• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.84-89
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• 2020

Cancer cells secrete angiogenic factors, and nearby vasculatures make new blood vessels essential for cancer development and metastasis in response to these soluble factors. Many efforts have been made to elucidate cancer-endothelial cell interactions in vitro. However, not much is known due to the lack of a suitable co-culture platform. Here, we introduce a 3D printing-based microfluidic system that mimics the in vivo-like cancer-endothelial cell interactions. The tumoroids and endothelial cells are co-cultured, physically separated by porous fibrin gel, allowing communication between two cell types through soluble factors. Using this microfluidic system, we were able to visualize new vessel formation induced by tumoroids of different origins, including liver, breast, and ovary. We confirmed that the ovarian tumoroids most induced angiogenesis while the other two cancer types suppressed it. Utilization of the proposed co-culture platform will help the researchers unveil the underlying mechanisms of the dynamic interplay between tumor and angiogenesis.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.157-160
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• 2021

Head and neck cutaneous metastasis of advanced gastric cancer is uncommon, and scalp metastasis is particularly rare. We present the case of a 60-year-old man who was diagnosed with cutaneous metastasis on the scalp originating from advanced gastric cancer. The patient was referred to the plastic surgery department for a scalp mass near the hairline. He had been diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer and undergone total gastrectomy and Roux esophagojejunostomy 3 years previously. The differential diagnosis for a single flesh-colored nodule on the scalp included benign tumors such as epidermal cyst or lipoma; therefore, the patient underwent excision and biopsy. In the operative field, the mass was found to be located in the frontalis muscle. The biopsy result showed that the mass was a metastatic lesion of advanced gastric cancer. Whole-body computed tomography revealed a gastric tumor with blood vessel infiltration, peritoneal carcinomatosis, liver metastasis, and multiple disseminated subcutaneous metastases. Although scalp metastasis originating from an internal organ is extremely rare, plastic surgeons should always consider a metastatic lesion in the differential diagnosis if a patient with a scalp lesion has a history of malignant cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.456-465
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• 2023

Cervical tumors represent a prevalent form of cancer affecting women worldwide; current treatment options involve surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation, is a crucial factor in cervical tumor growth. The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of the liver kinase B1 (LKB1/STK11) tumor suppressor protein on tumor angiogenesis have not been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of LKB1 in cervical tumor angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo in this study. Our results demonstrated that LKB1 inhibited cervical tumor angiogenesis by suppressing the expression of angiogenesis-related factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α. LKB1 directly affected both carcinoma and vascular endothelial cells, resulting in a significant reduction in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Furthermore, LKB1 was found to bind to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) and target the VEGFR-2-mediated protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling pathway in endothelial cells, thereby reducing cervical tumor growth and angiogenesis. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects of LKB1 in cervical cancer. These findings will help develop new therapeutic strategies for cervical cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2020

Research should be actively conducted for the ability of X-ray equipment and Retrospective image analysis of X-ray equipment used in hospitals. Retrospective image analysis of X-ray machines, CT and MRI of radiology and medical equipment has been actively conducted. However, image quality measurement using angiography equipment of angiography room is mostly measured with phantom, and image quality measurement on image after being taken by actual patient is insufficient and researches on accurate image quality measurement method are remarkable. It is in short supply. Therefore, through this study, the researcher devised a method to measure the image quality of the acquired image after coronary angiography, and to provide a high quality image to the operator. The equipment and programs used were angiographic examination equipment (Axiom Artis Zee Ceiling) and Image J program. Subjects were images automatically saved in PACS program after coronary angiography.For image quality measurement, selected the AP Caudal 30° image that show the LCA vessel well and the LAO 30° image that show the RCA vessel well during the coronary angiography. In order to measure the background and ROI of the selected image by selecting an image, a criterion on how to find and measure a section where the overlap of the shadow, such as blood vessel, liver and lung is minimized, is presented. In conclusion, there is no exact standard for analyzing an image quality measurement method of angiography image. Therefore, in order to provide quality images to the practistioners, not only the technicians of the equipment but also the users who actually use them should become researchers and conduct research on image quality measurement in various ways. Thus, it is expected to provide excellent images to patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.906-912
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• 2003

