• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.721-736
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• 2022

Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common valvular heart diseases and the number of patients with AS is expected to increase globally as the older population is growing fast. Since the majority of patients are elderly, AS is no longer a simple valvular heart disease of left ventricular outflow obstruction but is accompanied by other cardiac and comorbid conditions. Because of the significant variations of the disease, identifying patients at high risk and even earlier detection of patients with AS before developing symptomatic severe AS is becoming increasingly important. With the proven of efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the severe AS population, there is a growing interest in applying TAVR in those with less than severe AS. A medical therapy to reduce or prevent the progression in AS is actively investigated by several randomized control trials. In this review, we will summarize the most recent findings in AS and discuss potential future management strategies of patients with AS.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1994

To understand the molecular mechanism of hardening process in somatic embryo development and artificial seed germination in celery (Apium graveolens L.), the changes of protein synthesis by ABA or cold teatment at early globular stage were examined. Protein content and nitrate reductase activity in ABA- or cold-treated somatic embryo and seedlings were higher than that in unheated ones. The protein content and nitrate reductase activity were more prominent in somatic embryos than in seedlings. From two-dimensional electrophoresis, several protein spots specific to ABA or cold treatment were identified: 30 KD, 32 KD, 171 KD and 205 KD at heart-shaped stage; and 29 KD, 33 KD, 37 KD, 38 KD, 41 KD, 55 KD, 66 KD, and 110 KD at cotyledonary stage were the most specifically synthesized However the synthesis of certain polypeptides were repressed at heart-shaped or cotyledonary stage: 42 KD, 44 KD, 59 KD, 64 KD, 101 KD, 104 KD, and 190 KD at heart-shaped stage; and 29 KD and 116 KD at cotyledonary stage. The protein pattern changes by ABA or cold treatment occurred simultaneously and mainly in acid-soluble proteins during somatic embryo development and artificial seed germination. Therefore it is suggested that the metabolic changes for adaptation to environmental change occur during somatic embryo development and the germination and growth of seedling from embryo.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2015

Background: We evaluated operative outcomes after third or more cardiac operations for valvular heart disease, and analyzed whether pericardial coverage with artificial membrane is helpful for subsequent reoperation. Methods: From 2000 to 2012, 149 patients (male : female=70 : 79; mean age at operation, $57.0{\pm}11.3$ years) underwent their third to fifth operations for valvular heart disease. Early results were compared between patients who underwent their third operation (n=114) and those who underwent fourth or fifth operation (n=35). Outcomes were also compared between 71 patients who had their pericardium open during the previous operation and 27 patients who had artificial membrane coverage. Results: Intraoperative adverse events occurred in 22 patients (14.8%). Right atrium (n=6) and innominate vein (n=5) were most frequently injured. In-hospital mortality rate was 9.4%. Total cardiopulmonary bypass time ($225{\pm}77$ minutes vs. $287{\pm}134$ minutes, p=0.012) and the time required to prepare aortic cross clamp ($209{\pm}57$ minutes vs. $259{\pm}68$ minutes, p<0.001) increased as reoperations were repeated. However, intraoperative event rate (13.2% vs. 20.0%), in-hospital mortality (9.6% vs. 8.6%) and postoperative complications were not statistically different according to the number of previous operations. Pericardial closure using artificial membrane at previous operation was not beneficial in reducing intraoperative events (25.9% vs. 18.3%) and shortening operation time preparing aortic cross clamp ($248{\pm}64$ minutes vs. $225{\pm}59$ minutes) as compared to no-closure. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes of the third or more operations for valvular heart disease were acceptable in terms of intraoperative adverse events and in-hospital mortality rates. There were no differences in the incidence of intraoperative adverse events, early mortality and postoperative complications between third cardiac operation and fourth or more.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2012

Purpose: The forehead flap is the workhorse in nasal reconstruction, which provides a similar skin color, texture, structure, and reliability. There are some disadvantages, including donor site morbidities, 2- or 3-stage operations, and postoperative management after initial flap transfer. Furthermore, there has been little attention to the exposed raw surface wound, after the first stage of an operation. This article describes the authors' modification to overcome this problem, using artificial collagen membrane. Methods: An Artificial collagen membrane is composed of an outer silicone membrane and an inner collagen layer. After a forehead flap elevation, the expected raw surface was covered by an artificial collagen membrane with 5-0 nylon suture. A simple dressing, which had been applied to the site, was changed every 2 or 3 days in an outpatient unit. At 3 weeks postprocedure, a second stage operation was performed. Results: With biosynthetic protection of the raw surface, there were no wound problems, such as infection or flap loss. Thus, the patient was satisfied due to an effortless management of the wound and a reduction in pain. Conclusion: The application of an artificial collagen membrane to the raw under-surface of the flap could be a comfortable and a protective choice for this procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2019

