• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1229-1258
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• 2002

This paper reports the photochemical reduction of benzil 1 to benzoin 2 and the reduction of 2 to hydrobenzoin 4 in deoxygenated solvents in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) and/or TiO2. Without TEA or TiO2, the photolysis of 1 resulted in very low yield of 2. The presence of TEA or TiO2 increased the rate of disappearance of 1 and the yield of 2, which were further increased considerably by the presence of water. The photoreduction of 1 to 2 proceeds through an electron transfer to 1 from TEA or hole-scavenged excited TiO2 followed by protonation. In the reaction medium of 88 : 7 : 2 : 3 CH3CN/CH3OH/H2O/TEA with 2.5 $㎎/m{\ell}$ of TiO2, the yield of 2 was as high as 85 % at 50 % conversion of 1. The photolysis of 2 in homogeneous media resulted in photo-cleavage to benzoyl and hydroxybenzyl radicals, which are mostly converted to benzaldehyde. The reduction product 4 is formed in low yield through the dimerization of hydroxybenzyl radicals. The addition of TEA increased the conversion rate of 2 and the yield of 4 significantly. This was attributed to the scavenging effect of TEA for benzoyl radical to produce N,N-diethylbenzamide and the photoreduction of benzaldehyde in the presence of TEA. The ratio of $(\pm)$ and meso isomers of 4 obtained from the photochemical reaction is about 1.1. This ratio is the same as that from the photochemical reduction of benzaldehyde in the presence of TEA. In the TiO2-sensitized photochemical reduction of 2, meso-4 was obtained in moderate yield. The reduction of 2 to 4 proceeds through two consecutive electron/proton transfer processes on the surface of the photocatalyst without involvement of ${\alpha}-cleavage$. The radical 11 initially formed from 2 by one electron/proton process can also combine with hydroxy methyl radical, which is generated after hole trapping of excited TiO2 by methanol, to produce 1,2-diphenylpropenone after dehydration reaction.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1997

Transforming growth $factor-{\beta}\;(TGF-{\beta})$ is a multifunctional polypeptide that exerts biological roles including cell proliferation, differentiation, extracellular matrix deposition and apoptosis in many different cell types. $TGF-{\beta}$, although known as a negative growth regulator, has not been tested in human embryo lung (HEll cells. This study attempts to understand the role of $TGF-{\beta}$ on growth control of HEL cells in relationship to tyrosine phosphorylation pattern of cellular proteins. In density-arrested HEL cells treated with $TGF-{\beta}$, analysis of Western immunoblot showed induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of two major cellular proteins (15 kDa and 45 kDa). In normal proliferating HEL cells with different concentrations of serum, further analysis indicated that the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of a 45 kDa protein was regulated in serum concentration-dependent manner. However, in proliferating HEL cells treated with $TGF-{\beta}$, tyrosine phosphorylation of 45 kDa was down-regulated. Calcium involvement in the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of 45 kDa and 15 kDa proteins was also examined. Tyrosine phosphorylation of 15 kDa protein but not of 45 kDa protein was regulated by exogenous calcium. The level of tyrosine phosphorylation of 15 kDa protein was low at reduced caclium concentration and high at elevated caclium concentration. $TGF-{\beta}$ reversed the pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation of 15 kDa protein. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of 45 and 15 kDa proteins in HEL cells may be controlled depending on the physiological status of the cells, i.e., low in arrested cells and high in proliferating cells. And the tyrosine phosphorylation of the two proteins appears to be down- or up-regulated by $TGF-{\beta}$.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3917-3922
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• 2015

Curcumin, a lipid-soluble compound extracted from the plant Curcuma Longa, has been found to exert immunomodulatory effects via macrophages. However, most studies focus on the low bioavailability issue of curcumin by nano and microparticles, and thus the role of macrophages in the anticancer mechanism of curcumin has received little attention so far. We have previously shown the potential biocompatibility, biodegradability and anti-cancer effects of dendrosomal curcumin (DNC). In this study, twenty-seven BALB/c mice were equally divided into control as well as 40 and 80 mg/kg groups of DNC to investigate the involvement of macrophages in the antitumor effects of curcumin in a typical animal model of metastatic breast cancer. At the end of intervention, the tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced in DNC groups compared to control (P<0.05). Histopathological data showed the presence of macrophages in tumor and spleen tissues. Real-time PCR results showed that DNC increased the expression of STAT4 and IL-12 genes in tumor and spleen tissues in comparison with control (P<0.05), referring to the high levels of M1 macrophages. Furthermore treatment with DNC decreased STAT3, IL-10 and arginase I gene expression (P<0.05), indicating low levels of M2 macrophage. The results confirm the role of macrophages in the protective effects of dendrosomal curcumin against metastatic breast cancer in mice.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.317-325
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• 2018

