• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2015

Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid (GC), is clinically administered to woman at risk for premature labor to induce fetal lung maturation. However, exposure to repeated or excess GCs leads to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and subsequently increases risk of psychiatric and cardio-metabolic diseases in later life through fetal programming mechanisms. GCs are key mediators of stress responses, therefore, maternal nutrient restriction or psychological stress during pregnancy also causes negative impacts on birth and neurodevelopment outcome of fetuses, and other congenital defects, such as craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities. In this study, to examine the effect of prenatal stress on fetal skeletal development, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg [DEX1] or 10 mg/kg [DEX10] maternal body weight per day) was administered intraperitoneally at gestational day 7.5~9.5 and the skeletons were prepared from embryos at day 18.5. Seven out of eighteen (39%) embryos treated with DEX10 showed axial skeletal abnormalities in either the T13 or L1 vertebrae. In addition, examination of the sternum revealed that xiphoid process, the protrusive triangular part of the lower end of the sternum, was bent more outward or inward in DEX group embryos. In conclusion, our findings suggest a possible link to the understanding of the effect of uterine environment to the fetal skeletal features.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.29 no.6 s.237
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• pp.913-920
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• 2005

Compared to previous in-vitro test, FE model showed reliable motion patterns. A finite element model of a 50th percentile male neck was developed to study the mechanics of whiplash injury while the rear impacts. The model was consisted of the whole cervical vertebrae including part of occipital, intervertebral discs. which were modeled using linear viscoelastic materials and posterior elements. The sliding interfaces were defined to simulate contact phenomena in facet joints and in odontoid process. All ligaments and atlanto-occipital membrane were modeled as nonlinear bar elements. Only muscle elements were not considered. Motion of each cervical vertebra was obtained from the dynamic simulation with a MADYMO model for 15 km/h $40\%$ rear end offset impacts. Soft tissue neck injury(STNI) was investigated with a developed FE model. In FE model analysis, the high stress was appeared at C3/C4 disc in offset impact. Further research is still needed in order to improve the developed neck FE model for many different crash patterns.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.215-218
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• 2015

Occasionally, unexpected neurological deficits occur after lumbar spinal surgery. We report a case of monoparesis after lumbar decompressive surgery. A 63-year-old man, who had undergone decompression of L4-5 for spinal stenosis 4 days previously in the other hospital, visted the emergency department with progressive weakness in the left leg and hypoesthesia below sensory level T7 on the right side. He had been cured of lung cancer with chemotherapy and radiation therapy 10 years previously, but detailed information of radiotherapy was not available. Whole spine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed fatty marrow change from T1 to T8, most likely due to previous irradiation. The T2-weighted MR image showed a high-signal T4-5 spinal cord lesion surrounded by a low signal rim, and the T1-weighted MR image showed focal high signal intensity with focal enhancement. The radiological diagnosis was vascular disorders with suspicious bleeding. Surgical removal was refused by the patient. With rehabilitation, the patient could walk independently without assistance 2 months later. Considering radiation induced change at thoracic vertebrae, vascular disorders may be induced by irradiation. If the spinal cord was previously irradiated, radiation induced vascular disorders needs to be considered.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.426-430
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• 2013

The prognosis of solitary plasmacytoma varies greatly, with some patients recovering after surgical removal or local fractional radiation therapy, and others progressing to multiple myeloma years later. Primary detection of progression to multiple myeloma is important in the treatment of solitary plasmacytoma. There have been several analyses of the risk factors involved in the early progression to multiple myeloma. We describe one case of solitary plasmacytoma of the lumbar vertebra that was treated with surgical decompression with stabilization and additional radiotherapy. The patient had no factors associated with rapid progression to multiple myeloma such as age, size, immunologic results, pathological findings, and serum free light chain ratio at the time of diagnosis. However, his condition progressed to multiple myeloma less than two months after the initial diagnosis of solitary plasmacytoma. We suggest that surgeons should be vigilant in watching for rapid progression to multiple myeloma even in case that the patient with solitary plasmacytoma has no risk factors for rapid progression to multiple myeloma.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2016