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of Saengshik supplementation on lipid metabolism in rats fed high cholesterol diets. Male Spraque-Dawley rats were administrated 1% cholesterol to induce hypercholesterolemia and were fed on diet containing Saengshik (30%, w/w). Serum and liver lipid profiles and fecal bile acids excretion were examined after 7 weeks of experimental diet. The feeding of diet containing 30% Saengshik significantly decreased total cholesterol (TC) contents in liver and plasma. Since cholesterol was balanced by entero-hepatic circulation through bile acid synthesis and reabsorption, inhibition of bile acid re-uptake in intestine decreases total cholesterol in liver and blood. In this point, significant increament of fecal bile acid excretion in Shaengshik group decreased TC and improved hypercholesterolemia. Also plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) decreasing risk for coronary heart disease in Saengshik supplemented group was significantly higher than control group, whereas low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) accumulation in arterial vessel wall was significantly lower than control group. In this result, we supposed that supplementation of Saengshik, uncooked natural food, may improve hypercholesterolemia through increment of cholesterol excretion.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.124-135
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• 2010

Background and Objective: Atherosclerosis is a diffuse, systemic disease that affects the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral arterial trees. Clopidogrel is widely used antiplatelet agent and its efficacy has been proven in cardiac and extracardiac vascular diseases, but it has several side effects. Therefore we investigated whether Sopunghwalhyeoltang, which is widely used for treating the blood stasis syndrome in traditional medicine, could decrease the side effect of antiplatelets and have a synergic effect. Methods & Materials: Male $ApoE^{(-/-)}$ mice were randomly divided into three different experimental groups, non-treated group (Control group), clopidogrel-treated group (CP group) and clopidogrel with Sopunghwalhyeol-tang treated group (CPS group). The control group was fed with only an atherogenic diet, the CP group an atherogenic diet plus clopidogrel 25mg/kg and the CPS group an atherogenic diet plus clopidogrel 25mg/kg with Sopunghwalhyeol-tang 100 mg/kg. We investigated plasma lipids with liver function test, and performed a histological investigation of liver and abdominal aorta. Results: 1. Photomicrographs of liver and abdominal aorta tissue showed lower histological injury and lipid accumulation in the CP and CPS groups than those in the Control group. 2. In the CPS group, plasma triglyceride level was significantly lower than in the Control and CP groups. 3. In the CPS group, the plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was significantly lower than in the CP group. Conclusions: The above results shows that a combined treatment of Sopunghwalhyeol-tang and clopidogrel have a synergic effect through inhibiting vessel injury and decrease the side effects of clopidogrel alone.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.745-761
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• 2000

Literatural study for Delirious speech and Fading murmuring, the results were as follows. 1. Delirious speech and Fading murmuring are given at the speech impediment. Derious speech to be out of language's order and slur the end of his words, and Fading murmuring is to repeat in losing conscious. 2. In constrast with Delirious speech and Fading murmuring, Maniac speech is induced by a general term for manic-depressive psychosis. Luoyan is to say in a feeble voice and mumble in a sleeping condition, and Paraphasia and Solioquy are appeared in a clear mental condition. The speech impediment is caused by damages of the nervous system and speech organ, and Yuyancuoluan is appeared in a feverless condition. 3. The symptoms of Delirious speech are to utter ravings and have a loud and heavy voice, and these resemble the delirium which specially has a speech impediment and muddle in the western medical world. The symptoms of Fading murmuring are to speak ambigously, repeatedly, and illogically and so are similar to the Wernicke dysphasia which is caused by a incomprehensible conversation. 4. The causes of Delirious speech are to spread a stomach heat and the lungs pathogenic qi into heart, not to sweat in cold damage, the Three Yang Combination of syndrome, stomach repletion, yang collapse due to excessive sweat, diarrhea, after diarrhea, heat to enter the blood chamer, feces to remain in the stomach, stasis blood to enter the viscera, to carry anger to extremity, and to be constipated. the cause of Fading murmuring is to despair vacuity desertion of vital essence and energy after a serious illness. 5. The causes of delirium are general infection, postoperative states, and metabolism disorders and those of Wernicke dysphasia are disorders of the blood vessel, brain tumors and traumas. 6. Delirious speech is cured with the discrimination of vacuity and repletion. Baitong Tang(白通湯), Chaihu Guizhi Tang(柴胡桂枝湯), Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Tang(柴胡加龍骨牡蠣湯) are prescribed in case of vacuity, while Chengqi Tang(承氣湯), Baihu Tang(白虎湯), Liangge San(凉膈散) are in case of repletion. Fading murmuring is treated with Xiao Chaihu Tang(小柴胡湯), Fuzi Tang Jiawei(附子湯加味), Shengmai San(生脈散), and Renshen Sanbai Tang(人蔘三白湯). 7. To acupunture Qimen-Xue(期門穴) is required when it is late to prescribe a medical decoction or the hyperactive liver qi attacking the spleen.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.553-558
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• 2022

