• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4797-4800
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• 2015

Background: This analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of crizotinib based regimens in treating Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of crizotinib based regimens on response and safety for Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rate (RR) of treatment were calculated. Results: In crizotinib based regimens, 3 clinical studies which including 128 Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer and treated with crizotinib based regimen were considered eligible for inclusion. Pooled analysis suggested that, in all patients, the pooled RR was 59.3% (76/128) in crizotinib based regimens. ALT/AST mild visual disturbances, nausea, and vomiting were the main side effects. No treatment related death occurred in these crizotinib based treatments. Conclusions: This pooled analysis suggests that crizotinib based regimens are associated with good response rate and accepted toxicities in treating Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3927-3932
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• 2014

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) define specific molecular subsets of lung adenocarcinomas with distinct clinical features. Our purpose was to analyze clinical features and prognostic value of EGFR gene mutations and the EML4-ALK fusion gene in lung adenocarcinoma. Patients and Methods: EGFR gene mutations and the EML4-ALK fusion gene were detected in 92 lung adenocarcinoma patients in China. Tumor marker levels before first treatment were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: EGFR mutations were found in 40.2% (37/92) of lung adenocarcinoma patients, being identified at high frequencies in never-smokers (48.3% vs. 26.5% in smokers; P=0.040) and in patients with abnormal serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels before the initial treatment (58.3% vs. 28.6%, P=0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that a higher serum CEA level before the initial treatment was independently associated with EGFR gene mutations (95%CI: 1.476~11.343, P=0.007). We also identified 8 patients who harbored the EML4-ALK fusion gene (8.7%, 8/92). In concordance with previous reports, younger age was a clinical feature for these (P=0.008). Seven of the positive cases were never smokers, and no coexistence with EGFR mutation was discovered. In addition, the frequency of the EML4-ALK fusion gene among patients with a serum CEA concentration below 5ng/ml seemed to be higher than patients with a concentration over 5ng/ml (P=0.021). No significant difference was observed for time to progression and overall survival between EML4-ALK-positive group and EML4-ALK-negative group or between patients with and without an EGFR mutation. Conclusions: The serum CEA level before the initial treatment may be helpful in screening population for EGFR mutations or EML4-ALK fusion gene presence in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.196-202
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• 2011

Background: B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) is primarily expressed by macrophages and dendritic cells, and stimulates B cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and Ig production. In the present study, we explored the effect of activin A on BAFF expression by APCs. Methods: To investigate the effect of activin A on BAFF expression by mouse APCs, we measured the level of BAFF expression at the transcriptional and protein levels using RT-PCR and ELISA. Results: Activin A markedly enhanced BAFF expression in mouse macrophages and dendritic cells at both the transcriptional and protein levels. SB431542, an activin receptor-like kinase 4 (ALK4) inhibitor, completely abrogated activin A-induced BAFF transcription. Furthermore, overexpression of DN-Smad3 abolished activin-induced BAFF expression at the transcriptional and protein levels. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that activin A can enhance BAFF expression through ALK4-Smad3 pathway.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.21-28
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• 2018

I investigated that ALK receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) gene polymorphisms were contributed to susceptibility to ICH in Korean population. I recruited 156 ICH patients and 425 healthy controls for this study, respectively. rs1881421, rs1881420, rs3795850, and rs2246745 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped. The genotype and allele distributions of tested four SNPs was analyzed using the SNPStats, SPSS 22.0, and the Haploview v.4.2 software. The Odd's ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and P values were calculated in allele and genotype models. I found that rs1881421, rs1881420, rs3795850, and rs2246745 SNPs of ALK gene (rs1881421, OR=2.02, 95% CI=1.54-2.64, p<0.001; rs1881420, OR=0.53, 95% CI=1.16-2.01, p=0.003; rs3795850, OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.17-2.02, p=0.002; rs2246745, OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.46-2.60, p<0.001 in each allele analysis). And distributions of CC, GT, and GC haplotypes between the ICH group and the control group also showed significant association with ICH (CC haplotype, p<0.001; GT haplotype, p=0.006; GC haplotype, p<0.001). These minor alleles of tested four SNPs in ALK gene were contributed to increased risk of development for ICH. Our findings suggested that the ALK gene may be a risk factor for susceptibility to ICH.The Korea Internet of Things Society.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3057-3063
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• 2014

