• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2010

Losartan potassium, 2-butyl-4-chloro-1-[p-(o-1H-tetrazol-5-ylphenyl)benzyl]imidazole-5-methanol mono-potassium salt, is a new class of antihypertensive agents, and is an antagonist in angiotensin receptor. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two Losartan potassium tablets, Cozaar tablet (MSD Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and Losata tablet (Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of losartan from the two losartan potassium formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media. Twenty eight healthy male subjects, $23.86{\pm}1.80$ years in age and $67.27{\pm}6.60\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After a single tablet containing 50 mg as losartan potassium was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals, and the concentrations of losartan in serum were determined using HPLC with fluorescence detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar in all tested dissolution media. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were calculated, and Equiv Test/K-BE Test 2002 was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, Cozaar, were -2.70%, 1.45% and 2.31% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.8 to log 1.25 (e.g., log 0.8852~log 1.0655 and log 0.8319~log 1.2342 for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Losata tablet was bioequivalent to Cozaar tablet.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2010

This study was aimed at investigating the gene expression profile in basal ganglia of cadmium exposed rat based on cDNA array analysis. For cDNA array analysis, adult Sprague-Dawley male rats (350 ${\pm}$ 25 g) were intraperitoneally injected with 2.0 mg/kg body weight/day of CdCl2 (0.3 ml) for 5 days. For doserelated gene expression analysis rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg body weight/day of CdCl$_2$ for 5 days. Control rats were injected with equal volume of saline. Cadmium concentration of brain was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. For cDNA array, RNA samples were extracted from basal ganglia and reverse-transcribed in the presence of [${\alpha}$32P]-dATP. Membrane sets of the Atlas Rat 1.2 array II and Toxicology array 1.2 (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) were hybridized with cDNA probe sets. RT-PCR was employed to validate the relative gene expression patterns obtained from the cDNA array. Northern blot hybridization methods were employed to assess the dose-related gene expression. Among the 2352 cDNAs, 671 genes were detected in both array sets and 63 genes of 38 classes showed significant (more than two fold) changes in expression. Thirty five of these genes were up-regulated and twenty eight were down-regulated in the cadmium exposed group. According to the dose-related gene expression analysis, heat shock 27 kDa protein (HSP27), neurodegeneration-associated protein 1 (Neurodap 1) genes were significantly up-regulated and melatonin receptor 1a (Mel1a), Kinesin family member 3C (KIF3C), novel kinesinrelated protein (KIF1D) genes were significantly downregulated even in the low-dose of cadmium exposed group (0.1 mg/kg body weight/day). Conclusions Sixty three genes detected in this study can give some more useful informations about the cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in the basal ganglia. As well as, HSP27, Neurodap1, Mel1a, KIF3C and KIF1D genes may be useful for the study of the cadmium-induced neurotoxicity because these genes showed dramatic changes of mRNA levels in response to the low dose of cadmium exposure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3595-3600
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• 2016

Background: To investigate the association between preoperative pathological Ki-67 labeling index and serum tumor marker cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) with clinic-pathological parameters and treatment outcomes in early breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study at 4 cancer centers in Saudi Arabia and Egypt was performed. Data were collected for female patients diagnosed with unilateral early breast cancer between March 2010 and October 2013. Cases treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by surgery and radiotherapy were included. NACT included 6-8 cycles of anthracycline and taxane based regimens. Trastuzumab and hormonal treatments were added according to HER2 and hormone receptor status. Baseline serum CA15.3 and pathological Ki67 levels were evaluated and correlated with disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 280 pts was included. The median age was 49 years (38-66 y) and median overall survival was 35 (20-38) months (mo). Estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) and HER 2 receptors were positive in 233 (83.2%), 198 (70%) and 65 cases (23.2%), respectively. High preoperative Ki67 and CA15.3 were noted in 177 (63.2%) and 131 (46.8%). A total of 45 (16%) patients had distal or local recurrence and 24 (8.6%) died of their disease. Most of the relapsed cases had high preoperative Ki-67 (n=41, 91%) and CA15.3 (n=28, 62%) values. All of the patients who died had a high Ki-67 but CA15.3 was high in 9 (37%) only. Mean DFS/OS in patients with high preoperative Ki-67 was 32 months /32 months as compared to 37 months/35 months in those with normal Ki-67 (p<0.001). Correlation of preoperative CA15.3 and survival was statistically not significant. Conclusions:Preoperative Ki-67 can be a predictive and prognostic marker. Higher levels are associated with poor DFS and OS in patients with early BC.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.365-370
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• 2015

