• 한국작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국작물학회 2022년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.323-323
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• 2022

Jack bean [Canavalia ensiformis (L.)], belonging to the Leguminosae family has been frequently used in edible and medicinal plants in Asian countries. Jack beans are high in protein which is approximately 30%. Concanavalin A (Con A) is a major protein of Jack bean and belongs to the family of legume lectins. It has inhibitory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing autophagy. However, Con A negatively affects nutrient utilization by other mechanisms. It binds to the glycoproteins and glycolipids of the digestive tract mucosa, inhibits the activity of the enzymes of the brush border of the enterocytes. In order to use Jack bean young seedpods, they are restricted to 'young pods (soft, pre-swelling)' according to the 'Food Code' (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety). Therefore, in this study, we investigated the quantitative change of Con A across developmental stages of Jack bean pods. Biological samples consisted of Jack bean pods and seeds in 7 stages of development. The expression pattern of Con A mRNA was monitored by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Expression of Con A proteins was analyzed by western blotting. The expression of Con A mRNA and protein in the seeds tended to increase gradually as the seeds expanded. However, in pods, they were much less than in seeds. As the expression of Con A mRNA and protein increases as the pods thicken, it is predicted that Con A synthesis increases when the thickness growth of the pod begins after the length growth of the pod is completed. Since the expression of Con A in the pods and seeds in very low when the pods are about 2 cm, therefore 2 cm pods seem appropriate when using 'young pods'. It is also necessary to study other proteins in Jack bean, such as Urease and Canavalin. These studies will serve as the basis for processing Jack bean.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제68권3호
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• pp.175-187
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• 2023

Peanuts, also known as groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), are globally recognized as a vital oilseed crop. Peanuts are rich in proteins (e.g., arginine), oils (e.g., oleic acid and linoleic acid), fiber, vitamins (e.g., niacin and tocopherol), and carbohydrates and are consumed worldwide. However, the presence of aflatoxin (AF) has garnered substantial attention since its initial discovery as the causative agent of Tukey's X disease in the United Kingdom in 1960. Among the 18 aflatoxins identified, aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) has the highest toxic activity and causes hepatocellular carcinoma. It is classified as Group I by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The present study was conducted to evaluate aflatoxin B₁ resistance of 102 peanut accessions and select putative aflatoxin B₁-resistant peanut accessions to aflatoxin B₁. One hundred and one Korean germplasms harvested in 2020 were inoculated with A. flavus to identify aflatoxin-resistant cultivars, and the aflatoxin B₁ concentration was measured using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector. Twenty-six accessions with aflatoxin B₁ concentrations lower than those of the check plant 55-437 were chosen for the development of aflatoxin-resistant varieties in Korea. As Korean aflatoxin-resistant varieties have not yet been developed, the findings of the present study are expected to provide useful information for the development of aflatoxin-resistant cultivars.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.119-130
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• 2024

Objectives : The objective of this review is to examine the variety of evaluation parameters utilized in clinical trials that assess the anticancer efficacy of herbal medicine, focusing on the importance of including both symptomatic management and direct anticancer effectiveness. Methods : A detailed literature review was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify clinical trials investigating the antitumor efficacy of herbal medicine. The search was performed on February 22, 2024. This review specifically examined the employed outcome measures, which were then categorized and analyzed to understand their relevance and application in evaluating the anticancer properties of herbal medicine. Results : From an initial search of 900 records, 15 clinical trials were selected for in-depth analysis after deduplication and screening. These studies evaluated the efficacy of herbal medicine across various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer, using outcome measures such as survival rates, disease control rates, and quality of life improvements. The research spanned multiple countries, primarily in East Asia and the United States, reflecting a global interest in herbal medicine as a complementary approach to cancer treatment. The present study demonstrated that herbal medicine, especially when used alongside standard treatments, potentially improved clinical outcomes and patient well-being. Conclusions : The findings of this review highlight the need for a broader focus on the full range of therapeutic capabilities of herbal medicine, including its direct anticancer effects, in the management of cancer patients. Future oncology research involving herbal medicine should integrate a wide spectrum of clinical endpoints to fully ascertain its impact on cancer treatment and patient health.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.44.1-44.10
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• 2023

