• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.531-535
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• 2015

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the unique ability of highly aggressive tumor cells to mimic the pattern of embryonic vasculogenesis, which was associated with invasion and metastasis. The grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) had attracted much attention as a potential bioactive anti-carcinogenic agent. However, GSPs regulation of VM and its possible mechanisms in a triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs) remain not clear. Therefore, we examined the effect of GSPs on VM information in HCC1937 cell model. In this study, we identified the VM structure via the three-dimensional (3D) matrix in vitro. Cell viability was measured using the CCK8 assay. The effects of GSPs on human triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs) HCC1937 in terms of related proteins of VM information were determined using western blot analysis. In vitro, the tubular networks were found in highly invasive HCC1937 cells but not in the non-invasive MCF-7 cells when plated on matrigel. The number of vascular channels was significantly reduced when cells were exposed in GSPs ($100{\mu}g$/ml) and GSPs ($200{\mu}g/mL$) groups (all p<0.001). Furthermore, we found that treatment with GSPs promoted transition of the mesenchymal state to the epithelial state in HCC1937 cells as well as reducing the expression of Twist1 protein, a master EMT regulator.GSPs has the ability to inhibit VM information by the suppression of Twist1 protein that could be related to the reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) process. It is firstly concluded that GSPs may be an p otential anti-VM botanical agent for human TNBCs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1785-1787
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• 2016

Granular cell tumor (GCT) of the oral cavity is a benign lesion. Half of oral GCTs demonstrate pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia (PCH) of the mucosa which can mimic invasive islands of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Such similarity can be confusing when diagnosing or evaluating the two conditions, potentially leading to misdiagnosis or misclassification. Indeed, several misdiagnosed cases of oral GCT have been reported in the literature as OSCC or malignant oral GCT that resulted in unnecessary aggressive treatment for the affected patients. The aim of this study was to investigate if the cytokeratin pattern of the PCH can help in differentiating GCT from oral SCC. To distinguish between these two entities, we examined 12 patient specimens of oral GCT-PCH and oral SCC histologically and via immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CK13, CK17 and P75. The results suggest that the cytokeratin profile of PCH is similar to that of oral SCC. Therefore, consideration of IHC findings for epithelial markers alone may lead to erroneous diagnosis; thus, the presence of the granular tumor underneath the PCH and its immunopositivity for P75 or other neural definition markers can be essential to identify the underlying tumor and exclude oral SCC. Finally we recommend more studies on the molecular biology of PCH to understand how it can mimic oral SCC histologically without harboring its malignant phenotype clinically, which could have significant translational potential for understanding invasive oral SCC.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.38-43
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• 2009

We provide a method to infer finger flexing motions using a 4-channel surface electromyogram (sEMG). Surface EMGs are harmless to the human body and easily acquired. However, they do not reflect the activity of specific nerves or muscles, unlike invasive EMGs. On the other hand, the non-invasive type is difficult to use for discriminating various motions while using only a small number of electrodes. Surface EMG data in this study were obtained from four electrodes placed around the forearm. The motions were the flexion of the thumb, index, middle, ring, and little linger. One subject was trained with these motions and another left was untrained. The maximum likelihood estimation was used to infer the finger motion. Experimental results have showed that this method could be useful for recognizing finger motions. The average accuracy was as high as 95%.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2021

Purpose: For minimally invasive procedures, three-dimensional (3D) anatomical knowledge of the structures of the face is essential. This study aimed to describe the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and depths of the facial muscles located in the infraorbital region using a 3D scanner to provide critical clinical anatomical guidelines for improving minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Materials and Methods: The 3D scanning images of 38 Korean cadavers (22 males and 16 females; age range: 51~94 years at the time of death) were analyzed. Eight facial landmarks (P1~P8) were marked on the cadaveric faces. The images were scanned in three steps-undissected face, hemiface after skinning, and revealing the facial muscles. Student's t-test was used to identify significant differences. Result: The skin and subcutaneous tissue tended to become thicker from the upper to lower and medial to lateral aspects, and the muscles followed the same pattern as that of the most superficial located muscle and the deepest located muscles. No significant sex-related differences were found in the skin at any landmark. However, the muscles tended to be deeper in the female participants. Conclusion: The study data can serve as a basis for creating or enhancing clinical anatomy-based guidelines or improving procedures in the infraorbital region.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.151-158
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• 1998

