• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2002

There are over 4,000 different chemicals in cigarette smoke, including nicotine and tar. These compounds influence on lung tissue directly or indirectly. In this study, we have examined whether an aqueous extract of Se-Yeon-Eum (SYE), composed of Oriental medicine that has been known to be effective to symptom by smoking, inhibits nicotine- or cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced cytotoxicity in human embryonic lung fibroblast, MRC-9. Assessment of cell viability using 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric assay indicated that SYE inhibited not only nicotine-induced cytotoxicity but also CSE-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest the possibility that the use of SYE may be useful for improvement of many symptoms by smoking.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.242-250
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to characterize the prenatal and postnatal development of the mouse parotid salivary gland and tooth, and to investigate the relationship between the developmental timing of the two organs. Development of parotid salivary gland begins on embryonic day 15 (E15), which is the prebud stage; E17 is the initial bud stage; E21 to postnatal day 3 (PN3) is the pseudoglandular stage; PN5 to PN10 is the canalicular stage; and PN21 is the terminal bud stage. At E15, the developing maxillary molar tissue is at the bud stage; at E17, it is at the cap stage; at E21, it is at the early bell stage; PN3 to PN5 comprises the advanced bell stage; at PN10, it is at the crown stage; at PN21, it is at the functional stage. Therefore, unlike the other major salivary glands, the development of mouse parotid salivary gland is completed through a process of prenatal and postnatal morphogenesis and becomes functional at about the same time as the developing tooth. The developmental completion times of the parotid salivary gland and tooth are closely related to the weaning time of animal.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.18-24
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• 2001

To identify genes implicated in the control of pluripotency as well as characteristics of stem cells, we analyzed expression profiles of genes derived from mouse morulas, blastocysts, embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and uterus tissue using cDNA microarray. Comparative analyses of their expression profiles identified putative clones that expressed specifically in specific samples or not in a specific sample. The expression pattern of these candidate clones was analyzed using RT-PCR and non-radioactive in situ hybridization. Functional annotation of these clones on pluripotency and stem cell plasticity is in ongoing. These studies may further our understanding on the nature of the stem cells and molecular mechanisms underlying many facets of mammalian development and differentiation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.241-245
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• 2005

Porcine oviduct epithelial cells (POEC) are widely used in co-culture experiments to improve early embryonic development, in vitro fertilization in embryo transfer programs for domestic animals and in vitro maturation of immature germ cells. POEC were mechanically isolated and cultured in tissue culture medium 199. Cells grew continuously, and confluent monolayers were formed after 7 days. After forming confluent monolayer of epithelial cells, supernatant was collected as the condition medium for maturing round spermatids in vitro. Round spermatids were also separated mechanically and cultured in the POEC condition medium. In this study we observed that $20\%$ of round spermatid cultured were matured into elongating spermatid after 24 h, and about $10\%$ of round spermatid cultured showed complete elongation (elongated spermatid) within $24\~48$ h of in vitro culture. No further development was observed within $50\~72$ h and transformed cells lost their viability after 72 h. These preliminary findings suggest that the condition medium from POEC may be possible to overcome the round spermatid block by improving the milieu of culture system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.134-139
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• 2018

Here, we report isolation of multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expressed tissue-specifically during murine embryogenesis. One of these, subsequently came to be known as Redrum, is expressed in erythropoietic cells in fetal liver and adult bone marrow. Redrum transcription is also detected during pregnancy in the spleen where extramedullary hematopoiesis takes place. In order to examine the function of Redrum in vivo, we generated a gene-targeted murine model and analyzed its embryonic and adult erythropoiesis. The homozygous mutant embryo showed no apparent deficiency or defect in erythropoiesis. Adult erythropoiesis in bone marrow and in the spleen during pregnancy likewise showed no detectable phenotype as red blood cells matured in normal fashion. The phenotype is in contrast to the reported function of Redrum in vitro, and our observation implies that Redrum plays in vivo an accessory or supplementary role whose loss is compatible with normal erythropoiesis.

