• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3089-3097
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• 2012

Background and Aims: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potential prognostic biomarker for patients with resected gastric cancer. However, its role remains controversial. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. Methods: Relevant literature was identified using Medline and survival data from published studies were collected following a methodological assessment. Quality assessment of eligible studies and meta-analysis of hazard ratio (HR) were performed to review the correlation of VEGF overexpression with survival and recurrence in patients with gastric cancer. Results: Our meta-analysis included 44 published studies with 4,794 resected patients. VEGF subtype for the prediction of overall survival (OS) included tissue VEGF (HR=2.13, 95% CI 1.71-2.65), circulating VEGF (HR=4.22, 95% CI 2.47-7.18), tissue VEGF-C (HR=2.21, 95% CI 1.58-3.09), tissue VEGF-D (HR=1.73, 95% CI 1.25-2.40). Subgroup analysis showed that HRs of tissue VEGF for OS were, 1.78 (95% CI 0.90-3.51) and 2.31 (95% CI 1.82-2.93) in non-Asians and Asians, respectively. The meta-analysis was also conducted for disease free survival (DFS) and disease specific survival (DSS). Conclusion: Positive expression of tissue VEGF, circulating VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGF-D were all associated with poor prognosis in resected gastric cancer. However, VEGF demonstrated no significant prognostic value for non-Asian populations. Circulating VEGF may be better than tissue VEGF in predicting prognosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1493-1498
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• 2014

Epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation status, may regulate adipogenesis and lipogenesis, thus affecting intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition in longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of beef cattle. In Korean cattle steers, the LM consists mainly of muscle tissue. However, the LM tissue also contains IMF. We compared the gene expression levels between the IMF and muscle portions of the LM after tissue separation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the mRNA levels of both adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma isoform 1 (PPARG1) and lipogenic fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) were higher (p<0.01) in the IMF than in the muscle portion of the LM. We determined DNA methylation levels of regulatory regions of the PPARG1 and FABP4 genes by pyrosequencing of genomic DNA. DNA methylation levels of two of three CpG sites in the PPARG1 gene promoter region were lower (p<0.05) in the IMF than in the muscle portion of the LM. DNA methylation levels of all five CpG sites from the FABP4 gene promoter region were also lower (p<0.001) in the IMF than in the muscle portion. Thus, mRNA levels of both PPARG1 and FABP4 genes were inversely correlated with DNA methylation levels in regulatory regions of CpG sites of the corresponding gene. Our findings suggest that DNA methylation status regulates tissue-specific expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes in the IMF and muscle portions of LM tissue in Korean cattle.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1314-1323
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• 2010

In this study, we constructed various kinds of binary vectors with the pPZP backbone for co-overexpression, tissue- or development-specific expression and stress-inducible expression, and validated them for ectopic expression of target genes. Using a modified CaMV 35S promoter, a binary vector was generated for co-overexpression of two different genes and was confirmed to be efficient for overexpressing two different target genes at the same time and place. Binary vectors containing At2S3, KNAT1 or LFY promoters were constructed for tissue-specific or development-specific gene expression, and the binary vectors were suited for embryo/young seedling stage-, shoot apical meristem- or leaf primordia-specific expressions. Furthermore, the binary vectors containing RD29A or AtNCED3 promoters were validated as suitable vectors for gene expression induced by abiotic stresses such as high salt, ABA, MV and low temperature. Taken together, the binary vectors constructed in this study would be very useful for analyzing the biological functions of target genes and molecular mechanisms through ectopic expression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.875-880
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• 2008

Mbu-3 is a novel mouse brain unigene that was identified by digital differential display. In this study, expression of the gene was chased through developmental stages and the protein product was identified in the brain. The cDNA sequence was 3,995-bp long and contained an ORF of 745 AA. Database searches revealed that the chicken SST273 gene containing LRR- and Ig-domain was an mbu-3 orthologue. Tissue specificity for the gene was examined in embryos and in brains at post-natal and adult stages. During the embryonic stages, mbu-3 was localized to the central nervous system in the brain and spinal cord. In the early post-natal stages, the gene was evenly expressed in the brain. However, with aging, expression was confined to specific regions, particularly the hippocampus. The protein was approximately 95 kDa as determined by Western blot analysis of brain extracts.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.304-310
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• 1999

