• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2369-2378
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• 2012

Objectives: To assess knowledge of HPV and attitudes towards HPV vaccination among the general female population, government officials, and healthcare providers in China to assist the development of an effective national HPV vaccination program. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiologic survey was conducted across 21 urban and rural sites in China using a short questionnaire. 763 government officials, 760 healthcare providers, and 11,681 women aged 15-59 years were included in the final analysis. Data were analyzed using standard descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Knowledge of HPV among the general female population was low; only 24% had heard of HPV. Less than 20% of healthcare providers recognized sexually na$\ddot{i}$ve women as the most appropriate population for HPV vaccination. There was high acceptance of the HPV vaccine for all categories of respondents. Only 6% of women were willing to pay more than US $300 for the vaccine. Conclusions: Aggressive education is necessary to increase knowledge of HPV and its vaccine. Further proof of vaccine safety and efficacy and government subsidies combined with increased awareness could facilitate development and implementation of HPV vaccination in China.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2012

In this study, we selected some herbal formulation about a series of Chijasi-tang in Dongeuibogam by using web-based open program;Prescription Lineage Graph (http://164.125.206.43/PrescriptionLineageGraph.aspx). And we compared and analyzed the changes of efficacy, major target symptoms of each herbal formulation according to compositional variation of each herbal formulation. Chijasi-tang, first appeared in Sanghanlun, consists of Capejasmine and Fermented soybean, and it is mainly used to treat insomnia due to vexation, heartburn and yellow greasy tongue fur. Capejasmine can clear away irritable feverish sensation in chest by flowing downward the heat, and Fermented soybean can disperse stagnated heat throughout the chest by expelling stagnated heat from the exterior In the case of the heat stagnation caused by relapsing of disease due to overstain, Chisijisil-tang can be used. And if symptom appear more on the upper or exterior than a case of Chisijisil-tang, Seosisi-tang could be more suitable, if half exterior and half interior, Omae-tang could be for it. In addition, if symptom caused by relapsing due to improper diet, Chisijihwang-tang could be proper formulation. In the case of the heat stagnation body inside and jaundice, if it is caused by alcohol, Chijadaehwang-tang could be used for the purpose of urgent purgation, Galchul-tang would be suitable for helping the function of the spleen and the stomach and for treatment of damp-heat of the spleen and the stomach. And if it is caused by pandemic infection, Jangdal-hwan would be good formulation for it. Samhwangseokgo-tang and Yangdokchija-tang could be appropriate formulation for the raging of noxious heat and pathogenic fire caused by febrile disease with toxic yang. Daehwangeum-ja is for severe constipation due to heat-dryness with stagnated fever, Haebaek-tang is appropriate for severe diarrhea due to heat type change of Soeum. According to the result of our investigation, although there are various target causes and symptoms of each herbal formulations, whatever pathogenetic cause is, the stagnated heat in interior side is the basis of symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of including Chijasi-tang in composition of each herbal formulation is treatment of the stagnated heat. For such reason, on the fundamental or ancillary basis of Chijasi-tang plus some herbs for each therapeutic purpose.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10949-10955
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• 2015

Liver cancer is one of leading digestive malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need for the development of novel therapies for this deadly disease. It has been proven that asparagus polysaccharide, one of the most active derivates from the traditional medicine asparagus, possesses notable antitumor properties. However, little is known about the efficacy of asparagus polysaccharide as an adjuvant for liver cancer chemotherapy. Herein, we reported that asparagus polysaccharide and its embolic agent form, asparagus gum, significantly inhibited liver tumor growth with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor model, while significantly inhibiting angiogenesis and promoting tumor cell apoptosis. Moreover, asparagine gelatinous possessed immunomodulatory functions and showed little toxicity to the host. These results highlight the chemotherapeutic potential of asparagus polysaccharide and warrant a future focus on development as novel chemotherapeutic agent for liver cancer TACE therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5951-5957
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• 2014

