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Study of Iodide Adsorption on Organobentonite using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (X-선 흡수분광기를 이용한 유기벤토나이트의 요오드 흡착연구)

  • Yoon, Ji-Hae;Ha, Ju-Young;Hwang, Jin-Yeon;Hwang, Byoung-Hoon;Gordon E. Brown, Jr.
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.23-34
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    • 2009
  • The adsorption of iodide on untreated bentonite and bentonites modified with organic cation (i.e., hexadecylpyridinium chloride monohydrate ($HDP^+$)) was investigated, and the organobentonites were characterized using uptake measurements, ${\mu}$-XRD, and electrophoretic mobilities measurement. Uptake measurements indicate that bentonite has a high affinity for $HDP^+$. Our ${\mu}$-XRD study indicates that organobentonites significantly expanded in basal spacing and organic cations were substantially intercalated into the interlayer spaces of bentonite. The electrophoretic mobility indicates that organobentonite tht is modified with organic cations in excess of the CEC of bentonite is completely different from untreated bentonite in the surface charge distribution. We found significant differences in adsorption capacities of iodide depending on the bentonite properties as follows: iodide adsorption capacities were 439 mmol/kg for the bentonite modified with $HDP^+$ at an equivalent amount corresponding to 200% of the CEC of bentonite whereas no adsorption of iodide was observed for the untreated bentonite. The molecular environments of iodine adsorbed on organobentonites were further studied using I K-edge and $L_{III}$-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) of iodine spectra from organobentonites was similar to that of KI reference solution. Linear combination fitting of EXAFS data suggests the fraction of iodine reacted with the organic compound increased with increasing loading of the organic compound on organobentonites. In this study, we observed significant differences in the adsorption environments of iodide depending on the modified property of bentonite and suggest that an organobentonite has potential as reactive barrier material around a nuclear waste repository containing anionic radioactive iodide.

Mammalian Cloning by Nuclear transfer, Stem Cell, and Enzyme Telomerase (핵치환에 의한 cloning, stem cell, 그리고 효소 telomerase)

  • 한창열
    • Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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    • v.27 no.6
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    • pp.423-428
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    • 2000
  • In 1997 when cloned sheep Dolly and soon after Polly were born, it had become head-line news because in the former the nucleus that gave rise to the lamb came from cells of six-year-old adult sheep and in the latter case a foreign gene was inserted into the donor nucleus to make the cloned sheep produce human protein, factor IX, in e milk. In the last few years, once the realm of science fiction, cloned mammals especially in livestock have become almost commonplace. What the press accounts often fail to convey, however, is that behind every success lie hundreds of failures. Many of the nuclear-transferred egg cells fail to undergo normal cell divisions. Even when an embryo does successfully implant in the womb, pregnancy often ends in miscarriage. A significant fraction of the animals that are born die shortly after birth and some of those that survived have serious developmental abnormalities. Efficiency remains at less than one % out of some hundred attempts to clone an animal. These facts show that something is fundamentally wrong and enormous hurdles must be overcome before cloning becomes practical. Cloning researchers now tent to put aside their effort to create live animals in order to probe the fundamental questions on cell biology including stem cells, the questions of whether the hereditary material in the nucleus of each cell remains intact throughout development, and how transferred nucleus is reprogrammed exactly like the zygotic nucleus. Stem cells are defined as those cells which can divide to produce a daughter cell like themselves (self-renewal) as well as a daughter cell that will give rise to specific differentiated cells (cell-differentiation). Multicellular organisms are formed from a single totipotent stem cell commonly called fertilized egg or zygote. As this cell and its progeny undergo cell divisions the potency of the stem cells in each tissue and organ become gradually restricted in the order of totipotent, pluripotent, and multipotent. The differentiation potential of multipotent stem cells in each tissue has been thought to be limited to cell lineages present in the organ from which they were derived. Recent studies, however, revealed that multipotent stem cells derived from adult tissues have much wider differentiation potential than was previously thought. These cells can differentiate into developmentally unrelated cell types, such as nerve stem cell into blood cells or muscle stem cell into brain cells. Neural stem cells isolated from the adult forebrain were recently shown to be capable of repopulating the hematopoietic system and produce blood cells in irradiated condition. In plants although the term$\boxDr$ stem cell$\boxUl$is not used, some cells in the second layer of tunica at the apical meristem of shoot, some nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac, and initial cells of adventive buds are considered to be equivalent to the totipotent stem cells of mammals. The telomere ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes cannot be replicated because the RNA primer at the end of a completed lagging strand cannot be replaced with DNA, causing 5' end gap. A chromosome would be shortened by the length of RNA primer with every cycle of DNA replication and cell division. Essential genes located near the ends of chromosomes would inevitably be deleted by end-shortening, thereby killing the descendants of the original cells. Telomeric DNA has an unusual sequence consisting of up to 1,000 or more tandem repeat of a simple sequence. For example, chromosome of mammal including human has the repeating telomeric sequence of TTAGGG and that of higher plant is TTTAGGG. This non-genic tandem repeat prevents the death of cell despite the continued shortening of chromosome length. In contrast with the somatic cells germ line cells have the mechanism to fill-up the 5' end gap of telomere, thus maintaining the original length of chromosome. Cem line cells exhibit active enzyme telomerase which functions to maintain the stable length of telomere. Some of the cloned animals are reported prematurely getting old. It has to be ascertained whether the multipotent stem cells in the tissues of adult mammals have the original telomeres or shortened telomeres.

