Ginsenoside Rg3 in combination with artesunate overcomes sorafenib resistance in hepatoma cell and mouse models

Ying-Jie Chen,Jia-Ying Wu,Yu-Yi Deng,Ying Wu,Xiao-Qi Wang,Amy Sze-man Li,Lut Yi Wong,Xiuqiong Fu,Zhi-Ling Yu,Chun Liang 고려인삼학회 2022 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.46 No.3

Sorafenib is effective in treating hepatoma, but most patients develop resistance to it. STAT3signaling has been implicated in sorafenib resistance. Artesunate (ART) and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3)have anti-hepatoma effects and can inhibit STAT3 signaling in cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluatethe effects of Rg3 in combination with ART (Rg3-plus-ART) in overcoming sorafenib resistance, and toexamine the involvement of STAT3 signaling in these effects. Methods: Sorafenib-resistant HepG2 cells (HepG2-SR) were used to evaluate the in vitro anti-hepatomaeffects of Rg3-plus-ART. A HepG2-SR hepatoma-bearing BALB/c-nu/nu mouse model was used to assessthe in vivo anti-hepatoma effects of Rg3-plus-ART. CCK-8 assays and Annexin V-FITC/PI double stainingwere used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Immunoblotting was employed toexamine protein levels. ROS generation was examined by measuring DCF-DA fluorescence. Results: Rg3-plus-ART synergistically reduced viability of, and evoked apoptosis in HepG2-SR cells, andsuppressed HepG2-SR tumor growth in mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rg3-plus-ART inhibitedactivation/phosphorylation of Src and STAT3 in HepG2-SR cultures and tumors. The combination alsodecreased the STAT3 nuclear level and induced ROS production in HepG2-SR cultures. Furthermore, overactivation of STAT3 or removal of ROS diminished the anti-proliferative effects of Rg3-plus-ART, andremoval of ROS diminished Rg3-plus-ART's inhibitory effects on STAT3 activation in HepG2-SR cells. Conclusions: Rg3-plus-ART overcomes sorafenib resistance in experimental models, and inhibition of Src/STAT3 signaling and modulation of ROS/STAT3 signaling contribute to the underlying mechanisms. Thisstudy provides a pharmacological basis for developing Rg3-plus-ART into a novel modality for treatingsorafenib-resistant hepatoma.

Methodological Study on the Evaluation of Face Mask Use Scale among Public Adult: Cross-Language and Psychometric Testing

Lam, Simon Ching,Chong, Andy Chun Yin,Chung, Jessie Yuk Seng,Lam, Ming Yee,Chan, Lai Man,Shum, Cho Yee,Wong, Eliza Yi Ni,Mok, Yat Man,Lam, Ming Tat,Chan, Man Man,Tong, Ka Ying,Chu, Oi Lee,Siu, Fong Ki 한국성인간호학회 2020 성인간호학회지 Vol.32 No.1

Purpose: This study aimed to establish the translation adequacy and examine the psychometric properties of FaceMask Use Scale (FMUS). Methods: This methodological study employed a cross-sectional design with repeatedmeasures. Phase 1 examined the equivalence and relevance of English and Chinese versions of FMUS. Phase2 examined the internal consistency, stability and construct validity. Different sample batches (213 universitystudents and 971 general public) were used appropriately for psychometric testing. The 2-phase data were collectedbetween January and April 2017. Results: In Phase 1, the semantic equivalence and relevance (item- and scale-levelcontent-validity-index=100%) was satisfactory. Furthermore, from 133 paired test-retest responses, the quadraticweighted kappa (.53~.73, p<.001) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC=.81) between the English andChinese version of FMUS were satisfactory. In Phase 2, FMUS demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency(Cronbach’s ⍺=.80~.81; corrected item-total correlation coefficients=.46~.67) and two-week test-retest stability(ICC=.84). The known-groups method (t=3.08, p<.001), exploratory (71.10% of total variance in two-factor model)and confirmatory factory analysis (x2/df=4.02, Root Mean Square Residual=.03, Root Mean Square Error ofApproximation=.06, Goodness of Fit Index=.99, Comparative Fit Index=.99) were all satisfactory for establishingthe construct validity. Conclusion: The FMUS has an equivalence Chinese and English versions, satisfactoryreliability and validity for measuring the practice of face mask use. This poses clinical and research implications forthose community health nurses who works on respiratory protection. Further research should be conducted on the‘negligent practice’ of FMU.