Purpose: We investigated correlations between the findings of oral examinations and panoramic radiography in order to determine the efficacy of using panoramic radiographs in screening examinations. Methods: This study included patients who visited dental clinics at National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Ilsan Hospital for checkups during 2009-2015 and underwent panoramic radiographic examinations within 1 year prior to the oral examinations. Among the 48,006 patients who received checkups, 1,091 were included in this study. The data were evaluated using the Cohen kappa and interrater agreement coefficients. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated using data from the panoramic radiographs as true positive diagnoses. Results: The interrater agreement coefficient for occlusal caries was 28.8%, and the Cohen kappa coefficient was 0.043 between the oral and panoramic radiographic examinations. Root caries and subgingival calculus were only found on the radiographs, while gingival inflammation was found only by the oral examinations. The oral examinations had a specificity for detecting occlusal dental caries of 100%, while their sensitivity for proximal dental caries and supragingival calculus was extremely low (14.0% and 18.3%, respectively) compared to the panoramic radiographic examinations. The oral examinations showed a relatively low sensitivity of 66.2% and a specificity of 43.7% in detecting tooth loss compared with panoramic radiography. Conclusions: Panoramic radiography can provide information that is difficult to obtain in oral examinations, such as root caries, furcation involvement, and subgingival calculus, which are factors that can directly affect the survival rate of teeth. It therefore seems reasonable and necessary to add panoramic radiography to large-scale health checkup programs such as that provided by the NHIS.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2010

Mercuric chloride, a model nephrotoxicant was used to elucidate time- and dose- dependent global gene expression changes associated with proximal tubular toxicity. Rat kidney cell lines NRK-52E cells were exposed for 2, 6 and 12 hours and with 3 different doses of mercuric chloride. Cell viability assay showed that mercuric chloride had toxic effects on NRK-52E cells causing 20% cell death (IC20) at $40{\mu}M$ concentration. We set this IC20 as high dose concentration and 1/5 and 1/25 concentration of LC20 were used as mid and low concentration, respectively. Analyses of microarray data revealed that 738 genes were differentially expressed (more than two-fold change and p<0.05) by low concentration of mercuric chloride at least one time point in NRK-52E cells. 317 and 2,499 genes were differentially expressed at mid and high concentration of mercuric chloride, respectively. These deregulated genes showed a primary involvement with protein trafficking (CAV2, CANX, CORO1B), detoxification (GSTs) and immunity and defense (HMOX1, NQO1). Several of these genes were previously reported to be up-regulated in proximal tubule cells treated with nephrotoxicants and might be aid in promoting the predictive biomarkers for nephrotoxicity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2015-2020
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• 2012

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid in food materials and is a component of the leaves and roots of Olea europaea, Viscum album L., Aralia chinensis L. and more than 120 other plant species. There are several reports validating its antitumor activity against different cancer cells apart from its hepatoprotective activity. However, antitumor activity against skin cancer has not beed studied well thus far. Hence the present study of effects of OA against HaCaT (immortalized keratinocyte) cells - a cell-based epithelial model system for toxicity/ethnopharmacology-based studies - was conducted. Radical scavenging activity ($DPPH{\cdot}$) and FRAP were determined spectrophotometrically. Proliferation was assessed by XTT assay at 24, 48 and 72 hrs with exposure to various concentrations (12.5-200 ${\mu}M$) of OA. Apoptotic induction potential of OA was demonstrated using a cellular DNA fragmentation ELISA method. Morphological studies were also carried out to elucidate its antitumor potential. The results revealed that OA induces apoptosis by altering cellular morphology as well as DNA integrity in HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner, with comparatively low cytotoxicity. The moderate toxicity observed in HaCaT cells, with induction of apoptosis, possibly suggests greater involvement of programmed-cell death-mediated mechanisms. We conclude that OA has relatively low toxicity and has the potential to induce apoptosis in HaCaT cells and hence provides a substantial and sound scientific basis for further validation studies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3459-3463
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in Cambodia, a low income country in South-East Asia. The Sihanouk Hospital Centre of Hope (SHCH) is a charity hospital set up by an international non-governmental organisation, HOPE Worldwide. In 2008, SHCH partnered with AmeriCares, a global health organisation to set up and deliver a breast cancer programme to provide education, diagnosis and treatment for women with breast cancer. The objective of this study is to characterise the presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of women treated under this program. Materials and Methods: A total of 215 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer from 1 March 2008 until 31 March 2011 were studied. Age at diagnosis, tumour size, histological type, tumour grade, ER, lymph node involvement, treatment modalities (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy) were recorded. Data on mortality at 3 years were obtained whenever possible. Results: The median age was 47 years old. Some 77.8% were diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 lesions, and 78.5% underwent mastectomy, of which 28.4% the intent was palliative. Of those whose ER status were known, only 48.3% were ER positive. Only 6 patients could afford chemotherapy while only 1 patient had radiotherapy. Hormone therapy was provided free for those who were ER positive. The overall survival rate at 3 years was 39.1%. Conclusions: Breast cancer presents at a late stage, and because treatment is suboptimal, survival is poor in Cambodia. A more aggressive approach to early detection and treatment needs to be developed to improve outcome from this potentially curable disease.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 1993

