• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권11호
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• pp.5587-5591
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• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to evaluated the efficacy and safety of continuous infusional paclitaxel and 5-Fu as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Methods: A total of 22 patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer with no indications for surgery and radiation therapy, or recurrent patients were enrolled from October 2008 to November 2010. All were treated with PTX 20 $mg/m^2$ was administered through a 16 hours continuous intravenous infusion on days 1 to 3, 8 and 9. DDP 3.75 $mg/m^2$ was given on days 1 to 4 and 8 to 11, continuous infusional 5-FU over 24-hours on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 at a dose of 375 $mg/m^2$, and folacin 60 mg orally synchronized with 5-Fu. The treatment was repeated every 21 days for at least two cycles. Results: 22 cases of all enrolled patients could be evaluated for the effect of treatment: 2 cases were CR, 9 cases PR, 5 cases SD and 2 cases PD, giving an overall response rate of 68.2%(15/22). The median time to progression was 7.0 months. The adverse reactions related to chemotherapy were tolerable; the most common toxic effects were marrow depression, alopecia, and fatigue. Conclusion: Low-dose continuous infusional PTX over 16-hours and 5-fu over 24-hours is a promising regimen with good tolerability in treating patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.441-451
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• 2009

In this study, 29 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of 125 rice accessions from 40 different origins in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and Oceania. A total of 333 alleles were detected, with an average of 11.5 per locus. The mean values of major allele frequency, expected heterozygosity, and polymorphism information content (PIC) for each SSR locus were 0.39, 0.73, and 0.70, respectively. The highest mean PIC was 0.71 for Asia, followed by 0.66 for Africa, 0.59 for South America, 0.53 for Europe, and 0.47 for Oceania. Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of five subpopulations, which was basically consistent with clustering based on genetic distance. Some accessions were clearly assigned to a single population in which >70% of their inferred ancestry was derived from one of the model-based populations. In addition, 12 accessions (9.6%) were categorized as having admixed ancestry. The results could be used to understanding the genetic structure of rice cultivars from these regions and to support effective breeding programs to broaden the genetic basis of rice varieties.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권5호
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• pp.438-447
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the role of IL-6-miR-210 in the regulation of Tregs function and atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF). The levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in AF patients were detected by using ELISA. Proportions of Treg cells were detected by fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis in AF patients. The expression of Foxp3, α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III were determined by western blot. The atrial mechanocytes were authenticated by vimentin immunostaining. The expression of miR-210 was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). TargetScan was used to predict potential targets of miR-210. The cardiomyocyte transverse sections in AF model group were observed by H&E staining. The myocardial filaments were observed by masson staining. The level of IL-6 was highly increased while the level of IL-10 (Tregs) was significantly decreased in AF patients as compared to normal control subjects, and IL-6 suppressed Tregs function and promoted the expression of α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III. Furthermore, miR-210 regulated Tregs function by targeting Foxp3, and IL-6 promoted expression of miR-210 via regulating hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). IL-6-miR-210 suppresses regulatory T cell function and promotes atrial fibrosis by targeting Foxp3.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.281-289
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• 2007

어병세균인 Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio ichthyoenteri, Streptococcus iniae의 강도다리에 대한 병원성, 염분농도가 어병세균의 성장 및 강도다리의 lysozyme 활성과 사육수온, 밀도가 강도다리에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다.연구 결과, E. tarda에 대해서는 병원성이 높았으나, V. ichthyoenteri와 S. iniae에 대해서는 항병력이 높았다.염분농도에 따른 균의 증식속도 조사 결과, E. tarda와 S. iniae는 저염분에서 증식속도가 빨랐으나, V. ichthyoenteri는 저염분에서 낮았으나, 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다. 저염분 사육에서 강도다리의 lysozyme 활성은 일반해수구에 비하여 다소 낮게 나타났으나 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다.사육수온, 밀도가 강도다리에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과, 수온은 26℃ 이하, 밀도는 수조저면적의 100% 이하가 강도다리의 생리학적 성상 및 lysozyme 활성이 높게 나타났다.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.541-550
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• 2020

The use of yeast assist kefir fermentation, but also can cause food spoilage if uncontrolled. Hence, in this study, the microbial composition of an existing commercial kefir starter was modified to produce a functional starter, where Lactobacillus acidophilus KCNU and Lactobacillus brevis Bmb6 were used to replace yeast in the original starter to produce non-yeast kefir-like fermented milk. The functional starter containing L. acidophilus KCNU and L. brevis Bmb6 demonstrated excellent stability with 10¹⁰ CFU/g of total viable cells throughout the 12 weeks low-temperature storage. The newly developed functional starter also displayed a similar fermentation efficacy as the yeast-containing control starter, by completing the milk fermentation within 12 h, with a comparable total number of viable cells (10⁸ CFU/mL) in the final products, as in control. Sensory evaluation revealed that the functional starter-fermented milk highly resembled the flavor of the control kefir, with enhanced sourness. Furthermore, oral administration of functional starter-fermented milk significantly improved the disease activity index score by preventing drastic weight-loss and further deterioration of disease symptoms in DSS-induced mice. Altogether, L. acidophilus KCNU and L. brevis Bmb6 have successfully replaced yeast in a commercial starter pack to produce a kefir-like fermented milk beverage with additional health benefits. The outcome of this study provides an insight that the specific role of yeast in the fermentation process could be replaced with suitable probiotic candidates.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.122-132
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• 2003

