• Title/Summary/Keyword: K-Ras

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ERS SAR observations of the Korean coastal waters

  • Mitnik, Leonid M.;Yoon, Hong-Joo;Dubina, Vyacheslav A.;Kim, Sang-Woo;Kim, Young-Seup
    • Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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    • 2003.11a
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    • pp.1124-1126
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    • 2003
  • The processes of regional scales in the East Korean coastal waters were investigated by analysis of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images taken by the European Research Satellites ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat. More than 500 quick look frames taken in 1991-2003 were examined to detect the frames with clearly surface expressions of oceanic phenomena. 26 ERS-1/2 SAR and 11 Envisat wide swath Advanced SAR (ASAR) frames were selected and obtained from the European Space Agency in a form of the precision high-resolution images. The following oceanic phenomena and processes were evident in the radar imagery through the Korean costal waters: fronts, currents, eddies, internal waves, island and ship wakes, oil pollution, etc. They manifested themselves in the field of sea surface roughness, their scale ranged from several tens meters to about 100 km. The most common morphology of these phenomena was a series of contrast dark or light curvilinear lines and bands. The joint analysis of the discussed SAR images with other satellite and in situ data supported and enhanced our interpretation of SAR signatures.

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Study on Individual Hydrocarbon's Composition of Gasoline Fraction of Tamsagbulag Oil, Mongolia

  • Adiya, Sainbayar;Vosmerikov, A.V.;Nordov, Erdene;Golovko, A.K.
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.21-27
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    • 2005
  • In order to conduct research on oil originated in Mongolia for further application of petroleum not only as fuel but also as raw material for organic synthesis, we need to study the physical, chemical characteristics and individual, group hydrocarbon's compositions of main petroleum fractions. A number of studies and surveys on the physical and chemical characteristics, group hydrocarbon's composition of petroleum deposits in Zuun-Bayan, Sukhaibulag, Tsagaan Elst, Tamsagbulag have been carried out earlier through n-g-M, aniline point and dispersimetric methods successfully. Yet a detailed chromatographical and NMR spectroscopic study for the individual hydrocarbon's composition of Tamsagbulag oil main fractions has not been conducted. In the present study the results of GC analyses of gasoline fractions of wells 19-3, 19-13 and 19-10, Tamsagbulag (Eastern Mongolia) were presence. The gasoline fractions of given wells were characterized by the high concentration of paraffins and presence of trace amount of olefins. There were identified 69 paraffins, 45 naphthenes, 41 aromatics and 3 olefins in total 158 individual hydrocarbons from each samples of gasoline fraction. The first attempts to classify Tamsagbulag oil under the individual hydrocarbon's composition data were successfully conducted and the supposition of a genetic classification of given oil as "sapropelic" type was made.

Effects of retinoic acid isomers on apoptosis and enzymatic antioxidant system in human breast cancer cells

  • Hong, Tae-Kyong;Lee-Kim, Yang-Cha
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.77-83
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    • 2009
  • Retinoic acids (RAs) modulate growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in normal, pre-malignant & malignant cells. In the present study, the effects of RA isomers (all-trans RA, 13-cis RA, and 9-cis RA) on the cell signal transduction of human breast cancer cells have been studied. The relationship between RAs and an enzymatic antioxidant system was also determined. Estrogen-receptor (ER) positive MCF-7 and ER-negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells were treated with different doses of each RA isomers, all-trans RA, 13-cis RA, or 9-cis RA. Treatment of RA isomers inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells as a result of increased caspase activity in cytoplasm and cytochrome C released from mitochondria. All-trans RA was the most effective RA isomer in both cell growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. However, no significant effect of RA isomers was observed on the cell growth or apoptosis in ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased effectively after treatment of RA in MCF-7 cells, whereas SOD activity was rarely affected. Thus, the present data suggest that all-trans RA is the most potential inducer of apoptosis and modulator of antioxidant enzymes among RA isomers in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Numerical and statistical analysis of permeability of concrete as a random heterogeneous composite

