• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.699-704
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• 2005

Background: Coronary artery fistula is rare congenital anomaly, which account for $0.27\~0.40\%$ of all congenital heart diseases. We report the clinical observations of 45 patients with coronary artery fistula. Material and Method: We reviewed all patients presented with or without symptoms of coronary artery fistula between 1987 and 2004. Age ranged from 1 to 83 years. Twenty-six patients were female. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presenting symptoms. Twelve patients were in group A (asymptomatic) and 33 patients in group B (symptomatic). The most common clinical presentation in group B was angina (18) followed by dyspnea (7), atypical chest pain (5), syncope (1), fatigue (1), and palpitation (1). Twenty-five patients were associated with other cardiac diseases, which were atrial septal defect (4), coronary artery occlusive disease (6), hypertension (12), and valvular heart disease (2). Result: Patients were followed-up for a mean period of $64.8\pm62.7$ months. There was no complication related to coronary artery fistula during the follow-up period in both group. There was no mortality related to coronary artery fistula. Conclusion: In symptomatic patients, early surgical treatment is recommended considering the low perioperative morbidity. In asymptomatic patients receiving medical treatment, close follow up may be necessary.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.152-160
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• 1998

Purpose : Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), which can result in renal failure in children, is expected to resolve spontaneously in mild cases, but severe cases require surgical correction, posing dilemma in deciding the right measures in some cases. Therefore, to delineate the factors affecting spontaneous resolution of VUR and to apply them in assessing the prognosis, we reviewed the patients with VUR who had been treated medically. Patients and Methods : 32 children (49 renal units) with reflux who had been admitted during the 5-year period from Jan '92 to Dec '96 were classified into 4 groups (Resolved, Improved, Unchanged, and Worsened) and analyzed. Results : 1) 25 were boys and 7 girls. The age at diagnosis ranged from 13 days to 9 years (mean $24.6{\pm}11.4$ mo) 2) Among 49 refluxing ureters, 4 were below 1 me of age,21 between 1 me to 1 yr, 16 between 1 yr to 6 yr, 8 beyond 6 yr. Two belonged to Grade I, 16 to Crade II, 17 to Grade III, 12 to Grade IV, and 2 to Grade V. 3) Spontaneous resolution rates of reflux were 100, 81, 47, 8, 0$\%$ for each Grade, respectively. Resolution plus improvement rates in Grade III and IV were 71 and $50\%$, each. 4) Resolution rates in relation to the age at diagnosis were $100\%$ for below 1 mo, $48\%$ between 1 mo to 1 yr, $56\%$ between 1 to 6 yr, and $13\%$ beyond 6 yr. 5) Of 15 unilateral refluxing ureters, 14 ($93\%$) resulted in resolution. Of 34 bilateral refluxing ureters, 11 ($32\%$) resolved spontaneously 6) Resolution occurred within 1 year in 20 units of 24 renal units in regular follow-up. Conclusion: The lower the initial grade and the younger the patient, the sooner the reflux resolved. Resolution was better when VUR was unilateral than bilateral. Long-term regular follow-up is essential because even the cases falling in Grades III and IV have high rates of spontaneous resolution and improvement with medical treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.239-249
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of the factors which could be influenced by orthognathic surgery especillay SSRO. We measured the amounts of the maximum opening, lateral movements, maximum velocity and pattern of mandibular path during the opening and closing of mandible at the following times ; preoperative, 1 month after operation, 6 months after operation respectively using MKG. And the results were compared according to the categorized subgroups. Following results were obtained : 1. The change of the amounts of mandibular lateral movement and maximum opening velocity were statistically different between male and female (p<0.05), but the others were not. 2. According to the method of operation, there was no difference in the change of the mandibular movements between the group of SSRO and SSRO plus LeFort I osteotomy (p>0.05). 3. According to the amounts of mandibular movement, the recovery of left lateral movement of the group of $6{\sim}10mm$ was better than the other groups (p<0.05). 4. In the frontal pattern of the opening and closing of the mandible, the complex deflected type (F5), simple deflected type (F4), complex deviated type (F3), simple deviated type (F2), straight type (F1) were obtained in order at the time of preoperative, simple deflected type, simple deviated type, complex deviated type, straight type, complex deflected type in order at the time of 1 month after surgery, and the result at the time of 6 months after surgery was the same with that of the time of preoperative. In the sagittal pattern, non-coincident type (S2) was predominant at the time of preoperative, and coincident type (S1) was predominant at the time of 1 month after surgery. After 6 months, the result was also the same with that of the preoperative in sagittal pattern. 5. There was not a statistical difference in the change of the mandibular movement between group of presence of the preoperative TMJ symptoms and non-presence group (p>0.05). 6. There was not a statistical difference in the change of the mandibular movement between repositioning device applied group and non-applied group (p>0.05). 7. Sixty three percents of the patients who had preoperative TMJ symptoms were improved after surgery and preoperative TMJ symptoms were more improved after operation in the repositioning device non-applied group statistically (p<0.05).

