• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권12호
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• pp.6391-6395
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• 2012

Background: Ovarian cancer is ranked as the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. In Malaysia, it is the fourth most common cancer in females. CA125 has been the tumor marker of choice in ovarian cancer but its diagnostic specificity in early stages is only 50%. Hence, there is a critical need to identify an alternative tumor marker that is capable of detecting detect ovarian cancer at an early stage. HE4 is a new tumor marker proposed for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and disease recurrence. Currently, none of the normal ranges of HE4 quoted in the literature are based on data for a multiethnic Asian population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine reference intervals for HE4 in an Asian population presenting in University Malaya Medical Centre, a tertiary reference hospital. Materials and Methods: 300 healthy women were recruited comprising 150 premenopausal and 150 postmenopausal women, aged from 20-76 years. All women were subjected to a pelvic ultrasonograph and were confirmed to be free from ovarian pathology on recruitment. Serum HE4 levels were determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA, Abbott Architect). The reference intervals were determined following CLSI guidelines (C28-A2) using a non-parametric method. Results: The upper limits of the $95^{th}$ percentile reference interval (90%CI) for all the women collectively were 64.6 pmol/L, and 58.4 pmol/L for premenopausal) and 69.0 pmol/L for postmenopausal. The concentration of HE4 was noted to increase with age especially in women who were more than 50 years old. We also noted that our proposed reference limit was lower compared to the level given by manufacturer Abbott Architect HE4 kit insert (58.4 vs 70 pmol/L for premenopausal group and 69.0 vs 140 pmol/L in the postmenopausal group). The study also showed a significant difference in HE4 concentrations between ethnic groups (Malays and Indians). The levels of HE4 in Indians appeared higher than in Malays (p<0.05), while no significant differences were noted between the Malays and Chinese ethnic groups. Conclusions: More data are needed to establish a reference interval that will better represent the multiethnic Malaysian population. Probably a larger sampling size of equal representation of the Malay, Chinese, Indians as well as the other native ethnic communities will give us a greater confidence on whether genetics plays a role in reference interval determination.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권17호
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• pp.7337-7341
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• 2014

Background: The physiological role of vitamin D extends beyond bone health and calcium-phosphate homeostasis to effects on cancer risk, mainly for colorectal cancer. Vitamin D may have an anticancer effect in colorectal cancer mediated by binding of the active form $1,25(OH)_2D$ to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The Taq1 VDR gene polymorphism, a C-to-T base substitution (rs731236) in exon 9 may influence its expression and function. The aim of this study wass to determine the 25(OH)D vitamin D level and to investigate the association between circulating vitamin D level and Taq1VDR gene polymorphism among Jordanian colorectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This case control study enrolled ninety-three patients and one hundred and two healthy Jordanian volunteers from AL-Basheer Hospital/Amman (2012-2013). Ethical approval and signed consent forms were obtained from all participants before sample collection. 25(OH)D levels were determined by competitive immunoassay Elecsys (Roche Diagnostic, France). DNA was extracted (Promega, USA) and amplified by PCR followed by VDR Taq1 restriction enzyme digestion. The genotype distribution was evaluated by paired t-test and chi-square. Comparison between vitamin D levels among CRC and control were assessed by odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Results: The vitamin D serum level was significantly lower among colorectal cancer patients (8.34 ng/ml) compared to the healthy control group (21.02ng/ml). Patients deficient in vitamin D (less than 10.0 ng/ml) had increased colorectal cancer risk 19.2 fold compared to control. Only 2.2% of CRC patients had optimal vitamin D compared to 23.5% among healthy control. TT, Tt and tt Taq1 genotype frequencies among CRC cases was 35.5%, 50.5% and 14% compared to 43.1%, 41.2% and 15.7% among healthy control; respectively. CRC patients had lower mean vitamin D level among TT ($8.91{\pm}4.31$) and Tt ($9.15{\pm}5.25$) genotypes compared to control ($21.3{\pm}8.31$) and ($19.3{\pm}7.68$); respectively. Conclusions: There is significant association between low 25(OH)D serum level and colorectal cancer risk. The VDRTaq1 polymorphism was associated with increased colorectal cancer risk among patient with VDRTaq1 TT and Tt genotypes. Understanding the functional mechanism of VDRTaq1 TT and Tt may provide a strategy for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.153-165
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• 2010

