• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.5973-5981
• /
• 2013

At present, the most common cause of cancer-related death in women is breast cancer. In a large proportion of breast cancers, there is the overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This receptor is a 185 KDa growth factor glycoprotein, also known as the first tumor-associated antigen for different types of breast cancers. Moreover, HER2 is an appropriate cell-surface specific antigen for passive immunotherapy, which relies on the repeated application of monoclonal antibodies that are transferred to the patient. However, vaccination is preferable because it would stimulate a patient's own immune system to actively respond to a disease. In the current study, several bioinformatics tools were used for designing synthetic peptide vaccines. PEPOP was used to predict peptides from HER2 ECD subdomain III in the form of discontinuous-continuous B-cell epitopes. Then, T-cell epitope prediction web servers MHCPred, SYFPEITHI, HLA peptide motif search, Propred, and SVMHC were used to identify class-I and II MHC peptides. In this way, PEPOP selected 12 discontinuous peptides from the 3D structure of the HER2 ECD subdomain III. Furthermore, T-cell epitope prediction analyses identified four peptides containing the segments 77 (384-391) and 99 (495-503) for both B and T-cell epitopes. This work is the only study to our knowledge focusing on design of in silico potential novel cancer peptide vaccines of the HER2 ECD subdomain III that contain epitopes for both B and T-cells. These findings based on bioinformatics analyses may be used in vaccine design and cancer therapy; saving time and minimizing the number of tests needed to select the best possible epitopes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.88-95
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the clinical utilization of radiation therapy (RT) in Korea between 2009 and 2013. Materials and Methods: We analyzed open claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The subjects were patients who had diagnostic codes C00-C97 or D00-D48 according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, with procedure codes indicating RT treatment. Results: The total number of patients who received RT in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were 45,571, 49,593, 54,671, 59,172, and 61,485, respectively. Among them, the total numbers of male and female patients were 20,780/24,791 in 2009, 22,711/26,882 in 2010, 24,872/29,799 in 2011, 27,101/32,071 in 2012, and 27,941/33,544 in 2013. The five cancers that were most frequently treated with RT between 2009 and 2012 were breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and uterine cervical cancers. However, the fifth most common cancer treated with RT that replaced uterine cervical cancer in 2013 was prostate cancer. The three leading types of cancer among the male patients were lung, colorectal, and liver cancers, whereas in female patients, they were breast, uterine cervical, and lung cancers. The type of cancer most commonly treated by RT was cancer of the central nervous system in patients aged 20 years or less, breast cancer in patients aged 30-50 years, and lung cancer in patients aged 60 years or more. Conclusion: Data from this study provided the clinical utilization of RT in Korea between 2009 and 2013.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.1061-1075
• /
• 2016

Context: There are no recent authoritative data about incidence and prevalence of various types of cancers in Pakistan. Aim: To determine the frequency of malignant tumors seen in our practice and provide a foundation for building a comprehensive cancer care strategy. Materials and Methods: 10,000 successive cases of solid malignant tumors reported in 2014 were included. All cases had formalin fixed, paraffin embedded specimens available and diagnosis was based on histological examination of H&E stained slides plus ancillary studies at the Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. The latest WHO classifications were used along with the latest CAP protocols for reporting and the most updated TNM staging. Results: There were 9,492 (94.9%) primary tumors while 508 (5.1%) were metastatic. Some 5,153 (51.5%) were diagnosed in females and 4,847 (48.5%) in males. The commonest malignant tumors in females were breast (32%), esophagus (7%), lymphomas (6.8%), oral cavity (6.7%) and ovary (4.8%), while in males they were oral cavity (13.9%), lymphomas (12.8%), colorectum (7.9%), stomach (6.9%) and esophagus (6.6%). Malignant tumors were most common in the 5th, 6th and 7th decades. About 8% were seen under 20 years of age. Conclusions: Oral cavity and gastrointestinal cancers continue to be extremely common in both genders. Breast and esophageal cancers are prevalent in females. Lung and prostate cancer are less common than in the west. Ovarian cancer was very common but cervix cancer was less so.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.9
• /
• pp.827-833
• /
• 2021

