• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1145-1150
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• 2015

Associations of GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP1A1 gene variants with risk of developing oral cancer were evaluated in this study. A case-control study was conducted in Pashtun population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan in which 200 hospital based oral cancer cases and 151 population based healthy controls exposed to similar environmental conditions were included. Sociodemographic data were obtained and blood samples were collected with informed consent for analysis. GSTM1 and GSTT1 were analysed through conventional PCR method while specific RT-PCR method was used to detect CYP1A1 polymorphisms. Results were analyzed for conditional logistic regression model by SPSS version 20. The study shows that patients with either GSTM1 or GSTT1 null genotypes have significantly higher risk of oral cancer (adjusted odds (OR): (3.019 (1.861-4.898) and 3.011(1.865-4.862), respectively), which further increased when either one or both null genes were present in combination (adjusted odds (OR): (3.627 (1.981-6.642 and 9.261 (4.495-19.079), respectively). CYP1A1 rs4646903 gene variants individually showed weak association OR: 1.121 (0.717-1.752); however, in the presence of GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 null genotypes further increasing the association (adjusted odds (ORs): 4.576 (2.038-10.273), 5.593 (2.530-12.362) and 16.10 (3.854-67.260 for GSTM/GSTT null and CYP1A1 wild type, GSTM/GSTT either null and CYP1A1 variant alleles, and all 3 gene polymorphisms combinations, respectively). Our findings suggest that presence of GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 null genotypes along with variant alleles of CYP1A1 may be the risk alleles for oral cancer susceptibility in Pashtun population.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1784-1795
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• 2017

Objective: The study examined the effect of intravenous administration of bacterial endotoxin-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -on the nocturnal secretion of melatonin and on the expression of enzymes of the melatonin biosynthetic pathway in the pineal gland of ewes, taking into account two different photoperiodic conditions: short-night (SN; n = 12) and long-night (LN; n = 12). Methods: In both experiments, animals (n = 12) were randomly divided into two groups: control (n = 6) and LPS-treated (n = 6) one. Two hours after sunset, animals received an injection of LPS or saline. Blood samples were collected starting one hour after sunset and continuing for 3 hours after the treatment. The ewes were euthanized 3 hours after LPS/saline treatment. The concentration of hormones in plasma was assayed by radioimmunoassay. In the pineal gland, the content of serotonin and its metabolite was determined by HPLC; whereas the expression of examined genes and protein was assayed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot, respectively. Results: Endotoxin administration lowered (p<0.05) levels of circulating melatonin in animals from LN photoperiod only during the first hour after treatment, while in ewes from SN photoperiod only in the third hour after the injection. Inflammation more substantially suppressed biosynthesis of melatonin in ewes from SN photoperiod, which were also characterised by lower (p<0.05) cortisol concentrations after LPS treatment compared with animals from LN photoperiod. In the pineal gland of ewes subjected to SN photoperiod, LPS reduced (p<0.05) serotonin content and the expression of melatonin biosynthetic pathway enzymes, such as tryptophan hydroxylase and arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase. Pineal activity may be disturbed by circulating LPS and proinflammatory cytokines because the expression of mRNAs encoding their corresponding receptors was determined in this gland. Conclusion: The present study showed that peripheral inflammation reduces the secretion of melatonin, but this effect may be influenced by the photoperiod.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.619-624
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• 2013

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) exists in a more common sporadic form and less common hereditary forms, associated with the Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and other rare syndromes. Sporadic CRC is believed to arise as a result of close interaction between environmental factors, including dietary and lifestyle habits, and genetic predisposition factors. In contrast, hereditary forms such as those related to the Lynch syndrome result from inheritance of germline mutations of mismatch repair (MMR) genes. However, in certain cases, the influence of low penetrance alleles in familial colorectal cancer susceptibility is also undeniable. Aim: To investigate the genotype frequencies of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A and to determine whether it could play any role in modulating familial and sporadic CRC susceptibility risk. Methods: A case-control study comprising of 104 histopathologically confirmed CRC patients as cases (52 sporadic CRC and 52 Lynch syndrome patients) and 104 normal healthy individuals as controls was undertaken. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the polymorphism was genotyped employing PCR-RFLP methods. The genotypes were categorized into homozygous wild type, heterozygous and homozygous variants. The risk association between these polymorphisms and CRC susceptibility risk was calculated using binary logistic regression analysis and deriving odds ratios (ORs). Results: When risk association was investigated for all CRC patients as a single group, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed a significantly higher risk for CRC susceptibility with an OR of 2.273, (95%CI: 1.133-4.558 and p-value=0.021). When analyzed specifically for the 2 types of CRC, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed significantly higher risk for sporadic CRC susceptibility with and OR of 3.714, (95%CI: 1.416-9.740 and p-value=0.008). Despite high OR value was observed for Lynch syndrome (OR: 1.600, 95%CI: 0.715-3.581), the risk was not statistically significant (P=0.253). Conclusion: Our results suggest an influence of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A in modulating susceptibility risk in Malaysian CRC patients, especially those with sporadic disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1563-1570
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• 2010