• 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.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2018

Because of its embryonic origin, the thyroid gland is predisposed to multiple anatomical variations and developmental anomalies. These include the pyramidal lobe, the origin of levator glandular thyroidae, the absence of the isthmus, ectopic thyroid, accessory thyroid tissues, etc. These anatomical variations are clinically significant to surgeons, anatomists, and researchers. The present study was designed to report anatomical variations and developmental anomalies of the thyroid gland in Ethiopian population. The study was conducted on 40 cadavers used for routine dissection classes. The thyroid gland was exposed and observed for any variations and developmental anomalies. The length, width, and thickness of the lobes were measured using a vernier caliper. Differences in the incidence of pyramidal lobe and absence of the isthmus between sexes were tested using a Pearson chi-square test. The mean length, width, and thickness of the right lobe were 4.24 cm, 1.8 cm, and 1.6 cm, respectively, whereas it was 4.08 cm, 1.8 cm, and 1.6 cm, respectively for that of the left lobe. The pyramidal lobe was noted in 52.5% of the cadavers. The levator glandulae thyroidae were prevalent in 40% of the cadavers. The isthmus mainly overlies the 2nd to 4th tracheal rings and was absent in 7.5% of the cadavers. Accessory thyroid tissue and double pyramidal lobes were noted in 2.5% of the cadavers. Most of the variations of the thyroid gland were seen frequently in female but it was not statically significant. Different clinically important and rare variations of the thyroid gland were found.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.974-988
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• 2018

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are collectively called pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), have emerged as a promising source for regenerative medicine. Particularly, human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) have shown robust potential for regenerating injured heart. Over the past two decades, protocols to differentiate hPSCs into CMs at high efficiency have been developed, opening the door for clinical application. Studies further demonstrated therapeutic effects of hPSC-CMs in small and large animal models and the underlying mechanisms of cardiac repair. However, gaps remain in explanations of the therapeutic effects of engrafted hPSC-CMs. In addition, bioengineering technologies improved survival and therapeutic effects of hPSC-CMs in vivo. While most of the original concerns associated with the use of hPSCs have been addressed, several issues remain to be resolved such as immaturity of transplanted cells, lack of electrical integration leading to arrhythmogenic risk, and tumorigenicity. Cell therapy with hPSC-CMs has shown great potential for biological therapy of injured heart; however, more studies are needed to ensure the therapeutic effects, underlying mechanisms, and safety, before this technology can be applied clinically.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.363-375
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• 2023

Stem cells are the foundational cells for every organ and tissue in our body. Cell-based therapeutics using stem cells in regenerative medicine have received attracting attention as a possible treatment for various diseases caused by congenital defects. Stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as well as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and neuroprogenitors stem cells (NSCs) have recently been studied in various ways as a cell-based therapeutic agent. When various stem cells are transplanted into a living body, they can differentiate and perform complex functions. For stem cell transplantation, it is essential to determine the suitability of the stem cell-based treatment by evaluating the origin of stem, the route of administration, in vivo bio-distribution, transplanted cell survival, function, and mobility. Currently, these various stem cells are being imaged in vivo through various molecular imaging methods. Various imaging modalities such as optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have been introduced for the application of various stem cell imaging. In this review, we discuss the principles and recent advances of in vivo molecular imaging for application of stem cell research.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.7
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• pp.311-317
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• 2024

Brain organoid is a three-dimensional (3D) tissue derived from stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that reflect real human brain structure. It replicates the complexity and development of the human brain, enabling studies of the human brain in vitro. With emerging technologies, its application is various, including disease modeling and drug screening. A variety of experimental methods have been used to study structural and molecular characteristics of brain organoids. However, electrophysiological analysis is necessary to understand their functional characteristics and complexity. Although electrophysiological approaches have rapidly advanced for monolayered cells, there are some limitations in studying electrophysiological and neural network characteristics due to the lack of 3D characteristics. Herein, electrophysiological measurement and analytical methods related to neural complexity and 3D characteristics of brain organoids are reviewed. Overall, electrophysiological understanding of brain organoids allows us to overcome limitations of monolayer in vitro cell culture models, providing deep insights into the neural network complex of the real human brain and new ways of disease modeling.