• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.145-151
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• 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease and a major cause of dementia in elderly individuals worldwide. Increased deposition of insoluble amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils in the brain is thought be a key neuropathological hallmark of AD. Many recent studies show that natural products such as polyphenolic flavonoids inhibit the formation of insoluble Aβ fibrils and/or destabilize β-sheet-rich Aβ fibrils to form non-cytotoxic aggregates. In the present study, we explored the structure-activity relationship of naturally-occurring biflavonoids on Aβ amyloidogenesis utilizing an in vitro thioflavin T assay with Aβ1-42 peptide which is prone to aggregate more rapidly to fibrils than Aβ1-40 peptide. Among the biflavonoids we tested, we found amentoflavone revealed the most potent effects on inhibiting Aβ1-42 fibrillization (IC₅₀: 0.26 µM), as well as on disassembling preformed Aβ1-42 fibrils (EC₅₀: 0.59 µM). Our structure-activity relationship study suggests that the hydroxyl groups of biflavonoid compounds play an essential role in their molecular interaction with the dynamic process of Aβ1-42 fibrillization. Our atomic force microscopic imaging analysis demonstrates that amentoflavone directly disrupts the fibrillar structure of preformed Aβ1-42 fibrils, resulting in conversion of those fibrils to amorphous Aβ1-42 aggregates. These results indicate that amentoflavone affords the most potent anti-amyloidogenic effects on both inhibition of Aβ1-42 fibrillization and disaggregation of preformed mature Aβ1-42 fibrils.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.123-128
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• 2018

Recently, the use of contrast agents has been increasing as a broader range of tests and dynamic tests have become common due to the development of equipment and imaging techniques such as Multi-Detector CT. However, the side effects of using contrast agents have been reduced by the development of non-ionic contrast agents, but they are still occurring often. The purpose of this study was to propose a method to minimize the side effect of contrast agent by using the amount of contrast agent injected to the brain angiography test to suppress excessive use of contrast agent and analyze the amount of contrast agent. Patients who were prescribed Brain Angiography due to cerebrovascular disease, According to the results of the comparison of the results obtained by dividing into 4 groups of 10ml each according to the amount of contrast medium injected with contrast agent according to the BMI of the patient, BA and SNR were not different between groups, and even if the amount of contrast injection was reduced, there was no problem in the evaluation of CT angiography through 3D reconstruction. This result shows that even if the contrast medium is injected into the blood vessels of the patient first and then the contrast medium is used as the physiological saline solution, the contrast medium is reduced by 40% it can be expected to minimize.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.276-281
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• 2016

Objective : Although trunk muscles in the lumbar spine preserve spinal stability and motility, little is known about the relationship between trunk muscles and spinal fusion rate. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the correlation between trunk muscles cross sectional area (MCSA) and fusion rate after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using stand-alone cages. Methods : A total of 89 adult patients with degenerative lumbar disease who were performed PLIF using stand-alone cages at L4-5 were included in this study. The cross-sectional area of the psoas major (PS), erector spinae (ES), and multifidus (MF) muscles were quantitatively evaluated by preoperative lumbar magnetic resonance imaging at the L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 segments, and bone union was evaluated by dynamic lumbar X-rays. Results : Of the 89 patients, 68 had bone union and 21 did not. The MCSAs at all segments in both groups were significantly different (p<0.05) for the PS muscle, those at L3-4 and L4-5 segments between groups were significantly different (p=0.048, 0.021) for the ES and MF muscles. In the multivariate analysis, differences in the PS MCSA at the L4-5 and L5-S1 segments remained significant (p=0.048, 0.043 and odds ratio=1.098, 1.169). In comparison analysis between male and female patients, most MCSAs of male patients were larger than female's. Fusion rates of male patients (80.7%) were higher than female's (68.8%), too. Conclusion : For PLIF surgery, PS muscle function appears to be an important factor for bone union and preventing back muscle injury is essential for better fusion rate.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.377-380
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study was to determine the anatomic relationships between neurovascular structures and the transverse carpal ligament so as to avoid complications during endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery. Methods : Twenty-eight patients (age range, 35-69 years) with carpal tunnel syndrome were entered into the study. We examined through wrist magnetic resonance imaging in three different positions (neutral, radial flexion, and ulnar flexion) and determined several anatomic landmark (distance from the hamate hook to the median nerve, ulnar nerve, and ulnar vessel) based on the lateral margin of the hook of the hamate. The median nerve and ulnar neurovascular structure were studied with the wrist in the neutral, ulnar, and radial flexion positions. Results : The ulnar neurovascular structures usually passed just over or ulnar to the hook of the hamate. However, in 12 hands, a looped ulnar artery coursed 0.6-3.3 mm radial to the hook of the hamate and continued to the superficial palmar arch. The looped ulnar artery migrates on the ulnar side of Guyon's canal (-5.2-1.8 mm radial to the hook of the hamate) with the wrist in radial flexion. During ulnar flexion of the wrist, the ulnar artery shifts more radially beyond the hook of the hamate (-2.5-5.7 mm). Conclusion : It is appropriate to transect the ligament greater than 4 mm apart from the lateral margin of the hook of the hamate without placing the edge of the scalpel toward the ulnar side. We would also recommend not transecting the transverse carpal ligament in the ulnar flexed wrist position to protect the ulnar neurovascular structure.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.227-231
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• 2017

