Peroxiredoxin II promotes hepatic tumorigenesis through cooperation with Ras/Forkhead box M1 signaling pathway

Park, Y-H,Kim, S-U,Kwon, T-H,Kim, J-M,Song, I-S,Shin, H-J,Lee, B-K,Bang, D-H,Lee, S-J,Lee, D-S,Chang, K-T,Kim, B-Y,Yu, D-Y Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016 Oncogene Vol.35 No.27

<P>The current study was carried out to define the involvement of Peroxiredoxin (Prx) II in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying molecular mechanism(s). Expression and function of Prx II in HCC was determined using H-ras(G12V)-transformed HCC cells (H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells) and the tumor livers from H-ras(G12V)-transgenic (Tg) mice and HCC patients. Prx II was upregulated in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells and H-ras(G12V)-Tg mouse tumor livers, the expression pattern of which highly similar to that of forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1). Moreover, either knockdown of FoxM1 or site-directed mutagenesis of FoxM1-binding site of Prx II promoter significantly reduced Prx II levels in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells, indicating FoxM1 as a direct transcription factor of Prx II in HCC. Interestingly, the null mutation of Prx II markedly decreased the number and size of tumors in H-ras(G12V)-Tg livers. Consistent with this, knockdown of Prx II in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells reduced the expression of cyclin D1, cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and tumor formation in athymic nude mice, whereas overexpression of Prx II increased or aggravated the tumor phenotypes. Importantly, the expression of Prx II was correlated with that of FoxM1 in HCC patients. The activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of FoxM1 and cyclin D1 were highly dependent on Prx II in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells and H-ras(G12V)-Tg livers. Prx II is FoxM1-dependently- expressed antioxidant in HCC and function as an enhancer of Ras(G12V) oncogenic potential in hepatic tumorigenesis through activation of ERK/FoxM1/cyclin D1 cascade.</P>

Glucose와 Phosphate가 제거된 M-TALP 배지에서의 난구세포 공배양에 의한 임신율 향상에 관한 연구

정범식,장우현,이문희,김지연,방지호,김규현,서태광,Chung, B.S.,Chang, W.H.,Lee, M.H.,Kim, J.Y.,Bang, J.H.,Kim, K.H.,Suh, T.K. 대한생식의학회 1999 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.26 No.1

The beneficial effect of glucose and phosphate ions in culture medium on the development of human embryos in vitro has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of fertilization and culture of embryos in glucose/phosphate-free m-TALP medium on pregnancy rates in IVF-ET program. The patients in 244 IVF-ET cycles received GnRH agonist + HMG regimens. A does of 10,000 IU HCG was administered when two or more dominent follicles reached 18mm in diameter. Thirty-six hours after HCG, oocytes were recovered transvaginally using ultrasound guidance. Aspirated oocytes were matured for 4 to 6 h in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% follicular fluid (FF). Insemination was carried out with 50,000 motile spermatozoa in TCM-199 + 10% FF or m-TALP + 5% FF + 5% fetal cord serum (FCS) according to experimental design. After 6 h, oocytes were washed 3 to 4 times and cultured in each fresh medium. After 20 h, oocytes were freed from cumulus/corona cells and examined for the presence of pronuclei. Fertilized oocytes were transferred into each co-culture drops and cultured for further incubation. On day 3, embryo transfer was performed with grade 1 and 2 embryos. Monolayers for co-culture of embryos were prepared by plating $1{\times}10^5$ cumulus cells/ml in 10ul drop of TCM-199 + 10% FF or m-TALP + 5% FF + 5% FCS media 24 h prior to the onset of co-culture. Development to 4 to 16 cell stage was observed at 70x magnification following two days of incubation. Pregnancy was confirmed by detecting increasing serum ${\beta}$-hCG concentrations for 11 days following embryo transfer. Data were analyzed by ${\chi}^2$-test. Oocytes from 244 IVF-ET cycles were randomized. The number of cycles and mean age of patients were 97 and 147, 31.3 yrs and 31.2 yrs for TCM-199 (control) and m-TALP groups, respectively. The mean number of retrieved oocytes/cycle, fertilization rates, number of embryos transferred/ET and pregnancy rates were 11.1 and 10.3, 65.1% and 67.3%, 4.1 and 4.7, 28.9% and 43.8% for TCM-199 and m-TALP groups, respectively. Differences in the pregnancy rates were found between control and m-TALP groups (p<0.05). The pregnancy rate of patients divided according to maternal age groups of ${\leq}30$, 31-35, $36{\leq}$ were 44.4% and 49.0%, 26.1% and 41.3%, 29.2% and 41.2% for control and m-TALP groups, respectively. These data indicate that culture of human embryos in glucose/phosphate-free m-TALP medium improves pregnancy rates.

