• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.679-685
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• 1998

We have studied, by a nonisotopic in situ DNA end-labeling (ISEL) technique, frequency of apoptosis in the external granular layer (EGL) of the cerebellum after whole-body irradiation of newborn mice and intestinal crypt cell of adult mice by gamma-rays from $^{60}Co$. The extent of changes following 2 Gy(10.9 Gy/min) was studied at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, or 24h after exposure. The maximal frequency was found 4-8h after exposure. The mice that received 0.18, 0.36, 0.54, 1.08, 1.98, or 3.96 Gy were examined 6h after irradiation. Measurements performed after irradiation showed a dose-related increase in apoptotic cells in each of the mice studied. The dose-response curves were analyzed by a linear-quadratic model; frequency(%) of apoptotic cell in the newborn mice cerebellum was ($13.49{\pm}1.175$)D+$(-1.52{\pm}0.334)D^2$+0.048($r^2=0.981$, D = dose in Gy) and frequency(number per crypt) of apoptotic cell in the intestinal crypt of adult mice was ($3.857{\pm}0.420$)D+$(-0.535{\pm}0.120)D^2$+0.155($r^2=0.952$, D = dose in Gy). It provides the basis required for a better understanding of results which will be obtained in any further studies for biological responses of radiation using newborn and adult mice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.413-425
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• 2013

Background: Graft vessel preservation solution in coronary artery bypass surgery is used to maintain the graft conduit in optimal condition during the perioperative period. Nafamostat mesilate (NM) has anticoagulation and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we investigated NM as a conduit preservative agent and compared it to papaverine. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat thoracic aortas were examined for their contraction-relaxation ability using phenylephrine (PE) and acetylcholine (ACh) following preincubation with papaverine and NM in standard classical organ baths. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured to check for the endothelial cell viability. Histopathological examination and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay were performed on the thoracic aortas of SD rats. Results: The anti-contraction effects of papaverine were superior to those of NM at PE (p<0.05). The relaxation effect of NM on ACh-induced vasodilatation was not statistically different from that of papaverine. Viability assays using HUVECs showed endothelial cell survival rates of >90% in various concentrations of both NM and papaverine. A histopathological study showed a protective effect against necrosis and apoptosis (p<0.05) in the NM group. Conclusion: NM exhibited good vascular relaxation and a reasonable anti-vasocontraction effect with a better cell protecting effect than papaverine; therefore, we concluded that NM is a good potential conduit preserving agent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.485-492
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• 2003

The pathological mechanism of impaired spermatogenesis after vasectomy has not been completely investigated. In this study, we examined pathological changes of the testis and the Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) mediated signaling pathway in apoptotic germ cell death after vasectomy in rats. Ten-weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were underwent bilateral vasectomy and sacrificed after 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks of surgery and the testes were removed. Histopathological evaluation of spermatogenesis was performed by hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff-hematoxylin staining. To elucidate the pathophysiology of seminiferous tubule damage, terminal dUTP nick end labeling staining, electrophoresis assay of DNA fragmentation, and Western blotting analysis for Fas-FasL were performed. Relative weights of testes were decreased from 5 days after vasectomy. Germ cell degeneration were first found in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes at stages I-VI, and XII-XIV seminiferous tubules. Mean incidence of apoptotic germ cells after vasectomy progressively increased to peak in 5 days, and then gradually decreased to the control levels in 2 weeks after vasectomy. The expression of Fas-FasL reached maximum level at 5 days after vasectomy and then declined. In conclusion, impaired spermatogenesis after vasectomy associated with an increase in germ cell apoptasis, which is partly mediated by the activation of Fas-FasL.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.352-359
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is used worldwide as a popular traditional herbal medicine. KRG has shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension. Up-regulation of a cytoprotective protein, heme oxygenase (HO)-1, is considered to augment the cellular defense against various agents that may induce cytotoxic injury. In the present study, we demonstrate that KRG water extract induces HO-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and possible involvement of the anti-oxidant transcription factor nuclear factor-eythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). KRG-induced HO-1 expression was examined by western blots, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining. Specific silencing of Nrf2 genes with Nrf2-siRNA in HUVECs abolished HO-1 expression. In addition, the HO inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin blunted the preventive effect of KRG on $H_2O_2$-induced cell death, as demonstrated by terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Taken together, these results suggest that KRG may exert a vasculoprotective effect through Nrf2-mediated HO-1 induction in human endothelial cell by inhibition of cell death.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.341-348
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• 2011

