, 2010, Brodie et al , 2012b, Kroon et al , 2012 and Lewis et al

, 2010, Brodie et al., 2012b, Kroon et al., 2012 and Lewis et al., 2009), representing an alternative transport pathway to the dissolved fraction. Glyphosate is not generally considered in most marine monitoring programs Ulixertinib molecular weight despite it being one of the most widely used herbicides in

GBR catchments and globally. Recent work has also reported that surfactants and wetting agents in commercial glyphosate formulations are themselves more toxic or increase the bioavailability and toxicity of glyphosate to non-target species (Pérez et al., 2012 and Stachowski-Haberkorn et al., 2008). It is possible that the persistence of glyphosate may be affected by the toxicity of formulation surfactants if they influence microbial populations or alter the partitioning of the herbicide between water and particulates. However, the relevance of testing persistence in the presence of formulation surfactants

is unknown as data on co-occurrence with glyphosate in the field is lacking. The long persistence of glyphosate in these flask experiments indicates that little degradation is likely during flood events which may deliver dissolved and sediment-bound herbicide far into click here the GBR lagoon. Further work is therefore needed to improve the monitoring and identify the fate of glyphosate for water quality risk assessments in marine ecosystems of high conservation value such as the GBR. This research was conducted with the support of funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program. “
“Hypertension is common in older people, approximately 80% of those older than 80 are hypertensive,1 and even at these ages, hypertension remains a risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. A number of trials of antihypertensive medication, including the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET),2 the Systolic Hypertension in Europe Study (Syst-Eur),3 the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP),4 and the

Study on Cognition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE),5 demonstrated that antihypertensives can bring benefits in the oldest old. However, the average trial patient bears little resemblance to Non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase the many very old people who live in care homes, who are often cognitively and physically impaired because of multiple comorbidities, who are exposed to multiple medications,6 and where chronic disease management is often suboptimal.7 Although terminology describing long term care facilities varies from country to country,8 in the United Kingdom, the term “care home” describes institutions that provide “accommodation, together with nursing or personal care, for persons who are or have been ill, who have or have had a mental disorder, who are disabled or infirm, or are or have been dependent on alcohol or drugs.

2g) The mean Zn concentration for the study period was 186 2 ± 1

2g). The mean Zn concentration for the study period was 186.2 ± 125.6 μg/g with the highest value being 1625.6 μg/g. Inter-annual Zn concentrations were highly variable and significantly different (p < 0.001) ( Fig. 2g). Spring Zn concentrations were significantly higher than autumn (p > 0.05) ( Fig. 3g). The effects of pollutants (including metals) on living organisms RAD001 in vivo can be evaluated at different

levels of organization (molecular, cellular, individual, population and community) (Viarengo and Canesi, 1991). Good interpretation of the data can be obtained by studying the effects of pollutants in individuals, with the aim of understanding and eventually predicting the possible consequences at higher levels (Bayne, 1986). The Mussel Watch check details Programme (MWP) was established to monitor the concentrations of pollutants (metals in the case of South Africa). The results of this investigation indicated

that the levels of metals in mussels for the western coastline of the Cape Peninsula were approximately the same for the MWP sites sampled (Table 2). For all data combined, the mean order of decreasing metal concentrations were: Zn > Fe > Cd* > Cu > Pb* > Mn > Hg* (*indicates non-essential metals). The order of concentrations was similar to that reported by Watling and Watling (1976) and it is in this order that the metals will be discussed. According to Eisler (1981), the highest concentrations of Zn in the marine environment are found in filter-feeding molluscs. The relatively high Zn concentrations recorded in mussels during the MWP therefore supports this as the Zn concentrations were significantly higher than the other metals recorded (p < 0.001). The source of Zn may be from anthropogenic sources although this is unlikely to be the case at site 1 as this

