• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.319-338
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• 2022

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) has high morbidity and mortality, the cure rate of surgical treatment and drug chemotherapy is not ideal. Therefore, development of new treatment strategies is necessary. We aimed to identify the mechanism underlying Sp1 regulation of GC progression. Methods and Methods: The levels of Sp1, β-catenin, SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1), and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (HPGD) were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The targets of SETDB1 were predicted by AnimalTFDB, and dual-luciferase reporter assay was used for confirming the combination of Sp1, β-catenin, and SETDB1. HGC27 or AGS cells (1×10⁶ cells/mouse) were injected into mice via the caudal vein for GC model establishment. The level of Ki67 was detected using immunohistochemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for evaluating tumor metastasis in mice with GC. Results: HPGD was inhibited, while the protein levels of Sp1, β-catenin, and SETDB1 were up-regulated in GC tissues and cell lines. HPGD overexpression or SETDB1 silencing inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GC cells, and Sp1 regulated the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GC cells in a β-catenin-dependent manner. Furthermore, HPGD served as a target of SETDB1, and it was negatively regulated by SETDB1; additionally, Sp1 and β-catenin bound to the SETDB1 promoter and negatively regulated HPGD expression. We proved that Sp1 regulated GC progression via the SETDB1/HPGD axis. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that Sp1 transcriptionally inhibited HPGD via SETDB1 in a β-catenin-dependent manner and promoted the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2023

Bridge hangers, such as those in suspension and cable-stayed bridges, suffer from cumulative fatigue damage caused by dynamic loads (e.g., cyclic traffic and wind loads) in their service condition. Thus, the identification of damage to hangers is important in preserving the service life of the bridge structure. This study develops a new method for condition assessment of bridge hangers. The tension force of the bridge and the damages in the element level can be identified using the Bayesian optimization method. To improve the number of observed data, the additional mass method is combined the Bayesian optimization method. Numerical studies are presented to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. The influence of different acquisition functions, which include expected improvement (EI), probability-of-improvement (PI), lower confidence bound (LCB), and expected improvement per second (EIPC), on the identification of damage to the bridge hanger is studied. Results show that the errors identified by the EI acquisition function are smaller than those identified by the other acquisition functions. The identification of the damage to the bridge hanger with various types of boundary conditions and different levels of measurement noise are also studied. Results show that both the severity of the damage and the tension force can be identified via the proposed method, thereby verifying the robustness of the proposed method. Compared to the genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and nonlinear least-square method (NLS), the Bayesian optimization (BO) performs best in identifying the structural damage and tension force.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.214-214
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• 2022

Soluble starch synthases (SSs) elongate α-glucans from ADP-Glc to the glucan nonreducing ends and play a critical role in synthesizing resistant starch in the rice. A total of 10 SSs isoforms were reported in rice, including granules-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI), GBSSII, starch synthase I (SSI), SSIIa (SSII-3), SSIIb (SSII-2), SSIIc (SSII-1), SSIIIa (SSIII-2), SSIIIb (SSIII-1), SSIVa (SSIV-1), and SSIVb (SSIV-2). SSIII proteins are involved in forming the B chain and elongating cluster filling chains in amylopectin metabolism. The functions of SSIIIb (SSIII-1) are less clear as compared to SSs. Here, we sought to shed light on the genetic diversity profiling of the SSIII-1 gene in 374 rice accessions composed of 54 wild-type accessions and 320 bred cultivars (temperate japonica, indica, tropical japonica, aus, aromatic, and admixture). In total, 17 haplotypes were identified in the SSIII-1 coding region of 320 bred cultivars, while 44 haplotypes were detected from 54 wild-type accessions. The genetic diversity indices revealed the most negative Tajima's D value in the temperate-japonica, followed by the wild type, while Tajima's D values in other ecotypes were positive, indicating balancing selection. Nucleotide diversity in the SSIII-1 region was highest in the wild group (0.0047) while lowest in temperate-japonica. Lower nucleotide diversity in the temperate-japonica is evidenced by the negative Tajima's D and suggested purifying selection. The fixation index (F_ST) revealed a very high level of gene flow (low F_ST) between the tropical-japonica and admixture groups (F_ST=-0.21) followed by admixture and wild groups (-0.04), indica and admixture groups (0.02), while low gene flow with higher F_ST estimates between the temperate-japonica and aus groups (0.72), tropical-japonica and aromatic groups (0.71), and temperate-japonica and admixture groups (0.52). Taken together, our study offers insights into haplotype diversity and evolutionary fingerprints of SSIII-1. It provides genomic information to increase the resistant starch content of cooked rice.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.402-409
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• 2002

