• Bioinformatics and Biosystems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2006

Recent studies in molecular biology and proteomics have identified a significant number of novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic disease markers. However, validation of these markers in clinical specimens with traditional histopathological techniques involves low throughput and is time consuming and labor intensive. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) offer a means of combining tens to hundreds of specimens of tissue onto a single slide for simultaneous analysis. This capability is particularly pertinent in the field of cancer for target verification of data obtained from cDNA micro arrays and protein expression profiling of tissues, as well as in epidemiology-based investigations using histochemical/immunohistochemical staining or in situ hybridization. In combination with automated image analysis, TMA technology can be used in the global cellular network analysis of tissues. In particular, this potential has generated much excitement in cardiovascular disease research. The following review discusses recent advances in the construction and application of TMAs and the opportunity for developing novel, highly sensitive diagnostic tools for the early detection of cardiovascular disease.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.571-576
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• 2015

SB743921 is a potent inhibitor of the spindle protein kinesin and is being investigated in ongoing clinical trials for the treatment of myeloma. However, little is known about the molecular events underlying the induction of cell death in multiple myeloma (MM) by SB743921, alone or in combination treatment. Here, we report that SB743921 induces mitochondria-mediated cell death via inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway, but does not cause cell cycle arrest in KMS20 MM cells. SB743921-mediated inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway results in reduced expression of SOD2 and Mcl-1, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. We also found that combination treatment with SB743921 and bortezomib induces death in bortezomib-resistant KMS20 cells. Altogether, these data suggest that treatment with SB743921 alone or in combination with bortezomib offers excellent translational potential and promises to be a novel MM therapy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.225-229
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• 2015

Epilepsy is a disorder that causes recurring seizures, and the most objective and useful test for detecting epilepsy is the electroencephalogram (EEG). The subjects of this study are 244 patients who received an EEG after being diagnosed with epilepsy at Seoul National University Hospital in 2014, and who have agreed to the purpose of the study. Based on the EEG results, subjects were divided into normal and abnormal groups with 122 subjects in each group, regardless of their gender and age, to investigate the correlation of EEG and complete blood cell count (CBC) test results. The four significant categories that displayed significant correlation between EEG results and CBC hematological measurements in this study were the white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), neutrophil, and lymphocyte tests. The WBC (p<0.05) and neutrophil (p<0.01) showed a positive correlation with EEG results, while RBC (p<0.05) and lymphocyte (p<0.01) showed a negative correlation. One of the limitations of this study is that it is lacking the blood test result analysis according to the types of anti-epilepsy medicine. However, the analysis of EEG results by the same disease has significant meaning. Therefore, further studies are needed to statistically analyze more data in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4211-4215
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• 2014

Background: Although roles of genetic polymorphisms of leptin receptor (LEPR) gene in several cancers have been documented, the association between polymorphisms of LEPR and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to explore any relation. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 77 patients with CC-RCC and 161 healthy control subjects. Polymorphism analyses of Lys109Arg and Gln223Arg were performed by direct DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism approaches respectively. Results: Comparisons of allelic and genotypic frequencies in Lys109Arg and Gln223Arg showed no significant difference between the cases and controls. However, when evaluating the combined genotype of Lys109Arg and Gln223Arg, risk with GG/GG was increased (OR=1.85, 95%CI=1.04-3.30) and with GA/GG or GG/GA was decreased (OR=0.07, 95%CI=0.01-0.54; OR and 95%CI of the latter could not be calculated for a value of zero). Furthermore, the G-G haplotype frequency of Lys109Arg and Gln223Arg in the cases was higher (OR=1.68; 95%CI=1.02-2.76). In contrast, the A-G and G-A haplotype frequencies in the cases were lower than those in the controls (OR=0.06; 95%CI=0.01 to 0.47; OR and 95%CI of the latter could not be calculated for a value of zero). In addition, the Lys109Arg A allele was in LD with the Gln223Arg A allele (d'=0.9399) in the CC-RCC subjects, but not in the controls. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the GG/GG combined genotype and G-G haplotype of Lys109Arg and Gln223Arg can act as evaluating factors for CC-RCC risk.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3403-3410
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• 2014

Context: Interest exits in whether TNF-alpha antagonists increase the risk of breast cancer and total malignancies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objectives: To analyze the risk of malignancies, especially breast cancer, in patients with RA enrolled in randomized control trials (RCTs). Methods: A systematic literature search for RCTs from 1 January 1998 to 1 July 2013 from online databases, such as PubMed, WILEY, EMBASE, ISI web of knowledge and Cochrane Library was conducted. Studies included RCTs that compared the safety of at least one dose of the five TNF-${\alpha}$ antagonists with placebo or methotrexate (MTX) (or TNF-${\alpha}$ antagonists plus MTX vs placebo plus MTX) in RA patients for more than 24 weeks and imported all the references into document management software EndNote${\times}6$. Two independent reviewers selected studies and extracted the data about study design, patients' characteristics and the type, number of all malignancies. Results: 28 RCTs from 34 records with 11,741 patients were analyzed. Of the total, 97 developed at least one malignancy during the double-blind trials, and breast cancer was observed in 17 patients (17.5% of total malignancies). However, there was no statistically significant increased risk observed in either the per protocol (PP) model (OR 0.65, 95%CI [0.22, 1.93]) or the modified intention to treat (mITT) model (OR 0.75, 95%CI [0.25, 2.21]). There were also no significant trend for increased risk of total malignancies on anti-TNF-${\alpha}$ therapy administered at approved doses in either model (OR, 1.06, 95%CI [0.64, 1.75], and OR, 1.30, 95%CI [0.80, 2.14], respectively). As to the two models, modified intention to treat model analysis led to higher estimation than per protocol model analysis. Conclusions: This study did not find a significantly increased risk of breast cancer and total malignancies in adults RA patients treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ antagonists at approved doses. However, it cannot be ignored that more patients developed malignancies with TNF-${\alpha}$ antagonists therapy compared with patients with placebo or MTX, in spite of the lack of statistical significance, so that more strict clinical trials and long-term follow-up are needed, and both mITT and PP analyses should be used in such safety analyses.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2016

