• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical, radiological and histopathological results after microfracture surgery for degenerative arthritis of the knee. Materials and Methods: From Oct. 1997 to Dec. 1998, 48 knees in 46 patients were treated by microfracture technique. Their mean age at the time of operation was 56 years(range, 40-75 years) and mean period of follow-up study was one year(range, 7-20 months). For 24 knees in 22 patients, 'second-look' arthroscopies and biopsies were performed at 6 months following microfracture. At the last follow up clinical results were evaluated with Baumgaertner's scale. The specimens of 24 cases were stained with H-E, Safranin-O, and Masson's trichrome. Eighteen of 24 cases were stained immunohistochemically and the Western blotting test was performed on 12 cases for type II collagen. We analyzed the relationship of the Western blotting for type II collagen with clinical score, preoperative varus deformity, joint space widening in radiological result, extent of repaired articular cartilage in '2nd-look' arthroscopic findings, patient's age and weight. Results: Clinical results were excellent in 90% and good in 10%. Among the 24 knees, more than 80% of areas of chondral defect were covered with regenerated cartilage in 21 knees Histologically, the repaired tissue appears to be a hybrid of hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage. Repaired cartilage contains variable amounts of type II collagen with immunohistochemical staining. The results of the Western blotting test were similar. The amounts of type II collagen formation had positive correlation with the extent of repaired cartilage and preoperative varus deformity. Conclusion: 'Second-look' showed that the chondral defect areas were covered with newly grown grayish white tissue. Articular cartilage repair was confirmed with histological and immunohisto-chemical study qualitatively, and the amount of type II collagen was calculated with the Western blotting test quantitatively. The exact nature and fate of repaired cartilagenous tissues need further long term follow-up study. The results of this study provide the rationale to select osteoarthritic patients indicated for microfracture surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.272-277
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• 2001

Objective : Polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) is often used to reconstruct the spine after total corpectomy, but the exothermic curing of liquid PMMA poses a risk of thermal injury to the spinal cord. The purposes of this study are to analyze the heat blocking effect of pre-polymerized PMMA sheet in the corpectomy model and to establish the minimal thickness of PMMA sheet to protect the spinal cord from the thermal injury during PMMA cementation of vertebral body. Materials & Methods : An experimental fixture was fabricated with dimensions similar to those of a T12 corpectomy defect. Sixty milliliters of liquid PMMA were poured into the fixture, and temperature recordings were obtained at the center of the curing PMMA mass and on the undersurface(representing the spinal cord surface) of a prepolymerized PMMA sheet of variable thickness(group 1 : 0mm, group 2 : 5mm, or group 3 : 8mm). Six replicates were tested for each barrier thickness group. Results : Consistent temperatures($106.8{\pm}3.9^{\circ}C$) at center of the curing PMMA mass in eighteen experiments confirmed the reproducibility of the experimental fixture. Peak temperatures on the spinal cord surface were $47.3^{\circ}C$ in group 2, and $43.3^{\circ}C$ in group 3, compared with $60.0^{\circ}C$ in group 1(p<0.00005). So pre-polymerized PMMA provided statistically significant protection from heat transfer. The difference of peak temperature between theoretical and experimental value was less than 1%, while the predicted time was within 35% of experimental values. The data from the theoretical model indicate that a 10mm barrier of PMMA should protect the spinal cord from temperatures greater than $39^{\circ}C$(the threshold for thermal injury in the spinal cord). Conclusion : These results suggest that pre-polymerized PMMA sheet of 10mm thickness may protect the spinal cord from the thermal injury during PMMA reconstruction of vertebral body.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1215-1221
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• 2000

