• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.388-397
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• 1999

Purpose: Propranolol is known to decrease portal pressure by reducing blood flow of portal vein. Perrectal portal scintigraphy with Tc-99m pertechnetate has been introduced to evaluate the portal circulation and early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. We evaluated the effects of propranolol on portal circulation by using per-rectal portal scintigraphy. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the portal hemodynamics by per-rectal portal scintigraphy in 51 patients with liver cirrhosis, 10 chronic hepatitis and 10 normal subjects. 38 patients with cirrhosis underwent per-rectal portal scintigraphy before and after propranolol medication. Perrectal portal scintigraphy was performed after per-rectal administration of 370 MBq of Tc-99m pertechnetate. The shunt index was calculated as the ratio, expressed as a percentage of heart radioactivity to the sum of heart and liver radioactivity during the first 30 seconds. Results: The shunt index in 40 patients with cirrhosis ($59.8{\pm}27.2%$) was significantly higher than that of normal control ($5.0{\pm}1.2%$. p<0.01) and chronic hepatitis ($11.4{\pm}3.5%$, p<0.01). Shunt index was significantly different according to Child's classification and the degree of esophageal varix (p<0.01). After propranolol medication, shunt index was significantly decreased from $59.9{\pm}27.3%$ to $51.3{\pm}15.3%$ (p<0.01) in 38 patients with liver cirrhosis. There was no significant difference of the amount of shunt index reduction after propranolol according to Childs' classification and the degree of esophgageal varix. Conclusion : The effect of propranolol on portal circulation was demonstrated as decreasing shunt index on per-rectal portal scintigraphy in patients with liver cirrhosis. Per-rectal portal scintigraphy may be useful to evaluate the portal circulation and to predict the effect of propranolol in patients with liver cirrhosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.790-796
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• 2016

Dental pulp is a highly vascularized tissue requiring adequate blood supply for successful regeneration. In this study, we investigated the functional role of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) as a perivascular source for in vivo formation of vessel-like structures. Primarily isolated SHEDs showed mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like characteristics including the expression of surface antigens and in vitro osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potentials. Moreover, SHEDs were positive for NG2, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (SMA), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta ($PDGFR{\beta}$), and CD146 as pericyte markers. To prove feasibility of SHEDs as perivascular source, SHEDs were transplanted into immunodeficient mouse using Matrigel with or without human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Transplantation of SHEDs alone or HUVECs alone resulted in no formation of vessel-like structures with enough red blood cells. However, when SHEDs and HUVECs were transplanted together, extensive vessel-like structures were formed. The presence of murine erythrocytes within lumens suggested the formation of anastomoses between newly formed vessel-like structures in Matrigel plug and the host circulatory system. To understand underlying mechanisms of in vivo angiogenesis, the expression of angiogenic cytokine and chemokine, their receptors, and MMPs was compared between SHEDs and HUVECs. SHEDs showed higher expression of1VEGF, SDF-$1{\alpha}$, and $PDGFR{\beta}$ than HUVECs. On the contrary, HUVECs showed higher expression of VEGF receptors, CXCR4, and PDGF-BB than SHEDs. This differential expression pattern suggested reciprocal interactions between SHEDs and HUVECs and their involvement during in vivo angiogenesis. In conclusion, SHEDs could be a feasible source of perivascular cells for in vivo angiogenesis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.271-281
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• 2018

IFIT1 (also known as ISG56) is a member of the interferon-inducible protein with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) family. IFITs are strongly induced by type I interferon (IFN), double-stranded RNA and virus infection. Here, we investigated IFIT1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in human bronchus epithelial cells (BEAS-2Bs) induced by the H9N2 virus and inactivated viral particle at different time points. We also investigated the effect of H9N2 virus and viral particle infection on $IFN-{\alpha}/{\beta}$ production, and assessed whether hemagglutinin or neuraminidase protein induced IFIT1 expression. Results showed that both H9N2 virus infection and viral particle inoculation induced the expression of IFIT1 at mRNA and protein levels in the two cell lines. Hemagglutinin or neuraminidase protein binding alone is not sufficient to induce IFIT1 expression. Surprisingly, the expression patterns of IFIT1 in response to H9N2 virus and viral particles in the two cell lines were opposite, and production kinetics of $IFN-{\alpha}/{\beta}$ also differed. An additional finding was that induction of IFIT1 in response to H9N2 virus infection or viral particle inoculation was more sensitive in HUVECs than in BEAS-2Bs. Our data offers new insight into the innate immune response of endothelial cells to H9N2 virus infection.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.447-456
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• 2013

