• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2979-2986
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• 2014

Background: Recently, peroxiredoxin3 (PRDX3) was identified as a novel molecular marker for the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its potential clinical application as a serum marker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC has not been investigated. Methods: PRDX3, alpha-fetaprotein (AFP), and other biochemical parameters were measured in serum samples from 297 Chinese patients, including 96 with HCC, 98 with liver cirrhosis (LC), and 103 healthy controls (HCs). Correlations between serum PRDX3 expression and clinicopathological variables and the relationship between serum PRDX3 expression and prognosis were analyzed. Results: Serum PRDX3 was significantly higher in HCC patients than in the LC and HC groups. The sensitivity and specificity of serum PRDX3 for the diagnosis of HCC were 85.9% and 75.3%, respectively, at a cutoff of 153.26 ng/mL, and the area under the curve was 0.865. Moreover, serum PRDX3 expression was strongly associated with AFP level, tumor diameter, TNM stage, and portal vein invasion. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that HCC patients with high serum PRDX3 expression had a shorter median survival time than those with low PRDX3 expression. Moreover, serum PRDX3 expression was an independent risk factor for overall survival. The inverse correlation between serum PRDX3 and patient survival remained significant in patients with early-stage HCC and in those with normal serum AFP levels. Conclusions: Serum PRDX3 can be used as a noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5101-5106
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• 2016

Purpose: We aimed to establish an inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) in early and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients based on hematologic and biochemical parameters and to analyze its predictive value for NSCLC survival. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 685 patients with early and advanced NSCLC diagnosed between 2009 and 2014 was conducted with collection of clinical, and laboratory data. The IPI was calculated as C-reactive protein ${\times}$ NLR (neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio)/serum albumin. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of relevant factors. Results: The optimal cut-off value of IPI for overall survival (OS) stratification was determined to be 15. Totals of 334 (48.8%) and 351 (51.2%) patients were assigned to high and low IPI groups, respectively. Compared with low IPI, high IPI was associated with older age, greater tumor size, high lymph node involvement, distant metastases, advanced stage and poor performance status. Median OS was worse in the high IPI group (low vs high, 8.0 vs 34.0 months; HR, 3.5; p<0.001). Progression free survival values of the patients who had high vs low IPI were determined 6 months (95% CI:5.3-6.6) and 14 months (95% CI:12.1-15.8), respectively (HR; 2.4, P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, stage, performance status, lactate dehydrogenase and IPI were independent prognostic factors for OS. Subgroup analysis showed IPI was generally a significant prognostic factor in all clinical variables. Conclusion: The described IPI may be an inexpensive, easily accessible and independent prognostic index for NSCLC patients, useful for clinical practice.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 1997

Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death among patients with chronic renal failure. Many reports have been described that homocysteine is one of the independent risk factor to the occulsive vascular disease. In this study, HPLC/FLD (high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector) technique was used to measure homocysteine level in patients with chronic renal failure and normal control group. The detection limit and recovery of total plasma homocysteine using HPLC/FLD were 98.6$\pm$5.8% and 0.2 nmol/ml, respectively. The linearity of this method was established in concentration range of 2~50 nmol/ml (correlation coefficient=0.9997). The concentrations of total plasma homocysteine were 6.81$\pm$1.54 nmol/ml and 27.28$\pm$14.94 nmol/ml in normal control (n=20) and patient group (n=90), respectively (p<0.05). In this study, the HPLC/FLD method showed high sensitivity and reproducibility for a routine clinical laboratory testing. Moreover determination of homocysteine level in plasma might be useful for a biochemical marker for predicting the cardiovascular diseases and for monitoring of therapeutic effect of lowering homocysteine in patients with chronic renal failure.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 1999

T$_1$/T$_2$ weighted images are being used to give the characteristic contrast among the various tissues and the norma;/abnormal tissues. Abnormalities in tissues, in general, accompany the biochemical changes and eventually structural ones in which results in the change in T$_1$ and T$_2$ relaxation times of water protons. It has been suggested that the mapping of T$_1$/T$_2$ values may serve as a possible tool for the quantitative evaluation of the degree of abnormality. On reconstructing T$_1$/T$_2$ maps(or any other MR parametric map), only corresponding variables are to be varied, such as TE for T$_2$, TI or TR for T$_1$ and b-factor for diffusion images. But often the receiver gain is taken for the optimal usage of A/D converter, so that the set of the image data has different receiver gain. It must be corrected before any attempt to reconstruct the maps. Here we developed method of correcting receiver gain variation effect, using the standard deviation of noise on individual image. The resultant T$_1$ and T$_2$ values were very comparable to the other reported values.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.386-393
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• 2016

