• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.88-100
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• 2021

Anoctamin 6/TMEM16F (ANO6) is a dual-function protein with Ca2+-activated ion channel and Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase activities, requiring a high intracellular Ca2+ concentration (e.g., half-maximal effective Ca2+ concentration [EC50] of [Ca2+]i > 10 μM), and strong and sustained depolarization above 0 mV. Structural comparison with Anoctamin 1/TMEM16A (ANO1), a canonical Ca2+-activated chloride channel exhibiting higher Ca2+ sensitivity (EC50 of 1 μM) than ANO6, suggested that a homologous Ca2+-transferring site in the N-terminal domain (Nt) might be responsible for the differential Ca2+ sensitivity and kinetics of activation between ANO6 and ANO1. To elucidate the role of the putative Ca2+-transferring reservoir in the Nt (Nt-CaRes), we constructed an ANO6-1-6 chimera in which Nt-CaRes was replaced with the corresponding domain of ANO1. ANO6-1-6 showed higher sensitivity to Ca2+ than ANO6. However, neither the speed of activation nor the voltage-dependence differed between ANO6 and ANO6-1-6. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed a reduced Ca2+ interaction with Nt-CaRes in ANO6 than ANO6-1-6. Moreover, mutations on potentially Ca2+-interacting acidic amino acids in ANO6 Nt-CaRes resulted in reduced Ca2+ sensitivity, implying direct interactions of Ca2+ with these residues. Based on these results, we cautiously suggest that the net charge of Nt-CaRes is responsible for the difference in Ca2+ sensitivity between ANO1 and ANO6.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.215-219
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• 2007

Small and large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+(SK_{Ca}\;and\;BK_{Ca})$ channels are implicated in the modulation of neuronal excitability. We investigated how changes in peripheral $K_{Ca}$ channel activity affect mechanical sensitivity as well as the afferent fiber type responsible for $K_{Ca}$ channel-induced mechanical sensitivity. Blockade of $SK_{Ca}$ and $BK_{Ca}$ channels induced a sustained decrease of mechanical threshold which was significantly attenuated by topical application of capsaicin onto afferent fiber and intraplantar injection of 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone. NS1619 selectively attenuated the decrease of mechanical threshold induced by charybdotoxin, but not by apamin. Spontaneous flinching and paw thickness were not significantly different after $K_{Ca}$ channel blockade. These results suggest that mechanical sensitivity can be modulated by $K_{Ca}$ channels on capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.236-241
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• 2018

Anoctamin 1 (ANO1) is an anion channel that is activated by changes in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration and noxious heat. Although the critical roles of ANO1 have been elucidated in various cell types, the control of its gating mechanisms by $Ca^{2+}$ and heat remain more elusive. To investigate critical amino acid residues for modulation of $Ca^{2+}$ and heat sensing, we constructed a randomized mutant library for ANO1. Among 695 random mutants, reduced $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity was observed in two mutants (mutant 84 and 87). Consequently, the E143A mutant showed reduced sensitivity to $Ca^{2+}$ but not to high temperatures, whereas the E705V mutant exhibited reduced sensitivity to both $Ca^{2+}$ and noxious heat. These results suggest that the glutamic acids (E) at 143 and 705 residues in ANO1 are critical for modulation of $Ca^{2+}$ and/or heat responses. Furthermore, these findings help to provide a better understanding of the $Ca^{2+}$-mediated activation and heat-sensing mechanism of ANO1.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2009

This study was designed to clarify the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of forskolin on contraction, cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$, and $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity in guinea pig ileum. Forskolin (0.1 nM ${\sim}$ 10 ${\mu}M$) inhibited high $K^+$ (25 mM and 40 mM)- or histamine (3 ${\mu}M$)-evoked contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Histamine-evoked contractions were more sensitive to forskolin than high $K^+$-evoked contractions. Spontaneous changes in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and contractions were inhibited by forskolin (1 ${\mu}M$) without changing the resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Forskoln (10 ${\mu}M$ ) inhibited muscle tension more strongly than $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ stimulated by high $K^+$, and thus shifted the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$-tension relationship to the lower-right. In histamine-stimulated contractions, forskolin (1 ${\mu}M$) inhibited both $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and muscle tension without changing the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$-tension relationship. In ${\alpha}$-toxin-permeabilized tissues, forskolin (10 ${\mu}M$) inhibited the 0.3 ${\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$-evoked contractions in the presence of 0.1 mM GTP, but showed no effect on the $Ca^{2+}$-tension relationship. We conclude that forskolin inhibits smooth muscle contractions by the following two mechanisms: a decrease in $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile elements in high $K^+$-stimulated muscle and a decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in histamine-stimulated muscle.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.142-145
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• 2002

CaSO$_4$:Dy thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) is widely used as a personal or environmental dosimeter because of its high sensitivity to radiation. There are many methods to make pellets from the TL phosphorss[l-5]. Sintered pellets were made from a mixture of CaSO$_4$:Dy phosphor and Teflon powder is the most common method. But this method has disadvantage that CaSO$_4$:Dy pellet does not have very high sensitivity because of large amounts of Teflon in Pellets. This Paper described development of a new type of CaSO$_4$:Dy pellets by using P- compounds as a bonding material (KCT-300), and compared the TL sensitivity with that of the commercialized Teledyne CaSO$_4$: Dy pellets. Sensitivity of a new developed KCT-300 shows about 6 times than Teledyne ones, and can be used to measure very low radiation dose.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.363-368
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• 2014

