Publications by authors named "Im Joo Rhyu"

Controlling the microenvironment surrounding the pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a pivotal strategy for regulating cellular differentiation. Surface nanotopography is one of the key factors influencing the lineage-specific differentiation of PSCs. However, much of the underlying mechanism remains unknown.

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Anatomy is a foundational subject in medicine and serves as its language. Hippocrates highlighted its importance, while Herophilus pioneered human dissection, earning him the title of the founder of anatomy. Vesalius later established modern anatomy, which has since evolved historically.

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Cognitive aging widely varies among individuals due to different stress experiences throughout the lifespan and vulnerability of neurocognitive mechanisms. To understand the heterogeneity of cognitive aging, we investigated the effect of early adulthood stress (EAS) on three different hippocampus-dependent memory tasks: the novel object recognition test (assessing recognition memory: RM), the paired association test (assessing episodic-like memory: EM), and trace fear conditioning (assessing trace memory: TM). Two-month-old rats were exposed to chronic mild stress for 6 weeks and underwent behavioral testing either 2 weeks or 20 months later.

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It is essential to understand the considerable variations in bifurcation patterns of the tibial nerve (TN) and its peripheral nerves at the level of the tarsal tunnel to prevent iatrogenic nerve injury during surgical nerve release or nerve block. A total of 16 ankles of 8 human cadavers were dissected to investigate the branching patterns of the TN, using 2 imaginary lines passing through the tip of the medial malleolus (MM) as reference lines. Bifurcation patterns and detailed information on the relative locations of the medial plantar, lateral plantar, medial calcaneal, and inferior calcaneal nerves to the reference lines were recorded.

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Background: The central line has been frequently used for drug and nutrition supply and regular blood sampling of patients with chronic diseases. However, this procedure is performed in a highly sensitive area and has several potential complications. Therefore, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC), which have various advantages, are being extensively used.

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The generation of mature and vascularized human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac organoids (hPSC-COs) is necessary to ensure the validity of drug screening and disease modeling. This study investigates the effects of cellular aggregate (CA) stemness and self-organization on the generation of mature and vascularized hPSC-COs and elucidates the mechanisms underlying cardiac organoid (CO) maturation and vascularization. COs derived from 2-day-old CAs with high stemness (H-COs) and COs derived from 5-day-old CAs with low stemness (L-COs) were generated in a self-organized microenvironment via Wnt signaling induction.

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The human hand is a specialised organ for fine motion and sensation and has a relatively large representation in the homunculus. The pathway of sensation starts from information sent by mechanoreceptors in the hand. This study reports the topography of the Pacinian corpuscle in the fingertips of a human cadaver.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates variations in the supraorbital nerve (SON) pathways during endoscopic forehead lifting, which can lead to sensory issues if damaged.
  • A total of 942 patients were analyzed to determine the emergence routes of both deep and superficial SON branches, revealing a higher prevalence of notches than foramina particularly in male patients.
  • Findings indicate that understanding the variations in SON pathways will assist surgeons in preventing nerve injuries during cosmetic procedures.
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Ultrasound (US) is commonly used to evaluate ulnar nerve instability (UNI) and snapping of the medial head of the triceps brachii muscle (ST). We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of US in evaluating UNI, through cadaveric dissection, and to evaluate the US features and relationships of UNI and ST according to elbow flexion. Dynamic US was performed with elbow extension, 90° flexion, and full flexion positions on 18 elbows from 9 fresh cadavers.

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  • Transparency of biological specimens is essential for creating detailed 3D images and understanding their structure and function.
  • Traditional methods for achieving this transparency involve complex, multi-step protocols that are both time-consuming and complicated.
  • This study developed a simplified, single-step procedure called MAX for refractive index adjustment, making it easier to clear tissues, especially those rich in extracellular matrix, while still allowing for additional processes to enhance transparency if needed.
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Objective: This study aimed to investigate a safe and accurate electromyographic needle insertion site of the rhomboid major (RM) muscle using cadaver dissection.

Design: Dissection of the trapezius and rhomboid major muscles around the scapula was performed in 18 scapulae from nine fresh cadavers. The point (point A) at which the lateral margin of the lower trapezius muscle crossed the medial border of the scapula and the distal insertion point (point DI) of the rhomboid major muscle to the medial scapula were determined.

