• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.827-839
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• 2015

A total of 144 weaned crossed pigs were used in a 42-d trial to explore the effects of different concentrations/combinations of benzoic acid and thymol on growth performance and gut characteristics in weaned pigs. Pigs were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments: i) control (C), basal diet, ii) C+1,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+100 mg/kg thymol (BT1), iii) C+1,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+200 mg/kg thymol (BT2) and, iv) C+2,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+100 mg/kg thymol (BT3). Relative to the control, pigs fed diet BT3 had lower diarrhoea score during the overall period (p<0.10) and improved feed to gain ratio between days 1 to 14 (p<0.05), which was accompanied by improved apparent total tract digestibility of ether extract, Ca and crude ash (p<0.05), and larger lipase, lactase and sucrose activities in the jejunum (p<0.05) at d 14 and d 42. Similarly, relative to the control, pigs fed diet BT3 had higher counts for Lactobacillus spp in digesta of ileum at d 14 (p<0.05), and pigs fed diets BT1, BT2, or BT3 also had higher counts of Bacillus spp in digesta of caecum at d 14 (p<0.05), and lower concentration of ammonia nitrogen in digesta of caecum at d 14 and d 42 (p<0.05). Finally, pigs fed diet BT3 had higher concentration of butyric acid in digesta of caecum at d 42 (p<0.05), and a larger villus height:crypt depth ratio in jejunum and ileum at d 14 (p<0.05) than pigs fed the control diet. In conclusion, piglets fed diet supplementation with different concentrations/combinations of benzoic acid and thymol could improve feed efficiency and diarrhoea, and improve gut microfloral composition. The combination of 2,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+100 mg/kg thymol produced better effects than other treatments in most measurements.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2008

The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim acts as a sensor for apoptotic stimuli and initiates apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. To identify novel regulators of Bim, we employed the yeast two-hybrid system and isolated the human gene encoding macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a ubiquitously expressed proinflammatory mediator that has also been implicated in cell proliferation, the cell cycle and carcinogenesis. The interaction between MIF and Bim was confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo protein interaction assays. Intriguingly, protein complexes between MIF and the three major Bim isoforms (BimEL/BimL/BimS) could be detected in HEK293 and K562 cells, especially in cells undergoing apoptosis. Moreover, exogenous expression of MIF partially inhibited Bim-induced apoptosis in HEK293 cells. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of MIF increased apoptosis in K562 cells exposed to the chemical oxidant diamide. Endogenous MIF may regulate the pro-apoptotic activity of Bim and inhibit the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.988-998
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• 2015

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae is a well-known expression host used to express homologous and heterologous proteins in a number of industrial applications. To facilitate higher yields of proteins of interest, we constructed the pAsOP vector to express heterologous proteins in A. oryzae. pAsOP carries a selectable marker, pyrG, derived from Aspergillus nidulans, and a strong promoter and a terminator of the amyB gene derived from A. oryzae. pAsOP transformed A. oryzae efficiently via the PEG-CaCl₂-mediated transformation method. As proof of concept, green fluorescent protein (GFP) was successfully expressed in A. oryzae transformed by pAsOP-GFP. Additionally, we identified a novel fungal α-amylase (PcAmy) gene from Penicillium sp. and cloned the gene into the vector. After transformation by pAsOPPcAmy, the α-amylase PcAmy from Penicillium sp. was successfully expressed in a heterologous host system for the first time. The α-amylase activity in the A. oryzae transformant was increased by 62.3% compared with the untransformed A. oryzae control. The PcAmy protein produced in the system had an optimum pH of 5.0 and optimum temperature of 30^oC. As a cold-adapted enzyme, PcAmy shows potential value in industrial applications because of its high catalytic activity at low temperature. Furthermore, the expression vector reported in this study provides promising utility for further scientific research and biotechnological applications.

