• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2012

This study evaluated ecological health, using various biomarkers and bioindicators, of pale chub (Zacco platypus) as a sentinel species, in Daejeon Stream, South Korea, during AprilMay 2011. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared among three sites of control: Reference ($C_z$), transition ($T_z$), and the urban zones ($U_z$); and the 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were more significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. Also, physiological markers such as condition factor, liver somatic index, visceral somatic index, and gonad somatic index were significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. For the health assessments, three categorized parameters of blood chemistry, molecular biomarkers, and physiological bioindicators were standardized and calculated as a star-plot, representing values of Integrated Health Response (IHR). Values of IHR had more significant (P<0.05) increases in the $U_z$ than any other zones, indicating an impairment of ecological health by organic matter, nutrients (N, P), and toxic chemicals. This study is based on low levels of biological organization approach of molecular and physiological biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study of high-levels of biological organization approach such as community and population is required for overall range of health assessments. The approach of IHR values, however, may be useful in providing early warning of future impacts on ecological health.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.793-800
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• 2013

This study was conducted to determine the physiological and histological characteristics of starry flounder Platichthys stellatus juveniles to undergo a short/long starvation period and subsequent re-feeding with 2 weeks interval for 65 days. All findings from this study indicate the possibility of a very rapid recovery possibility of starry flounder after short starvation period for 2 or 4 weeks. The mean body weight after 2 and 4 weeks starvation were not significantly different after 65 days. However, the body weight of 6 and 8 weeks starved fishes showed significantly low value than 2 weeks starved fishes. All biomarkers, liver somatic index, RNA/DNA ratio and blood chemistry, in this study showed fast recovery possibility after re-feeding of starry flounder. During the starvation and recovery process, they showed distinct increasing and decreasing tendency. From 21-28 days after re-feeding, most biomarkers reached to their maximum value and thereafter decreased again in 2, 4 and 6 weeks starvation and re-feeding groups. It could be interpreted as a compensatory growth and strategical action against starvation.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2006

The gossypol existed in cottonseed meal is a well known antispermatogenic agent which can impair reproductive performances of male fish as well as mammals. Two feeding experiments were conducted to examine a toxic effect of dietary supplementation of cottonseed meal on reproduction in juvenile olive flounder (the first experiment) for 19 weeks and growing olive flounder (the second experiment) for 26 weeks. After each feeding study, females and males were sampled for histological examination in gonads and liver to verify any negative effects by the dietary supplementation of cottonseed and soybean meal on reproduction. After two feeding trial, the gonad somatic index (GSI) of male and female (from the first feeding trial) were not significantly different among all the dietary treatments. The GSI values of female (from the second feeding trial) were not significantly different among all the dietary treatments. However, males fed cottonseed and soybean meal containing diets exhibited significantly lower GSI than that fed the control diet after the second feeding trial. Histological examination of gonads and liver of fish fed cottonseed and soybean meal did not show any negative effects compared to those of fish ffd the control diet. Hepatosomatic index of fish in the first and second feeding trials were not significantly different among all the dietary treatments. The findings in this study suggest that dietary supplementation of cottonseed and soybean meal up to 40% fish meal replacement might not deteriorate the gametogenesis of juvenile and growing olive flounder. However, the supplementation in diets over 30% fish meal replacement might reduce GSI of male in growing olive flounder.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.458-465
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• 2008

The nutritional contribution of mideodeok extracts (ME) on rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) feed and fish muscle was investigated. Different concentrations of the ME mixed with commercial diet were fed to mature rockfish for 8 weeks. The lipid and ash contents of the formulated diets were relatively similar to the control diet, while increasing the extract concentration increased the moisture content and decreased the protein contents. Major fatty acid components (C18:1n-9, 16:0, C20:5n-3, C22:6n-3) were of comparable quantity. High presence of C18:2n-6 was attributed to soybean oil incorporated in the diets, while the essential fatty acids were within limits (0.9-1.0%). The diet fortified with 6% ME produced the highest feed efficiency, with increased protein content in the muscle as well as lipid content for both muscle and liver. Hepato- and visceral-somatic index values were elevated with increasing ME concentration Muscle fatty acid contents were mostly C18:1n-9 and C16:0, with low absorption of C18:2n-6 in both the muscle and liver. Total highly unsaturated fatty acid content was significantly reduced in the fish muscle, but the values were higher for fish fed with a ME-fortified diet. An increasing trend for eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid was also observed with increased ME fortification, with liver levels of these compounds remaining within range throughout the duration of the experiment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1557-1565
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• 2010