site is far (>10 km) from major sources of anthropogenic Zn. According to Moore (1981), however, Zn uptake is mainly from prey rather than from sea water. The high levels of Zn were therefore more likely to be from zoo- and phytoplankton sources as the continental shelf is very narrow in this area ( Shannon, 1985). The mean levels of Zn detected at site 1 (134.2 μg/g) were below the maximum limits allowed in foodstuff as PIK3C2G set by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) of 300 μg/g ( South Africa, 1994). What is of concern though is that for site 1, the maximum levels recorded exceed the SABS maximum limit (1625 μg/g was recorded in 1999). Furthermore, there are no local comparative studies to illustrate whether the current Zn values are higher than normal. However, median Zn values recorded along the Cape Peninsula (131 μg/g) is similar to the median World MWP value (130 μg/g) ( Cantillo, 1998). According to Cantillo (1998), Zn concentrations above 200 μg/g are indicative of contamination. Zinc values higher than 200 μg/g accounted for 21% of the Zn values at site 1. The Zn values are higher than that of Henry et al.

In an exploratory, multivariable logistic regression analysis

In an exploratory, multivariable logistic regression analysis

(n = 731), baseline factors significantly associated with the development of anemia (as reported by the investigator) during treatment with TVR were low baseline hemoglobin level, high dose of RBV, age, and cirrhosis (P < .05). There was no effect of treatment arm on overall occurrence of anemia (P = .9194) and the effects of prognostic factors were similar between the TVR groups, with the exception that the effect of cirrhosis on anemia was not observed with TVR twice daily. It should be noted that the study was not designed or powered to identify factors associated with the development of anemia per Enzalutamide mouse se. The dose of RBV was reduced in 23% of patients treated with TVR twice daily and in 25% of patients treated every 8 hours at a median of 9 weeks from initiation of TVR. Temporary discontinuations

of RBV due to anemia occurred in 14% of patients treated with TVR twice daily and in 9% of patients treated every 8 hours. Blood transfusions and/or erythropoietin-stimulating agents were received by 17% of those treated with TVR twice daily (blood transfusions, 8.4%; erythropoietin-stimulating agents, 10.6%) and 13.5% of those treated every 8 hours (blood transfusions, 8.6%; erythropoietin-stimulating agents, 7.8%) during the overall treatment phase (P > .05). Anemia events leading to permanent discontinuation of TVR occurred find more in 5% of patients treated with TVR twice daily and every 8 hours. Increases Tenofovir in creatinine levels occurred in 6.8% of patients during the TVR treatment phase. All but one of these abnormalities was grade 1 or 2 in severity. One patient treated with TVR every 8 hours had a grade 3 increase in creatinine level and renal failure (grade 3 AE). Hyperuricemia was reported as a grade 3/4 AE for 5 patients treated with TVR every 8 hours and for 7 patients treated with TVR twice daily. Any other changes in creatinine levels were small. In a post hoc exploratory

analysis, 41 of 365 patients (11.2%) treated with TVR twice daily and 40 of 368 patients (10.9%) treated every 8 hours had a glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 during therapy. Infections occurred in a similar proportion of patients in each treatment arm: 68 (18.3%) and 64 (17.3%) patients treated with TVR every 8 hours and twice daily, respectively. No grade 3/4 infections were reported. Electrocardiogram parameters were generally similar between those treated with TVR twice daily and every 8 hours. None of the patients had a QTcF value >500 milliseconds or an increase from baseline >60 milliseconds. A total of 402 patients provided sparse plasma samples: 203 treated with TVR twice daily and 199 treated with TVR every 8 hours.

, 2004) Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic from contaminated

, 2004). Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic from contaminated water is responsible for various adverse health effects such as developing tumours of the lung, skin, liver, bladder and kidney. Skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy and anemia are hallmarks of chronic arsenic exposure. Arsenic is also a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis. While cardiovascular disorders following oral exposure to arsenic are well documented, there is some evidence from epidemiological trials that also inhaled inorganic arsenic can affect the cardiovascular system (Das et al., 2010). A systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence

on the association between arsenic and cardiovascular SP600125 purchase outcomes in Taiwan has been performed (Tseng, 2008). In addition, the estimation of relative risks for coronary disease, for stroke, and for peripheral arterial disease has been conducted. Methodological constraints, however, limited interpretation of the moderate-to-strong associations between Nintedanib concentration high arsenic exposure and cardiovascular outcomes in Taiwan. Such studies of arsenic and cardiovascular outcomes should be a research priority. An interesting association between intellectual deficiencies in children and exposure to arsenic has been found (Wang et al., 2007). Adolescents from various regions of

Taiwan and China exposed to low (0.0017–0.0018 mg As/kg/day) levels of inorganic arsenic in the drinking water showed decreased performance in the switching attention task, while children in the high exposure group (0.0034–0.0042 mg As/kg/day) showed decreased performance in both the switching attention task and in tests of pattern memory, relative to unexposed controls. Neurological effects have also been confirmed in animal studies. Changes in levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine were noted in rats exposed to sodium arsenite C59 price in drinking water over a period of 16 weeks (Kannan et al., 2001).

