• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2014

Skin hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skin disorders caused by abnormal melanogenesis. The mechanism and key factors at play are not fully understood. Previous reports have indicated that cystamine (CTM) inhibits melanin synthesis, though its molecular mechanism in melanogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CTM on melanin production using ELISA reader and the expression of proteins involved in melanogenesis by Western blotting, and examined the involvement of transglutaminase-2 (Tgase-2) in SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells by gene silencing. In the results, CTM dose-dependently suppressed melanin production and dendrite extension in a-MSH-induced melanogenesis of SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells. CTM also suppressed a-MSH-induced chemotactic migration as well as the expressions of melanogenesis factors TRP-1, TRP-2 and MITF in a-MSH-treated SK-MEL-2 cells. Meanwhile, gene silencing of Tgase-2 suppressed dendrite extension and the expressions of TRP-1 and TRP-2 in a-MSH-treated SK-MEL-2 cells. Overall, these findings suggested that CTM suppresses a-MSH-induced melanogenesis via Tgase-2 inhibition and that therefore, Tgase-2 might be a new target in hyperpigmentation disorder therapy.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.586-596
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• 1998

Amalgam is one of the most commonly used dental restoration material because of its convenience, economic and physical properties. But microleakage in the tooth and amalgam interface has been its major problem, and many efforts have been made to overcome this shortcoming. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of various liners on microleakage of amalgam restoration. Cavities were prepared on the buccal or lingual surface of ninety sound, extracted human premolars and six different liners (Tubulitec$^{(R)}$, Superbond D-liner II Plus$^{(R)}$, Superbond D-liner II Plus$^{(R)}$ with polymer, Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus$^{(R)}$, Copalite$^{(R)}$, No liner) were unapplied according to manufacturer's instructions and amalgam had been condensed immediately. The specimens were thermocycled by dipping in methylene blue dye at $5^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$ for 1500 cycles. The amalgam-tooth interface was examined under stereobinocular microscope and the dye penetration was scored. The results were as follows : 1. The Tubulitec$^{(R)}$ group showed less microleakage than no liner or Copalite$^{(R)}$ group (p<0.01). 2. The Tubulitec$^{(R)}$, Superbond D-liner II Plus$^{(R)}$, Superbond D-liner II Plus$^{(R)}$ with polymer and Scotch bond Multipurpose Plus$^{(R)}$ groups were not significantly different. 3. The Copalite$^{(R)}$ and Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus$^{(R)}$ groups were not significantly different. Using the polystyrene liner and resin liners under admixed type of high-copper amalgam restoration significantly reduced microleakage in the tooth-amalgam interface. Further clinical studies on polystyrene liner are recommended.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2014

The stiffness of cancer cells is attributable to intermediate filaments such as keratin. Perinuclear reorganization via phosphorylation of specific serine residue in keratin is implicated in the deformability of metastatic cancer cells including the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line (PANC-1). 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a potent tumor promoter and protein kinase C (PKC) activator. However, its effects on phosphorylation and reorganization of keratin 8 (K8) are not well known. Therefore, we examined the underlying mechanism and effect of TPA on K8 phosphorylation and reorganization. TPA induced phosphorylation and reorganization of K8 and transglutaminase-2 (Tgase-2) expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in PANC-1 cells. These effects peaked after 45 min and 100 nM of TPA treatment. We next investigated, using cystamine (CTM), Tgase inhibitor, and Tgase-2 gene silencing, Tgase-2's possible involvement in TPA-induced K8 phosphorylation and reorganization. We found that Tgase-2 gene silencing inhibited K8 phosphorylation and reorganization in PANC-1 cells. Tgase-2 gene silencing, we additionally discovered, suppressed TPA-induced migration of PANC-1 cells and Tgase-2 overexpression induced migration of PANC-1 cells. Overall, these results suggested that TPA induced K8 phosphorylation and reorganization via Tgase-2 expression in PANC-1 cells.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.590-593
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• 2011