A New Scheme for Compensation of Unwanted Components of Instantaneous Load Power

Man-Chung WONG,Ying-Duo HAN,Heng-San LEONG,Hon-Pan SIO 전력전자학회 1998 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.- No.-

In practice, not only the load current but also the load voltage may contain asymmetric and harmonic components. Instantaneous power using p-q theory is analyzed to have compensation of reactive power, harmonics and asymmetry at the same time. In this paper, the limitation of p-q theory by using only shunt or series active filter is analyzed. A new scheme is proposed to solve the above issues.

Role of microRNA-520h in 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3-mediated angiosuppression

Man-Hong Keung,Lai-Sheung Chan,Hoi-Hin Kwok,Ricky Ngok-Shun Wong,Patrick Ying-Kit Yue 고려인삼학회 2016 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.40 No.2

Background: Ginsenoside-Rg3, the pharmacologically active component of red ginseng, has been found to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis in various cancer models. Previously, we found that 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3 (Rg3) could inhibit angiogenesis. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to affect many biological processes, they might play an important role in ginsenosidemediated angiomodulation. Methods: In this study, we examined the underlying mechanisms of Rg3-induced angiosuppression through modulating the miRNA expression. In the miRNA-expression profiling analysis, six miRNAs and three miRNAs were found to be up- or down-regulated in vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-induced human-umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after Rg3 treatment, respectively. Results: A computational prediction suggested that mature hsa-miR-520h (miR-520h) targets ephrin receptor (Eph) B2 and EphB4, and hence, affecting angiogenesis. The up-regulation of miR-520h after Rg3 treatment was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the protein expressions of EphB2 and EphB4 were found to decrease, respectively. The mimics and inhibitors of miR- 520h were transfected into HUVECs and injected into zebra-fish embryos. The results showed that overexpression of miR-520h could significantly suppress the EphB2 and EphB4 protein expression, proliferation, and tubulogenesis of HUVECs, and the subintestinal-vessel formation of the zebra fish. Conclusion: These results might provide further information on the mechanism of Rg3-induced angiosuppression and the involvement of miRNAs in angiogenesis.

Role of microRNA-520h in 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3-mediated angiosuppression

Keung, Man-Hong,Chan, Lai-Sheung,Kwok, Hoi-Hin,Wong, Ricky Ngok-Shun,Yue, Patrick Ying-Kit The Korean Society of Ginseng 2016 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.40 No.2

Background: Ginsenoside-Rg3, the pharmacologically active component of red ginseng, has been found to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis in various cancer models. Previously, we found that 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3 (Rg3) could inhibit angiogenesis. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to affect many biological processes, they might play an important role in ginsenoside-mediated angiomodulation. Methods: In this study, we examined the underlying mechanisms of Rg3-induced angiosuppression through modulating the miRNA expression. In the miRNA-expression profiling analysis, six miRNAs and three miRNAs were found to be up- or down-regulated in vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-induced human-umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after Rg3 treatment, respectively. Results: A computational prediction suggested that mature hsa-miR-520h (miR-520h) targets ephrin receptor (Eph) B2 and EphB4, and hence, affecting angiogenesis. The up-regulation of miR-520h after Rg3 treatment was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the protein expressions of EphB2 and EphB4 were found to decrease, respectively. The mimics and inhibitors of miR- 520h were transfected into HUVECs and injected into zebra-fish embryos. The results showed that overexpression of miR-520h could significantly suppress the EphB2 and EphB4 protein expression, proliferation, and tubulogenesis of HUVECs, and the subintestinal-vessel formation of the zebra fish. Conclusion: These results might provide further information on the mechanism of Rg3-induced angiosuppression and the involvement of miRNAs in angiogenesis.

