• Title/Summary/Keyword: genetic advance

Search Result 75, Processing Time 0.021 seconds

Painful Channels in Sensory Neurons

  • Lee, Yunjong;Lee, Chang-Hun;Oh, Uhtaek
    • Molecules and Cells
    • /
    • v.20 no.3
    • /
    • pp.315-324
    • /
    • 2005
  • Pain is an unpleasant sensation experienced when tissues are damaged. Thus, pain sensation in some way protects body from imminent threat or injury. Peripheral sensory nerves innervated to peripheral tissues initially respond to multiple forms of noxious or strong stimuli, such as heat, mechanical and chemical stimuli. In response to these stimuli, electrical signals for conducting the nociceptive neural signals through axons are generated. These action potentials are then conveyed to specific areas in the spinal cord and in the brain. Sensory afferent fibers are heterogeneous in many aspects. For example, sensory nerves are classified as $A{\alpha}$, $-{\beta}$, $-{\delta}$ and C-fibers according to their diameter and degree of myelination. It is widely accepted that small sensory fibers tend to respond to vigorous or noxious stimuli and related to nociception. Thus these fibers are specifically called nociceptors. Most of nociceptors respond to noxious mechanical stimuli and heat. In addition, these sensory fibers also respond to chemical stimuli [Davis et al. (1993)] such as capsaicin. Thus, nociceptors are considered polymodal. Recent advance in research on ion channels in sensory neurons reveals molecular mechanisms underlying how various types of stimuli can be transduced to neural signals transmitted to the brain for pain perception. In particular, electrophysiological studies on ion channels characterize biophysical properties of ion channels in sensory neurons. Furthermore, molecular biology leads to identification of genetic structures as well as molecular properties of ion channels in sensory neurons. These ion channels are expressed in axon terminals as well as in cell soma. When these channels are activated, inward currents or outward currents are generated, which will lead to depolarization or hyperpolarization of the membrane causing increased or decreased excitability of sensory neurons. In order to depolarize the membrane of nerve terminals, either inward currents should be generated or outward currents should be inhibited. So far, many cationic channels that are responsible for the excitation of sensory neurons are introduced recently. Activation of these channels in sensory neurons is evidently critical to the generation of nociceptive signals. The main channels responsible for inward membrane currents in nociceptors are voltage-activated sodium and calcium channels, while outward current is carried mainly by potassium ions. In addition, activation of non-selective cation channels is also responsible for the excitation of sensory neurons. Thus, excitability of neurons can be controlled by regulating expression or by modulating activity of these channels.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastric MALT Lymphoma (위 MALT 림프종의 진단 및 치료에 대한 고찰)

  • Tae Ho Kim
    • Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
    • /
    • v.3 no.2
    • /
    • pp.82-88
    • /
    • 2015
  • Gastric lymphoma comprises 1-6% of all gastric malignant neoplasms and among them 50% is gastric MALT lymphoma. The 60-70% of MALT lymphomas is diagnosed at early, localized diseased state. Gastric MALT lymphoma is assumed that it progress slowly with indolent course. It presents nonspecific symptoms such as epigastric pain, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting. It is rarely associated with serious complication such as gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation. The definite diagnosis of gastric MALT lymphoma should be made with histopathologically. Wotherspoon score is used to differential diagnosis with Helicobacter pylori associated gastric inflammatory change. Gastric MALT lymphoma is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection with supported by epidemiologic and histopathologic studies. Gastric MALT lymphoma is characterized with genetic aberrations such as trisomy 3, trisomy 18, chromosomal translocations t(11;18), t(1;14), t(14;18), t(3;14). Appropriate clinical staging is essential to determine the optimal treatment strategy for gastric MALT lymphoma. Lugano International Conference classification has been applied widely. Helicobacter pylori eradication is used as the first line treatment for gastric MALT lymphoma independent of the stage. The complete remission has been achieved in 60-90% of the stage I/II1 patients with Helicobacter pylori eradication only. The treatment options for the patients with refractory to eradication are radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy with the complete remission rate of 75% to 100%. The incidence of gastric MALT lymphoma can be expected to down by virtue of the decrease of Helicobacter pylori infection rate. Further basic and clinical research is necessary to advance in determine the pathogenesis and management.

