• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.144-155
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• 1987

A potent fungus producing milk clotting enzyme with fairly weak proteolytic activity was isolated from various soil and sewage, which the selected strain, SA-101, was identified as Mucor sp. with microbiological characteristics. Its milk clotting enzyme production was maximized when grown on 10g of wheat bran media added to 8ml of tap water containing 0.1M HCl for 60hrs at $30^{\circ}C$. This enzyme production was stimulated by addition of 6% lactose, 0.05% NaCl and reached a maximal level of 9810 unit/g wheat bran. The crude enzyme product could be produced effectively by salting out with ammonium sulfate fractionation and lyophilization. The ratio of milk clotting activity to proteolytic activity of crude enzyme product was lower than Hansen rennet, but resembled to Meito rennet. The optimal temperature of milk clotting activity of crude enzyme product was abound $60^{\circ}C$ on a substrate of 10% reconstituted skim milk containing 1/100M $CaCl_2$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.602-606
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• 2010

Type 2 diabetes is a typical polygenic disease complex, for which several common risk alleles have been identified. Proteins in the matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) family are involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes such as embryonic development, reproduction and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes. Therefore, we investigated the genotype for the A(-267)G, A658G and T813C polymorphisms in the MMP3 gene in the Korean population and compared genotypes of patients with those of the control group. 200 patients (male 108, female 92), who had previously been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 100 control subjects (male 36, female 64) participated in this study. There was a strong association between A(-267)G and A658G polymorphism in the MMP3 gene and T2DM. The present study shows that MMP3 polymorphisms (A(-267)G and A658G) may be associated with the pathogenesis of T2DM. Further studies with a larger population may be needed for the development of diagnostic methods at a genetic level, such as DNA chip.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2007

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) was known as one of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced products of macrophage. Macrophages play an important role in the development of inflammatory responses by secreting an array of cytokines and chemokines in a tissue microenvironment. To identify the function and relationship between potent growth factors and SLPI after LPS stimulation, we conducted reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blots for the detection of mRNA and protein expression of SLPI and growth factors such as VEGF, PDGF, bFGF after 100 ng LPS stimulation on the RAW264.7 cells. The result of RT-PCR was showed SLPI mRNA expression was increased from 60 min to 48h in RAW 264.7 cells after incubation with LPS. VEGF and PDGF mRNA was expressed highly at initial stage by LPS stimulation. The mRNA of bFGF and type I collagen was very weakly expressed after LPS stimulation. SLPI protein level was increased likely the mRNA levels in RAW 267.7 cells. Additionally, phase contrast and scanning electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the LPS induce the change of morphology of the RAW264.7 cells. From these results, it suggest that expression of SLPI by LPS treatment may associate with VEGF and PDGF expression in RAW264.7 cells.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.200-211
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• 1999

The periapical response to injury is a complex interaction of inflammatory, immune, neural, vascular and synthetic activity. TGF-${\beta}$ is a potent modulator of proliferation and differentiation in various tissue, seems to lead to an increase in extracellular matrix. MMP are a family of proteolytic enzyme that mediate the degradation of extracellular matric macromolecules, but little is known about theirs possible role in periapical tissue. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differential expression of TGF-${\beta}$ and MMP-1 in tooth follicle, periapical abscess, granuloma and cyst. The expression of TGF-${\beta}$ and MMP-1 in Periapical tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. Correlationship among the periapical lesions were stastically analyzed. The degree of MMP-1 expression in periapical abscess was higher than in any other periapical lesion, and stastically significant. TGF-${\beta}$ expression is the prominent in granuloma than other periapical lesion, which was stastically significant. The increased expression of MMP and TGF-${\beta}$ was not co-related with inflammatory cell infiltration degree of the periapical cyst. The expression degree of MMP and TGF-${\beta}$ was not co-related with periapical abscess and cyst, but expression of MMP and TGF-${\beta}$ showed strong positive co-relationship with periapical granuloma, which was stastically significant. TGF-${\beta}$ expression by Western blot analysis was prominent in granuloma and cyst, and similar to the results by imunohistochemistry. MMP-1 expression is less than TGF-${\beta}$, but there is not extreme difference between periapical lesion. These results suggest that TGF-${\beta}$ and MMP may be involved in tissue remodeling and has an important role in progress or mediation of periapical lesions.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.48-53
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• 2002

