• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2013

FK506 binding protein 12 (FK506BP) belongs to a family of immunophilins, and is involved in multiple biological processes. However, the function of FK506BP in corneal disease remains unclear. In this study, we examined the protective effects on dry eye disease in a Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) induced mouse model, using a cell-permeable PEP-1-FK506BP protein. PEP-1-FK506BP efficiently transduced into human corneal epithelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and remained stable in the cells for 48 h. In addition, we demonstrated that topical application of PEP-1-FK506BP was transduced into mouse cornea and conjunctiva by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, topical application of PEP-1-FK506BP to BTX-A-induced mouse model markedly inhibited expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) in corneal and conjunctival epithelium. These results suggest PEP-1-FK506BP as a potential therapeutic agent for dry eye diseases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 2004

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a rare but serious and frequently life-threatening complication of a variety of conditions. The first goal in the management of patients with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is to achieve or preserve stability of the respiratory status. Subsequently, the differential diagnosis is aimed at the identification of a remediable cause of the alveolar hemorrhage. The most common causes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage with glomerulonephritis are microscopic polyangiitis and Wegener's granulomatosis, followed by Goodpasture syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a distinct systemic small vessle vasculitis affecting small sized vessels with few or no immune deposits and with no granulomatosus inflammation. The disease may involve multiple organs such as kidney, lung, skin, joint, muscle, gastrointestinal tract, eye, and nervous system. MPA is strongly associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) that is a useful serological diagnostic marker for the most common form of necrotizing vasculitis. Our report concerns a case of microscopic polyangiitis with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in a 54-year-old man. He was admitted to our hospital due to dyspnea upon exertion and recurrent hemoptysis. Laboratory findings showed hematuria, proteinuria and deterioration of renal function. In the chest CT scan, diffuse ground glass appearance was seen in both lower lungs. A lung biopsy revealed small vessel vasculitis with intraalveolar hemorrhage and showed a positive reaction to against perinuclear ANCA. The patient was treated with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Chest infiltration decreased and hemoptysis and hypoxia improved. He is still being followed up in our hospital with a low dose of prednisolone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1891-1898
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• 2016

Imperata cylindrica, a tall tufted grass which has multiple pharmacological applications is one of the key ingredients in various traditional medicinal formula used in India. Previous reports have shown that I. cylindrica plant extract inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. To our knowledge, no studies have been published on the effect of I. cylindrica leaf extract on human oral cancers. The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate the anticancer properties of the leaf extract of I. cylindrica using an oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCC-9 as an in vitro model system. A methanol extract from dried leaves of I. cylindrica (ICL) was prepared by standard procedures. Effects of the ICL extract on the morphology of SCC-9 cells was visualized by microscopy. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. Effects of the ICL extract on colony forming ability of SCC-9 cells was evaluated using clonogenic assay. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry and induction of apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation assay. The ICL extract treatment caused cytotoxicity and induced cell death in vitro in SCC-9 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This treatment also significantly reduced the clonogenic potential and inhibited cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, DNA fragmentation assays showed that the observed cell death was caused by apoptosis. This is the first report showing the anticancer activity of the methanol extracts from the leaves of I. cylindrica in human oral cancer cell line. Our data indicates that ICL extract could be considered as one of the lead compounds for the formulation of anticancer therapeutic agents to treat/manage human oral cancers. The natural abundance of I. cylindrica and its wide geographic distribution could render it one of the primary resource materials for preparation of anticancer therapeutic agents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5941-5944
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• 2014

