• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4037-4043
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• 2012

Despite progress in elucidating mechanisms associated with colorectal cancer and improvement of treatment methods, it remains a frequent cause of death worldwide. New and more effective therapies are therefore urgently needed. Recent studies have shown that immunogenicity of whole ovarian tumor cells and subsequent T cell response were potentiated by oxidation modification with hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in vitro and ex vivo. These results prompted us to investigate the protective antitumor response with an HOCl treated CT26 colorectal cancer cell vaccine in an in vivo mouse model. Administration of HOCl modified vaccine triggered robust antitumor immunity to autologous tumor cells in mice and prolonged survival period significantly. In addition, increased necrosis and apoptosis were found in tumor tissue from the oxidation group. Interestingly, ELISPOT assays showed that specific T cell responses were not elicited in response to the immunizing cellular antigen, in contrast to raising sera antibody titer and antibody binding activity shown by ELISA assay and flow cytometry. Further evaluation of the mechanisms underlying HOCl modified vaccine mediated humoral immunity highlighted the role of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These results combined with previous studies suggest that HOCl oxidation modified whole cell vaccine has wide applicability as a cancer vaccine because it can target both T cell- and B cell-specific responses. It may thus represent a promising approach for the immunotherapy of colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1137-1144
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• 2012

Introduction: Recent studies have shown that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play potential roles as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers with various cancer types. The aim of this study was to comprehensively and quantitatively summarize the evidence for the use of CTCs to predict the survival outcome of lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Relevant literature was identified using Medline and EMBASE. Patients' clinical characteristics, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) together with CTC positive rates at different time points (before, during and after treatment) were extracted. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the prognostic role of CTCs and the correlation between the CTC appearance and clinical characteristics. Results: A total of 12 articles containing survival outcomes and clinical characteristics and 15 articles containing only clinical characteristics were included for the global meta-analysis. The hazard ratio (HR) for OS predicted by pro-treatment CTCs was 2.61 [1.82, 3.74], while the HR for PFS was 2.37 [1.41, 3.99]. The HR for OS predicted by post-treatment CTCs was 4.19 [2.92, 6.00], while the HR for PFS was 4.97 [3.05, 8.11]. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to histological classification and detection method. Odds ratio (OR) showed the appearance of pro-treatment CTCs correlated with the lymph node status, distant metastasis, and TNM staging, while post-treatment CTCs correlated with TNM staging only. Conclusion: Detection of CTCs in the peripheral blood indicates a poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2014

Tissue-specific gene expression is regulated by epigenetic modification involving trans-acting factors. Here, we identified that the human MAGEB16 gene and its mouse homolog, Mageb16, are only expressed in the testis. To investigate the mechanism governing their expression, the promoter methylation status of these genes was examined in different samples. Two CpG islands (CGIs) in the 5' upstream region of MAGEB16 were highly demethylated in human testes, whereas they were methylated in cells without MAGEB16 expression. Similarly, the CGI in Mageb16 was hypomethylated in mouse testes but hypermethylated in other tissues and cells without Mageb16 expression. Additionally, the expression of these genes could be activated by treatment with the demethylation agent 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5'-aza-CdR). Luciferase assays revealed that both gene promoter activities were inhibited by methylation of the CGI regions. Therefore, we propose that the testis-specific expression of MAGEB16 and Mageb16 is regulated by the methylation status of their promoter regions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2014

${\alpha}$-Asarone exhibits a number of pharmacological actions including neuroprotective, anti-oxidative, anticonvulsive, and cognitive enhancing action. The present study investigated the effects of ${\alpha}$-asarone on pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA, microglial activation, and neuronal damage in the hippocampus and on learning and memory deficits in systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Varying doses of ${\alpha}$-asarone was orally administered (7.5, 15, or 30 mg/kg) once a day for 3 days before the LPS (3 mg/kg) injection. ${\alpha}$-Asarone significantly reduced TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA at 4 and 24 hours after the LPS injection at dose of 30 mg/kg. At 24 hours after the LPS injection, the loss of CA1 neurons, the increase of TUNEL-labeled cells, and the up-regulation of BACE1 expression in the hippocampus were attenuated by 30 mg/kg of ${\alpha}$-asarone treatment. ${\alpha}$-Asarone significantly reduced Iba1 protein expression in the hippocampal tissue at a dose of 30 mg/kg. ${\alpha}$-Asarone did not reduce the number of Iba1-expressing microglia on immunohistochemistry but the average cell size and percentage areas of Iba1-expressing microglia in the hippocampus were significantly decreased by 30 mg/kg of ${\alpha}$-asarone treatment. In the Morris water maze test, ${\alpha}$-asarone significantly prolonged the swimming time spent in the target and peri-target zones. ${\alpha}$-Asarone also significantly increased the number of target heading and memory score in the Morris water maze. The results suggest that inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation in the hippocampus by ${\alpha}$-asarone may be one of the mechanisms for the ${\alpha}$-asarone-mediated ameliorating effect on memory deficits.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Armillaria mellea extract (AME) on immune modulation focused on anti-cancer activity. Methods : To prove the effects of AME, we performed NO assay, NK cytotoxicity assay and RT-PCR of cytokine related with macrophage and NK cell activity. Results : AME increased NO production produced by macrophages in part. AME also enhanced the NK cell activities in destroying target cells (YAC-1 cells). AME up-regulated gene expression of IL-l, iNOS, TNF-a in RAW 264.7 cells and IL-l, IL-2, IFN-(equation omitted), TNF-a in splenocytes, respectively. Conclusion : From the above results, we assumed that AME is a potential drug for anti-cancer by activation of the macrophages and NK cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.56-61
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• 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Baekyeum (BKE) on intestinal motility. Methods: The effects of BKE on intestinal motility at the physiological state were evaluated by determination of intestinal motility after administration of a charcoal meal. The effects of BKE on intestinal motility at cabachol-induced activated state and loperamide induced suppressed state were also evaluated by determination of intestinal motility after administration of charcoal meal. Results: BKE didn't affect the intestinal motility in physiological state, and BKE didn't affect the intestinal motility at the carbachol-induced activated state. BKE activated significantly the intestinal motility at the loperamide-induced suppressed state. Conclusions: It can be concluded that BKE is an effective herbal prescription for cancer-patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction, especially intestinal stasis.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.377.3-378
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• 2002

