Prediction of the Degree of Pollution of Reactive Dyeing Effluent by Using Computer Colour Matching Tehnique

Keith W. Y. Kwok,John H. Xin,K. M. Sin 한국색채학회 2000 AIC MEETING SEOUL Vol.2000 No.11

PREDICATION OF THE DEGREE OF POLLUTION OF REACTIVE DYEING EFFLUENT BY USING COMPUTER COLOUR MATCHING TECHNIQUE

W. Y. Kwok,John H. Xin,K. M. Sin 한국색채학회 2000 AIC MEETING SEOUL Vol.2000 No.11

The Efficacy of Herbal Supplement Danggui Buxue Tang for Relieving Menopausal Symptoms

( Eliza L. Y. Wong ),( Annie W. L. Cheung ),( C. J. Haines ),( C. C. Wang ),( Chun-kwok Wong ),( Karl W. K. Tsim ),( William K. F. Cheng ),( Ping-chung Leung ) 대한폐경학회 2022 대한폐경학회지 Vol.28 No.1

Objectives: This study aimed to further explore the efficacy and safety of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a simple herbal formula, for improving the quality of life of women suffering from menopausal symptoms. Methods: A third clinical trial to determine the clinical efficacy of high-dose DBT for a period of 12 weeks was carried out. The standard Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) assessment chart was used for the evaluation. Safety was defined as an absence of direct estrogenic effects, serum inflammatory cytokines. Notably, interleukin IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor TNF-α, known to be directly related to estrogenic reactions in menopause studies, were monitored. Results: The third clinical trial indicated an overall improvement in the four domains of MENQOL, offering further proof of the efficacy of DBT demonstrated in the two previous trials. The serial checks of the three cytokines related to estrogen activities did not show either upward or downward trends. The haphazard behavior reactions of the three cytokines offered indirect indications that DBT improved the MENQOL independently from estrogen activities. Conclusions: The three clinical trials using DBT to relieve menopausal syndrome have offered solid evidence for its efficacy. The uncertainty regarding whether the “phytoestrogen” contained in DBT had bioactivities similar to estrogen was alleviated through the confirmation that no strict estrogenic bioactivities were observed. The issue of safety was further clarified via laboratory platform studies on DBT, which not only showed the lack of similarity with estrogen actions but also confirmed the value of combining the two herbs in the classic formula.

Experimental Research on Steel Beam to Concrete Wall Joints under Cyclic Loading

Guo Qiang Li,Bing Qu,Fei Fei Sun,Goman W. M. Ho,Michael K. Y. Kwok 한국강구조학회 2003 韓國鋼構造學會誌 Vol.15 No.3

Conversion of osteoporotic-like vertebral fracture severity score to osteoporosis T-score equivalent status: A framework study for older Chinese men

Yì Xiáng J. Wáng,Jason C.S. Leung,Patti M.S. Lam,Timothy C.Y. Kwok 대한골다공증학회 2023 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.9 No.1

Objectives: To define what portion of older community men with what severity of radiographic osteoporotic-like vertebral fracture (OLVF) correspond to what low T-score status. Methods: There were 755 community Chinese men (age: 76.4 ± 6.7 years) with thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs, and hip and lumbar spine bone mineral density measures. For each vertebra in a subject, a score of 0, -0.5, -1, -1.5, -2, -2.5, and -3 was assigned for no OLVF or OLVF of <20%, ≥ 20 -25%, ≥2 5%-1/3, ≥ 1/3-40%, ≥ 40%-2/3, and ≥ 2/3 vertebral height loss, respectively. OLVFss was defined as the summed score of vertebrae T4 to L5. OLVFss and T-scores were ranked from the smallest to the largest values. Results: OLVFss of -2, -2.5, -3, corresponded to a mean femoral neck T-score of -2.297 (range: -2.355~- 2.247), -2.494 (range: -2.637~ -2.363), and -2.773 (range: -2.898~-2.643), a mean hip T-score of -2.311 (range: -2.420~-2.234), -2.572 (range: -2.708~-2.432), -2.911 (range: -3.134~-2.708), a mean lumbar spine T-score of -2.495 (range: -2.656~-2.403), -2.931 (range: -3.255~-2.664), and -3.369 (range: -3.525~-3.258). The Pearson correlation value of OLVFss and T-score of femoral neck, hip and lumbar spine was r = 0.21, 0.26, and 0.22 (all P < 0.0001). Conclusions: A single severe grade radiological OLVF (≥ 40% height loss) or OLVFss ≤ -2.5 suggest the subject is osteoporotic, and a single collapse grade (≥ 2/3 height loss) OLVF or OLVFss ≤ -3 meets osteoporosis diagnosis criterion. The results highlight the difficulty of diagnosing osteoporotic vertebral fractures among Chinese older men.

