• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.393-398
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• 2015

Aptamers are composed of single-stranded oilgonucleotides that can selectively bind desired molecules. It has been reported that RNA or DNA could act as not only a genetic messenger but also a catalyst in metabolic pathways. RNA aptamers (average sizes 40-50 bp) are smaller than antibodies and have strong binding capacities to target molecules, similar to antigenantibody interactions. Once an aptamer was selected, it can be readily produced in large quantities at low cost. The objectives of this study are to screen and develop aptamers specific to oral pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Streptococcus mutans. The bacterial cell pellet was fixed with formaldehyde as a target molecule for the screening of aptamers. The SELEX method was used for the screening of aptamers and a modified western blot analysis was used to verify their specificities. Through SELEX, 40 kinds of aptamers were selected and the specificity of the aptamers to the bacterial cells was confirmed by modified western blot analysis. Through the SELEX method, 40 aptamers that specifically bind to oral pathogens were screened and isolated. The aptamers showed possibility as effective candidates for the detection agents of oral infections.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.906-915
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• 2017

Impairment of wound healing is a common problem in individuals with diabetes. Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived cytokine, has many beneficial effects on metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. C1q/TNF-Related Protein 9 (CTRP9), the closest paralog of adiponectin, has been reported to have beneficial effects on wound healing. In the current study, we demonstrate that CTRP9 regulates growth, differentiation, and apoptosis of HaCaT human keratinocytes. We found that CTRP9 augmented expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 ($TGF{\beta}1$) by transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1) binding activity and phosphorylation of p38 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated suppression of $TGF{\beta}1$ reversed the increase in p38 phosphorylation induced by CTRP9. siRNA-mediated suppression of $TGF{\beta}1$ or p38 significantly abrogated the effects of CTRP9 on cell proliferation and differentiation while inducing apoptosis, implying that CTRP9 stimulates wound recovery through a $TGF{\beta}1$-dependent pathway in keratinocytes. Furthermore, intravenous injection of CTRP9 via tail vein suppressed mRNA expression of Ki67 and involucrin whereas it augmented $TGF{\beta}1$ mRNA expression and caspase 3 activity in skin of type 1 diabetes animal models. In conclusion, our results suggest that CTRP9 has suppressive effects on hyperkeratosis, providing a potentially effective therapeutic strategy for diabetic wounds.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.111-119
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• 2009

Purpose: This study aimed at assessing the value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ($^{18}F$-FDG PET) for predicting the response of locally advanced rectal cancer to neoadjuvant CRT. Materials and Methods: Between August 2006 and January 2008, we prospectively enrolled 20 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and who were treated with neoadjuvant CRT at the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences. The treatment consisted of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and this was followed by curative resection 6 weeks later. All the patients underwent $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT both before CRT and 6 weeks after completing CRT. The measurements of the FDG uptake ($SUV_{max}$), the absolute difference (${\Delta}SUV_{max}$) and the percent $SUV_{max}$ difference (response index, $RI_{SUV}$) between the pre- and post-CRT $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT scans were assessed. The measurements of the metabolic volume, the absolute difference (${\Delta}$metabolic volume) and the percent metabolic volume difference (response index, $RI_{metabolic\;volume}$) were also assessed. Results: Of the 20 patients who underwent surgery, 11 patients (55%) were classified as responders according to Dworak's classification. The post-CRT $SUV_{max}$ was significantly lower than the pre-CRT $SUV_{max}$. However, there were no significant differences in the $SUV_{max}$ and the metabolic volume reduction between the responders and non-responders. We used a minimum $SUV_{max}$ reduction of 67% as the cut-off value for defining a response, with a sensitivity of 45.5%, a specificity of 88.9%, a positive predictive value of 77% and a negative predictive value of 53.8%. Conclusion: Although there were no statistically significant results in this study, other studies have revealed that $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT has the potential to assess the tumor response to neoadjuvant CRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8325-8330
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• 2014

