• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3773-3777
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• 2015

Background: This study aimed to establish a nomogram by combining clinicopathologic factors with overall survival of stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients after complete resection with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods: This nomogram was based on a retrospective study on 1,563 stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients who underwent complete resection and lymphadenectomy from 2002 to 2008. The nomogram was constructed based on multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard regression. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were measured by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. Results: Multivariate analysis identified lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), stromal invasion, parametrial invasion, tumor diameter and histology as independent prognostic factors associated with cervical cancer survival. These factors were selected for construction of the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.77), and calibration of the nomogram showed good agreement between the 5-year predicted survival and the actual observation. Conclusions: We developed a nomogram predicting 5-year overall survival of surgically treated stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients. More comprehensive information that is provided by this nomogram could provide further insight into personalized therapy selection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1797-1802
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• 2014

Background: The prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2G2A) genes encode enzymes that are involved in arachidonic acid and prostaglandin biosynthesis. Dysregulation of both genes is associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We therefore hypothesized that there is an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes and susceptibility to ESCC. Methods: We performed a gene-wide tag SNP-based association study to examine the association of SNPs in PTGS2 and PLA2G2A with ESCC in 269 patients and 269 healthy controls from Taihangshan Mountain, Henan and Hebei Provinces, the rural area of China which has the highest incidence of esophageal cancer in the world. Thirteen tag SNPs in PLA2G2A and 4 functional SNPs in PTGS2 were selected and genotyped using a high-throughput Mass Array genotyping platform. Results: We found a modest increased risk of ESCC in subjects with the PTGS2 rs12042763 AA genotype (OR=1.23; 95% CI, 1.00-3.04) compared with genotype GG. For PLA2G2A, a decreased risk of ESCC was observed in subjects with the rs11677 CT (OR=0.51, 95%CI, 0.29-0.85) or TT genotype (OR=0.51, 95%CI, 0.17-0.96) or the T carriers (CT+TT) (OR=0.52, 95%CI, 0.31-0.85) when compared with the CC genotype. Also for PLA2G2A, rs2236771 C allele carriers were more frequent in the control group (P=0.02). Subjects with the GC (OR=0.55, 95%CI, 0.33-0.93) or CC genotype (OR=0.38, 95% CI, 0.16-0.94) or the C carriers (GC+CC) (OR=0.52, 95%CI, 0.32-0.85) showed a negative association with ESCC susceptibility. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PTGS2 and PLA2G2A gene polymorphisms may modify the risk of ESCC development.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6047-6052
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• 2014

Background: Weight loss during chemotherapy has not been exclusively investigated. Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) might play a role in its etiology. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of weight loss before chemotherapy and its relationship with MIC-1 concentration and its occurrence during chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Materials and Methods: We analyzed 157 inoperable locally advanced or metastatic ESCC patients receiving first-line chemotherapy. Serum MIC-1 concentrations were assessed before chemotherapy. Patients were assigned into two groups according to their weight loss before or during chemotherapy:>5% weight loss group and ${\leq}5%$ weight loss group. Results: Patients with weight loss>5% before chemotherapy had shorter progression-free survival period (5.8 months vs. 8.7 months; p=0.027) and overall survival (10.8 months vs. 20.0 months; p=0.010). Patients with weight loss >5% during chemotherapy tended to have shorter progression-free survival (6.0 months vs. 8.1 months; p=0.062) and overall survival (8.6 months vs. 18.0 months; p=0.022), and if weight loss was reversed during chemotherapy, survival rates improved. Furthermore, serum MIC-1 concentration was closely related to weight loss before chemotherapy (p=0.001) Conclusions: Weight loss both before and during chemotherapy predicted poor outcome in advanced ESCC patients, and MIC-1 might be involved in the development of weight loss in such patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2951-2957
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• 2014

