• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.348-358
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• 2022

Purpose: Hyperglycemia accelerates the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a group of compounds formed via non-enzymatic glycation/glycoxidation. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is related to oxidative stress, resulting in some overgeneration of AGEs. The accumulation of AGEs in T2DM patients leads to increased inflammation, DNA damage, tissue damage, progression of diabetic microvascular disease, and nephropathy. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of heme. Expression of HO-1 in the endothelium and in muscle monocytes/macrophages was upregulated upon exposure to reactive oxygen species or oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Cells activated by oxidative stress are reported to release HO-1 in the serum. In the current study, we discuss the oxidative status according to the level of AGEs and the association of HO-1 with AGEs or urinary DNA damage marker in type 2 diabetic Korean patients. Methods: This study enrolled 36 diabetic patients. Subjects were classified into two groups by serum AGEs level (Low AGEs group: < 0.85 ng/mL serum AGEs; High AGEs group: ≥ 0.85 ng/mL serum AGEs). Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Blood and urinary parameters were measured using commercial kits. Results: No significant differences were observed in the general characteristics and body composition between the two groups. Serum HO-1 concentration was significantly higher in the High AGEs group than in the Low AGEs group. After adjustment of age and gender, a correlation was performed to assess the association between serum HO-1 and serum AGEs or urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Our results indicate that serum HO-1 is positively correlated with serum AGEs and urinary 8-OHdG. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate that in diabetes patients, a high level of HO-1 is associated with a high concentration of AGEs and 8-OHdG, probably reflecting a protective response against oxidative stress.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.278-287
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• 2010

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of ethanol (EtAS), ethyl acetate (EAAS) and aqueous (AQAS) extracts of Argyreia speciosa (AS) roots against Isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in rats. The animals were exposed to isoproterenol (200 mg/kg. s.c) twice at an interval of 24 hrs. Cardioprotective effect was assessed by observing ECG parameters, serum marker enzymes and histopathology of the heart. Pretreatment of EAAS, and EtAS (200 mg/kg) resulted in a significant (P < 0.001) increase in P wave, QRS complex and R-R interval, whereas heart rate, QT interval and cardiac cycle were maintained near to normal values. EtAS and EAAS showed significant (P < 0.05; P < 0.001) reduction in all the tested diagnostic markers compared to ISO treated group. Histological studies on the structural changes of heart tissue supported the protective activity of AS. The result suggest that treatment of AS prior to ISO has a significant role in protecting the animals from ISO induced myocardial infarction.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.106-110
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• 2005

The preventive effects of Sophorae Fructus extracts (I: hot water extract and II: combination product using I) on bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) rats were investigated. Sophorae Fructus extracts were orally administrated to OVX rats for 9 weeks. Ovariectomy caused the increase of body weight and deoxypyridinoline (Dpd: bone resorption marker) and decrease of calcium (Ca: bone formation marker) level in serum. Dpd level were significantly decreased and Ca levels were elevated at 9 weeks in Sophorae Fructus extracts administered groups after ovariectomy at a dose of 0.556 g/kg/day compared with control group. In administered groups, trabecular bone area (TBA) in the tibia and lumbar were also increased compared with control group in histomorphological analysis. The preventive or treatment effects of Sophorae Fructus extracts on bone loss in OVX rats appears to be due to suppression of bone turnover.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.235-241
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the serum tumor markers CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 in monitoring the recurrence of gastric cancer and in its preoperative assessment. Materials and Methods: Two hundred fifty-five patients who underwent potentially curative surgery during period from January 1995 to December 2000 at the Department of Surgery were assessed. Serum samples were obtained preoperatively, 2 weeks after the surgery, and at 6-month intervals. The cut-off levels were established as 5 ng/ml for CEA, 36 U/ml for CA 19-9, and 4 U/ml for CA 72-4. The tumor stage was described according to the 5th edition of the Union Internationale Contra la Cancer (UICC) TNM classification in 1997. Results: The preoperative positivities were $10.5\%$ for CEA, $9.7\%$ for CA 19-9, and $12.4\%$ for CA 72-4. The serum levels of the three tumor markers decreased after curative surgery. The preoperative serum levels of the three tumor markers were significantly related to the depth of invasion, the tumor size, lymph-node metastasis, the pathologic stage, and recurrence, except that CEA was not associated with tumor size. The marker sensitivities in recurrent cases were $43.3\%$ for CEA, $\%41.8$ for CA 19-9, and $50.0\%$ for CA 72-4, and the marker specificities were $85.1\%$ for CEA, $96.8\%$ for CA 19-9, and $87.8\%$ for CA 72-4. Conclusion: The preoperative serum levels of CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 are not useful for the initial diagnosis of gastric cancer because of their low positivity. However, we should consider their relationship with depth of invasion, lymph-node metastasis, tumor size, pathologic stage, and recurrence. Also, the follow-up levels of the three markers have a statistical relationship with recurrence of gastric cancer even though their sensitivities are low.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.648-656
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to establish conditions for transfection of a foreign gene into somatic cells using cationic lipid reagents and to evaluate the effects of transfection on in vitro development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was used as a foreign gene and a non-transfected somatic cell was utilized as a control karyoplast. Monolayers of porcine cells were established and subsequently transfected with a GFP-expressing gene (pEGFP-N1) using three types of transfection reagents (LipofectAMINE PLUS, FuGENE 6 or ExGen500). Donor cells used for SCNT included transfected fetal or adult fibroblasts and oviduct epithelial cells, either serum-fed or serum-starved. Oocytes matured in vitro for 42 h were reconstructed with either transfected or non-transfected porcine somatic cells by electric fusion and activation using a single DC pulse of 1.8 kV/cm for $30{\mu}s$ in $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}-containing$ 0.26 M mannitol solution. Reconstructed oocytes were subsequently cultured in NCSU-23 medium for 168 h and the developmental competence and cell number in blastocyst were compared. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in fusion, cleavage rates or development to the blastocyst stage between non-transfected, transfected, serum-fed and serum-starved cells. However, the rates of GFP-expressing blastocysts were higher in the FuGENE 6 group (71.4%) among transfection reagents and in the fetal fibroblasts group (70.4%) for donor cells. These results indicate that fetal fibroblasts transfected with FuGENE 6 can be used as donor cells for porcine SCNT and that GFP gene can be safely used as a marker of foreign genes in porcine transgenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.8
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• pp.357-362
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• 2014