Objectives : The aims of this study were to investigate the cytoprotective, antioxidative and inflammation genes inhibitory effects of Patriniae Radix on the mouse LLC-$PK_1$ cells (renal epithelial cells). Methods : The cytoprotective effect of Patriniae Radix was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The antioxidative effect was measured in terms of generation amount of superoxide anion radical (${\cdot}{O_2}^-$) by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), nitric oxide (NO) by 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2), peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$) by dihyldrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) by $PGE_2$ immunoassay on $H_2O_2$-treated LLC-$PK_1$ cells. For measuring of inflammation genes inhibitory effects, western blot was performed to detect IKK-$\alpha$, phospho-$I{\kappa}B-\alpha$, NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), COX-2, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$ and VCAM-1 protein level in cytosol fractions from LLC-$PK_1$ cells. Results : Patriniae Radix extract reduced the $H_2O_2$-induced cell death and inhibited the amount of $H_2O_2$-induced ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$, NO, $ONOO^-$, $PGE_2$ generation dose-dependently on the mouse LLC-$PK_1$ cells in vitro. Also Patriniae Radix extract inhibited the expression of IKK-$\alpha$, phospho-$I{\kappa}B-\alpha$, COX-2, iNOS, IL-$1\beta$ and VCAM-1 genes dose-dependently by means of decreasing activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. Conclusions : According to above results, it was identified that Patriniae Radix had the cytoprotective, antioxidative and inflammation genes inhibitory effects. So it was suggested that Patriniae Radix would be effective to the treatment for the inflammatory process and inflammation-related diseases.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.510-519
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the microbiological contamination of the indoor air of the lunchrooms at child care centers and investigate the toxin genes and toxin production ability of food-borne pathogens. Methods: A total of 64 child care centers were sampled to test total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, fungi, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp. according to the Korea Food Code. All toxin genes of pathogens were detected using the Polymerase Chain Reaction method. The Sthaph. aureus enterotoxin was detected by a Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-reversed passive latex agglutination kit. The heamolysin BL (HBL) and non-heamolytic enterotoxin (NHE) produced by B. cereus were detected using a B. cereus enterotoxin-reversed passive latex agglutination kit and Bacillus diarrheal enterotoxin visual immunoassay kit, respectively. Results: The means of total aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria were $1.91{\pm}1.84$ log CFU/plate and $0.47{\pm}0.62$ log CFU/plate, respectively. The mean of fungi also showed $0.59{\pm}0.71$ log CFU/plate. Among the pathogenic bacteria tested in this study, Staphy. aureus and B. cereus were detected in four (6.3%) and 21 (32.8%) out of 64 indoor air samples from lunchrooms in child care centers, respectively. All Staphy. aureus tested in this study possessed no toxin genes and did not produce enterotoxin. The detection rate of nheABC, hblCDA, entFM and ces toxin gene in B. cereus was 100, 57.1, 76.2 and 0%, respectively. B. cereus isolates were classified into four groups according to the presence or absence of toxin genes. The nheABC gene was the major toxin gene among B. cereus tested in this study. The HBL was detected in 11 out of 21 B. cereus isolates (52.4%) and three B. cereus isolates produced NHE (14.3%). Conclusion: The results indicated that the contamination by microorganisms in the indoor air of lunchrooms was unqualified to supply safe catering in child care centers. The ongoing control of indoor air quality is required.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.107-114
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• 1997

전립선특이 항원 (PSA: Prostate Specific Antigen)은 전립선 세포에서 분비되는 단백질로서 장기 특이성이 높아 전립선암의 조기진단 및 치료의 예후를 판단하기 위해 임상에서 널리 사용되고 있는 혈청 종양표지검사의 대상항원이다. 그러나 혈청 PSA치는 전립선암 뿐 아니라 양성 전립선질환인 전립선비대증 (BPH), 전립선 경색, 전립선 염증 등에서도 상승될 수 있다. 혈청 내의 PSA는 여러 가지 분자형태로 이루어져 있으며 대표적으로 ${alpha}_1$-antichymotrypsin과 결합된 결합형 PSA(PSA-ACT)와 유리형 PSA (free PSA)로 나눌 수 있다. 전립선 암 환자의 혈청에는 결합형 PSA가 95% 이상으로 매우 높고 유리형 PSA의 분포는 매우 작은 반면 전립성비대증에서는 유리형 PSA의 농도가 높아지므로, 결합형 PSA와 동시에 유리형 PSA를 측정하면 종양표지검사로서의 특이성과 예민도를 높일 수 있다는 보고가 있어, 최근 혈청내의 유리형 PSA의 측정의 중요성이 임상적으로 대두되고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 sandwich 원리로 유리형 PSA 효소면역 측정법 (EIA) kit를 개발하고 그 유용성을 검토한 결과, 고, 저 농도에서의 일내, 일간 변이 계수 (CV)는 4% 이하였으며 상품화된 free PSA kit와 비교하였을 때 두 방법간의 상관계수는 0.9965으로 매우 양호하였다. 또한 농도가 높은 세 환자의 검체를 희석하여 직선성 검사를 하였을 때 상관계수가 모두 0.995이상으로 나타났다. 또한 microplate 법에서 문제될 수 있는 hook effect는 유리형 PSA농도가 40 ng/mL까지 나타나지 않았으며, 98.9%~104.1%의 회수율을 나타내었다. 따라서 본 연구에서 개발한 면역측정법 kit는 혈청 중의 유리형 PSA를 정확하고 간편하게 분석할 수 있으므로 임상 실험실에서 전립선암이나 전립선질환의 진단 및 치료효과의 판정에 유용하게 사용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.612-616
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• 2004

