• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.328-332
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to establish new fusion criteria to complement existing Brantigan-Steffee fusion criteria. The primary purpose of intervertebral cage placement is to create a proper biomechanical environment through successful fusion. The existence of a traction spur is an essential predictable radiologic factor which shows that there is instability of a fusion segment. We studied the relationship between the existence of a traction spur and fusion after a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) procedure. Methods : This study was conducted using retrospective radiological findings from patients who underwent a PLIF procedure with the use of a cage without posterior fixation between 1993 and 1997 at a single institution. We enrolled 183 patients who were followed for a minimum of five years after the procedure, and used the Brantigan-Steffee classification to confirm the fusion. These criteria include a denser and more mature bone fusion area than originally achieved during surgery, no interspace between the cage and the vertebral body, and mature bony trabeculae bridging the fusion area. We also confirmed the existence of traction spurs on fusion segments and non-fusion segments. Results : The PLIF procedure was done on a total of 251 segments in 183 patients (71 men and 112 women). The average follow-up period was $80.4{\pm}12.7$ months. The mean age at the time of surgery was $48.3{\pm}11.3$ years (range, 25 to 84 years). Among the 251 segments, 213 segments (84.9%) were fused after five years. The remaining 38 segments (15.1%) were not fused. An analysis of the 38 segments that were not fused found traction spur formation in 20 of those segments (52.6%). No segments had traction spur formation with fusion. Conclusion : A new parameter should be added to the fusion criteria. These criteria should be referred to as 'no traction spur formation' and should be used to confirm fusion after a PLIF procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.124-130
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• 2008

Objective : Our purpose of this study is to compare insertion angles and screw lengths from Roy-Camille, Magerl, and our designed method for cervical lateral mass screw fixation in the Korean population by quantitative measurement of reformatted two dimensional (2D) computed tomography (CT) images. Methods : We selected thirty Korean patients who were evaluated with thin section CT scans and reconstruction program to obtain reformatted 2D-CT images of the transversal plane passing the cranio-caudal angle using three different techniques. We measured the minimum angle to avoid vertebral artery (VA) injury, the ideal angle and depth for bicortical screwing of cervical lateral mass. Morphometric measurements of the lateral masses from C3-C7 were also taken. Results : In all three techniques, the mean safety angles from the VA were less than 8 degrees and the necessary depth of the screw was about 14 mm for safety to the VA and for the bicortical purchase. In our designed technique, the mean $\beta$ angles of each level from C3 to C7 were 29.0. 29.8. 29.5. 26.3. and 23.9 degrees, respectively. Conclusion : Results of this study and data from the literature indicate that differences may exist between the Korean and Western people in the length and angle for ideal lateral mass screw fixation. In addition, our technique needs further cadaveric and clinical study for safety and efficacy for being performed as alternative method for cervical lateral mass fixation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.330-333
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• 2014

Objective : To identify the accuracy and efficiency of the computed tomographic (CT)-based navigation system on upper cervical instrumentation, particularly C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw fixation compared to previous reports. Methods : Between May 2005 and March 2014, 25 patients underwent upper cervical instrumentation via a CT-based navigation system. Seven patients were excluded, while 18 patients were involved. There were 13 males and five females; resulting in four degenerative cervical diseases and 14 trauma cases. A CT-based navigation system and lateral fluoroscopy were used during the screw instrumentation procedure. Among the 58 screws inserted as C1-2 screws fixation, their precise positions were evaluated by postoperative CT scans and classified into three categories : in-pedicle, non-critical breach, and critical breach. Results : Postoperatively, the precise positions of the C1-2 screws fixation were 81.1% (47/58), and 8.6% (5/58) were of non-critical breach, while 10.3% (6/58) were of critical breach. Most (5/6, 83.3%) of the critical breaches and all of non-critical breaches were observed in the C2 pedicle screws and there was only one case of a critical breach among the C1 lateral mass screws. There were three complications (two vertebral artery occlusions and a deep wound infection), but no postoperative instrument-related neurological deteriorations were seen, even in the critical breach cases. Conclusion : Although CT-based navigation systems can result in a more precise procedure, there are still some problems at the upper cervical spine levels, where the anatomy is highly variable. Even though there were no catastrophic complications, more experience are needed for safer procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2006

