• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.1943-1948
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The prevalence of weight loss in esophageal carcinoma patients is high and associated with impairment of physical function, increased psychological distress and low quality of life. It is not known which factors may contribute to weight loss in patients with esophageal carcinoma during radiotherapy in China. The objective of this study was to identify the associated demographic and clinical factors influencing weight loss. Methods: We evaluated 159 esophageal carcinoma patients between August 2010 and August 2013 in a crosssectional, descriptive study. Patient characteristics, tumor and treatment details, psychological status, adverse effects, and dietary intake were evaluated at baseline and during radiotherapy. A multivariate logistic regression analyss was performed to identify the potential factors leading to weight loss. Results: 64 (40.3%) patients had weight loss ${\geq}5%$ during radiotherapy. According to logistic regression analysis, depression, esophagitis, and loss of appetite were adverse factors linked to weight loss. Dietary counseling, early stage disease and total energy intake ${\geq}1441.3$ (kcal/d) were protective factors. Conclusions It was found that dietary counseling, TNM stage, total energy intake, depression, esophagitis, and loss of appetite were the most important factors for weight loss. The results underline the importance of maintaining energy intake and providing dietary advice in EC patients during RT. At the same time, by identifying associated factors, medical staff can provide appropriate medical care to reduce weight loss. Further studies should determine the effect of these factors on weight loss and propose a predictive model.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.10
• /
• pp.1364-1369
• /
• 2011

Mast cells, the central effector cells involved in the allergic response, release histamine, arachidonic acid, and proinflammatory cytokines. We investigated the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction (EA), derived from Korean rice wine lees, on RBL-2H3 cell degranulation and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in an animal model. The EA fraction suppressed the release of beta-hexosaminidase, a marker of degranulation, and the mRNA expression of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and IL-13. EA also successfully suppressed the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EA can inhibit mast cell degranulation through the inhibition of IL-3 and IL-13 mRNA expression, and that EA may potentially serve as an anti-allergic agent.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2010

The crude ethanol extracts and their solvent-partitioned fractions derived from the leaf and twig of Viburnum dilatatum Thunb. were investigated for their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging efficacy. The results showed that the butanol-soluble fraction ($SC_{50}\;=\;110.30\;{\mu}g/mL$) exhibited higher anti-oxidant activity than the crude ethanol extract ($SC_{50}\;=\;117.03\;{\mu}g/mL$) in the DPPH assay model. Then, the effects of the same extract samples on the production of nitric oxide were examined in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Although the hexane and methylene chloride-soluble fraction showed a weak anti-oxidant activity, they exhibited potent inhibitory activity of NO production above 50 % at a concentration of $10\;{\mu}g/mL$. The hexane-soluble fraction also showed the inhibitory effect on mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such an TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7. These results suggest that the solvent extracts of Viburnum dilatatum Thunb. could be used as an anti-irritation ingredient.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.1069-1078
• /
• 2021

Sevoflurane postconditioning (SPostC) has been proved effective in cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. It was also reported that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) could be induced by sevoflurane, which played a crucial role in hypoxic/reoxygenation (HR) injury of cardiomyocytes. However, the mechanism by which sevoflurane protects cardiomyocytes via HSP70 is still not understood. Here, we aimed to investigate the related mechanisms of SPostC inducing HSP70 expression to reduce the HR injury of cardiomyocytes. After the HR cardiomyocytes model was established, the cells transfected with siRNA for HSP70 (siHSP70) or not were treated with sevoflurane during reoxygenation. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was detected by colorimetry while cell viability and apoptosis were detected by MTT and flow cytometry. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to detect HSP70, apoptosis-, cell cycle-associated factors, iNOS, and Cox-2 expressions. Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). SPostC decreased apoptosis, cell injury, oxidative stress and inflammation and increased viability of HR-induced cardiomyocytes. In addition, SPostC downregulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3 levels, while SPostC upregulated Bcl-2, CDK-4, Cyclin D1, and HSP70 levels. SiHSP70 had the opposite effect that SPostC had on HR-induced cardiomyocytes. Moreover, siHSP70 further reversed the effect of SPostC on apoptosis, cell injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, viability and the expressions of HSP70, apoptosis-, and cell cycle-associated factors in HR-induced cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that SPostC can reduce the HR injury of cardiomyocytes by inducing HSP70 expression.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.343-351
• /
• 2016

Although the chemical, physical, and nutritional properties of bovine milk have been extensively studied, only a few studies have attempted to characterize milk-synthesizing genes using RNA-seq data. RNA-seq data was collected from 21 Holstein samples, along with group information about milk production ability; milk yield; and protein, fat, and solid contents. Meta-analysis was employed in order to generally characterize genes related to milk production. In addition, we attempted to investigate the relationship between milk related traits, parity, and lactation period. We observed that milk fat is highly correlated with lactation period; this result indicates that this effect should be considered in the model in order to accurately detect milk production related genes. By employing our developed model, 271 genes were significantly (false discovery rate [FDR] adjusted p-value<0.1) detected as milk production related differentially expressed genes. Of these genes, five (albumin, nitric oxide synthase 3, RNA-binding region (RNP1, RRM) containing 3, secreted and transmembrane 1, and serine palmitoyltransferase, small subunit B) were technically validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in order to check the accuracy of RNA-seq analysis. Finally, 83 gene ontology biological processes including several blood vessel and mammary gland development related terms, were significantly detected using DAVID gene-set enrichment analysis. From these results, we observed that detected milk production related genes are highly enriched in the circulation system process and mammary gland related biological functions. In addition, we observed that detected genes including caveolin 1, mammary serum amyloid A3.2, lingual antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin 4 (CATHL4), cathelicidin 6 (CATHL6) have been reported in other species as milk production related gene. For this reason, we concluded that our detected 271 genes would be strong candidates for determining milk production.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.78-88
• /
• 2005

