• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2019

As the elderly population is increasing, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a global issue and many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate treatments for AD. As these clinical trials have been conducted and have failed, the development of new theraphies for AD with fewer adverse effects remains a challenge. In this study, we examined the effects of Theracurmin on cognitive decline using 5XFAD mice, an AD mouse model. Theracurmin is more bioavailable form of curcumin, generated with submicron colloidal dispersion. Mice were treated with Theracurmin (100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg) for 12 weeks and were subjected to the novel object recognition test and the Barnes maze test. Theracurmin-treated mice showed significant amelioration in recognition and spatial memories compared those of the vehicle-treated controls. In addition, the antioxidant activities of Theracurmin were investigated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. The increased MDA level and decreased SOD and GSH levels in the vehicle-treated 5XFAD mice were significantly reversed by the administration of Theracurmin. Moreover, we observed that Theracurmin administration elevated the expression levels of synaptic components, including synaptophysin and post synaptic density protein 95, and decreased the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), a marker of activated microglia. These results suggest that Theracurmin ameliorates cognitive function by increasing the expression of synaptic components and by preventing neuronal cell damage from oxidative stress or from the activation of microglia. Thus, Theracurmin would be useful for treating the cognitive dysfunctions observed in AD.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1221-1231
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• 2023

Objective: To clinically validate the feasibility and accuracy of cine images acquired through the multitasking method, with no electrocardiogram gating and free-breathing, in measuring left ventricular (LV) function indices by comparing them with those acquired through the balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) method, with multiple breath-holds and electrocardiogram gating. Materials and Methods: Forty-three healthy volunteers (female:male, 30:13; mean age, 23.1 ± 2.3 years) and 36 patients requiring an assessment of LV function for various clinical indications (female:male, 22:14; 57.8 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the multiple breath-hold bSSFP method and free-breathing multitasking method. LV function parameters were measured for both MRI methods. Image quality was assessed through subjective image quality scores (1 to 5) and calculation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the myocardium and blood pool. Differences between the two MRI methods were analyzed using the Bland-Altman plot, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate. Results: LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the two MRI methods (P = 0.222 in healthy volunteers and P = 0.343 in patients). LV end-diastolic mass was slightly overestimated with multitasking in both healthy volunteers (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 60.5 ± 10.7 g vs. 58.0 ± 10.4 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and patients (69.4 ± 18.1 g vs. 66.8 ± 18.0 g, respectively; P = 0.003). Acceptable and comparable image quality was achieved for both MRI methods (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P = 0.203). The CNR between the myocardium and blood pool showed no significant differences between the two MRI methods (18.89 ± 6.65 vs. 18.19 ± 5.83, respectively; P = 0.480). Conclusion: Multitasking-derived cine images obtained without electrocardiogram gating and breath-holding achieved similar image quality and accurate quantification of LVEF in healthy volunteers and patients.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.174-179
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• 2006

Information on the distribution characteristics of tuna resources in Kiribati EEZ waters in three zones (Zone 1: west Gilbert region, Zone 2: central Phoenix region, and Zone 3: east Line region) as well as their relationship with the ocean environment is critical for sustainable managing the migratory tuna resource and fishing practices in this region. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution and concentration of bigeye (BET) and yellowfin tuna (YFT) in Kiribati EEZ waters in relation to sea surface temperature (SST) and thermocline depth so as to better understand the tuna resources management basis in Kiribati waters. The geographic and temporal distribution and concentration were first displayed. Paired t-test was utilized to compare the distribution between the two tuna species based on Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) derived from the Korean longliners during 1996 to 2004, and also among the three zones of Kiribati EEZ waters. Environmental conditions of the three zones were then compared and correlated with the CPUE of YFT and BET. In addition, the effect of ENSO phenomena on the environmental conditions and the distribution of YFT and BET within the three zones were also examined. The BET was relatively higher in the Zone 3 whereas YFT predominate in the Zone 1 and the Zone 2 due to oceanographic differences among the three zones and the ecological habitats of the two tuna species. It was suggested that El Ni?o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena altered the oceanographic conditions of the three zones that in turn change the distribution of the two tuna species. During El Ni?o, the warm phase of ENSO, resulted in having more BET in all the three zones and the opposite observed during La Ni?a (cold phase) replacing by having relatively higher catch rate for YFT, particularly in the Zone 2. Although the results of the study are from short periods (1996 to 2004) in considering oceanographic anomality, these environmental variations should be considered into sustainable fisheries management of tuna fisheries in Kiribati EEZ waters.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6191-6196
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• 2012

