• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

The Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway regulates diverse developmental processes and adult tissue homeostasis. Inappropriate regulation of this pathway has been associated with human diseases, such as cancers, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Using a cell-based chemical screening with natural compounds, we discovered silybin, a plant flavonoid isolated from the Silybum marianum, which activated the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway in a synergy with Wnt3a-conditioned medium (Wnt3a-CM). In the presence of Wnt3a-CM, silybin up-regulated ${\beta}$-catenin response transcription (CRT) in HEK293-FL reporter cells and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through stabilization of intracellular ${\beta}$-catenin protein. Silybin and Wnt3a-CM synergistically reduced expression of important adipocyte marker genes including peroxisome-proliferator-activated $receptor{\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CAATT enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ (C/$EBP{\alpha}$) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, accompanied by the activation of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings indicate that silybin is a small-molecule synergist of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway and can be used as a controllable reagent for investigating biological processes that involve the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway.

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2012

Recently, medical equipments are developed and used for diagnosis or studies. In addition, demand of techniques which automatically deal with three dimensional medical images obtained from the medical equipments is growing. One of the techniques is automatic bone segmentation which is expected to enhance the diagnosis efficiency of osteoporosis, fracture, and other bone diseases. Although various researches have been proposed to solve it, they are unable to be used in practice since a size of the medical data is large and there are many low contrast boundaries with other tissues. In this paper, we present a fast and accurate automatic framework for bone segmentation based on multi-resolutions. On a low resolution step, a position of the bone is roughly detected using constrained branch and mincut which find the optimal template from the training set. Then, the segmentation and the registration are iteratively conducted on the multiple resolutions. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, we make an experiment with femur and tibia from 50 test knee magnetic resonance images using 100 training set. The proposed method outperformed the constrained branch and mincut in aspect of segmentation accuracy and implementation time.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2005

Purpose : 자하거(Hominis Placenta; HP)는 건강한 사람의 태반을 홍제(烘製)하여 건조한 것으로 한의학에서는 기혈(氣血)을 대보(大補)하고 신정(腎精)을 보익(補益)시켜 구병(久病)으로 인한 신체허약(身體虛弱)이나 혹은 체질허약(體質虛弱)과 혈기부족(氣血不足) 및 신허정휴(腎虛精虧) 등 등(證)을 치료(治療)하는데 단미(單味) 또는 복방(複方)에 배오(配伍)하여 쓰여왔다. 또한 자하거는 면역학적으로 골대사 활성이 있는 것으로 알려져 있어 본 연구에서는 자하거의 항골다공증 활성을 분자세포생물학적으로 검정하고자 하였다. Methods : Osteoblast cells에서 자하거가 COX-2 mRNA의 발현과 $PGE_2$ 생합성을 억제시키는지를 관찰하기 위해 먼저 TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-${\beta}$ 와 IL-6를 처리한 후 $PGE_2$의 생합성과 더불어 COX-2 mRNA의 발현을 확인하였다. 그 후 TGF-${\beta}$, 자하거(紫河車)와 이 둘의 조합인 자하거+TGF-${\beta}$가 COX-2 mRNA 발현과 $PGE_2$ 생합성을 저해시키는지 관찰하였다. 또한 자하거가 IL-1${\beta}$로 유발된 흰쥐의 과칼슘혈증을 감소시키는지를 확인하였다. Results : IL-6, IL-1${\beta}$와 TNF-${\alpha}$를 동시에 처리하면 이것을 단독으로 처리한 것과 비교해 볼 때 $PGE_2$의 생합성과 더불어 COX-2 mRNA의 수치가 상승작용을 일으키며 증가하였다. TGF-${\beta}$, 자하거와 이 둘의 조합인 자하거+TGF-${\beta}$은 COX-2 mRNA 발현, $PGE_2$ 생합성 및 골재흡수를 감소시켰다. 자하거(紫河車)는 IL-1${\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$와 IL-6 각각 또는 이들의 조합으로 인해 증가하는 COX-2 mRNA 발현과 $PGE_2$ 생성을 감소시키는 반면 COX-1 mRNA 발현에는 유의성 있는 영향을 미치지 않았다. 한편 자하거는 농도의존적으로 IL-1${\beta}$로 유발된 흰쥐의 과칼슘혈증을 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과는 흰쥐의 두개골 골아세포에서 $PGE_2$ 생산에 대한 IL-${\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6의 상승작용이 COX-2의 유전자 발현 증가에 기인함을 보여주었다. Conclusions : 이러한 결과들로부터 자하거가 골대사과정중 골재흡수를 억제하는데 효과적임을 밝히게 되었으며, 자하거의 골다공증의 억제기전이 골재흡수관련 단백질들의 전사조절에 있음을 최초로 해명하게 되었다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-81
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• 2003