Background: Spinal cord stimulation is a well-established method for the management of several types of chronic and intractable pain. This form of stimulation elicits a tingling sensation (paresthesia) in the corresponding dermatomes. The goal of this study was to establish a correlation between the spinal levels of the implanted epidural electrodes and the paresthesia elicited due to stimulation of the neural structures. Methods: Thirty five patients, who received trial spinal cord stimulation, were evaluated. After the insertion of the lead to the selected position, the areas of paresthesia evoked by stimulation were evaluated. Results: Seventy-one percent of cases showed paresthesia in the shoulder area when the tip of the electrode was located between the C2⁣-C4 levels. At the upper extremities, paresthesia was evoked in 86⁣-93% of cases, regardless of the location of the electrode tip within the cervical spinal segments. The most common tip placement of the leads eliciting hand stimulation was at the C5 level. The most common level of electrode tip placement eliciting paresthesia of the anterior and posterior thigh and the foot were at the T7-⁣T12, T10⁣-L1 and T11-⁣L1 vertebral segments, respectively. Conclusions: Detailed knowledge of the patterns of stimulation induced paresthesia in relation to the spine level of the implanted electrodes has allowed the more consistent and successful placement of epidural electrodes at the desired spine level.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.156-156
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• 2002

The goal of this study is to develop a biomarker used in monitoring abnormal behaviors of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism caused by hazardous chemicals that are toxic and persistent in the ecosystem. A widely used insecticide, diazinon (O, O-diethyl O- (2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate), is highly neurotoxic to fish, and it is also well known that it causes vertebral malformation and behavioral changes of fish at relatively low concentrations. The fish behaviors were observed on a real time basis using an image processing and automatic data acquisition system. The genes potentially involved in the abnormal behaviors were cloned using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique. The untreated individuals showed common behavioral characteristics. When the test fish was affected by diazinon at a concentration of 0.1 and 1 ppm, some specific patterns were observed in its behavioral activity and locomotive tracks. The typical patterns were enhanced surfacing activity, opercular movement, erratic movement, tremors and convulsions as reported previously. The number of genes up-regulated tty diazinon treatment were 97 which includes 27 of unknown genes. The number of down-regulated genes were 99 including 60 of unknown genes. These gene expression patterns will be analyzed by the artificial neural networks such as self organization map (SOM) and multilayer perceptron (MLP), revealing the role of genes responsible for the behaviors. These results may provide molecular biological and neurobehavioral bases of a biomonitoring system for diazinon using a model organism such as fish.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2018

Intervertebral disc(IVD) mainly consists of Annulus fibrosus(AF) and Nucleus pulposus(NP), playing a role of distributing a mechanical load on vertebral body. IVD tissue engineering has been developed the methods to achieve anatomic morphology and restoration of biological function. The goal of present study is to identify the possibilities for creating a substitute of IVD the morphology and biological functions are the same as undamaged complete IVD. To fabricate the AF and NP combine biphasic IVD tissue, AF tissue scaffolds have been printed by 3D bio-printing system with natural biomaterials and NP tissues have been prepared by scaffold-free culture system. We evaluated whether the combined structure of 3D printed AF scaffold and scaffold-free NP tissue construct could support the architecture and cell functions as IVD tissue. 3D printed AF scaffolds were printed with 60 degree angle stripe patterned lamella structure(the inner-diameter is 5mm, outer-diameter is 10 mm and height is 3 mm). In the cytotoxicity test, the 3D printed AF scaffold showed good cell compatibility. The results of histological and immunohistochemical staining also showed the newly synthesized collagens and glycosaminoglycans, which are specific makers of AF tissue. And scaffold-free NP tissue actively synthesized glycosaminoglycans and type 2 collagen, which are the major components of NP tissue. When we combined two engineered tissues to realize the IVD, combined biphasic tissues showed a good integration between the two tissues. In conclusion, this study describes the fabrication of Engineered biphasic IVD tissue by using enable techniques of tissue engineering. This fabricated biphasic tissue would be used as a model system for the study of the native IVD tissue. In the future, it may have the potential to replace the damaged IVD in the future.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the range of shoulder motion using an indirect evaluation method without physical examinations of patients based on questionnaires regarding several specific arm postures referenced by patient's own body parts. Methods: Nine criteria of specific shoulder motion including 4 forward flexion, 2 external rotation, and 3 internal rotation were decided as reference position which can represent a certain shoulder motion. Flexion contains postures such as lifting arm to waist-height, shoulder-height, eye-height, and raising arm above head with arm touching ears. External rotation comprises grasping ears and placing hands on back of the head. Vertebral height in internal rotation is determined by calculating the samples' motions, which are holding on to trouser belts, opposite-elbow, and scapula. These postures are included in questionnaires for patients to evaluate the validity and effectiveness of this indirect method. Results: The range of flexion was $77^{\circ}$ ($60^{\circ}$ to $100^{\circ}$), $96^{\circ}$ ($87^{\circ}$ to $115^{\circ}$), $135^{\circ}$ ($115^{\circ}$ to $150^{\circ}$), and $167^{\circ}$ ($150^{\circ}$ to $175^{\circ}$) when arms go up to waist, shoulder, eye, and high vertically. Range of external rotation was $39.6^{\circ}$ ($30^{\circ}$ to $50^{\circ}$) when grasping ears and $69.2^{\circ}$ ($60^{\circ}$ to $80^{\circ}$) with the hands on the back of the head. Range of internal rotation was L4 when placing trouser belts, T12 for holding opposite elbow, and T9 for reaching scapula. The mismatch rates of flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation were 11.6%, 9.6%, and 7.8%. Conclusions: The range of shoulder motion using this method is expected to be applied to an established shoulder scoring system which included shoulder motion evaluation item.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.467-471
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• 2009

