• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2659-2664
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• 2015

Background: To examine the expression of cysteine-rich 61 (Cyr61/CCN1) protein in laryngeal squamouscell carcinoma (LSCC) tissues, and its relationship with the tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, metastasis, and prognosis. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of Cyr61, Vimentin (Vim), and E-cadherin (E-cad) in 88 cases of LSCC tissues and 30 cases of tumor-adjacent normal tissues. Vim and E-cad were used as mesenchymal and epithelial markers, respectively, to determine the relationship between Cyr61 expression and the EMT of LSCC cells. In addition, clinical and histopathological data were combined to analyze the relationship between the positive-expression rates of Cyr61, Vim and E-cad and LSCC invasion, metastasis and prognosis. Results: In LSCC tissues, Vim expression rate was significantly higher than that of the tumor-adjacent tissues, whereas E-cad expression rate was significantly lower than that of the tumor-adjacent tissues. The Vim expression rate was significantly higher in stages T3 and T4 than in stages T1 and T2 LSCC tissues, whereas E-cad expression rate was significantly lower in stages T3 and T4 than in stages T1 and T2 LSCC tissues. Compared to the group without lymph node metastasis, the Vim expression rate was significantly higher and the E-cad expression rate was significantly lower in the group with lymph node metastasis. The expression rate of Cyr61 was significantly higher in LSCC tissues than in the tumor-adjacent normal tissues. In addition, the Cyr61 expression rate was higher in stages T3 and T4 than in stages T1 and T2 LSCC, and higher in the group with lymph node metastasis than in the group without lymph node metastasis. The Vim expression rate was significantly higher in the Cyr61 positive group than in the Cyr61 negative group, whereas the E-cad expression rate was significantly higher in the Cyr61 negative group than in the Cyr61 positive group. Survival analysis indicated that survival rates of Cyr61 positive, Vim positive and E-cad negative groups were significantly lower than that of Cyr61 negative, Vim negative and E-cad positive groups, respectively. Conclusions: Cyr61 expression is closely associated with LSCC invasion and lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of Cyr61 may induce EMT and therefore leads to LSCC invasion and metastasis and poor prognosis. Cyr61 may become a new maker for clinical prediction of LSCC invasion and metastasis and a new target for LSCC treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1321-1327
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• 2009

The present study examined the comparative effects of various amino acids on the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities of yeast Saccharomyces cereviciae and rat liver homogenate in vitro. Methionine showed the highest activity in yeast ADH among the amino acids used in this study, but this was not higher than that of the hangover product, Condition-Power (CP) used as positive control. Methionine was also found to be the best amino acid in terms of the ALDH activity in rat liver homogenate among the treatment amino acids, which was comparatively higher than that of positive control CP. It was chosen for further experiments and yeast ADH activity increased in parallel with increased methionine concentration, but not rat liver ALDH activity, and it was comparatively higher than those of the positive control. Arginine showed the highest values in yeast ALDH and rat liver ADH activities among amino acids, and it was chosen for further experiments. Yeast ALDH activity increased in parallel with increased arginine concentration, which was higher than that of positive control CP, and rat liver ADH activity was also comparatively higher in all treatment concentrations of arginine than that of positive control CP. The native electrophoresis of ADH and ALDH from cell-free extracts of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultured in the growth medium containing various arginine concentrations by $0{\sim}0.1%$ showed two active bands upon zymogram staining analysis, and the straining intensity of ADH and ALDH active bands in arginine treatment yeast was stronger than that of non-yeast or low treatment yeast. These results indicate that alcohol metabolizing enzyme activities can be enhanced by arginine and methionine, suggesting that arginine and methionine have potent ethanol-metabolizing activities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.172-183
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• 1999

