• Applied Microscopy
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• v.51
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• pp.18.1-18.12
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• 2021

Hair, having distinct stages of growth, is a dynamic component of the integumentary system. Nonetheless, derangement in its structure and growth pattern often provides vital clues for the diagnosis of systemic diseases. Assessment of the hair structure by various microscopy techniques is, hence, a valuable tool for the diagnosis of several systemic and cutaneous disorders. Systemic illnesses like Comel-Netherton syndrome, Griscelli syndrome, Chediak Higashi syndrome, and Menkes disease display pathognomonic findings on hair microscopy which, consequently, provide crucial evidence for disease diagnosis. With minimal training, light microscopy of the hair can easily be performed even by clinicians and other health care providers which can, thus, serve as a useful tool for disease diagnosis at the patient's bedside. This is especially true for resource-constrained settings where access and availability of advanced investigations (like molecular diagnostics) is a major constraint. Despite its immense clinical utility and non-invasive nature, hair microscopy seems to be an underutilized diagnostic modality. Lack of awareness regarding the important findings on hair microscopy may be one of the crucial reasons for its underutilization. Herein, we, therefore, present a comprehensive overview of the available methods for hair microscopy and the pertinent findings that can be observed in various diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.254-261
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• 2000

The present study has attempted to look into the mechanism of ras-induced carcinogenesis in a human epithelial cell system. Human epithelial cells immortalized with Ad12-SV40 hybrid virus were used to assess carcinogenic potential of the ras-oncogene. Cells transfected with pSV2-ras showed characteristics of cellular transformation. The transformation parameters such as cell density, soft-agar colony formation, and cell aggregation were significantly increased in the cells expressing ras oncoprotein. In addition, the duration required for the appearance of foci was shortened in the ras-transfected cells. Consistent with other reports, our results demonstrated an evidence that the ras-oncogene induced the cellular transformation of human epithelial cell system. When a high concentration of glucocorticoid was added into the media, transformation process was accelerated. It is speculated that glucocorticoid may provide an advantageous environment for the proliferation of the transformed cells. The induction of the intracellular free calcium concentrations following agonist treatment was significantly lower in the transformed cells than in the control cells. These effects were more manifested in the presence of extracellular cacium, indicating that the transformation process may alter the influx pathway of extracellular calcium. The induction of $IP_3$ following agonist treatment was also lower in the transformed cells than in the control cells. Thus, it is suggested that phospholipase C-coupled pathway was down-regulated in the process of the ras-induced transformation. While the levels of $TGF-{\beta}_1$ and PAI-2 mRNAs were decreased, the level of fibronectin mRNA was increased. The results indicate that mechanism of the ras-induced transformation may be associated with the altered expressions of growth regulatory factors. The present study demonstrates an evidence that the ras-induced cellular transformation may be associated with alteration of signal transduction and growth regulatory factors. The study will contribute to improve the understanding of molecular mechanism of epithelium-derived cancers including oral cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2009

The purpose of this report was to provide the information about activity and safety of Yukmijihwang-tang by analyzing domestic/international papers and theses about Yukmijihwang-tang. Domestic/international papers and theses related to Yukmijihwang-tang were reviewed and analyzed. These papers were then classified by year, experimental method, and activity subject. The following results were obtained in this study. The study of Yukmijihwang-tang started from 1978 and was rapidly increased after 1990s. The study of Yukmijihwang-tang was continuously increased now and was mainly forcused on experimental model rather than clinical study. The paper of SCI journal or non-SCI journal was 27 volume and the other domestic paper was 64 volume. The total papers of Yukmijihwang-tang, 91 volume was analysed in this study. Allatoin, gallic acid, loganin, morroniside, paeoniflorin, paenol, urosolic acid were determined in Yukmijihwang-tang by using HPLC and HPLC-MS-MS. In classified Yukmijihwang-tang paper by experimental method and animal, more than a half study was in vivo experiment used rat. Furthermore clinical experiments were performed variously. As these studies were classified by subject, papers related to renal function were most abundant by 16 papers. Besides there were several papers related to cognitive vitality, anti-diabetic effect, immuno-regulation, reproductive activity, anti-oxidant effect, liver function, anti-cancer and blood pressure depress. According to basic research and clinic research data, it is supported that Yukmijihwang-tang was useful prescription in renal function, cognitive vitality, anti-diabetic effect and reproductive activity. Many study of basic and clinic research were performed and reported variously on Yukmijihwang-tang in domestic/international journal. According to basic research and clinic research data, it is supported that Yukmijihwang-tang was useful prescription in renal function, cognitive vitality, anti-diabetic effect and reproductive activity. However, studies on efficacy and mechanism of Yukmijihwang-tang should be conducted at the molecular biology level and studies on safety of Yukmijihwang-tang need to be completed at the clinical level.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.247-250
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• 2008