Dendropanax morbiferus leaves (DPL) has been used as a medicine since ancient times in various diseases such as inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. In particular, it has been found to have anticancer effects on several types of cancer cells, but the anticancer effect on breast cancer cells SK-BR-3 has not yet been revealed. Therefore, in this study, DPL caused proliferation inhibition in breast cancer cells SK-BR-3 and the anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis was confirmed, through an in vitro experiment. In order to examine the effect of DPL on cell viability, MTT assay was performed to confirm a significant decrease in the concentration of cell viability. DAPI staining was performed to examine the effect of DPL on cellular morphological changes and increase of apoptotic bodies. To supplement this, an increase in the apoptosis rate was also confirmed through flow cytometry after staining with annexin V/PI. Western blot was performed to confirm apoptosis-related proteins. DPL increased the expression of Cleaved-PARP, Bax whereas decreased the expression of Bcl-2. Changes in the expression levels of MAPK pathway proteins p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, and p-p38 were also confirmed, and a significant increase in p-p38 was observed. These results indicated that DPL induced apoptosis, through p-p38 MAPK signal pathway in SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary supplementation of two different types of multiple probiotics in broiler chicks. Four hundred one day old male broiler chicks(Ross ${\times}$ Ross) were raised in the floor pen with five treatments(0, A: 0.10, 0.20%, B: 0.10, 0.20% of probiotics), consisting of 5 replicates for 5 weeks. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were measured weekly, Total Lactobacillus, yeast, E. coli, Salmonella were examined from ileum and cecum at the end of experiment. Sera protein, cholesterol and ND vaccine titer were measured and fecal COD, CO$_2$ and NH$_3$ were detected in 24 hours after collection. Weight gain of chickes fed both types of probiotics increased for the first three weeks and showed significantly higher for the rest two weeks. Feed intake tended to be high in probiotics treatments compared with contro(P<0.05)1. Feed conversion improved significantly in B types of 0.2% probiotics compared with control. Total number of Salmonella was not consistent in ileum among treatments, whereas E. coli tended to be decreased in both types of probiotics compared with control. NH$_3$ and CO$_2$ emission of feces were decreased in both types of probiotics, but it was not statistically different(p>0.05). COD of chicks fed both probiotics was lower than control. There were no significantly different breast meat(P>0.05). Total cholesterol decreased in probiotics groups regardless of it's type. ND antibody vaccine titer was prone to be a small increments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.16
• /
• pp.7003-7006
• /
• 2015

Background: Nanoparticles of gold and silver are offering revolutionary changes in the field of cancer therapy. N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) metal complexes possess diverse biological activities and are being investigated as potential chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this study was to examine the cytotoxicity and possible mechanisms of action of two types of newly synthesized nanofiber composites containing BIAN N-heterocyclic gold carbene complexes in two types of human cancer cells, namely breast cancer (MCF7) and liver cancer (HepG2) cells and also in normal human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293). Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT cell viability assay and oxidative stress by checking the total glutathione level. Results: Both compounds affected the cell survival of the tested cell lines at very low concentrations (IC50 values in the micro molar range) as compared to a well-known anti-cancer drug, 5 fluorouracil. A 60-80% depletion in total glutathione level was detected in treated cells. Conclusions: Reduction in total glutathione level is one of the biochemical pathways for the induction of oxidative stress which in turn could be a possible mechanism of action by which these compounds induce cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. The in vitro toxicity towards cancer cells found here means that these molecules could be potential anticancer candidates.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.942-949
• /
• 2013