Methyl paraben (MP), which is used as a preservative in pharmaceutical and cosmetic (shampoo) products, foods and beverages, enters into the aquatic environment and can pose a potential fish health hazard. In this experiment, effects of MP were evaluated in adult male common carp (Cyprinus carpio) by exposing them to fractions (1/$143^{rd}$ to 1/29th) of the $LC_{50}$ dose with every change of water for 28 days. Vitellogenin induction, metabolic enzymes, somatic indices and bioaccumulation were studied at weekly intervals. The $96^{th}$ h $LC_{50}$ of MP in fingerlings was 120 mg/L. Compared to the control, except for increases (p<0.01) in alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) and liver size, there were decreases (p<0.01) in activity of acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), and testiculosomatic index following exposure to any dose of MP. Vitellogenin induction was significantly higher (p<0.01) in exposed than unexposed (control) fish. The bioaccumulation of MP in testis, liver, brain, gills and muscle tissues of fish increased significantly (p<0.01) with increase of dose from 0.84 ppm to 1.68 ppm. Dose and duration of exposure (p<0.01) indicated that an exposure period of 1 to 2 weeks was sufficient to cause changes in the quantifiable parameters studied. Fish exposed to 4.2 ppm MP became lethargic after the $26^{th}$ d. Histologically, degeneration, vacuolization and focal necrotic changes in liver and fibrosis-like changes in testicular tissue were noted.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2018

Tenofovir nanoparticles are novel therapeutic intervention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reaching the virus in their sanctuary sites. However, there has been no systemic toxicity testing of this formulation despite global concerns on the safety of nano drugs. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the toxicity of Tenofovir nanoparticle (NTDF) on the liver and kidney using an animal model. Fifteen adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats maintained at the animal house of the biomedical resources unit of the University of KwaZulu-Natal were weighed and divided into three groups. Control animals (A) were administered with normal saline (NS). The therapeutic doses of Tenofovir (TDF) and nanoparticles of Tenofovir (NTDF) were administered to group B and C and observed for signs of stress for four weeks after which animals were weighed and sacrificed. Liver and kidney were removed and fixed in formal saline, processed and stained using H/E, PAS and MT stains for light microscopy. Serum was obtained for renal function test (RFT) and liver function test (LFT). Cellular measurements and capturing were done using ImageJ and Leica software 2.0. Data were analysed using graph pad 6, p values < 0.05 were significant. We observed no signs of behavioural toxicity and no mortality during this study, however, in the kidneys, we reported mild morphological perturbations widening of Bowman's space, and vacuolations in glomerulus and tubules of TDF and NTDF animals. Also, there was a significant elevation of glycogen deposition in NTDF and TDF animals when compared with control. In the liver, there were mild histological changes with widening of sinusoidal spaces, vacuolations in hepatocytes and elevation of glycogen deposition in TDF and NTDF administered animals. In addition to this, there were no significant differences in stereological measurements and cell count, LFT, RFT, weight changes and organo-somatic index between treatment groups and control. In conclusion, NTDF and TDF in therapeutic doses can lead to mild hepatic and renal histological damage. Further studies are needed to understand the precise genetic mechanism.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.61-70
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• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this survey is to know the rehabilitation therapists' awareness on the oriental medicine treatments for developmentally delayed children. Methods We distributed questionnaires to 370 rehabilitation therapists and collected 260 of them. We analyzed the data from the collected 260 questionnaires. Results 1. 60% of the participants didn't know what the oriental medicine treatment pertains. 2. 28% of the participants were aware the benefits of the oriental medicine treatment, especially in improving physical fitness and general health. 3. 30% of the participants worried about the side effect of the oriental medicine treatment such as increasing liver somatic index, changing of body weight, muscle stiffness or pain. 4. 53% of the participants said they refer to western medicine primary care doctor when parents of young patients ask rehabilitation therapists about the oriental medicine treatment option for their children. 5. Many participants think that the oriental treatment option should be widely recognized and understood. Conclusions This study shows that the rehabilitation therapists' low awareness about the oriental medicine treatment option for developmentally delayed children.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.323-331
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• 1996

Predetermination of sex in mammalian species has many aspects of application including the prenatal diagnoses of genetic disorders in humans and sex-selected breeding programs in the animal industry. Embryos sexing can be carried out using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify specific sequences present in the sex chromosomes, or by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of specific probes to the X and Y chromosomes. A 3.3 kb porcine male-specific DNA fragment (pEM39) was cloned previously in our laboratory. In this study, FISH and PCR methods were employed to examine if the pEM39 can be used a sex-specific DNA probes Porcine ovaries were obtained from a local slaughter house and oocytes collected. All oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturation followed by 1n vitro fertilization. Parthenogenetically activated embryos were served as a negative control. Embryonic samples were collected at the 2-cell stages and PCR was performed to analyze DNA. Among 10 embryos examined, four embryos were identified as males and six were females. The cloned male-specific DNA fragment showed male-specificity for the cells in the liver tissue and the porcine early embryos by FISH. It was also demonstrated that the cloned male-specific DNA is localized on the hetero chromatic region of the long arm in the Y chrom-osome (Yq) as shown by the FISH and karyotyping. The results suggest that the cloned male-specific DNA fragment may be useful for predetermination of sex with a few embryonic cells. The porcine male-specific sequence can be a reliable index for embryo sexing by PCR.