Objective : The clinical prognosis and biological behavior of atypical and especially malignant meningiomas are well known to be worse than benign meningioma, but the degree of biological aggressiveness in each classical subtypes of benign meningioma is controversy. This study was performed to see whether there is a difference in the proliferative activity between each different histological subtypes of benign meningioma as well as atypical meningioma. Methods : Paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of 27 meningiomas, including two recurrent tumors, were studied to evaluate proliferative activity by immunohistochemical method with monoclonal antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and MIB-1. The specimens consisted of 8 cases of meningothelial, 9 cases of transitional, 5 cases of fibroblastic subtypes and 5 cases of atypical meningiomas. Results : Mean PCNA labeling indices of meningothelial, transitional and fibroblastic meningiomas were $4.82{\pm}5.10%$, $9.01{\pm}4.25%$ and $5.66{\pm}5.32%$, but that of atypical meningiomas was $27.62{\pm}19.67%$, noting a higher value compared to all three subtypes of benign meningiomas. Mean Ki-67 labeling indices of the above 3 subtypes were $0.43{\pm}0.85%$, $0.44{\pm}1.08%$ and $0.24{\pm}0.18%$, and that of atypical meningiomas was also revealed to be of higher value ($0.84{\pm}0.59%$). PCNA and Ki-67 labeling indices were not statistically different between histological subtypes of benign meningioma(p>0.05), but the differences of both immunolabeling between benign and atypical meningiomas were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusion : Immunolabeling of PCNA and Ki-67 in intracranial meningiomas reveals no prognostic difference between meningothelial, transitional and fibroblastic subtypes in classical benign meningiomas by measuring expression of PCNA and Ki-67, but it seems to be helpful in differentiating benign and atypical meningioma, later showing more proliferative activity and biological aggressiveness.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.691-701
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the dietary quality of school-aged children from low-income families in comparison with those from higher income families. The socio-demographic and anthropometric data and one day 24-hour recall dietary intake data of 1,782 school-aged children were used for analysis from the data of 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey. The children whose family had monthly household income 120% or lower than the 2001 Minimum Cost of Living were classified into Low Income Group (LIG), and the others were classified into Higher Income Group (HIG). The consumption levels of the food groups of the Korean Food Guide as well as the general nutritional status based on their weight and height, energy and nutrient intake were compared between LIG and HIG in elementary (n = 989), middle (n = 432), and high (n = 361) school-aged children, respectively. LIG tended to have lower weight, height, and BMI than HIG, but the difference was significant only in the weight and the BMI of the middle school-aged children. The energy intake of LIG didn't differ from that of HIG, but LIG consumed a higher percentage of energy from carbohydrate and a lower percentage of energy from fat than HIG. Some micronutrient intake was lower in LIG than HIG in case of the elementary and the middle school-aged children. The average numbers of servings of milk dairy products and fruits consumed by LIG were significantly lower than those consumed by HIG in the elementary and the middle school-aged children, and they were less than the respective recommended serving. The average number of servings of meat fish egg beans consumed by LIG was lower than that consumed by HIG in the middle and the high school-aged children, and it was also less than the recommended serving. The results suggested that the diet of children from low-income families should be intervened by strategies different from the other children in order to improve the consumption level of milk dairy products, fruits, and meat fish egg beans.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.407-414
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of dietary betaine on nutrient digestibility and physiological responses in finishing pigs. A total of twelve pigs with a body weight of $80.1{\pm}3.7kg$ were individually caged, and randomly assigned to one of the two experimental diets containing 0 (control) or 5 g/kg (treatment) of the betaine in a $2{\times}2$ Latin square design. The experimental period was 14 days-7 days adaptation and 7 days trial period-per phase. All data for the difference between control and treatment groups were statistically analyzed by student's t-test. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility in the treatment group were significantly improved by 1% and 1.3%, respectively, as compared with those in the control (p<0.05). The apparent absorption of dietary energy was increased from 82.3% to 83.7% by dietary betaine supplementation. Thus, the retention of energy was also significantly increased to above 6% in the treatment group compared with the control group (control 4,057 vs treatment 4,314 kcal; p<0.01). The physiological parameters indicating serum biochemical contents and stress-, immune-, and inflammatory- responses were not changed by the supplementation of dietary betaine. In conclusion, dietary betaine improves the nutrient digestibility without any negative effects in terms of physiology in finishing pigs. It suggests that the supplementation of dietary betaine may increase the productivity through the improvement of weight gain and feeding efficiency.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect on the selectivity on of high-voltage rectification device that measured the performance of the grid, and the contrast improvement ability (K factor) by measuring the scattered radiation content of the transmitted X-rays. The scattered radiation generated when the X-ray flux comes from the diagnostic X-ray generator that passes through an object. Targeting four different rectifications of X-ray generators, the mean value of the tube voltage and the tube current was measured in order to maximize the accuracy of the generating power dose within the same exposure condition. Using fluorescence meter, the content of the scattered rays that are transmitted through the acrylic was measured depending on the grid usage. When grid is not used, the content of the scattered rays was the lowest (34.158%) with the single-phase rectifier, was increased with the inverter rectifier (37.043%) and the three-phase 24-peak rectification method (37.447%). The difference of the scattered radiation content of each device was significant from the lowest 0.404% to the highest 3.289% while using 8:1 grid, the content of the scattered ray was the lowest with the single content of the scattered ray was the lowest with the single-phase rectifier (18.258%), was increased with the rectifier (25.502%) and the 24-peaks rectification (24.217%). Furthermore, there was difference up to content 7.244% to the lowest content 1.285% within three-phase 24-peaks rectification, inverter rectifications, and single-phase rectifier depending on the selectivity of the grid. Drawn from the statistical analysis, there was a similar relationship between the contrast improvement factor and the K factor. As a result, the grid selectivity and the contrast were increased within the single-phase rectifier rather than the constant voltage rectifier.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.120-135
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• 2000

