• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2023

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects close to 400 million people worldwide. COPD is characterized by significant airflow limitation on spirometry. Most patients with COPD are diagnosed in their fifth or sixth decades of life. However, the disease begins much earlier. By the time airflow limitation is detected on spirometry, patients with COPD have lost close to 50% of their small airways. Thus, identification of patients with early COPD, defined as persons with preserved spirometry, who demonstrate pathologic or functional hallmarks of COPD, is essential for disease modification and ultimately disease elimination. This paper provides an up-to-date overview of the current case definition of early COPD, its importance, the novel technologies required for its detection in young adults and future directions in therapeutics for treatment.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.219-232
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• 2016

Production of high affinity antibodies for antigens is a critical component for the immune system to fight off infectious pathogens. However, it could be detrimental to our body when the antigens that B cells recognize are of self-origin. Follicular helper T, or Tfh, cells are required for the generation of germinal center reactions, where high affinity antibody-producing B cells and memory B cells predominantly develop. As such, Tfh cells are considered as targets to prevent B cells from producing high affinity antibodies against self-antigens, when high affinity autoantibodies are responsible for immunopathologies in autoimmune disorders. This review article provides an overview of current understanding of Tfh cells and discusses it in the context of animal models of autoimmune diseases and allograft rejections for generation of novel therapeutic interventions.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2009

The immature neonatal brain is susceptible to the development of seizures. Seizures occur in 1% to 5% of infants during the neonatal period. Neonatal seizures are most commonly associated with serious acute illnesses, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, birth trauma, metabolic disturbances, or infections. Thus, newborn infants with seizures are at risk for neonatal death and survivors are at risk for neurologic impairment, developmental delay, and subsequent epilepsy. Experimental data have also raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of the currently used anticonvulsants in neonates on brain development. Therefore, in the management of neonatal seizures, confirmatory diagnosis and optimal, but shorter, duration of anticonvulsant therapy is essential. Nevertheless, there has been substantial progress in understanding the developmental mechanisms that influence seizure generation and responsiveness to anticonvulsants. The currently used therapies have limited efficacy and the treatment of neonatal seizures has not significantly changed in the past several decades, This review includes an overview of current approaches to the treatment of neonatal seizures.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.158-181
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• 2024

This study offers a comprehensive overview of brain organoids for researchers. It combines expert opinions with technical summaries on organoid definitions, characteristics, culture methods, and quality control. This approach aims to enhance the utilization of brain organoids in research. Brain organoids, as three-dimensional human cell models mimicking the nervous system, hold immense promise for studying the human brain. They offer advantages over traditional methods, replicating anatomical structures, physiological features, and complex neuronal networks. Additionally, brain organoids can model nervous system development and interactions between cell types and the microenvironment. By providing a foundation for utilizing the most human-relevant tissue models, this work empowers researchers to overcome limitations of two-dimensional cultures and conduct advanced disease modeling research.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2002

Early and accurate diagnosis of tumors using positron omission tomography (PET) has been the focus of considerable interest due to its high metastasis and mortality rates at late detection. PET radiopharmaceuticals-which exhibit a high tumor-to-background uptake ratio, and appropriate metabolic characteristics, and pharmacokinetics-are attractive tools for tumor imaging. Tumor imaging by these radiopharmaceuticals are based on metabolic and receptor imaging. The former is based on accelerated metabolism in tumor tissue compared to normal tissue and the rate roughly corresponding to the rate of growth of tumors. Radiopharmaceuticals for this purpose include radiolabeled sugars, amino acids, and nucleosides which detect increased glucose utilization, protein synthesis, and DNA synthesis, respectively. Tumor receptor imaging is based on the proliferation of tumor cells regulated by many hormones and growth factors, which bind to the corresponding receptors and exhibit the biological responses Radiopharmaceuticals used to image the tumor receptor systems may be ligands for the specific receptors and antibodies for the growth factor receptors. Some antitumor agents have been labeled with radionuclides and used to study in vivo biodistribution and pharmacokinetics in humans. This overview describes typical PET radiopharmaceuticals used for tumor imaging based on their uptake mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2016

