• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권8호
• /
• pp.963-969
• /
• 2001

Objectives : Cord blood stem cells have been widely used as donor cells for bone marrow transplantation recently. These cells can give rise to a variety of hematopoietic lineages to repopulate the blood. Recent observations reveal that some bone marrow cells and bone marrow stromal cells(MSCs) can grow to become either neurons or glial cells. It is, however, unclear whether or not there exists stems cells which can differentiate into neurons in the blood during the early stages of postnatal life. Methods : Human cord blood stem cells were prepared from human placenta after full term delivery. To induce neuronal differentiation of stem cells, ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol was treated. To confirm the neuro-glial characteristics of differentiated stem cells, immunocytochemical stain for NeuN, neurofilament, glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), microtubule associated protein2(MAP2) was performed. RT-PCR was performed for detecting nestin mRNA and MAP2 mRNA. Results : We showed in this experiment that neuro-glial markers(NeuN, neurofilament, MAP2, GFAP) were expressed and axon-like cytoplasmic processes are elaborated in the cultured human cord blood stem cells prepared from new born placenta after full term delivery. Nestin mRNA was also detected in fresh cord blood monocytes. Conclusions : These results suggest that human cord blood derived stem cells may be potential sources of neurons in early postnatal life.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권8호
• /
• pp.1004-1012
• /
• 2001

Objective : The spinal cord tumors(including vertebral tumors) are increasingly diagnosed and operated due to development of refined diagnostic and therapeutic tools. It is necessary to re-evaluate clinical features and surgical results of spinal cord tumors with increasing cases and developing treatment modalities. The authors reviewed the spinal cord tumor cases to evaluate their clinical characteristics. Material and Methods : The retrospective review of 654 cases of spinal cord tumors between 1973 and 1999 was done. The clinical features, pathological analysis and surgical results were analyzed and compared to the literature. The results of the study are analyzed with a more detailed consideration of each of major pathologies : neurogenic tumors, meningeal tumors, neuroepithelial tumors, and metastatic tumors. Results and Conclusion : The spinal cord tumor was most common in the 5th decade of age(145 cases, 22.1%) and 78 cases(11.9%) were found in children under 15 years of age. The ratio of male to female was 1.2 : 1. The pathologic diagnosis was neurogenic tumor in 266 cases(40.7%), neuroepithelial tumor in 131(20.0%), metastatic tumor in 118(18.0%), and meningeal tumor in 94(14.4%) in the order of frequency. The tumor was located most frequently in the thoracic area(36.5%) and in the intradural extramedullary space(38.1%). The most common initial presentation was pain(40.1%) and the mean duration for presentation to operation was 14.8 months. The total or gross total removal was possible in 404 cases(61.7%) and the surgical result on the postoperative one month was recovery or improvement in 424 cases(64.8%), stationary in 188(28.7%), progression in 42(6.4%). As a surgical complication, there was a spinal deformity(12 cases), wound infection(5 cases), aspiration pneumonia(5 cases) etc. Neurogenic tumors and menigiomas showed good surgical results, whereas neuroepithelial tumors(except ependymoma) and metastatic tumors showed relatively poor prognosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.426-432
• /
• 2001

