• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2014

Copper has been widely used to control algae and pathogens in fish culture ponds. However, its toxic effects on fish depend not only on its concentration in the water but also on the water quality. A laboratory experiment was conducted to assess copper toxicity in the black rockfish Sebastes schlegeli using a panel of antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), at different levels of copper at three water temperatures (WT, 18, 23, $28^{\circ}C$) for 4 days. After exposure to two copper concentrations (100 and $200{\mu}g/L$), GSH levels and GST activities increased significantly, depending on WT (P < 0.05) in the liver, gill, and kidney of the black rockfish. GPx and SOD activities decreased significantly with both increasing WT and copper treatment in the organs of black rockfish (P < 0.05). These changes can be seen as initial responses to temperature stress and as a sustained response to copper exposure. This also indicates that GSH and related enzymes activities were sensitive indexes to stress by toxicants such as copper. The present findings suggest that simultaneous stress due to temperature change and copper exposure can accelerate changes in enzymes activities in the black rockfish. This provides another example of synergism between environmental temperature and pollutants, which may have important implications for the survival of fish in polluted environments during seasonal warming and/or global climate change.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1708-1716
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• 2013

Conventional molecular detection methods cannot distinguish between viable and dead Escherichia coli O157 cells. In this study, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method combined with propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment was developed to selectively detect viable E. coli O157 cells. Four primers, including outer primers and inner primers, were specially designed for the recognition of six distinct sequences on the serogroups (O157) of the specific rfbE gene of the E. coli O157 genome. PMA selectively penetrated through the compromised cell membranes and intercalated into DNA. Amplification of DNA from dead cells was completely inhibited by $3.0{\mu}g/ml$ PMA, whereas the DNA derived from viable cells was amplified remarkably within 1 h by PMA-LAMP. Exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity, PMA-LAMP is a suitable method for evaluating the inactivation efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water in broth. PMA-LAMP can selectively detect viable E. coli O157 cells. This study offers a novel molecular detection method to distinguish between viable and dead E. coli O157 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.355-360
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• 2013

Withaferin A is an active component of Withania somnifera, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and immune modulatory effects. However, the effects of withaferin A on metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression and activity have not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the ability of withaferin A to inhibit MMP-9 expression and activity in PMA-treated human cervical carcinoma Caski cells. Withaferin A markedly inhibited the PMA-induced MMP-9 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Withaferin A decreased not only PMA-induced MMP-9 promoter activity but also PMA-mediated MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression in Caski cells. NF-${\kappa}B$ promoter activity, which is important in MMP-9 expression, was also decreased in combined treatment with withaferin A and PMA. Furthermore, withaferin A markedly suppressed the ability of PMA-mediated migration in Caski cells. Our findings suggest that withaferin A might inhibit PMA-induced migration through the down-regulation of MMP-9 expression and activity.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2019

Background: Uncooperative behavior of children due to dental anxiety may interfere with the effective delivery of dental care and compromise the quality of treatment provided. Injection of local anesthesia is one of the most anxiety-inducing stimuli in pediatric dentistry. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a child-friendly device, having a combined effect of vibration and distraction, with the conventional method of injection on pain, anxiety, and behavior of pediatric patients aged 6-11 years. Methods: This randomized, crossover, split-mouth study included 30 children requiring a bilateral inferior alveolar nerve block. The children were equally divided into two groups: group 1, aged 6-8 and group 2, aged 9-11 years. All children were injected with anesthesia using the conventional and device method in two separate sessions. They were assessed for anxiety by measuring the pulse rate before and during the administration of local anesthesia. Behavior was assessed using Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale, and the child's experience while receiving anesthesia was assessed using the Wong Bakers Pain Rating Scale. Results: Results showed that the children who received local anesthesia using the device method had a lower mean pulse rate, FLACC scores, and pain rating scores than those who received local anesthesia using the conventional method. Conclusion: The device method was more effective than the conventional method in managing pain, anxiety, and behavior of patients aged 6-11 years. The device is a cost effective, simple, and child-friendly product for administrating local anesthesia in pediatric patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.256-263
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• 2022

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is resistant to the β-lactam antibiotics due to a non-classical transpeptidase in the cell wall with β-lactamase activity. A recent study showed that meropenem combined with clavulanate, a β-lactamase inhibitor, was effective in multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB). However, in Korea, clavulanate can only be used as drugs containing amoxicillin. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility and genetic mutations of drug-resistant Mtb isolates to amoxicillin-clavulanate and meropenem-clavulanate to improve the diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant TB patients. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin-clavulanate and meropenem-clavulanate was examined by resazurin microtiter assay. We used 82 MDR and 40 XDR strains isolated in Korea and two reference laboratory strains. Mutations of drug targets blaC, blaI, ldtA, ldtB, dacB2, and crfA were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Results: The MIC₉₀ values of amoxicillin/clavulanate and meropenem/clavulanate in drug-resistant Mtb isolates were 64/2.5 and 16/2.5 mg/L, respectively. Gene mutations related to amoxicillin/clavulanate and meropenem/clavulanate resistance could not be identified, but T448G mutation was found in the blaC gene related to β-lactam antibiotics' high susceptibility. Conclusion: Our results provide clinical consideration of β-lactams in treating drug-resistant TB and potential molecular markers of amoxicillin-clavulanate and meropenem-clavulanate susceptibility.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Background: Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is known to have a lower success rate for anesthesia in patients with irreversible pulpitis. This calls for supplementary techniques to effectively anesthetize such patients. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the published literature for determining the success rate of anesthesia induction using post-IANB intraligamentary (IL) injection in the mandibular teeth of patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. The review question was, "What is the success rate of IL injection in the mandibular teeth of patients with irreversible pulpitis as a supplementary technique for endodontic treatment?" Methods: A thorough search of electronic databases and manual searches were performed. The protocol of the review was framed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and was registered in the International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with a proper criterion for inclusion and exclusion of studies. The included studies were analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration "Risk of Bias" tool. A meta-analysis that included a comparison of primary nerve block and supplemental IL injection was performed. The success rate was evaluated using the combined risk ratio (RR) with a random risk model. A funnel plot was created to measure publication bias. Results: After all analyses, four studies were included. In the forest plot representation, RRs were 3.56 (95% CI: 2.86, 4.44), which were in favor of the supplemental IL injections. Statistical heterogeneity was found to be 0%. These values suggest that supplemental IL injections provide better success rates for anesthesia. Conclusion: According to the pooled qualitative and quantitative analyses, supplemental IL injections increased anesthetic efficacy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.506-511
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• 2022

