• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.230-235
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• 2023

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an infrequently occurring neoplasm most commonly observed in the pleura, but it can develop in the head and neck region in occasional cases. However, no reports have described SFT in the temporalis muscle. Herein, we present the first known case of SFT in the temporalis muscle. A 47-year-old man complained of a painless palpable mass on his right temple. Facial enhanced computed tomography identified a 4.0×2.9×1.4 cm mass presenting as a vascular tumor in the right temporalis muscle under the zygomatic arch. The mass was excised from the right temporalis muscle under general anesthesia. A histopathologic examination revealed that the mass was an SFT. No complications occurred after surgery, including functional disability or sensory loss. The patient was followed up for 3 months without complications. Although SFT in extrapulmonary regions is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses that occur in the temporal area.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.62-77
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide with a high recurrence rate. Oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance is one of the major reasons hindering CRC therapy. β-Carotene (BC) is a provitamin A and is known to have antioxidant and anticancer effects. However, the combined effect of OXA and BC has not been investigated. Therefore, this study investigated the anticancer effects and mechanism of the combination of OXA and BC on CRC. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the present study, the effects of the combination of OXA and BC on cell viability, cell cycle arrest, and cancer stemness were investigated using HCT116, HT29, OXA-resistant cells, and human CRC organoids. RESULTS: The combination of OXA and BC enhanced apoptosis, G₂/M phase cell cycle arrest, and inhibited cancer cell survival in human CRC resistant cells and CRC organoids without toxicity in normal organoids. Cancer stem cell marker expression and self-replicating capacity were suppressed by combined treatment with OXA and BC. Moreover, this combined treatment upregulated apoptosis and the stem cell-related JAK/STAT signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a novel potential role of BC in reducing resistance to OXA, thereby enhances the anticancer effects of OXA. This enhancement is achieved through the regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis, and stemness in CRC.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.298-305
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• 2012

The general term flavonoids is often used to categorize a family of natural compounds that are highly abundant in all higher plants, and which in recent years have attracted scientific interest as therapeutics. Lutein is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids. It is found in green vegetables such as spinach and kale, and has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory activities. However, its anti-allergic effect in the Th1/Th2 immune response is poorly understood. In this study, we attempt to determine whether lutein regulates inflammatory mediators in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model. To address this, mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA, and then treated with lutein before the last OVA challenge. Administration of lutein significantly suppressed the OVA-induced airway hyper-responsiveness. It also resulted in a significant alleviation of the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the bronchoalveolar lavage. Additionally, lutein attenuated the increased expression of Th2 responses in OVA-challenged mice. These results demonstrate that lutein is a potent inhibitor that reduces Th2 immune responses. Furthermore, they show that the immunopharmacological function is mediated by a pathway that involves and is regulated by Th2 immune response.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.392-396
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• 1989

Methylobacterium organophilum, a facultative methylotroph was cultivated on a methanol as a sole carbon and energy source. The cell growth was affected by the various components of minimal synthetic medium and the medium composition was optimized with 0.5% (v/v) methanol at pH 6.8 and at 3$0^{\circ}C$. The maximum specific growth rate of M. organophilum was achieved to 0.26 hr$^{-1}$ in the optimized medium which has following composition: Methanol, 0.5% (v/v):(NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$, 1.0g/l:KH$_2$PO$_4$, 2.13g/l:KH$_2$PO$_4$, 1.305g/ι:MgSO$_4$.7$H_2O$. 45g/l and trace elements (CaCl$_2$.2$H_2O$, 3.3mg:FeSO$_4$.7$H_2O$, 1.3mg:MnSO$_4$.4$H_2O$, 130$\mu\textrm{g}$:ZnSO$_4$.5$H_2O$, 40$\mu\textrm{g}$:Na$_2$MoO$_4$.2$H_2O$, 40$\mu\textrm{g}$:CoCl$_2$.6$H_2O$, 40$\mu\textrm{g}$:H$_3$BO$_3$, 30$\mu\textrm{g}$ per liter). By the limitation of nitrogen and deficiency of Mn$^{+2}$ or Fe$^{+2}$, the cell growth was significantly repressed. Methanol greatly repressed the cell growth and the complete inhibition was observed at concentration above 4% (v/v). In order to overcome the methanol inhibition and to prevent the methanol limitation, intermittent feeding of methanol was conducted by a D.O.-stat technique. PHB production by M. organophilum was stimulated by deficiency of nutrients such as NH$_{4}^{+}$, SO$_{4}^{-2}$, $Mg^{+2}$, $K^{+}$, or PO$_{4}^{-3}$ in the medium. The maximum PHB content was obtained as 58% of dry cell weight under deficiency of potassium ion in the optimized synthetic medium.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.329-342
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• 2022

