Trabecular structural difference between the superior and inferior regions of the vertebral body: a cadaveric and clinical study.

Background: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures commonly involve the superior vertebral body; however, their associated causes have not yet been clearly established. This study aimed to determine the trabecular structural differences between the superior and inferior regions of the vertebral body using cadaveric and clinical studies.

Materials And Methods: First, five vertebrae were collected from three human cadavers.

Association of Thymidylate Synthase () Gene Polymorphisms with Incidence and Prognosis of Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition characterized by the accumulation of plaque within coronary arteries. While distinct features of CAD have been reported, the association between genetic factors and CAD in terms of biomarkers was insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the connection between genetic factors and CAD, focusing on the thymidylate synthase () gene, a gene involved in DNA synthesis and one-carbon metabolism.

Effects of a small molecule R-spondin-1 substitute RS-246204 on a mouse intestinal organoid culture.

Organoids, a multi-cellular and organ-like structure cultured , can be used in a variety of fields such as disease modeling, drug discovery, or cell therapy development. When organoids derived from Lgr5 stem cells are cultured , recombinant R-spondin-1 protein should be added at a high concentration for the initiation and maintenance of the organoids. Because the addition of large amounts of R-spondin-1 greatly increases the cost of organoids, the organoids grown with R-spondin-1 are not practical for large-scale drug screening and for the development of therapeutic agents.

Interplay between polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and metabolic syndrome in determining the risk of ischemic stroke in Koreans.

Background: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene variants are known to play a role in atherosclerotic development. However, whether interplay between eNOS polymorphisms and metabolic syndrome (MetS) affects ischemic stroke (IS) risk has yet to be discovered. We investigated whether the combined effects of eNOS polymorphisms and MetS influence ischemic stroke risk in Koreans.

Therapeutic effect of BDNF-overexpressing human neural stem cells (HB1.F3.BDNF) in a rodent model of middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Ischemic stroke mainly caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) represents the major type of stroke; however, there are still very limited therapeutic options for the stroke-damaged patients. In this study, we evaluated the neurogenic and therapeutic potentials of human neural stem cells (NSCs) overexpressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (HB1.F3.

Surface mapping of motor points in biceps brachii muscle.

Objective: To localize the site of motor points within human biceps brachii muscles through surface mapping using electrophysiological method.

Method: We recorded the compound muscle action potentials of each lattice of the biceps brachii in 40 healthy subjects. Standardized reference lines were made as the following: 1) a horizontal reference line (elbow crease) and 2) a vertical reference line connecting coracoid process and mid-point of the horizontal reference line.

In vivo Tracking of Human Neural Stem Cells Following Transplantation into a Rodent Model of Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Objectives: Ischemic stroke caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) is the major type of stroke, but there are currently very limited options for cure. It has been shown that neural stem cells (NSCs) or neural precursor cells (NPCs) can survive and improve neurological deficits when they are engrafted in animal models of various neurological diseases. However, how the transplanted NSCs or NPCs are act in vivo in the injured or diseased brain is largely unknown.

In vivo tracking of human mesenchymal stem cells in experimental stroke.

To understand the fates of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) following transplantation into a rodent model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques were employed, hMSCs were labeled with ferumoxides (Feridex)--protamine sulfate complexes, which were visualized and examined by MRI up to 10 weeks following transplantation. Migration of the transplanted cells to the infarcted area was further confirmed by histological methods. We found that the hMSCs transplanted in MCAo models possess the capacity to migrate to the infarcted area extensively in both ipsilateral and contralateral injections, exhibiting a pathotropism.

In Vivo Tracking of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Stroke.

To understand the fates of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) following transplantation into a rodent model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques were employed. hMSCs were labeled with ferumoxides (Feridex®)-protamine sulfate complexes, which were visualized and examined by MRI up to 10 weeks following transplantation. Migration of the transplanted cells to the infarcted area was further confirmed by histological methods.

Influence of combined methionine synthase (MTR 2756A > G) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR 677C > T) polymorphisms to plasma homocysteine levels in Korean patients with ischemic stroke.

Purpose: Methionine synthase (MTR) and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) are the main regulatory enzymes for homocysteine metabolism. The present case- control study was conducted to determine whether there is an association between the MTR 2756A > G or MTHFR 677C > T polymorphism and plasma homocysteine concentration in Korean subjects with ischemic stroke.

Materials And Methods: DNA samples of 237 patients who had an ischemic stroke and 223 age and sex-matched controls were studied.

Enhanced brain targeting efficiency of intranasally administered plasmid DNA: an alternative route for brain gene therapy.

Recently, nasal administration has been studied as a noninvasive route for delivery of plasmid DNA encoding therapeutic or antigenic genes. Here, we examined the brain targeting efficiency and transport pathways of intranasally administered plasmid DNA. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measurements of plasmid DNA in blood and brain tissues revealed that intranasally administered pCMVbeta (7.

Morphometry of the nasal bones and piriform apertures in Koreans.

In order to understand the morphological characteristics of Korean noses, the nasal bones and piriform apertures were measured and classified in the dried skulls of Korean adults. The shapes of the nasal bones were classified into five types (Type A-E). Among the types of the nasal bone, Type A, in which the nasomaxillary sutures initially descended vertically and then obliquely, was present in 43.

Skin permeation, biodistribution, and expression of topically applied plasmid DNA.

Background: Topical application is emerging as a new route of gene delivery. However, the extent of skin permeation and the in vivo fate of topically applied plasmid DNA are not fully understood.

Methods: In vitro permeation of plasmid DNA across human skin and keratinocyte layers was tested using Franz diffusion cells.

Morphometrical changes of the human uterine tubes according to aging and menstrual cycle.

Studies on the morphological changes in the human uterine tube according to aging and menstrual cycle so far have been limited to microscopic aspects such as cellular changes, mainly due to the inaccessibility of specimens. In this study, postmortem analysis using both macroscopic and microscopic methods was performed using 55 human uterine tubes. The numbers and the degrees of convolution, and the length of the uterine tube had a tendency to decrease according to the increase of age in women by fifties.

Morphometry of nasal bases and nostrils in Koreans.

To investigate morphological characteristics of Korean noses, nasal bases and nostrils were measured and classified in Korean adults. The height and the width of the nasal base, the height and the width of the columella, the length of the long and short nostril axes, and nasal alar angle were measured. The shapes of the nostrils were classified into 7 types by the angle between the right and left long axes of the nostrils.

Altered expression of the DNA repair protein, N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG) in human gonads.

Background: The multifunctional mammalian MPG is responsible for a damaged DNA base in the nucleus. The DNA repair enzyme is transported from the cytoplasm to nucleus to repair the DNA base when it is damaged. If the enzyme does not work properly, the damaged DNA may lead to carcinogenesis, cell death, aging or infertility.