Sloan-Kettering virus gene product of a cellular protooncogene c-Ski is an unique nuclear pro-oncoprotein and belongs to the Ski/Sno proto-oncogene family. Ski plays multiple roles in a variety of cell types, it can induce both oncogenic transformation and terminal muscle differentiation when expressed at high levels. The aim of the present study was to locate Ski protein in rat ovaries in order to predict the possible involvement of Ski in follicular development and atresia. First, expression of c-Ski mRNA in the ovaries of adult female rats was confirmed by RT-PCR. Then, ovaries obtained on the day of estrus were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for Ski and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in combination with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL). Ski was expressed in granulosa cells that were positive for TUNEL, but negative for PCNA, regardless of the shape and size of follicles. Expression of Ski in TUNEL-positive granulosa cells, but not in PCNA-positive granulosa cells, was also verified in immature hypophysectomized rats having a single generation of developing and atretic follicles by treatment with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). These results indicate that Ski is profoundly expressed in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles, but not in growing follicles, and suggest that Ski plays a role in apoptosis of granulosa cells during follicular atresia.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2007

To clarify the growth mechanisms of thyroid tumors, we investigated apoptotic cells in 88 thyroid tumors, consisting of 24 adenomas, 58 papillary thyroid carcinomas, and 6 undifferentiated carcinoma, using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate digoxigenin-nick end labeling (TUNEL). The cell proliferating marker was also evaluated immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibody to Ki-67 antigen (MIB-1) in the same tumors. The apoptosis was expressed as a percentage of the TUNEL-positive cells in the tumor cells, and a proliferating marker, being the percentage of Ki-67 positive cells, was counted up each tumor. The statistical analysis were used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and student's t-test that were analyze the differences in the rate of each histological types of the thyroid tumors. The overall level of apoptosis was extremely low in all histological types of the thyroid tumors analyzed, the mean apoptosis being $0.31{\pm}0.40$ in adenoma, $0.55{\pm}0.48 $in papillary thyroid carcinoma, and $4.60{\pm}3.27$ in undifferentiated carcinoma. The Ki-67 protein in the thyroid tumor subtypes was significantly lower in adenoma and papillary carcinoma, at $2.45{\pm}2.99$ and $6.27{\pm}4.42$, respectively, than that in undifferentiated carcinoma at $26.47{\pm}23.88$ (p<0.0001). There was no correlation between clinicopathological factors and apoptosis or Ki-67 in papillary thyroid carcinoma. In conclusion, our findings suggest that apoptosis occurs infrequently in thyroid tumor, and that cell proliferating maker Ki-67 markedly differs according to the thyroid tumor subtypes. Moreover, the ratio between proliferating cells and apoptotic cells may reflect thyroid tumor progression.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 1999

Epidemiologic studies consistently demonstrate an inverse relationship between risk for colon canter and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Wheat bran, flax and soy contain dietary fiber and phytochemicals, such as lignans and isoflavones, that may inhibit colon carcinogenesis. Orange juice contains hesperidin, a flavanone glucoside that protects against colon carcinogenesis. This study determined if feeding orange juice, wheat bran, soy and flaxseed (combined diet) would inhibit azoxymethane (AOM) induced colon cancer. Cancer was initiated in male Fisher 344 rats by injecting 15 mg AOM/kg of weight at 22 and 29 days of age. One week after the second AOM injection, rats (N = 30) in the combined diet group received dry diet containing wheat bran (4%), soy with ethanol soluble phytochemirals(13%) and flaxseed (8%) and orange juice replaced drinking water. The control group remained on the control diet and received distilled water to drink. The rats were killed 28 weeks later, and colon tissues and tumors were removed for histologic analysis. Feeding the combined diet significantly reduced tumor incidence (p < 0.05), however tumor multiplicity was not changed (p > 0.05, 0.9 tumors/rat fed the combined diet vs 1.2 for controls). Also, tumor burden was only marginally reduced in rats fed the combined diet vs control rats (65 vs 210 mg of tumor/rats, respectively). The reduction in tumor incidence was associated with a decreased labeling index and proliferation zone in normal appearing colon mucosa. Therefore, this study shows that phytochemicals in wheat bran, soy, flax and orange juice reduce colon carcinogenesis, presumably by decreasing cell proliferation and enhancing cell differentiation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2004

