• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.314-320
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• 2014

This study was investigated to know whether pachymic acid (PA), one of the predominant triterpenoids in Poria cocos (Hoelen) has the sedative-hypnotic effects, and underlying mechanisms are mediated via ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic systems. Oral administration of PA markedly suppressed locomotion activity in mice. This compound also prolonged sleeping time, and reduced sleep latency showing synergic effects with muscimol (0.2 mg/kg) in shortening sleep onset and enhancing sleep time induced by pentobarbital, both at the hypnotic (40 mg/kg) and sub-hypnotic (28 mg/kg) doses. Additionally, PA elevated intracellular chloride levels in hypothalamic primary cultured neuronal cells of rats. Moreover, Western blotting quantitative results showed that PA increased the amount of protein level expression of $GAD_{65/67}$ over a broader range of doses. PA increased ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-subunits protein levels, but decreased ${\gamma}$-subunit protein levels in $GABA_A$ receptors. The present experiment provides evidence for the hypnotic effects as PA enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors via $GABA_A$-ergic mechanisms in rodents. Taken together, it is proposed that PA may be useful for the treatment of sleep disturbed subjects with insomnia.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2006

In previous studies, it has been discovered that cancer cells not only overexpress regulatory subunit I (Rl)/protein kinase type I (PKA-I) but also secrete outside the cell an extracellular form of PKA (ECPKA) and that the ECPKA secretion detected in patients' serum is obviously greater than that found in non-cancer patients or healthy subjects. We now found that ECPKA elicits the formation of serum autoantibodies that can serve as a cancer diagnostic and prognostic marker. To measure the presence of anti-ECPKA autoantibody in the human sera, basic methodology for ECPKA assay was established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We obtained serum samples from 199 patients with different types of cancer, and also obtained 31 serum samples to compare with ECPKA concentrations from non-cancer patients and 119 normal volunteers. Compared with normal or non-cancer patient sera, we found that the frequency of anti-ECPKA autoantibody was significantly higher in cancer patients (88%) than in those without cancer (17%). Furthermore the presence of anti-ECPKA autoantibodies in the serum of cancer patients was highly correlated with the site of metastasis. The immunoassay developed for anti-ECPKA antibodies is highly sensitive and specific. Therefore, this discovery of an autoantibody-based cancer diagnostic may have serious clinical application and may become an important advance over current technology.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.126-133
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• 1980

The purpose of this survey was to investigate the nutritional status of special working persons related to health status, nutrient intake and living environment. The survey was conducted on workers in 9 general hospitals and 2 factories from Nov. 24 in 1979 to Jan. 20 in 1980. Nurses, medical doctors on intership or residency, and factory workers were chosen as subjects because of their irregular working hours, i.e., they sometimes work during the day and. sometimes at night. The total number of subjects was 417 for nurses, for medical doctors was 91, and was 216 for factory workers, all together 724 subjects were investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) Average nutrient intake of subjects per day. For nurses the caloric intake was 1743 Kcal. This was composed of carbohydrate 251g(57.6%), protein 81g (18.5%), and fat 46g (23.9%). Other nutrient intake, such as iron (16mg), thiamin (0.98mg), riboflavin (1mg) was lower than the recommended dietary allowance. For male medical doctors, the caloric intake was 2064 Kcal, This was composed of carbohydrate 288g (55.8%), protein 102g (19.8%) and fat 56g (24.4%). Other nutrient consumption, such as riboflavin (1.31mg) was lower than the recommended dietary allowance. For female medical doctors, the caloric intake was 1909 Kcal. This was composed of carbohydrate 156g(53.7%), protein 90g (18.9%) and fat 58g (27.4%). For male factory workers, caloric intake was 1699 Kcal. This was composed of carbohydrate 317g(74.5%), protein 64g (15.0%) and fat 20g(10.5%). Other nutrient intake, such as vitamin A (4765IU), ascorbic acid (46mg) and riboflavin (1.11mg) were lower than the recommended dietary allowance. For female factory workers, the caloric intake was 1630 Kcal. This was composed of carbohydrate 287g (70.5%), protein 65g (15.8%) and fat 25g (13.7%). Other nutrient consumption, such as iron (15mg), riboflavin (1.04mg), ascorbic acid (42mg), and vitamin A (4334IU) was lower than the recommended dietary allowance. The percentage of animal protein to total protein was 65.2% in nurses, 67.4% in male medical doctors, 64.9% in female medical doctors, 38.6% in male factory workers, and 45.6% in female factory workers. 2) The average Kaup's value of subjects was 1.9 in nurses, 2.2 in male mcdical doctors, 1.9 in female medical doctors, 2.0 in male factory workers, and 2.1 in female factory workers. 3) The health status of subjects according to their self diagnosed answer was as follows; The percentage of food health was 82. 7% in nurse, 82.7% in nurse, 83.5% in medical doctor, and 56% in factory workers. The remainder answered that they were in poor health.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.400-405
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• 2006