The incidence of gallbladder polyps are increasing due to the extended use of ultrasonography. Although there are various reports on the risk of gallbladder polyps, there are few studies of the relationships among the presence of metabolic syndrome including serum biochemistry, lifestyle and the development of gallbladder polyps. The aim of this study was to determine association of the presence of metabolic syndrome, including serum biochemistry, with the development of gallbladder polyps in the Korean population. Among the health examination examinees, 596 people, who underwent abdominal ultrasonography from January, 2013 to December 2013, were included in this study. Physical measurements also taken, such as height, weight, blood pressure, waist measurement, and BMI. The general characteristics including age, sex, smoking, and drinking as the related factors were checked. At the same time, various blood tests were performed and the fasting blood sugar was analyzed through blood-gathering to determine the presence of metabolic syndrome. Regarding the factors associated with gallbladder polyps, the results showed that being male, smoking, non-drinking were significantly high. In addition, testing positive for HBsAg and an increasing BMI was apparently higher the group with metabolic syndrome than the non-metabolic syndrome group. The highest predictive factors for gallbladder polyps was being male (1.8 times), followed by metabolic syndrome (2.3 times) and testing positive for HBsAg (2.6 times).

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2008

Recently, people are becoming fatter in most parts of the world. Obesity is regarded as an important risk factor to adversely affect the health of humans, associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, therefore, we tested the short time efficiency and safety of Bangpoongtongsungsan as a drug to decrease body weight in subjects with obesity. A total 48 volunteers (24 man, 24 woman) with body mass index (BMI : weight in kg divided by square of height in meters) of $23㎏/m^2$ participated in clinical study for 12 weeks, from 2008, March 01 to 2008, Jun 30. The subjects was received a dietary supplement of 12 pieces hard capsules per day (4 pieces in one, 3 times in a day) during the clinical study. At the end of clinical study, body weight of subjects was significantly decreased from $72.21{\pm}11.44\;kg$ to $70.53{\pm}11.67\;kg$ (p<0.05). Waist circumferences of subjects were reduced $91.58{\pm}6.43\;cm$ to $85.25{\pm}7.70\;cm$ (p<0.05). Also, a BMI of subjects was significantly decreased $26.07{\pm}2.35\;kg/m^2$ to $25.63{\pm}2.63\;kg/m^2$ (p<0.05). Particularly, a decrease in body weight, waist circumferences, and BMI was more significant in woman than man. But, other biochemical levels including lipid and glucose in plasma had no changes at the end of clinical study. In conclusion, administration of Bangpoongtongsungsan in subjects with high body weight fat could inhibit obesity associated with a decrease in body weight, waist circumferences, and BMI.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 1995

The present study was designed to demonstrate that ES cell lines efficiently could be isolated from explanted blastocysts of hybrid BCF1 mouse when grown on STO feeder layer derived from mouse fibroblasts in culture medium supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The expanded blastocysts were attached to mitomycin C-inactivated STO feeder layer and were cultured for 4 days. Four days later the ICM was disaggregated by a short term trypsin treatment (0.25% trypsin / 0.04% EDT A for 2-3 min). The resulting cell suspension was seeded on a new STO feeder layer and covered with DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS, 0.1 mM nonessential amino acid, 0.1 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.1 mM mercaptoethanol and 1,000 U/ml LIF. Colonies of ES-like cells were observed after the second passage. These colonies were repeatedly passaged at approximately 5 day intervals. In this study, five ES-like celllines were isolated by directly explanting blastocysts, but three lines were lost after the 5th passage, possibly due to toxic effects of a new FCS batch. The characterization of developmental potential of isolated cell lines was performed with respect to in vitro differentiation and specific activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP). When cells were cultured in suspension, the aggregates of cell lines were capable of forming simple embryoid bodies (EB), and showed the capacity for forming cystic multilayer EBs. In addition, the cell lines were positive for AP staining, a biochemical marker characteristic of mouse ES cells.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2011

