• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.166-181
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• 2017

Objectives : The study was done to verify the relation between early-onset androgenetic alopecia(AGA) and metabolic syndrome(MetS). Methods : Data were collected through electronic database including KoreaMed, National Assembly Library, KMBASE, NDSL, KCI, KERIS, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Cochrane CENTRAL and EBSCO MEDLINE. A total of 13 case-control studies related to the MetS of early-onset alopecia patients were used for the systematic review and meta-analysis. Risk of bias of included studies were assessed by RoBANS tool. RevMan5.3, CMA3 were used for the meta-analysis. Results : In 13 evaluated articles, most frequent bias was the participant selection bias that was found in 10 articles. Significant association between early-onset AGA and MetS was found in 10(76.9%) out of 13 articles in the systematic review. In meta-analysis, early-onset male AGA was associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome(OR: 3.73, 95% CI:2.49 -5.61). Conclusions : AGA, particularly early -onset male AGA, is significantly associated with MetS. Therefore all patients with early onset male AGA should be suggested to take preventive treatment to reduce the risk of MetS and various problems associated with it.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권11호
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• pp.1532-1539
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• 2012

The ${\alpha}$-galactosidase-coding gene agaAJB13 was cloned from Sphingomonas sp. JB13 showing 16S rDNA (1,343 bp) identities of ${\leq}97.2%$ with other identified Sphingomonas strains. agaAJB13 (2,217 bp; 64.9% GC content) encodes a 738-residue polypeptide (AgaAJB13) with a calculated mass of 82.3 kDa. AgaAJB13 showed the highest identity of 61.4% with the putative glycosyl hydrolase family 36 ${\alpha}$-galactosidase from Granulicella mallensis MP5ACTX8 (EFI56085). AgaAJB13 also showed <37% identities with reported protease-resistant or Sphingomonas ${\alpha}$-galactosidases. A sequence analysis revealed different catalytic motifs between reported Sphingomonas ${\alpha}$-galactosidases (KXD and RXXXD) and AgaAJB13 (KWD and SDXXDXXXR). Recombinant AgaAJB13 (rAgaAJB13) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The purified rAgaAJB13 was characterized using p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranoside as the substrate and showed an apparent optimum at pH 5.0 and $60^{\circ}C$ and strong resistance to trypsin and proteinase K digestion. Compared with reported proteaseresistant ${\alpha}$-galactosidases showing thermolability at $50^{\circ}C$ or $60^{\circ}C$ and specific activities of <71 U/mg with or without protease treatments, rAgaAJB13 exhibited a better thermal stability (half-life of >60 min at $60^{\circ}C$) and higher specific activities (225.0-256.5 U/mg). These sequence and enzymatic properties suggest AgaAJB13 is the first identified and characterized Sphingomonas ${\alpha}$-galactosidase, and shows novel protease resistance with a potential value for basic research and industrial applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.284-292
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• 2018

A novel ${\beta}$-agarase, AgaJ5, was identified from an agar-degrading marine bacterium, Gayadomonas joobiniege G7. It belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 86 and is composed of 805 amino acids with a 30-amino-acid signal peptide. Zymogram analysis showed that purified AgaJ5 has agarase activity. The optimum temperature and pH for AgaJ5 activity were determined to be $30^{\circ}C$ and 4.5, respectively. AgaJ5 was an acidic ${\beta}$-agarase that had strong activity at a narrow pH range of 4.5-5.5, and was a cold-adapted enzyme, retaining 40% of enzymatic activity at $10^{\circ}C$. AgaJ5 required monovalent ions such as $Na^+$ and $K^+$ for its maximum activity, but its activity was severely inhibited by several metal ions. The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ of AgaJ5 for agarose were 8.9 mg/ml and 188.6 U/mg, respectively. Notably, thin-layer chromatography, mass spectrometry, and agarose-liquefication analyses revealed that AgaJ5 was an endo-type ${\beta}$-agarase producing neoagarohexaose as the final main product of agarose hydrolysis. Therefore, these results suggest that AgaJ5 from G. joobiniege G7 is a novel endo-type neoagarohexaose-producing ${\beta}$-agarase having specific biochemical features that may be useful for industrial applications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권22호
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• pp.10039-10043
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• 2014

