• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2008

The effect of genistein on melanin synthesis was studied using in vitro and in vivo model. Genistein inhibited melanin synthesis in cultured melan-a cells dose dependently. Tyrosinase activity was decreased by genistein treatment in melan-a cells, but genistein did not inhibit tyrosinase directly. Genistein did not affect the expression of tyrosinase in melan-a cells. Genistein inhibited the activity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in virtro and the glycosylation of tyrosinase in melan-a cells. The resulting unsaturated glycosylation of tyrosinase makes it unstable and disturb correct transportation. To further clarify the effect of genistein on the melanogenesis, we established UVB-induced hyperpigmentation on the shaved backs of brown guinea pigs. The animals were exposed to UVB radiation once a week for three consecutive weeks. Genistein (1 and 2%) or vehicle alone as a control were then topically applied to the hyperpigmented areas daily. Genistein showed significant lightening effect on the UVB-induced hyperpigmentation in five weeks. Depigmenting effect was prominent in 2% genistein treatment with Fontana-Masson staining. In conclusion, genistein may be a useful agent for skin whitening.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary variables and the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in middle-aged Korean adults using data from the 2007-2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Because IR is closely linked with metabolic syndrome, subjects were divided into three groups according to symptoms of metabolic syndrome: the 'Normal group' without any symptoms, the 'Risk group' with one or two symptoms, and the Metabolic syndrome (MetS) group' with three or more symptoms. Subjects between the ages of 30 and 65 years with no prior diagnosis or treatment for diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia were selected. The number of subjects per group was as follows: 2,085 adults in the Normal group, 3,699 adults in the Risk group, and 1,160 adults in the MetS group. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to Adult Treatment Panel III criteria with modified waist circumference cutoff values (men ${\geq}$ 90 cm, women ${\geq}$ 85 cm). Subjects with HOMA-IR > 2.0 were classified as IR. Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated using the following formula: (fasting plasma glucose ${\times}$ fasting plasma insulin)/22.5. Nutrients and food groups intake were obtained from a single 24-hour recall. Subjects with IR in the Normal group were more obese and less physically active than non-IR subjects. In the MetS group, subjects with IR were more obese and had a lower prevalence of smoking and drinking, compared with non-IR subjects. Men with IR in the Normal group had a tendency to consume more oils and sugars than non-IR men, while women with IR in the same group had higher intake of carbohydrate, dietary glycemic index, and dietary glycemic load than non-IR women. Women with IR in the Risk group had lower energy intake but higher intake of oils and sugars than non-IR women. In the MetS group, consumption of fruits was higher in subjects with IR than in non-IR subjects. In conclusion, findings of this study suggest that dietary carbohydrate intake, including glycemic index, may be associated with IR in healthy women. Further research in prospective cohort studies in order to examine the effects of dietary carbohydrate on IR incidence will be necessary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2523-2526
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• 2012

Introduction: Febrile neutropenia is a relatively frequent event in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and improvement in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) has been linked directly to improved outcome. Evaluation of granulocyte colony stimulating factors (GCSFs) for treatment has shown reduced incidences of episodes of prolonged neutropenia and protracted hospitalization. To determine absolute neutrophil counts with GCSF in febrile neutropenic cancer patients admitted to a tertiary care centre and to co-relate the improvement in ANC with mortality and hospital discharge. Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was carried at an oncology ward at Aga Khan University hospital from January 2010 to June 2011. All adult patients who were admitted and treated with GCSF for chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia were included. Multivariable regression was conducted to identify the factors related with poor outcomes. Results: A total of 131 patients with febrile neutropenia were identified with mean age of 43.2 (18-85) years, 79 (60%) being ${\leq}50$. Seventy-five (57%) had solid tumors and 56 (43%) hematological malignancies, including lymphoma. Fifty seven (43.5%) had an ANC less 100 cells/$mm^3$, 34 (26%) one between 100-300 cells/$mm^3$ and 40 (31%) an ANC greater than 300 cells/$mm^3$. Thirty (23%) patients showed ANC recovery in 1-3 days, and 74(56%) within 4-7 days. Thirteen (10%) patients showed no recovery. The overall mortality was 18 (13.7%) patients. The mean time for ANC recovery seen in hematological malignancies was 6.34 days whereas for solid tumors it was 4.88 days. Patients with ANC <100 cells/$mm^3$ were more likely to die than patients with ANC >300 cells/$mm^3$ by a factor of 4.3. Similarly patients >50 years of age were 2.7 times more likely to die than younger patients. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that use of GCSF, in addition to intravenous antibiotics, in treatment of patients with chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia accelerates neutrophil recovery, and shortens antibiotic therapy and hospitalization. We propose to risk classify the patients at the time of admission to evaluate the cost effectiveness of this approach in a resource constrained setup.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 1993

