• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.566-571
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• 2008

Calcineurin (Cn) is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase that has diverse functions in different cell types and organisms. We screened proteins interacting with the C. elegans CnA homolog, TAX-6, by the yeast two-hybrid system. CNP-3 (Calcineurin interacting protein-3) is a novel protein that physically interacts with the catalytic domain of TAX-6. It is strongly expressed in the nuclei of intestine, hypodermis, dorsal uterine regions and spermatheca. Expression begins around the 60-cell stage and proceeds during all larval stages and the adult. To elucidate the biological function of cnp-3 we isolated a cnp-3 deletion mutant. Since CNP-3 binds CnA, we looked at factors associated with calcineurin loss-of-function mutants, such as brood size, body size, serotonin- and levamisole-mediated egg-laying behavior. The cnp-3(jh145) single mutant had no gross defects compared to wild-type animal. However, the phenotypes of the double mutants, tax-6(p675);cnp-3(jh145) and cnb-1(jh103);cnp-3(jh145), were more severe in terms of brood size, body size and serotonin-mediated egg-laying defects than tax-6(p675) and cnb-1(jh103), respectively. These results suggest that dysfunction of cnp-3 enhances certain calcineurin loss-of-function phenotypes in C. elegans.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1994

A case of poorly differentiated "insular" carcinoma of the thyroid is presented and discussed with references to the literature. Un fine needle aspiration cytology of our case, the aspirates were highly cellular with tumor cells appearing as dispersed isolated cells as well as in dense clusters and syncytial formations. Occasional microfollicles containing colloid were evident. Most of nuclei were fairly uniform with considerable variability and a few showed definite atypical features. Nuclear grooving was additional features. Necrotic debris was not seen. Our cytologic findings were correlated well with histology, confirming typical insular pattern of tumor cells with the presence of occasional pleomorphic cells and papillary carcinoma-like features. With much attention to cytological features of insular carcinoma, it would be possible to diagnose a preoperative suggestive diagnosis, even though not definitive.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2002

We report the cytologic features of a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with high grade transitional cell and signet ring cell carcinomatous components. A 64-year-old male presented with gross hematuria for one week. Computed tomography revealed an ill-defined mass in the left lateral wall of the urinary bladder. Urinary cytology showed hypercellularity with predominantly isolated single cells and clustered cells. They have scanty cytoplasm and naked hyperchromatic nuclei with finely granular nuclear chromatin and rare nucleoli. The tumor cells occurred predominantly singe cells, but a few in clusters. Nuclear molding was prominent. No glandular formation or nesting was noted. The second tumor cells had high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, irregular nuclear membrane, and coarse granular chromatin. The background was inflamed and necrotic. The histoiogic findings of transurethral resection were mainly composed of small cell carcinoma, and partly transitional cell and signet ring cell carcinomatous components. Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma have distinctive cytologic features to make a proper diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2007

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a pleomorphic disease entity characterized by local or disseminated atypical Langerhans cells (LCs) found most commonly in bone, lungs, mucocutaneous structures and endocrine organs. Among different sites, unifocal disease confined to a lymph node (LN) is rare. We report a case of LCH confined to a LN in a 38-year-old male who presented with a 2 cm-sized cervical mass. The fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears of cervical LN showed high cellularity having isolated LCs with contorted nuclei and nuclear grooves mixed in multinucleated giant cells, small lymphocytes and eosinophils. Charcot-Leyden crystals were also seen, as were a few dendritic-like cells and intranuclear inclusions. Confirmation of LCH was made by histopathologic studies, positive reactions for S-100 protein and CD1a immunohistochemical staining and by the demonstration of Birbeck granules on electron microscopy. The differentials to be considered include dermatopathic lymphadenitis, sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, Hodgkin's lymphoma and malignant histiocytosis. The characteristic cytomorphologic pattern of LCH in a LN FNA smear plays an important role in suggesting the diagnosis of LCH.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2006

Effects of sera from several fish species and insulin on the development of cultured Silurus asotus hepatocytes were investigated. Hepatocytes with high viability (95%) were obtained from the livers of male catfish by two step collagenase perfusion. Isolated hepatocytes, initially showed a typical round-shape, firmly attached to the culture dish within 24 h. In the presence of catfish serum, hepatocytes attached each other, spread well on the dish and developed into monolayer after 3-4 days of incubation. Cells within the established monolayer became polygonal in shape and their nuclei and boundaries being clearly visible under the microscope. In contrast, when incubated in FBS-supplemented or serum-free medium, cells managed to form small clusters, each made of 2-10 cells. Cells in FBS-supplemented medium further developed into larger clusters. However, these clusters failed to develope into monolayer. In addition, when insulin was deprived from culture medium, formation of monolayer also failed. From these data, it can be concluded that the presence of both catfish serum and insulin is necessary for the formation of monolayer of catfish hepatocytes and the functional role of fish serum may differ from that of insulin and can not be displaced by FBS-supplementation.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.74-76
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• 1993

Cytologic findings of pleural effusion in three cases of rhabdomyosarcoma are reported. Case 1 was a pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma which had devoped at the chest wall of an elderly male patient and caused pleural effusion. The cytologic features were consistent with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, that was, showing loose clusters, cellular pleomorphism, and abundant finely vesicular cytoplasm. Cases 2 and 3 were embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas in young adults. Primary site was the oral cavity in case 1, but unknown in case 2 and case 3. The effusion cytology was similar in these cases. Clustered or isolated small round cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and scanty cytoplasm were smeared. The cohesiveness of tumor cells was weak and the cells did not show linear arrangement or nuclear melding. Effusion cytology in a sarcoma patient would be diagnostic when the primary site and the type of sarcoma were already known.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.498-500
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• 2011