Determination of the cause of malignant pleural effusions is important for treatment and management, especially in cases of unknown primaries. There are limited biomarkers available for prediction of the cause of malignant pleural effusion in clinical practice. Hence, we evaluated pleural levels of five tumor biomarkers (CEA, AFP, CA125, CA153 and CA199) in predicting the cause of malignant pleural effusion in a retrospective study. Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U tests were carried out to compare levels of tumor markers in pleural effusion among different forms of neoplasia - lung squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or small cell carcinoma, mesothelioma, breast cancer, lymphoma/leukemia and miscellaneous. Receiver operator characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences in levels of pleural effusion CEA (P<0.01), AFP (P<0.01), CA153 (P<0.01) and CA199 (P<0.01), but not CA125 (P>0.05), among the seven groups. Receiver operator characteristic analysis showed that, compared with other four tumor markers, CA153 was the best biomarker in diagnosing malignant pleural effusions of lung adenocarcinoma (area under curve (AUC): 0.838 (95%confidence interval: 0.787, 0.888); cut-off value: 10.2U/ml; sensitivity: 73.2% (64.4-80.8)%, specificity: 85.2% (77.8-90.8)%), lung squamous cell carcinoma (AUC: 0.716 (0.652, 0.780); cut-off value: 14.2U/ml; sensitivity: 57.6% (50.7-64.3)%, specificity: 91.2% (76.3-98.0)%), and small-cell lung cancer (AUC: 0.812 (0.740, 0.884); cut-off value: 9.7U/ml; sensitivity: 61.5% (55.0-67.8)%, specificity: 94.1% (71.2-99.0)%); CEA was the best biomarker in diagnosing MPEs of mesothelioma (AUC: 0.726 (0.593, 0.858); cut-off value: 1.43ng/ml; sensitivity: 83.7% (78.3-88.2)%, specificity: 61.1% (35.8-82.6)%) and lymphoma/leukemia (AUC: 0.923 (0.872, 0.974); cut-off value: 1.71ng/ml; sensitivity: 82.8% (77.4-87.3)%, specificity: 92.3% (63.9-98.7)%). Thus CA153 and CEA appear to be good biomarkers in diagnosing different causes of malignant pleural effusion. Our findings implied that the two tumor markers may improve the diagnosis and treatment for effusions of unknown primaries.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the value of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels to detect gastric cancer recurrence. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 154 patients who developed recurrence within 2 years after curative gastric cancer surgery and analyzed the relationship between postoperative CEA and CA19-9 levels and recurrence. We readjusted the cut-off values to improve the detection of recurrence. Subgroup analysis according to clinicopathologic variables was performed to further investigate the relationship between recurrence and CEA and CA19-9 levels. Results: The sensitivity and specificity for elevated CEA levels to detect recurrence were 40.6% and 89.5%, respectively, and those for CA19-9 were 34.2% and 93.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for elevation of either tumor marker were 54.3% and 84.0%, respectively; those for elevation of both tumor markers were 19.2% and 98.4%, respectively. By readjusting the cut-off values from 5.0 ng/ml to 5.2 ng/ml for CEA and from 37.00 U/ml to 30.0 U/ml for CA19-9, the sensitivity was increased from 34.2% to 40.2% for CA19-9, while there was no increase in sensitivity for CEA. In subgroup analysis, the sensitivity of CEA was higher in patients with elevated preoperative CEA levels than in patients with normal preoperative CEA levels (86.7% versus 33.7%; P<0.001). Furthermore, the sensitivity of CA19-9 was higher in patients with elevated preoperative CA19-9 levels than in patients with normal preoperative CA19-9 levels (82.61% versus 26.83%; P<0.001). Conclusions: CEA and/or CA19-9 measurement with the readjusted cut-off values allows for more effective detection of gastric cancer recurrence.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.1144-1151
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• 1994

The humidity-sensitive specimens-(BaS11T-S1xTCaS1xT)TiOS13T, x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5-were fabricated by a solid-state reaction method which is easy in process control of microstructure and good in mass production, and their humidity-sensitive characteristics were examined. Ca inhibits grain growth and the open porosity increases with Ca substitution, and the specimens at x=0.5 show the best humidity sensitivity. Their humidity sensitivity is higher at the lower frequencies, and drift phenomenon in humidity sensitivity is exhibted with aging in the air, which disappears by a heat treatment. The electrical conduction with water adsorption is dominated by the ions, and the activation energy decreases with increasing relative humidity.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.95-97
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• 2013

$CaTiO_3$ thin films using silk screen printing technology were fabricated and their humidity sensitive characteristics have been investigated. The specimens were sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$, $1050^{\circ}C$, $1100^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour and the best humidity sensitivity was shown in the specimens sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$. The humidity sensitivity decreased with increasing measuring frequencies and was stable at different abient temperatures. Hysteresis of impedance variation with increasing and decreasing relative humidity were negligible.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.