• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-104
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• 2005

This study examined ecological grade of tidal flats at 59 sites along the west and east coast of Korea from January 1998 to December 2002. Assessment of ecological grade based on 7 headings includes biological and human geographical factors, such as species diversity and richness, utility value of species, possibility of damage and reservation conditions of coastline. Total of 181 species with 37 families of 14 orders were listed in this study. The highest scores (ecological grade I) showed at these five sites, Hagampo in Chungnam, Ui-do and Geomun-do in Jeonnam, Bijin-do and Maemul-do in Gyungnam. Half of thestudy sites belong to ecological grade II and 19 sites showed ecological grade III. Singyeong in Gyeonggi, Janghang in Chungnam, Gyehwado and Gomso in Jeonbuk, Dadepo in Busan were assessed as ecological grade IV. Grade V (the worst) was not found in this study.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.371-378
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• 2020

Background: In this study, the radix of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge extract fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Weissella cibaria, and Pediococcus pentosaceus to increase the levels of isoflavonoid aglycone contents. Methods and Results: In order to change the in isoflavonoids, we fermented the radix of A. membranaceus extracts with microorganisms that have β-glucosidase activity. Besed on the β-glucosidase activity, we selected three strains, Weissella cibaria, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. HPLC analysis revealed that the levels of isoflavonoid aglycones were increased in all fermentation cases, and the extracts fermented by S. cerevisiae showed the highest levels of isoflavonoid aglycones. We evaluated the antioxidant activity, anti-wrinkle effects and whitening effects of the S. cerevisiae-fermented extracts using the DPPH assay, tyrosinase inhibition activity assay, and collagenase inhibition activity assay. We confirmed higher activity in S. cerevisiae-fermented extracts than in control, with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 565.1 ± 59.1 ㎍/㎖ in DPPH radical scavenging activity, tyrosinase inhibition rate of 78.4 ± 0.9%, and collagenase inhibition rate of 83.8 ± 1.1%. Conclusions: We selected three stains of microorganisms showing high β-glucosidase activity, W. cibaria, P. pentosaceus and S. cerevisiae. Isoflavonoid glycones in the radix of A. membranaceus were converted to isoflavonoid aglycones by fermentation. In addition, the fermented radix of A. membranaceus exhibited antioxidant activity, anti-wrinkle effect, whitening effect and radical scavenging activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.3003-3007
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• 2015

Objective: To explore the application of multiplex nested methylated specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the early diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Materials and Methods: Serum and fresh tissue samples were collected from 114 EOC patients. RUNX3, TFPI2 and OPCML served as target genes. Methylation levels of tissues were assessed by multiplex nested methylated specific PCR, the results being compared with those for carcinoma antigen 125 (CA125). Results: The serum free deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) methylation spectrum of EOC patients was completely contained in the DNA spectrum of cancer tissues, providing an accurate reflection of tumor DNA methylation conditions. Serum levels of CA125 and free DNA methylation in the EOC group were evidently higher than those in benign lesion and control groups (p<0.05). Patients with early EOC had markedly lower serum CA125 than those with advanced EOC (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in free DNA methylation (p>0.05). The sensitivity, specificity and positive predicative value (PPV) of multiplex nested methylated specific PCR were significantly higher for detection of all patients and those with early EOC than those for CA125 (p<0.05). In the detection of patients with advanced EOC, the PPV of CA125 detection was obviously lower than that of multiplex nested methylated specific PCR (p>0.05), but there was no significant difference in sensitivity (p>0.05). Conclusions: Serum free DNA methylation can be used as a biological marker for EOC and multiplex nested methylated specific PCR should be considered for early diagnosis since it can accurately determine tumor methylation conditions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8567-8571
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• 2016