There is a positive health effect of arsenic trioxide used in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML), the most common type of acute leukemia (Wang and Chen, 2008 and Wetzler et al., 2007). AML is a fast-growing cancer in which the bone marrow produces abnormal myeloblasts, which would normally develop into white blood cells that fight infection. AML is the most malignant form of acute leukemia with a severe bleeding tendency and a fatal prognosis. For more than two and half decades therapeutic applications of arsenic in the treatment of this type of leukemia have been investigated. An effort is now made to characterize the underlying mechanisms of arsenic trioxide action and its interactions with different proteins to enhance its therapeutic potential (Ferrara, 2010). The most common and most stable oxidation number of zinc is +2 [Zn(II)]. Zinc is a ubiquitous trace element found in plants and animals. The adult human body contains approximately 1.5–2.5 g of zinc, present in all organs, tissues, fluids and secretions.

Mulder et al3 and Ishioka et al4 initially described diverticulot

Mulder et al3 and Ishioka et al4 initially described diverticulotomy by using freehand endoscope manipulation. Sakai et al5 demonstrated that using a cap at the tip of the endoscope offers Akt cancer better visualization of the septum. Evrard et al6 showed better exposition of the septum with the use of a soft diverticuloscope. The fear of bleeding during treatment prompted Mulder et al3 and 7 to use argon plasma coagulation (APC) instead of conventional current, requiring multiple sessions with the risk of inducing fibrosis.

The availability of a soft, plastic diverticuloscope that mimics the Van Overbeek diverticuloscope8 has allowed better septum exposure and endoscope stability without the risk of trauma associated with the use of the rigid instrument. Moreover, it allows an extended section of the septum and protects the airway from aspiration in nonintubated patients. A previous study showed that diverticulotomy with a flexible endoscope and soft diverticuloscope is an effective treatment for ZD,6 and another suggested that this treatment was safer and more effective than freehand

treatment.9 This initial experience selleck kinase inhibitor prompted us to modify the technique with systematic clipping of the bottom section at the end of the procedure to reduce the risk of perforation and improve hemostasis. We report our long-term results of ZD treatment by using flexible endoscopy assisted by the use of a soft diverticuloscope. This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, in compliance with good clinical

practice and according to local regulations. This work was not supported financially or otherwise by any external sources. All patients gave informed consent after explanation of the technique. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board from our center, reference P2010/353. All patients with ZD who were treated in our medical-surgical department between July 2002 and June 2011 were included in the study. None of them ADP ribosylation factor were included in our previous report.6 Files were reviewed retrospectively, and clinical data were recorded (demographics, symptoms, dysphagia score, endoscopic treatment technique, adverse events, and outcome). Adverse events are defined by the Cotton et al10 severity scoring system. Patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire to describe their symptoms and quantify dysphagia before and after treatment. Dysphagia scores 1 month after treatment were available only for patients who were seen in the outpatient clinic at that time. Because a significant number of patients came from abroad, early follow-up in them was performed by the referring physician, and results were not available at the time of data collection. The Dakkak and Bennett11 score of dysphagia (score 0, no dysphagia; score 1, dysphagia to solids; score 2, dysphagia to semi-solids; score 3, dysphagia to liquids; score 4, aphagia) was used to quantify dysphagia.

