• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2006

In previous studies, it has been discovered that cancer cells not only overexpress regulatory subunit I (Rl)/protein kinase type I (PKA-I) but also secrete outside the cell an extracellular form of PKA (ECPKA) and that the ECPKA secretion detected in patients' serum is obviously greater than that found in non-cancer patients or healthy subjects. We now found that ECPKA elicits the formation of serum autoantibodies that can serve as a cancer diagnostic and prognostic marker. To measure the presence of anti-ECPKA autoantibody in the human sera, basic methodology for ECPKA assay was established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We obtained serum samples from 199 patients with different types of cancer, and also obtained 31 serum samples to compare with ECPKA concentrations from non-cancer patients and 119 normal volunteers. Compared with normal or non-cancer patient sera, we found that the frequency of anti-ECPKA autoantibody was significantly higher in cancer patients (88%) than in those without cancer (17%). Furthermore the presence of anti-ECPKA autoantibodies in the serum of cancer patients was highly correlated with the site of metastasis. The immunoassay developed for anti-ECPKA antibodies is highly sensitive and specific. Therefore, this discovery of an autoantibody-based cancer diagnostic may have serious clinical application and may become an important advance over current technology.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.403-409
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• 2010

Accurate methods for the identification of closely related species or breeds in raw and processed meats must be developed in order to protect both consumers and producers from mislabeling and fraud. This paper describes the development of DNA markers for the discrimination and improvement of Korean native pig (KNP) meat. The KIT gene is related to pig coat color and is often used as a candidate marker. A 538 bp fragment comprising intron 19 of the pig KIT gene was amplified by PCR using specific primers, after which the PCR amplicons of a number of meat samples from KNP and three major improved breeds (Landrace, Duroc and Yorkshire) were sequenced in order to find a nucleotide region suitable for PCR-RFLP analysis. Sequence data showed the presence of two nucleotide substitutions, g.276G>A and g.295A>C, between KNP and the improved pig breeds. Digestion of KIT amplicons with AccII enzyme generated characteristic PCR-RFLP profiles that allowed discrimination between meats from KNP and improved pig. KNP showed three visible DNA bands of 264/249, 199, and 75 bp, whereas DNA bands of 249, 199, and 90 bp were detected in the three improved pig breeds. Therefore, the 75 bp DNA fragment was specific only to KNP, whereas the 90 bp DNA fragment was specific to the improved breeds. The breed-specific DNA markers reported here that target the KIT gene could be useful for the identification of KNP meat from improved pig meats, thus contributing to the prevention of falsified breed labeling.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2781-2785
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• 2016

Background: Matric metalloproteinase (MMP) 13 gene expression is increased in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and associated with increasing tumor invasion, lymph node involvement and decreased survival rates. Levels of the circulating enzyme may be elevated and used as a marker of tumor progression. In this study, clinical application of MMP-13 serum levels was evaluated for early detection, prediction of prognosis and survival time of ESCC patients. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of MMP13 were determined by ELISA in 66 ESCC patients prior of any treatment and 54 healthy controls for comparison with clinicopathological data through statistical analysis with Man Whitney U and Log-Rank tests. In addition, clinical value of MMP13 levels for diagnosis was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) test. Results: The serum level of MMP-13 in patients (>250 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in the control group (<100 pg/ml) (p value=0.004). Also the results showed a significant correlation between MMP-13 serum levels with tumor stage (p value = 0.003), depth of tumor invasion (p value=0.008), involvement of lymph nodes (p value = 0.011), tumor size (p value = 0.018) and survival time. While there were no significant correlation with grade and location of tumors. ROC analysis showed that MMP-13 level is an accurate diagnostic marker especially to differentiate pre-invasive/ invasive lesions from normal controls (sensitivity and specificity: 100%). Conclusions: These findings indicate a potential clinical significance of serum MMP13 measurement for early detection and prognostic assessment in ESCC patients.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.146-155
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• 2020

This study was to evaluate the usefulness of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) as a surrogate marker predicting metabolic syndrome. 7,155 non obese men over the age of 20 were studied as subjects. The criteria for diagnosing MetS were the National Cholesterol Education Program - Third Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP III). The risk of developing MetS according to GGT was conducted logistic regression analysis, and the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve was obtained to confirm GGT ability to predict the risk of MetS. Regardless of age and body mass index, MetS had a 7.09 times higher risk of onset in the fourth quartile than in the first quartile of GGT (p<0.001). The AUC (area under the curve) of GGT for the diagnosis of MetS was 0.715, and the cutoff value of GGT was 40.0 U/L, the sensitivity was 65.0%, and the specificity was 70.2%. Therefore, GGT is considered to be a useful diagnostic index for diagnosing MetS.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2001

Transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) is a multipotent growth factor affecting development, homeostasis and tissue repair. Many kinds of malignant tissues were reported to overexpress transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) gene. However, a little work has been done on the circulating $TGF-{\beta}1$ and the association of $TGF-{\beta}1$ with progression in patients with malignant tumors. In this study, we measured the plasma level of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in gastric cancer and prostate cancer patients and evaluated the utility of plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ as a possible tumor marker. We used Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system in order to measure plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ level in 134 gastric cancer patients, 50 prostate cancer patients and 290 normal controls. And the tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), was compared with $TGF-{\beta}1$ in the aspects of sensitivity and specificity. The mean plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ levels were $1.219{\pm}0.834$ (0.272-5.772) ng/mL in normal controls, $5.964{\pm}3.218$ (0.845-18.124) ng/mL in gastric cancer and $4.140{\pm}2.345$ (1.108-13.302) ng/mL in prostate cancer. In gastric cancer patients difference in plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ level was not detected according to cancer stage. In comparison with other tumor marker (CEA, PSA) $TGF-{\beta}1$ is more potent in sensitivity. These results indicate that the plasma $TGF-{\beta}1$ level can be a potent tumor marker in gastric cancer and prostate cancer.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.398-407
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• 2020

The inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase, a marker of postprandial hyperglycemia, and angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE), a marker of hypertension, was analyzed using non-fermented green tea and three different types of fermented tea, which are popular beverages in modern life. Green tea was mixed with trace amounts of vanadate (50 ㎍/mL), which has insulin-mimetic effects, to investigate the synergistic effect of vanadate on the inhibition of α-glucosidase. The concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine was also checked. The extracts of green tea and fermented teas showed clear inhibition on α-glucosidase, which caused a decrease in the postprandial glucose levels. The inhibitory effect was most prominent in the 20% fermented tea. Trace amounts of vanadate (50 ㎍/mL)-mixed green tea extract had twice the inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase than the pure tea extract. All teas showed inhibitory effects on ACE. Among those, the effect was most prominent in green tea, which had higher concentrations of EGCG. In contrast, the postprandial glucose-lowering effect and ACE inhibition of the fermented teas, which have a lower level of EGCG, was attributed to some other different functional substances.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.474-480
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• 2024

Background: Recent years have witnessed increasing interest in the high amount of ocotillol-type saponin in Panax vietnamensis, particularly in relation to majonoside R2 (MR2). This unique 3%-5% MR2 content impart Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs with unique pharmacological activities. However, in the commercial domain, unauthentic species have infiltrated and significantly hindered access to the authentic, efficacious variety. Thus, suitable analytical techniques for distinguishing authentic Vietnamese ginseng species from others is becoming increasingly crucial. Therefore, MR2 is attracting considerable attention as a target requiring effective management measures. Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed by producing monoclonal antibodies against MR2 (mAb 16E11). The method was thoroughly validated, and the potential of the immunoassay was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet spectroscopy. Furthermore, ELISA was applied to the assessment of the MR2 concentrations of various Panax spp., including Korean, American, and Japanese ginsengs. Results and conclusions: An icELISA using mAb 16E11 exhibited linearity between 3.91 and 250 ng/mL of MR2, with detection and quantification limits of 1.53 and 2.50 - 46.6 ng/mL, respectively. Based on this study, the developed icELISA using mAb 16E11 could be a valuable tool for analyzing MR2 level to distinguish authentic Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs from unauthentic ones. Furthermore, the analysis of the samples demonstrated that Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs exhibit a notably higher MR2 value than all other Panax spp. Thus, MR2 might be their ideal marker compound, and various bioactivities of this species should be explored.

• Mycobiology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2003

Restriction enzyme-mediated integration(REMI) was used to transform uracil auxotrophs of Pleurotus ostreatus to prototrophy. When protoplasts of Pleurotus ostreatus were treated by the reaction mixture containing 10 units of BamHI, the frequency of REMI was about 64 transformants per 1 ${\mu}g$ of DNA. This efficiency was increased by 14.2 times compared with that of the conventional PEG transformation. The optimal condition for REMI of P. ostreatus was achieved when 1 ${\mu}g$ of linearized pTRura3-2 DNA was added into $1{\times}10^7$ protoplasts along with 10 units BamHI. Southern blot analysis revealed that about 50% of transformants examined were caused by REMI event and 30% carried single copy insertion at the genome. This suggested that the REMI method might be a useful tool for efficient transformation and tagging mutagenesis of P. ostreatus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.838-845
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• 2011

The present work describes the identification, purification, and characterization of bile salt hydrolase (BSH) from Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis. The enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by hydrophobic chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and ultrafiltration. SDS-PAGE analysis of putative BSH and gel filtration revealed that the analyzed protein is presumably a tetramer composed of four monomers each of about 35 kDa. The purified enzyme was analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to LTQ FT ICR mass spectrometry and unambiguously identified as a bile salt hydrolase from B. animalis. The isoelectric point of the studied protein was estimated to be around pH 4.9. The pH optimum of the purified BSH is between 4.7 to 6.5, and the temperature optimum is around 50oC. The BSH of B. animalis could deconjugate all tested bile salts, with clear preference for glycine-conjugated bile salts over taurine-conjugated forms. Genetic analysis of the bsh showed high similarity to the previously sequenced bsh gene from B. animalis and confirmed the usefulness of bile salt hydrolase as a genetic marker for B. animalis identification.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.536-543
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• 1995

Multicopy integration vector is a very useful vector system in that they can be integrated into chromosomal DNA in several copies and stably maintained under non-selective conditions. To develop a multicopy integration vector system in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, P-type ribosomal DNA was cloned from Y lipolytica. A HindIII-BglII fragment of the cloned rDNA and a promoterless URA3 gene were inserted into pGEM1, generating multicopy integration vectors, pMIYL-1 and pMIYL-2. The rDNA fragment is for targeted homologous recombination between the vector and the chromosomal DNA of Y. lipolytica, and the promoterless URA3 gene is a defective selection marker for inducing multicopy integration. pMIYL-1 and pMIYL-2 have an unique restriction enzyme site, KpnI, and two unique restriction enzyme sites, KpnI and EcoRI, repectively, which can be used for targeting of the vectors into the rDNA of Y. lipolytica chromosomal DNA. After transformation of the vectors into Y. lipolytica, copy number and stability were analyzed by Southern hybridization. The vectors were found to be present in less than 5 copies per cell and were stably maintained during growth in non-selective media.