This study was performed to investigate purchasing practice and size satisfaction in order to offer basic data to establish marketing strategy and produce ready-made clothes for the male college students according to their body type. For data analysis, crosstabs, factor analysis and one-way ANOVA were used. Results were as follows; first, this study considered the somatotype distribution of male college students. The results showed that inverted triangle -shaped torso was the ideal somatotype in all the classified four actual somatotypes. Second, people in standard body types significantly considered price and appearance such as design, color, pattern and price while people in triangle-shaped torso placed the most importance in the practicality and wearability. People with inverted triangle-shaped torso was found to significantly consider the perceptual quality such as brand, a/s and fashion. Third, this study considered the wearing satisfaction of ready-to-wear. The respondents placed more emphasis on the practicality and wearability as their actual somatotypes were not ideal for them. Fourth, the examination of the difference in size fitness depending on clothing by somatotype when wearing ready-to-wear showed that breast on the top was small when wearing it in the remaining somatotypes except for standard somatotype. The upper body showed better size fitness in triangle-shaped torso. There is a difference in fitness according to somatotypes classified by the form factors even though they have the same body mass index.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 2002

Objectives of this study are to make clear the vegetation structure of Hovenia dulcis community in the Korean Peninsula over ten mountains including 17 plots. The results were summarized as follows. Habitat of the community indicated that elevation ranged from 115 meter to 720 meter at the sea level, slope aspect in nearly all directions, bare rock from 0 to 90 percent, slope degree from 10$^{\circ}$ to 40$^{\circ}$, topography from valley to middle slope, the height of tree layer from 8m to 22m, the diameter at breast height from 12cm to 59cm and coverage from 65% to 95$\%$$\%$

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.427-440
• /
• 2016

This study uses comparison tests of bodice basic patterns to research improvements in wearing evaluation methods based on differences in bodice basic patterns and body size. As study methods, we calculated body sizes for six types by selecting four types of bodice basic pattern and utilized bodice basic pattern size measurement tools. The study result are as follows. First, as the result of analyzing bodice basic patterns per each part and body size difference by bodice basic pattern size measurement tool, shoulder angle cover rate was J&K type 57.57%~68.41%, N type 53.13%~65.57%, L type 51.87%~63.73%, and H type 59.03%~68.20%. In the item of neck base circumference, it was J&K type 6.4~-16 mm, N type 10.7~-31.9 mm, L type -5.2~-13.4 mm, and H type -6.2~-15.4 mm. In the item of armscye circumference, it was J&K type -18.9~-59.4 mm, N type -15.2~-51.3 mm, L type -38.9~-52.7 mm, and H type -17~-42.2 mm. In the item of biacromion length, it was J&K type 23.2~-4.7 mm, N type 18.4~-10.4 mm, and H type 3.5~-5.7 mm. In the item of interscye back, it was J&K type and N type 17.6~-13.6 mm, L type 11.9~-13.6 mm, and H type 3.2~-11.8 mm. The item of interscye front was found in the sequences of study type and L type. Second, the Kruskal-Wallis test result (according to bodice basic pattern) indicated meaningful differences in items of shoulder angle cover rate, neck point to breast point, bust point-bust point, biacromion length and armscye circumference and H type had an overall higher rank.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.70-76
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study investigated self-food restriction during breastfeeding, reviewed the literature showing the effect of maternal diet on the health of breast-fed infants, and explored the validity of dietary restrictions. Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from breastfeeding Korean mothers who visited the pediatric clinic of Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center from July 2015 through August 2015. The survey included items assessing maternal age, number of children, maternal educational attainment, household income, degree of difficulty with self-food restriction, types of self-restricted foods, dietary customs during breastfeeding, and sources of information about breastfeeding. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 145 mothers. More than a third (n=56, 39%) had discomfort from and usually avoided 4-5 types of food (mean, 4.92). Mothers younger than 40 years had more discomfort (odds ratio [OR], 12.762; P=0.017). Primiparas felt less discomfort than multiparas (OR, 0.436; P=0.036). Dietary practices were not influenced by maternal educational attainment or household income. The most common self-restricted foods were caffeine (n=131, 90.3%), spicy foods (n=124, 85.5%), raw foods (n=109, 75.2%), cold foods (n=100, 69%), and sikhye (traditional sweet Korean rice beverage) (n=100, 69%). Most mothers (n=122, 84.1%) avoided foods for vague reasons. Conclusion: Most mothers restricted certain foods unnecessarily. Literature review identified no foods that mothers should absolutely avoid during breastfeeding unless the infant reacts negatively to the food.