Purpose: Neurilemoma is benign tumor of the nerve sheath which arises from Schwann cells. It is usually formed along the path of a peripheral nerve but is rarely separate from normal nerve fascicles. We experienced a patient with an isolated neurilemoma localized in the palmaris longus tendon with no connection to the major nerve trunk, which was in an unusual location and has never been reported. We report our case with the review of the literature. Methods: A 23-year-old female visited our clinic with mild pain on the mass at the flexor area of the right wrist which had been present for about one year. The physical examination revealed a $1{\times}1cm$ sized subcutaneous mass at the flexor area of the right wrist. Sonography and computed tomography showed an ovoid, superficial solid mass on the palmaris longus tendon. Upon surgical excision, a $1{\times}0.5cm$ sized mass attached to the palmaris longus tendon was found. The tumor had no connection with the median nerve and was detached easily from the palmaris longus tendon. Results: Histological examination demonstrated the mass to be a neurilemoma, which consists of spindle shaped cells with oval elongated nuclei arranged fascicles. No sensory dysfunction or evidence of recurrence was found during the 12 months of postoperative follow-up. Conclusion: We experienced a rare case of neurilemoma attached to the palmaris longus tendon with no connection to the major nerve trunk. We wish to emphasize its unusual location through our case and hope to expand our spectrum in exploring the upper extremity mass.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2023

Adult neurogenesis has been reported in the hypothalamus, subventricular zone and subgranular zone in the hippocamp. Recent studies indicated that new cells in the hypothalamus are affected by diet. We previously showed beneficial effects of safflower seed oil (SSO), a rich source of linoleic acid (LA; 74%), on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. In this study, the effect of SSO on hypothalamic neurogenesis was investigated in vivo, in comparison to synthetic LA. Adult mice were treated with SSO (400 mg/kg) and pure synthetic LA (300 mg/kg), at similar concentrations of LA, for 8 weeks and then hypothalamic NSCs were cultured and subsequently used for Neurosphere-forming assay. In addition, serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Administration of SSO for 8 weeks in adult mice promoted the proliferation of NSCs isolated from SSO-treated mice. Immunofluorescence staining of the hypothalamus showed that the frequency of astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein⁺ cells) are not affected by LA or SSO. However, the frequency of immature (doublecortin⁺ cells) and mature (neuronal nuclei⁺ cells) neurons significantly increased in LA- and SSO-treated mice, compared to vehicle. Furthermore, both LA and SSO caused a significant increase in the serum levels of BDNF. Importantly, SSO acted more potently than LA in all experiments. The presence of other fatty acids in SSO, such as oleic acid and palmitic acid, suggests that they could be responsible for SSO positive effect on hypothalamic proliferation and neurogenesis, compared to synthetic LA at similar concentrations.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 2020

A novel compound named 'kanakugiol' was recently isolated from Lindera erythrocarpa and showed free radical-scavenging and antifungal activities. However, the details of the anti-cancer effect of kanakugiol on breast cancer cells remain unclear. We investigated the effect of kanakugiol on the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Kanakugiol affected cell cycle progression, and decreased cell viability in MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. It also enhanced PARP cleavage (50 kDa), whereas DNA laddering was not induced. FACS analysis with annexin V-FITC/PI staining showed necrosis induction in kanakugiol-treated cells. Caspase-9 cleavage was also induced. Expression of death receptors was not altered. However, Bcl-2 expression was suppressed, and mitochondrial membrane potential collapsed, indicating limited apoptosis induction by kanakugiol. Immunofluorescence analysis using α-tubulin staining revealed mitotic exit without cytokinesis (4N cells with two nuclei) due to kanakugiol treatment, suggesting that mitotic catastrophe may have been induced via microtubule destabilization. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis results also indicated mitotic catastrophe after cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells due to kanakugiol treatment. These findings suggest that kanakugiol inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell death by inducing mitotic catastrophe after cell cycle arrest. Thus, kanakugiol shows potential for use as a drug in the treatment of human breast cancer.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 1995

The nuclear matrix was isolated from Misgumus mizolepis liver nuclei by low salt extraction and restriction enzyme treatment. The structure was digested with proteinase K. After centrifugation, matrix attachment regions (MARs) were obtained by RNase treatment and phenol-chloroform extraction. The result leads to the appearance of smeared bands in the range of about 0.3-15 kb. pURY19 vector was constructed by inserting 2.13 kb Eco47 III fragment of the yeast uracil 3 gene into the unique Ssp I site of pUC19 plasmid vector as a selection marker. This vector is unable to be maintained in Sacrharomyces cerevisiae by itself since it cannot replicate as an extrachromosomal element. Using this system, we attempted cloning the ARS (autonomously replicating sequence) from M. mizelepis to develop an efficient expression vector for the transgenic fish. pURY19N_{l-62}$ were constructed by inserting MARs in pURY19 plasmid vector and transformation of E. coli $DH5\alpha$. Replication origins (ARS) of M. mizolepis were isolated, which enabled the vector to replicate autonomously in S. cerevisiae. The cloned DNA fragments were sequenced by Sanger's dideoxy-chain termination method. All clones were AT-rich. $pURY19N_6$, one of the clones, expecially contained ARS consensus sequence, Topoisomerase II consensus, near A-box and T-box.