• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2009

Purpose : This study was performed not only to compare the brain activation regions associated with sexual arousal induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture, but also to evaluate its differential neuro-anatomical mechanism in healthy women using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla (T). Subjects and methods : A total of 21 healthy right-handed female volunteers (mean age 22 years, range 19 to 32) underwent fMRI on a 3T MR scanner. The stimulation paradigm for sexual arousal consisted of two alternating periods of rest and activation. It began with a 1-minute rest period, 3 minutes of stimulation with either of an erotic video film or SP6 acupuncture, followed by 1-minute rest. In addition, a comparative study on the brain activation patterns between an acupoint and a shampoint nearby GB37 was performed. The fMRI data were obtained from 20 slices parallel to the AC-PC line on an axial plane, giving a total of 2,000 images. The mean activation maps were constructed and analyzed by using the statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) software. Results : As comparison with the shampoint, the acupoint showed 5 times and 2 times higher activities in the neocortex and limbic system, respectively. Note that brain activation in response to stimulation with the shampoint was not observed in the regions including the HTHL in the diencephalon, GLO and AMYG in the basal ganglia, and SMG in the parietal lobe. In the comparative study of visual stimulation vs. SP6 acupuncture, the mean activation ratio of stimulus was not significantly different to each other in both the neocortex and the limbic system (p < 0.05). The mean activities induced by both stimuli were not significantly different in the neocortex, whereas the acupunctural stimulation showed higher activity in the limbic system (p < 0.05). Conclusions : This study compared the differential brain activation patterns and the neural mechanisms for sexual arousal, which were induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture by using 3T fMRI. These findings will be useful to understand the theory of traditional acupuncture and acupoint channel in scientific point of view.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2013

Purpose : Renal blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI has been used in the evaluation of renal oxygenation. We tried to provide the normal $R2^*$ value of the human kidney with 3.0 T, and evaluated the differences in $R2^*$ values according to gender and location. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers underwent BOLD MRI at 3.0 T. Multi gradient echo-echo planar imaging sequence with seventeen echoes was used. After generation of the $T2^*$ map, the $R2^*$ was calculated. The statistical differences in $R2^*$ values between the cortex and medulla, males and females, and the right and left kidney were analyzed. The regional differences of $R2^*$ within the both kidneys were evaluated respectively. Results: BOLD MRI was successful in all participants. No gross artifact interfered with $R2^*$ measurement. The mean $R2^*$ at 3.0 T was $17.1{\pm}2.60s^{-1}$ in the cortex and $27.7{\pm}4.83s^{-1}$ in the medulla (p < 0.001). The $R2^*$ value in the medulla was significantly higher in the male than female volunteers (p = 0.025). There were no statistical differences of $R2^*$ according to the side and location in the kidney (p = 0.197). Conclusion: Renal BOLD MRI can be efficiently performed with 3.0 T MRI. Renal medullary hypoxia is present in normal volunteers. Our results may be used as reference values in the evaluation of pathologic conditions using BOLD MRI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 1967

An experiment was designed to see if the hippocampus exerts any influence upon the aggressive behavior of male rats. Fighting between rats was observed for the estimation of aggressiveness. Seventeen rats in which the hippocampus was almost totally removed through a small hole with a diameter around 3 mm made in the neocortex at the boundary between the parietal and occipital lobes (hippocampal group), 8 rats with similar neocortical damage alone (operated control group), and 17 normal control rats (normal group) were prepared and subjected to the experiment 3 months after the operation. Applying electric shock of short duration to the feet in a box with grid floor, a fight was provoked between an animal belonging to the hippocampal group and one belonging to the nor-mal group, between a rat of the hippocampal group and one of the operated control group, and also between a rat of the operated control group and one of the normal group. Three observers judged the performance of each animal independently and described it as winning, defeated, tied, or non-fighting. Fifteen shocked trials were administered to each pair of animals with around 2 minutes' interval between each trial. An animal received a 'judging score' of 3 when it won more frequently than was defeated, a judging score of 2 when it won as frequently as was defeated, when all fights were tied, or when no fighting occurred, while it received a judging score of 1 when it won less frequently than was defeated. Group differences in performances were analyzed in terms of judging score using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for one sample. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In the fights between the hippocampal and the normal groups, the hippocampal animals made significantly better judging scores than the normal animals did (Table 1). 2. There was no significant difference between the hippocampal and the operated control group as to the judging scores they made in the course of fights between the two groups. However, the hippocampal animals tended to dominate over the operated control group as judged by comparing the total 'winning' of the former (30) to that of the latter (14) (Table 2). 3. The total judging score made by the operated control group in the course of the fights against the normal group was not significantly superior to that made by the normal group (Table 3). It was inferred from the above results that, though inconspicuous, the hippocampus tended to exert an inhibitory influence upon the aggressive behavior of male rats.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.1 s.57
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• pp.95-102
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• 1995

The pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is still not completely understood while renal disease is one of the most common disabling complications of diabetes. We, in the present study, investigated the possible involvement of oxidative stress in the development of diabetic nephropathy. To hasten the development of diabetic nephropathy, streptozotocin was injected to unilaterally nephrectomized rats (NEPH-STZ). Eight weeks later, NEPH-STZ rats developed severe hyperglycemia, proteinuria, and hypertension. The kidneys of these rats showed compensatory hypertrophy and mesangial expansion. In contrast, the rats with streptozotocin injection alone (STZ) did not increase urinary protein excretion. Nephrectomized non-diabetic rats (NEPH) developed increased urine protein excretion, but without prominent renal morphological changes. However, oxidation of renal cortical tissue protein significantly increased in all 3 groups of NEPH, STZ and NEPH-STZ in comparison to control rats (CONT). The result indicates the non-specificity of the oxidative tissue damage and suggests that the oxidative damage is hardly a sole mechanism leading to the development of the diabetic nephropathy. However, it would still be a contributing factor considering that the oxidative stress is a common final pathway mediating tissue damages in chronic diabetic complications and other serious illness.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.777-783
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• 2014

Cathepsin D (CtsD), an aspartyl peptidase, is involved in apoptosis, resulting in the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria in cells. Here, we investigated microRNA regulation of CtsD expression in 3T3-L1 cells. First, we observed the expression of CtsD in cells in response to doxorubicin (Dox). As expected, the level of CtsD mRNA increased in 3T3-L1 cells exposed to Dox in a dose-dependent manner. The cellular viability of ectopically expressed CtsD cells was decreased. Next, we used the miRanda program to search for particular microRNA targeting CtsD. MiR-145 was selected as a putative controller of CtsD because it had a high mirSVR score. In a reporter assay, the luciferase activity of cells containing the CtsD 3'-UTR region decreased in cells transfected with a miR-145 mimic compared to that of a control. The level of CtsD expression was down-regulated in preadipocytes ectopically expressing miR-145 and up-regulated by an miR-145 inhibitor. Cells also suppressed miR-145 expression when exposed to Dox. The miR-145 inhibitor reduced the cellular viability of 3T3-L1 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that miR-145 regulates CtsD-mediated cell death in adipocytes. These findings may have valuable implications concerning the molecular mechanism of CtsD-mediated cell death in obesity, suggesting that CtsD could be a useful therapeutic tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity by regulating fat cell numbers.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2007

Purpose : To analyze the clinical characteristics, spontaneous resolution rate and predictive factors of resolution in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux(VUR). Methods : Between October 1991 and July 2003, 149 children diagnosed with primary VUR at Chonbuk National University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. All of the patients were maintained on low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis and underwent radionuclide cystograms at 1 year intervals over 3 years after the initial diagnosis of VUR by voiding cystourethrogram was made. Results : The median time to resolution of VUR was 24 months and the total 3 year-cumulative resolution rate of VUR was 61.7%. The following variables were associated with resolution of VUR according to univariate analysis-; age<1 year, male gender, mild grade of reflux, unilateral reflux, congenital hydronephrosis as clinical presentation at time of diagnosis of VUR, absence of focal defects in the renal scan at diagnosis, absence of recurrent UTI, renal scars and small kidney during follow-up. After adjustment by Cox regression model, five variables remained as independent predictors of VUR resolution; age<1 yew, relative risk 1.77(P<0.05), VUR grade I+II 2.98(P<0.05), absence of renal scars 2.23(P<0.05), and absence of small kidney 5.20(P<0.01) during follow-up. Conclusion : In this study, spontaneous resolution rate of VUR, even high grade reflux, is high in infants during medical management, and it was related to age, reflux grade at diagnosis, absence of renal scars and small kidney during follow-up. Therefore early surgical intervention should be avoided and reserved for the selected groups.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

Purpose $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ renal scintigraphy serves as location, size and shape of kidney, so it has been used for diagnosis and passage observation after the operation or treatment. There are 3 methods of calculating the relative renal uptake ratio such as geometric mean of the counts from the anterior and posterior views, arithmetical mean from the only posterior view and posterior view which applied the renal depths. In this study, we seek to correlation between the change of total relative uptake ratio according to different inspection methods of obtaining the renal count rate. Materials and Methods The phantom experiments proceeded 5 times depending on each renal depth with the kidney phantom and tissue equivalent materials. In the clinical research, we investigated 36 adult patients who had visited our hospital from february to october, 2014 and received $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ renal scan. The equipment was used as a gamma camera named INFINIA (General Electric Healthcare, milwaukee, USA) and we drew the region of interests through semiautomatic method by using Xeleris Ver. 2.1220 of GE. In addition, we obtained the lateral view of kidney to measure the renal depth of each patient. Then the results were compared with 3 methods of calculating relative renal uptake ratio. Results The phantom studies show when the difference between the left ant right kidney depth were less than 1 cm, there were no statistically significant difference among values calculated through anterior and posterior views and only posterior view (P>0.05), while the excess of 1cm, the results showed a statistically significant change in the value (P<0.05). In case of clinical research, the correlation between total relative uptake ratio by obtaining both sides of image and posterior view applied the kidney depth (r=0.999) was higher than by obtaining only posterior view and applying the kidney depth to one side image (r=0.988). Conclusion This study has found that, the difference of calculating total relative uptake ratio compared with obtaining anterior and posterior views and only posterior view. In order to reduce the error, we recommend the method of obtaining anterior and posterior views and is considered to be useful, particularly the patients have similar uptake ratio of left and right kidney and difficulties of measurements of kidney depth.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2000