The liver is the predominant metastatic site for pancreatic cancer. However, the factors that determine the liver metastasis and the specific molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we used human pancreatic cancer cell line Hs766T to establish Hs766T-L3, a subline of Hs766T with stable liver metastatic ability. We performed RNA sequencing of Hs766T-L3 and its parental cell line Hs766T, and revealed huge differences in gene expression patterns and pathway activation between these two cell lines. We correlated the difference in pathway activation with the expression of the four core transcriptional factors including STAT1, NR2F2, GATA2, and SMAD4. Using the TCGA database, we examined the relative expression of these transcription factors (TFs) in pan-cancer and their relationship with the prognosis of the pancreatic cancer. Among these TFs, we considered GATA2 is closely involved in tumor metastasis and may serve as a potential metastatic driver. Further in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that GATA2-mediated transcriptional activation of Notch3 promotes the liver metastasis of Hs766T-L3, and knockdown of either GATA2 or Notch3 reduces the metastatic ability of Hs766T-L3. Therefore, we claim that GATA2 may serve as a metastatic driver of pancreatic cancer and a potential therapeutic target to treat liver metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.273-286
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• 2021

Background: Prostate carcinoma is the second most common cancer among men worldwide. Developing new therapeutic approaches and diagnostic biomarkers for prostate cancer (PC) is a significant need. The Chinese herbal medicine Panax quinquefolius saponins (PQS) have been reported to show anti-tumor effects. We hypothesized that PQS exhibits anti-cancer activity in human PC cells and we aimed to search for novel biomarkers allowing early diagnosis of PC. Methods: We used the human PC cell line DU145 and the prostate epithelial cell line PNT2 to perform cell viability assays, flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle, and FACS-based apoptosis assays. Microarray-based gene expression analysis was used to display specific gene expression patterns and to search for novel biomarkers. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to demonstrate the expression levels of multiple cancer-related genes. Results: Our data showed that PQS inhibited the viability of DU145 cells and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. A significant decrease in DU145 cell invasion and migration were observed after 24 h treatment by PQS. PQS up-regulated the expression levels of p21, p53, TMEM79, ACOXL, ETV5, and SPINT1 while it down-regulated the expression levels of bcl2, STAT3, FANCD2, DRD2, and TMPRSS2. Conclusion: PQS promoted cells apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of DU145 cells, which suggests that PQS may be effective for treating PC. TMEM79 and ACOXL were expressed significantly higher in PNT2 than in DU145 cells and could be novel biomarker candidates for PC diagnosis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2000

Purpose: Recently, a wide application of gastrofiberscopy in the pediatric group have revealed that nodular duodenitis is not an uncommon disease in children and is suspected to be associated with H. pylori infection. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the clinical and histopathologic features in children with nodular duodenitis, and to assess the correlations beween both. Methods: During a period of 5 years (Jan. 1995~Dec. 1999), we investigated clinical, endoscopic and histopathologic features of 39 consecutive patients diagnosed as having nodular duodenitis at Pediatric department of Seoul Red Cross Hospital. In 35 children with nodular duodenitis endoscopic biopsy specimens were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin and Giemsa's stain, and were graded according to the criteria outlined by Triadafilopoulos, Whitehead et al., and Prieto et al.. Statistical analyses were performed with Graph PAD InStat. Results: The prevalence rate of nodular duodenitis was 17.1% and the most frequent chief complaint was abdominal pain (69.2%). Endoscopically grade 1 was the most common (45.7%) and nodular gastritis was coexistent in 28.3%. The most common histology of the duodenum was grade 2 (54.3%), and the most common histologic score of the stomach was 2 (42.9%). H. pylori was found in the duodenum in 37.1%, and in the stomach in 31.4%. The correlation coefficient between the endoscopic grade and the histologic grade of nodular duodenitis was 0.3983 (p=0.0178). And the correlation coefficient between the histologic grade and the grade of H. pylori colonization in the duodenum was 0.5154 (p=0.0018). Conclusion: There was significant correlation between the endoscopic grade and the histologic grade of nodular duodenitis, and was also significant correlation between the histologic grade and the grade of H. pylori colonization in the duodenum. Therfore H. pylori infection should be regarded as an etiologic factor of nodular duodenitis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2009