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been intensively studied. The gold standard for ALK detection is FISH, but this is not routinely conducted in clinical practice, so that the IHC method has a role. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of ALK rearrangement and risk or prognostic factors for ALK positivity using both of IHC and FISH methods. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to December 2012, 267 completely resected NSCLC patients in Chiang Mai University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Clinical and pathological variables and outcomes of treatment were retrospectively reviewed. IHC and FISH were used to evaluate ALK rearrangement. Sensitivity and specificity of IHC were analyzed. Multivariable analysis was used to identify clinico-pathological correlations with positive results of IHC and clinical outcomes. Results: Twenty-two (8.2%) of 267 specimens were IHC-positive for ALK with intense cytoplasmic staining, whereas only 10 (3.8%) were FISH-positive. Sensitivity, specificity and the positive likelihood ratio with IHC were 80.0%, 94.9%, and 15.8 respectively. Age less than 55 years (RR 4.4, 95%CI 1.78-10.73, p value=0.001) and presence of visceral pleural invasion (VPI) (RR 2.9, 95%CI 1.21-6.78, p value =0.017) were identified as risk factors for ALK rearrangement with FISH. There were no statistically significant differences in other clinical and pathological variables. ALK rearrangement was not a prognostic factor for tumor recurrence or overall survival. Conclusions: The incidences of ALK positivity in completely resected NSCLCs in northern Thailand were 8.2% by IHC and 3.8% by FISH. IHC with mouse monoclonal, Ventana D5F3 antibody can be used as a screening tool before FISH method because of high specificity and high positive likelihood ratio. Age less than 55 years and VPI are risk factors for ALK positivity.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.77-84
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• 1969

For the purpose of making clear the activity of the alkaline phosphatase to the morphogenesis and function of the various structures of the developing chick kidney in relation to PAS-positive materials and phospholipid, the author observed histochemically the aforementioned enzyme and other substances. The mesonephros and metanephros of 4-20 day white leghorn embryos were used, obtaining the following results. 1. Before definite appearance of the secretory tubules the alkaline phosphatase activity showed strongly in the undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue. As the tubules grew differentiated, the alkaline phosphatase activity was found to have disappeared in the mesenchymal tissue surrounding the tubules. The above mentioned fact indicates that the alkaline phosphatase may be concerned with morphogenesis of the developing chick kindney. 2. The fact that the strong alkaline phosphatase activity and the occurrence of the PAS-positive materials were observed at the luminal borders of differentiated secretory tubules of mesonephros and metanephros, indicates that alkaline phosphatase may be concerned with reabsorption of carbohydrate at the borders. 3. A strong positive reaction of phospholipid was found in the cytoplasm and brush borders of the mesonephric and metanephric tubules. The fact that vicissitude of alkaline phosphatase was found to coincide with that of phospholipid suggests that the enzyme may have influence on the metabolism of the phospholipid.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 1997

The effects of crude saponin (SAP) and alkaloid (ALK) fractions of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer on the detrimental effects of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) and scopolamine on passive avoidance response (PAR) were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats, referring their effects on the neuronal injury and plasticity of hippocampus in response to electrolytic lesion of left entorhinal cortex (ECL). The detrimental ECS effect on PAR was attenuated by pre- and post-treatments with SAP and ALK, respectively, or by pretreatment with aminoguanidine (AG), an inhibitor of diamine oxidase and NO synthase. And the detrimental scopolamine effect on PAR was also inhibited by pre-treatment with ALK or AG, and by post- treatment with SAP or ALK, respectively. On the 7th day after ECL, the brain sections stained by cresyl violet and by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry, respectively, showed the chromatolysis and numeral decrease of neurons and the reduction of AChE reactivity in the hippocampus CA1 area and to a lesser extent, in the dentate gyrus. The neuronal cell death of the CA1 area was significantly reduced by SAP, ALK, or AG, and the reduction of AChE reactivity was significantly attenuated by SAP or ALK and to a lesser extent by AG. These results suggests that the protective effect of ginseng SAP and ALK fractions on ECS- or scopolamine-induced impairment of PAR may be ascribed in part to preservation of hippocampal neurons, particularly cholinergic neurons.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.318-326
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• 1991

