• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5293-5299
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• 2013

Purpose: High levels of bone morphogenetic protein (BMPs) have been reported in patients with lung cancer. This study was conducted to assess correlations between serum BMP-2 levels and prognostic outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Blood samples from 84 patients with advanced NSCLC and 42 healthy controls were analyzed and quantitated for serum BMP-2 levels before and after two cycles of chemotherapy using a commercially available ELISA kit. Results: The median level of BMP-2 was 146.9 pg/ml in patients with NSCLC vs. 87.7 pg/ml in healthy controls (P<0.01). A significant correlation was observed between pretreatment serum BMP-2 level and ECOG PS, disease stage and number of organs with metastases (P<0.05). Serum BMP-2 level decreased significantly in patients who achieved objective response after two cycles of chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that increased BMP-2 level and advanced clinical stage were significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Conclusion: Thes erum BMP-2 level is positively correlated with clinical stage, ECOG PS and metastatic burden and may serve as an independent negative predictor for prognosis. Decreased BMP-2 after chemotherapy could be a reliable marker for efficacy of treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• 제33권50호
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• pp.321.1-321.7
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• 2018

Background: Pertussis is highly contagious respiratory disease. Healthcare workers (HCWs) can be an important mediator of the disease. A seroprevalence of pertussis was investigated in HCWs to determine the immune status against pertussis and to detect the unidentified pertussis. Methods: This study was conducted for HCWs at a hospital located in Korea in 2011. After obtaining written informed consent for HCWs voluntarily participating in the study, 10 mL of blood was collected from each subject. Demographic and medical data were collected using questionnaire. Data on the underlying disease and vaccination history were reviewed again through medical records. The presence of anti-pertussis toxin (anti-PT) immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) was detected by quantitative analysis using a commercially available ELISA kit (EUROIMMUN, $L{\ddot{u}}beck$, Germany). Results: A total of 412 HCW participated in the study. Among them, 14 were excluded due to the inadequate sample amount or medical history not secured. Of the 398 HCWs analyzed, 16.6% (66/398) were men and the mean age was $33.82{\pm}9.10years$ (range, 21-67). The mean anti-PT IgG titer was $8.32{\pm}20.40IU/mL$ (range, 0.4-287.5 IU/mL). The overall seroprevalence (rate of anti-PT IgG antibody [Ab] titer > 5 IU/mL) was 33.7%. Three (0.8%) HCWs had the Ab level > 100 IU/mL indicated acute infection. There was no statistically significant difference in the seroprevalence and mean titer of anti-PT IgG Ab according to age group, type of occupation, patient-facing position, or working in the pediatric department. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of pertussis of the HCWs of a university hospital in Korea was low, and there were some unrecognized acute infections. Therefore, booster immunization of pertussis to HCWs should be actively considered.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.39-48
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• 2024

Wogonin, extracted from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to suppress collagen deposition in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study was performed to investigate the role and mechanism of wogonin underlying vascular remodeling in SHRs. After injection of SHRs with 40 mg/kg of wogonin, blood pressure in rats was measured once a week. Masson's trichrome staining was conducted to observe the changes in aortas and mesenteric arteries. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from rat thoracic aortas were treated with Angiotensin II (Ang II; 100 nM) in the presence or absence of varying concentrations of wogonin. The viability and proliferation of VSMCs were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, respectively. The migration of VSMCs was examined using wound healing assay and transwell assay. We found that wogonin administration alleviated hypertension, increased lumen diameter, and reduced the thickness of the arterial media in SHRs. Ang II treatment enhanced the viability of VSMCs, which was inhibited by wogonin in a concentration-dependent manner. Wogonin reversed Ang II-induced increases in the viability, proliferation, and migration of VSMCs. Moreover, wogonin inhibited Ang II-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in VSMCs. Overall, wogonin repressed the proliferative and migratory capacity of VSMCs by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby attenuating vascular remodeling in hypertensive rats, indicating that wogonin might be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of vascular diseases.

