• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2004

Purpose: Cellular uptake of $^{99}mTc$-sestamibi (MIBI) and $^{99}mTc$-tetrofosmin (TF) is low in cancer cells expressing multidrug resistance(MDR) by p-glycoprotein(Pgp) or multidrug related protein(MRP). Verapamil is known to increase cellular uptake of MIBI in MDR cancer cells, but is recently reported to have different effects on tracer uptake in certain cancer cells. This study was prepared to evaluate effects of verapamil on cellular uptake of MIBI and TF in several cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Celluar uptakes of Tc-99m MIBI and TF were measured in erythroleukermia K562 cell, breast cancer MCF7 cell, and human ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 cells, and data were compared with those of doxorubicin-resistant K562(Ad) cells. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used for the detection of mdr1 mRNA and Pgp expression, and to observe changes in isotypes of PKC enzyme. Effects of verapamil on MIBI and TF uptake were evaluated at different concentrations upto $200{\mu}M\;at\;1{\times}10^6\;cells/ml\;at\;37^{\circ}C$. Radioactivity in supernatant and pellet was measured with gamma counter to calculate cellular uptake ratio. Toxicity of verapamil was measured with MTT assay. Results: Cellular uptakes of MIBI and TF were increased by time in four cancer cells studied. Co-incubation with verapamil resulted in an increase in uptake of MIBI and TF in K562(Adr) cell at a concentration of $100{\mu}M$ and the maximal increase at $50{\mu}M$ was 10-times to baseline. In contrast, uptakes of MIBI and TF in K562, MCF7, SK-OV3 cells were decreased with verapamil treatment at a concentration over $1{\mu}M$. With a concentration of $200{\mu}M$ verapamil, MIBI and TF uptakes un K562 cells were decreased to 1.5 % and 2.7% of those without verapamil, respectively. Cellular uptakes of MIBI and TF in MCF7 and SK-OV-3 cells were not changed with $10{\mu}M$, but were also decreased with verapamil higher than $10{\mu}M$, resulting 40% and 5% of baseline at $50{\mu}M$. MTT assay of four cells revealed that K562, MCF7, SK-OV3 were not damaged with verapamil at $200{\mu}M$. Conclusion: Although verapamil increases uptake of MIBI and TF in MDR cancer cells, cellular uptakes were further decreased with verapamil in certain cancer cells, which is not related to cytotoxicity of drug. These results suggest that cellular uptakes of both tracers might differ among different cells, and interpretation of changes in tracer uptake with verapamil in vitro should be different when different cell lines are used.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 1994

Background : Since tumor necrosis factor was discovered in 1975, TNF has been well known about its cytotoxic effect on tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. According to the recent improvement of molecular biological techinques, it is possible that exogenous TNF gene is transferred to tumor cells and is expressed in theirs. By virtue of TNF gene transfer, we have expected that TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells in vivo without systemic side effect. The expected mechanisms in which antitumor effects of TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells are working would be as followings. In the first mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells around(like homicide). In the second mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill themselves(like suicide). In the third mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would recruit immune effector cells and kill tumor cells indirectly. In the last mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would augment cytokine such as interferon-$\gamma$ to kill tumor cells. Among these four mechanisms of antitumor effect, only the second mechanism has not been established yet. Therefore, to elucidate the second mechanism, We performed this study. Method : We transferred TNF-$\alpha$ gene to NCI-H2058, a human mesothelioma cell line and WEHI164, a murine fibrosarcoma cell line by using retroviral vector(pLT12SNTNF). And, We determined by using MTT assay whether TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would kill themselves like suicide or not. Then, if TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would not suicide themselves, I would know more about the TNF sensitivity of TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines to exogenous TNF also by MTT assay. Result : NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 which were sensitive to TNF, became far less sensitive to endogenous and exogenous TNF after being transferred TNF-$\alpha$ gene to. Conclusion : TNF-gene-transfer to NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 gave them resistance to TNF.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.349-359
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• 1997

