• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.626-632
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• 2005

A new bacterium BL-2 excreting a novel cationic polyglucosamine biopolymer was isolated from the spoiled leaves of Chinese cabbage and identified as Enterobacter sp. BL-2. The isolated Enterobacter sp. BL-2 was cultivated in pH-stat fed-batch culture using acetic acid as the feeding stock at pH 8.0, resulting in 17.11 g/l of cells and 1.53 g/l of an extracellular biopolymer after 72 h. The excreted biopolymer was purified by a three-step procedure, involving ethanol precipitation and deproteinizations, to a nearly homogeneous state, and its molecular weight was found to be 106 kDa. It was composed of glucosamine, rhamnose, and galactose at a molar ratio of 86.4:1.6:1.0, respectively, indicating a rarely found novel high-glucosamine-containing biopolymer. The FT-IR and $^{13}C-NMR$ spectra of the novel cationic polyglucosamine biopolymer PGB-l revealed a close identity with chitosan from crab shell. It can effectively flocculate various suspended solids, including kaolin clay, $Ca(OH)_2,\;Al_{2}O_3$, active carbon, microbial cells, and acidic dyes.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.117-122
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• 1998

D-raf, a Drosophila homolog of the human c-raf-1, is known as a signal transducer in cell proliferation and differentiation. A previous study found that the D-raf gene expression is regulated by the DNA replication-related element (DRE)/DRE-binding factor (DREF) system. In this study, we found the sequences homologous to transcription factor C/EBP, MyoD, STAT and Myc recognition sites in the D-raf promoter. We have generated various base substitutional mutations in these recognition sites and subsequently examined their effects on D-raf promoter activity through transient CAT assays in Kc cells with reporter plasmids p5'-878DrafCAT carrying the mutations in these binding sites. Through gel mobility shift assay using nuclear extracts of Kc cells, we detected factors binding to these recognition sites. Our results show that transcription factor C/EBP, STAT and Myc binding sites in D-raf promoter region play a positive role in transcriptional regulation of the D-raf gene and the Myo D binding site plays a negative role.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.389-401
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• 1998

This paper introduces CybeRClass(Cyber Regression Class). CybeRClass uses the technique of animation arid voice to teach regression analysis. The structure of this system make it possible to extend to multivariate analysis methods such as discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. Tools for multimedia is Multimedia ToolBook, and Xlisp-Stat is used for statistical computation and statistical graphics.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.17-32
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Lonicera japonica(LJ) could inhibit LPS-induced type I IFN production. Methods: To evaluate inhibitory effect of LJ on type I IFN, we examined type I IFN, IRF-1, 7 and IL-10 production on LPS-induced macrophages using real time RT-PCR. Next, we observed the interaction of type I IFN, IRF-1, 7 and IL-10 using IL-10 neutralizing antibody. Finally we examined the activation of STAT-1, 3 using western blot. Results: LJ inhibited Type I IFN expression of mRNA and increased IL-10 expression of mRNA. Also LJ inhibited the level of IRF-1, 7 mRNA and the nuclear translocation of IRF-3. Further more, LJ reduced the activation of STAT-1, 3 which are involved in continuous secretion of immune cytokines. Blockade of IL-10 action caused a significant reduction of type I IFN and IRF-1, 7 than LPS-induced LJ pretreatment. Conclusions: LJ inhibits LPS-induced production of type I IFN by IL-10. This study may provide a clinical basis for anti-inflammatory properties of LJ.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5069-5073
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• 2015

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1053004 in Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was recently reported to be associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a Chinese cohort. This study was aimed at investigating whether the SNP might also contribute to HCC susceptibility in the Thai population. Study subjects were enrolled and divided into 3 groups including CHB-related HCC (n=211), CHB without HCC (n=233) and healthy controls (n=206). The SNP was genotyped using allelic discrimination assays based on TaqMan real-time PCR. Data analysis revealed that the distribution of different genotypes was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). The frequencies of allele T (major allele) in HCC patients, CHB patients and healthy controls were 51.4%, 58.6% and 61.4%, respectively, whereas the frequencies of C allele (minor allele) were 48.6%, 41.4% and 38.6%. The C allele frequency was higher in HCC when compared with CHB patients (odds ratio (OR)=1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02-1.74, P=0.032). The genotype of SNP rs1053004 (CC versus TT+TC) was significantly associated with an increased risk when compared with CHB patients (OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.13-2.99, P=0.015). In addition, we observed a similar trend of association when comparing HCC patients with healthy controls (OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.07-2.93, P=0.025) and all controls (OR=1.81, 95% CI=1.19-2.74, P=0.005). These findings suggest that the SNP rs1053004 in STAT3 might contribute to HCC susceptibility and could be used as a genetic marker for HCC in the Thai population.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2007

