• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 1999

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is found in all vertebrates and its type-II molecule is regarded as a fundamental embryonic growth factor during development. We have firstly identified, in this study, a cDNA clone corresponding to IGF-II (flIGF-II) from the adult brain of the teleost, Paralichthys olivaceus. We also examined the tissue expression of flIGF-II in several adult tissues by RT-PCR. The flIGF-II cDNA contained a complete ORF consisting of 215 amino acids and one stop codon. Its molecular characteristics appear to be similar to the previously identified IGF-II molecules, in which a common primary structure exhibiting B, C, A, D, and E domains is evidently observed. This cDNA clone seems to be cleaved at $Ala_{52}$ for the $NH_2$-end signal peptide and appears to produce a 98 amino acid-long E-peptide from the $Arg^{118}$. The functional B-D domain regions, therefore, include 65 amino acids and is able to encode a 7.4-kDa protein. The most prominent structural difference between IGF-I and IGF-II was that the D domain of IGF-II exhibits a two-codon-deleted pattern compared to the 8 amino acid-containing IGF-I. The insulin family signature in the A domain and six cysteins forming three disulfide bridges between the B and A domains were evolutionary-conserved from teleosts to mammalian IGF-II. Interestingly, the E-peptide region appears to provide a distinct hallmark between teleosts in amino acid composition. The flIGF-II shows 85.1% of sequence identity to salmon and trout, 90.6% to tilapia, and 98.4% to perch in amino acid level. In tissue expressions of IGF-II, it is very likely that flIGF-II has a significant expression in the adult brain. However, liver seems to be the main source for IGF-II production, and relatively low signals were observed in the adult muscle and kidney. Taken together, it would be concluded that the functional region for IGF-II mRNA is highly similar in phylogeny and is evolutionary, conserved as a mediator for the growth of vertebrates.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2000

The present study examined influence of various ischemic duration on extent of focal ischemic brain injury induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. The MCAO was produced by insertion of a 17 mm silicone-coated 4-0 nylon surgical thread to the origin of MCA through the internal carotid artery for 30, 60, 90, 120 min (transient) or 24 hr (permanent) in male Sprague-Dawley rats under isoflurane anesthesia. Reperfusion in transient MCAO models was achieved by pulling the thread out of the internal carotid artery. Only rats showing neurological deficits characterized by left hemiparesis and/or circling to the left, were included in cerebral ischemic groups. The rats were sacrificed 24 hr after MCAO and seven serial coronal slices of the brain were stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Infarct size was measured using a computerized image analyzer. Ischemic damage was common in the frontoparietal cortex (somatosensory area) and the lateral segment of the striatum while damage to the medial segment of the striatum depended on the duration of the occlusion. In the 30-min MCAO grouts, however, infarcted region was primarily confined to the striatum and it was difficult to clearly delineate the region since there was mixed population of live and dead cells in the nucleus. Infarct volume was generally increased depending on the duration of MCAO, showing the most severe damage in the permanent MCAO group. However, there was no significant difference in infarct size between the 90-min and 120-min MCAO groups. % Edema also tended to increase depending on the duration of MCAO. The results suggest that the various focal ischemic rat models established in the present study can be used to evaluate in vivo neuroprotective activities of candidate compounds or to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms of ischemic neuronal cell death.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2000

In this study, we showed a comparison and analysis making use of DWI(diffusion weighted image) using early diagnosis of cerebral Infarction and with the classified T2 weighted image, FLAIR images signal intensity for brain infarction period. period of cerebral infarction after the condition of a disease by ischemic stroke. To compare 3 types of image, we performed polynomial warping and affined transform for image matching. Using proposed algorithm, calculated signal intensity difference between T2WI, DWI, FLAIR and DWI. The quantification values between hand made and calculated data are almost the same. We quantified the each period and performed pseudo color mapping by comparing signal intensity each other according to previously obtained hand made data, and compared the result of this paper according to obtained quantified data to that of doctors decision. The examined mean and standard deviation for each brain infarction stage are as follows ; the means and standard deviations of signal intensity difference between DWI and T2WI for each period are $197.7{\pm}6.9$ in hyperacute, $110.2{\pm}5.4$ in acute, and $67.8{\pm}7.2$ in subacute. And the means and standard deviations of signal intensity difference between DWI and FLAIR for each period are $199.8{\pm}7.5$ in hyperacute, $115.3{\pm}8.0$ in acute, and $70.9{\pm}5.8$ in subacute. We can quantificate and decide cerebral infarction period objectively. According to this study, DWI is very exact for early diagnosis. We classified the period of infarction occurrence to analyze the region of disease and normal region in DW, T2WI, FLAIR images.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2010