Sanitizing radish seeds by simultaneous treatments with gaseous chlorine dioxide, high relative humidity, and mild heat

Bang, J.,Choi, M.,Son, H.,Beuchat, L.R.,Kim, Y.,Kim, H.,Ryu, J.H. Elsevier Science Publishers 2016 International journal of food microbiology Vol.237 No.-

<P>Sanitizing radish seeds intended for edible sprout production was achieved by applying simultaneous treatments with gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2), high relative humidity (RH, 100%), and mild heat (55 degrees C). Gaseous ClO2 was produced from aqueous ClO2 (0.66 ml) by mixing sulfuric acid (5% w/v) with sodium chlorite (10 mg/mL) in a sealed container (1.8 L). Greater amounts of gaseous ClO2 were measured at 23% RH (144 ppm after 6 h) than at 100% RH (66 ppm after 6 h); however, the lethal activity of gaseous ClO2 against naturally occurring mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB) on radish seeds was significantly enhanced at 100% RH. For example, when exposed to gaseous ClO2 at 23% RH, the number of MAB on radish seeds decreased from 3.7 log CFU/g to 2.6 log CFU/g after 6 h. However, when exposed to gaseous ClO2 at 100% RH for 6 h, the MAB population decreased to 0.7 log CFU/g after 6 h. Gaseous ClO2 was produced in higher amounts at 55 degrees C than at 25 degrees C, but decreased more rapidly over time at 55 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. The lethal activity of gaseous ClO2 against MAB on radish seeds was greater at 55 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. When radish seeds were treated with gaseous ClO2 (peak concentration: 195 ppm) at 100% RH and 55 degrees C, MAB were reduced to populations below the detectable level (<-0.7 log CFU/g) within 2 h without decreasing the seed germination rate (97.7%). The lethality of combined treatments against artificially inoculated Escherichia coli O157:H7 was also evaluated. When exposed to gaseous ClO2 at 100% RH and 55 degrees C for 6 h, the initial number of E. coli O157:H7 (3.5 log CFU/g) on radish seeds decreased to below the detection limit (0.7 log CFU/g) by direct plating but it was not eliminated from seeds. The germination rate of radish seeds was not significantly (P> 0.05) decreased after treatment for 6 h. The information reported here will be useful when developing decontamination strategies for producing microbiologically safe radish seed sprouts. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.</P>

Castellated tungsten plasma-facing components exposed to H-mode plasma in KSTAR

Hong, S.H.,Lee, H.H.,Kim, K.M.,Kim, H.T.,Bang, E.N.,Son, S.H.,Kim, H.K. North-Holland 2016 Fusion engineering and design Vol.109 No.1

Heat load on the misaligned leading edges of tungsten castellated blocks based on tungsten (W), oxygen-free high conductive copper (OFHC-Cu), and copper-chrome-zirconium (CuCrZr) alloy are studied by COMSOL analysis and infrared (IR) measurements in KSTAR. IR measurements show that 1-3MW/m<SUP>2</SUP> of heat flux has been deposited on the blocks during the inter-ELM (edge localized mode) phase in H-mode plasmas. COMSOL analysis indicates that the temperature of 1mm leading edge in KSTAR under 3MW/m<SUP>2</SUP> would reach the recrystallization temperature within 2s and will be melted within 30s during a long pulse H-mode shot. Rounded and double chamfered blocks show much better thermal response meaning that shaping of divertor block enhances the heat load handling capability. It seems that a simple COMSOL analysis describes heat load patterns on the tungsten blocks of different shapes qualitatively well. Therefore, simple analysis would be useful to make a quick prediction on heat load patterns of blocks with arbitrary shapes.