The effects of protein-bound polysaccharides (A-PBP and L-PBP) that were extracted from the mycelia of two edible mushrooms, namely Agaricus blazai and Lentinus edodes, on serum cholesterol and body weight were investigated in mice and female volunteers. Six groups of Male Balb/c mice were fed six kinds of diet supplement- solutions composed of L-PBP, A-PBP, chitosan, and other fiber constituents, for 30 days under the normal diet. Ninety female volunteers were also supplemented for 8 weeks with six kinds of capsules including control and five test groups as the same manners (two times a day, 4 capsules). From 12 days after feeding of L-PBP (Group I) and A-PBP (Group II), the weight of mice began to reduce as compared with control, whereas that of Group III fed chitosan was decreased 15 days after feeding. Group W and Group V which were fed mixture of L-PBP, A-PBP, chitosan, and other dietary fiber, were more significant in lowering weight. After 4 weeks of the supplementation in women, their serum LDL-cholesterol level and body weights in Group I and II were reduced, but Croup 111 taken with chitosan capsule showed weaker effect than Group I and II. After 8 weeks, LDL-cholesterol content in the sera of Group I (132.5 mg/dL) and II(131.5 mg/dL) was decreased to ideal level (125.4 and 122.8 mg/dL) for healthy blood vessel. In the case of Group W supplemented with mixture of L-PBP, A-PBP, and chitosan, the weight-reduction effect (11.8%) and hypocholesterolemic effect (11.0%) was most significant, indicating their synergistic action. These data suggested that the weight-controlling and hypolipidemic effect of L-PBP and A-PBP was involved, at least in part, in absorption of cholesterol as their role of dietary fiber, as well as cholesterol metabolism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1606-1612
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• 2008

Interleukin (IL)-32 is a recently identified proinflammatory cytokine that is one of the IL-18 inducible genes, and plays an important role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We produced antibodies against IL-32 and studied the expression of IL-32 in human stomach cancer. We detected IL-32 secreted from K-562 cells which were stably transfected with IL-32 and in the sera of stomach cancer patients by a sandwich ELISA using a monoclonal antibody KU32-52 and a polyclonal antibody. In order to optimize a sandwich immunoassay, recombinant IL-32a was added, followed by the addition of a biotinylated KU32-52 into microtiter plate wells precoated with a goat anti-IL-32 antibody. The bound biotinylated KU32-52 was probed with a streptavidin conjugated to HRP. This sandwich ELISA was highly specific and had a minimal detection limit of 80 pg/ml (mean${\pm}$SD of zero calibrator) and measuring up to 3,000 pg/ml. This ELISA showed no cross-reaction with other cytokines such as hIL-1$\alpha$, hIL-1$\beta$, hIL-2, hIL-6, hIL-8, hIL-10, hIL-18, and hTNF-$\alpha$. Intra-assay coefficients of variation were 18.5% to 4.6% (n=10), and inter-assay coefficients were 23% to 9% (n=10). The average IL-32 level in the sera of 16 stomach cancer patients (189 pg/ml) was higher than that of 12 healthy control men (109 pg/ml). Our results indicate that serum IL-32 level can be detected by using an established ELISA, and that this immunoassay and mAb KU32-09 specific for immunohistochemistry can be used in the detection of expressed and secreted IL-32 in stomach cancer patients.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.408-417
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• 2013

Objectives: Phthalates are used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. As phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to the PVC, they can leach, migrate or evaporate into indoor air and atmosphere, foodstuffs, other materials, etc. Therefore, humans are exposed through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure over their entire lifetime, including during intrauterine development. In particular, university students have a great number of opportunities to contact products including phthalates during campus life (food packaging, body care products, cosmetic, lotions, aftershave, perfume etc.). The purpose of this study was to examine levels of phthalate exposure as undergraduate students begin to use pharmaceuticals and personal care products including phthalates. Methods: Phthalate metabolites, mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-2- ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), {(mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP}, and mono-(2-ethlyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP} were examined. 80 urine samples collected from university students were analyzed using LC/MS/MS(API 4000, Applied Bioscience) with on-line enrichment and columnswitching techniques. This study was carried out at Y university located in Gyonggi Province from 2008 to 2011. Results: The detection limit of phthalate metabolites were 0.03 ng/mL for MEP, 0.11 ng/mL for MnBP, 0.08 ng/mL for MiBP, 0.93 ng/mL for MEHP, 0.19 ng/mL for MEOHP and 0.16ng/mL for MEHHP. MnBP showed the highest urinary levels (median: 31.6 ug/L, 24.8 ug/g creatinine (cr)). Concentrations were also high for MEHHP (median: 24.1 ug/L, 19.0 ug/g cr), followed by MEOHP (median: 22.8 ug/L, 17.9 ug/g cr). In individual cases, the maximum level reached up to 348 ug/L, and 291 ug/g cr, respectively. The urinary and creatinine adjusted levels of MEP were lower than those for DBP and DEHP metabolites, but were higher in 95th percentiles. As a result, the mean daily DEP intake value was 2.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day, 3.5 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for DEHP and 4.9 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for DBP. Conclusion: These students' phthalate exposure levels were below the international safe level set by the EU, but higher than the 2012 KFDA survey of the age group from 3 to 18.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2006

