• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 1994

A seroepidemiologic observation of anti-Spirometrc erinacei plerocercoid (sparganum) antibody (IgG) in serum was made in normal adult and epileptic patients in Korea from february, 1987 to September, 1990. Sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-sparganum antibody together with anti-Taenic soEiun metacestode, and anti-Parusonimus westermcni antibodies. Sera reacted positively to sparganum antigen only were considered. Positive rate for anti-sparganum antibody in 850 normal adults was 1.9% (standardized rate by provincial population was 1.7%). In 2,667 randomly selected patients of epilepsy at 28 local centers of the Changmi Club, positive rate was 2.5% (standardized rate: 2.3%). In both normal adult and patient groups, the higher antibody rates were observed in Kangwon and Chonnam Provinces. Positive rates were 10 times higher in male than in female in normal adults and 4.5 times in male epileptic patients. The rates were elevated especially with age over 30-year. odd ratio of the antibody was 1.32 which indicated an ambiguous etiologic factor for epilepsy.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2016

In this work, major outer capsid protein (P10) encoded by genome segment S10 of Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) was expressed in Escherichia coli. Genomic dsRNA was extracted from RBSDV-miryang isolate infected rice plants. Based on the sequence of S10 (RBSDV-miryang, GenBank JX994211), a pair of S10 specific primers were designed and used to amplify the fragment encoding the N-part of P10. We amplified the partial gene (S10 1-834 nt) of RBSDV P10 (1-278 aa) by RT-PCR. Amplified RBSDV S10 (1-834 nt) was cloned into the expression vector pET32a (+). Recombinant RBSDV S10 (1-834 nt) was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) affinity column. We successfully obtained P10 partial protein of RBSDV and the purified protein was used to immunize rabbits. The resulting polyclonal antiserum specifically recognized RBSDV from infected plant in both Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In this study, we provide purified RBSDV P10 (1-278 aa), which would be good material for the serological study of RBSDV-miryang isolates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4037-4043
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• 2012

Despite progress in elucidating mechanisms associated with colorectal cancer and improvement of treatment methods, it remains a frequent cause of death worldwide. New and more effective therapies are therefore urgently needed. Recent studies have shown that immunogenicity of whole ovarian tumor cells and subsequent T cell response were potentiated by oxidation modification with hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in vitro and ex vivo. These results prompted us to investigate the protective antitumor response with an HOCl treated CT26 colorectal cancer cell vaccine in an in vivo mouse model. Administration of HOCl modified vaccine triggered robust antitumor immunity to autologous tumor cells in mice and prolonged survival period significantly. In addition, increased necrosis and apoptosis were found in tumor tissue from the oxidation group. Interestingly, ELISPOT assays showed that specific T cell responses were not elicited in response to the immunizing cellular antigen, in contrast to raising sera antibody titer and antibody binding activity shown by ELISA assay and flow cytometry. Further evaluation of the mechanisms underlying HOCl modified vaccine mediated humoral immunity highlighted the role of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These results combined with previous studies suggest that HOCl oxidation modified whole cell vaccine has wide applicability as a cancer vaccine because it can target both T cell- and B cell-specific responses. It may thus represent a promising approach for the immunotherapy of colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7169-7174
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• 2014

