Biomedical subjects

J H Je

Publications and source records attributed to J H Je.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Phase contrast radiography of Lewy bodies in Parkinson disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD), defined as a neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of Lewy bodies in neurons. Morphological study of Lewy bodies is important to identify the causes and the processes of PD. Here, we investigate a possibility of phase contrast radiography using coherent synchrotron X-rays to explore the microscopic details of Lewy bodies in thick (approximately 3 mm) midbrain tissues. Autopsied midbrain tissues of a PD patient were sliced in 3 mm thickness and then examined using synchrotron X-rays from the 7B2 beamline of the Pohang Light Source. Refraction-enhanced phase contrast radiography and microtomography were adopted to identify dark core and dim edge of Lewy bodies in neurons. The morphology of Lewy bodies was clearly revealed by the phase contrast radiography in very thick (3 mm) midbrain tissues without any staining treatment. Three-dimensional volume rendered microtomography of the autopsied midbrain tissues demonstrates striking evidence that several Lewy bodies are agglomerated by dim edges in a neuron. We suggest that the phase contrast radiography could be a useful tool to morphologically investigate the causes or the processes in PD.

Dopamine↗

PubMed2004

Imaging cells and tissues with refractive index radiology.

Can individual cells, including live cells, be imaged using hard x rays? Common wisdom until now required sophisticated staining techniques for this task. We show instead that individual cells and cell details can be detected in culture solution and tissues with no staining and no other contrast-enhancing preparation. The sample examined can be much thicker than for many other microscopy techniques without sacrificing the capability to resolve cells. The key factor in our approach is the use of a coherent synchrotron source and of contrast mechanisms based on the refractive index. The first successful tests were conducted on a variety of cell systems including skin and internal leaf cells, mouse neurons, rabbit fibroblast cells, and human tumor cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Induction of endothelial iNOS by 4-hydroxyhexenal through NF-kappaB activation.

Lipid peroxidation and its end-product, 4-hydroxyhexenal (HHE), are known to affect redox balance during aging, which causes various degenerative processes including vascular alterations from endothelial cell deterioration. To better understand the molecular action of HHE in the development of vascular abnormalities during the aging process, we investigated whether the upregulation of inducible endothelial nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by HHE is mediated through nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. Results indicate that HHE stimulates iNOS by the transcriptional regulation of NF-kappaB activation through cytosolic kappaB degradation inhibitors (IkappaB). Pretreatment with NF-kappaB inhibitors Bay 11-7082 and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) suppressed the upregulation of iNOS by blunting IkappaB degradation and NF-kappaB binding activity. Because inflammatory stimuli induce iNOS to generate large amounts of nitric oxide (NO), intracellular NO levels in the presence of Bay 11-7082, NAC, and caffeic acid methyl ester were estimated. These inhibitors significantly suppressed the HHE-induced NO levels to a basal level. These findings strongly suggest that in endothelial cells, HHE induces iNOS gene expression through NF-kappaB activation, which can lead to vascular dysfunction by the activation of various proinflammatory genes.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed2004

Synchrotron microangiography with no contrast agent.

Coherent x-rays from synchrotron sources are increasingly used in non-conventional radiological techniques ('phase-contrast' radiology). Our experiments demonstrate that by using white (unmonochromatic) radiation and a time-resolving system, it is possible to image microscopic details of moving blood vessels in different live animals without using any contrast agent. The images have excellent contrast plus unprecedented spatial resolution for microangiography (< 10 microm). This result is likely to impact many different areas of biological and medical research and of diagnostic radiology.

Angiography↗

PubMed2002

Electrochemistry: building on bubbles in metal electrodeposition.

In the electrodeposition of metals, a widely used industrial technique, bubbles of gas generated near the cathode can adversely affect the quality of the metal coating. Here we use phase-contrast radiology with synchrotron radiation to witness directly and in real time the accumulation of zinc on hydrogen bubbles. This process explains the origin of the bubble-shaped defects that are common in electrodeposited coatings.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Structural effects of Ti underlayer on CoCrPt magnetic films.

The effects of long-range and short-range orders of Ti underlayer thickness on the magnetic properties of sputtered Co72 Cr21 Pt7 films were investigated using synchrotron X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. The results were consistent with that of magnetic measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For thin Ti underlayers (10 nm), the oxidation of Ti and significant mixing of other elements within this underlayer did not promote texture development, further resulting in poor texturing of magnetic films and undesirable magnetic properties. Increased crystallinity and texture of metallic Ti in thicker underlayers enhanced the magnetic peak alignment and its properties.

Chromium Alloys↗