Korea University

About: Korea University is a education organization based out in Seoul, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Thin film. The organization has 39756 authors who have published 82424 publications receiving 1860927 citations. The organization is also known as: Bosung College & Bosung Professional College.

Simultaneous Detection of Dual Prostate Specific Antigens Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Immunoassay for Accurate Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Abstract: Accurate analysis of specific biomarkers in clinical serum is essential for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Here, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based immunoassay, using magnetic beads and SERS nano tags, was developed for the determination of free to total (f/t) prostate specific antigen (PSA) ratio to improve the diagnostic performance of prostate cancer. To assess the clinical applicability of the proposed method, SERS-based assays for the simultaneous detection of dual PSA markers, free PSA (f-PSA) and complexed PSA (c-PSA), were performed for clinical samples in the gray zone between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL. Our assay results for f/t PSA ratio showed a good linear correlation with those measured using the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) system installed in the clinical laboratory of the University Hospital. In addition, the simultaneous assay provided better precision than parallel assays for the detection of f-PSA and c-PSA in 13 clinical serum samples. Therefore, our SERS-based assay...

Sonic Hedgehog Pathway Promotes Metastasis and Lymphangiogenesis via Activation of Akt, EMT, and MMP-9 Pathway in Gastric Cancer

Abstract: Activation of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling has been implicated in progression of a variety of tumors. In this study, we elucidated a role for Shh in the invasion of gastric tumors and determined the mechanism by which Shh is regulated. Immunohistochemical analysis of 178 primary human gastric tumor biopsies indicated that Shh expression was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis, high lymphatic vessel density, and poor prognosis. In mouse xenograft models of human gastric cancer, enforced expression of Shh significantly enhanced the incidence of lung metastasis compared with nonexpressing controls. Mechanistic investigations revealed that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibition blocked Shh-induced epithelial-mesenchyme transition, the activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and lymphangiogenesis, reducing tumor invasiveness and metastasis. Taken together, our findings establish that Shh signaling promotes the metastasis of gastric cancer through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, which leads to mesenchymal transition and MMP-9 activation. These findings offer preclinical validation of Shh as a candidate therapeutic target for treatment of metastatic gastric cancers.

Understanding the behavior of mobile data services consumers

Abstract: Due to rapid advances in the Internet and wireless technologies, a ubiquitous computing world is becoming a reality in the form of mobile computing. At the center of this phenomenon is mobile data services which arise from the convergence of advanced mobile communication technologies with data services. Despite the rapid growth in mobile data services, research into consumers' usage behavior is scarce. This study attempts to identify and empirically assess the factors that drive consumers' acceptance of mobile data services. A research model based on the decomposed theory of planned behavior and incorporating factors that represent personal needs and motivations in using mobile data services is presented. The model is tested via an online survey of 811 consumers of four categories of mobile data services (i.e., communications, information content, entertainment, and commercial transactions) associated with different usage contexts. We found that attitude, social influence, media influence, perceived mobility, and perceived monetary value influence consumers' intention to continue usage of mobile data services. In addition, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived enjoyment influence attitude toward continued usage of mobile data services. Finally, separate analysis of the different categories of mobile data services highlights the influence of individual usage context on consumers' behavior.

Adrenal peripheral clock controls the autonomous circadian rhythm of glucocorticoid by causing rhythmic steroid production

Abstract: Glucocorticoid (GC) is an adrenal steroid with diverse physiological effects. It undergoes a robust daily oscillation, which has been thought to be driven by the master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus via the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. However, we show that the adrenal gland has its own clock and that the peripheral clockwork is tightly linked to steroidogenesis by the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. Examination of mice with adrenal-specific knockdown of the canonical clock protein BMAL1 reveals that the adrenal clock machinery is required for circadian GC production. Furthermore, behavioral rhythmicity is drastically affected in these animals, together with altered expression of Period1, but not Period2, in several peripheral organs. We conclude that the adrenal peripheral clock plays an essential role in harmonizing the mammalian circadian timing system by generating a robust circadian GC rhythm.