• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.512-520
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• 2014

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to assess the surface characteristics and the biocompatibility of zirconium (Zr) coating on Ti-6Al-4V alloy surface by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The zirconium films were developed on Ti-6Al-4V discs using RF magnetron sputtering method. Surface profile, surface composition, surface roughness and surface energy were evaluated. Electrochemical test was performed to evaluate the corrosion behavior. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and gene expression of mineralized matrix markers were measured. RESULTS. SEM and EDS analysis showed that zirconium deposition was performed successfully on Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrate. Ti-6Al-4V group and Zr-coating group showed no significant difference in surface roughness (P>.05). Surface energy was significantly higher in Zr-coating group than in Ti-6Al-4V group (P<.05). No difference in cell morphology was observed between Ti-6Al-4V group and Zr-coating group. Cell proliferation was higher in Zr-coating group than Ti-6Al-4V group at 1, 3 and 5 days (P<.05). Zr-coating group showed higher ALP activity level than Ti-6Al-4V group (P<.05). The mRNA expressions of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OCN) on Zr-coating group increased approximately 1.2-fold and 2.1-fold respectively, compared to that of Ti-6Al-4V group. CONCLUSION. These results suggest that zirconium coating on Ti-6Al-4V alloy could enhance the early osteoblast responses. This property could make non-toxic metal coatings on Ti-6Al-4V alloy suitable for orthopedic and dental implants.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 2023

This study was conducted to assess the effect of heptapeptide, composed of seven amino acids, on the activation of human hair cells isolated from human hair follicles. We have confirmed that the heptapeptide could bind to Lgr5 from the results of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis. Heptapeptide enhanced the proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HHFDPCs) in a dose dependent manner. It induced the protein level of nuclear β-catenin, and the expressions of β-catenin downstream target genes, including LEF1, Cyc-D1 and c-Myc, in HHFDPCs. Heptapeptide significantly induced the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK, and the mRNA expressions of growth factors, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in HHFDPCs. In addition, heptapeptide significantly increased mRNA expression levels of differentiation-related transcription factors of human hair germinal matrix cells (HHGMCs) and differentiation markers of human hair outer root sheath cells (HHORSCs). Additionally, we investigated the effect of heptapeptide on human hair follicle stem cells (HHFSCs) differentiation and found that the heptapeptide reduced the mRNA and protein levels of stem cell markers, while it increased those levels of differentiation markers. These results have indicated that the heptapeptide promotes proliferation or differentiation of various types of hair follicle constituent cells through the induction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. From the results, we have suggested that the heptapeptide in this study could be applied as a new functional material for the improvement of hair growth and alopecia.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

The purpose of our research is to efficiently deform a 3D models which is composed of a triangular mesh and a skeleton. We designed a novel inverse kinematics (IK) solver that calculates the updated positions of mesh vertices with fewer computing operations. Through our user interface, one or more markers are selected on the surface of the model and their target positions are set, then the system updates the positions of surface vertices to construct a deformed model. The IK solving process for updating vertex positions includes many computations for obtaining transformations of the markers, their affecting joints, and their parent joints. Many of these computations are often redundant. We precompute those redundant terms in advance so that the 3-nested loop computation structure was improved to a 2-nested loop structure, and thus the computation time for a deformation is greatly reduced. This novel IK solver can be adopted for efficient performance in various research fields, such as handling 3D models implemented by LBS method, or object tracking without any markers.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.275-290
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• 2023

Background: Porcine pluripotent stem cells (pPSCs) would provide enormous potential for agriculture and biomedicine. However, authentic pPSCs have not established yet because standards for pPSCs-specific markers and culture conditions are not clear. Therefore, the present study reports comparative pluripotency characteristics in porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) derived from different viral transduction and reprogramming factors [Lenti-iPSCs (OSKM), Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) and Sev-iPSCs (OSKM)]. Methods: Porcine fibroblasts were induced into Lenti-iPSCs (OSKM) and Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) by using Lentiviral vector and Sev-iPSCs (OSKM) by using Sendaiviral vector. Expressions of endogenous or exogenous pluripotency-associated genes, surface marker and in vitro differentiation in between Lenti-piPSCs (OSKM), Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) and Sev-piPSCs (OSKM) were compared. Results: Colonial morphology of Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) closely resembles the naïve mouse embryonic stem cells colony for culture, whereas Sev-iPSCs (OSKM) colony is similar to the primed hESCs. Also, the activity of AP shows a distinct different in piPSCs (AP-positive (+) Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) and Sev-iPSCs (OSKM), but AP-negative (-) Lenti-iPSCs (OSKM)). mRNAs expression of several marker genes (OCT-3/4, NANOG and SOX2) for pluripotency was increased in Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) and Sev-iPSCs (OSKM), but Sev-iPSCs (OSKM). Interestingly, SSEA-1 of surface markers was expressed only in Sev-iPSCs (OSKM), whereas SSEA-4, Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81 were positively expressed in Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL). Exogenous reprogramming factors continuously expressed in Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) for passage 20, whereas Sev-iPSCs (OSKM) did not express any exogenous transcription factors. Finally, only Lenti-iPSCs (OSKMNL) express the three germ layers and primordial germ cells markers in aggregated EBs. Conclusions: These results indicate that the viral transduction system of reprograming factors into porcine differentiated cells display different pluripotency characteristics in piPSCs.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 1998