This study was designed to investigate the effects of fermented turmeric extract on body weight, abdominal fat mass and biochemical markers related to obesity in rats fed high fat diet. Turmeric and brown sugar was equally mixed and fermented for one year. Wistar rats (weighing about 125 g (15 rats)) were divided into three groups: high fat diet (20.9%) and brown sugar 7.2% (HFD), turmeric powder in replace of corn starch 12.8%, brown sugar 7.2% (TP), fermented turmeric powder 20% (FTP) for four weeks. The final body weight was about 425g. The retroperitoneal fat weights in TP group showed the tendency to decrease regardless of feed intake in the rats. Serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the FTP group showed the lowering tendency than those of the HFD group (p<0.05). Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the FTP group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the HFD group, and serum level of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) in all the groups were similar. These results suggest that fermented turmeric extract might be effective to prevent obesity in rats fed high fat diet.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.25.1-25.9
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• 2019

Background: Due to the continuous demand for fish coupled with decline in capture fisheries, there is the need to increase aquaculture production to meet the demand. Aquaculture is faced with high cost of feeding since fish oil and fish meal are expensive. In view of this, there are calls to explore alternatives that are cheap and reliable. Objectives: This study on Oreochromis niloticus was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish oil (FO) with palm oil (PO) at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% on muscle fatty acid and proximate composition as well as growthrelated enzyme activities and mRNA expression. Methods: Oreochromis niloticus were fed five experimental diets (33% crude protein and 10% crude lipid) for 8 weeks. Feed had variation in fish oil and palm oil contents. After the 8 weeks feeding trial, five fish were sampled from each tank (15 from each treatment) and euthanized using an excess dose of tricaine methane sulfonate (MS-222 at 200 mg/L). Fatty acid and enzyme activities were analyzed using standard protocols. Also, RT-qPCR was used to quantify the expression levels of selected growth-related genes. Results: Fish fed 25% PO recorded the least muscle protein content and was significantly lower than the group fed 100% PO. Paired box protein 7 (Pax-7) enzyme activity was significantly higher in the group fed 50% PO compared to the groups fed 25% PO and 100% PO, while caplain-3 (Capn-3) was significantly lower in the group fed 0% PO compared to all other groups. There was a significant difference among treatments with respect to mRNA expression of Pax-7 and Capn-3. Group fed 25% PO had significantly lower mRNA expression of Pax-7, while the group fed 75% PO recorded significantly higher mRNA expression of Capn-3 compared to groups fed 0% PO, 25% PO, and 100% PO. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that Igf-I and Igf-II mRNA expression have significant correlation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content in muscle. Conclusion: The results suggest muscle protein content could be modified if FO is replaced with PO. Also, mRNA expression of Pax-7 and Capn-3 is affected by replacing FO with PO.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.262-267
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• 2010

Magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) is an essential co-factor for over 325 physiological and biochemical processes so that plays a central role of neuronal activity, cardiac excitability, neuromuscular transmission, muscular contraction, vasomotor tone, and blood pressure significantly related to physical performance. However, only limited information on blood ionized $Mg^{2+}$ ($iMg^{2+}$) regarding to physical exercise is available and the data from blood total $Mg^{2+}$ detection are inconsistent. This present study investigated the changes of blood $iMg^{2+}$ correlated with metabolic demands during acute high-intensive exhaustive physical exercise in rats. After exhausted swimming (3-4 hours), blood pH, glucose, $HCO_3{^-}$, oxygen and ionized $Ca^{2+}$ ($iCa^{2+}$) were significantly decreased, whereas lactate, carbon dioxide, $iMg^{2+}$, ionized $Na^+$ and ionized $K^+$ were significantly increased. During the exhausted swimming, the changes in $iMg^{2+}$ showed a significant negative correlation with changes in pH, glucose, $HCO_3^-$ and $iCa^{2+}$, however a significant negative correlation with changes in lactate and anionic gap. It is concluded that the acute high-intensive exhaustive physical exercise could produced hypermagnesemia, an increase in blood $iMg^{2+}$ via stimulation of $iMg^{2+}$ efflux following increase in intracellular $iMg^{2+}$ from muscle induced by metabolic and respiratory acidosis.