Background: Gastric carcinogenesis is a complicated process that involves environmental and genetic factors like interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-8. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in their genes are associated with changed levels of gene expression. Here, we investigated the association between IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A and gastric cancer (GC) risk in Sichuan of Southwestern China. Materials and Methods: We surveyed the research subjects using a self-designed questionnaire with questions on demographic factors and putative risk factors. Approximately 2-5ml of whole blood was collected after field survey to analyze IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A genotypes using MALDI-TOF MS. Results: Our study recruited 308 pairs of GC patients and controls, including 224 (72.7%) men and 84 (27.3%) women in each group. There were 99 cardia and 176 noncardia GC patients in the case group. The case and control groups had an average age of $57.7{\pm}10.6$ ($mean{\pm}SD$) and $57.6{\pm}11.1$ years. GC patients reported a significantly greater proportion of family history of cancer (29.9% vs 10.7%, p<0.01) and drinking (54.6% vs 43.2%, p<0.01) than did controls. Variant genotypes of IL-4-590 C>T and IL-8-251 T>A were not associated with overall GC risk (adjusted OR, 0.89; 95%CI, 0.61-1.28 for CT or CC vs TT; adjusted OR, 1.14; 95%CI, 0.86-1.79 for TA or AA vs TT). Stratification analysis of two SNPs for risk by subsites only found that variant IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype was associated with increased noncardia GC risk (adjusted OR, 2.58; 95%CI, 1.19-5.57). We did not observe interactions between the IL-8-251 T>A genotype and smoking (adjusted OR, 0.38; 95%CI, 0.08-1.79) or drinking (adjusted OR, 0.36; 95%CI, 0.08-1.65) for risk of noncardia GC. Conclusions: Our data indicate no association between the two SNPs of IL-4-590 and IL-8-251 with overall GC risk, while the IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype conferred risk of cardia GC. Our findings contribute to the evidence body for risk of SNPs associated with the development of gastric cancer in this region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.945-950
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• 2014

Purpose: To explore the value of systemic inflammatory markers as independent prognostic factors and the extent these markers improve prognostic classification for patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We studied the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory factors such as circulating white blood cell count and its components as well as that combined to form inflammation-based prognostic scores (Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Prognostic Index (PI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI)) in 384 patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving first-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the impact of inflammatory markers on overall survival (OS). Results: Univariate analysis revealed that an elevated white blood cell, neutrophil and/or platelet count, a decreased lymphocyte count, a low serum albumin concentration, and high CRP concentration, as well as elevated NLR/PLR, GPS, PI, PNI were significant predictors of shorter OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only elevated neutrophil count (HR 3.696, p=0.003) and higher GPS (HR 1.621, p=0.01) were independent predictors of poor OS. Conclusion: This study demonstrated elevated pretreatment neutrophil count and high GPS to be independent predictors of shorter OS in inoperable advanced or metastatic GC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. Upon validation of these data in independent studies, stratification of patients using these markers in future clinical trials is recommended.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.780-787
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• 2006

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, which characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness, reversible airflow limitation and respiratory symptoms. Internationally, the prevalence of asthma has been increased over last 3 decades. Recently, several studies of asthma have been reported with gradually increasing importance. To tesify the hypothesis that interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 may be an important determinant of the severity of airway inflammation, their expression was studied in mouse model of asthma. BALB/c mouse, IL-4 Knockout (KO) mouse and IL-10 KO mouse were sensitized with intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin adsorbed to aluminum potassium sulfate, followed by challenges with intranasal ovalbumin on 3 consecutive days. The severity of pulmonary inflammation was assessed by eosinophilia in BAL fluid, number of total BAL cells, histopathological changes in lung tissues, and immunohistochemical staining against IL-4 and IL-10. In BAL fluid, the number of total cells was significantly increased in asthma induced mouse compare to the control. In asthma induced mouse, eosinophil was increased to 56% and neutrophil was 0.2%. In H &E stains, eosinophilic infiltration and epithelium hyperplasia were clearly noticed in asthma induced mouse. In immunohistochemical staining for IL-4 and IL-10, there was no positive reaction in control group. However, very strong reactions were appeared in asthma induced group. In this research, IL-4 and IL-10, which seem to play a central role in allergic asthma, KO mouse was utilized to test the causative relationship between airway inflammation and role of specific cytokine. Asthma induced IL-4 and IL-10 KO mice showed much decreased inflammatory reactions in the number of total BAL cells, in eosinophilic infiltration, and in immunohistochemical stains against diverse inflammatory proteins. These results suggest that IL-4 and IL-10 increase the asthmatic reactions in vivo mice model.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.318-323
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• 2009

