• Title/Summary/Keyword: Molecular genetics

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Year-in-Review of Lung Cancer

  • Son, Ji Woong
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.73 no.3
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    • pp.137-142
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    • 2012
  • In the last several years, we have made slow but steady progress in understanding molecular biology of lung cancer. This review is focused on advances in understanding the biology of lung cancer that have led to proof of concept studies on new therapeutic approaches. The three selected topics include genetics, epigenetics and non-coding RNA. This new information represents progress in the integration of molecular mechanisms that to identify more effective ways to target lung cancer.

Induction of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Response against the Core and NS3 Genes of the Hepatitis C Virus in Balb/c Mice

  • Kim, Na-Young;Sohn, He-Kwang;Choe, Joon-Ho;Park, Sang-Dai;Seong, Rho-Hyun
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.337-341
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    • 1999
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive strand RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family and the major cause of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis. Vaccine development for HCV is essential but has been slowed by poor understanding of the type of immunity that naturally terminates HCV infection. The DNA-based immunization technique offers the potential advantage of including cellular immune responses against conserved internal proteins of a virus, as well as the generation of antibodies to viral surface proteins. Here, we demonstrate that cell lines expressing the HCV core and/or NS3 proteins can induce a specific CTL response in mice, and these results suggest a possibility that the HCV core and NS3 DNA can be used to induce CTL activity against the antigen in mice and can be further developed as a therapeutic and preventive DNA vaccine.

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Molecular Mechanisms of Casticin Action: an Update on its Antitumor Functions

  • Rasul, Azhar;Zhao, Bin-Ji;Liu, Jun;Liu, Bao;Sun, Jia-Xin;Li, Jiang;Li, Xiao-Meng
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.21
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    • pp.9049-9058
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    • 2014
  • Casticin (3', 5-dihydroxy-3, 4', 6, 7-tetramethoxyflavone) is an active compound isolated from roots, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds of a variety of plants. It is well known for its pharmacological properties and has been utilized as an anti-hyperprolactinemia, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotetective, analgesic and immunomodulatory agent. Recently, the anticancer activity of casticin has been extensively investigated. The resulkts showed that it exerts protective potential by targeting apoptosis, considered important for cancer therapies. In this article, our aim was to review the pharmacological and therapeutic applications of casticin with specific emphasis on its anticancer functions and related molecular mechanisms. Chemotherapeutic effects are dependent on multiple molecular pathways, which may provide a new perspective of casticin as a candidate anti-neoplastic drug. This review suggests that additional studies and preclinical trials are required to determine specific intracellular sites of action and derivative targets in order to fully understand the mechanisms of its antitumor activity and validate this compound as a medicinal agent for the prevention and treatment of various cancers.

HER-2/neu Status: A Neglected Marker of Prognostication and Management of Breast Cancer Patients in India

  • Zubeda, Syeda;Kaipa, Prabhakar Rao;Shaik, Noor Ahmad;Mohiuddin, Mohammed Khaliq;Vaidya, Sireesha;Pavani, Boddana;Srinivasulu, Mukta;Latha, Manolla Madhavi;Hasan, Qurratulain
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.2231-2235
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    • 2013
  • Background: Categorizing breast tumors based on the ER, PR and HER/Neu 2 receptor status is necessary in order to predict outcome and assist in management of breast cancer. Herfe we assessed this question in South Indian patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 619 formalin fixed paraffin embedded breast tumor tissues were collected from pathology archives after receipt of ethical clearance. With the help of primary and secondary conjugated antibodies, expression status of ER, PR and HER2/neu was determined. All the experimental data were assessed for correlations with histopathological features of tumors and clinical presentation of the subjects. Results: In the present study, the ages ranged from 20-87 years with a mean of $50.0{\pm}12.q$ years, and majority of the tumors (84%) were of infiltrating duct cell carcinoma type. Assessment of ER, PR and Her-2/neu expression showed that 46% were triple negative. Interestingly, an inverse relation between ER, PR and HER-2/neu was apparent in 41.2% (p<0.0001) of the tumors, of which 24.5% (p<0.0001) were ER and PR co-negative but HER-2 positive. Conclusions: ER and PR positive tumors are less common (i.e<30%) compared to HER-2/neu positive tumors (i.e>50%) in Indian breast cancer patients, underlining the need for effective diagnostic screening and specific therapeutic managements in order to improve the survival rate of patients in low resource countries such as India.

