• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.197-200
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• 2013

Diagnosis of cerebral syphilitic gumma is frequently determined at the time of surgery, because imaging and laboratory findings demonstrate the elusive results. A 59-year-old woman presenting dysarthria showed a mass on her brain computed tomography. She was first suspected of brain tumor, but histological results from surgical resection revealed cerebral gumma due to neurosyphilis. After operation, she presented fever and rash with an infiltration on a chest X-ray. Histological assessment of skin was consistent with syphilis. Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed test IgG in cerebrospinal fluid was positive. She was successfully treated with ceftriaxone for 14 days.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.947-956
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• 2020

The human body becomes vulnerable to various diseases due to deterioration in structure and function as it ages. In particular, changes in brain structure weaken the immune system against diseases such as vascular and metabolic neuropsychiatric diseases. In this study, we used a magnetic resonance imaging technique that allows non-invasive observation of brain structures and measurement of how the volumes of the brain, gray matter, white matter, and subcortical regions changes with aging in women aged 65 to 85 years. As a result of our investigation, we observed a significant linear decrease in subcortical regions with age. These results suggest that the changes due to aging in the brain structure area are closely related to neuropsychiatric diseases in old age, and can provide information in understanding the vulnerability of the brain in old age.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2007

Although there are some questions about the venues of adult neurogenesis, it is undoubtedly accepted that new neurons are born in adult brains. Adult neurogenesis is regulated by a wide array of factors. Insults harmful to brain, such as neurodegenerative diseases, seizure, ischemia and exposure to drugs of abuse, are intricately related to adult neurogenesis. Whereas neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by death or functional loss of specific neurons, recent studies report that they can be accompanied by neurogenesis. In addition, alcohol and drugs of abuse which have been reputed to cause irreversible damage to brain can also generate newly born cells in adult brain. As yet, however, we have little knowledge of the functional significance and roles of adult neurogenesis under pathological settings, not to mention under physiological settings. Accordingly, in this review we briefly summarize the results of studies which focus on adult neurogenesis in insulted brain, instead of trying to draw hurried conclusion regarding the relationship between adult neurogenesis and brain insults.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.213-219
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• 2022

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an interface between cerebral blood and the brain parenchyma. As a gate keeper, BBB regulates passage of nutrients and exogeneous compounds. Owing to this highly selective barrier, many drugs targeting brain diseases are not likely to pass through the BBB. Thus, a large amount of time and cost have been paid for the development of BBB targeted therapeutics. However, many drugs validated in in vitro models and animal models have failed in clinical trials primarily due to the lack of an appropriate BBB model. Human BBB has a unique cellular architecture. Different physiologies between human and animal BBB hinder the prediction of drug responses. Therefore, a more physiologically relevant alternative BBB model needs to be developed. In this review, we summarize major features of human BBB and current BBB models and describe organ-on-chip models for BBB modeling and their applications in neurological complications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.971-977
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• 2015

Malignant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor and despite recent advances in diagnostics and treatment prognosis remains poor. In this retrospective study, we assessed the clinical and radiological parameters, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of 1p19q deletion, in a series of cases. A total of 816 patients with GBM who received surgery and radiation between January 2010 and May 2014 were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to find the factors independently influencing patient progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Age at diagnosis, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, KPS score change at 2 weeks after operation, neurological deficit symptoms, tumor resection extent, maximal tumor diameter, involvement of eloquent cortex or deep structure, involvement of brain lobe, Ki-67 and MMP9 expression level and adjuvant chemotherapy were statistically significant factors (p<0.05) for both PFS and OS in the univariate analysis. Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed that age ${\leq}50$ years, preoperative KPS score ${\geq}80$, KPS score change after operation ${\geq}0$, involvement of single frontal lobe, deep structure involvement, low Ki-67 and MMP9 expression and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent favorable factors (p<0.05) for patient clinical outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Normal aging causes changes in the brain volume, connection, function and cognition. The brain changes with increases in age and difference of gender varies at all levels. Studies about normal brain aging using various brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables such as gray and white matter structural imaging, proton spectroscopy, apparent diffusion coefficient, diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI are reviewed. Total volume of brain increases after birth but decreases after 9 years old. During adulthood, total volume of brain is relatively stable. After 35 years old, brain shrinks gradually. The changes of gray and white matters by aging show different features. N-acetylaspartate decreases or remains unchanged but choline, creatine and myo-inositol increase with aging. Apparent diffusion coefficient decreases till 20 years old and then becomes stable during adulthood and increase after 60 years old. Diffusion tensor properties in white matter tissue are variable during aging. Resting-state functional connectivity decreases after middle age. Structural and functional brain changes with normal aging are important for studying various psychiatric diseases such as dementia, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Our review may be helpful for studying longitudinal changes of these diseases and successful aging.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2012

