• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.186-193
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain-related behaviors after bilateral C2 root resection and change in pain patterns in the suboccipital region in rats. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n=25/group); $n{\ddot{a}}ive$, sham, and C2 resection. Three, 7, 10, and 14 days after surgery, cold allodynia was assessed using $20{\mu}L$ of 99.7% acetone. c-Fos and c-Jun were immunohistochemically stained to evaluate activation of dorsal horn gray matter in C2 segments of the spinal cord 2 hours, 1 day, 7 days, and 14 days after surgery. Results : Three days after surgery, the response to acetone in the sham group was significantly greater than in the $n{\ddot{a}}ive$ group, and this significant difference between the $n{\ddot{a}}ive$ and sham groups was maintained throughout the experimental period (p<0.05 at 3, 7, 10, and 14 days). Seven, 10, and 14 days after surgery, the C2 root resection group exhibited a significantly greater response to acetone than the $n{\ddot{a}}ive$ group (p<0.05), and both the sham and C2 resection groups exhibited significantly greater responses to acetone compared with 3 days after surgery. No significant difference in cold allodynia was observed between the sham and C2 root resection groups throughout the experimental period. Two hours after surgery, both the sham and C2 root resection groups exhibited significant increases in c-Fos- and c-Jun-positive neurons compared with the naive group (p=0.0021 and p=0.0358 for the sham group, and p=0.0135 and p=0.014 for the C2 root resection group, respectively). One day after surgery, both the sham and C2 root resection groups exhibited significant decreases in c-Fos -positive neurons compared with two hours after surgery (p=0.0169 and p=0.0123, respectively), and these significant decreases in c-Fos immunoreactivity were maintained in both the sham and C2 root resection groups 7 and 14 days after surgery. The sham and C2 root resection groups presented a tendency toward a decrease in c-Jun-positive neurons 1, 7, and 14 days after surgery, but the decrease did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion : We found no significant difference in cold allodynia and the early expression of c-Fos and c-Jun between the sham and C2 resection groups. Our results may support the routine resection of the C2 nerve root for posterior C1-2 fusion, but, further studies are needed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.6 s.169
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• pp.585-601
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• 2004

A general study of domestic black sandstone and black shale quarries has not been made. For this reason it is difficult to know how the matter really stands. The objectives of this study are to achieve systematical and scientific study of the distribution, occurrences and rock quality of black sandstone and black shale resources exploited in existing quarries in the Boryeong area. The black sandstone bed survey was made from 54 mine claims on 4 sheets. In the area, 140 black sandstone and 22 black shale quarries were ascertained in 37 mine claims. The general development information data from that existing quarries were collected and synthesized. Among these black sandstone quarries for gravestones, monuments and black shale quarries for inkstone are in operation. Most of the black sandstone quarries were closed throughout the Gaewhari, Suburi, Seongjuri district in the investigated area even though these quarries had played a prominent part in the production of black sandstone. In view of commercial dimension stones, raw materials from black sandstone are classified as corestone and fresh rock body according to the characteristics of their occurrences and shape. Black sandstone beds are characteristically well-jointed and are particularly subdivided into cubic or quadrangular blocks in 3 joint sets. The colors of these black sandstones show medium dark $gray\~grayish$ black judging from the Rock Color Chart. The black sandstone beds which are intercalated in the Amisan, Jogeri, Baegunsa, Seongjuri Formations of the Daedong Supergroup are about $1\~10\;m$ in thickness.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study to investigate the effect of TENS and electroacupuncture (EA) on injured muscle recovery and to compare the difference between TENS and EA. Methods: 18 S-D rats were produced surgically for crush injury on Extensor digitorum. TENS and EA stimulation were applied on acu-point that Zusanli (ST36) and Taijun (Liv3) of each hindlimb as approximitely 2Hz for 15 minutes. The rats were sacrificed on 1, 3, 7 post operation day, and the spinal level was immunohistochmical stainied. Results: The expression of NT-3 on the spinal level related with injured muscle between Ex-1 group and Ex-2, there is no significant difference. But between Con and Ex-1/Ex-2, there was little difference. In the same indivudual, we confirmed more NT-3 expression on the same side of injured muscle than on another side of gray matter in posterior horn. Conclusion: There is no difference, which is more effective to recover of injured muscle, between EA and TENS on injured muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.399-408
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• 2005

