• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3825-3830
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• 2013

More studies are needed to clarify treatments and prognosis of early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This retrospective study was designed to review the outcome of surgical treatment for early ESCC, evaluate the results of a left thoracotomy for selected patients with early ESCC, and identify factors affecting lymph node metastases and survival. The clinicopathological data of 228 patients with early ESCC who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy without preoperative adjuvant treatment were reviewed. The ${\chi}^2$ test or Fisher's exact test were used to detect factors related to lymph node metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. There were 152 males and 76 females with a median age of 55 years. Two hundred and eight patients underwent a left thoracotomy, and the remaining 20 patients with lymph nodes in the upper mediastinum more than 5 mm in short-axis diameter by computed tomography scan underwent a right thoracotomy. No lymph node metastasis was found in the 18 patients with carcinoma in situ, while lymph node metastases were detected in 1.6% (1/62) of patients with mucosal tumours and 18.2% (27/148) of patients with submucosal tumours. Only 7 patients showed upper mediastinal lymph node metastases in the follow-up. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 81.4% and 70.1%, respectively. Only histologic grade (P<0.001) and pT category (P=0.001) significantly correlated with the presence of lymph node metastases. In multivariate analysis, only histologic grade (P=0.026) and pT category (P=0.008) were independent prognostic factors. A left thoracotomy is acceptable for selected patients with early ESCC. Histologic grade and pT category affected the presence of lymph node metastases and were independent prognostic factors for early ESCC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1219-1225
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• 2010

Actinobacillus succinogenes, a representative succinicacid-producing microorganism, is seriously inhibited by ammonium ions, thereby hampering the industrial use of A. succinogenes with ammonium-ion-based materials as the pH controller. Therefore, this study isolated an ammonium-ion-tolerant mutant of A. succinogenes using a continuous-culture technique in which all the environmental factors, besides the stress (ammonium ions), were kept constant. Instead of operating the mutant-generating system as a nutrient-limited chemostat, it was used as a nutrient-unlimited system, allowing the cells to be continuously cultured at the maximum specific growth rate. The mutants were isolated on agar plates containing the acid-base indicator bromothymol blue and a high level of ammonium ions that would normally kill the parent strain by 100%. When cultured in anaerobic bottles with an ammonium ion concentration of 354 mmol/l, the mutant YZ0819 produced 40.21 g/l of succinic acid with a yield of 80.4%, whereas the parent strain NJ113 was unable to grow. When using $NH_4OH$ to buffer the culture pH in a 3.0 l stirredbioreactor, YZ0819 produced 35.15 g/l of succinic acid with a yield of 70.3%, which was 155% higher than that produced by NJ113. In addition, the morphology of YZ0819 changed in the fermentation broth, as the cells were aggregated from the beginning to the end of the fermentation. Therefore, these results indicate that YZ0819 can efficiently produce succinic acid when using $NH_4OH$ as the pH controller, and the formation of aggregates can be useful for transferring the cells from a cultivation medium for various industrial applications.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2020

To help solve the problems of how to set the optimal sawing force and the optimal controller parameters for different sawing conditions, a mathematical model of a proposed sawing system was established according to the principle of sawing force control. The conventional PID control method was then used for further research of the closed-loop control of the sawing force. Finally, through simulation and experimental research, the influence rule of the controller parameters and sawing load on the control performance and the relationships between the sawing width and controller parameters (proportion coefficient) and the sawing force setting value were obtained, from which a system scheme for intelligent sawing control of a band sawing machine was proposed. The research shows that the sawing efficiency of the intelligent sawing system was 18.1 (48%) higher than that of the original sawing system when sawing a grooved section sawing material, which verifies the good control effect of the proposed scheme.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2010

Seagrass beds are a type of coastal wetland with many ecosystem services and precious economic values. Seagrass meadows used to be widespread along the coasts in northern Chinese seas, yet they have long been overlooked and lack devoted study on their history and status. This paper firstly reveals, by synthesis of information on composition of seagrass species and their distribution, that the seagrasses in this region have experienced considerable declines, both in terms of distribution and biomass, from the earliest record to present days. Then, a case study at the seagrass bed of Chudao is described to show the status of representative seagrass meadows. The results indicate that the environmental condition is good, seagrasses are in recovery, the planktoners are healthy and rich fishery resources and the mammal finless porpoise are associated with the seagrass bed. The cause(s) of historical seagrass decline and current conditions are also discussed, and future recommendations on seagrass protection and mapping are suggested.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2753-2758
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• 2014

