• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.239-244
• /
• 2015

Each biological tissue has endemic electrical characteristics owing to various differences such as those in cellular arrangement or organization form. The endemic electrical characteristics change when any biological change occurs. This work is a preliminary study surveying the changes in the electrical characteristics of biological tissue caused by radiation exposure. For protection aganinst radiation hazards, therefore the electrical characteristics of living tissue were evaluated after development of the automatic control measurement system using LabVIEW. No alteration of biological tissues was observed before and after measurement of the electrical characteristics, and the biblogical tissues exhibited similar patterns. Through repeated measurements using the impedance/gain-phase analyzer, the coefficient of variation was determined as within 10%. The reproducibility impedance phase difference in electrical characteristics of the biological tissue did not change, and the tissue had resistance. The absolute value of impedance decreased constantly in proportion to the frequency. It has become possible to understand the electrical characteristics of biological tissues through the measurements made possible by the use of the developed. automatic control system.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.213-220
• /
• 1999

In this study, we measured the absorption coefficient of the tissues of mouse (brain, heart, liver, muscle and tumor) and human brain (normal and tumor) in the wavelength between 500nm~900nm. The optical coefficient is a representative of the characteristics of the materials. So, we can characterize the biological tissue with the optical coefficients. Using the spectrograph monometer and PDA(Photo Diode Array), we experimented with quick-frozen sectioned specimens. Because the optical coefficient is concerned with the conformation and biochemical component of the biological tissue, we experimented as the wavelength between 500nm~900nm on the normal and tumor samples of the animal and human. For the mouse, there are distinctive differences of the absorption coefficients between normal tissues and tumor. The absorption coefficient of the normal tissue varies 0.1~0.2cm$^{-1}$ with wavelength. But, the absorption coefficient of the brain tumor is changed round about 0.4~0.5cm$^{-1}$ as the wavelength. The absorption coefficients we measured can be a useful implement to detect diseases.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.113-128
• /
• 2014

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies could offer new hope for patients with serious tissue injuries or end-stage organ failure. Scientists are now applying the principles of cell transplantation, material science, and engineering to create biological substitutes that can restore and maintain normal function in diseased or injured tissues/organs. Specifically, creation of engineered tissue construct requires a polymeric biomaterial scaffold that serves as a cell carrier, which would provide structural support until native tissue forms in vivo. Even though the requirements for scaffolds may be different depending on the target applications, a general function of scaffolds that need to be fulfilled is biodegradability, biological and mechanical properties, and temporal structural integrity. The scaffold's internal architecture should also enhance the permeability of nutrients and neovascularization. In addition, the stem cell field is advancing, and new discoveries in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine will lead to new therapeutic strategies. Although use of stem cells is still in the research phase, some therapies arising from tissue engineering endeavors that make use of autologous adult cells have already entered the clinic. This review discusses these tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies for various tissues and organs.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.169-177
• /
• 2017

Tissue-specific transcription is critical for normal development, and abnormalities causing undesirable gene expression may lead to diseases such as cancer. Such highly organized transcription is controlled by enhancers with specific DNA sequences recognized by transcription factors. Enhancers are associated with chromatin modifications that are distinct epigenetic features in a tissue-specific manner. Recently, super-enhancers comprising enhancer clusters co-occupied by lineage-specific factors have been identified in diverse cell types such as adipocytes, hair follicle stem cells, and mammary epithelial cells. In addition, noncoding RNAs, named eRNAs, are synthesized at super-enhancer regions before their target genes are transcribed. Many functional studies revealed that super-enhancers and eRNAs are essential for the regulation of tissue-specific gene expression. In this review, we summarize recent findings concerning enhancer function in tissue-specific gene regulation and cancer development.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.215-224
• /
• 2012

Growth dynamics of the seagrass, Zostera marina were examined at the two stations (Myungju and Dagu) in Jindong Bay on the southern coast of Korea. Eelgrass leaf productivities, underwater irradiance, water temperature, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in water column and sediments, and tissue carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content were monitored monthly from March 2002 to January 2004. Underwater irradiance fluctuated highly without a clear seasonal trend, whereas water temperature showed a distinct seasonal trend at both study stations. Water column DIN concentrations were usually less than $5{\mu}M$ at both study sites. Sediment pore water $NH_4{^+}$ and $NO_3{^-}+NO_2{^-}$ concentrations were higher at the Myungju site than at the Dagu site. Eelgrass leaf productivity at both study sites exhibited a distinct seasonality, increasing during spring and decreasing during summer. Seasonal variation of eelgrass productivity was not consistent with seasonal patterns of underwater irradiance, or water temperature. Eelgrass tissue C and N content at both study sites also showed significant seasonal variations. Relationships between tissue C and N content and leaf productivities exhibited usually negative correlations at both study sites. These negative correlations implied that the growth of Z. marina at the study sites was probably limited by C and N supplies during the high growth periods.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 1993