This study was carried out for the establishment of theory and foundational data for breeding, on variegated foliage plants using for potted plants, based on examination and analysis for shape, color, and area ratio of variegated leaves and chlorophyll contents. Six families, 18 genus, and 54 species of variegated plants domestically distributed in Korea were used as the plant materials. Patterns based on chlorophyll-deficient part in variegated leaves were divided into 20 types, such as steps, border, collapsed border, sandy border, half, silk, stars, vein, firewood, border and firewood, center, entirety, leaf, irregular, net, watermelon, melon, and so on. There were 10 kinds of colors including dark green, red, dark red, reddish white, reddish yellow, white, silver, silvery white, yellowish white, and yellow. The ratio of variegated area was ranged from 5.8% to 100% and it was diverse depending on species or cultivar. The ratios by patterns were highest in entirety (98.6%) and relatively high in step (60.8%), whereas, low in boarder, star and firewood (33.6-36.4%), and relatively low in half and vein (43%). Chlorophyll content of variegated leaf was rather lower compared to normal plants and chlorophyll b tended to be higher in ratio of chlorophyll a to b. Particularly content of chlorophyll b in Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar', Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana Compacta', D. reflexa 'Song of India', and Tradescantia spathacea was higher than chlorophyll a in comparison with that of normal plants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.3
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• pp.261-267
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• 2006

A nursery trial comprising 109 progenies of 5 populations of Cornus kousa was analysed using multivariate analysis of 12 quantitative traits (growth and leaf form). The aim of this study was to examine geographic variation of the species based on the single, existing nursery trial to support a genetic resource conservation plan of Cornus kousa in Korea. Nested Anova showed that there were statistically significant differences among populations as well as among families within populations in all 12 quantitative traits. In 10 of 12 traits, variance components among families within populations were higher than those among populations. Cluster analysis using complete linkage method showed three groups to Euclidean distance 0.8. Among principal components, primary 2 principal components appeared to be major variables because of the loading contribution of 91.9%. The first contribution component was maximum width, vein number, blade length/petiole length and upper 1/3 width lower 1/3 width; the second one was height, diameter at root collar, blade length, upper 1/3 width, petiole length and petiole length/vein number, respectively. But all characters showed no significant difference with the pattern of geographic distribution.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.131-136
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• 2013

Sirtuin proteins have emerged as important modulators of several age-associated diseases. These include cancer and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Among the sirtuin family members, SIRT2 mRNA is strongly expressed. To investigate the pathophysiological significance of SIRT2 as a primary regulator of angiogenesis, we focused on the biological role of SIRT2 under hypoxic conditions, examining the gene expression pattern of sirtuin family members in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). SIRT2 was expressed primarily in the cytoplasm, but it was dynamically trans-localized in the nuclear by hypoxia stimuli. Interestingly, both SIRT2 and the pro-angiogenic factor, VEGF, were up- regulated by hypoxia. A Matrigel assay demonstrated that the HUVECs formed a tube-like structure under hypoxia. The SIRT2 inhibitor, AK-1, significantly decreased the tube-forming activity of the HUVECs under either normoxia or hypoxia conditions. These findings suggest that SIRT2 might be a key regulator of angiogenesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.244-250
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• 1993