Background: In Pakistan thyroid cancer is responsible for 1.2% cases of all malignant tumors. Ultrasonography (US) is helpful in detecting cancerous thyroid nodules on basis of different features like echogenicity, margins, microcalcifications, size, shape and abnormal neck lymph nodes. We therefore aimed to calculate diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in detection of carcinoma in thyroid nodules taking fine needle aspiration cytology as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was designed to prospectively collect data from December 2010 till December 2012 from the Department of Radiology in Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 100 patients of both genders were enrolled after informed consent via applying non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Patients referred to Radiology department of Aga Khan University to perform thyroid ultrasound followed by fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules were included. They were excluded if proven for thyroid malignancy or if their US or FNAC was conducted outside our institution. Results: The subjects comprised 76 (76%) females and 24 males. Mean age was $41.8{\pm}SD$ 12.3 years. Sensitivity and specificity with 95%CI of ultrasound in differentiating malignant thyroid nodule from benign thyroid nodule calculated to be 91.7% (95%CI, 0.72-0.98) and 78.94% (0.68-0.87) respectively. Reported positive predictive value and negative PV were 57.9% (0.41-0.73) and 96.8% (0.88-0.99) and overall accuracy was 82%. Likelihood ratio (LR) positive was computed to be 4.3 and LR negative was 0.1. Conclusions: Ultrasonography has a high diagnostic accuracy in detecting malignancy in thyroid nodules on the basis of features like echogenicity, margins, micro calcifications and shape.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8339-8343
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• 2016

Background: To determine the outcome and cost saving by placing ultrasound guided surgical clips for tumor localization in patients undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from January to December 2014. A sample of 25 women fulfilling our selection criteria was taken. All patients came to our department for ultrasound guided core biopsy of suspicious breast lesions and clip placement in the index lesion prior to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. All the selected patients had biopsy proven breast cancer. Results: The mean age was $45{\pm}11.6years$. There were no complications seen after clip placement in terms of clip migration or hemorrhage. The cost of commercially available markers was approximately PKR 9,000 (US$ 90) and that of the surgical clip was PKR 900 (US$ 9). The cost of surgical clips in 25 patients was PKR 22,500 (US$ 225), when compared to the commercially available markers which may have incurred a cost of PKR 225,000 (US$ 2,250). The total cost saving for 25 patients was PKR 202,500 (US$ 2, 025), making it PKR 8100 (US$ 81) per patient. Conclusions: The results of our study show that ultrasound guided surgical clip placement in index lesions prior to neo-adjuvant therapy is a safe and cost effective method to identify tumor bed and response to treatment for further management.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.757-760
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• 2015

Aim: To present the epidemiologic data (age, gender, size etc) and histopathologic and immunohistochemical features of cases of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) reported in our department. Settings: Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Duration: All cases of RMS diagnosed between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012 were included in the study. Results: A total of 277 cases were included. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) was by far the dominant histologic type (87.4%) followed by alveolar type (ARMS)(9.4%). ERMS was much more common in males (64.0%)and over 65% of cases occurred in the first decade of life (over 90% in the first two decades). Head and neck region was commonest site for ERMS (46.7%), followed by the genitourinary system (16.1%). Over 65% cases of ARMS occurred in the extremities. Over 80% cases of ARMS occurred in the first 3 decades of life. Immunohistochemical staining for Desmin and MyoD1 was positive in 96.7% and 85.4% respectively. Conclusions: The epidemiologic data and microscopic findings in our patients are similar to international published data on rhabdomyosarcoma.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.145-149
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• 1994

Intravenous administration of hydro-methanolic extract of Cyperus scariosus (3-10 mg/kg) produced hypotensive and bradcardiac effects. These effects remianed unaltered in atropinized animals indicating that cardiovascular effects of the plant extract are not medliated through activation of muscarinic receptors. In the in vitro studies, it suppressed the spontaneous contractions of guinea-pig paired atria, rat ulterus and rabbit jejunum in a concentration-dependent (0.1-1 mg/ml) manner. It also inhibited histanmine or acetylcholine-induced contractions of guinea-pig ieum indicating non-sepcific spasmolytic action. In rabbit aorta, it inhibited norepinephrine $(10\;mu{M)}$ as well as $K^+$ (80mM)-induced contractions at similar concentrations (0.1-1 mg/ml). These data indicate that cyperus scariosus contains $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker-like constituent(s) which may explain hypotensive effect observed in vivo and the general spasmolytic activity of plant explain its folkloric use in diarrhoea.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.40-45
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• 2010

