• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.194-200
• /
• 2022

Albizia julibrissin Durazz. (AJ; family Minosaceae) is widely distributed worldwide, and its stem bark has been used as a traditional herbal medicine. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome that results in sudden loss of renal function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AJ against cisplatin-induced AKI using a human kidney proximal tubule epithelial cell line (HK-2) and cisplatin-treated mice. In vitro, cisplatin treatment increased apoptosis in HK-2 cells. However, AJ treatment decreased apoptosis of cisplatin-treated HK-2 cells. In vivo, cisplatin treatment accelerated renal injury by increasing the levels of renal injury markers, such as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, kidney injury molecule 1, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, which were reversed by AJ treatment. Histopathologically, AJ treatment resulted in decreased renal damage with less tubular necrosis and brush border desquamation compared with the AKI group. Additionally, cisplatin treatment upregulated mitochondrial fission, a pathological characteristic of AKI, which was downregulated by AJ treatment. Along with increased mitochondrial fission, AJ treatment also reduced cisplatin-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that AJ may be a potential therapeutic agent for cisplatin-induced AKI.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• 제25권5호
• /
• pp.449-458
• /
• 2024

Selective fascicular involvement of the median nerve trunk above the elbow leading to anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) syndrome is a rare form of peripheral neuropathy. This condition has recently garnered increased attention within the medical community owing to advancements in imaging techniques and a growing number of reported cases. In this article, we explore the topographical anatomy of the median nerve trunk and the clinical features associated with AIN palsy. Our focus extends to unique manifestations captured through MRI and ultrasonography (US) studies, highlighting noteworthy findings, such as nerve fascicle swelling, incomplete constrictions, hourglass-like constrictions, and torsions, particularly in the posterior/posteromedial region of the median nerve. Surgical observations have further enhanced the understanding of this complex neuropathic condition. High-resolution MRI not only reveals denervation changes in the AIN and median nerve territories but also illuminates these alterations without the presence of compressing structures. The pivotal roles of high-resolution MRI and US in diagnosing this condition and guiding the formulation of an optimal treatment strategy are emphasized.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• 제24권11호
• /
• pp.1114-1130
• /
• 2023

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is increasingly used to visualize peripheral nerves in vivo. However, the implementation and interpretation of MRN in the brachial and lumbosacral plexi are challenging because of the anatomical complexity and technical limitations. The purpose of this article was to review the clinical context of MRN, describe advanced magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for plexus imaging, and list the general categories of utility of MRN with pertinent imaging examples. The selection and optimization of MR sequences are centered on the homogeneous suppression of fat and blood vessels while enhancing the visibility of the plexus and its branches. Standard 2D fast spin-echo sequences are essential to assess morphology and signal intensity of nerves. Moreover, nerve-selective 3D isotropic images allow improved visualization of nerves and multiplanar reconstruction along their course. Diffusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor images offer microscopic and functional insights into peripheral nerves. The interpretation of MRN in the brachial and lumbosacral plexi should be based on a thorough understanding of their anatomy and pathophysiology. Anatomical landmarks assist in identifying brachial and lumbosacral plexus components of interest. Thus, understanding the varying patterns of nerve abnormalities facilitates the interpretation of aberrant findings.

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• 제56권2호
• /
• pp.143-154
• /
• 2023

Advanced malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO) with inaccessible papilla poses a significant challenge to endoscopists, as drainage of multiple liver segments may be warranted. Transpapillary drainage may not be feasible in patients with surgically altered anatomy, duodenal stenosis, prior duodenal self-expanding metal stent, and after initial transpapillary drainage, but require re-intervention for draining separated liver segments. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage are the feasible options in this scenario. The major advantages of EUS-BD over percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage include a reduction in patient discomfort and internal drainage away from the tumor, thus reducing the possibility of tissue or tumor ingrowth. With innovations, EUS-BD is helpful not only for bilateral communicating MHBO but also for non-communicating systems with bridging hilar stents or isolated right intra-hepatic duct drainage by hepatico-duodenostomy. EUS-guided multi-stent drainage with specially designed cannulas and guidewires has become a reality. A combined approach with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for re-intervention, interventional radiology, and intraductal tumor ablative therapies has been reported. Stent migration and bile leakage can be minimized with proper stent selection and technique, and stent blocks can be managed with EUS-guided interventions in a majority of cases. Future comparative studies are required to establish the role of EUS-guided interventions in MHBO as rescue or primary therapy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2024

