• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.33-41
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the structural complexity of craniofacial trabecular bone in multiple myeloma by fractal analysis of panoramic and lateral skull radiography, and to compare the fractal dimension values of healthy patients (HPs), pre-treatment patients (PTPs), and patients during bisphosphonate treatment (DTPs). Materials and Methods: Pairs of digital panoramic and lateral skull radiographs of 84 PTPs and 72 DTPs were selected. After application of exclusion criteria, 43 panoramic and 84 lateral skull radiographs of PTPs, 56 panoramic and 72 lateral skull radiographs of DTPs, and 99 panoramic radiographs of age- and sex-matched HPs were selected. The fractal dimension values from panoramic radiographs were compared among HPs, PTPs, and DTPs and between anatomical locations within patient groups using analysis of variance with the Tukey test. Fractal dimension values from lateral skull radiographs were compared between PTPs and DTPs using the Student t-test. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between the mandible from panoramic radiographs and the skull from lateral skull radiographs. Intra-examiner agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (α=0.05). Results: The fractal dimension values were not significantly different among HPs, PTPs, and DTPs on panoramic radiographs or between PTPs and DTPs on lateral skull radiographs (P>0.05). The mandibular body presented the highest fractal dimension values (P≤0.05). The fractal dimension values of the mandible and skull in PTPs and DTPs were not correlated. Conclusion: Fractal analysis was not sensitive for distinguishing craniofacial trabecular bone complexity in multiple myeloma patients using panoramic and lateral skull radiography.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.396-403
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• 2022

Objectives: Gout is an inflammatory arthritis of the joints and soft tissues occurring due to deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, which are caused by persistent hyperuricemia. Soyeom pharmacopuncture is one treatment method that has been traditionally used for pain management in Oriental medicine. However, studies on its effect in reducing gout pain have been insufficient. Therefore, we selected Soyeom pharmacopuncture among natural products used in Korea as the new target of our study. Methods: The effects of Soyeom pharmacopuncture were examined in mouse models of acute gout induced by injection of MSU crystals into footpads. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α production were examined by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as hallmarks of NLRP3 inflammasome and cytokine activation. Results: Soyeom pharmacopuncture reduced foot edema in gout-induced mice, as well as IL-1β, nitrite, IL-6, and TNF-α production. Moreover, Soyeom pharmacopuncture also reduced MSU-induced gout inflammatory gene expressions, specifically those in the NF-kB pathway. Conclusion: Pharmacopuncture may serve as a new solution for other inflammatory diseases as well. Through active follow-up studies, we could thoroughly understand the clinical value of Soyeom pharmacopuncture.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.443-455
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• 2020

The thioredoxin (Trx) system plays critical roles in regulating intracellular redox levels and defending organisms against oxidative stress. Recent studies indicated that Trx reductase (TrxR) was overexpressed in various types of human cancer cells indicating that the Trx-TrxR system may be a potential target for anti-cancer drug development. This study investigated the synergistic effect of auranofin, a TrxR-specific inhibitor, on sulforaphane-mediated apoptotic cell death using Hep3B cells. The results showed that sulforaphane significantly enhanced auranofin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting TrxR activity and cell proliferation compared to either single treatment. The synergistic effect of sulforaphane and auranofin on apoptosis was evidenced by an increased annexin-V-positive cells and Sub-G1 cells. The induction of apoptosis by the combined treatment caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and upregulation of Bax. In addition, the proteolytic activities of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a substrate protein of activated caspase-3, were also higher in the combined treatment. Moreover, combined treatment induced excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, reduced combined treatment-induced ROS production and apoptosis. Thereby, these results deduce that ROS played a pivotal role in apoptosis induced by auranofin and sulforaphane. Furthermore, apoptosis induced by auranofin and sulforaphane was significantly increased through inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that down-regulation of TrxR activity contributed to the synergistic effect of auranofin and sulforaphane on apoptosis through ROS production and inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.49-54
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• 2014

Background: Hydrogels are a class of polymers that can absorb water or biological fluids and swell to several times their dry volume, dependent on changes in the external environment. In recent years, hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites have found a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery and cancer treatment. The incorporation of nanoparticulates into a hydrogel matrix can result in unique material characteristics such as enhanced mechanical properties, swelling response, and capability of remote controlled actuation. Materials and Methods: In this work, synthesis of hydrogel nanocomposites containing magnetic nanoparticles are studied. At first, magnetic nanoparticles ($Fe_3O_4$) with an average size 10 nm were prepared. At second approach, thermo and pH-sensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide -co-methacrylic acid-co-vinyl pyrrolidone) (NIPAAm-MAA-VP) were prepared. Swelling behavior of co-polymer was studied in buffer solutions with different pH values (pH=5.8, pH=7.4) at $37^{\circ}C$. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles ($Fe_3O_4$) and doxorubicin were incorporated into copolymer and drug loading was studied. The release of drug, carried out at different pH and temperatures. Finally, chemical composition, magnetic properties and morphology of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic hydrogel nanocomposites were analyzed by FT- IR, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The results indicated that drug loading efficiency was increased by increasing the drug ratio to polymer. Doxorubicin was released more at $40^{\circ}C$ and in acidic pH compared to that $37^{\circ}C$ and basic pH. Conclusions: This study suggested that the poly (NIPAAm-MAA-VP) magnetic hydrogel nanocomposite could be an effective carrier for targeting drug delivery systems of anti-cancer drugs due to its temperature sensitive properties.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.13-24
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• 2018