The rate of metallothionein synthesis on cadmium-poisoned rats reflects the level of toxicity, and also it reduces the toxicity which is caused by the uptake of cadmium. Chlorella supplementation in the diets of the cadmium-poisoned rats decreased the concentration of cadmium in blood and urine compared with the control group. Although the liver and kidneys of rats are major target organs of cadmium and coherence of metallothionein and cadmium, no previous study has determined the correlation between the rate of metallothionein synthesis in the liver and kidneys of rats and dietary supplementation of chlorella with cadmium uptake. This study analyzed total metallothionein level on the tissue of the liver and kidneys, the concentration of cadmium bound to the metallothionein, and the total concentration of cadmium on the tissue of the liver and kidneys after dietary supplementation with 1%, 5%, and 10% dried chlorella and 40 ppm of cadmium to 46 male SD rats (mean weight: $150\pm20\;g$) for 4 weeks. According to the data analysis of the total rate of metallothionein synthesis in the liver and kidneys, the group of SD rats on the supplementation with 1% chlorella and 40 ppm of cadmium showed a rate of $93.2\pm8.9\;ng/g$, a significant decrease of 58.8% compared to that of the control group of SD rats on the supplementation with cadmium only, which showed a rate of $227.3\pm32.5 ng/g$ (P=0.0001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed through the changing of chlorella concentrations between 5% and 10% chlorella supplementation with cadmium. The group supplemented with 1% or greater chlorella levels represented a greater decrease in the total cadmium concentration of the kidney and liver tissues, the amount of total metallothionein synthesis, the amount of metallothionein with binding to cadmium, and the concentration of free cadmium without binding to metallothionein. Consequently, the supplementation of 1% and 5% chlorella was effective in reducing the synthesis of metallothionein for cadmium uptake, but increased the rate of binding of cadmium to metallothionein.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.69-79
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to reconsider the rating method for the floor impact sound insulation performance in current criterion. Although there are some arguments about proper standard heavy impact source with reproducibility of actual impact source in residence building, bang machine is adopted as the only standard heavy impact source in domestic criterion. To inspect the rating methods of evaluation criteria, this study conducted vibration test for both of standard heavy impact sources and actual impact sources. Using the test results, the floor impact sound insulation performance levels were assessed by each of several criteria. In addition, low frequency noise beyond current criteria was evaluated. Consequently, the floor impact sound levels have different performance levels according to adopted criteria, and measured floor impact sounds are bound to annoy the neighbors in the low frequency range. Current criteria does not consider the spectrum characteristics of floor impact sound according to impact sources and low frequency noise. This may cause the difference between the floor impact sound insulation performance level and human perception. Thus current criterion needs to be complemented to reflect the spectrum characteristics of floor impact sound levels according to impact sources and sound pressure levels in low frequency range.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.108-118
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• 1990

Fibronectin is a glycoprotein found in the extracellular matrix as well as in the serum, and has been known to exert pronouned effed on the myoblast fusion. Our previous studies have suggested that the decrease of fibronectin levels during myogenesis is due to the decreased availability of the receptor for the 28 kDa fragrnent of fibronetin. In the fusion-blocked myoblasts by EGTA, the levels of fibronetin and binding of 28 kDa fragment decreased but far less than the control level. In contrast, the levels of fibronetin and binding of 28 kDa fragment decreased to the control level in the myoblast released from the fusion block. On this account, we suggest that the decrease of fibronetin levels during myoblast fusion is closely associated with the loss or alteration of the receptor for 28 kDa fragment. Mild trypsin treatment decreased the binding of the 28 kDa fragment to the myoblasts significandy. Similarly, the presence of gangliosides in the binding media decreased the binding of the 28 kDa fragment in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, gel overlay of 125 I-28 kDa fragment on the SDS-PAGE of the myoblast homogenates revealed that the 28 kDa fragment bound to a 43 kDa protein and to gangliosides as well. These results suggest that myoblast fusion is correlated with decrease of the receptor for the 28 kDa fragment and that the receptor might be a glycoprotein that contains glyco-conjugate found in gangliosides.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 1987

This study is intended to propose a system reliability analysis model for R.C. bridge superstructures based on the systems reliability theory. Approximately assuming that the ultimate capacity of the superstructures is reached, when two adjacent girders fail subsequently, a practical system reliability model is proposed, which is based on a point estimate for Level II parallel-series system modelling. The sensitivity analysis of system reliabilities for the variation of the coefficients of correlations between the failure modes is performed by applying the proposed model for R.C. T beam bridges. It is observed that the point estimate method for the proposed model corresponds to the average value of the Ditlevsen's bound, and the system reliability index, ${\beta}_s$, varies quite sensitively according to the variation of the cofficients of correlations. Systems reliabilities of a few existing T beam bridges are analyzed by applying the proposed practical system reliability method of this study, and, in addition, the preferable direction of the development of the reliability-based code calibration using the system target reliability index concept are suggested.