• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.27-32
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• 2006

Expression of invasion/metastasis suppressor, E-cadherin, is reduced in many types of human carcinomas. Although somatic and germline mutations in the CDH1, which encodes the human E-cadherin, have frequently been reported in cases with diffuse gastric and lobular breast cancers, irreversible genetic inactivations are rare in other human carcinomas. Recently, it has been well documented that some genes in human cancers may be inactivated by altered CpG methylation. Herein, we determined the expression and methylation status of E-cadherin in oral squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) by immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR. The expression of E-cadherin was significantly higher in the well-differentiated oral SCCs than the moderately or poorly differentiated ones. None of eight tested benign epithelial hyperplasias showed aberrant methylation, whereas five of 12 oral squamous cell carcinomas showed aberrant methylation. When we compared E-cadherin expression with methylation status, oral SCCs with normal methylation showed a higher expression of E-cadherin than those with methylation. These findings suggest that aberrant CpG methylation of CDH1 promoter region is closely associated with transcriptional inactivation and might be involved in tumor progression of the oral mucosa.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.64-67
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• 1996

Aberrant migration of thymic tissue occurs as an ectopic thymus in the mediastinum, base of skull, tracheal bifurcation, and cervical region. A recent review of the literature by Nowak et al. showed over 70 reported cases of aberrant thymus or thymic cyst in patients who presented with primary neck masses. Authors experienced a case of ectopic cervical thymus and reviewed the literature. A one-year-old boy with left neck swelling which had been noticed since one month of age visited out patient clinic. Ultrasonography showed a well-defined cystic mass containing homogeneous, low-echogenic content locating in the lateral aspect of the left carotid sheath. Operation was performed under the impression of branchial cleft cyst. At surgery, a multiseptated, well-encapsulated, brownish and doughy mass which was extending into the vicinity of the carotid bifurcation with sland stalk-like portion ending between the hypoglossal nerve and external carotid artery was excised completely. The cut-surface showed homogenous solid mass, and on frozen section the tissue revealed a normal thymic histology. Postoperative ultrasonography showed bilateral thymus in the superior mediastinum. The patient has no immunologic problem and is doing well now.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.264-270
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• 2008

Phytic acid(PA) (Inositol hexaphosphate, $IP_6$) is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate that is present in substantial amounts in almost all plants and mammalian cells. Recently PA has received much attention for its role in anticancer activity. In the present study, the preventive effects of PA on colon carcinogenesis were investigated. Six-week old Fisher 344 male rats were fed a AIN-93G purified diet and PA(0.5% or 2% PA in water) for 8 weeks. The animals received two ($1^{st}\;and\;2^{nd}$ week) injections of azoxymethane(AOM, 15 mg/kg b.w.) to induce colonic aberrant crypt foci(ACF). After sacrifice, the total numbers of aberrant crypts(AC) and ACF in colonic mucosa were examined after staining with methylene blue. Blood and serum were analyzed with a blood cell differential counter and an automatic serum analyzer. AOM induced the total numbers of $142.3{\pm}22.3$ ACF/colon and $336.6{\pm}55.1$ AC/colon. PA at the doses of 0.5 and 2% decreased the numbers of ACF and AC/colon in a dose-dependent manner. The numbers of ACF/colon and AC/colon by PA at the dose of 0.5% were $124.4{\pm}28.5\;and\;302.7{\pm}67.3$, respectively. PA at the dose of 2% significantly decreased the ACF and AC numbers to $109{\pm}18.1\;and\;254.8{\pm}50.6$, respectively(p<0.01). Especially, 2% PA significantly reduced the number of large ACF(${\geq}4$ AC/ACF) from $26.8{\pm}6.2$ ACF/colon to $15{\pm}6.7$ ACF/colon(p<0.01). Although some parameters in blood counts and serum chemistry were changed compared with the control, no specific toxicity was found. These findings suggest that phytic acid can be a chemopreventive agent for colon carcinogenesis resulting from inhibition of the development of ACF in the F344 rat.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 2006

Purpose: The nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve(NRLN) is a rare anomaly that is associated with the developmentally aberrant subclavian artery. Although rare on the right side and exceptional on the left, an aberrant nonrecurrent pathway for RLN represents a major surgical risk. Three course variations of right NRLN can be distinguished: descending(type I) , horizontal(type II), ascending(type III). This study is performed to characterize the variations of NRLN, associated vascular anomaly, and proper surgical methods for preventing nerve damage. Materials and Methods: Between January 1998 and March 2006 3,381 thyroidectomy were performed at our institution, and during these operations a nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve was observed in 13 cases (0.38%). There were 1 men and 12 women with a median age of 48 years(range 28-57). All of them are identified on the right side. Results: In all cases, there were no clinical symptoms observed preoperatively. The nerve anomaly was diagnosed preoperatively in only one case. There were type I variations of right RLN in 2 cases and type II variations in 11 cases. The retroesophageal aberrant right subcalvian artery; no innominate(brachiocephalic) artery was found and the right common carotic artery was arising directly from the aortic arch, was seen in 12 cases. A vocal cord palaysis caused by NRLN damage during operation was observed in one patient(7.6%) , where the nerve was close to the superior thyroid artery. No other complications were noted. Conclusion: It can be possible to predict NRLN from signs associated with the vascular anomaly; clinical symptoms or imaging studies. When an vascular anomaly is not detected preoperatively, overlooking possibility of NRLN may lead to severe operative morbidity. Hence, It is most important to identify all the thyroid structures carefully during thyroid surgery and to be aware of the possibility of anatomic variations of RLN.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.337-345
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• 2008

