• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.391-398
• /
• 2018

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive resource for refractory patients because of their anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory capability and multi-lineage differentiation potential. The transplantation of MSCs has led to positive results in preclinical and clinical application to various diseases, including autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver cirrhosis, and ischemic stroke. On the other hand, studies have shown that paracrine factors, not direct cell replacement for damaged cells or tissue, are the main contributors in MSC-based therapy. More recently, evidence has indicated that MSC-derived exosomes play crucial roles in regulating the paracrine factors that can mediate tissue regeneration via transferring nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids to the local microenvironment and cell-to-cell communication. The use of these exosomes is likely to be beneficial for the therapeutic application of MSCs because their use can avoid harmful effects, such as tumor formation involved in cell transplantation. Therefore, therapeutic applications using MSC-derived exosomes might be safe and efficient strategies for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This review summarizes the recent advances and provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of MSC-derived exosomes as a therapeutic agent.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.149-173
• /
• 2004

Objective & Methods : In the point of several medical books included 'Internal Classic' and Hyungsang medicine, the writer studied about meridian theory and it's disorders, after adapting to acupuncture and herb medicine. Results : 1. Dr. Jisan explained concretely physiological and pathological meridian appearances with using metaphor about phenomenons of nature and human living. 2. Shapes corresponding to meridian are considered as Yukkyunghyung formed by more or less of vigor and blood, and by tendency of up and down in eyes and nose, and also contained diseases of viscera and characters. 3. The colors connected with meridian are changed according to conditions, and meridian is seen through colors. And then colors is the properties of vital energy and symbol of spirit, that is expressed as aspect of essence, vigor, spirit and blood, as the original color of five viscera, as the colors of four seasons and as the colors of diseases. So the changes of feelings are appeared to meridian flow. 4. The method of examining pulse for meridian disorders is applied to Jisan diagram. Jisan diagram is devised from mutual communication of viscera and connection with inside and outside. It is conjugated widely in clinical examination to be distinguished into Dam-Bangkwang, into diseased part of viscera and into meridian. Also it is conjugated recuperation of diseases. 5. The meridian diseases are appeared all the distributed parts of meridian, especially skin, hair, eyebrow, and the ends of the extremities which are sensitive to stimulus. The causes are the disharmony between vital energy and blood and the discordance of six atmospheric variation. The symptoms are skinny aches, itching and eruption, etc. Conclusions : The acupuncture of Hyungsang medicine which utilizes classification of shapes, examining pulse according to Jisan diagram and demonstration of symptoms, is very effective and required systematical study from now on.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.361-365
• /
• 2018

Background: Recently, we examined the effects of 2% lidocaine gel on the tactile sensory and pain thresholds of the face, tongue and hands of symptom-free individuals using quantitative sensory testing (QST); its effect was less on the skin of the face and hands than on the tongue. Consequently, instead of 2% lidocaine gel, we examined the effect of 8% lidocaine spray on the tactile sensory and pain thresholds of the skin of the face and hands of healthy volunteers. Methods: Using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, QST of the skin of the cheek and palm (thenar skin) was performed in 20 healthy volunteers. In each participant, two topical sprays were applied. On one side, 0.2 mL of 8% lidocaine pump spray was applied, and on the other side, 0.2 mL of saline pump spray was applied as control. In each participant, QST was performed before and 15 min after each application. Pain intensity was measured using a numeric rating scale (NRS). Results: Both the tactile detection threshold and filament-prick pain detection threshold of the cheek and thenar skin increased significantly after lidocaine application. A significant difference between the effect of lidocaine and saline applications was found on the filament-prick pain detection threshold only. NRS of the cheek skin and thenar skin decreased after application of lidocaine, and not after application of saline. Conclusion: The significant effect of applying an 8% lidocaine spray on the sensory and pain thresholds of the skin of the face and hands can be objectively scored using QST.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.260-267
• /
• 2023

We aimed to investigate the proportions of MTB- and NTM-positive tests and the distribution patterns of species isolated by contracted testing agencies in South Korea. Respiratory specimens submitted to contracted testing agencies in South Korea for AFB culture from January 2014 to December 2021 were included (533,713 specimens in total). Trends based on MTB and NTM detection, patient sex and age, culture medium type, and testing year were analyzed. MTB and NTM positive detection increased in the patients. The average ages of MTB- and NTM-positive patients increased in those aged ≥61 years. For solid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 5.9% in 2014 to 3.3% in 2018 and increased to 4.7% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 2.1% in 2014 to 3.4% in 2018 and 3.7% in 2021. For liquid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 8.3% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and increased to 6.0% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 3.5% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and decreased to 5.3% in 2021. An isolation ratio reversal between MTB and NTM was observed in 2018. In this study, we provide information on mycobacterial isolation rates and species distributions using AFB culture test results from Korea's referral laboratories. Increased MTB- and NTM-isolation rates were observed in individuals aged ≥60 years, indicating the need for regular testing and focused management for them. Expanding liquid culture applications, which show higher positivity rates than solid culture methods, is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.6
• /
• pp.1229-1239
• /
• 2022