Although direct skeletal muscle invasion by carcinoma is well recognized, distant metastasis to skeletal muscle is uncommon. Furthermore, multifocal skeletal muscle metastasis is a very exceptional event. Some factors such as variable intra-muscular blood flow, mechanical factors including turbulent blood flow and muscle contraction, intra-muscular acidic condition, lactic acid, protease inhibitors in the extra-cellular matrix were proposed as causes of the rarity of distant metastasis to skeletal muscle. We report here a case of a 67 year old male who had multifocal skeletal muscle metastasis from the transitional cell carcinoma of left kidney.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 2008

Purpose: Cathepsin D(CD) is a lysosomal acid proteinase that is related to malignant progression, invasion, and a poor prognosis in several tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic clinical significance of CD and p53 expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens from patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who were treated with preoperative chemoradiation. Materials and Methods: Eighty-nine patients with locally advanced rectal cancer(cT3/T4 or N+) were included in this study. Preoperative chemoradiation consisted of a dose of 50.4 Gy of pelvic radiation and two concurrent cycles of administration of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Surgery was performed six weeks after chemoradiation. CD and p53 expression in pretreatment formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy specimens were assessed by immunohistochemical staining using a CD and p53 monoclonal antibodies. The threshold value for a positive stain in tumor tissue and stromal cells was 1+ intensity in 10% of the tumors or stromal cells, respectively. Results: Positive CD expression was found in 57(64%) of the tumors and 32(35%) of the stromal cell specimens. There was no association with CD expression of the tumor or stromal cells and patient characteristics. There was a correlation between tumor CD expression with stromal cell CD expression(p=0.01). Overexpression of p53 was not a significant prognostic factor. The 5-year overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS) rates were not different between tumor CD-negative and positive patient biopsy samples(69% vs. 65%, 60% vs. 61%, respectively). The 5-year OS rates in the tumor-negative/stromal cell-negative, tumor-negative/stromal cell-positive, tumor-positive/stromal cell-negative and tumor-positive/stromal cell-positive biopsy samples were 75%, 28%, 62%, and 73%, respectively. Stromal cell staining only without positive tumor staining demonstrated the worst overall survival prognosis for patients(p=0.013). Conclusion: Overexpression of p53 in rectal biopy tissue was not associated with prognostic significance. In the pretreatment biopsy specimens, an exclusive increase in CD expression in stromal cells without tumor expression was related to poor overall survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 1998

To evaluate the biological and biochemical characteristics of Trichomonas vaginalis KT9 isolate, the growth and size of trichomonads, pathogenicity in mouse, protein profiles and proteinase activity were examined after shifting the medium from TPS-1 into TYM. Generation time of trichomonads in TYM medium was 4.5 hr in comparison to TPS-1 with 7.1 hr. Size of trichomonads cultured in TPS-1 medium ($8.5{\;}{\pm}{\;}0.9{\;}{\times}{\;}6.0{\;}{\pm}{\;}0.9{\;}{\mu\textrm{m}}$) was significantly smaller than those in TYM medium ($10.9{\;}{\pm}{\;}1.4{\;}{\times}{\;}8.2{\;}{\pm}{\;}0.9{\;}{\mu\textrm{m}}$). Trichomonads cultured in TYM medium produced subcutaneous abscess in 9 out of 10 mice, whereas those in TPS-1 medium produced abscesses in 2 out of 10 mice. In SDS-PAGE, trichomonad Iysates from both media showed ten common bands. However, trichomonads in TYM medium showed additional bands of 136 kDa, 116 kDa and 40 kDa in comparison to those in TPS-1 with 100 kDa. By immunoblot with T. vaginalis-immunized rabbit sera, T. vaginalis cultivated in both TYM and TPS-1 media showed 5 common bands. and unique bands of 116 kDa. 105 kDa. and 86 kDa were observed in trichomonads in TYM while a 140 kDa band in those in TPS-1. In gelatin SDS-PAGE, trichomonads in TYM degraded gelatin stronger than those in TPS-1. Also protease activity of trichomonads in TYM was significantly higher than that of trichomonads in TPS-1 using Bz-Pro-Phe-Arg-Nan as a substrate. According to the results, it is assumed that the shift from TPS-1 into TYM medium for cultivation of T. vaginalis might modulate the biological and biochemical properties of T vaginalis in vitro.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.143-160
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• 2002

