Alcohol abuse and its medical and social consequences are a major health problem in many areas of the world. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used for the treatment of liver disease. This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of KRG against hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with ethanol (EtOH). Administration of EtOH for 20 days induced significant changes in serum biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and glucose) accompanied by histological changes in the liver tissue. Treatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH inhibited the EtOH-induced biochemical and histological changes of the liver. In perfused rat livers, administration of EtOH caused an increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the perfusate and activated the pro-apoptotic Bax protein but inhibited the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Pretreatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH decreased the EtOH-induced LDH release and inhibition of Bcl-2 protein. These results suggest that KRG exerts anti-apoptotic effects and alleviated EtOH-induced liver injury in rats.

Barium suspension, oral iodine contrast medium and water were applied in eight dogs to evaluate (1) distension of gastrointestinal tract, (2) the effect of the oral contrast media on the identification of the pancreas from surrounding organs, and (3) image quality and the presence of artifacts in canine pancreas computed tomography (CT) images. Oral iodine contrast medium, gastrografin, produced significant artifacts that deteriorated the CT images of the pancreas. The use of water did not provide the fullness of the gastrointestinal lumens. Barium suspension was effective for the identification of the pancreas from the surrounding gastrointestinal tract, without significantly increasing image noise. Barium suspension can be used as an optimal contrast medium that will not cause an adverse effect on the pancreatic density and image quality.

Glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone) has been shown to be effective in preventing and suppressing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been recently shown that GA-reactive T cells migrate through the blood-brain barrier, accumulate in the central nervous system (CNS), secrete antiinflammatory cytokines and suppress production of proinflammatory cytokines of EAE and MS. Development of EAE requires coordinated expression of a number of genes involved in the activation and effector functions of inflammatory cells. Activation of inflammatory cells is regulated at the transcriptional level by several families of transcription factors. One of these is the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) family which is present in a variety of cell types and involved in the activation of immune-relative genes during inflammatory process. Since it is highly activated at site of inflammation, NFκB activation is also implicated in the pathogenesis of EAE. In this study, we examined whether the inhibition of NFκB activation induced by GA can have suppressive therapeutic effects in EAE mice. We observed the expression of NFκB and phospho-IκB proteins increased in GA-treated EAE mice compared to EAE control groups. The immunoreactivity in inflammatory cells and glial cells of NFκB and phospho-IκB significantly decreased at the GA-treated EAE mice. These results suggest that treatment of GA in EAE inhibits the activation of NFκB and phophorylation of IκB in the CNS. Subsequently, the inhibition of NFκB activation and IκB phosphorylation leads to the anti-inflammatory effects thereby to reduce the progression and severity of EAE.

This study was undertaken to assess the lateral ventricle, which was some portion of brain and related to congenital anomalies, from 1, 2, 4, and 8 months of age in healthy micropigs. They were induced general anesthesia and performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a 0.3 Tesla magnet. Each age group was evaluated by three subjects such as lateral ventricular volume, ventricular volume ratio and asymmetry. T1 weighted transverse images were acquired for calculation of lateral ventricular and corresponding brain parenchyma areas. The ratio of bilateral ventricle areas used to analyze the asymmetry. The mean ventricular volumes of each month were 676.74 ± 25.58 ㎣ (1 month-old), 630.64 ± 143.84 ㎣ (2 month-old), 992.12 ± 106.03 ㎣ (4 month-old) and 1172.62 ± 237.57 ㎣ (8 month-old), respectively. The ventricular volume ratio was the smallest at 2 month-old and re-increased from that age. The ratio was significantly different between 2 month-old and other age groups (p less than 0.05). The value of bilateral area ratio showed within 1.5 in all experimental animals. Consequently the lateral ventricle showed a positive correlation with aging and symmetric shapes in both sides. The developmental pattern of the lateral ventricle provides basic data in micropigs as an experimental animal model for physiological and neurosurgical approach.