Background: It is known that obesity is one of the risk factors for breast cancer although the association may differ between ethnic groups and with the menopausal status. Recently obesity-related risk factors including serum adiponectin and insulin levels have been analyzed together with BMI in association with breast cancer risk. Materials and Methods: We measured serum high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and insulin levels in a hospital based case-control study, including 66 sets of Japanese female breast cancer cases and age and menopausal status matched controls. Serum levels of HMW adiponectin, insulin levels and body mass index (BMI) were examined in association with breast cancer risk with adjustment for the various known risk factors by menopausal status. Results: Women in the highest HMW adiponectin levels showed significant reduced risk of breast cancer in both pre and postmenopausal women (odds ratio (OR), 0.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.00-0.26 and 0.13; 0.03-0.57, respectively). Lower BMI showed decreased breast cancer risk in both pre and postmenopausal women (OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00-0.69, OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07-1.11, respectively). Conclusions: These results indicated that higher serum HMW adiponectin levels and lower BMI are associated with a decreased breast cancer risk in both pre and postmenopausal women in Japan, adding evidence for the obesity link.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.381-386
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• 1995

In our hospital we have seen 20 cases of congenital diaphragmatic anomalies from June 1984 until December 1993. These were classified into 10 cases of diaphragmatic eventration, 8 cases of Bochdalek hernia, 1 case of Morgagni hernia, and 1 case of esophageal hiatal hernia. Diaphragmatic eventration cases were composed of 8 males and 2 females with ages varing from 3 hour to 42 year. They were discovered by symptoms: 5 cases of respiratory insufficiency; 3 cases of frequent respiratory infection; and 2 cases by chance; 6 cases involved the left side, 4 cases involved right side. Emergency operations were done to 4 patients. Among the 10 patients, only one operative mortality occurred; 3 hour old female.Bochdalek hernia cases composed 6 females and 2 males, 5 patients were less than 6 hour old. All patients were operated on an emergency status and three of them expired due to the vicious cycle of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vasoconstriction, persistent fetal circulation, hypoxia, and metabolic acidosis. Morgagni hernia was seen in one 69 year old female patient, she had no complaint of symptoms and was incidentally detected. Hernia was repaired through right thoracotomy. She was discharged with healthy appearence. Esophageal hiatal hernia was seen in a 10 month old male patient, his symptoms were persistent vomiting and coughing since birth. Sliding type of esophageal hiatal hernia repair was completed through left thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1132-1138
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• 1995

From 1991 to 1994, we experienced 24 cases of neonatal pneumothorax who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit[NICU , Chosun University Hospital. The Following results were obtained.1 The incidence of neonatal pneumothorax was 0.70%, and there were 8 spontaneous pneumothoraces and 16 secondary pneumothoraces. 2 The clinical manifestation of neonatal pneumothorax was as followed. Male infant was dominant[M:F=2:1 , the onset was within 24 hours in the majority[83% , and the right side[62% was more frequent than the left side. The gestation duration and birth weight show no correlation with underlying neonatal pneumothorax. The pulmonary diseases were meconium aspiration syndrome and hyaline membrane disease, and the incidence of those was 58%. Meconium aspiration syndrome occurred earlier than hyaline membrane disease. Symptoms and signs were tachypnea[46% , cyanosis[21% , irritability[13% , chest retraction[8% and apnea[8% .3 The treatments performed were oxygen therapy[17% , thoracentesis[4% and closed thoracostomy with underwater seal drainage[79% . The Mean duration of air leakage was 11.7 hours, and the mean drainage time was 4.35$\pm$1.3day. 4 The overall hospital mortality was 33%, and the rate of complication was 46%. The complications were metabolic acidosis, atelectasis, pleural effusion, pulmonary hemorrhage and pneumonia. We concluded that the prognosis was related to the underlying pulmonary disease.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.279-285
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• 2003

