc %RDA (62.0%) of diabetes were significantly lower than control group (p <0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). The plasma zinc level was not significantly different between diabetes and control group (90$\mu$g/dl, 91$\mu$g/dl respectively). The proportion of diabetic women whose plasma zinc levels were lower than 76 $\mu$g/dl(borderline zinc deficiency) was 18.8%. This was about 38% higher than control group. It has been suggested that insulin secretion might decrease in borderline plasma zinc and copper deficiency and increase in normal plasma zinc and copper status. The urinary zinc excretion was twice higher in diabetes than in control group (p < 0.001). The urinary zinc loss was positively correlated with the duration of diabetes (p < 0.05), hyperglycemia (p < 0.001) and insulin resistance (p < 0.05). These results lead us to conclude that normal blood glucose level controlled by diet therapy could improve the hyperzincuria in diabetic women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 1989

The objective of this study was to determine the metabolic effect of exogenous insulin on Sprague-Dawley rats. In a short-term study, the rats were injected insulin and sacrificed at 0.50, 1, 1.5, 2, 4 and 6hr, respectively. Another group of the rats were injected long-acting insulin everyday and sacrificed at 0, 10, 20 and 30days, respectively. Levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma glucose, plasma protein, plasma albmin, plasma lipids, cholesterol were determined for each experimental group. Also microscopic observation of fat infiltration of liver and aorta performed. No significant abnormality was abserved either at the short-term or at the long-term insulin injection on normal rats.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to test if 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) are involved in the osmoregulatory actions in euryhaline starry flounder Platichthys stellatus. We investigated osmoregulatory parameters ($Na^+,\;Cl^-$ and osmolality), blood cortisol and glucose in starry flounder acclimated to seawater (SW, 33 psu) and that were transferred and allowed to acclimate to freshwater (FW, 0 psu). Fish in SW were injected with T3 (5, 10, and $15{\mu}g$/g body weight) or vehicle (0.9% NaCl), and then transferred to FW. They were sampled 3 days after the transfer. With T3 at $10{\mu}g$/g, levels of plasma $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ were significantly higher than in sham (only saline) and control fish (without hormone and saline). Osmolality was significantly higher after injection with T3 at 10 and $15{\mu}g$/g than in the control. However, T3 at $5{\mu}g$/g had no effect on hyper-osmoregulation. In this study, all dose of T3 induced a significant increases in plasma cortisol without glucose. These results suggest a positive hyper-osmoregulatory role of T3 in starry flounder to hypoosmotic environment, maybe a positive interaction of T3 with cortisol for maintenance of hyper-osmoregulatory ability.