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most challenging cancers to overcome, and there is a need for better therapeutic strategies. Among the different cancer drugs that have been used in clinics, sorafenib is considered the standard first-line drug for advanced HCC. Here, to identify a chemical compound displaying a synergistic effect with sorafenib in HCC, we screened a focused chemical library and found that MG149, a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor targeting the MYST family, exhibited the most synergistic anticancer effect with sorafenib on HCC cells. The combination of sorafenib and MG149 exerted a synergistic anti-proliferation effect on HCC cells by inducing apoptotic cell death. We revealed that cotreatment with sorafenib and MG149 aggravated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress to promote the death of HCC cells rather than adaptive cell survival. In addition, combined treatment with sorafenib and MG149 significantly increased the intracellular levels of unfolded proteins and reactive oxygen species, which upregulated ER stress. Collectively, these results suggest that MG149 has the potential to improve the efficacy of sorafenib in advanced HCC via the upregulation of cytotoxic ER stress.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.224-235
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• 2024

Purpose: Biliary atresia (BA) is the leading cause of neonatal cholestasis (25-45%). The primary treatment is hepatic portoenterostomy (Kasai procedure), but only 20-40% provide long-term benefits. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for surgical efficacy by comparing preoperative and early postoperative indicators in infants with different outcomes. Methods: We enrolled 166 infants with BA (93 girls, 73 boys) who underwent the Kasai procedure between September 2002 and December 2021, dividing them into favorable or adverse outcome groups. Over 40 parameters were measured, and the diagnostic significance of the prognostic model was evaluated. Results: Kasai surgery was efficacious in 69 patients (42%) and non-efficacious in 97 (58%). Our model assesses efficacy by day 14 after surgery, improving on the <34 µmol/L direct bilirubin threshold established for 3-6 months after the procedure. Including the Desmet fibrosis score refined the model. Conclusion: Blood cholesterol below 5.41 mmol/L, direct bilirubin below 56.3 µmol/L on postoperative days 14±3, and a low Desmet score indicate a high probability of efficacious Kasai surgery in infants with BA.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 1996

Purpose : Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent with potent microtubule stabilizing activity that arrests cell cycle in $G_2$-M Because $G_2$-M is the most radiosensitive Phase of the cell cycle, paclitaxel has potential as a cell cycle- specific radiosensitizer. This study was designed to investigate the ability of paclitaxel to increase the radiotoxicity in normal small bowel mucosa of the rat. materials and Methods : A sigle intraperitoneal infusion of paclitaxel (10mg/kg), and a single irradiation(8 Gy, x-ray) to the whole abdomen and combination of radiation(8 Gr, x-ray) 24 hours after paclitaxel infusion in the rats were done. The changes of jejunal mucosa, and kinetics of mitotic arrest and apoptosis in the jejunal crypt were defined at 6 hours - 5 days after each treatment histologically. Results : Paclitaxel blocked jejunal crypt cell in mitosis and induced minmal apoptosis. Mitotic arrest by paclitaxel was peaked at 6 hours after infusion and returned to normal by 24 hours. Radiation induced apoptosis and peaked at 6 hours and returned to normal by 24 hours. Combination of paclitaxel and radiation blocked crypt cell in mitosis at 3 days and induced apoptosis slightly at 6 hours and 24 hours and returned to normal by 3 days. The incidence of apoptosis in combined group at 6 hours was slightly higher than normal control but significantly lower than radiation alone group. The major changes of jejunal mucosa were nuclear vesicle and atypia which were appeared at 6 hours - 3 days and returned to normal by 5 days The degree of the mucosal changes are not different in 3 groups except for absence of inflmmatory reaction in radiation group. Conclusion : Mitotic arrest by paclitaxel was peaked at 6 hours and returned to normal by 24 hours and paclitaxel induced minimal apoptosis. Radiation induced apoptosis, peaked at 6 hours and returned to normal by 24 hours. Radiation-induced apoptosis was less in combined group which suggested that paclitaxel have a radioprotective effect when radiation was given 24 hours after paclitaxel infusion.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.1251-1262
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• 2002

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the stress of mothers and fathers in families with epileptic children, and to assess contributing factors to their stress. Methods : We used a family stress survey with 35 questionnaires to obtain data concerning the parents' perceived stress. Data were analyzed with SPSS 8.0 program using Pearson correlation coefficient, oneway ANOVA, and multiple range test. Results : The parents' stress level seemed not so high and there was no significant difference in stress level between mothers and fathers. There was no significant correlation between most demographic variables of the parents and parents' stress level. But the time of bringing epileptic children correlates positively with the stress level. Oneway ANOVA showed the differences of parents' stress level according to the education institution, seizure type, number of antiepileptic drugs, and the combined disabilities of the sufferer. Conclusion : The results of present study indicate that the stress level in the families with epileptic children may be influenced by some treatment-related characteristics of epileptic children such as seizure type, number of antiepileptic drugs, combined disabilities and the raising method of hospital expenses.