Phase II study and biomarker analysis of cetuximab combined with modified FOLFOX6 in advanced gastric cancer

Han, S-W,Oh, D-Y,Im, S-A,Park, S R,Lee, K-W,Song, H S,Lee, N-S,Lee, K H,Choi, I S,Lee, M H,Kim, M A,Kim, W H,Bang, Y-J,Kim, T-Y Nature Publishing Group 2009 The British journal of cancer Vol.100 No.2

<P>This prospective study was conducted with the Korean Cancer Study Group to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab combined with modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) as first-line treatment in recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer and to identify potential predictive biomarkers. Patients received cetuximab 400 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP> at week 1 and 250 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP> weekly thereafter until disease progression. Oxaliplatin (100 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP>) and leucovorin (100 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP>) were administered as a 2-h infusion followed by a 46-h continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (2400 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP>) every 2 weeks for a maximum of 12 cycles. Biomarkers potentially associated with efficacy were analysed. Among 38 evaluable patients, confirmed response rate (RR) was 50.0% (95% CI 34.1–65.9). Median time-to-progression (TTP) was 5.5 months (95% CI 4.5–6.5) and overall survival (OS) 9.9 months. Eleven patients having tumour EGFR expression by immunohistochemistry with low serum EGF and TGF-<I>α</I> levels showed a 100% RR compared to 37.0% in the remaining 27 patients (<I>P</I><0.001). Moreover, ligand level increased when disease progressed in seven out of eight patients with EGFR expression and low baseline ligand level. No patient exhibited EGFR amplification or K-ras mutations. Gastric cancer patients with EGFR expression and low ligand levels had better outcomes with cetuximab/mFOLFOX6 treatment.</P>

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy properties of tetragonal Mn₃Ga films under various deposition conditions

Bang, H.W.,Yoo, W.,Choi, Y.,You, C.Y.,Hong, J.I.,Dolinsek, J.,Jung, M.H. Elsevier 2016 CURRENT APPLIED PHYSICS Vol.16 No.1

<P>The tetragonal Mn3Ga films exhibited high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, low saturation magnetization, and high spin polarization, which satisfy the criteria of spin-transfer-torque based devices. For practical device applications, it is necessary to improve the interface nature and optimize the deposition conditions. We fabricated thin films of tetragonal Mn3Ga directly on MgO(100) without any buffer layer by using DC/RF magnetron sputtering method. We investigated the crystallinity, microstructure, and magnetic properties with varying the deposition conditions; such as deposition temperature (350 -450 degrees C), RF power (25-40 W), and Ar gas pressure (2-7 mTorr). X-ray diffraction data revealed that the growth direction is perpendicular to the film plane, i.e., the c axis. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the top surface is flat with a maximum thickness of 290 nm. The optimal deposition conditions are 400 degrees C, 35 W, and 5 mTorr in our sputtering system. For the field perpendicular to the film plane, clear hysteresis loop was observed with the saturation magnetization M-S - 100 emu/cc at room temperature. By extrapolating the hard magnetization data for the field parallel to the film plane, the anisotropic energy was estimated about K-1 = 1 x 10(6) J/m(3). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

Temporal and Spatial PFC Temperature Profiles in KSTAR 2010

Bang, E. N.,Hong, S. H.,Kim, K. M.,Kim, H. T.,Kim, H. K.,Lee, K. S.,Jeon, Y. M.,Bak, J. G.,Yang, H. L.,Kim, W. C.,Oh, Y. S.,Chung, K. S. IEEE 2012 IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol.40 No.6

<P>In and outboard plasma facing components (PFCs) of Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) have been fully installed in 2010 for D-shaped diverted plasmas. Before the start of plasma operation, the PFCs were baked up to 200 by hot nitrogen gas circulation system to remove impurities including water. The surface temperature of the PFC tiles was monitored by 200 thermocouple sensors during the plasma operation [plasma shot or glow discharge cleaning (GDC)], and the temporal and spatial (poloidal) temperature profiles are obtained. Depending on the heat flux on each tile, the surface temperature shows time-dependent behavior. After 1-h morning He GDC, the temperature of the PFCs at the inboard side has reached to 40 . After an H-mode shot, the temperature of divertor tiles around the striking points was substantially increased. The time-averaged total heat flux after a few of L- and H-modes in 2010 was estimated to be approximately 0.010 .</P>