Background: Nitric oxide is a short-lived effector molecule derived from L-arginine by the nitric oxide synthase(NOS). Nitric oxide plays a role in a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic functions including host defense, edema formation, and regulation of smooth muscle tone. Some kinds of cells including macrophage are known to produce large quantities of nitric oxide in response to inflammatory stimuli such as interleukin-$1\beta$(IL-$1\beta$), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$), interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Reactive oxygen species are also known to be important in the pathogenesis of acute cell and tissue injury such as acute lung injury model Methods: Using the RA W264.7 cells, we have examined the ability of oxidant hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) to stimulate nitric oxide production and inducible NOS mRNA expression. Also, we have examined the effects of NOS inhibitors and antioxidants on $H_2O_2$ induced nitric oxide production. Results: Stimulation of RAW264.7 cells with combinations of 100 ng/ml IL-$1\beta$, 100 ng/ml TNF-$\alpha$, and 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ or 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ and $1{\mu}g/ml$ LPS induced the synthesis of nitric oxide as measured by the oxidation products nitrite($NO_2^-$) and nitrate($NO_3^-$). Addition of $250 {\mu}M-2$ mM $H_2O_2$ to the cytokines significantly augmented the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$(p<0.05). When cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of $H_2O_2$ in the presence of IL-$1\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$ and IFN-$\gamma$ at constant level, the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ was dose-dependently increased(p<0.05). $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), dose dependently, significantly inhibited the formation of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ in cells stimulated with LPS, IFN-$\gamma$ and $H_2O_2$ at constant level(p<0.05). Catalase significantly inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced augmentation of cytokine-induced $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ formation(p<0.05). But, boiled catalase did not produce a significant inhibition in comparison with the native enzyme. Another antioxidant 2-mercaptoethanol and orthophenanthroline dose-dependently suppressed $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ synthesis(p<0.05). Northern blotting demonstrated that H:02 synergistically stimulated the cytokine-induced iNOS mRNA expression in RA W264.7. Conclusion: These results suggest that $H_2O_2$ contributes to inflammatory process by augmenting the iNOS expression and nitric oxide synthesis induced by cytokines.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 2011

Amine can undergo irreversible reactions by $O_{2}$ and high temperature in amine scrubbing process and these phenomena are called "degradation". Degradation causes not only a loss of valuable amine, but also operational problems such as foaming, corrosion and fouling. In this study, using various chemical absorbents(MEA; monoethanolamine, AMP; 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, DAM; 1,8-diamino-p-menthane), we examined the following variable. I) loading ratio of $CO_{2}$ at $50^{\circ}C$ and $120^{\circ}C$, ii) concentration variation and initial degradation rate constant of absorbent in $CO_{2}$ and $CO_{2}/O_{2}$ system, and iii) effect of degradation by $O_{2}$. The $CO_{2}$ loading of 20 wt% DAM was 400% and 270% higher than that of 20 wt% MEA and AMP at 50, respectively and was the largest the difference of $CO_{2}$ loading between absorption $(50^{\circ}C)$ and regeneration $(120^{\circ}C)$ condition. The initial degradation rate constant of 20 wt% DAM was $2.254{\times}10^{-4}cycle^{-1}$ which was slower than that of MEA $(2.761{\times}10^{-4}cycle^{-1})$ and AMP $(2.461{\times}10^{-4}cycle^{-1})$ in $CO_{2}$ system. Also, it was increased 30% by $O_{2}$ that effects on the degradation by $O_{2}$ was less than 100% increased. these degradation reactions was able to identify by formation of new peak in GC and FT-IR spectrum analysis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.114-122
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• 1986

At present, the treatments of the radiation-induced diseases are only performing by the palliative treatment technique. Moreover, radiation protective agents are a little toxic for human being and this seriously limits their applicability with various complications in clinical uses. Accordingly, as a part of the aim of gain of the basic data for protective roles of some radioprotectors, the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the comparative radioprotective effects by the administration of DDC, MEA, WR-2721. Results are shown for statistically significant analysis and correlation with each group as follows; 1. The proper doses of the radioprotectors were DDC; 1,550 mg/kg, MEA; 450 mg/kg, WR-2721; 780 mg/kg of the mouse body weight. 2. DMF(Dose modification factor) of LD 50/10 and LD 50/30 for whole body irradiation was DDC; 1.2, MEA; 1.4, WR-2721; 1.9 and DDC; 1.7, MEA; 1.8, WR-2721; 2.5 respectively. 3. DMF for radiation reaction of jejunal crypt was DDC: 1.07, MEA: 1.21 and WR-2721: 1.76 and that of jejunal crypt cell was DDC: 1.04, MEA: 1.08 and WR-2721: 1.38 respectively. 4. Conclusively, WR-2721 was the most effective drung among the three radioprotectors and this result must be a supportive data for further study for clinical application.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.291-295
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• 2012