  • Zhou, Chunsheng;Li, Kefei
    • Computers and Concrete
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    • v.7 no.5
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    • pp.469-482
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    • 2010
  • This paper investigates the concrete permeability through a numerical and statistical approach. Concrete is considered as a random heterogeneous composite of three phases: aggregates, interfacial transition zones (ITZ) and matrix. The paper begins with some classical bound and estimate theories applied to concrete permeability and the influence of ITZ on these bound and estimate values is discussed. Numerical samples for permeability analysis are established through random aggregate structure (RAS) scheme, each numerical sample containing randomly distributed aggregates coated with ITZ and dispersed in a homogeneous matrix. The volumetric fraction of aggregates is fixed and the size distribution of aggregates observes Fuller's curve. Then finite element method is used to solve the steady permeation problem on 2D numerical samples and the overall permeability is deduced from flux-pressure relation. The impact of ITZ on overall permeability is analyzed in terms of ITZ width and contrast ratio between ITZ and matrix permeabilities. Hereafter, 3680 samples are generated for 23 sample sizes and 4 contrast ratios, and statistical analysis is performed on the permeability dispersion in terms of sample size and ITZ characteristics. By sample theory, the size of representative volume element (RVE) for permeability is then quantified considering sample realization number and expected error. Concluding remarks are provided for the impact of ITZ on concrete permeability and its statistical characteristics.

The Stress-Activated Signaling (SAS) Pathways of a Human Fungal Pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans

  • Jung, Kwang-Woo;Bahn, Yong-Sun
    • Mycobiology
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.161-170
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    • 2009
  • Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycete human fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The ability to sense and respond to diverse extracellular signals is essential for the pathogen to infect and cause disease in the host. Four major stress-activated signaling (SAS) pathways have been characterized in C. neoformans, including the HOG (high osmolarity glycerol response), PKC/Mpk1 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), calcium-dependent calcineurin, and RAS signaling pathways. The HOG pathway in C. neoformans not only controls responses to diverse environmental stresses, including osmotic shock, UV irradiation, oxidative stress, heavy metal stress, antifungal drugs, toxic metabolites, and high temperature, but also regulates ergosterol biosynthesis. The PKC(protein kinase C)/Mpk1 pathway in C. neoformans is involved in a variety of stress responses, including osmotic, oxidative, and nitrosative stresses and breaches of cell wall integrity. The $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin- and Ras-signaling pathways also play critical roles in adaptation to certain environmental stresses, such as high temperature and sexual differentiation. Perturbation of the SAS pathways not only impairs the ability of C. neoformans to resist a variety of environmental stresses during host infection, but also affects production of virulence factors, such as capsule and melanin. A drug(s) capable of targeting signaling components of the SAS pathway will be effective for treatment of cryptococcosis.

Upregulation of Renin-angiotensin, Endothelin and C-type Natriuretic Peptide in Rat Glomerulus with Bilateral Ureteral Obstruction

  • Bae, Eun-Hui;Kim, Soo-Wan
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.10 no.6
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    • pp.343-347
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    • 2006
  • The present study was designed to investigate the effects renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), endothelin (ET) and local natriuretic peptide (NP) system for glomerulopathy induced in the experimental bilateral ureteral obstructive rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats ($200{\sim}220g$ body weight) were bilaterally obstructed by ligation of the proximal ureters for 24 hours. Control rats were treated in the same ways, except that no ligature was made. The glomeruli were isolated from cortex by graded sieve methods, and the mRNA expressions of local renin-angiotensin system (RAS), aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and NP system were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Following the bilateral ureteral obstruction, the mRNA expressions of renin, angiotensin converting enzyme 1 as well as ET-1 were increased, while that of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 was not changed. The expressions of CYP11B2 and angiotensin II receptors were not changed. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) expression was increased, while its receptors (natriuretic peptide receptor-B) were not changed. We suggest that the upregulation of local RAS and ET playa role in the progressive glomerular injury, and that the enhanced CNP activity also plays a compensatory role in obstructive uropathy in the glomerulus.

