• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6643-6647
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• 2014

The breast and the thyroid are hormone responsive organs that are closely related with changes of endocrine function and glandular disease. An association between thyroid disorders and breast cancer (BC) risk has been suggested, although the results are inconclusive. The purpose of the present study was to summarize evidence supporting a relationship between BC and the level of thyroid hormones and antibodies. The MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2014. The pooled effects were presented as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using fixed or random effect models. We summarized the results of 8 cross-sectional studies with 4, 189 participants. The overall pooled results showed that the levels of $FT_3$ and $FT_4$ were significantly increased in patients with BC (WMD=1.592 pmol/l; 95% CI: 0.15-3.033 and WMD=0.461 ng/dl; 95% CI: 0.015-0.906; p=0.043). The TPOAb level in patients with BC was higher than that in the control group (WMD=81.4 IU/ml; 95% CI: 78.7-84.0; p=0.000). The overall pooled results of the TgAb with random effects analyses showed that the TgAb level was significantly increased in patients with BC (WMD=101.3 IU/ml; 95% CI: 48.7-153.9; p=0.000). The present results indicated that the serum levels of $FT_3$, TPOAb and TgAb are significantly higher in patients with breast cancer than in healthy controls.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4843-4846
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• 2014

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is most common in childhood. Inhibin (a non-steroidal glycoprotein hormone of gonadal origin) can be used as marker of fertility. The current study was conducted to evaluate inhibin levels in ALL patients and to estimate its correlation with some antioxidants in these in comparison with control subjects. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on sixty patients with ALL and thirty children as controls. Fasting blood samples were taken from each subject and analyzed for haemoglobin, serum protein, vitamin E and C, in addition to glutathione and inhibin. Results: The results of the study showed highly significant decreases (p<0.001) in haemoglobin, glutathione and inhibin levels with significant decreases (p<0.05) in serum protein and vitamin E levels for patients group in comparison with controls while there was no significant differences in vitamin C. Moreover, there were significant correlations between inhibin levels and serum protein, glutathione and both vitamins (E and C) in the ALL patient group (r= 0.81, 0.80, 0.77 and 0.69, respectively). Conclusions: The present results indicated infertility in patients with ALL demonstrated by low inhibin level as a consequence of abnormality in anti-oxidative metabolism due to the cancer process. So, it can be suggested the need for routine measurement of inhibin for leukemic patients to estimate the action of hormones of gonadal origin.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.8
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• pp.294-300
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• 2015

Purpose: It is difficult to differentiate between central precocious puberty (CPP) and premature thelarche (PT) in girls. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic usefulness of pelvic ultrasonography to distinguish between CPP and PT in girls with early breast development. Methods: This study included girls with early breast development who visited the clinic between January 2012 and December 2013. Clinical, laboratory, and pelvic ultrasonographic data were evaluated. CPP and PT were confirmed using the gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test. Results: A total of 248 girls aged 7-8 years were included, among whom 186 (75.0%) had CPP and 62 (25.0%) had PT. The uterine length, transverse diameter, fundus, volume, and cross-sectional area were significantly larger in the CPP group (uterine length, $2.45{\pm}0.50cm$ vs. $2.63{\pm}0.49cm$, P=0.015; uterine volume, $0.95{\pm}0.62cm^3$ vs. $1.35{\pm}0.76cm^3$, P<0.001). However, there were no differences in the fundus/cervix ratio and ovarian measurements. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, a uterine volume of at least $1.07cm^3$ was the most predictive parameter for CPP with an area under the curve of 0.670 (95% confidence interval, 0.593-0.747). Conclusion: Uterine measurements by pelvic ultrasonography in girls with early pubertal development were significantly larger in the CPP group. However, the diagnostic value of ultrasonographic parameters was not high because of a considerable overlap of values between the two groups. Therefore, pelvic ultrasonography in combination with clinical and laboratory tests may be useful to distinguish between CPP and PT in girls.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.460-466
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• 2006

To investigate the effects of dietary patterns on bone mineral density and its biochemical markers among Korean healthy college women for 2 years, 34 female college students were recruited through convenience sampling. Bone mineral density was measured using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) twice at baseline and two years later. Osteocalcin and parathyroid hormone were measured in fasting serum and N-teleopeptides of type collagen (NTx) in urine. Dietary intake was assessed by 24-hour recall method 8 times with average 4-month interval. Dietary patterns with percent energy of each food group using cluster analysis were classified into two groups. The first cluster (n = 16) was characterized with high consumption of bread, snack, fast foods, beverage and considerable of rice so it was determined as 'Modified dietary pattern group'. The second cluster was characterized with high consumption of rice and kimchi so determined as 'Traditional dietary pattern group'. There were no significant difference of age, menarcheal age, body mass index but percent of body fat by pattern groups. The traditional group showed higher value of bone mineral density among lumber spine and all femur sites at baseline and 2 years later but it was not significant after adjusted for percent of body fat. Serum osteocalcin and urine NTx was higher among the traditional group at baseline than the modified group. There were similar proportions of carbohydrate:fat:protein between groups but significantly higher intake of protein, iron, vitamin A among the traditional group. In conclusion, there were two distinctive dietary patterns among Korean college women. There was difference of bone mineral density and its biochemical markers between two patterns. Further research would be necessary to explore the relationship between dietary patterns and health risks for larger-sized and various populations.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 1987