Prenatal Population Screening for Fragile X Carrier and the Prevalence of Premutation Carriers in, Korea

  • Han, Sung-Hee;Heo, Yun-Ah;Yang, Young-Ho;Kim, Young-Jin;Cho, Han-Ik;Lee, Kyoung-Ryul
    • Journal of Genetic Medicine
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.73-77
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    • 2012
  • Purpose: Fragile X carrier detection before or at early pregnancy through a wide screening program may not only confer a risk of having offspring with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), but may also confer a risk for Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency and Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. However, prior to the implementation of such a program, the carrier prevalence in a population and the availability of effective screening test should be evaluated. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of premutation carriers and to evaluate the feasibility of screening test. Materials and Methods: The blood samples were obtained from 8,641 pregnant women with no family history of mental retardation. We performed a three-primer CGG repeat primed (RP) PCR using the AmplideX$^{TM}$ FMR1 PCR kit (Asuragen, Inc. Austin, TX, USA). Samples showing full mutation alleles were reflexed to Southern blot analysis for methylation status and sizing. Results: Among the 8,641 women, we found 8 premutation carriers (1:1,090, 0.09%) and 46 women with an intermediate allele (1:190, 0.53%). No woman was found to carry the fully mutated allele. All the detected alleles were within the CGG repeat range of 8-117. Among the 8,641 samples, 29 and 30 CGG repeats represent 66.6% of all cases. The CGG RP PCR method provides robust detection of expanded alleles and resolves allele zygosity, thus minimizing the number of samples that require Southern blot analysis. Conclusion: This is the first study that has focused on the prevalence of FXS premutation carriers and FMR1 allele distribution in normal pregnant women. These data have important implications for population-based fragile X carrier screening in Korea.

The Soluble Expression of the Human Renin Binding Protein Using Fusion Partners: A Comparison of ubquitin, Thioredoxin, Maltose Binding Protein-and NusA

  • Lee, Chung;Lee, Sun-Gu;Saori Takahashi;Kim, Byung-Gee
    • Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.89-93
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    • 2003
  • human renin binding protein (hRnBp), showing N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase activity, was over-expressed in E. coli, but was mainly present as an inclusion body. To improve its solubility and activity, ubiquitin (Ub), thioredoxin (Trx), maltose binding protein (MBP) and NusA, were used as fusion partners. The comparative solubilities of the fusion proteins were, from most to least soluble: NusA, MBP, Trx, Ub. Only the MBP fusion did not significantly reduce the activity of hRnBp, but enhanced the stability. The Origami (DE3), permitting a more oxidative environment for the cytoplasm in E. coli; helped to increase its functional activity.

First Report of a Foliar Nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae (Aphelenchidae) on Stachys riederi var. japonica, a Medicinal Plant, in Korea

  • Khan, Zakaullah;Son, Seon-Hye;Shin, Hyeon-Dong;Kim, Young-Ho
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.97-100
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    • 2008
  • Leaf blight symptoms and abnormal defoliation were found on Stachys riederi var. japonica, a medicinal plant, grown at Hongcheon, Gangwon province, Korea in 2007. A foliar nematode, Aphelenchoides fragariae was isolated from infected leaf tissues. The symptoms observed on host plant were leaf blotching, discoloration and browning of tissues, tan-colored interveinal necrotic lesions and large dead patches of necrotic tissues. This is the first report of A. fragariae occurring on S. riederi var. japonica.