• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2009

Angiogenesis is essential for solid tumor growth and progression. Among the pro-angiogenetic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), also known as vascular permeability factor, is the most important as a mitogen for vascular endothelium. The VEGF family of molecules currently consists of six growth factors, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGF-E, and placenta growth factor(PlGF). Over-expression of PlGF is associated with angiogenesis under pathological conditions such as ischemia, inflammation, and cancer. Hence, the goal of this study is to identify the correlation of clinicopathlogical factors and the up-regulation of PlGF expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma. We studied the immunohistochemical staining of PlGF, PlGF gene expression and a real time quantitative RT-PCR in 20 specimens of 20 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. The results were as follows. 1. In the immunohistochemical study of poorly differentiated and invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma, the high level staining of PlGF was observed. And the correlation between immunohistopathological PlGF expression and histological differentiation of specimens was significant (Pearson correlation analysis, significance [r] >0.6, P < .05). 2. In the PlGF gene RT-PCR analysis, PlGF expression was more in tumor tissue than in adjacent normal tissue. Paired-samples analysis determined the difference of PlGF mRNA expression level between the cancer tissue and the normal tissue (Student's t - test, P < .05) These findings suggest that up-regulation of the PlGF gene may play a role in progression and local metastasis in invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.6 s.40
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• pp.13-22
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• 2004

Ductiluty factor has played an important role in seismic design as it is key component of response modification factor(R). In this stuty, ductility factors() are calculated by multiplying ductility factor for SDOF systems() and MDOF modification factors(). Ductility factors() for SDOF systems are computed from nonlinear dynamic analysis undergoing different level of displacement ductiluty demands and period when subjected to a large number of recorded earthquake ground motions. The MDOF modification factors() are proposed to account for the MDOF systems, based on previous studies. A total of 108 prototype steel frames are designed to investigate the ductility factors considering the number of stories(4, 8 and 16-stories), framing system(Perimeter Frames, PF and Distributed Frames, DF), failure mechanism(Strong-Column Weak-Beam, SCWB and Weak-Column Strong-Beam, WCSB), soil profiles(SA, SC and SE in UBC 1997) and seismic zone factors(Z=0.075, 0.2 and 0.4 in UBC 1997). It is shown that the number of stories, failure mechanisms (SCWB, WCSB), and soil profiles have great influence on the ductility factors, however, the structural system(Perimeter frames, Distributed frames), and seismic zones have no influence on the ductility factors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2019

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and its receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3, are responsible for lymphangiogenesis in both embryos and adults. In epilepsy, the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was significantly upregulated in the human brains affected with temporal lobe epilepsy. Moreover, pharmacologic inhibition of VEGF receptors after acute seizures could suppress the generation of spontaneous recurrent seizures, suggesting a critical role of VEGF-related signaling in epilepsy. Therefore, in the present study, the spatiotemporal expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 against pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) was investigated in C57BL/6N mice using immunohistochemistry. At 1 day after SE, hippocampal astrocytes and microglia were activated. Pyramidal neuronal death was observed at 4 days after SE. In the subpyramidal zone, VEGF-C expression gradually increased and peaked at 7 days after SE, while VEGFR-3 was significantly upregulated at 4 days after SE and began to decrease at 7 days after SE. Most VEGF-C/VEGFR-3-expressing cells were pyramidal neurons, but VEGF-C was also observed in some astrocytes in sham-manipulated animals. However, at 4 days and 7 days after SE, both VEGFR-3 and VEGF-C immunoreactivities were observed mainly in astrocytes and in some microglia of the stratum radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampus, respectively. These data indicate that VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 can be upregulated in hippocampal astrocytes and microglia after pilocarpine-induced SE, providing basic information about VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression patterns following acute seizures.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.321-331
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• 2021