Effects of Fabric Surface Energy on Human Thermophysiological Responses during Exercise and Recovery

Zhou, L.Y.,Li, Y.,Chung, J.,Tokura, H.,Gohel, M.D.I.,Kwok, Y.L.,Feng, X.W. The Korean Fiber Society 2007 Fibers and polymers Vol.8 No.3

The present paper reports a study on influences of fabric surface energy of cotton and polyester garments on clothing microclimates and human thermophysiological responses during intermittent exercise and recovery. Eight healthy males wearing the garments prepared performed exercises and rest according to the following protocol: rest for 30 min, run on treadmill for total 60 min of three sessions with different intensity and duration, and then sit quietly for 30 min for recovery, all at $30^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of 30 %, while the microclimate humidity ($H_{mc}$) and temperature ($T_{mc}$), the clothing outside surface humidity ($H_{co}$) and temperature ($T_{co}$), the skin temperatures and ear canal temperature ($T_{ear_canal})$ were measured. The garments are made of: (a) hydrophilic and hydrophobic cotton knitted fabrics, and (b) hydrophilic and hydrophobic polyester knitted fabrics. During and after exercise, for cotton, hydrophilic garment resulted in significant lower ${\Delta}H_{mc}$, ${\Delta}H_{co}$, ${\Delta}T_{mc}$, during recovery, higher ${\Delta}{\bar{T}}_{sk}$, lower ${\Delta}T_{ear_canal}$ and ${\Delta}T_{forehead}$. For polyester, hydrophilic garment resulted in significantly lower ${\Delta}H_{co}$, ${\Delta}T_{co}$, higher ${\Delta}T_{forehead}$, during E1, E2 and recovery session but lower during E3. In summary, surface energy of cotton garments had significant influences on human thermophysiological responses during exercise and recovery, and hydrophilic cotton garment was better than hydrophobic one to reduce heat stress. Surface energy of polyester garments had influences of lower significance, and hydrophilic garment appeared better than hydrophobic garment.

TWEAK Promotes Osteoclastogenesis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Park, J.S.,Kwok, S.K.,Lim, M.A.,Oh, H.J.,Kim, E.K.,Jhun, J.Y.,Ju, J.H.,Park, K.S.,Park, Y.W.,Park, S.H.,Kim, H.Y.,Cho, Y.G.,Cho, M.L. American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriol 2013 The American journal of pathology Vol.183 No.3

Bone destruction is critical in the functional disability of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoclasts, specialized bone-resorbing cells regulated by cytokines, such as receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), are primarily implicated in bone destruction in RA. The aim of the study was to examine whether tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, has osteoclastogenic activity in patients with RA and in animal models, including mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and IL-1 receptor antagonist knockout (IL-1RaKO) mice. TWEAK was increased in the synovium, synovial fluid, and serum of patients with RA and in the synovium of CIA mice and IL-1RaKO mice. TWEAK induced RANKL expression in mixed joint cells and splenocytes from CIA mice, IL-1RaKO mice, and fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with RA. Both osteoclast precursor cells and osteoclasts express TWEAK receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14. In addition, TWEAK enhanced in vitro osteoclastogenesis without the presence of RANKL-providing cells and by inducing RANKL expression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Moreover, treatment with fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14-Fc inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, indicating that endogenous TWEAK also has osteoclastogenic activity. Our data demonstrated that TWEAK promotes osteoclastogenesis in RA, suggesting that therapeutic strategies targeting TWEAK could be effective for treatment of patients with RA, especially in preventing bone destruction.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in systemic lupus erythematosus: risk factors and clinical outcome: results from affiliated hospitals of Catholic University of Korea

