• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3805-3810
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• 2015

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been found to exert anti-cancer activity in various human malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ATO inhibits tumorigenesis are not fully elucidated. In the current study, we explored the molecular basis of ATO-mediated tumor growth inhibition in pancreatic cancer cells. We used multiple approaches such as MTT assay, wound healing assay, Transwell invasion assay, annexin V-FITC, cell cycle analysis, RT-PCR and Western blotting to achieve our goal. We found that ATO treatment effectively caused cell growth inhibition, suppressed clonogenic potential and induced G2-M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, we observed a significant down-regulation of Skp2 after treatment with ATO. Furthermore, we revealed that ATO regulated Skp2 downstream genes such as FOXO1 and p53. These findings demonstrate that inhibition of Skp2 could be a novel strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer by ATO.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6369-6374
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• 2012

Vitexicarpin (3', 5-dihydroxy-3, 4', 6, 7-tetramethoxyflavone), a polymethoxyflavone isolated from Viticis Fructus (Vitex rotundifolia Linne fil.), has long been used as an anti-inflammatory herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It has also been reported that vitexicarpin can inhibit the growth of various cancer cells. However, there is no report elucidating its effect on human prostate carcinoma cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the apoptotic induction activity of vitexicarpin on PC-3 cells and molecular mechanisms involved. MTT studies showed that vitexicarpin dose-dependently inhibited growth of PC-3 cells with an $IC_{50}{\sim}28.8{\mu}M$. Hoechst 33258 staining further revealed that vitexicarpin induced apoptotic cell death. The effect of vitexicarpin on PC-3 cells apoptosis was tested using prodium iodide (PI)/Annexin V-FITC double staining and flow cytometry. The results indicated that vitexicarpin induction of apoptotic cell death in PC-3 cells was accompanied by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that vitexicarpin induction of PC-3 cell apoptosis was associated with upregulation of the proapoptotic protein Bax, and downregulation of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Our findings suggested that vitexicarpin may become a potential leading drug in the therapy of prostate carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7885-7889
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• 2014

Background: Activating mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) could predict response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the detection of EGFR mutation is frequently challenging in clinical practice for the lack of tumor tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of performing EGFR mutation testing on various types of liquid-based cytology (LBC) samples. Materials and Methods: A total of 434 liquid-based cytology samples were collected from March 2010 and November 2013. Among them, 101 with diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma had paired surgically resected specimens. The ADx Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ADx-ARMS) was used to determine EGFR mutation status both in LBC and resected samples. Results: All liquid-based cytology samples were adequate for EGFR mutation analysis. The mutation rate was 50.5% in the 434 NSCLC patients with LBC samples and the incidence rates of EGFR mutation were consistent among different specimens. We also detected EGFR positives in 52.5% (53/101) patients with paired histologic specimens. The concordance rate of EGFR mutation between LBC samples and paired histologic specimens was 92.1%. Conclusions: Our results suggest that liquid-based cytology samples are highly reliable for EGFR mutation testing in patients with NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7947-7950
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• 2014

Background: Pancreatic cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer death with an increasing trend in China. Dietary intake is believed to play an important role in pancreatic cancer carcinogenesis. The aim of this paper was to evaluate associations between some dietary factors and risk of pancreatic cancer in a multi-centre case-control study conducted in China. Materials and Methods: Cases (n=323) were ascertained from four provincial cancer hospitals. Controls (n=323) were randomly selected from the family members of patients without pancreatic cancer in the same hospitals, 1:1 matched to cases by gender, age and study center. Data were collected with a questionnaire by personal interview. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results: Tea intake (OR =0.49; 95%CI: 0.30-0.80) was associated with a half reduction in risk of pancreatic cancer. Reduced vegetable consumption (P trend: 0.04) was significant related to pancreatic cancer. Although no significant association was found for meat and fruit, ORs were all above or below the reference group. A protective effect was found for fruit (OR=1.73 for consumption of 1-2 times/week vs more than 3 times/week; 95%CI: 1.05-2.86). A high intake of meat was associated to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer (OR=0.59 for consumption of 1-2 times/week vs. more than 3 times/week; 95%CI: 0.35-0.97). Conclusions: The present study supports fruit consumption to reduce pancreatic cancer risk and indicates that high consumption of meat is related to an elevated risk. Direct inverse relations with tea and vegetable intake were also confirmed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4533-4537
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• 2013

Objective: To use microarray chip technology for screening of stem cell radiation related miRNAs in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; study and explore the relationship of miRNAs with radiosensitivity of laryngeal squamous cells. Method: After conventional culture and amplification of the laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line Hep-2, CD 133+ cells were screened out with combination of isolated culture of stem cell microspheres and FACS for preparation of laryngeal cancer stem cells. After radiation treatment, miRNAs of laryngeal squamous carcinoma stem cells before and after radiation were enriched and purified. After microarray hybridization with mammalian miRNA and scanning of fluorescence signal, the miRNAs of laryngeal squamous carcinoma stem cells before and after radiation was subject to differential screening and clustering analysis. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to verify part of the differentially expressed miRNAs. Results: 70 miRNAs related to laryngeal cancer stem cell radiation with 2-fold difference in expression were screened out, in which 62 were down-regulated and 8 were up-regulated. Fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR results were consistent with miRNAs chip results. Conclusion: Some miRNAs may be involved in self-regulation with laryngeal squamous carcinoma stem cell radiation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5007-5010
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• 2012