• Bulletin of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.1071-1085
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• 2016

For $b{\in}L^1_{loc}({\mathbb{R}}^n)$, let ${\mathcal{I}}_{\alpha}$ be the bilinear fractional integral operator, and $[b,{\mathcal{I}}_{\alpha}]_i$ be the commutator of ${\mathcal{I}}_{\alpha}$ with pointwise multiplication b (i = 1, 2). This paper shows that if the commutator $[b,{\mathcal{I}}_{\alpha}]_i$ for i = 1 or 2 is bounded from the product Morrey spaces $L^{p_1,{\lambda}_1}({\mathbb{R}}^n){\times}L^{p_2,{\lambda}_2}({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ to the Morrey space $L^{q,{\lambda}}({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ for some suitable indexes ${\lambda}$, ${\lambda}_1$, ${\lambda}_2$ and $p_1$, $p_2$, q, then $b{\in}BMO({\mathbb{R}}^n)$, as well as that the compactness of $[b,{\mathcal{I}}_{\alpha}]_i$ for i = 1 or 2 from $L^{p_1,{\lambda}_1}({\mathbb{R}}^n){\times}L^{p_2,{\lambda}_2}({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ to $L^{q,{\lambda}}({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ implies that $b{\in}CMO({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ (the closure in $BMO({\mathbb{R}}^n)$of the space of $C^{\infty}({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ functions with compact support). These results together with some previous ones give a new characterization of $BMO({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ functions or $CMO({\mathbb{R}}^n)$ functions in essential ways.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.237-243
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to evaluate Solpro500 (a wheat hydrolysate containing a high level of glutamine) as a replacement for spray dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in diets fed to nursery pigs. One hundred and eight pigs (Dalland, $5.39{\pm}0.80$ kg BW) weaned at 21 days were assigned to one of three treatment groups for a 28 day feeding trial. The experimental diets were based on corn and soybean meal and were supplemented with either 8% SDPP, 4% SDPP plus 4% Solpro500 or 8% Solpro500. Each treatment was fed to six pens with six pigs per pen (4 barrows and 2 gilts). The experimental results indicated no significant difference (p>0.05) in daily gain, feed intake or feed efficiency for pigs fed the three experimental diets. However, the diarrhea index for pigs fed either 4% SDPP and 4% Solpro500 or 8% Solpro500 was lower (p<0.05) than that for pigs fed 8% SDPP. No differences (p>0.05) were found in the apparent fecal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter or crude protein between pigs fed the three diets. The intestinal morphology (villous height, villous width and crypt depth) was not affected by diet treatments (p>0.05). In conclusion, Solpro500 SDPP can replace SDPP without any negative effects on nursery pig performance.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3293-3297
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• 2014

Background: Pine needle oil from crude extract of pine needles has anti-tumor effects, but the effective component is not known. Methods: In the present study, compounds from a steam distillation extract of pine needles were isolated and characterized. Alpha-pinene was identified as an active anti-proliferative compound on hepatoma carcinoma BEL-7402 cells using the MTT assay. Results: Further experiments showed that ${\alpha}$-pinene inhibited BEL-7402 cells by arresting cell growth in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, downregulating Cdc25C mRNA and protein expression, and reducing cycle dependence on kinase 1(CDK1) activity. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings indicate that ${\alpha}$-pinene may be useful as a potential anti-tumor drug.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1039-1042
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• 2012

Aim: Tanscatheter arterial embolization irrespective of with or without an anticancer agent and lipiodol has been controversial with regard to survival benefit. Therefore, we conducted a prospective study to analyze the effect of transcatheter arterial lipiodol chemoembolization (TACE) on the survival of HCC. Methods: A prospective study was conducted, and a total of 326 patients with primary liver cancer who were newly diagnosed were collected from January 2004 to January 2005 in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital of China. A univariate Cox's regression analysis was used to assess the survival of the HCC cases receiving TACE. Results: The duration of follow-up for the HCC patients treated with TACE ranged from 3 months to 60 months. For the overall patients, survival rate at 5 years was 42%. Both HBV Ag and HCV Ab positive patients showed significantly low survival rate at 5 years. The multivariate analysis revealed The IV TNM stage was related to an heavy increased risk of death of HCC patients, and Child C grade group showed a significant moderate increased risk. Conclusion: Our study showed TACE is associated with a better prognosis of HCC patients, and the HBV infection, TNM stage, Child-Pugh grade and number of TACE may influence the survival probability. Further TACE studies should be assess the quality of life of HCC patients, so as to provide more information for treatment of HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2115-2120
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• 2012