Objective ; The purpose of this study is to find out the constitutional symptomatic pattern of Soyangin and Taeumin through investigation of difference between two groups in stroke. Method ; 70 inpatients(Soyangin 31, Taeumin 39) in stroke, admitted into Kyung-Hee Oriental Hospital from 1. July. 1999 to 20. Sept. 1999, were investigated through questionnare which consists of 16 parts 155 questions, and the problems which have significant difference between Soyangin and Taeumin group were analyzed statistically. Result 1. The analysis of general characteristic difference between Soyangin and Taeumin group (1) The number of Soyangin patients is 31, Taeumin 39 and the number of Male patients 43, Female 27. (2) The mean weight of Taeumin group is heavier than that of Soyangin group and the degree of obesity of Taeumin group higher. (3) The number of patients who have smoking history is more at Soyangin group. (4) In neurological problem, dizziness is more complained of in Soyangin group. 2. The analysis about the result of Questionnare (1) In problems related with 'Sleeping', the time of going to bed and getting up and the duration of sleeping are more irregular in Taeumin group. (2) In problems related with 'Defecation', the shape of stool is more variable in Taeumin group. (3) In problems related with 'Urination', Soyangin group have more complaint. (4) In problems related with 'The condition of digestion', Taeumin group have a good appetite and more compalint in lower abdominal region, but on the contrary Soyangin group lose appetite and have more complaint in upper abdominal region. (5) In problems related with 'Head and Face', Soyangin group have more complaint. (6) In problems related with 'Eye, Ear and Nose', Soyangin group have more complaint at eye and ear. (7) In promlems related with 'Chest region', Soyangin group easily feel choked up and Taeumin group heart throbs. (8) In problems related with 'Skin', Taeumin group easily feel change of color tone at skin and Soyangin group dry.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1075-1082
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• 2002

Purpose : Obesity is known to be associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver and is thought to be associated with increased levels of free fatty acids. One of the strategies for decreasing free fatty acid levels is stimulation of hepatic lipid oxidation with L-carnitine. Carnitine is an essential cofactor for transport of long-chain fatty acid into mitochondria for oxidation. This study was designed to evaluate the changes of serum fatty acids and carnitine levels after exogenous injection of L-carnitine. Methods : Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Group A was control. Group B was given intraperitoneal injection with L-carnitine(200 mg/kg) daily for two weeks. Serum lipid (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) and fatty acid levels were analyzed on the first day of the first and second weeks after injection of L-carnitine. Total, free, and acyl carnitine levels also were performed by a enzymatic cycling techniques at the same day intervals. Results : There was no significant difference between the two groups in total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels before and after the administration of L-carnitine. But triglyceride levels were significantly decreased at the first week in group B compared with group A. Among free fatty acids, linoleic acid showed significant decrement(A group : $131.3{\pm}31.3mg/dL$ vs B group : $90.0{\pm}7.0mg/dL$) at the first week. Total, free, and acyl carnitine levels showed significant increments at all days intervals, but only free carnitine showed significant increments according to cumulative doses of carnitine. Conclusion : Plasma linoleic acid, a long-chain fatty acid, showed significant decrement after administration of L-carnitine in the first week. This may suggest that L-carnitine can be used as an antilipidemic agent for obese patients. A prospective study will investigate obese children in the future.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.257-262
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• 2006

Purpose: The standard protocol using large volume of oral contrast media may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and contrast-related artifacts in PET/CT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of low dose oral contrast in $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the whole-body PET/CT images in a total of 435 patients. About 200 ml of oval contrast agent (barium sulfate) was administered immediately before injection of $^{18}F-FDG$. The FDG uptake of intestines was analyzed by visual and semi- quantitative method on transaxial, coronal and saggital planes. Results: Seventy (16%, 113 sites) of 435 images showed high FDG uptake (peak SUV > 4); 50 (74%, 84 sites) with diffuse and 20 (15%, 29 sites) with focal uptake. The most commonly delivered site of oral contrast media was small bowel (n=27, 39%). On PET/CT images, FDG uptake coexisted with oral contrast media in 26 patients (54%, 38 sites) with diffuse pattern and 9 (45%, 9 sites) with focal pattern, and by sites, those were 38 (45%) and 9 (31%), respectively. In small bowel regions, the proportion of coexistence reached as high as 61% (29/47 sites). A visual analysis of available non-attenuation corrected PET images of 27 matched regions revealed no contrast-related artifact. Conclusion: We concluded that the application of low dose contrast media could be helpful in the evaluation of abdominal uptake in the FDG PET/CT image.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.247-257
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• 2014

The construction of eight large weirs in the Nakdong River, Korea, caused a decrease in the water flow velocity and several physical changes to the water environment. Here, changes in phyto- and zooplankton communities and water quality in the areas near the eight weirs were investigated from 2011 to 2013, and relationships between phytoplankton abundances and environmental factors were analyzed. Special emphasis was given to the succession patterns in algal abundance based on temperature fluctuations. At the eight weirs, 24 dominant species were found. The most abundant phytoplankton species was Stephanodiscus sp. (39.4% of dominant frequency). Cyanobacteria of the genus Microcystis dominated during the summer, with an dominant frequency of 8.5% and cell abundance ratio of 36.6%. Significant correlations were observed between temperature and abundance of eight of the main dominant species; seven species showed positive correlations with temperature. Stephanodiscus sp., however, showed a negative correlation with temperature (r=-0.26, p<0.01). In addition, this species showed a significant negative correlation with the dominant algal species-Aulacoseira granulata and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, with the zooplankton Copepoda and with Cladocera. On the contrary, seven other dominant species of algae showed significant positive correlations with zooplankton. Thus, we showed that the seasonal succession of plankton communities in the Nakdong River was related to the water temperature changes.