• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Implantation itself is governed by an array of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine modulators, of embryonic and maternal origin. Window of implantation is the unique temporal and spatial expression of factors allows the embryo to implant via signaling, appositioning, attachment, and invasion in a specific time frame of $2{\sim}4$ days. When the embryo has arrived in the uterine cavity, a preprogrammed sequence of events occurs, which involves the production and secretion of a multitude of biochemical factors such as cytokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules by the endometrium and the embryo, thus leading to the formation of a receptive endometrium. Cytokines such as LIF, CSF-1, and IL-1 have all been shown to play important roles in the cascade of events that leads to implantation. Integrin, L-selectin ligands, glycodelin, mucin-1, HB-EGF and pinopodes are involved in appositioning and attachment. The embryo also produces cytokines and growth factors (ILs, VEGF) and receptors for endometrial signals such as LIF, CSF-1, IGF and HB-EGF. The immune system and angiogenesis play an important role. The usefulness of these factors to assess endometrial receptivity and to estimate the prognosis for pregnancy in natural and artificial cycles remains to be proven. Integrins, pinopodes, glycodelin and LIF (from biopsies) are promising candidates; from uterine flushings, glycodelin and LIF are also candidates. The ideal serum marker is not available, but VEGF, glycodelin and CSF have some clinical implications. Further evaluation that includes larger groups of infertile women and fertile controls are needed to elucidate whether their presence in plasma, flushing fluid, or endometrial samples can be used as some kind of a screening tool to assess endometrial function and prognosis for pregnancy before and after artificial reproductive therapy. A better understanding of their function in human implantation may lead to therapeutic intervention, thereby improving the success rate in reproduction treatment. New molecular techniques are becoming available for measuring both embryonic and endometrial changes prior to and during implantation. The use of predictive sets of markers may prove to be more reliable than a single marker. Ultimately, the aim is to use these tools to increase implantation in artificial cycles and consequently improve live-birth rates.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.60-77
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• 2020

An assumption can be made that, as a start point for the recognition and utilization of cultural heritage, the "choice" of such would reflect the cultural ideology of the ruling power at that time. This has finally been proved by the case of Korea in the 20th century. First, in the late Korean Empire (1901-1910), the prevailing cultural ideology had been inherited from the Joseon Dynasty. The main objects that the Joseon Dynasty tried to protect were royal tombs and archives. During this time, an investigation by the Japanese into Korean historic sites began in earnest. Stung by this, enlightened intellectuals attempted to recognize them as constituting independent cultural heritage, but these attempts failed to be institutionalized. During the 1910-1945 Japanese occupation, the Japanese led investigations to institutionalize Korean cultural heritage, which formed the beginning of the current cultural heritage management system. At that time, the historical investigation, designation, protection, and enhancement activities led by the Japanese Government-General of Korea not only rationalized their colonial occupation of Korea but also illustrated their colonial perspective. Korean nationalists processed the campaign for the love of historical remains on an enlightening level, but they had their limits in that the campaign had been based on the outcome of research planned by the Japanese. During the 1945-2000 period following liberation from Japan, cultural heritage restoration projects took places that were based on nationalist ideology. People intended to consolidate the regime's legitimacy through these projects, and the enactment of the 'Cultural Heritage Charter' in 1997 represented an ideology in itself that stretched beyond a means of promoting nationalist ideology. During the past 20 centuries, cultural heritage content changed depending on the whims of those with political power. Such choices reflected the cultural ideology that the powers at any given time held with regard to cultural heritage. In the background of this cultural heritage choice mechanism, there have been working trade-off relationships formed between terminology and society, as well as the ideological characteristics of collective memories. The ruling party has tried to implant their ideology on their subjects, and we could consider that it wanted to achieve this by being involved in collective memories related to traditional culture, so called-choice, and utilization of cultural heritage.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2019

Purpose: To evaluate the results of tibial lateral plateau fractures using arthroscopic-assisted reduction and internal fixation without cortical window or bone grafts. Materials and Methods: From March 2009 to March 2017, 27 patients with Schatzker type II tibial plateau fractures with articular depression and displacement over 5 mm on a computed tomography (CT) scan, who were treated with arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation and followed-up for at least 18 months, were enrolled in this study. Under arthroscopic guidance, the depressed fracture fragment was reduced using a freer and fixed with 5.0 or 6.5 mm cannulated screws through the inframeniscal portal without a cortical window or bone graft. The clinical and radiological results were evaluated using a Rasmussen system. Second look arthroscopy was performed in thirteen patients during the implant removal operation. Results: All fractures healed completely with a mean union time of 8.7 weeks (range from 8 to 12 weeks). Twenty four patients had good to excellent clinical results and 25 patients had good to excellent radiological results according to the Rasmussen classification. A well-healed articular surface with fibrocartilage was also found in 13 cases with second look arthroscopy. The 8 cases on CT scan at outpatient department follow-up showed bone union without bone grafting. Conclusion: Arthroscopic-assisted fixation of tibial lateral plateau fractures is a useful method without a cortical window or bone graft that produces good clinical results.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the radiological and clinical outcomes in elderly patients with unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in accordance with the length of intramedullary nail. Materials and Methods: Between August 2009 and December 2014, a total of 139 patients-older than 65 years of age with AO/OTA classification of 31-A2 unstable intertrochanteric femur fracture-who has been followed-up for at least 1 year after the treatment with internal fixation by using an intramedullary nail were enrolled for this retrospective control study. The subjects were classified into two groups according to the length of intramedullary nail: 106 patients in the short group (group I) and 33 patients in the long group (group II). For radiological assessments, the reduction state, time to union, and implant related complications were examined. The clinical outcomes were assessed by preoperative hemoglobin, operating time, intraoperative bleeding amount, blood transfusion rate, hospitalization period, and Charnley hip pain scoring system at the final follow-up. Results: The postoperative radiographs showed good or acceptable reduction in all cases. The mean time of radiologic bone union was 4.8 months, and there was no difference between the two groups. With respect to surgical time, the group II was found to take longer (57.87 minutes) than the group I (45.65 minutes) (p=0.003). The bleeding amount during surgery of the group II was greater (288.78 ml) than that of the group I (209.90 ml) (p=0.046). The clinical results at the final follow-up were found to be satisfactory in both groups. Conclusion: In cases of good reduction of the fracture from the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femur fracture accompanying the posteromedial fragment in elderly patients, both groups-long and short intramedullary nails-showed satisfactory radiological and clinical outcomes.