• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.249-255
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• 2022

Kimura disease (KD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that frequently involves the subcutaneous tissue of the head and neck regions. It often manifests as regional lymphadenopathy or salivary gland enlargement in the affected area. The histologic architecture of the lymph nodes in KD patients is preserved, while the affected tissues show follicular hyperplasia and eosinophilic infiltration. No single modality has been adopted as an optimal treatment for KD. This article concentrates on the fundamental features of KD and reviews current approaches to its treatment.

• Journal of Advanced Information Technology and Convergence
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-102
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• 2019

Collagen can be used in building artificial skin replacements for treatment of burns and towards the reconstruction of bone as well as researching cell behavior and cellular interaction. The strength of collagen in connective tissue rests on the characteristics of collagen fibers. 3D confocal imaging of collagen fibers enables the characterization of their spatial distribution as related to their function. However, the image stacks acquired with confocal laser-scanning microscope does not clearly show the collagen architecture in 3D. Therefore, we developed a new method to reconstruct, visualize and characterize collagen fibers from fluorescence confocal images. First, we exploit the tensor voting framework to extract sparse reliable information about collagen structure in a 3D image and therefore denoise and filter the acquired image stack. We then propose to segment the collagen fibers by defining an energy term based on the Hessian matrix. This energy term is minimized by a min cut-max flow algorithm that allows adaptive regularization. We demonstrate the efficacy of our methods by visualizing reconstructed collagen from specific 3D image stack.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.871-876
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• 2014

Objective: Desmogleins (DSGs) are major members among the desmosomal cadherins critically involved in cell-cell adhesion and the maintenance of normal tissue architecture in epithelia. Reports exploring links of DSG family member expression with cancers are few and vary. The aim of this study was to investigate the ratio of DSG2 and DSG3 mRNA expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue to normal tissue (T/N ratio) and evaluate correlations with clinical parameters. Methods: The mRNA expression of DSGs, as well as ${\gamma}$-catenin and desmoplakin, was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 85 cases of ESCC tissue specimens. Results: The expression level of DSG3 mRNA was significantly higher than that of DSG2 in ESCC specimens (p=0.000). DSG3 mRNA expression highly correlated with histological grade (p=0.009), whereas that of DSG2 did not significantly relate to any clinicopathologic parameter. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that only DSG3 expression had an impact on the survival curve, with negative DSG3 expression indicating worse survival (p=0.038). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated DSG3 to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated the mRNA level of DSG3 to highly correlate with those of ${\gamma}$-catenin and desmoplakin in ESCC samples (p=0.000), implying that the expression of desmosomal components might be regulated by the same upstream regulatory molecules. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that DSG3 may be involved in the progression of ESCC and serve as a prognostic marker, while expression of DSG2 cannot be used as a predictor of ESCC patient outcome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2020

Background: The gastrocnemius (GCM) is one of the lower extremity muscles that tend to tighten easily. GCM tightness results in limited ankle dorsi-flexion (DF), especially when the knee joint is fully extended. Joint flexibility is determined by the morphological and physiological characteristics of joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Impaired joint flexibility can be attributed to increased susceptibility to muscle injury. High-frequency diathermy is clinically used to reduce pain and muscle tightness and to improve limited range of motion. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of high-frequency therapy in subjects with GCM tightness. Methods: The study was designed as a one-group before-after trial. The subjects included 28 volunteers with GCM tightness (an active ankle DF angle of less than 12°) without any known neurological and musculoskeletal pathologies in the ankle and calf areas. WINBACK Transfer Electrode Capacitive and Resistive Therapy equipment was used to apply high-frequency therapy to the subjects' GCMs for 10-15 minutes. The pennation angle and the fascicle length of the GCM were measured using ultrasonography. The flexibility of the ankle joint, peak torque to the passive ankle DF (Biodex), and soft tissue stiffness (MyotonPRO) were also measured. Results: The pennation angle was significantly decreased following the treatment; however, no significant difference in the fascicle length was found (p < 0.05). The flexibility was significantly increased and both the passive peak torque to passive ankle DF and the soft tissue stiffness significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: High-frequency therapy is immediately effective for improving the muscle's architectural properties and functional factors in subjects with GCM tightness. Further longitudinal clinical studies are required to investigate the long-term effects of high-frequency therapy on subjects with GCM tightness from various causes.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.22 no.2 s.37
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• pp.345-372
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• 1992