This study was carried out to compare the semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and testosterone concentration and in vitro fertilization (IVF) and development of in vitro matured pig oocytes between two Yorkshire boars. Semen and blood samples were collected once per week from October to November 2002 from two adult Yorkshire boars at 18 months of age with 170 kg body weight. Sperm were deep frozen in 5 ml maxi-straws with lactose-egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent and stored in liquid nitrogen. Blood samples were obtained at 10 a.m. by inserting a 21 gauge, hypodermic needle attached to 10 ml syringe into surface veins in the ear. The concentration of testosterone was determined by Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay. Ovaries were collected from prepubertal gilts at a local slaughter house. Cumulus oocyte complexes were aspirated from antral follicles (3 to 6 mm in diameter). The medium used for oocyte maturation was modified TCM 199. After about 22 h of culture, oocytes were cultured without cysteamine and hormones for 22 h at $38.5^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. For IVF, one frozen 5 ml straw was thawed at $52^{\circ}C$in 40 sec and was diluted with 20 ml Beltsville thawing solution at room temperature. Sperm were washed 2 times in mTLP-PVA and inseminated without preincubation after thawing. Oocytes were inseminated with $2{\times}10^7$/ml sperm concentration. Oocytes were coincubated for 6 h in 500 ${\mu}$l mTBM fertilization medium. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${\mu}$l NCSU-23 culture medium for further culture of 48 and 144 h. There were no significant differences in the semen volume, motility, normal acrosome morphology and sperm concentration of raw semen between A and B of Yorkshire boar. However, motility and normal acrosome of boar A were higher than those of boar B at 0.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h incubations of frozen-thawed sperm. Testosterone concentration (3.75 ng/ml) of boar A was higher than that (2.34 ng/ml) of boar B. The rate of blastocyst formation (15.1%) of boar A was higher than that (10.4%) of boar B. In conclusion, serum testosterone concentration of boar showed very important role for the frozen-thawed sperm viability and the blastocyst formation of pig oocytes matured in vitro.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제18권10호
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• pp.471-479
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• 2017

본 연구는 대상자들(35명)이 제주곶자왈 산림을 방문하기 전과 후의 타액cortisol 함량의 변화를 조사하는 것이 목적이었다. 방문 전후에 타액을 채취하여 항혈청면역법으로 분석을 하였다. 연구기간은 2017년 5월 1일부터 6월 30일 4 주간에 실시하였다. 대조군의 사전과 사후의 측정 cortisol 평균치는 유의성이 없었다. 실험군의 평균치는 사전보다 사후에는 감소하는 경향을 보였으나 유의하지는 않았다. Cortisol 함량의 차이는 대조군과 실험군은 사전에는 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으나, 사후에는 대조군보다 실험군이 낮게 나타나서 유의한 차이를 보였다. Cortisol 평균값은 남자의 경우에 대조군보다 실험군이 낮았다. 여자의 경우에 대조군보다 실험군이 낮아서 남자가 여자보다 2배 이상 큰 변화를 보이었다. 사후의 측정치는 대조군보다 실험군의 cortisol함량이 낮게 나타나 유의한 차이를 보였다. 사후의 성별 및 대조군과 실험군 별 분석에서는 성별, 집단, 성별과 집단의 결합효과 간에 유의하게 나타났다. 즉 성별과 집단에 따른 cortisol 수치의 차이가 있음을 알 수 있다. 본 연구는 삼림욕의 효과를 나타내는 기본 자료를 제공하고 있다.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.43-49
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• 2015