From Jan.1982 to Dec.1990, 77 patients with rectal cancer were treated with curative surgical resection followed by postoperative adjuvant irradiation alone or combined with chemotherapy at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Korea University Hospital (KUH). Fifty-four (54/77, $70.1{\%}$) patients underwent abdominoperineal resection , 20 (20/77, $26{\%}$) patients underwent low anterior resection, and 3 (3/77, $3.9{\%}$,) patients had wide excision only. Thirty-nine (39/77, $50.5{\%}$) received sequential chemotherapy (2 cycles to 12 cycles). The 5-year survival rate for the entire group was $43{\%}:\;78.2{\%}$ in B2+B3, $39.4{\%}$ in stage C1+C2+C3. Survival rates decreased with increasing penetration of the bowel wall by tumor and the presence of regional lymph node metastasis. Those patients survival who underwent an abdominoperineal resection also experienced a significant decrease in compared to low anterior resection ($23.1{\%}$ vs. $63.8{\%}$ in 5-year survival, p <0.05). Local failure occurred in 15 ($19.5{\%}$) out of the 77 patients overall, 1($5.3{\%}$) of 19 in stage B2+B3, and 14 ($24.1{\%}$,) of 58 in stage C1+C2+C3. Presacral area was most common site of local failufre (8/17, $47.1{\%}$). Distant failure occurred in 13 ($16.9{\%}$) of 77 patients. The most frequent site of distant failure was the lung followed by the liver, the bone, and the brain. Combined locoregional and distant failure occurred in 2 ($2.6{\%}$) of 77 patients. Pathological confirmation of perirectal fat and/or regional lymph node involvement resulted in a singificant decrease in survival and local control.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.137-142
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• 2011

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) have the ability to produce a variety of behavioral and physiological changes in animals. The stomach, as the most sensitive part of the neuroendocrine organ of the gastrointestinal tract, is crucial for the initiation of a full stress response against all harmful stress. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether ELF-MF stimuli induce changes in the activity of neuroendocrine cells, considering their involvement in endocrine or paracrine effect on surrounding cells. The exposure to ELF-MF (durations of 24 h and 1 or 2 weeks, 60 Hz frequency, 0.1 mT intensity) altered the distribution and occurrence of gastrin, ghrelin and somatostatinpositive endocrine cells in the stomach of rats. The change, however, in the secretion of those hormones into blood from endocrine cells did not appear significantly with ELF-MF exposure. Comparing with sham control, ELF-MF exposure for 1 and 2 week induced an increase in $BaSO_4$ suspension propelling ratio of gastrointestinal tract, indicating that ELF-MF affects gastrointestinal motility. Our study revealed that ELF-MF exposure might influence the activity of endocrine cells, an important element of the intrinsic regulatory system in the digestive tract. The pathophysiological character of these changes and the mechanism responsible for neuroendocrine cell are still unclear and require further studies.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.439-449
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to identify the differences in persuasive effectiveness of visual merchandising between consumers in Korea and China including the moderating roles of shopping value in effectiveness of visual merchandising. For the cross-cultural experiment, 2(degree of sensuousness of VM: high vs. low)${\times}$2(involvement: high vs. low)${\times}$2(nation: Korea vs. China) factorial design were used. A total of 480 questionnaires allocating 60 students to each group were distributed. The results were as follows. First, Chinese consumers were likely to respond favorably regardless of the degree of sensuousness of VM, while Korean consumers were more positive in high degree of sensuousness of VM. Second, aesthetic cognition of VM and attitude toward VM had positive influences on brand cognition in both countries. Third, Korean consumers with greater recognition of aesthetic attributes of VM had more positive brand attitude, while Chinese consumers with greater recognition of utilitarian attributes of VM had more positive brand attitude. Fourth, there were moderating effects of shopping value in persuasive effectiveness of VM in Chinese consumer group, while there were no significant moderating effects in Korean consumer group. With the cross-cultural interpretation of the fin-dings, strategic implications and suggestions for the global fashion retailing, specifically fashion visual merchandising, are provided.