• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2003

The performance of radio frequency (RF) coils, used in MRI units, is determined by the image uniformity and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Birdcage and surface coils are commonly used. A birdcage coil provides a good image uniformity while a surface coil produces a high SNR. In this study, therefore, a staircase coil was designed from a standard version of a birdcage coil, with some structural changes to increase SNR while maintaining image uniformity. In phantom experiments, the improvement of the image to uniformity and the SNR increase of the staircase coil compared with the values for the birdcage coil were about 3.5% and 35%, respectively. In clinical experiment, the SNR increase of the staircase coil, compared with the value for the birdcage coil was about 40% in bone, muscle and blood-vessel tissues. These results show that the performance of the staircase coil was very improved over the standard birdcage coil in terms of SNR, and that image uniformity was maintained. Therefore, the staircase coil designed by this study should be useful in experimental and clinical l.5T MRI systems, and this coil offers an alternative method of quadrature detection.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.66
• /
• pp.379-387
• /
• 2023

Dog owners seek treatment when their pets develop cancer. IMMUNIES is traditional herbal medicine-based figment made of 10 natural herbs, designed to maintain host immune function. The major component of IMMUNIES is Dendropanax morbiferus. This clinical pilot study monitored the toxicity and efficacy of IMMUNIES. Four senile dogs with spontaneously occurring mammary and liver cancers were enrolled in this study and treated orally daily for 3 months, and their blood/urine biochemical profiles were examined each month. IMMUNIES was well tolerated during the treatment period. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and C-reactive protein levels decreased in all four dogs, whereas red blood cells and hematocrit were within the normal range. IMMUNIES also changed the expression of several molecular targets in the anticancer pathway, such as pro-NAG-1, p53, and cyclin D1. Although the tumors did not completely respond to IMMUNIES, the biochemical profiles and clinical examination showed a stabilized cancer status for 3 months. Thus, IMMUNIES was found to be safe and well-tolerated in the dosage range tested and exhibited cancer antiproliferative activity in canine cancer. Future studies should address other potential benefits of IMMUNIES, including correlative assessments of immune function, quality of life, and owner satisfaction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.1640-1647
• /
• 2015

We recently reported that the antimicrobial peptide Lumbricusin (NH₂-RNRRWCIDQQA), isolated from the earthworm, increases cell proliferation in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Here, we investigated whether Lumbricusin has neurotropic activity in mouse neural stem cells (MNSCs) and a protective effect in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). In MNSCs isolated from mouse brains, Lumbricusin treatment significantly increased cell proliferation (up to 12%) and reduced the protein expression of p27^Kip1 through proteasomal protein degradation but not transcriptional regulation. Lumbricusin inhibited the 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis of MNSCs, and also showed neuroprotective effects in a mouse PD model, ameliorating the motor impairments seen in the pole, elevated body swing, and rotation tests. These results suggest that the Lumbricusin-induced promotion of neural cell proliferation via p27^Kip1 degradation has a protective effect in an experimental PD model. Thus, the antimicrobial peptide Lumbricusin could possibly be developed as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of PD.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.44-45
• /
• 2006

Gene therapy holds great promise for treating various forms of diseases with a genetic origin including cystic fibrosis, different forms of cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. The clinical use of gene therapy treatments is however restricted, mainly because of the absence of safe and efficient gene delivery technologies. In our group, with an aim of developing efficient and nontoxic polymeric gene delivery systems, several novel types of polymeric gene carriers have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Herein, I will mainly present our recent work on low molecular weight linear PEI-PEG-PEI triblock copolymers, degradable hyperbranched poly(ester amine)s, and reduction-sensitive poly(amido amine)s.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.1346-1352
• /
• 2006

