• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.4 s.20
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• pp.273-280
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• 2005

Purpose: Cyclin G2 has been reported to be a negative cell-cycle regulator in various cancer tissues. However, the pattern of cyclin G2 expression in gastric cancer is relatively unknown. We investigated the expression of cyclin G2 in gastric cancer tissues and evaluated the clinical significance of its expression. Materials and Methods: Well-preserved gastric cancer tissues were consecutively obtained from 172 patients who underwent gastric cancer operations at Samsung Medical Center between November 1994 and December 1997. Cyclin G2 expression in the tissues was examined immunohistochemically, and the clinicopathological features and prognostic significance according to the expression were analyzed. Results: Of the 172 gastric cancer tissues, cyclin G2 expression was positive in 43 tissues (25.0%). According to the stage, cyclin G2 expression was lower in more advanced stages (P<0.001). Negative expression of cyclin G2 was positively correlated with more advanced depth of tumor invasion (P<0.05), presence of lymph-node metastasis (P<0.05) and presence of lymphatic invasion (P<0.05). The prognosis of the cyclin G2(+) group was significantly better than that of the cyclin G2(-) group (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that T stage, lymph-node metastasis, distant metastasis, and lymphatic invasion were independent prognostic factors, but the expression of cyclin G2 was not. Conclusion: Cyclin G2 was expressed in 25% of the gastric cancer tissues, and negative expression of cyclin G2 was associated with more advanced tumor progression. Cyclin G2 may be a negative cell-cycle regulator in gastric cancer, and further studies are necessary to elucidate its exact role in the mechanism of carcinogenesis.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.1 s.55
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• pp.59-64
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• 2006

Crinum asiaticum Linne var. japonicum has long been used as a rheumatic remedy, an anti-pyretic, an anti-ulcer treatment, and for the alleviation of local pain and fever in Korea and Malaysia. In order to investigate the possibility of Crinum asiaticum Linne var. japonicum extract as a cosmetic ingredient, we measured its anti-inflammatory effect by inhibition of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), and the release of PGE2, IL-6, and IL-8. HPLC experiment after extraction with 95% ethanol at pH 3.5 showed that Crinum asiaticum Linne var. japonicum was mainly composed of lycorine (up to 1%), a well-known immunosuppressant. The content of lycorine varied depending on the type of tissue analyzed and the extraction method. In anti-inflammatory assay for inhibition of nitric oxide formation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, the ethanolic extract of Crinum asiaticum showed inhibitory activity of NO production in dose-dependent manner ($IC_{50} = 83.5 {\mu}g/mL$). Additional study by RT-PCR demonstrated that the extract of Crinum asiaticum significantly suppressed the expression of the iNOS gene. Moreover, the extract of Crinum asiaticum did not show my cytotoxicity, but did show cell proliferation effect against LPS ($10{\sim}60%$ increase of tell viability). In an assay to determine inhibition of the $H_2O_2$-activated release of PGE2, IL-6, and IL-8 in human normal fibroblast cell lines, the release of PGE2 and IL-6 was almost completely inhibited above concentrations of 0.05% and 1%, respectively. Moreover, the release of IL-8 was completely inhibited over the entire range of concentrations (> 0.0025%). The result showed that the extract of Crinum asiaticum Linne var. japonicum has sufficient anti-inflammatory effect. There-fore, Crinum asiaticum Linne var. japonicum extract may be useful as an ingredient of cosmetic products.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2008

Alien apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata, Pomacea insularus) used in environmentally-friendly agriculture are different from indigenous snails found in Korea. Due to high herbicidal effects and cost-effectiveness, the number of farmers using the snails has been growing every year since 2000. Moreover, in 2008, because of the outbreaks of avian influenza throughout the country from March to May, 2008, central and local governments recommended the use of alien apple snails in agriculture as an alternative to the ducks-oriented environmentally-friendly agriculture. Therefore, it is expected that the use of alien apple snails in agriculture should be expanded in a near future. Since alien apple snails lay eggs with 95.8% of eclosion rate, they are considered to be potential pests unlike indigenous snails. In addition, Japan, Taiwan and most of the southeast Asian countries had already experienced severe ecological and agricultural damage by the alien apple snails. Subsequently, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) designated P. canaliculata as one of "the 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species". It seems highly likely that the alien apple snails in Korea pose a potential threat to conservation of ecosystem and biodiversity since the snails were either found or invaded into the natural environments in some regions of Gangwon-Do and southern parts of Korean Peninsula. However, just recently, agricultural authorities and farmers using alien apple snails in agriculture opposed a proposition of designating the alien apple snails as an ecosystem-disturbing animal described by the Wildlife Protection Act. This is because there has been no concrete evidence of the ecological risk imposed by the alien snails up to now in Korea. Subsequently, in this paper, we analysed the ecological and agricultural risks imposed by the alien snails from the studies done in domestic and abroad. In addition, we proposed an urgent need and reasoning for ecological risk management of the alien snails at the national level as well as using the snails in agriculture.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2005