This study was conducted on the immunoregulatory effect of Saengshik on gut-associated lymphoid tissue with inflammatory bowel disease. Although the contents of IgA increased in mesenteric lymph node, IgE content was suppressed by Saengshik. The same results were found in spleen, but IgA and IgE responses were very weak. Concentration of fecal IgA was high from the first day through the third day in Saengshik group. In DSS + Saengshik group, concentration of IgA was high till the 2nd day and it maintained the highest level among the test groups on 5th day. Concentration of IFN-gamma and IL-2 was the highest in the Saengshik group, but the concentration of TNF-alpha was lower in DSS + Saengshik compared to DSS. The expressions of STAT1 in Saengshik group were high, while those of STAT6 were low According to these findings, Saengshik exhibited effectiveness via increasing the IgA production, suppressing the IgE production, followed by inhibiting the production of IL-4 and IL-10. Saengshik also strengthened the immune system and alleviated injury in DSS -induced inflammation.

• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.103-116
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• 2011

A series-parallel system with independent but non-identical components is considered. The expressions have been derived for the joint reliability importance (JRI) of m (${\geq}2$) components, chosen from a series-parallel system. JRIs of components of two different series-parallel systems are studied analytically and graphically.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2021

Psoriasis is a chronic intractable skin disease caused by various inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, CXCL8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, as well as IL-17A secreted from Th17 cells and is characterized by hyperkeratosis and chronic inflammation of the epidermis. Brazilin, an active ingredient of Caesalpinia sappan L., is known to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and function in skin barrier improvement. In particular, it was shown as a potential material for treating psoriasis in a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated HaCaT keratinocyte model. However, the direct regulation of the C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 20, a psoriasis-inducing factor, by brazilin has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the suppression of CCL20 and the regulatory mechanism by brazilin using a psoriasis-like model. First, brazilin downregulated CCL20 and CXCL8 in IL-17A-stimulated HaCaT cells in a concentration-dependent manner by inhibiting signal transducer and transcription (STAT)3 phosphorylation. In addition, brazilin significantly inhibited the expression of psoriasis-related genes CXCL8, CCL20, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in TNF-α/IL-17A/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. Moreover, brazilin also had a positive effect on improving the skin barrier in TNF-α/IL-17A/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. The above results indicated that brazilin ultimately downregulated CCL20 expression by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation, and also suppressed the expression of psoriasis-induced cytokines. If the efficacy of brazilin in improving psoriasis is verified through animal models and clinical trials in the future, it may represent a potentially therapeutic substance for psoriasis patients.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.454-462
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• 2000

Interleukin-4(IL-4) is known to be a major cytokine regulating immunoglobulin E(IgE) response by the induction of IgE production and type II IgE receptor(IgER II: CD23) expression. Recently, however, the role of neuroendocrine factors has been implicated in modulating the IgE response. Among various neuroendocrine growth factors, we investigated the effects of the insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) since IL-4 and IGF-1 share common intracellular signaling molecules, such as the insulin receptor substrate-1/2(IRS-1/2) to induce a specific cellular response. In the human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures, IGF-1 was capable of inducing a substantial level of IgE production in a dose-dependent manner. It also noticeably upregulated the IL-4-induced or IL-4 plus anti-CD40-induced IgE production. Similarly, the IGF-1-induced IgE production was enhanced by IL-4 or anti-CD40 in an additive manner, which became saturated at high concentrations of IGF-1. Although IGF-1 alone did not induce IgER II (CD23) expression, it augmented the IL-4-induced surface CD23 expression in a manner similar to the action of anti-CD40. These results imply that IGF-1 is likely to utilize common signaling pathways with IL-4 and anti-CD40 to induce IgE and IgER II expression. In support of this notion, we observed that IGF-1 enhanced the IL-4-induced signal transducers and activators of transcription 6(STAT6) activation and independently induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. Both of these bind to the IgE(C) or IgER II (CD23) promoters. Together, our data suggest that IL-4 and IGF-1 work cooperatively to activate STAT6 and $NF-{\kappa}B$. This leads to the subsequent binding of these transcription factors to the $C{\varepsilon}$ and CD23 promoters to enhance the expression of IgE and IgER II. The observed differential ability of IGF-1 on the induction of IgE vs. IgER II is discussed based on the different structure of the two promoters.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.309-324
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• 2015

In this paper we introduce how to analyze survival data via a SRC-Stat statistical package. This provides classical survival analysis (e.g. Cox's proportional hazards models for univariate survival data) as well as advanced survival analysis such as shared and nested frailty models for multivariate survival data. We illustrate the use of our package with practical data sets.