Objectives: To effectively improve the treatment of obesity through oriental medicine and to prepare basic material for proper classification of different types of obesity. Methods: After deciding on four types of obesity based on 'DongYiBaoJian', a questionnaire consisting of 38 items was constructed to decide to which type an individual belonged. 212 women were asked to the complete the questionnaire. To verify that the cluster of four types of obesity was acceptable, a cluster analysis and a factor analysis were conducted as well as an evaluation on the distinction of each type. Also, a canonical discriminant analysis was done to categorize the individuals into one of four types of obesity. Results: 1. Developed a reliable questionnaire consisting of 38 items for the purpose of classifying four types of obesity. 2. Obesity types were divided into four groups. Type I was designated as GanChengPi (肝乘脾類型), Type II as PiWeiJuWang(脾胃俱旺類型), Type III as PiWeiJuXu (脾胃俱虛類型), and Type IV as Tan TanYin(痰飮類型). These types were verified and classified through the use of a cluster analysis as well as a factor analysis (p<0.05). 3. By the use of a questionnaire, four types of obesity were correctly classified with a hit ratio of 87.3%, 40.64% higher than the maximum chance criteria (Cmax) in unselected grouped. The hit ratios for obesity types I, II, III and IV were 93.3%, 93.3%, 78.6% and 50%(p<0.05). Conclusion: Further clinical research is necessary into the four types of obesity explored. By analyzing various test results, characteristics these types should be further explored.

• 한국정밀공학회지
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• 제28권7호
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• pp.859-865
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• 2011

A bio-check unit and health index were developed to provide information on personal health state with easily available noninvasive measurements and surveys. Four health indices were defined such as cardiovascular index, stress index, obesity index, and management index. Methods were developed to calculate health index scores from measured physiological signals and answer of survey questions. In order to evaluate effectiveness of the health indices, a clinical trial was conducted for 362 persons who visited general hospital for annual health inspection. The cardiovascular index showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.685 with the cardiovascular health graded by a medical doctor. The stress index showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.638 with the results of stress questionnaires being used in the public health center. Once the health index function is added in the bio-check unit, the unit may provide useful contents for personal health management.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.428-437
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• 2007

The potential for humic substances to serve as terminal electron acceptors in microbial respiration and the effects of humic substances on microbial azoreduction were investigated. The dissimilatory azoreducing microorganism Shewanella decolorationis S12 was able to conserve energy to support growth from electron transport to humics coupled to the oxidation of various organic substances or $H_2$. Batch experiments suggested that when the concentration of anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS), a humics analog, was lower than 3 mmol/l, azoreduction of strain S12 was accelerated under anaerobic condition. However, there was obvious inhibition to azoreduction when the concentration of the AQS was higher than 5 mmol/l. Another humics analog, anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQDS), could still prominently accelerate azoreduction, even when the concentration was up to 12 mmol/l, but the rate of acceleration gradually decreased with the increasing concentration of the AQDS. Toxic experiments revealed that AQS can inhibit growth of strain S12 if the concentration past a critical one, but AQDS had no effect on the metabolism and growth of strain S12 although the concentration was up to 20 mmol/l. These results demonstrated that a low concentration of humic substances not only could serve as the terminal electron acceptors for conserving energy for growth, but also act as redox mediator shuttling electrons for the anaerobic azoreduction by S. decolorationis S12. However, a high concentration of humic substances could inhibit the bacterial azoreduction, resulting on the one hand from the toxic effect on cell metabolism and growth, and on the other hand from competion with azo dyes for electrons as electron acceptor.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.1449-1459
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• 2015

A novel proteolytic enzyme with fibrinolytic activity, FSP3, was purified from the recently isolated Streptomyces sp. P3, which is a novel bacterial strain isolated from soil. FSP3 was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange, and gel filtration. FSP3 is considered to be a single peptide chain with a molecular mass of 44 kDa. The maximum activity of the enzyme was observed at 50℃ and pH 6.5, and the enzyme was stable between pH 6 and 8 and below 40℃. In a fibrin plate assay, FSP3 showed more potent fibrinolytic activity than urokinase, which is a clinical thrombolytic agent acting as a plasminogen activitor. The activity was strongly inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor PMSF, indicating that it is a serine protease. Additionally, metal ions showed different effects on the activity. It was significantly suppressed by Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ and completely inhibited by Cu²⁺, but slightly enhanced by Fe²⁺. According to LC-MS/MS results, its partial amino acid sequences are significantly dissimilar from those of previously reported fibrinolytic enzymes. The sequence of a DNA fragment encoding FSP3 contained an open reading frame of 1287 base pairs encoding 428 amino acids. FSP3 is a bifunctional enzyme in nature. It hydrolyzes the fibrin directly and activates plasminogen, which may reduce the occurrence of side effects. These results suggest that FSP3 is a novel serine protease with potential applications in thrombolytic therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권8호
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• pp.1070-1075
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• 2013

Streptococcus mutans is the primary etiological agent of dental caries. The antimicrobial peptide $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 was designed by replacing the tryptophans of the Trp-rich peptide Pac-525 with $\small{D}$-${\beta}$-naphthyalanines. To assess the effect of $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 on cariogenic bacteria, the activity of $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 on the growth of S. mutans and its biofilm formation were examined. $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 showed robust antimicrobial activity against S. mutans (minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 ${\mu}g/ml$). Using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, it was shown that $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 caused morphological changes and damaged the cell membrane of S. mutans. $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 inhibited biofilm formation of S. mutans at 2 ${\mu}g/ml$. The results of this study suggest that $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 has great potential for clinical application as a dental caries-preventing agent.