• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2001

Objective : Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein adds telomere repeats to the ends of telomeres to compensate for the progressive loss. A favorable prognosis associated with low or no telomerase activity in some tumors, and cells transfected with antisense human telomerase lost telomeric repeats and die. We studied about the relationship between telomerase activity and apoptosis in the human brain tumors. Material and Methods : Between July 1998 and December 1999, 62 patients with brain tumors underwent surgery and their surgical specimens were obtained. Telomerase activity was investigated by telomeric repeats amplification protocol(TRAP) assay. Apoptosis was also evaluated by DNA fragmentation analysis. Differences and correlation in data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon-signed rank test. Results : Expression rate of telomerase activity and apoptosis were 80% and 30% in malignant gliomas, 33% and 0% in low grade gliomas, 63% and 38% in meningiomas, 67% and 33% in pituitary adenomas, 33% and 33% in metastatic tumors, 67% and 17% in acoustic neurinomas, 100% and 100% in pineoblastomas, 100% and 0% in the hemangioblastoma, respectively. There was no significant difference of telomerase activity and apoptosis between histological types. But a significant difference was noted in the expression of telomerase activity between malignant gliomas and low grade gliomas(p = 0.022). Brain tumors with telomerase activity expressed the lower rate of apoptosis. A significant correlation was also found between telomerase activity and absence of apoptosis in the human brain tumors(p = 0.005). Conclusions : Our data suggests that telomerase may protect from apoptosis of the human brain tumors and also may play an important role in the biological malignancy of the gliomas.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2002.06c
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• pp.139-142
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• 2002

The brain of the human is the best model for the artificial intelligence and is studied by many natural, medical scientists and engineers. In the engineering department, the brain model becomes a main subject in the area of development of a system that can represent and think like human. In this paper, we approach and define the function of the brain biologically and especially, make a model for the function of cerebral cortex, known as a part that performs behavior inference and decision for sensitive information from the thalamus. Therefore, we try to make a model for the transfer process of the brain. The brain takes the sensory information from sensory organ, proceeds behavior inference and decision and finally, commands behavior to the motor nerves. We use the modular neural network in this model. finally, we would like to design the intelligent system that can sense, recognize, think and decide like the brain by learning the information process in the brain with the modular neural network.

• Advances in biomechanics and applications
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.253-267
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• 2014

The human head is identified as the body region most frequently involved in life-threatening injuries. Extensive research based on experimental, analytical and numerical methods has sought to quantify the response of the human head to blunt impact in an attempt to explain the likely injury process. Blunt head impact arising from vehicular collisions, sporting injuries, and falls leads to relative motion between the brain and skull and an increase in contact and shear stresses in the meningeal region, thereby leading to traumatic brain injuries. In this paper the properties and material modeling of the subarachnoid space (SAS) as it relates to Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) is investigated. This was accomplished using a simplified local model and a validated 3D finite element model. First the material modeling of the trabeculae in the Subarachnoid Space (SAS) was investigated and validated, then the validated material property was used in a 3D head model. In addition, the strain in the brain due to an impact was investigated. From this work it was determined that the material property of the SAS is approximately E = 1150 Pa and that the strain in the brain, and thus the severity of TBI, is proportional to the applied impact velocity and is approximately a quadratic function. This study reveals that the choice of material behavior and properties of the SAS are significant factors in determining the strain in the brain and therefore the understanding of different types of head/brain injuries.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.5-8
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• 2002

Photoperiodism is an important adaptive phenomenon in various physiological parameters including reproduction to cope with seasonal changes. Involvement of extraretinal photoreceptors in the photoperiodism in non-mammalian vertebrates has been well established. In addition, circadian clock system is known to be involved in the photoperiodic time measurement. The pathway consists of light-input system, time measurement system (circadian clock), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) production in the hypothalamus, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) production in the pituitary, and final gonadal development. Recently, several laboratories reported photopigments newly cloned in the pineal, eyes and deep brain in addition to already known visual pigments in the retina. These are pinopsin, parapinopsin, VA-opsin, melanopsin, etc. All these photopigments belong to the opsin family having retinal as the chromophore. However, the function of these photopigments remains unknown. I reviewed the studies on the location of the photopigments by immunocytochemistry. I also discussed the results on the action spectra for induction of gonadal development in relation with the location of the photoreceptors. Various physiologically active substances distribute in the vertebrate brain. Such substances are GnRH, GnIH, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide, c-Fos, galanin, neurosteroids, etc. I summarized the immunhistochemical studies on the distribution and the photoperiodic changes of these substances and discussed the route from the deep brain photoreceptor to GnRH cells.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.611-616
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• 1998