Aims and Background: Traditional chemotherapy strategies for human leukemia commonly use drugs based on cytotoxicity to eradicate cancer cells. One predicament is that substantial damage to normal tissues is likely to occur in the course of standard treatments. Obviously, it is urgent to explore therapies that can effectively eliminate malignant cells without affecting normal cells. Our previous studies indicated that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ ($Rg_1$), a major active pharmacological ingredient of ginseng, could delay normal hematopoietic stem cell senescence. However, whether $Rg_1$ can induce cancer cell senescence is still unclear. Methods: In the current study, human leukemia K562 cells were subjected to $Rg_1$ exposure. The optimal drug concentration and duration with K562 cells was obtained by MTT colorimetric test. Effects of $Rg_1$ on cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry and by SA-${\beta}$-Gal staining. Colony-forming ability was measured by colony-assay. Telomere lengths were assessed by Southern blotting and expression of senescence-associated proteins P21, P16 and RB by Western blotting. Ultrastructural morphology changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: K562 cells demonstrated a maximum proliferation inhibition rate with an $Rg_1$ concentration of $20{\mu}\;mol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for 48h, the cells exhibiting dramatic morphological alterations including an enlarged and flat cellular morphology, larger mitochondria and increased number of lysosomes. Senescence associated-${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-Gal) activity was increased. K562 cells also had decreased ability for colony formation, and shortened telomere length as well as reduction of proliferating potential and arrestin $G_2$/M phase after $Rg_1$ interaction. The senescence associated proteins P21, P16 and RB were significantly up-regulated. Conclusion: Ginsenoside $Rg_1$ can induce a state of senescence in human leukemia K562 cells, which is associated with p21-Rb and p16-Rb pathways.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7297-7301
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• 2014

Objective: To explore the radiosensitization effect of overexpression of silent information regulator 6 (SIRT6) on A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: Adenovirus vector Ad-SIRT6 causing overexpression of SIRT6 was established. Western blotting and MTT assay were adopted to detect the level of SIRT6 protein and the inhibitory rate of A549 cell proliferation after different concentrations of adenovirus transduction (0, 25, 100, 200, and 400 pfu/cell) for 24 h. Control group, Ad-null group and Ad-SIRT6 group were designed in this experiment and virus concentration of the latter two groups was 200 pfu/cell. Colony formation assays were employed to test survival fraction (SF) of the 3 groups after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 X-ray irradiation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the status of cell cycle of 3 groups after 48 h of 4Gy X-ray irradiation and Western blotting was used to determine the expression of apoptosis-related genes of 3 groups after 48 h of 4GyX-ray irradiation. Results: In the range of 25~400 pfu/cell, the inhibitory rate of A549 cell proliferation increased as adenovirus concentration raised. The inhibitory rates under the concentrations of 0, 25, 100, 200, and 400 pfu/cell were 0%, $4.23{\pm}0.34%$, $12.7{\pm}2.57%$, $22.6{\pm}3.38%$, $32.2{\pm}3.22%$, $38.7{\pm}4.09%$ and $47.8{\pm}5.58%$ and there were significantly differences among groups (P<0.05). SF in Ad-SIRT6 group was lower than Ad-null and control groups after 4~10Gy X-ray irradiation (P<0.05) and the sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) was 1.35 when compared with control group. Moreover, after 48 h of 4Gy X-ray irradiation, there appeared a significant increase in G1-phase cell proportion, upregulated expression of the level of apoptosis-promoting genes (Bax and Cleaved caspase-3), but a obvious decline in S-phase and G2-phase cell proportion and a significant decrease of the level of apoptosis-inhibiting gene (Bal-2) in the Ad-SIRT6 group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The over-expression of adenovirus-mediated SIRT6, which has radiosensitization effect on A549 cells of NSCLC, can inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and cause G0/G1 phase retardation as well as induce apoptosis of cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6155-6160
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• 2014

