• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제14권5호
• /
• pp.463-477
• /
• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Many studies have suggested that Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) and its extract are anticancer agents. However, RVS had limited use because it contains urushiol, an allergenic toxin. By improving an existing allergen-removal extraction method, we developed a new allergen-free Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract (RVSE) with higher flavonoid content. In this study, we examined whether RVSE inhibits the ability of AGS gastric cancer cells to migrate and invade. MATERIALS/METHODS: The flavonoids content of RVSE was analyzed by HPLC. The effects of RVSE on migration and invasion in AGS cells were analyzed by each assay kit. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) protein expression was analyzed by protein antibody array. The Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 were assayed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: RVSE treatment with 0-100 ㎍/mL dose-dependently reduced the ability of AGS cells to migrate and invade. Notably, treatment with RVSE strongly inhibited the expression of MMP-9 and uPA and the phosphorylation of STAT3. In contrast, RVSE treatment dramatically increased the expression of PAI-1. These results indicate that the inhibition of MMP-9 and uPA expression and STAT3 phosphorylation and the stimulation of PAI-1 expression contributed to the decreased migration and invasion of AGS cells treated with RVSE. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that RVSE may be used as a natural herbal agent to reduce gastric cancer metastasis.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• 제5권4호
• /
• pp.283-293
• /
• 2005

Our previous study showed that a novel synthetic shikonin derivative, 6-(1-hydroxyimino-4-methylpentyl)5,8-dimethyoxy 1,4-naphthoquinone S-52 (DMNQ S-52) induced apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated its anti-metastatic activities as compared with shikonin because DMNQ S-52 was synthesized for overcoming weak points of shikonin such as high toxicity, low solubility and deleterious effects. DMNQ S-52 showed the weaker cytotoxicity $(IC_{50};\;12.3{\pm}1.6\;{\mu}M)$ against Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells than that of shikonin $(IC_{50};\;4.2{\pm}1.1\;{\mu}M)$. DMNQ S-52, at non-toxic concentrations $(less\;than\;10\;{\mu}M)$, significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of LLC cells. DMNQ S-52 also significantly inhibited the production of MMP-9, MTl-MMP and uPAR. Moreover, daily i.p. administration of DMNQ S-52 at dose of 5 mg/kg in mice resulted in a potent inhibition of the primary tumor size of LLC in the lung as well as the metastasis of lymph nodes. These findings suggest that the DMNQ S-52 has therapeutic potential to inhibit metastasis via inhibition of MMP family and uPA/plasminogen system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.301-311
• /
• 2020

In this study, shear strength behavior of fine-grained soils was investigated under unsaturated conditions. The samples in the unsaturated state were subjected to a net normal stress (σ-u_a) of 40 kPa and different matric suctions (u_a-u_w) of 50, 100 and 150 kPa. The matric suction values applied in the triaxial tests were selected according to the bubbling pressures determined from the SWC curves. The study was carried out on prepared re-constituted cylindrical samples by uniaxial consolidation of soil slurries. First, consolidated drained (CD) triaxial compression tests were performed on the saturated samples and the cohesion and angle of internal friction were determined. After that, drained triaxial compression tests under matric suctions were performed on the unsaturated samples. In order to obtain unsaturated test results, cohesion and internal friction angle values of saturated samples were used. The nonlinear surface representing the shear strength surface was approximated consisting of two planes (double planar surface). The reason for the nonlinear behavior of some soils is that the amount of sand content contained in it is relatively high and the bubbling pressure/permanent water content value is relatively low.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.207-219
• /
• 2014