The present study was performed to investigate the patterns of a, pp.arance of lectin in uterus of fetuses of 90 and 120 days old and neonates of Korean native goat. The carbohydrate markers were used in histochemistry for the determination of the lectin by staining of avidin-biotin-per-oxidase complex(ABC), rincinus communis agglutinin(RCA-I), ulexeuropalus communis agglutinin(UEA) and wheat germ agglutinin(WGA). 1. The effects of this study were as follows; 1. The binding reactions for Con-A were weak on the mucosal epithelium of endometrium in 90 and 120 days old fetuses, and neonates and moderate at the free surface of mucosal epithelia. 2. The binding reactions for DBA was partially moderate on the mucosal epithelium of endometrium and partially strong at the free surface of mucosal epithelia in 120 days old fetuses. In neonates, the reactions were strong on the mucosal epithelium and gland primordium of endometrium, and the secretions at the free surface showed strong reactions for DBA. But, in 90 days old fetuses, the reaction was negative. 3. The binding reactions for RCA-I were moderate on the mucosal epithelium of endometrium and at the free surface of mucosal epithelia in 90 days old fetuses. In 120 days old fetuses, the reactions were weak on the mucosal epithelium of endometrium and moderate at the free surface of mucosal epithelia. In neonates, the reactions were moderate on the mucosal epithelium of endometrium and strong at the free surface of mucosal epithelia and also strong in the uterine gland. 4. The binding reactions for UEA were negative in 90 and 120 days old fetuses and neonates. 5. In 90 days old fetuses, the binding reactions for WGA were generally weak on the mucosal epithelium of endometrium, but several epithelial cells showed moderate reaction for WGA. In 120 days old fetuses and neonates, the reactions were moderate on the mucosal epithelium and blood vessels of endometrium and strong at the free surface of mucosal epithelia.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the validity of superimposition range at facial images constructed with 3-dimensional (3D) surface laser scanning system. Materials and methods: For the present study, thirty adults, who had no severe skeletal discrepancy, were selected and scanned twice by a 3D laser scanner (VIVID 910, Minolta, Tokyo, Japan) with 12 markers placed on the face. Then, two 3D facial images (T1-baseline, T2-30 minutes later) were reconstructed respectably and superimposed in several manners with $RapidForm^{TM}2006$ (Inus, Seoul, Korea) software program. The distances between markers at the same place of face were measured in superimposed 3D facial images and measurement were done all the 12 makers respectably. Results: The average linear distances between the markers at the same place in the superimposed image constructed by upper 2/3 of the face was $0.92{\pm}0.23\;mm$, in the superimposed image constructed by upper 1/2 of the face was $0.98{\pm}0.26\;mm$, in the superimposed image constructed by upper 1/3 of the face and nose area was $0.99{\pm}0.24\;mm$, in the superimposed image constructed by upper 1/3 of the face was $1.41{\pm}0.48\;mm$, and in the superimposed image constructed by whole face was $0.83{\pm}0.13\;mm$. There were no statistically significant differences in the liner distances of the makers placed on the area included in superimposition range used for partial registration methods but there were significant differences in the linear distances of the markers placed on the areas not included in superimposition range between whole registration method and partial registration methods used in this study. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that the validity of superimposition is decreased as superimposition range is reduced in the superimposition of 3D images constructed with 3D laser scanner for the same subject.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.524-527
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• 2009