Objectives : According to the data from the 2016 Yearbook of Traditional Korean Medicine, 10 out of 12 medical schools of Korean medicine are offering medical ethics. Medical ethics has become essential in Korean medicine education, but there has been no agreement on the content of education yet, so initial discussions are necessary with respect to the content and methods of education. Methods : In this study, basic data were collected by searching papers, reports, books, and media articles on medical ethics related to Korean medicine education, and by studying the website of medical schools of Korean medicine nationwide. Based on the collected data, the status of medical ethics lectures were determined and compared with the current state of medical ethics lectures by western medical schools. The contents suitable for medical ethics education at medical schools of Korean medicine were discussed. Results : The topics of the medical ethics include: the basic concepts of medical ethics, the ethics of birth, the ethics associated with genetics, the ethics associated with death, and the ethics regarding doctor-patient interaction, the ethics of medical research, medical rationing ethics, ethics between medical staffs, medical law and ethics, philosophical base of medical ethics, ethics of doctor as professional, and moral personality formation of doctor. The contents of medical ethics in traditional Korean medicine reflected views on the human body and life based on "Huangdi's Internal Classic"and medical ethics from the viewpoints of Buddhism and Confucianism. Conclusions : Medical schools of Korean medicine are medical training institutions, and medical ethics education is essential to become a Korean medicine doctor as professional worker, medical practitioner, and biomedical researcher. There is no fundamental difference in the basic principles of medical ethics in both western and Korean medicine, and there are differences in contents depending on the clinical practice. The contents of medical ethics on clinical practice should be modified for Korean medicine doctors, and traditional Korean medicine ethics would be set up upon that. In the national licensing examination, medical ethics needs to be added as one part so that all the ethical problems related to the clinical situation can be solved.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.127-135
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• 2002

Anterior subcapsular cataract was developed by opacification with transdifferentiation and abnormal proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). After-cataract also be caused by a similar transdifferentiation of LECs remaining after surgery and the accompanying increase of ECM deposits. It is blown that prostaglandin E2 and cytokine, such as TGF-$\beta$, bFGF, and IL-1, were associated with abnormal proliferation and transdifferentiation of LECs. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of transforming growth factor-$\alpha$ (TGF-$\alpha$), transforming growth factor-$\beta_1$(TGF-$\beta_1$) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in LECs of senile and diabetic cataract. The expressions of these growth factors in lens epithelial cells were determined. The sample for growth factor determination were collected in senile cataract patients without metabolic disorder, especially diabetes mellitus and diabetic cataract patients. The mRNA expression of growth factors was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot analysis. Statistics were analysed using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR/southern analysis of RNA obtained from thirty surgical specimens demonstrated that the level of mRNA expression of TGF-$\alpha$, -$\beta_1$ and bFGF was increased in diabetic cataract lens tissues compared with senile cataract specimens but non-significant, bFGF and TGF-$\beta_1$ mRNA expression were detected in most patients, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$ was most high on the basis of normal ocular concentration. Detection rate of TGF-$\alpha$ in diabetic cataract was 1.5 fold higher than in senile cataract (P=0.098). TGF-$\alpha$, TGF-$\beta_1$, and bFGF mRNA expression of LECs were detected in senile and diabetic cataract. In both patient groups, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$, mRNA was high, so We suggest TGF-$\beta_1$ strong influence in development of senile cataract and of diabetic cataract also. TGF-$\alpha$ expression level was similar but more frequently detected in diabetic cataract than in senile cataract. In conclusion, TGF-$\alpha$ may be associated with early development of diabetic cataract.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.209-221
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• 2000