This report describes Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) with Abdominal Wall Defects (AWDs) on the sibling of Yorkshire terriers. The NTDs and AWDs are rare serious congenital defects. The NTDs are neurulation abnormality that results from to failed transformation of the neurual tube by the incomplete closure of the embryonic neural plate. These dysraphic states range form mild to severe according to developmental malformation that include fusion defects of skull (crania bifida; CB) and fusion defects of vertebrae (spina bifida; SB). The AWDs are genetic defects that results from to failed formation of abdominal wall and cavity. These dysraphic states are omphalocele and gastroschisis. The 12-month dam was delivered by caesarian section and 4 littermate had obvious malformations. One male dead stillbirth fetus (L1) was revealed the extruded abdominal viscera, omphalocele. One female fetus (L2) was died within 1 hour after birth with defects of abdominal muscle upper umbilicus, gastroschisis. 3rd fetus (L3) was died within 36 hours after parturition and revealed a copious dermal and vertebral defects on the midline thorax, upper SB asperta. 4th fetus (L4) is still growing well now at 6 months but at the 2 week age, appears hairy nevus on the frontal cranium and dorsal thoracic portion. The radiograph of L1 and L2 are shown decrease bony density of calvarium and L3 was shown defect of spinose processes of the T9-T13. On our knowledge, this is first report of the SB and CB in Yorkshire terrier. And also sibling of NTDs with AWDs that has not previously been reported in the dog.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2010

For stability analysis of the lumbar spine, the hypothesis presented is that the disc has stress sensors driving feedback mechanism, which could react to the imposed loads by adjusting the contraction of the muscles. Fusion in the motion segment of the lumbar spinal column is believed to alter the stability of the spinal column. To identify this effect finite element (FE) models combined with optimization technique was applied and quantify the role of each muscle and reaction forces in the spinal column with respect to the fusion level. The musculoskeletal FE model was consisted with detailed whole lumbar spine, pelvis, sacrum, coccyx and simplified trunk model. Vertebral body and pelvis were modeled as a rigid body and the rib cage was constructed with rigid truss element for the computational efficiency. Spinal fusion model was applied to L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1 (single level) and L3-L5 (two levels) segments. Muscle architecture with 46 local muscles was used as acting directions. Minimization of the nucleus pressure deviation and annulus fiber average axial stress deviation was selected for cost function. As a result, spinal fusion produced reaction changes at each motion segment as well as contribution of each muscle. Longissimus thoracis and psoas major muscle showed dramatic changes for the cases of L5-S1 and L3-L5 level fusion. Muscle force change at each muscle also generated relatively high nucleus pressure not only at the adjacent level but at another level, which can explain disc degeneration pattern observed in clinical study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2012

PET/CT is taken 1 hour after $^{18}F$-FDG(F-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose) injection. However, these would be often delayed for more than 2 or 3 hours due to equipment fault or unexpected situation. In the study, SUV(standardized uptake value) were measured from got image over time according to the parts of the body. As a result, there were great and small decrease in liver(middle of the right hepatic lobe), fat(Lt pelvis), lung (Rt upper lobe), aorta(ascending aorta level) of the body in delayed image, and ${\Delta}$SUVmax was increase of 37% in bone only(L5 vertebral body) of the body. ${\Delta}$SUVmax was increase of 37.6% in lesion, and the contrast degree was greater because of uptake increase in lesion and uptake decrease in the normal body.