• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.8
• /
• pp.1066-1076
• /
• 2012

Previous observations demonstrated that various immunosuppressive agents and their combination therapies can increase allograft survival rates. However, these treatments may have serious side effects and cannot substantially improve or prolong graft survival in acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). To improve the therapeutic potency of divalent immunoadhesins, we have constructed and produced several tetravalent forms of immunoadhesins comprising each of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA4), CD2, and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG3). Flow cytometric and T cell proliferation analyses displayed that tetravalent immunoadhesins have a higher binding affinity and more potent efficacy than divalent immunoadhesins. Although all tetravalent immunoadhesins possess better efficacies, tetravalent forms of CTLA4-Ig and LAG3-Ig revealed higher inhibitory effects on T cell proliferation than tetravalent forms of TNFR2-Ig and CD2-Ig. In vitro mixed lymphocytes reaction (MLR) showed that combined treatment with tetravalent CTLA4-Ig and tetravalent LAG3-Ig was highly effective for inhibiting T cell proliferation in both human and murine allogeneic stimulation. In addition, both single tetravalent-form and combination treatments can prevent the lethality of murine acute GVHD. The results of this study demonstrated that co-blockade of the major histocompatibility complex class (MHC)II:T cell receptor (TCR) and CD28:B7 pathways by using tetravalent human LAG3-Ig and CTLA4-Ig synergistically prevented murine acute GVHD.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.88-90
• /
• 2015

The design and development of fluorescent chemosensors have recently been intensively explored for sensitive and specific detection of environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions in aqueous solution and living cells. Herein, we report the photophysical results of rhodamine B based fluorogenic and chromogenic receptor for selective copper detection in the complete organic or mixed aqueous-organic media at neutral pH under ambient condition. The ligand exhibited the remarkable increment in the fluorescence emission and UV-visible absorption signal intensities at 587 and 547 nm, respectively, on induction of copper ion while the ligand solution remain completely silent on addition of varieties of other metal ions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.77-81
• /
• 2002

The scope of the research is investigation of immune-modulating activities of A. rugosa (Baechohyang) extract was preformed through the screening active constituents using in vitro assays and evaluating anti-inflammatory activity and anti-atherosclerotic activity of the extract and active compound (tilianin) in vivo. In addition, various functional foods using the extract and whole plant was developed. The extract showed strong anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced acute edema mouse model and anti-atherogenic lesion activity in LDLR (low density lipoprotein receptor) deficient mouse model. These activities were thought to be resulted from modulation activity of several pathways of inflammation process. Among the main constituents of Baechohyang, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), Phytosterols, oleanolic acid and rosmarinic acid showed anticomplement activity, and PUFA, acacetin and tilianin newly showed potent ICAM-1 expression inhibition activity. The processes of extraction, mixing ratio of additives and storage conditions were established for drinks, granule tea, leaf tea, mixed tea and furigake.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.1187-1193
• /
• 2015

This study determined the effects of dietary restriction on growth and the expression of lipid metabolism and growth hormone signaling genes in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of Korean cattle. Thirty-one Korean cattle steers (average age 10.5 months) were allocated to normal (N; n = 16) or dietary restriction (DR; n = 15) groups. The feeding trial consisted of two stages: for the 8-month growing period, the DR group was fed 80% of the food intake of the normal diet, and for the 6-month growth-finishing period, the DR group was fed a DR total mixed ration with 78.4% of the crude protein and 64% of the net energy for gain of the normal diet. The LM was biopsied 5 months (period 1 [P1] at 15.5 months of age) and 14 months (period 2 [P2] at 24.5 months of age) after the start of feeding. The mRNA levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Body weight, daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were lower in the DR group compared with the normal group at both P1 and P2. At P1, the lipogenic fatty acid synthase (FASN) mRNA levels were lower (p<0.05) in the DR group compared with the normal group. The DR group tended (p = 0.06) to have higher of levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR) mRNA than the normal group. At P2, the DR group tended to have lower (p = 0.06) androgen receptor (AR) mRNA levels than the normal group. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that dietary restriction partially decreases the transcription of lipogenic FASN and growth hormone signaling AR genes, but increases transcription of the GHR gene. These changes in gene transcription might affect body fat accumulation and the growth of the animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.11
• /
• pp.1495-1503
• /
• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with BCAA (branched-chain amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine) on improving the growth of rats in a malnutritional IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Retardation) model, which was established by feeding restriction. In the experimental treatment, rats were fed purified diets supplemented with BCAA (mixed) during the whole gestation period, while arginine and alanine supplementation were set as the positive and negative control group, respectively. The results showed that, compared to the effect of alanine, BCAA reversed IUGR by increasing the fetus weights by 18.4% and placental weights by 18.0% while fetal numbers were statistically increased. Analysis of gene and protein expression revealed that BCAA treatment increased embryonic liver IGF-I expression; the uterus expressed higher levels of estrogen receptor-$\alpha$ (ER-$\alpha$) and progesterone receptor (PR), and the placenta expressed higher levels of IGF-II. Amino acid analysis of dam plasma revealed that BCAA supplementation effectively enhanced the plasma BCAA levels caused by the feed restriction. BCAA also enhanced the embryonic liver gluconeogenesis by augmenting the expression of two key enzymes, namely fructose-1,6-biphosphatase (FBP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). In conclusion, supplementation of BCAA increased litter size, embryonic weight and litter embryonic weight by improving the dam uterus and placental functions as well as increasing gluconeogenesis in the embryonic liver, which further provided energy to enhance the embryonic growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.157-162
• /
• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes related to pig IMF and estimate the heritability of intramuscular fat content (IMF). Methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 704 inbred Berkshires was performed for IMF. To consider the inbreeding among samples, associations of the SNPs with IMF were tested as random effects in a mixed linear model using the genetic relationship matrix by GEMMA. Significant genes were compared with reported pig IMF quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions and functional classification of the identified genes were also performed. Heritability of IMF was estimated by GCTA tool. Results: Total 365 SNPs were found to be significant from a cutoff of p-value <0.01 and the 365 significant SNPs were annotated across 120 genes. Twenty five genes were on pig IMF QTL regions. Bone morphogenetic protein-binding endothelial cell precursor-derived regulator, forkhead box protein O1, ectodysplasin A receptor, ring finger protein 149, cluster of differentiation, tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 1, SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (SOX9), MYC proto-oncogene, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor were related to mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, which regulates the differentiation to adipocytes. These genes and the genes mapped on QTLs could be the candidate genes affecting IMF. Heritability of IMF was estimated as 0.52, which was relatively high, suggesting that a considerable portion of the total variance of IMF is explained by the SNP information. Conclusion: Our results can contribute to breeding pigs with better IMF and therefore, producing pork with better sensory qualities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7923-7927
• /
• 2015