A 16-month old boy was referred to our hospital for evaluation of recurrent generalized tonic clonic seizures. Metabolic evaluation revealed significant hyperammonemia ($1,112\;{\mu}g/dl$). Amino acid/acylcarnitine screening using tandem mass spectrometry showed markedly increased plasma levels of citrulline ($1,350\;{\mu}M/l$) with undetectable levels of arginine and arginosuccinic acid. Urinary excretion of citrulline was markedly increased ($38,617\;{\mu}M/g$ creatinine). Brain MRI findings showed diffuse high-signal intensity lesions, that involved gray and white matter in both frontal lobes and insula with edematous changes; these findings were consistent with the acute stage of citrullinemia (CTLN). Mutation analysis of the argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) gene, in this patient, showed a Gly324Ser mutation in exon 13, and a 67-bp duplication mutation in exon 15 (c.1128-6_1188dup67). The patient was confirmed as having late-onset CTLN1 and treated with anticonvulsants, lactulose enema, protein restricted diet and arginine. Here we describe a case of late-onset CTLN1 in a patient by biochemical analyses and ASS gene mutation confirmation. This is the first report of a Korean patient with late-onset CTLN1 confirmed by ASS gene mutation identification.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.182-187
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• 2013

Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOT) - previously termed odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) - are characterized by aggressive behavior and a high rate of recurrence. Histopathologically, the basal layer of KCOT shows a higher cell proliferation rate and increased expression of anti-apoptosis genes. Clinically, KCOT is frequently involved in the mandibular posterior region but is not common in the posterior maxilla. However, it should be noted that due to its expansive characteristics, KCOT involved near the maxillary sinus could easily expand to an enormous size and occupy the entire maxilla. To achieve total excision of these expanded cystic tumors in the maxilla, a more aggressive approach would be needed. In this report, we describe two cases of expansile KCOT involving the entire unilateral maxilla and maxillary sinus; they were completely excised using the Weber-Ferguson approach, showing no evidence of recurrence during the follow-up period of more than two years. In immunohistochemical analyses of the tumor specimens, p53 and p63 showed strong expression, and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and MKI67 (Ki-67) showed moderate or weak expression, however, detection of BCL2-associated X protein (BAX) was almost negative. These data indicate that expansile KCOT possesses increased anti-apoptotic activity and cell proliferation rate but decreased apoptosis. These properties of KCOT may contribute to tumor enlargement, aggressive behavior, and high recurrence rate.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.712-719
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• 2018

This study was carried out to obtain basic data on Korean traditional Meju collected from 18 regions (TM1~TM18) in Korea and to define and control quality. The shape of Meju was mostly rectangular and the weight was 0.84~2.04 kg. The physicochemical analysis showed: pH, 5.31~8.21; total acidity, 0.91~2.74%; moisture content, 4.79~42.16%; and soluble protein content, 41.37~23.48%. Hunter color values for L (lightness), a (redness), and b (yellowness) ranged from 39.07~67.92, 3.57~8.87, and 7.48~20.67, respectively. The amino nitrogen contents of all samples were in the range of 257.29 to 839.58 mg% and TM13 showed the highest content (839.58 mg%). Total viable cells, yeast and mold counts of Meju were 8.43~5.91 log CFU/g, 2.48~5.19 log CFU/g, and 3.42~7.48 log CFU/g, respectively. Based on the results, it is proposed that quality standards and management of Meju fermentation conditions and information about different varieties of soybeans used should be made available.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4965-4969
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• 2015

