• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.803-809
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• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Oxidative DNA damage may contribute to cancer risk and the antioxidant paraoxonase is one endogenous free radical scavenger in the human body which could therefore exert an influeence. Purpose: Aim of this study was to determine the role of serum arylesterase (ARE) and paraoxonase 1(PON1) activities in CRC patients and to find any association between (PON1) Q192R and L55M gene polymorphisms in CRC patients. Also the serum ARE and PON1 activities in CRC patients will be investigated before and after surgery Materials and Methods: This study involved a total of 50 patients with newly diagnosed CRC and 80 healthy controls. PON1 and ARE activities were determined using an enzymatic spectrophotometric method. PON1 Q192R and L55M gene polymorphisms were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) based restriction fragment analysis. The restriction enzyme AlwI was used to examine the Q192R polymorphism and Hsp92II for the L55M polymorphism. Results: Significant differences in the PON1 Q192R polymorphism were found between patients and controls. The Q allele was more frequent in the patient group than in controls, while the R allele was more frequent in the controls. Significant differences were found in the L55M polymorphism. Additionally, there were significant differences in L and M allele frequencies (p=0.001). The serum activities of PON1 and ARE were low in QQ and MM genotype. Conclusions: serum PON1 and ARE activities were significantly lower in CRC patients compared to healthy subjects. The R allele may protect against colorectal cancer.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1509-1521
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• 2013

Social demand for the stability of structures lead to the development of the technology to accomplish it. The non-destructive seismic technique, which is able to assess structural integrity of infrastructures, belongs to this category. Seismic technique is focused on the measurement of seismic velocity propagating through the material, and has to utilize sensors coupled to material surface, which does not allow the testing to be performed on the fly. In this paper, a general vocal microphone, which works as a non-contact sensor, was adopted to facilitate seismic testing with mobility and efficiency improved. The target of using microphones was oriented toward quality assessment of compacted subgrade, stiffness evaluation and health monitoring of concrete structures. Experimental parametric study and field applications were performed to investigate reliability and efficiency of microphones. Finally, the optimal test configuration of microphones was suggested for resonance tests and surface-wave tests.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.939-944
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• 2016

Background: Cell-free DNA circulating in blood is a candidate biomarker for malignant tumors. Unlike uniformly truncated DNA released from apoptotic non diseased cells, DNA released from necrotic cancer cells varies in size. Objectives: To measure the DNA integrity index in serum and the absolute DNA concentration to assess their clinical utility as potential serum biomarkers for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) compared to CEA and CA19-9. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with CRC, 10 with benign colonic polyps and 20 healthy sex and age matched volunteers, were investigated by real time PCR of ALU repeats (ALU q-PCR) using two sets of primers (115 and 247 bp) amplifying different lengths of DNA fragments. The DNA integrity index was calculated as the ratio of q-PCR results of ALU 247/ALU 115bp. Results: Serum DNA integrity was statistically significantly higher in CRC patients compared to the benign and control groups (p<0.001). ROC curves for differentiating CRC patients from normal controls and benign groups had areas under curves of 0.90 and 0.85 respectively. Conclusions: The DNA integrity index is superior to the absolute DNA concentration as a potential serum biomarker for screening and diagnosis of CRC. It may also serve as an indicator for monitoring the progression of CRC patients. Combining CEA and CA19-9 with either of the genetic markers studied is better than either of them alone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7641-7651
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• 2015

