• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 1993

We have mapped the $C_3H_2\;2_{12}-1_{01}$ transition line toward the Sgr A molecular cloud on a 1' grid spacing and derived $C_3H_2$ column densities of $3\~7\times10^{14}\;cm^{-2}$ for molecular clouds of Sgr A. The fractional abundances of $C_3H_2$ relative to $H_2$ are obtained to be $3\~6\times10^{-9}$, which are slightly lower than that for the cold dark cloud TMC-1 but are enhanced by factors of 5-60 compared to those for Sgr B2 and the Orion extended ridge. We also estimate from the $C_3H_2$ column densities total masses of $\~10^6\; M_\bigodot$ for two clouds (M - 0.13 - 0.08 and M - 0.02 - 0.07), which are thought to be close to the virial equilibrium. We suggest that the large abundance of $C_3H_2$ in Sgr A may be partly due to the activities of the Galactic center.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.32-41
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• 2015

Objectives: Condurango (Gonolobus condurango) extract is used by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners as a traditional medicine, including homeopathy, mainly for the treatment of syphilis. Condurango bark extract is also known to reduce tumor volume, but the underlying molecular mechanisms still remain unclear. Methods: Using a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) as our model, the molecular events behind condurango extract's (CE's) anticancer effect were investigated by using flow cytometry, immunoblotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Other included cell types were prostate cancer cells (PC3), transformed liver cells (WRL-68), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Results: Condurango extract (CE) was found to be cytotoxic against target cells, and this was significantly deactivated in the presence of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that its action could be mediated through ROS generation. CE caused an increase in the HeLa cell population containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage at the G zero/Growth 1 (G0/G1) stage. Further, CE increased the tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and the fas receptor (FasR) levels both at the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the protein levels, indicating that CE might have a cytotoxic mechanism of action. CE also triggered a sharp decrease in the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) both at the RNA and the protein levels, a possible route to attenuation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and caused an opening of the mitochondrial membrane's permeability transition (MPT) pores, thus enhancing caspase activities. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest possible pathways for CE mediated cytotoxicity in model cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7575-7582
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• 2015

Cyclin E, a key coordinator of the G1 to S transition in the cell cycle, may be deregulated in several malignancies, including breast cancer. The most significant aberration in cyclin E is its elastase mediated proteolytic cleavage into tumor specific low molecular weight isoforms (LMW-Es). LMW-Es are biochemically hyperactive and biologically drive tumorigenesis in transgenic mouse models. Additionally, expression of LMW-Es has been correlated with poor survival in breast cancer cases. Here we determine whether expression of LMW-Es in a breast cancer cell line that is naturally devoid of these deregulated forms would alter their progression through each phase of the cell cycle. The results revealed that LMW-Es expression resulted in an increased doubling time, concomitant with a predominant increase in the population in the S phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, downregulation of p53 in LMW-Es cells resulted in additional shortening of the doubling time and enrichment of cells in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Furthermore, expression of LMW-Es sensitized cells to ${\beta}$-estradiol (E2) mediated growth and changed expression patterns of estrogen receptor and Bcl-2. Intriguingly, expression of LMW-Es could surpass anti-apoptotic effects raised by p53 upregulation. Taken together these studies suggest that overexpression of LMW-Es in collaboration with p53 loss results in altered g rowth properties of MCF-7 cells, enhancing the oncogenic activity of these ER positive breast cancer cells.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2010

We present results of a test-study of the large-scale survey using the multi-beam receiver system recently installed on the 14 m telescope at Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory (TRAO). We have tested several modes of mapping, and found suitable (time-saving) mapping parameters of 'ON-SOURCE' = 8, 'OFF-SOURCE' = 1 when using 'RPT' = 3 as a position-switching mode. We observed 504 spectra towards the NGC 7538, a star forming molecular cloud in the transition of J = 1 - 0 of $^{12}CO$. From the Outer Galaxy Survey database (Heyer et al., 1998) we obtained 504 spectra for the same region. We compared integrated intensities, line profiles of two databases, and found that they are consistent to each other. From the intensity ratio of these two databases we also found that the value of forward spillover scattering of the TRAO telescope system is 0.58.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 1998

We have observed the 10-9 transitions of $HC_3N$ and its $^{13}C$ substitutes ($H^{13}CCCN,\;HC^{13}CCN$, and $HCC^{13}CN$), and the vibration ally excited 12-11 ($v_r=1$) $HC_3N$ transition toward the Sgr B2 molecular cloud. The observed $HC_3N$ emission shows an elongated shape around the Principal Cloud ($\~$4.5 pc in R.A. $\times$ 7.4 pc in Decl.). The optically thin $H^{13}CCCN$ line peaks around the (N) core and we derive the total column density $N(H^{13}CCCN) = 4 {\times}10^{13} cm^{-2}$ at this position. Toward the 2' N cloud which shows the peculiar chemistry, the $HC_3N$ lines show enhancements compared to the extended envelope. The shocks of the 2' N may have resulted in the enhancement of $HC_3N$. The hot component of $HC_3N$ is strongly concentrated around the (N) core and its HPW is $\~$0.9 pc in diameter. We derive the lower limit of the abundance ratio $N(HC_3N)/N(H^{13}CCCN)$ to be larger than 40 in most regions except the (M) and (N) cores. The fractionation processes of $^{13}C $at this region may not be as effective as previously reported.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.79-81
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• 1999

We have made an extensive mapping of the $^{13}CO$ J=1-0 transition line in the dark cloud L1535. We also constructed the $100{\mu}m$ IRAS map in the region. We found a semi-detached cloud component of $^{13}CO$ in the northeast direction of the $^{13}CO$ main cloud which forms a dumbbell-like structure. This additional component with an angular size of $20'\times16'$ has not been observed before in any molecular surveys of the cloud. The IRAS map shows a similar structure with two intensity peaks whose positions coincide with those of the $^{13}CO$ clouds.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1851-1857
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• 2014

Objective: The main purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of berberine hydrochloride (BH) on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of CNE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Our results shed light on the functional components of traditional Chinese herbs for potential use in modern medicine. Methods: The CNE-1 cell line was treated with different concentrations of BH and effects on cell viability and proliferation were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Anti-migratory and anti-invasive actions of BH were investigated using wound healing assays and the Millicell Hanging cell culture insert system, respectively. Expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene twist (Twist) was analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Apoptosis was estimated with an annexin-V fluorescein (FITC) apoptosis detection kit, as well as with reference to levels of activated caspase-3 of CNE-1 cells before and after treatment with BH utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy. Results: BH was capable of reducing proliferation and viability of CNE-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, also demonstrating anti-migratory and anti-invasive capacities which correlated with reduction in expression of Twist. Finally, BH was able to induce significant amounts of apoptosis in CNE-1 cells, as demonstrated by an increase in the activity of caspase-3 and in annexin-V staining following treatment. Conclusion: BH extracted from rhizoma coptidis demonstrated an ability to block proliferation, induce apoptosis, and impair the migration and invasion of the CNE-1 cell line Considering these properties, our results suggest that BH could be an important compound for consideration in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1245-1255
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• 2017

Most cancer cells produce ATP predominantly through glycolysis instead of through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, even in the presence of oxygen. The phenomenon is termed the Warburg effect, or the glycolytic switch, and it is thought to increase the availability of biosynthetic precursors for cell proliferation. EMTs have critical roles in the initiation of the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. The glycolytic switch and EMT are important for tumor development and progression; however, their correlation with tumor progression is largely unknown. The Snail transcription factor is a major factor involved in EMT. The Snail expression is regulated by distal-less homeobox 2 (Dlx-2), a homeodomain transcription factor that is involved in embryonic and tumor development. The Dlx-2/Snail cascade is involved in Wnt-induced EMTs and the glycolytic switch. This study showed that in response to Wnt signaling, the Dlx-2/Snail cascade induces the expression of PFKFB2, which is a glycolytic enzyme that synthesizes and degrades fructose 2, 6-bisphosphate (F2,6BP). It also showed that PFKFB2 shRNA prevents Wnt-induced EMTs in the breast-tumor cell line MCF-7. The prevention indicated that glycolysis is linked to Wnt-induced EMT. Additionally, this study showed PFKFB2 shRNA suppresses in vivo tumor metastasis and growth. Finally, it showed the PFKFB2 expression is higher in breast, colon and ovarian cancer tissues than in matched normal tissues regardless of the cancers' stages. The results demonstrated that PFKFB2 is an important regulator of EMTs and metastases induced by the Wnt, Dlx-2 and Snail factors.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.255-259
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• 2016

We estimate the fractal dimension of the ${\rho}$ Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud Complex, associated with star forming regions. We selected a cube (${\upsilon}$, l, b) database, obtained with J = 1-0 transition lines of $^{12}CO$ and $^{13}CO$ at a resolution of 22" using a multibeam receiver system on the 14-m telescope of the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. Using a code developed within IRAF, we identified slice-clouds with two threshold temperatures to estimate the fractal dimension. With threshold temperatures of 2.25 K ($3{\sigma}$) and 3.75 K ($5{\sigma}$), the fractal dimension of the target cloud is estimated to be D = 1.52-1.54, where $P{\propto}A^{D/2}$, which is larger than previous results. We suggest that the sampling rate (spatial resolution) of observed data must be an important parameter when estimating the fractal dimension, and that narrower or wider dispersion around an arbitrary fit line and the intercepts at NP = 100 should be checked whether they relate to firms noise level or characteristic structure of the target cloud. This issue could be investigated by analysing several high resolution databases with different quality (low or moderate sensitivity).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.888-898
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• 2014

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal cancers and is associated with limited diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Currently, gemcitabine is the only effective drug and represents the preferred first-line treatment for chemotherapy. However, a high level of intrinsic or acquired resistance of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine can contribute to the failure of gemcitabine treatment. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms for gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer, we performed label-free quantification of protein expression in intrinsic gemcitabine-resistant and -sensitive human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines using our improved proteomic strategy, combined with filter-aided sample preparation, single-shot liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, enhanced spectral counting, and a statistical method based on a power law global error model. We identified 1931 proteins and quantified 787 differentially expressed proteins in the BxPC3, PANC-1, and HPDE cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis identified 15 epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and 13 EMT-related proteins that were closely associated with drug resistance were differentially expressed. Interestingly, 8 of these proteins were involved in glutathione and cysteine/methionine metabolism. These results suggest that proteins related to the EMT and glutathione metabolism play important roles in the development of intrinsic gemcitabine resistance by pancreatic cancer cell lines.