Background: The Cox model is known as one of the most frequently-used methods for analyzing survival data. However, in some situations parametric methods may provide better estimates. In this study, a Weibull parametric model was employed to assess possible prognostic factors that may affect the survival of patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: We studied 438 patients with breast cancer who visited and were treated at the Cancer Research Center in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences during 1992 to 2012; the patients were followed up until October 2014. Patients or family members were contacted via telephone calls to confirm whether they were still alive. Clinical, pathological, and biological variables as potential prognostic factors were entered in univariate and multivariate analyses. The log-rank test and the Weibull parametric model with a forward approach, respectively, were used for univariate and multivariate analyses. All analyses were performed using STATA version 11. A P-value lower than 0.05 was defined as significant. Results: On univariate analysis, age at diagnosis, level of education, type of surgery, lymph node status, tumor size, stage, histologic grade, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and lymphovascular invasion had a statistically significant effect on survival time. On multivariate analysis, lymph node status, stage, histologic grade, and lymphovascular invasion were statistically significant. The one-year overall survival rate was 98%. Conclusions: Based on these data and using Weibull parametric model with a forward approach, we found out that patients with lymphovascular invasion were at 2.13 times greater risk of death due to breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4117-4123
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• 2014

Background: To determine prognostic value of excision repair cross-complementation 1 (ERCC1) in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients with MPM who were diagnosed and treated in the Radiation Oncology Department of Kayseri Teaching Hospital and Medical Oncology Department of Erciyes University, Medicine School between 2005 and 2013. By using immunohistochemical methods, ERCC1 expression in biopsy specimens was evaluated. We retrospectively assessed whether there is a correlation between ERCC1 and response to anti-neoplastic therapy or survival. Results: There were 50 men and 10 women with median age of 62 years (range: 39-83). Histological type was epithelial mesothelioma in the majority of the cases (85%), most commonly presenting in stage four. Of the cases, 20 (33%) received radiotherapy, 60 (%100) received first-line chemotherapy and 15 (%25) received second-line chemotherapy. In the assessment after therapy, it was found that there was partial response in 12 cases (20%), stable disease in 19 cases (31.4%) and progression in 25 cases (41.7%). ERCC1 was positive in 43% of the cases. Mean OS was 11.7 months and mean DFS was 9.5 months in ERCC1-positive cases regardless of therapy, while they were 19.2 months and 17.1 months in ERCC1-negative cases, respectively. The difference was found to be significant (p<0.05). In univariate analysis, stage, comorbidity, response to treatment and ERCC1 expression were found to be significantly associated with OS (p=0.083; p=0.043; p=0.041; p=0.050). In multivariate analysis, response to treatment remained to be significant for OS (p=0.005). In univariate and multivariate analyses, response to treatment and ERCC1 were found to be significantly associated with DFS (p=0.049; p=0.041). Conclusions: ERCC1 was identified as poor prognostic factor in patients with MPM.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.276-280
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• 2003

Background: Peroxidases (Prx) of the peroxiredoxin family reduce hydrogen peroxide and alkyl hydroperoxides to water and alcohol respectively. Hydrogen peroxide is implicated as an intracellular messenger in various cellular responses such as proliferation and differentiation. And Prx I activity is regulated by Cdc-2 mediated phosphorylation. This work was undertaken to investigate the proliferation role of peroxiredoxin III as a member of Prx family in Prx III overexpressed HeLa cell line. Methods: To provide further evidence of proliferation, we selected Prx III stably expressed HeLa Tet-off cell lines. Cell proliferation was examined by using proliferation reagent WST-1 in the presence or absence of doxycycline. Prx III, 2-cys Prx enzymes exist as homodimer. The activation of Prx III heterodimer with induced and endogenous Prx III was examined by immunoprecipitation. Results: Immunoprecipitation analysis of the induced and endogenous Prx III with anti-myc showed that the induced wild type (WT) and dominant negative (DN) Prx III from HeLa Prx III Tet-off stable cell heterodimerized with endogenous Prx III each other. And the expression level of induced Prx III was examined after addition of doxycycline. By 72 hr, the expression level of induced Prx III was diminished gradually and the half-life of the induced wild type Prx III was approximately 17 hr. The proliferation experiment demonstrated that the relative proliferation value of induced and endogenous WT Prx III stable cell has no changes but the DN Prx III induced HeLa Tet-off stable cells were lower than endogenous Prx III. Conclusion: In conclusion, the HeLa dominant negative Prx III Tet-off stable cells were decreased the proliferation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.2593-2598
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• 2011

