Publications by authors named "MunJu Kwon"
Atherosclerosis is characterized by the deposition and accumulation of extracellular cholesterol and inflammatory cells in the arterial blood vessel walls, and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHChol) is the most abundant cholesterol metabolite. 27OHChol is an oxysterol that induces immune responses, including immune cell activation and chemokine secretion, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the roles of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in 27HChol-induced inflammation using rapamycin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExtensive research has explored the functional correlation between stem cells and progenitor cells, particularly in blood. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can self-renew and regenerate tissues within the bone marrow, while stromal cells regulate tissue function. Recent studies have validated the role of mammalian stem cells within specific environments, providing initial empirical proof of this functional phenomenon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We aimed to identify the genes of 35 pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa that cause waterborne infectious diseases, and to assess the feasibility of a wastewater-based surveillance system.
Materials And Methods: Wastewater was aseptically sampled once a month from 2 sites. A total of 1 L of wastewater from each site underwent 0.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the distinct roles of M1 and M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC), revealing that these macrophages may influence patient outcomes differently.
- RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas identified a link between M1 macrophage infiltration and better prognosis in right-sided CRC, highlighting its positive correlation with CD8+ T cell presence.
- A risk model based on nine identified prognostic genes was developed, showing that higher risk scores indicate poorer survival outcomes for patients with right-sided CRC, suggesting potential for developing predictive biomarkers.
Article Synopsis
- Oxysterols are modified forms of cholesterol, with 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC) being a side-chain variant that plays a role in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization and bile acid synthesis in the liver.
- Treatment with exogenous 27HC reduces the population of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in bone marrow due to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis, while not affecting mature hematopoietic cells.
- The study suggests that targeting 27HC could be a novel therapeutic approach for blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially considering that high CYP7B1 expression correlates with poorer patient outcomes.
Several derivatives derived from the oxime structure have been reported as potential anticancer agents in various cancers. Here, we first tested a novel oxime-containing derivative of 2-((2,4,5-trifluorobenzyl)oxy)benzaldehyde oxime (TFOBO) to evaluate its anticancer effect in myeloid leukemic cells. Compared to (2-((2,4,5-trifluorobenzyl)oxy)phenyl)methanol (TFOPM), the oxime derivative TFOBO suppresses leukemic cell growth by significantly increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and cell death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Microbiome has been shown to substantially contribute to some cancers. However, the diagnostic implications of microbiome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain unknown.
Methods: To identify the molecular difference in the microbiome of oral and non-oral HNSCC, primary data was downloaded from the Kraken-TCGA dataset.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the contamination rates of pathogenic bacteria in 1739 vegetable samples from agricultural wholesale markets in Incheon, South Korea, over a year-long period.
- Results showed an average prevalence rate of 5.8% for vegetables, peaking in July at 15.7%, with water dropwort exhibiting the highest contamination rate at 28.6%.
- The findings emphasize the need for effective sanitation practices in agriculture and monitoring systems to ensure consumer safety against foodborne illnesses.
Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV), a major cause of acute hepatitis, has had the highest occurrence among group 1 nationally notifiable infectious diseases in Korea since 2010.Recently,the annual increase in the HAV infection rate among young adults has become a public health concern.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe an outbreak of acute hepatitis in a residential facility in April 2015 and to identify potential sources of this outbreak.