Purpose: To evaluate the availability of magnetic resonance (MRI voiding cystography for the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and to compare the sensitivity of MR voiding cystography (MRVC) with that of radiographic voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in the detection of VUR. Material and Methods : MRVC was performed upon 20 children referred for investigation of VUR. Either coronal T1-weighted spin-echo or spoiled gradient-echo images were obtained before and after transurethral administration of a mixture of normal saline and gadopentetate dimeglumine, and immediately after voiding. The findings of MRVC were compared with those of VCUG performed within 6 months of MRVC. Results 1 VUR was detected in 23 ureterorenal units f16 VUR's by both methods, five VUR's by VCUG, and two VUR's by MRVC). The sensitivity of VCUG and MRVC in detecting VUR was 91.3% (21/23) and 78.3% (18/23), respectively. MRVC detected renal scarring in 15 out of 17 kidneys with scintigraphically detected renal scarring. Conclusion : Although MRVC is slightly less sensitive than VCUG in the detection of VUR, it can be used for the diagnosis of VUR and renal scarring simultaneouslyl and thus will reduce the radiation hazard.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1999

Purpose The single administration of PAN(Puromycin-Aminonudeoside) to rats results in nephropathy that are similar to human minimal change nephrotic syndrome. Recently several studies indicate the pathophyslological importance of oxygen free radicals in rats with PAN-induced nephrosis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of $\alpha$-tocopherol, an oxygen free radical scavenger, on the histologic and biochemical changes of PAN-induced nephrosis in rats. Methods : Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 180-300 gm were divided into 3 groups. In group I (control group), the rats were given saline intraperitoneally for 12 days, in group II the rats were given PAN 7.5mg/100g of body weight intravenously one time and group III PAN intravenously, followed by $\alpha$-tocopherol 0.5 mg/100g of body weight jntramuscularly for 12 days. Twenty four hour urinary protein and creatinine excretion were measured on day 0, 5, 11 and 18. On the 18th day, rats were sacrificed for the determination of total serum protein, albumin and cholesterol levels. To estimate renal injuries by oxygen free radical, lipid peroxide concentration and reduced glutathione were measured in renal cortex. Histological examination in rat glomerular lesions were performed. Results : From the 5th days of PAN administration, urine protein/creatinine of group II and III were significantly increased compared the group I (P<0.05). But, urine protein/creatinine of group III was significantly lower than group II at 18th days (P<0.05). Total serum protein and albumin of group II were significantly lower than those of group III (P<0.05). Serum cholesterol of group II was significantly higher than that of group III (P<0.05). Lipid peroxide and reduced glutathione in renal cortex of group II were significantly higher than that of group I and III (P<0.05). Electron microscopic strudies of group II showed the loss of epithelial foot processes, but in group III showed preservation of epithelial foot processes. Conclusion : PAN-induced nephropathy was ameliorated significant recovery of foot process change and reduction of the urinary protein excretion by antioxidant, $\alpha$-tocopherol.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2009

Osteomyelitis means inflammation of the bone marrow. It usually begins in the medullary cavity, involving the cancellous bone; then it extends and spreads to the cortical bone and eventually to the periosteum. The cause is usually thought to be microbiological. But there still are factors that predispose to produce a possible bone infection such as injuries, syphilis, actionomycosis, chronic kidney failure, alcoholism, malnutrition, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Treatment of modalities have been directed toward eradicating microbes and improving circulation in the early stage. In the case presented, surgical debridement and IV antibiotics were the treatment of choice. Osteomyelitis in children is mainly affected in the mandible. And in childhood, the mandibular condyle is regarded as an important center of mandibular growth. Therefore, in young patients, osteomyelitis involving this region may cause a restraint of mandibular development, resulting in facial asymmetry. So diagnosis in the early stage is important in child with osteomyelitis. Recently, we have encountered an interesting case of osteomyelitis of the mandibular condyle in 9-year-old boy. So we present the case and review the literature about osteomyelitis.