Vitamin B(sub)12(cobalamin) is an essential nutrient in human and it is particularly important during pregnancy. Nevertheless very few studies have reported, concerning vitamin B(sub)12 in relation with reproduction. This study was conducted to evaluate the vitamin B(sub)12 nutrition status of Korean pregnant women and to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels of maternal-umbilical cord blood and pregnancy outcomes. Dietary vitamin B(sub)12 intakes of the pregnants were estimated by semiquantitative frequency questionnaire. Serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels in both maternal blood and umbilical cord blood of 30 pregnant women at delivery were measured by radioimmunoassay. Mean vitamin B(sub)12 intake was 3.3$\pm$1.4$\mu\textrm{g}$/d which was 125.8% of the Korean RDA(2.6$\mu\textrm{g}$) for vitamin B(sub)12 level of umbilical cord blood was 607.8$\pm$282.9pg/ml, more than two fold of maternal vitamin B(sub)12 level 268.6$\pm$97.8pg/ml. This finding indicates that fetal uptake of vitamin B(sub)12 in the fetus may be due to an active transport mchanism across the placenta. Umbilical cord blood vitamin B(sub)12 levels were highly correlated with maternal levels($r^2$=0.548, p<0.001), showing that fetal vitamin B(sub)12 level is affected by maternal status. However there was no significant correlation between the serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels in maternal-umbilical cord blood and the pregnancy outcomes except for the birth weight. Maternal-umbilical serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels were the highest in the group of birth weight 3.0-3.5kg, and the lowest in the group of birthweight below 3.0kg. (Korean J Nutrition 34(4) : 426~432, 2001)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.341-347
• /
• 1999

Pregnant Yorkshire gilts were utilized to investigate the efficacy of exogenous administration of pST and/or insulin in enhancing prenatal piglet survival, uteroplacental and umbilical cord growth and development. Gilts were randomly assigned in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement to four treatment combinations consisting of either daily i.m. injections of 5 mg pST (P, n=23); 0.50 IU/kg of insulin (I, n=23); combination of pST and insulin (P+I, n=23); or 1 ml of saline as control (C, n=23) from gestation Day 30 to 70. All gilts were sacrificed on gestation d 113 to evaluate piglet survival and uteroplacental or umbilical cord development Uteri were longer (346.3 vs 325.7 cm; p<0.05), and heavier (3122.8 vs 2940.7 g; p<0.05) in insulin treated gilts. Only placental macroscopic surface area was enhanced by maternal insulin injections (p<0.05) Incidence of umbilical cord abnormalities were low (14.3%), and they were independent of maternal treatment, occurring more in short cords than in long ones (21 vs 12%; p<0.05). A 6% increase in cord length (53.2 vs 48.6 cm; p=<0.05) was observed in piglets from treated gilts compared with controls. Significant sex differences (in favour of males) were observed in piglet weight, crown rump length and for most umbilical or placental parameters. Gilt weight gains from breeding to Day 113 of gestation were 10% and 15% greater in pST and insulin treated gilts compared with controls. These data indicate that prepartum injections of pST and/or insulin to gestating gilts seem to have a beneficial effect on uteroplacental or umbilical cord development and promote conditions conducive for perinatal piglet survival.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.211-221
• /
• 1991

Although the existence of nerve cells which determine the activity of sympathetic nervous system in ventrolateral medulla is advocated recently, there are wide varieties on the location and function of them according to authors. Present study aimed to identify and characterize the medullospinal tract cells in rostral and caudal medulla of cats .which branch to the lateral horn of the upper thoracic spinal cord. Cats were anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$. The upper thoracic spinal cord and floor of the IVth ventricle were exposed. Medullospinal tract cells in rostral and caudal medulla were identified by anti-dromic stimulation of the intermediolateral nucleus in the upper thoracic cord and then the location and physiological characteristics of these cells were studied. A total of seventy cells in medulla had constant latency and responded to high frequency stimulation to thoracic cord. Among them fifty-six cells were identified as medullospinal tract cells either by collision with spontaneous activities or activities evoked by sciatic nerve stimulation(27/56), or by determining the refractory period (29/56). Thirty-one of these cells branched to the contralateral thoracic spinal cord, twenty-one cells to the ipsilateral side and remaining four cells branched to both sides. The conduction velocity of cells branching to the contralateral side was $29{\pm}2.9\;m/sec$ and that of cells to the ipsilateral side was $39.1{\pm}6.0\;m/sec$. When medulla was devided into two by a horizontal plane at 3 mm rostral to the obex, fifty-one among seventy cells were in the rostral medulla and nineteen were in the caudal medulla. The conduction velocities of these two groups were $21.6{\pm}1.0\;and\;33.3{\pm}3.9\;m/sec$, respectively. In this study, we confirmed the existence of two groups of medullospinal tract cells in rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla, which branch to the lateral horn of thoracic cord and these cells have relatively few spontaneous activities and rapid conduction velocity, so we concluded that these cells are different from the previously known sympatho-related cells in ventrolateral medulla.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국의학물리학회 2002년도 Proceedings
• /
• pp.138-140
• /
• 2002

