• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.113-127
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• 2007

Objectives : To inform the 5th WHO Informal Consultation meeting on Development of International Standard Acupuncture Point Locations, held in Osaka, Japan, on September $27{\sim}29$, 2005. Results and Conclusions : Nine experts from Korea, China and Japan discussed the principles of acupuncture points locations and the point locations of 33 controversial acupoints that were not agreed at the previous meeting, as well as 328 non-controversial points that all 3 nations agreed on the locations to confirm the expression of every single point. Through this meeting, the locations of ST30, SP12, LR7 and expressions of LU6, LI8, LI9, LI10, LI 13, SP13, BL60, KI3, GB38, LR11, LR12 were agreed. Furthermore, locations of BL39, GB27, GB28 were confirmed out of 6 non-discussed points. However, several points were still required to held additional meeting to discuss. That includes LI19, LI20, ST36, ST37, ST38, ST39, SI6, KI9, PC8, PC9, TE9, TE17, TE23, GB7, GB30, GV26. In addition, foundation for the international society for the acupuncture point location was proposed to make a regular revision of standard acupuncture point location.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.135-138
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• 2001

Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Control, received distilled water; Low lead, received 0.5 g/ιlead (as acetate) in drinking water; High lead, received 2.0 g/ιlead; Low lead + Minerals, received 0.5 g/ιlead in drinking water and received minerals (Ca$^{2+}$, 25 mg/kg/day; Fe$^{3+}$, 0.47 mg/ kg/day; Zn$^{2+}$, 0.33 mg/kg/day; Se, 0.83 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/day) by gavage; High lead + Minerals, received 2.0 g/ιlead and received the same minerals. Animals exposure to lead was from 10 days before mating till postnatal day 21; and the minerals was administered from the first day of pregnancy and during lactation. No statistical difference was found either in body weights or in blood lead levels between the pups received minerals and those only exposed to lead at the same dose. The developmental and behavioral teratological effects of lead on pups, such as time-lag of eye opening, pinna detachment, fur developing, incisor eruption, ear unfolding, and surface righting were observed in this study; and the minerals decreased the toxicity of lead either in low or in high lead exposure pups. The numbers of step-down were significantly increased in lead exposed animals, and the effect of intervention by the minerals was appeared only in the pups exposed to low lead. The ChAT activity and levels of glutamate and aspartate in hippocampus decreased in treated animals compared to control animals, no effect of intervention by the minerals was found. The results of this study indicate that the applied multi-minerals can alter the outcome of develop-mental lead poisoning in rats.s.s.s.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2605-2610
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• 2012

Background: Studies investigating the association of 2R/3R polymorphism in the thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region (TSER) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk have reported conflicting results. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to summarize the data on the potential association. Methods: Pubmed, Embase and CBM databases were searched for all available studies. Links between the TSER 2R/3R polymorphism and CRC risk were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven case-control studies with a total of 2723 cases and 4030 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the 3R variant of TSER 2R/3R polymorphism contributes to CRC risk in two comparison models (OR 3R vs. 2R =1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.18, P = 0.015; OR Homozygote comparison model = 1.22 1.04-1.43, 95%CI 1.04-1.43, P = 0.012). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity further demonstrated a contribution in Caucasians with three comparison models (OR 3R vs. 2R = 1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.19, P = 0.015; OR Homozygote comparison model = 1.21, 95%CI 1.03-1.41, P = 0.019; OR Recessive comparison model = 1.18, 95%CI 1.05-1.33, P = 0.008). However, the association in the Asian population was still uncertain due to the limited data (all P values were more than 0.05). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that the 3R variant of Thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region 2R/3R polymorphism contributes to gastric cancer risk in the Caucasian population, while any association in Asian populations needs further study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2813-2818
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• 2015