Objective: The focus of this study is brain plasticity associated with semantic aspects of language function in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) Methods: Using longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), patterns of brain activation were observed in twelve left and seven right unilateral mTLE patients during a word-generation task relative to a pseudo-word reading task before and after anterior temporal section surgery. Results: No differences were observed in precentral activations in patients relative to normal controls (n = 12), and surgery did not alter the phonological-associated activations. The two mTLE patient groups showed left inferior prefrontal activations associated with semantic processing (word-generation>pseudo-word reading), as did control subjects. The amount of semantic-associated activation in the left inferior prefrontal region was negatively correlated with epilepsy duration in both patient groups. Following temporal resection, semantic-specific activations in inferior prefrontal region became more bilateral in left mTLE patients, but more left-lateralized in right mTLE patients. The longer the duration of epilepsy in the patients, the larger the increase in the left inferior prefrontal semantic-associated activation after surgery in both patient groups. Semantic activation of the intact hippocampus, which had been negatively correlated with seizure frequency, normalized after the epileptic side was removed. Conclusion: These results indicate alternation of semantic language network related to recruitment of left inferior prefrontal cortex and functional recovery of the hippocampus contralateral to the epileptogenic side, suggesting an intra- and inter-hemispheric reorganization following surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.643-650
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• 2017

Vascular dementia (VaD) is a group of heterogeneous diseases with the common feature of cerebral hypoperfusion. To identify key factors contributing to VaD pathophysiology, we performed a detailed comparison of Wistar and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats subjected to permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo). Eight-week old male Wistar and SD rats underwent BCCAo, followed by a reference memory test using a five-radial arm maze with tactile cues. Continuous monitoring of cerebral blood flow (CBF) was performed with a laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) system. A separate cohort of animals was sacrificed for evaluation of the brain vasculature and white matter damage after BCCAo. We found reference memory impairment in Wistar rats, but not in SD rats. Moreover, our LDPI system revealed that Wistar rats had significant hypoperfusion in the brain region supplied by the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). Furthermore, Wistar rats showed more profound CBF reduction in the forebrain region than did SD rats. Post-mortem analysis of brain vasculature demonstrated greater PCA plasticity at all time points after BCCAo in Wistar rats. Finally, we confirmed white matter rarefaction that was only observed in Wistar rats. Our studies show a comprehensive and dynamic CBF status after BCCAo in Wistar rats in addition to severe PCA dolichoectasia, which correlated well with white matter lesion and memory decline.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2017

A 10-day-old, Holstein calf with facial mass of 10 cm in diameter at the forehead region referred to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Chungnam National University. The mass was soft and fluctuating swelling. It had normal skin and hair hanging forward from frontal region and was thought to contain cerebrospinal fluid. On the skull radiography, cauliflower like-irregular marginated, soft tissue opacity mass was identified craniodorsal to the frontal bone. The mass appeared as a cyst filled with anechoic fluid on ultrasonography. Soft tissue structures considered brain tissues were observed in the deep area of the mass. On the computed tomography, a large skull defect of left side frontal bone was found, and heterogeneous materials were exposed through the defect but exposure of cerebral meninges and brain tissue were not confirmative. On magnetic resonance imaging, herniated left brain parenchyma showed heterogenous T2 and T1 hyperinsensity. In the intracranium, T2 hyperinstense and T1 hypointense fluid was identified on the left side, instead of left cerebral parenchyma. Also leftward shift of right hemisphere and midline structure, including thalamus and midbrain, were observed. The definitive diagnosis was confirmed as a meningoencephalocele based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The calf was euthanized and necropsy was performed. On necropsy, both hemisphere were developed unequally with different size. One side hemisphere was grown in the outside through 10 cm hole on the median plane.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2019