Factors Affecting Prognosis in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients

  • Eker, Baki;Ozaslan, Ersin;Karaca, Halit;Berk, Veli;Bozkurt, Oktay;Inanc, Mevlude;Duran, Ayse Ocak;Ozkan, Metin
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.16 no.7
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    • pp.3015-3021
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    • 2015
  • Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of mortality in developed countries, and it is the third most frequent malignancy in Turkey. There are many biological, genetic, molecular, and tissue-derived prognostic factors for CRCs. In this study, we evaluated prognostic factors in patients who were metastatic at diagnosis or progressed to metastatic disease during follow-up. Patients and Methods: This study included 116 patients with malignancies either in the colon or rectum. Of these, 65 had metastatic disease at diagnosis, and 51 progressed to metastatic disease during the course of the disease. The parameters evaluated were age, gender, comorbidity, performance status and stage of the disease at the beginning, localization, history of surgery, chemotherapy regimen, response to first-line treatment, K-RAS status, site and number of metastases, expression of tumor predictors (CEA, CA19-9), and survival times. A multivariate analysis conducted with factors that considered statistically significant in the univariate analysis. Findings: Median age was 56 (32-82) years and the male/female ratio was 80/36. Eleven patients were at stage II, 40 at stage III, and 65 at stage IV at diagnosis. Twenty three patients had tumor in the right colon, 48 in the left colon, and 45 in the rectum. Ninety seven patients were operated, and 27 had surgical metastasectomy. Ninety three patients received targeted therapy. At the end of follow-up, 61 patients had died, and 55 survived. Metastatic period survival times were longer in the adjuvant group, but the difference did not reach the level of statistical significance (adjuvant group: median 29 months, metastatic group: median 22 months; p=0.285). In the adjuvant group before the metastatic first-line therapy, CEA and CA 19-9 levels were significiantly lower compared to the metastatic group (p<0.005). We also found that patients with elevated tumor predictor (CEA, CA 19-9) levels before the first-line therapy had significiantly poorer prognosis and shorter survival time. Survival was significiantly better with the patients who were younger than 65 years of age, had better initial performance status, a history of primary surgery and metastatectomy, and single site of metastasis. Those who benefitted from the first-line therapy were K-RAS wild type and whose tumor markers (CEA, CA 19-9) were not elevated before the first line therapy. Conclusions: Among the patients with metastatic CRC, those who benefited from first-line therapy, had history of metastasectomy, were K-RAS wild type and had low CA 19-9 levels before the first-line therapy, showed better prognosis independent of other factors.

Inhibition of Oncogenes Affects the Expression of NKG2D Ligands in Cancer Cells (k-ras와 c-myc, wnt 억제에 의한 NKG2D 리간드의 발현변화)

  • Heo, Woong;Lee, Young Shin;Bae, Jaeho
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.23 no.10
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    • pp.1216-1222
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    • 2013
  • NK cells are lymphoid immune cells that participate in innate immunity to protect against foreign pathogens and transforming cells. It is known that the activity of NK cells is regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory signals rather than specific antigens. One important activating signal is mediated by the NKG2D receptor, which recognizes NKG2D ligands on cancer cells. Therefore, tumor cells that express sufficient amounts of NKG2D ligands could be eliminated by NKD2D+ cells, including NK cells. Oncogenes drive tumor cells to apoptosis resistant and uncontrolled proliferation by altered expression of many critical genes. Therefore, the expression of NKG2D ligands may be affected by oncogenes. This study focused on increasing the susceptibility of cancer cells to NK cells by regulating the expression of NKG2D ligands influenced by three oncogenes: k-ras, wnt, and c-myc. We demonstrated that inhibition of k-ras and c-myc increased the expression of NKG2D ligands and enhanced the susceptibility of cancer cells to NK cells. On the contrary, inhibition of the wnt pathway decreased MICA and ULBP1 transcripts. Although the decreased transcription of NKG2D ligands by inhibition of the wnt pathway, surface proteins of NKG2D ligands were not changed, and the susceptibility of HCT-116 cells was unaffected. The results demonstrate that the transcription of NKG2D ligands are regulated deferentially by the k-ras, c-myc, and wnt pathways and that the cytotoxicity of NK cells solely depends on the amount of surface NKG2D ligands.