• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5721-5727
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of clustering methods used in the prognostic assessment of categorical clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China, and establish a predictable prognostic nomogram for clinical decisions. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with hepatic resection during 2006-2009 were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up at outpatient clinics. Clustering methods including the Average linkage, k-modes, fuzzy k-modes, PAM, CLARA, protocluster, and ROCK were compared by Monte Carlo simulation, and the optimal method was applied to investigate the clustering pattern of the indices including platelet count, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity/platelet count ratio index (APRI). Then the clustering variable, age group, tumor size, number of tumor and vascular invasion were studied in a multivariable Cox regression model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed for clinical decisions. Results: The ROCK was best in both the overlapping and non-overlapping cases performed to assess the prognostic value of platelet-based indices. Patients with categorical platelet-based indices significantly split across two clusters, and those with high values, had a high risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.86; p<0.01). Tumor size, number of tumor and blood vessel invasion were also associated with high risk of HCC recurrence (all p< 0.01). The nomogram well predicted HCC patient survival at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions: A cluster of platelet-based indices combined with other clinical covariates could be used for prognosis evaluation in HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5895-5900
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• 2014

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of complicated disorders caused by the interactive influencing factors of heredity and environment, which predisposes to many cnacers. Results from epidemic research indicate that stress is tightly related to the pathogenesis of MS and neoplasia. This paper aims to investigate the association between psychological stress and MS with respect to the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF${\alpha}$) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) genes in the Han and Hui ethnic groups. Methods: All subjects for this case-control study matched strict enrollment criteria (nationality, gender and age) and lived in the city of Wu Zhong of Ningxia Province in China. The enrolled group contained 102 matched pairs of Hui ethnic individuals and 98 matched pairs of Han ethnic individuals. Enrolled subjects completed the general Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The TNF${\alpha}$-308G/A variant and NPYrs16147 polymorphism were detected in case (81 males, 119 females) and control (81 males, 119 females) groups by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Results: Nine factors of the SCL-90 were found to be statistically different (p<0.05) between case and control groups. The homozygous mutant genotype (AA) and the mutant allele (A) of the TNF${\alpha}$-308G/A gene were less frequently observed in the control population compared to the case group. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) in "Allele" for MS was 2.28 (1.47-3.53), p=0.0001, while "OR" was 1.11 (0.83-1.47), p=0.15, for the NPYrs16147 gene polymorphism. Conclusions: Psychological stress has been positively associated with MS. A previous study from our group suggested there were differences in the level of psychological stress between Hui and Han ethnic groups. Furthermore, we found that the stress-related TNF${\alpha}$ gene was associated with MS for both Han and Hui ethnic groups. In contrast, NPY may be a possible contributor to MS and associated cancer for the Han ethnic group.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.487-493
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• 2018

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a cell surface receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA), is involved in aggressive cancer phenotypes. Herein, we investigated the role of the CD44 standard isoform (CD44s) in hypoxia-inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) regulation using MCF7 overexpressing CD44s (pCD44s-MCF7). When pCD44s-MCF7 was incubated under hypoxia, levels of $HIF-1{\alpha}$, vascular endothelial growth factor, and the $HIF-1{\alpha}$ response element-derived luciferase activity were significantly increased compared to those in the control MCF7. Incubation of pCD44s-MCF7 cells with HA further increased $HIF-1{\alpha}$ accumulation, and the silencing of CD44s attenuated $HIF-1{\alpha}$ elevation, which verifies the role of CD44s in $HIF-1{\alpha}$ regulation. In addition, the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was higher in hypoxic pCD44s-MCF7 cells, and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ accumulation was diminished by the pharmacological inhibitors of ERK. CD44s-mediated $HIF-1{\alpha}$ augmentation resulted in two functional outcomes. First, pCD44s-MCF7 cells showed facilitated cell motility under hypoxia via the upregulation of proteins associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, such as SNAIL1 and ZEB1. Second, pCD44s-MCF7 cells exhibited higher levels of glycolytic proteins, such as glucose transporter-1, and produced higher levels of lactate under hypoxa. As a consequence of the enhanced glycolytic adaptation to hypoxia, pCD44s-MCF7 cells exhibited a higher rate of cell survival under hypoxia than that of the control MCF7, and glucose deprivation abolished these differential responses of the two cell lines. Taken together, these results suggest that CD44s activates hypoxia-inducible $HIF-1{\alpha}$ signaling via ERK pathway, and the $CD44s-ERK-HIF-1{\alpha}$ pathway is involved in facilitated cancer cell viability and motility under hypoxic conditions.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.1007-1013
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• 2015