The purpose of this study is to identify the presence of the circulating antibodies directed toward ovarian proteins{antiovarian antibodies, AOA) and the nature of antigenic ovarian structure by comparing the binding activities to 4 types of ovarian proteins, particulated and solubilized forms of pig ovarian and granulosa cell membranes in sera of patients with premature ovarian failure(POF) and to evaluate the usefulness of circulating AOA as a follow up tool after treatment. Measurements of AOA were performed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in sera of 58 patients with POF, 51 had normal chromosomes and 7 had X chromosome abnormalities. Sera of 21 natural menopausal women and 17 castrated women were also tested and sera of 32 healthy premenopausal women were served as controls. ELISA reactivities against particulated porcine granulosa cell membrane proteins was the greatest among 4 different ovarian proteins. Fifteen(29%) of 51 POF patients with normal chromosome and 1(14.3%) of 7 POF patients with X chromosome abnormalities had AOA while none of 32 controls and 21 natural menopausal women and 17 castrated women had AOA. One POF patient with 47, XXX was identified AOA positive. The ELISA reactivities were followed up monthly up to 5 months in 4 AOA positive POF patients after estrogen-progestin{E-P) therapy. There was a decreasing tendency of the ELISA reactivities in all these patients after E-P therapy and two of them converted to AOA negative. These data suggest that antigenic structure may be components of granulosa cell membrane and the determination of circulating AOA may be useful in the follow up after treatment in patients with autoimmune POF.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.287-295
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• 2013

PURPOSE. This study investigated the effect of laser parameters and air-abrasion on the peel strength of silicon-based soft denture liner to different denture resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Specimens (N=180) were prepared out of three different denture base resins (Rodex, cross-linked denture base acrylic resin; Paladent, heat-cured acrylic resin; Deflex, Polyamide resin) ($75mm{\times}25mm{\times}3mm$). A silicon-based soft denture liner (Molloplast B) was applied to the denture resins after the following conditioning methods: a) Air-abrasion ($50{\mu}m$), b) Er,Cr:YSGG laser (Waterlase MD Turbo, Biolase Technology) at 2 W-20 Hz, c) Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 2 W-30 Hz, d) Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 3 W-20 Hz, e) Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 3 W-30 Hz. Non-conditioned group acted as the control group. Peel test was performed in a universal testing machine. Failure modes were evaluated visually. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (${\alpha}$=.05). RESULTS. Denture liner tested showed increased peel strength after laser treatment with different parameters ($3.9{\pm}0.4-5.58{\pm}0.6$ MPa) compared to the control ($3.64{\pm}0.5-4.58{\pm}0.5$ MPa) and air-abraded groups ($3.1{\pm}0.6-4.46{\pm}0.3$ MPa), but the results were not statistically significant except for Paladent, with the pretreatment of Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 3 W-20 Hz. Polyamide resin after air-abrasion showed significantly lower peel strength than those of other groups ($3.1{\pm}0.6$ MPa). CONCLUSION. Heat-cured acrylic resin, PMMA, may benefit from Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment at 3 W-20 Hz irradiation. Air-abrasion of polyamide resins should be avoided not to impair their peel bond strengths to silicon-based soft denture liners.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.532-538
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• 2008

