• International Journal of Stem Cells
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2017

Human cardiomyocytes (CMs) cease to proliferate and remain terminally differentiated thereafter, when humans reach the mid-20s. Thus, any damages sustained by myocardium tissue are irreversible, and they require medical interventions to regain functionality. To date, new surgical procedures and drugs have been developed, albeit with limited success, to treat various heart diseases including myocardial infarction. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop more effective treatment methods to address the increasing mortality rate of the heart diseases. Functional CMs are not only an important in vitro cellular tool to model various types of heart diseases for drug development, but they are also a promising therapeutic agent for cell therapy. However, the limited proliferative capacity entails difficulties in acquiring functional CMs in the scale that is required for pathological studies and cell therapy development. Stem cells, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in particular, have been considered as an unlimited cellular source for providing functional CMs for various applications. Notable progress has already been made: the first clinical trials of hPSCs derived CMs (hPSC-CMs) for treating myocardial infarction was approved in 2015, and their potential use in disease modeling and drug discovery is being fully explored. This concise review gives an account of current development of differentiation, purification and maturation techniques for hPSC-CMs, and their application in cell therapy development and pharmaceutical industries will be discussed with the latest experimental evidence.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2013

Although low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been a valuable therapeutic technology in the clinic, its efficacy may be reduced in deep tissue layers due to strong light scattering which limits the photon density. In order to enhance the photon density in deep tissue layers, this study developed an optical tissue clearing (OTC) laser probe (OTCLP) system which can utilize four different OTC methods: 1) tissue temperature control from 40 to $10^{\circ}C$; 2) laser pulse frequency from 5 to 30 Hz; 3) glycerol injection at a local region; and 4) a combination of the aforementioned three methods. The efficacy of the OTC methods was evaluated and compared by investigating laser beam profiles in ex-vivo porcine skin samples. Results demonstrated that total (peak) intensity at full width at half maximum of laser beam profile when compared to control data was increased: 1) 1.21(1.39)-fold at $10^{\circ}C$; 2) 1.22 (1.49)-fold at a laser pulse frequency of 5 Hz; 3) 1.64 (2.41)-fold with 95% glycerol injection; 4) 1.86 (3.4)-fold with the combination method. In conclusion, the OTCLP system successfully improved the laser photon density in deep tissue layers and may be utilized as a useful tool in LLLT by increasing laser photon density.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.553-558
• /
• 2021

The diagnosis of the main complications resulting from lipoabdominoplasty has not yet been standardized. Infrared thermal imaging has been used to assess possible complications, such as necrosis and changes in micro- and macro-circulation, based on perforator mapping techniques, among others. The objective of this study was to present two clinical cases involving thermal imaging monitoring of the healing process of lipoabdominoplasty in the immediate postoperative evaluation and its preliminary results. Infrared thermography was performed 24 hours after the operation and on postoperative days 5, 25, and 27. In clinical case 1, it was found that the delta-R (∆T_R)-defined as the difference in minimum temperature between the highest and lowest points in the SA3 region (caution suction area) following the classification established by Matarasso-was 0.4℃ at 24 hours after surgery and decreased to 0.1℃ on a postoperative day 5. There were no complications in this case. In contrast, in clinical case 2, the ∆T_R was 1.7℃ at 24 hours after surgery (upon hospital discharge) and remained high, at 2.2℃, on postoperative day 5. A higher ∆T_R was found in the second patient, who developed necrosis of the surgical wound. The ∆T_R thermal index may be a new tool for predicting possible complications, complementing the clinical evaluation and therapeutic decision-making.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.64 no.8
• /
• pp.422-429
• /
• 2021