It must be remarked, however, that in disrupted mitochondria and

It must be remarked, however, that in disrupted mitochondria and in mitochondria that were previously uncoupled by the addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol, juglone promoted inhibition of the ATPase activity at concentrations above 5 μM. This selleck chemicals llc suggests an additional effect for the compound, namely inhibition of the ATP-synthase. This conclusion is further corroborated by the observation that state III respiration was inhibited even at low concentrations. Furthermore, in intact mitochondria, stimulation of the ATPase activity was maximal at 2 μM and declined at higher concentrations. This kind of response is normally observed when two opposite effects are present (Kelmer-Bracht et al., 1985). It should be

noted that the inhibitory effect at higher concentrations was also found in the intact cells: under several experimental conditions inhibition of oxygen consumption by the liver was found at the highest juglone concentrations, especially under gluconeogenic conditions. Concerning the enzymatic systems responsible for electron flow in the respiratory chain, juglone did not inhibit

succinate-oxidase but, surprisingly, stimulated the NADH-oxidase activity of disrupted mitochondria. The latter phenomenon could be contributing for the stimulation of oxygen uptake in the intact liver. No mechanistic explanation for this effect can be drawn from our experimental data. The experiments with alanine as the Alectinib cell line substrate allowed us to examine in more detail the action of uncouplers on nitrogen metabolism. To our knowledge, there are no reports in which this aspect has been analyzed more extensively in the intact

liver cell although some indications can be drawn from experiments with isolated mitochondria. The scheme in Fig. 9 summarizes some of the events related to alanine metabolism that will be discussed here. Sitaxentan The scheme shows several enzyme catalyzed transformations but it also emphasizes the compartmentation of both α-ketoglutarate and l-glutamate (Soboll et al., 1980). In isolated mitochondria it has been found that uncouplers increase l-glutamate deamination which leads to α-ketoglutarate production (Nilova, 1977 and Quagliariello et al., 1965). Uncouplers also increase the tricarboxylic acid cycle where the mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenases (NAD+ and NADP+-dependent) can transform isocitrate into α-ketoglutarate. Consistent with these notions about the mitochondrial metabolism, we found increased cellular levels of α-ketoglutarate during juglone infusion. Alpha-ketoglutarate can also be produced in the cytosol by the cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase as shown in Fig. 9. There is a recent suggestion that this might even be the most important route for α-ketoglutarate production (Rokhmanova and Popova, 2006) but there are not data about the action of uncouplers on this event.

Fisher and Timothy B Gardner Endoscopic therapy has become an es

Fisher and Timothy B. Gardner Endoscopic therapy has become an essential component in the management of post-pancreatitis complications, such as infected and/or symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis. However, although there have been 2 recent randomized, controlled trials performed, a general lack of comparative effectiveness data regarding the timing, indications,

and outcomes of these procedures http://www.selleckchem.com/products/PD-0332991.html has been a barrier to the development of practice standards for therapeutic endoscopists managing these issues. This article reviews the available data and expert consensus regarding indications for endoscopic intervention, timing of procedures, endoscopic technique, periprocedural considerations, and complications. Jason R. Roberts and Joseph Romagnuolo http://www.selleckchem.com/products/gsk1120212-jtp-74057.html Endoscopy plays an important role in both the diagnosis and the initial management of recurrent acute pancreatitis, as well as the investigation of refractory disease, but it has known limitations and risks. Sound selective use of these therapies, complemented with other lines of investigation such as genetic testing, can dramatically improve frequency of attacks and associated quality of life. Whether endoscopic therapy can reduce progression to chronic pancreatitis, or reduce the risk of malignancy, is debatable, and remains to be proven. Jean-Marc Dumonceau Endoscopic therapy is

recommended as the first-line therapy for painful chronic pancreatitis with an obstacle on the main pancreatic duct (MPD). The clinical response should be evaluated at 6 to 8 weeks. Calcified stones that obstruct the MPD are first treated by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy; dominant MPD strictures are optimally treated with a single, large, plastic stent that should be exchanged within 1 year even in asymptomatic patients. Pancreatic pseudocysts for which therapy is indicated and are within endoscopic reach should be treated by endoscopy. Pietro Familiari, Ivo Boškoski, Vincenzo Bove, and Guido Costamagna Chronic

pancreatitis (CP)-related common bile duct (CBD) strictures are more difficult to treat endoscopically compared with benign Celecoxib biliary strictures because of their nature, particularly in patients with calcific CP. Before any attempt at treatment, malignancy must be excluded. Single plastic stents can be used for immediate symptom relief and as “bridge to surgery and/or bridge to decision,” but are not suitable for definitive treatment of CP-related CBD strictures because of long-term poor results. Temporary simultaneous placement of multiple plastic stents has a high technical success rate and provides good long-term results. Jessica Widmer, Reem Z. Sharaiha, and Michel Kahaleh Over the last 2 decades there has been continuing development in endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).

