• 대한치과보철학회지
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.275-286
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• 2002

Statement of problem. Surface alteration of the implant screws after function may be associated with mechanical failure. Theses metal fatigue appears to be the most common cause of structural failure. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate surface alteration of the implant screws after function through the examination of used and unused implant screws in SEM(scanning electron microscope). Materials and methods. In this study, abutment screws(Steri-oss, 3i), gold retaining screw(3i) and titanium retaining screw(3i) were retrieved from patients. New, unused abutment and retaining screws were prepared for control group. Each of the old, used screws was retrieved with a screwdriver. And retrieved implant complex of Steri-oss system was prepared for this study. Then, SEM investigation and EDS analysis of abutment and retaining screws were performed. And SEM investigation of cross-sectioned sample of retrieved implant complex was performed. Results. In the case of new, unused implant screws, as maunfactured circumferential grooves are regularly examined and screw thread are sharply remained. Before ultrasonic cleansing of old, used implant screw, a lot of accumulation and corrosion products were existed. After ultrasonic cleansing of old, used implant screws, circumferential grooves as examined before function were randomly deepened and scratches increased. Also, dull screw thread was examined. More surface alterations after function were examined in titanium screw than gold screw. And more surface alteration was examined when retrieved with driver than retrieved without driver. Conclusions. These surface alteration after function may result in the screw instability. Regularly cleansing and exchange of screws was recommended. We recommend the use of gold screw rather than titanium screw, and careful manipulation of the driver.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권9호
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• pp.427-428
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• 2018

Based on the piling reports of disruptions in the thalamus of patients with schizophrenia, the alteration in the thalamo-cortical system has been regarded as the core pathophysiology. As the thalamus is composed of distinctive nuclei with different cytoarchitecture and cortical connections, nuclei specific investigations have been actively conducted in post-mortem studies. In addition, the importance of early changes has been highlighted, which in turn has led to investigations of the thalamo-cortical system using non-invasive neuroimaging methods. From this perspective, the early structural changes in the thalamo-cortical system, such as the thalamo-cortical connection and nuclei specific microstructural changes (which are coherent with findings from post-mortem methods) will be briefly discussed. The main findings, which are the reduced thalamo-prefrontal connection and reduced microstructural complexity in the higher-order nuclei detected in first-episode psychosis patients, suggest the occurrence of early alterations within and between the communication hub of the brain and cortex. These findings suggest not only directions for further studies for unveiling the thalamo-cortical system related pathophysiology, but also the possibility of using the reduced microstructural complexity in the higher order nucleus as a biomarker for schizophrenia.

• BMB Reports
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.151-160
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• 2005

By a cDNA array representing 2308 signal transduction related genes, we studied the expression profiles of HeLa cells stably transfected by Hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 4B (HCV-NS4B). The alterations of the expression of four genes were confirmed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR; and the aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C1 (AKR1C1) enzyme activity was detected in HCV-NS4B transiently transfected HeLa cells and Huh-7, a human hepatoma cell line. Of the 2,308 genes we examined, 34 were up-regulated and 56 were down-regulated. These 90 genes involved oncogenes, tumor suppressors, cell receptors, complements, adhesions, transcription and translation, cytoskeletion and cellular stress. The expression profiling suggested that multiple regulatory pathways were affected by HCV-NS4B directly or indirectly. And since these genes are related to carcinogenesis, host defense system and cell homeostatic mechanism, we can conclude that HCV-NS4B could play some important roles in the pathogenesis mechanism of HCV.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.3-19
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• 2001

Recent basic and clinical studies demonstrate a major role for neural plasticity in the etiology and treatment of depression and stress-related illness. The neural plasticity is reflected both in the birth of new cell in the adult brain(neurogenesis) and the death of genetically healthy cells(apoptosis) in the response to the individual's interaction with the environment. The neural plasticity includes adaptations of intracellular signal transduction pathway and gene expression, as well as alterations in neuronal morphology and cell survival. At the cellular level, repeated stress causes shortening and debranching of dendrite in the CA3 region of hippocampus and suppress neurogenesis of dentate gyrus granule neurons. At the molecular level, both form of structural remodeling appear to be mediated by glucocorticoid hormone working in concert with glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor, along with transmitters such as serotonin and GABA-benzodiazepine system. In addition, the decreased expression and reduced level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) could contribute the atrophy and decreased function of stress-vulnerable hippocampal neurons. It is also suggested that atrophy and death of neurons in the hippocampus, as well as prefrontal cortex and possibly other regions, could contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Antidepressant treatment could oppose these adverse cellular effects, which may be regarded as a loss of neural plasticity, by blocking or reversing the atrophy of hippocampal neurons and by increasing cell survival and function via up-regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding proteins(CREB) and BDNF. In this article, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie stress, depression, and action of antidepressant are precisely discussed.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.299-308
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• 2002