This paper is the study of the reflectance of light from biological tissue for red and Infrared wavelengths and relates the acquired reflectance data to expected physiological changes within the skin and muscle layers associated with heat and exercise. The instrument was disigned to collect data from the calf muscle in human subjects with probe located at the surface of skin. Rapid data acquisition method allowed monitoring of rapid changes in reflecttance due to a stimulus. This study demonstrates that changes in O2 saturation and blood fractional volume expected within the dermis and muscle layers were asserted by examining the slopes of the plotted index for heat and exercise. The results presented in thls study support the claim that reflectance can separately discriminate between changes of blood volume and oxygenation in muscle and in skin. The data demonstrate the ability to measure consistent changes In tissue optical properties during exercise and heat.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 1983

In this paper, center frequency down slift of ultrasonic echo signals which for the measurements of frequency dependent attenuation in the biological tissue are estimated. Center frequency down shift of echo-signals are estimated after signal spectrum analysis of whole echo-signals. In case of signal spectrums are simple, estimation of down shift frequency is very simple and in case of complicate spectrum, estimation of down shift frequency is depend on spectral shape. In case of unable to estimate, frequency dependence of medium is nonlinear(n) 1), in which upper shift of spectrums are presented. In case of unable to estimate, spectrum analysis are performed at local position. At consquence, we know that spectral dispersions are caused complicately by biological tissue layer.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1994 no.12
• /
• pp.147-150
• /
• 1994

To predict light propagation in biological tissues irradiated by laser, the optical properties such as absorption and scattering coefficients are required. There have been various techniques for measuring these coefficients. One method requires tissue samples, often a slab of thin tissue, is invasive. On the other hand, non-invasive method usually measures back-scattered light from a subject with no physical intervent ions. Advantages and disvantages of using different methods are investigated. A careful attention should be made in order to select the best method for a given experimental condition since, even either for invasive or non-invasive method, accuracy is subject to governing models and sample preparations.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2009.05a
• /
• pp.47.1-47.1
• /
• 2009

Nanostructured biomaterials have increased those potential for utilizing in many medical applications. In this study, benefit of nanotechnology for the response with biological targets will be described in terms of size, effective surface area and surface energy (physical aspect). Also, correlations between physical and biological interactions (greater protein adsorption on nano surface roughness) will be discussed for understanding biocompatibility of nanostructured biomaterials including carbon nanotube composites and nanostructured titanium surfaces. In the application parts, various major tissue cells, such as bone, cartilage, vascular and bladder cell responses will be discussed with suggested nanomaterials. Lastly, immune responses with macrophage (adhesion and several major cytokines) on nanostructured biomaterials will be described for evasive immune response.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.455-492
• /
• 2009

(Background) Recent biotechnological breakthroughs are shedding new lights on various ethical and legal issues about human biological material. Since Rudolph Virchow, a German pathologist, had founded the medical discipline of cellular pathology, issues centering around human biological materials began to draw attention. The issues involving human biological materials were revisited with more attention along with series concerns when the human genome map was finally completed. Recently, with researches on human genes and bioengineering reaping enormous commercial values in the form of material patent, such changes require a society to reassess the present and future status of human tissue within the legal system. This in turn gave rise to a heated debate over how to protect the rights of material donors: property rule vs. no property rule. (Debate and Cases) Property rule recognizes the donors' property rights on human biological materials. Thus, donors can claim real action if there were any bleach of informed consent or a donation contract. Donors can also claim damages to the responsible party when there is an infringement of property rights. Some even uphold the concept of material patents overtaking. From the viewpoint of no property rule, human biological materials are objects separated from donors. Thus, a recipient or a third party will be held liable if there were any infringement of donor's human rights. Human biological materials should not be commercially traded and a patent based on a human biological materials research does not belong to the donor of the tissues used during the course of research. In the US, two courts, Moore v. Regents of the University of California, and Greenberg v. Miami Children's Hospital Research Institute, Inc., have already decided that research participants retain no ownership of the biological specimens they contribute to medical research. Significantly, both Moore and Greenberg cases found that the researcher had parted with all ownership rights in the tissue samples when they donated them to the institutions, even though there was no provision in the informed consent forms stating either that the participants donated their tissue or waived their rights to ownership of the tissue. These rulings were led to huge controversy over property rights on human tissues. This research supports no property rule on the ground that it can protect the human dignity and prevent humans from objectification and commercialization. Human biological materials are already parted from human bodies and should be treated differently from the engineering and researches of those materials. Donors do not retain any ownership. (Suggestions) No property rule requires a legal breakthrough in the US in terms of donors' rights protection due to the absence of punitive damages provisions. The Donor rights issue on human biological material can be addressed through prospective legislation or tax policies, price control over patent products, and wider coverage of medical insurance. (Conclusions) Amid growing awareness over commercial values of human biological materials, no property rule should be adopted in order to protect human dignity but not without revamping legal provisions. The donors' rights issue in material patents requires prospective legislation based on current uncertainties. Also should be sought are solutions in the social context and all these discussions should be based on sound medical ethics of both medical staffs and researchers.