• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5231-5235
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• 2013

Objective: NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is activated in several human malignancies. However, the role of Nrf2 in gastric cancer (GC) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we therefore analyzed associations of Nrf2 expression status with clinical features and chemotherapeutic resistance in GC. Materials and Methods: A total of 186 samples from GC patients who underwent gastrectomy were used for prognostic assessment. A further 142 samples from GC cases who received first-line combination chemotherapy were applied for investigation of chemoresistance. The Nrf2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in GC samples, and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters and chemotherapy sensitivity was analyzed. The effect of Nrf2 gene silencing on chemotherapy resistance was also examined by cell viability assay in vivo. Results: Of the 186 patients with GC, 104/186 (55.9%) showed high expression for Nrf2. The overexpression of Nrf2 was an independent predictor of overall survival [OS, hazard ratio (HR) 3.9; P=0.011] and disease-free survival (DFS, HR 4.3; P=0.002). The gene silencing of Nrf2 reduced resistance to cell death induced by 5-FU in GC cell lines. Conclusion: Our data show that Nrf2 is an independent prognostic factor in GC. Furthermore, Nrf2 confers resistance to chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU in GC cells. Taken together, Nrf2 is a potential prognostic marker and predictive for 5-FU resistance in GC.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was designed for identification of the main clinicopathological features of cysts in the oral and maxillofacial regions. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 164 patients who had been diagnosed with cyst of the jaw, from the database of 168 histopathological diagnoses at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Busan Paik Hospital at Inje University, from January 2009 to December 2011. The subjects were treated and the following variables were recorded: gender, age, clinical signs and symptoms, histopathological distribution, treatment methods, and complications. A descriptive analysis of the study variables was performed using a chi-square test. Results: Among the 164 patients, there were more male than female patients (male-female ratio: 1.7:1). The most predominant ages were the 20s and 40s. Among the classes of pathological cysts, radicular cysts and dentigerous cysts were the most common, with incidences of 56.0% and 35.1%. Thirty-six percent of the patients had no symptoms; and of those who had symptoms, the main signs and symptoms were swelling (24.4%) and pain (17.1%). The most frequent management method was the combination operation, such as enucleation with or without extraction and apicoectomy of the causative teeth. Of the 164 patients, 13 had complications; and one patient who had been treated with enucleation with apicoectomy had a recurrent cyst. Conclusion: Using a chi-square test, no significant differences in prevalence were observed in relation to gender according to age. Comparative analysis of radicular and dentigerous cysts showed a significant difference in their prevalence according to their anatomical location, however, no significant differences in were observed in their incidence rates according to age.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of NaCl and jasmonic acid (JA) on the growth and physiological responses of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.). Spearmint was hydroponically grown for 3 weeks in modified Hoagland solution containing 0 (untreated control), JA ($20{\mu}M$ JA pretreatment), NaCl (50 mM NaCl treatment) and JA + NaCl ($20{\mu}M$ JA pretreatment + 50 mM NaCl treatment). Growth characteristics, chlorophyll, vitamin C, proline contents, DPPH scavenging activity and inorganic ion contents were evaluated. As a results, there were significant decreases in the plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and fresh weight of plants, treated with NaCl compared with control. On the other hand, the dry matters of shoot and root treated with JA + NaCl combination were better than control or NaCl treatment. Chlorophyll a and b contents in JA treatment was the highest. Vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and proline content in shoot were increased in NaCl treatment which showed low level of growth rate. The K/Na ratio, which is known to indirectly reflect the balance of ion uptake, was higher in a single treatment of JA than the control group, while lower in salt treatment (NaCl and JA + NaCl) because of high $Na^+$ absorption. In conclusion, these results showed that moderate stress treatment such as low level salt treatment and plant growth regulator jasmonic acid (JA) application would be potential strategies to improve the quality of spearmint by inducing the accumulation of secondary metabolites containing high antioxidant activity and essential oil.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1784-1789
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• 2006