Background: GC-binding factor 2 (GCF2) is a transcriptional regulator that represses transcriptional activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by binding to a specific GC-rich sequence in the EGFR gene promoter. In addition to this function, GCF2 has also been identified as a tumor-associated antigen and regarded as a potentially valuable serum biomarker for early human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis. GCF2 is high expressed in most HCC tissues and cell lines including HepG2. This study focused on the influence of GCF2 on cell proliferation and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Materials and Methods: GCF2 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in HepG2 cells was detected with reverse transcription (RT) PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to knock down GCF2 mRNA and protein expression. Afterwards, cell viability was analyzed with a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and cell apoptosis and caspase 3 activity by flow cytometry and with a Caspase 3 Activity Kit, respectively. Results: Specific down-regulation of GCF2 expression caused cell growth inhibition, and increased apoptosis and caspase 3 activity in HepG2 cells. Conclusions: These primary results suggest that GCF2 may influence cell proliferation and apoptosis in HepG2 cells, and also provides a molecular basis for further investigation into the possible mechanism at proliferation and apoptosis in HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.347-350
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• 2013

The aim of the present study was to determine whether allogeneic red blood cell transfusions showed a deleterious effect and what might be preoperative risk factors for blood transfusion in patients with TNM stage II colon cancer. Total 470 patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria were selected for a further 10-year follow-up study. We found that there were statistical significance between non-transfused and transfused group in mortality (P=0.018), local recurrence (P=0.000) and distant metastasis (P=0.040). Local recurrence and distant metastasis between 1 to 3 units and more than 3 units group did not show any significant differences. There was no difference in survival rate between non-transfused and 1 to 3 units group (log rank=0.031, P=0.860). The difference between different blood transfusion volume in transfused patients was found (78.77% vs 63.83%, P=0.006). Meanwhile, the significant difference of survival rate was existed between non-transfused group and more than 3 units group (84.83% vs 63.83%, P=0.002 ). Univariate analysis showed the following 3 variables to be associated with an increased risk of allogeneic blood transfusions: preoperative CEA level (P<0.05), location of tumor (P<0.01) and diameter of tumor (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that location of tumor and diameter of tumor are two independent factors for requirement of perioperative transfusions. Therefore, allogeneic transfusion increase the postoperative tumor mortality, local recurrence and distant metastasis in patients with stage II colon cancer. The postoperative tumor mortality, local recurrence and distant metastasis were not associated with the blood transfusion volume. The blood transfusion volume was associated with the survival rate. Location of tumor and diameter of tumor were the independent preoperative risk factors for blood transfusion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6191-6196
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• 2012

Aims and Background: Traditional chemotherapy strategies for human leukemia commonly use drugs based on cytotoxicity to eradicate cancer cells. One predicament is that substantial damage to normal tissues is likely to occur in the course of standard treatments. Obviously, it is urgent to explore therapies that can effectively eliminate malignant cells without affecting normal cells. Our previous studies indicated that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ ($Rg_1$), a major active pharmacological ingredient of ginseng, could delay normal hematopoietic stem cell senescence. However, whether $Rg_1$ can induce cancer cell senescence is still unclear. Methods: In the current study, human leukemia K562 cells were subjected to $Rg_1$ exposure. The optimal drug concentration and duration with K562 cells was obtained by MTT colorimetric test. Effects of $Rg_1$ on cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry and by SA-${\beta}$-Gal staining. Colony-forming ability was measured by colony-assay. Telomere lengths were assessed by Southern blotting and expression of senescence-associated proteins P21, P16 and RB by Western blotting. Ultrastructural morphology changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: K562 cells demonstrated a maximum proliferation inhibition rate with an $Rg_1$ concentration of $20{\mu}\;mol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for 48h, the cells exhibiting dramatic morphological alterations including an enlarged and flat cellular morphology, larger mitochondria and increased number of lysosomes. Senescence associated-${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-Gal) activity was increased. K562 cells also had decreased ability for colony formation, and shortened telomere length as well as reduction of proliferating potential and arrestin $G_2$/M phase after $Rg_1$ interaction. The senescence associated proteins P21, P16 and RB were significantly up-regulated. Conclusion: Ginsenoside $Rg_1$ can induce a state of senescence in human leukemia K562 cells, which is associated with p21-Rb and p16-Rb pathways.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4217-4222
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• 2016