Background: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most devastating ailments of the peripheral nervous system. Neuropathic pain develops in ~30% of diabetics. Here, we examined the suppressive effect of GS-KG9 on neuropathic pain induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Methods: Hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Rats showing blood glucose level > 250 mg/dL were divided into five groups, and treatment groups received oral saline containing GS-KG9 (50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, or 300 mg/kg) twice daily for 4 wk. The effects of GS-KG9 on pain behavior, microglia activation in the lumbar spinal cord and ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus, and c-Fos expression in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord were examined. Results: The development of neuropathic pain began at Day 5 and peaked at Week 4 after STZ injection. Mechanical and thermal pains were both significantly attenuated in GS-KG9-treated groups from 10 d after STZ injection as compared to those in the STZ control. GS-KG9 also repressed microglia activation in L4 dorsal horn and VPL region of the thalamus. In addition, increase in c-Fos-positive cells within L4 dorsal horn lamina I and II of the STZ control group was markedly alleviated by GS-KG9. Conclusion: These results suggest that GS-KG9 effectively relieves STZ-induced neuropathic pain by inhibiting microglial activation in the spinal cord dorsal horn and VPL region of the thalamus.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Background: The use of computed tomography (CT) device has increased in the past few decades in Japan. Dose optimization is strongly required in pediatric CT examinations, since there is concern that an unreasonably excessive medical radiation exposure might increase the risk of brain cancer and leukemia. To accelerate the process of dose optimization, continual assessment of the dose levels in actual hospitals and medical facilities is necessary. This study presents organ dose estimation using pediatric cerebral CT scans in the Kyushu region, Japan in 2012 and the web-based calculator, WAZA-ARI (https://waza-ari.nirs.qst.go.jp). Materials and Methods: We collected actual patient information and CT scan parameters from hospitals and medical facilities with more than 200 beds that perform pediatric CT in the Kyushu region, Japan through a questionnaire survey. To estimate the actual organ dose (brain dose, bone marrow dose, thyroid dose, lens dose), we divided the pediatric population into five age groups (0, 1, 5, 10, 15) based on body size, and inputted CT scan parameters into WAZA-ARI. Results and Discussion: Organ doses for each age group were obtained using WAZA-ARI. The brain dose, thyroid dose, and lens dose were the highest in the Age 0 group among the age groups, and the bone marrow and thyroid doses tended to decrease with increasing age groups. All organ doses showed differences among facilities, and this tendency was remarkable in the young group, especially in the Age 0 group. This study confirmed a difference of more than 10-fold in organ doses depending on the facility and CT scan parameters, even when the same CT device was used in the same age group. Conclusion: This study indicated that organ doses varied widely by age group, and also suggested that CT scan parameters are not optimized for children in some hospitals and medical facilities.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.345-352
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to needed basis of measure MRI CAD development for signal to noise ratio (SNR) by pulse sequence analysis from region of interest (ROI) in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast. We examined images of brain MRI contrast enhancement of 117 patients, from January 2005 to December 2015 in a University-affiliated hospital, Seoul, Korea. Diagnosed as one of two brain diseases such as meningioma and cysts SNR for each patient's image of brain MRI were calculated by using Image J. Differences of SNR among two brain diseases were tested by SPSS Statistics21 ANOVA test for there was statistical significance (p < 0.05). We have analysis socio-demographical variables, SNR according to sequence disease, 95% confidence according to SNR of sequence and difference in a mean of SNR. Meningioma results, with the quality of distributions in the order of T1CE, T2 and T1, FLAIR. Cysts results, with the quality of distributions in the order of T2 and T1, T1CE and FLAIR. SNR of MRI sequences of the brain would be useful to classify disease. Therefore, this study will contribute to evaluate brain diseases, and be a fundamental to enhancing the accuracy of CAD development.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2003

Up-front irradiation technique as 3-dimensional conformation, or intensity modulation has kept large proportion of brain tumors from being complicated with acute radiation reactions in the normal tissue during or shortly after radiotherapy. For years, we've cannot help but counting on 2-D vertex beam technique to reduce acute reactions in the brain tumor patients because we're not equipped with 3-dimensional planning system. We analyzed its advantages and limitations in the clinical application. From 1998 to 2001, vertex or oblique vertex beams were applied to 35 patients with primary brain tumor and 25 among them were eligible for this analysis. Vertex(V) plans were optimized on the reconstructed coronal planes. As the control, we took the bilateral opposed techniques(BL) otherwise being applied. We compared the volumes included in 105% to 50% isodose lines of each plan. We also measured the radiation dose at various extracranial sites with TLD. With vertex techniques, we reduced the irradiated volumes of contralateral hemisphere and prevented middle ear effusion at contralateral side. But the low dose volume increased outside 100%; the ratio of V to BL in irradiated volume included in 100%, 80%, 50% was 0.55+/-0.10, 0.61+/-0.10, and 1.22+/-0.21, respectively. The hot area within 100% isodose line almost disappeared with vertex plan; the ratio of V to BL in irradiated volume included in 103%, 105%, 108% was 0.14+/-0.14, 0.05./-0.17, 0.00, respectively. The dose distribution within 100% isodose line became more homogeneous; the ratio of volume included in 103% and 105% to 100% was 0.62+/-0.14 and 0.26+/-0.16 in BL whereas was 0.16+/-0.16 and 0.02+/-0.04 in V. With the vertex techniques, extracranial dose increased up to $1{\sim}3%$ of maximum dose in the head and neck region except submandibular area where dose ranged 1 to 21%. From this data, vertex beam technique was quite effective in reduction of unnecessary irradiation to the contralateral hemispheres, integral dose, obtaining dose homogeneity in the clinical target. But it was associated with volume increment of low dose area in the brain and irradiation toward the head and neck region otherwise being not irradiated at all. Thus, this 2-D vertex technique can be a useful quasi-conformal method before getting 3-D apparatus.