To construct a highly sensitive detection system for endocrine disruptors (EDs), we have compared the activity of promoters with the n-alkane-inducible cytochrome P450 gene (ALK1), isocitrate lyase gene (ICL1), ribosomal protein S7 gene (RPS7), and the translation elongation factor-1${\alpha}$ gene (TEF1) for the heterologous gene in Yarrowia lipolytica. The promoters were introduced into the upstream of the lacZ or hERa reporter genes, respectively, and the activity was evaluated by ${\beta}$-galactosidase assay for lacZ and Western blot analysis for hER${\alpha}$. The expression analysis revealed that the ALK1 and ICL1 promoters were induced by n-decane and by EtOH, respectively. The constitutive promoter of RPS7 and TEF1 showed mostly a high level of expression in the presence of glucose and glycerol, respectively. In particular, the TEF1 promoter showed the highest ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity and a significant signal by Western blotting with the anti-estrogen receptor, compared with the other promoters. Moreover, the detection system was constructed with promoters linked to the upstream of the expression vector for the hER${\alpha}$ gene transformed into the Y. lipolytica with a chromosome-integrated lacZ reporter gene under the control of estrogen response elements (EREs). It was indicated that a combination of pTEF1p-hER${\alpha}$ and CXAU1-2XERE was the most effective system for the $E_2$-dependent induction of the ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity. This system showed the highest ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity at $10^{-6}\;M\;E_2$, and the activity could be detected at even the concentration of $10^{-10}\;M\;E_2$. As a result, we have constructed a strongly sensitive detection system with Y. lipolitica to evaluate recognized/suspected ED chemicals, such as natural/synthetic hormones, pesticides, and commercial chemicals. The results demonstrate the utility, sensitivity, and reproducibility of the system for identifying and characterizing environmental estrogens.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1998

The dnrF gene, responsible for conversion of aklavinone to $\varepsilon$-rhodomycinone via C-11 hydroxylation, was mapped in the daunorubicin gene cluster of Streptomyces peucetius subsp. caesius ATCC 27952, close to drrAB, one of the anthracycline resistance genes. To characterize the enzymatic properties of the aklavinone 11-hydroxylase, the dnrF gene was overexpressed in Escherchia coli. The pET-22(+) plasmid which has the T7 promoter under the control of lacUV5 gene was used for the overexpression of the dnrF gene, and the recombinant plasmid pET213 that contains the dnrF gene linked to the T7 promoter of pET-22b(+) was introduced into the E. coli BL2l. When the expression of the dnrF gene was induced by IPTG at the final concentration of 1 mM, the induced protein could be detected in SDS-PAGE only in insoluble precipitate. The insoluble protein was electroeluted from the gel and used for the preparation of antiserum in mice. Various culture conditions were tested to maximize the expression of the aklavinone 11-hydroxylase in soluble form. The enzymatic activity was checked by the bioconversion experiment, and the protein was confirmed by the SDS-PAGE and the Western blot analysis. From the analysis of the data, it was concluded that the culture induced with IPTG at the final concentration of 0.02 mM at 37$^{\circ}C$ yielded the best productivity of active form of enzyme.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.346-351
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• 2003

The current studies investigated the therapeutic effects of Ephedra sinica Stapf (ES) herb-acupuncture on the inflammatory responses of rat arthritic joint, which was induced by the intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis emulsified in squalene to the base of the tail. The measurements of body weight and articular index were exploited as the assessment methods addressing arthritic symptoms, and the expression profiles of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the rat joint were analyzed using RT-PCR. The articular indexes of arthritic rats were significantly restored after the treatment with ES herb-acupuncture. Although the clinical symptoms of arthritic rats were apparently alleviated by the ES treatments, their body weights were not recovered. It maybe due to the weight-loss and energy enhancement effects of ES extracts. The expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 genes, which were highly stimulated in the knee joints of arthritic rats, were restored to the levels of normal rats after the ES treatment. The therapeutic effect of ES herb-acupuncture was not observed in ES-treated, non-acupoint arthritic group as a sham control. The ES herb-acupuncture into an acupoint ST36 was found to be effective in alleviating the arthritic symptoms in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats as regards the body weight, joint appearance and the expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf tea(PLT) in hairless mice(SKH-1) exposed to UVB radiation. The animals were divided into non-treated group (normal, N) and UV-radiated groups. UV-radiated groups were divided into only UV-radiated group(control, C) and UV-radiated and PLT treated experimental groups[first extraction treated group(PLT-I), second extraction treated groupe(PLT-II), and third extraction treated group(PLT-III)]. Three PLT treated experimental groups of mice were treated with both oral administration(300mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical application (100 ul of 2% conc./mouse/day) for 4 weeks. Anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf were evaluated by MTT assay, anti oxidative reaction, MMP immunohistochemistry, gelatin zymography assay and RT-PCR observations. Treatment with Persimmon leaf tea(PLT)-I, and -III groups decreased immunohistochemical density of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-3 and -9 related to degradation of extracellular matrix in skin. Especially, immunohistochemical density of MMP-2 decreased in PLT-I, -II and -III groups in skin. On the effects of antioxidant function on the treatment with Persimmon leaf tea(PLT), treatment of HaCaT cells with extracts of PLT-I and PLT-II had also significantly reduced intracellular ROS produced by UVB irradiation in a dose dependent manner(PLT-I, p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001; PLT-II, p<0.01, p<0.001). Gelatin zymography assay revealed that PLT-II and PLT-III (200 ug/ml) had inhibitory effect on MMP-9 expression in UVB-radiated HaCaT cells. Western blot analysis revealed that PLT-1, -II and -III groups down-regulates the expression of inflammatory associated genes(IL-$1{\beta}$) and PLT-1 and -II groups down-regulates the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ in a dose dependent manner. Our study suggests that Persimmon leaf tea(PLT) extracts participates in inhibitory effects on the morphological and molecular experiments related to photoaging skin on UVB irradiated hairless mice.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2000