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) possesses several advantages for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The theory of 'Jianpi Huayu Therapy' rooted from 'Jin Kui Yao Lue'is one of the most important therapies in this respect. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical effect and safety of hepatectomy combining with 'Jianpi Huayu Therapy' in the treatment of HCC. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with HCC were randomized allocated into hepatectomy combined with 'Jianpi Huayu Therapy' group (treatment group, n=60) and hepatectomy alone group (control group, n=60). Disease- free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were the primary end-points. Liver function at the end of one week after surgery, complications, average days of hospitalization as well as performance status (PS) at the end of one month post operation were also compared. Results: No significant differences existed between two groups on baseline analysis (p>0.05). No treatment related mortality occurred in either group. Post-operative complications were detected among 14 patients (23.3%) in the treatment group, and 12 (20.0%) in the control group (p=0.658). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at the end of one week after operation was lower in the treatment than control groups (p=0.042). No significant differences in other indexes of liver function were discovered between two groups. Average days of hospitalization reduced by 0.9 day in treatment group than in control (p=0.034). During follow-up, 104 patients (86.6%) developed recurrence. The rates of 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS and median DFS for all patients were 77.4%, 26.3%, 9.0% and 25.6 months (range, 6.0~68.0), respectively (78.2%, 29.2%, 14.3% and 28.7 months for the 48 patients in the treatment group and 75.0%, 23.3%, 6.4%, and 22.6 months for the 56 patients in the control group (p=0.045)). 101 patients had died at the time of censor, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates and median survival for all patients of 97.5%, 76.4%, 40.5% and 51.2 months (range, 10.0~72.0), respectively (98.3%, 78.0%, 43.6% and 52.6 months, for treatment and 96.7%, 74.7%, 37.4%, and 49.8 months, for controls, respectively (p=0.048)). Conclusions: Hepatectomy combined with 'Jianpi Huayu therapy'was effective in the treatment of HCC, and reduced post-operative recurrence and metastasis and improved DFS and OS of HCC patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4999-5005
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• 2013

Objective: This study aimed to investigate expression of the proto-oncogene POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor (Pokemon) in colorectal cancer (CRC), and assess inhibitory effects of a small interference RNA (siRNA) expression vector in SW480 and SW620 cells. Methods: Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine mRNA and protein expression levels of Pokemon in CRC tissues. Indirect immunofluorescence staining was applied to investigate the location of Pokemon in SW480 and SW620 cells. The siRNA expression vectors that were constructed to express a short hairpin RNA against Pokemon were transfected to the SW480 and SW620 cells with a liposome. Expression levels of Pokemon mRNA and protein were examined by real-time quantitative-fluorescent PCR and western blot analysis. The effects of Pokemon silencing on proliferation of SW480 and SW620 cells were evaluated with reference to growth curves with MTT assays. Results: The mRNA expression level of Pokemon in tumor tissues ($0.845{\pm}0.344$) was significantly higher than that in adjacent tumor specimens ($0.321{\pm}0.197$). The positive expression ratio of Pokemon protein in CRC (87.0%) was significantly higher than that in the adjacent tissues (19.6%). Strong fluorescence staining of Pokemon protein was observed in the cytoplasm of the SW480 and SW620 cells. The inhibition ratios of Pokemon mRNA and protein in the SW480 cells were 83.1% and 73.5% at 48 and 72 h, respectively, compared with those of the negative control cells with the siRNA. In the SW620 cells, the inhibition ratios of Pokemon mRNA and protein were 76.3% and 68.7% at 48 and 72 h, respectively. MTT showed that Pokemon gene silencing inhibited the proliferation of SW480 and SW620 cells. Conclusion: Overexpression of Pokemon in CRC may have a function in carcinogenesis and progression. siRNA expression vectors could effectively inhibit mRNA and protein expression of Pokemon in SW480 and SW620 cells, thereby reducing malignant cell proliferation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.733-738
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• 2008

Although previous studies have implicated a role for TC1 (C8orf4) in cancer cell proliferation, the molecular mechanism of its action is still largely unclear. In this study, we showed, for the first time, that the mRNA levels of TC1 were upregulated by mitogens (FBS/thrombin) and at least partially, through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Interestingly, the over-expression of TC1 promoted the $G_1$- to S-phase transition of the cell cycle, which was delayed by the deficiency of ERK1/2 signaling in fibroblast cells. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay indicated that the over-expression of TC1 significantly increased Cyclin D1 promoter-driven luciferase activity. Taken together, our findings revealed that TC1 was involved in the mitogen-activated ERK1/2 signaling pathway and positively regulated $G_1$- to S-phase transition of the cell cycle. Our results may provide a novel mechanism of the role of TC1 in the regulation of cell proliferation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-72
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of energy drinks, energy drink consumption behaviors, and associated factors among college students. Methods: A total of 536 students from three universities in Cheongju completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding awareness and consumption of energy drinks as well as general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and eating habits. Results: Approximately half of the respondents reported they knew what energy drinks were, while 45.7% had heard of energy drinks but did not know what they were. However, 76.9% had experience in using energy drinks. The main reason for using energy drinks was to stay awake, and the main place that they were used was on campus or at the library. More than 70% of energy drink users did not read the caffeine contents of energy drinks. After consuming energy drinks, 31.3% experienced adverse effects, the most serious being sleep disturbance. Approximately 33% of students consumed energy drinks once a month or more frequently, and men consumed energy drinks more frequently than females. Energy drink users who consumed at least one drink each month were more likely to be natural science major or drink more milk for male students, and to have more allowances or consume less meat for female students, compared with non-users. Conclusions: Our study showed that 33% of students consumed at least one energy drink each month, and there were a small number of students consumed energy drinks almost every day or energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Accordingly, college students should be taught potential health hazards of energy drinks mixed with alcohol as well as energy drinks alone. In addition, reading labels about caffeine and sugar contents in energy drinks is encouraged.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1971-1982
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• 2017

