• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1197-1202
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• 2008

Recent studies provide some evidence that the HtrA2 protein is intimately associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control and ER stress-associated cell death play critical roles in neuronal cell death. However, little is known about the intimate relationship between HtrA2 and ER stress-associated cellular responses. In the present study, we have demonstrated that the HtrA2 protein level was gradually and significantly increased by up to to-fold in the mitochondria under tunicamycin (Tm)-induced ER stress, which eventually promoted cell death through the release of HtrA2 into the cytoplasm. Using an ecdysone-inducible mammalian expression system, we demonstrate that the extent of cell death in 293-HtrA2 cells was approximately 20 times higher under Tm-induced ER stress, indicating that the increase in the HtrA2 protein level in the mitochondria itself is necessary but not sufficient for the promotion of cell death. Taken together, these results suggest that HtrA2 may serve as a mediator of ER stress-induced apoptosis and ER-mitochondrial cross-talk in some cellular processes.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.193-193
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• 2003

Recent industrial society has human widely exposed to PAHs that are coming from the incomplete combustion of organic material as widespread environmental contaminants. Biological activities of PAHs are not known although PAHs are considered as carcinogens. The mechanism of action of PAHs has been studied extensively, however it is not clear how PAHs turn on CYPlAl in human breast cancer, Our laboratory have been studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cells, MCF-7. In this study, we examined the ZR-75-1, human breast cancer cells, as a new system to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs and to compare the PAHs action with that of MCF-7 cells. ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cell line is responsible to estrogen and progesterone. We have been able to establish long term culture system of this cells then used for the study to the effect of 13 different PAHs and environmental samples. We demonstrate that PAHs induced the CYP1A1 promoter and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1A1 mRNA. Some of PAHs showed stronger stimulatory effect on CYP1 gene expression than TCDD Apparently, ZR-75-1 cells have Aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR), therefore it would be a good experimental tool to study the cross-talk between PAHs and steroid actions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In this study, the apoptogenic activity and mechanisms of cell death induced by hexane extract of aged black garlic (HEABG) were investigated in human leukemic U937 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide) assay. Apoptosis was detected using 4,6-diamidino-2-phenyllindile (DAPI) staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis. Caspase activity was measured using a colorimetric assay. RESULTS: Exposure to HEABG was found to result in a concentration- and time-dependent growth inhibition by induction of apoptosis, which was associated with an up-regulation of death receptor 4 and Fas legend, and an increase in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression. Apoptosis-inducing concentrations of HEABG induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochodrial mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase. HEABG also induced apoptosis via a death receptor mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the truncation of Bid, and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. However, pre-treatment of U937 cells with the caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, significantly blocked the HEABG-induced apoptosis of these cells, and increased the survival rate of HEABG-treated cells, confirming that HEABG-induced apoptosis is mediated through activation of caspase cascade. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the overall results, we suggest that HEABG reduces leukemic cell growth by inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, implying its potential therapeutic value in the treatment of leukemia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.703-712
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• 2016

Monoclonal antibodies with specific antigens have been widely used as targeted therapy for cancer. Hep88 mAb is a monoclonal antibody which shows specific binding with anti-cancer effects against the HepG2 cell line. However, its mechanisms of action are still not completely understood. We examined cell cycling and apoptosis by flow cytometry and mRNA expression of factors involved in apoptosis and paraptosis in Hep88 mAb-treated HepG2 cells by real-time PCR. The cell-cycle analysis demonstrated that growth-inhibitory activity was associated with G2/M cell cycle arrest. Hep88 mAb induced a significant increase in apoptotic cell populations in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The mRNA expression results also suggested that the process triggered by Hep88 mAb involved up-regulation of tumor suppressor p53, pro-apoptotic Bax, Cathepsin B, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, with a decrease of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 - thus confirming paraptosis and apoptosis programmed cell death. These findings represent new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of Hep88 mAb in liver cancer cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2016

A nerve block is an effective tool for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. If a diagnostic nerve block is successful for pain relief and the subsequent therapeutic nerve block is effective for only a limited duration, the next step that should be considered is a nerve ablation or modulation. The nerve ablation causes iatrogenic neural degeneration aiming only for sensory or sympathetic denervation without motor deficits. Nerve ablation produces the interruption of axonal continuity, degeneration of nerve fibers distal to the lesion (Wallerian degeneration), and the eventual death of axotomized neurons. The nerve ablation methods currently available for resection/removal of innervation are performed by either chemical or thermal ablation. Meanwhile, the nerve modulation method for interruption of innervation is performed using an electromagnetic field of pulsed radiofrequency. According to Sunderland's classification, it is first and foremost suggested that current neural ablations produce third degree peripheral nerve injury (PNI) to the myelin, axon, and endoneurium without any disruption of the fascicular arrangement, perineurium, and epineurium. The merit of Sunderland's third degree PNI is to produce a reversible injury. However, its shortcoming is the recurrence of pain and the necessity of repeated ablative procedures. The molecular mechanisms related to axonal regeneration after injury include cross-talk between axons and glial cells, neurotrophic factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and their receptors. It is essential to establish a safe, long-standing denervation method without any complications in future practices based on the mechanisms of nerve degeneration as well as following regeneration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1826-1832
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• 2007

