• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.595-601
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• 2010

This study was conducted to detect and identify Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Salmonella enterica subsp. using simultaneous multiplex polymerase chain reaction (multiplex PCR) assay. 23S rRNA partial gene (S. aureus), tox R gene (V. parahaemolyticus), and inv A gene (S. enterica subsp.) as diagnostic marker gene were suggested, and their amplicon sizes were 482 bp, 368 bp, and 284 bp, respectively. Non specific amplicons by STA-5F/STA-5R primer, ToxR-F/ToxR-R primer, and 139/141 primer were not observed in genomic DNA of pathogen bacteria as Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, and Shigella sonnei. The extracted crude DNA of targeted bacteria was detected as PCR template successfully. The detection limits were $10^5\sim10^4$ CFU/mL and 10 pg of purified genomic DNA of S. aureus, V. parahaemolyticus, and S. enterica subsp. by using simultaneous multiplex PCR.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2006

Background: The DR-$70^{TM}$ immunoassay is a newly developed cancer diagnostic test which quantifies the serum fibrin degradation products (FDP), produced during fibrinolysis, by antibody reaction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of DR-$70^{TM}$ Immunoassay in screening malignant tumor. Methods: Sample subjects were 4,169 adults, both male and female, who visited the health promotion center of a general hospital from March 2004 to April 2005 and underwent the DR-$70^{TM}$ immunoassay test and other tests for cancer diagnosis. The patient group was defined as 42 adults out of the sample subjects who were newly diagnosed with cancer during the same time period when the DR-$70^{TM}$ immunoassay test was performed. Final confirmation of a malignant tumor was made by pathological analysis. Results: The mean DR-$70^{TM}$ level was $0.83{\pm}0.65{\mu}g/ml$ (range: 0.00 (0.0001)${\sim}7.42{\mu}g/ml)$ in the control group (n=4,127) as opposed to $2.70{\pm}2.33{\mu}g/ml$ (range: $0.12{\sim}9.30{\mu}g/ml)$ in the cancer group (n=42), and statistical significance was established (p<0.0001, Student t-test). When categorized by the type of malignant tumor, all cancer patients with the exception of the subgroups of colon and rectal cancer showed significantly higher mean DR-$70^{TM}$ levels compared with the control group (p<0.0001, Kruscal-Wallis test). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed ${\geq}1.091{\mu}g/ml$ as the best cut-off value. Using this cut-off value, the DR-$70^{TM}$ immunoassay produced a sensitivity of 71.4%, a specificity of 70.1%, a positive predictability of 69.4%, and a negative predictability of 69.2% (1). Conclusion: A significant increase in the mean DR-$70^{TM}$ value was observed in the cancer group (thyroidal, gastric, breast, hepatic and ovarian) com pared with the control group. In particular, the specificity and sensitivity of the DR-$70^{TM}$ immunoassay was relatively high in the subgroups of breast, gastric, and thyroidal cancer patients. There is need for further studies on a large number of malignant tumor patients to see how the DR-$70^{TM}$ level might be changed according to the differentiation grade and postoperative prognosis of the malignant tumor.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.166-178
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• 2013