Purpose: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the third most frequently reported nosocomial infection. Of these SSIs, mostly were confined to the incision associated with underlying disease as diabetes, cigarette smoking, systemic steroid use, obesity, operating room environment, suture and surgical technique. This study has been planned to reduce the SSIs by using Vicryl $plus^{(R)}$ (Ethicon, USA) which contains triclosan, a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, into the infected wound to evaluate whether or not Vicryl $plus^{(R)}$ (Ethicon, USA) is effective to nosocomial bacteria using a zone of inhibition assay. Methods: We did a comparison of Vicryl $plus^{(R)}$ suture (with triclosan) size 2-0, 5-0 with $Vicryl^{(R)}$ suture (without triclosan) size 4-0 each as treatment and control group, applied in Mueller-Hinton agar infected by following mircroorganisms: Methicillin-sensitive $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ (MSSA), Methicillin-resistant $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ (MRSA), Acinetobacter baumanii, $Escherichia$ $coli$, Enterobacter faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans. Cultures were made of the selected mircroorganisms, seeding the study strain in agar plates for 24 and 48-hour period in an oven at $37^{\circ}C$ followed by zone of inhibition assay. Results: Vicryl $plus^{(R)}$ group has demonstrated to create a zone of inhibition against MRSA, MSSA and $A.$ $baumanii$, but no effect on $E.$ $faecalis$, $P.$ $aeruginosa$, $C.$ $albicans$. Vicryl $plus^{(R)}$ suture size 2-0 also had antibactericidal effect while Vicryl $plus^{(R)}$ suture size 5-0 did not. $Vicryl^{(R)}$ group had no zones of inhibition showing colonization at all mircroorganisms. Conclusion: Our results seem to warrant the use of Vicryl $plus^{(R)}$ as absorbable buried suture when concerning SSIs as a prophylaxis against surgical nosocomial infection.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.128-132
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• 2007

Diarun plus, a polyherbal formulation containing herbal ingredients of folkloric Antidiabetic effect, was investigated for its effect on glycemic status in rats and mice. In contrast to conventional chemical induced diabetic animal models, changes in glycemic states were induced by physiological maneuvers. Results revealed that in euglycemic animals Diarun plus elicited little change (-10 to +10%), which was insignificant. In food deprivation/swim exercise induced hypoglycemia, Diarun plus reduced the degree of hypoglycemia in both rats and mice (from 38% to 27% in rats and 45% to 32% in mice). Similarly, the marked hyperglycemia induced by dextrose (70% in rats and 95% in mice) was reduced markedly to 8% and 25% respectively. The findings of the present study suggests that the ingredients of Diarun plus have the unique property of maintaining near euglycemic state irrespective of the altered glycemic state, and that have no significant effect in euglycemic condition.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2014

Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of Endosolv-R and Xylene in softening epoxy resin based sealer after 1 to 2 min exposure. Materials and Methods: Sixty Teflon molds ($6mm{\times}1.5mm$ in inner diameter and depth) were equally divided into 3 groups of 20 each. AH 26 (Dentsply/De Trey), AH Plus (Dentsply/De Trey), Adseal (Meta-Biomed) were manipulated and placed in the molds allotted to each group and allowed to set at $37^{\circ}C$ in 100% humidity for 2 wk. Each group was further divided into 2 subgroups according to the solvents used, i.e. Xylene (Lobachemie) and Endosolv-R (Septodont). Specimens in each subgroup were exposed to respective solvents for 1 and 2 min and the corresponding Vicker's microhardness (HV) was assessed. Data was analysed by Mauchly's test and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Initial hardness was significantly different among the three sealers with AH Plus having the greatest and Adseal having the least. After 2 min, Xylene softened AH Plus and Adseal sealer to 11% and 25% of their initial microhardness, respectively (p < 0.001), whereas AH 26 was least affected, maintaining 89.4% of its initial microhardness. After 2 min, Endosolv-R softened AH 26, AH Plus and Adseal to 12.7, 5.6 and 8.1% of their initial microhardness, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Endosolv-R was a significantly more effective short term softener for all the tested sealers after 2 min whereas Xylene was an effective short term softener against AH plus and Adseal but less effective against AH 26.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.55-71
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• 1997

Digora/sup (R)/ an intraoral digital radiography system utilizing image plate (IP) - has a dynamic range of exposure time which allows it to decrease the patient's exposure time and to increase diagnostic ability through image processing, transmission and storage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Digora/sup (R)/ system by assessing the effects of various exposure times on the detectability on the tip of the endodontic file. Examining the root canals of 45 extracted sound premolars, K -files No. 10, 15, and 20 were placed at slightly varying distances from the apex. The teeth were glued onto resin-plaster blocks. Five exposure times varying between 0.01 seconds and 0.25 seconds were used. Four observers were asked to measure the distance between the tip of the file and a reduction of crown portion, and obtained mean errors (subtracting true file length from the measured file length), comparing Digora/sup (R)/ monitors with E-plus films, which were both obtained under the same geometrical positions. The results were as follows : 1. Comparing E-plus film with Digora/sup (R)/ at 0.01 seconds, the mean errors in E-plus film showed -4.453 nun, -4.497 nun, and -3.857 nun, while the mean errors in Digora/sup (R)/ showed 0.065 nun, 0.607 nun, and 0.719 mm according to the file groups. Therefore there was a significant difference between E-plus film and Digora/sup (R)/(p<0.05). 2. By comparison of mean errors according to the various exposure times in the Digora/sup (R)/ system, the mean error at 0.01 seconds was significantly lower than that at 0.12 and 0.25 seconds in the No. 10 file group(p<0.05). And the standard deviation was the highest at 0.01 seconds. 3. Comparing E-plus film at 0.25 seconds with the Digora/sup (R)/ system, the mean errors showed a significant difference between E-plus film at 0.25 seconds and the Digora/sup (R)/ system at 0.25 seconds in No. 10 and 20 file groups(p<0.05). 4. Comparing E -plus film at 0.25 seconds with other exposure times, the mean errors showed a significant difference between E-plus film at 0.25 seconds and E-plus film at 0 .. 01 and 0.03 seconds in 10 file group(p<0.05). In the No. 15 and 20 file groups, there was a significant difference between E-plus film at 0.25 seconds and E-plus film at 0.01 seconds(p<0.05). In conclusion, Digora/sup (R)/ was better than E-plus film in detectability on the tip of the file at the exposure time of 0.01 seconds in all file groups. And we concluded that Digora/sup (R)/ can shorten exposure times up to 4％ of 0.25 seconds (0.01 sec), which is adequate exposure time for premolar in E-plus film using No. 15 and 20 files.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2015

