• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-109
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• 2006

Objectives : There has been a considerable debate about how to best control for placebo effects in clinical trials of acupuncture. Recently several sham needles were developed and validated. This study aimed at summarising the validation studies of these needles and evaluating the outcomes of the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using them. Methods : Computerised literature searches were performed using 'acupuncture' AND 'placebo OR sham' with a limitation of the results to RCTs in Medline via PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Only formally validated sham needle controlled studies were included. Data were extracted regarding study design, condition, sample size, credibility testing, intervention and outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Jadad scale. Results : Three validated sham needles by Streitberger, Park, and Fink, were identified. Acupuncture's effectiveness for various conditions was tested using these needles in 12 RCTs. Real acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture for rotator cuff tendonitis and hypertension. No significant differences between real acupuncture and sham acupuncture emerged for chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, postoperative nausea and vomiting, menstrually related migraine, acute stroke rehabilitation, chronic/episodic tension-type headache, neutrophil respiratory burst in healthy volunteers, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and chronic poststroke leg spasticity. Conclusions : The new sham devices have been adequately validated and may be useful tools for investigating specific research question. In spite of the sham needle's limits, the results of RCTs using such devices tend to suggest that the clinical effects of acupuncture are largely due to a placebo response.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.507-512
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• 1996

The NADPH oxidase of phagocytes catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to $O_{2}^{-}$ at the expense of NADPH The enzyme is dormant in resting neutrophils and hecomes activated on stimulation. During activation. $p47^{phox}$ (phagocyte oxidase factor), a cytosolic oxidase subunit, becomes extensively phosphorylated on a number of serines located between S303-S379. Although the biochemical role of phosphorylation is speculative, it has been suggested that phosphorylation could neutralize the strongly cationic C-terminal which may result in the change of conformation of $p47^{phox}$ and subsequent translocation of this protein and other cytosolic components to the membrane. In order to mimic the effect of phosphorylation in terms of neutralizing the positive charges, recombinant $p47^{phox}$ was treated with phenylglyoxal, which removes positive charges of arginine residues. Modification of recombinant $p47^{phox}$ resulted in the activation of oxidase in a cell-free translocation system as well as a conformational change in recombinant $p47^{phox}$ which may be responsible for the activation of the enzyme.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1352-1358
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• 2012

In acute lung injury (ALI) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the underlying cause of infiltration and migration of neutrophils into the alveoli is considered to be from increased production of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the pulmonary surfactant lining the alveolar lumen. In this study I partially confirmed this concept. LPS increased lung leak and the infiltration of neutrophils in the lung of rats given LPS intratracheally. The migration of neutrophils into the lung, which had caused oxidative stress, was also morphologically identified. I verified that the metabolism of the pulmonary surfactant was affected and that there was increased production of PAF in the pulmonary surfactant, both of which are considered to contribute to ALI by LPS in rats.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2000

The immunostimulatory effects of quaternary ammonium compounds(QACs) were investigated in leucocytes of eel(Anguilla japonica) in vitro. Proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs) was no significantly affected by QACs, regardless of mitogen(PHA, ConA and LPS) and the concentration of QACs added. QACs heightened the leucocytes function such as respiratory burst activity, phagocytosis and pinocytosis, resulting in significantly increased the bactericidal activity of macrophages. These results suggested that QAC might modulate the immune responses by activation of leucocytes function but not by increment of immunocompetent cell numbers.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.16.1-16.14
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• 2019

Two dietary experiments were performed to evaluate the impact of the herb Mentha piperita as a dietary supplement on Catla catla. In Experiment 1, fingerlings (0.45-2.60 g) were fed on diets supplemented with M. piperita at different levels (P1, P2, P3, and P4 at 2, 4, 6, and $8g\;Kg^{-1}$ of feed) and C1 served as the control with no peppermint supplementation. In Experiment 2, fingerlings (0.40-3.15 g) were fed with diets containing autochthonous probiotic bacteria Bacillus coagulans (3000 colony forming unit $g^{-1}$) along with M. piperita (PP1-PP4 at 2, 4, 6, and $8g\;Kg^{-1}$ of feed) and feed C2 served as control containing probiotics but no peppermint. Significantly (P < 0.05) high values of growth parameters, digestive enzyme activities, low reed conservation ratio, low excretion of ammonia, and orthophosphates were observed in fingerlings fed with P3 for Experiment 1 and PP3 for Experiment 2. Hematological counts, phagocytic activity, and respiratory burst activity were also enhanced in fingerlings fed with M. piperita supplementation revealing that dietary administration of peppermint at optimum level can enhance the growth, digestibility, and immunity of C. catla fingerlings; however, incorporation of B. coagulans showed better growth and immunity revealing that synergistic effects of M. piperita and autochthonous probiotic in C. catla diets can lead to its sustainable aquaculture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.343-349
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• 2002

