• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.194-199
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• 2024

Overexpression of mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a mitochondrial fusion protein, is frequently associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. Here, I aimed to investigate the involvement of MFN2 in cervical cancer progression and determine the effect of MFN2 on prognosis in cervical cancer patients. After generating MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells derived from squamous cell carcinoma, I investigated the effect of MFN2 on SiHa cell proliferation using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and determined the mRNA levels of proliferation markers. Colony-forming ability and tumorigenesis were evaluated using a colony-formation assay and tumor xenograft mouse models. The migratory and invasive abilities associated with MFN2 were measured using wound-healing and invasion assays. Wnt/β-catenin-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers related to MFN2 were assessed through quantitative RT-PCR. MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells exhibited reduced proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation in vivo. The motility of SiHa cells with MFN2 knockdown was reduced through Wnt/β-catenin-mediated EMT inhibition. MFN2 promoted cancer progression and tumorigenesis in SiHa cells. Overall, MFN2 could serve as a therapeutic target and a novel biomarker for cervical cancer.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.67-78
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• 2024

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a new emerging networking paradigm that has adopted a logically centralized architecture to increase overall network performance agility and programmability. Combining network virtualization with SDN will guarantees for combined advantages of improved flexibility and network performance. Combining SDN with hypervisors divides the network physical resources into several logical transparent and isolated virtual SDN network (vSDN), where each has its virtual controller. However, SDN hypervisors bring several advantages as well as several challenges to its network operators as for the virtual appliances, their efficient placement, assurance of network performance is mandatory, and their dynamic instantiation with their migration. In this article, we provide a brief and concise review of network virtualization along with its implementation in the SDN network. SDN hypervisors types are discussed, and taxonomy is provided to demonstrate the importance of hypervisors in SDN. A comparison of SDN hypervisors is performed to elaborate on the vital hypervisor software along with their features, and different challenges are discussed faced by the SDN network. A framework is proposed to add combined functionalities of hypervisors to create a more effective and efficient virtual system. The purpose of the framework is to increase network performance through proper configuration of resources, software, control plane isolation functions with defined rules and policies.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.3321-3329
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• 2019

Cuscuta chinensis Lamak (CCL) has traditionally been used in Korea to treat sexual disorders and skin problems. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CCL extract on surgical injury-induced ischemia in the hind limbs of mice. Specifically, female C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized, and their hind-limb vessels were ligated with surgical silk (6-0) and excised. CCL (150 or 450 mg/kg/BW) was then administered to the mice for 3 weeks, and the blood flow rate was evaluated using a laser Doppler system at -7, 0, 7, 14 and 21 days following hind-limb ischemia. The serum expression profiles of angiogenic and inflammatory mediators were measured using an antibody array, and the transcript levels were reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The rate of hind limb blood flow was normalized to non-ischemic lesions and revealed to be markedly elevated at 14 and 21 days following ischemia when compared with the vehicle group. The density of capillaries in the hind limbs was also significantly increased following treatment with CCL in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the transcriptional expression of angiogenetic factors were upregulated, whereas that of inflammatory cytokines were downregulated. Finally, vascular endothelial cell migration and tube formation were evaluated in vitro using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and identified to be significantly increased following treatment with CCL. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that CCL extract exhibits therapeutic potential for the treatment of hind-limb ischemia as it promotes peripheral angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1094-1102
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• 2017

Hazardous metals leaching experiment was carried out in accordance with various usage environments for camping cooking utensils distributed in the market. There was a significant difference in the degree of migration for lead, arsenic, cadmium and nickel defending on the solvent and how to use, although they were all appropriate for criteria. In general, the migrated amount of aluminum was increased in acidic condition, and the migrated amount of arsenic was increased in salty condition. Physical scratches increased the overall release of hazardous metals from the portable pots and pans for camping in all solvents. Especially, in 0.5% citric acid solution, cadmium was migrated by physical scratch in stainless steel and hard aluminum pots and pans. The longer the leaching time, the higher the migration of aluminum in acid condition and arsenic in basic condition. From these results, it is desirable to use the cooking utensil for camping without being exposed to strong acidic or basic solution and scratches in order to reduce the migration of hazardous metals from them.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2016