Purpose: Dietary protein induced proctocolitis (DPIPC) can be considered as a cause of rectal bleeding or blood streaked stool in otherwise healthy-looking infants in the first several months of life. Failure to appreciate this entity may lead to inappropriate diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of DPIPC. Methods: We reviewed 13 infants retrospectively, presented with bloody stool in early infancy. They were diagnosed as DPIPC clinically in Pusan National University Hospital from May 2002 to June 2004. Results: Seven males and six females were included. The mean age at onset of bleeding was $96.8{\pm}58.8days$. The mean frequency of hematochezia was $2.6{\pm}2.5$ times a day. Duration from onset of symptom to diagnosis was $35.5{\pm}55.0days$ and duration from onset of symptom to resolution of bleeding was $58.7{\pm}67.0days$. Nine (69.2%) were exclusively breast-fed infants and two (15.4%) were formula-fed infants. All but one infant did not have family history of other allergic diseases. A dietary history of ingestion of cow's milk, nut or shellfish was present in three mothers. Peripheral eosinophil count was normal to slightly elevated (total WBC count $10,555{\pm}3,145/mm^3$, relative eosinophil count $6.3{\pm}3.0%$, absolute eosinophil count $659.0{\pm}532.2/mm^3$). Sigmoidoscopy revealed lymphonodular hyperplasia with surrounding hemorrhagic spots in the rectosigmoid colon in 6 infants. Histopathologic finding of colonic biopsies in 5 infants showed chronic inflammation with lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (5 infants), crypt abscess (3 infants), or mild infiltration of eosinophils (less than 20/high power field) in the lamina propria. Spontaneous resolution of rectal bleeding occurred in all infants without dietary change or medicine. Conclusion: Most infants with DPIPC experience a very benign course and have spontaneous resolution of rectal bleeding without changes in the mother's diet. In the case of strong evidence for DPIPC we suggest deferring further invasive investigation and continuing breast feeding.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 1997

Purpose : Phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidic acid (PA) and choline. Recently, PLD has been drawing much attentions and considered to be associated with cancer Process since it is involved in cellular signal transduction. In this experiment, oleate-PLD activities were measured in various tissues of the living rats after whole body irradiation. Materials and Methods : The reaction mixture for the PLD assay contained $0.1\;\muCi\;1,2-di[1-^{14}C]palmitoyl$ phosphatidylcholine 0.5mM phosphatidylcholine, 5mM sodium oleate, $0.2\%$ taurodeoxycholate, 50mM HEPES buffer(pH 6.5), 10mM $CaCl_2$, and 25mM KF. phosphatidic acid, the reaction product, was separated by TLC and its radioactivity was measured with a scintillation counter. The whole body irradiation was given to the female Wistar rats via Cobalt 60 Teletherapy with field size of 10cmx loom and an exposure of 2.7Gy per minute to the total doses of 10Gy and 25Gy. Results : Among the tissues examined, PLD activity in lung was the highest one and was followed by kidney, skeletal muscle, brain, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, and liver. Upon irradiation, alteration of PLD activity was observed in thymus, spleen, lung, and bone marrow. Especially PLD activities of the spleen and thymus revealed the highest sensitivity toward $\gamma-rar$ with more than two times amplification in their activities In contrast, the PLD activity of bone marrow appears to be reduced to nearly $30\%$. Irradiation effect was hardly detected in liver which showed the lowest PLD activity. Conclusion : The PLD activities affected most sensitively by the whole-body irradiation seem to be associated with organs involved in immunity and hematopoiesis. This observation s1ron91y indicates that the PLD is closely related to the physiological function of these organs, Furthermore, radiation stress could offer an important means to explore the phenomena covering from cell Proliferation to cell death on these organs.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2008