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has shown potential clinical utility in a wide range of MRI fields. In particular, AI models for improving the efficiency of the image acquisition process and the quality of reconstructed images are being actively developed by the MR research community. AI is expected to further reduce acquisition times in various MRI protocols used in clinical practice when compared to current parallel imaging techniques. Additionally, AI can help with tasks such as planning, parameter optimization, artifact reduction, and quality assessment. Furthermore, AI is being actively applied to automate MR image analysis such as image registration, segmentation, and object detection. For this reason, it is important to consider the effects of protocols or devices in MR image analysis. In this review article, we briefly introduced issues related to AI application of MR image acquisition and reconstruction.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.22-36
• /
• 2016

$^{68}Ga$ is a promising radionuclide for positron emission tomography (PET). It is a generator-produced ($^{68}Ge/^{68}Ga$-generator) radionuclide with a half-life of 68 min. The employment of $^{68}Ga$ for basic research and clinical applications is growing exponentially. Bifunctional chelators (BFCs) that can be efficiently radiolabeled with $^{68}Ga$ to yield complexes with good in vivo stability are needed. Given the practical advantages of $^{68}Ga$ in PET applications, gallium complexes are gaining increasing attention in biomedical imaging. However, new $^{68}Ga$-labeled radiopharmaceuticals that can replace $^{18}F$-labeled agents like [$^{18}F$]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) are needed. The majority of $^{68}Ga$-labeled derivatives currently in use consist of peptide agents, but the development of other agents, such as amino acid or nitroimidazole derivatives and glycosylated human serum albumin, is being actively pursued in many laboratories. Thus, the availability of new $^{68}Ga$-labeled radiopharmaceuticals with high impact is expected in the near future. Here, we present an overview of the different new classes of chelators for application in molecular imaging using $^{68}Ga$ PET.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2024

Silk sericin, a natural protein from silkworm cocoons, is emerging as a multifunctional biomaterial in biomedicine, particularly in tissue engineering and wound healing. Recent studies have highlighted its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and potential for chemical modification, which allows it to be incorporated into various scaffold architectures. This review article synthesizes current research, including the development of sericin-based hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering and sericin's role in enhancing wound healing. Key findings demonstrate sericin's ability to refine scaffold porosity and mechanical strength, expedite tissue healing, and reduce bacterial load in wounds. The integration of sericin into novel bioactive dressings and its use in peripheral nerve injury repair are also discussed, showcasing its adaptability and efficacy. The convergence of these studies illustrates the broad applications of sericin, from scaffold design to clinical interventions, making it a promising material in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, with the potential to improve patient outcomes significantly.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-23
• /
• 2023

Marine bioactive substances (MBS), such as phlorotannins, collagens, peptides, sterols, and polysaccharides, are increasing attention as therapeutic agents for several diseases due to their pharmacological effects. Previous studies have demonstrated the biological activities of MBS including antibacterial, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities. Among numerous human diseases, periodontitis is one of the high-prevalence inflammatory diseases in the world. To treat periodontitis, several surgeries (bone grafting, flap surgery, and soft tissue graft) are usually used. However, the surgery for patients with chronic periodontitis induces several side effects, including additional inflammatory responses at the operated site, chronic wound healing, and secondary surgery. Therefore, this review assessed the most recent trends in MBS using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science search engines to develop marine-derived therapeutic agents for periodontitis. Further, we summarized the current applications and therapeutic potential of MBS to serve as a reference for developing novel technologies applied to MBS against periodontitis treatment.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2015

De novo variants (DNVs) can arise during parental germ cell formation, fertilization, and the processes of embryogenesis. It is estimated that each individual carries 60-100 such spontaneous variants in the genome, most of them benign. However, a number of recent studies suggested that DNVs contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. Applications of DNVs include aiding in clinical diagnosis and identifying disease-causing genetic factors in patients with atypical symptoms. Therefore, understanding the roles of DNVs in a trio, with healthy parents and an affected offspring, would be crucial in elucidating the genetic mechanism of disease pathogenesis in a personalized manner.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.521-525
• /
• 2014

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream of cancer patients provide an accessible source for detection, characterization, and monitoring of nonhematological cancers. The effectiveness of the CTC-Chip for the isolation of ovarian cancer cells was demonstrated by adapting the herringbone-chip (HB-Chip). The motions of the particles on the HB chip were simulated by a unique combination of buoyant, gravitational forces, and helical flows with a computational modeling. The motions of cells are demonstrated by applying polystylene bead and ovarian cancer cells into the microfabricated HB-Chip. The experimental results from beads and cells are well accordance with the simulated ones, as previously reported by Toner group. Thus, I expect that these modeling and experimental skills will play key roles in the clinical applications on CTC isolation as well as the basic research on characterization of CTCs under flow.