본 논문은 환자들의 병소에서 채취된 가검물에 존재하는 미생물들 가운데 pretense을 분비하는 균주들을 분리하고, 그 가운데 가장 효소생산력이 우수한 균주를 선정하여 가정용 Protease 세제생산에 활용 가능성을 알아보고자 그들이 생산하는 protease의 기초적 생산조건 및 부분적 효소학적 특성 등에 관한 실험에서 얻은 결과들을 보고하고자 작성되었다. Serratia sp. 2000-1로 동정된 본 실험 균주가 생산하는 protease의 기초적 생산조건과 부분적 효소학적 특성을 조사한 결과 효소생산을 위한 최적 배지에 탄소원과 질소원 그리고 금속염의 종류와 농도는 각각 Glucose 1.5%, C.S.P 2.0%, CaCl$_2$ 0.1%였다. 그리고 최적 배양온도는 3$0^{\circ}C$, 초발 pH는 8.0, 배양시간은 72시간 이었다. Protease의 정제는 ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-200 column을 통하여 분리 정제하였으며 이때 최종 효소수율은 14.4%, 효소 비활성도는 약 29배 증가한 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 효소 작용의 최적온도와 pH는 35$^{\circ}C$와 pH 8.0으로 나타났고, 효소 작용의 열과 pH에 대한 안정성은 4$0^{\circ}C$와 pH 6~10까지는 효소의 활성이 비교적 안정한 것으로 나타났다. 금속이온들 중 $Mg^{2+}$, $Ba^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, Mn$^{2+}$은 효소활성을 촉진하나 Hg$^{2+}$, Ag$^{2+}$, Cu$^{2+}$는 효소활성을 저해하는 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 효소활성 저해제들 중에는 SDS가 가장 강하게 효소활성을 저해하는 것으로 나타났다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.595-600
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• 2015

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that metformin possesses anticarcinogenic properties, and its use is associated with favorable outcomes in several cancers. However, it remains unclear whether metformin influences prognosis in prostate cancer (PCa) with concurrent type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to April 16, 2014 without language restrictions to identify studies investigating the effect of metformin treatment on outcomes of PCa with concurrent T2D. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the risk of recurrence, progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality. Summary relative risks (RRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Publication bias was assessed by Begg's rank correlation test. Results: A total of eight studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. We found that diabetic PCa patients who did not use metformin were at increased risk of cancer recurrence (RR, 1.20; 95%CI, 1.00-1.44), compared with those who used metformin. A similar trend was observed for other outcomes, but their relationships did not reach statistical significance. Funnel plot asymmetry was not observed among studies reporting recurrence (p=0.086). Conclusions: Our results suggest that metformin may improve outcomes in PCa patients with concurrent T2D. Well-designed large studies and collaborative basic research are warranted.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.217-224
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• 2004

Previously, we reported that water-extracted Acanthopanax senticasus exhibited anti-meta-static activity by stimulating the immune system. In this study, we fractionated glycoproteins (EN-SP) from the soluble protein layer (GF-AS) of A. senticasus and determined their basic chemical properties. We also investigated the anti-tumor and immunostimulating activities of the fractionated glycoprotein, EN-SP. We found that intravenous (i.v.) administration of GF-AS dramatically inhibited metastasis of colon26-M3.1 carcinoma cells to the lung in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro analysis showed GF-AS to enhance the proliferation of splenocytes. GF-AS also stimulated peritoneal macrophage, which was followed by the production of various cytokines such as IL-1$\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-12 and IFN-${\gamma}$. Furthermore, the production of these cytokines was partially blocked when peritoneal macrophage was cultured with the polyclonal antibodies against GF-AS. The depletion of NK cells by rabbit anti-asialo GM1 serum partly abolished the inhibitory effect of GF-AS on lung metastasis of colon26-M3.1 cells. Using gel filtration, EN-SP, an active glycoprotein fraction, is isolated from GF-AS. While both GF-AS and EN-SP stimulated the proliferatation of splenocytes of normal mice, EN-SP showed higher anti-metastatic activity and more potently stimulated the proliferation of splenocytes compared to GF-AS. These results suggest the use of EN-SP, the fractionated glycoprotein from A. senticasus, can be used as a therapeutical reagent to prevent or inhibit tumor metastasis.

• 한국과학교육학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.725-737
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• 2001

Virtual reality technology is very useful for the 21C science education, and is able to contribute to the development of new teaching and learning methods in science education. One of these computer-based technologies, virtual reality, is possible to use in many directions. It is a new communication medium that is receiving a lot of attention, and is usually identified by a collection of technological hardware. Virtual reality is defined as a highly interactive, computer-based, multimedia environment in which the user becomes the participant, with the computer in a virtual real world. A key feature of virtual reality is real-time interactivity, in that the computer is able to detect user inputs and instantaneously modify the virtual world. It is being used in a wide variety of fields including physics, chemistry, human biology, biomedical sciences, military, architecture, industry and the entertainment. In classroom, using science educational program developed by virtual reality technology can increase the interests of students, promote understanding of basic science concepts, help laboratory skills, and encourage creative learning for them.