Background: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice is animal model of autoimmune disease known as rheumatic arthritis in human. We investigated CII-specific CD4+ T cell receptor usage in CIA mice. Methods: In CIA model, draining lymph node (dLN) CD4+ T cells and splenocytes at $3^{rd},\;5^{th},\;8^{th}$ week, we investigated CII-specific T cell proliferation, production of IL-17, IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-10. And we also performed anti-CII IgG Ab measurements in serum level, TCRV ${\beta}$ usage and T cell clonality with RT-PCR-SSCP analysis. Also, we performed proliferative response against CII when CII-specific T cell subset is deleted. Results: CIA mice showed more increase in the serum level of anti-CII IgG than normal mice after induction of arthritis. And the level of anti-CII IgG2a in CIA mice was increased after $3^{rd}$ week after primary immunization, while anti-CII IgG1 was decreased. Draining LN CD4+ T cells have proliferated against CII stimulation at $3^{rd}$ week after $1^{st}$immunization. CD4+T cells derived from dLN of CIA mice produced proinflammatory cytokine IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-17 etc. Draining LN CD4 T cells of CIA presented higher proportion of CD4+V ${\beta}3$+subset compared to those of normal mice at $3^{rd}$ week after $1^{st}$ immunization, and they were increased in proportion by CII stimulation. Draining LN CD4+ T cells without TCRV ${\beta}3+/V{\beta}8.1/8.2+/V{\beta}$10b+cells were not responsive against CII stimulation. But, CII-reactive response of TCRV ${\beta}3-/V{\beta}8.1/8.2-/V{\beta}$10b- T cells was recovered when $V{\beta}3+$ T cells were added in culture. Conclusion: Our results indicate that CD4+$V{\beta}3+$ T cells are selectively expanded in dLN of CIA mice, and their recovery upon CII re-stimulation in vitro, as well as the production Th1-type cytokines, may play pivotal role in CIA pathogenesis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.179-186
• /
• 2008

Several lines of evidence suggest that osteocytes play a critical role in bone remodeling. Both healthy and apoptotic osteocytes can send signals to other bone surface cells such as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteoclast precursors, and bone lining cells through canalicular networks. Osteocytes responding to mechanical strain may also send signals to other cells. To determine the role for osteocytes an mechanical strain in bone remodeling, we examined the effects of fluid flow shear stress on osteoclast precursor cell and osteoblast proliferation and recruitment induced by osteocytes. In addition, the effects of fluid flow shear stress on osteocyte M-CSF, RANKL, and OPG mRNA expression were also examined. MLO-Y4 cells were used as an in vitro model for osteocytes, RAW 264.7 cells and MOCP-5 cells as osteoclast precursors, and 2T3 cells as osteoblasts. MLO-Y4 cells conditioned medium (Y4-CM) was collected after 24h culture. For fluid flow experiments, MLO-Y4 cells were exposed to 2h of pulsatile fluid flow (PFF) at 2, 4, 8, $16{\pm}0.6\;dynes/cm^2$ using the Flexcell $Streamer^{TM}$ system. For proliferation assays, MOCP-5, RAW 264.7, and 2T3 cells were cultured with control media or 10-100% Y4 CM. Cells were cultured for 3d, and then cells were counted. RAW 264.7 and 2T3 cell migration was assayed using transwells with control media or 10-100% Y4-CM. M-CSF, RANKL and OPG in MLO-Y4 mRNA expression was determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Y4-CM increased osteoclast precursor proliferation and migration, but decreased 2T3 cell proliferation and migration. CM from MLO-Y4 cells exposed to PFF caused decreased RAW 267.4 cell proliferation and migration and 2T3 migration compared to control Y4-CM. However, Y4-CM from cells exposed to PFF had no effect on 2T3 osteoblastic cell proliferation. PFF decreased RNAKL mRNA and increased OPG mRNA in MLO-Y4 cells compared to control(without PFF). PFF had no effect on M-CSF mRNA expression in MLO-Y4 cells. These results suggest that osteocytes can regulate bone remodeling by communication with osteoclast precursors and osteoblasts and that osteocytes can communicate mechanical signals to other cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.697-704
• /
• 1998

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by a marked infiltration of eosinophils in the bronchial mucosa. Asthmatic bronchial mucosa produces many factors described as being chemotactic for inflammatory cells. IL-5, RANTES, and MCP-1 alpha are the chemotactic factors for eosinophils, but their roles are controversial. Recently eotaxin that is a potent eosinophil chemoattractant cytokine was detected in a guinea-pig model of allergic airway inflammation, and human eotaxin was cloned. Eotaxin is a specific chemoattractant for eosinophils, but its role in asthma is not confirmed. We examined the in vivo expression of eotaxin in bronchi of asthmatic patients. Methods : 11 asthmatics and 2 normal controls were enrolled. All subjects were underwent bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsies in 2nd or 3rd carina. RNA extraction from biopsy samples was done by acid-guanidium method. Semi-quantitaive RT-PCR was done for evaluation of eotaxin mRNA expression The extent of eosinophil infiltration was evaluated by counting the eosinophils in submucosa in HPF of microscope. Results : Eotaxin mRNA expressed in symptomatic, uncontrolled asthma. Steroid inhibited expression of eotaxin mRNA in asthma. Expression of eotaxin mRNA correlated with eosinophil infiltration in bronchial tissues. Conclusion: Expression of eotaxin mRNA increases in uncontrolled asthma and eotaxin is involved in the recruitment of eosinophils.