In the progression of the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder(TMD), not only deformation and perforation of disc occur. But also fibrotic adhesion and inflammatory changes to the retrodiscal tissue can be seen in addition to the condylar degenerative change (e.g. osteoarthritis). However, the correct diagnosis,?planning for appropriate treatment, and prediction of prognosis are limited, because there are no means to stage the progression of the disorder. In this study relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue in MRI and the synovial fluid concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and Interleukin-6(IL-6) in the 23 temporomandibular joints(TMJ), from 17 patients with TMD were evaluated as a possible diagnostic marker. The relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue was referenced to brain gray matter with same region of interest(ROI) size. The concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, and IL-6 were evaluated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The collected data were compared with condylar degenerative change, joint effusion and disc position observed in MRI. The relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue was increased significantly when degenerative changes were present. In addition, there was significantly high signal intensity in the presence of a disc displaced without reduction. The concentration of IL-6 was significantly increased when condylar degenerative change was no observed. And there were no changes in the levels of IL-6 according to disc position and joint effusion measurement. Moreover, there were no significant relevance between the concentration of total MMP-2 and active MMP-9 in synovial fluid, relative to degenerative changes in the mandibular condyle, to joint effusion, and to disc position observed on MRI images. In conclusion, the relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue can be regarded as a mean of diagnosing the procession of TMD in a non-invasive manner. But more additional studies are required for the levels of MMP-2. MMP-9, and IL-6 to determine their potentials as a diagnostic marker for TMD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.479-483
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• 2009

Objective : A mouse model of spinal cord injury (SCI) could further increase our basic understanding of the mechanisms involved in injury and repair of the nervous system. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether methods used to produce and evaluate photochemical graded ischemic SCI in rats, could be successfully adapted to mice, in a reliable and reproducible manner. Methods : Thirty female imprinting control region mice (weighting 25-30 g, 8 weeks of age) were used in this study. Following intraperitoneal injection of Rose bengal, the translucent dorsal surface of the T8-T9 vertebral laminae of the mice were illuminated with a fiber optic bundle of a cold light source. The mice were divided into three groups; Group 1 (20 mg/kg Rose bengal, 5 minutes illumination), Group 2 (20 mg/kg Rose bengal, 10 minutes illumination), and Group 3 (40 mg/kg Rose bengal, 10 minutes illumination). The locomotor function, according to the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale, was assessed at three days after the injury and then once per week for four weeks. The animals were sacrificed at 28 days after the injury, and the histopathology of the lesions was assessed. Results : The mice in group 1 had no hindlimb movement until seven days after the injury. Most mice had later recovery with movement in more than two joints at 28 days after injury. There was limited recovery of one joint, with only slight movement, for the mice in groups 2 and 3. The histopathology showed that the mice in group 1 had a cystic cavity involving the dorsal and partial involvement of the dorsolateral funiculi. A larger cavity, involving the dorsal, dorsolateral funiculi and the gray matter of the dorsal and ventral horns was found in group 2. In group 3, most of the spinal cord was destroyed and only a thin rim of tissue remained. Conclusion : The results of this study show that the photochemical graded ischemic SCI model. described in rats, can be successfully adapted to mice, in a reliable and reproducible manner. The functional deficits are correlated an increase in the irradiation time and, therefore, to the severity of the injury. The photothrombotic model of SCI, in mice with 20 mg/kg Rose bengal for 5 minutes illumination, provides an effective model that could be used in future research. This photochemical model can be used for investigating secondary responses associated with traumatic SCI.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.267-297
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• 2017