Background: Carnosine has antioxidative and neuroprotective properties against hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury. Hypothermia is used as a therapeutic tool for HI encephalopathy in newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia. However, the combined effects of these therapies are unknown. Purpose: Here we investigated the effects of combined carnosine and hypothermia therapy on HI brain injury in neonatal rats. Methods: Postnatal day 7 (P7) rats were subjected to HI brain injury and randomly assigned to 4 groups: vehicle; carnosine alone; vehicle and hypothermia; and carnosine and hypothermia. Carnosine (250 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered at 3 points: immediately following HI injury, 24 hours later, and 48 hours later. Hypothermia was performed by placing the rats in a chamber maintained at 27℃ for 3 hours to induce whole-body cooling. Sham-treated rats were also included as a normal control. The rats were euthanized for experiments at P10, P14, and P35. Histological and morphological analyses, in situ zymography, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays, and immunofluorescence studies were conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effects of the various interventional treatments. Results: Vehicle-treated P10 rats with HI injury showed an increased infarct volume compared to sham-treated rats during the triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining study. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that vehicle-treated P35 rats with HI injury had decreased brain volume in the affected hemisphere. Compared to the vehicle group, carnosine and hypothermia alone did not result in any protective effects against HI brain injury. However, a combination of carnosine and hypothermia effectively reduced the extent of brain damage. The results of in situ zymography, TUNEL assays, and immunofluorescence studies showed that neuroprotective effects were achieved with combination therapy only. Conclusion: Carnosine and hypothermia may have synergistic neuroprotective effects against brain damage following HI injury.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.53-74
• /
• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine foreign literature on the evaluation and interventions for motor functions in children. Methods : Studies in this review were identified by searching the PubMed, Cochrane Library (Embase) databases from those published form January 2010 to March 2020 using the following keywords: "motor function test" or "motor function measure" or "movement assessment" or "motor proficiency test" or "motor scale" or "motor skill" and children. Results : Of the total 37 identified studies, 14 analyzed evaluations, 23 analyzed interventions, all of which were randomized control trials. Studies on evaluations were increasingly more common, in contrast to studies on interventions for motor functions. The most frequent field of research was rehabilitation. The studies on evaluations included the AIMS and MABC-II, and GMFM was the most frequently used intervention. Interventions were most commonly used in task-oriented training (six studies). Conclusion : This study aimed to provide a basis for therapists to choose effective motor function evaluation and interventions for clinical trials by analyzing studies related to interventions for and evaluation of motor function in children.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review clinical studies about the effect of chuna manual therapy (CMT) for peripheral facial paralysis in children. Methods : In this review, we searched 11 electronic databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, CAJ, Oasis, NDSL, KISS, RISS, KISTI, Dbpia); We concluded our literature search in April 23, 2019. We included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of testing CMT for peripheral facial paralysis in children. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The meta-analysis was performed by synthesizing outcome data of total efficacy rate (TER). Results : After screening papers, a total of 6 RCTs were selected and analyzed. In the 6 RCTs, patients(n=15-60 per study) were randomized into groups for treatment and control. Specifically, the treatment group received CMT, while the control group was concurrently given usual care, such as acupuncture and medicine. The meta-analysis showed that the treatment group receiving CMT alone showed significant improvement in TER, compared to the control group receiving acupuncture therapy alone(P<0.05). And the treatment group receiving CMT combined with usual care showed positive results, in terms of TER, compared to the control group receiving usual care, but was not statistically significant(P>0.05). Conclusions : Our analysis suggests that CMT has therapeutic effects for peripheral facial paralysis in children. However, to confirm this result, further investigation accompanied by high quality studies is required.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.1136-1149
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a meta analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that applied Opae-san to peptic ulcer. Methods: The databases NDSL, RISS, KISS, KISTI, Oasis, DBpia, Cochrane, EMBASE, Pubmed, and CNKI were searched to identify RCTs that evaluated the therapeutic response to Opae-san on peptic ulcer. The selected studies were assessed using Cochrane Group's risk of bias tool. Results: 12 RCTs were selected from a total of 312 identified. Combined therapies of Opae-san plus triple therapy were superior to only triple therapy in achieving the effective rate (risk ratio=1.26, 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.35, p<0.001, I2=0%), the helicobacter pylori eradication rate (risk ratio=1.23, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.34, p<0.001, I2=7%) and the recurrence rate (risk ratio=0.31, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.82, p=0.02, I2=0%). But only Opae-san was not superior in achieving the effective rate compared to anti gastric secretion drugs. Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that combined therapies of Opae-san plus triple therapy yield a higher effective rate, and helicobacter pylori eradication rate and a lower recurrence rate. However, in most of these studies, it is difficult to evaluate the bias and therefore better designed studies are needed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.302-310
• /
• 2019

Melanoma cells have been shown to respond to BRAF inhibitors; however, intrinsic and acquired resistance limits their clinical application. In this study, we performed RNA-Seq analysis with BRAF inhibitor-sensitive (A375P) and -resistant (A375P/Mdr with acquired resistance and SK-MEL-2 with intrinsic resistance) melanoma cell lines, to reveal the genes and pathways potentially involved in intrinsic and acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors. A total of 546 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 239 up-regulated and 307 down-regulated genes, were identified in both intrinsic and acquired resistant cells. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the top 10 biological processes associated with these genes included angiogenesis, immune response, cell adhesion, antigen processing and presentation, extracellular matrix organization, osteoblast differentiation, collagen catabolic process, viral entry into host cell, cell migration, and positive regulation of protein kinase B signaling. In addition, using the PAN-THER GO classification system, we showed that the highest enriched GOs targeted by the 546 DEGs were responses to cellular processes (ontology: biological process), binding (ontology: molecular function), and cell subcellular localization (ontology: cellular component). Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) network analysis showed a network that was common to two BRAF inhibitorresistant cells. Taken together, the present study may provide a useful platform to further reveal biological processes associated with BRAF inhibitor resistance, and present areas for therapeutic tool development to overcome BRAF inhibitor resistance.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.825-834
• /
• 2019

Objectives: To analyze whether there are perceptual differences in internet oral health information use between ordinary people who underwent dental treatments and dental hygienists. Second, the study aimed to analyze related issues, and, third, to find a developmental direction to provide fundamental information for developing patient-customized websites to improve dental services to suit contemporary needs. Methods: From September 1 to September 30, 2018, a questionnaire survey was conducted, with 367 participants (209 dental hygienists and 149 patients) in order to analyze their objective agreement, subjective congruence, and accuracy. As a study tool, the questionnaire consisted of 11 items about the perception of internet oral health information use and 11 on the estimated perceptions of both groups in order to compare their perceptions and estimates of each other. Results: Objective agreement was analyzed and, as a result, dental hygienists and patients were found to demonstrate similar results in terms of their perceptions of internet oral health information use. With regard to subjective agreement, the study subjects either underestimated or overestimated internet oral health information use more than they perceived. In terms of accuracy, dental hygienists and patients had different perceptions regarding internet oral health information use. Therefore, accuracy was somewhat low. Conclusions: In order to improve individuals' self-care ability and increase therapeutic instructional adherence for oral healthcare, it is necessary to apply internet oral health information properly to each patient's individual oral state.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.443-447
• /
• 2019

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is the master regulator of xenobiotics metabolizing enzymes (XMEs). AhR is activated by aryl hydrocarbons upon binding then goes into the cell nucleus and acts as a transcription factor. Despite the role of AhR in human physiology has been investigated for a long while, it is yet to be understood mainly due to the lack of appropriate chemical agents. Furthermore, it has been reported that AhR is related to a wide range of pathogenesis. In addition, recent studies suggest that the study on the development of AhR antagonist may provide a valid therapeutic agent. Some known antagonists in current use are partially agonistic whereas a pure antagonist is still absent. In this study, two phenyl-ring structures of phenyldiazenylphenylpicolinamide has been modified into various structures and evaluated its impact on the AhR antagonistic activity to elucidate the structure-activity relationship.