The PPARα activator fenofibrate inhibits voltage-dependent K⁺ channels in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells

Li, H.,Shin, S.E.,Seo, M.S.,An, J.R.,Jung, W.K.,Ha, K.S.,Han, E.T.,Hong, S.H.,Bang, H.,Bae, Y.M.,Firth, A.L.,Choi, I.W.,Park, W.S. North-Holland 2017 European journal of pharmacology Vol.812 No.-

<P>We examined the effects of the PPAR alpha activator fenofibrate on voltage-dependent K+ (Kv) channels using a patch clamp technique in native rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. Kv current was inhibited by application of fenofibrate in a concentration-dependent manner, with an apparent IC50 value of 6.39 +/- 0.53 mu M and a slope value (Hill coefficient) of 1.63 +/- 0.10. Fenofibrate accelerated the decay rate of Kv channel inactivation. The rate constants of association and dissociation for fenofibrate were 0.81 +/- 0.05 mu M-1 s(-1) and 4.70 +/- 0.47 s(-1), respectively. Although fenofibrate did not affect the steady-state activation curves, fenofibrate shifted the inactivation curves toward a more negative potential. Application of train pulses (1 or 2 Hz) progressively increased the fenofibrate-induced inhibition of the Kv channel, and the recovery time constant from inactivation was increased in the presence of fenofibrate, which suggested that the inhibitory effect of fenofibrate is use-dependent. Another PPAR alpha activator, bezafibrate and PPARa inhibitor, GW 6471, did not affect the Kv current and also did not change the inhibitory effect of fenofibrate on the Kv current. From these results, we suggest that fenofibrate inhibited Kv current in a state-, time-, and use-dependent manner, completely independent of PPAR alpha activation.</P>

Long-term durable silicon photocathode protected by a thin Al2O3/SiOx layer for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution

Choi, M.,Jung, J. Y.,Park, M. J.,Song, J. W.,Lee, J. H.,Bang, J. Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Vol.2 No.9

The long-term steady production of H-2 is vital for p-Si photocathodes. However, the oxidation of a Si photoelectrode substantially deteriorates its performance, over time. This study demonstrates that a thin Al2O3 layer deposited over the Si can prevent oxidation and also reduce overpotential, via a surface passivation effect.

대학생 커플 간의 성 의사소통 양상에 따른 성 태도, 성적 자율성 및 성 만족도의 상관관계에 관한 연구

이은하,이지연,정지영,강시원,한현민,김소연,김동미,방소현,박예찬,지혜민 이화여자대학교 간호과학대학 2015 이화간호학회지 Vol.- No.49

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate sexual communication among college student couples and to analyze the relationship among sexual communication, sexual attitude, sexual autonomy and sexual satisfaction. Methods: Using a descriptive correlation study design, 281 college student couples were recruited through convenience random sampling from September 18th to October 3rd, 2014. Data were analyzed using average, standard deviation, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Duncan’s test and Pearson’s correlation using the SPSS 21.0 program. Results: In both genders, it is identified that high scores for sexual communication is related to sexual openness (male: R= .347, p<0.01 / female: R=.337, p<0.01) higher sexual satisfaction (male: R= .349, p<0.01 / female: R=.336, p<0.01) and sexual autonomy (male: R= .336, p<0.01 / female: R=.364, p<0.01). The same outcome is found when each male and female are grouped as a couple. Among sub-categories of sexual attitude, sexual pleasure was related to sexual communication the most in male (R=.337, p<0.01), female groups (R=.317, p<0.01) and couples (R=.402, p<0.01). Among sub-categories of sexual satisfaction, psychological factor was related to sexual communication the most in the male group (R=.342, p<0.01) and interactive factor was related to sexual communication the most in the female group (R=.317, p<0.01) and couples (R=.402, p<0.01). Conclusion: The significance of this research is that the relations of sexual communication with the other three dependent variables among each gender and couples are shown. In addition, this study suggests the importance of sexual communication between couples which will lead to healthier and better quality of sexual relationships. However, with the lack of sufficient advanced research, there are limitations of analyzing each variables divided by demographic characteristics.