• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1129-1133
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• 2015

Background: The tissue microarray (TMA) is widely accepted as a fast and cost-effective research tool for in situ tissue analysis in modern pathology. However, the current automated and manual TMA techniques have some drawbacks restricting their productivity. Our study aimed to introduce an improved manual tissue miniarray (TmA) technique that is simple and readily applicable to a broad range of tissue samples. Materials and Methods: In this study, a conventional TV/radio telescopic antenna was used to punch tissue cores manually from donor paraffin embedded tissue blocks which were pre-incubated at $40^{\circ}C$. The cores were manually transferred, organized and attached to a standard block mould, and filled with liquid paraffin to construct TmA blocks without any use of recipient paraffin blocks. Results: By using a conventional TV/radio antenna, it was possible to construct TmA paraffin blocks with variable formats of array size and number ($2-mm{\times}42$, $2.5-mm{\times}30$, $3-mm{\times}24$, $4-mm{\times}20$ and $5-mm{\times}12$ cores). Up to $2-mm{\times}84$ cores could be mounted and stained on a standard microscopic slide by cutting two sections from two different blocks and mounting them beside each other. The technique was simple and caused minimal damage to the donor blocks. H&E and immunostained slides showed well-defined tissue morphology and array configuration. Conclusions: This technique is easy to reproduce, quick, inexpensive and creates uniform blocks with abundant tissues without specialized equipment. It was found to improve the stability of the cores within the paraffin block and facilitated no losses during cutting and immunostaining.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2006

Spatial variation of heavy metal accumulation was investigated in Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum collected from several tidal flats. Sediment metal levels varied highly among the sites, which was attributed primarily to differences in Fe and organic carbon contents and in part to gain size. Significant differences in metal concentrations also were found in the clam tissue among the different sampling sites. However, except for a few metals (Mn, Zn, Pb), which showed some elevation, the variations in the clam tissue were not related to the variations in the sediment. This is likely because most metals in filter-feeding herbivores such as R. philippinarum accumulated as a result of feeding on suspended particles such as phytoplankton and organic detritus in the water column, not in bottom sediment. In addition, tissue weight for a specific shell size varied significantly among the sites, and increased tissue mass indicating a good nutritive condition likely caused a subsequent dilution of body metals leading to reduced weight-specific concentrations of some metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Co).

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.48-50
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• 2017

Tumor tissues from biopsies or surgery are major sources for the next generation sequencing (NGS) study, but these procedures are invasive and have limitation to overcome intratumor heterogeneity. Recent studies have shown that driver alterations in tumor tissues can be detected by liquid biopsy which is a less invasive technique capable of both capturing the tumor heterogeneity and overcoming the difficulty in tissue sampling. However, it is still unclear whether the driver alterations in liquid biopsy can be detected by targeted NGS and how those related to the tissue biopsy. In this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing for a breast cancer tissue and identified PTEN p.H259fs*7 frameshift mutation. In the plasma DNA (liquid biopsy) analysis by targeted NGS, the same variant initially identified in the tumor tissue was also detected with low variant allele frequency. This mutation was subsequently validated by digital polymerase chain reaction in liquid biopsy. Our result confirm that driver alterations identified in the tumor tissue were detected in liquid biopsy by targeted NGS as well, and suggest that a higher depth of sequencing coverage is needed for detection of genomic alterations in a liquid biopsy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.205-210
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• 2016

BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy)-like symptoms salivation, gait disorder, and the downer syndrome occurred to 8 heads of cattle at six cattle farms in Gyeonju, east eastern Gyeongsang province in 2013. Eight brain tissue samples using a vibration saw (Multimaster$^{(R)}$ FEIN, Germany) were collected referring to "The brain removal technique of transmisible spongiform encephalopathy sampling DVD" by Animal And Plant Quarantine Agency. Brain removal techinque using a vibration saw on the thick, solid frontal bone of cattle is more convenient for incision and removal than an ax for BSE testing.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.34 no.s01
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• pp.33-39
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• 1989

Ethylene gas classified as one of five major plant hormones plays an important role in various plant metabolism. The precise analysis of ethylene production of plants or plant parts is a valuable research procedure because knowledge of ethylene production facilitates measures of the physiological activity within the tissue. This paper describes procedures for analyzing ethylene from plant tissues by gas chromatography and discusses problems associated with extracting gas samples either by introducing a vacuum to plant samples or by using a hypodermic syringe. Introduced are a continuous flow system for efficient analysis and an automated system for sampling, analyzing, calculating and recording ethylene production data.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2007

The callipyge mutation in sheep is a polar overdominant mutation that results in post-natal muscle hypertrophy in the loin and hindquarters of paternal heterozygotes (+/CLPG). Sheep that are homozygous for the callipyge allele (CLPG/CLPG) do not express the muscle hypertrophy phenotype, but serve as carriers for the mutation. Callipyge sheep are characterized by improved feed efficiencies and leaner carcasses. Leptin is a protein hormone secreted from adipose tissue and has been found to affect appetite and serve as an indicator of body fat mass. To date, very little knowledge is available as to the effect of the callipyge mutation on circulating leptin levels. Due to the interaction of leptin with feed intake and energy availability, and the fact that the majority of fetal growth occurs in late gestation, it is important to understand if the callipyge mutation interacts with leptin production in late gestational ewes. Therefore, our objective was to characterize serum concentrations of leptin in late gestational callipyge ewes vs. non-callipyge ewes. We evaluated genetically verified callipyge (n=6), homozygous (n=8) and normal (n=8) ewes weekly during the last eight wks of gestation through one wk post-partum. Weights were taken and body condition scores were assigned by trained personnel weekly. Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture on each sampling date and subjected to an ovine-specific leptin RIA. Genotype influences on peripheral concentrations of leptin were found to be highly significant (p=0.0005). Total leptin means for +/CLPG were 5.41${\pm}$0.40 ng/ml, CLPG/CLPG 8.11${\pm}$0.70 ng/ml, and +/+ 9.13${\pm}$0.93 ng/ml. Sampling date was also significant (p=0.0098) with all ewes showing a decrease in leptin levels throughout gestation and parturition. Using repeated measures, we were able to detect lower levels of plasma leptin in callipyge ewes, which may be indicative of their lower overall body fat content. These results indicate that the callipyge phenotype decreases the levels of adipose tissue and leptin production in gestating ewes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.404-412
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• 2016

