Hyeon-Min Johng

Use of Magnetic Nanoparticles to Visualize Threadlike Structures Inside Lymphatic Vessels of Rats

A novel application of fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles was made to visualize a new tissue which had not been detectable by using simple stereomicroscopes. This unfamiliar threadlike structure inside the lymphatic vessels of rats was demonstrated in vivo by injecting nanoparticles into lymph nodes and applying magnetic fields on the collecting lymph vessels so that the nanoparticles were taken up by the threadlike structures. Confocal laser scanning microscope images of cryosectioned specimens exhibited that the nanoparticles were absorbed more strongly by the threadlike structure than by the lymphatic vessels. Further examination using a transmission electron microscope revealed that the nanoparticles had been captured between the reticular fibers in the extracellular matrix of the threadlike structures. The emerging technology of nanoparticles not only allows the extremely elusive threadlike structures to be visualized but also is expected to provide a magnetically controllable means to investigate their physiological functions.

Fluorescent Method for Observing Intravascular Bonghan Duct

미분간섭현미경법과 아크리딘-오렌지(acridine-orange) 형광 염색을 이용하여 쥐 혈관 내의 실 모양 구조물을 관찰하였다. 공초점현미경법과 헤마톡실린-에오신(hematoxylin-eosin) 염색을 통해 피브린, 모세혈관, 소정맥, 소동맥 혹은 림프관의 핵 분포와 뚜렷이 구별되는 혈관 내 실 모양 구조물의 핵 분포 패턴을 얻어낼 수 있었다. 이 실 모양 구조물의 생리적 기능을 침술과 연관하여 논의하였다. 특히, 이 실 모양 관을 통한 약물의 흐름이 약침의 기전에 해당할 것이라는 가설을 제기하였다. 【Observation of intra-vascular threadlike structures in the blood vessels of rats is reported with the images by differential interference contrast microscope, and fluorescence inverted microscope of the acridine-orange stained samples. The confocal microscope image and the hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed the distinctive pattern of nuclei distribution that clearly discerned the threadlike structure from fibrin, capillary, small venule, arteriole, or lymph vessel. Physiological function of the intra-vascular thread in connection with acupuncture is discussed. Especially, this threadlike duct can be a circulation path for herb-liquid flow, which may provide the scientific mechanism for therapeutic effect of herbal acupuncture.】

Argyrophilic Fibers of Intravascular Threadlike Structures in Rat

Objective: We took intravascular threadlike structures from rat aortas to investigate their histological characteristics consistent with the intravascular Bonghan duct. Methods: Gomori s silver impregnation method, in addition to routine hematoxylin and eosin staining, was applied to demonstrate the characteristic feature of the intravascular threadlike structures. Results: These two staining methods clearly showed that the intravascular threadlike structures had unique features of argyrophilic reticular fibers and heavily stained oval or rod-shaped nuclei in them. Conclusion: The results are strong evidences for identifying threadlike structure as the intravascular Bonghan duct.

BLACK HOLES IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL DILATON GRAVITY AND NONLINEAR KLEIN-GORDON SOLITON

Two-dimensional dilaton gravity coupled to a Klein-Gordon matter field with a quartic interaction term is considered. The theory has a classical solution which exhibits black hole formation by a soliton. The geometry of a black hole induced by a soliton is investigated.

Nanoparticles for tracing acupuncture meridians and Bonghan ducts

Nanoparticles are increasingly used in various fields, especially in biomedical research such as enzyme immobilization, contrast enhancing media, and imaging of cellular and molecular structures. We report on the use of fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles for tracing acupuncture meridians and their anatomical structures, that is, Bonghan ducts. By injecting nanoparticles into the acupuncture points (LR9) of mice we observed them at other acupoints (LR3) of the same liver meridian, which implied the propagation of nanoparticles along the meridian. Another use of nanoparticles was injecting them into a Bonghan corpuscle and observing them to flow along the Bonghan duct on the surface of mammalian internal organs. The third application was injecting them into lymph nodes so that Bonghan ducts inside lymphatic vessels were detected and visualized by the fluorescence of nanoparticles. Confocal laser scanning microscope images of cryo-sectioned specimens showed that the nanoparticles were preferentially taken up by Bonghan ducts. Transmission electron microscope images revealed the nanoparticles captured in the extra cellular matrix of Bonghan ducts.