The use of methylacetamide (MA) as a cryoprotective agent for freezing Korean Native Black rooster Ogye semen was examined with artificial insemination. The diluted Ogye semen with HS-1 was subjected for 2 step dilution method of cryopreservation in which the final concentration of MA was adjusted to 7.5%. The sperm viability after thawing was reduced from $95.17{\pm}0.93%$ to $55.93{\pm}1.38%$ which was confirmed by live-death analysis based on Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). The rates of fertilized eggs with fresh or frozen-thawed semen were reduced from $94.98{\pm}3.93%$ to $66.36{\pm}8.43%$ at day 7 with significant difference. However, the hatching rates of experiments at day 21 did not shown difference between $92.64{\pm}2.33%$ and $90.45{\pm}8.05%$ (P<0.05). With these results, the utilization of MA for freezing of Ogye spermatozoa could affect on viability of frozen-thawed semen but not on the fertility of lain eggs and hatchability of fertilized eggs and also provide possible tools of freezing for poultry genetic resource conservation.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to confirm the exactitude of in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(NMRS) and to complement the defect of in vivo NMRS. It has been difficult to understand the metabolism of a cerebellum using in vivo NMRS owing to the generated inhomogeneity of magnetic fields (B0 and B1 field) by the complexity of the cerebellum structure. Thus, this study tried to more exactly analyze the metabolism of a canine cerebellum using the cell extraction and high resolution NMRS. In order to conduct the absolute metabolic quantification in a canine cerebellum, the spectrum of our phantom included in various brain metabolites (i.e., NAA, Cr, Cho, Ins, Lac, GABA, Glu, Gln, Tau and Ala) was obtained. The canine cerebellum tissue was extracted using the methanol-chloroform water extraction (M/C extraction) and one group was filtered and the other group was not under extract processing. Finally, NMRS of a phantom solution and two extract solution (90% D2O) was progressed using a 500MHz (11.4 T) NMR machine. Filtering a solution of the tissue extract increased the signal to noise ratio (SNR). The metabolic concentrations of a canine cerebellum were more close to rat’s metabolic concentration than human’s metabolic concentration. The present study demonstrates the absolute quantification technique in vitro high resolution NMRS with tissue extraction as the method to accurately measure metabolite concentration.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.848-857
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• 2007

Sikhe, a traditional Korean drink, was prepared with Hovenia dulcis extract (HDE), and its quality and storage characteristics were evaluated through sensory and microbial analyses. In the color analysis, the lightness of the Sikhe showed a decreasing tendency according to the addition of HDE, while redness and yellowness increased. The Sikhe prepared with 20% HDE had the highest sugar concentration at 12days of storage ($4^{\circ}C$). Interms of sensory quality, both the 20% and 40% HDE-added Sikhes had the highest overall preference. The microbial cell counts presented no distinct differences early in the storage. period, but the general bacteria counts of the Sikhe made with the increasing concentrations of extracts decreased with a longer storage period. The coliform counts of the Sikhe prepared without HDE (control) was 10.5 CFU/g at 10 days of storage, but the 100% HDE-added Sikhe had a level of 7.9 CFU/g at 16 days of storage. These results indicates that Hovenia dulcis may inhibit normal microbial growth and extend the shelf-life on Sikhe.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6627-6632
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• 2015

