• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.1539-1543
• /
• 2015

Background: Uroplakins have been widely investigated as potential markers in patients with bladder cancer because these proteins are specific to the urothelium. However, the role of uroplakin proteins in bladder cancer remains unknown. In this study, preoperative serum levels of uroplakin III were measured in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and examined for possible association with clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: This study included 52 bladder cancer patients at various stages and 28 healthy controls. Uroplakin III levels were detected in preoperative sera using an automated dot blot system and a micro-dot blot array. Results: There was a significant increase in serum uroplakin III levels in patients with bladder cancer as compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). In addition, serum uroplakin III levels were associated with muscle-invasive status, high grade and lymphovascular invasion (p<0.02). Log-rank tests indicated high serum uroplakin III to be significantly associated with cancer-specific mortality. Conclusions: Determination of serum uroplakin III level could be valuable for identifying patients with biologically aggressive bladder cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Recently, the prevalence of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) has shown an increasing trend worldwide. As the diagnosis of EGID requires invasive endoscopy with biopsy, noninvasive markers for detecting EGID in suspected patients, particularly children, are urgently needed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) beyond peripheral eosinophil counts in pediatric patients with EGID. Methods: Overall, 156 children diagnosed with EGID were enrolled and 150 children with functional abdominal pain disorder (FAPD) were recruited as controls. All participants underwent endoscopic biopsy in each segment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and serum ECP measurement, as well as peripheral eosinophil percent and absolute eosinophil count. Results: Comparing EGID (n=156) with FAPD (n=150) patients, serum ECP levels were significantly higher in pediatric patients with EGID than in those with FAPD (25.8±28.6 ㎍/L vs. 19.5±21.0 ㎍/L, p=0.007), while there was no significant difference in peripheral eosinophil percent and absolute eosinophil counts between the two groups. Serum ECP levels were correlated with peripheral eosinophil percent (r=0.593, p<0.001) and the absolute eosinophil count (r=0.660, p<0.001). The optimal cutoff value of serum ECP for pediatric EGID was 10.5 ㎍/mL, with a sensitivity of 69.9% and a specificity of 43.4% with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.562. Conclusion: The combination of serum ECP levels and peripheral eosinophil counts, when employed with appropriated thresholds, could serve as a valuable noninvasive biomarker to distinguish between EGID and FAPD in pediatric patients manifesting GI symptoms.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.129-135
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The usefulness of serum tumor markers for assessing gastric carcinoma is very limited compared to that for neoplasms in other digestive organs. Many reports have shown that serum tumor markers are closely associated with the prognosis and tumor recurrence in gastric cancer patients. However, little is known about the usefulness of serum tumor markers as a predictor of distant metastasis for gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: With excluding the non-specific causes of elevated tumor markers, a total of 788 patients with gastric carcinoma and who were seen at our hospitals between 2004 and 2006 were included in this study. The correlation between the preoperative level of tumor makers and the clinicopathological features was analyzed. Results: CEA was significantly correlated with age, gender and nodal metastasis, but not with the depth of tumor. The CEA level was not correlated with distant metastasis, such as peritoneal or hematogenous metastasis. In contrast, the CA 19-9 level was significantly correlated not only with the depth of tumor and nodal metastasis, but also with peritoneal metastasis. Especially, the patients with over 500% elevation of the CA 19-9 level had a significant risk of peritoneal metastasis. Conclusion: CA 19-9 is useful for predicting peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer patients. It can be used efficiently in making the diagnostic and the treatment plan, in combination with other diagnostic tools, for gastric cancer patients.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2001

Purpose : To investigate biochemical markers for osteosarcoma, activities of deoxyribocuclease(DNase), ribonuclease(RNase), 5'-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase were determined in the osteosarcoma tissue and serum of patients with osteosarcoma. Also studied were DNase, RNase in osteosarcoma tissue, isolating the enzymes from the sarcoma tissue and investigating the sarcoma specific enzymes. Materials and Methods : The experimental tissue and serum were obtained from twelve patients with osteosarcoma. The control group were obtained from the normal healthy tissue of the same patients. The tissue were centrifugalized to obtain extracts. The extracts were analized for the estimation of nucleic acid, protein contents and enzyme activities. And then each enzymes were isolated and analized by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and estimated for activities. Result : Activities of acid DNase, RNase, 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased in osteosarcoma tissue. Neutral RNase in osteosarcoma tissue was shown to bo highly active, exhibiting secretory form of RNase inhibitor associated with the RNase was also increased. In the serum of patients with osteosarcoma, RNase activity was significantly increased. DEAE-cellulose column chromatographical analysis revealed that acid DNase was isolated as a single enzyme and neutral RNase as five isozymes in osteosarcoma tissue. Conclusion : The results indicated that combination of these enzymes could be used as markers for osteosarcoma. The results indicated that acid DNase and neutral RNase might play a role in genesis of sarcoma and suppression of sarcoma.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.882-888
• /
• 1998