Background: The Cox PH model is one of the most significant statistical models in studying survival of patients. But, in the case of patients with long-term survival, it may not be the most appropriate. In such cases, a cure rate model seems more suitable. The purpose of this study was to determine clinical factors associated with cure rate of patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In order to find factors affecting cure rate (response), a non-mixed cure rate model with negative binomial distribution for latent variable was used. Variables selected were recurrence cancer, status for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), size of tumor, grade of cancer, stage of cancer, type of surgery, age at the diagnosis time and number of removed positive lymph nodes. All analyses were performed using PROC MCMC processes in the SAS 9.2 program. Results: The mean (SD) age of patients was equal to 48.9 (11.1) months. For these patients, 1, 5 and 10-year survival rates were 95, 79 and 50 percent respectively. All of the mentioned variables were effective in cure fraction. Kaplan-Meier curve showed cure model's use competence. Conclusions: Unlike other variables, existence of ER and PR positivity will increase probability of cure in patients. In the present study, Weibull distribution was used for the purpose of analysing survival times. Model fitness with other distributions such as log-N and log-logistic and other distributions for latent variable is recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.24
• /
• pp.10627-10630
• /
• 2015

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations play a vital role in the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Such somatic mutations are more common in women who are non-smokers with adenocarcinoma and are of Asian origin. However, to our knowledge, there are few studies that have focused on men. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients (90 men and 94 women) of resected lung adenocarcinoma were studied retrospectively. Results: EGFR mutations were positive in 48.9% and negative (wild type) in 51.1%. Overall mutation was significant in women (66.0% vs. 32.2%) compared with men (p<0.001). For overall patients, EGFR mutation status was associated with gender, pStage, pT status, lepidic dominant histologic subtype, pure or mixed ground-glass nodule type on computed tomography and smoking status. However, in men, EGFR mutation status was only associated with lepidic dominant histologic subtype and not the other variables. Interestingly, the Brinkman index of men with mutant EGFR also did not differ from that for the wild type ($680.0{\pm}619.3$ vs. $813.1{\pm}552.1$ p=0.1077). Conclusions: The clinical characteristics of men with lung adenocarcinoma related to EGFR mutation are not always similar to that of overall patients. Especially we failed to find the relationship between EGFR mutations and smoking status in men.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.303-306
• /
• 2011

A 12-year-old female mixed breed dog receiving a progesterone drug was referred for evaluation of an abdominal mass. Abdominal radiography and ultrasonography revealed a swollen uterus and an associated mass. Serum chemistry revealed hyperglobulinemia consistent with acute inflammation based on the results of serum protein electrophoresis. Fine needle aspiration of the mass guided by ultrasonography was performed for cytological evaluation. The cytological impression was consistent with adenocarcinoma. Exploratory laparotomy identified a uterine body mass, which was surgically removed for histopathology. Histology of the mass identified a uterine adenocarcinoma. Immunochemistry using anti-estrogen and progesterone receptor antibodies was performed and neoplastic cells were negative to both antibodies while some normal elements were reactive to both of them. Computer tomography demonstrated evidence of metastatic disease in the lung one week after the surgery and the dog died about 40 days after surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.66-77
• /
• 2012

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of PR on ovarian tissue in PCOS rats through measurement of morphological and histo-pathological observations, ovarian size. In addition, effects on expression levels of Insulin like Growth Factor Receptor(IGFR) were also investigated to elucidate related mechanisms. Methods: PCOS was induced by single intermuscular injection with ${\beta}$-Estradiol 17-Valerate(EV) in female rats. Normal group(NOR, n=8) were injected with sesame oil and administrated hard food for five weeks. Control group(CTL, n=8) were injected with EV and administrated hard food for five weeks. CR group(n=8) were injected with EV and administrated hard food mixed CR for five weeks. Then, we measured weights of body and ovary, uptakes of food and water. And we observed morphological and histo-pathological changes of ovary, levels of IGFR. Results: In this experiments, single injection of Estradiol Valerate(EV) induced suppression of weight gain, formation of cysts, increase of IGFR expression. Oral administration of PR prevent decrease of ovarian size significantly. Further more, formation of cystic follicles induced by EV injection is suppressed by PR treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest PR can be used for patients with PCOS to prevent formation of cystic follicles and malfunction of ovary.