Using three dimensional finite element model of the human brain, vibratory characteristics of the human brain according to vibratory direction was analyzed. From this analysis 9, 14Hz and 2, 3Hz natural frequencies were calculated for adult's and baby's brain model respectively. Regardless of the vibratory direction relatively high shear stress, pressure and von Mises stress variation except acceleration were detected in the baby brain model. At each natural frequencies, adult's model showed relatively high stress level in the region of lower limb control area compared with upper limb control area at 14Hz natural frequency.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2010

The development and maintenance of human capacity in economies is critical to long term competitiveness, but also for the overall health and environment of regions. Yet, human science and technology-based capacity is multidimensional and has interrelated characteristics which present certain policy challenges. This paper addresses a range of issues specific to a discussion on human capacity in S&T. First, the paper emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the complexity of human capacity issues and how they evolve along the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) pipeline. The pipeline is an often used reference to describe the training and development in STEM disciplines, from early childhood education, to more advanced training, and finally to professional collaboration and interaction and serves as a useful organizing framework for the discussion of capacity along the career evolution process. Second, the paper offers an organizing framework for discussion of policy mechanisms that have been developed to address issues and gaps that occur along this STEM pipeline. Specifically, it contrasts the traditional mechanisms of building human capacity in STEM areas with newer "gap filling" and integrated approached to addressed human capacity disparities and priorities. Third, the paper addresses core challenges in human capacity in STEM, including the education and training, participation of women and underrepresented groups, brain drain/brain circulation issues, and the globalization of science. The paper concludes with a discussion of policy implication for the development of human capacity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is found in about 20% of breast cancer patients. With treatment using trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, systemic control is improved. Nonetheless, the incidence of brain metastasis does not be improved, rather seems to be increased in HER2-positive breast cancer. The mainstay treatment for brain metastases is radiotherapy. According to the number of metastatic lesions and performance status of patients, radiosurgery or whole brain radiotherapy can be performed. The concurrent use of a radiosensitizer further improves intracranial control. Due to its large molecular weight, trastuzumab has a limited ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, small tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as lapatinib, has been noted to be a promising agent that can be used as a radiosensitizer to affect HER2-positive breast cancer. This review will outline general management of brain metastases and will focus on preclinical findings regarding the radiosensitizing effect of small molecule HER2 targeting agents.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.577-588
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• 2019

DNA methylation at CpG sites is an essential epigenetic mark that regulates gene expression during mammalian development and diseases. Methylome refers to the entire set of methylation modifications present in the whole genome. Over the last several years, an increasing number of reports on brain DNA methylome reported the association between aberrant methylation and the abnormalities in the expression of critical genes known to have critical roles during aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, the role of methylation in understanding neurodegenerative diseases has been under focus. This review outlines the current knowledge of the human brain DNA methylomes during aging and neurodegenerative diseases. We describe the differentially methylated genes from fetal stage to old age and their biological functions. Additionally, we summarize the key aspects and methylated genes identified from brain methylome studies on neurodegenerative diseases. The brain methylome studies could provide a basis for studying the functional aspects of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.551-571
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• 2020

Nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1) protein has been identified as an obligatory transcription factor in midbrain dopaminergic neurogenesis, but the global set of human NURR1 target genes remains unexplored. Here, we identified direct gene targets of NURR1 by analyzing genome-wide differential expression of NURR1 together with NURR1 consensus sites in three human neural stem cell (hNSC) lines. Microarray data were validated by quantitative PCR in hNSCs and mouse embryonic brains and through comparison to published human data, including genome-wide association study hits and the BioGPS gene expression atlas. Our analysis identified ~40 NURR1 direct target genes, many of them involved in essential protein modules such as synapse formation, neuronal cell migration during brain development, and cell cycle progression and DNA replication. Specifically, expression of genes related to synapse formation and neuronal cell migration correlated tightly with NURR1 expression, whereas cell cycle progression correlated negatively with it, precisely recapitulating midbrain dopaminergic development. Overall, this systematic examination of NURR1-controlled regulatory networks provides important insights into this protein's biological functions in dopamine-based neurogenesis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.405-409
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• 2011

The present study demonstrated that valproic acid (VPA) transcriptionally regulates human GM3 synthase (hST3Gal V), which catalyzes ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis in ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells. For this, we characterized the promoter region of the hST3Gal V gene. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST3Gal V gene revealed that the -177 to -83 region functions as the VPA-inducible promoter and that the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is crucial for VPA-induced expression of hST3Gal V in ARPE-19 cells. In addition, the transcriptional activity of hST3Gal V induced by VPA in ARPE-19 cells was inhibited by SP600125, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor. In summary, our results identified the core promoter region in the hST3Gal V promoter and for the first time demonstrated that ATF2 binding to the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is essential for transcriptional activation of hST3Gal V in VPA-induced ARPE-19 cells.