• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.1047-1055
• /
• 2014

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of endogenous small non-coding RNAs of 20-25 nucleotides in length that function as negative gene regulators. MiRNAs play roles in most biological processes, as well as diverse human diseases including cancer. Recently, many studies investigated the association between SNPs in miR-146a rs2910164, miR-196a2 rs11614913, miR-149 rs229283, miR-499 rs3746444 and colorectal cancer (CRC), which results have been inconclusive. Methodology/Principal Findings: PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI databases were searched with the last search updated on November 5, 2013. For miR-196a2 rs11614913, a significantly decreased risk of CRC development was observed under three genetic models (dominant model: OR = 0.848, 95%CI: 0.735-0.979, P = 0.025; recessive model: OR = 0.838, 95%CI: 0.721-0.974, P = 0.021; homozygous model: OR = 0.754, 95%CI: 0.627-0.907, P = 0.003). In the subgroup analyses, miR-$196a2^*T$ variant was associated with a significantly decreased susceptibility of CRC (allele model: OR = 0.839, 95%CI: 0.749-0.940, P = 0.000; dominant model: OR = 0.770, 95%CI: 0.653-0.980, P = 0.002; recessive model: OR = 0.802, 95%CI: 0.685-0.939, P = 0.006; homozygous model: OR = 0.695, 95%CI: 0.570-0.847, P = 0.000). As for miR-149 rs2292832, the two genetic models (recessive model: OR = 1.199, 95% CI 1.028-1.398, P = 0.021; heterozygous model: OR = 1.226, 95% CI 1.039-1.447, P = 0.013) demonstrated increased susceptibility to CRC. On subgroup analysis, significantly increased susceptibility of CRC was found in the genetic models (recessive model: OR = 1.180, 95% CI 1.008-1.382, P = 0.040; heterozygous model: OR = 1.202, 95% CI 1.013-1.425, P = 0.013) in the Asian group. Conclusions: These findings supported that the miR-196a2 rs11614913 and miR-149 rs2292832 polymorphisms may contribute to susceptibility to CRC.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.56 no.9
• /
• pp.401-406
• /
• 2013

Purpose: We performed a pilot study to determine the benefit of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (HDCT/autoPBSCT) for patients with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who received HDCT/autoPBSCT at Korea Cancer Center Hospital. Patients with relapsed, metastatic, or centrally located tumors were eligible for the study. Results: A total of 9 patients (3 male, 6 female), with a median age at HDCT/autoPBSCT of 13.4 years (range, 7.1 to 28.2 years), were included in this study. Patients underwent conventional chemotherapy and local control either by surgery or radiation therapy, and had achieved complete response (CR, n=7), partial response (n=1), or stable disease (n=1) prior to HDCT/autoPBSCT. There was no transplant-related mortality. However, the median duration of overall survival and event-free survival after HDCT/autoPBSCT were 13.3 months (range, 5.3 to 44.5 months) and 6.2 months (range, 2.1 to 44.5 months), respectively. At present, 4 patients are alive and 5 patients who experienced adverse events (2 metastasis, 2 local recur, and 1 progressive disease) survived for a median time of 2.8 months (range, 0.1 to 10.7 months). The 2-year survival after HDCT/autoPBSCT was $44.4%{\pm}16.6%$ and disease status at the time of HDCT/autoPBSCT tended to influence survival ($57.1%{\pm}18.7%$ of cases with CR vs. 0% of cases with non-CR, P=0.07). Conclusion: Disease status at HDCT/autoPBSCT tended to influence survival. Further studies are necessary to define the role of HDCT/autoPBSCT and to identify subgroup of patients who might benefit from this investigational treatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.21-24
• /
• 2011