There can be little dissension that the ultimate goal of all physical therapy interventions with the elderly is to restore or maintain the highest level of function possible for the individual. Whenever physical therapists take on this challenge, they assist elders in maintaining their identities as competent adults. Advancing age is associated with profound changes in body composition, including increased fat mass, decreased fat-free mass(particularly muscle), decreased total body water and decreased bone density. Along with these changes in body compositions, and perhaps as a direct result of them, elderly people have lower energy needs, reduced strength and functional capacity and a greatly increased risk for such diseases as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. Resistance training is considered a promising intervention for reversing the loss of muscle function and the deterioration of muscle structure that is associated with advanced age. This reversal is thought to result in improvements in functional abilities and health status in the elderly by increasing muscle mass, strength and power and by increasing bone mineral density. In the past couple of decades, many studies have examined the effects of Resistance training on risk factors for age-related diseases or disabilities. We have explored the positive and negative aspects of older adults' participation in resistance training programs. The benefits to older adults are reported to be increased strength, endurance, muscle capacity, and flexibility; more energy; and improved self-image and confidence. The negative aspects include some pain or stiffness and other nonspecific problems. The positive and negative aspects of resistance training are therefore very similar to those in younger populations. Scientific investigations over the past 10 years have demonstrated that resistance training can be safely and successfully implemented in older populations. Even the frail and very sick elderly can benefit and improve their quality of life. Proper design and progression of a resistance training program for older adults is vital to optimal benefits from resistance exercise. The results of data provided by this research on resistance training for health shows that there is enough existing evidence to conclude that resistance training, particularly when incorporated into a comprehensive fitness program, can offer substantial health benefits which can be obtained by persons of all ages. These benefits, including improvements in functional capacity, translate into an improved quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.5-11
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the bone mineral content of women who went through osteoporotic menopause and that of women who are healthy. For the purpose, this researcher sampled some women and divided them into three groups. Group 1 consisted of women who were pre-menopausal and healthy, group 2, women who were post-menopausal and health and group 3, women who went through osteoporotic menopause. The researcher measured the bone density of all the subjects and compared its difference among the three groups. Then the researcher compared and analyzed the influences of bone density on the spine among women of each group or those of all the groups. Among all regions of the spine, that of most region was spongiosa which was ovally shaped. The researcher measured the bone mineral content of spongiosa which existed in a particular section of the spine between T12 and L4. Findings of the study can be summarized as follows. The older women were, the lower their bone density was. Especially, women who had osteoporosis were significantly lower in bone density than those who were healthy. In all women, except those of group 1, bone density more and more lowered as the measured region of the spine gradually moved from T12 to L4. From a statistical view, the bone density of the entire vertebral body could discriminate the groups 1, 2 and 3. But it was not possible to discriminate between the groups 2 and 3 only with the bone density of the most interested region as mentioned above.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2001