We describe an effective method of microchip electrophoresis (ME) based on single strand conformation poly-morphism (SSCP) analysis to rapidly detect the point mutation, Leu72Met, in a human obesity gene. The 207-bp dsDNA in the Leu72Met region, an estimate of the child obesity DNA mutant, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and submitted to a conventional glass microchip analysis with a sieving matrix of 1.75% poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (Mr 1 300 000), 1.0% poly(ethyleneoxide) (Mr 600 000) and 5.0% w/w glycerol. When combined with base stacking (BS) with hydroxide ions, the SSCP-ME provided rapid analysis as well as sensitive detection. The detection sensitivity was effectively enhanced in the OH- concentration range of 0.01-0.025 M NaOH. The sensitivity and speed of this ME-based SSCP methodology for the rapid detection of Leu72Met point mutations makes this an attractive method for diagnosing childhood obesity in a clinical diagnostic laboratory.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.467-474
• /
• 2019

Exposure to lead during pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in the offspring. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to low levels of lead acetate (0.2%) in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation causes behavioral impairment and affects the expression of proteins associated with neurodevelopment. Lead exposure altered several parameters in rat offspring compared with those unexposed in open-field, social interaction, and pre-pulse inhibition tests. These parameters were restored to normal levels after clozapine treatment. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of the hippocampus revealed that several neurodevelopmental proteins were downregulated in lead-exposed rats. The expression was normalized after clozapine treatment (5 mg/kg/day, postnatal day 35-56). These findings demonstrate that downregulation of several proteins in lead-exposed rats affected subsequent behavioral changes. Our results suggest that lead exposure in early life may induce psychiatric disorders and treatment with antipsychotics such as clozapine may reduce their incidence.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.753-758
• /
• 1998

Sixteen novel 2-substituted acetyl amino-5-alkyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol were synthesized and screened for their pharmacological activities. A few of the compounds namely 11, 12 and 16 showed anti-inflammatory activities comparable to phenylbutazone. Compound 12 also showed significan non-specific spasmolytic activity. Diuretic activity of compound 15 at a dose level of 90mg/kg p.o. was two fold higher compared to 50mg/kg p.o. of furosemide. Comparable diuresis was aso produced by compounds 9, 10, and 16.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.85-90
• /
• 2015

This article reviews recent analytical techniques using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) immunoassay for clinical and bio analysis. We classified the techniques into two categories, direct and indirect analysis, which depend upon a guideline of whether tagging materials are used or not. Direct analysis is well known, and generally used in conjunction with various other techniques, such as laser ablation, chromatographic separations, etc. Recently, indirect analysis using tagging elements has intensively been discussed because of its importance in future applications to bio and clinical analysis, including environmental and food industries. The method has shown advantages of multiplex detection, excellent sensitivity, and short analysis time owing to signal amplification and magnetic separation. Now, it expands the application field from small biomolecules to large cells.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.121-136
• /
• 2002

Immunosensors are of great interest because of their potential utility as specific, simple, label-free, direct detection means and provision of reduction in size, cost and time of analysis comparing with conventional immunoassay. In the last two decades, many reports have been published on the use of immunosensors for a wide range of applications to clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical chemistry, environmental monitoring, biotechnology and food industries. There are also numerous transduction techniques developed such as electrochemical techniques, piezoelectric crystal, and surface plasmon resonance receiving much attention for the direct monitoring of immune reactions at solid surfaces. In this article, the principles, characteristics, structures, fonctions and clinical applications of immunosensors were reviewed

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.386-391
• /
• 2010

This retrospective study was performed in 40 cases of canine crystalluria and urinary tract symptoms. Breed, age, sex, diet history and common clinical signs were investigated for patient information. CBC, serum chemistry, urinalysis, urine culture, urine sediment and urinary stone analysis were undertaken for clinicopathological diagnosis. Crystalluria and urinary tract symptoms occurred from 6 months till 14 years in this clinical investigation and the average age was 4.68 years. It had taken an average 7.4 weeks to correct crystalluria and urinary tract symptoms treated by supportive therapy and dietary management. In conclusion, regular clinical pathologic examination, treatment and diet management should be needed to prevent the formation of urolithiasis and urinary tract diseases in dogs with crystalluria and urinary tract symptoms.