• Molecules and Cells
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.100005.1-100005.15
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• 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with a complex genetic basis, presenting both in familial and sporadic forms. The hexanucleotide (G₄C₂) repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene, which triggers distinct pathogenic mechanisms, has been identified as a major contributor to familial and sporadic Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases. Animal models have proven pivotal in understanding these mechanisms; however, discrepancies between models due to variable transgene sequence, expression levels, and toxicity profiles complicate the translation of findings. Herein, we provide a systematic comparison of 7 publicly available Drosophila transgenes modeling the G₄C₂ expansion under uniform conditions, evaluating variations in their toxicity profiles. Further, we tested 3 previously characterized disease-modifying drugs in selected lines to uncover discrepancies among the tested strains. Our study not only deepens our understanding of the C9orf72 G₄C₂ mutations but also presents a framework for comparing constructs with minute structural differences. This work may be used to inform experimental designs to better model disease mechanisms and help guide the development of targeted interventions for neurodegenerative diseases, thus bridging the gap between model-based research and therapeutic application.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.71-77
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• 2001

The brain of the aged dog possesses senile plaques and amyloid angiopathy, which characterize Alzheimer's disease brains. We have defined the dementia condition of aged dogs and examined which mechanism(s) is responsible for the condition. A series of studies revealed that the dementia condition in aged dogs is significantly related to the number of apoptotic brain cells including both neurons and glial cells, but not to the number of senile plaques. On the other hand, 5-azacytidine (5AzC) is a cytidine analogue, and is thought to induce kinds of cell differentiation possibly through hypomethylation of genomic DNA. We have revealed neuronal apoptosis induced in 5AzC-treated fetal mice and PC12 cells. The ribosomal protein L4 (rpL4) gene is expressed prior to the apoptosis in the PC12 cell system. Therefore, the involvement of the rpL4 gene expression in age-related brain cell apoptosis in dogs may contribute to the investigation of Alzheimer's dementia.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1167-1187
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• 2020

With the development of medical imaging technology, image registration has been widely used in the field of disease diagnosis. The registration between different modal images of brain magnetic resonance (MR) is particularly important for the diagnosis of brain diseases. However, previous registration methods don't take advantage of the prior knowledge of bilateral brain symmetry. Moreover, the difference in gray scale information of different modal images increases the difficulty of registration. In this paper, a multimodal medical image registration method based on image segmentation and symmetric self-similarity is proposed. This method uses modal independent self-similar information and modal consistency information to register images. More particularly, we propose two novel symmetric self-similarity constraint operators to constrain the segmented medical images and convert each modal medical image into a unified modal for multimodal image registration. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the error rate of brain MR multimodal medical image registration with rotation and translation transformations (average 0.43mm and 0.60mm) respectively, whose accuracy is better compared to state-of-the-art image registration methods.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2001

Long terminal repeats (LTRs) of the human endogenous retrovirus K family (HERV-K) have been found to be coexpressed with sequences of genes closely located nearby. We examined transcribed HERV-K LTR elements in human brain tissue. Using cDNA synthesized from mRNA of the human brain, we performed PCR amplification and identified ten HERV-K LTR elements. These LTR elements showed a high degree of sequence similarity (92.4-99.7%) with the human-specific LTR elements. A phylogenetic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method revealed that HERV-K LTR elements could be divided into two groups through evolutionary divergence. Some HERV-K LTR elements (HKL-B7, HKL-B8, HKL-B10) belonging to the group II from human brain cDNA were closely related to the human-specific HERV-K LTR elements. Our data suggest that HERV-K LTR element are active in the human brain; they could conceivably play a pathogenic role in human diseases such as psychosis.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.129-135
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• 2018

In this study, we designed a model that can measure the level of user's concentration by measuring and analyzing EEG data of the subjects who are performing Continuous Performance Test based on visual stimulus. This study focused on alpha and beta waves, which are closely related to concentration in various brain waves. There are a lot of research and services to enhance not only concentration but also brain activity. However, there are formidable barriers to ordinary people for using routinely because of high cost and complex procedures. Therefore, this study designed the model using the portable EEG measurement device with reasonable cost and Visual Continuous Performance Test which we developed as a simplified version of the existing CPT. This study aims to measure the concentration level of the subject objectively through simple and affordable way, EEG analysis. Concentration is also closely related to various brain diseases such as dementia, depression, and ADHD. Therefore, we believe that our proposed model can be useful not only for improving concentration but also brain disease prediction and monitoring research. In addition, the combination of this model and the Brain Computer Interface technology can create greater synergy in various fields.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.10-26
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• 2019