This study was designed to find the effect of Minocycline loaded microcapsule applied locally to tissue by measuring drug concentration in tissue and serum by HPLC and to achieve optimal drug delivery system and duration to a specific target site. Control group were administrated minocycline intramuscularly twice a day with $0.2{\mu}g/100g$ for 1 to 10 days. In experimental group, surgical wound was created on Rt. cheek and then minocycline loaded microcapsule was applied into the space between superficial and deep layer of masseter muscle. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 days after initial administration, blood was obtained from heart and right masseter muscle was excised. Blood sample was centrifuged at 3000rpm for 15min. Tissue sample was homogenized, left at room temperature for 48hr and centrifuged at 4000g for 5min. Supernatant was completely dried and dissolved in distilled water. Analysis was conducted using a ${\mu}Bondapack$ C18 column. The mobile phase was 0.2M Ammonium Oxalate/0.1M EDTA/DMF=11/4/5 solution, which was injected into the column and detected with photodiode detector at 344nm wavelength. The results were as follows : 1. This method was reliable, could be replicated and suitable for minocycline analysis in tissue as well as serum. 2. In tissue, concentration of minocycline of experimental group was higher than that of control group for 5days. 3. Except 1 day, concentration of minocycline in serum of experimental group was lower than that of control group. 4. Concentration of minocycline in tissue was much higher than that in serum. From these results, minocycline loaded microcapsule might be effective tool for local drug delivery system might be useful for treatment of infections of oral and maxillofacial region and management of infected surgical wound, minimizing systemic effects.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.313-326
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze specific RNA expression profiles in gingival tissue and saliva samples in periodontitis patients and healthy individuals, and to determine their correlations in light of the potential use of microarray-based analyses of saliva samples as a periodontal monitoring tool. Methods: Gingival tissue biopsies and saliva samples from 22 patients (12 with severe periodontitis and 10 with a healthy periodontium) were analyzed using transcriptomic microarray analysis. Differential gene expression was assessed, and pathway and clustering analyses were conducted for the samples. The correlations between the results for the gingival tissue and saliva samples were analyzed at both the gene and pathway levels. Results: There were 621 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 320 upregulated and 301 downregulated) in the gingival tissue samples of the periodontitis group, and 154 DEGs (44 upregulated and 110 downregulated) in the saliva samples. Nine of these genes overlapped between the sample types. The periodontitis patients formed a distinct cluster group based on gene expression profiles for both the tissue and saliva samples. Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery analysis revealed 159 enriched pathways from the tissue samples of the periodontitis patients, as well as 110 enriched pathways In the saliva samples. Thirty-four pathways overlapped between the sample types. Conclusions: The present results indicate the possibility of using the salivary transcriptome to distinguish periodontitis patients from healthy individuals. Further work is required to enhance the extraction of available RNA from saliva samples.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2010

Aim of the study: An alternative source of adult stem cells that could be obtained in large quantities, under local anesthesia, with minimal discomfort would be advantageous. Adipose tissue could be processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of cells or adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ATSCs). This study was performed to confirm the availability of ATSCs in bone tissue engineering. Materials amp; Methods: In this study, adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell was extracted from the liposuctioned abdominal fat of 24-old human and cultivated, and the stem cell surface markers of CD 105 and SCF-R were confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. The proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell and ATSCs were compared, and evaluated the osteogenic differentiation of ATSCs in a specific osteogenic induction medium. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed by von Kossa and alkaline phosphatase staining. Expression of osteocyte specific BMP-2, ALP, Cbfa-1, Osteopontin and osteocalcin were confirmed by RT-PCR. With differentiation of ATSCs, calcium concentration was assayed, and osteocalcin was evaluated by ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay). The bone formation by 5-week implantation of HA/TCP block loaded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and ATSCs in the subcutaneous pocket of nude mouse was evaluated by histologic analysis. Results: ATSCs incubated in the osteogenic medium were stained positively for von Kossa and alkaline phosphatase staining. Expression of osteocyte specific genes was also detected. ATSCs could be easily identified through fluorescence microscopy, and bone formation in vivo was confirmed by using ATSC-loaded HA/TCP scaffold. Conclusions: The present results show that ATSCs have an ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and formed bone in vitro and in vivo. So ATSCs may be an ideal source for further experiments on stem cell biology and bone tissue engineering.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2010