Objectives : By reviewing NIH's SPARC program and NCCIH's TARA project, we would like to suggest the direction of research on acupoint utilization in Korea. Methods : The goals, operation methods, result linkage strategies, collaborative activities, and research contents of the SPARC program and TARA program were reviewed and summarized. Results : SPARC connects the identification of medical device mechanisms, clinical efficacy, regulatory approval, and industrialization through nerve stimulation, and the research results are provided to researchers and companies as an open access database. The TARA program creates an open access database of anatomy, physiology, and pathology information on acupuncture points and links it with SPARC to increase understanding and utilization of acupuncture points in the development of medical devices and conducts international cooperation with Korea, China, Japan, etc. Korea's acupuncture point utilization research lacks medical device industrialization connectivity and international cooperation planning. Conclusions : Korea's research on the use of acupuncture points should be planned and managed so that it can be linked to medical device industrialization. In addition, it is necessary to anticipate the demand for bioelectronic medical devices and conduct joint research through open access database linkage and international cooperation.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제43권5호
• /
• pp.341-352
• /
• 2022

Medical image segmentation is the most important task in radiation therapy. Especially, when segmenting medical images, the liver is one of the most difficult organs to segment because it has various shapes and is close to other organs. Therefore, automatic segmentation of the liver in computed tomography (CT) images is a difficult task. Since tumors also have low contrast in surrounding tissues, and the shape, location, size, and number of tumors vary from patient to patient, accurate tumor segmentation takes a long time. In this study, we propose a method algorithm for automatically segmenting the liver and tumor for this purpose. As an advantage of setting the boundaries of the tumor, the liver and tumor were automatically segmented from the CT image using the 2D CoordConv DeepLab V3+ model using the CoordConv layer. For tumors, only cropped liver images were used to improve accuracy. Additionally, to increase the segmentation accuracy, augmentation, preprocess, loss function, and hyperparameter were used to find optimal values. We compared the CoordConv DeepLab v3+ model using the CoordConv layer and the DeepLab V3+ model without the CoordConv layer to determine whether they affected the segmentation accuracy. The data sets used included 131 hepatic tumor segmentation (LiTS) challenge data sets (100 train sets, 16 validation sets, and 15 test sets). Additional learned data were tested using 15 clinical data from Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. The evaluation was compared with the study results learned with a two-dimensional deep learning-based model. Dice values without the CoordConv layer achieved 0.965 ± 0.01 for liver segmentation and 0.925 ± 0.04 for tumor segmentation using the LiTS data set. Results from the clinical data set achieved 0.927 ± 0.02 for liver division and 0.903 ± 0.05 for tumor division. The dice values using the CoordConv layer achieved 0.989 ± 0.02 for liver segmentation and 0.937 ± 0.07 for tumor segmentation using the LiTS data set. Results from the clinical data set achieved 0.944 ± 0.02 for liver division and 0.916 ± 0.18 for tumor division. The use of CoordConv layers improves the segmentation accuracy. The highest of the most recently published values were 0.960 and 0.749 for liver and tumor division, respectively. However, better performance was achieved with 0.989 and 0.937 results for liver and tumor, which would have been used with the algorithm proposed in this study. The algorithm proposed in this study can play a useful role in treatment planning by improving contouring accuracy and reducing time when segmentation evaluation of liver and tumor is performed. And accurate identification of liver anatomy in medical imaging applications, such as surgical planning, as well as radiotherapy, which can leverage the findings of this study, can help clinical evaluation of the risks and benefits of liver intervention.