Spontaneously infected and non-infected dairy cows were assessed in a cross-sectional study aimed at determining whether bovine leukocyte markers may diagnose intra-mammary infections (bovine mastitis). Animals located in herds where bovine mastitis was highly prevalent were investigated (n = 31 animals). The expression of three cell-surface markers (CD11b, CD4 and CD8) was assessed, and the somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriological analyses (both cultures and PCR tests) were also conducted. Cows identified as infected revealed statistically significant higher milk leukocyte CD11b, CD4 percentage and milk CD4/CD8 ratios than non-infected cows. Immunological markers may diagnose spontaneous bovine mastitis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.95-104
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether increasing the Ti6Al4V surface oxide negative charge through heat ($600^{\circ}C$) or radiofrequency plasma glow discharge (RFGD) pretreatment, with or without a subsequent coating with fibronectin, stimulated osteoblast gene marker expression in the MC3T3 osteoprogenitor cell line. Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure changes over time in the mRNA levels for osteoblast gene markers, including alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, collagen type I (${\alpha}1$), osteocalcin, osteopontin and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rP), and the osteoblast precursor genes Runx2 and osterix. Results: Osteoprogenitors began to differentiate earlier on disks that were pretreated with heat or RFGD. The pretreatments increased gene marker expression in the absence of a fibronectin coating. However, pretreatments increased osteoblast gene expression for fibronectin-coated disks more than uncoated disks, suggesting a surface oxide-mediated specific enhancement of fibronectin's bioactivity. Heat pretreatment had greater effects on the mRNA expression of genes for PTH-rP, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin while RFGD pretreatment had greater effects on osteopontin and bone sialoprotein gene expression. Conclusions: The results suggest that heat and RFGD pretreatments of the Ti6Al4V surface oxide stimulated osteoblast differentiation through an enhancement of (a) coated fibronectin's bioactivity and (b) the bioactivities of other serum or matrix proteins. The quantitative differences in the effects of the two pretreatments on osteoblast gene marker expression may have arisen from the unique physico-chemical characteristics of each resultant oxide surface. Therefore, engineering the Ti6Al4V surface oxide to become more negatively charged can be used to accelerate osteoblast differentiation through fibronectin-dependent and independent mechanisms.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2013

Human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are multi-potent mesenchymal stem cells that have several differentiation potentials. An understanding of thetissues that differentiate from these cells can provide insights for future regenerative therapeutics and tissue engineering strategies. The mesiodens is the most frequent form of supernumerary tooth from which DPSCs can differentiate into several lineages similar to cells from normal deciduous teeth. Recently, it has been shown that nanoscale structures can affect stem cell differentiation. In our presentstudy, we investigated the effects of a 250-nm nanoscale ridge/groove pattern array on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of dental pulp cells from mesiodenscontaining human DPSCs. To this end, the expression of lineage specific markers after differentiation induction was analyzed by lineage specific staining and RT-PCR. The nanoscale pattern arrayed surface showed apositive effect on the adipogenic differentiation of DPSCs. There was no difference between nanoscale pattern arrayed surface and conventional surface groups onosteogenic differentiation. In conclusion, the nanoscale ridge/groove pattern arrayed surface can be used to enhance the adipogenic differentiation of DPSCs derived from mesiodens. This finding provides an improved understanding of the effects of topography on cell differentiation as well as the potential use of supernumerary tooth in regenerative dental medicine.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the direction of tissue contraction after microwave ablation in ex vivo bovine liver models. Materials and Methods: Ablation procedures were conducted in a total of 90 sites in ex vivo bovine liver models, including the surface (n = 60) and parenchyma (n = 30), to examine the direction of contraction of the tissue in the peripheral and central regions from the microwave antenna. Three commercially available 2.45-GHz microwave systems (Emprint, Neuwave, and Surblate) were used. For surface ablation, the lengths of two overlapped square markers were measured after 2.5- and 5-minutes ablations (n = 10 ablations for each system for each ablation time). For parenchyma ablation, seven predetermined distances between the markers were measured on the cutting plane after 5- and 10-minutes ablations (n = 5 ablations for each system for each ablation time). The contraction in the radial and longitudinal directions and the sphericity index (SI) of the ablation zones were compared between the three systems using analysis of variance. Results: In the surface ablation experiment, the mean longitudinal contraction ratio and SI from a 5-minutes ablation using the Emprint, Neuwave, and Surblate systems were 28.92% and 1.04, 20.10% and 0.53, and 24.90% and 0.45, respectively (p < 0.001). A positive correlation between longitudinal contraction and SI was noted, and a similar radial contraction was observed. In the parenchyma ablation experiment, the mean longitudinal contraction ratio and SI from a 10-minutes ablation using the three pieces of equipment were 38.60% and 1.06, 32.45% and 0.61, and 28.50% and 0.50, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the longitudinal contraction properties, whereas there was no significant difference in the radial contraction properties. Conclusion: The degree of longitudinal contraction showed significant differences depending on the microwave ablation equipment, which may affect the SI of the ablation zone.