The spinal cord dose is the one of the limiting factor for the radiation treatment of the head & neck (H&N) or the thorax region. Due to the fact that the cord is the elongated shaped structure, it is not an easy task to maintain the cord dose within the clinically acceptable dose range. To overcome this problem, the spinal cord partial block technique (PBT) with the dynamic Multi-Leaf Collimator (dMLC) has been developed. Three dimension (3D) conformal beam directions, which minimize the coverage of the normal organs such as the lung and the parotid gland, were chosen. The PBT field shape for each field was designed to shield the spinal cord with the dMLC. The transmission factors were determined by the forward calculation method. The plan comparisons between the conventional 3D conformal therapy plan and the PTB plan were performed to evaluate the validity of this technique. The conformity index (CI) and the dose volume histogram (DVH) were used as the plan comparison indices. A series of quality assurance (QA) was performed to guarantee the reliable treatment. The QA consisted of the film dosimetry for the verification of the dose distribution and the point measurements. The PBT plan always generated better results than the conventional 3D conformal plan. The PBT was proved to be useful for the H&N and thorax region.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제54권1호
• /
• pp.8-13
• /
• 2013

Objective : This study investigates the effect of valproic acid (VPA) on expression of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Methods : Adult male rats (n=24) were randomly and blindly allocated into three groups. Laminectomy at T9 was performed in all three groups. In group 1 (sham), only laminectomy was performed. In group 2 (SCI-VPA), the animals received a dose of 200 mg/kg of VPA. In group 3 (SCI-saline), animals received 1.0 mL of the saline vehicle solution. A modified aneurysm clip with a closing force of 30 grams was applied extradurally around the spinal cord at T9, and then rapidly released with cord compression persisting for 2 minutes. The rats were sacrificed and the spinal cord were collected one week after SCI. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting sample were obtained from 5 mm rostral region to the lesion and prepared. We analyzed the nestin immunoreactivity from the white matter of ventral cord and the ependyma of central canal. Nestin and SOX2 were used for markers for NSPCs and analyzed by IHC and western blotting, respectively. Results : Nestin and SOX2 were expressed significantly in the SCI groups but not in the sham group. Comparing SCI groups, nestin and SOX2 expression were much stronger in SCI-VPA group than in SCI-saline group. Conclusion : Nestin and SOX2 as markers for NSPCs showed increased expression in SCI-VPA group in comparison with SCI-saline group. This result suggests VPA increases expression of spinal NSPCs in SCI.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제59권5호
• /
• pp.471-477
• /
• 2016

Objectives : The correction of clinical and radiologic abnormalities in patients with symptomatic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is the current mainstay of treatment. This study aimed to identify radiographic predictors of severity of myelopathy in patients with symptomatic OPLL. Methods : Fifty patients with symptomatic cervical OPLL were enrolled. Based on Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, patients were divided into either the mild myelopathy (n=31) or severe myelopathy (n=19) group. All subjects underwent preoperative plain cervical roentgenogram, computed tomography (CT), and MR imaging (MRI). Radiological parameters (C2-7 sagittal vertical axis, SVA; C2-7 Cobb angle; C2-7 range of motion, ROM; OPLL occupying ratio; and compression angle) were compared. Compression angle of OPLL was defined as the angle between the cranial and caudal surfaces of OPLL at the maximum level of cord compression Results : The occupying ratio of the spinal canal, C2-7 Cobb angle, C2-7 SVA, types of OPLL, and C2-7 ROM of the cervical spine were not statistically different between the two groups. However, the OPLL compression angle was significantly greater (p=0.003) in the severe myelopathy group than in the mild myelopathy group and was inversely correlated with JOA score (r=-0.533, p<0.01). Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the compression angle (B=-0.069, p<0.001) was significantly associated with JOA scores (R=0.647, p<0.005). Conclusion : Higher compression angles of OPLL have deleterious effects on the spinal cord and decrease preoperative JOA scores.

