• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate whether spontaneous apoptosis has prognostic value among patients with squamous cell carcinoma of lung. Materials and Methods : Material from 19 patients who received thoracic irradiation between 1990 and 1994 was analyzed. Their stages were II (1), IIIa (8), IIIb (5), and IV (5). Patients were observed from 5 to 67 months (median : 17 months). The spontaneous apoptosis index (AI) and p53 mutation were measured by immunohistochemical stains. Results : AI was found to range from 0 to $1\%$ (median $0.4\%$). Patients with low AI ($AI{\leq}$median) had a much higher distant metastasis rate at diagnosis than patients with high AI. By analysis of prognostic factors for survival, M stage was significant in univariate analysis. AI, chemotherapy, M stage, T stage, and stage were significant in multivariate analysis. The correlation between the AI and p53 mutation was not seen. Conclusion : AI was related with distant metastasis at diagnosis and not with p53 mutation. Also low AI group tended to have shorter survival time than high AI group.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2008

Application of biomarkers for assessing marine environmental health risk is a relatively new field. According to the National Research Council and the World Health Organization, biomarkers can be divided into three classes: biomarkers of exposure, biomarkers of effect, and biomarkers of susceptibility. In order to assess exposure to or effect of the environmental pollutants on marine ecosystem, the following set of biomarkers can be examined: detoxification, oxidative stress, biotransformation products, stress responses, apoptosis, physiological metabolisms, neuromuscular responses, reproductions, steroid hormones, antioxidants, genetic modifications. Since early 1990s, several biomarker research groups have developed health indices of marine organisms to be used for assessing the state of the marine environment. Biomarker indices can be used to interpret data obtained from monitoring biological effects. In this review, we will summarize Health assessment Index, Biomarker Index, Bioeffect Assessment Index and Generalized Linear Model. Measurements of biomarker responses and development of biomarker index in marine organisms from contaminated sites offer great a lot of information, which can be used in environmental monitoring programs, designed for various aspects of ecosystem risk assessment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.152-166
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• 2002

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Hominis Placenta(HP) aqua-acupuncture exerts renoprotective effect on diabetic nephropathy induced by streptozotocin(STZ) in rats. Methods : In order to study the renoprotective effect of HP aqua-acupuncture, experimental animals were divided into 5 groups and treated for 2 weeks as follows: control group was injected subcutaneously by saline aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in STZ induced diabetic rats, 5% HP aqua-acupuncture group was injected subcutaneously by 5% HP aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in STZ induced diabetic rats, 10% HP aqua-acupuncture group was injected subcutaneously by 10% HP aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in STZ induced diabetic rats, normal group was injected subcutaneously by saline aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in normal rats, and Captopril group was administrated with captopril at a dose of 50mg/kg in STZ induced diabetic rats. Results : While HP aqua-acupuncture did not reduce any body weight, index of kidney hypertrophy, the plasma glucose concentration and BUN respectively, HP aqua-acupuncture showed lowering urinary albumin excretion rate and serum creatinine as compared with the control group. Gene and protein expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ and fibronectin in kidney, one of the extracellular matrix proteins were investigated. There were significant differences in expression levels in HP aqua-acupuncture group as compared with the control group, and $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of HP depressed apoptosis, showing in a dose dependent manner. In the HE staining, HP aqua-acupuncture inhibited the injury of glomerulus and proximal convoluted tubule. Conclusions : HP aqua-acupuncture showed the renoprotective effect possibly through suppressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ and fibronectin expressions in kidney.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.207-213
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• 2020

Cryopreservation is used for blastocyst preservation of most mammalian embryos and is an important technique for breeding. We aimed to compare the efficiency of the cryopreservation method using the standard Cryotop device and the ReproCarrier device, a domestic product manufactured in Korea. The efficacy of the two devices was analyzed based on the survival rate, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis of the vitrified bovine blastocysts. The survival rates of the vitrified-warmed blastocysts were similar between the ReproCarrier group (58.4 ± 17.7%) and Cryotop group (59.9 ± 14.1%). Intracellular ROS levels and apoptotic index were determined by DCFDA staining and TUNEL assay. Changes in intracellular ROS levels, number of total nuclei, and cellular apoptosis of vitrified blastocysts after cryopreservation were not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that the ReproCarrier device method is as effective as the standard Cryotop method for vitrification of bovine blastocysts in vitro.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.173-179
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• 2004