Mucolipidosis (ML) is a kind of skeletal dysplasia. Characteristic X-ray findings of the bone may contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of ML II/III. Skeletal radiographs show distinctive patterns at different ages: neonatal hyperparathyroidism, osteodystrophy (similar to chronic osteitis fibrosa cystica), and dysostosis multiplex. Patients with ML II/III show a mixture of osteodystrophic bone changes and atypical changes of dysostosis multiplex: proximal pointing of the metacarpals in the wrist, dysplastic changes in the lower third of the ilia, marked broadening of the ribs becoming oar-shaped, and beaking of the lower thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. In ML II, the osteodystrophy has clinical and radiographic features of neonatal hyperparathyroidism. In some neonatal subjects, chemical hyperparathyroidism is also demonstrated. After transient hyperparathyroidism in newborns, the progressive osteitis fibrosa cystica develops from 3-6 months of age. Patients with ML III show prominent skeletal involvement, particularly the destruction of vertebral bodies and the femoral heads. Intravenous pamidronate treatment is well tolerated, and it can produce clinical effects, with a reduction in bone pain and improvements in mobility in patients with ML III. In this review, the skeletal manifestations of ML II and III are investigated.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.389-391
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• 2016

A 10-month-old, intact female Shih-tzu dog with a pelvic limb ataxic gait, and urinary and fecal incontinence since birth, was examined by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The butterfly hemivertebra of the fourth lumbar vertebra, agenesis of the third sacral and coccygeal vertebrae, and spina bifida of the remaining sacral vertebra were observed on the computed tomography images. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed traction of the conus medullaris. The dog was diagnosed with sacrocaudal dysgenesis with presumptive tethered cord syndrome, and concurrent infectious cystitis was found by ultrasonography and urinary analysis. The Shih-tzu recovered from the cystitis, but still has the ataxic gait and urinary and fecal incontinence. This report summarizes the case of a dog with sacrocaudal dysgenesis that was identified by imaging diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.629-637
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• 1997

This study was performed to determine the optimal dose of laser energy for wound healing. The skin wound with 8mm diameter was induced over the lumbar vertebrae of the rats, and wound squares, scab hardness, hematologic findings and histopathlogic findings according to irradiation of laser energy were studied. 1. Wound square was significantly reduced at Day 1 (p<0.01), 2 (p<0.01), 3 (p<0.05), 7 (p<0.01) and 8 (p<0.05), respectively in experimental groups, especially group II, compared with control group. 2. Scab hardness was significantly increased at Day 1 (p<0.01), 2 (p<0.01), 3 (p<0.05), 5 (p<0.01) and 7 (p<0.01), respectively in experimental groups, especially group II, compared with control group. 3. In hematological findings, red blood cells and white blood cells in experimental group were increased according to the lapse of days, but they were not significant. 4. In histopathologic findings, experimental groups, especially group II, revealed early scab formation, early appearance of phagocytes and fibroblast, rapid growth of granulation tissue and collagen, and promotion of wound healing in the result.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.236-240
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• 2002

Vertebral osteomyelitis represents only 1% to 2% of osteomyelitis and may pose a diagnostic conundrum, with disastrous consequences if diagnosis and therapy are delayed. We report a neonate with the unique association of vertebral osteomyelitis and MRSA infection. A 1-month-old boy was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of high fever and decreased oral intake. He was born at 34 wks, and his birth weight was 1.6 kg. We founded MRSA on his blood culture. Magnetic resonance imaging study showed findings of T7-T8 vertebral osteomyelitis. With 8 weeks of intravenous vancomycin treatment, the patient improved clinically and radiologically.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2008

Sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene (1,140 bp) and control region (803 bp) of Siberian flying squirrels from Korea (Pteromys volans aluco) and Mt. Changbai of northeast China (P. v. arsenjevi) were obtained to reexamine the taxonomic status of the Korean subspecies. In the cytochrome b gene, six haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi, and in control region, seven haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi. Furthermore, six haplotypes of cytochrome b gene of P. v. aluco from this study formed a clade with four haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi in far-east Russia obtained from GenBank. We also investigated the research papers previously published that reported the length of tail vertebrae of P. volans, and found that the length was not sufficiently large as to be a key character of P. v. aluco. This result is not consistent with morphological description for its haplotype. Therefore, we conclude that P. v. aluco from Korea might possibly be a synonym of P. v. arsenjevi from northeast China and nearby Russia.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.465-467
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• 2005

The sacrum fused with ilium in a chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) was observed. The sacrum consists of four sacral vertebrae which was fused each other. In the ventral part of the fused pelvis, on the left, there was a 20.19 mm gap at the dorsolateral part of the sacroiliac articular part which is in between the promontory and the cranial border of the first ventral sacral foramen. On the right, there was a 14.34 mm gap at the dorsal part of sacroiliac articulation. In the dorsal view of the fused pelvis, the wing of sacrum and the wing of ilium were fused tightly, so that the boundary of the two bones was not recognizable. The left and right second dorsal sacral foramina and the third dorsal sacral foramen on the left were small. The third dorsal and ventral sacral foramina on the right were not formed.