It has been shown previously that nutritional supplements rich in polyphenolic compounds play a significant role in prostate cancer chemoprevention. Propolis is a natural, resinous hive product that has several pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumoral activities. The aim of this study was to compare the cytotoxic, antioxidant and antitumoral activities of an ethanolic extract of Egyptian propolis (EEP) in vitro with an established chemotherapeutic drug such as doxorubicin (DOX), and the effects of their combination against the PC3 human prostate cancer cell line. Cellular viability and $IC_{50}$ levels with EEP, DOX and their (v/v) combination were detected by sulphorhodamine-B (SRB) assay after incubation of PC3 cells for 72h with different doses (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and $100{\mu}g/ml$). Two selected doses of $IC_{50}$ and $IC_{25}$ were applied to cells for 24h for antitumor evaluation assay of treatment compounds. EEP and its (v/v) combination with DOX showed significant antitumor potential besides high antioxidant properties of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels when compared with the control untreated cells. DNA fragmentation assay and semi quantitative RT-PCR analyses for p53 and Bax genes showed that EEP activated cellular apoptosis and increased the mRNA expression levels more than other treatment. In conclusion, EEP alone or in combination with DOX at both doses used here showed greater antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects against the PC3 cell lines as compared to treatment with DOX alone. Therefore, EEP could be considered as a promising candidate for prostate cancer chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4075-4079
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• 2012

Benzimidazoles 1-4 were obtained using modified synthesis methods and studied for their ability to inhibit cell proliferation of colon cancer cell HCT-116 and breast cancer cell MCF-7 using MTT assays. In the HCT-116 cell line, benzimidazole 2 was found to have an $IC_{50}$ value of $16.2{\pm}3.85{\mu}g/mL$ and benzimidazole 1 a value of $28.5{\pm}2.91{\mu}g/mL$, while that for benzimidazole 4 was $24.08{\pm}0.31{\mu}g/mL$. In the MCF-7 cell line, benzimidazole 4 had an $IC_{50}$ value of $8.86{\pm}1.10{\mu}g/mL$, benzimidazole 2 a value of $30.29{\pm}6.39{\mu}g/mL$, and benzimidazole 1 a value of $31.2{\pm}4.49{\mu}g/mL$. Benzimidazole 3 exerted no cytotoxity in either of the cell lines, with $IC_{50}$ values $>50{\mu}g/mL$. The results suggest that benzimidazoles derivatives may have chemotherapeutic potential for treatment of both colon and breast cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7725-7730
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• 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause for cancer death in the world, now being especially linked to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This case-control study consisting of 65 HCC patients and 82 patients with other malignant tumours as controls was conducted to determine the association of HCV markers with HCC. Serum of each participant was obtained for detection of HCV Ab and RNA by DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA). Twenty six per cent (26.0%) of HCC patients had positive anti-HCV which was significantly greater than the control group (p=0.001). HCC patients significantly have a risk of exposure to HCV infection almost 3 times than the control group (OR=2.87, 95% C.I=1.1-7). Anti-HCV seropositive rate was significantly (p=0.03) higher among old age HCC patients and increases with age. Males with HCC significantly showed to have more than 9 times risk of exposure to HCV infection (OR=9.375, 95 % CI=1.299-67.647) than females. HCV-RNA seropositive rate was (70.8%) significantly higher among HCC patients compared to (22.2%) the control group (p=0.019). The most prevalent genotype (as a single or mixed pattern of infection) was HCV-1b. This study detected a significantly higher HCV seropositive rate of antibodies and RNA in HCC patients.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2012

A field trial was conducted in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 growing seasons at Giza Agricultural Research Station to examine correlations between some biochemical componets and powdery mildews ($PM_s$) resistance in flax cultivars. Nine flax cultivars could be divided into five distinct groups, i.e., highly susceptible (Cortland and C.I. 2008), moderately susceptible (Giza 7, and Marshall), moderately resistant (Cass), resistant (Koto, Dakota and Wilden), and highly resistant (Ottowa 770B). The cultivars showed considerable variation in PM severity ranged from 8.05 on Ottowa 770B to 97.02% on Cortland. Total soluble proteins, total phenols, antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, and malondialdehyde (MDA), were determined in uninfected leaves of the tested cultivars. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to measure the degree of association between PM severity and each component. All components showed significant (P < 0.05) or highly significant (P < 0.01) negative correlation with PM severity except MDA, which showed positive correlation (P < 0.01). Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the causal relationship between the biochemical components (independent variables) and PM severity (dependent variable). Coefficient of determination ($R^2$) values of the generated models ranged from 48.76 to 77.15%. Tocopherol, MDA, and proteins were the most important contributors to the total variation in PM severity as the $R^2$ values of their models were 71.78, 75.28, and 77.15%, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that tocopherol, MDA, and proteins in uninfected leaves can be used as biochemical markers to predict PM resistance in flax.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.135-149
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• 2017