This study was designed as a part of efforts to investigate the biochemical pollutant markers for diagnosis of marine pollutions by changes in lipid components of the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in the South Sea of Korea, Hemoglobin levels in serum of cultured flounders in the South Sea were lower ($4\~17\%$) than those of wild flounder in Pohang as a control group. Triglyceride (TG), Total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol contents in serum of cultured flounders in the South Sea were $12\~25\%,\;9\~19\%$ and $17\~25\%$ respectively which are higher than those of wild flounder in Pohang. Atherogenic index (AI) and T-Chol/PL ratios in serum of cultured flounders in the South Sea were significantly higher($26\~43\%$ and $17\~26\%$ respectively) than those of wild flounder in Pohang. These results suggest that near-coastal water as well as neritic water of the South Sea might be affected by pollutant input as well as the Yellow Sea of Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 1997

This study was designed as a part of efforts to investigate the biochemical pollutant markers for diagnosis of marine pollutions by changes in oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes of the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)in Yellow Sea of Kores. Protein contents in brian and muscle of cultured flounder in Yellow Sea were remarkably lower(30-45% and 25-45%, respectively) than those of wild flounders in Pohang(control) of East Sea. Lipid peroxide(LPO) levels in serum of cultured and wild flounders in Yellow Sea were significanltly higher (30-80% and 125-145%, respectively)than those of wild flounder in Pohang. Hydroxide radical formations and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities in serum of cultured flounders in Yellow Sea were significantly 15-30% and 15-35% lower than those of wild flounders in Pohang, but glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities in brain of cultured flounders in Yellow Sea were significantly 15-25% higher than those of wild flounders in Pohang. It is believed that significantly decreases of protein contents in brain anad muscle, remakable increases of malondialdehyde(LPO) in serum and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx)in brain of cultured flounders of Yellow Sea may be used as a biochemical pollutant markers for diagnosis of marine pollutions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.335-345
• /
• 2022

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that is linked with invading intracellular pathogens. Cardiac pyroptosis has a significant role in coronary microembolization (CME), thus causing myocardial injury. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has powerful cardioprotective effects. Hence, this study aimed to identify the effect of Tan IIA on CME and its underlying mechanism. Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly grouped into sham, CME, CME + low-dose Tan IIA, and CME + high-dose Tan IIA groups. Except for the sham group, polyethylene microspheres (42 ㎛) were injected to establish the CME model. The Tan-L and Tan-H groups received intraperitoneal Tan IIA for 7 days before CME. After CME, cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and serum myocardial injury markers were assessed. The expression of pyroptosis-associated molecules and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and IHC. Relative to the sham group, CME group's cardiac functions were significantly reduced, with a high level of serum myocardial injury markers, and microinfarct area. Also, the levels of caspase-1 p20, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC expression were increased. Relative to the CME group, the Tan-H and Tan-L groups had considerably improved cardiac functions, with a considerably low level of serum myocardial injury markers and microinfarct area. Tan IIA can reduce the levels of pyroptosis-associated mRNA and protein, which may be caused by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade. In conclusion, Tanshinone IIA can suppress cardiomyocyte pyroptosis probably through modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade, lowering cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial damage.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.143-155
• /
• 2023