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The Influence of Attachment Type on the Distribution of Occlusal Force in Implant Supported Overdentures (하악 임플란트 오버덴쳐에서 어태치먼트 종류에 따른 응력분포)

  • Sung, Chai-Ryun;Cho, In-Ho
    • Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.375-390
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    • 2009
  • Statement of problem: Implant supported overdenture is accepted widely as a way to restore edentulous ridge providing better retention and support of dentures. Various types of attachment for overdenture have been developed. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of attachment type in implant overdentures on the biomechanical stress distribution in the surrounding bone, prosthesis and interface between implant and bone. Material and methods: Finite element analysis method was used. Average CT image of mandibular body(Digital $Korea^{(R)}$, KISTI, Korea) was used to produce a mandibular model. Overdentures were placed instead of mandibular teeth and 2mm of mucosa was inserted between the overdenture and mandible. Two implants($USII^{(R)}$, Osstem, Korea) were placed at both cuspid area and 4 types of overdenture were fabricated ; ball and socket, Locator, magnet and bar type. Load was applied on the from second premolar to second molar tooth area. 6 times of finite element analyses were performed according to the direction of the force $90^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $0^{\circ}$ and unilateral or bilateral force applied. The stress at interface between implants and bone, and prosthesis and the bone around implants ware compared using von Mises stress. The results were explained with color coded graphs based on the equivalent stress to distinguish the force distribution pattern and the site of maximum stress concentration. Results: Unilateral loading showed that connection area between implant fixture and bar generated maximum stress in bar type overdentures. Bar type produced 100 Mpa which means the most among 4 types of attachments. Bilateral loading, however, showed that bar type was more stable than other implants(magnet, ball and socket). 26 Mpa of bar type was about a half of other types on overdenture under $90^{\circ}$ bilateral loading. Conclusions: In any directions of stress, bar type was proved to be the most vulnerable type in both implants and overdentures. Interface stress did not show any significant difference in stress distribution pattern.

Evaluation after Applicated a Mold to a Paraneoplastic Autoimmune Multiorgan Syndrome Patient with Hypervascular Ulcer in the Oral Cavity during Treatment with Mold Brachytherapy (Paraneoplastic Autoimmune Multiorgan Syndrome으로 인하여 구강 내 국소적으로 발생한 과다혈관성 궤양의 방사선 근접치료 시 자체 제작한 Mold의 유용성 평가)

  • Park, Ju-Kyeong;Lee, Sun-Young;Lim, Seok-Geon;Kwak, Geun-Tak;Lee, Seung-Hun;Kim, Yang-Su;Hwang, Ho-In;Cha, Seok-Yong
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.25-31
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    • 2009
  • Purpose: Evaluate the mold we have made to improve the reproducibility of the patient position and make homogeneous dose distribution to the treatment volume effectively when treating the patient who has hypervascular ulcer on her tongue caused by paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome by mold brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: The mold is consisted of upper and lower parts. We inserted 2 mm of lead sheet on the gums toward the oral cavity to protect them from unnecessary irradiation during the treatment. We had planned on orthogonal images obtained the patient. 200 cGy was delivered in every fraction with a total dose of 3000 cGy. To evaluate the effect of the lead sheet, we made a measurement with a phantom that has gums and tongue made of tissue with an equivalent material (bolus). Five of TLDs were placed on the interesting points of gums to measure the dose during irradiation with lead sheet and without lead sheet for three times respectively. Results: The result of the measurement without lead sheet are A: 33.9 cGy, B: 30.1 cGy, C: 31.8 cGy, D: 23.3 cGy, E: 24.1 cGy. The results of measurement with lead sheet are A: 20.6 cGy, B: 18.8 cGy, C: 19.6 cGy, D: 14.7 cGy, E: 15.1 cGy. Conclusion: Since we are using the mold made in our department during the treatment of the patient with hypervascular ulcer on tongue, we could deliver a proper dose to the treatment volume. In addition, the mold provided highly accurate and reproducible treatment and reduced the dose to the gums and teeth. Therefore, the possibility of side effects could be decreased significantly.