Piliated Lactobacillus rhamnosus (pLR) strains possess higher adherent capacity than non-piliated strains. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize probiotic pLR strains in human fecal samples. To this end, mouse polyclonal antiserum (anti-SpaA) against the recombinant pilus protein (SpaA) of L. rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) was prepared and tested for its reactivity and specificity. With the anti-SpaA, a method combining the de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar plating separation and colony immunoblotting (CIB) was developed to isolate pLR from 124 human fecal samples. The genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the resultant pLR isolates were compared by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting, and examination of adhesion to Caco-2 cells, hydrophobicity, autoaggregation, and in vitro gastrointestinal tolerance. Anti-SpaA specifically reacted with three pLR strains of 25 test strains, as assessed by western blotting, immunofluorescence flow cytometry, and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) assays. The optimized MRS agar separation plus anti-SpaA-based CIB procedure could quantitatively detect $2.5{\times}10^3CFU/ml$ of pLR colonies spiked in $10^6CFU/ml$ of background bacteria. Eight pLR strains were identified in 124 human fecal samples, and were confirmed by 16S RNA gene sequencing and IEM identification. RAPD fingerprinting of the pLR strains revealed seven different patterns, of which only two isolates from infants showed the same RAPD profiles with LGG. Strain PLR06 was obtained with high adhesion and autoaggregation activities, hydrophobicity, and gastrointestinal tolerance. Anti-SpaA-based CIB is a rapid and inexpensive method for the preliminary screening of novel adherent L. rhamnosus strains for commercial purposes.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.717-731
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop applicable standards for clinical dental hygiene practice in Korea and to evaluate their validity. Methods: Based on the standards for clinical dental hygiene practice developed in the United States and Canada, the standards were adapted to be applicable in Korea. The validity of the standards was evaluated by a self-writing questionnaire among 14 professors and 10 clinicians using a developed tool for evaluating the standards. A focus group interview was additionally conducted for clinicians to increase the validity of the standards. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney test were performed using SPSS 25.0. To analyze the content of the focus group interviews, content analysis was conducted. Results: The standards for clinical dental hygiene practice consisted of five elements of professionalism for dental hygienists and a total of 28 items to perform the five stages of dental hygiene process of care (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation) and included conceptual meaning, clinical significance, and application methods with examples for each item. Conclusions: The standards for clinical dental hygiene practice developed in this study could contribute to standardizing dental clinical practices provided by dental hygienists. It is necessary to consistently improve the standards that are highly practical, to prevent oral diseases and maintain oral health of the public, based on the results of this validity evaluation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1061-1069
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• 2019

Common reed (Phragmites australis) is widespread in reclaimed land and wetland habitats. Every year, the common reed produces extensive colonies by means of underground rhizomes and ground-surface stolons. From an agricultural point of view, the common reed's large biomass is a good material for supplying organic matter. However, it has not yet been studied in terms of seedling production, transplanting conditions, and decomposition characteristics in reclaimed land. Seeds were harvested from the native common reed in Saemangeum, South Korea, the previous year and stored on an open field. The seeds were sowed in the greenhouse at the beginning of April. Common reed decomposition was studied from June to September, with the use of coarse mesh (5 mm) stem litterbags, on three samping dates and with five replicate packs per sample. These packs were dug in five soil condition (low-salinity topsoil, subsoil, high-salinity topsoil, subsoil, paddy topsoil) to 0.2 m and 0.4 m depth. The highest germination rate of common reed seeds was observed in non-salt solution, but the exhibited germination rate was 70% at 9.38 dS m^-1. The plant height of young reed decreased steadily with increasing salinity, but leaf number did not decrease by 9.38 dS m^-1. The survival rate of the two-year-old reed was 83.3%, which was 35% higher than that of the one-year reed. The transplant success rate was 0% in the no vinyl mulching in the soil, but the first year and second year seedlings survived rates were 63% and 83.3%, respectively, in vinyl mulching. Common reed decomposition rates were faster low salinity than high salinity. All nutrient contents were found to fluctuate significantly with time by soil conditions. We also need to study the growth rate of reed transplanting seedlings by soil moisture contents and the comparison of degradation in common reed tissues.