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of phytobiotics and organic acids on growth performance of nursery pigs as an alternative to antibiotics. Phytobiotics refer bioactive compounds from plant materials including essential oils and herbal extracts. In Exp. 1,144 pigs, weaned at 23.4${\pm}$0.3 d age, were allotted to three dietary treatments. Treatment diets were: 1) NC (no antibiotics and no phytobiotics); 2) PC (NC+carbadox, 50 mg/kg); and 3) PB (NC+phytobiotics; 0.1% PEP1000-$1^{(R)}$. Each treatment had six replicates with eight pigs per pen. Pigs were fed the experimental diets for 5 wks in 3 phases (phase 1 for 2 wk; phase 2 for 2 wk; phase 3 for 1 wk). In Exp. 2, 192 pigs, weaned at 19.2${\pm}$0.3 d age, were allotted to three dietary treatments: 1) NC; 2) PC; and 3) PBO (NC+phytobiotics; 0.2% or 0.1% PEP1000-$1^{(R)}$ and organic acids; 0.4% or 0.2% $Biotronic^{(R)}$for the phase 1 and 2, respectively) with eight replicates per treatment and eight pigs per pen. Pigs were fed the assigned diets for 5 wks in 2 phases (phase 1 for 2 wk; phase 2 for 3 wk). Body weights were measured at the beginning of the experiment and at the end of each week in both Exp. 1 and 2. Feed intake was measured at the end of each week in both Exp. 1 and 2. Diarrhea score was measured daily during the entire period for Exp. 1 and during the phase 1 for Exp. 2. In Exp. 1, the PC had a higher (p<0.05) overall ADG than the NC, but the overall ADG of the PB did not differ (p>0.05) from the NC or the PC. In Exp. 2, the overall ADG did not differ (p>0.05) among all the treatments during the entire experimental period. The overall ADFI and the overall gain:feed ratio did not differ (p>0.05) among all the treatments during the entire experimental period in both Exp. 1 and 2. The PC had a higher (p<0.05) overall diarrhea score (harder stools) than the NC and the PB in Exp. 1, and a higher (p<0.05) overall diarrhea score than the NC in Exp. 2. The overall diarrhea score of the PB and the PBO did not differ (p>0.05) from the NC or the PC in Exp. 1 and 2. Results from this study show that the growth of pigs fed the diets with phytobiotics or the combination of phytobiotics and organic acids did not differ from those both with antibiotics and without antibiotics when tested in an environmentally controlled research facility. Further experiments are required to study the growth performance in disease challenged conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.523-532
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial phytase ($Natuphos^{R}$) supplementation in combination with enzyme complex (composed of enzymes targeted to SBM dietary components such as $\alpha$-galactosides and galactomannans; $Endo-Power^{R}$) to diet with low nutrient levels on growth performance and ileal nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs. A total of 210 crossbred weaned pigs (Landrace$\times$Yorkshire$\times$Duroc), 6.68$\pm$0.98 kg of initial body weight, were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments, based on weight and age, according to a randomized complete block design. There were three pens per treatment and 14 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were 1) CON (Control diet with no phytase and enzyme complex (EC)), 2) LP+EC 100 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower available phosphorus (aP) level+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) and 0.1% enzyme complex), 3) LP+EC 80 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP level+0.08% phytase (400 FTU/kg diet) and 0.08% enzyme complex, 4) LPEA+EC 100 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP and 3% lower ME and amino acid levels (lysine, methionine, threonine and typtophan)+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) and 0.1% enzyme complex), 5) LPEA+EC 80 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP and 3% lower ME and amino acid levels+0.08% phytase (400 FTU/ kg diet) and 0.08% enzyme complex). For the determination of ileal nutrients digestibility, a total of 15 T-cannulated pigs (initial body weight; 7.52$\pm$1.24 kg; 3 replicates per treatment) were used in the present study. Piglets were weighted and allotted into same dietary treatments as one in growth trial and phase I experimental diets were provided for ileal digestibility study. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) among dietary treatments during the whole experimental period (0 to 5 weeks). However, piglets in LP+EC 100 group had a significantly higher gain/feed ratio (G:F) than piglets had in control (p<0.05). Crude protein, energy and phosphorus digestibilities were significantly improved when both of phytase and enzyme complex were supplemented at the revel of 0.1%, respectively to diets with low nutrient level (aP or (and) ME and amino acids) (p<0.05). Piglets in LP+EC 100 and LPEA+EC 100 groups showed significantly higher phosphorus content (%) in bone than that of piglets in control group (p<0.05). Supplementation of both of phytase and enzyme complex at 0.1%, respectively, to diet with low nutrient levels (aP or (and) ME and amino acids) significantly improved total ileal essential amino acid and nonessential amino acid digestibilities compared to control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results from the present study suggest that the simultaneous inclusion of phytase and enzyme complex to diets at recommended level is advantageous with respect to improving growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs and may contribute to increased economic return when added to corn-soy based weaned pig diets.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.349-356
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• 2003