The genome of Hantaan virus, the prototype of the hantavirus genus, is composed of three segmented, single stranded negative sense RNA genome. The 5' and 3' termini of the Hantaan virus RNA genome contain noncoding regions (NCRs) that are highly conserved and complementary to form panhandle structures. There are some reports that these NCRs seems to control gene expression and viral replication in influenza virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. In this study, we examined whether NCRs in Hantaan virus playa role in expression of the viral nucleocapsid protein (Np) and foreign (luciferase) gene. The 5' and/or 3' NCR-deleted mutants were constructed and analysed. The Np expression of 5' NCR-deleted clone was similar to that of the clone containing full S genome. In the case of 3' NCR-deleted clone, it showed 40% reduction. To investigate the role of NCR in foreign gene expression, the clones which are replaced ORF of Hantaan viral Np gene with that of luciferase gene were constructed. The results were similar to those of the experiments using Np gene. These results suggest that 3' NCR is more important than 5' NCR in protein expression. To find out a critical region of 3' NCR in protein expression, several clones with a deleted part of 3' NCR were constructed and analyzed. The deletion of the conserved region in 3' NCR showed $20{\sim}30%$ decrease in Np expression. However there were no change in luciferase activities between clones with or without non-conserved region of 3' NCR. These results suggest that the 3' NCR of Hantaan virus S genome, especially conserved region in 3' NCR, plays an important role in the expression of Hantaan viral Np and foreign genes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 1999

Codonopsis lanceolata ("Deoduck" in Korea) is a perennial herb, and belongs to family, Campanulaceae. Its taproot is used a good source of a wild vegetable as well as an herbaceous medicine. In this study, to develop a bialaphos-resistant transgenic Codonopsis, seed germination mechanism and somatic embryogenesis of the plant were investigated, and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with bar gene encoding phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) was performed. Attempt were made to regenerate plant from cells via somatic embryogenesis. When the cotyledons, nodes and leaf disks were cultured on MS medium containing 2,4-D and zeatin, embryogenic calli were induced. Upon transferring the somatic embryos to N6 solid medium without plant growth regulators, they developed into plantlets under continuous illumination. All plants were dead on MS basal medium containing 10 mg/L phosphinothricin (PPT) and Basta, respectively. The explants did not produce calli in the medium containing 200 mg/L kanamycin. The explants were cocultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens for 2 days, and transformants were selected in MS basal medium containing 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D, 100 mg/L kanamycin and 500 mg/L carbenicillin. After the selection, embryogenic calli were induced and then somatic embryos were produced by subsequent subculturing. The somatic embryos were germiated on N6 basal medium containing 200 mg/L kanamycin and 500 mg/L carbenicillin. PCR analysis showed that nptII and bar genes were introduced in the Deoduck transformants. After the confirmation of bar gene expression in RNA and protein level, the transgenic Deoduck will be used to study the genetics of filial generation with the herbicide control gene, bar.gene, bar.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2007

Oxidative stress is a major damaging factor for plants exposed to environmental stresses. Previously, we have generated transgenic potato (cv. Superior) plants expressing both CuZnSOD and APX genes in chloroplast under the control of an oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter (referred to as SSA plants) and selected the transgenic potato plant lines with tolerance against methyl viologen (MV)-mediated oxidative stress. When leaf discs of SSA plants were subjected to $3{\mu}M$ methyl viologen (MV), they showed approximately 40% less damage than non-transgenic (NT) plants. SSA plantlets were treated with $0.3{\mu}M$ MV stress, SSA plants also exhibited reduced damage in root growth. When 350 MV was sprayed onto the whole plants, SSA plants showed a significant reduction in visible damage, which was approximately 75% less damage than leaves of NT plants. These plants will be used for further analysis of tolerance to environmental stresses, such as high temperature and salt stress. These results suggest that transgenic potato (cv. Superior) plants would be a useful plant crop for commercial cultivation under unfavorable growth conditions.