We hypothesized that supplementing finishing diets with palm oil would promote adipogenic gene expression and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression in subcutaneous (s.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) adipose tissues of feedlot steers. Eighteen Angus and Angus crossbred steers were assigned to three groups of 6 steers and fed a basal diet (control), with 3% palm oil, or with 3% soybean oil, for 70 d, top-dressed daily. Tailhead s.c. adipose tissue was obtained by biopsy at 14 d before the initiation of dietary treatments and at 35 d of dietary treatments. At slaughter, after 70 d of dietary treatment, tailhead s.c. adipose tissue and i.m. adipose tissue were obtained from the longissimus thoracis muscle. Palm oil increased plasma palmitic acid and soybean oil increased plasma linoleic acid and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid relative to the initial sampling time. Expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha ($AMPK{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) increased between the initial and intermediate biopsies and declined thereafter (p<0.03). SCD gene expression did not change between the initial and intermediate biopsies but declined by over 75% by the final period (p = 0.04), and G-coupled protein receptor 43 (GPR43) gene expression was unaffected by diet or time on trial. Soybean oil decreased (p = 0.01) $PPAR{\gamma}$ gene expression at the intermediate sample time. At the terminal sample time, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SCD gene expression was less in i.m. adipose tissue than in s.c. adipose tissue (p<0.05). $AMPK{\alpha}$ gene expression was less in s.c. adipose tissue of palm oil-fed steers than in control steers (p = 0.04) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein-beta ($CEBP{\beta}$) gene expression was less in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissues of palm oil-fed steers than in soybean oil-fed steers (p<0.03). Soybean oil decreased SCD gene expression in s.c. adipose tissue (p = 0.05); SCD gene expression in palm oil-fed steers was intermediate between control and soybean oil-fed steers. Contrary to our original hypothesis, palm oil did not promote adipogenic gene expression in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissue.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.637-644
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is integral to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) subepithelial tumors (SETs). The impact of different EUS-FNB tissue sampling techniques on specimen adequacy and diagnostic accuracy in SETs has not been fully evaluated. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic outcomes of slow-pull (SP) and standard suction (SS) in patients with GI SETs. Methods: In this retrospective comparative study, 54 patients were enrolled. Medical records were reviewed for location and size of the target lesion, FNB needle type/size, technical order, specimen adequacy, diagnostic yield, and adverse events. The acquisition rate of adequate specimens and diagnostic accuracy were compared according to EUS-FNB techniques. Results: The mean lesion size was 42.6±36.4 mm, and most patients were diagnosed with GI stromal tumor (75.9%). The overall diagnostic accuracies of the SP and SS techniques were 83.3% and 81.5%, respectively (p=0.800). The rates of obtaining adequate core tissue were 79.6% and 75.9%, respectively (p=0.799). No significant clinical factors affected the rate of obtaining adequate core tissue, including lesion location and size, FNB needle size, and final diagnosis. Conclusions: SP and SS had comparable diagnostic accuracies and adequate core tissue acquisition for GI SETs via EUS-FNB.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.33-40
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• 1982

Although ultrasonic CT is one of the useful techniques for tissue characterization, the reconstructed images, such as the velocity distribution and attenuation constant distribution, are degraded by reflection and refraction of ultrasonic beam. This paper studied the degradation effects on attenuation images using agar gel phantoms which were developed to evaluate ultrasonic CT. We found that the reconstructed attenuation constants at the center of the phantoms were less than the actual values by 0.6 dB/cm when phantom velocity differs by 25 m/s from surrounding saline. We also studied a correction method for refraction and phase cancellation effects, where the correction was made using the maximum value in the received subdata, as obtained by sub-arraying microprobes located at each sampling point. Using this method, we could obtain an improvement in the reconstructed image by the correction on the attenuation effect.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2004

Concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn were determined in four arctic brown algae (Laminaria saccharina, L. digitata, Alaria esculenta, Desmarestia aculeata) in an attempt to examine for their metal accumulation capacity and also to assess their contamination levels. Macroalgae were collected from shallow subtidal waters (<20m) of Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay) on Spitsbergen during the period of the late July to early August 2003. Metal concentrations highly varied between sampling sites, species and tissue parts. Input of melt-water laden with terrigenous sediment particles seemed to have a large influence on baseline accumulations of some metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Pb etc.) in the macroalgae, causing a significant spatial variation. There were also significant concentration differences between the young and old tissue parts in L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta. While Al, Fe, Mn, Pb were higher in the perennial parts (stipes and holdfast below meristematic region), Cd and As concentrations were significantly higher in the young blades above the meristematic region. Zn and Cr, on the other hand, showed little differences between the tissue parts. The highest metal concentrations were found in D. aculeata, which seems to be due to its filamentous fine branches leading to high surface/volume ratios. The lowest concentrations were found in the two Laminaria spp., the blades of which are thicker than D. aculeata and A. esculenta. No distinct signs of contamination were detected in the brown algal species analyzed. Added to this, the results of the present studies suggest the potential utility of L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta as biomonitors for metal pollution monitoring in this area.