Objectives Alteration of epigenetic effects of testosterone during early development was suggested as an ancillary mechanism for the genesis of schizophrenia. EEG coherence was thought to be a marker for cerebral laterality of which important determinant was testosterone during early development. We studied sex-related differences of EEG coherences between patients with schizophrenia and controls to examine the sex effects in the genesis of schizophrenia. Methods EEG was recorded in 35 patients with schizophrenia and 46 healthy controls in the eyes closed resting state. Pair-wise EEG coherences were calculated over delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands. To examine the differences of EEG coherence according to sex in each group, ANCOVA was performed using Statistical Analysis system (SAS, Ver 9.3) and R (Ver 2.15.2). Results Healthy control males showed more increased right intrahemispheric coherences than healthy control females in delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands. In patients with schizophrenia, this male dominant pattern in right intrahemispheric coherences was attenuated especially in alpha and beta bands. Healthy control females showed more increased interhemispheric coherences than healthy control males in delta, theta, beta and gamma frequency bands. In patients with schizophrenia, these female dominant patterns in interhemispheric coherences were attenuated especially in delta, theta, and beta bands, which were commonly observed in frontal to central areas. Conclusion Sex differences in resting EEG coherences were attenuated in schizophrenia patients. These results imply that sex-related aberrant cerebral lateralization might exist in patients with schizophrenia, which are partly due to sex hormones via epigenetic mechanisms.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.486-493
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The honeysuckle berry (HB) contains ascorbic acid and phenolic components, especially anthocyanins, flavonoids, and low-molecular-weight phenolic acids. In order to examine the potential of HB as a hepatoprotective medicinal food, we evaluated the in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Korean HB (HBK) and Chinese HB (HBC). MATERIALS/METHODS: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts were examined in HepG2 and RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. The anti-oxidant capacity was determined by DPPH, SOD, CAT, and ARE luciferase activities. The production of nitric oxide (NO) as an inflammatory marker was also evaluated. The Nrf2-mediated mRNA levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (Nqo1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gclc) were measured. The concentrations of HB extracts used were 3, 10, 30, 100, and $300{\mu}g/mL$. RESULTS: The radical scavenging activity of all HB extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). SOD (P < 0.05) and CAT (P < 0.01) activities were increased by treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of each HB extract, when compared to those in the control. NO production was observed in cells pretreated with 100 or $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBC and HBK (P < 0.01). Treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBC significantly increased Nqo1 (P < 0.01) and Gclc (P < 0.05) mRNA levels compared to those in the control. Treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBK (P < 0.05) and HBC (P < 0.01) also significantly increased the HO-1 mRNA level compared to that in the control. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the Korean and Chinese HBs were found to possess favorable in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Nrf2 and its related anti-oxidant genes were associated with both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in HB-treated cells. Further studies are needed to confirm these in vivo effects.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2004

Objectives : Cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, is a useful marker of exposure to tobacco smoke and self-reporting of smoking status is thought not to be reliable. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement between the smoking self-report among adolescents and the urinary cotinine test. Methods : The study subjects were 1226 middle and high school students in Hanam city, who were selected by stratified random sampling. The self-report about smoking behavior was compared with urine cotinine value measured with PBM $AccuSign^{\circledR}fi$ Nicotine(Princeton BioMeditech Corporation, USA). The percentage agreement, kappa and 95% confidence interval(CI) were calculated. Results : The overall percentage agreement was 88.6%, and those for boys, girls, middle school, general school and vocational school students were 87.3%, 90.1%, 93.7%, 85,5%, 90.7%, and 78.4%, respectively. The overall kappa index was 0.46(95% CI=0.39-0.54)for overall, .and those for boys, girls, middle school, general school and vocational school students were 0.56(95% CI=0.48-0.65), 0.20(95% CI=0.07-0.32), 0.21(95% CI=0.09-0.34), 0.55(95% CI=0.47-0.64), 0.42(95% CI=0.33-0.52), and 0.48(95% CI=0.36-0.60), respectively. Conclusion : The percentage agreement was relatively high but the kappa values very low for girls, and middle school students. Though the prevalence bias can be influenced by these results, the self-report was not a sufficient tool for the evaluation of adolescents' smoking status, especially in girls or middle school students.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.327-337
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• 2020

Objective : Citri Unshius Pericarpium is the dried peel of mature fruit of Citrus unshiu Markovich and has been used to treat indigestion, vomiting, and removal of phlegm. This study investigated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of CEE (Ethanol extract of Citri Unshius Pericarpium) in cadmium (CdCl₂)-treated HepG2 cells. Methods : Component analysis of Citri Unshius Pericarpium was analyzed by UPLC with C₁₈ column. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were analyzed using commercially available kits. Results : Cadmium caused severe HepG2 cell death. Cadmium also increased ROS production, consistent with depletion of GSH and inhibition of the SOD enzyme. However, CEE treatment reduced cell death and relieved oxidative stress caused by cadmium toxicity. CEE lowered ROS levels and improved depletion of GSH levels. CEE also enhanced the enzymatic activity of SOD. In component analysis, hesperidin was the most abundant of the five marker compounds (Narigenin, Narigin, Narirutin, Hesperidin and Hesperidin), which assumes that hesperidin partially contributed to the antioxidant activity of CEE. Conclusion : These results suggested that CEE could be a potential substance to solve heavy metal-related health problems. In particular, inhibition of oxidative stress by CEE can be a way to treat liver damage caused by cadmium.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.161-166
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• 2014