Background : The signal pathways and their precise roles for acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by endotoxin (ETX) has not been established. Since there has been several in vitro experiments suggesting that activation of protein kinase C (PKC) pathway may be responsible for endotoxin-induced inflammatory reaction, we performed in vivo experiments in the rats with the hypothesis that PKC-inhibition can effectively prevent endotoxin-induced acute lung injury. Methods : We studied the role of PKC in ETX-induced ALI using PKC inhibitor (staurosporine, STP) in the rat Specific pathogen free male Sprague-Dawley weighted from 165 to 270g were used for the study. Animals were divided into the normal control (NC)-, vehicle control (VC)-, ETX-, PMA (phorbolmyristateacetate)-, STP+PMA-, and STP+ETX-group. PMA (50mg/kg) or ETX (7mg/kg) was instilled through polyethylen catheter after aseptic tracheostomy with and without STP (0.2mg/kg)-pretreatment STP was injected via tail vein 30min before intratracheal injection (IT) of PMA or ETX. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was done 3-or 6-hrs after IT of PMA or ETX respectively, to measure protein concentration, total and differential cell counts. Results : The results were as follows. The protein concentrations in BALF in the PMA- and ETX-group were very higher than that of VC-group (p<0.001). When animals were pretreated with STP, the %reduction of the protein concentration in BALF was $64.8{\pm}8.5$ and $30.4{\pm}2.5%$ in the STP+PMA- and STP+ETX-group, respectively (p = 0.028). There was no difference in the total cell counts between the PMA-and VC-group (p = 0.26). However the ETX-group showed markedly increased total cell counts as compared to the VC- (p = 0.003) and PMA-group (p = 0.0027), respectively. The total cell counts in BALF were not changed after pretreatment with STP compared to the PMA- (p = 0.22) and ETX-group (p = 0.46). The percentage of PMN, but not alveolar macrophage, was significantly elevated in the PMA-, and ETX-group. Especially in the ETX-group, the percentage of PMN was 17 times higher than that of PMA (p < 0.001). The differential cell counts was not different between the PMA and STP+PMA On the contrary the STP+ETX-group showed decreased percentage of PMN (p = 0.016). There was no significant relationship between the protein concentration and the total or differential cell counts in each group. Conclusion : Pretreatment with PKC-inhibitor (staurosporine) partially but significantly inhibited ETX-induced ALI.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2003

Purpose : Anorexia-cachexia syndrome is one of the most common symptoms and main cause of death in terminal cancer patients. This symptom is due to the enlarged cancer mass as well as tumor released cytokines. Some doctors have suggested that vitamin C was preferentially toxic to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and improved clinical symptoms in terminal cancer patients. Therefore, we measured cytokines in serum of terminal cancer patients to determine whether vitamin C treatment improved the anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Methods : We investigated that 49 terminal cancer patients admitted to the department of family medicine, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan hospital from March 1, 2002 to August 31, 2002. The study was done on 22 patients who were given 10 g/day of vitamin C infusions during 1 week and 27 patients who were not infused. We measured the cytokines levels ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$) before and after 1 week between terminal cancer patients treated vitamin C and without vitamin C. Results : Out of 49 patients, patents treated with vitamin C infusions were 22 (12 male, 10 female), and these without vitamin C were 27 (18 male, 9 female). In patients treated with vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;6.19{\pm}5.17$ before day and $8.76{\pm}5.72$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $3.07{\pm}8.09$ before day and $1.31{\pm}2.36$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;2.74{\pm}14.24$ before day and $0.50{\pm}2.00$ after 1 week. In patients treated without vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;2.50{\pm}3.58$ before day and $6.49{\pm}12.01$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $1.00{\pm}2.19$ before day and $17.16{\pm}81.55$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;1.19{\pm}2.98$ before day and $1.27{\pm}1.52$ after 1 week. The level of cytokines in patients treated with vitamin C decreased more than those without vitamin C. However, this represented no statistical value (P=0.0598 in $IL-1{\beta}$, P=0.1664 in IL-6, and P=0.5395 in $TNF-{\alpha}$). Conclusion : In terminal cancer, even if there was no statistical difference in the cytokines levels between patients treated with vitamin C and those not treated, those who were treated had a decrease all cytokines levels. Vitamin C is very safe with almost no side effects. Therefore, vitamin C treatment in terminal cancer patients can be seen as beneficial and helpful for clinical symptoms.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.93-107
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• 1973

