• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7433-7438
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• 2013

Aim: To identify new biomarkers for NPC diagnosis with an anti-EBV Western blot test kit. Methods: Serum samples from 64 NPC patients and healthy subjects with four specific VCA-IgA/EA-IgA profiles were tested with an anti-EBV Western blot test kit from EUROIMMUN AG. Proteins were quantified with scores of intensity visually assigned to the protein bands. The markers which showed statistical differences between the NPC and non-NPC subjects were further evaluated in another 32 NPC patients and 32 controls in comparison with established biomarkers including VCA-IgA, EA-IgA, EBV-related protein IgG, and EBV DNA. Results: Among the markers screened, EA-D p45-IgG showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between NPC and non-NPC subjects with VCA-IgA positivy. In 32 VCA-IgA positive NPC patients and 32 control subjects, the diagnostic accuracy of EA-D p45-IgG was 78.1% with a positive predictive value of 77.8% and a negative predictive value of 78.6%. In the verification experiment, the specificity and sensitivity of EA-D p45-IgG were 75.0% and 90.6 %, respectively. Conclusions: EA-D p45-IgG might be a potential biomarker for NPC diagnosis, especially among VCA-IgA positive subjects.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2012

This study was undertaken to know the effect of fat diet (for eight weeks) on changes of inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$)] and blood coagulation system [platelet aggregation function (PAF), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)] in rats. Serum TNF-${\alpha}$, $PGE_2$, biochemical markers, PAF, PT, aPTT, and body weight were measured and compared between the control (normal diet-rats) and the fat group (fat diet-rats). The weights in the fat group were higher than those of the control group. TNF-${\alpha}$, $PGE_2$, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine levels were greater in the fat group compared with the control group. The degree of platelet aggregation was lower, whereas PT and aPTT levels were longer in the fat group than in the control group. These findings have shown that fat diet may cause inflammatory response, diabetes, liver and renal dysfunction, and disturbances of fibrinolysis and coagulation system.

• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.3 no.1_2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2003

This paper describes a novel experiment that measures skin movement with respect to the flexional motion of a hand. The study was based on MR images in conjunction with CAD techniques. The MR images of the hand were captured in 3 different postures with surface markers. The surface markers attached to the skin where employed to trace skin movement during the flexional motion of the hand. After reconstructing 3D isosurfaces from the segmented MR images, the global registration was applied to the 3D models based on the particular bone shape of different postures. Skin movement was interpreted by measuring the centers of the surface markers in the registered models.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

Differentially expressed genes by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were identified in order to evaluate them as dioxin-sensitive markers and crucial signaling molecules to understand dioxin-induced toxic mechanisms in human bronchial cells. Gene expression profiling was analyzed by cDNA microarray and ten genes were selected for further study. They were cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily B, polypeptide 1 (CYP1B1), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (calgranulin A), S100 calcium binding protein A9 (calgranulin B), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A3 (ALDH6) and peroxiredoxin 5 (PRDX5) in up-regulated group. Among them, CYP1B1 was used as a hallmark for dioxin and sharply increased by TCDD exposure. Down-regulated genes were IK cytokine, interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1), nuclease sensitive element binding protein 1 (NSEP1), protein tyrosine phosphatase type VI A, member 1 (PTP4A1), ras oncogene family 32 (RAB32). Although up-regulated 4 genes in microarray were coincided with northern hybridization, down-regulated 5 genes showed U-shaped expression pattern which is sharply decreased at lower doses and gradually increased at higher doses. These results introduce some of TCDD-responsive genes can be sensitive markers against TCDD exposure and used as signaling cues to understand toxicity initiated by TCDD inhalation in pulmonary tissues.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7105-7112
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated oxidative stress and tumor marker levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 136 coke oven workers and in 60 control subjects, and evaluated the correlation between oxidative stress and tumor marker levels. Questionnaires on basic demographic information were also administered. Significant differences in employment time and percentages of alcohol drinkers were observed between the control and exposed groups. PAH exposure was assessed using urinary 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) levels and was found to be significantly higher in workers than in the controls. Significant differences (P<0.001) of MDA, GST, LDH, NSE, Cyfra21-1, and of SCC and TNF-a (P<0.0001 and P<0.05, P<0.001, respectively) levels were observed among controls and coke-oven workers, except for bottom coke oven workers. Associations between age and risk of increased TNF-a, smoking and increased GST activities, and drinking with increased MDA concentrations, were marginal (P=0.055, P=0.048, P=0.057, respectively). The association between smoking with MDA (P=0.004), NSE (P=0.005), SCC (P=0.004) andTNF-a (P<0.001), and drinking with TNF-a levels was significant (P=0.012). In addition, a significant positive correlation between oxidative stress and tumor markers was found in the present study. These results suggest that a synergistic increase of oxidative stress and tumor markers induced by PAHs may play a role in toxic responses for PAHs in coke oven workers.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.515-522
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• 2018