Purpose: Sialolithiasis is one of the most prevalent large obstructive disorders of the submandibular glands. The aim of this study was to investigate submandibular sialolithiasis with computed tomography (CT) and scintigraphy, with a particular focus on the relationship between CT values of the submandibular glands and their excretion rate. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with submandibular sialolithiasis who underwent CT and salivary gland scintigraphy were included in this study. The relationship between the CT values of submandibular glands with and without sialoliths and salivary gland excretion measured using salivary gland scintigraphy was statistically analyzed. Dynamic images were recorded on the computer at 1 frame per 20 seconds. The salivary gland excretion fraction was defined as A (before stimulation test [counts/frame]) / B (after stimulation test [counts/frame]) using time-activity curves. Results: The CT values in the submandibular glands with and without sialoliths was $9.9{\pm}44.9$ Hounsfield units(HU) and $34.2{\pm}21.8HU$, respectively (P=.233). Regarding the salivary gland excretion fraction using scintigraphy, the A/B value in the submandibular glands with sialoliths ($1.09{\pm}0.23$) was significantly lower than in the submandibular glands without sialoliths($1.99{\pm}0.57$, P=.000). Conclusion: Assessments of the CT values and the salivary gland excretion fraction using scintigraphy in the submandibular glands seem to be useful tools evaluating submandibular sialolithiasis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.523-528
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• 2005

Diblock copolymers with different poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) block lengths were synthesized by ringopening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone in the presence of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-OH, MW 2000) as initiator. The self-aggregation behaviors of the diblock copolymer nanoparticle, prepared by the diafiltration method, were investigated by using $^1H$ NMR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The PEG-PCL block copolymers formed the nano-sized self-aggregate in an aqueous environment by intrsa- and/or intermolecular association between hydrophobic PCL chains. The critical aggregation concentrations (cac) of the block copolymer self-aggregate became lower with increasing hydrophobic PCL block length. On the other hand, reverse trends of mean hydrodynamic diameters were measured by DLS owing to the increasing bulkiness of the hydrophobic chains and hydrophobic interaction between the PCL microdomains. The hydrodynamic diameters of the block copolymer nanoparticles, measured by DLS, were in the range of 65-270 nm. Furthermore, the size of the nanoparticles was scarcely affected by the concentration of the block copolymers in the range of 0.125-5 mg/mL owing to the negligible interparticular aggregation between the self-aggregated nanoparticles. Considered with the fairly low cac and nanoparticle stability, the PEG-PCL nanoparticles can be considered a potential candidate for biomedical applications such as drug carrier or imaging agent.

• 전자공학회논문지SC
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.23-32
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• 2001

전기 임피던스 단층촬영법은 표적의 경계면에서 여러 개의 전극을 통하여 전류를 주입하고 저항률의 함수로써 경계면에 유기되는 전압을 구하고, 경계면에 유기된 전압 값으로부터 표적 내부의 저항률 분포를 추정하여 표적의 영상을 복원하는 비교적 새로운 영상복원법이다. 본 논문에서는, 상태방정식과 측정방정식으로 구성되는 동적 모델에 기초하여, 시간에 따라 변하는 저항률 분포를 온라인으로 추정하기 위해 확장 칼만 필터를 이용한 전기 임피던스 단층촬영법의 영상복원 알고리즘을 제안하였다. 또한, Tikhonov 조정 기법에 근거한 제약조건을 비용함수에 추가하여 역문제의 부정치성을 완화시켰다. 제안된 영상복원 알고리즘의 성능을 검증하기 위해 16 채널에 대한 컴퓨터 시뮬레이션을 수행하였으며, 시간에 따른 표적의 저항률 분포의 변화가 심한 경우에도 비교적 양호한 복원성능을 나타내었다.