Dahi is yoghurt like fermented dairy products available in Bangladesh made by traditional ways from raw milk. The aim of the present study was to check and compare the present quality status of the market dahi in reference to laboratory made dahi. For this, dahi was prepared in the laboratory (A) and collected from Kishoregonj district (B), Gazipur district (C), Bogra district (D) and Dhaka district (E and F). Consumer acceptance quality was judged on 100 point by a judge panel and chemical and microbiological quality test were done by established methods. 'A' type dahi was superior followed by E, D, F, B and C considering the consumer acceptance quality parameter. From chemical test, it appears that, B possess the lowest pH ($3.75\;{\pm}\;0.05$) and highest was in C ($4.46\;{\pm}\;0.15$). Total solids content of F type dahi ($318.40\;{\pm}\;4.44\;g/kg$) was highest and fat ($52.00\;{\pm}\;2.00\;g/kg$), protein ($44.33\;{\pm}\;2.00\;g/kg$) and ash ($10.76\;{\pm}\;0.31\;g/kg$) content were also higher in F type dahi. E and A type dahi were also with considerable figure in chemical quality parameter. Dahi B was inferior in respect of microbiological quality- total viable count (TVC) (${\times}\;10^5\;cfu/ml$) content was $94.00\;{\pm}\;4.58$, yeast (cfu/ml) content was $183.33\;{\pm}\;15.28$ and mold (cfu/ml) content was $53.33\;{\pm}\;15.28$. The TVC (${\times}\;10^5\;cfu/ml$), yeast (cfu/ml) and mold (cfu/ml) content of A type dahi were $39.67\;{\pm}\;4.51$, $50.00\;{\pm}\;10.00$ and $20.00\;{\pm}\;10.00$, respectively. Considering all the three major quality aspects dahi A was superior than others followed by F, D, E, C and B.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.251-257
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• 2010

The experiment was conducted to find out the nutritive value and microbial status of different wholesale cuts of goat carcass. The meat sample (4 cuts from each animal $\times$ 3 different age groups $\times$ 3 animals in each group = 36 samples) was obtained from 1-, 2-, and 3-year aged goats. The whole sale cuts were shoulder, rack, loin and leg of each goat carcass. To assess the quality of meat sample, the general appearance, color, smell, juiciness, proximate composition, pH, total bacteria, coliform bacteria, and yeast were studied. The mean pH value of different cuts ranges from 5.65-5.69 didn't differ significantly, but due to age differences the pH values (5.59-5.74) differed significantly (p < 0.01). The values of juiciness in different ages ranged from 32.24-42.10% which differed significantly (p < 0.01). The marbling of the cuts of rack portion was more pronounced than that of other cuts. The ranges of crude protein (CP) content of goat carcass (20.78-27.71%) differed significantly (p < 0.01) and leg portion contained higher CP than other portion. Fat contents of different cuts ranged from 2.66-11.47% differed significantly (P < 0.01). The moisture content of the carcass differed significantly which ranged from 69.20-73.31%. The ash content of the cuts of 1-year aged groups (0.99 $\pm$ 0.13%) was higher than that of other age groups and differed significantly (P < 0.01). The calcium (Ca) content did not differ significantly. The phosphorus (P) content was higher in one year old goat (0.15 $\pm$ 0.03%) than that of the goats of other ages. The total viable count (TVC) content of microorganisms ranging from 5.05-5.15 log cfu/g at different ages did not differ significantly. The coliform count (CC) of different cuts differed significantly (P < 0.01) which ranged from 2.56-3.05 log cfu/g; it also differed significantly (P < 0.05) in different ages (2.79-2.84 log cfu/g) and was higher in 1 year old goat carcass. The yeast count differed significantly in different cuts (P < 0.01) and ages (P < 0.05). From the study it is concluded that the age and different wholesale cuts have direct influence on quality of goat carcass.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.438-446
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• 2020

Meju and nuruk (respectively soybean and malt) are traditional Korean fermentation starters that are vulnerable to contamination by harmful microorganisms such as aflatoxigenic fungi and their associated aflatoxins (AFs). In this study, Aspergillus spp. were isolated and identified from a total of 57 meju and 18 nuruk samples collected from Korean markets. Their potential aflatoxigenicity was investigated by examining the presence of three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes (aflO, aflP, and aflR) using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assays. Thereafter, aflatoxin production of isolates and the natural occurrence of AFs in meju and nuruk samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 177 Aspergillus isolates were identified and 130 isolates were obtained from meju samples. Of these, 25 isolates (19.2%) contained all three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes, and five (20%) of these isolates produced aflatoxins. Forty-seven of the Aspergillus isolates were obtained from nuruk samples, five of which (10.6%) expressed all three AF biosynthetic genes; however, none of these strains produced AFs. HPLC analysis showed that 88% (51/58) of the meju samples and 39% (7/18) of nuruk samples were not contaminated with AFs (below limit of detection). Among the isolates isolated from meju and nuruk, there were aflatoxigenic strains containing all three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes or producing aflatoxin in medium, but the frequency of aflatoxin contamination was low in the meju and nuruk samples.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.153-186
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• 2000