Background and Objectives: Sinusitis, referring to an inflammatory disease that occurs on the mucus membrane inside the sinus, is one of the most common diseases in the otorhinolaryngology area. In oriental clinic, Sunbanghwalmyungeum (SHE) has been used as a primary prescription to treat inflammatory diseases and intumescence and to treat sinusitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of SHE on acute sinusitis induced mice. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: the normal group, the group inoculated with S. pneumoniae which caused them allergic rhinitis (control group), and the group treated with the SHE extract after it was treated the same as the control group (sample group). We investigated the inhibition of Th 2 cell differentiation by SHE and the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Results: NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was suppressed, and iNOS & COX-2 production were inhibited by SHE in acute sinusitis. IL-4 and STAT 6 also appeared to be suppressed. The number of eosinophils in the sample group noticeably decreased when compared to the control group. In the general morphologic change, the increase of damaged respiratory ciliated epithelium & eosinophil's infiltration were decreased in the sample group. Goblet cells were maintained in the sample group. MIP-2 and HSP-70 decreased in the sample group. Apocrine secretion decreased in the sample group. Conclusion: The results suggest that SHE is significantly effective in the treatment of inflammation caused by acute sinusitis through the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the inhibition of Th 2 cell differentiation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.5031-5035
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• 2016

Docetaxel, recognized as a stabilizing microtubule agent, is frequently administrated as a first line treatment for prostate cancers. Due to high side effects of monotherapy, however, combinations with novel adjuvants have emerged as an alternative strategy in cancer therapy protocols. Here, we investigated the combined effects of stattic and docetaxel on the DU145 prostate cancer cell line. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. To understand molecular mechanisms of stattic action, apoptotic related genes including Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Survivin and Bax were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Alteration in the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 genes and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were investigated via the $2^{{\Delta}{\Delta}CT}$ method. The $IC_{50}$ values for docetaxel and stattic were $3.7{\pm}0.9nM$ and $4.6{\pm}0.8{\mu}M$, respectively. Evaluation of key gene expression levels revealed a noticeable decrease in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 along with an increase in pro-apoptotic Bax mRNA levels (p<0.05). Our results suggest that combination of a STAT3 inhibitor with doctaxel can be considered as a potent strategy for induction of apoptosis via increasing Bax mRNA expression.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2016

Trichomonas vaginalis causes the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Trichomonads have been detected in prostatic tissues from prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. Chronic prostatic inflammation is known as a risk factor for prostate enlargement, benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms, and acute urinary retention. Our aim was to investigate whether T. vaginalis could induce inflammatory responses in cells of a benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cell line (BPH-1). When BPH-1 cells were infected with T. vaginalis, the protein and mRNA of inflammatory cytokines, such as CXCL8, CCL2, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6, were increased. The activities of TLR4, ROS, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, and NF-${\kappa}B$ were also increased, whereas inhibitors of ROS, MAPK, PI3K, NF-${\kappa}B$, and anti-TLR4 antibody decreased the production of the 4 cytokines although the extent of inhibition differed. However, a JAK2 inhibitor inhibited only IL-6 production. Culture supernatants of the BPH-1 cells that had been incubated with live T. vaginalis (trichomonad-conditioned medium, TCM) contained the 4 cytokines and induced the migration of human monocytes (THP-1 cells) and mast cells (HMC-1 cells). TCM conditioned by BPH-1 cells pretreated with NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor showed decreased levels of cytokines and induced less migration. Therefore, it is suggested that these cytokines are involved in migration of inflammatory cells. These results suggest that T. vaginalis infection of BPH patients may cause inflammation, which may induce lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).