Objective : This study is a retrospective cost-benefit analysis of cervical anterior interbody fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement, which are the main surgical methods to treat degenerative cervical disc disease. Methods : We analyzed 156 patients who underwent anterior cervical disc fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009, diagnosed with degenerative cervical disc disorder. In this study, the costs and benefits were analyzed by using quality adjusted life year (QALY) as the outcome index for patients undergoing surgery, and a Markov model was used for the analysis. Only direct medical costs were included in the analysis; indirect medical costs were excluded. Data were analyzed with TreeAge Pro $2015^{TM}$ (TreeAge Software, Inc, Williamstown, MA, USA). Results : Patients who underwent cervical anterior fusion had a total cost of KRW 2501807/USD 2357 over 5 years and obtained a utility of 3.72 QALY. Patients who underwent cervical artificial disc replacement received 4.18 QALY for a total of KRW 3685949/USD 3473 over 5 years. The cumulative cost-effectiveness ratio of cervical spine replacement surgery was KRW 2549511/QALY (USD 2402/QALY), which was lower than the general Korean payment standard. Conclusion : Both cervical anterior fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement are cost-effective treatments for patients with degenerative cervical disc disease. Cervical artificial disc replacement may be an effective alternative to obtain more benefits.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.359-362
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• 2001

Traditionally, Cordyceps species have been used as a part of herbal medicine in Oriental countries, including Korea a for intemal health, vigorosity and to cure different diseases related to heart, lung etc. In the recent years, research on artificial fruiting of different Cordyceps species including C. militaris has been carried out in the world because of their medicinal value. Variationas well as instability occur during artificial fruiting. Instability observed in the in vitro fruiting of C. militaris is reported in the present study.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.27-33
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• 2001

The aim of the present work is to propose a model for Computer Aided programming of numerical Control lathe. This model is based on the concept by features. It has been developed in an Artificial Intelligence environment, that offers a rapidity as well as a precision for NC code elaboration. In this study a pre-processor has been elaborated to study the geometry of turning workpiece. This pre-processor is a hybrid system which combine a module of design by features and a module of features recognition for a piece provided from an other CAD software. Then, we have conceived a processor that is the heart of the CAD/CAM software. The main functions are to study the fixture of the workpiece, to choose automatically manufacturing cycles, to choose automatically cutting tools (the most relevant), to simulate tool path of manufacturing and calculate cutting conditions, end to elaborate a typical manufacturing process. Finally, the system generates the NC program from information delivered by the processor.

• International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2004

Circulatory disease is the number two cause of death next to cancer in Korea, while the cardiovascular disease alone is the number one cause of death in the US. In the present article, some background, current status and future prospects of biomedical engineering esearch on circulatory disorders are discussed in terms of the origin of atherosclerosis, computational fluid dynamics and medical imaging techniques, clinical treatments and fluid dynamics, advances in stents, hemodynamic analysis of artificial heart, and artificial blood. In particular, the importance of close collaboration of medicine and fluids engineering is emphasized.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.142-150
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• 2014

In the cardiopulmonary support system with an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a higher pump head is demanded for a blood pump. In order to realize a blood pump with higher pump head, higher anti-hemolysis and thrombosis performances, a study on the development of unprecedented multistage blood pump was conducted. In consideration of the application of the blood pump for pediatric patients, a miniature two-stage centrifugal blood pump with the impeller's diameter of 40mm was designed and the performance was examined in experiments and computations. Some useful knowledge for a design of the blood pump with higher anti-hemolysis and thrombosis performances was obtained.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 1991

Balancing left/right cardiac output is essential for the automatic control of total artificial hearts(TAH). A fuzzy logic-based control method is presented. We use left atrial pressure( LAP) ann right a'rial pressure( RAP ) as indicators for left/right balancing. The fuzzy controller has four input variables which are measured LAP and RAP and their gradients. Desired variations in left cardiac output(LCO) and right cardiac output(RCO) are cal- culated to keep LAP and RAP within the Physiological limlts. Computer simulations were performed to adjust fuzzy membership functions for variables and verify this control method. Results from simulations showed that LAP and RAP returned to the physiological limits while AoP and PAP stayed within the physiological limits.