In this study, we investigated the kinetics of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) concentrations in a 48-h model of canine endotoxemia by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Four healthy beagles were slowly administered 1 mg/kg of LPS diluted in normal saline, while two others were administered normal saline as controls. Blood collection was performed at 0 h (baseline), 1 h and 3 h (for TNF-α), 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h of the experiment, and cytokine levels were determined using the sandwich ELISA method. Early increments of TNF-α and IL-6 were observed (less than 3 h), but HMGB1 levels increased the most at 12 h of the experiment and gradually decreased until 48 h. During the whole experiment, IL-6 and HMGB1 were sustained over 12 h of LPS injection, whereas TNF-α decreased within 6 h of LPS injection. Taken together, canine HMGB1 levels increase relatively late (less than 12 h) and sustained longer than TNF-α and IL-6 in response to endotoxin. This is the first study to evaluate canine HMGB1 cytokine from endotoxemia in dogs.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens worldwide and the emergence of this strain has become a major clinical problem. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of MRSA and their genetic characteristics in 69 S. aureus isolated from humans and animals. In human isolates, higher antimicrobial resistance rates were observed against penicillin (80.6%), followed by erythromycin (11.9%) and tetracycline (9.0%). All of them were susceptible to clindamycin, enrofloxacin, novobiocin, pirlimycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin. The resistance patterns in animal isolates were similar to those of human isolates. Two (2.9%) MRSA strains were isolated from human (n = 1) and animal (n = 1), and these isolates were confirmed as carrying the mecA gene. One isolate originating from human was resistant to 7 drugs and the other isolate derived from animal was resistant to 11 drugs. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) variant IIIB was identified in animal isolate but SCCmec type of an isolate from human was not exactly determined. Two MRSA isolates showed unrelated PFGE pattern between them. Our results indicated although the frequency of MRSA isolates from humans and animals was low, a continuous surveillance and monitoring should be called for to prevent the contamination and spread of MRSA in the community. To our knowledge, this is the first time that SCCmec type variant IIIB was detected from animals in Korea.

Awareness effect of aquapuncture with dexamethasone on GV-26 was studied in tiletamine/zolazapam anesthetized six healthy crossbred dogs using a randomized cross-over experimental study design. After anesthesia by tiletamine/zolazapam, 0.1 mg dexamethasone was injected on GV-26 at 20 min in the experimental group. For the control group, 0.1 mg dexamethasone was injected on the quadriceps femoralis. A significant difference was evident in the sedation score between groups at 60 and 90 min (p less than 0.05). A significant difference was also evident in the analgesia score at 50 and 60 min (p less than 0.05). At 90 min, all dogs in the experimental group responded strongly to pain (p less than 0.01). Head up time, sternal recumbent time, standing time, and walking time was shorter in the experimental group, but the difference from the control group was statistically significant only for head up time and walking time (p less than 0.05). GV-26 acupuncture with dexamethasone is useful for awareness effects after anesthesia.

Dogs are considered to be the best companions of human beings due to their loyalty, obedience and pleasant disposition. Jejunum is the largest part of small intestine mainly involved in absorption of nutrients. Jejunal resection up to 80% allows normal weight gain while resection up to 90% increased morbidity and mortality. In the present study, 20 dogs were divided into 4 groups based on the degree of jejunal resection i.e. A (70% resection), B (80% resection) and C (100% resection) while group D served as control. Dogs in the 70% and 80% jejunal resection group showed normal growth and function while 100% jejunal resection resulted in weight loss and alteration of hematological and biochemical parameters.

peer reviewed

The therapeutic efficacy of two formulations, one containing garlic and other lead carbonate and acetate, camphor, neem and eucalyptus oils were assessed in 18 and 29 clinical cases of dermatological disorders in dogs, respectively. None of the preparation showed satisfactory results against mange infestation. Both the preparations were almost equally effective in cases of fungal and non-specific dermatitis.