Lung cancer is the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and a lack of effective methods for early diagnosis has greatly impacted the prognosis and survival rates of the affected patients. Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are considered to be largely responsible for tumor genesis, resistance to tumor therapy, metastasis, and recurrence. In addition to representing a good potential treatment target, TICs can provide clues for the early diagnosis of cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA) alterations are known to be involved in the initiation and progression of human cancer, and the detection of related miRNAs in TICs is an important strategy for lung cancer early diagnosis. As Hsa-miR-155 (miR-155) can be used as a diagnostic marker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a smart molecular beacon of miR-155 was designed to image the expression of miR-155 in NSCLC cases. TICs expressing CD133 and CD338 were obtained from A549 cells by applying an immune magnetic bead isolation system, and miR-155 was detected using laser-scanning confocal microscopy. We found that intracellular miR-155 could be successfully detected using smart miR-155 molecular beacons. Expression was higher in TICs than in A549 cells, indicating that miR-155 may play an important role in regulating bio-behavior of TICs. As a non-invasive approach, molecular beacons could be implemented with molecular imaging to diagnose lung cancer at early stages.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1036-1046
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• 2015

Extracts from Asian medicinal herbs are known to be successful therapeutic agents against cancer. In this study, the effects of three types of herbal extracts on anti-tumor growth were examined. Among the three types of herbal extracts, H9 showed stronger anti-tumor growth effects than H5 and H11 in vivo. To find the molecular mechanism by which H9 inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines, the levels of apoptotic markers were examined. Proapoptotic markers, including cleaved PARP and cleaved caspases 3 and 9, were increased, whereas the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 was decreased by H9 treatment. Next, the combined effect of H9 with the chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) on tumor growth was examined using 4T1-tumor-bearing mice. The combined treatment of H9 with AC did not show additive or synergetic anti-tumor growth effects. However, when tumor-bearing mice were co-treated with H9 and the targeted anti-tumor drug trastuzumab, a delay in tumor growth was observed. The combined treatment of H9 and trastuzumab caused an increase of natural killer (NK) cells and a decrease of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Taken together, H9 induces the apoptotic death of tumor cells while increasing anti-tumor immune activity through the enhancement of NK activity and diminishment of MDSC.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.733-739
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate combination of each of g.15532 C>A, g.17924 G>A SNP of FASN gene and beef quality grade of progeny in Hanwoo cow. In order to analyze the SNPs, genomic DNA was obtained from 270 Hanwoo cow and their progeny steer and g.15532 C>A and g.17924 G>A SNP was genotyped using single-based extension. Employing GLM as a statistical model. g.15532 C>A and g.17924 G>A SNP have a significant effect in Hanwoo steer but no significant effect in Hanwoo cow. Combination of each of g.15532 C>A, g.17924 G>A SNP and beef quality grade of progeny have a significant effect on marbling score in Hanwoo cow. Therefore, we suggest that g.15532 C>A and g.17924 G>A SNP contribute to genetic improvement on marbling score in Hanwoo cow.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.398-404
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• 2014

Salt stress is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting the yield of ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). The objective of this study was to identify bio-marker, which is early responsive in salt stress in ginseng, using proteomics approach. Ginseng plants were exposed to 5 ds/m salt concentration and samples were harvested at 0, 6, 12 and 18 hours after exposure. Total proteins were extracted from ginseng leaves treated with salt stress using Mg/NP-40 buffer and were separated on high resolution 2-DE. Approximately $1003{\pm}240$ (0 h), $992{\pm}166$ (6 h), $1051{\pm}51$ (12 h) and $990{\pm}160$ (18 h) spots were detected in colloidal CBB stained 2D maps. Among these, 8 spots were differentially expressed and were identified by using MALDI-TOF/TOF MS or/and LC-MS/MS. Ethylene response sensor-1 (spot GL 1), nucleotide binding protein (spot GL 2), carbonic anhydrase-1 (spot GL 3), thylakoid lumenal 17.9 kDa protein (spot GL 4) and Chlorophyll a/b binding protein (spot GL 5, GL 6) were up-regulated at the 12 and 18 hour, while RuBisCO activase B (spot GL 7) and DNA helicase (spot GL 8) were down-regulated. Thus, we suggest that these proteins might participate in the early response to salt stress in ginseng leaves.