The presence of lung cancer cells in anoxic zones is a key cause od chemotherapeutic resistance. Thus, it is necessary to enhance the sensitivity of such lung cancer cells. However, loss of efficient gene therapeutic targeting and inefficient objective gene expression in the anoxic zone in lung cancer are dilemmas. In the present study, a eukaryotic expression plasmid pUC57-HRE-JAB1 driven by a hypoxia response elements promoter was constructed and introduced into lung cancer cell line A549. The cells were then exposed to a chemotherapeutic drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (C-DDP). qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine the mRNA and protein level and flow cytometry to examine the cell cycle and apoptosis of A549 transfected pUC57-HRE-JAB1. The results showed that JAB1 gene in the A549 was overexpressed after the transfection, cell proliferation being arrested in G1 phase and the apoptosis ratio significantly increased. Importantly, introduction of pUC57-HRE-JAB1 significantly increased the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of A549 in an anoxic environment. In conclusion, JAB1 overexpression might provide a novel strategy to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance in lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5117-5122
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• 2013

Purpose: To explore the association between PIK3CA and AKT single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) and osteosarcoma susceptibility. Methods: TaqMan polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was used to detect the genotypes of SNPs (rs7646409, rs6973569 and rs9866361) in peripheral blood samples from 59 patients with osteosarcoma and from 63 healthy controls. Unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between SNPs and osteosarcoma risk. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between osteosarcoma patients and healthy controls in the genotype of AKT rs6973569 (P=0.7). However, after stratified analysis, the genotype AA of AKT rs6973569 carried a higher risk of osteosarcoma metastasis (OR:2.94, 95%CL:1.00-8.59); the difference of rs7646409 genotype distributions between the case and control groups was statistically significant (P=0.032). Taking genotype TT as a reference, the risk of osteosarcoma increased three fold in patients with genotype CC (OR:3.47, 95%CL:1.26-9.56). A statistically significant difference was found between the alleles C and T (P=0.005). Further analysis showed that the risk factor was more pronounced in male patients with Enneking's stage IIB and osteoblastic osteosarcoma. PIK3CA rs9866361 did not fit Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.05). Conclusions: Genotype CC in locus PIK3CA rs7646409 may increase the risk of osteosarcoma in the Chinese population.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 1998

To investigate the effect of pine needle extract (PNE) on membrane fluidirt and neurotransmiter-related enzymes in brain of Spragu-Dawley(SD), male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group), and experimantal diets (PNE group)with 0.5% and 0.1% fo PNE for 6 weeks. pine (pinus tabulaeformis C$_{ARR}$ is one of the popular plant drugs which has used as a medicine in Asia. Cholesterol levels in brain mitochondria of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNDE groups were significantly decreased in 15% and 25%, respectively, compared with control group, but cholesterol levels in brain microsomes of these PNE groups howed almost no change compared with control group. Lipofuscin accumulations in brain membranes of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNE groups were sgnificantly inhibited in 18% and 21%, respectively, compared with control group. Brain memberance fluidity was also activated in 50% and 100% by the administration of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNE. higher acetylcholinesterase(15% and25%) and lower monoamine oxidase B (25% and 15%0 activities were effectively modulated by the administration of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNDE. These results suggest that more beneficial effects such as inhibition of cholesterol and lipofuscin, increase of membrane fluidity, higher acetylcholinesterase and lower monoamone oxidase activities in brain membranes of SD rats may be effectively modulated by administration of pine needle extract (PNE).