background: In an attempt to investigate the role of oxidants in the activation of phospholipase $A_2$(PLA$_2$) and endogenous oxidative stress in the lung. acute inflammatory lung injury was induced by the instillation of hydrogen peroxide into the trachea of Sprague-Dawley rats. Material and Method: To prove the hypothesis thats released oxidants from neutrophils activate the PLA$_2$ retrogradely, activities of PLA$_2$ and lysoplatelet activating factor acetyltransferase(lysoPAF AT) were assayed i hours after instillation of hydrogen peroxide. In addition, to confirm the impairing effects of the activation of PLA$_2$ associated with endogenous oxidative stress, lung weight/body weight ratio(L$\times$10$^{-3}$ B), protein contents(mg/two lungs) in bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) were measured. As neutrophilic respiratory burst has been known to play a pivotal role in the genesis of endogenous oxidative stress associated with acute inflammatory lung injury, BAL neutrophils counts and level of lung myelperoxidase(MPO) were measured after hydorgen peroxide insult. Morphological and histochemical studies were also performed to identify the effect of the endogenous oxidative stress. Result: Five hours after hydrogen peroxide instillation, lungs showed marked infiltration of neutrophils and increased weight. Protein contents in BAL increased significantly compared to those of normal rats. PLA$_2$ activity was enhanced in the hydrogen peroxide instilled group. Interestingly, the accelerated production of platelet activating factor(PAF) was confirmed by the increased activity of lysoPAF AT in the $H_2O$$_2$ employed lung. Morphologically, light microscopic findings of lungs after instillation of hydrogen peroxide showed atelectasis and infiltration of inflammatory cells, which was thought to be caused by lipid mediators produced by PLA$_2$ activation. In cerium chloride cytochemical electron microscopy, dense deposits of cerrous perhydroxide were identified. In contrast, no deposit of cerrous perhydroxide was found in the normal lung.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.925-935
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• 1996

Background : In order to elucidate one of the pathogenic mechanisms of ARDS associated with pulmonary surfactant and oxidant injury, acute lung injury was induced by N-nitroso N-methylurethane (NNNMU). In this model, the role of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), surfactant, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and morphology were investigated to delineate one of the pathogenic mechanisms of ARDS by inhibition of $PLA_2$ with high dose of dexamethasone. Method: Acute lung injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by NNNMU which is known to induce acute lung injury in experimental animals. To know the function of the alveolar type II cells, GGT activity in the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage was measured. Surfactant phospholipid was measured also. $PLA_2$ activity was measured to know the role of $PLA_2$ in ARDS. Morphological study was performed to know the effect of $PLA_2$ inhibition on the ultrastructure of the lung by high dose of dexamethasone. Results : Six days after NNNMU treatment (4 mg/kg), conspicuous pulmonary edema was induced and the secretion of pulmonary surfactant was decreased significantly. In the acutely injured rats' lung massive infiltration of leukocytes was observed. At the same time rats given NNNMU had increased $PLA_2$ and GGT activity tremendously. Morphological study revealed bizarre shaped alveolar type II cells and hypertrophied lamellar bodies in the cytoplasm of the alveolar type II cells. But after dexamethasone treatment (20 mg/kg, for six days) in NNNMU-treated rats, these changes were diminished i.e. there were decrease of pulmonary edema and increase of surfactant secretion from alveolar type D cells. Rats given dexamethasone and NNNMU had decreased $PLA_2$ and GGT activity in comparison to NNNMU induced ARDS rats. Conclusion : Inhibition of $PLA_2$ by high dose of dexamethasone decreased pathological findings caused by infiltration of leukocytes and respiratory burst. Based on these experimental results, it is suggested that an activation of $PLA_2$ is the one of the major factors to evoke the acute lung injury in NNNMU-induced ARDS rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2003