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare X-linked recessively inherited disorder, caused by complete absence or decrease in activity of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase(HPRT), an enzyme involved in purine metabolism. This enzyme deficiency gives rise to nephropathy symptoms, such as hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia by excessive uric acid production and neuropathy symptoms, such as mental retardation, choreoathetosis and self mutilation behavior. Patients with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome have tendency to bite their lip, tongue and finger. In severe cases, partial or even total amputation of tongue or finger occur. Self-inflicted bites are often complicated by secondary infection to the injured site as well as pain. Furthermore tissue loss by biting results in esthetic problems. The dental management of self mutilation includes treatment with appliances such as soft mouth guard or lip bumper, extraction of all the teeth, and orthognathic surgery. We report a case of a 13 year-old boy with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, who severely injured himself on his tongue. At first, conservative treatment using soft mouth guard was considered, but it could not prevent trauma on his tongue. Therefore, extraction of the lower anterior and posterior teeth was carried out.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.373-379
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• 2011

Purpose: 4-1BB (CD 137) is a costimulatory molecule expressed on activated T-cells. Repression by 4-1BB is thought to attenuate Th2-mediated allergic reactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 4-1BB on allergic airway inflammation in a murine asthma model. Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized to and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). Hu.4-1BB-Fc was administered 1 day before the first OVA sensitization or 1 day after the second OVA sensitization. Following antigen challenge, airway responsiveness to methacholine was assessed and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was analyzed. Total immunoglobulin (Ig) E, OVA-specific IgE, $IgG_1$, and $IgG_{2a}$ levels in sera were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lung pathology was also evaluated. Results: In mice treated with Hu.4-1BB-Fc before the first OVA sensitization, there was a marked decrease in airway hyperresponsiveness, total cell count, and eosinophil count in the BAL fluid. In addition, Hu.4-1BB-Fc treatment decreased serum OVA-specific $IgG_1$ levels and increased serum $IgG_{2a}$ level significantly compared with the corresponding levels in mice sensitized to and challenged with OVA. Hu.4-1BB-Fc-treated mice also showed suppressed peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration. In contrast, treatment with Hu.4-1BB-Fc 1 day after sensitization had no effect on airway hyperresponsiveness and showed less suppression of inflammation in lung tissue. Conclusion: Administration of Hu.4-1BB-Fc can attenuate airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. In addition, administration before sensitization may be more effective. These findings suggest that 4-1BB may be a useful therapeutic molecule against asthma.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.239-252
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• 1997

A questionnaire survey including stool examination for the parasite ova, skin test, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the liver fluke to find the factors related with the prevalence of the parasite infestation was done toward 118 residents living in three villages of Song-jung, Yi-jung, and Chim-gok of Okok-myun, Goksung County, South Cholla Province. The results are as follows : 1. The prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis ova by the stool examination was 46.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of skin test to egg-positive cases were 63.5% and 68.9%. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA to egg-positive clonorchiasis were 100% and 34.9%. 2. The prevalence of Clonchiasis was higher in male than in female. 45~64 year old group was the highest among age groups, and the longer the duration of living in the present residence was, the higher the prevalence was shown statistically significantly (p<0.01). 3. The present drinker had higher prevalence of Clonorchiasis significantly than the past drinker or non-drinker, and the more the frequency of drinking the higher the prevalence was shown significantly (p<0.05). 4. Those who took raw fish had significantly higher than persons who didn't take it or take cooked fish(p<0.05) and prevalence showed the tendency to be increased as the frequency to take raw fishes increased significantly(p<0.05). 5. Those who had taken a raw sweet fish(Plecoglossus altivelis) or snake-headed fish(Ophicephalus argus) showed significantly higher prevalence of infection with liver fluke than persons who didn't take the raw fish. 6. While 56.4% of persons infected with Clonorchiasis answered that they were healthy, only 13.0% of the subjects were careful for their health, and 41.8% experienced tests to diagnose liver flukes before they were examined by this survey. 7. While 56.4% of infected persons thought the prevalence was high in their community, 54.0% were afraid to be infected, 47.1% thought the infection might destroy their health, 25.5% took treatment drugs, and 18.2% took raw fish continuously after treatment. The above results confirmed that Goksung area was highly prevalent in Clonorchiasis, so it was necessary to push effective preventive program against liver fluke infection together with the program to diagnose and treat existing infected persons.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.56-76
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• 2013