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important vegetable crop for the Korean people and has long been cultivated extensively in Korea. More recently it has gained importance as a source of certain pharmaceuticals. This additional use has also contributed to the increasing demand for Korean garlic. Garlic has been propagated vegetatively for a long time without control measures against virus diseases. As a result it is presumed that most of the garlic varieties in Korea may have degenerated. The production of virus-free plants offers the most feasible way to control the virus diseases of garlic. However, little is known about garlic viruses both domestically and in foreign countries. More basic information regarding garlic viruses is needed before a sound approach to the control of these diseases can be developed. Currently garlic mosaic disease is most prevalent in plantings throughout Korea and is considered to be the most important disease of garlic in Korea. Because of this importance, studies were initiated to isolate and characterize the garlic mosaic virus. Symptom expression in test plants, physical properties, purification, serological reaction and morphological characteristics of the garlic mosaic virus were determined. Results of these studies are summarized as follows. 1. Surveys made throughout the important garlic growing areas in Korea during 1970-1972 revealed that most of the garlic plants were heavily infected with mosaic disease. 2. A strain of garlic mosaic virus was obtained from infected garlic leaves and transmitted mechanically to Chenopodium amaranticolor by single lesion isolation technique. 3. The symptom expression of this garlic mosaic virus isolate was examined on 26 species of test plants. Among these, Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quince, C. album and C. koreanse expressed chlorotic local lesions on inoculated leaves 11-12 days after mechanical inoculation with infective sap. The remaining 22 species showed no symptoms and no virus was recovered from them whet back-inoculated to C. amaranticolor. 4. Among the four species of Chtnopodium mentioned above, C. amaranticolor and C. quinoa appear to be the most suitable local lesion test plants for garlic mosaic virus. 5. Cloves and top·sets originating from mosaic infected garlic plants were $100\%$ infected with the same virus. Consequently the garlic mosaic virus is successively transmitted through infected cloves and top-sets. 6. Garlic mosaic virus was mechanically transmitted to C, amaranticolor when inoculations were made with infective sap of cloves and top-sets. 7. Physical properties of the garlic mosaic virus as determined by inoculation onto C. amaranticolor were as follows. Thermal inactivation point: $65-70^{\circ}C$, Dilution end poiut: $10^-2-10^-3$, Aging in vitro: 2 days. 8. Electron microscopic examination of the garlic mosaic virus revealed long rod shaped particles measuring 1200-1250mu. 9. Garlic mosaic virus was purified from leaf materials of C. amaranticolor by using two cycles of differential centrifugation followed by Sephadex gel filtration. 10. Garlic mosaic virus was successfully detected from infected garlic cloves and top-sets by a serological microprecipitin test. 11 Serological tests of 150 garlic cloves and 30 top-sets collected randomly from seperated plants throughout five different garlic growing regions in Korea revealed $100\%$ infection with garlic mosaic virus. Accordingly it is concluded that most of the garlic cloves and top-sets now being used for propagation in Korea are carriers of the garlic mosaic virus. 12. Serological studies revealed that the garlic mosaic virus is not related with potato viruses X, Y, S and M. 13. Because of the difficulty in securing mosaic virus-free garlic plants, direct inoculation with isolated virus to the garlic plants was not accomplished. Results of the present study, however, indicate that the virus isolate used here is the causal virus of the garlic mosaic disease in Korea.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.262-268
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• 2006

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the remineralizing effects of Nd : YAG laser irradiation and fluorides application on primary tooth enamel eroded by acidic drink. The materials were 30 sound primary teeth with intact smooth enamel surfaces. They were demineralized with Coca-cola at $37^{\circ}C$ for 12 hours and then irradiated by Nd: YAG laser with 6W power, $50mJ/cm^2$ energy density. and 20Hz pulse repetition. After laser irradiation, teeth were treated by three kinds of fluorides : (1) 0.05% NaF solution, (2) 1.23% APF gel and (3) 0.1% fluoride varnish. Diagnodent scores and microhardness (VHN) were measured before and after the each treatment. The results were as follows: 1. Diagnodent scores decreased to 23.51% from the initial after demineralization, and then increased to 37.37% after laser irradiation, and to 51.34% after fluoride treatment. There were significant differences between the total scores of initial, demineralization, laser irradiation and fluoride treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between scores after fluoride treatment according to fluoride types. 2. Microhardness(VHN) decreased to 33.58% from the initial after demineralization and then increased to 43.99% after laser irradiation, and to 51.38% after fluoride treatment. There were significant differences between the total scores of initial, demineralization, laser irradiation and fluoride treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between scores after fluoride treatment according to fluoride types.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2011

