• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2000

The Purpose of this study is to extend the understanding and knowledge of menopause by comparing menopausal symptoms of married women and nuns in order to improve health and the quality of life for women. In this study a questionnaires were distributed to 116 nuns and 121 married women, from forty to fifty nine years old in Daegu metropolitan city. This study used the measurement of menopausal symptoms (Cronbach's Alpha=0.96) corrected and complemented by this student with consideration of various literature centered around menopausal symptoms, suggested by Janette M. Perz as 51 questions including 4 realms; [mental psychological factors], [physical physiological factors], [eyesight factors], and [urinary generative factors] in order to measure the degree of menopausal symptoms. The results are as follows : 1. There was a significant difference between educational background, religion, occupation, leisure time, satisfaction of marriage or ascetic life, existence of hormonal treatment, name of medical operation, and existence of counselling about menstruation as general and physiological characteristics of the nuns' group and the married women's group. 2. The menopausal symptoms of the nuns' group and the married women's group according to order in which they were presented were; 'feeling tired and lacking in energy(1.71 points)' 'vision not clear or clouded(1.69 points)', and 'be forgetful (1.57 points)' in nuns' group. 'be forgetful (1.87 points)', 'vision not clear or clouded(1.83 points)' and 'feeling tired and lacking in energy(1.76 points)' in the married women's group. The symptoms which showed the highest rank of menopausal symptoms had a maximum score of 4 points. 3. There was a statistical a significance (t=-3.9807, p<.0001) between the two groups which showed, on an average, 57.92 points in the married women's group and 43.03 points in the nuns' group from 0 to 196 of the possible points of menopausal symptoms. In difference of menopausal symptoms by menstrual aspect of the nuns' group and the married women's group, there was statistically significant difference between the two groups, showing 44.81±26.07 score in the nuns' group and 72.33±35.29 score in the married women's group as the mean score of the groups with no menstruation(t=-4.1132, p=0.0001). 4. The differences in menopausal symptoms with respect to the general and physiological characteristics of the nuns' group and the married women's group were that the nuns' group showed less menopausal symptoms on all the items than that of the married women's group. Finally, in these results, the married women's group showed higher menopausal symptoms than that of the nuns' group. Especially as the score of menopausal symptoms since the climacteric was very high it is confirmed to be a new phenomenon. Accordingly, it is considered to be necessary to carry out an indepth study of the factors related to establishing a strategy for nursing service.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2002

To elucidate the effect of microsphere coinjection on the administration of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), we have investigated biodistribution of ［S-35］-labeled antisense ODN targeted to cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) RI-$\alpha$ subunit in nude mice xenografted with WiDr (human colon cancer, ATCC CCL218). The strategy of using microsphere has been proposed for cancer treatment as a carrier of therapeutic ODN so that it could offer an advantage with respect to maintaining constant ODN levels in blood and obtaining higher therapeutic ODN concentration at tumor sites. Comparative biodistribution studies were performed in nude mice (female, 20 g of body weight, n = 4-6) xenografted with WiDr cancer cells, when 0.1 $\mu$Ci (specific activity, 2.94 mCi/$\mu$mole) of ［S-35］-labeled RI-$\alpha$ antisense ODN was injected alone or with microsphere (PLG-18, polylactic copolymer with cationic surfactant DDAB18). Peak tumor uptake of ［S-35］-labeled ODN was significantly increased from 17.7% (at 6 h) of injected dose per gram of tissue (ID/g) to 42.5% (at 24 h) ID/g when microsphere was coinjected with ODN. The different biodistribution in the kidney accumulation (e.g., 100.2% ID/g for ODN alone and 54.9%/ID/g for microshpere coinjection) may contribute to higher blood concentration (e.g., 21.5%ID/$m\ell$ for ODN alone and 37.5%ID/$m\ell$ for microsphere coinjection) of radiolabeled ODN. Of importance is the fact that the whole body retention of radioactivity increased with microsphere coinjection from 50.8%ID/g to 68.0%ID/g after 24-h of injection. This decreased kidney accumulation and increased whole body retention of ［S-35］-labeled ODN resulted in a significant improvement of ODN targeting to the tumor site. In conclusion, the coinjection of microsphere appears to be an important carrier system in vehiculation of antisense oligonucleotide to the tumor tissue in vivo.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to document outcomes following withdrawal of a single inhaler (step-down) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients on triple therapy (long-acting muscarinic antagonist and a combination of long-acting ${\beta}2$-agonists and inhaled corticosteroid), which a common treatment strategy in clinical practice. Methods: Through a retrospective observational study, COPD patients receiving triple therapy over 2 years (triple group; n=109) were compared with those who had undergone triple therapy for at least 1 year and subsequently, over 9 months, initiated inhaler withdrawal (step-down group, n=39). The index time was defined as the time of withdrawal in the step-down group and as 1 year after the start of triple therapy in the triple group. Results: Lung function at the index time was superior and the previous exacerbation frequency was lower in the step-down group than in the triple group. Step-down resulted in aggravating disease symptoms, a reduced overall quality of life, decreasing exercise performance, and accelerated forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) decline ($54.7{\pm}15.7mL/yr$ vs. $10.7{\pm}7.1mL/yr$, p=0.007), but there was no observed increase in the frequency of exacerbations. Conclusion: Withdrawal of a single inhaler during triple therapy in COPD patients should be conducted with caution as it may impair the exercise capacity and quality of life while accelerating $FEV_1$ decline.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.289-301
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• 2006