Purpose: The utility of N classification has been questioned after the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) was published. We evaluated the correlation between ratio-based N (rN) classification with the overall survival of pathological T4 gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 222 cases of advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2006 and December 2015. The T4 gastric cancer patents were classified into four groups according to the lymph node ratio (the number of metastatic lymph nodes divided by the retrieved lymph nodes): rN0, 0%; rN1, ${\leq}13.3%$; rN2, ${\leq}40.0%$; and rN3, >40.0%. Results: The rN stage showed a large down stage migration compared with pathological T4N3 (AJCC/UICC). There was a significant difference in overall survival between rN2 and rN3 groups in patients with pT4N3 (P=0.013). In contrast, the difference in metastatic lymph nodes was not significant in these patients (${\geq}16$ vs. <15; P=0.177). In addition, the rN staging system showed a more distinct difference in overall survival than the pN staging system for pathological T4 gastric cancer patients. Conclusions: Our results confirm that rN staging could be a good alternative for pathological T4 gastric cancer patients who undergo D2 lymphadenectomy. However, before applying this system to gastric cancer patients who undergo D2 lymphadenectomy, a larger sample size is required to further evaluate the usefulness of the rN staging system for all stages, including less advanced stages.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2016

A seasonal outlook for crop insect pests is most valuable when it provides accurate information for timely management decisions. In this study, we investigated probable tele-connections between climatic phenomena and pest infestations in Korea using a statistical method. A rice insect pest, brown planthopper (BPH), was selected because of its migration characteristics, which fits well with the concept of our statistical modelling - utilizing a long-term, multi-regional influence of selected climatic phenomena to predict a dominant biological event at certain time and place. Variables of the seasonal climate forecast from 10 climate models were used as a predictor, and annual infestation area for BPH as a predictand in the statistical analyses. The Moving Window Regression model showed high correlation between the national infestation trends of BPH in South Korea and selected tempo-spatial climatic variables along with its sequential migration path. Overall, the statistical models developed in this study showed a promising predictability for BPH infestation in Korea, although the dynamical relationships between the infestation and selected climatic phenomena need to be further elucidated.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.214-225
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• 2013

Purpose: Peritoneal lavage cytology is part of the routine staging workup for patients with advanced gastric cancer. However, no quality assurance study has been conducted to show variations or biases in peritoneal lavage cytology results. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a test execution variation in peritoneal lavage cytology between investigating surgeons. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was designed for determination of the positive rate of peritoneal lavage cytology using a liquid-based preparation method in patients with potentially curable advanced gastric cancer (cT2~4/N0~2/M0). One hundred thirty patients were enrolled and underwent laparotomy, peritoneal lavage cytology, and standard gastrectomy, which were performed by 3 investigating surgeons. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and a logistic regression model. Results: The overall positive peritoneal cytology rate was 10.0%. Subgroup positive rates were 5.3% in pT1 cancer, 2.0% in pT2/3 cancer, 11.1% in pT4a cancer, and 71.4% in pT4b cancer. In univariate analysis, positive peritoneal cytology showed significant correlation with pT stage, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, ascites, and the investigating surgeon. We found the positive rate to be 2.1% for surgeon A, 10.2% for surgeon B, and 20.6% for surgeon C (P=0.024). Multivariate analysis identified pT stage, ascites, and the investigating surgeon to be significant risk factors for positive peritoneal cytology. Conclusions: The peritoneal lavage cytology results were significantly affected by the investigating surgeon, providing strong evidence of test execution variation that could be related to poor diagnostic accuracy and stage migration in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.63-74
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• 2007