Purpose: To highlight the potential factors that could predict the response rate of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with pemetrexed combined chemotherapy after first- or second-line chemotherapy using the FOLFOX regimen. Materials and Methods: Between January 2007 and July 2014, 54 patients diagnosed and pathologically-confirmed with advanced colorectal cancer in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, were enrolled. They received pemetrexed at a dose of $500mg/m^2$ by 10 minute infusion on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks. Doses were modified depending on nadir counts of blood cells. Combined chemotherapeutic agents included irinotecan, lobaplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, cis-platinum or bevacizumab. Multiple variables (age, sex, hemoglobin, platinum drugs combined, metastasis sites, LDH, ALP, CEA>40 ug/ml) reported earlier were selected. We used logistic regression analysis to evaluate relationships between these and tumor response. Results: On multivariable analysis, we found that age was significant in predicting the responsiveness to pemetrexed (p<0.05) combined with oxaliplatin. We did not find any other factors which were significantly associated with the response rate to chemotherapy with pemetrexed and irinotecan. Conclusions: By multivariate analysis, we found that age had significant impact on the responsiveness of pemetrexed when combined with oxaliplatin. Additional research based on genomic properties of host and tumors are needed to clarify markers for better selection of patients who could benefit from pemetrexed combined chemotherapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.369-375
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• 2008

Polygonatum cyrtonema Lectin (PCL), which is classified as a monocot mannose-binding lectin, has received great regards for its uniquely biological activities and potentially medical applications in cancer cells. This paper was initially aimed to study apoptosis of PCL on Hela cells. Thus, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method was carried out. Through observation of cell morphologic changes and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity-based cytotoxicity assays, PCL induced HeLa cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. To further gain structural basis, multiple alignments, homology modeling and docking experiments were performed to analyze the correlation between its biological activities and mannose-binding sites. Eventually, considering docking data, chemical modification properties on the three mannose-binding sites were analyzed by a series of biological experiments (e.g., hemagglutinating and mitogenic activity assays, fluorescence and Circular Dichrosim (CD) spectroscopy) to profoundly identify the role of some key amino acids in the structure-function relationship of PCL.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.333-344
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• 2019

In vertebrate reproductive system, estrogen receptor (ER) plays a pivotal role in mediation of estrogenic signaling pathways. In the present study, we report the cDNA cloning, expression analysis, and transcriptional activity of ERβ1 subtype from medaka Oryzias dancena. The deduced O. dancena ERβ1 (odERβ1; 519 amino acids) contained six characteristic A/B to E/F domains with very short activation function 2 region (called AF2). A phylogenetic analysis indicated that odERβ1 was highly conserved among teleost ERβ1 subgroup. A conventional RT-PCR revealed that the odERβ1 transcripts were widely distributed in the multiple tissues, the ovary, brain, gill, intestine, kidney, and muscle. Further, the relatively higher odERβ1 expressions in the ovary and brain were clearly reproduced in RT-qPCR assay. When HA-fused odERβ1 expression vector was transfected into HEK293 cells, an immunoreactivity for odERβ1 was mainly detected in the nucleus part. Finally, an estrogen responsive element driven luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that the transcriptional activity of odERβ1 significantly increased by estradiol-17β (E2) in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05). However, fold-activation of odERβ1 in the presence of E2 was markedly weak, when it compared with those of O. latipes ERβ1. Taken together, these data suggest that odERβ1 represents a functional variant of teleost ERβ subtype and provides a basic tool allowing future studies examining the function of F domain of ERβ1 subtype and expanding our knowledge of ERβ evolution.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2017

Background Conscious sedation has been widely utilized in plastic surgery. However, inadequate research has been published evaluating adequate drug dosage and depth of sedation. In clinical practice, sedation is often inadequate or accompanied by complications when sedatives are administered according to body weight alone. The purpose of this study was to identify variables influencing the depth of sedation during conscious sedation for plastic surgery. Methods This prospective study evaluated 97 patients who underwent plastic surgical procedures under conscious sedation. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and glucose levels were measured. Midazolam and ketamine were administered intravenously according to a preset protocol. Bispectral index (BIS) recordings were obtained to evaluate the depth of sedation 4, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after midazolam administration. Associations between variables and the BIS were assessed using multiple regression analysis. Results Alcohol intake and female sex were positively associated with the mean BIS (P<0.01). Age was negatively associated with the mean BIS (P<0.01). Body mass index (P=0.263), creatinine clearance (P=0.832), smoking history (P=0.398), glucose (P=0.718), AST (P=0.729), and ALT (P=0.423) were not associated with the BIS. Conclusions Older patients tended to have a greater depth of sedation, whereas females and patients with greater alcohol intake had a shallower depth of sedation. Thus, precise dose adjustments of sedatives, accounting for not only weight but also age, sex, and alcohol consumption, are required to achieve safe, effective, and predictable conscious sedation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.9-17
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• 2004