Eight compounds were isolated from the MeOH extracts of Erythrina senegalensis for HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Their structures were elucidated as eight isoflavonoids by spectroscopic analysis. These compounds showed dose dependent inhibitory activities on HIV-l protease with $IC_{50}$ values from 0.5 to 30.0 ${\mu}$M. (omitted)

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.76-84
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the protective efficacy of GHT on alcoholic liver injury. Methods: We measured the rate of alcohol oxidation, serum level of liver enzyme, lipid peroxidation level in liver tissue, and inflammatory related cytokine expressions in the liver. Results : GHT showed liver protective effects, lowered the levels of AST and LDH in serum and inhibited lipid peroxidation in liver tissue, and enhanced alcohol oxidation. GHT treatment up-regulated IL-10 in the liver, whereas it down­regulated $TNF-\alpha,\;TGF-\beta$, and Fas ligand. Conclusion : From these results, GHT is presumed to work in the liver in protective roles not through the pathway of alcohol metabolism but mainly by anti-inflammation activity in our model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.252-263
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• 2019

In order to understand the tidal current and mean flow at the west channel of Yeoja Bay in the South Sea of Korea, numerical model experiments and vorticity analysis were carried out. The currents flow north at flood and south at ebb respectively and have the reversing form in the west channel. Topographical eddies are found in the surroundings of Dunbyong Island in the east of the channel. The flood currents flow from the waters near Naro Islands through the west channel and the coastal waters near Geumo Islands through the east channel. The ebb currents from the Yeoja Bay flow out along the west and the east channels separately. The south of Nang Island have weak flows because the island is located in the rear of main tidal stream. Currents are converged at ebb and diverged at flood in the northwest of Jeokgum Island. Tidal current ellipses show reversing form in the west channel but a kind of rotational form in the east channel. As the results of tide induced mean flows, cyclonic and anticyclonic topographical eddies at the northern tip but eddies with opposite spin at the southern tip are found in the west channel of Yeoja Bay. The topographical eddies around the islands and narrow channels are created from the vorticity formed at the land shore by the friction between tidal currents and the west channel.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1857-1863
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• 2015

Background: Alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase(AMACR) is thought to play key roles in diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. However, studies of associations between AMACR gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk reported inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted the present meta-analysis to clarify the link between AMACR gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk. Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang and Weipu databases. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of any association between AMACR polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk. Subgroup analyses by ethnicity, source of controls, quality control and sample size were also conducted. Results: Five studies covering 3,313 cases and 3,676 controls on five polymorphisms (D175G, M9V, S201L, K277E and Q239H) were included in this meta-analysis. Significant associations were detected between prostate cancer and D175G (dominant model: OR=0.89, 95%CI=0.80-0.99, P=0.04) and M9V (dominant model: OR=0.87, 95%CI=0.78-0.97, P=0.01) polymorphisms as well as that in subgroup analyses. We also observed significant decreased prostate cancer risk in the dominant model (OR=0.90, 95%CI=0.81-0.99, P=0.04) for the S201L polymorphism. However, K277E and Q239H polymorphisms did not appear to be related to prostate cancer risk. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis indicated that D175G and M9V polymorphisms of the AMACR gene are related to prostate cancer. The S201L polymorphism might also be linked with prostate cancer risk to some extent. However, no association was observed between K277E or Q239H polymorphisms and susceptibility to prostate cancer.