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery triggers the production and release of numerous chemotactic substances and cytokines, ensuing systemic inflammatory response that leads to postoperative major organ dysfunction. Traditionally, corticosteroids (steroid) have been administered to patients undergoing cardiac surgery to ward off these detrimental physiologic alterations. However, the majority of the studies have been performed on adult patients with high-dose steroid. We carried out a randomized, prospective, double-blind study to compare the efficacy of low-dose steroid with that of high-dose steroid and to determine the adequate dose of pretreated-steroid for prophylactic effects in pediatric cardiac surgery. Thirty pediatric patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to two groups; fifteen patients received low-dose methylprednisolone (10mg/kg intravenously, n=15, low-dose group) and the others received high-dose methylprednisolone (30mg/kg intravenously, n=15, high-dose group) 1 hour prior to CPB. Arterial blood samples were taken before CPB (Pre-CPB), 10 minutes after start of CPB (CPB-10), and immediately after CPB-end (CPB-OFF) for measuring total leukocyte counts (T-WBC) and diff-counts, platelet counts, interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total antioxidant (TAO), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), troponin I (TNI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Other parameters such as volumes of urine output, pulmonary index $(PI,\;PaO_2/FiO_2)$, mechanical ventilating period, intensive care unit (ICU)-staying period, postoperative complications (fever, wound problem), postoperative 24 hrs and total volumes in blood loss, and hospitalized days were also assessed. All parameters were compared between two groups. There were no significant differences in T-WBC counts, monocyte fraction, platelet counts, TA levels, NSE levels, creatinine levels, BUN levels, the volumes of total urine output, PI, the incidences of fever and wound problem, postoperative 24hrs- and total-blood loss volumes and ICU-staying period between two groups (P>0.05). At CPB-OFF, neutrophil fraction, MPO level, TNI level, and AST level were higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). IL-6 level at CPB-10 was higher in the high dose-group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). Furthermore, mechanical ventilating periods and hospitalized days of the high-dose group were significantly longer than those of low-dose group (P<0.05). The high-dose group had significantly low lymphocyte fi-action at CPB-OFF compared with the low-dose group (P<0.001). These findings suggest that pretreatment of high-dose steroid is not superior to that of low-dose steroid regrading its potential benefits in pediatric cardiac surgery. Therefore, the conventional strategy of steroid treatment, high-dose pretreatment, should be modified in the cardiac surgery with CPB. However, further studies must be performed on the larger number of patients in as much as small number of patients in this study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.661-671
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• 2020

The resistance of cancer cells to anti-cancer drugs is the leading cause of chemotherapy failure. The clinical use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been gradually extended to cancer treatment through combination with anti-cancer drugs. In the current study, we investigated whether NSAIDs including celecoxib (CCB), 2,5-dimethyl celecoxib (DMC), and ibuprofen (IBU) could enhance the cytotoxic effects of imatinib and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) on human cancer cells. We found that the NSAIDs potentiated TRAIL and imatinib cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines SNU-354, SNU-423, SNU-449, and SNU-475/TR and against leukemic K562 cells with high level of CD44 (CD44^highK562), respectively. More specifically, CCB induced endoplasmic reticulum stress via up-regulation of ATF4/CHOP which is associated with the induction of autophagy against HCC and CD44^high K562 cells. NSAID-induced autophagic activity accelerated TRAIL cytotoxicity of HCC cells through up- and down-regulation of DR5 and c-FLIP, respectively. The NSAIDs also potentiated imatinib-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis through down-regulation of markers in CD44^highK562 cells that express a stemness phenotype. Our results suggest that the ability of NSAIDs to induce autophagy could enhance the cytotoxicity of TRAIL and imatinib, leading to a reverse resistance to these drugs in the cancer cells. In conclusion, NSAIDs in combination with low-dose TRAIL or imatinib may constitute a novel clinical strategy that maximizes therapeutic efficacy of each drug and effectively reduces the toxic side effects.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2011

In order to develop a environmentally friendly control protocol for managing tomato leaf mold disease in the field, we employed bacteria- and fungi-based commercially available microbial preparations. The field experiment was conducted from April to July in 2010. Average incidence rates tomato leaf mold caused by Fulvia fulva were 13.1% at the two plastic houses located in Jangsung, Jeonnam area. Initially 11 microbial preparations were tested for antifungal activity against F. fulva in vitro. Among them, 7 selected preparations showed to be inhibited the mycelial growth of the fungal pathogen over 50%. Four microbes suppressed disease incidence as much 50% under greenhouse condition. Eventually in the field two microbial products including Bacillus subtilis GB-0365 and B. subtilis KB-401 respectively were showed control value up to 71.8% for four times sprays from 20 days to 70 days after transplanting. Furthermore, the control value of three times spray program demonstrated 79.3%. Efficacy of the three and four spray programs was more effective than that of non-spray control treatment. Our results indicated that adjustment of application method of commercially available microbial preparation could be used to control a target plant disease as an effective and efficient crop protection system for organic farming.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.874-881
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• 2004

