• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2019

Purpose: Ulcerative colitis is a common inflammatory bowel disease. Prolonged colitis can be a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Mulberry twig (MT, Sangzhi), a dry branch of Morus alba L., which is widely distributed throughout East Asia, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in the cells. However, the effects of MT extracts on colitis in in vivo are limited. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of MT extracts in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model. Methods: Six week-old, male ICR mice were divided into 3 groups: Control (n = 5), DSS (n = 7), and DSS+MT (n = 7) groups. Mice in the DSS and DSS+MT groups were administrated 3% DSS in drinking water for 5 days to induce colitis. At the same time, water extracts of MT (5 g/kg body weight/day) were orally administered to mice in the DSS+MT groups for 5 days. Results: The MT extracts significantly reduced the clinical and pathological characteristics of colitis. Disease activity index, mucosal thickness, and colonocyte proliferation were significantly reduced in the DSS+MT group compared with the DSS group. Furthermore, MT administration reduced the levels of plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and the colonic myeloperoxidase activity as well as mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, Cox-2, and iNOS. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that MT water extracts have potent anti-colitis activities in the mouse colitis model.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.391-398
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• 2018

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive resource for refractory patients because of their anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory capability and multi-lineage differentiation potential. The transplantation of MSCs has led to positive results in preclinical and clinical application to various diseases, including autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver cirrhosis, and ischemic stroke. On the other hand, studies have shown that paracrine factors, not direct cell replacement for damaged cells or tissue, are the main contributors in MSC-based therapy. More recently, evidence has indicated that MSC-derived exosomes play crucial roles in regulating the paracrine factors that can mediate tissue regeneration via transferring nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids to the local microenvironment and cell-to-cell communication. The use of these exosomes is likely to be beneficial for the therapeutic application of MSCs because their use can avoid harmful effects, such as tumor formation involved in cell transplantation. Therefore, therapeutic applications using MSC-derived exosomes might be safe and efficient strategies for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This review summarizes the recent advances and provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of MSC-derived exosomes as a therapeutic agent.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors of breast disease by checking the difference in lifestyle and the natural estrogen-containing food intake. The subjects were women who visited the J-City Women's Hospital between the ages of 20 and 60 (disease=85, non disease=93) and to avoid the demographic factors that might affect lifestyle, and to ensure the homogeneity of the two groups, (${\pm}5$ years old) were randomly expressed. The logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the influence of variables on breast disease. The probability of receiving a diagnosis of breast disease increased by 3.04 times, the probability of receiving a diagnosis of breast disease was 4.76 times higher than that of others such as brown rice grains, and the hobby life of stress relieving methods The probability of being classified as breast disease was 2.38 times. People who have experience of artificial abortion, those who enjoy white rice, and those who do not enjoy hobbies are more likely to be diagnosed with breast disease. The breast disease prevention and education program and the education program for the general public reflecting this characteristic will be necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-151
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• 2019

In chest and abdomen CT scans, the radiation exposure doses by scattering lines were measured at the eyeball and thyroid. Radiation exposure was investigated by using shielding devices. The chest and abdomen CT scan protocols used in the real examination were applied to measure and compare radiation doses before and after the use of shielding devices at the eyeball and the thyroid. The radiaton doses were measured with OSLD dosimeters. Barium, tungsten sheets, goggles and neck shields were used to protect the scattered X-ray. The chest CT scans showed respectively 3.01 mSv and 6.21 mSv at the eyeball and the thyroid by the scattered X-ray. The abdomen CT scans showed 0.55 mSv and 3.22 mSv for the eyeball and the thyroid respectively. Barium and tungsten sheets had 11% to 13% protection rates at the eyeball and the thyroid for chest CT scan, and 34% to 49% reduction in radiation dose for the abdomen CT scan. Because of the significant radiation dose, which causes cataracts and thyroid cancer by the repeated and continuous radiation exposure, for the chest and the abdomen CT scans, it is required to use shielding devices to reduce radiation dose for examinations.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.11-15
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• 2018

Background/Objectives: The efficacy of radiotherapy alone versus chemoradiotherapy has been studied in patients with T2N0M0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Materials & Methods: Thirty nine patients with newly diagnosed T2N0M0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were treated with either radiotherapy(RT group, 66-70Gy) or chemoradiotherapy(CRT group, cisplatin based concurrent chemoradiation with or without 2 cycles induction chemotherapy including cisplatin, $5-FU{\pm}$ docetaxel / radiation therapy same with above mentioned). The mean follow-up was 73.5 months. Results: The overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS), disease free survival (DFS), and larynx preservation survival (LPS) at 5 years were 70%, 79%, 67%, and 71%. The complete response rate was 82.4% in RT group, and was 95.5% in CRT group. OS (57% vs 80%), DSS (69% vs 86%), DFS (52% vs 77%), and LPS (63% vs 77%) at 5 years were higher in CRT group than RT group, but it was not statistically significant. In subsite analysis, CRT group tends to improve DFS, compared to RT group, in glottic cancer (p=0.06). The toxicities were tolerable and no fatal case was observed in both groups. Conclusion: Chemoradiotherapy is effective as primary therapy for T2 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and showed manageable treatment induced toxicity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.365-374
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• 2019