Agarose의 $\beta$-1,4결함을 분해하는 Zobellia galactanivorans 유래의 $\beta$-agarase 유전자(agaB)는 클로닝 되었고, AOX1(alcohol oxidase 1, methanol inducible) promoter 하류에 Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating factor alpha-1 secretion signal($MF{\alpha}1$)를 연결하여 $MF{\alpha}1$-AgaB를 구축하였다. 구축된 plasmid pPIC-AgaB(9 kb)를 Pichia pastoris genome에 HIS4 gene 위치에 integration하였고, colony PCR을 통해 확인하였다. Methanol 첨가 배지에서 자란 형질전환체는 iodine solution의 첨가에 의해 red halos를 보였으며, P.pastoris에서 agaB의 효율적 분비 발현을 확인하였다. SDS-PAGE와 zymographic analysis에서 $\beta$-agarase의 분자량은 약 53 kDa으로 추정되었으며, 15% 정도의 N-linked glycosylation이 일어났음을 알 수 있었다. P.pastoris GS115/pPIC-AgaB의 48시간 baffled flask culture에서 세포외 $\beta$-agarase의 활성은 각각 0.1, 0.5, 1% methanol의 유도에 의해 1.34, 1.42 그리고 1.53 units/mL의 활성을 보였다. 대부분의 $\beta$-agarase의 활성은 세포 외에서 관찰되었고, 분비효율은 98%였으며 분비시의 glycosylation에 의해 열안정성도 증가되었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권11호
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• pp.4705-4709
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• 2014

Objective: To determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detection of metastasis in pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes from different gynecological malignancies. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross sectional analytic study was conducted at the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan from January 2011 to December 2012. A sample of 48 women, age range between 20-79 years, fulfilling inclusion criteria were included. All patients had histopathologically proven gynecological malignancies in the cervix, endometrium or ovary and presented for a pretreatment MRI to our radiology department. Results: MRI was 100% sensitive and had a 100% positive predictive value to detect lymph node metastasis in lymph nodes with spiculated margins and 100% sensitive with a 75% positive predictive value to detect lymph node metastasis in a lymph node with lobulated margins. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of MRI to detect heterogeneous nodal enhancement were 100% and 75% respectively. Conclusions: Our study results reinforce that MRI should be used as a modality of choice in the pretreatment assessment of lymph nodes in proven gynaecological malignancies in order to determine the line of patientmanagement, distinguishing surgical from non-surgical cases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.2587-2592
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• 2016

Background: Early onset sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) is a biologically and clinically distinct entity hypothesized to exhibit differences in histological features and microsatellite instability (MSI) as compared to typical onset CRC. This study compared the MSI status, mismatch repair enzyme deficiency and clinicopathological features of early onset (aged ${\leq}45$ years) with controls (>45 years). Materials and Methods: A total of 30 cases and 30 controls were analyzed for MSI status using the Bethesda marker panel. Using antibodies against hMLH1, hMSH2 and hMSH6, mismatch repair protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Molecular characteristics were correlated with clinicopathological features. Results: The early onset sporadic CRCs were significantly more poorly differentiated tumors, with higher N2 nodal involvement and greater frequency of signet ring phenotype than the typical onset cases. MSI was observed in 18/30 cases, with 12/18 designated as MSI-high (MSI-H) and 6/18 designated as MSI-low (MSI-L). In the control group, 14 patients exhibited MSI, with 7 MSI-H and 7 MSI-L. MSI tumors in both cases and controls exhibited loss of hMLH1, hMSH2 and hMSH6. MSS tumors did not exhibit loss of expression of MMR proteins, except hMLH1 protein in 3 controls. No statistically significant difference was noted in MSI status or expression of MMR proteins in cases versus controls. Conclusions: Microsatellite status is comparable between early and typical onset sporadic CRC patients in Pakistan suggesting that differences in clinicopathological features between these two subsets are attributable to other molecular mechanisms.