中文教與學處理學生學習差異的原則和策略

Tse Shek Kam,Wong Man Ying,Laing Victor,Wu Kam Fong,Tsui Pik Fong,To Heiken,Lam Lu Sai 단국대학교 한문교육연구소 2020 International Han-character Education Research Vol.3 No.1

홍콩에는 예부터 지금까지 파키스탄, 인도, 네팔 등에서 온 이민들을 포함하여, 비중국어권 아동들이 적지 않다. 평등교육의 이념을 표방하는 홍콩평등기회위원회(香港平等機會委員會)는 비중국어권 학습자들이 중국어권 학습자들과 같은 학교에서 학습하기를 건의하여 그들이 최대한 빠른 시일 내에 홍콩 사회로 융화되게 하려 하였다. 이로 인해, 비중국어권 아동들은 홍콩 현지의 일반 유치원을 다니게 되었는데, 홍콩의 교육 관할 당국도 적지 않은 자원을 투입하여 이들이 현지 교육과정에 적응할 수 있도록 협조하였으나, 그 효과를 즉각적으로 확인할 수는 없었다. 그 중 가장 큰 문제는 학습의 차이를 처리하는 것이었다. 비중국어권 아동들의 중국어 실력은 모국어 수준에 미치지는 못했다. 이들이 중국어권 아동들과 함께 중국어 수업에 참여할 때 적잖은 어려움이 발행했다. 또한, 비중국어권 아동들의 성장 배경도 각기 달랐다. 신이민자 가정의 아동도 있고, 현지에서 출생한 소수 민족 아동도 있어, 이러한 학습자 사이의 중국어 수준의 차이도 존재했다. 이밖에도 소수민족과 홍콩의 문화적 차이 또한 매우 커서 모든 교사와 아동은 ‘학습’과 ‘교수’ 두 측면에서 모두 여러 가지 차이로 인해 발생하는 문제들을 처리해야 했다. 이처럼 비중국어권 학습자들이 홍콩에서 중국어를 배우는 것은 매우 쉽지 않았다. 상술한 문제들을 해결하기 위해서 경마회 자선기금 및 다섯 단체의 공영교육 사회복지기구는 「경마회의 재밌는 중국어 배우기(賽馬會(有)友趣學中文)」 라는 프로젝트를 추진하여, 중국어를 모국어로 갖지 않는 학습자들이 효과적으로 중국어 학습 하여 빠르게 사회에 융화되도록 도왔다. 본 프로 젝트는 수준별 교육과정, 수준별 교재, 수준별 학습법, 수준별 교구, 수준별 평가와 다층적 교학법을 설계하고 지원하여 학습 차이에서 생기는 어려움을 해결하는 데 도움을 주었다. 본고에서는 연구 이론과 설계, 데이터 수집 및 연구 결과를 상세히 서술하고, 효과적인 사례에 대해 상세하게 서술하려고 한다. 이러한 연구 성과는 세계 각지에 광범위하게 적용될 수 있을 것이다. The majority of non-Chinese speaking (NCS) young students are studying in mainstream kindergartens. They are of ethnic groups, for instance, Pakistani, Indian, and Nepalese, who are new immigrants or offspring of immigrants in the past. The Equal Opportunities Commission encourages NCS students to study together with Chinese speaking students, for the sake of social inclusion in the long run. In recent years, the Education Bureau has allocated more resources in supporting NCS students for early adaption to the local education system. However, its effect is not predominant. It is believed that managing individual learning differences is one of the major challenges. NCS students is generally lagging behind those with Chinese as their mother tongue in the Chinese proficiency. Therefore, problems and complications arise as the result of the two groups of students studying in the same environment. Dissimilarities exist even among NCS students, some are new immigrants while some are born in Hong Kong. While there are obvious cultural differences between ethnic minorities and local Hong Kong students, teachers face challenges in handling these disparities. NCS students learning Chinese in Hong Kong is not an easy task. Regarding all these above, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in collaboration with three universities and two social welfare organizations have initiated the “C-for-Chinese@JC” project. It supported NCS students learning Chinese, as well as facilitated early social inclusion. The project developed differentiated school-based curriculum, differentiated teaching and learning materials, differentiated pedagogies and assessment, and varied support measures to kindergartens. Language development of non-Chinese speaking kindergarteners was tracked longitudinally in each of their pre-school years that composed of four language assessments. Significant improvement of language learning results was observed during the three years, which proved the effects of differentiate teaching and learning system. The system is able to alleviate the learning difficulties of NCS preschoolers and bridge the learning differences. This paper detailed research theories and design, data collection, research findings, and analysis of successful cases. The findings of this research could be applied in different settings internationally and be globally referenced.