Amyloid ${\beta}-peptide\;(A{\beta})$ contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), causing neuronal death through apoptosis. In this study, the neuroprotective role of BF-7, extracted form sericultural product, was examined against $A{\beta}-induced$ toxicity in cultured human neuronal cell SKN-SH. In order to know if the BF-7 has positive role on the cognition and memory in human, the mixture of BF-7, DHA and EPA (BDE) was examined using Rey Kim and K-WAIS test with 50 healthy high school student. We report here that BDE significantly attenuated $A{\beta}-induced$ apoptosis through the reduction of ROS accumulation, and diminished caspase-like protease activity. Moreover, the memory index and memory preservation, and attentative concentration of BDE treated group for 1 month were significantly improved, in contrast to the case of placebo control treated with DHA and EPA. This result represent that the BF-7 play significant positive role on learning memory. Taken together, our result suggested the natural product BF-7 is a good substance for the brain functionally and physiologically.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.168-179
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• 2015

We previously identified the rice gene, OsSAP, as an encoder of a highly conserved putative senescence-associated protein that was shown to have anti-apoptotic activity. To confirm the role of OsSAP in inducing abiotic stress tolerance in rice, we introduced OsSAP and AtBI-1, a plant homologue of Bax inhibitor-1, under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter into the rice genome through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The OsSAP transformants showed a similar chlorophyll index after salinity treatments with AtBI-1. Furthermore, we compared the effects of salinity stress on leaves and roots by examining the hormone levels of abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellic acid (GA3), and zeatin in transformants compared to the control. With the exception of phytohormones, stress-induced changes in hormone levels putatively related to stress tolerance have not been investigated previously. Hormonal level analysis confirmed the lower rate of stress in the transformants compared to the control. The levels of ABA and JA in OsSAP and AtBI-1 transformants were similar, where stress rates increased after one week and decreased after a two week period of drought; there was a slightly higher accumulation compared to the control. However, a similar trend was not observed for the level of zeatin, as the decrease in the level of zeatin accumulation differed in both OsSAP and AtBI-1 transformants for all genotypes during the early period of salinity stress. The GA3 level was detected under normal conditions, but not under salinity stress.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.365-373
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• 2003

