• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.16-19
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• 2009

We have studied the liquid crystal alignment properties for various alignment methods on the homogeneous polyimide surface. Suitable liquid crystal alignment for one-side alignment cell on the polyimide surface by all alignment method was observed. Highly pre-tilt angle of the NLC for both-side rubbing cell was measured. But, low pre-tilt angle of the NLC for one-side ion beam and UV irradiation cell was observed. We consider that the pre-tilt angle of NLC for one-side ion beam and UV irradiation on the PI surface is lower than that of the PI surface with rubbing. Also, the suitable transmittance-voltage curves for the one-side rubbing TN-LCD on the PI surface with one-side UV irradiation were measured. Also, good response time characteristics of the one-side rubbing TN-LCD on the polyimide surface with one-side UV irradiation can be measured.

• 한국정보전자통신기술학회논문지
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.671-677
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• 2018

In this paper, we investigated the vertical alignment characteristics of liquid crystals (LCs) on fluorinated self-assembled monolayers (FSAMs). For comparison, a commercialized homeotropic polyimide (PI) layer was used as an LC alignment layer. We confirmed the successful deposition of FSAMs and the change of FSAMs before and after rubbing treatment through contact angle measurement and atomic force microscopy. The optical transmittance spectrum of the FSAMs is similar to that of the homeotropic PI layer, which is a superior optical characteristic applicable to LC devices. When FSAMs were applied to the vertically aligned (VA) LC cell, uniform and vertical LC alignments were achieved. In addition, the voltage-transmittance characteristic of VA LC cell with FSAMs was superior to that of VA LC cell with the conventional homeotropic PI layers. These results indicate that the FSAMs are suitable as the homeotropic LC alignment layer for enhanced LC devices.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권7호
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• pp.2148-2154
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• 2013

Three push-pull organic semiconductors, TPA-$Th_3$-MMN (1), TPA-ThTT-MMN (2), and TPA-ThDTT-MMN (3), comprising a triphenylamine donor and a methylene malononitrile acceptor linked by various ${\pi}$-conjugated thiophene units were synthesized, and the effects of the ${\pi}$-conjugated bridging unit on the photovoltaic characteristics of solution-processed small-molecule organic solar cells based on these semiconductors were investigated. Planar bridging units with extended ${\pi}$-conjugation effectively facilitated intermolecular ${\pi}-{\pi}$ packing interactions in the solid state, resulting in enhanced $J_{sc}$ values of the SMOSCs fabricated with bulk heterojunction films.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.191-194
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• 2011

Sparganosis is a tissue invading helminthiasis infecting intermediate hosts, including humans. Strong immune responses are expected to occur in early phases of infection. Thus, we investigated cytokine expressions in splenic dendritic cells and in sera after experimental infection of mice. In splenic dendritic cells, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ expression peaked at week 1 and week 3 post -infection (PI), respectively, and also early phase (week 2 PI) depressed cytokine expression was noticed. Serum IL-$1{\beta}$ concentration increased significantly at week 2 PI and peaked at week 6 PI, and that of TNF-${\alpha}$ peaked at week 6 PI. These results showed that pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, are chronologically regulated in mouse sparganosis.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.165.2-165.2
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• 2003

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Rac play important roles that regulate cellular functions including cell survival and migration. In the present study, we investigated the functional roles of PI3K and Rac1 pathways in H-ras-induced invasive phenotype and motility of MCF10A cells. Akt, a downstream molecule of PI3K, was effectively activated not only by H-ras but also by N-ras, suggesting that the activation of PI3K pathway is not sufficient to induce metastatic potential of MCF10A cells. (omitted)

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.15-25
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• 2015

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing effect of water extract of Chelidonium majus (CM) on human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231. Methods : The MTT assay was used to assess cell proliferation. The expression of apoptosis related gene was assessed by quantitative Real-time PCR. Cell apoptosis detected by flow cytometry using Annexin-V/PI staining. Results : Our data revealed that CM inhibited the cell growth in a dose dependent manner (0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 μg/ml). CM increased mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic genes Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9. Annexin-V/PI staining assays revealed that apoptosis-induced cell death increased in a dose-dependent manner in cells. Conclusions : CM induces cell death in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell and shows potentials for use in cancer therapy as apoptosis-inducing agent.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권4호
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• pp.343-351
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• 2012

Background: The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis has emerged as a novel target for cancer therapy. Agents that inhibit this pathway are currently under development for lung cancer treatment. In the present study, we have tested whether dual inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling can lead to enahnced antitumor effects. We have also examined the role of autophagy during this process. Methods: We analyzed the combination effect of the mTOR inhibitor, temsirolimus, and the Akt inhibitor, GSK690693, on the survival of NCI-H460 and A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and apoptosis induction was evaluated by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Autophagy induction was also evaluated by acridine orange staining. Changes of apoptosis or autophagy-related proteins were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results: Combination treatment with temsirolimus and GSK690693 caused synergistically increased cell death in NCI-H460 and A549 cells. This was attributable to increased induction of apoptosis. Caspase 3 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage accompanied these findings. Autophagy also increased and inhibition of autophagy resulted in increased cell death, suggesting its cytoprotective role during this process. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that the combination of temsirolimus and GSK690693 could be a novel strategy for lung cancer therapy. Inhibition of autophagy could also be a promising method of enhancing the combination effect of these drugs.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.83-92
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• 2009