The anatomical structure of the brain reflects a great amount of information about an individual's cognitive ability. The present study reviewed research on developmental changes in brain structure in relation to biological maturation and intellectual growth focusing on children and adolescents. The purpose of the present study was to achieve an understanding of how children and adolescents' brain matures with development and also to examine whether individual differences in intelligence influences the development of brain structure. The first section introduces methods of measurement and analysis of brain structure, such as voxel-based morphometry and structural covariance. The second section reviews studies on the biological maturation of the brain and variables that influence brain development such as sex, environmental factors, and mental disorders, etc. The third section introduces the Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory of intelligence and reviews studies on the association between intelligence and developmental changes of the brain, including changes in structural covariance and functional connectivity. We conclude with a discussion on educational/clinical implications of this work and directions for future studies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.85-87
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• 2004

We fabricated flexible thermoradiotherapy probes to alternated combination with Interstitial hyperthermia and Brachyradiotherapy thermoradiotherapy probe was coated by gold plate on polyethylene brachytherapy probe. When Agar phantom was heated 15 minute with 30 W radiofrequency power, temperature increased as 5oC for polyethylene probe and 20oC for gold coated polyethylene probe. We observed that the 1 cm square array would heat a volume with a 1.25 cm radius circular field cross section to therapeutic temperatures (90% relative SAR using Tm) and the 2 cm square array with a 1.75 cm radius rectangular field with central inhomogeneity. With 2 cm long electrode implants, we observed that the 1 cm square array would heat a 3 cm long sagittal section to therapeutic temperature (90% relative SAR using Tm). The histopathological changes associated with RF heating of normal canine brains have been correlated with thermal distributions. RF needle electrode heating was applied for 50 min to generate tissue temperatures of 43${\circ}$C. We obtained a quarter of the heated tissue material immediately after heating and sacrificed at intervals from 7${\sim}$30 days. The acute stage was demonstrated by liquefactive necrosis, pyknosis of neuronal element in the gray matter. Mild gliosis occurring around the necrosis was demonstrated in the last sacrificed (days30)canine brain.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.805-817
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• 2009

This study was to investigate central localization of neurons projecting to the urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints(Wijung, $BL_{40}$) and neurons of immunoreactive to hormones and hormone receptors regulating urinary bladder function by using peudorabies virus(PRV). In this experiment, Bartha's strain of pseudorabies virus was used in rats to trace central localization of urinary bladder-related neurons and urinary bladder-related acupoints($BL_{40}$) which can regulate urinary system. PRV was injected into the urinary bladder and acupoints($BL_{40}$) related urinary system. After six days survival of rats, mainly common labeled neurons projecting to the urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints were identified in spinal cord, medulla, pons and diencephalon by PRV immunohistochemical staining method. First-order PRV labeled neurons projecting to urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints were found in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal cord. Commonly labeled preganglionic neurons were labeled in the lumbosacral spinal cord and thoracic spinal cord. They were found in the lateral horn area(sacral parasympathetic nucleus and intermediolateral nucleus), lamina V-X, intermediomedial nucleus and dorsal column area. The area of sensory neurons projecting to urinary bladder and Wijung($BL_{40}$) was L5-S2 spinal ganglia and T12-L1 spinal ganglia, respectively. In the brainstem, the neurons were labeled most evidently and consistently in the nucleus of tractus solitarius, area postrema, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve, reticular nucleus, raphe nuclei(obscurus, magnus and pallidus), C3 adrenalin cells, parapyramidal area(lateral paragigantocellular nucleus), locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus, A5 cell group, Barrington's nucleus and periaqueductal gray matter. In the diencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were marked mostly in the paraventricular nucleus and a few ones were in the lateral hypothalamic nucleus, posterior hypothalamic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, median eminence, perifornical nucleus, periventricular nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus. In cerebral cortex, PRV labeled neurons were marked mostly in the frontal cortex, 1,2 area, hind limb area, agranular insular cortex. Immunoreactive neurons to Corticotropin releasiing factor(CRF), Corticotropin releasiing factor-receptor(CRF-R), c-fos and serotonin were a part of labeled areas among the virus-labeled neurons of urinary bladder and Wijung($BL_{40}$). The commonly labeled areas were nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, reticular nucleus, raphe nuclei(obscurus, magnus and pallidus), locus coeruleus, A5 cell group, Barrington,s nucleus, arcuate nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, frontal cortex 1, 2 area, hind limb, and perirhinal(agranular insular) cortex. These results suggest that overlapped CNS locations are related with autonomic nuclei which regulate the functions of urinary bladder-relate organs and it was revealed by tracing PRV labeled neurons projecting urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints. These commonly labeled areas often overlap with the neurons connected with hormones and hormone receptors related to urination.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2006