As is well known that N-nitroso-N-methylurethane (NNNMU) causes acute lung injury (ALI) in experimental animals. And ALI caused by NNNMU is very similar to ARDS in human being in its pathology and progress. In its context, we investigated the pathogenetic mechanism of ARDS associated with oxidative stress by neutrophils in Sprague-Dawley rat model of NNNMU-induced ALI. NNNMU had increased lung weight/body weight ratio (L/B ratio), lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, protein content and number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) compared with those of control rat (p<0.001, respectively). In contrast, the amount of pulmonary surfactant in BALF was decreased by NNNMU (p<0.001). Morphologically, light microscopic examination denoted pathological findings such as formation of hyaline membrane, infiltration of neutrophils and perivascular cuffing in the lungs of NNNMU-treated rats. In addition, ultrastructural changes such as the necrosis of endothelial cells, swelling and vacuolization of lamellar bodies of alveolar type II cells, and the degeneration of pulmonary surfactant were identified after treatment of NNNMU. Very interestingly, cerium chloride electron microscopic cytochemistry showed that NNNMU had increased the production of cerrous-peroxide granules in the lung, which signified the increased production of hydrogen peroxide in the lung. Collectively, we conclude that NNNMU causes acute lung leak by the mechanism of neutrophilic oxidative stress of the lung.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1609-1616
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• 2005

Ninety advanced Catla catla fingerlings (av. wt. 16 g) were randomly distributed in six treatment groups with three replicates each for an experimental period of 60 days to study the effect of dietary lipid source on growth, enzyme activities and immuno-hematological parameters. Six isoprotein (40.0-41.9%) and isocaloric (4,260 kcal $kg^{-1}$) semi-purified diets were prepared with varying levels of soybean oil (SBO) and cod liver oil (CLO) within a total of 8% lipid viz., $D_1$ (Control), $D_2$ (8% SBO), $D_3$ (6% SBO and 2% CLO), $D_4$ (4% SBO and 4% CLO), $D_5$ (2% SBO and 6% CLO) and $D_6$ (8% CLO). Highest SGR was noted in $D_5$ (0.73${\pm}$0.03) group, which was similar with $D_3$ (0.71${\pm}$0.02) and $D_4$ (0.69${\pm}$0.01) groups. Activity of intestinal lipase, hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) of the lipid treatment groups were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the control group. The respiratory burst activity of the phagocytes (Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)) was highest in $D_2$ (1.95${\pm}$0.21) followed by $D_3$ (1.19${\pm}$0.15) group, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the other groups. Globulin level was significantly higher in $D_3$ (1.29${\pm}$0.08) than in the other groups expect $D_4$. Hemoglobin content and total erythrocyte count did not show any significant difference. From this study, it is concluded that a diet containing 6% soybean oil and 2% cod liver oil ($D_3$) yields higher growth and immune response in Catla catla fingerlings and would be cost effective.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1433-1442
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• 2018

To identify and quantify the effects of a combination of dietary $1{\times}10^8CFU/g$ Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis I2 ($LI_2$) and 0.1% ${\beta}$-glucooligosaccharides (BGO) on the growth and immunity of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), a feeding experiment was conducted. Flounder ($14{\pm}0.5g$) were divided into two groups and fed control and synbiotic feeds for 8 weeks. Investigations were carried out on growth and feed utilization, innate immunity, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal lactic acid bacterial (LAB) viability, microvillus length, and changes in the expression levels of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor $[TNF]-{\alpha}$, interleukin $[IL]-1{\beta}$, and IL-6). Results demonstrated the synbiotic diet had significantly better (p < 0.05) responses in terms of weight gain and specific growth rate, three innate immune parameters (respiratory burst, serum lysozyme, and superoxide dismutase), intestinal LAB viability, and the relative $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression level (p < 0.05). Moreover, after challenge with Streptococcus iniae ($1{\times}10^8CFU/ml$), the synbiotically fed group exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) protection against streptococcosis, validating the observed changes in immune parameters and induction of the cytokine-encoding gene. Therefore, according to the results of the present study, synbiotic feed ($LI_2+BGO$) increased growth, modulated innate immune parameters and protected olive flounder against streptococcosis.