The prediction of the actual ultimate capacity of confined concrete columns requires partial confinement utilization under eccentric loading. This is attributed to the reduction in compression zone compared to columns under pure axial compression. Modern codes and standards are introducing the need to perform extreme event analysis under static loads. There has been a number of studies that focused on the analysis and testing of concentric columns. On the other hand, the augmentation of compressive strength due to partial confinement has not been treated before. The higher eccentricity causes smaller confined concrete region in compression yielding smaller increase in strength of concrete. Accordingly, the ultimate eccentric confined strength is gradually reduced from the fully confined value $f_{cc}$ (at zero eccentricity) to the unconfined value $f^{\prime}_c$ (at infinite eccentricity) as a function of the ratio of compression area to total area of each eccentricity. This approach is used to implement an adaptive Mander model for analyzing eccentrically loaded columns. Generalization of the 3D moment of area approach is implemented based on proportional loading, fiber model and the secant stiffness approach, in an incremental-iterative numerical procedure to achieve the equilibrium path of $P-{\varepsilon}$ and $M-{\varphi}$ response up to failure. This numerical analysis is adapted to assess the confining effect in rectangular columns confined with conventional lateral steel. This analysis is validated against experimental data found in the literature showing good correlation to the partial confinement model while rendering the full confinement treatment unsafe.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.505-510
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• 2017

This paper presents a low-cost robotic device for shoulder rehabilitation, which is capable of treating various shoulder disabilities. A 3-DOF passive shoulder joint tracking module was designed to allow for translational motion of the shoulder joint center during arm swing, which is essential for natural shoulder movement. The weight of the user's arm and the device were compensated for by springs, to enable gravity-free shoulder motion. In order to reduce the device's cost, only one actuator was used, which can be aligned with the user's shoulder joint in various orientations. The device is capable of implementing five representative shoulder motions, including flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, horizontal abd/adduction, internal/external rotation, and oblique raise. The proposed low-cost shoulder rehabilitation robot is expected to provide effective rehabilitation for patients with various shoulder impairments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.999-1010
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• 2016

Ganoderma lucidum BCCM 31549 has a long established role for its therapeutic activities. In this context, much interest has focused on the possible functions of the (1,3)-β-D-glucan (G) produced by these cultures in a stirred-tank bioreactor and extracted from their underutilized mycelium. In the existing study, we report on the systematic production of G, and its sulfated derivative (GS). The aim of this study was to investigate G and its GS from G. lucidum in terms of their antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity spectrum against human prostate cells (PN2TA) and human caucasian histiocytic lymphoma cells (U937). ¹H NMR for both G and GS compounds showed β-glycosidic linkages and structural similarities when compared with two standards (laminarin and fucoidan). The existence of characteristic absorptions at 1,170 and 867 cm^-1 in the FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) for GS demonstrated the successful sulfation of G. Only GS exhibited antimicrobial activity against a varied range of test bacteria of relevance to foodstuffs and human health. Moreover, both G and GS did not show any cytotoxic effects on PN2TA cells, thus helping demonstrate the safety of these polymers. Moreover, GS showed 40% antiproliferation against cancerous U937 cells at the low concentration (60 μg/ ml) applied in this study compared with G (10%). Together, this demonstrates that sulfation clearly improved the solubility and therapeutic activities of G. The water-soluble GS demonstrates the potential multifunctional effects of these materials in foodstuffs.