The purpose of this morphometric study was to obtain detailed quantitative information on all cell types in the testis interstitium of Korean ring-necked pheasants combined with data on changes in the steroidogenic function of the testis during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Animals collected during the breeding season, testis weights, sperm production, serum testosterone levels, leuteinizing hormone-stimulated testosterone secretion, and the length of the seminiferous tubules were significantly (p < 0.05) increased as compared to the nonbreeding season. Seminiferous tubules occupied 93.25% of testis volume in the breeding season. Leydig cells constituted 0.82% of the testicular volume. The mean volume of an Leydig cell was $1039{\mu}m^3$, and each testis contained about 24.53 million Leydig cells. Testes of the pheasants during the nonbreeding season displayed a 98% reduction in testis volume that was associated with a decrease in the absolute volume of seminiferous tubules (98% reduction), tubular lumen(100%), interstitium(90%), blood vessels(84%), lymphatic spaces(97%), Leydig cells(79%), mesenchymal cells(51%), and myoid cells(61%). The number of Leydig cells, mesenchymal cells, myoid cells per testis in the breeding season was higher (p < 0.05) than in the nonbreeding season. Although the average volume of a Leydig cell was 74% lower in the nonbreeding season, the average volume of a myoid and mesenchymal cell remained unchanged. These results demonstrate that there are a striking differences in the testicular structure of the Korean ring-necked pheasant in the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Every structural parameter of the Leydig cell was pasitively correlated with both serum and LH-stimulated secretion concentrations of testosterone. Correlation of changes in hormonal status with morphometric alterations of all Leydig cell suggests that the Korean-ring necked pheasant may be used as a model to study structure-function relations in the avian testis.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.231-238
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• 2011

During pregnancy, stress induces maternal glucocorticoid secretion, which in turn is known to affect structural malformation, retardation of growth, reduced birth weight of the fetus. As Hox genes are master transcription factors which fulfill critical roles in embryonic development, we aimed to explore the possibility that alterations of the Hox gene expression might be involved in stress-induced malformation. The pregnant mice were injected with dexamethasone at a dose of 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg on day 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 p.c. (post coitum), as well as saline as control. Embryos of E11.5 and E18.5 were obtained by sacrificing pregnant animals. Weight and crown-rump length (CRL) were measured. RT-PCR was performed to examine the Hox gene expression levels. Embryos given dexamethasone at day 7.5~9.5 p.c. had small CRL and weighed less both in E11.5 and E18.5. The percentage of embryos showing abnormalities was high in groups received high dose of dexamethasone. To define the molecular basis for abnormal embryonic development, we analyzed the Hox gene expression pattern and found that many Hox genes display altered expression. Effects of prenatal dexamethasone treatment on embryonic development might be associated with the aberrant Hox gene expression.

• 분석과학
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2011

물의 흡수에 의한 전분알갱이의 swelling은 물과 친화력이 있는 새로운 부분의 노출에 의하여 구조적인 변화로써 점진적으로, 때로는 갑작스럽게 변화를 일으킨다. 이러한 이유로 인해서, 물과의 접촉 시간에 따르는 전분 알갱이의 크기 또는 모양의 변화에 관심을 가진다. 중력 장-흐름 분획법(gravitation field-flow fractionation, GrFFF)은 마이크론 범위의 크기를 가지는 입자들을 분리하는 데에 유용한 분리기술이다. 본 연구에서는 감자와 고구마 전분알갱이들의 크기와 크기 분포도를 결정하는 데에 있어서 GrFFF의 응용가능성을 검사하고자 한다. GrFFF를 이용하여 물과의 접촉 시간에 따르는 전분 알갱이들의 크기분포도 변화를 모니터하였다. GrFFF로부터 얻어진 전분알갱이들의 크기 및 크기분포는 광학현미경(optical microscopy, OM) 결과와 비교하였다. 결과적으로 감자와 고구마 전분의 swelling은 물과의 접촉시간이 증가함에 따라 전분알갱이의 크기가 증가하며, 전분의 종류가 달라지면 swelling 속도가 달라짐을 확인하였다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.213-222
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• 2012