Objective: We conducted a prospective study to test the association between three amino acid substitution polymorphismic variants of DNA repair genes, XRCC1 (Arg194Trp), XRCC1(Arg280His) and XRCC1 (Arg399Gln), and clinical outcome of ovarian cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: 195 patients with primary advanced ovarian cancer and treated by adjuvant chemotherapy were included in our study. All were followed-up from Jan. 2007 to Jan. 2012. Genotyping of XRCC1 polymorphisms was conducted by TaqMan Gene Expression assays. Results: The XRCC1 194 Trp/Trp genotype conferred a significant risk of death from ovarian cancer when compared with Arg/Arg (HR=1.56, 95%CI=1.04-3.15). Similarly, those carrying the XRCC1 399 Gln/Gln genotype had a increased risk of death as compared to the XRCC1 399Arg/Arg genotype with an HR (95% CI) of 1.98 (1.09-3.93). Conclusion: This study is the first to provide evidence that XRCC1 gene polymorphisms would well be useful as surrogate markers of clinical outcome in ovarian cancer cases undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.347-366
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• 2012

The aim of this new statement is to provide comprehensive and timely evidence-based recommendations on stroke management for clinical practitioners. Many countries are already well engaged in developing and releasing their own clinical practice guidelines, whereas Korean Medicine (KM) is still beginning. It will take time and effort to develop evidence-based guidelines and recommendations of KM or other traditional medicine because they are weak in the area of scientific evidence. The clinical practice guideline of Korean medicine for stroke was formulated through extensive review of published literature and consensus meeting of Korean medicine specialists. This project was supported by a grant of the Oriental Medicine R&D Project, the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Referring to guidelines developed in other countries, the experts in the subject tried to organize and develop guidelines and recommendations adequate for domestic medical circumstances. In December, 2008, a multi-disciplinary team called the Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Development Group (EBCPGsDG) for Stroke was organized. The writing committee was comprised of experts in internal medicine, acupuncture, rehabilitation, and Sasang constitution. Outside specialists and associated panels were invited for consultation. The scope of the guideline encompasses acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine (including Korean medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Kampo medicine) as interventions for stroke patients. It includes statements about ischemic stroke (I63), stroke not specified as hemorrhage or infarction (I64), and sequelae of cerebrovascular disease (I69) according to the International Classification of Disease (ICD). The committee subdivided the description of herbal medications into acute stroke management, subacute stroke management, post-stroke management, and secondary prevention of stroke. Guidelines on the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion were described in order for acute stroke management, subacute stroke management, chronic stroke management, and post-stroke rehabilitation. Clinicians who are working in the field of stroke care can adopt this guideline for their practice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.205-209
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• 2014

Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis with medical and veterinary importance in China. Our main objective was to discuss the genotypes and genetic diversity of E. granulosus present in domestic animals and humans in western China. A total of 45 hydatid cyst samples were collected from sheep, humans, and a yak and subjected to an analysis of the sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. The amplified PCR product for all samples was a 1,068 bp band. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all 45 samples were identified as E. granulosus (genotype G1). Ten haplotypes were detected among the samples, with the main haplotype being H1. The haplotype diversity was 0.626, while the nucleotide diversity was 0.001. These results suggested that genetic diversity was low among our samples collected from the west of China based on cytb gene analysis. These findings may provide more information on molecular characteristics of E. granulosus from this Chinese region.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.23-37
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• 2001

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop and activate anti-tumor herbal acupuncture for cancer patients in South Korea. Methods: We investigated some literatures on anti-tumor herbal acupuncture which is used in South Korea and China, and made diagrams. Results: The results are summarized as follows. Anti-tumor herbal acupuncture is one of the traditional oriental medical method which is effective for cancer patients. In domestic studies, most of herb materials are belong to action of cooling&detoxification(25.0%) and strengthening body resistance(46.4%) which are proved to have effects of anti-tumor, immune activation and preventing tumor. In China, point injection therapy are used for improving symptoms of cancer patients and hea1ing tumor. Also herbal intravenous injection is used for combination of chinese traditional and western cancer therapy and treating cancer patients variously. Conclusions: From the above results. it is expected that anti-tumor herbal acupuncture is useful to improve clinical symptoms and quality of life(QOL) of cancer patients. Also we must develop new progressive methods of point injection and herbal intravenous injection for treating cancer patients, and advance clinical studies and trials.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 1997

Objects : Sanjoin, the seeds of Zizyphus vulgaris var. spinosus has been used as the most important hypnotic agent in chinese medicine to treat insomnia. This research was performed in order to examine the effect of betulinic acid and sanjoinine-A which are components of Sanjoin. Method : Sleeping time, sleep recordings of EEG, EMG, serum serotonin level, and locomotor activity were measured in rats which received betulinic acid and sanjoinine-A as sleep induction material extracted from Sanjoin. Results : 1) Groups received betulinic acid, sanjoinine-A, and lorazepam showed increased sleep time than control group with saline. 2) Groups with betulinic acid, sanjoinine-A, lorazepam and saline recorded ${\beta}$-wave in sleep recordings of EEG. In EMG, there was no significant difference among all groups. 3) No significant difference in serum serotonin level among all groups was found. 4) In autonomic activity testing, groups of betulinic acid, sanjoinine-A, and lorazepam showed significantly more decreased in activity than saline group. In comparison of groups of betulinic acid and sanjoinine-A with a group of lorazepam, there was no significant difference. Conclusion : These results suggest that betulinic acid and sanjoinine-A have the sedative effect like lorazepam rather than sleep effect.