This study was devised to investigate the effects of flavonoids on carbon tetrachloride toxicity of rats. Through the experiments, the contents of total cholesterol, transaminase(GOT, GPT) and alkaline phosphatase(Alk. P) activities in the liver and serum were determined. The results obtained are summarized as follows; (1) The liver cholesterol concentration of flavonoid injected groups were remarkably increased up to 45% at 2 days after $CCl_4$ injection and then the values were almost recovered to the level of control group at 4 days after $CCl_4$ injection. The increase of serum cholesterol content was inhibited by the flavonoids after $CCl_4$ injection, but the result was not significant. (2) Flavonoids injection was found to have the ability to decrease the elevated serum GOT, Alk. P activities resulting from injection of $CCl_4$ and induce rapid recovery from such an elevated level and the extent of such a decreasing action was greatest in hesperidin injection group. The liver microsomal Alk. P and GOT activities were not affected by the treatment of flavonoids. (3) The elevated serum and liver microsomal GPT activities induced by $CCl_4$ injection were inhibited by the injection of flavonoids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.176-187
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• 1983

Volatile flavor components of garlic and factors which influence on its flavors were reviewed. Growth, storage and processing conditions influence on the flavor intensity of garlic. To intensify garlic flavors, it is desirable that sufficient sulfate nutrition be supplied to the soil of growing garlic and that the suggested proportions of mineral composition and water content be considered. And to maintain the flavor intensity of post harvested garlic, flavor losses taken place during over inter storage mainly due to respiration, sprout and decay, have to be minimized. Among the various storage methods, combination method of post harvest hot-air drying and low temperature ($0^{\circ}C$), low humidity (RH 70-75%) is useful. The flavor of processed garlic is very much decreased as compared with that of fresh, and the decreasing rate of flavors depends on processing method. The synthetic garlic flavors were obtained by three types based on intermediate thiosulfinate, S-alk(en) yl-$\small{L}$-cyteine sulfoxlde-alliinase fission products and $\small{L}$-5-alk (en)yl thiomethylhydantoin ${\pm}$ S-oxides. These synthetic garlic flavors may be promised to be applied to food additives.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.260-268
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• 2016

Regulation of alkaline-resistant laccase from Perenniporia tephropora KU-Alk4 was proved to be controlled by several factors. One important factor was the initial pH, which drove the fungus to produce different kinds of ligninolytic enzymes. P. tephropora KU-Alk4 could grow at pH 4.5, 7.0, and 8.0. The fungus produced laccase and MnP at pH 7.0, but only laccase at pH 8.0. The specific activity of laccase in the pH 8.0 culture was higher than that in the pH 7.0 culture. At pH 8.0, glucose was the best carbon source for laccase production but growth was better with lactose. Low concentrations of glucose at 0.1% to 1.0% enhanced laccase production, while concentrations over 1% gave contradictory results. Veratryl alcohol induced the production of laccase. A trace concentration of copper ions was required for laccase production. Biomass increased with an increasing rate of aeration of shaking flasks from 100 to 140 rpm; however, shaking at over 120 rpm decreased laccase quantity. Highest amount of laccase produced by KU-Alk4, 360 U/mL, was at pH 8.0 with 1% glucose and 0.2 mM copper sulfate, unshaken for the first 3 days, followed by addition of 0.85 mM veratryl alcohol and shaking at 120 rpm. The crude enzyme was significantly stable in alkaline pH 8.0~10.0 for 24 hr. After treating the pulp mill effluent with the KU-Alk4 system for 3 days, pH decreased from 9.6 to 6.8, with reduction of color and chemical oxygen demand at 83.2% and 81%, respectively. Laccase was detectable during the biotreatment process.