원핵생물체의 생명유지에 중요한 역할을 담당하는 유전자들을 밝히기 위해 미생물 유전체들 사이의 공통적 유전자를 파악하는 COG 알고리즘을 이용하였다. 원핵생물 711종 모두에 보존적인 것은 COG0080 (Ribosomal protein L11) 1개였다. 708종 이상의 원핵생물에 보존적인 22개의 ortholog 중 전사관련 2개, tRNA synthetase 관련4개, ribosamal large subunit 8개, ribosomal small subunit 7개였다. 700종 이상의 원핵생물에 보존적인 COG는 58개였다. 이중 리보좀을 구성하는 소단위체 등 번역 관련 COG가 50개(86.2%), 전사관련 COG가 4개(6.9%)로 나타나 생명현상에서의 단백질의 중요성을 알 수 있었다. 58개의 COG 중 보존성은 COG0060 (Isoleucyl tRNA synthetase)이 가장 높았고 COG0143 (Methionyl tRNA synthetase)이 가장 낮았다. 문(phylum)과 강(class) 수준에서 보존적 유전자들의 평균과 분산으로 유전체 분석을 수행한 결과 변이가 큰 고세균은 진정세균과 구분되었으며 편차는 일부 진정세균이 고세균보다 컸다. 보존적 유전자를 탐색하는 본 연구의 기법은 기초과학 연구와 함께 항균제 개발과 항암요법 개발 등에도 유용할 것이다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.78-85
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• 2019

막 단백질은 심장질환, 암과 같은 우리 주변에서 흔히 발생하는 질병에 관련되어 있다. 이러한 암과 같은 특정한 질환 상태에서, 막 단백질과 관련된 신호 전달의 비정상은 세포분열을 통제하지 못하고 증가시킬 수 있으며 막 단백질의 발현에 변화가 생긴다. 막 단백질은 지질 이중층으로 이루어진 소수성 환경을 가지고 있어 불안정하기 때문에 막 단백질을 추출해서 연구를 수행하는데 어려움이 있다. 이번 연구에서는 최적화된 막 단백질 추출법을 확인하고자 서로 다른 두 가지 추출법의 효율성을 평가하였다. 두 가지 방법으로, high-speed centrifuge법과 reagent법이 비교되었다. 비교 분석결과, 미토콘드리아 내막 단백질 분석에는 high-speed centrifuge법이 효율적이고, 소포체 막 단백질 분석에는 reagent법이 유용함을 확인하였다. 게다가 유전자 온톨로지 소프트웨어를 이용해서 추출된 막 단백질의 기능분석을 진행하였을 때, 유전자 온톨로지는 reagent법에서 소포체 막 단백질에 연관된 반응이 활성화 되는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 프로세스 네트워크 분석에서, high-speed centrifuge법에서는 하나의 클러스터를 형성화는 반면, reagent법에서는 네 개의 클러스터를 형성하는 것을 시각화하여 확인하였다. 결론적으로, 두 가지 분석법은 서로 다른 하위 막 단백질의 분석에 유용함을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과를 토대로, 막 단백질을 분석할 때, 표적의 세부 막 단백질을 고려하여 방법론을 선택하는데 도움을 줄 것으로 기대된다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.869-880
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• 2012

Identification of the selective chemical features for Aurora-B inhibitors gained much attraction in drug discovery for the treatment of cancer. Hence to identify the Aurora-B critical features various techniques were utilized such as pharmacophore generation, virtual screening, homology modeling, molecular dynamics, and docking. Top ten hypotheses were generated for Aurora-B and Aurora-A. Among ten hypotheses, HypoB1 and HypoA1 were selected as a best hypothesis for Aurora-B and Aurora-A based on cluster analysis and ranking score, respectively. Test set result revealed that ring aromatic (RA) group in HypoB1 plays an essential role in differentiates Aurora-B from Aurora-A inhibitors. Hence, HypoB1 used as 3D query in virtual screening of databases and the hits were sorted out by applying drug-like properties and molecular docking. The molecular docking result revealed that 15 hits have shown strong hydrogen bond interactions with Ala157, Glu155, and Lys106. Hence, we proposed that HypoB1 might be a reasonable hypothesis to retrieve the structurally diverse and selective leads from various databases to inhibit Aurora-B.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.27-31
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• 2005