Kwok, S-K,Moon, S-J,Ju, JH,Park, K-S,Kim, W-U,Cho, C-S,Kim, H-Y,Park, S-H SAGE Publications 2011 Lupus Vol.20 No.1

Up-regulated macrophage migration inhibitory factor protects apoptosis of dermal fibroblasts in patients with systemic sclerosis

Kim, J.-Y.,Kwok, S.-K.,Hur, K.-H.,Kim, H.-J.,Kim, N. S.,Yoo, S.-A.,Kim, W.-U.,Cho, C.-S. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2008 Clinical and experimental immunology Vol.152 No.2

<P>Summary</P><P>Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been demonstrated to regulate the apoptosis of several cell types. Dysregulated apoptosis of fibroblasts has been implicated in a variety of fibrotic diseases, including systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this study, we investigated the role of MIF in the apoptosis of dermal fibroblasts. The concentrations of MIF were measured in sera and in culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and dermal fibroblasts by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The degree of apoptosis was determined by colorimetric assay, and signalling pathways were examined by Western blot. The results showed that serum levels of MIF were significantly higher in patients with SSc (<I>n</I> = 47) than in healthy controls (<I>n</I> = 56). Stimulation of PBMCs by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 increased the production of MIF by fourfold over the constitutive levels. SSc dermal fibroblasts produced higher amounts of MIF than normal dermal fibroblasts. When treated with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), SSc dermal fibroblasts showed a lower degree of apoptosis compared with normal dermal fibroblasts. Exogenous MIF (1–100 ng/ml) inhibited SNP-induced apoptosis of dermal fibroblasts dose-dependently. Both extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor (PD98059) and protein kinase B (Akt) inhibitor (LY294002) almost completely blocked the inhibitory effect of MIF on apoptosis. Furthermore, MIF increased the expression of Bcl-2, phospho-ERK and phospho-Akt activity in dermal fibroblasts. Taken together, our data suggest that MIF released by activated T cells and dermal fibroblasts decreases the apoptosis of dermal fibroblasts through activation of ERK, Akt and Bcl-2 signalling pathways, which might be associated with excessive fibrosis in SSc.</P>

Detection of autoantibodies against aquaporin-5 in the sera of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Alam, J.,Koh, J. H.,Kim, N.,Kwok, S. K.,Park, S. H.,Song, Y. W.,Park, K.,Choi, Y. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 Immunologic research Vol.64 No.4

<P>The pathophysiology of exocrine dysfunction observed in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether autoantibodies against human AQP5 are present in the sera of SS patients. Frozen sections of mouse submandibular salivary glands, CHO cells over-expressing a human AQP5-GFP fusion protein or GFP, and MDCK cells over-expressing AQP5 were used in the indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect anti-AQP5 autoantibodies in the sera from patients with primary SS. The lysates of HEK-293 cells over-expressing the AQP5-GFP fusion protein or GFP were used for immunoprecipitation. Serum IgG from the SS patients but not from the control subjects stained acinar cells in the mouse salivary glands, the signals of which colocalized with those of AQP5-specific antibodies. Serum IgG from the SS patients also selectively stained AQP5-GFP expressed in CHO cells. However, both the control and SS sera immunoprecipitated the AQP5-GFP, suggesting that autoantibodies against AQP5 were also present in the control sera. The screening of 53 control and 112 SS samples by indirect immunofluorescence assay using the AQP5-expressing MDCK cells revealed the presence of significantly higher levels of anti-AQP5 IgG in the SS samples than in the control samples with sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.68. Furthermore, the presence of anti-AQP5 autoantibodies was associated with low resting salivary flow in SS patients. In conclusion, anti-AQP5 autoantibodies were detected in the sera from SS patients, which could be a novel biomarker of SS and provide new insight into the pathogenesis of SS.</P>