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of changes of mandibular position on temporomandibular joint in internal derangement patients Twenty-four female New Zealand White Rabbits, weighing over 3.5kg, were utilized in this study . Bilateral temporomandibular joint surgery was performed in twenty-one of the rabbits to displace disc anteriorly through incising the retrodiscal tissue 1-2mm posterior to the disc, thus inducing internal derangement. They were divided into three groups nine were left untreated after surgery, six were fitted with functional protrusive appliances 4 weeks after surgery, and six wore collar appliances to apply 4 ounces of mandibular refractive force per side 4 weeks after surgery. The remaining three served as the control group. Histologic examinations were performed after sacrificing them by threes at 4-week intervals. The results were as follows. 1. Histologic findings similar to internal derangement were observed in the rabbits whose retrodiscal tissues had been incised. 2. In the rabbits untreated after surgery, articular surface on condylar process and articular eminence showed severe erosion and deformation, and displaced disc manifested changes in both shape and internal architecture. 3. Functional protrusion after surgery resulted in progressive remodeling on postero-superior portion of condyle and glenoid fossa, while it also brought about erosion on articular eminence and anterior portion of condyle. 4. Mandibular retraction after surgery resulted in compression of retrodiscal tissue and regressive remodeling of posterior portion of condyle.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2008

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also designated matrixins, hydrolyze components of the extracellular matrix. These proteinases playa central role in many biological processes, such as embryogenesis, normal tissue remodeling, wound healing, and angiogenesis, and in diseases such as atheroma, arthritis, cancer, and tissue ulceration. In previous data, disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D (CD) inhibited NO-induced apoptosis, dedifferentiation, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, and prostaglandin $E_2$ production in chondrocytes cultured on plastic or during cartilage explants culture. In this study, we investigated the effects of the actin cytoskeleton architecture on MMP-2 expression and dedifferentiation by CD in rabbit articular chondrocytes. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were prepared from cartilage slices of 2-weeks-old New Zealand white rabbits by enzymatic digestion. CD was used as a disruptor of actin cytoskeleton. In this experiments measuring CD dose response, primary chondrocytes were treated with various concentrations of CD for 24h. The actin disruption was determined by immunostaining. MMP-2 expression levels were determined by immunoblot analysis and Reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and MMP-2 activity was determined by gelatin zymography. We found that cell morphological change and up-regulation of MMP-2 expression by CD as determined via immunostaining, gelatin zymography and immunoblotting. Moreover, CD induced MMP-2 transcription was detected by RT-PCR. Also, CD-induced type II collagen expression was inhibited by MMP-2 inhibitor I treatment. Our results indicate that CD up-regulated MMP-2 activation causes dedifferentiation of articular chondrocyte.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.373-376
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• 2015

Background: EVA1A (eva-1 homolog A) is a novel gene that regulates programmed cell death through autophagy and apoptosis. Our objective was to investigate the expression profiles and potential role of EVA1A in normal and neoplastic human pancreatic tissues. Materials and Methods: The expression pattern of EVA1A in normal pancreatic tissue was examined by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Protein levels in paraffin-embedded specimens from normal and diseased pancreatic and matched non-tumor tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: EVA1A colocalized with glucagon but not with insulin, demonstrating production in islet alpha cells. Itwas strongly expressed in chronic pancreatitis, moderately or weakly expressed in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, and absent in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Although the tissue architecture was deformed, EVA1A was absent in the alpha cells of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystadenomas, solid papillary tumors and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Conclusions: EVA1A protein is specifically expressed in islet alpha cells, suggesting it may play an important role in regulating alpha-cell function. The ectopic expression of EVA1A in pancreatic neoplasms may contribute to their pathogenesis and warrants further investigation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.128-137
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• 2020