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Effect of Tightening Torque on Abutment-Fixture Joint Stability using 3-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis (임플란트 지대주나사의 조임회전력이 연결부 안정성에 미치는 영향에 관한 3차원 유한요소해석 연구)

  • Eom, Tae-Gwan;Suh, Seung-Woo;Jeon, Gyeo-Rok;Shin, Jung-Wook;Jeong, Chang-Mo
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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    • v.47 no.2
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    • pp.125-135
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    • 2009
  • Statement of problem: Loosening or fracture of the abutment screw is one of the common problems related to the dental implant. Generally, in order to make the screw joint stable, the preload generated by tightening torque needs to be increased within the elastic limit of the screw. However, additional tensile forces can produce the plastic deformation of abutment screw when functional loads are superimposed on preload stresses, and they can elicit loosening or fracture of the abutment screw. Therefore, it is necessary to find the optimum tightening torque that maximizes a fatigue life and simultaneously offer a reasonable degree of protection against loosening. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present the influence of tightening torque on the implant-abutment screw joint stability with the 3 dimensional finite element analysis. Material and methods: In this study, the finite element model of the implant system with external butt joint connection was designed and verified by comparison with additional theoretical and experimental results. Four different amount of tightening torques(10, 20, 30 and 40 Ncm) and the external loading(250 N, $30^{\circ}$) were applied to the model, and the equivalent stress distributions and the gap distances were calculated according to each tightening torque and the result was analyzed. Results: Within the limitation of this study, the following results were drawn; 1) There was the proportional relation between the tightening torque and the preload. 2) In case of applying only the tightening torque, the maximum stress was found at the screw neck. 3) The maximum stress was also shown at the screw neck under the external loading condition. However in case of applying 10 Ncm tightening torque, it was found at the undersurface of the screw head. 4) The joint opening was observed under the external loading in case of applying 10 Ncm and 20 Ncm of tightening torque. 5) When the tightening torque was applied at 40 Ncm, under the external loading the maximum stress exceeded the allowable stress value of the titanium alloy. Conclusion: Implant abutment screw must have a proper tightening torque that will be able to maintain joint stability of fixture and abutment.

Effect of Sex Education on Middle School Students' Access to the Obscene Online Computer and Video Film Contents (성교육이 중학생의 컴퓨터와 비디오 음란물 접촉에 미치는 효과)

  • Woo, Hae-Ja;Kim, Chung-Nam;Park, Kyung-Min
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.795-814
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    • 2001
  • To evaluate the effect of sex education on middle school students' access to the obscene online computer and video film contents. 154 students were selected as experimental group. and 154 students were selected as control group, sampled randomly from Andong. Kyungbook, Korea. An analysis was performed. A non-equivalent control group pre test-post test research design was used. The data were collected from April 2nd to April 19th. 2001. A pre-survey was done on general characteristics and the condition of accessing obscene online computer and video film contents on both experimental and control group. From the survey results information. sex education contents were put together. The researcher organized 3 ready-made sex education program and explained to the four school health nurses about the ready-made sex education program step by step and they educated their selected students with three classes of 45 minutes lecture. Two weeks after the last lecture, a post-test was conducted. Four weeks from the last lecture, another post-test was conducted. The existing studies by Choi Yongseon(1998) and Kim Hyeok(1998) were reviewed and two professors in the department of community health nursing advised on the study questionnaire writing. An SPSS Win 10.0 was used. The data of respondents' general characteristics were analyzed using frequency and percentage. $X^2$ test was used to verify the homogeneity of the experimental group and the control group. Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to find out whether sex education had an effect on the awareness of obscene online computer and video film contents and under-age prostitution through the online computer networks. and time and frequency of access to the obscene online computer and video film contents. The results of the study are as follow. 1. The results of the verification of homogeneity between the experimental group and the control group showed that there was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group. 2. The first hypothesis, 'the experimental group which received sex education would have a higher level of awareness of accessing obscene contents than the control group which did not receive the education' was supported at p<0.0001. 3. The second hypothesis. 'the experimental group which received sex education would have a higher level of awareness of underage prostitution on computer networks than the control group which did not receive the education' was supported at p<0.05. 4. The third hypothesis, 'the experimental group which received sex education would spend time less accessing obscene video and computer contents than the control group which did not receive the education' was rejected at p>.05. 5. The 4-1 hypothesis. 'the experimental group which received sex education would access obscene computer contents less frequently than the control group which did not receive the education' was supported at p<0.0001. 6. The 4-2 hypothesis, 'the experimental group which received sex education would access obscene video contents less frequently than the control group which did not receive the education' was supported at p<0.0001. In conclusion, a systematic step-by-step sex education program should be developed to protect middle school students from the harmful online computer and video film access. An effective teaching material for sex education should be prepared to decrease middle school students' access to obscene online computer and video film contents.