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of early pregnant cow as donor for Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) derived oocyte aspiration and embryo production in Holstein heifers. Four non-pregnant and 2 pregnant Holstein heifers were used as donor and then carried out total 17 OPU session for 10 weeks (2 times per week). Recovered cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were classified into 4 grade by oocyte cytoplasm and cumulus cells and matured in vitro in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 10 mg/ml FSH and 1 mg/ml estradiol in 5% $CO_2$ and over 99% humidity for 24 h. After 24 h co-incubation with post-thaw sperm, the presumed zygotes were cultured in CR1aa medium with 4 mg/ml BSA for 3 days and then changed CR1aa medium with 10% of FBS for another 3~4 days. The Mean number of aspirated follicles and collected oocytes in the early stage pregnant and non-pregnant heifers were $13.0{\pm}4.3$ and $10.6{\pm}3.9$, $5.4{\pm}3.4$ and $7.7{\pm}3.6$ per session, respectively. Rate of collected oocyte from aspirated follicles were 59.2% and 50.5%, respectively. The average number of good quality oocytes (Grade I and II) in the early stage pregnant and non-pregnant heifers was $3.7{\pm}2.7$ and $4.9{\pm}2.6$ (Mean${\pm}$SD). Cleavage and blastocyst developmental rates in Grade I and II were 22.2% and 25.5%, and then $1.7{\pm}0.9$ and $1.4{\pm}1.1$ blastocyst per session, respectively. In conclusion, OPU technology can be used in early stage pregnant and non-pregnant heifers without any problem and so applied OPU derived embryo production to maximize the ability of genetically valuable females.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2007

This study was investigated factors affecting the pregnancy rates after transfer of pronuclear microinjected embryos for the production of transgenic Korean black goats. Embryo transfer was carried out in 343 recipient Korean black goats from September 1999 to June 2000. Estrus was induced by the insertion of intravaginal progesterone devices $CIDR^(R)$ for 2 weeks. A single injection of 400 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin was administered at 48h before $CIDR^(R)$ removal to increase the proportion of does cycling and ovulation rate. Good quality embryos were prepared by microinjection of DNA into the pronuclei of fertilized goat oocyte and cultured in vitro. Pronuclear microinjected $1{\sim}8$ cell stage embryos were surgically transferred into the oviducts of the recipient at day 4 or 5 following $CIDR^(R)$ removal, and morula to blastocyst stage embryos were surgically transferred into uterus at day 9. Pregnancy was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasound scanning at $20{\sim}30d$ and 8 weeks following embryo transfer. The pregnancy rate was affected by several factors, such as estrus induction, the number of previous transfer, transfer site, stage of CL (corpus luteum), the number of recipient CL, stage of embryos and the number of transferred embryo. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in recipients that came into estrus naturally than recipients that induced to come into estrus with $CIDR^(R)$(59.1% vs. 36.8%; P<0.05). The pregnancy rate was higher when the embryos were transferred into the left oviduct than transferred into the right oviduct (42.9% vs. 35.3%; P<0.05). The pregnancy rate of recipients with $CH_1$ (early) stage corpus hemorrhagicum in ovary was hi틴or than recipient with $CH_3$ (late) stage hemorrhagicum (47.5% vs. 17.9%; P<0.01). Higher pregnancy rates were obtained by transfer of 1-cell stage embryos into oviduct while late blastocysts (51.6% vs. 66.7%; P<0.01) into uterus. The pregnancy rates when 3 embryos were transferred to recipients were significantly higher than when 2 embryos we.e transferred (47.6% vs. 27.0%; P<0.05). Although there were no significant difference among the group, adhesion of reproductive organs, uterine size, ovulation rate of recipients, presence of large follicle and difficulty of transfer affected pregnancy rate of recipient. Higher pregnancy rates were obtained in the recipients with $8{\sim}15m$ diameter uterine horn as compared to the recipients with <5m diameter or >20mm diameter uterine hem (38.9%, 20% vs. 18.2%), in the recipients with large follicle in the ovulated ovary ipsilaterally (53.6% vs. 37.1%) and in the transfer which was carried out easily (39.2% vs. 27.8%, 0%). In conclusion, the high rate of pregnancy was achieved following transfer of pronuclear microinjected embryos when three or four 1-cell stage embryos were transferred into oviduct with $CH_1$ stage corpus hemorrhagicum in the ovary of recipient which came into estrus naturally.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1996