  • PDF

Relationships of Changing Social Atmosphere, Lifestyle and Bone Mineral Density in College Students (대학생의 골밀도와 사회분위기 및 생활습관과의 관계)

  • Lee, In-Ja;Ko, Yo-Han;Kim, Chung-Kyung;Kim, Hee-Sol;Park, Da-Jeong;Yoon, Hyeo-Min;Jeong, Yu-Jin
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
    • /
    • v.36 no.4
    • /
    • pp.263-271
    • /
    • 2013
  • The decrease of bone mineral density gives rise to the outbreak of osteopenia and makes the possibility of a bone fracture. It makes health problems in society. It's very important to prevent osteopenia in advance. Also it's critical to prevent and take care of it in adolescent because it's the most developing period comparing to middle ages because that bone mineral density decreases. There are genetic, physical and enviromental factors that affect bone mineral density. Recently, a lifestyle and eating habits are also changing as the society atmosphere is gradually doing. This study have shown that 134 women and 75 men was chosen and responded to the survey of measuring bone mineral density and investigating a lifestyle. The measure of bone mineral density is to use Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) and check femoral neck and lumbar spine. Also questionaries was required to pre-made survey about their lifestyles. Analysis of data was done with SPSS program. Multiple regression analysis was used for the relation of bone mineral density, the heigths and BMI. The sample of Groups are checked for drinking, smoking or excercising about differences by t-test. The results of the experiments were; first, there is statistically significant differences in the comparisons between BMD and BMD. But there isn't any special correlation between drinking, smoking and BMD. Secondly, bone mineral density becomes low related to an intake of caffeine. Particularly, this is statically significant on women. Also there is statically significant correlation between femoral neck and quantity of motion for both men and women. Third, there is significant relation between eating habits and bone mineral density on women's lumbar spine. However, there is no significant relation between men's lumbar spine and women's one. Therefore, to prevent osteopenia, it's good to abstain from intaking caffeine within an hour after a meal. In addition, it's helpful to walk or run regularly and have a balanced meal.

Prospects for development of cosmetic industry using natural products in Chungbuk (충북지역의 천연 자원을 활용한 화장품 산업의 발전 전망)

  • Hwang, Hyung seo
    • Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
    • /
    • 2018.10a
    • /
    • pp.26-27
    • /
    • 2018
  • With entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol to promote the fair sharing of the benefits of accessing and utilizing genetic resources, much support has been given to research on the development of biomaterials and products using domestic natural resources. Conservation and resource-saving of native species became very important through Nagoya Protocol enactment. The trend of cosmetic industry has been shifing from use synthetic chemicals to natural biomaterials, due to the safety regulations on new materials, ban on animal experiments, and expansion of cosmeceuticals range. In addition, functional cosmetic range has been expanded from whitening, wrinkle improvement, and ultraviolet shielding, to hair loss, hair loss alleviation, acne relaxation, and moisturizing of atopic skin, thus causing the activation of research about field of efficacy evaluation on natural biomaterials and commercialization. Chungbuk province is fostering the bio industry as a key industry for regional economic growth. For this purpose, Osong Biotechnology Complex/Ochang Science Industrial Complex in middle area, Jecheon biovalley in northern region, and Chungju Enterprise city have been established, thus playing a pivotal role in Bio innovative cluster in Korea. In particular, it was established the osong cosmetics clinical research support center to develop the cosmetics industry in chungbuk, thereby supporting clinical trials, efficacy evaluations, overseas certification, and overseas market entry in order to advance into the global market. In addition, oriental plants such as astragalus propinquus, schisandra chinensis, eucommia, alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus and biancaea sappan are being actively studied as global cosmetic ingredients through the promotion of various national research and development projects using natural materials in chungbuk province. The chungbuk natural product industry is expected to grow further throughout cosmetics industry development in the future, as companies and research institutes are actively promoting the secure index of effective material in natural products and effective material commercialization.

  • PDF

Development of a Value Inquiry Model in Biology Education (생물교육에서의 가치 탐구 모형 개발)

  • Jeong, Eun-Young;Kim, Young-Soo
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
    • /
    • v.20 no.4
    • /
    • pp.582-598
    • /
    • 2000
  • There are many bioethical issues in line with the rapid advance of biology. In this situation, it is important for students to make a rational decision on value problem. In this study 'value inquiry in biology education' is defined as 'the process of rational value judgement and wise decision-making in the biology-related value problem' and the model was developed. To develop the model, value inquiry models were reviewed. Value clarification model is helpful for the formation of the personal value as the process of individual value inquiry, but it isn't helpful for clarifying the value conflicts. Value analysis model focuses on the rational solution of value problem through the logical procedure. But it has the limitations that overemphasizing the logical and systematic aspects results in devaluating students' affective aspects. So it is necessary to coordinate psychological and logical aspects of value inquiry. In this regard, the model was developed, including identifying and clarifying value problem, understanding biological knowledge related to conflict situation, considering on the related persons, searching for alternatives, predicting the consequences of each alternative, selecting the alternative, evaluating the alternative, and final value judgement and affirming it. The educational objectives of value inquiry were selected in consideration of the ability to carry out the steps of the developed model. And the selected contents were animal duplication, test-tube baby, genetic engineering, growth hormone injection problem, brain death, organ transplant, animal to be experimented and were organized on the basis of the 6th and the 7th science curriculum. And the suitable instructional models for the value inquiry education were selected: bioethical value clarification decision-making model, group presentation according to the value analysis model, role play and debate, and discussion through web forum. And the interview was considered to be suitable to evaluate the students' value inquiry ability and the rubric was made to evaluate the attainment of the educational objectives for value inquiry.

  • PDF