香港幼兒書寫漢字的“過渡字”硏究

( Shek Kam Tse ),( Man Ying Wong ),( Toi Na Lee ),( Sing Pui To Chan ) 한국한자한문교육학회 2014 漢字 漢文敎育 Vol.34 No.-

중국 대륙이나 홍콩 등의 지역적 구분에 관계없이 “유치원에서 학생들에게 한 자 쓰기를 가르쳐야 하는가?”는 오랜 동안 쟁론의 대상이 되어왔다. 이에 대해 홍콩교육국에서는 “한자와 어휘 쓰기”를 명확하게 교육목표로 설정 하고, 학생들로 하여금 정확히 한자를 씀으로써 자신의 생각을 문자 쓰기를 통해 표현하도록 하였다. 때문에 홍콩에서의 유치원 학생들을 대상으로 하는 한자 쓰기 교육은 한자 자형의 균형성과 비율, 정확한 필획과 그 형태를 학습하는 것을 목적으로 하고 있다. 이런 이유로 전통적인 한자 모사를 통해 한자의 자형을 학습하는 방법이외에 다른 어떤 방법이 유아들의 한자 쓰기 교육을 수행할 수 있는 지가는 매우 중요하고도 의미 있는 연구 과제이다. 이 문제에 대해 본 연구는 유아들에게 자유롭게 그림을 그리고 쓰는 방법을 채 용하였다. 우선 유아들이 “자유로운 쓰기”의 할동을 통해 한자 쓰기를 학습할 수 있는가를 관찰하였고, 이와 동시에 “자유로운 쓰기”와 기존이 “정식 쓰기 연습”이 쓰기 활동에 어떤 영향을 미치는가를 비교 연구하였다. 이 연구를 통해 대부분의 3, 4세 유아들은 아직까지 필순에 따라 안정된 형태의 한자 쓰기를 할 수 없었음을 발견하였다. 그러나 이 연구를 통해 우리는 유아들은 불규칙한 선을 따라 쓰는 단계로부터 천천히 안정된 형태의 한자 쓰기로 변화되 는 일련의 과정이 있음을 발견하였다. 이렇게 초기 단계에서 안정된 형태의 한자 자형 쓰기로 넘어가는 단계를 “중간 단계 쓰기 한자 자형(過渡字)”이라고 할 수 있다. 유아들의 “중간 단계 쓰기 한자 자형(過渡字)”을 부정하는 것이 아니라 인 정하는 것이 유아들이 한자를 인지하고 이를 통해 필순의 학습까지 이르게 할 수 있다. 이 단계에서 교사들은 “정자”와 “필순”의 문제에 너무 집착하여 유아들이 “외관적 아름다움을 지닌 표준자형”을 쓰도록 강요하고 유아들의 한자 쓰기를 제 한함으로써 유아들의 한자 쓰기 능력의 발전을 방해하거나 저해하여서는 않도록 해야 한다. 이를 통해 볼 때, “중간 단계 쓰기 한자 자형(過渡字)” 사용은 유아들 의 문자 독해 능력과 쓰기 능력의 발전을 도울 수 있는 매우 중요한 시기임을 인 식해야 한다. Should pre-schoolers start learning how to write Chinese characters? This has been a controversial topic among the public and education circle in mainland China and Hong Kong. In the 60`s and 70`s, as writing was part of the requirement for Primary One admission tests, kindergartens had to start preparing children by drilling them into practicing writing. This was a painful experience for many pre-schoolers as their cognitive development at that age were not ready to differentiate and identify character structure and character stroke sequence. Many of them lost interest in learning Chinese characters, although some of them did pick up this required skill from mere drilling. This practice has been discouraged by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong Government. However, some kindergarten teachers and parents still keep this practice. This study will focus on free writing and drawing for preschoolers, and attempts to investigate if children are able to write characters during free writing and drawing sessions, through participant observation and case studies. The study will also make comparisons between what preschoolers write during free writing and drawing when there is no pressure and the conventional characters they would write during normal lessons. At the tender age of 3 to 4, children are not able to follow through the conventional learning process of characters writing. Hence if they can also practice emergent writing where they are allowed to form emergent characters or even drawings during free writing, this can help them to recognize the characters though the stroke sequence or even the characters written may not be precise by conventional standards. This interim stage of learning has found to be important for reading and beneficial for preschoolers to write conventional characters better at a later stage.