Lidocaine and galactose loading tests were performed on a bioartificial liver (BAL), an extracorporeal medical device incorporating living hepatocytes in a cartridge without a transport barrier across the membranes. The concentration changes were analyzed using pharmacokinetic equations to evaluate the efficacy and limitation of the proposed method. Lidocaine and galactose were found to be suitable drugs for a quantitative evaluation of the BAL functions, as they did not interact with the plasma proteins or blood vessels, making their concentrations easy to determine. The drug concentration changes after drug loading were easily analyzed using pharmacokinetic equations, and the BAL functions quantitatively expressed by pharmacokinetic parameters, such as the clearance (CL) and galactose elimination capacity (GEC). In addition, these two drugs have already been used in clinical tests to evaluate human liver functions over long periods, and lidocaine CL values and GEC values reported for a normal human liver. Thus, a comparison of the CL and GEC values for the BAL and a natural liver revealed what proportion of normal liver functions could be replaced by the BAL.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1994

Allograft cardiac valves have been used for over 30 years to replace diseased cardiac valves, reconstruct right or left ventricular outflow tract. With increasing its requirement, the establishment of a viable bank capable of maintaining the viability of graft over a prolonged period would be desirable. The method for determining the viability of allograft by metabolic assay technique using radiolabeled aminoacids has been used recently. An experimental study was done for evaluation of viability of cardiac allograft which was preserved for 14 days at 4oC in nutrient medium[fresh preservation] by metabolism assay technique using 3H-glycine. Also, the effectiveness of low concentration antibiotic solution[CLPV] for sterilization was evaluated. The effectiveness of CLPV solution for sterilization of allograft was perfect. Pre-treatment cultured organisms were not cultured after treatment at all in every cases. The viability of allograft after sterilization was reduced to 66.4%[aortic wall], 74.7%[pulmonary wall], 76.3%[aortic valve], 67.9%[aortic wall]. And after the fresh preservation for 14 days, the viability was reduced to 14.7%, 18.5%, 17.7%, 19.0%, respectively.In conclusion, viability of allograft was reduce to 71.3[66.4-76.3]% after sterilization and 17.5[14.7-19.0]% after fresh preservation. And sterilization effect of CLPV solution was satisfactory.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.560-567
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• 2008

The importance of lipids in cell signaling and tissue physiology is demonstrated by the many CNS pathologies involving deregulated lipid metabolism. One such critical metabolic event is the activation of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), which results in the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids and the release of free fatty acids, including arachidonic acid, a precursor for essential cell-signaling eicosanoids. Reactive oxygen species (ROS, a product of arachidonic acid metabolism) react with cellular lipids to generate lipid peroxides, which are degraded to reactive aldehydes (oxidized phospholipid, 4-hydroxynonenal, and acrolein) that bind covalently to proteins, thereby altering their function and inducing cellular damage. Dissecting the contribution of $PLA_2$ to lipid peroxidation in CNS injury and disorders is a challenging proposition due to the multiple forms of $PLA_2$, the diverse sources of ROS, and the lack of specific $PLA_2$ inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the role of $PLA_2$ in CNS pathologies, including stroke, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple sclerosis-Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and Wallerian degeneration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.414-417
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• 2007

A 52-year-old woman with hypertension and moyamoya disease presented with chronic subdural hematoma [CSDH]. The presumed cause of bleeding was ascribed to administrated antiplatelet agents. She responded slowy and clumsily to verbal commands and had right arm weakness. After surgery, her clinical condition improved. But two days after surgery, her symptoms became aggravated and a convulsive seizure was noted within 24 hours. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed no organic lesion except a small amount of residual CSDH. In addition, there was no laboratory evidence of metabolic brain disease. Moreover, after the administration of an antiepileptic drug [phenytoin], her manifestations disappeared. Therefore, the authors presume that her symptoms were resulted from nonconvulsive status epilepticus [NCSE], despite a lack of ictal period electroencephalographic findings. The authors were unable to find a single case report on postoperative NCSE in Korea. Therefore, the authors report this case of nonconvulsive status epilepticus after drainage of a CSDH in a patient with moyamoya disease.