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.9
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• pp.179-191
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• 2000

Anti-bone resorption properties of the Korean herbal medicine, CEDR, which is comprised 5 herbs of [Drynariae Rhizoma, Loranthi Ramus, Cibotii Rhizoma, Amydae carapax, Psoraleae semen], were investigated. Mouse calvarial osteoblast cells were isolated and cultured. Mouse osteoblasts, which were stimulated by PTH, $1,25(OH)_2D_3$, $TNF-\alpha$ and IL-1 as bone resorption agents, showed increased collagenolysis by producing the active gelatinase. IL-1 in stimulating bone resorption was examined using fetal mouse long bone organ culture. IL-1 stimulated bone resorption and produced marked resorption when present simultaneously. The results of in vitro cytotoxicities showed that CEDR extracts have no any cytotoxicities in concentrations of $1-60{\mu}g/ml$ and furthermore there is no any cytotoxicity even in concentration of $120{\mu}g/ml$ on mouse calvarial bone cells. CEDR extracts had protective activity against PTH (5 units/ml, or $IL-1{\alpha}$ (1 ng/ml) or $TNF-\alpha$ or $1,25(OH)_2D_3$ (20 ng/ml), $IL-1{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ collagenolysis in the mouse calvarial cells. Pretreatment of the CEDR extracts for 1 h, which by itself had little effect on cell survival, did not enhance the collagenolysis, nor significantly reduced the collagenolysis by pretreatment. Furthermore, the medicinal extracts were shown to have the protective effects against collagenolysis induced by $IL-1{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$. Pretreatment of the extracts for 1 h significantly reduced the collagenolysis. Interestingly, the CEDR extracts were shown to have the inhibiting effects against gelatinase enzyme and processing activity induced by the bone resorption agents of PTH, $1,25(OH)_2D_3$, $TNF-\alpha$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and $IL-1{\alpha}$ with strong protective effect in pretreatment with the extracts. CEDR extracts were shown to have the inhibiting effects against $IL-1{\alpha}-$ and $IL-1{\beta}-stimulated$ bone resorption and the effect of the pretreatment with a various concentrations of the medicinal extracts were significant. These results indicated that the CEDR extracts are highly stable and applicable to clinical uses in osteoporosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2010

Background: Thoracic empyema remains a serious problem despite the availability of modern diagnostic methods and appropriate antibiotics. The condition presents in many different forms and stages that require different therapeutic options. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become increasingly popular for use in the treatment of empyema. Material and Method: From January 2005 to May 2009, VATS was performed in 36 patients with pleural empyema and for whom chest-tube drainage and antibiotic therapy had failed or the CT scan showed multiseptate disease. The perioperative clinical factors were analyzed for all the study patients. Result: All the patients underwent VATS, but it was necessary to convert to thoracotomy in one patient. The mean operation time was $90{\pm}38.5\;min$. For the operative evaluation, 11 patients were compatible with ATS stage III. The duration of chesttube insertion was $11.9{\pm}5.8$ (3~24) days. One patient did not improve and therefore this patient underwent additional open drainage. At discharge, costophrenic angle blunting was observed in 22 patients, pleural thickening was noted in 20 patients, both were noted in 17 patients and neither was noted in 11 patients. However, at follow-up, each of these changes was observed in 9, 7, 4 and 24 patients, respectively. All except one patient showed radiographic improvement. Conclusion: VATS is suitable for the treatment of early and fibrinopurulent thoracic empyema, and even in selected patients with stage III disease.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2007