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In Vivo Preperation of Standard Reference Materials of Lead in Blood (생체내 혈중 납 표준물질의 제조)

  • Chung, Kyou-Chull;Choi, Ho-Chun
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.28 no.4 s.51
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    • pp.863-873
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    • 1995
  • This report describes a preperation and characterization of canine blood lead(Pb) standard reference material(SRM). Three adult beagle dogs(A, B, and C)were orally dosed with gelatin capsules containing $Pb(NO_3)_2$, equivalent to $10\sim80mg$ Pb/kg body weight. Blood was drawn 24 hours after the dose from the cephalic vein into lead free 500ml Pyrex beaker in which EDTA.K was contained as an anticoagulant. The amount of lead given to individual dog was varied arbitrarily. Three month later, 3 canine animals were orally dosed with lead secondarily to make mixed SRM(D1) which was mixed different concentrations of lead in bloods with A1, B1, and C1 in vitro. The SRMs for A, B, C, A1, B1, C1, and D1 were distributed 2ml each into more than 300 lead free bottles, and were stored in refregerator at $4^{\circ}C$. The amount of lead in canine whole blood samples were determined using a Varian 30A atomic absorption spectrophotometer(AAS) with a model GTA-96 graphite tube atomizer with D2 background correction and a Hitachi Z-8100 AAS with Zeeman background correction. The sensitivity and detection limits for lead determination of Varian 30A were $0.46{\mu}g/L,\;0.34{\mu}g/L,\;and\;0.56{\mu}g/L,\;0.14{\mu}g/L$ of Hitachi Z-8100, respectively. Day to day variations in determination of blood lead concentration in a certain sample were $31.11{\pm}1.36{\mu}g/100ml$ by Varian 30A, and $33.08{\pm}0.82{\mu}g/100ml$ by Hitachi Z-8100, showing the difference of 3% between the two results. At the blood lead concentrations of $56.31{\pm}1.98{\mu}g/100ml(A),\;40.89{\pm}0.80{\mu}g/100ml(B),\;59.01{\pm}1.38{\mu}g/100ml(C)$, the precisions of replicated measurements by AAS were 3.52%, 1.96%, and 2.34%, respectively. Coefficient variation(CV) of SRMs(A, B, and C) within a standard sample were ranged from 0.92% to 7.50%, and those between 5 standard samples were 1.21%, 2.64%, and 1.11%, respectively, showing inter-vial variation of $1{\mu}g/100ml$. Lead levels in SRMs during one month storage were unchanged. The overall recoveries were $89.6\sim100.4%,\;91.6\sim101.9%,\;90.3\sim100.0%$ for A, B, and C SRMs, means were $56.46{\pm}2.69{\mu}g/100ml,\;39.35{\pm}1.89{\mu}g/100ml,\;57.40{\pm}2.31{\mu}g/100ml$, and measurement ranges were$52.88{\pm}59.26{\mu}g/100ml,\;37.47{\pm}41.68{\mu}g/100ml,\;54.80{\pm}60.69{\mu}g/100ml$, respectively. Those results were laid within confidence limits values. The lead concentrations in the mixed sample(D1) stored over one month period were ranged from $32.76{\mu}g/100ml\;to\;33.54{\mu}g/100ml$, with CV ranging from 1.2% to 2.7%. The results were similiar to each of single samples(A1, B1, and C1) in respect of homogeneity and stability. Results of the mixed blood sample analysed after 1 month storage at $4^{\circ}C$ by four other laboratories(L1, L2, L3, L4) were similar with those of our laboratory($L5;31.18{\pm}0.24{\mu}g/100ml$, acceptable range by $CDC;25.18\sim37.18{\mu}g/100ml$), showing the concentrations of $25.91{\pm}1.19{\mu}g/100ml(L1),\;34.16{\pm}0.22{\mu}g/100ml(L2),\;35.68{\pm}0.85{\mu}g/100ml(L3),\;30.95{\pm}0.46{\mu}g/100ml(L4)$ in a each samples.