As industrial activities are growing, pollutants found in the contaminated land are getting diverse. Some contaminated areas are subject to mixed wastes containing both organic and inorganic wastes such as hydrocarbon and heavy metals. This study concerns with the influence of the degradation of organic pollutants on the coexisting heavy metals, expecially for As. As mainly exists as two different oxidation state; As(III) and As(V) and the conversion between the two chemical forms may be induced by organic degradation in the soil contaminated by mixed wastes. We operated microcosm in an anaerobic chamber for 60 days, using sandy loam. The soils in the microcosm are artificially contaminated both by tetradecane and As, with different combination of As(III) and As(V); As(III):As(V) 1:1, As(III) only and As(V) only. Although not systematic, ratio of As(III)/As(Total) increase slightly at the later stage of experiment. Considering complicated geochemical reactions involving oxidation/reduction of organic materials, Mn/Fe oxides and As, the findings in the study seem to indicate the degradation of the organics is connected with the As speciation. That is to say, the As(V) can be reduced to As(III) either by direct or indirect influence induced by the organic degradation. Although Fe and Mn are good oxidising agent for the oxidation of As(III) to As(V), organic degradation may have suppressed reductive dissolution of the Fe and Mn oxides, causing the organic pollutants to retard the oxidation of As(III) to As(V) until the organic degradation ceases. The possible influence of organic degradation on the As speciation implies that the As in mixed wastes may be have elevated toxicity and mobility by partial conversion from As(V) to As(III).

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.61-63
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• 2001

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the feeding influence of wood vinegar and mixed with probiotics on performance and physiological related of broiler chicks for five weeks. Diets contained 21.5%, 3,100kcal/kg and 19.0% CP, 3,100kcal/kg ME for starting and finishing period, respectively. In Expt 1, Four levels of wood vinegar(0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20%) were fed into two hundred forty chicks with four replicates. In Expt 2, 0, 0.1% wood vinegar(W), 0, 0.1% lactobacillus casei(L) and bacillus subtilis (B) were applied to 2${\times}$2${\times}$2 facotrial design for eight treatments with four replicates. Weight gain, feed intake, feed cholesterol were detected at five weeks old in each experiment. In Expt 1, Weight gain of chicks fed 0.1% wood vinegar(WV) was increased upto 1645.8g, but was not significantly different. However, chicks fed 0.2% WV showed the highest gain and siginificantly different compared to that of control (P＜0.05) for finishing period. Feed intake also showed similar tendency with weight gain. There were no statistical difference in feed conversion. Abdominal fat seemed to be decreased in WV supplemental groups, whereas ND antibody titer tended to increase in those treatments. In Expt 2, 0, 0.1% WV, lactobacillus, bacillus were combined with each other(W$\sub$0/L$\sub$0/B$\sub$0/, W$\sub$0/L$\sub$1/B$\sub$0/, W$\sub$0/L$\sub$0/B$\sub$1/, W$\sub$0/L$\sub$1/B$\sub$1/, W$\sub$1/L$\sub$0/B$\sub$0/, W$\sub$1/L$\sub$1/B$\sub$0/, W$\sub$1/L$\sub$1/ B$\sub$0/, W$\sub$1/L$\sub$0/B$\sub$1/, W$\sub$1/L$\sub$1/B$\sub$1). WV supplemental groups significantly improved feed conversion of all treatments(P＜0.05). There were no interaction in weight gain and feed intake. Total cholesterol was signficantly decreased in WV plus lactobacillus and ladtobacillus plus bacillus treatments. Liver to body ratio(%) of lactobacillus plus WV significantly decreased compared to that of other treatments. The results of these experiments showed that wood vinegar tended to improve the performance of broiler chicks, but was not effect in its combination with lactobacillus or bacillus treatments.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 1993