Statement of problem: It has been proved that Pleurotus eryngii Quel and Eleutherococcus senticosus have antiinflammatory action and not only stimulates the proliferation and activity of osteoblast but inhibits the generation and activity of osteoclast in vitro. Pleurotus eryngii Quel and Eleutherococcus senticosus are the main component of $OPB-K^{(R)}$. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate $OPB-K^{(R)}$ which enhances the healing rate of peri-implant bone and the bone mineral density. Materials and methods: Thirty six specially designed implants were installed in the tibia of rats. The group medicated with $OPB-K^{(R)}$ was the experimental group, and that without was the control group. hen the implant stability was measured by $Periotest^{(R)}$. Bone mineral density and histological measurement were conducted at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week $Periotest^{(R)}$ and bone mineral density values were analyzed statistically with independent t-test at 95% confidence level(p<0.05). Results: The results of this study were as follows : 1. There was no statistically significant difference in $Periotest^{(R)}$. values between the experimental group and control group at the 2nd week, however, on the 4th and 6th week there was significant difference(p<0.05). 2. There was no statistically significant difference in bone mineral density between the experimental group and control group at the 2nd and 4th week, however on the 6th week there was significant difference(p<0.05). 3. Histological analysis showed difference in osseointegration on the 4th and 6th week between the groups. Conclusion: From the results, it is concluded that the $OPB-K^{(R)}$ medicated group showed statistically better results in bone density and stability than the control group. Clinically it would be better to medicate $OPB-K^{(R)}$ to patients for a long period of time after implantation to get superior results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2000

This study was conducted to test a hypothesis that sensitivity of trees to ozone exposure was related to their growth rates. Two cultivars of Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa with different genetic growth potential were used for the comparison. Two clones(72-30, 72-16) of cultivar No. 4 with fast growing potential and three clones(71-28, 72-27, 72-19) of cultivar No. 2 with slow growing potential were propagated in early spring by cutting in $2-{\ell}$ plastic pots. They were grown outdoor for 5 months and exposed in late August for 30 days to 70 and 130ppb ozone in a open-top chambers(2.5m in diameter and 2m in height). Ozone concentration in a control chamber was maintained below 30ppb by filtering with activated charcoal. Each treatment was replicated twenty times. In a control chamber, cultivar No. 4 grew 73%, 64%, and 38% faster than cultivar No. 2 in leaf weight, root weight, and total dry weight, respectively. Visible injury was observed only in cultivar No. 4 in 130ppb treatment. Ozone treatment at both 70 and 130ppb decreased height growth, dry weight of leaf, root, and entire plants in all five clones. Particularly root growth was reduced by 39.7% and 13.8% in cultivar No. 4 and No. 2, respectively, in 70ppb treatment. Consequently, shoot/root ratio of cultivar No.4 was increased by 63.4%, while that of cultivar No.2 was increased by 22.1%. Stomatal conductance decreased more in cultivar No.4 than in cultivar No.2. Net photosynthesis of cultivar No.4 at 130ppb ozone decreased by 69.5%, while that of cultivar No.2 decreased by 31.5%. Above mentioned physiological responses of two cultivars to ozone strongly suggested that fast growing cultivar No.4 was more sensitive to ozone than slow growing cultivar No.2. It was concluded that sensitivity of trees to ozone exposure was closely related to their growth rates.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2011

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anticonvulsive agent and has been used in the treatment of epilepsy for almost 30 years. VPA emerged in 1997 as an antineoplastic agent. And it is known that antitmor activity of VPA is associated with its targeted at histone deacetylases. 17AAG, Inhibition of HSP90 leads to the proteasome degradation of the HSP90 client proteins, such as Akt, Raf/Ras, Erk, VEGF, cyclin D and p53, and causes potent antitumor activity. It is reported that 17AAG-induced HSP90 inhibition results in prevention of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in several types of cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effect of co-treatment with the histone deacetylases inhibitor, VPA and the HSP90 inhibitor, 17AAG on human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. Cell viability was evaluated by trypan-blue exclusion. Induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by Hoechst staining, flow cytometry (DNA hypoploidy and MMP change), Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining. In this study, HOS cells co-treated with VPA and 17AAG showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensations, the reduction of MMP, the decrease of DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, the translocation of AIF onto nuclei, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-7 and PARP whereas each single treated HOS cells did not. Although the single treatment of 1 mM VPA or 0.5 ${\mu}M$ 17AAG for 48 h did not induce apoptosis, the co-treatment with them induced prominently apoptosis. Therefore our data in this study provide the possibility that combination therapy with VPA and 17AAG could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human osteosarcoma.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.44-57
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• 2003

