• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.176-180
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• 2011

Depressive disorders have strong genetic components. However, conventional linkage and association studies have not yielded definitive results. These might be due to the absence of objective diagnostic tests, the complex nature of human behavior or the incomplete penetrance of psychiatric traits. Imaging genetics explores the influences of genetic variation on the brain function or structure. This technique could provide a more sensitive assessment than traditional behavioral measures in psychiatric studies. Imaging genetics is a relatively new field of psychiatric researches, and may improve our understanding on neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. In this review, current understanding in neurobiology of depressive disorders, especially imaging genetic studies on serotonin transporter will be discussed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2019

Tracking the fate of individual cells and their progeny through lineage tracing has been widely used to investigate various biological processes including embryonic development, homeostatic tissue turnover, and stem cell function in regeneration and disease. Conventional lineage tracing involves the marking of cells either with dyes or nucleoside analogues or genetic marking with fluorescent and/or colorimetric protein reporters. Both are imaging-based approaches that have played a crucial role in the field of developmental biology as well as adult stem cell biology. However, imaging-based lineage tracing approaches are limited by their scalability and the lack of molecular information underlying fate transitions. Recently, computational biology approaches have been combined with diverse tracing methods to overcome these limitations and so provide high-order scalability and a wealth of molecular information. In this review, we will introduce such novel computational methods, starting from single-cell RNA sequencing-based lineage analysis to DNA barcoding or genetic scar analysis. These novel approaches are complementary to conventional imaging-based approaches and enable us to study the lineage relationships of numerous cell types during vertebrate, and in particular human, development and disease.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.267-274
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• 2022

Molecular imaging is used to improve the disease diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring of treatment in living subjects. Numerous molecular targets have been developed for various cellular and molecular processes in genetic, metabolic, proteomic, and cellular biologic level. Molecular imaging modalities such as Optical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Computed Tomography (CT) can be used to visualize anatomic, genetic, biochemical, and physiologic changes in vivo. For in vivo cell imaging, certain cells such as cancer cells, immune cells, stem cells could be labeled by direct and indirect labeling methods to monitor cell migration, cell activity, and cell effects in cell-based therapy. In case of cancer, it could be used to investigate biological processes such as cancer metastasis and to analyze the drug treatment process. In addition, transplanted stem cells and immune cells in cell-based therapy could be visualized and tracked to confirm the fate, activity, and function of cells. In conventional molecular imaging, cells can be monitored in vivo in bulk non-invasively with optical imaging, MRI, PET, and SPECT imaging. However, single cell imaging in vivo has been a great challenge due to an extremely high sensitive detection of single cell. Recently, there has been great attention for in vivo single cell imaging due to the development of single cell study. In vivo single imaging could analyze the survival or death, movement direction, and characteristics of a single cell in live subjects. In this article, we reviewed basic principle of in vivo molecular imaging and introduced recent studies for in vivo single cell imaging based on the concept of in vivo molecular imaging.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.145-158
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• 2023

Vascular anomalies encompass a variety of malformations and tumors that can result in severe morbidity and mortality in both adults and children. Advances have been made in the classification and diagnosis of these anomalies, with the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies establishing a widely recognized classification system. In recent years, notable progress has been made in genetic testing and imaging techniques, enhancing our ability to diagnose these conditions. The increasing sophistication of genetic testing has facilitated the identification of specific genetic mutations that help treatment decisions. Furthermore, imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography have greatly improved our capacity to visualize and detect vascular abnormalities, enabling more accurate diagnoses. When considering reconstructive surgery for facial vascular anomalies, it is important to consider both functional and cosmetic results of the procedure. Therefore, a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach involving specialists from dermatology, radiology, and genetics is often required to ensure effective management of these conditions. Overall, the treatment approach for facial vascular anomalies depends on the type, size, location, and severity of the anomaly. A thorough evaluation by a team of specialists can determine the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.223-229
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• 2012

Clinical and preclinical in vivo immune cell imaging approaches have been used to study immune cell proliferation, apoptosis and interaction at the microscopic (intra-vital imaging) and macroscopic (whole-body imaging) level by use of ex vivo or in vivo labeling method. A series of imaging techniques ranging from non-radiation based techniques such as optical imaging, MRI, and ultrasound to radiation based CT/nuclear imaging can be used for in vivo immune cell tracking. These imaging modalities highlight the intrinsic behavior of different immune cell populations in physiological context. Fluorescent, radioactive or paramagnetic probes can be used in direct labeling protocols to monitor the specific cell population. Reporter genes can also be used for genetic, indirect labeling protocols to track the fate of a given cell subpopulation in vivo. In this review, we summarized several methods dealing with dendritic cell, macrophage, and T lymphocyte specifically labeled for different macroscopic whole-body imaging techniques both for the study of their physiological function and in the context of immunotherapy to exploit imaging-derived information and immune-based treatments.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2017

