• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2023

Squatting of agricultural work can cause musculoskeletal disorders due to excessive pressure and rotational force on the knee joint In order to improve the assistive chair used in squatting agricultural work so that it can be used in a narrow groove, it is intended to improve the musculoskeletal harm of squatting work by attaching a spring on the assistive chair. Therefore, in the presenty study, 3D drawing was done using ProEngineer (3D), and a mock-up was produced and tested. Using pro-Engineer, it was judged that it was rare for plastic to be broken by a spring, so the analysis was conducted with a focus on springs. It was found that the structure that can absorb the shock according to the rigidity of the tape spring and balance the body is that the power to withstand the load of the weight is distributed as a whole when five springs are used. Electromyography was measured using ME600 (Mega Electronics, Finland) Measuring equipment attached to the waist, thighs, calves, and shins. EMG values were measured and compared with the prototype in two ways, when the worker did not wear the product and when he wore an existing product on the market. As a result of the experiment when using the prototype, the maximum EMG value for each part is considered to be helpful in preventing musculoskeletal diseases as the amount of muscle used is reduced in the waist, thighs, calves, and shins.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent degenerative joint diseases and is more common in older and obese individuals. Silkworm male pupae exerts tonic effects by increasing testosterone secretion and the forced swimming time and muscle ratio increased in mice consuming silkworm pupae, which may be beneficial to the older population. Therefore, it will be beneficial to investigate the effects of silkworm pupal extracts (SPE) on OA. To confirm this effect, we prepared SPE in different solvents, and their ability to attenuate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8] and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were evaluated in an interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced SW1353 human chondrosarcoma cell line. 70% ethanolic SPE outperformed the other solvents, reducing MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression by up to 53% and 13%, respectively. Further experiments were performed using 70% ethanolic SPE from three distinct pupation stages in males and females. SPE treatment alleviated MMP-1 expression (43.9-47.4%) regardless of pupation stage and sex. Among the inflammatory mediators, 70% ethanolic SPE alleviated IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and the concentrations thereof were lowest in the early-stage male SPE-treated group (43.15% and 56.74%, respectively). In conclusion, 70% ethanolic SPE may prevent IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis by inhibiting MMPs and inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, SPE is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of OA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.81-100
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• 2020

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) has been increasingly used in recent years for the assessment of peripheral neuropathies. Fat suppression T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) have typically been used to provide high contrast MRN. Isotropic 3-dimensional (3D) sequences with fast spin echo, post-processing imaging techniques, and fast imaging methods, among others, allow good visualization of peripheral nerves that have a small diameter, complex anatomy, and oblique course within a reasonable scan time. However, there are still several issues when performing high contrast and high resolution MRN including standard sequence; fat saturation techniques; balance between resolution, field of view, and slice thickness; post-processing techniques; 2D vs. 3D image acquisition; different T2 contrasts between proximal and distal nerves; high T2 signal intensity of adjacent veins or joint fluid; geometric distortion; and appropriate p-values on DWI. The proper understanding of these issues will help novice radiologists evaluate peripheral neuropathies using MRN.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2024

The Korean Dementia Association (KDA) has been organizing biennial international academic conferences since 2019, with the International Conference of the KDA (IC-KDA) 2023 held in Busan under the theme 'Beyond Boundaries: Advancing Global Dementia Solutions.' The conference comprised 6 scientific sessions, 3 plenary lectures, and 4 luncheon symposiums, drawing 804 participants from 35 countries. Notably, a Korea-Taiwan Joint Symposium addressed insights into Alzheimer's disease (AD). Plenary lectures by renowned scholars explored topics such as microbiome-related AD pathogenesis, social cognition in neurodegenerative diseases, and genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD). On the first day, specific presentations covered subjects like the gut-brain axis and neuroinflammation in dementia, blood-based biomarkers in AD, and updates in AD therapeutics. The second day's presentations addressed recent issues in clinical neuropsychology, FTD cohort studies, and the pathogenesis of non-AD dementia. The Academic Committee of the KDA compiles lecture summaries to provide comprehensive understanding of the advanced dementia knowledge presented at IC-KDA 2023.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.339-346
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• 1999