Jigam(止感), Josik(調息), Kumchock(禁觸), from the lecture on Truth of ${\ll}Samilshingo{\gg}$(三一神誥) treat three elements of Kigong, regulation of mental activties, regulation of breathing and adjustment of posture and there are some similar mentions with the view of human body based on oriental medicine like those Samjin(三眞), Sammang(三妄), Samdo(三途) and Sippalkyoung(十八境) ect. Thus as a result of comparison and observation about the interrelationships between principle of Kigong in the lecture on Truth of ${\ll}Samilshingo{\gg}$(三一神誥) and oriental medicine. I have conclusion as follows. 1. According to the lecture on Truth, the components of human body are the one and only Samjin(三眞), Sammang(三妄) and Samdo(三途) resulted from facing Samjin(三眞) to Sammang(三妄) and Sippalkyoung(十八境). This fact presents the principle of human change. 2. the principle of Kigong mentioned in the lecture on Truth shows the original Ilshin(一神) on the basis of Samjin(三眞), Sammang(三妄), Samdo(三途) and Sippalkyoung(十八境). This makes common, unity and sound Sim(心), Ki(氣) and Shin(身), Sammang(三妄) through Jigam(止感), Josik(調息) and Kumchock(禁觸), be versed, intellected and guaranteed Sung(性), Myoung(命) and Jung(精), Samjin(三眞) and emit Kyun(見), Mun(聞), Ji(知) and haeng(行), Sadaeshingi(四大神機) and finally all these are harmonized into Duk(德), Hye(慧) and Ryuk(力), Samdae(三大) which is the entity of God. 3. Samsipyookjongmyowhasang(三十六種妙化相) is an ascetic practice done after a chulin(哲人) deduce Ji(止), Jo(調) and Kum(禁), Sambup(三法) on the basis of the lecture on Truth. So I suppose it correlates nature's six elements. Kong(空)(Chun(天)). Yol(熱)(Wha(火)). Jin(震(Jeon(電)), Seup(濕)(Shoo(水)), Han(寒)(Poong(風)) and Ko(固)(Ji(地)), human's Samjin(三眞), Sung(性), Myoung(命) and Jung(精) and Sammang(三妄), Sim(心), Ki(氣) and Shin(身) and makes clear the principle of discipline. 4. In comparison with Samjin(三眞) and Sammang(三妄) says from the lecture on Truth and the Three Essential Elements of the body construction(三寶) from oriental medicine, Samjin(三眞) and Sammang(三妄) as factors of human body in the concept of practical knowledge. That is the one and only Samjin(三眞) in terms of the Three Essential Elements of the body construction(三寶) is considered a structural principle for every single person and Sammang(三妄) is considered a functional form for each individual. And it can be Sung(性)+Sim(心)=Spirit(神), Myoung(命)+Ki(氣)=Vital Force(氣) and Jung(精)+Shin(身)=True Essence(精). 5. In comparison with Sippalkyoung(十八境) of Samdo(三途) from the lecture on Truth and three medical causes of disease, Gamdoyookkyoung(感途六境) is similar with endopathic cause caused by Naesangchiljung(內傷七情), Sikdoyukkyoung(息途六境) is similar with exopathic cause by six climatic conditions in excess as pathogenic factors(六淫) and Yoegi(?氣) and Chokdoyukkyoung(觸途六境) is similar with non-endo-exopathogenic causes by diet imbalance, fatigue, intemperance in sexual life and trauma etc. 6. In the lecture on Truth, the Chulin(哲人) who discipline Sambup(三法), Sangchul(上哲), Choongchul(中哲) and Hachul(下哲) can be compared with Kigong expert(health preserving expert) such as the Spiritual Men(眞人), the Sapients(至人), the Sages(聖人) and the Men of Exellent Virtue(寶人) in the Sang Gu Tian Zhen Lun of the Huang Ti Nei Ching Su Wen(素問 上古天眞論) and then Sangchul(上哲) is the Spiritual Men(眞人), Choongchul(中哲) is the Sapients(至人) and Hachul(下哲) is the Sages(聖人) while the men of Exellent Virtue(賢人) is inferior to Chulin(哲人) when he goes to extremes.