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of curcumin on expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in skin squamous cell carcinoma tissues as well as possible mechanisms of curcumin in prevention and treatment of skin squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Highly invasive A431 cells were treated with curcumin at various doses .The cytotoxic effects of treatment with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 50 umol/L curcumin for 24, 48 and 72 hours on A431 cells were measured by MTT assay. The invasion capacity of cells treated with 5, 10 and 15 umol/L curcumin was measured by Transwell test, while adhesive ability was assessed by cell adhesion assay. The effects of 5,10 and 15 umol/L curcumin on expression levels of STAT3 were determined by Western blotting and on transcription levels of STAT3 mRNA by RT-PCR. Results: Treatment with curcumin at a doses of more than 15 umol/L for more than 24 hour inhibited the growth of A431 cells in a time-and dose-dependent fashion (p<0.001). The doses of 15 umol/L and less for 24 hours showed no significant cytotoxic effects on the cells, survival rates being more than 85%.The invasion and adhesive abilities decreased gradually with the increasing curcumin concentration, 15 umol/L exerting the strongest inhibitory effects (p<0.05). Curcumin showed significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the transcription level of STAT3 mRNA (p<0.05). Conclusions: Curcumin may reduce the invasive ability of A431 cells by inhibiting the activation of STAT3 signal pathway and expression of STAT3 as a target gene in the pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3099-3103
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• 2014

TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusions in prostate cancer have a dominant prevalence of approximately 50.0%, but infomration is limited on differences among ethnic and geographical groups. Some studies focusing on Japanese and Korean patients reported a lower incidence. Investigations concerning Chinese revealed controversial results. We evaluated TMPRSS2:ERG, TMPRSS2:ETV1 and TMPRSS2:ETV4 fusions in more than 100 Eastern Chinese prostate cancer patients. Paraffin blocks of needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy were collected from 91 and 18 patients respectively. All patients' clinicopathologic factors were gathered. TMPRSS2:ERG, TMPRSS2:ETV1 and TMPRSS2:ETV4 fusions were tested by multi-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay. TMPRSS2:ERG fusions was present in 14.3% biopsy specimens and 11.1% radical prostatectomy patients. Neither TMPRSS2:ETV1 nor TMPRSS2:ETV4 fusion was found in any case. Altogether, 13 (86.7%) TMPRSS2:ERG fusion positive cases possessed deletion pattern and 7 (46.6%) and insertion pattern. Some 5 cases had both deletion and insertion patterns. While 38.5% (5/13) patients with deletion pattern had distant metastasis, except for one metastatic case harboring both deletion and insertion, there were no patients with insertion pattern accompanied with metastasis. There were no differences between fusion positive and negative cases in the distribution of age, PSA, Gleason score and TNM stage. Eastern Chinese prostate cancer patients have a significantly low incidence of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion. They also lack TMPRSS2:ETV1 and TMPRSS2:ETV4 fusion. There are more deletion pattern than insertion pattern in TMPRSS2:ERG positive cases. Fusion positive and negative patients have no clinicopathologic factor differences.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of a conservation program is to maintain maximum genetic diversity and preserve the viability of a breed. However, the efficiency of a program is influenced by the ability to accurately measure and predict genetic diversity. Methods: To examine this question, we conducted a simulation in which common measures (i.e. heterozygosity) and novel measures (identity-by-descent probabilities and parental genomic components) were used to estimate genetic diversity within a conserved population using double-labeled single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Results: The results showed that the accuracy and sensitivity of identity-by-state probabilities and heterozygosity were close to identity by descent (IBD) probabilities, which reflect the true genetic diversity. Expected heterozygosity most closely aligned with IBD. All common measures suggested that practices used in the current Chinese pig conservation program result in a ~5% loss in genetic diversity every 10 generations. Parental genomic components were also analyzed to monitor real-time changes in genomic components for each male and female ancestor. The analysis showed that ~7.5% of male families and ~30% of female families were lost every 5 generations. After 50 generations of simulated conservation, 4 male families lost ~50% of their initial genomic components, and the genomic components for 24.8% of the female families were lost entirely. Conclusion: In summary, compared with the true genetic diversity value obtained using double-labeled markers, expected heterozygosity appears to be the optimal indicator. Parental genomic components analysis provides a more detailed picture of genetic diversity and can be used to guide conservation management practices.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection remains a major health threat, especially in high-prevalence areas. Most infants infected by mother-to-infant HBV transmission become chronic carriers. In Taiwan, many important preventive interventions have been implemented to block the perinatal transmission of HBV in the past 35 years. The first nationwide universal HBV vaccination program was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. The three-dose HBV vaccine completion rate reached 98.1% in 2018. The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% in pre-vaccinated period in 1984 to 0.5% in the vaccinated cohort in 2014. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children aged 6-9 years significantly declined from 0.52 to 0.13 per 100,000 children born before and after 1984, respectively. Furthermore, we have performed a maternal HBV screening program during pregnancy since 1984, with the screening rate peaked at 93% in 2012. The HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rate in pregnant women declined from 13.4% and 6.4% in 1984-1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016, respectively. To closely control perinatal HBV infection, we have administered hepatitis B immunoglobulin immediately after birth and checked the serum level of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk babies born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers, irrespective of their HBeAg status, since July 2019. We have also adopted short-term antiviral treatments such as tenofovir 300 mg daily in the third trimester for highly viremic mothers and reduced the perinatal infection rates from 10.7 to 1.5%. Through all these efforts, we expect to meet the global goal of eliminating HBV infection by 2030.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.369-374
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• 2006