Although the east covers 1004 × 103 km2 and the west 711 × 103 km

Although the east covers 1004 × 103 km2 and the west 711 × 103 km2, the number of catchments in the east is less than in the west (28 and 83 respectively). This is because smaller catchments are located in the west than in the east (catchment size in click here the dataset differ from 302 km2 to 280 × 103 km2). It is this difference that motivates the primary use of specific loads in the study with total loads as complimentary data. For each group (east, west and east + west), aggregated

yearly time series were constructed for temperature, precipitation, discharge, TNC, TNL, TPC, TPL and the N:P ratio to characterize the interannual variability. The aggregated yearly averages for the time series (Fig. 1) and the aggregated averages of all years (Table 1) for the three groups were calculated by accounting for the catchment size. Furthermore, a paired t-test was applied PLX3397 price to test whether variables are significantly different for east and west. To detect significant trends in the monthly time series of temperature, precipitation, discharge, TNC, TNL, TPC, TPL and the N:P ratio, a seasonal Mann–Kendall trend test was carried out for each catchment in the BSDB (the significance level was set to 0.05). The seasonal Mann–Kendall trend test is a non-parametric test for the existence of a monotonic trend and has the advantage that the power and significance

of the test are not affected by the actual distribution of the data (Hamed, 2009 and Hipel and McLeod, 2005). For all significant trends, the slope was determined using an ordinary least square

regression to estimate the true slope of the linear trend present in the time series. The slopes were categorized using the Jenks natural optimization method. This statistical mapping method is a common way to determine optimal size classes by minimizing the squared deviations of the class means. The Mann–Kendall trend test was also carried out to investigate CYTH4 the existence of trends in the aggregated annual temperature, precipitation, discharge, TNC, TNL, TPC, TPL and the N:P ratio time series. In addition to these straightforward trend investigations, the Kendall rank correlation coefficient τ was estimated to determine the statistical dependence between two time series of variables based on the slope of significant trends. Tau-values near zero indicate statistical independence of the compared quantities, while τ-values near 1 (or −1) indicate that the two variables tend to strongly move in the same (opposite) direction. TNL and TPL were excluded from this analysis because loads are composites of discharge and TNC or TPC and thus lead to spurious correlations. To analyze potential differences in processes impacting nutrient loads and concentrations by land cover and climate change, a classical factor analysis was carried out.

, 1992, Kajiwara et al , 1996, Simmons-Willis et al ,

, 1992, Kajiwara et al., 1996, Simmons-Willis et al., Galunisertib 2002, Adachi, 2006 and Yin et al., 2008). Corroborating this hypothesis, our group recently reported that mice chronically treated with the MeHg–Cys complex show enhanced Hg uptake, especially in the liver, when compared

to other organs, such as the brain and kidney (Roos et al., 2010). These results are most likely due to the fact that the liver is a central organ of protein metabolism and receives amino acids absorbed at the intestinal levels as well as those derived from other organs and systems (Duarte, 2003). Although hepatic cells contain some of the same carriers that have been implicated in the transport of Hg in other organs, the precise mechanisms underlying the MeHg uptake across the membrane into normal hepatocytes as well as the influence of the MeHg–Cys complex on Hg uptake and hepatoxicity have not previously been well defined. Consequently, our study was primarily designed to investigate the Hg content in hepatic cells, at both cytosolic and mitochondrial levels after exposure to MeHg or the MeHg–Cys complex. Several previous studies have investigated and reported on the toxicology of MeHg, but, to date, only chelating agents have been employed to facilitate