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an important hematopoietic growth factor and immune modulator. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GM-CSF on the development and cell number of porcine parthenotes, as well as on their expression of implantation-related genes. In the present study, porcine parthenogenatic activated embryos were cultured in a protein-free culture medium in the absence or presence of 5, 10 and 20 ng/ml GM-CSF for 7 days. The percentage of blastocyst formation, total cell number and gene expressions were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of 20 ng/ml GM-CSF to protein-free culture medium significantly increased the blastocoel formation ($26.14{\pm}2.03%$ vs. $3.55{\pm}0.51%$, p < 0.05). In addition, the cell number also increased when they were cultured in the presence of 20 ng/ml GM-CSF ($43.51{\pm}3.6%$ vs. $30.68{\pm}5.51%$, p < 0.05). A real time reverse transcripts polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that GM-CSF enhances mRNA expression of the interleukin-6, but does not influence the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor mRNA expression in blastocyst stage parthenotes. These results suggest that GM-CSF may enhance the viability of porcine embryos developing in vitro in a defined culture medium.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.744-750
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• 2015

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of hot water and ethanol extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner flower on lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with both hot water and ethanol extracts for up to 8 days following standard induction of differentiation. Regarding anti-adipogenic activity, compared with the control, the hot water and ethanol extracts significantly inhibited lipid accumulation (37.4 and 66.6%, respectively) and ROS production (46.4 and 46.8%, respectively) during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Treatment with hot water and ethanol extracts significantly inhibited mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), thereby reducing the mRNA expression of adipocyte-specific fatty acid binding protein (aP2). Moreover, both the extracts significantly inhibited mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX4). Overall, our research suggests that N. nucifera Gaertner flower extracts might be a valuable source of bioactive compounds that exhibit anti-adipogenic activity and could have applications in the field of medicine and food industry.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2019

This study examined the effect of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I expression in the liver and muscle on the growth of Paralichthys olivaceus fed diets low in fish meal. A feeding experiment was conducted at Jeju National University, Jeju Island, Korea. Groups of P. olivaceus (total initial weight: 200 g) were maintained for 20 weeks on one of five experimental diets containing different proportions of fish meal. Diets containing 0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% fish meal were labeled FM0, FM20, FM30, FM40, and FM50, respectively. Fish growth was observed every 4 weeks during the feeding experiment, and plasma and liver and muscle tissues were sampled. Plasma IGF-I levels were analyzed using an ELISA kit. The mechanism of IGF-I receptor signaling was examined using immunoblotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The greatest total weight increase was observed in the FM30 group. In parallel, plasma levels of IGF-I and IGF-binding protein were highest in the FM30 group, and mRNA and protein expression were also significantly higher in this group. The first step in the IGF-I signaling pathway, tyrosine-phosphorylation checking, occurred smoothly until 20 weeks. These results suggest that a dietary ratio of 30% fish meal best promotes growth in this species. The IGF-I signaling pathway in the liver and muscle is associated with growth in P. olivaceus.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2010

Purpose : We know little about the natural course of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in association with histologic changes especially in children. We investigated clinicopathologic features with long-term follow-up biopsy to clarify the outcomes and prognostic indicators for childhood IgAN. Methods : From our patients' medical records, we retrieved 20 patients with IgAN, to whom renal biopsies had been performed for the initial diagnosis and follow-up to find out any histologic changes. Initial and follow-up biopsies were classified by Haas classification. The changes of these parameters were compared with the evolution of clinical features. Results : Patients were treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in combination with angiotensin receptor blockers (in subclass II or above) and short-term cyclosporine A(in patients showing nephrotic syndrome). Histologic improvement in 7 cases and deterioration in 3 cases were observed. At the time of last biopsy, 10 cases (50%) showed clinical remission and the others showed improved clinical features. These clinical outcomes did not correlate with initial Haas classifications. Hypertension at onset observed in 5 cases (25%) revealed significant correlation with clinical outcome (P =0.01) and last Haas classification (P =0.007). None of the cases showed progression to CRF or ESRD. Conclusion : During a mean follow-up of $10.8{\pm}3.4$ years, childhood IgAN showed good clinicopathologic outcome. Hypertension at onset was only a strong predictor of clinicopathologic outcomes, but initial Haas classification cannot predict outcomes in children. Histologic change of IgAN in long term follow-up period cannot be completely predicted by clinical data and vice versa. Therefore, a renal biopsy should be considered as a part of follow-up plan.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.69-75
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• 2002