This study was undertaken to examine the effect of oxidants on membrane transport function in renal epithelial cells. Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) was used as a model oxidant and the membrane transport function was evaluated by measuring $Na^+$-dependent phosphate ($Na^+$-Pi) uptake in opossum kidney (OK) cells. $H_2O_2$ inhibited $Na^+$-Pi uptake in a dose-dependent manner. The oxidant also caused loss of cell viability in a dose-dependent fashion. However, the extent of inhibition of the uptake was larger than that in cell viability. $H_2O_2$ inhibited $Na^+$-dependent uptake without any effect on $Na^+$-independent uptake. $H_2O_2$-induced inhibition of $Na^+$-Pi uptake was prevented completely by catalase, dimethylthiourea, and deferoxamine, suggesting involvement of hydroxyl radical generated by an iron-dependent mechanism. In contrast, antioxidants Trolox, N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, and butylated hydroxyanisole did not affect the $H_2O_2$ inhibition. Kinetic analysis indicated that $H_2O_2$ decreased Vmax of $Na^+$-Pi uptake with no change in the Km value. Phosphonoformic acid binding assay did not show any difference between control and $H_2O_2$-treated cells. $H_2O_2$ also did not cause degradation of $Na^+$-Pi transporter protein. Reduction in $Na^+$-Pi uptake by $H_2O_2$ was associated with ATP depletion and direct inhibition of $Na^+$-$K^+$-ATPase activity. These results indicate that the effect of $H_2O_2$ on membrane transport function in OK cells is associated with reduction in functional $Na^+$-pump activity. In addition, the inhibitory effect of $H_2O_2$ was not associated with lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.861-869
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• 2001

Objective : In this study, we investigated the relationship between the histologic grading of meningiomas and proliferative potentials determined by the Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and flow cytometry (FCM) with the aim of determining whether these potentials can be used as a parameter to the proliferative activity, in particular of atypical and malignant meningiomas. Methods : This study consisted of 47 meningiomas(6 malignant, 14 atypical, and random sampled 27 benign meningiomas). By immunohistochemical staining of Ki-67 and PCNA on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections, the anti-human rabbit polyclonal antibody against Ki-67 antigen and anti-PCNA monoclonal antibody(PC10) scores were counted. FCM was also performed on paraffin-embedded tissue using a selective staining technique for DNA. DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction, and proliferative index(PI)) were determined. Results : The results are summarized as follows ; 1) Proliferation rates as assessed by Ki-67 and PCNA closely correlated with the degree of anaplastic histologic features. 2) Proliferative potentials determined by FCM(S-phase fraction and PI) were not able to distinguish between benign and atypical/malignant meningiomas. 3) DNA ploidy was not a useful indicator of histologic grade in these tumors. 4) Proliferative potentials such as Ki-67 staining index(SI) and PCNA SI did not correlate with the ploidy pattern. 5) There was a linear correlation between Ki-67 SI and PCNA SI, but we could not find a correlation between Ki-67 SI and S-phase fraction or PI. Our results also did not show a statistically signficant correlation between PCNA SI and S-phse fraction or PI. Conclusions : We conclude that evaluation of the proliferative potentials with Ki-67 and PCNA is important as an additional factor for the prediction of malignancy in meningiomas. A dual study of Ki-67 and PCNA SIs on the same tissue might improve the accuracy with which the proliferative potential of a tumor can be predicted. We demonstrated that FCM in meningiomas is not valuable in predicting the behavior of these neoplasms, but we did observe a trend toward more malignancy with higher percent S-phase fraction and higher PI. Analysis of the S-phase fraction and PI might therefore be a useful tool to discriminate among histologic grades of meningiomas.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권7호
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• pp.361-368
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• 2014

Lipid components in biological membranes are essential for maintaining cellular function. Phosphoinositides, the phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol (PI), regulate many critical cell processes involving membrane signaling, trafficking, and reorganization. Multiple metabolic pathways including phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases and phospholipases tightly control spatio-temporal concentration of membrane phosphoinositides. Metabolizing enzymes responsible for PI 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) production or degradation play a regulatory role in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and trafficking. These enzymes include PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase, phosphatase and tensin homolog, PI 3-kinase, and phospholipase C. PI(4,5)P2 mediates the interaction with target cytosolic proteins to induce their membrane translocation, regulate vesicular trafficking, and serve as a precursor for other signaling lipids. TLR activation is important for the innate immune response and is implicated in diverse pathophysiological disorders. TLR signaling is controlled by specific interactions with distinct signaling and sorting adaptors. Importantly, TLR signaling machinery is differentially formed depending on a specific membrane compartment during signaling cascades. Although detailed mechanisms remain to be fully clarified, phosphoinositide metabolism is promising for a better understanding of such spatio-temporal regulation of TLR signaling and trafficking.