• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2012

Previously, we found that $Zap70$ (Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase) expressed in the mouse oocytes and played significant role in completion of meiosis specifically at MI-MII (metaphase I-II) transition. Microinjection of $Zap70$ dsRNA into the cytoplasm of germinal vesicle oocyte resulted in MI arrest, and exhibited abnormalities in their spindles and chromosome configurations. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms of action of $Zap70$ in oocyte maturation by evaluating downstream signal networking after $Zap70$ RNAi (RNA interference). The probe hybridization and data analysis were used by Affymetrix Gene Chip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 array and GenPlex 3.0 (ISTECH, Korea) software, respectively. Total 1,152 genes were up (n=366) and down (n=786) regulated after $Zap70$ RNAi. Among those genes changed, we confirmed the expressional changes of the genes involved in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway, since the phenotypes of $Zap70$ RNAi in oocytes were found in the changes in the chromosome separation and spindle structures. We confirmed the changes in gene expression in the actin skeletal system as well as in the MAPK signaling pathway, and concluded that these changes are main cause of the aberrant chromosome arrangement and abnormal spindles after $Zap70$ RNAi.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.845-851
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• 2010

Purpose: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been widely used to treat short stature. However, there are some concerns that growth hormone treatment may induce skeletal maturation and early onset of puberty. In this study, we investigated whether rhGH can directly affect the neuronal activities of of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Methods: We performed brain slice gramicidin-perforated current clamp recording to examine the direct membrane effects of rhGH on GnRH neurons, and a whole-cell voltage-clamp recording to examine the effects of rhGH on spontaneous postsynaptic events and holding currents in immature (postnatal days 13-21) and adult (postnatal days 42-73) mice. Results: In immature mice, all 5 GnRH neurons recorded in gramicidin-perforated current clamp mode showed no membrane potential changes on application of rhGH (0.4, $1{\mu}g/mL$). In adult GnRH neurons, 7 (78%) of 9 neurons tested showed no response to rhGH ($0.2-1{\mu}g/mL$) and 2 neurons showed slight depolarization. In 9 (90%) of 10 immature neurons tested, rhGH did not induce any membrane holding current changes or spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs). There was no change in sPSCs and holding current in 4 of 5 adult GnRH neurons. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that rhGH does not directly affect the GnRH neuronal activities in our experimental model.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2020

Runx2 is an essential transcription factor for skeletal development. It is expressed in multipotent mesenchymal cells, osteoblast-lineage cells, and chondrocytes. Runx2 plays a major role in chondrocyte maturation, and Runx3 is partly involved. Runx2 regulates chondrocyte proliferation by directly regulating Ihh expression. It also determines whether chondrocytes become those that form transient cartilage or permanent cartilage, and functions in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Runx2 is essential for osteoblast differentiation and is required for the proliferation of osteoprogenitors. Ihh is required for Runx2 expression in osteoprogenitors, and hedgehog signaling and Runx2 induce the differentiation of osteoprogenitors to preosteoblasts in endochondral bone. Runx2 induces Sp7 expression, and Runx2, Sp7, and canonical Wnt signaling are required for the differentiation of preosteoblasts to immature osteoblasts. It also induces the proliferation of osteoprogenitors by directly regulating the expression of Fgfr2 and Fgfr3. Furthermore, Runx2 induces the proliferation of mesenchymal cells and their commitment into osteoblast-lineage cells through the induction of hedgehog (Gli1, Ptch1, Ihh), Fgf (Fgfr2, Fgfr3), Wnt (Tcf7, Wnt10b), and Pthlh (Pth1r) signaling pathway gene expression in calvaria, and more than a half-dosage of Runx2 is required for their expression. This is a major cause of cleidocranial dysplasia, which is caused by heterozygous mutation of RUNX2. Cbfb, which is a co-transcription factor that forms a heterodimer with Runx2, enhances DNA binding of Runx2 and stabilizes Runx2 protein by inhibiting its ubiquitination. Thus, Runx2/Cbfb regulates the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes and osteoblast-lineage cells by activating multiple signaling pathways and via their reciprocal regulation.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.318-331
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• 2021