Sterols play two major roles in plants: a bulk component in biological membranes and precursors of plant steroid hormones. Physiological effects of plant steroids, brassinosteroids (BRs), include cell elongation, cell division, stress tolerance, and senescence acceleration. Arabidopsis mutants that carry genetic defects in BR biosynthesis or its signaling display characteristic phenotypes, such as short robust inflorescences, dark-green round leaves, and sterility. Currently there are more than 100 dwarf mutants representing 7 genetic loci in Arabidopsis. Mutants of 6 loci, dwf1/dim1/cbb1, cpd/dwf3, dwf4, dwf5, det2/dwf6, dwf7 are rescued by exogenous application of BRs, whereas bri1/dwf2 shares phenotypes with the above 6 loci but are resistant to BRs. These suggest that the 6 loci are defective in BR biosynthesis, and the one locus is in BR signaling. Biochemical analyses, such as intermediate feeding tests, examining the levels of endogenous BR, and molecular cloning of the genes revealed that dwf7, dwf5, and dwf1 are defective in the three consecutive steps of sterol biosynthesis, from episterol to campesterol via 5-dehydroepisterol. Similarly, det2/dwf6, dwf4, and cpd/dwf3 were shown to be blocked in $D^4$ reduction, 22a-hydroxylation, and 23 a-hydroxylation, respectively. A signaling mutant bri1/dwf2 carries mutations in a Leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase. Interestingly, the bri1 mutant was shown to accumulate significant amount of BRs, suggesting that signaling and biosynthesis are dynamically coupled in Arabidopsis. Thus It is likely that transgenic plants over-expressing the rate-limiting step enzyme DWF4 as well as blocking its use by BRI1 could dramatically increase the biosynthetic yield of BRs. When applied industrially, BRs will boost new sector of plant biotechnology because of its potential use as a precursor of human steroid hormones, a novel lead compound for cholesterol-lowering effects, and a various application in plant protection.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2013

Methoxychlor (MXC) was developed to be a replacement for the banned pesticide DDT. HPTE [2,2-bis (p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane], which is an in vivo metabolite of MXC, has strong oestrogenic and anti-androgenic effects. MXC and HPTE are thought to produce potentially adverse effects by acting through oestrogen and androgen receptors. Of the two, HPTE binds to sex-steroid receptors with greater affinity, and it inhibits testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells by inhibiting cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme activity and cholesterol utilisation. In a previous study, MXC was shown to induce Leydig cell apoptosis by decreasing testosterone concentrations. I focused on the effects of MXC on male mice that resulted from interactions with sex-steroid hormone receptors. Sex-steroid hormones affect other organs including the kidney and liver. Accordingly, I hypothesised that MXC can act through sex-steroid receptors to produce adverse effects on the testis, kidney and liver, and I designed our experiments to confirm the different effects of MXC exposure on the male reproductive system, kidney and liver. In these experiments, I used pre-pubescent ICR mice; the puberty period in ICR mice is from postnatal day (PND) 45 to PND60. I treated the experimental group with 0, 100, 200, 400 mg MXC/kg b.w. delivered by an intra-peritoneal injection with sesame oil used as vehicle for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed under anaesthesia. The testes and accessory reproductive organs were collected, weighed and prepared for histological investigation. I performed a chemiluminescence immune assay to observe the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH. Blood biochemical determination was also performed to check for other effects. There were no significant differences in our histological observations or relative organ weights. Serum testosterone levels were decreased in a dose-dependent manner; a greater dose resulted in the production of less testosterone. Compared to the control group, testosterone concentrations differed in the 200 and 400 mg/kg dosage groups. In conclusion, I observed markedly negative effects of MXC exposure on testosterone concentrations in pre-pubescent male mice. From our biochemical determinations, I observed some changes that indicate renal and hepatic failure. Together, these data suggest that MXC produces adverse effects on the reproductive system, kidney and liver.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2005

Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug that is structurally similar to ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA), but does not interact with the GABA receptor. It does not bind significantly to plasma proteins, and is excreted to unchanged form in the urine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two gabapentin capsules, $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg (Pfizer Pharm. Co., Ltd.) and Kuhnil $Gabapentin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg (Kuhnil Pharm. Co., Ltd), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of gabapentin from the two gabapentin formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media (pH 1.2, 4.0, 6.8 buffer solution and water). Twenty six healthy male subjects, $22.46{\pm}1.86$ years in age and $67.64{\pm}7.24$ kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After a single capsule containing 300 mg as gabapentin was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of gabapentin in serum were determined using HPLC with fluorescence detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar at all dissolution media. In addition, the pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg, were -2.03, -0.43 and 4.29% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.8 to log 1.25 $(e.g.,\;log\;0.89{\sim}log\;1.09\;and\;log\;0.91{\sim}log\;1.09$ for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Kuhnil $Gabapentin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg was bioequivalent to $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg.