• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.303-316
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• 2023

With the development and utilization of urban underground space, the artificial ground freezing technology has been widely used in the construction of underground engineering in soft soil areas. The mechanical properties of soft clay changed greatly after freezing and thawing, which affected the seismic performance of underground structures. In this paper, a series of triaxial tests were carried out to study the dynamic response of the freezing-thawing clay under the seismic load considering different dynamic stress amplitudes and different confining pressures. The reduction factor of dynamic shear stress was determined to correct the amplitude of the seismic load. The deformation development mode, the stress-strain relationship and the energy dissipation behavior of the soft clay under the seismic load were analyzed. An empirical model for predicting accumulative plastic strain was proposed and validated considering the loading times, the confining pressures and the dynamic stress amplitudes. The relevant research results can provide a theoretical reference to the seismic design of underground structures in soft clay areas.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.888-901
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• 2020

Objective: A set of microsatellite markers with high polymorphism from Tsaiya duck were used for the genetic monitoring and genetic structure analysis of Brown and White Tsaiya duck populations in Taiwan. Methods: The synthetic short tandem repeated probes were used to isolate new microsatellite markers from the genomic DNA of Tsaiya ducks. Eight populations, a total of 566 samples, sourced from Ilan Branch, Livestock Research Institute were genotyped through novel and known markers. The population genetic variables were calculated using optional programs in order to describe and monitor the genetic variability and the genetic structures of these Tsaiya duck populations. Results: In total 24 primer pairs, including 17 novel microsatellite loci from this study and seven previously known loci, were constructed for the detection of genetic variations in duck populations. The average values for the allele number, the effective number of alleles, the observed heterozygosity, the expected heterozygosity, and the polymorphism information content were 11.29, 5.370, 0.591, 0.746, and 0.708, respectively. The results of analysis of molecular variance and principal component analysis indicated a contracting Brown Tsaiya duck cluster and a spreading White Tsaiya duck cluster. The Brown Tsaiya ducks and the White Tsaiya ducks with Pekin ducks were just split to six clusters and three clusters when K was set equal to 6 and 3 in the Bayesian cluster analysis. The individual phylogenetic tree revealed eight taxa, and each individual was assigned to its own population. Conclusion: According to our study, the 24 novel microsatellite markers exhibited a high capacity to analyze relationships of inter- and intra-population in those populations with a relatively limited degree of genetic diversity. We suggest that duck farms in Taiwan could use the new (novel) microsatellite set to monitor the genetic characteristics and structures of their Tsaiya duck populations at various intervals in order to ensure quality breeding and conservation strategies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.325-334
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• 2018

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The heavy incidence and severe or lethal damage caused by T. gondii infection clearly indicate a need for the development of an effective vaccine. T. gondii GRA8 is a member of the dense granules protein family and is used as a marker of acute infection. In the present study, we evaluated the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccination based on a recombinant eukaryotic plasmid, pDsRed2-GRA8, against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with the pDsRed2-GRA8 plasmid and then challenged by infection with the highly virulent GFP-RH strain of T. gondii. The specific immune responses and protective efficacy against T. gondii of this vaccine were analyzed by measuring cytokine and serum antibody titers, splenocyte proliferation assays, and the survival times of mice after challenge. Our results showed that mice immunized with pDsRed2-GRA8 demonstrated specific humoral and cellular responses, induced higher IgG antibody titers with predominant IgG2a production; increased levels of IL-10, IL-12 (p70), $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and splenocyte proliferation; and prolonged survival times compared to those of control mice. The present study showed that DNA immunization with pDsRed2-GRA8 induced humoral and cellular immune responses, and all immunized mice showed greater Th1-type immune responses and longer survival times than those of control mice. These results indicated that T. gondii GRA8 DNA immunization induces a partial protective effect against acute toxoplasmosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2005

A high environmental temperature affects the economic performance of pigs. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has been reported to participate importantly in thermotolerance. This study aims to produce transgenic pigs overexpressing porcine HSP70.2, the highly inducible one of HSP70 members, and to prove the cellular thermotolerance in the primary fibroblasts from the transgenics. A recombinant plasmid in which the sequence that encodes the porcine HSP70.2 gene is fused to green fluorescence protein (GFP) was constructed under the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer and promoter. Two transgenic pigs were produced by microinjecting pCMV-HSP70-GFP DNA into the pronucleus of fertilized eggs. Immunoblot assay revealed the varied overexpression level (6.4% and 1.4%) of HSP70-GFP in transgenic pigs. After heating at $45^{\circ}C$ for 3 h, the survival rate (78.1%) of the primary fibroblast cells from the highly expressing transgenic pig exceeded that from the non-transgenic pig (62.9%). This result showed that primary fibroblasts overexpressing HSP70-GFP confer cell thermotolerance. We suggest that transgenic pigs overexpressing HSP70 might improve their thermotolerance in summer and therefore reduce the economic loss in animal production.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5799-5804
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• 2012

Family with sequence similarity 189, member B (FAM189B), alias COTE1, a putative oncogene selected by microarray, for the first time was here found to be significantly up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens and HCC cell lines. mRNA expression of COTE1 in HCC samples and cell lines was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR, while protein expression of COTE1 in HCC tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry. In addition, invasion of HCC cells was observed after overexpressing or silencing COTE1. In the total of 48 paired HCC specimens, compared with the adjacent non-cancer tissues, the expression of COTE1 was up-regulated in 31 (p<0.01). In HCC cell lines, COTE1 expression was significantly higher than in normal human adult liver (p<0.01). Overexpression of COTE1 enhanced HCC-derived LM6 and MHCC-L cellular invasion in vitro. In contrast, COTE1 knockdown via RNAi markedly suppressed these phenotypes, as documented in LM3 and MHCC-H HCC cells. Mechanistic analyses indicated that COTE1 could physically associate with WW domain oxidoreductase (WWOX), a tumor suppressor. COTE1 may be closely correlated with invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and thus may serve as an effective target for gene therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-104
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• 2010

In July 2008, I obtained a copy of "Hanbang Eihak Gangseupseo" through Uibangseowon. It was recorded that the book was compiled by Seong Ju-bong and reviewed by Ji Seok-young. According to previous studies, this book was the lecture book that was used in teaching Traditional Korean Medicine in Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do. This book gave insight to the system and curriculum of the school for Traditional Korean Medicine in Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do. It also exhibited the academic characteristics of Traditional Korean Medicine in the Period of Japanese Occupation and the medical viewpoint of Seong Ju-bong. The summary is as follows: First, an independent School for Traditional Korean Medicine was run in Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do, with reasonable curriculums and systematic textbooks. Second, the medical viewpoint and treatment methods of Huang Yuan-Yu of Qing Dynasty was actively introduced. Then it was reorganized for the society and stimulated the progress of Traditional Korean Medicine. Third, while absorbing Chinese Medicine, it still inherited our heritage of Traditional Korean Medicine Especially, Seong Ju-bong's original opinions and clinical experiences are shown in surgery, gynecology and pediatrics. Fourth, in a break from the past, when Chinese culture could not be introduced due to diplomatic problems between Joseon and Qing, efforts were made to overcome limitations of lagging behind by adopting and educating Warm Disease study. Fifth, while working side by side with Ji Seok-young who introduced the modern Western Medicine through vaccination, it still searched for a traditional Korean medical treatment for chickenpox. I hope that the report of my findings through reading "Eihak Gangseupseo" could make up for the fact that the medical history during the colonial period is scarce.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2011

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are known to have bacteriocidal activity and are important components of the innate immune system. Many FFAs are naturally present in human and animal skin, breast milk, and in the bloodstream. Here, the therapeutic potential of FFAs against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is demonstrated in cultures and in mice. Among a series of FFAs, only oleic acid (OA) (C18:1, cis-9) can effectively eliminate Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) through cell wall disruption. Lauric acid (LA, C12:0) and palmitic acid (PA, C16:0) do not have this ability. OA can inhibit growth of a number of Gram-positive bacteria, including hospital and community-associated MRSA at a dose that did not show any toxicity to human sebocytes. The bacteriocidal activities of FFAs were also demonstrated in vivo through injection of OA into mouse skin lesions previously infected with a strain of MRSA. In conclusion, our results suggest a promising therapeutic approach against MRSA through boosting the bacteriocidal activities of native FFAs, which may have been co-evolved during the interactions between microbes and their hosts.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2391-2395
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of response to continuous-infusion ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination as second-line chemotherapy for patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma. Materials and Methods: Eighteen recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma patients who were treated with continuous-infusion ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination between May 1999 and April 2011 were included in the analysis. Ifosfamide at $12g/m^2$ was administered by intravenous continuous infusion over 3 days, and doxorubicin $60mg/m^2$ was administered as an intravenous bolus injection on day 1. The combination therapy was repeated every 3 weeks. Treatment was continued until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: The patients (ages 7-53 years) received a total of 42 cycles of chemotherapy (median: 2 courses; range: 2-5 courses). The overall response rate was 0% and the disease control rate was 22.3%, with four patients having stable disease. The median time to progression and overall survival time were 2 months (range: 2-5 months) and 9 months (range: 3-29 months), respectively. Major severe toxicities were leucopenia 7 (38.9%), nausea and vomiting 3 (16.7%) and alopecia 9 (50%). There were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusions: In our experience, continuous-infusion ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination therapy at this dosage and schedule was found to be well tolerated and moderate effective, which could be considered as salvage therapy for patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma. Further assessment is necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of this treatment.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4281-4288
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• 2016

Background: Traditional meta-analyses or systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been used to compare laser surgeries and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BHP), but they cannot provide a hierarchy regarding efficacy and safety of treatment. Objective: We therefore performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare and create hierarchies for efficacy and safety of TUPR and laser surgeries for BPH. Materials and Methods: We searched for reports of RCTs published up to April 25, 2015. After methodological quality assessment and data extraction, we performed an NMA to compare TURP and laser surgeries for BPH. Results: We ranked the treatments of TURP and laser surgeries for BPH. For IPSS at 6 months, holmium laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP) ranked the first-best and at 12 months, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). For Qmax at 6 and 12 months, HoLEP ranked the first-best; for operative time it was TURP; for cathedral removal time, diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP) ranked the first-best. Conclusions: Although TURP is considered the gold standard for treating BPH, it is not better in terms of efficacy and safety compared with the laser surgery. Our NMA created hierarchies for the 9 types of surgery in terms of efficacy and safety, which should help clinicians choose the best approach for the individual patient.