This study was conducted on the assumption that bone age would be more effective when it comes to physique and physical fitness assessment for adolescents, and the purpose of this study was to identify the differences in physique and physical fitness for students in their adolescence through bone age and chronological age in order to contribute to the well-balanced physique and physical fitness development in adolescents and the health improvement in students. Total 874 adolescents(483 males, 391 females) aged 11~16 were selected as subjects out of the total population of 1100 adolescents aged 6~16 based on the PAPS(Physical Activity Promotion System) and age standards of the TW3 method; and skeletal maturation, which symbolize the indicators of biological maturation, were evaluated by using the TW3(Tanner-Whitehouse 3) method after hand-wrist radiographs, and birth date was used for chronological age. A stadiometer and InBody 270 (Biospace, Korea) were used to measure 2 components in physique. A total of 7 components in physical fitness, which included muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, power, cardiovascular endurance, balance, agility, were measured as well. A independent samples t-test was conducted for data processing using SPSS 25.0, and the significance level was set at p< .05. The study results are as follows. First, bone age and chronological age used for physique comparison in males aged 11 and 12, height and weight showed significant difference; in males aged 13, weight showed signicant difference. Weight and height in females aged 11, and height in females aged 12 showed significant difference. Second, bone age and chronological age used for physical fitness comparison in males aged 11, muscular strength, power, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance showed significant difference; in males aged 12, muscular strength. power, cardiovascular endurance; in males aged 13, flexibility showed significant difference. Muscular strength, power, flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance in females aged 11, and flexibility in females aged 14 showed significant difference. As a result, this study concluded that in a period of rapid skeletal growth, evaluating physique and physical fitness based on bone age is more accurate than evaluating based on chronological age.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 2009

The functional regulator(FR) appliances act to remove the restrictive forces that prevent the normal maturation of the maxilla and mandible. FR appliances are different from other functional jaw orthopedic appliances(e.g., the twin block, bionator, and activator). $Fr{\ddot{a}}nkel$ has based his treatment philosophy on the concept that the capacity to regulate growth residues in the soft tissue environment, and that adequate space must be available for the proper development of the hard tissue. In class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion, FR-II treatment is not only the change in the postural position of mandible, but also expansion of the dental arches. By balancing the neuromuscular environment, not only can severe malocclusions be treated successfully, but also the tendency toward relapse is minimized because the neural and soft tissue factors associated with the skeletal malocclusion have been addressed as well. We report cases using by FR-II that is applicated in cases of Class II malocclusion without fixed appliance, only FR-II and space supervision.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.180-184
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• 2001