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  • A study focused on improving the 3-D analysis of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) aims to enhance the assessment of peripheral neuropathies and skin disorders.
  • The research utilized a suction blister method combined with a tissue-clearing technique, yielding better results than previous approaches for imaging IENFs.
  • Key findings indicate specific 3-D parameters related to aging, which may serve as useful biomarkers for diagnosing complicated conditions affecting peripheral nerves and skin.
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Introduction/aims: The existing methods for needle electromyography are confusing as to which is the safest and most effective. Our aim was to identify the optimal and safest needle electromyographic insertion site in the supinator muscle.

Methods: We performed a two-step cadaveric dissection of the supinator muscle and related neurovascular structures.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The hSCOs demonstrate key features of spinal cord development, including proper cellular differentiation into spinal-cord neurons and glial cells, as well as the ability to form mature synapses.
  • * The organoids can be used to test antiepileptic drugs for potential neural-tube defects and offer a valuable model for understanding spinal cord development and related disorders.
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Article Synopsis
  • Nasopharyngeal swabs are a common method for COVID-19 testing, but there are some rare complications that can occur during the procedure.
  • A review of 27 articles found adverse events like retained swabs and epistaxis, which are mostly linked to specific risk factors such as severe nasal issues or previous surgeries.
  • Proper techniques and anatomical knowledge are crucial for clinicians, emphasizing careful swab insertion to minimize risks while ensuring a safer testing experience for patients.
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Background: Plastic changes to brain structure and function have been reported in elite athletes of various sports. Interestingly, different regions of the brain were engaged according to the type of sports analyzed. Our laboratory reported no difference in total cerebellar volume of basketball players compared to that in the control group using the manual segmentation method.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on generating mature ventricular cardiomyocytes (CMs) from human pluripotent stem cells for improved disease modeling and drug discovery.
  • Researchers compared two types of cardiac organoids: cardiac mesoderm cell-derived (CMC-COs) and CM-derived organoids (CM-COs), finding that CMC-COs had better structural organization and more mature cardiac functions.
  • The findings suggest that CMC-derived organoids have enhanced maturation capabilities due to the upregulation of specific signaling pathways, particularly LEFTY-PITX2, which is crucial for developing ventricular-like CMs.
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A novel tissue engineering strategy using 3D bio-print technology has become a promising therapeutic method for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in an animal model. However, the application of 3D bio-printed tissue remains limited due to poor graft survival. Therefore, it is a scientific priority to enhance graft survival by precisely adjusting the 3D environment of encapsulated cells.

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Background: Downward-turning oral commissures and sagging mouth corners can present an unfavorable impression. We introduced a new oral commissure lift procedure and investigated its effectiveness and complication rates.

Methods: Patients who underwent oral commissure lift in the plastic surgery clinic between January 2010 and December 2017 were enrolled retrospectively.

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The rapid increase of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic from mid-February 2020 has led the anatomy department of the Korea University College of Medicine to cease the dissection laboratory. However, the hands-on anatomy laboratory experience is paramount to maximizing learning outcomes. In this paper, we share the experiences and lessons learned through the face-to-face cadaveric dissection experience during this disruptive situation.

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The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It is classified phylogenetically into archicerebellum, paleocerebellum and neocerebellum. The Purkinje cells are lined in a row called Purkinje cell layer and it has a unique dendritic branches with many spines.

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Calcium-dependent secretion activator 2 (CAPS2) regulates the trafficking and exocytosis of neuropeptide-containing dense-core vesicles (DCVs). CAPS2 is prominently expressed in the medial habenula (MHb), which is related to depressive behavior; however, how MHb neurons cause depressive symptoms and the role of CAPS2 remains unclear. We hypothesized that dysfunction of MHb CAPS neurons might cause defects in neuropeptide secretion and the activity of monoaminergic centers, resulting in depressive-like behaviors.

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Objective: To investigate the anatomical characteristics of the biceps femoris short head (BS) and determine the optimal needle placement for BS examination.

Methods: Twenty-one lower limbs were dissected. The distances from the medial and lateral margins of the biceps femoris long head (BL) tendon to the common fibular nerve (CFN) (M_CFN_VD and L_CFN_VD, respectively) and the distance from the lateral margin of the BL tendon to the lateral margin of the BS (L_BS_HD) were measured 5 cm proximal to the tip of the fibular head (P1), four fingerbreadths proximal to the tip of the fibular head (P2), and at the upper apex of the popliteal fossa (P3).

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