Purpose: To compare the expression level of CK 15 in normal esophageal and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and analyse possible functions of CK15 in occurrence and development. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to compare CK14, CK15 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression levels in ESCCs. Expression level of CK15 was also assessed by Western blotting. In addition, levels of CK15, cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) and PCNA were detected in serum by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence methods. Relationships between clinicopathological parameters and CK14 and CK15 expression were then analyzed. Results: According to immunohistochemistry, in esophageal and intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN) tissues, the expression of CK14, CK15 and PCNA localized to basal layer of the epithelium. CK14 and CK15 levels were higher in normal esophageal squamous epithelial tissue than in SIN and ESCC, and greater in highly differentiated than poorly differentiated carcinoma tissue. By Western blotting, we found more pronounced expression of CK15 in normal esophageal tissue, compared with carcinoma tissue. The specificity of changed CK15 and CYFRA21-1 expression was respectively 90.0% and 96.7% in serum of ESCC patients. Joint detection could improve the sensitivity of esophageal carcinoma diagnosis. Relationships between CK14, CK15 expression and clinical parameters were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Postoperative survival in patients of CK14, CK15 positive expression was longer than with negative expression ($x^2=4.35$, P=0.037; $x^2=9.852$, P=0.002). Conclusions: CK15 expression decreased in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue and serum of esophageal squamous carcinoma patients. We infer that CK15 may play an important role for the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. In the future, CK15 may be used for the diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

In this paper, to extract object regions in stereo image, we propose an enhanced algorithm that extracts objects combining both of brightness information and disparity information. The approach that extracts objects using both has been studied by Ping and Chaohui. In their algorithm, the segmentation for an input image is carried out using the brightness, and integration of segmented regions in consideration of disparity information within the previously segmented regions. In the regions where the brightness values between object regions and background regions are similar, however, the segmented regions probably include both of object regions and background regions. It may cause incorrect object extraction in the merging process executed in the unit of the segmented region. To solve this problem, in proposed method, we adopt the merging process which is performed in pixel unit. In addition, we perform the bi-directional stereo matching process to enhance reliability of the disparity information and supplement the disparity information resulted from a single directional matching process. Further searching for disparity is decided by edge information of the input image. The proposed method gives good performance in the object extraction since we find the disparity information that is not extracted in the traditional methods. Finally, we evaluate our method by experiments for the pictures acquired from a real stereoscopic camera.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8651-8656
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• 2014

Purpose: To study the expression of angiogenin-2 (Ang-2) and its receptor Tie-2 in colorectal cancer and discuss the possible mechanisms behind this process. Materials and Methods: Using the streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical method, paraffin sections from 100 colorectal cancer samples and 10 samples from tumor-adjacent normal tissue (> 2 cm from the edge of the gross tumor) were tested for protein expression of Ang-2, Tie-2, PI3K, and AKT. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blots were further used to measure expression of the 4 genes and proteins in 20 freshly-resected colorectal cancer samples and tumor-adjacent normal tissues. Results: In colorectal cancer tissues, the expression of the Ang-2, Tie-2, PI3K, and AKT genes and their proteins was significantly higher than in tumor-adjacent normal tissues. Protein expression in poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma was higher than that in well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. According to Duke's classification, the protein expression in Stages C and D was significantly higher than that in Stages A and B. In the group with lymphatic metastasis, the protein expression was higher than that without lymphatic metastasis. Conclusions: In colorectal cancer, the expression of the Ang-2, Tie-2, PI3K, and AKT genes and their proteins is markedly higher than those in tumor-adjacent normal tissues. No correlation was observed between protein expression and gender, location, or histologic type. Correlations did exist between protein expression and differentiation level, stage of Duke's classification, and lymphatic metastasis; in colorectal cancer tissues with lower differentiation levels, higher stages of Duke's classification, and lymphatic metastasis, the expression of all 4 proteins was higher. The study of their expression patterns and relationships with aggression and metastasis will provide a valuable experimental foundation for assessing prognosis and targeted therapy of colorectal cancer.