• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1787-1790
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• 2013

This study evaluated the effects of ZD1839, an orally active, selective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) both in vitro and in vivo. Influence of ZD1839 alone or combined with cisplatin on the NPC cell line CNE2 was detected by MTT assay with flow cytometry assessment of cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rates. Nude mice NPC xenografts were also used to evaluate the effects of ZD1839 alone or combined with cisplatin. The Student's t test evaluated statistical significance. ZD1839 alone or combined with cisplatin inhibited CNE2 cell line proliferation. ZD1839 induced CNE2 cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, and higher concentrations induced apoptosis. Xenograft tumors were significantly smaller when treated with 200 mg/kg ZD1839, cisplatin, or cisplatin combined with 100 mg/kg ZD1839 than untreated controls. ZD1839 (200 mg/kg) alone showed good tumor inhibition effects, reduction of tumor weights, and smaller tumor volume without loss of body weight. ZD1839 (200 mg/kg) might provide a good and effective therapeutic reagent for NPC.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.517-533
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• 2012

This study calculated wind speed at the height of 10 m using a disaster prediction model(Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, FPHLM) that was developed and used in the United States. Using its distributions, a usable information of surface wind was produced for the purpose of disaster prevention when the typhoon attack. The advanced research version of the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) was used in this study, and two domains focusing on South Korea were determined through two-way nesting. A horizontal time series and vertical profile analysis were carried out to examine whether the model provided a resonable simulation, and the meteorological factors, including potential temperature, generally showed the similar distribution with observational data. We determined through comparison of observations that data taken at 700 hPa and used as input data to calculate wind speed at the height of 10 m for the actual terrain was suitable for the simulation. Using these results, the wind speed at the height of 10 m for the actual terrain was calculated and its distributions were shown. Thus, a stronger wind occurred in coastal areas compared to inland areas showing that coastal areas are more vulnerable to strong winds.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.540-546
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• 2014

Several types of genetic and epigenetic regulation have been implicated in the development of drug resistance, one significant challenge for cancer therapy. Although changes in the expression of non-coding RNA are also responsible for drug resistance, the specific identities and roles of them remain to be elucidated. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a type of ncRNA (> 200 nt) that influence the regulation of gene expression in various ways. In this study, we aimed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs in 5-fluorouracil-resistant colon cancer cells. Using two pairs of 5-FU-resistant cells derived from the human colon cancer cell lines SNU-C4 and SNU-C5, we analyzed the expression of 90 lncRNAs by qPCR-based profiling and found that 19 and 23 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in SNU-C4R and SNU-C5R cells, respectively. We confirmed that snaR and BACE1AS were down-regulated in resistant cells. To further investigate the effects of snaR on cell growth, cell viability and cell cycle were analyzed after transfection of siRNAs targeting snaR. Down-regulation of snaR decreased cell death after 5-FU treatment, which indicates that snaR loss decreases in vitro sensitivity to 5-FU. Our results provide an important insight into the involvement of lncRNAs in 5-FU resistance in colon cancer cells.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.135-145
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• 2020

Objectives : This study reports the clinical case of a patient diagnosed with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament treated with Korean Medicine focusing on Chuna therapy. Methods : The patient was treated by a doctor from July 18th, 2019 to November 28th, 2019. The patient was diagnosed with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament based on magnetic resonance imaging results and was recommended to undergo surgery at another hospital. The primary complaint of the patient was left neck pain, left arm sensation, right leg sensation, and right leg loss of strength. The doctor treated the patient with Chuna therapy, acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, and pharmacopuncture. The effect of treatment was evaluated using visual analogue scale, neck disability index, pain rating score and Japanese Orthopedic Association score. Spurling, compression, and distraction tests were utilized. Results : Visual analogue scale decreased from 10 at the arm and 10 at the leg to 1 and 2, respectively. Neck disability index decreased from 25 to 11, pain rating score decreased from 66 to 1, and Japanese Orthopedic Association score recovered from 12 to 17 points. In addition, positive spurling test, compression test, and distraction test all improved to negative. Conclusions : Korean medicine treatment can be effective for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament patients, even when surgery is recommended. Further clinical studies, such as case series and case-control studies, are required to verify these findings.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.198-206
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• 2018