Three-dimensional (3D) culture system is useful technique for study of in vivo environment and it was used various experiments. This study was investigated to establish of embryo co-culture system and changes of PAs activity in 3D cultured endometrial cells of pigs. In results, growth of stromal cells into gel matrix were detected only with endometrial and myometrial cells. The most rapid growth of stromal cells were confirmed in $2.5{\times}10^5cells/ml$ and gel matrix containing 15% FBS. Expression of urokinase-PA (uPA) after treatment of hCG (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 IU/ml) were higher than without hCG, but, there are not significant difference among the treatment. On the other hand, expression of uPA after treatment of $IL-1{\beta}$ (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml) were higher than without $IL-1{\beta}$, but, there are not significant difference. Expression of uPA after treatment of estrogen (0.2, 2, 20 and 200 ng/ml) were not difference, but PA activity was significantly decreased (p<0.05). Blastocyst was producing in PZM-3 medium containing FBS and endometrial cells were grown in PZM-3 medium. When embryos development with cultured endometrial cells, cleavage rates were not significant difference and blastocyst were not produced in co-culture with stromal cells and 3D culture system. 3D culture system had similar activity to in vivo tissue and these features are very useful for study of in vivo physiology. Nevertheless 3D culture system was not proper in embryo co-culture system. Therefore, we suggest that 3D culture system with embryo co-culture need continuous research.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• 제48권3호
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases. Materials and Methods: Ten patients with oral and maxillofacial diseases and 28 volunteers drawn from our student doctors were examined by shear wave elastography with a 14-MHz linear transducer using an Aplio 300 apparatus (Canon Medical Systems, Otawara, Japan). A statistical analysis of the shear elastic modulus(kPa) of healthy tissue (the sublingual gland, submandibular gland, anterior belly of the digastric muscle, and geniohyoid muscle) in the 28 volunteers was performed using 1-way repeated measures analysis of variance with the Tukey honest significant difference test. The maximum shear elastic modulus(kPa) of 8 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 2 patients with benign lesions was evaluated with the Mann-Whitney U test. The analysis used a 5% significance level. Results: The mean shear elastic modulus of the sublingual gland ($9.4{\pm}3.7kPa$) was lower than that of the geniohyoid muscle ($19.2{\pm}9.2kPa$, P=.000) and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle ($15.3{\pm}6.1kPa$, P=.004). The maximum shear elastic modulus of the SCCs($109.6{\pm}14.4kPa$) was higher than that of the benign lesions($46.4{\pm}26.8kPa$, P=.044). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the usefulness of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases. Shear wave elastography has the potential to be an effective technique for the objective and quantitative diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases.

• 한국의료질향상학회지
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.11-28
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to derive implication on the adoption of PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) to improve quality of care in South Korea. With this purpose, the paper examines the status of PROMs in South Korea and other countries including OECD's PaRIS (Patient Reported Indicators Survey) initiative, and reviews policy cases that have adopted PROMs to improve performance of healthcare system. Methods: We conducted literature review on OECD reports on PaRIS, peer-reviewed journals, and information from the websites of relevant institutions such as ICHOM, NQF and OECD. Results: To identify healthcare services of best values and support patient-centered health system, OECD has initiated PaRIS which develops, collects and analyzes patient-reported indicators for cross-countries comparison. PaRIS is implemented on two work streams: 1) collect, validate and standardize PROMs in the areas where patient-reported indicators already exist such as breast cancers, hip and knee replacement, and mental conditions, 2) develop a new international survey on multiple chronic conditions. Countries like England, U.S., Sweden and Netherlands use PROMs for measuring performance of hospitals and performance evaluation at the national level, and provide the financial incentives for reporting PROMs. Conclusions: The use of PROMs can support the current policy agenda that is the patient-centered healthcare system which has been emphasized to reinforce the primary and the community-based care. For the use of PROMs, it is recommended to actively participate in PaRIS initiative by OECD, select appropriate instruments for PROMs, and continue on standardization of them. This will assure patients' involvement in improving health system performance, systemize information generated in the process of adopting PROMs, and develop a system to evaluate performance.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.58-66
• /
• 2006