Traditionally posterior shadowing is regarded as a malignant criterion in the evaluation of breast mass by sonogram. But on the basis of our clinical experiences of breast sonogram, we often met a breast mass without posterior shadowing later confirmed breast carcinoma through pathologic examination. For the focus of what character of pathologic breast tissue influence the posterior shadowing in breast sonogram, we analyzed retrospectively the sonographic findings of 26 histologically proven invasive ductal carcinomas. Even though invasive ductal carcinoma is the only one of the many breast cancers, it represents the greater part of breast malignancy. The posterior echo pattern was compared with various histologic characteristics, such as the amount of connective tissue, degree of elastosis, necrosis, gross circumscription, accompanying inflammation, histologic differentiation, and mitotic index. Nine breast masses (35%) demonstrated posterior echo shadowing, while 17 masses (65%) showed enhancement. The tumors with posterior echo shadowing had more abundant connective tissue, increased elastosis, and poorly demarcated margin (p<0.05). Other histologic characteristics are not influence in posterior shadowing with significant in stastically. On the basis of our study, the phenomenon of posterior shadowing by sonogram is difficult to accept as a specific criterion for malignancy. It is only a phenomenon influenced by the amount of connective tissue volume and elastosis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.163-177
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• 2008

Periodontal disease, a form of chronic inflammatory bacterial infectious disease, is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated in periodontal disease and widely studied for its role in the pathogenesis of CVD. A previous study demonstrating that periodontopathic P. gingivalis is involved in CVD showed that invasion of endothelial cells by the bacterium is accompanied by an increase in cytokine production, which may result in vascular atherosclerotic changes. The present study was performed in order to further elucidate the role of P. gingivalis in the process of atherosclerosis and CVD. For this purpose, invasion of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) by P. gingivalis 381 and its isogenic mutants of KDP150 ($fimA^-$), CW120 ($ppk^-$) and KS7 ($relA^-$) was assessed using a metronidazole protection assay. Wild type P. gingivalis invaded HASMCs with an efficiency of 0.12%. In contrast, KDP150 failed to demonstrate any invasive ability. CW120 and KS7 showed relatively higher invasion efficiencies, but results for these variants were still negligible when compared to the wild type invasiveness. These results suggest that fimbriae are required for invasion and that energy metabolism in association with regulatory genes involved in stress and stringent response may also be important for this process. ELISA assays revealed that the invasive P. gingivalis 381 increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and the chemotactic cytokines (chemokine) IL (interleukin)-8 and monocyte chemotactic (MCP) protein-1 during the 30-90 min incubation periods (P<0.05). Expression of RANTES (regulation upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), was increased in HASMCs infected with P. gingivalis 381 by RT-PCR analysis. P. gingivalis infection did not alter interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein-10 expression in HASMCs. HASMC nonspecific necrosis and apoptotic cell death were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase activity assays, respectively. LDH release from HASMCs and HAMC caspase activity were significantly higher after a 90 min incubation with P. gingivalis 381. Taken together, P. gingivalis invasion of HASMCs induces inflammatory cytokine production, apoptotic cell death, and expression of TLR-4, a PRR which may react with the bacterial molecules and induce the expression of the chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and RANTES. Overall, these results suggest that invasive P. gingivalis may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, leading to CVD.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2016

Occurrence of oriental corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, and yield in a paddy-upland rotation field for 8 maize (Eolrukchal 1, Heugjeom 2, Miheukchal, Ilmichal, Heukjinjuchal, Chalok 4, Mibaek 2, Daehakchal) and 7 sorghum (Hwanggeumchal, Anzunbaengisusu, Moktaksusu, Sodamchal, DS-202, Nampungchal, Donganme) varieties has been surveyed. In a monitoring study using a pheromone trap carried out from 15 May to 10 September, the density of O. furnacalis adults increased rapidly from about 2 weeks after maize planting and reached the highest density at mid June. After that, their density was fluctuated a little at earlier September. The number of the damaged maize and invasive pores on the stem of 2 maizes and sorghum varieties was examined. The mean number of the damaged maize per 20 plants was 19 and 18 plants, and the number of invasive pores was 1.8 and 1.4 per maize stem in Daehakchal and Mibaek 2, respectively. In a survey carried out at harvest period using 8 maize varieties, the damaged ratio was 94%, 92%, 71%, 64%, 54%, 52%, and 45% in Daehakchal, Mibaek 2, Ilmichal, Eolrukchal 1, Chalok 4, Miheukchal, and Heugjeom 2, respectively. The number of invasive pore per Ilmichal stem was 1.4 and that of the others was less than 1.0 per stem. In addition, the damaged ratio of maize ears was 50% in Ilmichal, 40% in Heukjinjuchal, 37% in Daehakchal, etc. The damage pattern of 2 sorghum varieties, Nampungchal and Donganme, by O. furnacalis larvae was steeply increased from planting to 2 months and the trend was continued up to earlier August. At this time, the mean number of damaged sorghum was 13 and 9.2 plants for Nampungchal and Donganme, and the number of invasive stem pores was 1.06 and 0.46, respectively. In another survey carried out at harvest period for 7 sorghum varieties, their damaged ratio was 95% in DS-202, 76% in Moktaksusu, 75% in Sodamchal, 67% in Nampungchal, 57% in Anzunbaengisusu, 46% in Donganme, and 34% in Hwanggeumchal. The damage of sorghum varieties was much higher and severer than that of maizes by O. furnacalis larvae. The number of invasive pores on a sorghum stem was 1.7 in DS-202, 1.4 in Moktaksusu, 1.3 in Sodamchal, 1.1 in Nampungchal, 1.0 in Anzunbaengisusu, 0.5 in Donganme, and 0.4 in Hwanggeumchal. Meanwhile, there was no distinct connection between damaging results and yields of maizes and sorghums by O. furnacalis larvae in a paddy-upland rotation field. These results from this study can be applicable for the establishment of a management strategy to control Oriental corn borer in paddy-upland rotation fields for maize and sorghum.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.557-561
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• 2007