Germanium biotite, a natural mineral, has been used as a feed supplement to reinforce innate immune ability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of germanium biotite on the adsorptive and inhibition of growth abilities against Escherichia (E.) coli and Salmonella spp. in vitro. Two strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli and four strains of two Salmonella serotypes (Salmonella Derby and Salmonella Typhimurium), major bacterial diarrheal pathogens, were used for this experiment. The absorptive ability of germanium biotite against most Salmonella used in present experiment was observed weakly. The germanium biotite, however, showed significant effect of bacterial growth inhibition in most experiment bacteria. These results suggest that the use of the germanium biotite as feed supplement could alleviate diarrhea following inhibition of bacteria growth. It is also presumed that antibiotics usage for farm animals, considered as causes of antibiotic residue in meat and emerging antibiotic resistance, could be reduced through the use of germanium biotite as a feed supplement, in place of antibiotics used for the prevention of diarrhea.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2018

Recently, clinical efficacies of the intraoral balancing appliance therapy have been reported by several researchers, and it has been found that there are various kinds of diseases that can be effectively applied. However, studies on cerebrovascular disease, one of the main diseases with a high mortality rate, are still poorly reported, and studies of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)-induced changes in brain function suggest that cerebrovascular disease is more appropriate as an adaptive disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) balancing device. In the developed countries, the importance of research on the structure and function of the brain has been recognized and spurred on the related research. In Korea, the research on brain function and cognitive disorders should have promoted more massively. In order to regain its former reputation in the Korean medicine in the field of cerebrovascular disease, it should be spurred on basic research and clinical case studies. In addition, extensive and in-depth studies including animal studies are needed to establish the basis of underlying mechanisms of the TMJ balancing therapies.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.64-83
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of in vivo 3T $^1H$ MRS with short TE for prescreening various brain diseases. Together with ten normal volunteers, 12 brain tumor patients(2 lymphomas, 5 malignant gliomas) and 5(benign meningiomas) and 10 brain ischemic disease patients(6 acute and 4 subacute infarctions) participated. Lymphomas showed increased intensities of Cho and Lac. Likewise, gliomas showed increased Cho and Lac, but with decreased NAA and ${\beta}\;{\gamma}$-Glx; in higher grade of gliomas, Lac, Cho, mI and Lip predominantly increased with decrease of NAA. Benign meningiomas showed increased Cho, Lac and ${\beta}\;{\gamma}$-Glx; with decreased of NAA. The alanine peak at 1.47 ppm is a neuronal marker for meningiomas. Infarctions showed increased Lac and Lip and decreased NAA, ${\alpha}$-Glx and ${\beta}\;{\gamma}$-Glx where Lac increased with decreased of ${\alpha}$-Glx in acute, and Cho, Lac and Lip increased with decrease of NAA in subacute. Elevated Lac and decreased NAA levels were more aggravated in subacute. Clinical application of the $^1H$ MRS with short TE at 3T is able to povide valuable spectral information for prescreening various brain diseases by monitoring the changes of disease-specific cerebral metabolite concentrations in vivo, and consequently, it can be applicable to assessment of differential diagnosis and malignancy as well.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2017

One of the characteristics of the neurons that distinguishes them from other cells is their complex and polarized structure consisting of dendrites, cell body, and axon. The complexity and diversity of dendrites are particularly well recognized, and accumulating evidences suggest that the alterations in the dendrite structure are associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. Given the importance of the proper dendritic structures for neuronal functions, the dendrite pathology appears to have crucial contribution to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Nonetheless, the cellular and molecular basis of dendritic changes in the neurodegenerative diseases remains largely elusive. Previous studies in normal condition have revealed that several cellular components, such as local cytoskeletal structures and organelles located locally in dendrites, play crucial roles in dendrite growth. By reviewing what has been unveiled to date regarding dendrite growth in terms of these local cellular components, we aim to provide an insight to categorize the potential cellular basis that can be applied to the dendrite pathology manifested in many neurodegenerative diseases.