In this study, the extracts from the leaves of Rhaphiolepis indica(R. indica) and Quercus salicina(Q. salicina) confirmed antioxidative effects. The antioxidative and cytotoxic effects of the two extracts were analyzed according to varied concentrations and time. The extracts of R. indica and Q. salicina showed dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activities. The extracts of R. indica and Q. salicina at concentrations of 5 mg/mL showed DPPH radical scavenging activities at 89.93 and 92.41%. Therefore, Q. salicina were confirmed to have higher antioxidative effects than R. indica. Total phenolic contents were 65.20 mg GAE/g for R. indica and 85.20 mg GAE/g for Q. salicina. The result that Q. salicina have higher total phenolic contents than R. indica suggested a correlation between total phenolic contents and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The cell protective effects of HepG2 and A549 cells under oxidative stress, both the extracts showed relatively low cell protective effects at around 10%. The Cytotoxic effects of A549 Cells did not show cytotoxicity at concentrations of $100{\mu}g/mL$ or below. The results of this study are likely to be used as basic data to develop antioxidants using the extract of R. indica and Q. salicina.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.848-854
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• 2016

Cymbidium is one of perennial herbs belonging to the Orchidaceae and is known as a medicinal plant. However, its scientific data are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to extract from root and stem of Cymbidium, to investigate the biological effects of them. Cymbidium antibacterial effects of the extracts were performed by antibacterial test against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus saphrophyticus (S. saprophyticus), Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia). Antioxidant effects of the extracts were carried out by DPPH radical scavenging. Total phenolic contents were also determined. Moreover, Cell viability of extracts against MTT assay was cell viability against HepG2 cell and also measures Cholesterol adsorptivity of extracts. In this study, the extracts inhibited the growth of bacteria. Particularly Cymbidium root extracts by only ethanol extraction showed highest antimicrobial effect against S. aureus. The Cymbidium stem extracts by both ethanol extraction and sonication for 1 hour had higher antioxidant activites as well as total phenolic contents. Cell cytotoxicity showed higher than $50{\mu}g/mL$. Cholesterol adsorptivity showed lower than 20%. These results suggest that the Cymbidium might be a source of anti-bacterials and anti-oxidants.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2019

This study examined the relationship between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio (uACR) with ferritin in Korean adults. This study included 4,948 adults aged ${\geq}20years$ from the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. A covariance test adjusted for covariates was performed for the ferritin levels in relation to the decreased eGFR (eGFR<$60ml/min/1.73m^2$) and elevated uACR ($uACR{\geq}30mg/g$). Several key findings were made in the present study. First, after adjusting for the related variables, the ferritin level was higher in the decreased eGFR group [$103.04{\pm}6.59mL/min/1.73m^2$; 95% confidence interval (CI), 90.12~115.96] than in the normal eGFR group ($84.87{\pm}1.16mL/min/1.73m^2$; 95% CI, 82.59~87.14; P=0.007). Second, after adjusting for the related variables, the ferritin level ($M{\pm}SE$) was similar in the normal uACR group ($85.70{\pm}1.20mg/g$; 95% CI, 83.35~88.05) and elevated uACR group ($82.72{\pm}4.09mg/g$; 95% CI, 74.71~90.73) (P=0.487). Chronic kidney disease was positively associated with the ferritin level in Korean adults but albuminuria was not.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) functions through pairing with specific mRNA sequences and results in the mRNA's degradation. It is a potential therapeutic approach for many diseases caused by altered gene expression. The delivery of siRNA is still a major problem due to its rapid degradation in the circulation. Various strategies have been proposed to help with the cellular uptake of siRNA and short or small hairpin RNA (shRNA). Here, we reviewed recently published data regarding local applications of siRNA. Compared with systemic delivery methods, local delivery of siRNA/shRNA has many advantages, such as targeting the specific tissues or organs, mimicking a gene knockout effect, or developing certain diseases models. The eye, brain, and tumor tissues are 'hot' target tissues/organs for local siRNA delivery. The siRNA can be delivered locally, in naked form, with chemical modifications, or in formulations with viral or non-viral vectors, such as liposomes and nanoparticles. This review provides a comprehensive overview of RNAi local administration and potential future applications in clinical treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.553-555
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• 2016

Background: Liver cytology is indicated and requested for evaluating hepatic masses in symptomatic or serendipitous cryptic discovered lesions. Objective: To determine the cytomorphological patterns of hepatic lesions identified among a group of Sudanese patients. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical descriptive hospital-based study included 165 patients undergoing ultrasound-guided fine needle is an aspiration cytology (FNAC)for hepatic lesions, at Al-Amal Military Hospital & Khartoum Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Clinical data were reviewed. Air dried Diff Quick stained smears were grouped into unsatisfactory samples, benign lesions, and malignant neoplasms. Results: Our population were consisted of 35 (21.2%) females and 130 (78.8%) males, with a male to female ratio 3.7:1 and an age ranged between 47 to 80, and a mean age $57{\pm}7$. Of 165 cases, 57 (34.5%) were benign, no atypia were noticed, 101 (61.2%) were malignant. Most investigated patients were found to have metastatic lesions. Conclusion: FNAC is a useful tool for investigating hepatic lesions.