Tumor hypoxia, oxygen deprivation state, occurs in most cancers and promotes angiogenesis, enhancing the potential for metastasis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family genes play crucial roles in tumorigenesis by promoting angiogenesis. To investigate the malignant processes triggered by hypoxia-induced angiogenesis across pan-cancers, we comprehensively analyzed the relationships between the expression of VEGF family genes and hypoxic microenvironment based on integrated bioinformatics methods. Our results suggest that the expression of VEGF family genes differs significantly among various cancers, highlighting their heterogeneity effect on human cancers. Across the 33 cancers, VEGFB and VEGFD showed the highest and lowest expression levels, respectively. The survival analysis showed that VEGFA and placental growth factor (PGF) were correlated with poor prognosis in many cancers, including kidney renal cell and liver hepatocellular carcinoma. VEGFC expression was positively correlated with glioma and stomach cancer. VEGFA and PGF showed distinct positive correlations with hypoxia scores in most cancers, indicating a potential correlation with tumor aggressiveness. The expression of miRNAs targeting VEGF family genes, including hsa-miR-130b-5p and hsa-miR-940, was positively correlated with hypoxia. In immune subtypes analysis, VEGFC was highly expressed in C3 (inflammatory) and C6 (transforming growth factor β dominant) across various cancers, indicating its potential role as a tumor promotor. VEGFC expression exhibited positive correlations with immune infiltration scores, suggesting low tumor purity. High expression of VEGFA and VEGFC showed favorable responses to various drugs, including BLU-667, which abrogates RET signaling, an oncogenic driver in liver and thyroid cancers. Our findings suggest potential roles of VEGF family genes in malignant processes related with hypoxia-induced angiogenesis.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제81권3호
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• pp.707-713
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• 2020

간문맥 종양혈전이 있으면서 간 실질에 이상 소견이 없는 것은 매우 드문 일이다. 간에서 종양 혈전이 있는 경우 간세포암이 가장 발생률이 높으며 림프종은 감별질환으로 잘 생각되지 않는다. 림프종의 종양혈전이 간문맥을 침범한 것은 이제까지 총 네 가지 경우에서만 보고되어 있고, 모든 경우에서 종양이 혈관으로 직접 전파되거나 또는 그 외의 림프종을 시사하는 다른 병변들이 있었다. 혈관 내 대세포 림프종이 간문맥을 함께 침범한 경우, 본 케이스와 영상학적으로 비슷하게 보일 수 있으나 본 증례 보고는 혈관 내 대세포 림프종이 아니므로 제외하여 생각하였다. 미만성 거대 B세포 림프종이 간문맥에서만 발견된 무증상의 면역력이 정상인 67세 여자 환자에 대한 증례를 소개한다. 이전에 발표된 증례에서 이와 비슷한 경우는 보고된 바가 없다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.37.1-37.17
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• 2021

Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein has been reported as a key protein regulating the pathogenesis of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent evidence has shown that HBx is implicated in the activation of autophagy in hepatic cells. Nevertheless, the precise molecular and cellular mechanism by which HBx induces autophagy is still controversial. Herein, we investigated the molecular and cellular mechanism by which HBx is involved in the TRAF6-BECN1-Bcl-2 signaling for the regulation of autophagy in response to TLR4 stimulation, therefore influencing the HCC progression. HBx interacts with BECN1 (Beclin 1) and inhibits the association of the BECN1-Bcl-2 complex, which is known to prevent the assembly of the pre-autophagosomal structure. Furthermore, HBx enhances the interaction between VPS34 and TRAF6-BECN1 complex, increases the ubiquitination of BECN1, and subsequently enhances autophagy induction in response to LPS stimulation. To verify the functional role of HBx in liver cancer progression, we utilized different HCC cell lines, HepG2, SK-Hep-1, and SNU-761. HBx-expressing HepG2 cells exhibited enhanced cell migration, invasion, and cell mobility in response to LPS stimulation compared to those of control HepG2 cells. These results were consistently observed in HBx-expressed SK-Hep-1 and HBx-expressed SNU-761 cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that HBx positively regulates the induction of autophagy through the inhibition of the BECN1-Bcl-2 complex and enhancement of the TRAF6-BECN1-VPS34 complex, leading to enhance liver cancer migration and invasion.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.10-15
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• 2024