There are accumulating evidences that high levels of dietary iron may play a role in colon carcinogenesis. Elevated iron status has been associated with oxidative stress. Phytic acid (PA) functions as an antioxidant by chelating divalent cations and prevents formation of reactive oxygen species responsible for cell injury and carcinogenesis. The protective effect of PA was investigated on formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in iron-overloaded male F344 rats. After acclimation with AIN-93G purified diet (35 ppm Fe, normal control diet) for one week, animals were fed iron-overloaded diet (350 ppm Fe) and PA (0.5% or 2% PA in water) for 8 weeks. Animals received two (1st and 2nd week) injections of AOM (15 mg/kg b.w.) to induce colonic ACF. The colonic mucosa was examined for the total numbers of aberrant crypt (AC) and ACF after staining with methylene blue. The blood and serum were analyzed with a blood cell differential counter and an automatic serum analyzer. Iron-overloaded diet increased the concentration of iron in liver of the rats. But iron-related parameters in blood were not changed among experimental groups. The numbers of ACF per colon and AC per colon were $178.8{\pm}33.2$ and $448.4{\pm}110.2$ in the iron-overloaded F344 rats. The total AC was significantly increased, compared with normal-diet AOM control group (p < 0.05). The treatments of PA at the dose of 0.5% slightly decreased the number of ACF and AC per colon to $153.6{\pm}29.5$ and $396.3{\pm}107.5$. However, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of ACF and AC between the AOM control group and PA (0.5% or 2%)-treated groups. These results suggest that PA may not affect the formation of ACF or AC induced by AOM in ironoverloaded F344 rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2012

We investigated the effect of zinc on the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice with high iron diet (HFe; 450 ppm iron). Sixweek old ICR mice were fed on high iron diets with combination of three different levels of zinc in diets, low-zinc (LZn; 0.01 ppm), medium-zinc (MZn; 0.1 ppm), and high-zinc (HZn; 1 ppm) for 12 weeks. Animals were received weekly intraperitoneal injections of AOM (10 mg/kg B.W. in saline) for 3 weeks followed by 2% DSS (molecular weight 36,000~50,000) in the drinking water for a week. To confirm the iron storage in the body, the hepatic iron concentration has been determine chemically and compared with histological assessment visualized by Prussian blue reaction. Aberrant crypt (AC) and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were analyzed in the colonic mucosa of mouse fed high dietary iron. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level were also investigated. Apoptosis in the preneoplastic lesion was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL). In addition, immunohistochemistry of ${\beta}$-catenin was also performed on the mucous membrane of colon. The number of large ACF (${\geq}4$ AC/ACF), which possess greater tumorigenic potential, was significantly lower in MZn and HZn groups compared with LZn group. Cytosolic SOD activity in the liver was significantly higher in HZn group compared with LZn group. Hepatic MDA level was decreased significantly in HZn group compared with MZn and LZn groups. Apoptotic index was significantly higher in HZn group. Taken together, these findings indicate that dietary zinc might exert a protective effect against colonic preneoplastic lesion induced by AOM/DSS in ICR mice with high iron status, and suggest that dietary supplement of zinc might play a role in suppressing colon carcinogenesis in mice.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.3779-3782
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• 2011

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.612-612
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• 2007

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.354-362
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• 2011

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by abnormalities in T cell immunoregulation and hyperreactivity of B cells, leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. We investigated the effect of baicalin on aberrant immunoregulation in pristane-induced lupus mice. Mice received i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane or PBS, and approximately 3 months later, were used as a pristane-induced lupus model or healthy controls. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were randomly divided into three groups: healthy mouse group (healthy control), pristane-primed lupus control group (lupus control), and baicalin (BAC)-treated pristane-primed lupus mouse group (BAC-treated lupus). The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were administrated orally with BAC 50 mg/kg or PBS once in a day for 10 ds. These results demonstrated that levels of serum IL-6, LPS-induced production of IL-6, $PGE_2$ and NO by macrophages, $PGE_2$-stimulated production of IL-6 by macrophages and IFN-${\gamma}$ by thymocytes, and an overexpression of splenic NKT cells and CD69+CD4+ T cells were downregulated in BAC-treated lupus compared to lupus control, while reduced apoptosis of splenic CD4+ T cells were upregulated. Therefore, these findings suggest that BAC may attenuate autoimmunity and disease activity in lupus via downregulation of aberrant activation of T cells and inhibition of overproduction of IL-6 and $PGE_2$ in pristane-induced lupus mice.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.222-228
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• 2009

Lupus is characterized by immunoregulatory abnormalities between T- and B-cells leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. We investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) ameliorates aberrant activation of T cells and B cells and attenuate production of IL-6 in pristane-induced lupus mice. Lupus was induced by i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane in female BALB/c mice, which, later about 4 months, were used as a lupus model. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were injected i.p. with BC 5 ${\mu}l$/kg or PBS once a day for 3 weeks. These results demonstrated that BC significantly decreased levels of serum and BAL IL-6 and production of IL-6 by macrophages with/without LPS, and downregulated expression of NKT cell and CD86+ CD45R/B220+, but not CD80+CD45R/B220+ and CD69+CD4+ in the splenocytes in pristaneinduced lupus mice. Moreover, BC greatly increased Con A-stimulated production of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ by splenocytes obtained from pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, our findings suggest that BC may ameliorate lupus pathogenesis in pristane-induced lupus mice via downregulation of aberrant activation of NKT cells and B cells and inhibition of production of IL-6.