목적: 방사선에 의한 신장손상은 궁극적으로 신장 섬유화로 인한 신부전으로 나타나며 여기에는 세포외기질의 변화가 동반된다. 방사선 신장손상에서 신사구체 상피세포의 역할을 알아보기 위하여 방사선에 의한 세포외기질과 연관된 여러 유전자 발현의 변화를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 백서 사구체 상피세포 (rat glomerular epithelial cell: GEpC) 에 6 MV 선형가속기 (Siemens, USA)를 이용하여 0, 2, 5, 10, 20 Gy 의 단일 방사선량을 조사한 후 각각 6, 24, 48, 72 시간에 시료를 채취하였다. Northern blot, Western blot, Zymography를 이용하여 fibronectin (Fn), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (Pai-1), matrix metalloproteinases-2, 9 (MMP-2, 9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metallproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA)의 발현을 측정하였다. 결과: GEpC 에 대한 10 Gy 단일 방사선 조사후 24 시간부터 Fn mRNA 가 유의한 증가를 나타냈으며 48 시간에 측정한 Fn 단백질은 5, 10 Gy 의 방사선량에서 유의하게 증가되었다. 방사선조사에 의해서 Pai-1 유전자의 발현도 mRNA 및 단백질 단계에서 증가되었으며, 특히 10Gy 조사 후 24, 48 시간에 측정한 mRNA 의 증가는 통계적으로 유의하였다. GEpC에 방사선조사 후 24 시간에 측정한 MMP-2 활성형은 방사선량에 따라 증가하였으나 통계학적 유의성은 없었다. 그밖의 MMP-9, TIMP-2, t-PA 와 u-PA 는 아무런 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 결론 : 방사선에 의하여 GEpC에서 세포외 기질과 관련된 유전자 발현의 번화가 관찰되었으며 이는 방사선 신장 손상에 GEpC가 관여함을 나타낸다.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
• /
• 제16권1호
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 2004

활하중 4903Pa를 적용하여 최소깊이로 최적 설계한, 실물크기 U형 보에 대하여 전단경간과 내민보 길이를 다르게 하여 4번의 전단실험을 수행하였다. 토핑 콘크리트를 타설한 경간 10.5m 실물크기 U형 합성보는 보의 폭/깊이 비가 2이상이다. 이프리캐스트 프리스트레스트 보의 단부 전단거동을 평가하는 과정에서 다음과 같은 결론을 얻을 수 있었다. 1) 이 합성 U형 보는 최종파괴에 이를 때까지 일체 거동하였으며, 강도설계 규준에 합당한 휨과 전단거동을 보여주었다. 2) 본 연구결과의 범위 안에서, 본 연구에서 고려한 보깊이가 얕은 U형 보의 전체정착길이는 집중하중 위치에 대한 ACI 정착길이 요구식이 정착부착파괴의 가부를 결정하는 기준이 되었다 3) 단부쪽에 발생한 전단균열은 모두 정착파괴로 연결되는 것이 아니며, 선행된 슬립이 존재할 때 정착부착파괴로 유도될 수 있다. 4) 보 중앙축 부근의 일반휨철근은 보의 연성파괴를 유도하는 역할을 위하여 효과적으로 활용될 수 있다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권6호
• /
• pp.2887-2889
• /
• 2012

Malignant tumors have a capacity to degrade the extracellular matrix by controlled proteolysis. One system involved in these processes is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system. uPAR levels are elevated in tumors from several types of cancer. Our study was planned to investigate serum and urine levels of uPAR in breast cancer patients (n=180) and healthy controls (n=60) by ELISA. Serum (p<0.001) and urine (p<0.001) uPAR values in the patients were both significantly elevated. High serum and urine levels of uPAR can be used as diagnostic tools in lymph node positive patients.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제38권2호
• /
• pp.63-70
• /
• 2014

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine proteases that convert plasminogen to plasmin. Two type of PAs are urokinase-type PA (uPA) and tissue-type PA (tPA). Plasminogen is present in most extracellular fluids. PAs play in various reproductive processes including implantation, ovulation and fertilization. In the spermatozoa, PAs and PAIs play a role in sperm motility and fertilization. PAs in the sertoli cell are stimulated spermatozoa maturation and sperm activation through the phospholipase A2. The oocyte maturation is the process for fertilization and implantation. PAs in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) are related to oocyte maturation by protein kinase A and C. In the ovulatory process, PAs activity are changed and it are related to reducing the tensile strength of ovarian follicle wall. The uterine environment is important for reproduction and the uterus undergo tissue remodeling. In the uterus and oviduct of mammals, expression and activity of PAs are changed during estrous cycle. Thus, expression and activity of PAs are concerned to many reproductive functions. Therefore, PAs seem to important factor of regulator in reproductive events.