Seasonal variations of bacterial abundance and production, heterotrophic nanoflagellate (HNF) abundance and HNF ingestion rates on bacteria using FLB together with environmental variables were investigated at intervals of a month in Kyeonggi Bay from December 1991 to November 1998. Bacterial abundance and production ranged from 0.38$\times$10$^{9}$ ~ 3.25$\times$10$^{9}$ cells 1$^{-1}$ (average 1.19$\pm$0.69$\times$10$^{9}$ cells 1$^{-1}$ ) and from 1.51 to 20.4 cells 1$^{-1}$ h$^{-1}$ (average 6.04$\pm$ 1.88$\times$10$^{6}$ cells 1$^{-1}$ h$^{-1}$ ), respectively. Bacterial abundance and production showed no differences at the high tide and low tide, and bacterial abundances were not different with depth, but bacterial production decreased with depth. Seasonal variation of bacterial abundance showed almost similar fluctuation pattern to those of DOC (dissolved organic carbon). HNF abundances ranged from 388 to 4,374 cells ml$^{-1}$ (average 1,344$\pm$130 cells ml$^{-1}$ ), were high in March, April, July and August. HNF abundance showed no difference between the high tide and low tide, and was not different with depth. The ingestion rates of HNF on bacteria were 1.0 to 6.3$\pm$10$^{6}$ bacteria 1$^{-1}$ h$^{-1}$ (average 3.12$\pm$0.55$\times$10$^{6}$ bacteria 1$^{-1}$ h$^{-1}$ ), resulting ingestion rates of HNF removed 19.4 to 141.4 %(average 62.3$\pm$12.0%) of bacterial production. Ingestion rates and grazing pressure of HNF on bacteria showed high correlation with HNF abundance. Although we cannot exactly discussion about seasonal variation of bacteria community in this study area where physical and chemical parameters were very complex, the results indicate that bacterial abundance and production were mainly controlled by resources supply as dissolved organic carbon and chlorophyll-a(bottom-up) except March which bacterial abundance and production uncoupled chlorophyll-a because of low dissolved organic carbon and low temperature, and were controlled by HNF grazing pressure(top-down) in the warm seasons except the winter.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2006

[ $\beta$ ]-Glucans (AG) were prepared from Agaricus blazei cultured in the medium fortified with the roots of Pueraria spp. by repeated extraction with hot water, gel filtration chromatography and DEAE ion exchange chromatography. Oligosaccharides (AO) were derived from the hydrolysis of AG by an endo-$\beta$-(1$\rightarrow$6)-glucanase from Bacillus megaterium. The anti-HT-29 human colon cancer activity of AG or AO was investigated using MTT assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, and cDNA microairay. AG and AO both inhibited proliferation and growth of HT-29 cells, and stimulated apoptosis of the cells in a dose-dependent manner. In cell cycle analysis, treating HT-29 cells with AG or AO resulted in the increase of cells in the G0 (sub-G1) and G1 phase. Especially, AO was more effective in inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest than AG. To screen the genes involved in the increase of apoptosis, the gene expression profile of the HT-29 cells treated with AO was examined by cDNA microarray. While several genes involved in cell cycle progression (CCND2 and CDK2) were down-regulated, many genes involved in apoptosis (TNFSF9, TNFRSF9, FADD, CASP8, BAD, CRADD, CASP9 etc), cell cycle inhibitor (CDKN2A), immune response (IL6, IL18, IL6R etc), and tumor suppressor (CEACAM1, TP53BP2, IRF1, and PHB) were up-regulated. These results suggest that AO could inhibit the proliferation and growth of HT-29 cells by G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis.