• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.213-222
• /
• 2012

While much has been learned about the mechanisms of metastatic spread of cancer to bone, there has been little headway in establishing guidelines for monitoring the alteration in bone quality and estimating fracture risk. The aims of this study are, therefore, 1) to evaluate bone quality induced by metastatic bone tumor by analyzing the characteristics on bone microarchitecture and degree of bone mineralization and 2) analyze fracture risk increased secondary to the bone quality changes by metastatic bone tumor through calculating mechanical rigidities based on in-vivo micro CT images. For this study, eighteen female SD rats (12 weeks old, approximate 250 g) were randomly allocated in Sham and Tumor groups. W256 (Walker carcinosarcoma 256 malignant breast cancer cell) was inoculated in the right femur (intraosseous injection) in Tumor group, while 0.9% NaCl (saline solution) was injected in Sham group. The right hind limbs of all rats were scanned by in-vivo micro-CT to acquire structural parameters and degree of bone mineralization at 0 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after surgery. At the same time, urine was collected by metabolic cages for a biochemical marker test in order to evaluate bone resorption. Then, bone metastasis had been directly identified by positron emission tomography. Finally, axial, bending and torsional rigidities had been calculated based on in-vivo micro CT images for predict fracture risk. The results of this study showed that metastatic bone tumor might induce significant decrease in bone quality and increase of fracture risk. This study may be helpful to monitoring a degree of bone metastasis and predicting fracture risk due to metastatic bone tumor. In addition, this noninvasive diagnostic methodology may be utilized for evaluating other bone metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2008

Cardiac fibroblasts constitute one of the largest cell populations in the heart, and contribute to structural, biochemical, mechanical and electrical properties of the myocardium. Nonetheless, their cardiac functions, especially electrophysiological properties, have often been disregarded in studies. $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+\;(K_{Ca})$ channels can control $Ca^{2+}$ influx as well as a number of $Ca^{2+}$-dependent physiological processes. We, therefore, attempted to identify and characterize $K_{Ca}$ channels in rat Cardiac fibroblasts. First, we showed that the cells cultured from the rat ventricle were cardiac fibroblasts by immunostaining for discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR-2), a specific fibroblast marker. Secondly, we detected the expression of various $K_{Ca}$ channels by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and found all three family members of $K_{Ca}$ channels, including large conductance $K_{Ca}$ (BK-${\alpha}1-\;and\;-{\beta}1{\sim}4$subunits), intermediate conductance $K_{Ca}$ (IK), and small conductance $K_{Ca}$ (SK$1{\sim}4$ subunits) channels. Thirdly, we recorded BK, IK, and SK channels by whole cell mode patch clamp technique using their specific blockers. Finally, we performed cell proliferation assay to evaluate the effects of the channels on cell proliferation, and found that the inhibition of IK channel increased the cell proliferation. These results showed the existence of BK, IK, and SK channels in rat ventricular fibroblasts and involvement of IK channel in cell proliferation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.124-129
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Salivary pH is an easily measurable biochemical marker and related to various intraoral and systemic conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the salivary pH measurement using pH paper. In addition, the normal values of salivary pH using pH paper were compared to those of pH meter to investigate the validity. Methods: Twenty healthy male participants attended this study (mean age, $24.5{\pm}1.47$ years). Unstimulated saliva and stimulated saliva were collected from each subject two times with the interval of a day and salivary pH was immediately measured by the two experienced examiners using pH paper and pH meter. The salivary pH was compared between the groups and inter- and intra-examiner reliability of pH paper was investigated. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to calculate variations. Results: All measurements had good to excellent inter-examiner (ICC 0.755 for unstimulated; 0.760 for stimulated saliva), intra-examiner (ICC 0.635 for unstimulated; 0.592 for stimulated saliva) reliability and two measurement methods using pH paper and pH paper also showed high reliability (ICC 0.852 for unstimulated; 0.640 for stimulated saliva). The values measured by pH paper were significantly lower than those measured by pH meter. Conclusions: pH paper showed adequate inter- and intra-examiner reliability and it presented the validity in terms of comparison with the pH meter as a standard in the salivary pH measurement.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.595-600
• /
• 1999

Background: The estimation of ADA activity in pleural fluid has been proved useful tool in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions. However, there is controversy about its usefulness when estimated in bronchial washing fluid in the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. This study aims at evaluating the usefulness of measuring ADA activity in bronchial washing fluid of tuberculous patients as biochemical marker in the early diagnosis of the disease. Methods: We examined the difference of ADA activity in bronchial washing fluid among the group I(tuberculosis group), group II(lung cancer group) and group III(control group). Results: There was significantly higher bronchial washing fluid ADA level in tuberculosis group compared to the lung cancer and control groups(p<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that bronchial washing fluid ADA activities seem to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.50-62
• /
• 2008

Objectives: This study was aimed to find the effect of Samiunkyungtang on inflammation and microflora in an ulcerative colitis animal model. Methods: We established four groups of normal, control, test 1, and test 2 and assigned 6 rats toeach group. The normal group was not treated by any process and fed by normal saline. The control & test groups were provided with 4% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment for 7 days. Samiunkyungtang extract was orally administered to test groups (test 1=25mg/kg, test 2 100mg/kg) 3 days after DSS treatment for 10 days. After DSS treatment finished, we sacrificed the mice and measured colon length and enzyme activities such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), alkine phosphatase (ALP), ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, chondroitinase, and tryptophanase. Results: The colon lengths of test 1 and 2 groups were longer than the control group (p<0.05). Histologically, the crypts and superficial epitheliums of test 1 and 2 groups were regenerated. Goblet cells from all test groups were retrieved. The inflammatory biochemical marker, MPO and ALP activities in all test groups were highly reduced (p<0.01) compared to the control group. The activities of fecal bacterial enzymes in test groups such as ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, chondroitinase, and tryptophanase were reduced compared to the control group (p<0.01). Conclusions: As a result of this experiment, Samiunkyungtang is considered to have an inhibitory effect on inflammation and fecal enzyme activity in DSS-induced colitis animal model. Our results indicate that Samiunkyungtang may possess therapeutic effect on the development of DSS-induced colitis.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.191-200
• /
• 1992

Several strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were isolated from soil in the Taegu area and characterized to develop some useful vector systems for higher plant genetic engineering. The selected colonies had a unique form, and strains from the colonies were capable of tumor formation on the sunflower leaf surface. They had a large plasmid. The restriction analysis showed that they were another kinds of Ti plasmic compared with C58 and Ach5. The isolated strains were identified as the nopaline type and also as biovar 1 A. tumefaciens, according to their tumor morphology, blophyslcal and biochemical characteristics. One of the isolated strains, AK204 was transformed with binary vector (pGA642), having selectable marker (Kmr, Tcr). Furthermore, maize tissue cells were transformed by cocultivation with AK204/pGA642, and the transformants were selected on the selective medium and identified using PAGE patterns of their soluble proteins.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5331-5339
• /
• 2013

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death, both in men and women. This study investigated the effects of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber methanolic extract (ACME) on aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation, colonic cell proliferation, lipid peroxidative damage and the antioxidant status in a long term preclinical model of 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups, viz., group I rats served as controls; group II rats treated as drug controls receiving 250 mg/kg body weight of ACME orally; group III rats received DMH (20 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously once a week for the first 15 weeks; groups IV, V and VI rats received ACME along with DMH during the initiation, post-initiation stages and the entire period of the study, respectively. All the rats were sacrificed at the end of 30 weeks and the intestinal and colonic tissues from different groups were subjected to biochemical and histological studies. Administration of DMH resulted in significant ($p{\leq}0.05$) intestinal and colonic lipid peroxidation (MDA) and reduction of antioxidants such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-Stransferase and reduced glutathione. Whereas the supplementation of ACME significantly ($p{\leq}0.05$) improved the intestinal and colonic MDA and reduced glutathione levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in DMH intoxicated rats. ACME administration also significantly suppressed the formation and multiplicity of ACF. In addition, the DMH administered rats showed amplified expression of PCNA in the colon and decreased expression of this proliferative marker was clearly noted with initiation, post-initiation and entire period of ACME treatment regimens. These results indicate that ACME could exert a significant chemopreventive effect on colon carcinogenesis induced by DMH.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 1998

Objectives : Alcohol-induced oxidative stress has been known to injure various tissues or organs. This stress is related with free radicals which are produced as the result of long-term alcohol consumption. Malonyldialdehyde(MDA) is produced by the interaction of free radicals and cell membrane lipids, and indicates the degree of lipid peroxidation indirectly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between red blood cell(RBC) membrane lipid peroxidation by free radicals, and associated hepatic injuries and hematologic changes. Methods : Thirty-three subjects diagnosed as alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were evaluated within 72 hours after discontinuing alcohol drinking. Clinical characteristics were evaluated by CAGE questionnaire and Korean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST). RBC membrane MDA level was measured as the marker of RBC membrane lipid peroxidation. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) were used as the biochemical markers of liver damage due to alcohol ingestion. The alcohol-induced hematologic change was assessed by mean corpuscular volume(MCV). Results : The results were as follows. Clinical characteristics were not different between two groups having normal and abnormal levels of AST, ALT, GGT or MCV. The levels of MDA were not correlated with the clinical characteristics and serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT. However, there was a significant correlation between the levels of MDA and the value of MCV(p=0.017). Conclusions : These findings suggest that oxidative stress in alcohol dependence may not be reflected in liver enzyme markers such as AST, ALT and GGT, but may be reflected in MCV.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\beta}$-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.55-62
• /
• 1995

Embryogenic cell (EC) suspension cultures derived from mature seed-embryo of rice (Oryza sativa L cv. Kye Hwa) were used for the expression patterns of isozyme and enzyme activity. EC suspension cultures were composed of cells that were densely cytoplasmic, potentially embryogenic. However, nonembryogenic cell (NEC) cultures were composed of large, elongated and vacuolated cells. These cells were analyzed for the isozyme pattern and enzyme activity of EC and NEC. Isozyme patterns of peroxidase, esterase, acid phosphatase and malate dehydrogenase exhibited striking difference in the total number of bands, specificity and intensity of band. Also, these isozymes showed very high activity in the EC. Specific band, band activity and higher enzyme activity of isozyme in EC was absent or low in NEC, which may indicate an association of these specific isozymes with morphological characterization and totipotency of embryogenic cells. These results indicate that specific pattern and activity of enzyme in EC could probably be used as a biochemical marker of EC in rice.n rice.