Background: We conducted a study exploring the clinical safety and efficacy of decitabine in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), combined with a complex karyotype. Materials and Methods: From April 2009 to September 2013, a total of 35 patients with AML/MDS combined with a complex karyotype diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were included for retrospective analysis. All patients were treated with decitabine alone ($20mg/m^2$ daily for 5 days) or combination AAG chemotherapy (Acla 20mg qod*4d, Ara-C $10mg/m^2$ q12h*7d, G-CSF $300{\mu}g$ qd, the dose of G-CSF adjusted to the amount in blood routinely). Results: In 35 patients, 15 exhibited a complete response (CR), and 6 a partial response (PR), the overall response rate (CR+PR) being 60% (21 of 35). Median disease-free survival was 18 months and overall survival was 14 months. In the 15 MDS patients with a complex karyotype, the CR rate was 53.3% (8 of 15); in 20 AML patients with complex karyotype, the overall response rate was 65% (13 of 20). The response rate of decitabine alone (22 cases) was 56.5% (13 of 22), while in the combination chemotherapy group (13 cases), the effective rate was 61.5% (8 of 13)(P>0.05). There are 15 patients with chromosome 7 aberration, after treatment with decitabine, 7 CR, 3 PR, overall response rate was 66.7% (10 of 15). Of 18 patients with 3 to 5 kinds of chromosomal abnormalities, 66.7% demonstrated a response; of 17 with more than 5 chromosomal abnormalities, 52.9% had a response. In the total of 35 patients, with one course (23 patients) and ${\geq}$two courses (12 patients), the overall response rate was 40.9% and 92.3% (P<0.05). Grade III to IV hematological toxicity was observed in 27 cases (75%). Grade III to IV infections were clinically documented in 7 (20%). Grades I to II non-hematological toxicity were infections (18 patients), haematuria (2 patients), and bleeding (3 patients). With follow-up until September 2013, 7 patients were surviving, 18 had died and 10 were lost to follow-up. In the 6 cases who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) all were still relapse-free survivors. Conclusions: Decitabine alone or combination with AAG can improve outcome of AML/MDS with a complex karyotype, there being no significant difference decitabine in inducing remission rates in patients with different karyotype. Increasing the number of courses can improve efficiency. This approach with fewer treatment side effects in patients with a better tolerance should be employed in order to create an improved subsequent chance for HSCT.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.312-321
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• 2003

In this paper, we implement robot which are ability to recognize obstacles and moving automatically to destination. we present two results in this paper; hardware implementation of image processing board and software implementation of visual feedback algorithm for a self-controlled robot. In the first part, the mobile robot depends on commands from a control board which is doing image processing part. We have studied the self controlled mobile robot system equipped with a CCD camera for a long time. This robot system consists of a image processing board implemented with DSPs, a stepping motor, a CCD camera. We will propose an algorithm in which commands are delivered for the robot to move in the planned path. The distance that the robot is supposed to move is calculated on the basis of the absolute coordinate and the coordinate of the target spot. And the image signal acquired by the CCD camera mounted on the robot is captured at every sampling time in order for the robot to automatically avoid the obstacle and finally to reach the destination. The image processing board consists of DSP (TMS320VC33), ADV611, SAA7111, ADV7l76A, CPLD(EPM7256ATC144), and SRAM memories. In the second part, the visual feedback control has two types of vision algorithms: obstacle avoidance and path planning. The first algorithm is cell, part of the image divided by blob analysis. We will do image preprocessing to improve the input image. This image preprocessing consists of filtering, edge detection, NOR converting, and threshold-ing. This major image processing includes labeling, segmentation, and pixel density calculation. In the second algorithm, after an image frame went through preprocessing (edge detection, converting, thresholding), the histogram is measured vertically (the y-axis direction). Then, the binary histogram of the image shows waveforms with only black and white variations. Here we use the fact that since obstacles appear as sectional diagrams as if they were walls, there is no variation in the histogram. The intensities of the line histogram are measured as vertically at intervals of 20 pixels. So, we can find uniform and nonuniform regions of the waveforms and define the period of uniform waveforms as an obstacle region. We can see that the algorithm is very useful for the robot to move avoiding obstacles.