Objective : The aim of this study was to find the literature basis on SuGi-therapy(手氣療法) in Donguibogam. Methods : Anma(按摩), Doin(導引), Angyo(按蹻), Anap(按壓) and Chuna(推拿), the keyword of this study, were researched, analyzed and classified in Donguibogam. Results : 1) In Donguibogam, the keyword Anma(按摩) and Doin(導引) showed up 10 and 33 times, respectively and 7 and 20 times, respectively in the body except the table of contents. In considering the meaningful cases, in short, Anma(按摩) and Doin(導引) appeared 7 and 16 times, respectively. Furthermore we could know Anma(按摩) showed up 4 times with the highest frequency in Oehyeongpyeon(外形篇), and Doin(導引) showed up 11 times with the highest frequency in Naegyeongpyeon(內景篇). 2) Anma(按摩) was mostly used as a separate word and only 2 times was "Anmadoin(按摩導引)" used. In 16 meaningful cases, Doin(導引) was used as "Doinbeop(導引法)" 14 times and 2 times was "Anmadoin(按摩導引)" used in a linked form. Among 14 times when "Doinbeop(導引法)" was referred, it was stated as "Do Doinbeop(導引法)" without any detailed explanations 2 times and it was explained about how to pose when people do Doinbeop(導引法) for prevention and treatment 12 times. 3) Reviewed in Donguibogam, Anma(按摩) and Doin(導引) were the ChoGi-therapy(調氣療法) in all. Because they include both massaging by oneself and getting a massage from someone else, they all could be 'SuGi-therapy(手氣療法)' in a broad sense. 4) In Sikjeokbyeong(息積病), the 12th chapter of Jeokchwimun(積聚文) in Japbyeongpyeon(雜病篇), Doinbeop(導引法) was referred as the treatment of Jeok(積) which belongs to obstinate and incurable diseases. This means SuGi-therapy(手氣療法) could be the basis of using widely on several incurable diseases in modern society. 5) There is few paper about SuGi-therapy(手氣療法). SuGi-therapy (手氣療法) doesn't seem to form a large part in modern Korean medicine but it is a remedy that has been together with the history of Korean medicine so long and has great therapeutic effects and usefulness. From now on, the literature and clinical study on SuGi-therapy(手氣療法) should be conducted continuously and developed for the better.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1657-1663
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• 2015

Background: Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most important step in successful treatment. However, it is usually rare due to the lack of a highly sensitive specific biomarker so that the HCC is usually fatal within few months after diagnosis. The aim of this work was to study the role of plasma nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and serum peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) as diagnostic biomarkers for early detection of HCC in a high-risk population. Materials and Methods: Plasma nuclear factor kappa B level (NF-${\kappa}B$) and serum peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in addition to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in 72 cirrhotic patients, 64 patients with HCC and 29 healthy controls. Results: NF-${\kappa}B$ and PRDX3 were significantly elevated in the HCC group in relation to the others. Higher area under curve (AUC) of 0.854 (for PRDX3) and 0.825 (for NF-${\kappa}B$) with sensitivity of 86.3% and 84.4% and specificity of 75.8% and 75.4% respectively, were found compared to AUC of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (0.65) with sensitivity of 72.4% and specificity of 64.3%. Conclusions: NF-${\kappa}B$ and PRDX3 may serve as early and sensitive biomarkers for early detection of HCC facilitating improved management. The role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) as a target for treatment of liver fibrosis and HCC must be widely evaluated.