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) constitute the largest superfamily of cell membrane receptors, mediating diverse signal-transduction pathways. The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) has been of interest for its physiological role and size, one of the smallest among the GPCRs, which makes it a good model system for the structural study of GPCRs. To study the molecular structure and tissue-specific expression of MC4R in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), the full-length MC4R gene was obtained using PCR amplification of genomic DNA as well as cDNA synthesis. Sequence analysis of the gene indicates that 978 bp of the MC4R gene encodes 325 amino acids without introns. Sequence alignment with the MC4Rs from other fish shows the highest degree of identity (96%) between Paralichthys olivaceous and Verasper moseri, followed by Takifugu rubripes and Tetraodon nigroviridis (89%). RNA was isolated from various tissues to examine the tissue distribution of MC4R by using RT-PCR. The results showed major expression of MC4R in the liver, brain, and eye, which is consistent with the expression pattern in other fish belonging to the order Pleuronectiformes.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 1998

Purpose : A precise NMR technique for measuring the rate of water exchange and cell membrane permeability across the hepatocyte membrane using liver-specific MR contrast agent is described. Materials and Methods : The rat hepatocytes isolated by perfusion of the livers were used for the NMR measurements. All experiments were performed on an IBM field cycling relaxometer operating from 0.02MHz to 60 MHz proton Larmor frequency. spin-echo pulse sequence was empolyed to measure spin-lattice relaxation time, T1. The continuous distribution analysis of water proton T1 data from rat hepatocytes containing low concentrations of the liver specific contrast agent, Gd-EOB-DTPA, modeled by a general two compartment exchange model. Results : The mean residence time of water molecule inside the hepatocyte was approximately 250 msec. The lower limit for the permeability of the hepatocyte membrane was $(1.3{\pm}0.1){\;}{\times}{\;}10^{-3}cm/sec$. The CONTIN analysis, which seeks the natural distribution of relaxation times, reveals direct evidence of the effect of diffusive exchange. the diffusive water exchange is not small in the intracellular space in the case of hepatocytes. Conclusions : Gd-EOB-DTPA, when combined with continuous distribution analysis, provides a robust method to study water exchange and membrane permeability in hepatocytes. Water exchange in hepatocyte is much slower thatn that in red blood cells. Therefore, tissue-specific contrast agent may be used as a functional agent to give physiological information such as cell membrane permeability.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.262-268
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• 2022

This paper introduces a novel concept of the pulsed neutron facility (PNF) for maximizing the production of the thermal neutrons and its application to medical use based on prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) using Monte Carlo simulations. The PNF consists of a compact D-T neutron generator, a graphite pile, and a detection system using Cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector arrays. The configuration of fuel pins in the graphite monolith and the design and materials for the moderating layer were studied to optimize the thermal neutron yields. Biological samples - normal and cancerous breast tissues - including chlorine, a trace element, were used to investigate the sensitivity of the characteristic γ-rays by neutron-trace material interactions and the detector responses of multiple particles. Around 90 % of neutrons emitted from a deuterium-tritium (D-T) neutron generator thermalized as they passed through the graphite stockpile. The thermal neutrons captured the chlorines in the samples, then the characteristic γ-rays with specific energy levels of 6.12, 7.80 and 8.58 MeV were emitted. Since the concentration of chlorine in the cancerous tissue is twice that in the normal tissue, the count ratio of the characteristic g-rays of the cancerous tissue over the normal tissue is approximately 2.