Objectives : This study aimed to overview the current education status of a traditional medicine by medical schools in Japan. Methods : We surveyed the literatures regarding a traditional medicine education in Japan, and get the information via email-interview with an officer of medical schools in Japan as well as from their websites. Results : Japan's education ministry presented the appropriateness of education for traditional medicine to medical students in 2001, and most of medical schools begun to set up the classes in Japan. We received the detail information of the traditional medicine education from 21 medical schools. Nineteen colleges(approximately 90%) of those have the regular classes for traditional medicine while two colleges don't have the education program for the traditional medicine. Most of medical schools have single class for introduction of traditional medicine, and have average $16.2{\pm}8.8$ hours during the $4^{th}$ grade(61.9%). Conclusions : We presented the general feature of education for traditional medicine in Japan, and this result would be basic information for an establishment of a strategy regarding the enhancement of national competitiveness of traditional Korean medicine.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.717-729
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• 2013

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive and low-cost technique that estimates body composition based on the distribution of water and electrolytes in the body by analyzing body's electrical responses to source voltages. In this work, we carried out a systematic literature review on BIA researches in traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM). For comparison, firstly we introduced the concept and principle of BIA, and offered a general overview of research trends in western medical perspectives. We searched through the databases of Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System and DataBase Periodical Information Academic for the articles published between 1994 and 2013, with keywords such as 'BIA', 'bioelectrical impedance' and 'impedance'. Among the rough-searched 274 articles, we finally selected 21 articles appropriate to the intended research field. The selected articles were categorized into diagnosis in Sasang medicine, impedance analysis in meridian system, and change of body composition after taking herbal medicine. We found that most of BIA researches in TEAM were preliminary and remained in the peripheral levels which is far behind the western medical research activities. Therefore, more efforts are needed to study BIA in association with major subjects such as pattern identification or physiological/pathological phenomena. In addition, methodological breakthrough of BIA is possible by applying the diagnostic concepts of the TEAM in relation to the balance of Qi and Blood.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) is a method whereby cues associated with previous learning are used to externally reactivate aspects of this learning. Research findings demonstrate that TMR can be a useful tool to enhance memory consolidation during sleep in both animals and humans, especially in the declarative/spatial domain. Neurocognitive processing during sleep with covert cueing via auditory or olfactory stimulation can benefit memory storage. These beneficial effects on memory consolidation during sleep are associated with the activation of memory-related brain areas. The purpose of the present review is to provide a short overview of the findings of studies that adopted the TMR method of sleep-dependent memory consolidation and to suggest the potential applications of TMR in variable areas.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2008

Periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) are best described as repetitive stereotypical movements of the lower extremities characterized by dorsiflexion of the ankle, dorsiflexion of the toes and a partial flexion of the knee and sometimes the hip. The prevalence of PLMS is about 5-11% in adults and is predicted much higher than previously surveyed. They are also frequently found in various sleep disorders, several disorders not primarily affecting sleep, and patients taking psychiatric medications. Although they are rarely found in children, they are common findings in children referred to a pediatric sleep laboratory. The pathophysiology is strongly associated with decline of central dopaminergic function and closely related to arousal system during sleep. Benzodiazepines, levodopa, dopamine agonists and opioids are generally recommended for treatment but more controlled studies on the effectiveness are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.9
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• pp.345-354
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• 2020

The widespread and contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has become a burden in the global health domain. The subsequent discovery of the virus features and pathogenesis, and prompt and adequate management are still lacking and remain inconclusive. Children usually present milder symptoms than adults, and management focuses on providing symptomatic and respiratory supports. Several treatment modalities, including the utilization of mechanical ventilation (MV), antivirals, immune-modulating drugs, or other agents, may present promising results in reducing the symptoms of COVID-19, particularly in severe cases. Although no randomized clinical trials have been published to date, it is interesting to explore potential modalities for treating COVID-19 in children, based on review articles, case reports, and recent guidelines.