Unlike benign tumors, malignant tumors are capable of metastasis, easy to relapse, poor survival, and low quality of life. In Korea, here is a tendency to treat the tumors collectively according to the General Principles of Cancer Chemotherapy(GPCC) of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA). But recently, companion diagnostics(CDx) is recommended rather than unilateral medication because biomarker-based molecular diagnostics is possible to predict the drug response of patients before drug treatment. Not only domestic but also overseas Food and Drug Administratio (FDA) recommends the development of the CDx system at the stage of drug development to ensure the responsiveness and safety of medicines. In this study, I focused on the necessity of CDx development direction as well as CDx development status through literature review. Furthermore I also discussed CDx types according to the molecular diagnostic technology such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in situ hybridization (ISH), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) not only in the approved CDx but also in the developing one by US FDA. And I suggested the technology issue of CDx development process such as a selection of molecular diagnostics at the time of release, a clear understanding of the CDx mechanism, and a convergence of drug with CDx development. The necessity of social insurance system also was proposed for CDx development.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2019

Phthalate is a chemical endocrine disrupter and interfere with the action of hormones, estrogens, androgens and thyroid hormones. It also affect cardiovascular, metabolic, immune and reproductive system in the human and animals. Curcumin is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity and -cancer properties in the human. We studied whether phthalates damage viability, mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm in boar semen. We also treated curcumin with/without phthalates in the boar semen. Fresh boar semen was treated with phthalates and/or curcumin for examining sperm characteristics. Sperm characteristics, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial activity, and membrane integrity were determined during storage of boar semen. Sperm motility and viability in dose-dependent manner decreased by di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, p<0.05). Phthalates also decreased mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm (p<0.05). However, sperm motility and viability were higher than untreated-curcumin when DBP, MBP and DEHP treated with a curcumin in boar semen (p<0.05). Mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm were higher in DBP- and MBP-treated semen with curcumin (p<0.05). In conclusion, phthalates can damage sperm viability and quality during the boar semen storage, and curcumin may protect the boar sperms from phthalates during storage term.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.318-324
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• 2019

Squamous cell carcinoma is the primary tumor type in head and neck cancers, the fifth most common malignant neoplasm world-wide. Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family, is highly expressed in head and neck carcinoma patients and correlated with more aggressive forms. In this study, we investigated whether YM155, a specific survivin inhibitor, could induce apoptosis in head and neck AMC-HN4 cells. YM155 was found to markedly induce apoptosis and cleavage of PARP, a marker of apoptosis. Furthermore, YM155 promoted apoptosis in other cancer cells, such as glioma (U251MG) and renal carcinoma (Caki) cells. In contrast, YM155 had no effect on apoptosis in normal mesangial cells. YM155 significantly induced caspase activation, and pan caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk markedly blocked apoptosis, PARP cleavage, and caspase-3 cleavage. Therefore, YM155 was seen to instigate caspase-dependent apoptosis in head and neck AMC-HN4 cells, inducing downregulation of survivin as well as other apoptotic proteins such as c-FLIP and Mcl-1. In addition, the induction of apoptosis and PARP cleavage by YM155 treatment was effectively inhibited in survivin-, c-FLIP- and Mcl-1-over-expressing head and neck AMC-HN4 cells. In conclusion, YM155 is a potent candidate for inducing cell death in head and neck AMC-HN4 cells.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-123
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• 2018

Purpose: This study empirically investigates the utilization and expenditure of health care and long-term care at the last year of life for long-term care beneficiaries in Korea. Methods: This study used National Health Insurance and Long-term Care Insurance claims data of 271,474 LTCI beneficiaries, who died from July 2008 to December 2012. Their cause of death, place of death, health care costs, and the provision of aggressive care were analyzed. Results: Cardio-vascular disease(29.8%) and cancer(15.3%) were reported as their major cause of death, and hospital(64.4%), home(22.0%), social care facility(9.2%) were analyzed as the place of death. 99.3% of subjects used both health care and long-term care during the last 1 year of life. The average survival period were 516.2 days after they were LTCI beneficiaries. The health care expenditure gradually increased near the death, and the last month were three times more rather than the first month. Furthermore, 31.8% experienced some aggressive cares(CPR, blood transfusion, hemo-dialysis, etc.) at the last month of life. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is important to develop the end of life care policies(for example, hospice, advanced care directives) for the LTCI beneficiaries. They might contribute to the improvement of quality of life and the reduction of health care expenditure of the elderly at the end-of-life.

• The Korean journal of helicobacter and upper gastrointestinal research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.186-197
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• 2018

Background/Aims: To investigate the predictive factors for improvement of atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM). Materials and Methods: A total of 778 subjects were prospectively enrolled and followed up for 10 years. Histological analysis of AG and IM was performed by using the updated Sydney system. To find the predictive factors for reversibility of AG and IM, 24 factors including genetic polymorphisms and bacterial and environmental factors were analyzed. Results: In all subjects, the predictive factor by multivariate analysis for improvement of both antral and corpus AG was successful eradication. The predictive factors for improvement of antral IM were age and successful eradication. The predictive factor for improvement of corpus IM was successful eradication. In patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, age and cagA were predictive factors for improvement of AG and IM. In patients with H. pylori eradication, monthly income and cagA were predictive factors for improvement of AG and IM. Conclusions: H. pylori eradication is an important predictive factor of regression of AG and IM and would be beneficial for the prevention of intestinal-type gastric cancer. Young age, high income, and cagA are additional predictive factors for improving AG and IM status. Thus, various factors affect the improvement of AG and IM.