• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2008

Retinal prosthesis is regarded as the most feasible method for the blind caused by retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or age related macular degeneration (AMD). Recently Korean consortium launched for developing retinal prosthesis. One of the prerequisites for the success of retinal prosthesis is the optimization of the electrical stimuli applied through the prosthesis. Since electrical characteristics of degenerate retina are expected to differ from those of normal retina, we performed voltage stimulation experiment both in normal and degenerate retina to provide a guideline for the optimization of electrical stimulation for the upcoming prosthesis. After isolation of retina, retinal patch was attached with the ganglion cell side facing the surface of microelectrode arrays (MEA). $8{\times}8$ grid layout MEA (electrode diameter: $30{\mu}m$, electrode spacing: $200{\mu}m$, and impedance: $50k{\Omega}$ at 1 kHz) was used to record in-vitro retinal ganglion cell activity. Mono-polar electrical stimulation was applied through one of the 60 MEA channel, and the remaining channels were used for recording. The electrical stimulus was a constant voltage, charge-balanced biphasic, anodic-first square wave pulse without interphase delay, and 50 trains of pulse was applied with a period of 2 sec. Different electrical stimuli were applied. First, pulse amplitude was varied (voltage: $0.5{\sim}3.0V$). Second, pulse duration was varied $(100{\sim}1,200{\mu}s)$. Evoked responses were analyzed by PSTH from averaged data with 50 trials. Charge density was calculated with Ohm's and Coulomb's law. In normal retina, by varying the pulse amplitude from 0.5 to 3V with fixed duration of $500{\mu}s$, the threshold level for reliable ganglion cell response was found at 1.5V. The calculated threshold of charge density was $2.123mC/cm^2$. By varying the pulse duration from 100 to $1,200{\mu}s$ with fixed amplitude of 2V, the threshold level was found at $300{\mu}s$. The calculated threhold of charge density was $1.698mC/cm^2$. Even after the block of ON-pathway with L-(1)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB), electrical stimulus evoked ganglion cell activities. In this APB-induced degenerate retina, by varying the pulse duration from 100 to $1200{\mu}s$ with fixed voltage of 2 V, the threshold level was found at $300{\mu}s$, which is the same with normal retina. More experiment with APB-induced degenerate retina is needed to make a clear comparison of threshold of charge density between normal and degenerate retina.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.175-186
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• 1997

Purpose : To evaluate the qualitative immunologic changes by ionizing radiation. we studied the altered capacities of the macrophages and lymphocytes to produce cytokines in conjunction with resistance to Listeria monocytegenes (LM) infection in mice Materials and Methods : BALB/c mice and Listeria monocytogenes were used. The mice were infected intraperitoneally with $10^5LM$ at 1 day after irradiation (300cGy) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 days after infection, and then the numbers of viable LM per spleen in the irradiated and control group were counted. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-\alpha$), interferon-gamma ($IFN-\gamma$). interleukin-2 (IL-2), and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed after irradiation. Results : Under gamma-ray irradiation with a dose range of 100-850cGy, the number of total splenocytes decreased markedly in a dose-dependent manner, while peritoneal macrophages did so slightly Cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more $TNF-\alpha$ in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation, but their capacity of $TNF-\alpha$ Production showed a decreased tendency at 5 days after in vivo total body irradiation. With 100cGy and 300cGy irradiation, cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more NO in the presence of LPS during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation than without irradiation. Activated splenocytes from irradiated mice (300cGy) exhibited a decreased capacity to Produce IL-2 and $IFN-\gamma$ with Concavalin-A stimulation at 3 days after irradiation. When BALB/c mice were irradiated to the total body with a dose of 300cGy, they showed enhanced resistance during early innate phase, but a significant inhibition of resistance to LM was found in the late innate and acquired T-cell dependent phases. Conclusion : These results su99es1 that increased early innate and decreased late innate and acquired immunity to LM infection by ionizing radiation (300cGy) may be related to the biphasic altered capacity of the macrophages to produce $TNF-\alpha$ and the decreased capacities of the lymphocytes to produce IL-2 and $IFN-\gamma$ in addition to a marked decrease in the total number of cells.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.319-337
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• 1997

The electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters in the normal Korean black goat have been measured with a 3-channel Electrocardiograph and computed, analyzed. ECG in 243 black goats were made with the limb leads (I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF), that were recorded conduction parameters of wave and interval, and were analyzed as to shape and amplitude of the P and T waves and the components of the QRS complex. Heart rate were recorded by the ECG which were a mean of 106.1$\pm $21.8 beats/min. Average conduction times in the PR, the QRS complex and the QTc interval were recorded 103.9$\pm $34.9 msec., 58.3$\pm $23.2 msec. and 302.6$\pm $67.8 msec., in the P and T wave duration recorded 24.8$\pm $6.4 msec. and 51.7$\pm $10.8 msec. respectively. The shape of wave in each leads were observed various types, and any spacial wave type appeared the highest frequency in each lead that ware shown less than 60%, and these frequent rate and average amplitudes as fallow: 1. In P waver the frequent rate and average amplitudes of the positive type showed in leads I, II and aVL that were 54.8% (93.0$\pm $ 33.2 $\mu $V), 50.5% (90.1$\pm $30.5 $\mu $V) and 41.7% (58.5$\pm $ 31.1 $\mu $V). Average amplitude of the negative type showed the frequent rate of 49.8% in lead aVE which was -77.6$\pm$ 25.2 $\mu $V. Biphasic type in leads III and aVF were 46.1% (108.4 $\mu $V, -90.2 $\mu $V.) and 45.7% (137.4 $\mu $V, -105.4 $\mu $V.), and amplitudes between positive and negative of it were significant difference. 2. The highest amplitudes of the QRS complex in all leads were 534.8$\pm $ 232.3 $\mu $V of lead II. The frequent rate and amplitudes of the R wave type in the I, II, III and aVF were 30.2% (277.8 $\pm $131.3 $\mu $V), 45.1% (393.1$\pm $114.2 $\mu $V), 48.5% (349.3$\pm $178.3 $\mu $V) and 54.9% (334.4$\pm $129.7 $\mu $V), and QS ways type in the lead aVL was 49.5% (359.2$\pm $195.5$\mu $V), and RS and QS wave types in the lead a VR were 43.3% (312.4 $\mu $V, -212.7 $\mu $V.) and 41.1% (399.2$\pm $92.2 $\mu $V), respectively. 3. In T wave, the frequent rata and amplitudes of the positive type in the leads I, II, III and aVF were 44.6% (207.9$\pm $ 97.1 $\mu $V), 41.6% (245.1$\pm $92.1 $\mu $V), 46.9% (189.8$\pm $ 82.7 $\mu $V) and 53.0% (195.4197.8 $\mu $V), and the negative in the lead aVR was 41.2% (-230.7$\pm$ 103.1 $\mu $V), respectively. The positive and negative types in the lead aVe appeared with same frequent rate of 43.2%.4. Frontal plane vectors for P, QRS, and T were found to lie at 38.1$\pm $ 21.5, 142.0$\pm $ 57.2, and 117.2$\pm $ 63.9 degrees, respectively. These results in ECG of goats may be served to the limited purposes as to conduction parameters, arrhythmias except abnormal ECG because of waveforms, amplitudes and electrical axis of it were variability.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this experimental study is to observe the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on early bone regeneration of rats both in normal condition and in osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy. Material and methods: Total 40 Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into 4 groups. A 8-mm-diameter calvarial critical-sized defect (CSD) was made by drilling with trephine at the center of calvaria in cranium of every rat. Every CSD was augmented with an osteoconductive synthetic alloplastic substitute ($MBCP^{TM}$) and PRP as follows. Group A; 10 non-ovariectomized rats grafted with only $MBCP^{TM}$. Group B; 10 non-ovariectomized rats grafted with $MBCP^{TM}$ and PRP. Group C; 10 ovariectomized rats grafted with only $MBCP^{TM}$. Group D; 10 ovariectomized rats grafted with $MBCP^{TM}$ and PRP. At 4 weeks after graft, every rat was sacrificed. And histomorphometric analysis was performed by measuring calcified area of new bone formation within the CSD. Results: Comparing four groups, results were obtained as follows. 1. In non-ovariectomized groups, PRP showed a positive effect somewhat but not significant (P > .05). 2. In ovariectomized groups, PRP showed a positive effect significantly (P < .05). 3. In PRP untreated groups, ovariectomy diminished bone regeneration significantly (P < .05). 4. In PRP treated groups, ovariectomy diminished bone regeneration somewhat but not significant (P > .05). Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that PRP in combination with an osteoconductive synthetic alloplastic substitute has an effect on bone regeneration more significantly in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats than in normal rats.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.823-834
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• 1998

Background: Chronic inhalation of silica induces the lung fiborsis. The alveolar macrophages ingest the inhaled silica; they liberate the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ and fibrogenic cytokines, TGF-$\beta$ and PDGF. Cytokines liberated from macrophage have pivotal role in pulmonary fibrosis. There is a complex cytokine network toward fibrosis. However, the exact roles and the interaction among the proinflammatory cytokines and TGF-$\beta$, a fibrogenic cytokine, have not been defined, yet. In this study, we investigated silica induced IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ and TGF-$\beta$ production and the effect of IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ on the production of TGF-$\beta$ from lung macrophages of Balb/C mice. Method: We extracted the lung of Balb/C mice and purified monocytes by Percoll gradient method. Macrphages were stimulated by silica ($SiO_2$) in the various concentration for 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours. The supernatants were used for the measurement of protein levels by bioassay, and cells for the levels of mRNA by in situ hybridization. Results: The production of IL-6 was not observed till 4 hours, and reached the peak levels at 8 hours after stimulation of silica. The production of TNF-$\alpha$ increased from 2 hours and reached the peak levels at 4 hours after stimulation of silica. The spontaneous TGF-$\beta$ production reached the peak levels at 24 hours. TNF-$\alpha$ upregulated the silica induced TGF-$\beta$ production. Silica induced TGF-$\beta$ production was blocked by pretreated anti-TNF-$\alpha$ antibody. In situ hybridization revealed the increased positive signals at 4 hours in IL-6, at 4 hours TNF-$\alpha$ and 12 hours in TGF-$\beta$. Conclusion: The results above suggest that silica induced the sequential production of IL-6, 1NF-$\alpha$ and TGF-$\beta$ from macrophages and TNF-$\alpha$ upregultaes the production of TGF-$\beta$ from silica-induced macrophages.