Previous studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling pathway in stimulating cancer metastasis induced by chronic stress. According to the theory of traditional Korean medicine, chronic stress can induce Qi stagnation. Based on the traditional role of premature citrus unshiu peel in moving Qi, we hypothesized that an ethanol extract of premature citrus unshiu peel (EPCU) can attenuate chronic stress-induced cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EPCU on modulating the adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic properties of liver cancer cells. Our findings revealed that adrenergic agonists, including norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and isoproterenol (ISO), augmented the migratory capacity of Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which was completely abrogated by EPCU treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently, EPCU inhibited the E-induced invasive property of Hep3B cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EPCU efficiently attenuates adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic abilities of liver cancer cells. As a molecular mechanism, EPF suppressed the phosphorylation of major components of β-AR signaling pathway, including Src, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and ERK, induced by E treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrate that EPCU impedes the adrenergic agonists-driven metastatic potential of cancer cells by inhibiting β-AR signaling pathway. This study provides basic evidence supporting the probable use of premature citrus unshiu peel to prevent metastasis in liver cancer patients under chronic stress.

• 한국간담췌외과학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.307-312
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• 2023

Hepatic arterioportal fistulae are abnormal communications between the hepatic artery and portal vein. They are reported to be congenital or acquired secondary to trauma, iatrogenic procedures, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, but less likely to occur spontaneously. Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) can lead to pre-hepatic portal hypertension. A spontaneous superimposed hepatic arterioportal fistula can lead to pre-sinusoidal portal hypertension, further exacerbating its physiology. This report describes a young woman with long-standing EHPVO presenting with repeated upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding and symptomatic hypersplenism. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a cavernous transformation of the portal vein and a macroscopic hepatic arterioportal fistula between the left hepatic artery and portal vein collateral in the central liver. The hepatic arterioportal fistula was associated with a flow-related left hepatic artery aneurysm and a portal venous collateral aneurysm proximal and distal to the fistula, respectively. Endovascular coiling was performed for the hepatic arterioportal fistula, followed by proximal splenorenal shunt procedure. This case illustrates an uncommon association of a spontaneous hepatic arterioportal fistula with EHPVO and the utility of a combined endovascular and surgical approach for managing multifactorial non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in such patients.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권1호
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• pp.15-33
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• 2023

간영상 보고 및 자료체계(liver imaging reporting and data system; 이하 LI-RADS)는 간세포암종 고위험군에서 간세포암종의 진단과 치료반응평가 등을 표준화하기 위해 미국영상의 학회의 후원을 받아 개발되었다. CT/MRI LI-RADS는 2018년 버전이 가장 최근에 개정된 것인데, 미국간학회 가이드라인에 간세포암종 진단기준으로서 통합되었다. 이 종설에서는 CT/MRI LI-RADS가 간영상의 표준화된 보고에 미친 영향을 살펴보고, CT/MRI LI-RADS를 이용한 간세포암종 진단과 국소치료 후의 치료반응평가에 있어 현시점에서 축적된 근거 및 다른 간세포암종 진단가이드라인들과의 비교 결과를 살펴볼 것이며, 추후 발전방향에 대해 기술하고자 한다.

• 한국간담췌외과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.238-247
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• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: Prolonged use of steroids after liver transplantation (LT) significantly increases the risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, which can adversely affect patient outcomes. Our study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of early steroid withdrawal within the first year following LT. Methods: This study was conducted as an open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Liver transplant recipients were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: Group 1, in which steroids were withdrawn two weeks posttransplantation, and Group 2, in which steroids were withdrawn three months posttransplantation. This study included participants aged 20 to 70 years who were scheduled to undergo a single-organ liver transplant from a living or deceased donor at one of the four participating centers. Results: Between November 2012 and August 2020, 115 patients were selected and randomized into two groups, with 60 in Group 1 and 55 in Group 2. The incidence of new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) was notably higher in Group 1 (32.4%) than in Group 2 (10.0%) in the per-protocol set. Although biopsy-proven acute rejection, graft failure, and mortality did not occur, the median tacrolimus trough level/dose/weight in Group 1 exceeded that in Group 2. No significant differences in safety parameters, such as infection and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, were observed between the two groups. Conclusions: The present study did not find a significant reduction in the incidence of NODAT in the early steroid withdrawal group. Our study suggests that steroid withdrawal three months posttransplantation is a standard and safe immunosuppressive strategy for LT patients.