In the field of reproductive medicine, assessment of sperm motility is a key factor for achieving successful artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, or intracellular sperm injection. In this study, the motility of boar sperms was estimated using real-time imaging via confocal microscopy. To confirm this confocal imaging method, flagellar beats and whiplash-like movement angles were compared between fresh and low-temperature-preserved ($17^{\circ}C$ for 24 h) porcine sperms. Low-temperature preservation reduced the number of flagellar beats from $11.0{\pm}2.3beats/s$ (fresh sperm) to $5.7{\pm}1.8beats/s$ and increased the flagellar bending angle from $19.8^{\circ}{\pm}13.8^{\circ}$ (fresh) to $30.6^{\circ}{\pm}15.6^{\circ}$. These data suggest that sperm activity can be assessed using confocal microscopy. The observed motility patterns could be used to develop a sperm evaluation index and automated confocal microscopic sperm motility analysis techniques.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2011

Neuroimaging studies in schizophrenia have remarkably increased and provided some clues to understand its pathophysiology. Here, we reviewed the neuroimaging, studies including volume analysis, functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging, and findings in both early stage schizophrenia and high-risk group. The reviewed studies suggested that the brain with schizophrenia showed both regional deficits and dysconnectivity of neural circuit in the first episode, even high-risk group as well as chronic schizophrenia. Multimodal neuroimaging or combined approach with genetic, electro-or magneto-encephalographic data could provide promising results to understand schizophrenia in the near future.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.429-437
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• 2023

In veterinary medicine, most radiographic images are obtained by restraining patients, inevitably exposing the restrainer to secondary scattered radiation. Radiation exposure can result in stochastic reactions such as cancer and genetic effects, as well as deterministic reactions such as skin burns, cataracts, and bone marrow suppression. Radiation-shielding equipment, including aprons, thyroid shields, eyewear, and gloves, can reduce radiation exposure. However, the risk of radiation exposure to the upper arms, face, and back remains, and lead aprons and thyroid shields are heavy, restricting movement. We designed a new radiation-shielding system and compared its shielding ability with those of conventional radiation-shielding systems. We hypothesized that the new shielding system would have a wider radiation-shielding range and similar shielding ability. The radiation exposure dose differed significantly between the conventional and new shielding systems in the forehead, chin, and bilateral upper arm areas (p < 0.001). When both systems were used together, the radiation-shielding ability was better than when only one system was used at all anatomical locations (p < 0.01). This study suggests that the new radiation-shielding system is essential and convenient for veterinary radiation workers because it is a step closer to radiation safety in veterinary radiography.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2017

In this study, Quercus acutissima seedlings were subjected to drought for 30 days then analyzed to determine their response to water deficit. The growth phenotype, chlorophyll fluorescence response, fresh weight, dry weight, photosynthetic pigment levels, soluble sugar content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to evaluate the effects of drought on plant growth and physiology. The growth phenotype was observed by infrared (IR) digital thermal imaging after 30 days of drought treatment. The maximum, average, and minimum temperatures of drought-treated plant leaves were $1-2^{\circ}C$ higher than those of the control. In contrast, the fresh and dry weights of the dehydrated leaves were generally lower than those of the control. There were no significant differences between treatments in terms of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid levels. Nevertheless, for the drought treatment, the $F_v/F_m$ and $F_v/F_o$ ratios (chlorophyll fluorescence response) were lower than those for the control. Therefore, photosynthetic activity was lower in the dehydrated plants than the control. The drought-stressed Q. acutissima S0536 had lower soluble sugar (glucose and fructose) and higher MDA levels than the controls. These findings may explain the early growth and physiological responses of Q. acutissima to dehydration and facilitate the selection of drought-resistant tree families.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.10b
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• pp.149-151
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• 2005

In this paper, we propose the Optimal Polynomial Neural Networks(PNN) for nonlinear process. The PNN is based on Group Method of Data Handling(GMDH) method and its structure is similar to feedforward Neural Networks. But the structure of PNN is not fixed like in conventional Neural Networks and can be generated. The each node of PNN structure uses several types of high-order polynomial such as linear, quadratic and modified quadratic, and is connected as various kinds of multi-variable inputs. The conventional PNN depends on experience of a designer that select No. of input variable, input variable and polynomial type. Therefore it is very difficult a organizing of optimized network. The proposed algorithm identified and selected No. of input variable, input variable and polynomial type by using Genetic Algorithms(GAs). In the sequel the proposed model shows not only superior results to the existing models, but also pliability in organizing of optimal network. Medical Imaging System(MIS) data is simulated in order to confirm the efficiency and feasibility of the proposed approach in this paper.