Aortic dissection (AD) is a catastrophic disease with high mortality and morbidity, characterized with fragmentation of elastin and loss of smooth muscle cells. Although AD has been largely attributable to polymorphisms defect in the elastin-coding gene, tropoelastin (TE), other undermined factors also appear to play roles in AD onset. Here, we investigated the effects of post-transcriptional control of TE by microRNAs (miRNAs) on elastin levels in aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC). We found that miR-144-3p is a miRNA that targets TE mRNA in both human and mouse. Bioinformatics analyses and dual luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-144-3p inhibited protein translation of TE, through binding to the 3'-UTR of the TE mRNA. Interestingly, higher miR-144-3p levels and lower TE were detected in the ASMC obtained from AD patients, compared to those from non-AD controls. In a mouse model for human AD, infusion of adeno-associated viruses (serotype 6) carrying antisense for miR-144-3p (asmiR-144-3p) under CAG promoter significantly reduced the incidence and severity of AD, seemingly through enhancement of TE levels in ASMC. Thus, our data suggest an essential role of miR-144-3p on the pathogenesis of AD.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.441-444
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• 2008

This paper describes the development of a circularly polarized microstrip antenna, as a part of the Circularly Polarized Synthetic Aperture Radar (CP-SAR) sensor which is currently under developed at the Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MRSL) in Chiba University. CP-SAR is a new type of sensor developed for the purpose of remote sensing. With this sensor, lower-noise data/image will be obtained due to the absence of depolarization problems from propagation encounter in linearly polarized synthetic aperture radar. As well the data/images obtained will be investigated as the Axial Ratio Image (ARI), which is a new data that hopefully will reveal unique various backscattering characteristics. The sensor will be mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) which will be aimed for fundamental research and applications. The microstrip antenna works in the frequency of 1.27 GHz (L-Band). The microstrip antenna utilized the proximity-coupled method of feeding. Initially, the optimization process of the single patch antenna design involving modifying the microstrip line feed to yield a high gain (above 5 dBi) and low return loss (below -10 dB). A minimum of 10 MHz bandwidth is targeted at below 3 dB of Axial Ratio for the circularly polarized antenna. A planar array from the single patch is formed next. Consideration for the array design is the beam radiation pattern in the azimuth and elevation plane which is specified based on the electrical and mechanical constraints of the UAV CP-SAR system. This research will contribute in the field of radar for remote sensing technology. The potential application is for landcover, disaster monitoring, snow cover, and oceanography mapping.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.481-485
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• 2005

The response of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis to high salt stress was investigated by incubating the cells in light of moderate intensity in the presence of 0.8 M NaCl. NaCl caused a decrease in photosystem II (PSII) mediated oxygen evolution activity and increase in photosystem I (PSI) activity and the amount of P700. Similarly maximal efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and variable fluorescence (Fv/Fo) were also declined in salt-stressed cells. Western blot analysis reveal that the inhibition in PSII activity is due to a 40% loss of a thylakoid membrane protein, known as D1, which is located in PSII reaction center. NaCl treatment of cells also resulted in the alterations of other thylakoid membrane proteins: most prominently, a dramatic diminishment of the 47-kDa chlorophyll protein (CP) and 94-kDa protein, and accumulation of a 17-kDa protein band were observed in SDS-PAGE. The changes in 47-kDa and 94-kDa proteins lead to the decreased energy transfer from light harvesting antenna to PSII, which was accompanied by alterations in the chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectra of whole cells and isolated thylakoids. Therefore we conclude that salt stress has various effects on photosynthetic electron transport activities due to the marked alterations in the composition of thylakoid membrane proteins.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2131-2136
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• 2016