Objective : Mesangial cell proliferation and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is the common pathologic feature of glomerulosclerosis, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB-chain, transforming growth factor betal $(TGF-{\beta}1)$, cyclin dependent kinases (CDK) and CDK inhibitors mediated in these pathophysiological processes. Bupleurum falcatum which is one of the most widely used components in traditional oriental medicines, has multiple pharmacological effects, such as antipyretic, analgesic, immune modulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-thrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic, and antitussive effects. Methods : In this study, we evaluated the influence of Bupleurum falcatum on mesangial cell proliferation, DNA synthesis and expression of PDGF-BB chain, $TGF-{\beta}1$, CDKI, CDK2, CDK4, p21 and p27 in fetal bovine serum (FBS)-activated human mesangial cell. Results : Bupleurum falcatum reduced the mesangial cell proliferation and DNA synthesis more than control and captopril. And in the ELISA analysis of $TGF-{\beta}1$, and RT-PCR of PDGF-BB chain, CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, p21, and p27, Bupleurum falcatum inhibited the expression of $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein and PDGF-BB, CDK1, CDK2 gene and promoted that of p21 gene in a dose-dependent manner in comparing with control and captopril. Conclusions: These results suggest that Bupleurum falcatum may inhibit the mesangial cell proliferation and DNA synthesis by regulation of PDGF-BB and $TGF-{\beta}1$ expressions, and by modulation of CDK1, CDK2 and p21 expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2013

Nystatin, a polyene antifungal antibiotic, is a cholesterol sequestering agent. The antifungal agent alters composition of the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells, whereas its effects on cells are poorly investigated. In the current study, we investigated the question of whether nystatin was able to induce expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1). THP-1 cells rarely express MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and MIP-$1{\beta}$, however, upon exposure to nystatin, significantly elevated expression of MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and MIP-$1{\beta}$ was observed in a dose-dependent fashion at the messenger and protein levels. Cellular factors activated by nystatin as well as involved in nystatin-induced expression of MIP-1 proteins were identified in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of action of the anti-fungal agent. Treatment with nystatin resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of Akt, ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK. Abrogation or significant attenuation of nystatin-induced expression of MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and MIP-$1{\beta}$ was observed by treatment with Akt inhibitor IV, LY294002, and SP6001250. Inhibition of ERK or p38MAPK using U0126 and SB202190 did not lead to attenuation of MIP-1 expression. In addition, inhibitors of protein kinase C, such as GF109203X and Ro-318220, also attenuated expression of MIP-1. These results indicate that nystatin is able to activate multiple cellular kinases and, among them, Akt and JNK play primary roles in nystatin-induced expression of MIP-1 proteins.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2007

The cause and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease remain unknown and no definitetherapy exists until now. The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory effectsof a herbal preparation (HemoHIM) in colitis induced by 30 mg of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups. Each group was treated with 1 mg ofHemoHIM/ml of drinking water, 4 mg of HemoHIM/ml of drinking water, 50 mg of HemoHIM/kgof body weight (i.p. once every other day) or 10 mg/kg of HemoHIMof body weight (i.p. onceevery other day) from the next day. After 2 weeks, rats were sacrificed and morphologic featuresof colons were examined. Ulceration, adhesion, thickening and dilatation were noticed in the colonicmucosa after TNBS instillation. Intraperitoneal injection of HemoHIM (50 and 100 mg/kg of bodyweight) showed the anti-inflammatory effect on adhesion, thickening, dilatation, ulceration, and theinhibition effect on damage score by 72.7% and 90.9%, respectively. Histologically, the colon of TNBS-treated rat showed inflammatory cell infiltration by polymorphonuclear cells, multiple erosive lesionsignificant improvement in these symptoms. The results obtained suggest marked anti-inflamatoryactivity of the HemoHIM at the dose levels examined.