Polyphenols (PPs) are known as antioxidant compounds having benign biological activities. In this paper, a series of hybrid molecules between the free or acetyl protected polyphenol compounds were synthesized and their in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) and cholinesterase [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)] inhibition activities were evaluated. As expected, free phenolic hybrid compounds (6 and 8) showed better antioxidant activity than acetyl protected hybrid compounds (5 and 7) from DPPH assay. But the contrast result was obtained from BuChE inhibition assay. Acetyl protected hybrid compounds (5 and 7) showed better inhibition activity for BuChE than free phenolic hybrid compounds (6 and 8). Specifically, 10 (AcFA-AcFA) were shown as an effective inhibitor of BuChE ($IC_{50}=2.3{\pm}0.3{\mu}M$) and also had a great selectivity for BuChE over AChE (more than 170 fold). Inhibition kinetic studies with acetyl protected compounds (5, 7, 9, and 10) indicated that 5, 7 and 10 are a hyperbolic mixed-type inhibition and 10 is a competitive inhibition type. The binding affinity (Ki) value of 10 to BuChE is $2.32{\pm}0.15{\mu}M$.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 2008

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Zirconium oxide can be a substitute to titanium as implant materials to solve the esthetic problems of dark color in the gingival portion of implant restorations. PURPOSE: This study was performed to define attachment and growth behavior of osteoblast- like cells cultured on grooved surfaces of zirconium oxide and evaluate the genetic effect of zirconium oxide surfaces using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on (1) commercially pure titanium discs with smooth surface (T group), (2) yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) with machined surface (ZS group), and (3) Y-TZP with $100{\mu}m$ grooves (ZG group). Cell proliferation activity was evaluated through MTT assay and cell morphology was examined by SEM. The mRNA expression of Runx2, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, TGF-${\beta}1$, IGF-1, G3PDH in E1 cells were evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: From the MTT assay, after 48 hours of adhesion of MC3T3-E1 cells, the mean optical density value of T group and ZG group significantly increased compared to the ZS group. SEM images of osteoblast-like cells showed that significantly more cells were observed to attach to the grooves and appeared to follow the direction of the grooves. After 24 hours of cell adhesion, more spreading and flattening of cells with active filopodia formation occurred. Results of RT-PCR suggest that T group, ZS group, and ZG group showed comparable osteoblast-specific gene expression after 24 hours of cell incubation. CONCLUSION: Surface topography and material of implants can play an important role in expression of osteoblast phenotype markers. Zirconia ceramic showed comparable biological responses of osteoblast-like cells with titanium during a short-time cell culture period. Also, grooves influence cell spreading and guide the cells to be aligned within surface grooves.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.124-145
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• 1970

The author carried out this study to research the biological value of the protein fermented wheat bran. This study mainly devided into two parts. First part includes seven subgroups composed of five rats and second part fourteen subgroups composed of six rats each. In the first part of this study forty weanling male rats, aged 40${\pm}$5 days were fed by fermented wheat bran diet for seven weeks. In second part of this study 90 male weanling rats were fed by rice and soybean diet supplemented by fermented wheat bran. In the first part of this study food consumption rate of fermented group showed higher than standard group but the former group is lower than the later in the body weight gains. In the second part of this study, rice groups showed same trend of the result of the first part, but soybean groups did not go along with the result of rice group. In regard to body nitrogen retention rate, fermented wheat diet group showed higher than the standard group in the first part of this study. In the second part of this study rice diet groups revealed same result as that of the first part of this study but soybean diet did not give the same result in this respect. There was no significant difference in organ weight in all experimental groups but devided by 100 gram of body weight, the reverse is true in compare with body weight gains. Hematological investigation did not show the significance in both experimental and standard groups of the first and the second studies. It is conclusion of this study that rice which is inferior to soybean in protein quality, increases the rate of supplementary effect by fermented wheat bran in all respects of this study.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.742-746
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• 1999

The microalgal, Chlorella sp. HA-1, had good $CO_2$ fixation efficiency compared to other algal strains at the same operating condition. In this study, Chorella sp. HA-1 showed similar tolerance both 10% and 20% $CO_2$ concentration. By optimization of the major operation variables such as pH, initial cell concentration, light intensity, the $CO_2$ fixation rate could be raised to a reasonably high value, 372 $gCO_2/m^2{\cdot}day$ in a 3 L internally illuminated photobioreactor. In order to maintain the $CO_2$ fixation rate for a long time, the method of semi-continuous operation was employed, in which dilution ratio was the controlling parameter. Starting with the dilution ratio of 0.5 with the increased increment of 0.1, the constant $CO_2$ fixation rate was obtained.