Onuf's nucleus, which is located in the ventral horn, has been known to innervate the striated muscles of the urethral and anal sphincter muscles via the pudendal nerve Onuf's nuclei are resistant to pathologic condition such as poliovirus. The reason why the motor neurons in Onuf's nucleus are less degenerated is not certain until now. The present study aims at updating the microscopical characteristics including its location the Onuf's nucleus innervating the external urethral sphincter, and ultrastructures of the zinc-enriched (ZEN) terminals synaptically-contacting with Onuf's motor neurons in the rat spinal gray matter by using HRP tracing method and zinc selenium autometallography, respectively. Based on HRP tracing method, Onuf's nuclei were located adjacent lateral dendritic projections of the ventral horn. Their shape was almost round at lumbar level, but oval at sacral segment of spinal cord. In size, their somata were smaller than that of other motor nuclei. In AMG stained sections, Onuf's nuclei were innervated by highly concentrated ZEN terminals, and contained small and middle-sized ZEN, but totally void of large ZEN terminals. AMG silver grains were confined to presynaptic ZEN terminals against dendritic elements and somata of the Onuf's motor neurons. A majority of the ZEN terminals contained flattened synaptic vesicles and made symmetrical synaptic specializations.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-25
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Yanghyuljanggeungunbo-tang(Yangxuezhuangjinjianbu-tang, YGKT) and electrical acupuncture treatment in spinal cord injury(SCI)-induced rats. Methods : The subjects were divided into 5 groups ; Normal, Control-no treatment after SCI, Experimental I(Exp. I)-taken with YGKT 500 mg/kg $0.5m{\ell}$ daily after SCI. Experimental II(Exp. II)-taken with electrical acupuncture after SCI and Experimental III(Exp. III)-taken with YGKT 500 mg/kg $0.5m{\ell}$ and electrical acupuncture after SCI. After each operation, the present author observed cytological changes, the motor behavior recovery and nerve regeneration by analysis of the motor behavior tests, EMG, hematological(AST, ALT, WBC), histological and immunological changes. Rats were tested by Motor behavior test at 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st day. Results : 1. All the experimental groups were improved compared with control group in the motor behavior tests including Tarlov test, Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale, modified inclined plane test, open field test, grid walk test and narrow beam test. Especially Exp. III was significantly improved among other groups. 2. In EMG test, H and M wave were significantly increased in Exp. III. 3. All the experimental groups were significantly decreased compared with control group in AST, ALT and WBC. 4. NGF, BDNF and Trk B of spinal cord gray matter in all the experimental groups were increased compared with control group. Especially, Exp. III was more effective. 5. In histological observations, muscle contraction and denaturation of gastrocnemius muscle of all the experimental groups were inhibited. Especially, those of Exp. III was more effective. On the observations of liver and kidney, cell atrophy and apoptosis of all the experimental groups were decreased compared with control group. Especially, those of Exp. III was more effective. Conclusions : It can be suggested that YGKT and electrical acupuncture may improve motor behavior, EMG, hematological, histological and immunological findings in SCI-induced rats. Especially, combination of these two treatments will be somewhat better in spinal nerve recovery and motor function improvement.