Cleidocranial Dysplasia(CCD) is an autosomal dominant human bone disease characterized by abnormal clavicles, patent sutures and fontanelles, and dental anomalies. Among dental anomalies, it is characterized that permanent dentition is severly disturbed due to multiple supernumerary teeth and abnormalities of tooth morphology. A eight-year-old female patient diagnosed as cleidocranial dysplasia visited in our hospital. Upon clinical oral exam, retained deciduous teeth, constriction of dental arch, anterior cross bite, and multiple dental caries were observed. In the dental panoramic radiograph, retained deciduous teeth and multiple supernumerary teeth in the maxilla and the mandible were found. In the cephalometric radiograph, open sutures and wormian bones were seen. In the chest P-A view absence of clavicles was observed. The cleidocranial dysplasia patients have eruption problems in permanent dentition both in regions with and without supernumerary teeth. The severely delayed or arrested eruption of permanent teeth has been ascribed to various factors : 1) The presence of multiple supernumerary teeth, 2) malformed roots with lack of cellular cementum, 3) the jaw bone being too dense, and 4) abnormal resorption of bone and primary teeth. Formation and maturation of primary teeth in cleidocranial dysplasia are normal, whereas the permanent dentition has various anomalies. Therefore, dentists should understand the development of dentition in cleidocranial dysplasia, and treat them in proper time.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.235-247
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects and optimal timing for treatment of class II malocclusion with functional appliances in children and adolescents. A group of 30 patients with class II malocclusion were divided into 3 groups according to their use of functional appliance: Twin block, Activator, Fränkel appliance. The group was also divided into 2 groups according to the cervical vertebrae maturation method. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were analyzed pretreatment (T0) and posttreatment (T1). Among the functional appliances, treatment with Twin block and Activator showed significant increase in the length of the mandible (Co-Gn) and the lower anterior facial height (ANS to Me), whereas the overjet and overbite were significantly reduced. Treatment with Fränkel appliance showed significant improvement in the relationship of maxilla and mandible. In addition, if the functional appliance was used during the period of pubertal growth peak, there was a significant increase in mandibular length, improvement in the relationship of maxilla and mandible, labial inclination of lower incisors and decrease in overjet compared to the treatment before pubertal growth peak. Therefore, this study indicates that using functional appliances for patients with class II malocclusion is effective and the optimal timing for using functional appliances is during pubertal growth peak.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.78-92
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: This study aims to clarify the systems underlying regulation and regulatory roles of hydrogen combined with 5-Aza in the myogenic differentiation of adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). Methods and Results: In this study, ADSCs acted as an in vitro myogenic differentiating mode. First, the Alamar blue Staining and mitochondrial tracer technique were used to verify whether hydrogen combined with 5-Aza could promote cell proliferation. In addition, this study assessed myogenic differentiating markers (e.g., Myogenin, Mhc and Myod protein expressions) based on the Western blotting assay, analysis on cellular morphological characteristics (e.g., Myotube number, length, diameter and maturation index), RT-PCR (Myod, Myogenin and Mhc mRNA expression) and Immunofluorescence analysis (Desmin, Myosin and 𝛽-actin protein expression). Finally, to verify the mechanism of myogenic differentiation of hydrogen-bound 5-Aza, we performed bioinformatics analysis and Western blot to detect the expression of p-P38 protein. Hydrogen combined with 5-Aza significantly enhanced the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of ADSCs in vitro by increasing the number of single-cell mitochondria and upregulating the expression of myogenic biomarkers such as Myod, Mhc and myotube formation. The expressions of p-P38 was up-regulated by hydrogen combined with 5-Aza. The differentiating ability was suppressed when the cells were cultivated in combination with SB203580 (p38 MAPK signal pathway inhibitor). Conclusions: Hydrogen alleviates the cytotoxicity of 5-Aza and synergistically promotes the myogenic differentiation capacity of adipose stem cells via the p38 MAPK pathway. Thus, the mentioned results present insights into myogenic differentiation and are likely to generate one potential alternative strategy for skeletal muscle related diseases.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.2 s.85
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• pp.159-172
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• 2001

Three dimensional analysis of malocclusion and craniofacial deformation is essential for the successful orthodontic treatment. But the orthodontists are not familiar with diagnosis and treatment plane based on lateral cephalometric analysis. Since orthodontists do not posses a sufficient knowledge in standard value of posteroanterior cephalometric anaysis and of clinical importance for transverse jaw growth. In this study male(n=130) and female(n=171) aged from 6 to 16 and diagnosed as Class I malocclusion were selected to analysis width of cranium, maxilla and mandible on the posteroanterior cephalogram. The changes as a function of chronologic age and cervical vertebrae maturity index(CVXI) were examined. The Proper regression model was selected by sex with polynominal regression models and method of variable selection. Mean of each measurements and 70% confidence interval of individual measurement according to age was assesed and a graphs were made. Results are as follows :1. All the measurements for the width are gradually incresed as increase in chronologic age and CVMI. From the total amount of change between age 6 and 16, there is a tendency that mandibular width is broader than maxillary width and the width of male is broader than female. 2. There is no statistically significant sexual difference in Mx-Mn difference, Mx-Mn width differential, Mx/Mn ratio according to age and CVMI. 3. Mean of each measurement and 70% confidence interval of individual measurement according to age and sex were assessed and graphs were made for maxillary width, mandibular width, Mx-Mn difference, Mx/Mn ratio. 4. The width of maxilla and mandible in Korean children are broader than Western children during growth period.