• 핵의학기술
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.104-111
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• 2009

목적 : Bone Gla protein (BGP)라고도 불리는 Osteocalcin은 조골세포에 의해 합성되는 비 콜라겐성 뼈 단백질이다. 혈청 Osteocalcin은 골 대사의 생화학적 지표로 이용되고 있다. Osteocalcin수치의 참고치는 연령에 따라 제조회사에서 권장하는 참고치가 있으나 검사실 자체적으로 정하도록 권고하고 있다. 본 연구는 현재 사용되어지고 있는 연령별 Osteocalcin 참고치를 재설정해 보고하고자 하였다. 실험재료 및 방법 : 2007년 8월부터 2008년 9월 사이에 본원 건강검진 센터를 방문하였던 20~80세의 정상 성인 여자 864명을 대상으로 하였다. 혈청 Osteocalcin은 면역방사계측법(IRMA)을 이용한 Kit (OSTEO-RIACT, CIS Bio international, Gif-sur-Yvette, France)를 사용하였으며, 각각의 결과는 통계 프로그램인 SPSS 12.0을 이용하여 분석하였다. 결과 : Hoffmann 방법을 시행하여 얻은 Osteocalcin 참고치는 다음과 같다. 20~30세에서는 8.8~39.4 ng/mL에서 6.3~28.8 ng/mL로 31~40세에서는 7.7~31.9 ng/mL에서 5.9~17.4 ng/mL로 41~50세에서는 8.0~36.0 ng/mL에서 5.5~20.1 ng/mL로 51~60세에서는 8.0~50.5 ng/mL에서 6.7~27.0 ng/mL로 61~80세에서는 12.9~55.9 ng/mL에서 7.5~27.5 ng/mL로 변경되었다. Osteocalcin 참고치는 제조회사 권장 참고치와 차이가 있었다. 결론 : 대사성 골질환의 지료로서 사용되어지고 있는 Osteocalcin의 참고치를 정확하게 제공함으로서 임상적 의사결정에 유용하게 이용할 수 있다. 한 번 정한 참고치는 계속 사용하지 말고 지속적으로 재평가를 시행해야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.132-139
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• 2015

최근 $p16^{INK4a}$/Ki-67 이중면역염색은 액상세포검사에서 자궁경부 이형성증과 암을 조기에 발견하기 위한 새로운 생체 표지자로 대두되고 있다. 저자들은 자궁경부질도말의 액상세포검체 총 109례에서 CINtec$^{(R)}$ PLUS kit를 사용하여 $p16^{INK4a}$/Ki-67 이중면역염색을 시행하였고, 그 결과를 액상세포검사, HPV hybrid capture II (HC II) 검사 그리고 조직학적 진단과 서로 비교하였다. $p16^{INK4a}$/Ki-67 양성 발현은 세포학적 진단에서 저등급 편평상피내병변 이상의 증례 그리고 조직학적 진단에서 자궁경부 상피내종양 1등급 이상의 증례에서 유의미하게 높았다. 액상세포검사상 비정형 편평 상피세포 소견을 보이는 46례 중, 31례 (67.4%)가 $p16^{INK4a}$과 Ki-67 양성 소견을 보였고, 이러한 양성 증례들은 조직검사에서도 대부분 자궁경부 상피내종양 1등급 이상의 병변에 해당하였다. 자궁경부 상피내종양 1등급 이상의 병변을 발견하기 위한 $p16^{INK4a}$/Ki-67 이중면역염색의 민감도는 액상세포검사보다 높은 89.0%였고, 특이도는 73.5%로 HC II 검사보다 높게 분석되었다. 따라서, $p16^{INK4a}$/Ki-67 이중면역염색 방법은 액상세포검사법의 민감도와 HC II 검사법의 특이도를 보완하기 위한 진단적 검사로 유용하다고 할 수 있다.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.79-88
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• 2019