Purpose : To assess therapeutic effects of percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) vertebroplasty on the pain caused by osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar vertebral body compression fractures in a large scale of a prospective clinical design, and to determine clinical factors influencing its therapeutic effects. Methods : A prospective clinical study was carried out in 349 vertebral levels of 159 patients between April 1998 and July 1999. The compression fractures were confirmed with bone scan and spine CT, and bone marrow density was measured. Visual analogue scale(VAS) score was used for pre- and post-operative assessments of the pain. All 159 patients were assessed immediately after surgery, and 140 patients of them were followed-up for about 6 months in average. Results : Partial and complete pain relief was sustained immediately after operation in 73%, through follow-up period in 88% of the patients. Pain relief was not proportional to the amount of PMMA or the rate of increase in the height of the compressed vertebral body. It appears that 3 to 6cc of PMMA was proper enough to sustain pain relief. Better clinical improvement was achieved in the patients treated within 6 months after occurrence of vertebral body fracture. The most frequent surgical complication was epidural leakage of PMMA, and the most serious complication was extravertebral leakage into the paravertebral muscles, which appeared to exert the worst influence on the outcome. However, surgery was not required in these patients. Conclusion : Therapeutic effects of PMMA percutaneous vertebroplasty on osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures were confirmed in a relatively large scale of prospective clinical study. It appears that good outcome can be achieved in patients treated within 6 months after fracture, treated each level with 3 to 6cc of PMMA in amount. without serious complications.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.160-170
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• 2006

This study was conducted to provide foundation data for making health care policy for married women by assessing the dietary intake between highly educated married, employed and unemployed women. It is a direct interview, cross-sectional study with 24-hour recall method for one day. In selecting the subjects for this study, married, unemployed women were selected from a certain area (Daedeok Science Town) in Daejeon where there are high rates of highly educated women, and the married, employed women were selected from the teaching profession in order to avoid confounding due to including a variety of jobs. According to the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations, teaching is the representational occupation of highly educated, married women. Then, to prevent confounding due to age, we selected the subjects out of each age group at the same rate through random sampling. Women who had not graduated college, worked only part-time, or had no current spouse were excluded. As a result, 486 highly-educated, married, unemployed (250) and employed (236) women were used for analyzing data. The unemployed women consumed a higher amount of fat, cholesterol, sodium, vitamin C and folic acid while the employed women consumed a higher amount of iron, vitamin $B_l$ and vitamin $B_2$. P/M/S ratio being 1/1.18/1.05 and 1/1.05/0.87, for the unemployed women and the employed women, respectively, unemployed respondents had a higher saturated fat intake than those of employed. It is in excess of the standard ratio (1/1/1) of the Korean RDA. At the same time, in unemployed respondents the percent of energy intake from fat (24.8%, 23.2%) and animal fat (12.4%, 11.4%) were higher than those of employed respondents. The mean daily nutrient intake of calcium, zinc, and iron for both groups of respondents were lower than the Korean RDA. Both groups had phosphorus as the highest nutrient and calcium as the lowest nutrient of INQ (Index of Nutritional Quality) while nutrients with the INQ being less than 1 were calcium and iron. To sum up, the following conclusions can be made: Nutrition education and guidance for reduction of the intake of fat, especially animal fat, are necessary for unemployed women. In addition, highly educated, married, unemployed and employed women should increase the consumption of foods rich in iron and calcium to prevent anemia and osteoporosis, while decreasing the intake of phosphorus to balance proportions of calcium and phosphorus.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.300-308
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• 2001

Objectives : Anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion has become a well-accepted surgical treatment of degenerative cervical diseases. Implatable cages have a stabilizing effect without plates and no need for autogenous bone graft. The authors evaluates the effect of implatable titanium cage(RABEA) on the clinical and radiological outcomes. Methods : 34 patients with symptomatic cervical degenerative diseases due to one level disc pathology were underwent anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion with titanium cages(RABEA) which were not filled with cancallous bone grafts from January 1999 to May 2001. Patients with osteoporosis and older than 65 years were not included. Among them, 15 patients could be followed-up for at least 1 year. The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts and radiographic data. Mean follow-up period was $1.3{\pm}0.2years$. Results : Clinical results according to the Odom's criteria was exellent and good in 14(93%) patients. One patient with fair result showed complete loss of the disc space height due to settlement of the cage. Preoperatively, the mean height of the disc space(${\pm}$standard deviation) was $3.42{\pm}1.10mm$(range 2.0-5.5mm), and at 1 day postoperatively it was $7.88{\pm}0.90mm$(range 6.50-9.0). The mean height of the disc space after 1 year was $6.50{\pm}1.38mm$(range 3.0-8.0). The restoration of the height was statistically significant(p<0.05). The mean height after 1 year was $82.7{\pm}15.9%$ of the height at 1 day postoperatively. Preoperatively the mean value of the cervical lodortic angle was $21.8{\pm}11.8^{\circ}$ and 1 year postopertively, it was $24.5{\pm}8.3^{\circ}$, which was statistically not significant. All patients showed no abnormal movements on flexion and extension lateral film after 6 months. Conclusion : Implantable titanium cages appear safe and effective in selected patients, and their use helps to avoid complications associated with bone graft harvest. Subsidence of the cage seems to be a potential risk factor for recurrence of the symptoms. For long-term results, a longer follow-up is required.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 1990