LCN2 (Lipocalin 2) is a 25 KD secreted acute phase protein, reported to be a novel regulator of angiogenesis in breast cancer. Up regulation of LCN2 had been observed in multiple cancers including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. However, the role of LCN2 promoter methylation in the formation of microvessels is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of LCN 2 promoter methylation with microvessel formation and tumor cell proliferation in breast cancer patients. The LCN2 promoter methylation status was studied in 64 breast cancer tumors by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Evaluation of microvessel density (MVD) and Ki67 cell proliferation index was achieved by immunohistochemical staining using CD34 and MIB-1 antibodies, respectively. LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was observed in 43 (67.2%) of breast cancer patients whereas LCN2 methylation status was seen in 21 (32.8%). Further, LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and elevated mean MVD in breast cancer patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 1994

The search for tumor-avid agents for use in nuclear medicine imaging or therapy is a field of ongoing importance. Metallothionein (MT) is an intracellular protein that binds many metals with isotopes having imaging or radiotherapeutic potential. The purpose of the study was to determine whether uptake of radioisotopes that bind to MT is increased in tumor. We measured the uptake of Cd-109 and Ga-67 in tumor and normal tissues of sarcoma-bearing mice. Tumors were grown subcutaneously in female Balb/C mice from cultured Balb/3T3 cells transformed by the Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MMSV). When the tumors reached about 1 cm in diameter, mice were injected subcutaneously with Cd-109 and Ga-67. Eighteen and seventy-two hours later, the mice were sacrified. Organs and tissues were removed, weighed, and activity per mg tissue determined by gamma well-counting. Uptake of Cd-109 by MMSV tumors exceeded that by normal tissues examined, with the exception of liver and kidney (the organs known to be richest in MT). The tumor-to-tissue ratios of uptake for Cd-109 were far greater than those for Ga-67 for many normal tissues of great importance in terms of background activity (bone, intestine, fat, muscle, and blood). We concluded that metals that bind to MT may be useful for oncologic imaging or rediotherapy of cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.11 s.268
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• pp.828-837
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• 2006

Background: Tissue hypoxia is characteristic of many human malignant neoplasm, and hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in essential adaptive response to hypoxia, and activates a signal pathway for the expression of the hypoxia-regulated genes, resulting in increasing $O_2$ delivery or facilitating metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. Increased level of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ has been reported in many human malignancies, but in non-small cell lung carcinoma the influence of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ on tumor biology, including neovascularization, is not still defined. In present study the relationship of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression on angiogenetic factors, relationship between the tumor proliferation and HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression, interaction of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression and p53, and relationship between HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression and clinico-pathological prognostic parameters were investigated. Material and Method: Archival tissue blocks recruited in this study were retrieved from fifty-nine patients with primary non-small cell lung carcinoma, who underwent pneumonectomy or lobectomy from 1997 to 1999. HIF-$1{\alpha}$, VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor), and p53 protein expression and Ki-67 labeling index in tumor tissues were evaluated, using a standard avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex(ABC) immunohistochemistry. Relationship between the HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression and VEGF, p53 overexpression and correlation between the HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expresseion and Ki-67 index were analyzed. Clinico-pathologic prognostic parameters were also analyzed. Result: HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression in cancer cells was found in 24 of 59 cases of non-small cell lung carcinoma(40.7%). High HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was significantly associated with several pathological parameters, such as pathological TMN stage(p=0.004), pT stage(p=0.020), pN stage (p=0.029), and lymphovascular invasion(p=0.019). High HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was also significantly associated with VEGF immunoreactivity(p<0.001), and aberrant p53 expression(p=0.040). but was marginally associated with Ki-67 labeling index(p=0.092). The overall 5-year survival rate was 42.3%. The survival curve of patients with a high HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was worse than that of patients with low-expression(p=0.002). High HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was independent unfavorable factors with a marginal significance in multivariate analysis performed by Cox regression. Conclusion: It is suggested that high HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression may be associated with intratumoral neovascularization possibly through HIF-VEGF pathway, and high HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression could be associated with lymph node metastasis and post operative poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 1971

The nitrogen content and free amino acids were determined from the saute of mong bean paste which is one of the important protein sources on Korean diet. During the saute' process of mong-bean paste, valine, r-aminobutyrate, glutamine, arginine, methionine, and unknown acids were lost, but, proline, lysine, homoserine, and tyrosine were detected.