We describe the fabrication of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) hydrogel microstructures with a high aspect ratio and the use of hydrogel microstructures containing the enzyme ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}$-Gal) or glucose oxidase (GOx)/horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as biosensing components for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes. The diameters of the hydrogel microstructures were almost the same at the top and at the bottom, indicating that no differential curing occurred through the thickness of the hydrogel microstructure. Using the hydrogel microstructures as microreactors, ${\beta}$-Gal or GOx/HRP was trapped in the hydrogel array, and the time-dependent fluorescence intensities of the hydrogel array were investigated to determine the dynamic uptake of substrates into the PEG-DA hydrogel. The time required to reach steady-state fluorescence by glucose diffusing into the hydrogel and its enzymatic reactions with GOx and HRP was half the time required for resorufin ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside (RGB) when used as the substrate for ${\beta}$-Gal. Spatially addressed hydrogel microarrays containing different enzymes were micropatterned for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes, and glucose and RGB solutions were incubated as substrates. These results indicate that there was no cross-talk between the ${\beta}$-Gal-immobilizing hydrogel micropatches and the GOx/HRP-immobilizing micropatches.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3963-3969
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• 2016

Purpose:To assess IGFBP-6 expression in relation with the presence of the metabolic syndrome, adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) and IGF-IR levels in colorectal adenocarcinoma cases. Materials and Methods: IGFBP-6 mRNA and protein levels were analyzed using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting in 46 patients. ELISA and flow cytometry were used for evaluation of AdipoR1, AdipoR2 and IGF-IR. Results: The results showed that IGFBP-6 mRNA expression and the IGFBP-6 content were higher in tumor tissue samples of colorectal cancer patients with tahtn without metabolic syndrome. In addition, the IGFBP-6 mRNA expression was associated with tumor invasion (tumor size) and the IGFBP-6 protein level was associated with nodal status. Positive correlations and positive nonlinear relations were found between the IGFBP-6 level and the AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 contents in colorectal cancer patients. Conclusions: The IGFBP-6 mRNA level and protein level were found to be associated with presence of metabolic syndrome. Positive correlations indicated probable cross-talk between the IGF-IR-mediated and adiponectin-mediated signaling pathways in colorectal carcinomas. IGFBP-6 may be considered as a potential biomarker associated with lymphogenous metastasis and the metabolic syndrome in colorectal cancer.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.70-78
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• 2001

We have developed a novel driving system of 5' true color FED using voltage controlled PWM method which has current control effect. The proposed method has the advantage of voltage controlled pulse width modulation method and current control method. Also, we propose a new circuit model of FED subpixel for circuit simulation of FED driving circuits, considering some parasitic effects, i.e., cross talk, line coupling effect and leakage current to the adjacent cathode lines. Output stage of the data driving circuit is optimized using the proposed circuit model. In video data processing, FED controller uses the parallel processing of R.G.B input data, so duty ratio is maximized and brightness of FED increases. With this results, no noise and high quality performance is achieved in display of 5' true color FED.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.267-278
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• 2018

Purpose: This study is to investigate working conditions including job stress among visiting nurses in public health centers in Korea. Methods: An social network based mobile survey was conducted in May 2017 (N=936, response rate: 47.0%). Results: The visiting nurses in this study had their average total career as a nurse is 13.7 years. The 68.3% of them were employed in an indefinite term, 17.0% were hired in a fixed term, and 11.0% came from outsourcing. They responded as high job-stress level including inadequate compensation (71.22/100) and job demands (71.91/100). They experienced down-talk (63.4%), swearwords (32.9%), being made a dirty face (39.9%), sexual jokes (30.8%), or being likened or evaluated with their appearance sexually (14.3%). Among the causes of job related conflicts and discrimination, deprived salary level was the most frequent reason (83.4%). The conflicts and discrimination were incurred by government officers (52.4%). There were no significant differences in overall job stress, emotional labor, organizational commitment, violence, and discrimination experience based on their employment types. Conclusion: The differences in working conditions among the non-regular nurses were trivial, and their overall working conditions were poor. It is necessary to improve non-regular nurses' working conditions in order to make up the limitations of the Korean healthcare system which is centered on hospitals.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.47-52
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• 2013

Gold wire has long been used as a proven method of connecting a silicon die to a substrate in wide variety of package types, delivering high yield and productivity. However, with the high price of gold, the semiconductor packaging industry has been implementing an alternate wire material. These materials may include silver (Ag) or copper (Cu) alloys as an alternative to save material cost and maintain electrical performance. This paper will analyze and compare the electrical characteristics of several wire types. For the study, typical 0.6 mil, 0.8 mil and 1.0 mil diameter wires were selected from various alloy types (2N gold, Palladium (Pd) coated/doped copper, 88% and 96% silver) as well as respective pure metallic wires for comparison. Each wire model was validated by comparing it to electromagnetic simulation results and measurement data. Measurements from the implemented test boards were done using a vector network analyzer (VNA) and probe station setup. The test board layout consisted of three parts: 1. Analysis of the diameter, length and material characteristic of each wire; 2. Comparison between a microstrip line and the wire to microstrip line transition; and 3. Analysis of the wire's cross-talk. These areas will be discussed in detail along with all the extracted results from each type the wire.