Purpose: The incidence of Kawasaki disease (KD) is rare in young infants (less than 3 months of age), who present with only a few symptoms that fulfill the clinical diagnostic criteria. The diagnosis for KD can therefore be delayed, leading to a high risk of cardiac complications. We examined the clinical characteristics and measured the serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels of these patients for assessing its value in the early detection of KD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of young infants diagnosed with KD from 2004 to 2012. The control group included 20 hospitalized febrile patients. Laboratory data, including NT-proBNP were obtained for each patient in both groups. Results: Incomplete KD was observed in 21/24 patients (87.5%). The mean fever duration on admission was $1.36{\pm}1.0$ days in the KD group. Common symptoms included erythema at the site of Bacille Calmette-Guerin inoculation (70.8%), skin rash (50.0%), changes of oropharyngeal mucosa (29.1%), and cervical lymphadenopathy (20.8%). The mean number of major diagnostic criteria fulfilled was $2.8{\pm}1.4$. Five KD patients (20.8%) had only one symptom matching these criteria. The incidence of coronary artery complications was 12.5%. The mean serum NT-proBNP level in the acute phase, in the KD and control groups, were $4,159{\pm}3,714pg/mL$ and $957{\pm}902pg/mL$, respectively, which decreased significantly in the convalescent phase. Conclusion: Incomplete KD was observed in 87.5% patients. Serum NT- proBNP might be a valuable biomarker for the early detection of KD in febrile infants aged <3 months.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4695-4698
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• 2012

Objective: To analyze differential diagnostic accuracy of urinary human epidydimis secretory protein 4 (HE4) in patients with ovarian tumors. Materials and methods: In the case-control study 23 patients with ovarian cancer, 37 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 18 women in the control group were included. Serum CA125 values and urinary concentrations of HE4were assessed quantitatively. Urinary creatinine concentrations and glomerular filtration rate were also determined and used to calculate ratios to HE4. Results: Higher urinary HE4 concentrations were observed in patients with late stage ovarian cancer (p=0.001) and also in patients with early stage ovarian cancer when compared to patients with benign ovarian tumors (p=0.044). On analysis where all ovarian cancer patients were included, higher diagnostic accuracy was observed with calculated ratio of HE4 to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to unchanged urinary HE4 concentrations -AUC 0.861 vs. 0.858. When discriminatory accuracy was calculated for urinary HE4/GFR ratio and unchanged urinary HE4 concentrations, the last demonstrated a higher area under the curve - 0.701 vs. 0.602. The urinary HE4/creatinine ratio had lower discriminatory characteristics than unchanged concentrations of urinary HE4. However, HE4 serum concentration was more accurate for discrimination of patients with benign and malignant ovarian tumors when compared to urinary HE4 and CA125 in sera (AUCs were 0.868 for serum HE4 and 0.856 and 0.653 for urinary HE4 and CA125, respectively). Conclusions: Ovarian cancer patients have higher urinary concentrations of human epidydimis secretory protein 4 than patients with benign ovarian tumors. Urinary HE4 has comparable discriminatory accuracy with serum HE4 for benign and malignant ovarian tumors and can be recommended as a non-invasive ovarian cancer risk assessment method.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.115-119
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• 2015

${\beta}$-cyclodextrin has an ability to protect compounds from oxidative reaction by collecting them within its ring-like structure. So, In harsh condition ($40^{\circ}C$), marker compound, quercetin, was dramatically reduced in Hovenia dulcis fruit extract containing dextrin at 4 and 8 week compared to 0 week, but not that containing ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin. To evaluate the effects of dextrin and ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin on protective effect of H.dulcis fruit extract against alcohol-induced liver damage, The mice were orally injected alcohol, H. dulcis fruit extract/dextrin (HD) and H. dulcis fruit extract/${\beta}$-cyclodextrin (HCD), respectively, for 7 days. The mice orally administrated with alcohol significantly enhanced the serum concentration of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum compared to the control group. HD and HCD significantly decreased the levels of serum ALT and AST and serum LDH activities compared to alcohol group. And also alcohol group significantly increased the level of total cholesterol compared to the control group, but HD and HCD significantly reduced it compared to the alcohol group. However, the levels of TG in blood were not significantly changed in all groups. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were significantly increased in HD and HCD group although those of aldehyde dehydrogenase showed an increasing tendency. This data suggested that HD and HCD were able to induce alcohol degradation in the liver tissues. All together, the results showed that HCD demonstrated their ability to protect liver from alcohol-induced damage on equal terms with HD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.795-800
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• 2010

Purpose: B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is a tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member best known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. BAFF activity is observed in naive cells as well as in effector/memory T cells. We aimed to explore whether BAFF in sputum is expressed at elevated levels in asthmatic airways and associated with eosinophilic inflammation, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children. Methods: One hundred and fifty-four asthmatic children and 98 healthy children were enrolled in the study. Sputum supernatants were collected and sputum BAFF and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured. We performed pulmonary function tests and methacholine challenge tests, while measuring total eosinophil count, total serum IgE, and serum ECP in all subjects. Results: Asthmatic children had significantly higher levels of BAFF in induced sputum [26.50 (10.50-100.27) pg/mL] compared to healthy children [18.32 (7.68-44.63) pg/mL; $P$=0.011]. Sputum BAFF positively correlated with sputum eosinophils (${\gamma}$=0.406, $P$<0.001) and sputum ECP (${\gamma}$=0.789, $P$<0.001). Significant negative correlations were found between sputum BAFF and FEV1 (${\gamma}$=-0.291, $P$<0.001) or post-bronchodilator FEV1 (${\gamma}$=-0.334, $P$<0.001), whereas nonsignificant correlations were found between sputum BAFF and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, serum eosinophil count, and serum ECP. Conclusion: These findings suggest that BAFF may play a role in childhood asthma, and BAFF levels in sputum could be a supportive marker that represents airway inflammation, especially eosinophilic inflammation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9797-9800
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• 2014

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common cancer in Southern China and Southeast Asia. Alu elements are among the most prevalent repetitive sequences and constitute 11% of the human genome. Although Alu methylation has been evaluated in many types of cancer, few studies have examined the levels of this modification in serum from NPC patients. Objective: To compare the Alu methylation levels and patterns between serum from NPC patients and normal controls. Materials and Methods: Sera from 50 NPC patients and 140 controls were examined. Quantitative combined bisulfite restriction analysis-Alu (qCOBRA-Alu) was applied to measure Alu methylation levels and characterize Alu methylation patterns. Amplified products were classified into four patterns according to the methylation status of 2 CpG sites: hypermethylated (methylation at both loci), partially methylated (methylation of either of the two loci), and hypomethylated (unmethylated at both loci). Results: A comparison of normal control sera with NPC sera revealed that the latter presented a significantly lower methylation level (p=0.0002) and a significantly higher percentage of hypomethylated loci (p=0.0002). The sensitivity of the higher percentage of Alu hypomethyted loci for distinguishing NPC patients from normal controls was 96%. Conclusions: Alu elements in the circulating DNA of NPC patients are hypomethylated. Moreover, Alu hypomethylated loci may represent a potential biomarker for NPC screening.