• 천문학회보
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.53.1-53.1
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• 2018

During a major solar eruption, the erupting plasma is possibly out of the equilibrium ionization state because of its rapid heating or cooling. The non-equilibrium ionization process is important in a rapidly evolving system where the thermodynamical time scale is shorter than the ionization or recombination time scales. We investigate the effects of non-equilibrium ionization on EUV and X-ray observations by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board Solar Dynamic Observatory and X-ray Telescope (XRT) on board Hinode. For the investigation, first, we find the emissivities for all the lines of ions of elements using CHIANTI 8.07, and then we find the temperature responses multiplying the emissivities by the effective area for each AIA and XRT passband. Second, we obtain the ion fractions using a time-dependent ionization model (Shen et al. 2015), which uses an eigenvalue method, for all the lines of ion, as a function of temperature, and a characteristic time scale, $n_et$, where $n_e$ and t are density and time, respectively. Lastly, the ion fractions are multiplied to the temperature response for each passband, which results in a 2D grid for each combination of temperature and the characteristic time scale. This is the set of passband responses for plasma that is rapidly ionized in a current sheet or a shock. We investigate an observed event which has a relatively large uncertainty in an analysis using a differential emission measure method assuming equilibrium ionization state. We verify whether the observed coronal plasmas are in non-equilibrium or equilibrium ionization state using the passband responses.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.139-144
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• 2012

This study was performed in order to evaluate the occurrence of temporomandibular joint disorder after surgical correction of skeletal class II malocclusion. Materials and Methods: This study included 21 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery for the correction of dentofacial deformities by a single surgeon at Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University from 2000 to 2010. They underwent bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for the treatment of undesirable mandibular advancement. The temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms prior to surgery were recorded and the radiographic evaluation (panorama, bone scan, and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) of the post-surgery temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were assessed in order to evaluate condylar resorption, remodeling and disc displacement. The minimum follow-up period, including orthodontic treatment, was 12 months. Orthognathic procedures included 1-jaw surgery (n=8 patients) and 2-jaw surgery (n=13 patients). The monocortical plate was used for bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy fixation. Results: Among class II malocclusion patients with TMD symptom, clicking improved in 29.1%, and maximum mouth opening increased from $34.5{\pm}2.1$ mm to $37.2{\pm}3.5$ mm. The differences were not statistically significant, however. Radiographic changes in bone scan improved slightly based on the report by radiologist but not in TMJ dynamic MRI. Conclusion: No particular improvements were found in patients with joint sound only. Patients with limitation of mouth opening showed an increase in the degree of opening, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.333-339
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• 2009

Objective : Few studies on the clinical spectrum of automated pressure-controlled discography (APCD)-defined positive discs have been reported to date. Thus, the present study was undertaken to analyze clinical parameters critical for diagnosis of discogenic pain and to correlate imaging findings with intradiscal pressures and pain responses in patients with APCD-positive discs. Methods : Twenty-three patients who showed APCD-positive discs were selected for analysis. CT discogram findings and the degrees of nuclear degeneration seen on MRI were analyzed in comparison to changes of intradiscal pressure that provoked pain responses; and clinical pain patterns and dynamic factors were evaluated in relation to pain provocation. Results : Low back pain (LBP), usually centralized, with diffuse leg pain was the most frequently reported pattern of pain in these patients. Overall, LBP was most commonly induced by sitting posture, however, standing was highly correlated with L5/S1 disc lesions (p<0.01). MRI abnormalities were statistically correlated with grading of CT discogram results (p<005); with most pain response observed in CT discogram Grades 3 and 4. Pain-provoking pressure was not statistically correlated with MRI grading. However, it was higher in Grade 3 than Grade 4. Conclusion : APCD-positive discs were demonstrated in patients reporting centralized low back pain with diffuse leg pain, aggravated by sitting and standing. MRI was helpful to assess the degree of nuclear degeneration, yet it could not guarantee exact localization of the painful discs. APCD was considered to be more useful than conventional discography for diagnosis of discogenic pain.