Xerostomia is subjective feeling of dry mouth, a symptom that may or may not be accompanied by hyposalivation, an objective decrease in salivary flow. There are many causes induced xerostomia like drugs, salivary gland diseases, radiation therapy to the head and neck region, Sjogren syndrome, emotional stress etc. Insufficient salivary flow creates complications with oral candidiasis, dental caries, periodontitis, halitosis, dysgeusia. So finally, these complications lead to an overall decline in quality of life. Managements of xerostomia are eliminating or alterating the etiologic factors, relieving symptoms, preventing or correcting the consequences of salivary dysfunction, treating underlying disease and stimulating salivation. One of the salivation stimulation agents studied to treat xerostomia was the pilocarpine muscarinic agonist. Pilocarpine is one of salivation stimulants, a parasympathomimetic drug and non-selective muscarinic receptor agonist. Systemic pilocarpine has been used to stimulate salivary secretion. But systemic administration of pilocarpine has limitations such as increased risk of side effects and contraindications. Side effects of systemic pilocarpine administration are sweating, urinary and gastrointestinal disturbance, risk of cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. This drug must be used carefully by patients with controlled asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary or cardiac disease. Patient with acute asthma, narrow angle glaucoma, iritis should not use pilocarpine. Like this, systemic pilocarpine has many limitations. So, many investigators also have looked at the effectiveness of topical pilocarpine. Here we present patients with xerostomia which was relieved by pilocarpine mouthwash.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.263-272
• /
• 2007

Nebulin is a giant actin binding protein (600-900 kDa) which is specific to skeletal muscle. This protein is known to regulate thin filaments length in sarcomere as a molecular template. The C-terminus of nebulin is located in the Z-disc of muscle sarcomere and is bound to other proteins such like myopalladin, titin, archvillin, and desmin. The N-terminus of nebulin binds to tropomodulin at the pointed ends of the thin filaments. In recent research, nebulin not only found in brain but also expressed in heart, stomach, and liver. So, the roles of nebulin in non-muscle tissue have been studied. However, lack of information or studies on nebulin binding proteins and nebulin function in brain are available so far. Therefore, the current study have investigated a novel binding partner of Nebulin C-terminus by using yeast two-hybrid screening with human brain cDNA library. Nebulin C-terminus, containing simple repeats, serine rich and SH3 domain, interacts with osteonectin C-terminal region. The specific interaction of nebulin and osteonectin were confirmed in vitro by using GST pull-down assay and reconfirmed in vivo by using transfected COS-7 cells with EGFP-tagged nebulin and DsRed-tagged osteonectin. Consequently, this study identified SH3 domain in nebulin C-terminus specifically binds to extracellular Ca-binding (EeC domain in osteonectin. Also, nebulin C-terminus fusion protein colocalized with osteonectin EC domain fusion protein in transfected COS-7 cells. The current study found the interaction between nebulin and osteonectin in human brain for the first time and suggested the nebulin in brain may be associated with osteonectin, as a regulator of cell cycle progression and mitosis.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.18-18
• /
• 2011

Climate change is impacting and will increasingly impact both the quantity and quality of the world's water resources in a variety of ways. In some areas warming climate results in increased rainfall, surface runoff, and groundwater recharge while in others there may be declines in all of these. Water quality is described by a number of variables. Some are directly impacted by climate change. Temperature is an obvious example. Notably, increased atmospheric concentrations of $CO_2$ triggering climate change increase the $CO_2$ dissolving into water. This has manifold consequences including decreased pH and increased alkalinity, with resultant increases in dissolved concentrations of the minerals in geologic materials contacted by such water. Climate change is also expected to increase the number and intensity of extreme climate events, with related hydrologic changes. A simple framework has been developed in New Zealand for assessing and predicting climate change impacts on water resources. Assessment is largely based on trend analysis of historic data using the non-parametric Mann-Kendall method. Trend analysis requires long-term, regular monitoring data for both climate and hydrologic variables. Data quality is of primary importance and data gaps must be avoided. Quantitative prediction of climate change impacts on the quantity of water resources can be accomplished by computer modelling. This requires the serial coupling of various models. For example, regional downscaling of results from a world-wide general circulation model (GCM) can be used to forecast temperatures and precipitation for various emissions scenarios in specific catchments. Mechanistic or artificial intelligence modelling can then be used with these inputs to simulate climate change impacts over time, such as changes in streamflow, groundwater-surface water interactions, and changes in groundwater levels. The Waimea Plains catchment in New Zealand was selected for a test application of these assessment and prediction methods. This catchment is predicted to undergo relatively minor impacts due to climate change. All available climate and hydrologic databases were obtained and analyzed. These included climate (temperature, precipitation, solar radiation and sunshine hours, evapotranspiration, humidity, and cloud cover) and hydrologic (streamflow and quality and groundwater levels and quality) records. Results varied but there were indications of atmospheric temperature increasing, rainfall decreasing, streamflow decreasing, and groundwater level decreasing trends. Artificial intelligence modelling was applied to predict water usage, rainfall recharge of groundwater, and upstream flow for two regionally downscaled climate change scenarios (A1B and A2). The AI methods used were multi-layer perceptron (MLP) with extended Kalman filtering (EKF), genetic programming (GP), and a dynamic neuro-fuzzy local modelling system (DNFLMS), respectively. These were then used as inputs to a mechanistic groundwater flow-surface water interaction model (MODFLOW). A DNFLMS was also used to simulate downstream flow and groundwater levels for comparison with MODFLOW outputs. MODFLOW and DNFLMS outputs were consistent. They indicated declines in streamflow on the order of 21 to 23% for MODFLOW and DNFLMS (A1B scenario), respectively, and 27% in both cases for the A2 scenario under severe drought conditions by 2058-2059, with little if any change in groundwater levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.725-731
• /
• 2015

Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis was conducted for eight different kinds of dried seafood products to investigate their gamma-irradiation status. The specimens consisted of 0~10 kGy-irradiated bones, which included five dried fishes (plaice, hairtail, saury, herring, and dried filefish) and three dried mollusks (beca squid, dried squid, and mitra squid) without flesh or marrow. ESR analysis showed that irradiated specimens exhibited typical asymmetric signals as compared to non-irradiated specimens. ESR signal intensities of all dried fishery samples significantly increased depending on irradiation dose, whereas hydroxyapetite radicals clearly appeared in irradiated plaice, saury, and hairtail. In comparing hydroxyapatite (HA) ratio, irradiated hairtail showed a greater hydroxyapatite-radical generation rate than plaice and saury, and the HA ratio significantly increased with elevated irradiation dose. However, all irradiated plaice and hairtail samples, including 5 and 10 kGy-irradiated saury, showed radiation-derived radicals, whereas filefish and mollusks did not. From the results, ESR spectroscopy was found to have potential to be applied for identifying irradiated plaice, hairtail, and saury, which all contained bones.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.35-44
• /
• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf tea(PLT) in hairless mice(SKH-1) exposed to UVB radiation. The animals were divided into non-treated group (normal, N) and UV-radiated groups. UV-radiated groups were divided into only UV-radiated group(control, C) and UV-radiated and PLT treated experimental groups[first extraction treated group(PLT-I), second extraction treated groupe(PLT-II), and third extraction treated group(PLT-III)]. Three PLT treated experimental groups of mice were treated with both oral administration(300mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical application (100 ul of 2% conc./mouse/day) for 4 weeks. Anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf were evaluated by MTT assay, anti oxidative reaction, MMP immunohistochemistry, gelatin zymography assay and RT-PCR observations. Treatment with Persimmon leaf tea(PLT)-I, and -III groups decreased immunohistochemical density of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-3 and -9 related to degradation of extracellular matrix in skin. Especially, immunohistochemical density of MMP-2 decreased in PLT-I, -II and -III groups in skin. On the effects of antioxidant function on the treatment with Persimmon leaf tea(PLT), treatment of HaCaT cells with extracts of PLT-I and PLT-II had also significantly reduced intracellular ROS produced by UVB irradiation in a dose dependent manner(PLT-I, p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001; PLT-II, p<0.01, p<0.001). Gelatin zymography assay revealed that PLT-II and PLT-III (200 ug/ml) had inhibitory effect on MMP-9 expression in UVB-radiated HaCaT cells. Western blot analysis revealed that PLT-1, -II and -III groups down-regulates the expression of inflammatory associated genes(IL-$1{\beta}$) and PLT-1 and -II groups down-regulates the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ in a dose dependent manner. Our study suggests that Persimmon leaf tea(PLT) extracts participates in inhibitory effects on the morphological and molecular experiments related to photoaging skin on UVB irradiated hairless mice.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.237-243
• /
• 1990