Background: This study was conducted to investigate whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements by dividing the liver into left and right hepatic lobes may be utilized to improve the accuracy of differential diagnosis of benign and malignant focal liver lesions. Materials and Methods: A total of 269 consecutive patients with 429 focal liver lesions were examined by 3-T magnetic resonance imaging that included diffusion-weighted imaging. For 58 patients with focal liver lesions of the same etiology in left and right hepatic lobes, ADCs of normal liver parenchyma and focal liver lesions were calculated and compared using the paired t-test. For all 269 patients, ADC cutoffs for focal liver lesions and diagnostic accuracy in the left hepatic lobe, right hepatic lobe and whole liver were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: For the group of 58 patients, mean ADCs of normal liver parenchyma and focal liver lesions in the left hepatic lobe were significantly higher than those in the right hepatic lobe. For differentiating malignant lesions from benign lesions in all patients, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.6% and 92.0% in the left hepatic lobe, 94.4% and 94.4% in the right hepatic lobe, and 90.4% and 94.7% in the whole liver, respectively. The area under the curve of the right hepatic lobe, but not the left hepatic lobe, was higher than that of the whole liver. Conclusions: ADCs of normal liver parenchyma and focal liver lesions in the left hepatic lobe were significantly higher than those in the right hepatic lobe. Optimal ADC cutoff for focal liver lesions in the right hepatic lobe, but not in the left hepatic lobe, had higher diagnostic accuracy compared with that in the whole liver.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.537-542
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• 2002

To screening of antimicrobial activity, 95% ethanol and hot water extracts of roots, fruits, leaves, radix and stems of 50 species of traditional herbal medicines were examined. For their growth inhibitory effects on two food-born microorganisms, S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7, by the paper disc diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) test. Moutan radicis Cortex and Achyranthis Radix showed the highest inhibitory activities on both S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7. The Inhibition zones of Moutan radicis Cortex on S. aureus and E. coii O157:H7 were 22 mm and 24 mm respectively, and the corresponding inhibition zone of Achyranthis Radix were 23 mm and 22 mm. The MIC or Achyranthis Radix on S. aureus was 156.25 $\mu$g/mL, and the MIC or Achyranthis Radix and Moutan radicis Cortexas on E. coli O157:H7 were 625 $\mu$g/mL and 312.5 $\mu$g/mL, respectively. Their antimicrobial activities in ethanolic extracts were significantly higher than in hot water extracts. In the various solvent fractions prepared from ethanol extract, the ethyl acetate fraction of Achyranthis Radix and the CHCl$_3$ fraction of Moutan radicis Cortexas showed strongest activity.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.162-176
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• 2022

In Lead-based reactor (LBR) severe accident, the meltdown and migration inside the reactor core will lead to fuel fragment concentration, which may further cause re-criticality and even core disintegration. Accurately predicting the migration and solidification behavior of melt in LBR severe accidents is of prime importance for safety analysis of LBR. In this study, the Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) method is validated and used to simulate the migration and solidification behavior. Two main surface tension models are validated and compared. Meanwhile, the MPS method is validated by the L-plate solidification test. Based on the improved MPS method, the migration and solidification behavior of melt in LBR severe accident was studied furthermore. In the Pb-Bi coolant, the melt flows upward due to density difference. The migration and solidification behavior are greatly affected by the surface tension and viscous resistance varying with enthalpy. The whole movement process can be divided into three stages depending on the change in velocity. The heat transfer of core melt is determined jointly by two heat transfer modes: flow heat transfer and solid conductivity. Generally, the research results indicate that the MPS method has unique advantage in studying the migration and solidification behavior in LBR severe accident.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3403-3408
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• 2012

The molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) are still unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationships between expression of RALYL and clinical characteristics. In 41 paired samples of ccRCCs and adjacent normal tissues, we used real-time qPCR to evaluate the expression of RALYL mRNA. RALYL protein levels were determined in 146 samples of ccRCC and 37 adjacent normal tissues by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was used to explore the relationships between expression of RALYL and the clinical characteristics (gender, age, tumor size, T stage, N stage, M stage, survival times and survival outcome) in ccRCC. In addition, these patients were follow-up period 64 months (range: 4~116months) to investigate the influence on prognosis. We found significantly differences between ccRCC tissues and normal tissues (p<0.001, paired-sample t test) in mRNA levels of RALYL. Immunohistochemistry analyses in 146 ccRCC samples and 37 adjacent normal tissues showed significantly lower RALYL protein levels in ccRCC samples (${\chi}^2$-test, p<0.001), inversely correlating with tumour size (p=0.024), T stage (0.005), N stage (p<0.001) as well as M stage (p=0.019), but not age (p=0.357) and gender (p=0.348). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that people with lower level of RALYL expression had a poorer survival rate than those with a higher level of RALYL expression, significantly different by the log-rank test (p=0.011). Cox regression analysis indicated that RALYL expression (p=0.039), N stage (p=0.008) and distant metastasis (p<0.001) were independent prognosis factors for the overall survival of ccRCC patients. We demonstrated that the expression of RALYL was significantly low in ccRCC and correlated with a poor prognosis in a large number of clinical samples. Our findings showed that RALYL may be a potential therapeutic target as well as a poor prognostic factor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5033-5036
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• 2012

Objective: To study the relationship between expression of $p57^{KIP2}$ and prognosis and other clinicopathological parameters in invasive breast cancers. Methods: We assessed the expression of $p57^{KIP2}$ in 89 cases of invasive breast cancer and 20 cases of normal breast tissue by immunohistochemical methods and analyzed the results with SPSS software (ver. 16.0). Result: The positive expression rates of $p57^{KIP2}$ protein in the invasive breast cancers and surrounding normal tissue were 30.3% (27/89) and 65% (13/20), respectively. Cases with no $p57^{KIP2}$ expression exhibited a significantly higher post-operative distant metastasis rate than those with $p57^{KIP2}$ expression (37.9% vs. 14.8%; P = 0.01). DFS analysis showed that $p57^{KIP2}$-/C-erbB-2+ tumors also exhibited a significantly higher post-operative distant metastasis rate than the other groups (66.7% vs. 29.2%; P = 0.007), as did $p57^{KIP2}$-/p53+ tumors (64.3% vs. 22.7%; P = 0.001). Survival analysis revealed that $p57^{KIP2}$ was associated with breast cancer-specific survival overall (P = 0.045, log-rank test). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that individuals with $p57^{KIP2}$-/C-erbB-2+tumors experienced significantly worse post-operative survival than those with $p57^{KIP2}$-/C-erbB-2- or other tumors (P = 0.006, log-rank test). $p57^{KIP2}$-/p53+ tumors were associated with significantly worse post-operative survival than $p57^{KIP2}$-/p53- or other tumors (P = 0.001, log-rank test). Cox regression analysis showed that $p57^{KIP2}$ was a non-independent prognostic factor for breast cancer (P = 0.303). Conclusions: $p57^{KIP2}$ is expressed at low levels in invasive breast cancer and is associated with better overall survival rate and disease-free survival in breast cancer patients, but it was a non-independent prognostic factor for breast cancer. Thus, the connection between $p57^{KIP2}$/p53 and $p57^{KIP2}$/C-erbB-2 may provide biomarkers for breast cancer.