• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.485-496
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• 2016

We describe 2 echinostome species recovered from an Eastern cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis coromandus, from Cheongju-si (city), Chungcheongbuk-do (province), Korea. Total 72 Pegosomum bubulcum specimens were recovered from the bile duct. They were $7,566{\times}2,938{\mu}m$ in average size and had 27 collar spines with vitelline extension from anterior 1/3 level of the esophagus to mid-level of the posterior testis as characteristic features. Total 9 specimens of Nephrostomum ramosum were recovered in the small intestines of the bird. They were ribbon-shaped, $11,378{\times}2,124{\mu}m$ in average size, and morphologically variable in some organs, i.e., the number of collar spines (47-50), the shape of ovary and testes, and the extension of vitelline follicles. These morphological variations observed in a single host indicated that these features are not critical for the classification of Nephrostomum species and thus were reconsidered taxonomically as synonym of N. ramosum. This study is the first report documenting and describing both flukes and their associated genera in Korea.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.sup1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2008

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism that results in accumulation of copper primarily in the liver, the brain and the cornea. Mutations in the WD gene, ATP7B cause failure of copper excretion from hepatocyte into bile and a defective synthesis of ceruloplasmin. More than 370 mutations are now recognized, scattering throughout the ATP7B gene. Since WD has protean clinical presentations, awareness of WD in clinical practice is important for the early diagnosis and prevention of accumulated copper toxicity. None of the laboratory parameters alone allows a definite diagnosis of WD. There are numerous pitfalls in the diagnosis of WD. Low serum ceruloplasmin concentrations, increased 24 hour urinary copper excretion, increased hepatic copper concentrations and the presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings in the cornea are major diagnostic points. A combination of any two of these 4 laboratory findings is strong support for a diagnosis of WD. Molecular methods are now being used to aid diagnosis. Molecular genetic testing has confirmed the diagnosis in individuals in whom the diagnosis is not clearly established biochemically and clinically. Siblings should be screened for WD once an index case has been diagnosed. Discrimination of heterozygotes from asymptomatic patients is essential to avoid inappropriate lifelong therapy for heterozygotes. Genetic testing, either by haplotype analysis or by mutation analysis, is the only reliable tool for differentiating heterozygote carriers from affected asymptomatic patients. Currently, genetic testing is of limited value in the primary diagnosis. However, genetic testing will soon play an essential role in diagnosing WD as rapid advancement of biomedical technology will allow more rapid, easier and less expensive mutation detection.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.747-751
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• 2004

The effect of yogurt containing Hamcho (Salicornia herbacea) extract (Hamcho yogurt: HY) on the lipid concentrations in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a cholesterol diet were studied. Rats were assigned three groups in the experiment; cholesterol diet (the CHOL group), cholesterol diet plus yogurt by lactic acid bacteria (the Y group) or cholesterol diet plus yogurt supplemented Hamcho extract by lactic acid bacteria (the HY group). Fermented milk with or without Hamcho extract in the diet supplemented at the levels 5.0% for 3 weeks. The concentrations of total cholesterol and bile acid in serum was significantly lower in the HY group than the CHOL group. This effect was also observed in rats fed a diet supplemented fermented milk. This cholesterol-lowering effect was more pronounced in the HY group compared to the Y group. The atherogenic index was significantly lower in the HY or Y groups than the CHOL group. The concentration of non esterified fatty acid in serum was significantly lower in the HY group than the CHOL and the Y groups. These results suggested that Hamcho yogurt exert the hypocholesterolemic effect in cholesterol fed rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3849-3856
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• 2015