Pulmonary embolism demands rapid and accurate diagnosis. And ventilation imaging has greatly improved the diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary embolism in addition to perfusion imaging. Agents currently used include xenon-133, krypton-81m and technetium-99m radioaerosols. However radioactive gases are compromised by availability and cost for krypton-81m, radiation dose, gamma energy and non?physiologic behaviour for xenon-133. Radioaerosols of technetium-99m componds are rapidly cleared from the lung after inhalation, and their relative low effeciency (specific radioactivity) and wide distribution of particle sizes make them also suboptimum. A new ventilation agent, Technegas is a suspension of structured graphite ellipsoids with diameter below 20nm, labelled with $^{99m}Tc$ in a carrier gas of Argon. This report describes the authors' clinical experience with Technegas. This is the first reported clinical study of this agent in Korea. A comparison of Technegas and $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ aerosol was performed in 12 patients with various pulmonary diseases such as COPD, pulmonary tuberculosis and pleural effusion. All patients were studied with $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ aerosol inhalation and Technegas ventilation. In both studies image quality was assessed (1) semiquantitatively by scoring bronchial and gastric activity, (2) subjectively by direct visual comparison of peripheral lung images and (3) quantitatively by computing the peripheral penetration index(PI) for each lungs. The bronchial activites were seen in 7 out of 12 cases with $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ aerosol and in 5/12 with Technegas. The gastric activities were seen in 5/12 and 1/12 cases respectively. The average values of PI were 61.26% with $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ aerosol and 69.20% with Technegas (p>0.05). Using $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ aerosol, COPD patients showed deposition in the central airways with poor visualization of the peripheral areas of the lungs. In Technegas studies these phenomena were less prominent, and the examination is well tolerated by pateients and requires only a minimum of patient cooperation. With superiority of easy availability and handling, better physical characteristics and favorable Image quality, Technegas is a Promising agent for lung ventilation scanning.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.176-180
• /
• 2008

Department of Nuclear Medicine in Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) had developed $^{18}F$-Flumazenil as Benzodiazepine receptor imaging agent for PET diagnosis of Epilepsy. But production Activity of $^{18}F$-Flumazenil is decreased owing to this method has difficult synthesis procedures and pretty long synthesis time. In this study, we can modify synthesizing method to have more simple procedure and less spend time and help to increase production Activity. Old method: Radioactivity was produced by cyclotron was captured by QMA cartridge that was activated. Captured radioactivity was eluted into the reaction vial by using kryptofix solution and delivered. After evaporation of eluent, the azeotrophic drying step repeated two times. tosylflumazenil in anhydrous Acetonitrile was added to a reaction vial while bubbling. The reaction mixture was evaporated until the mixture volume was 0.5 mL. Reaction vial washed with 20 % Acetonitrile and that solution went into the reaction vial. The reaction mixture was loaded to the HPLC loop by hand and purified $^{18}F$-Flumazenil by HPLC column. New method: We used $TBAHCO_3$ solution as a eluent. After the eluent was evaporated, tosylflumazenil in anhydrous acetonitrile was added to a reaction vial and the reaction mixture was bubbled for 15 minutes. It was evaporated until the mixture volume became 0.5 mL. It was loaded to the HPLC loop. In old method, $^{18}F$-Flumazenil was synthesized via 6 steps synthesis procedures in 105 minutes with 30~35% synthesizing yield (non-decay correction) and specific activity was about $0.5{\sim}2{\times}10^5$ Ci/mole. In new method, It had 3 steps synthesis procedures in 53 minutes with 40~45% synthesizing yield and specific activity was about $3{\sim}8{\times}10^5$ Ci/mole. This method leads to improve of minimizing synthesis time, increasing synthesis yield and specific activity. While we can load reaction mixture to the HPLC loop, we can expose high radiation field thanks to used by hand.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.367-376
• /
• 2011

Early detection of carious lesions increases the possibility of treatment without the need for surgical intervention. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging three-dimensional imaging technique that has been successfully used in other medical fields, such as ophthalmology for optical biopsy, and is a prospective candidate for early caries detection. The technique is based on low coherence interferometry and is advantageous in that it is non-invasive, does not use ionizing radiation, and can render threedimensional images. A brief history of the development of this technique and its principles are discussed in this paper. There have been numerous studies on caries detection, which were mostly in vitro or ex vivo experiments. Through these studies, the feasibility of OCT for caries detection was confirmed. However, further research should be performed, including in vivo studies of OCT applications, in order to prove the clinical usefulness of this technique. In addition, some technological problems must be resolved in the near future to allow for the use of OCT in everyday practice.