• 대한후두음성언어의학회지
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.66-70
• /
• 1998

Background and Objectives : The managements of unilateral vocal cord palsy include type Ⅰ thyroplasty and arytenoid adduction. One type operation has been shown no satisfactory effect. We evaluated preoperative and postoperative speech of unilateral vocal cord palsy patients who received combined operation of type Ⅰ thyroplasty and arytenoid adduction to help for the management plan of unilateral vocal cord palsy patients. Materials and Methods : We reviewed the postoperative results and complication of 17 surgically treated patients of unilateral vocal cord palsy at Severance hospital from Nov. 1996 to Dec. 1997 retrospectively. They were received combined operation of type Ⅰ thyroplasty and arytenoid adduction. Their pre and post-operative speech were analyzed with MDVP(Multi-Dimension-Voice analysis Program) of CSL(Computerized Speech Lab). Results : After the operation, MPT(Maximal Phonation Time) was increased and MFR(Mean Flow Rate) was decreased in all patients. NHR(Noise to Harmonic Ratio) and VTI(Voice Turbulence Index) were decreased : liner, RAP(Relative Average Perturbation Quotient), PPQ(Pitch Period Perturbation Quotient), sPPQ(smoothed Pitch Period Perturbation Quotient), vFo(fundamental frequency Variation) were decreased : Shimmer, APQ(Amplitude Perturbation Quotient), sAPQ(Smoothed Amplitude Perturbation Qoutient), vAm(Peak Amplitude Variation) were decreased in all the patients. Conclusions : In unilateral vocal cord pals), combined operation of type Ⅰ thyroplasty and arytenoid adduction could obtain satisfactory postoperative voice. MDVP has many parameters and good method for evaluation of voice surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제19권3호
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Previous studies have suggested that BDNF has a role in plasticity and survival following spinal cord injury and treadmill exercise increases BDNF levels in the normal brain and spinal cord. We attempted to determine whether swimming exercise improve motor function following experimental contusive spinal cord injury and whether motor outcome is associated with BDNF expression. Methods: Thirty six Sprague-Dawley rats (weight, 250 to 300 g) were divided into control (n=18) and experimental swimming group (n=18). Spinal cord injury was produced using NYU-spinal impactor at the eleven thoracic levels in both groups. Swimming exercise started $7^{th}$ day from SCI operation, lasted 5 min per day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks and then exercise times a day were increased in one number to each week. Motor functional recovery was determined by the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale, modified inclined board plane test, histological findings, H&E and BDNF expression observed at $1^{th}$, $3^{rd}$, $7^{th}$, $14^{th}$, $21^{st}$ and $28^{th}$day after injury. Results: 1. The BBB scores were higher in experimental group than control group at $14^{th}$, $21^{st}$ day (left hind limb) and at $21^{th}$ day (right hind limb) (p<0.05) after injury. 2. The inclined board plane test were significantly greater in experimental group than control group at $7^{th}$ day (p<0.05), $14^{th}$ and $28^{th}$ day (p<0.01) after injury. 3. The BDNF expression was severe revealed in experimental group than control group at $7^{th}$, $14^{th}$ and $28^{th}$ day after injury. Conclusion: This study suggests that swimming applied from the early phase after spinal cord injury be beneficial effects in motor functional recovery.