• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

Normal growth and development is of prime concern during childhood. The treatment of children with growth hormone deficiency has been revolutionized by growth hormone therapy. An improved height outcome with a final height within the target height range has been achieved. However, close follow-up with regular clinical and laboratory monitoring is essential for achieving the desirable height outcome. The theoretical unlimited supply of growth hormone has led to its wide spread use in a variety of disorders other than a growth hormone deficiency. Initially used in children with Turner syndrome, growth hormone is now used to treat chronic renal failure, an idiopathic short stature and intrauterine growth restrictions in addition to a wide array of newly emerging indications. This review summarizes the basics for a proper growth assessment, the differentiation of normal and abnormal growth causes of a short stature, and the indications for growth hormone treatment.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

p73 is a structural and functional homologue of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. Like p53, p73 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and transactivates p53-responsive genes, conferring its tumor suppressive activity. In addition, p73 has unique roles in neuronal development and differentiation. The importance of p73-induced apoptosis lies in its capability to substitute the pro-apoptotic activity of p53 in various human cancer cells in which p53 is mutated or inactive. Despite the great importance of p73-induced apoptosis in cancer therapy, little is known about the molecular basis of p73-induced apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the p73 structures reported to date, detailed structural comparisons between p73 and p53, and current understanding of the transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms of p73-induced apoptosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.362-366
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• 2017

Direct conversion by trans-differentiation is of growing interest in cell therapy for incurable diseases. The efficiency of cell reprogramming and functionality of converted cells are important considerations in cell transplantation therapy. Here, we compared two representative protocols for the generation of induced-oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (iOPCs) from mouse and rat fibroblasts. Then, we showed that induction of Nkx6.2, Olig2, and Sox10 (NOS) was more effective in mouse fibroblasts and that induction of Olig2, Sox10, and Zfp536 (OSZ) was more effective at reprogramming iOPCs from rat fibroblasts. However, OSZ-iOPCs did not show greater proliferation than NOS-induced cells. Because the efficiency of iOPCs generation appears to differ between cell species depending on transcription factors and culture conditions, it is important to select appropriate methods for efficient reprogramming.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2425-2427
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• 2012

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first enzyme in the polyamine biosynthesis, plays an important role in tumor progression, cell proliferation and differentiation. In recent years, ODC has been the subject of intense study among researchers, as a target for anti-cancer therapy and specific inhibitory agents, have the potential to suppress carcinogenesis and find applications in clinical therapy. In particular, it is suggested that ODC is a promising candidate target for natural products in cancer chemoprevention. Future exploration of ornithine decarboxyalse inhitors present in nature may offer great hope for finding new cancer chemporeventive agents.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.12-28
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study is to analyse research trend on alopecia including androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, etc.Methods : We searched Pubmed, CNKI and OASIS on the title "alopecia" in recent 5 years.Results : We found 23 studies on Pubmed, 20 on CNKI, and 3 on OASIS about treatments of alopecia. The subjects of them were about 5α-reductase inhibitor, Minoxidil, steroids, immunosuppression, laser therapy, PRP, microneedling, stem cell, herbal medicine, integrative medicine, external treatments and syndrome differentiation.Conclusions : In recent studies in western medicine were about combination therapy or safety and presented validities and superiorities about new treatments. Integrative medicine, external treatment and researches about patients' characteristics were reported in TCM. Korean medicine has advantages of considering whole body and phychological problems.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.415-423
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• 2019

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a cytoplasmic transcription factor that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation and immune responses. Aberrant STAT3 activation triggers tumor progression through oncogenic gene expression in numerous human cancers, leading to promote tumor malignancy. On the contrary, STAT3 activation in immune cells cause elevation of immunosuppressive factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment closely interacts with the STAT3 signaling pathway. So, targeting STAT3 may improve tumor progression, and anti-cancer immune response. In this review, we summarized the role of STAT3 in cancer and the tumor microenvironment, and present inhibitors of STAT3 signaling cascades.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2020

Photobiomodulation forms the basis of photomedicine and is defined as the effect of coherent or non-coherent light sources, such as low-level lasers and light-emitting diodes, on cells and tissues. This treatment technique affects cell functions, proliferation, and migration, and plays an important role in tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to be beneficial for tissue regeneration, and the combination of stem cell therapy and laser therapy appears to positively affect treatment outcomes. In general, a low-power laser has a positive effect on MSCs, thereby facilitating improvements in different disease models. This study elucidates the mechanisms and effects of low-power laser irradiation on the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of various MSCs that have been examined in different studies.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.61-68
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• 2008

