Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

The Ilsong Institute of Life Science of Hallym University and Nagasaki University of Japan hosted the 2nd International Symposium on Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital on February 9, 2009. After successfully launching an international affiliation between the two universities, professors of both sides have continued their joint scientific alliance.

Ilsong has produced great research achievements on aging mechanism and development in biotechnology for aging control. On Nagasaki's part, faculty members including Prof. Nozomu Mori and Prof. Isao Shimokawa have been at the forefront in advancing not only basic studies on aging mechanism but also doing research on aging-related neurodegenerative diseases in Japan.

At the opening address, Dr. Yong-Sun Kim, Director of the Ilsong Institute of Life Science and Executive Vice President for Health & Biomedical Sciences at Hallym University, noted, "It is much more meaningful to open the meeting this year for it is the 10th international meeting hosted by our institute since its first gathering in 1995 to commemorate the biomedical contribution accomplished by the late Dr. Duck-Sun Yoon, the Founder of Hallym University ."

Dr. Hae-Ran Lee, president of Hallym University Medical Center, welcomed all participants, saying, "We highly expect our collaboration to serve as a stimulus to our two institutions in promoting exchanging not merely of scientific knowledge but also of medical students and faculty members in the years to come. Also this symposium bears a significance as the world is rapidly evolving into an aging society. It is my firm belief that sharing our knowledge and experience, we are able to find way s to overcome neurodegenerative diseases. "

The meeting was composed of the following two sessions:

Session 1

• Drosophila synapses: as a model for studying molecular and cellular etiology underlying neurological disorders in humans by Young Ho Koh, Ilsong Institute of Life Science
  
• Anti-aging effects of calorie restriction: Importance of neuroendocrine adaptation by Takuya Chiba, Nagasaki University
  
• The mechanism underlying the effect of calorie restriction: An insight from longevity genes by Isao Shimokawa, Nagasaki University
  
• Citrullinated proteins: can be potential determinants of prion disease? By Eun-Kyoung Choi, Ilsong Institute of Life Science
  
• Neuronal Shc: A molecular correlate of age-related cognitive decline and spine morphogenesis by Nozomu Mori, Nagasaki University
  

Session 2

• RhoA regulates interaction of microglia and amyloid-β (A β) through β2-integrin, and superoxide production in BV2 cells in response to fAβ peptides by Jae-Bong Park, Hallym University
  
• Signal transduction in Alzheimer's disease and depression by Hiroki Ozawa, Nagasaki University
  
• Neuroprotective effect of SSRI in transient ischemic animal model by Do Hoon Kim, Hallym University
  
• Evaluation of plaque vulnerability in patients with symptomatic carotid or aortic atherosclerosis using [18]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography by Kyung-Ho Yu, Hallym University
  
• Unstable carotid plaque-histology, clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment by Izumi Nagata, Nagasaki University
  
• Durability and safety of endovascular treatment in wide-necked intracranial aneurysms by In-Bok Chang, Hallym University
  

By Younghee Han, Int'l Operations Team, HUMC