타이태늄은 뛰어난 생체적합성과 적절한 물리적 성질을 바탕으로 치과 및 정형외과 영역의 매식재로 널리사용되어져 왔으며, 골과 매식재 사이의 골 융합 정도를 증가시킬 목적으로 물리, 화학적인 방법을 이용한 타이태늄의 표면처리에 관한 많은 연구들이 진행되어 왔다. 최근에는 부착단백질 또는 성장인자를 이용한 생체재료의 표면개질을 통하여 조직적합성 및 치유 능의 개선을 위한 시도들이 있어왔다. Fibronectin(FN)은 주요 세포외기질중의 하나로 생체 내 널리 분포하여 세포의 부착, 이동 및 증식에 관여하는 거대 당단백으로, RGD및 PHSRN 펩타이드 서열이 세포의 인테그린과 결합하여 세포의 활성을 조절하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이 연구에서는 FN으로 처리된 타이태늄이 조골세포의 부착, 증식 및 분화에 미치는 영향과 이에 따른 석회화 정도에 미치는 영향을 관찰하여 부착분자를 이용한 타이태늄 표면개질의 효과를 규명하고자 하였다. 상업용 순수 타이태늄을 gold thiol법을 이용하여 표면처리 후, 혈장 FN(plasma FN, pFN)과 유전자재조합법을 이용하여 얻은 FN조각(FN type III 7-10, FNIII 7-10)을 피복한 시편을 실험군으로, 아무런 처리를 하지 않은것(smooth surface, SS)과 산 부식(Sandblasted and acid etched, SLA)처리된것을 대조군으로 이용하였다. 배양된 조골세포주(MC3T3-E1)를 사용하여 타이태늄 표면 처리에 따른 세포의 증식, 형태변화, 알칼리성 인산분해효소(ALPase) 생산 및 세포면역형광법을 이용한 분화정도를 시간 경과에 따라 관찰하였다. 조골세포증식의 경우 FNIII 7-10 처리군에서 pFN 처리군 및 대조군에 비해 시간경과에 따라 유의성있는 세포수의 증식이 관찰되었으며(p<0.05), ALPase 생성의 경우에도 FNIII 7-10 처리 군에서 아무 처리도 하지 않은 군에 비해 유의성 있게 높은 효소의 생성이 관찰되었다(p<0.05). 주사전자현미경을 이용한 세포의 형태관찰결과 아무 처리도 하지 않은 군에서는 마름모형태를 나타내었으며, 산 부식 처리된 군에서는 세포가 가시모양의 형태를 보인 반면 FN으로 처리된 두 군에서는 세포의 부착 및 펴짐이 매우 발달되어 있는 모습이 관찰되었다. 세포의 분화정도를 관찰하기 위하여 국소부착키나제(focal adhesion kinase, FAK), 및 actin stress fiber의 분포양상을 세포면역형광법을 이용하여 관찰한 결과 FN으로 표면처리된 두 군에서 아무런 처리도 하지않은 군 및 산 부식처리 한 군에 비해 프라크의 발현이 높게 나타났으며 잘 발달된 actin stress fiber의 소견을 나타내었다. 이 실험의 결과들은 gold thiol 법을 이용한 표면처리 후 FN부착을 통한 타이태늄의 표면개질이 조골세포의 부착, 증식 및 분화에 중요한 역할을 담당하여 석회화 정도를 촉진시키는 것을 보여주었으며, 이런 결과들은 더 짧은 FN조각을 이용한 다른 생체재료의 표면개질에 폭 넓게 응용할 수 있으리라 생각된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.4 s.273
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• pp.264-272
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• 2007