Tamoxifen is an selective estrogen receptor antagonist widely used in the management of patients with breast cancer for more than 30 years. It was thought to act primarily through occupying the estrogen receptor sites in ER positive breast cancer cells and directly on cancer cell proper. These inhibitory effects, which have been shown to be independent of the ER, highlight new mechanism of therapeutic action of tamoxifen. The purposes of this study were to identify ER in oral carcinoma cell lines and to evaluate ER independent cytotoxic effect of tamoxifen. KB(SCC), HSC-3(SCC) and A253(ACC) cell line were used and capacity of cell proliferation, apoptosis, in vitro invasion and gelatin zymography were tested. ER expression of each cell line were detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Dose dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and inhibition of gelatinolytic activity were observed in all oral carcinoma cell lines and significant difference of apoptotic index were observed in A253 and KB. Tamoxifen inhibited in vitro invasion in all experimental groups. ER expression was detected in KB and A253. These data suggest that tamoxifen may play a role in management of oral carcinoma by independent cytotoxic effect and more advanced research must processed confirming ER-dependent cytotoxicity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Myocardial infarction (MI) is caused by extensive myocardial damage attributed to the occlusion of coronary arteries. Our previous study in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) demonstrated that administration of arabinoxylan (AX), comprising arabinose and xylose, protects against myocardial injury. In this study, we undertook to investigate whether psyllium seed husk (PSH), a safe dietary fiber containing a high level of AX (> 50%), also imparts protection against myocardial injury in the same rat model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were fed diets supplemented with PSH (1, 10, or 100 mg/kg/d) for 3 d. The rats were then subjected to 30 min ischemia through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 3 h reperfusion through release of the ligation. The hearts were harvested and cut into four slices. To assess infarct size (IS), an index representing heart damage, the slices were stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). To elucidate underlying mechanisms, Western blotting was performed for the slices. RESULTS: Supplementation with 10 or 100 mg/kg/d of PSH significantly reduces the IS. PSH supplementation (100 mg/kg/d) tends to reduce caspase-3 generation and increase BCL-2/BAX ratio. PSH supplementation also upregulates the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), and its target genes including antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase mu 2 (GSTM2) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). PSH supplementation upregulates some sirtuins ($NAD^+$-dependent deacetylases) including SIRT5 (a mitochondrial sirtuin) and SIRT6 and SIRT7 (nuclear sirtuins). Finally, PSH supplementation upregulates the expression of protein kinase A (PKA), and increases phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) (pCREB), a target protein of PKA. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study indicate that PSH consumption reduces myocardial I/R injury in rats by inhibiting the apoptotic cascades through modulation of gene expression of several genes located upstream of apoptosis. Therefore, we believe that PSH can be developed as a functional food that would be beneficial in the prevention of MI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the impact of Rehmannioside D (RD) on ovarian functions of rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and its underlying mechanisms of action. A single injection of cyclophosphamide was performed to establish a DOR rat model, and fourteen days after the injection, the rats were intragastrically administrated with RD for two weeks. Rat estrus cycles were tested using vaginal smears. Ovarian tissues were histologically evaluated, the number of primordial, mature, and atretic follicles was calculated, and the apoptotic rate of granulosa cells. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E₂) levels were determined by ELISA assays. Protein levels of Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1), KLOTHO, Bcl-2, and Bax were investigated in ovarian tissues of DOR rats. The binding between FOXO1 and KLOTHO was verified by ChIP assay. High-dose administration of RD into DOR rats improved their estrus cycles, increased ovarian index, enhanced the number of primordial and mature follicles, reduced the number of atretic follicle number, and ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis in addition to inhibiting FSH and LH levels and upregulating E₂ expression. FOXO1 and KLOTHO were significantly suppressed in DOR rats. FOXO1 knockdown partially suppressed the protective effects of RD on DOR rats, and KLOTHO overexpression could restore RD-induced blockade of DOR development despite knocking down FOXO1. FOXO1 antibody enriched KLOTHO promoter, and the binding between them was reduced in DOR group compared to that in sham group. RD improved ovarian functions in DOR rats and diminished granulosa cell apoptosis via the FOXO1/KLOTHO axis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2002

Purpose : Tumor growth in a given neoplasm is the net result of cell proliferation and cell loss, and apoptosis is the most significant component of continuous cell loss in most tumors. In this study, we examined non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL, n=67) immunohistochemically for the presence of Bcl-2 oncoprotein and P53 protein and compared apoptotic indices (Als) and Ki-67 proliferative indices (percentages of Ki-67 positive cells). Materials and Methods : 67 patients with NHL were evaluated : 3 low-grade and 64 intermediate-grade. The phenotype was determined in 65 cases : 47 $(70\%)$ were B cell type and 18 $(27\%)$ were T ceil type. Als and Ki-67 proliferative indices were determined immunohistochemically and the overexpression of P53 and Bcl-2 protein were also evalutated. Results : The overexpressions of Bcl-2 protein and P53 protein were found in $40\%$ (26/65) and $31\%$ (20/65). The Al ranged from $0\%\;to\;15\%$ (mean 2.16, median 1.2). Cellular Bcl-2, which counteracts apoptosis, was significantly (p=0.005) associated with Als. Ki-67 proliferative indices ranged from $1\%\;to\;91\%$ (mean 55.4), and P53 was significantly (p=0.000) associated with Ki-67 proliferative indices. A positive correlation between Als and Ki-67 proliferative indices was revealed (p=0.012) in Bcl-2 positive patients. Conclusion : In NHL, we observed a correlation between Als and Bcl-2 expression, between Ki-67 proliferative indices and P53 expression, and between Als and Ki-67 proliferative indices in Bcl-2 positive patients. Our results suggest that cell apoptosis may be inseparable from cell proliferation during tumor growth.