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), or bile duct cancer, is incurable with a high mortality rate due to a lack of effective early diagnosis and treatment. Identifying cytoplasmic membrane proteins of invasive CCA that facilitate cancer progression would contribute toward the development of novel tumor markers and effective chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: An invasive CCA cell line (KKU-100) was stimulated using TNF-${\alpha}$ and then biotinylated and purified for mass spectrometry analysis. Novel proteins expressed were selected and their mRNAs expression levels were determined by real-time RT-PCR. In addition, the expression of ALCAM was selected for further observation by Western blot analysis, immunofluorescent imaging, and antibody neutralization assay. Results: After comparing the proteomics profile of TNF-${\alpha}$ induced invasive with non-treated control cells, over-expression of seven novel proteins was observed in the cytoplasmic membrane of TNF-${\alpha}$ stimulated CCA cells. Among these, ALCAM is a novel candidate which showed significant higher mRNA- and protein levels. Immunofluorescent assay also supported that ALCAM was expressed on the cell membrane of the cancer, with increasing intensity associated with TNF-${\alpha}$. Conclusions: This study indicated that ALCAM may be a novel protein candidate expressed on cytoplasmic membranes of invasive CCA cells that could be used as a biomarker for development of diagnosis, prognosis, and drug or antibody-based targeted therapies in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1163-1168
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• 2016

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the bile duct cancer which constitutes one of the important public health problems in Thailand with high mortality rate, especially in the Opisthorchis viverrini (a parasite risk factor for CCA) endemic area of the northeastern region of the country. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers from the plasma peptidome by CCA patients. Peptides were isolated using 10 kDa cut-off filter column and the flow-through was then used as a peptidome for LC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 209 peptides were obtained. Among these, 15 peptides were concerned with signaling pathways and 12 related to metabolic, regulatory, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolite pathways. Five exclusive peptides were identified as potential biomarkers, i.e. ETS domain-containing transcription factor ERF (P50548), KIAA0220 (Q92617), phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta isoform isoform 1 (P42338), LP2209 (Q6XYC0), and casein kinase II subunit alpha (P19784). Three of these biomarkers are signaling related molecules. A combination of these biomarkers for CCA diagnosis is proposed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7473-7478
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• 2014

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a fatal cancer with poor prognosis and less than 10% of CCA patients can be offered surgical cure. Conventional chemotherapy results in unfavorable outcomes. At present, plant-derived compounds are gaining interest as potential cancer therapeutics, particularly for treatment-refractory cancers. In this study, antitumor activity of tiliacorinine, the major alkaloid isolated from a tropical plant, on CCA was first demonstrated. Antiproliferative effects of tiliacorinine on human CCA cell lines were investigated using SRB assays. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, flow cytometric analysis and DNA laddering assays were used for apoptotic determination. Apoptosis-related proteins were verified by Western blotting and antitumor activity of tiliacorinine in vivo was demonstrated in CCA xenografted mice. Tiliacorinine significantly inhibited proliferation of human CCA cell lines with $IC_{50}$ $4.5-7{\mu}M$ by inducing apoptosis through caspase activation, upregulation of BAX, and downregulation of $Bcl_{xL}$ and XIAP. Tiliacorinine considerably reduced tumor growth in CCA xenografted mice. These results demonstrated antitumor effects of tiliacorinine on human CCA in vitro and in vivo. Tiliacorinine may be an effective agent for CCA treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6257-6260
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• 2013

Gallstone disease is a major surgical problem in many populations; it is probably related to diet, especially excessive consumption of meat. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of gallstones and their association with neoplastic changes including cholangiocarcinomas in cholecystectomised patients. The chemical composition of gallstones from 40 patients (8 males and 32 females) was analyzed. This is a prospective study performed in Baquba teaching hospital in the period from 1/10/2012 to 1/1/2013 in which we collected the gallstones for the patients who underwent cholecystectomy, whether open or laparoscopic. The stones were classified according to their chemical composition as a mixed stones (MS), and examined using a stone analysis set (chemical qualitative method) for calcium, magnesium, phosphate, uric acid and oxalate which was used reagent for qualitative determination of main individual components of stones. The results of this study showed the highest incidence of gallstones in the age group 40-49 was 13 cases followed by 11, 8 and 4 cases for age groups 30-39, 50-59, 20-29 and 60 and above, respectively. The chemical analysis showed the majority of gallstones were mixed, 38 containing calcium followed by 37 cases with uric acid, 28 with magnesium, and 25 and 22 stones with oxalate and phosphate, respectively. Microscopically, we confirmed neoplastic changes (17.5%) as cholangiocarcinomas (CCCs) (7.55%) and dysplastic cells of carcinoma in situ in 4 (10%), 31 (77.5%) cases were chronic cholecystitis and 2 (5%) cases were acute cholecystitis with empyema out of bile duct disorders patients. In conclusion, majority of cases had mixed gallstones that involved five and four of inorganic chemicals of calcium, magnesium and phosphate, the highest incidence of gallstones in age group 40-49 years old was 13 cases, and neoplastic changes were confirmed (17.5%) including CCCs, (7.5%) and dysplastic cells of carcinoma in situ (10%), while 31 (77.5%) cases were chronic cholecystitis.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.140-149
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• 1995