Patients with head and neck cancer are treated with therapeutic irradiation, which can result in irreversible salivary gland dysfunction. Because there is no complete cure for such patients, stem cell therapy is an emerging alternative for functional restoration of salivary glands. In this study, we investigated in vitro characteristics of primarily isolated epithelial cells from human salivary gland (Epi-SGs) and in vivo formation of acini-like structures by Epi-SGs. Primarily isolated Epi-SGs showed typical epithelial cell-like morphology and expressed E-cadherin but not N-cadherin. Epi-SGs expressed epithelial stem cell (EpiSC) and embryonic stem cell (ESC) markers. During long-term culture, the expression of EpiSC and ESC markers was highly detected and maintained within the core population with small size and low cytoplasmic complexity. The core population expressed cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 14, known as duct markers indicating that Epi-SGs might be originated from the duct. When Epi-SGs were transplanted in vivo with Matrigel, acini-like structures were readily formed at 4 days after transplantation and they were maintained at 7 days after transplantation. Taken together, our data suggested that Epi-SGs might contain stem cells which were positive for EpiSC and ESC markers, and Epi-SGs might contribute to the regeneration of acini-like structures in vivo. We expect that Epi-SGs will be useful source for the functional restoration of damaged salivary gland.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.256-264
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• 2022

Ischemic stroke is caused by an occlusion by a thrombus or embolus in a cerebral artery, preventing oxygenated blood from reaching the brain and causing the necrosis of nerve cells. This paper summarizes the serum candidate markers associated with cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation (AF) disease that enable an early diagnosis of ischemic stroke studied thus far and compares the odds ratio (OR) of each marker. This study examined the effect size of these serum candidate markers using meta-analysis techniques. The academic database search screening for articles containing the keywords "cardiovascular disease," "atrial fibrillation," "ischemic stroke," and "serum marker" was limited to results for patients with ischemic stroke. The most derived markers in this study were N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the rest being investigated individually. In conclusion, NT-pro-BNP appears to be very useful for the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke. Primarily, it is a marker of AF, and more AF markers will be uncovered and studied in the future.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2013

To better understand the role of macrophages in early stages of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), we compared the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1, markers for classically activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages, respectively, in the hearts of EAM-affected and control rats. Immunohistochemical evidence revealed that both iNOS-positive and arginase 1-positive macrophages were found in EAM lesions, while some cells were co-localized with both markers. This finding suggests that the increased level of arginase-1, which is partly from M2 macrophages, contributes to the modulation of EAM, possibly through the reduction of nitric oxide in the lesion.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2017

To investigate the effects of strenuous physical exercise on commonly used hematological markers in subjects the intensive long running. Blood samples were obtained from nineteen participants in a 622 km ultra-marathon race before, 300 km and immediately after completion of the 622 km ultra-marathon. Samples were analyzed for total white cell count (WBC) and differential, total red cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), platelets, mean platelets volume (MPV), platelets distribution width (PDW). Significant increases were found in WBC, neutrophil and platelets at 622 km compared to the pre-race. RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit decreased statistically significantly the race at 300 km and 622 km compared to pre-race. A wide range of hematological perturbations occur during 622 km ultra-marathon running but it was physiological changes within a reference range. The 622 km ultra-marathon is less likely to cause clinically significant hematologic changes in athletes.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.93-112
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• 2008

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are important sources for plant secondary metabolites, which are important for human healthcare. Improvement of the yield and quality of these natural plant products through conventional breeding is still a challenge. However, recent advances in plant genomics research has generated knowledge leading to a better understanding of the complex genetics and biochemistry involved in biosynthesis of these plant secondary metabolites. This genomics research also concerned identification and isolation of genes involved in different steps of a number of metabolic pathways. Progress has also been made in the development of functional genomics resources (EST databases and micro-arrays) in several medicinal plant species, which offer new opportunities for improvement of genotypes using perfect markers or genetic transformation. This review article presents an overview of the recent developments and future possibilities in genetics and genomics of MAP species including use of transgenic approach for their improvement.