Cardiac electrophysiology studies often use simulation to predict how cardiac will behave under various conditions. To observe the cardiac tissue movement, it needs to use the high--resolution heart mesh with a sophisticated and large number of nodes. The higher resolution mesh is, the more computation time is needed. To improve computation speed and performance, parallel processing using multi-core processes and network computing resources is performed. In this study, we compared the computational speeds of CPU parallelization and GPU parallelization in virtual heart simulation for efficiently calculating a series of ordinary differential equations (ODE) and partial differential equations (PDE) and determined the optimal CPU and GPU parallelization architecture. We used 2D tissue model and 3D ventricular model to compared the computation performance. Then, we measured the time required to the calculation of ODEs and PDEs, respectively. In conclusion, for the most efficient computation, using GPU parallelization rather than CPU parallelization can improve performance by 4.3 times and 2.3 times in calculations of ODEs and PDE, respectively. In CPU parallelization, it is best to use the number of processors just before the communication cost between each processor is incurred.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.202-202
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• 2011

The research of 3-dimensional (3-D) scaffold for tissue engineering has been widely investigated as the importance of the 3-D scaffold increased. 3-D scaffold is needed to support for cells to proliferate and maintain their biological functions. Furthermore, its architecture defines the shape of the new bone and cartilage growth. Polycaprolactone (PCL) has been one of the most promising materials for fabricating 3-D scaffold owing to its excellent mechanical property and biocompatibility. However, there are practical problems for using it, in vitro and in vivo; extracellular matrix components and nutrients cannot penetrate into the inner space of scaffold, due to its hydrophobic property, and thus cell seeding and attachment onto the inner surface remain as a challenge. Thus, the surface modification strategy of 3-D PCL scaffold is prerequisite for successful tissue engineering. Herein, we utilized a mussel-inspired approach for surface modification of 3-D PCL scaffold. Modification of 3-D PCL scaffolds was carried out by simple immersion of scaffolds into the dopamine solution and stimulated body fluid, and as a result, hydroxyapatite-immobilized 3-D PCL scaffolds were obtained. After surface modification, the wettability of 3-D PCL scaffold was considerably changed, and infiltration of the pre-osteoblastic cells into the 3-D scaffold followed by the attachment onto the surface was successfully achieved.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.8-20
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• 2006

This research was conducted to determine the plant growth and nutrient contents of potted chrysanthemum 'Lima Honey' as influenced by application rate of dolomite in three root media, peatmoss+vermiculite (1:1, v/v), peatmoss+composted rice hall (1:1, v/v), and peatmoss+composted pine bark (1:1, v/v). All root media contained polyacrylic acid sodium salt (PASS) at a rate of $4.5g L^{-1}$. In crop growth at 40 and 80 days after transplanting, elevated application rates of dolomite up to $6.0g L^{-1}$ in three root media increased fresh and dry weights per plant. But the treatment of $9.0g L^{-1}$ had less fresh and dry weights than those of $6.0g L^{-1}$. Tissue phosphorus content decreased and those of Ca and Mg increased by the elevated application rates of dolomite. Elevated application rates of dolomite in three root media resulted in the increase of pH, EC, and the concentrations of K, Ca, and Mg at 43 days after transplanting. Those at 80 days after transplanting were also increased, but the differences among treatments were less significant as compared to those at 43 days after transplanting. From the results of dry weight in potted chrysanthemum 'Lima Honey', the proper application rate of dolomite to three root media containing PASS at a rate of $4.5g L^{-1}$ were $6.0g L^{-1}$.