To analyze biochemical changes of liver function following combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia, we reviewed retrospectively 37 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiotherapy and hyperthermia between July 1988 and December 1990 at Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Mean age was 52.7 years and male to female ratio was 11:1. The patients were classified as follows; to A and B group by Child's classification, to M and L group by irradiated volume, and subclassified into BM, BL, AM and AL group according to the combination of Child's classification and irradiated volume. Radiation dose to the primary tumor was 3060 cGy with daily 180 cGy, 5 fraction per week using 10 MV or 4 MV linear accelerator. Hyperthermia (Thermotron RF-8) was performed more than 4 times in all patients. Biochemical parameters including albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (T. Bil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were regularly followed from 1 week before the treatment to 3 months after the treatment. The results are summerized as follows; 1) In all the patient, mean ALP level peaked at 1 month, decreased at 2 months, slightly increased at 3 months after the treatment. Mean SGOT and SGPT levels peaked at 1 month after the treatment. Mean T. Bil level increased continuously and highest at 3 months after the treatment. Mean Alb level did not show significant changes.; 2) Mean ALP level retured to normal level at 3 month after the treatment in A but increased in B group and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.01). Mean SGOT and SGPT levels peaked 1 month in A and 2 months after the treatment in B group. All the biochemical parameters did not show significant difference between M and L group. Mean ALP level increased at 3 months after the treatment in BM and BL groups and decreased in AM and AL groups. Mean SGOT level increased at 3 months after the treatment in BL groups.; 3) Hepatic failure occurred within 3 months after the treatment in 4 patients, all of whom were in BL group. It is suggested that pre-treatment liver function and irradiated volume influence biochemical changes of liver in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia, and this treatment modality appears generally to be safe but might cause hepatic failure particularly in patient with poor liver function and large treatment volume.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2009

This study examined the association of cytokine gene polymorph isms with intrahepatic bile duct wall fibrosis in human clonorchiasis. A total of 240 residents in Heilongjiang, China underwent ultrasonography, blood sampling, and stool examination. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites for $IFN-{\gamma}$ (+874 T/A), IL-10 (-1,082 G/A, -819 C/T, -592 C/A), $TNF-{\alpha}$ (-308 G/A), and $TGF-{\beta}1$ (codon 10 T/C, codon 25 G/C) genes were observed with the TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. No significant correlation was observed between individual cytokine gene polymorphisms and intrahepatic duct dilatation (IHDD). Among individuals with clonorchiasis of moderate intensity, the incidence of IHDD was high in those with $IFN-{\gamma}$ intermediate-producing genotype, +874AT (80.0%, P=0.177), and in those with $TNF-{\alpha}$ low-producing genotype, -308GG (63.0%, P=0.148). According to the combination of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ genotypes, the risks for IHDD could be stratified into high (intermediate-producing $IFN-{\gamma}$ and low producing $TNF-{\alpha}$), moderate, and low (low-producing $IFN-{\gamma}$ and high producing $TNF-{\alpha}$) risk groups. The incidence of IHDD was significantly different among these groups (P=0.022): 88.9% (odds ratio, OR=24.0) in high, 56.5% (OR=3.9) in moderate, and 25.0% (OR=1) in low risk groups. SNP of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ genes may contribute to the modulation of fibrosis in the intrahepatic bile duct wall in clonorchiasis patients.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1981

Brewing method and quality of 15 samples of traditional Kochuzang in Junrabook-do area were investigated. Average combination ratio of glutinous rice: Meju (soybean Koji): red pepper powder was 2 : 0.7 : 1.1. In order to improve the taste of Kochuzang, some amount of natural soysauce was added in the Kochuzang at early stage of fermentation. Average content of sodium chloride was 7.32%; amino nitrogen, 123.3%; total sugar, 31.9%; reducing sugar, 19.4%; ethyl alcohol, 1.13% and the activity of acid protease was 0.07; liquefying amylase, 9.67 and saccharogenic amylase was 15.82. Five samples were selected as excellent Kochuzang through sensory evaluation. These samples were similarly strong in hot and sweet taste with alcoholic flavor, glossy surface and brownish red color.