Estrogen may promote osteoblast/osteocyte viability by limiting apoptotic cell death. We hypothesize that hsp27 is an estrogen- regulated protein that can promote osteoblast viability by increasing osteoblast resistance to apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of estrogen treatment and heat shock on $TNF{\alpha}$ - induced apoptosis in the MC3T3-E1 cell line. Cells were treated with 0 - 100 nM $17{\beta}$ estradiol (or ICI 182780) for 0 - 24 hours before heat shock. After recovery, apoptosis was induced by treatment with 0 - 10 ng/ml TNF${\alpha}$. Hsp levels were evaluated by Northern and Western analysis using hsp27, hsp47, hsp70c and hsp70i - specific reagents. Apoptosis was revealed by in situ labeling with Terminal Deoxyribonucleotide Transferase (TUNEL). A 5 - fold increase in hsp27 protein and mRNA was noted after 5 hours of treatment with 10 - 20 nM $17{\beta}$ estradiol prior to heat shock. Increased abundance of hsp47, hsp70c or hsp70i was not observed. TUNEL indicated that estrogen treatment also reduced (50%) MC3T3-E1 cell susceptibility to $TNF{\alpha}$ - induced apoptosis. Treatment with hsp27-specific antisense oligonucleotides prevented hsp27 protein expression and abolished the protective effects of heat shock and estrogen treatment on $TNF{\alpha}$- induced apoptosis. Hsp27 is a determinant of osteoblast apoptosis, and estrogen treatment increases hsp27 levels in cultured osteoblastic cells. Hsp27 contributes to the control of osteoblast apoptosis and may be manipulated by estrogenic or alternative pathways for the improvement of bone mass.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2020

Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) is a derivative of thyroid hormone T₄ and causes anti-angiogenesis by blocking T₄ binding to integrin α_vβ₃. In this study, we synthesized [^99mTc]Tc-Cys-Asp-Gly(CDG)-tetrac and evaluated it in vitro as a tumor angiogenesis imaging ligand. The CDG was conjugated to tetrac as a chelator for technetium-99m labeling. The cold vial containing CDG-tetrac, sodium glucoheptonate, and reducing agent was completed under nitrogen-filled atmospheric glove bag. [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac was synthesized in quantitative yield by heating the cold vial with [^99mTc]TcO₄^- at 100℃ for 30 min. In vitro serum stability of [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac was measured by incubating the radioligand in 50% fetal bovine serum at 37℃ and analyzing the incubation mixture by radio-TLC, which showed high stability over 6 h (≥ 98%). Cell binding study was carried out by incubating [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac with human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells at 37℃ for 6 h. The cell binding of the radioligand increased from 100% at 0.5 h to 293.7% at 6 h in a time-dependent manner. For blocking study, the cells were incubated with the radioligand in the presence of either tetrac (20 μM) or cRGDyK (20 μM) at 37℃ for 4 h. The results demonstrated that the cell binding of the radioligand was inhibited by tetrac (19.1%) or cRGDyK (35.6%), indicating specific binding of the radioligand to integrin α_vβ₃. Thus, this study suggests that [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac may be a potential radioligand for tumor angiogenesis imaging.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.2410-2412
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• 2011

Using a single step chemical synthesis, we synthesized the potential tumor imaging agent $^{99m}Tc$-diglucose-diethylenetriamine (DGTA) from diethylenetriamine and natural D-glucose. 10 min Incubation of 10 mg of precursor with 50 ${\mu}g$ of $SnCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ at room temperature yielded over 95% of $^{99m}Tc$ labeling. The stability for 6 hours in saline or human plasma was over 90%. In vitro tumor cell uptake assays using the SNU-C5 and 9 L cell lines showed that, in 0-400 mg/dL glucose medium, cell uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-DGTA was 1.5-8 times higher than that of [$^{18}F$]FDG. Moreover, [$^{18}F$]FDG uptake was dependent on glucose concentration in the medium, whereas cellular uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-DGTA was not dependent on glucose concentration, suggesting that the two compounds have different uptake mechanisms by tumor cells.