Objetives : Identification of target genes for ethanol in neurons is important for understanding its molecular and cellular mechanism of action and the neuropathological changes seen in alcoholics. The purpose of this study is to identify of altered gene expression after acute treatmet of ethanol in rat gliom cells. Methods : We used high density cDNA microarray chip to measure the expression patterns of multiple genes in cultured rat glioma cells. DNA microarrays allow for the simultaneous measurement of the expression of several hundreds of genes. Results : After comparing hybridized signals between control and ethanol treated groups, we found that treatment with ethanol increased the expression of 15 genes and decreased the expression of 12 genes. Upregulated genes included Orthodenticle(Drosophila) homolog 1, procollagen type II, adenosine A2a receptor, GATA bindning protein 2. Downregulated genes included diacylglycerol kinase beta, PRKC, Protein phosphatase 1, clathrin-associated protein 17, nucleoporin p58, proteasome. Conclusion : The gene changes noted were those related to the regulation of transcription, signal transduction, second messenger systems. modulation of ischemic brain injury, and neurodengeneration. Although some of the genes were previously known to be ethanol responsive, we have for the most part identified novel genes involved in the brain response to ethanol.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children and to evaluate the effects of eradication therapy on RAP. Methods: From January 1998 to January 2005, 166 children with RAP (61 male, 105 female) aged $10.0{\pm}3.3$ years were included. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed for all the patients. All H. pylori infected children (n=70) received the eradication therapy and were divided into two groups: Group Ia (n=52); eradicated, Group Ib (n=18); non-eradicated. H. pylori-negative children (n=96) were divided into three groups according to the medication: Group IIa (n=67); no medication, Group IIb (n=13); acid-suppressant, Group IIc (n=16); both acid-suppressant and antibiotics. Questionnaire for symptoms were asked at the first, 6th, 12th, 24th, and 36th months following the treatment (grade 0; completely resolved, grade 1; definitely improved, but there are occasional episodes of mild abdominal pain, grade 2; no change in the frequency and intensity of abdominal pain). Results: In about 90% of H. pylori positive children, RAP improved in the both H. pylori-eradicated and non-eradicated children in a follow-up survey. In about 75% of H. pylori-negative children, RAP also improved among in the three groups of patients regardless of medication. Conclusion: These results suggest that there was no correlations between improvement of RAP and eradication of H. pylori, and between improvement of RAP and medication. Consequently the reassurance that the children with RAP have no serious organic cause was important to improvement of RAP.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2016

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important macromolecule in medical and pharmaceutical fields. HA is a natural and linear polymer composed of repeating disaccharide units of β-1, 3-N-acetyl glucosamine and β-1, 4-glucuronic acid. This work aimed to confirm the structural characteristics and anti-inflammatory activities of HA and its chemically sulfated-HA. HA was produced from a fed-batch fermentation process using Streptococcus dysgalactiae in a 5 l bioreactor. HA was isolated water-soluble form (HA-WS) and water-insoluble form (HA-WI) from culture medium, and was obtained chemically sulfated-derivative (S-HA) that resulted in a 90% yield from HA-WI. The structural features of the sulfated- HA (S-HA) were investigated by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The FT-IR and NMR patterns revealed the similarity in both the FTIR spectrum as well as NMR spectrum of both reference standard and purified HA from S. dysgalactiae. The anti-inflammatory activities of HA and S-HA were examined on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. S-HA was significantly inhibited production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and PGE₂ and the gene levels of iNOS and COX-2, which are responsible for the production of NO and PGE₂, respectively. Furthermore, S-HA also suppressed the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α (<80 pg/ml) and IL-6 (<100 pg/ml) compared to that of HA-WI. The present study clearly demonstrates that HA-S exhibits anti-inflammatory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1324-1331
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• 2010