Background: NPAS2 is a product of the circadian clock gene. It acts as a putative tumor suppressor by playing an important role in DNA damage responses, cell cycle control and apoptosis. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) appears to be an apoptosis related disorder and alteration in the NPAS2 gene might therefore be directly involved in the etiology of CLL. Here, the Ala394Thr polymorphism (rs2305160:G>A) in the NPAS2 gene was genotyped and melatonin concentrations were measured in a total of seventy-four individuals, including thirty-seven CLL cases and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls in order to examine the effect of NPAS2 polymorphism and melatonin concentrations on CLL risk in a Pakistani population. Materials and Methods: Genotyping of rs2305160:G>A polymorphism at NPAS2 locus was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). Melatonin concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Results: Our results demonstrated no association of the variant Thr genotypes (Ala/Thr and Thr/Thr) with risk of CLL. Similarly, no association of rs2305160 with CLL was observed in either females or males after stratification of study population on a gender basis. Moreover, when the subjects with CLL were further stratified into shift-workers and non-shift-workers, no association of rs2305160 with CLL was seen in either case. However, significantly low serum melatonin levels were observed in CLL patients as compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). Also, lower melatonin levels were seen in shift-workers as compared to non-shift-workers (p<0.05). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the melatonin levels across NPAS2 genotypes in all subjects, subjects with CLL who were either shift workers or non-shift-workers. General Linear Model (GLM) univariate analysis revealed no significant association (p>0.05) of the rs2305160 polymorphism of the NPAS2 gene with melatonin levels in any of the groups. Conclusions: While low melatonin levels and shift-work can be considered as one of the risk factors for CLL, the NPAS2 rs2305160 polymorphism does not appear to have any association with risk of CLL in our Pakistani population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4217-4222
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• 2016

Purpose: To compare the expression level of CK 15 in normal esophageal and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and analyse possible functions of CK15 in occurrence and development. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to compare CK14, CK15 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression levels in ESCCs. Expression level of CK15 was also assessed by Western blotting. In addition, levels of CK15, cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) and PCNA were detected in serum by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence methods. Relationships between clinicopathological parameters and CK14 and CK15 expression were then analyzed. Results: According to immunohistochemistry, in esophageal and intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN) tissues, the expression of CK14, CK15 and PCNA localized to basal layer of the epithelium. CK14 and CK15 levels were higher in normal esophageal squamous epithelial tissue than in SIN and ESCC, and greater in highly differentiated than poorly differentiated carcinoma tissue. By Western blotting, we found more pronounced expression of CK15 in normal esophageal tissue, compared with carcinoma tissue. The specificity of changed CK15 and CYFRA21-1 expression was respectively 90.0% and 96.7% in serum of ESCC patients. Joint detection could improve the sensitivity of esophageal carcinoma diagnosis. Relationships between CK14, CK15 expression and clinical parameters were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Postoperative survival in patients of CK14, CK15 positive expression was longer than with negative expression ($x^2=4.35$, P=0.037; $x^2=9.852$, P=0.002). Conclusions: CK15 expression decreased in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue and serum of esophageal squamous carcinoma patients. We infer that CK15 may play an important role for the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. In the future, CK15 may be used for the diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.789-804
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the growth and physiologycal activitis of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus (Maxim.) H. Hara under the NaCl treatment conditions (0, 100, 200, 300 mM). After 30 days treatment, the growth and physiologycal activitis were investigated. In the growth of plants, the plant height, leaf width, leaf length and ion level were reduced at NaCl treatments of more than 100 mM. The total polyphenol content was decreased by NaCl in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the control group. The contents of total flavonoids did not show any difference at the concentration of 200 mM and 300 mM. However, the content of total flavonoid decreased compared with that of control. In antioxidant activity, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity were decreased by NaCl concentration compared to the control. When changes in the content of NO production was monitored by ELISA, production inhibitory effect was 94.5%, 70%, 63%, 56.9% in NaCl concentration of 0, 100, 200, 300 mM, respectively. The growth, ion level, antioxidant and anti-inflammation activity of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus was reduced at NaCl treatments of more than 100 mM.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2012

Fucoidan has been shown to enhance immune function. The objective of this study was to examine the in vitro effect of fucoidan on the chamotactic activity of canine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). The chemotactic activity of PMNs was evaluated by method of a modified Boyden chamber assay. The amount of interleukin (IL)-8 in the culture supernatants from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with fucoidan was determined by means of ELISA. Fucoidan itself could not have chemoattract effects for PMNs. However, the chemotaxis of PMNs was remarkably enhanced by culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with fucoidan. Similarly, it was also increased by recombinant canine (rc) IL-8. These chemotactic activities of PMNs were inhibited by addition of anti-rcIL-8 polyclonal antibody (pAb). The amount of IL-8 in the culture supernatant from PBMCs was shown to increase upon treatment of fucoidan as compared with that of untreated PBMCs culture supernatant. These results suggest that fucoidan upregulates the chemotaxis of PMNs, which is mainly mediated by IL-8 released from fucoidanstimulated PBMCs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2010