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Study on Image Quality Assessment in Whole Body Bone Scan (전신 뼈검사에서의 영상 평가 연구)

  • Kwon, Oh Jun;Hur, Jae;Lee, Han Wool;Kim, Joo Yeon;Park, Min Soo;Roo, Dong Ook;Kang, Chun Goo;Kim, Jae Sam
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.30-36
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    • 2015
  • Purpose Whole body bone scan, which makes up a largest percentage of nuclear medicine tests, has high sensitivity and resolution about bone lesion like osteomyelitis, fracture and the early detection of primary cancer. However, any standard for valuation has not yet been created except minimum factor. Therefore, in this study, we will analysis the method which show a quantitative evaluation index in whole body bone scan. Materials and Methods This study is conducted among 30 call patients, who visited the hospital from April to September 2014 with no special point of view about bone lesion, using GE INFINIA equipment. Enumerated data is measured mainly with patient's whole body count and lumbar vertabrae, and the things which include CNR (Contrast to Noise ratio), SNR (Signal to Noise ratio) are calculated according to the mean value signal and standard deviation of each lumbar vertabrae. In addition, the numerical value with the abdominal thickness is compared to each value by the change of scan speed and tissue equivalent material throughout the phantom examination, and compared with 1hours deleyed value. Completely, on the scale of ten, 2 reading doctors and 5 skilled radiologists with 5-years experience analysis the correlation between visual analysis with blind test and quantitative calculation. Results The whole body count and interest region count of patients have no significant correlation with visual analysis value throughout the blind test(P<0.05). There is definite correlation among CNR and SNR. In phantom examination, Value of the change was caused by the thickness of the abdomen and the scan speed. And The poor value of the image in the subject as a delay test patient could be confirmed that the increase tendency. Conclusion Now, a standard for valuation has not been created in whole body bone scan except minimum factor. In this study, we can verify the significant correlation with blind test using CNR and SNR and also assure that the scan speed is a important factor to influence the imagine quality from the value. It is possible to be some limit depending on the physiology function and fluid intake of patient even if we progress the evaluation in same condition include same injection amount, same scan speed and so on. However, that we prove the significant evaluation index by presenting quantitative calculation objectively could be considered academic value.

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A Study on the Effect of Metals on Bacteria Adhesion to Zeolite as Bio-media Materials (제올라이트를 이용한 생물막 형성시 미생물의 부착에 금속이 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Jae Keun;Park, In Sun;Park, Jae-Woo
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.29 no.3B
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    • pp.303-310
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    • 2009
  • Natural zeolite is widely used as sorbents and bio-media materials because it is cheap as well as it has efficient porous structures and large cation exchange. In this study, the effect of metal cations $(Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;Al^{3+})$ adsorbed to natural zeolite on the microorganism attachment was investigated. Metal-modified zeolites (MMZ) were prepared with 0.01 M, 0.02 M and 0.1 M NaCl, $CaCl_2$, $MgCl_2$ and $AlCl_3$ solutions respectively, which concentrations were equivalent to 10%, 20% and 100% of cation exchange capacity (CEC) of natural zeolite. Pseudomonas putida was used as microorganism which was cultivated in Beef Extract Medium at $26^{\circ}C$. The microorganism attachment to MMZ was increased more than natural zeolite. The amount of bacterial adhesion to MMZ and natural zeolite were $Mg^{2+}>natural>Na^+>Al^{3+}>Ca^{2+}$ under 10% of CEC, $Mg^{2+}>Ca^{2+}>Al^{3+}>natural>Na^+$ under 20% of CEC and $Ca^{2+}>Mg^{2+}>natural>Al^{3+}>Na^+$ under 100% of CEC. Especially, Mg-modified zeolite (Mg-MZ) showed the highest amount of bacterial adhesion, which increased the microorganism attachment 60% higher than natural zeolite under 10% of CEC. However, the amount of bacterial adhesion was decreased as the concentration of metal cations modified to zeolite were increased, showing that the increased amounts were 60% under 10% of CEC, 50% under 20% of CEC and 10% under 100% of CEC in Mg-MZ. Additionally, the effect of $Mg^{2+}$ in solution on the bacterial adhesion was investigated in order to compare it with the effect of $Mg^{2+}$ adsorbed to zeolite. The maximum quantity of bacterial adhesion to Mg-MZ was not different from the amount of microorganism attachment to the natural zeolite when $Mg^{2+}$ solution was added.