Purpose: Malignant melanoma is a fatal tumor arising in the melanocytic systems of the skin. The incidence of malignant melanoma, formerly considered a rare tumor in Korea, is observed to increase. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and histopathological pattern of malignant melanoma in one institute. Methods: Thirty patients with ages ranging from 33 to 80 years, diagnosed as malignant melanoma at our skin tumor department, were enrolled in a retrospective study over a 6 year period(2000. 9-2006. 7). The analyzed data included age, sex, location, duration before diagnosis, clinical type, level of invasion, and stage. Results: The cases were identified and analyzed by clinical and histopathologic study. The male to female ratio was 1:1.7. Lower extremities(especially, feet) were favored sites. The majority of cases were acral lentiginous melanoma(40%), followed by nodular melanoma (36.7%), superficial spreading melanoma(20%) in this study. Clark level IV was predominant in histopathologic study. There was merely narrow gap among each stage by AJCC. Conclusion: The clinicopathological characteristic of melanoma in our patients is quite different with that in the West. In this retrospective study, primary lesions of the foot were predominant with melanoma, and a high percentage of these were classified pathologically as acral lentiginous melanomas. Patients had a more advanced stage of disease at first presentation and a more deeply invasive primary lesion than Western patients. These suggest that malignant melanoma has a worse prognosis in our patients than in the West. So, further organized prospective studies are needed to approach the prudent and accurate diagnosis and management of melanoma in Korea.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2010

Simvastatins are widely used to reduce endogenous cholesterol synthesis and improve hypercholesterolemia. Also, simvastatin have been shown to induce both angiogenic and angiostatic responses. In this study, It was attempted to resolve this controversy by studying the effects of simvastatin on the cell migration and invasion with the proteinases secretion and expression pattern. U-373-MG cells treated with low dose of simvastatin ($0.001{\sim}0.5\;{\mu}M$) showed the induction of migration and invasion compared with the addition of a control buffer. On the contrary, high dose of simvastatin ($1{\sim}20\;{\mu}M$) showed the reduction of migration and invasion compared with the addition of a control buffer. It was also showed that simvastatin-regulated migrative and invasive phenotypes were consistent with the secretion and expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and plasmin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.6069-6075
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• 2013

Background: At present, the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) requires a colorectal biopsy which is an invasive procedure. We undertook this pilot study to develop an alternative method and potential new biomarkers for diagnosis, and validated a set of well-integrated tools called ClinProt to investigate the serum peptidome in CRC patients. Methods: Fasting blood samples from 67 patients diagnosed with CRC by histological diagnosis, 55 patients diagnosed with colorectal adenoma by biopsy, and 65 healthy volunteers were collected. Division was into a model construction group and an external validation group randomly. The present work focused on serum proteomic analysis of model construction group by ClinProt Kit combined with mass spectrometry. This approach allowed construction of a peptide pattern able to differentiate the studied populations. An external validation group was used to verify the diagnostic capability of the peptidome pattern blindly. An immunoassay method was used to determine serum CEA of CRC and controls. Results: The results showed 59 differential peptide peaks in CRC, colorectal adenoma and health volunteers. A genetic algorithm was used to set up the classification models. Four of the identified peaks at m/z 797, 810, 4078 and 5343 were used to construct peptidome patterns, achieving an accuracy of 100% (> CEA, P<0.05). Furthermore, the peptidome patterns could differentiate the validation group with high accuracy close to 100%. Conclusions: Our results showed that proteomic analysis of serum with MALDI-TOF MS is a fast and reproducible approach, which may provide a novel approach to screening for CRC.