Background: Sepsis still has a high mortality rate despite adequate supportive care. Newer therapeutic modalities have been developed but they have generally ended in failure. Recently, insulin was reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway, and may have therapeutic potential in sepsis. However, the precise mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of insulin is unclear. This study examined the role of insulin in activating $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ in macrophage. Methods: Raw 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, were used in this experiment. Western blotting using $I{\kappa}B$ Ab and phosphor-specific $I{\kappa}B$ Ab was performed to evaluate the degradation and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ cells. For the $I{\kappa}B$ Kinase (IKK) activity, an immune complex kinase assay was performed. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured by ELISA to determine the level of proinflammatory cytokine. Results: $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation began 30 min after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. However, an insulin pretreatment suppressed the $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation caused by the LPS treatment. The phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and IKK activity was also inhibited by the insulin pretreatment. Finally, the insulin pretreatment showed a tendency to suppress the induction of IL-6 by LPS. Conclusion: Insulin might have an anti-inflammatory effect though partial inhibition of the $I{\kappa}B/NF{\kappa}B$ pathway in macrophage cell lines.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2016

Objectives: Microcystin (MC) produced during cyanobacterial blooms is a worldwide problem presenting a serious health threats to humans and ecosystems. During July through October of 2013, the Ilwol Reservoir experienced a high biomass of phytoplankton (maximum $211.7mg/m^3$ of Chlorophyll-a) containing the toxigenic cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp. The aim of this study is to analyze MC concentration in the reservoir water, as well as in representative fish species (Carassius cuvieri, Carassius auratus, Channa argus). We also evaluated the human health risk of exposure to MCs accumulated in the fish. Methods: Concentrations of MCs in the water and fish samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The total levels of four MC variants, including MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR and MC-LA were below the WHO drinking water guideline limit (1 ug MC-LR per liter) both for the dissolved and particulate fraction present in the water samples. The mean MC concentrations in the livers of all species were significantly higher than in the gills (p < 0.01) and muscles (p < 0.05). The values of estimated daily intake of MCs in muscles, the edible part of the fish, would be only $0.005-0.015{\mu}g/kg{\cdot}day$, much lower than WHO's provisional tolerable daily intake of $0.04{\mu}g/kg{\cdot}day$. Conclusion: This study suggests that, owing to the spatial distribution or temporal variation of MC, there is a need for careful monitoring of cyanotoxin in reservoir water and aquatic animals to protect public health.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.716-722
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• 2005

Carcass weight and backfat thickness are primary yield grading factors. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/-II, transforming growth factor $\beta$1 (TGF-$\beta$1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulate the proliferation and differentiation of cells including adipocytes. Also, interleukin (IL)-2/-6, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) are known to be related to muscle growth and fat depth. However, the relationships between endocrine factors and carcass grade have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the concentrations of endocrine factors in serum and muscle, and to investigate the relationship of endocrine factors with carcass grade. A total of 60 crossbred gilts (Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) were used. Blood from the jugular vein was collected at antemortem (7 days before slaughter) and postmortem periods, and M. Longissimus was collected at 45 min and 24 h after slaughter. The concentrations of IGF-I/-II, EGF, TGF-$\beta$1, IL-2/-6, cortisol and DHEA-S were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In general, IGF and EGF concentrations in serum and muscle of grade A carcasses were found to be higher than those of grade C carcasses at antemortem and postmortem periods, whereas the pattern of TGF-$\beta$1 concentration was reversed. In particular, the concentrations of muscle IGF-I (24 h postmortem) and serum TGF-$\beta$1 (antemortem) were significantly different between grades A and C (p<0.05). The present results indicate that serum and muscle growth factors affect carcass weight and backfat thickness, and indirectly suggest the possibility that carcass grade could be predicted by expression of serum and/or muscle growth factors.