Background: Interferon-$\gamma$ has various biologic effects, including antiviral effect, antitumor proliferative effect, activation of macrophage and B lymphocyte, and increased expression of major histocompatibility complex. Especially, antitumor proliferative effect of interferon-$\gamma$ has already been proved to be important in vivo as well as in vitro. And, clinical studies of interferon-$\gamma$ have been tried in lung cancer patients. However, the mechanism of antitumor effect of interferon-$\gamma$ has not yet been established despite of many hypotheses. "Necrosis" is a type of cell death which is well known to occur in the circumstances of severe stresses. In contrast, "apoptosis" is another type of cell death which occurs in such biological circumstances as embryonic development, regression of organs, and self-tolerance of lymphocytes. And, apoptosis is an active process of cell death in which cells are dying with fragmentations of their cytoplasms and nuclei. And, in the process of apoptosis the DNAs of cells are cleaved between nucleosomes by unidentified endonuclease and therefore DNAs of apoptotic cells result in a typical electrophoresis pattern known as DNA ladder pattern. Recently it has been suggested that cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$ occurs via apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanism of antitumor cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$, we microscopically observed a lung cancer cell line, A549 which was treated with interferon-$\gamma$. We observed A545 treated with interferon-$\gamma$ was dying fragmented. And so, we performed this study to find out that the mechanism of antitumor cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$ be apoptosis. Method: We treated A549, human lung cancer cell line with various concentration of interferon-$\gamma$ and quantified its cytotoxic effect of various periods, 24 hours, 72 hours and, 120 hours by MTT(dimethylthiazolyl diphenyltetrazolium bromide) bioassay. Also, after we treated A549 with 100 units/mi of interferon-$\gamma$ for 120 hours, we observed the pattern of cell death with inverted microscope and we extracted DNAs from the dead A549 cells and observed the pattern of 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining. Result: 1) Cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$ on A549: For the first 24 hours, threre was little cytotoxic effect and for between 24 hours and 72 hours, there was the beginning of cytotoxic effect and for 120 hours there was increased cytotoxic effect. 2) Pattern of A549 cell death by interferon-$\gamma$: We observed with inverted microscope that A549 cells were dying fragmented. 3) DNA ladder pattern of gel electrophoresis: We observed DNA ladder pattern of gel electrophoresis of extracted DNAs from dead A549 cells. Conclusion: We concluded that the mechanism of interferon-$\gamma$induced cytotoxicity on lung cancer cell line, A549 be via apoptosis.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 2004

Purpose : To measure the NMR relaxation properties of MnPC, to observe the characteristics of liver enhancement patterns on MR images in experimentally implanted rabbit VX2 tumor model, and to estimate the possibility of tissue specific contrast agent for MnPC in comparison with the hepatobiliary agent. Materials and Methods : Phthalocyanine (PC) was chelated with paramagnetic ions, manganese (Mn). 2.01 g (5.2 mmol) of phthalocyanine was mixed with 0.37 g (1.4 nlmol) of Mn chloride at $310^{\circ}C$ for 36 hours and then purified by chromatography ($CHCl_3:\;CH_3OH=98:2$, volume ratio) to obtain 1.04 g $(46\%)$ of MnPC (molecular weight = 2000 daltons). The T1/T2 relaxivity (R1/R2) for MnPC were determined at a 1.5 T (64 MHz) MR spectrometer. VX2 tumor model was experimentally implanted in the liver parenchyma of rabbits. All MR studies were performed on 1.5 T. The human extremity radio frequency coil of a bird cage type was employed. MR images were acquired at 17 to 24 days after VX2 carcinoma implantation.4 mmol/kg MnPC and 0.01 mmol/kg Mn-DPDP were injected via the ear vein of rabbits. T1-weighted images were obtained with spin-echo (TR/TE=516/14 msec) and fast multiplanar spoiled gradient recalled (TR/TE : 80/4 msec, $60^{\circ}$ flip angle) pulse sequence. Fast spin-echo (TR/TE=1200/85 msec) was used to obtain the T2-weighted images. Results : The value of T1/T2 relaxivity (R1/R2) of MnPC was $7.28\;mM^{-1}S^{-1}$ and $55.56\;mM^{-1}S^{-1}$ respectively at 1.5 T (64 MHz). Because the T2 relaxivity of MnPC that bonded strongly, covalently manganese with phthalocyanine was very high, the signal intensity of liver parenchyma was decreased on postcontrast T2-weighted images and we could easily distinguish the VX2 carcinoma within the liver parenchyma. When MnPC was administrated intravenously, the tumor margin delineation was more remarkable than Mn-DPDP-enhanced images. The enhancement of liver parenchyma with MnPC persisted at relatively high levels over at least one hour after injection of the contrast agents. Conclusion : The hepatic uptake and biliary excretion of MnPC, which are similar to Mn-DPDP, suggest that this agent is a new liver-specific agent. Also, MnPC seems to be used as a dual contrast agent (T1 and T2) with high T2 relaxivity. However, it is warranted that MnPC needs further investigation as a potential contrast agent for MR imaging of the liver. That is, further characterizations of MnPC are needed in vivo and in vitro before clinical trials. The diagnostic potential of MnPC will also have to be examined more in the animal models of additional types.