Background : Non-small cell lung carcinoma is a common tumor with a poor prognosis. Of all malignancies, it is the main cause of death for male and female patients in the Western world. Resection remains the most effective treatment when feasible. Accurate description and classification of the extent of cancer growth are important in planning treatment, estimating prognosis, evaluating end results of therapy, and exchanging information on human cancer research. Until effective systemic therapy is available for non-small cell lung cancer, development of new treatment strategies depends on knowledge of the end results achieved for carefully staged groups of patients in the lung cancer populations. For these reasons, we investigated the survival rate in radically resected non-small cell lung cancer patients by newly revised staging system adopted by the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer. Methods: Clinical, surgical-pathologic and follow-up informations on 84 consecutive, previously untreated, patients who received their primary treatment for non-small cell lung cancer were investigated. Staging definitions for the T(primary tumor), N(reginal lymph node), and M(distant metastasis) components were according to the International Staging System for Lung Cancer. Death from any causes was the primary target of the evaluation. Results: The median survival rates were as follows; stage I ;79.1 months, stage II ;47.3 months, stage IIIa; 22.7 months, stage IIIb; 16.1 months, and stage IV;15.2 months versus newly revised stage Ia;58.5 months, stage I b;76.0 months, stage IIa; not available, stage IIb;43.0 months, stage IIIa;22.5 months, stage IIIb; 16.1 months, and stage IV;15.2 months. The survival rates were not significantly different between old and newly revised staging system. Cumulative percent survival at 36months after treatment was 100% in stage Ia, 80% in stage Ib, not available in stage IIa, 26 % in stage IIb, and 21 % in stage m a respectively. Conclusions: Although these data were not significantly different statistically, the newly revised lung cancer staging system might be more promising for the accurate evaluation of the prognosis in the non-small cell lung caner patients.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2011

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is a result of both mechanical and biological events that destabilize the normal coupling of degradation and synthesis of articular cartilage chondrocytes and extracelluar matrix, and subchondral bone. Although it is likely that the molecular basis of pathogenesis is similar to that of other joints, additional study of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is required due to its unique structure and function. This study was carried out to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of TMJ osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of TMJ OA in Patients with temporomandibular disorders (1405 men and 2922 women whose mean age was $30.2\; {\pm}\; 15.4$ and $33.1\;{\pm}\;15.2$ years, respectively) who had visited the TMJ and Orofacial Pain Clinic of Seoul National University Dental Hospital in 2007. Orthopantomograms, TMJ tomograms and transcranial radiographs were used to evaluate degenerative change of the mandibular condyle. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Degenerative change of the mandibular condyle was observed in 883 (20.4%) of 4327 subjects. The prevalence was significantly higher in women (706 patients, 24.1%) than in men (177 patients, 12.6%), and this significant difference between genders was observed in all age groups. 2. The prevalence of degenerative change of the mandibular condyle in TMD patients showed a gentle increase along with age. Such increase was statistically significant in women (P < 0.001), but not in men. 3. Sclerosis was observed the most frequently in all age groups and the mean age of the patients with osteophyte was the highest among four types of degenerative change. 4. Although men showed degenerative change in the left side more often and women showed degenerative change more frequently in both sides, the difference of distribution in sides between genders was not significant. In conclusion, the prevalence of degenerative change of the mandibular condyle in TMD patients is higher in women than in men, and increases steadily with aging, but not as dramatically as in other joints that show a steep increase in prevalence around the age of 45 years. It can be suggested that the epidemiologic characteristic of OA of the TMJ differs from those of other joints, and that a more extensive study based on the general population is necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.371-377
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• 2001

Purpose: One or more abnormal vertebrae detected on bone scintigraphy is a common finding in clinical practice, and it could pose a diagnostic dilemma especially in cancer patients. as either metastasis or benign disease may cause scintigraphic abnormality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether additional spine SPECT has a role in differentiating malignant from benign lesions in patients with back pain. Materials and Methods: We reviewed spine SPECT studios obtained over a three-year period in 108 patients. Among them, forty-five patients with abnormal SPECT and clinically followed records were evaluated (20 cancer patients were included). Uptake patterns were classified as follows: 1. Body: diffusely increased uptake, linear increased uptake of end plate, segmental increased uptake, and cold defect, 2. Posterior element: posterior to body (pedicle), posterior to Intervertebral disc space (facet joint), and spinous process. Lesions were correlated with radiological findings and with final diagnosis. Results: Sixty-nine bone lesions were detected on SFECT images, including 18 metastases, 28 degenerative diseases and 21 compression fractures. Cold defect (6) and segmental increased uptake (5) were dominant findings in metastasis; linear increased uptake (12), and facet joint uptake (15) were in degenerative change; and diffuse increased uptake (9), and linear increased uptake (9) were in compression fracture. Conclusion: Cold defect and segmental increased uptake of body were characteristic findings of metastasis, but care should be taken because compression fracture also shows segmental increased uptake in some cases. Degenerative disease was easily diagnosed because of the typical finding of linear increased uptake of end plate and facet joint. Therefore, additional bone SPECT after planar bone scan would be helpful for differentiating metastasis from benign condition in cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the motion of the shoulder joint dynamically through a depth sensor-based motion analysis system for the normal group and patients group with shoulder disease and to report the results along with a review of the relevant literature. Materials and Methods: Seventy subjects participated in the study and were categorized as follows: 30 subjects in the normal group and 40 subjects in the group of patients with shoulder disease. The patients with shoulder disease were subdivided into the following four disease groups: adhesive capsulitis, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and cuff tear arthropathy. Repeating abduction and adduction three times, the angle over time was measured using a depth sensor-based motion analysis system. The maximum abduction angle (θ_max), the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max), the maximum adduction angular velocity (ω_min), and the abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) were calculated. The above parameters in the 30 subjects in the normal group and 40 subjects in the patients group were compared. In addition, the 30 subjects in the normal group and each subgroup (10 patients each) according to the four disease groups, giving a total of five groups, were compared. Results: Compared to the normal group, the maximum abduction angle (θ_max), the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max), and the maximum adduction angular velocity (ω_min) were lower, and abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) was higher in the patients with shoulder disease. A comparison of the subdivided disease groups revealed a lower maximum abduction angle (θ_max) and the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max) in the adhesive capsulitis and cuff tear arthropathy groups than the normal group. In addition, the abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) was higher in the adhesive capsulitis group, rotator cuff tear group, and cuff tear arthropathy group than in the normal group. Conclusion: Through an evaluation of the shoulder joint using the depth sensor-based motion analysis system, it was possible to measure the range of motion, and the dynamic motion parameter, such as angular velocity. These results show that accurate evaluations of the function of the shoulder joint and an in-depth understanding of shoulder diseases are possible.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2013