The $CHCl_3$, EtOAc, and n-BuOH fractions showed a marked inhibition of 5% fatal bovine serum (FBS)-induced cell proliferation. The $IC_{50}$ values of the chloroform fractions from leaf, stem, and root as well as the n-BuOH and EtOAc fraction from root on cell proliferation were $1.2{\pm}0.4$, $17.2{\pm}6.4$, $81.8{\pm}33.2$, $40.8{\pm}8.0$, and $237.1{\pm}85.6\;{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. On the other hand, the EtOAc fractions, and the $CHCl_3$ fraction significantly inhibited collagen-, arachidonic acid-, U46619-, and thrombin-induced platelet aggregations. The $IC_{50}$ values of EtOAc fraction from leaf, and the $CHCl_3$ and EtOAc fraction from stem were $214.1{\pm}12.2$, $134.3{\pm}2.5$, and $42.6{\pm}7.0\;{\mu}g/mL$ with collagen, $312.4{\pm}7.5$, $158.9{\pm}1.7$, and $82.2{\pm}2.7\;{\mu}g/mL$ with arachidonic acid, $31.1{\pm}2.4$, $48.7{\pm}0.3$, and $29.7{\pm}1.1\;{\mu}g/mL$ with U46619, and $36.7{\pm}2.4$, $69.1{\pm}11.3$, and $34.2{\pm}0.1\;{\mu}g/mL$ with thrombin, respectively. Taken together, these data provide new evidence that fractions from Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum (AVP) are able to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and platelet aggregation, which may be a novel resource for the development of anti-atherothrombotic agents.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.194-203
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• 2012

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate known as efficient biomass pretreatment reagent was used for the extraction of lignin from rigida pine wood (pitch pine), which was called to ionic liquid lignin (ILL), and chemical structural features of ILL were compared with the corresponding milled wood lignin (MWL). The amounts of phenolic hydroxyl groups (Phe-OH) was determined to 10.0% for ILL and 7.2% for MWL, respectively, where those of methoxyl groups (OMe) were 4.9% for ILL and 11.0% for MWL, respectively. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of ILL (3,995) were determined to ca. 1/2 of that of MWL (8,438) and polydispersity index (PDI: Mw/Mn) suggested that the lignin fragments were more uniform in the ILL (PDI 1.36) than in the MWL (PDI 2.64). The temperature (Tm) corresponding to maximum decomposition rate (Vm) of ILL ($306.6^{\circ}C$) was ca. $35^{\circ}C$ lower than that of MWL ($341.9^{\circ}C$), suggesting that ILL was thermally unstable than MWL, as evidence from the lower Tm for ILL. Moreover, the structural characteristics of ILL and MWL were confirmed by spectroscopic analyses (FT-IR and $^{13}C$-NMR), and these results indicated ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate) was chemically or physically bound to ILL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8325-8330
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• 2014

Background: It is known that obesity is one of the risk factors for breast cancer although the association may differ between ethnic groups and with the menopausal status. Recently obesity-related risk factors including serum adiponectin and insulin levels have been analyzed together with BMI in association with breast cancer risk. Materials and Methods: We measured serum high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and insulin levels in a hospital based case-control study, including 66 sets of Japanese female breast cancer cases and age and menopausal status matched controls. Serum levels of HMW adiponectin, insulin levels and body mass index (BMI) were examined in association with breast cancer risk with adjustment for the various known risk factors by menopausal status. Results: Women in the highest HMW adiponectin levels showed significant reduced risk of breast cancer in both pre and postmenopausal women (odds ratio (OR), 0.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.00-0.26 and 0.13; 0.03-0.57, respectively). Lower BMI showed decreased breast cancer risk in both pre and postmenopausal women (OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00-0.69, OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07-1.11, respectively). Conclusions: These results indicated that higher serum HMW adiponectin levels and lower BMI are associated with a decreased breast cancer risk in both pre and postmenopausal women in Japan, adding evidence for the obesity link.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4583-4587
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• 2014

Objective: Beclin-1 has recently been observed as an essential marker of autophagy in several cancers. However, the prognostic role of Beclin-1 in colorectal neoplasia remains controversial. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential association between Beclin-1 expression and the outcome of colorectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: All related studies were systematically searched in Pubmed, Embase, Springer and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases (CNKI), and then a meta-analysis was performed to determine the association of Beclin-1 expression with clinical outcomes. Finally, a total of 6 articles were included in our analysis. Results: Our data showed that high Beclin-1 expression in patients with CRC was associated with poor prognosis in terms of tumor distant metastasis (OR=2.090, 95%CI=1.061-4.119, p=0.033) and overall survival (RR=1.422, 95%CI=1.032-1.959, p=0.031). However, we did not found any correlation between Beclin-1 over-expression and tumor differentiation (OR=1.711, 95%CI=0.920-3.183, p=0.090). In addition, there was no evidence of publication bias as suggested by Egger's tests for tumor distant metastasis (p=1.000), differentiation (p=1.000) and OS (p=0.308). Conclusions: Our present meta-analysis indicated that elevated Beclin-1 expression iss associated with tumor metastasis and a poor prognosis in patients with CRC. Beclin-1 might serve as an efficient prognostic indicator in CRC, and could be a new molecular target in CRC therapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.992-998
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• 2018

Cancer cells grow in an environment composed of various components that supports tumor growth. Major cell types in the tumor microenvironment are fibroblast, endothelial cells and immune cells. All of these cells communicate with cancer cells. Among infiltrating immune cells as an abundant component of solid tumors, macrophages are a major component of the tumor microenvironment and orchestrates various aspects of immunity. The complex balance between pro-tumoral and anti-tumoral effects of immune cell infiltration can create a chronic inflammatory microenvironment essential for tumor growth and progression. Macrophages express different functional programs in response to microenvironmental signals, defined as M1 and M2 polarization. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) secret many cytokines, chemokines and proteases, which also promote tumor angiogenesis, growth, metastasis and immunosuppression. TAM have multifaceted roles in the development of many tumor types. TAM also interact with cancer stem cells. This interaction leads to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. TAM obtain various immunosuppressive functions to maintain the tumor microenvironment. TAM are characterized by their heterogeneity and plasticity, as they can be functionally reprogrammed to polarized phenotypes by exposure to cancer-related factors, stromal factors, infections, or even drug interventions. Because TAMs produce tumor-specific chemokines by the stimulation of stromal factors, chemokines might serve as biomarkers that reflect disease activity. The evidence has shown that cancer tissues with high infiltration of TAM are associated with poor patient prognosis and resistance to therapies. Targeting of TAM in tumors is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for anti-cancer treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2 s.27
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• pp.15-24
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• 1980

[${\alpha}$]-Amylase catalyses the hydrolysis of starch, glycogen, and related poly- and oligosac-charide by random cleavage of ${\alpha}$-D-(l-4) glucan linkage. In man large amounts of amylase are secreted into the digestive tract by the salivary and exocrine pancreatic gland, minimal amount being produced also in other tissues. It has been known that ${\alpha}$-amylase exists in multiple molecular forms, isoenzyme which can be separated from each other because of difference in their physicochemical properties. By using various methods, several groups of investigator have separated the many isoenzyme in serum, saliva and pancreatic juice. Furthermore, changes of the normal serum isoenzyme pattern is diagnostically useful even when the total serum enzyme activity is noninformative, such as the clinical use of isoenzyme of serum lactate dehydrogenase. Procarboxypeptidase-A which is one of the pancreatic enzymes is also present as isoenzymes. Four forms of procarboxypeptidase-A haye been found in the bovine enzyme and three forms of the porcine enzyme. In human pancreatic juice four forms of procarboxypeptidase-A isoenzyme were found by isoelectric focusing method. Recently, the so-called isoamylase analysis was developed for the diagnostic use of amylase in pancreatic diseases. In alcohotic patients, the serum concentration of pancreatic isoamylase is subnormal and this lowered activity provides strong evidence for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the variations of the isoenzyme of amylase and procarboxypeptidase-A in serum, saliva and pancreatic juice of the experimental animals. The results are as follow. 1) Three main forms of isoenzyme of amylase by isoelectric focusing were found in pancreatic juice of normal rabbit. However, many new bands were appeared in the pancreatic juice of cholic acid administered animal intravenously while the infusion of cholic acid or elastase into pancreatic duct produced the decrease of number of the fractions on the isoelectric focusing. In the case of serum isoenzyme from normal animal, two major and a few minor isoamylases were observed. By injecting alcohol intravenousely the fractions of serum isoamylase were significantly decreased and in contrary to the pattern in the pancreatic juice the infusion of cholic acid or elastase into pancreatic duct exhitited a significant decrease of the isoenzyme of amylase fractions. In saliva from normal animal three main isoamylase were produced of the administration of alcohol. 2) In the case of procarboxypeptidase-A isoenzyme, two major fractions which have isoelectric point at 6.2 and 6.4 and other two minor bands were observed in the pancreatic juice of normal rabbit. By the treatment of the juice with trypsin, only one band was produced on the isoelectric focusing. No procarboxypeptidase was appeared on the electrofocusing by the infusion of cholic acid or phospholipase A into the pancreatic duct of rabbit. However, a single major fraction of procarboxypeptidase-A was appeared at 3 hr after simple ligation of the pancreatic duct. No significant changes were observed in the juice of the alcohol or cholic acid administered group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.346-352
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• 2016

Aroma inhalation therapy has traditionally been used not only in alternative medicinal treatment but also in psychotherapy. In the first stage of the study, the in silico molecular binding affinity of the major ingredients of Smart-Wave (SW) on the active site of the odorant-binding protein (OBP) was compared with that of citrate anions. The binding affinity of the chemical mixture formula of the major ingredients of SW on the OBP was relatively higher than that of citrate anions. In addition, nasal inhalation of SW had a positive effect upon changes in brain waves. Eighteen healthy volunteers participated in the experiment. The study consisted of measurements of the brain’s meditation level recordings in the pre- and post-SW inhalation periods as compared with negative (EV) and positive (HB) control groups. After SW inhalation, all the subjects stated that they felt “fresher” and that the SW trial group had significantly changed the brain’s meditation in a positive way. SW inhalation also converted EV-induced unstable brain meditation wave patterns into more stable patterns. Collectively, the results of this empirical study strongly suggest that the SW mixture activates the OBP and controls the mental state by regulating brain waves. The results provide scientific evidence that the SW formula has potential as an effective mental-stress controller.