Comparisons of Unicortical and Bicortical Lateral Mass Screws in the Cervical Spine : Safety vs Strength (경추부의 후관절 나사못 고정술에서 단피질삽입법과 양피질 삽입법 간의 특성에 관한 비교)

  • Park, Choon-Keun;Hwang, Jang-Hoe;Ji, Chul;Lee, Jae Un;Sung, Jae Hoon;Choi, Seung-Jin;Lee, Sang-Won;Seybold, Eric;Park, Sung-Chan;Cho, Kyung-Suok;Park, Chun-Kun;Kang, Joon-Ki
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.30 no.10
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    • pp.1210-1219
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    • 2001
  • Introduction : The purpose of this study was to analyze the safety, pullout strength and radiographic characteristics of unicortical and bicortical screws of cervical facet within cadaveric specimens and evaluate the influence of level of training on the positioning of these screws. Methods : Twenty-one cadavers, mean 78.9 years of age, underwent bilateral placement of 3.5mm AO lateral mass screw from C3-C6(n=168) using a slight variation of the Magerl technique. Intraoperative imaging was not used. The right side(unicortical) utilized only 14mm screws(effective length of 11mm) while on the left side to determine the length of the screw after the ventral cortex had been drilled. Three spine surgeons(attending, fellow, chief resident) with varying levels of spine training performed the procedure on seven cadavers each. All spines were harvested and lateral radiographs were taken. Individual cervical vertebrae were carefully dissected and then axial radiographs were taken. The screws were evaluated clinically and radiographically for their safety. Screws were graded clinically for their safety with respect to the spinal cord, facet joint, nerve root and vertebral artery. The grades consisted of the following categories : "satisfactory", "at risk" and "direct injury". Each screw was also graded according to its zone placement. Screw position was quantified by measuring a sagittal angle from the lateral radiograph and an axial angle from the axial radiograph. Pull-out force was determined for all screws using a material testing machine. Results : Dissection revealed that fifteen screws on the left side actually had only unicortical and not bicortical purchase as intended. The majority of screws(92.8%) were satisfactory in terms of safety. There were no injuries to the spinal cord. On the right side(unicortical), 98.9% of the screws were "satisfactory" and on the left side(bicortical) 68.1% were "satisfactory". There was a 5.8% incidence of direct arterial injury and a 17.4% incidence of direct nerve root injury with the bicortical screws. There were no "direct injuries" with the unicortical screws for the nerve root or vertebral artery. The unicortical screws had a 21.4% incidence of direct injury of the facet joint, while the bicortical screws had a 21.7% incidence. The majority of "direct injury" of bicortical screws were placed by the surgeon with the least experience. The performance of the resident surgeon was significantly different from the attending or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the nerve root and vertebral artery. The attending's performance was significantly better than the resident or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the facet joint. There was no relationship between the safety of a screw and its zone placement. The axial deviation angle measured $23.5{\pm}6.6$ degrees and $19.8{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The resident surgeon had a significantly lower angle than the attending or fellow(p<0.05). The sagittal angle measured $66.3{\pm}7.0$ degrees and $62.3{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The attending had a significantly lower sagittal angle than the fellow or resident(p<0.05). Thirty-three screws that entered the facet joint were tested for pull-out strength but excluded from the data because they were not lateral mass screws per-se and had deviated substantially from the intended final trajectory. The mean pull-out force for all screws was $542.9{\pm}296.6N$. There was no statistically significant difference between the pull-out force for unicortical($519.9{\pm}286.9N$) and bicortical($565.2{\pm}306N$) screws. There was no significant difference in pull-out strengths with respect to zone placement. Conclusion : It is our belief that the risk associated with bicortical purchase mandates formal spine training if it is to be done safely and accurately. Unicortical screws are safer regardless of level of training. It is apparent that 14mm lateral mass screws placed in a supero-lateral trajectory in the adult cervical spine provide an equivalent strength with a much lower risk of injury than the longer bicortical screws placed in a similar orientation.

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