Background: Cancer is currently one of the main public health problems all over the world and its economic burden is substantial both for health systems and for society as a whole. To inform priorities for cancer control, we here estimated years of potential life lost (YPLL) and productivity losses due to cancer-related premature mortality in Iran from 2006 to 2010. Materials and Methods: The number of cancer deaths by sex and age groups for top ten leading cancers in Iran were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. To estimate the YPLL and the cost of productivity loss due to cancer-related premature mortality, the life expectancy method and the human capital approach were used, respectively. Results: There were 138,228 cancer-related deaths in Iran (without Tehran province) of which 76 % (106,954) were attributable to the top 10 ranked cancers. Some 63 % of total cancer-related deaths were of males. The top 10 ranked cancers resulted in 106,766,942 YPLL in total, 64,171,529 (60 %) in males and 42,595,412 (40%) in females. The estimated YPPLL due to top 10 ranked cancers was 58,581,737 during the period studied of which 32,214,524 (54%) was accounted for in males. The total cost of lost productivity caused by premature deaths because of top 10 cancers was 1.68 billion dollars (US$) from 2006 to 2010, ranging from 251 million dollars in 2006 to 283 million dollars in 2010. Conclusions: This study showed that the economic burden of premature mortality attributable to cancer is significant for Iranian society. The findings provide useful information about the economic impact of cancer for health system policy/decision makers and should facilitate planning of preventive intervention and effective resource allocation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.951-955
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) was the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Iran between 2000 and 2009, with adenocarcinoma (AC) as the most common histological type. Demographic, topographic and histological variables are important in the epidemiology and biology of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate clinicopathological features of colon adenocarcinomas in Qazvin, Iran. Materials and Methods: With a retrospective design, patient records of two pathology wards from March 1997 to March 2013 were studied with regard to anatomical location and histological classification. A broader anatomical grouping was also used including distal vs proximal regions and right sided vs left sided tumors. Data were analyzed using T-test and chi-square test. Results: 118 (50.9%) male and 114 (49.1%) female patients were included in the study. Mean age was $57.3{\pm}14.7$ years, with 29.2% under 50 years. There was no significant gender difference for age at diagnosis. The rectum (56%) and sigmoid colon (25%) were the most frequent anatomical locations. Proximal cases accounted for 18.6% in males and 8.8% in females (p=0.02). AC was more prevalent than other usual types in younger patients. The proportion of proximal cancer was 1.7% in first eight years of the study period vs 12.1% in the second one (p=0.005). A similar trend was also seen in right sided colon cancers (p=0.018). Conclusions: Young people are also at risk for the cancer with poor prognosis. Screening programs and weight loss in obese individuals can reduce incidence and complications of CRC.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.442-445
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS) in elderly patients. Methods : Between 1997 and June 2008, 1,174 patients had undergone MVD for HFS at our institute. Among these, 53 patients were older than 65 years. We retrospectively reviewed and compared the complication and the cure rates of these patients with those of younger patients. Results : There were 38 females and 15 males. The mean duration of symptoms of HFS of these patients was 94.6 months (range, 12-360 months), compared with 67.2 months (range, 3-360 months) in the younger group. The overall cure rate in elderly patients who underwent MVD for HFS during this period was 96.2%. Permanent cranial nerve dysfunctions, such as hearing loss and facial palsy, were seen in 2 patients (3.8%, 2/53) in the elderly group and 19 patients (1.7%, 19/1121) in the younger group. The difference in permanent cranial nerve dysfunction between the two groups was not statistically significant. There was no operative mortality in either group. Conclusion : Microvascular decompression is the most effective surgical modality available for the treatment of HFS. Results of this study indicate that such technique can be performed in the elderly without higher rates of morbidity or mortality. Any patient with HFS, whose general health is acceptable for undergoing general anesthesia, should be considered as a candidate for MVD.