The purpose of this work was a simulation study to evaluate the virtual monochromatic (VM) image quality of blood vessels compared to the monochromatic image. Dual-energy images were obtained based on the linear attenuation coefficients of five materials at 50 keV and 80 keV at low- and high-energies, respectively. A weighting factor is required to synthesize the VM image, and the liver and bone were used as basis materials to obtain the weighting factor. VM images were synthesized at energies ranging from 30 keV to 100 keV. Image quality was evaluated by Contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and noise by setting calcium and contrast medium as signals and blood as background. According to the results, the energies with the maximum CNR were 50 keV and 60 keV for calcium and contrast medium, respectively. The energies showing the minimum noise were 70 keV, 70 keV, and 60 keV in calcium, iodine contrast medium, and blood, respectively. The VM image can contribute to the improvement of diagnostic performance in CT examination because it can implement an image at the optimal energy that minimize noise and maximize CNR.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2018

Carbon monoxide (CO) is well-known as toxic gas and intrinsic signaling molecule such as neurotransmitter and blood vessel relaxant. Recently, it has been reported that low concentration of CO exerts therapeutic actions under various pathological conditions including liver failure, heart failure, gastric cancer, and cardiac arrest. However, little has been known about the effect of CO in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD). To test whether CO could exert a beneficial action during oxidative cell death in PD, we examined the effects of CO on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cell death in C6 glioma cells. Treatment of CO-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) significantly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner. CORM-2 treatment decreased Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3 activity, which had been increased by 6-OHDA. CORM-2 increased phosphorylation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) which is a transcription factor regulating antioxidant proteins. Subsequently, CORM-2 also increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutases (CuZnSOD and MnSOD), which were antioxidant enzymes regulated by Nrf2. These results suggest that CO released by CORM-2 treatment may have protective effects against oxidative cell death in PD through the potentiation of cellular adaptive survival responses via activation of Nrf2 and upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, leading to increasing antioxidant defense capacity.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.221-231
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• 2012

The marine medaka Oryzias dancena choriogenin H gene (odChgH) and its mRNA expression during estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) exposure were characterized. At the amino acid level, the choriogenin H protein is predicted to possess the conserved repetitive N-terminal region, as well as zona pellucida (ZP) and Trefoil factor family (TFF) domains. At the genomic level, odChgH has an eight-exon organization with a distribution pattern of transcription factor binding sites in the 5'-upstream region, which is commonly found in other estrogen-responsive genes. The tissue distribution pattern of odChgH mRNA was found to be gender-specific, whereby females showed a higher expression level and wider tissue distribution than did males. During embryonic development, odChgH mRNA was robustly detected from the stage of visceral blood vessel formation. Experimental E2 exposure of males resulted in odChgH mRNA being induced not only in the liver, but also in other several tissues. The E2-mediated induction was fairly dose-dependent. The basal expression levels of hepatic odChgH mRNA were lower in males that were acclimated to 30 ppt salinity than in those acclimated to 0 or 15 ppt salinity. In contrast, the inducibility of odChgH mRNA during E2 exposure was greater in seawater-acclimated fish than in brackish water- or freshwater-acclimated fish.