The Correlation of Motor Impairment and Fractional Anisotropy in Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Post-stroke Hemiplegic Patients

OBJECTIVE: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fully characterizes water molecule mobility, allowing an exploration of fiber tract integrity and orientation in the human brain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between motor impairment and the changes of fractional anisotropy (FA) in the internal capsule in post-stroke hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Six normal subjects and 19 post-stroke hemiplegic patients who had a lesion in the internal capsule were included in this study. DTI was performed with a 3.0 Tesla MR at the mean interval of 28.2 days after stroke. Motor impairment was assessed with the Motricity Index and Trunk Control Test at the time of the imaging study. FA was measured in anterior limb and posterior limb of internal capsule. RESULTS: FA reduced significantly in the affected region compared with the other unaffected region in patients and normal region in controls. FA in the affected posterior limb of the internal capsule was correlated with the Motricity Index score of the affected upper limb (r=0.642, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: DTI can be helpful to evaluate motor impairment of the upper limb in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.

Expression of Human b-Defensin-1 mRNA in Human Nasal Mucosa / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Antimicrobial peptides are cationic proteins that are found in a wide range of organisms. Recent reports suggest that human beta-defensin-1 (hBD-1), a prominent group of antimicrobial peptides, is an important component of the innate immune response, particularly at mucosal surfaces that are vulnerable to colonization by potential pathogens. Therefore, hBD-1 may participate in providing intrinsic nasal mucosal defense against microbial infections. The present study aimed to look for hBD-1 mRNA in apparently normal human nasal mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of hBD-1 mRNA was investigated in the inferior turbinate tissues using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The expression of hBD-1 mRNA was detected in these tissues. By in situ hybridization, hBD-1 mRNA was predominantly localized in superficial epithelial cells and submucosal glandular epithelium. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that nasal epithelia and submucosal glands may secrete hBD-1 and thus contribute to the mucosal defense of the nose.