Percutaneous coronary intervention and acute coronary syndrome are both closely tied to the frequently occurring complication of coronary microembolization (CME). Resveratrol (RES) has been shown to have a substantial cardioprotective influence in a variety of cardiac diseases, though its function and potential mechanistic involvement in CME are still unclear. The forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups randomly: CME, CME + RES (25 mg/kg), CME + RES (50 mg/kg), and sham (10 rats per group). The CME model was developed. Echocardiography, levels of myocardial injury markers in the serum, and histopathology of the myocardium were used to assess the function of the cardiac muscle. For the detection of the signaling of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB along with the expression of pyroptosis-related molecules, ELISA, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting were used, among other techniques. The findings revealed that myocardial injury and pyroptosis occurred in the myocardium following CME, with a decreased function of cardiac, increased levels of serum myocardial injury markers, increased area of microinfarct, as well as a rise in the expression levels of pyroptosis-related molecules. In addition to this, pretreatment with resveratrol reduced the severity of myocardial injury after CME by improving cardiac dysfunction, decreasing serum myocardial injury markers, decreasing microinfarct area, and decreasing cardiomyocyte pyroptosis, primarily by blocking the signaling of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and also reducing the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Resveratrol may be able to alleviate CME-induced myocardial pyroptosis and cardiac dysfunction by impeding the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the signaling pathway of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.3877-3880
• /
• 2013

Objective: To explore the expression and significance of tumor specific growth factor (TSGF), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in cancer tissue and serum of patients with colon cancer. Materials and Methods: Radical surgery for colon cancer was performed on 43 patients with laparoscopu under conditions of general anesthesia. The Elisa method was used to detect the levels of serum TSGF, CEA and AFP before and after radical operation, and cancer tissue underwent TSGF, CEA and AFP immunohistochemistry staining after laparoscopic surgery. The decreased conditions of serum TSGF, CEA and AFP in patients with colon cancer at different levels of differentiation and clinical stagings were analyzed, and the relationships of expression rates between histological types, colon cancer morphology, lymph node metastasis and TSGF, CEA as well as AFP in cancer tissue were assessed. Results: Compared with before radical surgery, the levels of serum TSGF, CEA and AFP decreased notably in patients after operations (p<0.01). The decreased degree of TSGF and CEA was the largest in patients with poorly differentiated cancer tissue (p<0.01), while that of AFP was noted in patients with moderately differentiated cancer tissue (p<0.01). The decreased degree of TSGF and AFP was the largest in patients at phase Dukes A (p<0.01), while that of CEA in patients at phase Dukes C (p<0.01). There were no significant differences among the positive expression rates of TSGF, CEA and AFP with different histological types and colon cancer morphologies (p>0.05). The positive expression rates of TSGF and CEA in patients with lymph node metastasis were significantly higher than those without lymph node metastasis (p<0.01). Conclusions: TSGF, CEA and AFP can be used to evaluate the effect of radical operation for colon cancer, and the changed levels of different markers are associated with tumor differentiation, clinical stating and presence or absence of lymph node metastasis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.66 no.6
• /
• pp.681-689
• /
• 2023

Objective : Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a condition characterized by bleeding in the subarachnoid space, often resulting from the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. Delayed cerebral ischemia caused by vasospasm is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in SAH patients, and inflammatory markers such as systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), systemic inflammatory index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and derived NLR (dNLR) have shown potential in predicting clinical vasospasm and outcomes in SAH patients. This article aims to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmatic SAH (aSAH) and evaluate the predictive value of various indices, including SIRI, SII, NLR, and dNLR, in predicting clinical vasospasm. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of 96 patients who met the inclusion criteria out of a total of 139 patients admitted Trakya University Hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of aSAH between January 2013 and December 2021. Diagnostic procedures, neurological examinations, and laboratory tests were performed to assess the patients' condition. The Student's t-test compared age variables, while the chi-square test compared categorical variables between the non-vasospasm (NVS) and vasospasm (VS) groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of laboratory parameters, calculating the area under the ROC curve, cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : The study included 96 patients divided into two groups : NVS and VS. Various laboratory parameters, such as NLR, SII, and dNLR, were measured daily for 15 days, and statistically significant differences were found in NLR on 7 days, with specific cut-off values identified for each day. SII showed a significant difference on day 9, while dNLR had significant differences on days 2, 4, and 9. Graphs depicting the values of these markers for each day are provided. Conclusion : Neuroinflammatory biomarkers, when used alongside radiology and scoring scales, can aid in predicting prognosis, determining severity and treatment decisions for aSAH, and further studies with larger patient groups are needed to gain more insights.