Korean Red Ginseng extract induces angiogenesis through activation of glucocorticoid receptor

Wai-Nam Sung,Hoi-Hin Kwok,Man-Hee Rhee,Patrick Ying-Kit Yue,Ricky Ngok-Shun Wong 고려인삼학회 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.4

Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated that ginsenoside-Rg1 can promote angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo through activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Furthermore, microRNA(miRNA) expression profiling has shown that Rg1 can modulate the expression of a subset of miRNAs to induce angiogenesis. Moreover, Rb1 was shown to be antiangiogenic through activation of a different pathway. These studies highlight the important functions of miRNAs on ginseng-regulated physiological processes. The aim of this study was to determine the angiogenic properties of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KGE). Methods and Results: Combining in vitro and in vivo data, KGE at 500 mg/mL was found to induce angiogenesis. According to the miRNA sequencing, 484 differentially expressed miRNAs were found to be affected by KGE. Among them, angiogenic-related miRNAs; miR-15b, -23a, -214, and -377 were suppressed by KGE. Meanwhile, their corresponding angiogenic proteins were stimulated, including vascular endothelial growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and MET transmembrane tyrosine kinase. The miRNAs-regulated signaling pathways of KGE were then found by Cignal 45-Pathway Reporter Array, proving that KGE could activate GR. Conclusion: KGE was found capable of inducing angiogenesis both in vivo and in vitro models through activating GR. This study provides a valuable insight into the angiogenic mechanisms depicted by KGE in relation to specific miRNAs.

Korean Red Ginseng extract induces angiogenesis through activation of glucocorticoid receptor

Sung, Wai-Nam,Kwok, Hoi-Hin,Rhee, Man-Hee,Yue, Patrick Ying-Kit,Wong, Ricky Ngok-Shun The Korean Society of Ginseng 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.4

Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated that ginsenoside-Rg1 can promote angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo through activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Furthermore, microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling has shown that Rg1 can modulate the expression of a subset of miRNAs to induce angiogenesis. Moreover, Rb1 was shown to be antiangiogenic through activation of a different pathway. These studies highlight the important functions of miRNAs on ginseng-regulated physiological processes. The aim of this study was to determine the angiogenic properties of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KGE). Methods and Results: Combining in vitro and in vivo data, KGE at $500{\mu}g/mL$ was found to induce angiogenesis. According to the miRNA sequencing, 484 differentially expressed miRNAs were found to be affected by KGE. Among them, angiogenic-related miRNAs; miR-15b, -23a, -214, and -377 were suppressed by KGE. Meanwhile, their corresponding angiogenic proteins were stimulated, including vascular endothelial growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and MET transmembrane tyrosine kinase. The miRNAs-regulated signaling pathways of KGE were then found by Cignal 45-Pathway Reporter Array, proving that KGE could activate GR. Conclusion: KGE was found capable of inducing angiogenesis both in vivo and in vitro models through activating GR. This study provides a valuable insight into the angiogenic mechanisms depicted by KGE in relation to specific miRNAs.

促進學習的漢字書寫評고工具: 面向母語非華語的學生

사석김 ( Tse Shek Kam ),황민형 ( Wong Man Ying ) 한국한자한문교육학회 2012 漢字 漢文敎育 Vol.28 No.-

漢字的構字單位, 可以從整字、部件和筆劃三個層次來分析, 硏究者圍繞這三個層次, 以及타們的關係, 探究書寫的規律, 書寫常見的錯誤。香港的非華語學生, 書寫漢字的困難和錯誤又不同於香港本地學生(母語爲中文)。本硏究以香港非華語學生學習中文的過程爲硏究基礎。透過書寫筆劃、部件·字·詞及句子方面, 設計出一個寫字評고工具, 以評고非華語學生的書寫表現及能力。 This paper gives details of a procedure for assessing the progress made by non-Chinese students learning to write Chinese in Hong Kong. Although the steps involved, the rules to be followed and errors made by native speakers of Chinese learning to write Chinese are well documented, little has been reported about the difficulties encountered by non-native Chinese students trying to write in Chinese. The latter have difficulties and make errors that are different from those faced and made by native speakers. Chinese words are non-alphabetic in form and consist of whole characters, components and strokes that constitute words. The paper describes an assessment procedure that focuses on mastery of Chinese characters, components and strokes in isolation, in whole words and in sentences, and the particular problems experienced by the non-Chinese speaking learner.