Oral Medicine includes temporomandibular disorder, orofacial pains such as neuropathic pain, soft tissue diseases, halitosis, laser treatment, snoring, sleep apnea and identification through forensic dentistry etc. Such diseases are relatively common and cause great inconvenience and pain to the patients, as well as incur fatal health scare at times. In terms of oral medicine, the number of orofacial patients is growing due to a change in the life style and an increased stress as time goes in contemporary society and the demand of areas requiring oral medical professionalism, such as soft tissue lesions, snoring and sleep apnea, forensic dentistry evaluation and others are rapidly ascending. Consequently, among the areas in dental science, the calls for the expertism in oral medicine and its role are mounting. Analyzing the distribution according to disease entity, symptoms, duration of disease, and the prehistory courses of new patients visiting the department of oral medicine in a year provides information of the role and the relative importance of oral medicine in prospect and enables effective diagnosis and treatments for the patients. Therefore, in the present study, by analyzing new patients visiting the oral medicine clinic in our dental hospital for a year and by evaluating the role and the professionalism in future oral medicine, the authors concluded the followings: 1. It was founded that new patients to oral medicine mainly had temporomandibular disorders, soft tissue diseases, and neuropathic pains. 2. The number of patients with temporomandibular disorder appeared to be the highest percentage and the order within this was the patients with combined disorders, muscle disorder, and internal derangement of joint disc. 3. The number of patients with xerostomia appeared to be the highest percentage within soft tissue disease, followed by lichen planus and recurrent apthous ulcers. 4. The number of patients with burning mouth syndrome appeared to be the highest percentage within neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2020

The ASF, which originated in Africa and threatens the world, landed in Asia in 2018 in China, and became a stern threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula when North Korea officially reported the ASF to the OIE in May 2019. In 1921, Montgomery, a British veterinary pathologist, made headlines by naming the African swine fever "African Swine Fever," or ASF, a disease caused by a high fatality virus that existed in East Africa. The ASF, which was a pandemic of endemic diseases in Africa, landed in Portgal around 1957 and swept through farms in Lisbon, Portugal. The ASF continued to settle in Spain and Portugal, causing 40 years of damage until the end of the 1990s, and is now in progress after landing on the Italian island of Sardinia in 1978. The virus, which landed in Portiport of Georgia on the Black Sea coast of the Black Sea in 2007, spread to Russia and caused massive damage to China in 2018, then rapidly spread to Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar in May 2019 and spread across the country, causing massive damage to the pork industry and is now in progress. Just three months after confirming the outbreak in North Korea, the outbreak at farms in Paju and Yeoncheon was confirmed on Sept. 16, 2019, leaving South Korea with the stigma of ASF-causing countries, and although the ASF's nationwide expansion has been blocked, it is currently underway in wild boars. If the ongoing ASF in the two Koreas becomes indigenous, it would be a major disaster not only for the pork industry but also for the Korean Peninsula economy. Under the current circumstances, it is impossible to focus only on veterinary areas limited to South Korea, ruling out risk factors from the ASF outbreak. Currently, it is difficult to prevent damage to the pork industry due to the ASF outbreak due to the poor water defense reality in North Korea, and as it is adjacent to China, which has a high risk of developing various epidemic diseases, there is a need for the two Koreas to jointly conduct quarantine and quarantine on the border areas. First of all, I think rapid exchange of information and education on ASF and other diseases is necessary before establishing a joint defense system on the Korean Peninsula. It is important to conduct thorough quarantine and disinfection of ASF-generated areas in North Korea, and areas bordering China and Russia, and jointly conduct thorough quarantine and control of livestock and livestock products in circulation. Cooperation by the South and North Korean water defense industries to prevent the protracted ASF on the Korean Peninsula by all means and methods is essential.