Angiogenesis has been implicated in progression of inflammation, arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis as well as tumor growth and metastasis. Intensive studies have been carried out to develop a strategy for cancer treatment by blocking angiogenesis. During angiogenesis, endothelial proliferation and migration essentially occurs upon activation. In this study, we compared the expression profiles of human umbilical endothelial cells activated by incubating in vitro in the rich medium containing several growth factors, and non-activated ones. cDNA targets derived from total RNAs of HUVEC activated for 13 h in M199 medium containing endothelial cell growth supplement, 20% fetal bovine serum, and heparin, after reaching 70～80% confluency, or non-activated, were hybridized onto oligonucleotide microarrays containing 1,8864 genetic elements. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis resulted in two subgroups on dendrogram exhibiting activated and non-activated HUVECs. We then extracted 122 outlier genes which were shown to be up-regulated or under-expressed by at least 2-folds in activated HUVECs. Among these, 32 annotated genes were up-regulated and 38 were down-regulated in activated HUVECs. Interestingly, genes involved in cell proliferation, motility, and inflammation/ immune response were up-regulated in activated HUVEC, whereas genes for cell adhesion or vessel morphogenesis/function were down-regulated. Unexpectedly, the expression of genes well-characterized as angiogenesis markers was not changed except Eph-B4, which was down-regulated about 4 folds. 52 unknown genes were also up- or down-regulated. Therefore, these results could provide an opportunity to targeting new vascular molecules for the development of anti-angiogenic molecules.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1360-1367
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• 2009

Liver fibrosis is a process of healing and scarring in response to chronic liver injury. Following injury, an acute inflammation response takes place resulting in moderate cell necrosis and extracellular matrix damage. To develop a novel therapeutic approach in hepatic fibrogenesis, we examined the simultaneous suppression of the transcription factors NF-$\kappa$B and Sp1, which regulate acute inflammation and continuous deposition of extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. We employed chimeric decoy oligodeoxynucleotide containing the consensus sequences of both NF-$\kappa$B and Sp1 binding sites, to suppress these transcription factors simultaneously. Treatment of chimeric decoy oligodeoxynucleotide reduced the activity of hepatic stellate cells in vitro, and decreased the expression of fibrotic and proinflammatory gene responses in a mouse model of liver fibrosis. These results suggest that chimeric decoy oligodeoxynucleotide strategy can be a potential therapeutic application to prevent liver fibrosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1299-1308
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• 2016

Our previous studies clearly demonstrated that a combination of WP 631 and Epo B has higher activity against ovarian cancer cells than either of these compounds used separately. In order to fully understand the exact mechanism of action in combination, we assessed effects on the cell cycle of SKOV-3 cells. We evaluated three control points essential for WP 631 and Epo B action to determine which cell cycle-regulating proteins (CDK1/cyclin B complex, EpCAM or HMGB1) mediate activity. The effects of the drug on the cell cycle were measured based on the nuclear DNA content using flow cytometry. Expression of cell cycle-regulating genes was analyzed using real-time PCR. It was discovered that WP 631, at the tested concentration, did not affect the SKOV-3 cell cycle. Epo B caused significant G2/M arrest, whereas the drug combination induced stronger apoptosis and lower mitotic arrest than Epo B alone. This is very important information from the point of view of the fight against cancer, as, while mitotic arrest in Epo B-treated cells could be overcame after DNA damage repair, apoptosis which occurs after mitotic slippage in combination-treated cells is irreversible. It clearly explains the higher activity of the drug combination in comparison to Epo B alone. Epo B acts via the CDK1/cyclin B complex and has the ability to inhibit CDK1, which may be a promising strategy for ovarian cancer treatment in the future. The drug combination diminishes EpCAM and HMGB1 expression to a greater degree than either WP 631 and Epo B alone. Owing to the fact that the high expression of these two proteins is a poor prognostic factor for ovarian cancer, a decrease in their expression, observed in our studies, may result in improved efficacy of cancer therapy. The presented findings show that the combination of WP 631 and Epo B is a better therapeutic option than either of these drugs alone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6327-6332
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• 2012

Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor occurring in human esophageal epithelial tissue. The primary purpose of this paper was to define the effects of ${\beta}$-carotene and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$, alone and in combination, on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer EC9706 cells. Treatment with different concentrations of ${\beta}$-carotene and/or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$. MTT assay showed that ${\beta}$-carotene and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ significantly inhibited proliferation of EC9706 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Further studies also demonstrated that ${\beta}$-carotene alone or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ alone caused a marked increase on the induction of apoptosis in EC9706 cells. The percentage of G0/G1-phase cells significantly increased on addition of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ alone, but there were no significant changes with ${\beta}$-carotene alone. These two agents in combination synergistically inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis. Therefore, our results indicate that ${\beta}$-carotene and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ in combination may provide a novel strategy for preventing and treating esophageal cancer.