Vancomycin, an antibiotic used occasionally as a last line of treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is reportedly associated with nephrotoxicity. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of lutein against vancomycin-induced acute renal injury. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and its associated role in renoprotection by lutein was also examined. Male BALB/c mice were divided into six treatment groups: control with normal saline, lutein (200 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg), vancomycin (500 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg) with lutein, and vancomycin (500 mg/kg) with lutein groups; they were euthanized after 7 days of treatment. Thereafter, samples of blood, urine, and kidney tissue of the mice were analyzed, followed by the determination of levels of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the urine, renal creatine kinase; protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and caspase-3 in the kidney; and the expression of PPARγ, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in renal tissue. Results showed that the levels of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde, and the activity of NAG, creatine kinase and caspase-3, were significantly increased in the vancomycin-treatment groups. Moreover, the levels of Nrf2 significantly decreased, while NF-κB expression increased. Lutein ameliorated these effects, and significantly increased PPARγ expression. Furthermore, it attenuated vancomycin-induced histological alterations such as, tissue necrosis and hypertrophy. Therefore, we conclude that lutein protects against vancomycin-induced renal injury by potentially upregulating PPARγ/Nrf2 expression in the renal tissues, and consequently downregulating the pathways: inflammation by NF-κB and apoptosis by caspase-3.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-111
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• 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important healthcare problem worldwide. Often, glucocorticoid (GC) resistance develops during COPD treatment. As a classic hypoglycemic drug, metformin (MET) can be used as a treatment strategy for COPD due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, but its specific mechanism of action is not known. We aimed to clarify the role of MET on COPD and cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced GC resistance. Through establishment of a COPD model in rats, we found that MET could improve lung function, reduce pathological injury, as well as reduce the level of inflammation and oxidative stress in COPD, and upregulate expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). By establishing a model of GC resistance in human bronchial epithelial cells stimulated by CSE, we found that MET reduced secretion of interleukin-8, and could upregulate expression of Nrf2, HO-1, MRP1, and HDAC2. MET could also increase the inhibition of MRP1 efflux by MK571 significantly, and increase expression of HDAC2 mRNA and protein. In conclusion, MET may upregulate MRP1 expression by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, and then regulate expression of HDAC2 protein to reduce GC resistance.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.72-83
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• 2023

Background: Globally, spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a big burden, including 90% suffering permanent disability, and 60%-69% experiencing neuropathic pain. The main causes are oxidative stress, inflammation, and degeneration. The efficacy of the stem cell secretome is promising, but the role of human neural stem cell (HNSC)-secretome in neuropathic pain is unclear. This study evaluated how the mechanism of HNSC-secretome improves neuropathic pain and locomotor function in SCI rat models through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-matrix degradation, and neurotrophic activities. Methods: A proper experimental study investigated 15 Rattus norvegicus divided into normal, control, and treatment groups (30 µL HNSC-secretome, intrathecal in the level of T10, three days post-traumatic SCI). Twenty-eight days post-injury, specimens were collected, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, F2-Isoprostanes, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were analyzed. Locomotor recovery was evaluated via Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores. Neuropathic pain was evaluated using the Rat Grimace Scale. Results: The HNSC-secretome could improve locomotor recovery and neuropathic pain, decrease F2-Isoprostane (antioxidant), decrease MMP-9 and TNF-α (anti-inflammatory), as well as modulate TGF-β and BDNF (neurotrophic factor). Moreover, HNSC-secretomes maintain the extracellular matrix of SCI by reducing the matrix degradation effect of MMP-9 and increasing the collagen formation effect of TGF-β as a resistor of glial scar formation. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the mechanism of HNSC-secretome in improving neuropathic pain and locomotor function in SCI through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-matrix degradation, and neurotrophic activities.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2011

Objective: Ovarian angiogenesis plays an important role in folliculogenesis. However, little is known about the expression of angiogenic factors during follicular development according to female age. Stromal cell derived factor-$1{\alpha}$ (SDF-$1{\alpha}$) plays a role in granulosa cell survival and embryo quality as an angiogenic chemokine. Leptin is also involved in folliculogenesis and angiogenesis. This study examined expression of SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin, and their effects on the expression of angiogenic factors in the ovary during follicular development according to female age. Methods: Ovaries were collected from C57BL mice of two age groups (6-9 weeks and 24-26 weeks) at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after 5 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) injection. The expression of ovarian SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin mRNA was evaluated by RT-PCR. In the organ culture experiment, the ovaries were cultured in transwell permeable supports with Waymouth's medium treated with various doses of SDF-$1{\alpha}$(50-200 ng/mL) or leptin (0.01-1 ${\mu}g$/mL) for 7 days. Then, mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and visfatin were examined in the cultured ovaries. Results: Expression of SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin in the ovary was significantly lower in the aged mouse group compared to the young mouse group ($p$ <0.05). Expression of these two factors increased with follicular development after PMSG administration. SDF-$1{\alpha}$ treatment stimulated visfatin expression in a dose-dependent manner, while leptin treatment significantly increased eNOS expression. Conclusion: These results suggest that decrease of ovarian SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin expression may be associated with aging-related reduction of ovarian function. SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin may play a role in follicular development by regulating the expression of angiogenic factors in mouse ovaries.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2021