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an emerging new technology with considerable potential to treat various neurological diseases. With refinement of ultrasound transducer technology and integration with magnetic resonance imaging guidance, transcranial sonication of precise cerebral targets has become a therapeutic option. Intensity is a key determinant of ultrasound effects. High-intensity focused ultrasound can produce targeted lesions via thermal ablation of tissue. MRgFUS-mediated stereotactic ablation is non-invasive, incision-free, and confers immediate therapeutic effects. Since the US Food and Drug Administration approval of MRgFUS in 2016 for unilateral thalamotomy in medication-refractory essential tremor, studies on novel indications such as Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disease, and brain tumors are underway. MRgFUS is also used in the context of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening at low intensities, in combination with intravenously-administered microbubbles. Preclinical studies show that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening safely enhances the delivery of targeted chemotherapeutic agents to the brain and improves tumor control as well as survival. In addition, BBB opening has been shown to activate the innate immune system in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaque clearance and promotion of neurogenesis in these studies suggest that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening may be a new paradigm for neurodegenerative disease treatment in the future. Here, we review the current status of preclinical and clinical trials of MRgFUS-mediated thermal ablation and BBB opening, described their mechanisms of action, and discuss future prospects.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2019

In the past gut microbiome has been the main focus of microbiome research. Studies about the microbiome inside oral cavities and other organs are underway. Studies about the relationship between noninfectious diseases and periodontal diseases, and the negative effects of harmful oral microbes on systemic health have been published in the recent past. A lot of attention is being paid towards fostering a healthy oral microbial ecosystem. This study aimed to understand the roles and effects of the microbiome inside the human body can potentially help cure various diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases with no known cure such as Crohn's disease, atopic dermatitis, obesity, cancer, diabetes, brain diseases and oral diseases. The present study examined technological trends in the correlation between the human microbiome and diseases in the human body, interactions between the human body's immunity, the metabolic system, and the microbiome, and research trends in other countries. While it has been proven that human microbiome is closely correlated with human diseases, most studies are still in the early stage of trying to compare the composition of microbiomes between health and patient groups. Since the oral environment is a dynamic environment that changes due to not only food intake but also other external factors such as lifestyle, hygiene, and drug intake, it is necessary to continue in-depth research on the microbiome composition characteristics to understand the complex functions of oral microorganisms. Analyzing the oral microbiome using computational technology may aid in disease diagnosis and prevention.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.57-59
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• 1998

For medical students and doctors, knowledge of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of brain is very important in diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases. Two-dimensional (2D) tools (ex: anatomy book) or traditional 3D tools (ex: plastic model) are not sufficient to understand the complex structures of the brain. However, it is not always guaranteed to dissect the brain of cadaver when it is necessary. To overcome this problem, the virtual dissection programs of the brain have been developed. However, most programs include only 2D images that do not permit free dissection and free rotation. Many programs are made of radiographs that are not as realistic as sectioned cadaver because radiographs do not reveal true color and have limited resolution. It is also necessary to make the virtual dissection programs of each race and ethnic group. We attempted to make a virtual dissection program using a 3D image of the brain from a Korean cadaver. The purpose of this study is to present an educational tool for those interested in the anatomy of the brain. The procedures to make this program were as follows. A brain extracted from a 58-years old male Korean cadaver was embedded with gelatin solution, and serially sectioned into 1.4 mm-thickness using a meat slicer. 130 sectioned specimens were inputted to the computer using a scanner ($420\times456$ resolution, true color), and the 2D images were aligned on the alignment program composed using IDL language. Outlines of the brain components (cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, lentiform nucleus, caudate nucleus, thalamus, optic nerve, fornix, cerebral artery, and ventricle) were manually drawn from the 2D images on the CorelDRAW program. Multimedia data, including text and voice comments, were inputted to help the user to learn about the brain components. 3D images of the brain were reconstructed through the volume-based rendering of the 2D images. Using the 3D image of the brain as the main feature, virtual dissection program was composed using IDL language. Various dissection functions, such as dissecting 3D image of the brain at free angle to show its plane, presenting multimedia data of brain components, and rotating 3D image of the whole brain or selected brain components at free angle were established. This virtual dissection program is expected to become more advanced, and to be used widely through Internet or CD-title as an educational tool for medical students and doctors.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1657-1660
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• 2016

Prion diseases are incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Our previous study demonstrated that polylysine was effective in prolonging the incubation period in a rodent model and in alleviating the scrapie prion protein (PrP^Sc) burden in the brain at the terminal stage of the disease. Here, we report that intraperitoneal administration of polylysine suppresses the accumulation of prions in the spleen during the early stages of the disease. This study supports the congruence of PrP^Sc inhibition by polylysine in both the spleen and brain.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Hippocampus is an important part of brain which is related with early memory storage and spatial navigation. By observing the anatomy of hippocampus, some brain diseases effecting human memory (e.g. Alzheimer, schizophrenia, etc.) can be diagnosed and predicted earlier. The diagnosis process is highly related with hippocampus segmentation. In this paper, hippocampus segmentation using Active Shape Model, which not only works based on image intensity, but also by using prior knowledge of hippocampus shape and intensity from the training images, is proposed. The results show that ASM is applicable in segmenting hippocampus from whole brain MR image. It also shows that adding more images in the training set results in better accuracy of hippocampus segmentation.