Objectives : In this study, the anti-stress effects of ethanolic extract of Opuntiaficus-indica (OF70E) were investigated. Methods : To determine the effects of OF70E on physical stress, changes in whole-body cortisol level or behavior were monitored in zebrafish. After treatment with 0.9% saline or OF70E for 6 min, all fish underwent net handling stress (NHS), which induced physical stress. And then, we conducted open field test (OFT) or sacrificed fish for collecting body fluid from whole-body. We used the cortisol enzyme-linked immunoassay kit to measure the amount of cortisol in each zebrafish sample. Results : In result, compared with normal group which were not treated by NHS, whole-body cortisol levels were significantly increased in stressed-control group. Compared with control group, pretreatment with OF70E at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 mg/L for 6min significantly inhibited the increase of whole-body cortisol levels induced by NHS(p<0.05). To anti-stress effects of OF70E on behavior, we conducted OFT after the induction of NHS following pretreatment of OF70E. As results of OFT, compared with unstressed-normal group, distance moved was significantly decreased by induction of NHS in stressed-control group (p<0.05). OF70E-pretreatment blocked decreases of distance moved increased by NHS (p<0.05). And meandering movement, immobility and turn angle were significantly increased by NHS in stressed-control group compared with unstressed-normal group (p<0.05). OF70E-pretreatment prevented the increases of meandering movement immobility and turn angle by NHS (p<0.05). Conclusions : In conclusion these results suggest that OF70E-pretreatment may prevent stress responses.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.219-224
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• 2011

서로 다른 고도에서 사육하고 있는 2-3세령의 수컷, 건강한 비육 한우를 세 그룹(600 m, n=50; 200-400 m, n=58; 0 m n=49)으로 나누어 혈액 및 혈청검사 그리고 면역항체가 검사를 실시 하였다. 고도를 제외한 일반 사육 환경과 식이 및 축사의 형태는 매우 비슷한 조건이였으며 질병이 확인 된 개체는 통계에서 제외 하였다. 경정맥에서 채취한 혈액은 일반혈액검사 중 WBC, RBC, Hb, PCV 를, 혈청화학검사 중 AST, LDH, TBL를 집중적으로 비교 분석하였으며 또한 면역학적 검사를 실시하였다. 고도가 높은 그룹이 낮은 그룹에 비하여 CBC에서는 조금 높게 나타났으며, 혈청검사에서는 평지에서 사육된 한우가 조금 높게 나왔다. 그러나 모두가 정상범위를 벗어나거나 통계적으로 유의한 수준의 차이를 보이지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 지금까지 알려진 대부분의 연구결과와는 차이가 있는 것이다. 본 연구와 지금까지의 알려진 연구와의 이러한 차이는 과거의 연구들은 고도의 차이가 현저한 경우가 대부분이었으나 본 연구에서 조사한 지역은 서로 고도가 비슷한 점에서 생긴 결과라고 여겨지며, 특히 고도가 600m 이하인 지형에서는 서로 큰 영향을 받지 않는 것으로 생각된다. 따라서 한우의 경우 목장 시설의 건축시 지형에 따른 어려움과 주변에서 들여오는 조사료의 수송에 따른 경제적 불리, 축산폐수 처리는 물론 퇴비의 활용 등 전반적인 목장 관리 면에서 고도가 높은 산지 보다는 평지가 권장된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.321-327
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• 2015

A 50-year-old male visited the outpatient clinic and complained of fever, poor oral intake, and weight loss. A chest X-ray demonstrated streaky and fibrotic lesions in both lungs, and chest CT revealed multifocal peribronchial patchy ground-glass opacities with septated cystic lesions in both lungs. Cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed lymphocyte-dominant leukocytosis, and further analysis of lymphocyte subsets showed a predominance of cytotoxic T cells and few T helper cells. Video-assisted wedge resection of the left upper lobe was performed, and the histologic examination was indicative of a Pneumocystis jirovecii infection. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) was orally administered for 3 weeks; however, the patient complained of cough, and the pneumonia was aggravated in the follow-up chest X-ray and chest CT. Molecular studies demonstrated mutations at codons 55 and 57 of the dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene, which is associated with the resistance to TMP-SMX. Clindamycin-primaquine was subsequently administered for 3 weeks replacing the TMP-SMX. A follow-up chest X-ray showed that the pneumonia was resolving, and the cough was also alleviated. A positive result of HIV immunoassay and elevated titer of HCV RNA indicated HIV infection as an underlying condition. This case highlights the importance of careful monitoring of patients with P. jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) during the course of treatment, and the molecular study of DHPS mutations. Additionally, altering the anti-PCP drug utilized as treatment must be considered when infection with drug-resistant P. jirovecii is suspected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of TMP-SMX-resistant PCP described in Korea.