This study aims to develop rural house maintenance technique by researching and analyzing the demand for rural house by urban retirees or urbanites who are planning to retire. The target for the survey consisted of urban retirees or urbanites who are planning to retire at the ages between 40 and 65, and were divided into group A, the attendants in rural-related education, and group B, the non-attendants in rural-related education. The contents of the survey included the plan and purpose for rural settlement, the utilization form or residential form of rural house and its expected size, necessary in-house facilities, necessary community facilities, improvement and maintenance factors of rural house, political and legal support for the application of rural house maintenance, etc. The results findings of this study are as follows; 1)For both group, the major purpose of rural settlement appeared to be 'for rural life', utilization form of rural house to be 'acquired ownership or use of empty house', residential form to be 'cohabitation', expected size to be 'under $20{\sim}30$ pung', and expenditure to be 'under $50{\sim}100\;million$'. 2)Most wanted necessary in-house facilities included backyard, multipurpose storage room for group A, and backyard, garden for group B. Necessary community facilities included boardwalk, sewage disposal unit for group A, and boardwalk, shop for group B. 3)Improvement factor for rural house showed 'poor insulation' as first factor for both groups, and for maintenance factor, 'backyard', 'under-floor heating' for group A, and 'environmental-friendly materials', 'backyard' for group B. 4)Most wanted overall political and legal support included 'support on land and real estate supply' for group A, and 'medical and transportation service' for group B. For both group, most wanted support when purchasing a house included 'provision of information on house and realestate purchase', and for legal support, 'legal support for guaranteed house and maintenance' as first factor. The results of this study could be utilized to restructure the rural residence, which would meet the diverse demand of both rural residents and urbanites by providing an opportunity for urbanites to enjoy rural life.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3811-3816
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• 2015

Background: Hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes-1) protein is a downstream target of Notch signaling and is a basic helix-loop-helix transcriptional repressor. However, definitive evidence for a role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells has not been reported. Here, Hes-1 was revealed to an important component of the Notch signaling cascade in HCC cell lines possessing different potential for lung metastasis. Materials and Methods: RNAi mediated by plasmid constructs was used to analyze the role of Hes-1 in MHCC-97L HCC cells by assessing proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration and matrigel invasion following transfection. Hes-1 protein expression analysis in HCC tissue was also conducted by immunohistochemistry. Results: Our studies revealed that Hes-1 was decreased in HCC cell lines with higher lung metastasis potential at both the mRNA and protein levels. Down-regulation of the Hes-1 gene in MHCC-97L cells resulted in increased cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis and increased migration and invasion. Conclusions: Hes-1 has potential prognostic value in post-surgical HCC patients and may be an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival and tumor recurrence. These findings have important implications for understanding the mechanisms by which Hes-1 participates in tumor proliferation and invasion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.749-761
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• 2022

This study evaluated the antioxidizing and antiproliferative effects of Angelica japonica extract and its solvent-partitioned fractions. A dried sample of the halophyte A. japonica was extracted twice using methylene chloride (CH₂Cl₂) and extracted twice again using methanol (MeOH). The combined crude extracts were then fractionated by solvent polarity into distilled water (water), n-butanol (n-BuOH), 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq.MeOH), and n-hexane fractions. The antioxidant activities of the crude extracts and their solvent-partitioned fractions were assessed according to their DPPH radical and peroxynitrite scavenging abilities, formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA oxidation, NO production, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The crude extract showed significant antioxidant activity in the overall antioxidizing bioassay systems. Among solvent-partitioned fractions, good antioxidant activities were observed in n-BuOH and 85% aq.MeOH fractions and significantly correlated with the polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the samples. Furthermore, all samples tested, including the crude extract, not only showed cytotoxic effects against human cancer cells (AGS, HT-29, MCF-7, and HT-1080) but also prevented cell migration in a dose-dependent manner in the wound healing assay using HT 1080. Among the solvent-partitioned fractions, the 85% aq.MeOH fraction most effectively inhibited the invasion of HT-1080 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that A. japonica may be a potential antioxidizing and antiproliferative agent.