Objectives : The anticancer response of three different types of water extracts of Zingiberaceae Curcuma longa L. tested for sarcoma 180. Only few studies carried out to investigate the effects of other contents of Curcuma longa L. in anticancer activities, therefore, in this study we have investigated the effects of other component then curcumin in Curcuma longa L. for anticancer a activities. Methods : Three different types of water extracts of Curcuma longa L. were prepared as follows. The sarcoma cells (S180) were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and were seeded on 24-well cell culture cluster flat bottom with lid tissue culture treated non-pyrogenic polystyrene. The growth of sarcoma 180 was monitored for 1, 2 and 5 days. The sarcoma cells were pictured using inverted microscope and cell density was counted using hemocytometry. Results : After 5 days in the culture medium the results showed high growth of sarcoma 180 for control condition and the surface of CCP plates were fully covered with the cells. In case of medium in which the 10% of filtered water extract of Curcuma longa L. was added a very limited growth of sarcoma 180 was observed. The results were showed only small difference in cell density for two different concentrations of unfiltered water extracts of Curcuma longa L. whereasin case of filtered water extracts the control of sarcoma growth shows better result. Conclusion : The filtered water extracts showed the best result relatively to the unfiltered water extracts for two different concentrations. This indicates that the water extracts of Curcuma longa L. can have anticancer activities possibly without curcumin.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.95-111
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the information searching behavior of consumer by type of medical institution. A questionnaire survey was conducted of 1,507 persons who were selected through a multi-stage stratified area cluster sampling in nationwide level, excluding Jeju-Do. Personal survey was conducted through door-to door survey from 27 July to 10 August 1999. The main results of this research was as following; 1. The proportion of information searching of respondents ranged from 91.5-95.2%. Even though the proportion of user in university hospital was slightly high, there was not significant statistically by type of medical institution. In terms of information source, personal informer was most common information source in all type of medical institution. Public informers were more frequently used in university hospital visitors and professional informer in general and university hospital visitors. 2. Comparing to searching intensity, user informer and professional informer's influences were more powerful, but not statistically significant. In analysis of unit influence for information source, written informer or public informer was more powerful in clinic visitor, professional informer and written informer in university hospital visitor. 3. Information which consumer want to know mostly were about on special potential and career of physician. The clinic visitor wanted to know about institutional location and kindness of medical personnel. The university hospital visitor also wanted to know about facilities and convenience of process. Comparing to institution selection criteria of consumers at 1991, quality related criteria were recognized more importantly in outpatient and dental services. But in case of inpatient services, convenience factor was recognized more importantly. In conclusion, the effort for specific marketing plan by type of medical institution should be needed. And more concern on information searching behavior of consumer will be needed.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.275-283
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• 2014

The ${\gamma}$-oryzanol, ferulic acid esters, which are well-known for their function on cholesterol lowering and prevention of inflammation, diabetes and cancer, are found in the seeds of cereal crops such as rice, corn, wheat and rye. Among them, rice has been reported to contain the highest ferulic acid esters. Since rice cultivation with green manure as a N source is an environmental friendly agricultural practice, it is necessary to identify and quantify as well as evaluate the variations in these compounds in rice samples as affected by different green manure conditions. A total of ten components of ${\gamma}$-oryzanol were isolated and cycloartenyl ferulate, 24-methylenecycloartanyl ferulate, campesteryl ferulate and sitosteryl ferulate were identified as the major components in Korean rice cultivars, 'Unkwang' and 'Hopum'. Comparing the ${\gamma}$-oryzanol contents of these varieties, 'Unkwang' showed clearly similar pattern with conventional type. With the PLS-DA (partial least squares of discriminant analysis) using SIMCA 11.0 ver., the specific pattern and cluster of ${\gamma}$-oryzanol scores with green manure conditions were confirmed, and thus distinguishing green manure effects were possible.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.310-317
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• 2021

Cluster of differentiation 1 (CD1) is a family of cell-surface glycoproteins that present lipid antigens to T cells. Humans have five CD1 isoforms. CD1a is distinguished by the small volume of its antigen-binding groove and its stunted A' pocket, its high and exclusive expression on Langerhans cells, and its localization in the early endosomal and recycling intracellular trafficking compartments. Its ligands originate from self or foreign sources. There are three modes by which the T-cell receptors of CD1a-restricted T cells interact with the CD1a:lipid complex: they bind to both the CD1a surface and the antigen or to only CD1a itself, which activates the T cell, or they are unable to bind because of bulky motifs protruding from the antigen-binding groove, which might inhibit autoreactive T-cell activation. Recently, several studies have shown that by producing T_H2 or T_H17 cytokines, CD1a-restricted T cells contribute to inflammatory skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, allergic contact dermatitis, and wasp/bee venom allergy. They may also participate in other diseases, including pulmonary disorders and cancer, because CD1a-expressing dendritic cells are also located in non-skin tissues. In this mini-review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the biology of CD1a-reactive T cells and their potential roles in disease.