In this study, the inhibitory effect of Atriplex gmelinii C. A. Mey. against the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 secreted from phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated HT-1080 cells was evaluated by gelatin zymography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot assay. Specimens of the halophyte A. gmelinii were extracted twice for 24 hr with methylene chloride ($CH_2Cl_2$), and then twice with methanol (MeOH), in turn. Each extract significantly inhibited the enzymatic activities in gelatin zymography and MMP ELISA kit, and expression of MMP-2 and 9 in mRNA and protein levels. Two crude extracts were combined and then the combined crude extracts were fractionated into n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq.MeOH), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water ($H_2O$) fractions, according to solvent polarity. Among solvent-partitioned fractions, the 85% aq.MeOH fraction showed the strongest inhibitory effect against MMP-2 and -9 in gelatin zymography and MMP ELISA kit. In RT-PCR, all solvent-partitioned fractions significantly suppressed mRNA expression of MMP-2 and -9. On the other hand, in Western blot assay, all solvent-partitioned fractions except $H_2O$ significantly reduced expression levels of protein. HT 1080 cell migration was most significantly inhibited by the n-BuOH fraction followed by the 85% aq.MeOH and $H_2O$ fractions. These results suggest that A. gmelinii could be used as a potential source to inhibit tumor cell metastasis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권8호
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• pp.3425-3428
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• 2015

Objective: To explore the association of serum tumor abnormal protein (TAP) with other serological biomarkers e.g. carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and its clinical application in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods: Patients (N=98) were enrolled into this study with histologically or cytologically confirmed CRC. Using a test kit, the level of TAP was determined, while chemiluminescence was used to measure the levels of some other common serological biomarkers e.g. CEA, CA125 and CA19-9. Results: The area of TAP condensed particulate matter decreased after chemotherapy compared with before chemotherapy when CT or MRI scans showed disease control. In contrast, it increased with disease progression (P<0.05). Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was confirmed in monitoring of TAP and common serological biomarkers e.g. CEA and CA19-9 (p<0.05). Conclusions: Detecting TAP in CRC patients has high sensitivity and specificity and can be used as a new independent indicator for clinically monitoring CRC patients in the course of chemotherapy.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.57-65
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• 2020

Excessive drinking of alcohol is known to be one of the main causes of various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Scopoletin is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, and to protect nerve cells. This study examined whether scopoletin inhibits the alcohol-induced apoptosis of primary hippocampal neurons, and how scopoletin regulates several factors associated with the caspase-mediated pathway. To achieve this, the cell viability and apoptosis rate of primary hippocampal neurons were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Apoptosis-related protein expressions (Bax, Bid, caspase-3, caspase-9, and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)) were analyzed by Western blotting, and the ANOVA method was used to confirm the significance of the measured results. As a result, scopoletin inhibited the expressions of alcohol-induced apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins in primary hippocampal neurons. These results suggest that down-regulation of Bid, Bax, and cleaved caspase-9 expression induced by scopoletin down-regulates the expression of cleaved caspase-3, inhibits the expression of cleaved PARP, and finally, inhibits mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. The study suggests that scopoletin is worth developing as a candidate for neuroprotective agent.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.163-173
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• 2008

Objectives : Imyosan (IMS), a drug preparation comprised of Phellodendri Cortex (PC) and Atractylodis Rhizoma (AR), is commonly used as a traditional herbal medicine in Korea and China for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. However, little is known about the effect of IMS and its component herbs on inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 cells. Therefore, in this study, methanol extracts of IMS and its component herbs were examined to determine if they inhibited inflammatory effects in RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : Cytotoxic activity of IJHT and its components on RAW 264.7 cells was using 5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner salt (MTS) assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. And proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were detected by western blot. Results : Methanol extract of IMS and its component herbs were significantly reduced iNOS and COX-2 expression as well as NO, PGE2, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 production in RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions : The results of this study indicated that the anti-inflammatory effect of Imyosan extract is more potent than that of extracts of its component herbs in macrophages.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2022

Malaria remains a global health threat. Approximately 97% of the population is at risk in sub-Saharan countries, particularly Nigeria. This study compared the performance of 2 diagnostic methods in assessing malaria endemicity in the rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A total of 1,140 study participants were screened for malaria parasite using Rapid Diagnostic Test kits (RDT) in the field, while thick and thin films for microscopy were examined in the laboratory. Our result showed that malaria prevalence was 56.8 by RDT and 38.6% by microscopic test. Age group under 10 years had the highest prevalence of 28.9% (RDT) and 23.6% (microscopy), respectively. The highest prevalence of 19.5% by RDT was recorded in Onicha Local Government Area, while the highest prevalence of 13.4% with microscopy was recorded in Ezza North Local Government Area. The sensitivity and specificity of microscopic examination were both 100%, while those of RDT were 95.5% and 75.9%, respectively.