Rat liver LDH A-cDNA has been isolated from a .lambda.gt11-rat lover cDNA library and partially characterized. The size of the isolated rat liver LDH A-cDNA if shown to be 1.6Kb and restriction enzyme sites for the rat liver LDH A-cDNA are also mapped. 682-nucleotide sequence coding for 3'-end of rat liver LDH A-cDNA has been analyzed and compared to the nucleotide sequence of the same region of rat $C_6$-glioma cell LDH A-cDNA which has been cloned from the hormonally stimulated cell cultures. The result shows that 177 nucleotide sequences coding for the C-terminal 59-amino acids are identical but 505 nucleotide sequences of 3'-nontranslated region of the two LSH A-cDNA exhibit characteristic differences in thier nucleotide sequences. Computer analysis for the folding structures for 3'-end 400 nucleotide sequences of the two LDH A-cDNA shows a possibility implying that the two LDH A-mRNAs isolated from different tissues of rats may have different half life and therefore their translational efficiency may be different. It has been previously demonstrated that isoproterenol stimulated rat $C_6$ -glioma cell cultures produce LDH A-mRNA showing 2 to 3-fold longer half life in comparison to that of noninduced LHD A-mRNA. The result therefore support for the idea that hormonally stimulated rat $C_6$-glioma cells may produce LDH A-mRNA containing different nucleotide sequences at the 3'-end nontranslated region by which the hormonally induced LDH A-mRNA could have more stable secondary mRAN structure in comparison to that of noninduced LDH A-mRNA.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.73-80
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• 2012

Objectives : Under normal condition melanin protects the skin from extracellular stimuli including ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative skin damages, but excess production and accumulation of melanin can induce hyperpigmentation causing esthetic problems. Therefore, in this study we tried to search for natural skin whitening materials from marine natural resources. Methods : Water and ethanol extracts of marine natural resources were prepared from Porphyra thalli (PT), Laminariae thallus (LT), Ostreae concha (OC), Sargassum thallus (ST), Undaria thallus (UT), Codium thalli (CT), Enteromorpha thalli (ET), Syngnathoides biaculeatus (SB), and Hippocampus coronatus (Hc). Their effects against UVB and ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-induced melanogenesis were investigated based on melanin formation in B16 mouse melanoma cells. The mRNA and protein expression of enzymes involved in the melanogenic process were further examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results : Water extract of Ostreae concha (OCW/E) effectively inhibited UVB and ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanin production in B16 melanocytes, which seemed to be mediated by inhibition of mRNA expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1). In another experiment, ethanol extracts from Porphyra thalli (PTE/E), Laminariae thallus (LTE/E), Sargassum thallus (STE/E), Undaria thallus (UTE/E), Codium thalli (CTE/E), Syngnathoides biaculeatus (SBE/E), and Hippocampus coronatus (HcE/E) significantly suppressed UVB and ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanin formation. Furthermore, ethylacetate fraction isolated form LTE/E (LTE/EEt) decreased UVB and ${\alpha}$-MSH-elevated extracellular melanin levels via inhibition of tyrosinase protein expression. Conclutions : These results suggest that marine natural resources such as Porphyra thalli, Laminariae thallus, Ostreae concha, Sargassum thallus, Undaria thallus, Codium thalli, Syngnathoides biaculeatus and Hippocampus coronatus have anti-melanogenic effects, thereby exhibiting high potentials to be utilized as one of the ingredients for the development of new whitening functional cosmetics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4233-4238
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of body mass index with overall and progression-free survival as well as other prognostic factors of breast cancer in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 456 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the Radiation Oncology department of Kayseri Teaching Hospital between 2005 and 2013. We investigated relationship of body mass index with prognosis and other prognostic factors. Results: The study included 456 patients (447 women and 9 men). Mean age at presentation was 55.6 years. Of the cases, 96.9% underwent modified radical mastectomy and 95.0% received chemotherapy, while 82.4% received radiotherapy and 60.0% were given hormone therapy. Body mass index was >25 mg/kg2 in 343 cases. Five- and 10-years overall survival rates were 77% and 58% whereas progression-free survival rates were 65% and 49%, respectively. In univariate analyses, factors including stage (p=0.046), tumor diameter (p=0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.006) and body mass index (p=0.030) were found to be significantly associated with overall survival, while perinodal involvement was found to be significantly associated with progression-free survival (p=0.018). In multivariate analysis, stage (p=0.032; OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.1-13), tumor diameter (p<0.000; OR: 0.0; 95% CI: 0.0-0.3), lymph node metastasis (p=0.005; OR: 0.0; 95% CI: 0.0-0.5) and BMI (p=0.027; OR: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.0-0.8) remained as significantly associated with OS. Conclusions: In our study, it was seen that overall survival time was shorter in underweight and obese patients when compared to normal weight patients.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2013

Cathepsins are lysosomal/cysteine proteases belong to papain family (C1 family) that is involved in intracellular protein degradation, antigen processing, hormone maturation, and immune responses. In this study, member of cathepsin family was identified from Manila clam (Mc-Cathepsin D) and investigated the immune response against brown ring disease (BRD) causing Vibrio tapetis challenge. The identified Mc-Cathepsin D gene encodes characteristic features typical for the cathepsin family including eukaryotic and viral aspartyl protease signature domain and two highly conserved active sites ($^{84}VVFDTGSSNLWV^{95}$ and $^{270}IADTGTSLLAG^{281}$). Moreover, MC-Cathepsin D shows higher identity values (-50-70%) and conserved amino acids with known cathepsin D members. Transcriptional results (by quantitative real-time RT-PCR) showed that Mc-Cathepsin D was expressed at higher levels in gills and hemocytes than mantle, adductor muscle, foot, and siphon. After the V. tapetis challenge under laboratory conditions, Mc-Cathepsin D mRNA was up-regulated in gills and hemocytes. Present study indicates that Mc-Cathepsin D is constitutively expressed in different tissues and potentially inducible when infecting BRD by V. tapetis. It is further suggesting that Mc-Cathepsin D may be involved in multiple role including immune response reactions against BRD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.237-247
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• 2001

Background : infection associated with otalgia, herpetic eruptions, facial palsy, trigeminal pain and cochleovestibular dysfunction such as hearing dishubance, tinnitus, vertigo and other symptoms, and is not frequently encountered in otolaryngologic field. And facial paralysis occured by this syndrome is rapid in onset, usually severe in degree, and poor in prognosis. Objectives : To evaluate the Oriental Medicine's treatment and prognosis of Herpes zoster oticus and to classify of peripheral Facial palsy on Oriental Medicine. Methods : Clinical observation and analysis about a case of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome III type was done, who visited Dongguk University Gangnam Hospital. This case is managed by integrated therapy of oriental and western medicine. In oriental medicine, to treate ear pain, heonggae-yeongoetang(荊芥蓮翹湯) was given and to treat herpetic eruption, 8 constitution acupuncture treatement was done. In western medicine, antiviral agent, acyclovir and steroid hormone, prednisolon were treated. Result : About 6 weeks treatment, this case which has worse prognosis than Bell's palsy, was completed cured without any complication. Conclusion : 1. Futher divided classification about non-infectious and infectious facial palsy include "Ramsay Hunt Syndrome" is needed. 2. In acute state, Jeonyohwadan's (纏腰火丹) treatement can be applied, but the difference of invasion part, primary symptom such as ear pain and herpetic eruption is needed another treatment. 3. Ear pain and herpetic eruption can be treated in part of poongyeol(風熱) and subyeol(濕熱). 4. In Acupuncture treatement, Jeonyohwadan's (纏腰火丹) treatement can be applied in acute stage and guanwasa's treatement can be applied in chronic stage. but futher research is needed. 5. This case, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome IlI type, was managed by integrated therapy such as heonggae-yeongoetang(荊芥蓮翹湯), 8 constitution acupuncture treatement, acyclovir and prednisolon and this treatement was good effect.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.205-215
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• 2015

Objectives Sex hormones exposure during the prenatal period has an effect on cerebral lateralization. Male brains are thought to be more lateralized than female brains. Bipolar disorder was known to show abnormalities in cerebral laterality whose characteristics could be estimated by electroencephalography (EEG) coherences. We studied sex-related differences of EEG coherences between healthy controls and patients with bipolar disorder to examine the sex effects in the genesis of bipolar disorder. Methods Participants were 25 patients with bipolar disorder (11 male, 14 female) and 46 healthy controls (23 male, 23 female). EEG was recorded in the eyes closed resting state. To examine dominant EEG coherence associated with sex differences in both groups within five frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) across several brain regions, statistical analyses were performed using analysis of covariance. Results Though statistically meaningful results were not found, some remarkable findings were noted. Healthy control females showed more increased interhemispheric coherences than control males in gamma frequency band. There were no differences in the intrahemispheric coherences between the healthy control males and females. In patients with bipolar disorder, female dominant pattern in interhemispheric coherences was attenuated compared with healthy control. Conclusions Sex differences of EEG coherences, which could be a marker for cerebral laterality, were attenuated in patients with bipolar disorder compared with healthy controls. These results imply that abnormal sex hormone exposure during early development might play some role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder.