• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2011

It has been proposed that acute phase response can be a mechanism by which inhaled particles exert adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Although some of the human acute phase proteins have been widely studied as biomarkers of systemic inflammation or cardiovascular diseases, there are only a few studies that investigated the role of serum amyloid P (SAP), a major acute phase protein in mice. In this study, we investigated the changes in SAP, following inhalation exposure to nickel hydroxide nanoparticles (nano-NH). We conducted 1) acute (4 h) exposure to nano-NH at 100, 500, and $1000\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and 2) sub-acute (4h/d for 3d) exposure at $1000\;{\mu}g/m^3$, then measured serum SAP protein levels along with hepatic Sap mRNA levels. The results show that inhaled nano-NH can induce systemic acute phase response indicated by increased serum SAP levels and hepatic Sap mRNA levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing induction of SAP in response to repeated particle exposure, and the results suggest that SAP can be used as a biomarker for systemic inflammation induced by inhaled particles.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10713-10718
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of serum amyloid A (SAA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing surgery. Materials and Methods: Preoperative serum samples of 328 patients with HCC who underwent curative resection and of 47 patients with benign liver lesion were assayed. Serum levels of SAA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and its correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and survival were explored. Results: Levels of SAA were significantly higher in patients with HCC than those with benign liver lesion. There were strong correlations between preoperative serum SAA level and tumor size and more advanced BCLC stage. On univariate analysis, elevated SAA was associated with reduced disease-free survival and overall survival (p=0.001 and 0.03, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed that serum SAA level was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio 2.80, p=0.01). Conclusions: High SAA serum level is a novel biomarker for the prognosis of HCC patients.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.429-434
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• 2019

A lateral flow immunoassay platform utilizing antibody functionalized water soluble CdSe/ZnS semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) was developed for the analysis of human serum amyloid A-1 (hSAA1) in a buffer solution. hSAA1 was chosen as a target protein because it is regarded as a potential biomarker associated with early diagnosis and prognosis in patients of lung cancer. The immunoassay strip on a nitrocellulose membrane was fabricated by spraying two lines composed of a test line with a monoclonal antibody against hSAA1 (10G1) (anti hSAA1) and a control line of anti-chicken IgY. While the CdSe/ZnS QDs synthesized in an organic phase were transferred to a water phase by ligand exchange using carboxylic acid modified alkane thiol. The QDs was then conjugated to monoclonal antibody against hSAA1 (14F8) [anti hSAA1 (14F8)] and used as a fluorescent detection probe. The sequential lateral flow of hSAA1 in different concentration and QDs-anti hSAA1 (14F8) complex allowed to form the surface sandwich complex of anti hSAA1 (10G1)/hSAA1/QD-anti hSAA1 (14F8), which was then analyzed using fluorescence microscope. A 100 nM concentration of hSAA1 protein can be detected by naked eyes under an optimized lateral flow buffer condition with a sensing time of 5 mins.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.770-773
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• 2010

A 13-year-old girl was diagnosed with non-cystic fibrosis (CF)-related multifocal bronchiectasis accompanied by nephrotic-range proteinuria of unknown cause. On renal biopsy, there were many segmental homogeneous deposits of amyloid tissue with positive Congo red staining in the glomeruli and interstitium. On electron microscopy, relatively straight, non-branching, randomly arranged amyloid fibrils were showed in the mesangium of the glomeruli. These fibrils were approximately 10 nm in diameter, compatible with secondary amyloidosis. Her level of serum amyloid A was remarkably elevated. To our knowledge, this girl is the first case of secondary renal amyloidosis induced by bronchiectasis in Korean children.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.441-450
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• 2023

Objective: Serum amyloid A3 (SAA3), an acute phase response protein, plays important roles in opsonization, antimicrobial activity, chemotactic activity, and immunomodulation, but its expression, regulation, and function at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs are not fully understood. Therefore, we determined the expression of SAA3 in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface during pregnancy. Methods: Endometrial tissues from pigs at various stages of the estrous cycle and pregnancy and with conceptuses derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), conceptus tissues during early pregnancy, and chorioallantoic tissues during mid- to late pregnancy were obtained and the expression of SAA3 was analyzed. The effects of the steroid hormones, interleukin-1β (IL1B), and interferon-γ (IFNG) on the expression of SAA3 were determined in endometrial explant cultures. Results: SAA3 was expressed in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, with the highest level on day 12 of pregnancy. The expression of SAA3 in the endometrium was significantly higher on day 12 of pregnancy than during the estrous cycle. Early-stage conceptuses and chorioallantoic tissues during mid to late pregnancy also expressed SAA3. The expression of SAA3 was primarily localized to luminal epithelial cells in the endometrium. In endometrial explant cultures, the expression of SAA3 was induced by increasing doses of IL1B and IFNG. Furthermore, the expression of SAA3 decreased significantly in the endometria of pigs carrying conceptuses derived from SCNT on day 12 of pregnancy. Conclusion: These results suggest that the expression of SAA3 in the endometrium during the implantation period increases in response to conceptus-derived IL1B and IFNG. The failure of those appropriate interactions between the implanting conceptus and the endometrium leads to dysregulation of endometrial SAA3 expression, which could result in pregnancy failure. In addition, SAA3 could be a specific endometrial epithelial marker for conceptus implantation in pigs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2171-2174
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• 2012

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a distressing disease with a miserable prospects and early recognition remains a challenge due to ubiquitous symptomatic presentation, deep anatomical location, and aggressive etiology. False positives and problems in distinguishing pancreatitis from adenocarcinoma limit the use of CA 19-9 as both disorders can present with similar symptoms and share radiographic physiognomies. This study aimed to assess the relative increase in accuracy of diagnosing the patients with chronic pancreatitis, benign neoplasm of pancreas and adenocarcinomas with CA 19-9, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A in comparison to CA 19-9 alone. Materials and Methods: This hospital based case control study was carried out in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, between $1^{st}$ January 2010 and $31^{st}$ December 2011. The variables assessed were age, gender, serum CA19-9, serum haptoglobulin, serum Amyloid A. The data were analyzed using Excel 2003, R 2.8.0 Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows Version 16.0 (SPSS Inc; Chicago, IL, USA) and the EPI Info 3.5.1 Windows Version. Results: Out of 197 cases of pancreatic disease, maximum number of assumed cases were of adenocarcinoma of pancreas (95). Number of males (59) were more than females (36) in assumed cases of adenocarcinoma of pancreas. The mean values of CA19-9 raised considerably in cases of chronic pancreatitis, benign neoplasm and adenocarcinoma of pancreas when compared to controls. The highest augmention in CA19-9 values were in cases of adenocarcinoma of pancreas. The p-value indicates that in cases of chronic pancreatitis, there was not significant increase in precision of diagnosis. Conclusions: These statistics established that haptoglobin and SAA are useful in discriminating cancer from benign conditions as well as healthy controls.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2007

Objective : This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of Thalictrum foetidum(TFD) on the Alzheimer's disease. Method : The effects of TFD on amyloid precursor proteins(APP), acetylcholinesterase(AChE), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) mRNA of PC-12 cell treated by amyloid ${\beta}$ $protein(A{\beta})$ and $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA of THP-l cell treated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS), AChE activity of PC-12 cell lysate treated by $A{\beta}$ and behavior of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine, and glucose, AChE in serum of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine were investigated, respectively. Results : The results were summarized as follows ; 1. TFD suppressed APP, AChE, GFAP mRNA in PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$. 2. TFD suppressed $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA in THP-l cell treated by LPS 3.. TFD suppressed AChE activity in cell lysate of PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$. 4. TFD increased glucose and decreased AChE significantly in the serum of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine. 5. TFD group showed significantly inhibitory effect on the scopolamine-induced impairment of learning and memory in the experiment of Morris water maze. Conclusion : According to the above results, it is suggested that TFD might be usefully applied for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2007

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an abnormal accumulation of the ${\beta}$-amyloid protein $(A{\beta})$ in specific brain region. It has been speculated that disturbance in cholesterol homeostasis may contribute to the etiology of AD by increasing $A{\beta}$ generation. However, conclusive evidence and possible mechanism has not been reported. In the present study, we demonstrated that rabbits treated with 0.5% cholesterol for 16 weeks increased serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and low-density lipoprotein levels. $A{\beta}$ levels is higher in the hippocampus of brain in cholesterol dieted rabbits than that of normal diet rabbis. Expression and activities of ${\beta}-$ and ${\gamma}-$ secretases, the enzymes that cleave ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein to generate $A{\beta}$, were also increased in hippocampus of high cholesterol dieted rabbit than those of normal dieted rabbits. Our results suggest that high cholesterol diet may be associated with increased $A{\beta}$ accumulation in the brain of rabbits, and suggest that high cholesterol diet may be causal factor in the development or progression of AD.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to investigate the hematological and biochemical changes in experimentally infected goats with Besnoitia caprae from the time of infection till 360 days post-infection (PI). Six male goats were inoculated subcutaneously with $13{\times}10^7$ bradyzoites of B. caprae, and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. The total erythrocyte and total leukocyte counts, hematocrit value, and differential leukocyte counts were determined. Serum biochemical analysis, including the total protein, albumin, total globulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, chloride, testosterone, calcium ($Ca^{2+}$), inorganic phosphorus, sodium ($Na^+$), potassium ($K^+$), iron ($Fe^{2+}$), glucose, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase, was undertaken. Skin biopsy from the limbs were collected at weekly intervals and histologically examined for Besnoitia cysts. Cysts were present in the skin biopsies of the leg of the infected goats from day 28 PI. There were variations in hematological analyses, but no significant difference was seen. From day 30 to 360 PI, results showed that SAA, Hp, fibrinogen, and ceruloplasmin concentrations increased, whereas testosterone concentrations decreased. Infected goats exhibited decrease of albumin and increase of serum total protein and globulin concentrations. By contrast, there were no significant differences in the remained analyses concentrations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.139-149
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• 2006

Amyloid beta (A$\beta$) is believed one of the major pathogens of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the reduction of A$\beta$ is considered a primary therapeutic target. Immunization with A$\beta$ can reduce A$\beta$ burden and pathological features in transgenic AD model mouse. This means anti-A$\beta$ autoantibodies may have a role in AD pathology. Recent findings suggest anti-A$\beta$ autoantibodies level decrease in AD patients. The early detection of AD is important for treatment of this disease. However, diagnosis on AD has only been possible through limited methods such as neuropsychological examination or MRI. To investigate whether it was possible to detect the presence and different levels of naturally occurring anti-A$\beta$ autoantibodies in the plasma of patients with AD and age-matched controls. An advanced ELISA was performed to detect levels of naturally occurring anti-A$\beta$ autoantibodies in the plasma. The level of anti-A$\beta$ auto-antibodies from patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease or stroke and from normal controls were compared to that of AD patients. Our results showed a significantly lower anti-A$\beta$ autoantibodies level in AD compared to those with other neurological diseases or control. The level of anti-A$\beta$ autoantibodies in the serum may be used to diagnose the presence of AD.