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) must utilize host cellular factors to complete their life cycle, and fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) has been reported to be a host factor promoting AIV ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) assembly and exports vRNP from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The functional role of chicken FMRP translational regulator 1 (cFMR1) as a host factor of AIV is, however, poorly understood. In this study, we targeted the cFMR1 gene in DF1 cells using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-mediated genome editing to examine the functional role of cFMR1 as a host factor of AIV. We found that cFMR1 stimulated viral gene transcription during early stages of the viruses' life cycle and did not affect viral progeny production and viral polymerase activity in DF1 cells 24 hours post infection. cFMR1 overexpression did not exert significant effects on virus production, compared to the control. Therefore, unlike in mammalian systems (e.g., humans or mice), cFMR1 did not play a pivotal role in AIV but only seemed to stimulate viral proliferation during early stages of the viral life cycle. These results imply that the interplay between host factors and AIV differs between mammals and avian species, and such differences should be considered when developing anti-viral drugs for birds or establishing AIV-resistant bird models.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.208-217
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify the influence of awareness regarding marriage and childbirth on pre-parent's role of the nursing students. The subject were 202 nursing students in B city. Data were collected from May 11 to 15, 2015 and analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. Significant differences were found in pre-parent's role based on economic status, ideal number of children, and desired number of children. Pre-parent's role was negatively correlated with romantic views regarding marriage and passive views on marriage. In addition, there was a positive correlation between pre-parent's role and the attitudes towards childbirth support by the nation and corporations. Meaningful variables that influenced pre-parent's role were ideal number of children, economic status and passive views on marriage. Total explanation power was 26.9% and attitudes towards childbirth as well as toward support by the nation and corporations was the most influential factor. To enhance pre-parent's role of nursing students, it is necessary to provide childbirth support by the nation and corporations in the form of financial assistance and childcare facilities, as well as to develop educational programs describing the pre-parent's role.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.93-112
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• 2014

As personal data breach reared up as a problem domestically and globally, organizations appointing chief privacy officers (CPOs) are increasing. Related Korean laws, 'Personal Data Protection Act' and 'the Act on Promotion of Information and Communication Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.' require personal data processing organizations to appoint CPOs. Research on the characteristics and role of CPO is called for because of the importance of CPO being emphasized. There are many researches on top management's role and their impact on organizational performance using the Upper Echelon theory. This study investigates what influence the characteristics of CPO gives on the organizational privacy performance. CPO's definition varies depending on industry, organization size, required responsibility and power. This study defines CPO as 'a person who takes responsibility for all the duties on handling the organization's privacy,' This research assumes that CPO characteristics such as role, personality and background knowledge have an influence on the organizational privacy performance. This study applies the part relevant to the upper echelon's characteristics and performance of the executives (CEOs, CIOs etc.) for CPO. First, following Mintzberg and other managerial role classification, information, strategic, and diplomacy roles are defined as the role of CPO. Second, the "Big Five" taxonomy on individual's personality was suggested in 1990. Among these five personalities, extraversion and conscientiousness are drawn as the personality characteristics of CPO. Third, advance study suggests complex knowledge of technology, law and business is necessary for CPO. Technical, legal, and business background knowledge are drawn as the background knowledge of CPO. To test this model empirically, 120 samples of data collected from CPOs of domestic organizations are used. Factor analysis is carried out and convergent validity and discriminant validity were verified using SPSS and Smart PLS, and the causal relationships between the CPO's role, personality, background knowledge and the organizational privacy performance are analyzed as well. The result of the analysis shows that CPO's diplomacy role and strategic role have significant impacts on organizational privacy performance. This reveals that CPO's active communication with other organizations is needed. Differentiated privacy policy or strategy of organizations is also important. Legal background knowledge and technical background knowledge were also found to be significant determinants to organizational privacy performance. In addition, CPOs conscientiousness has a positive impact on organizational privacy performance. The practical implication of this study is as follows: First, the research can be a yardstick for judgment when companies select CPOs and vest authority in them. Second, not only companies but also CPOs can judge what ability they should concentrate on for development of their career relevant to their job through results of this research. Cultural social value, citizen's consensus on the right to privacy, expected CPO's role will change in process of time. In future study, long-term time-series analysis based research can reveal these changes and can also offer practical implications for government and private organization's policy making on information privacy.