• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2485-2490
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• 2016

The liver is one of the most common sites of cancer in the world, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) predominating. HCC is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer related death overall. Hepatitis C is a major risk factor and HCV is a rapid spreading virus which has become a problem globally, including in Pakistan. Interferon alpha therapy is used against HCV disease to regulate cell reproduction and to boost the immune system. In minute amounts interferon alpha is produced naturally by the immune system in HCV patients in response to hepatitis C virus and binds to receptors in the target cells and starts transcription of 20-30 genes due to which it develops an antiviral influence. Interferon is also administered artificially to overcome HCV disease and remove the biological effect of the virus from the infected site. The use of interferon or Peg-IFN plus Ribavirin treatment is also associated with adverse effects on body. For the current study, a convenient sample of 156 HCV positive patients of both males and females were taken. To collect blood CP and ALT, a reduction of level data and other important information were collected from the patients at regular intervals. Findings were 11.4 % in the red blood cells (RBC), 9.64 % in the total leukocyte count (WBC), 8.4 % in the hemoglobin levels (HB), 30.3 % in the platelet (Plt) count in both sexes. There was significant reduction in ALT levels due to Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy. Hence strict haemotological monitoring of blood CP and ALT levels is necessary at regular intervals to reduce severe side effects which may lead to morbidity and mortality.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2008

Nanog is a newly identified member of the homeobox family of DNA binding transcription factors that functions to maintain the undifferentiated state of stem cells. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the function of Nanog remain largely unknown. To elucidate the regulatory roles of Nanog involved in maintenance of P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) stem cells, we transfected three small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes targeted against different regions of the Nanog gene into P19 cells. The Nanog siRNA-100 duplexes effectively decreased the expression of Nanog up to 30.7% compared to other two Nanog siRNAs, the Nanog siRNA-400 (67.9 %) and -793 (53.0%). When examined by RT-PCR and real-time PCR, the expression of markers for pluripotency such as Fgf4, Oct3/4, Rex1, Sox1 and Yes was downregulated at 48 h after transfection with Nanog siRNA-100. Furthermore, expression of the ectodermal markers, Fgf5 and Isl1 was reduced by Nanog knockdown. By contrast, the expression of other markers for pluripotency such as Cripto, Sox2 and Zfp57 was not affected by Nanog knockdown at this time. On the other hand, the expression of Lif/Stat3 pathway molecules and of the endoderm markers including Dab2, Gata4, Gata6 and the germ cell nuclear factor was not changed by Nanog knockdown. The results of this study demonstrated that the knockdown of Nanog expression by RNA interference in P19 cells was sufficient to modulate the expression of pluripotent markers involved in the self-renewal of EC stem cells. These results provide the valuable information on potential downstream targets of Nanog and add to our understanding of the function of Nanog in P19 EC stem cells.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.96-106
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• 2016

Purpose: Stress distribution and mandible distortion during lateral movements are known to be closely linked to bruxism, dental implant placement, and temporomandibular joint disorder. The present study was performed to determine stress distribution and distortion patterns of the mandible during lateral movements in Class I, II, and III relationships. Methods: Five Korean volunteers (one normal, two Class II, and two Class III occlusion cases) were selected. Finite element (FE) modeling was performed using information from cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans of the subjects' skulls, scanned images of dental casts, and incisor movement captured by an optical motion-capture system. Results: In the Class I and II cases, maximum stress load occurred at the condyle of the balancing side, but, in the Class III cases, the maximum stress was loaded on the condyle of the working side. Maximum distortion was observed on the menton at the midline in every case, regardless of loading force. The distortion was greatest in Class III cases and smallest in Class II cases. Conclusions: The stress distribution along and accompanying distortion of a mandible seems to be affected by the anteroposterior position of the mandible. Additionally, 3-D modeling of the craniofacial skeleton using CBCT and an optical laser scanner and reproduction of mandibular movement by way of the optical motion-capture technique used in this study are reliable techniques for investigating the masticatory system.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2000