A clinical analysis was done on 23 patients(24 hips) with fracture of the femoral neck, who had been admitted and treated at our Orthopedic department during the period of 4 years, from Jan, 1984 to May 1988. The results were as follows : 1. 23 patients were comprised of 4 males and 19 females, and 11 patients were over 65 years old. 2. 18 cases of 24 cases were due to minor traumas such as slipping down, and for over 65 years old, all cases were due to simple minor traumas, 8 cases were showed a severe osteoporosis, below grade 3 of the Singh's index. 3. 14 cases of 24 cases were displaced subcapital fractures, and 6 cases displaced transcervical fractures. Only 4 cases were the undisplaced transcervical fractures. 4. In treatment of fractures internal fixations after manipulation were performed in 14 cases and primary arthroplasties in 10 cases. Secondary arthroplasties were done in complicated 4 cases of 14 cases treated with internal fixations. 5. Complications after internal fixation were developed in 7 cases out of 14 cases, avascular necrosis in 6, nonunions in 2, pin migrations in 3, and metal failure in 1 case. 6. In 14 arthroplasty immediate surgical fitness of femoral stem were related to late loosening of femoral stem(correlation coefficient r=-0.68, p<0.01).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.620-630
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• 2003

The proliferative effects of thirty Oriental medicinal herbs on MCF-7 (estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cell line) and ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells were determined using the MTT assay. Methanol extracts from several herbs was found to show proliferative activity on the above two cell lines in the range of 5 to 100 $\mu$g/mL. Among these active herbs, the methanol extract from the rhizomes of Drynaria fortunei showed the most potent proliferative activity, and the cell proliferations were significantly increase by 136 and 158% in the MCF-7 and ROS 17/2.8 cells, respectively, when treated with 100 $\mu$ g/mL. Through a bioassay-guided separation, eight flavonoids, including four new flavan-3-ols and two propelargonidins, together with the known (-)-epiafzelechin and naringin, were isolated. Their chemical structures were characterized as (-)-epiafzelechin (1), (-)-epiafzelechin-3-O-$\beta$-D-allopyranoside (2), (-)-epiafzelechin-3-O-(6"-O-acetyl)-$\beta$-D-allopyranoside (3), 4$\beta$-carboxymethyl-(-)-epiafzelechin methyl ester (4), 4$\beta$-car-boxymethyl-(-)-epiafzelechin sodium salt (5), naringin (6), (-)-epiafzelechin-(4$\beta$\rightarrow8)-4$\beta$-car-boxymethylepiafzelechin methyl ester (7) and (-)-epiafzelechin-($4\beta\rightarrow8, 2\beta\rightarrowΟ\rightarrow7)-epiafzelechin-(4\beta\righarrow8)-epiafzelechin (8) by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Most of these flavonoids, in the range of $10^{-15}∼10^{-6}$ M, accelerated the proliferation of MCF-7 cell, with compounds 7 and 8, in the range of $10^{-15}∼10^{-12}$ M, showing especially potent proliferation effects. Meanwhile, seven flavonoids, with the exception of compound 4, stimulated the proliferation of ROS 17/2.8 cells in the range of $10^{-15}∼10^{-6}$ M, with compounds 5-8 especially accelerating the proliferation, in dose-dependent manners ($10^{-15}∼10^{-9}$ M), and their proliferative effect was much stronger than that of $E_2$ and genistein. These results suggest that propelargonidin dimers and trimers isolated from the rhizomes of Drynaria fortunei may be useful as potential phytoestrogens, which play important physiological roles in the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.