While much has been learned about the mechanisms of metastatic spread of cancer to bone, there has been little headway in establishing guidelines for monitoring the alteration in bone quality and estimating fracture risk. The aims of this study are, therefore, 1) to evaluate bone quality induced by metastatic bone tumor by analyzing the characteristics on bone microarchitecture and degree of bone mineralization and 2) analyze fracture risk increased secondary to the bone quality changes by metastatic bone tumor through calculating mechanical rigidities based on in-vivo micro CT images. For this study, eighteen female SD rats (12 weeks old, approximate 250 g) were randomly allocated in Sham and Tumor groups. W256 (Walker carcinosarcoma 256 malignant breast cancer cell) was inoculated in the right femur (intraosseous injection) in Tumor group, while 0.9% NaCl (saline solution) was injected in Sham group. The right hind limbs of all rats were scanned by in-vivo micro-CT to acquire structural parameters and degree of bone mineralization at 0 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after surgery. At the same time, urine was collected by metabolic cages for a biochemical marker test in order to evaluate bone resorption. Then, bone metastasis had been directly identified by positron emission tomography. Finally, axial, bending and torsional rigidities had been calculated based on in-vivo micro CT images for predict fracture risk. The results of this study showed that metastatic bone tumor might induce significant decrease in bone quality and increase of fracture risk. This study may be helpful to monitoring a degree of bone metastasis and predicting fracture risk due to metastatic bone tumor. In addition, this noninvasive diagnostic methodology may be utilized for evaluating other bone metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.499-506
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• 2015

Angiotensin II (Ang II), a key mediator of hypertensive, causes structural changes in the arteries (vascular remodeling), which involve alterations in cell growth, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hypertrophy. Ang II promotes fibrotic factor like IGFBP5, which mediates the profibrotic effects of Ang II in the heart and kidneys, lung and so on. The purpose of this study was to identify the signaling pathway of IGFBP5 on cell proliferation and migration of Ang II-stimulated VSMC. We have been interested in Ang II-induced IGFBP5 and were curious to determine whether a Pitavastatin would ameliorate the effects. Herein, we investigated the question of whether Ang II induced the levels of IGFBP5 protein followed by proliferation and migration in VSMC. Pretreatment with the specific Angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1) inhibitor (Losartan), Angiotensin receptor type 2 (AT2) inhibitor (PD123319), MAPK inhibitor (U0126), ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059), P38 inhibitor (SB600125) and PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) resulted in significantly inhibited IGFBP5 production, proliferation, and migration in Ang II-stimulated VSMC. In addition, IGFBP5 knockdown resulted in modulation of Ang II induced proliferation and migration via IGFBP5 induction. In addition, Pitavastatin modulated Ang II induced proliferation and migration in VSMC. Taken together, our results indicated that Ang II induces IGFBP5 through AT1, ERK1/2, P38, and PI3K signaling pathways, which were inhibited by Pitavastatin. These findings may suggest that Pitavastatin has an effect on vascular disease including hypertension.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.1177-1182
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• 2004

The effect of poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine] (pMPC) on the skin permeation property was investigated by performing in vitro skin permeation study of a model drug, nicotinic acid (NA). Effect of pMPC polymer in donor solution on skin permeation rates was evaluated using side-by-side diffusion cells. Also, the structural alterations in the stratum corneum (SC), inter-lamellar bilayer (ILB) and dermis layers in pMPC-treated and -untreated skin sections were investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The permeation profile of NA without pMPC in donor solution showed biphasic mode: initial $1^{st} phase and 2^{nd}$ hydration phase. The sudden, more than 10-fold increase in flux from the initial steady state (43.5 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) to the $2^{nd}$ hydration phase (457.3 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) suggests the disruption of skin barrier function due to extensive hydration. The permeation profile of NA with 3% pMPC in the donor solution showed monophasic pattern: the steady state flux (10.9 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) without abrupt increase of the flux. The degree of NA permeation rate decreased in a concentration-dependent manner of pMPC. TEM of skin equilibrated with water or 2% pMPC for 12 h showed that corneocytes are still cohesive and epidermis is tightly bound to dermis in 2% pMPC-treated skin, while wider separation between corneocytes and focal dilations in inter-cellular spaces were observed in water-treated skin. This result suggests that pMPC could protect the barrier property of the stratum corneum by preventing the disruption of ILB structure caused by extensive skin hydration during skin permeation study.