To investigate the mechanism of salt tolerance of gram-positive moderately halophilic bacteria, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) was employed to achieve high resolution maps of proteins of Halobacillus dabanensis $D-8^T$. Approximately 700 spots of proteins were identified from these 2-D PAGE maps. The majority of these proteins had molecular weights between 17.5 and 66 kDa, and most of them were distributed between the isoelectric points (pI) 4.0 and 5.9. Some protein spots were distributed in the more acidic region of the 2-D gel (pI <4.0). This pattern indicated that a number of proteins in the strain $D-8^T$ are acidic. To understand the adaptation mechanisms of moderately halophilic bacteria in response to sudden environmental changes, differential protein profiles of this strain were investigated by 2-D PAGE and $Imagemaster^{TM}$ 2D Platinum software after the cells were subjected to salt shock of 1 to 25% salinity for 5 and 50 min. Analysis showed 59 proteins with an altered level of expression as the result of the exposure to salt shock. Eighteen proteins had increased expression, S proteins were induced, and the expression of 33 proteins was down-regulated. Eight of the up-regulated proteins were identified using MALDI-TOF/MS and MASCOT, and were similar to proteins involved in signal transduction, proteins participating in energy metabolism pathways and proteins involved in stress.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.401-411
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• 2015

Aldose reductase (AR) is known to play a crucial role in the mediation of diabetic and cardiovascular complications. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that allergen-induced airway remodeling and ovalbumin-induced asthma is mediated by AR. Epalrestat is an aldose reductase inhibitor that is currently available for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Whether AR is involved in pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and whether epalrestat attenuates pulmonary fibrosis remains unknown. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) in rats. Primary pulmonary fibroblasts were cultured to investigate the proliferation by BrdU incorporation method and flow cytometry. The expression of AR, TGF-${\beta}_1$, ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I was analyzed by immunohistochemisty, real-time PCR or western blot. In vivo, epalrestat treatment significantly ameliorated the bleomycin-mediated histological fibrosis alterations and blocked collagen deposition concomitantly with reversing bleomycin-induced expression up-regulation of TGF-${\beta}_1$, AR, ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I (both mRNA and protein). In vitro, epalrestat remarkably attenuated proliferation of pulmonary fibroblasts and expression of ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I induced by TGF-${\beta}_1$, and this inhibitory effect of epalrestat was accompanied by inhibiting AR expression. Knockdown of AR gene expression reversed TGF-${\beta}_1$-induced proliferation of fibroblasts, up-regulation of ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I expression. These findings suggest that AR plays an important role in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and epalrestat inhibited the progression of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis is mediated via inhibiting of AR expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.659-667
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• 2012

2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) is an organic compound with a wide range of industrial applications. Although Escherichia coli is often used for the production of organic compounds, the wild-type E. coli does not contain two essential genes in the 2,3-BDO biosynthesis pathway, and cannot ferment 2,3-BDO. Therefore, a 2,3-BDO biosynthesis mutant strain of Escherichia coli was constructed and cultured. To determine the optimum culture factors for 2,3-BDO production, experiments were conducted under different culture environments ranging from strongly acidic to neutral pH. The extracellular metabolite profiles were obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the intracellular metabolite profiles were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Metabolic flux analysis (MFA) was used to integrate these profiles. The metabolite profiles showed that 2,3-BDO production favors an acidic environment (pH 5), whereas cell mass favors a neutral environment. Furthermore, when the pH of the culture fell below 5, both the cell growth and 2,3-BDO production were inhibited.