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in angiogenesis, including stimulating the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). It has been known that diabetes is associated with accelerated cellular proliferation via VEGF, as compared to that under a normal glucose concentration. We investigated the effects of selective blockade of a VEGF receptor by using anti-Flt-1 peptide on the formation and hyperplasia of the neointima in balloon injured-carotid arteries of OLETF rats and also on the in vitro VSMCS' migration under high glucose conditions. Material and Method: The balloon-injury method was employed to induce neointima formation by VEGF. For f4 days beginning 2 days before the ballon injury, placebo or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) specific peptide (anti-Flt-1 peptide), was injected at a dose of 0.5mg/kg daily into the OLETF rats. At 14 days after balloon injury, the neointimal proliferation and vascular luminal stenosis were measured, and cellular proliferation was assessed by counting the proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) stained cells. To analyze the effect of VEGF and anti-Flt-1 peptide on the migration of VSMCs under a high glucose condition, transwell assay with a matrigel filter was performed. And finally, to determine the underlying mechanism of the effect of anti-Flt-1 peptide on the VEGF-induced VSMC migration in vitro, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) was observed by performing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Result: Both the neointimal area and luminal stenosis associated with neointimal proliferation were significantly decreased in the anti-Flt-1 peptide injected rats, ($0.15{\pm}0.04 mm^2$ and $ 36.03{\pm}3.78%$ compared to $0.24{\pm}0.03mm^2\;and\;61.85{\pm}5.11%$, respectively, in the placebo-injected rats (p<0.01, respectively). The ratio of PCNA(+) cells to the entire neointimal cells was also significantly decreased from $52.82{\pm}4.20%\;to\;38.11{\pm}6.89%$, by the injected anti-Flt-1 peptide (p<0.05). On the VSMC migration assay, anti-Flt-1 peptide significantly reduced the VEGF-induced VMSC migration by about 40% (p<0.01). Consistent with the effect of anti-Flt-1 peptide on VSMC migration, it also obviously attenuated the induction of the MMP-3 and MMP-9 mRNA expressions via VEGF in the VSMCS. Conclusion: Anti-Flt-1 peptide inhibits the formation and hyperplasia of the neointima in a balloon-injured carotid artery model of OLETF rats. Anti-Flt-1 peptide also inhibits the VSMCs' migration and the expressions of MMP-3 and MMP-9 mRNA induced by VEGF under a high glucose condition. Therefore, these results suggest that specific blockade of VEGFR-1 by anti-Flt-1 peptide may have therapeutic potential against the arterial stenosis of diabetes mellitus patients or that occurring under a high glucose condition.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and substance P (SP) in root canal exudates during root canal treatment (RCT) of nonvital, painful teeth. Materials and Methods: Patients scheduled for nonsurgical RCT were prospectively selected; the study was performed after obtaining informed consent from the patients and was approved by the Institutional Review Board for Clinical Research of Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University (3-2008-0118). Canal exudates samples were collected using sterilized paper points from teeth scheduled for RCT across three different time periods. MMP-8 and SP levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using a mixed model analysis and the Pearson correlation analysis (p < 0.05). Results: MMP-8 and SP levels in GCF were decreased during RCT (p < 0.0001), and they showed a weak positive correlation to each other (p < 0.05). Patients' subjective pain levels and the response from percussion test were significantly related to SP level. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that periradicular inflammation endodontic origin can elevate SP and MMP-8 levels in root canal exudates. Interestingly, SP level of canal exudates showed a possibility of being used as an indicator of pain due to periapical pathosis.