Purpose: Protein kinase C (PKC) is a member of a family of serine/threonine kinases that are activated by diacylglycerol (DG) and PKC stimulants. PKC play a key role in signal transduction, including muscle contraction, cell migration, apoptosis, cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the mechanism relating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and PKC, especially in the volume-dependent hypertensive state, remains unclear. Methods: In the present study, I investigated the relationship between PKC and MAPKs for isometric contraction, PKC translocation, and enzymatic activity from normotensive sham-operated rats (NSR) and aldosterone-analogue deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) hypertensive rats (ADHR). Results: Systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in ADHR than in NSR. Physiological salt solution (PSS)-induced resting tension and the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([$Ca^{2+}{_i}$]) were different in the ADHR and NSR. The expression of PKC$\alpha$, PKC$\beta$II, PKC$\delta$, PKC$\varepsilon$ and PKC$\xi$ were different between the cytoplasmic and membranous fractions. However, expression of the PKC isoforms did not differ for the ADHR and NSR. The use of 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB, a PKC stimulant) induced isometric contraction in $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, which was diminished in muscle strips from ADHR as compared to NSR. Increased vasoconstriction and phosphorylation induced by the use of 1 ${\mu}$M DPB were inhibited by treatment with 10 ${\mu}$M PD098059 and 10 ${\mu}$M SB203580, inhibitors of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK from ADHR, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that the development of aldosterone analogue-induced hypertension is associated with an altered blood pressure, resting tension, [$Ca^{2+}{_i}$], and that the $Ca^{2+}$-independent contraction evoked by PKC stimulants is due to the activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in volume-dependent hypertension. Therefore, it is suggested that PKC activity affects volume-dependent hypertension and the need to develop cardiovascular disease-specialized physical therapy.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that inhibits CD20-mediated B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Several studies have examined its use in intractable nephrotic syndrome (NS) with some positive results. However, those studies examined such effects for a short-term period of 1 year, and some patients continued to relapse after a lapse in RTX treatment. Our use of RTX as a maintenance therapy (RTX injection when the CD19 cell count exceeded $100-200/{\mu}L$ before relapse) showed some noticeable efficacy. We used RTX in 19 patients with steroid-dependent NS (SDNS). In 12 patients treated with RTX maintenance therapy, only one relapse occurred. The mean treatment period was $23.4{\pm}12.7months$, and the mean number of RTX administrations was $3.9{\pm}1.6$. The relapse rates were decreased (from 2.68/year to 0.04/year), and the drug-free period also increased (from 22.5 days/year to 357.1 days/year) during maintenance therapy. The other seven patients were treated with one cycle of RTX or additional cycles in case of relapse (non-maintenance therapy). Relapse rates were significantly decreased after RTX treatment (from 1.76/year to 0.96/year, P=0.017). The relapse-free period was $15.55{\pm}7.38$ (range, 5.3-30.7) months. No severe side effects of RTX were found except for a hypersensitivity reaction such as fever and chills during its infusion. In conclusion, RTX is considered an effective and safe option to reduce the relapse rate by a single- or maintenance-interval therapy in SDNS.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.56-61
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate relationship between the angle of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (1st MPJ) and the dimensions of the abductor hallucis; dorso-plantar (DP) thickness, medio-lateral (ML) width, and cross-sectional area (CSA), in subjects with and without hallux valgus. Methods: Sixty feet, mean (SD) age of 22.5 (2.1) years old, were included in this study (hallux valgus = 30; control = 30). An X-ray device was used for measurement of the angle of the 1st MPJ, and an ultrasound system was used for determination of mean (SD) DP thickness, ML width, and CSA of the abductor hallucis muscle in each foot from three trials. Results: The results showed the DP thickness, ML width, and CSA of the abductor hallucis did not differ significantly between subjects with and without hallux valgus. In addition, the correlations between the angle of the 1st MPJ and DP thickness, ML width, and CSA of the abductor hallucis showed poor correlation (Pearson r=-0.09, -0.20, and -0.18, respectively). Conclusion: Based on these findings, we speculate that morphological changes to the abductor hallucis muscle cannot be representative of the angle of the 1st MPJ, and also cannot be used in differentiation between subjects with and without hallux valgus.