Mifepristone (MIF) and Tamoxifen (TAM) have been used in the treatment of prostate cancer and breast cancer for more than a decade. MIF can induce apoptosis in both AR-positive and negative prostate cancer cells. Because of its pleiotropic ligand-receptor properties, TAM exerts cytotoxic activity in estrogen (ER)-positive and various ER.negative cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of these two substances are not yet clear. In the present work, we report that the cytotoxic effects of MIF and TAM are due to the modulation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level in DU-145, androgen-insensitive cells. When the cells were treated with micromolar concentrations of either MIF or TAM, the growth and viability were significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The apoptosis induced by MIF or TAM was further proved and analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). In the cells cultivated in a normal 1.5 mM $Ca^{2+}$ medium, both MIF and TAM also induced an increase of the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level in a dose-dependent fashion. Since a change in calcium level could not be found in cells of the $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level might be due to an increase in extracellular calcium uptake. Our results show that the apoptotic effect was more prominent in TAM treatment compared to MIF treatment in DU-145 cells. The above findings might be due to the difference in the uppermost pathways of apoptosis induced by either MIF or TAM. When we checked the level of procaspase-8 activation, TAM showed minor level of activation, as opposed to MIF, which exerted strong activation. In both treatments, the levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased, and pro-apoptotic protein Bax level increased more than 2-fold. The activation of caspase-3, a key protease enzyme in the downstream pathway of apoptosis, was much higher in the cells treated with TAM, compared to the MIF treatment. The overall apoptotic activity shown in the present work was closely related to intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration levels. Therefore, the cytotoxic activity induced by MIF and TAM might have been due to intracellular calcium modulation.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.45-60
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• 2002

Mouse calvarial osteoblast cells were isolated and cultured. To examine whether the cells produce active gelatinases in culture medium or not,the cells were analyzed using by zymograsphic analysis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). We show that mouse calvarial osteoblasts in culture constitutively synthesize progelatinase- A. Then, mouse osteoblasts, which were stimulated by PTH, $1,25(OH)_2D_3$, mononuclear cell conditioned medium (MCM) and IL-1 as bone resorption agent's, showed increased collagenolysis by producing the active gelatinase. However, treatment of indomethacin and dexamethasone significantly decreased those effects of collagenolysis in mouse osteoblastic cells. On the other hand, IL-1 in stimulating bone resorption was examined using fetal mouse long bone organ culture. IL-1 stimulated bone resorption and produced marked resorption when present simultaneously. Furthermore, when it was examined the effects of indomethacin and dexamethasone on the dose dependent responses of $IL-1{\alpha}$, indomethacin and dexametasone produced a rightward shift in the IL-1 dose response curve. The results of in vitro cytotoxicities showed that Taeyoungjon-Jahage water extracts(T.Y.J-J.H.G extracts) have no any cytotoxicities in concentrations of $1-200\;{\mu}g/ml$ and furthermore there is no any cytotoxicity even in concentration of $300\;{\mu}g/ml$ on mouse calvarial bone cells. T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts had protective activity against PTH (2 units/mI), or MCM (5%, v/v), or $rhIL-1{\alpha}$ (1 ng/mI) or $1,25(OH)_2D3$ (10 ng/ml) , $IL-1{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ collagenolysis in the mouse calvarial cells. Pretreatment of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G.extracts for 1 h, which by itself had little effect on cell survival, did not enhance the collagenolysis, nor significantly reduced the collagenolysis by pretreatment. Furthermore. the medicinal extracts were shown to have the protective effects against collagenolysis induced by $IL-1{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$. Pretreatment of the extracts for 1 h significantly reduced the collagenolysis. Interestingly, the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts were shown to have the inhibiting effects against gelatinase enzyme and processing activity induced by the bone resortion agents of PTH, $1,25(OH)_2D_3$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and $IL-1{\alpha}$, with strong protective effect in pretreatment with the extracts. T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts were shown to have the inhibiting effects against $IL-1{\alpha}-$ and $IL-1{\beta}-stimulated$ bone resorption and the effect of the pretreatment with a various concentrations of the medicinal extracts were significant. The inhibition extent and phenomena of IL-1 stimulated bone resorption by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents of indomethacin and dexamethasone were similar to those obtained by T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts treatment in the mouse calvarial tissue culture system. These results indicated that the T.Y.J.-J.H.G.-water extracts are highly stable and applicable to clinical uses in osteoporosis.