Hematotoxicity and vascular irritation of DA-125, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, were investigated in mice and rabbits. In hematotoxicity study, healthy male ICR mice were treated with DA-125 by a single intravenous injection at doses of 18 and 24 mg/kg. After 4, 8, 12 and 16 days WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, and platelet counts were measured respectively. As a positive control, 12 mg/kg of doxorubicin (DXR) was used in the same manner. Remakable reductions of WBC counts in groups treated with DA-125 or DXR were observed 4 days after administration and returned to normal range 8 days after injection in groups of DA-125 18 mg/kg and DXR 12 mg/kg. The recovery of leukopenia induced in a group of DA-125 24 mg/kg took about 16 days after administration. The RBC counts, hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit values also decreased in all drug treated groups on day 8 and recovered thereafter. The platelet counts of groups treated with DA-125 or DXR decreased on day 4 and recovered from day 8 of experiment. Local vascular irritation of DA-125 was also assessed in rabbits. The obtained results can be summarized as follows. 1. Thrombophlebitis was not induced even after daily intravenous administration of 0.4% solution of DA-125 or 0.2% solution of DXR for 7 days. 2. Macro- and microscopic observations revealed that the irritative activity of 0.4% solution of DA-125 in blood vessels was not so much different from that of saline when they were injected once a day into vein retroauricularis of rabbits for 7 days. 3. Mild inflammatory reaction was noted around vessels in rabbits treated with 0.2% solution of DXR after consecutive intravenous infusion for more than 5 days. 4. The potencies of vascular irritation of the test solutions were summarized in the following order; saline = 0.4% DA-125<0.2% DXR. These results indicated that DA-125 showed similar pattern of hematotoxicity with DXR but was less hematotoxic than DXR, and that 0.4% solution of DA-125 did not elicit unusual toxic properties when injected through intravenous route for clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 1996

This study was undertaken to illustrate the uterotonic effect of Leonurus sibiricus. It was dissolved in sterile water and several different dosages were administered both in vitro and in vivo study. Rat uterine tissue for in vitro bioassay was obtained from estrous rat. From the low to high dosages of Leonurus sibiricus were tried and each uterine contraction was recorded and integrated. Anesthetized estrous rat for in vivo study was cannulated into the jugular vein for infusion of the compound. Another cannula with a balloon tipped and water filled was inserted into the uterus to measure uterine activity. While the uterine tissue did not respond to low dosage of compound, high dosage of compound stimulated the tissue to contract less than 1 minute with low amplitude. In vivo rat uterus showed a certain, consistent pattern of contractions which was initial relaxation and followed by prolonged and increased amplitude of contractions. It also caused a short breathing stop which might be due to acute acidosis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.737-741
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the expression pattern of CD 18(leukocyte adhesion glycoprotein) in ischemia-reperfusion injury of TRAM flap of rats. Through this study, we can obtain more information about ischemia-reperfusion injury. We want to develop specific medicine to improve the survival rate of TRAM flap in the future. Methods: A TRAM flap supplied by a single pedicle superior epigastric artery and vein was elevated on 60 Sprauge-Dawley rats. The rats were divide into 6 groups (each group n=10); Group O: sham, no ischemia-reperfusion injury, Group I: 2 hour reperfusion after 4 hour ischemia, Group II: 4 hour reperfusion after 4 hour ischemia, Group III: 8 hour reperfusion after 4 hour ischemia, Group IV: 12 hour reperfusion after 4 hour ischemia, and Group V: 24 hour reperfusion after 4 hour ischemia. This study consisted of gross examination for flap survival and flow cytometry study of CD18 on neutrophils. Results: The gross measurement of the flap showed different survival rate in group I(71%), II(68%), III(37%), IV(34%) and V(34%). All experimental groups showed an increase in the expression of CD18 compared to group O. The expression of CD18 was rapidly increased in ascending order in group I, II and III. But, the expression of CD18 was maintained in group IV and V. Conclusion: The results can be implemented in the study to develop drugs which are capable of reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in microsurgical breast reconstruction.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.623-627
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• 2000

Objective : Spontaneous lumbar epidural hematoma is a rare entity, although the precipitating factors such as anticoagulation therapy frequently precede it. The authors report four cases of surgically confirmed spontaneous epidural hematoma mimicking lumbar disc herniation. Methods : Between 1995 and 1998, four patients with spontaneous lumbar epidural hematoma were diagnosed. The clinical findings which are identical to that of acute disc herniation are included in this study. The operative findings and radiological characteristics are also included. Results : The magnetic resonance(MR) image findings demonstrated epidural lesions of intermediate to low signal intensity equivalent to those of normal discs on $T_1$-weighted images, and epidural lesions of high signal intensity higher than these normal discs on a $T_2$-weighted image. The image findings also showed rim enhanced pattern of the gadolinium-enhanced $T_1$-weighted MR images. All of the hematomas was associated with a small concomitant disc herniation or underlying annular tear. Conclusion : The authors speculate that spontaneous lumbar epidural hematoma results from tearing of the fragile penetrating vein caused by underlying disc or annulus disruption between Batson' plexus and vertebral body.