selleck inhibitor the removal of Hg from the body (Pingree et al., 2001 and Carvalho et al., 2007). However, these drugs are of limited use because of their adverse side effects. In the present study, we have tested the possible use of Met as an efficacious agent capable of protecting against the deleterious effects of MeHg. We observed that the Hg concentration in liver slices and in the mitochondria isolated from liver slices was higher after exposure to the MeHg–Cys complex (Fig. 1). Notably, we observed that Met decreased MeHg uptake by liver slices (Fig. 1). These results are different from those reported by Adachi (2006) after exposure of mice to MeHg. Adachi reported that Met can increase the hepatic deposition of Hg 2 h

after intravenously administration of MeHg and/or methionine. Since we have used only a single time-point of exposure of liver slices to MeHg (30 min) and/or Met (45 min), Tolmetin we cannot disregard the possibility that uptake of MeHg could be increased in the presence of Met. Alternatively, the decrease in Hg uptake in the slices by Met may be, at least in part, related to the relatively high concentration of Met in the medium and, consequently, to direct interaction between MeHg and Met, thus lowering the effective free concentration of MeHg. Accordingly, we can posit that the effect observed in the presence of Met may be related to a direct interaction of the sulfur atom and/or amino end of Met with MeHg (Rabenstein and Fairhurst 1975). Alternatively, Met may be reducing the uptake of MeHg complexed with endogenous cysteine in liver slices. In addition, here we have worked with an in vitro system derived from rats.

Lamin B1 antibody was purchased from Bioworld technology (Minneap

Lamin B1 antibody was purchased from Bioworld technology (Minneapolis, MN, USA). Korean Red Ginseng

was purchased from a local market (Seoul). Dried root powder was extracted three times with 70% ethanol by sonication for 3 h, followed by Selleck 5-Fluoracil rotary evaporation at 4°C under reduced pressure (total ethanol extract, 28.1% of raw material). The extract was suspended in distilled water in a separatory funnel and partitioned with n-butanol three times. The combined fractions were evaporated to dryness (n-butanol fraction, total ginsenoside-enriched fraction, 6.5% of raw material), and the ethanol extract was loaded onto a Diaion HP-20 (Sigma–Aldrich) open column (100 cm × 10 cm; the volume of the column was 7.8 L) and sequentially eluted with a methanol gradient beginning with 100% water and 30%, 65%, and finally 80% methanol. The enriched

ginsenoside fractions were obtained from 65% methanol (ginsenoside triol-type-enriched fraction, GTF, 0.7% of raw material) and 80% methanol eluate (ginsenoside diol-type-enriched fraction, GDF, 1.3% of raw material). In a separate experiment to obtain ginsenoside diol-type-/F4-enriched fraction (GDF/F4), the dried ginseng leaves were extracted with 95% ethanol (total ethanol extract, 22.1% of raw material), and the extract was dried using a rotary evaporator. The dried extract was partitioned in distilled water and n-butanol three times (n-butanol fraction, total ginsenoside-enriched fraction, 5.7% of raw material). The n-butanol fraction was concentrated for column chromatography. The n-butanol fraction was adsorbed to Diaion HP-20 resin (Sigma–Aldrich), and was washed with water. ABT-888 research buy Then, the column was eluted with 100% MeOH. The 100% MeOH fraction was concentrated to obtain a highly-enriched saponin Orotic acid fraction. To the fraction, two volumes of double concentrated vinegar (Ottugi, pH 2.3, acidity 13–14%) were added and then exposed for 30 min at an oscillation frequency of 2,450 MHz, with a microwave

output power of 700 W (Samsung electronics, RE-C20DB, Seoul, Korea). The sample used for the experiment (GDF/F4) was finally obtained by passing the HP-20 resin eluted with 87% MeOH after washing with 73% MeOH (87% MeOH fraction, ginsenoside diol-type-/F4-enriched fraction, 0.4% of raw material). It is mainly composed of ginsenosides Rd, F4, Rg6, Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1. The composition of various ginsenosides in each product was examined by high performance liquid chromatography analysis, and the profiles are shown in Fig. 1. Male New Zealand white rabbits (age 5 weeks) were purchased from Central Experimental Animal Co. (Seoul, Korea). The animals were maintained in the animal facility (KNU) at 20–22oC under 40–60% relative humidity and a 12-h/12-h (light/dark) cycle. The experimental design using the animals was approved by the local committee for animal experimentation of Kangwon National University (KIACUC-12-0012).