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the first step in metastasis and implicated in the phenotype of cancer stem cells. Therefore, understanding and controlling EMT, are essential to the prevention and cure of metastasis. In the present study, we examined, by Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and confocal microscopy, the effects of cardamonin (CDN) on transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$)-induced EMT of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. TGF-${\beta}1$ induced expression of N-cadherin and decreased expression of E-cadherin. CDN suppressed N-cadherin expression and restored E-cadherin expression. Further, TGF-${\beta}1$ induced migration and invasion of A549 cancer cells, which was suppressed by CDN. TGF-${\beta}1$ induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation during EMT, but CDN blocked it. Protein serine/threonine phosphatase 2A (PP2A) expression in A549 cancer cells was reduced by TGF-${\beta}1$ but CDN restored it. The overall data suggested that CDN suppresses TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT via PP2A restoration, making it a potential new drug candidate that controls metastasis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2016

MiR399f plays a crucial role in maintaining phosphate homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Under phosphate starvation conditions, AtMYB2, which plays a role in plant salt and drought stress responses, directly regulates the expression of miR399f. In this study, we found that miR399f also participates in plant responses to abscisic acid (ABA), and to abiotic stresses including salt and drought. Salt and ABA treatment induced the expression of miR399f, as confirmed by histochemical analysis of promoter-GUS fusions. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing miR399f (miR399f-OE) exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt stress and exogenous ABA, but hypersensitivity to drought. Our in silico analysis identified ABF3 and CSP41b as putative target genes of miR399f, and expression analysis revealed that mRNA levels of ABF3 and CSP41b decreased remarkably in miR399f-OE plants under salt stress and in response to treatment with ABA. Moreover, we showed that activation of stress-responsive gene expression in response to salt stress and ABA treatment was impaired in miR399f-OE plants. Thus, these results suggested that in addition to phosphate starvation signaling, miR399f might also modulates plant responses to salt, ABA, and drought, by regulating the expression of newly discovered target genes such as ABF3 and CSP41b.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.635-641
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• 2010

Background: Radiofrequency endovenous ablation of incompetent saphenous vein has gaining popularity over the conventional ligation and stripping as a minimally invasive technique. The latest version of radiofrequency endovenous catheter, $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ fast VNUS medical Technologies, San Jose, CA, adopted a segmental ablation system, instead of continous pullback, is designed to reduce treatment time in comparison with the previous model $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ plus VNUS medical Technologies, San Jose, CA. The purpose of this study is to compare the difference between two endovenous radiofrequency ablation systems in terms of treatment efficacy and complication rates. We analyze the initial efficacy and complication rates of $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ fast with $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ plus. Material and Method: Between June 2006 and August 2009, $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ plus was performed to treat varicose vein on 59 limbs in 41. patients and $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ fast was performed on 76 limbs in 67 patients. We retrospectively compared in both group with sex, mean treatment time, mean treatment diameter, conjugated treatment, and complications after the procedure. Result: All patient were symptomatic and diagnosed as varicose vein and underwent level 2 clinical classification with color duplex scan. The mean treatment time for the great saphenous vein was significantly less with $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ fast ($17.0{\pm}6.5min$) than $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ plus ($62.7{\pm}9.8min$). There was no significant difference in 1 yr closure rate between groups (p=0.32). Minor complications such as skin burn, thrombophlebitis, ecchymosis, hematoma, cellulitis, tenderness, and there were not different between the groups. Conclusion: Both $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ fast and $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ plus are effective methods of endovenous saphenous ablation. $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ fast is superior to the previous model with less treatment time preserving compatible efficacy and complications. The efficacy of $VNUS^{\circledR}Colosure$ fast for long term closure rate remains to be established.