At fertilization, sperm penetrates into oocyte, male and female pronuclei are fused together, and mitotic division follows. However, little information is available on the interactive roles and dynamic processes between cytoplasmic and nuclear components during the pronuclear formation, migration and cell division. The assisted reproductive technologies such as, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and round spermatid injection(ROSI) could provides new treatments for the male infertility as well as tools for the study of basic mechanism during fertilization. Nuclear transfer can also provide a mechanism on the interactive roles between nucleus and cytoplasm since the process includes nuclear reprogrammming of differentiated cells in the enucleated oocytes. Recently, I have investigated developmental processes in porcine oocytes following fertilization parthenogenesis, ICSI, ROSI and nuclear transfer using indirect immunocytochemical and electron microscopic studies. The results could provide an insight into biological questions related with epigenesis as well as strategies for the enhancement of embryology in general such as ICSI and nuclear transfer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 2012

Olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus is one of the most widely cultured fish species in Korea. Although olive flounder receive attention from aquaculture and fisheries and extensive research has been conducted eye morphological change in metamorphosis, but little information was known to molecular mechanism and gene expression of eye development- related genes during the early part of eye formation period. For the reason of eyesight is the most important sense in flounder larvae to search prey, the screening and identification of expressed genes in the eye will provide useful insight into the molecular regulation mechanism of eye development in olive flounder. Through the search of an olive flounder DNA database of expressed sequence tags (EST), we found a partial sequence that was similar to crystallin beta A1 and gamma S. Microscopic observation of retinal formation correspond with the time of expression of the crystallin beta A1 and gamma S gene in the developmental stage, these result suggesting that beta A1 and gamma S play a vital role in the remodeling of the retina during eye development. The expression of crystallin beta A1 and gamma S were obviously strong in eye at all tested developing stage, it is also hypothesized that crystallin acts as a molecular chaperone to prevent protein aggregation during maturation and aging in the eye.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2013

To effects of sex maturation in olive flounder by regulating long photoperiod, gonadal development and GTH mRNA expression in the pituitary were investigated. Photoperiod was treated natural photoperiod and long photoperiod (15L:9D) conditions from September 2011 to March 2012. The results showed that natural photoperiodic group showed a higher gonadosomatic index (GSI) than long photoperiodic group during the spawning season (March 2012). The histological analysis of ovarian tissue showed that natural photoperiod group of ovaries contained vitellogenic oocytes, but long photoperiod group of ovaries mainly contained perinucleolus staged oocyte and oil-drop staged oocytes. The FSH mRNA of olive flounder, under natural photoperiod group, showed a significantly higher expression but no significant difference under long photoperiod group. The $LH{\beta}$ mRNA showed a significantly higher expression only under natural photoperiod group. These results may suggest that long photoperiodic information regulates secretion of pituitary FSH and LH and maintain early growing stage of gonadal development in this species.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.426-437
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• 2013

Objective: Gotjawal refers to a special geographical designation found in Jeju Province, Korea, where vegetation forms over a rocky area. Due to the important ecological value of Gotjawal, international concern about such areas is growing. However, only limited information is available regarding environmental contamination of Gotjawal. This study was conducted in order to investigate the levels of contamination and associated ecotoxicological effects of surface water bodies in Gotjawal. Methods: Surface water samples were collected at three sampling sites in two Gotjawal areas and were analyzed for several pharmaceuticals and pesticides in consideration of the potential sources of contamination. The ecotoxicity of the samples was measured using water fleas (Daphnia magna and Moina macrocopa) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). In addition, effects on the gene transcription of zebrafish were investigated following exposure to the samples. Results: Nine pharmaceuticals were detected in the samples, but none of the target pesticides were detected. Following acute exposure to two surface water samples, the survival of waterfleas was significantly reduced, but reproduction was not affected. In zebrafish, time-to-hatch was delayed and fry survival was decreased in some samples. On the other hand, at the transcriptional level, there were no genes significantly influenced by exposure to the samples. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating environmental contamination in Gotjawal areas and associated ecotoxicities. Further studies are warranted to identify the cause of acute Daphnia toxicity and to determine potential consequences of longer-term exposure in Gotjawal areas.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.515-518
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• 2007

SAFRS(Spontaneous Acoustic Field Reproduction System) is a system to sense changes of surroundings and produce sounds which can go well with environment elements sensed by the system in to the space. The sounds were judged by individual evaluation and, the classification of the preferred sounds according to the mood of the space was suggested in the former study. Effectiveness of SAFRS with field application was validated by prior studies which dealt with researching acoustic environment, evaluating images of sounds, and rating environment with existence and nonexistence of sound resources such as fountains and the system after applied in D university. In this study, for more effective field application of SAFRS, research for the acoustic environment around sound resources and subjective evaluation of the preference of the sounds from the resources were made and it was considered that the results of the experiments should be primary information to propose proper sound level to be offered by the system. The results of the study are as follows; 1) It was considered that the ambience of the center road was dependent upon produced sounds by the system and water sounds of the fountain and that of walk way was mostly dependent upon produced sounds. 2) The results of the subjective evaluation showed that the distance from sound resources was suggestive; the more distant from produced sounds the less full and clear the sounds, the less distant from the sounds of water the more delight and idyllic ambience, and the less distant from the forest the more idyllic ambient and diversity. 3) The results upwards were telling that an average value of six elements for the evaluation was even at the place set back 10.2m from center road and walk way. And harmony of all sounds of the place should be considered to propose suitable sound level of SAFRS.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2010

The olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is one of the most widely cultured flatfish in Korea and Japan. During development, in a process known as metamorphosis, this fish reorients itself to lie on one side, the body flattens, and the eye migrates to the other side of the body. However, few studies have focused on molecule regulation mechanism of eye development in olive flounder. To reveal the molecular mechanism of eye development, we performed the studies on identification of genes expressed in the eye of olive flounder using EST and RT-PCR strategy. A total of 270 ESTs were sequenced, and 178 (65.9%) clones were identified as known genes and 92 (34.1%) as unknown genes. Among the 178 EST clones, 29 (16.3%) clones were representing 9 unique genes identified as homologous to the previously reported olive flounder ESTs, 131 (73.6%) clones representing 107 unique genes were identified as orthologs of known genes from other organisms. We also identified a kind of eye development associated proteins, indicating EST as a powerful method for identifying eye development-related genes of fish as well as identifying novel genes. Further functional studies on these genes will provide more information on molecule regulation mechanism of eye development in olive flounder.

• Proceedings of the Korean Printing Society Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.13-28
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• 2007

Producing printing plate is essential progress to do offset printing. In this Film-less period, the more PS plate becomes extinct, the more the age of the Plate-Making of Exposure declines the place to stand. To do offset printing, the CTP (Computer to Plate) is taking a place of PS plate that covers speed, quality and economical problems. The biggest advantage of using CTP is that laser directly goes to the plate, thus there are no dust from the Plate-Making of Exposure. It is also theoretically able to print 200lpi${\sim}$300lpi as well as print 1751pi, because it has over 2400dpi resolution. The high quality printing could be available inside of the country, if printing machine keeps the optimum condition in offset printing. The CTP has many advantages, however there is a difficulty for the operators to preserve the equipment. The actual circumstance is that they cannot make a decision about how many dots need to be generated, and also it is necessary to know how to establish the setup at RIP on CTP to make the optimum condition output. If offset printing machine keeps the optimum condition, it would be able to print up to high quality printing however it is hard to comment what is the optimum condition for the printing machine. Anyone could say easy subjectively that machine is in the optimum condition, however it is objectively hard to estimate by number. In this research GATF / Plate Test target used to analyze the image and to make numerical value of the optimum condition of the CTP. It also used GATF / The sheep fed test printing 5.0 to know the density of the color representation, dot gain and gray balance for the optimum condition of the print machine. The purpose of this research is to represent the ISO 12647-2 which is the international standard with domestic printing equipments.