• 해부∙생물인류학
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2016

이 연구에서는 경막바깥신경성형술 시행에 있어서 중요한 엉치뼈틈새에서 경막주머니종말부 및 척수원뿔 사이의 거리를 자기공명영상에서 계측하여 한국인의 생체 연구에 대한 기초 자료를 제공하고자 한다. 허리통증으로 자기공명영상을 촬영한 환자 중 척추압박골절이나 척추전방전위증 그리고 기형 등이 없는 환자 200명(남자 88명, 여자 112명)을 대상으로 하였으며, 평균 연령은 54.3세(20~84세), 평균 신장은 161.3 cm(135~187 cm)이었다. T2강조 자기공명영상을 이용하여 엉치뼈틈새에서 경막주머니종말부 그리고 척수원뿔 사이 거리를 계측하여 성별 및 신장에 따른 상관관계를 분석하였다. 엉치뼈틈새꼭지에서 경막주머니종말부까지 거리는 $62.8{\pm}9.4mm$, 엉치뼈틈새꼭지에서 척수원뿔까지 거리는 $232.2{\pm}21.8mm$, 엉치뼈틈새꼭지에서 경막주머니종말부 사이 최소 거리는 34.8 mm, 최대 거리는 93.9 mm, 엉치뼈틈새꼭지에서 척수원뿔 사이 최소 거리는 155.0 mm, 최대 거리는 284.0 mm이었다. 엉치뼈틈새꼭지에서 경막주머니종말부까지, 그리고 엉치뼈틈새꼭지에서 척수원뿔까지 거리는 모두 여성이 남성보다 짧게 나타났고(p<0.05), 엉치뼈틈새꼭지에서 경막 종말부 및 척수원뿔 사이 거리는 신장에 대해 유의한 상관관계를 보였다(p<0.01). 이 연구의 결과는 한국 성인의 엉치뼈틈새에서 경막주머니종말부 및 척수원뿔 사이 거리에 대한 생체 계측 자료를 제공하며, 경막바깥공간에 대한 임상적 시술의 안전성 확보와 한국인의 체형에 맞는 카테터 개발에 도움이 될 것이라 생각한다.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• 제35권6호
• /
• pp.368-375
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study is to evaluate the location of descending palatine artery, the anatomy of pterygomaxillary junction, and the association between the obtained anatomic values and several variables. Methods: We studied 40 patients who were treated for dentofacial deformites from January 2010 to December 2012 in Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea. Cone beam computed tomogram (CBCT) was done for all patients. The reference point was approximately 5 to 7 mm above anterior nasal spine on axial image. We evaluated the location of the greater palatine canal (line a: on the coronal view, the shortest line between the center of greater palatine canal and pterygoid fossa; distance a: the distance of line a). We also measured the thickness (line b: on the coronal view, the shortest line between maxillary posterior sinus wall and pterygoid fossa; distance b: distance of line b), width (line c: on the coronal view, the line perpendicular to the line b and the nearest line from the most concave point of lateral pterygoid plate to the medial pterygoid plate; distance c: distance of line c) and height (line d: on sagittal view, the vertically longest line of pterygoid junction; distance d: the distance of line d) in pterygomaxillary junctions. We evaluated the association between the obtained anatomic values and several variables (sex, age, height and weight). Results: The mean distance a was 4.78 mm, mean distance b was 5.53 mm, mean distance c was 8.01 mm and mean distance d was 13.22 mm. The differences between age and mean distance c and weight and mean distance d in pterygomaxillary junctions are statistically significant. Conclusion: There apparently is anatomic variation of pterygomaxillary junctions by various values, particularly weight and age in a Korean clinical population.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제44권4호
• /
• pp.207-213
• /
• 2017

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of infections with human papillomavirus, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma genitalium in the semen of Korean infertile couples and their associations with sperm quality. Methods: Semen specimens were collected from 400 men who underwent a fertility evaluation. Infection with above five pathogens was assessed in each specimen. Sperm quality was compared in the pathogen-infected group and the non-infected group. Results: The infection rates of human papillomavirus, C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, M. hominis, and M. genitalium in the study subjects were 1.57%, 0.79%, 16.80%, 4.46%, and 1.31%, respectively. The rate of morphological normality in the U. urealyticum-infected group was significantly lower than in those not infected with U. urealyticum. In a subgroup analysis of normozoospermic samples, the semen volume and the total sperm count in the pathogen-infected group were significantly lower than in the non-infected group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that infection with U. urealyticum alone and any of the five sexually transmitted infections are likely to affect sperm morphology and semen volume, respectively.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제20권12호
• /
• pp.1820-1828
• /
• 2010

PC12 세포에서 $CoCl_2$에 의한 hypoxia 유도는 HIF1 alpha의 상승 발현으로 확인하였다. 이때 apoptosis의 유도는 genomic DNA의 fragmentation과 apoptotic body는 Hoechst 염색으로 확인되었고, ER luminal chaperone의 발현 및 ER stress signal에 관여하는 ER membrane kinase인 IRE1, PERK, ATF6의 발현도 확인되었다. 이들이 apoptosis로 연결되는 고리 역할을 하는 IRE1-XBP1 mRNA splicing, PERK-eIF2 alpha, ATF6 protein cleavage도 반응하는 것으로 확인되었다. 위의 결과는 신경세포의 hypoxia상태는 ER stress signal pathway를 거쳐서 apoptosis가 된다는 것을 증명한 것으로 신경세포의 hypoxia치료를 위한 기초 자료가 될 것으로 생각한다.