Morphology and histochemical characteristics of the alimentary tract in surfperch, Ditrema temmincki were investigated by histological observation. The relative length of gut(RLG) in surfperch, that is the postpharyngeal portion of the alimentary tract, is about 0.89 to standard length. The absence of a stomach, which is the part of expantion of the alimentary tract between esophageal end and the entrance of the bile duct into the intestine, was observed. The alimentary tract is divided into the esophagus, esophageal-intestine part, anterior intestine, mid intestine, posterior intestine, intestinorectum part, rectum, rectal-anus part, and anus by morphology and histochemical features. Morphology of mucosal folds is the most complexity in the rectum and the tunica muscularis of the esophagus and anus is more advanced than those of other parts. The epithelial layers of mucosal folds consist of columnar epithelium except for cuboidal cells of the anterior part of the esophagus. The goblet cells and polysaccharide absorptive cells were observed in the alimentary tract. Nutritive polysaccharide is mainly absorbed by the absorptive cells in the posterior intestine of the surfperch.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2013

Emerging studies suggest that vegetables or fruit juices deemed to be potential alternative base medium for lactic acid bacteria fermentation. Until now, limited studies have been carried out to evaluate such applications. Thus, the objective of present study is that lactic acid bacteria were evaluated for their viability at low pH, growth during storage at low temperature, and $CO_2$ formation. Furthermore, the effects of grapefruit extract with respect to cell viability, sensory ability, and organic acid production were evaluated for these strains. The probiotic properties of the strains, including acid tolerance, bile tolerance, and adhesion to human intestinal epithelial cells (HT-29 cells), prebiotic characteristics, and safety features were examined. All strains survived in MRS medium broth adjusted to pH 3.8, at $10^{\circ}C$ for 6 days, and did not produce $CO_2$ to check post fermentation. The medium of grapefruit extract fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum CJIH 203 resulted in maximal viable counts, compared with other strains, and the extract subsequently tasted sour due to the presence of lactic acid. Lactobacillus plantarum CJIH203 was highly resistant to artificial gastric juice and intestinal juice, while Lactococcus lactis SJ09 strongly adhered to HT-29 cells. Tagatose showed the greatest ability to enhance the growth of L. plantarum SJ21, relative to the other strains. All strains were verified by safety tests such as hemolysis, gelatin hydration, and urea degradation. Therefore, these strains could be promising candidates for use in reducing excessive post-fermentation and functional products.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 2004

The histopathologieal effects of his(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) on the flounder, Paralichthys otivaceus were examined by means of histological methods. The experimental fishes were exposed to 0.17, 0.36, 0.60, 3.20, 6.30, 12.50 ${\mu}g \;L^{-1}$TBTO concentrations for 42 days. Histopathological change of the fish exposed to TBTO is dependent on the exposure duration and concentration. In the lower concentrations early histological changes included activated mucous cells and chloride cells, capillary hyperemia and epithelial hyperplasia in the gill; hepatocyte activation, degeneration of bile duct and pancyeatic zymogen reduction in the hepatopancreas; and capillary hyperemia, appearance of eosinophilic cell and melano-macrophagocytes in the kidney. At the higher concentrations histological changes of dysfunctionality included epithelial lifting and deformation of the lamellae in the gill; pycnosis and cytoplasmic degeneration of hepatocyte; pycnosis of haemopoietic cell and deformation of renal tubules and glomerulus in the kidney. It is indicated that TBTO induced histopathological changes in the fish as other aquatic pollutants.