• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and the relevant risk factors for lumbar spondylosis (LS) among middle-aged and elderly rural Korean residents and to explore the association between radiographic LS and lower back pain (LBP) in relation to age and gender. Methods : This community-based, cross-sectional study evaluated 1512 subjects with available radiograph. The prevalence of LBP was obtained using a questionnaire and disability resulting from LBP was measured using a validated Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (ODI). In lumbar spine radiographs, vertebral levels from L1/2 to L4/5 were evaluated for the presence of osteophytes and joint-space narrowing (JSN), and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading was applied. Results : Of 4261 subjects aged 40-79 years, data from 1512 subjects were included. The prevalence of radiographic LS indicated by grade ${\geq}2$ osteophytes and JSN were 53.9 and 15.8%, respectively. Seventy-three percent of subjects had KL grade ${\geq}2$ spondylosis and LBP was present in 36.5% of subjects. Although LS was more common among males, the prevalence of LBP was higher among females. Age, male gender and history of hand or knee arthritis were risk factors for LS. LS was significantly associated with LBP mostly among females over 60 years old and correlated with the ODI after adjusting for age and gender. Conclusion : Our study among rural Korean residents revealed a high prevalence of LS and LBP. The association between LS and LBP was observed mostly among females and LS was significantly correlated with the severity of back pain.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.529-534
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• 1998

Age and growth of the yellow goosefish, Lophius litulon, were studied using samples collected from the southwestern waters of Korea. Vertebrae of the fish had relatively clear annuli on their surface. The opaque zone of vertebrae was formed once a year between March and April. The oldest fish observed in this study was 8 years old for females and 5 years old for males. The relationship between the radius (R) of vertebral centrum and total length (L) was as follows: L=12.7+4.8R for females and L=9.8+5.6R for males. The relationship between total length and body weight (W) was as follows : $W=0.0089L^{3.0311}$ for females and $W=0.0329L^{2.7752}$ for males. Growth in length of the fish was expressed by the von Bertalanffy's equation as $L_t=127.60(1-e^{-0.1228(t+0.3851)})$ for females and $L_t=82.23(1-e^{-0.1832(t+0.6431)})$ for males.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.340-344
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• 2019

A 14-month-old Thoroughbred colt with hind limbs lameness was referred to Equine Hospital of Jeju National University. During physical examination, the patient could not walk in a straight line but wobbled especially with hind limbs. He hesitated when backing and crossed hind limbs while circling tightly by protracting the outer hind limb keeping the inner hind limb stationed. Stenosis was observed between the 2nd (C2) and 3rd (C3), and the C3 and 4th (C4) cervical vertebrae on radiographs. The colt diagnosed as cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM) based on the clinical signs and radiological findings. To confirm the diagnosis, postmortem computed tomography (CT) and histopathologic examination were performed after the euthanasia. The CT images revealed severe compression of the spinal cavity and cord between C3 and C4 cervical vertebrae. Grossly, there was compression of the spinal cord between the C3 and C4 cervical vertebrae. Histopathologically, severe axonal swelling and demyelination characterized by vacuolation and cavity formation were observed in the white matter of the spinal cord, especially in C3 and C4. CSM is problematic in the horse racing industry because of abnormal walking. This case report of CSM may offer information for diagnosis of the disease in the equine veterinary fields in the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.61-73
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the effect of cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise on gross motor function and posture alignment change in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: Twenty-six children participated in this study. All subjects were randomly assigned to either the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Based Trunk Stabilization Exercise (CCFTS) group (n=13) or the Trunk Stabilization Exercise (TS) group (n=13). In both groups were trained general physical therapy for 10 minutes, in the CCFTS group was trained cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise for 20 minutes and in the TS group was trained trunk stabilization exercise for 20 minutes. The training was provided 2 times a week during 8 weeks. All subjects were measured with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Cranio-Vertebral Angle (CVA) before and after intervention. Results: The results showed that the CCFTS have increased significantly in GMFM (B, C, D and E-dimension) and CVA, and the TS group have increased significantly in GMFM (B, C D and E-dimension). In particular, the CCFTS group improved significantly than TS group in GMFM (B, C and D-dimension) and CVA. Therefore, the cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise improved gross motor function and posture alignment in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Conclusion: These results suggest that cranio-cervical flexion based trunk stabilization exercise is feasible and suitable for individuals with a spastic cerebral palsy and can be used in addition to conventional physical therapy.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical vertebral height and shoulder stabilization on anterior head posture in people with turtle neck. The subjects of this study consisted of normal and healthy people with 30 turtle necks. Subjects were randomly assigned to shoulder stabilization exercise and cervical vertebrae exercise (30 men, 15 men and 15 women, height: $168.67{\pm}6.51$, $22.33{\pm}8.27$, $65.03{\pm}11.98$, and $28.66{\pm}1.91$), In the experimental group, shoulder stabilization exercise and cervical spine exercise were performed for 4 weeks. Deep neck flexor, leavator scapular, upper trapezius, rhomboid, and lower trapezius showed significant differences in shoulder stabilization and cervical vertebrae before and after the experiment. As a result, the CVA value decreased significantly and the muscle activity value increased significantly when exercise and Mckenzie program were applied. These results show that exercise and Mckenzie programs have a positive effect on turtle neck improvement.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.19-22
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• 2019

CATCH 22 syndrome is rare genetic disease that has various manifestations. Cervical vertebral anomaly, such as Klippel-Feil anomaly, is frequently observed in the patients with CATCH22 syndrome. We present the case of an 11-year-old female patient with CATCH22 syndrome and Klippel-Feil anomaly who had been treated torticollis using the customized soft neck collar. During the patient's first visit to our clinic, she presented with low ear set, skull deformity, intellectual disability, and tilting of the head to the left by approximately 25 degrees. Imaging studies revealed multisegmental fusion and C3 hemivertebrae of the cervical spine and left thoracic scoliosis at T4 with 50 degrees of Cobb's angle. We instructed passive stretching and applied the customized soft neck collar we invented. The ipsilateral aspect of the neck collar is designed to provide vertical support between the clavicle and mandibular angle and is adjustable in height. The Velcro was attached to the neck collar at the point of contact with the ipsilesional mandibular angle, which provides negative sensory feedback, inducing her to tilt neck to the contralesional side. We applied the neck collar for 2 hours a day. After 1 year of treatment, her neck inclination angle improved from 25 to 10 degrees. Providing negative sensory feedback using the customized soft neck collar can be one of the treatment options of postural management in patients with torticollis in cases of CATCH 22 syndrome combined with Klippel-Feil anomaly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.179-186
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• 2021

Background: Patients with advanced asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have postural deviations such as thoracic hyperkyphosis, forward shoulder posture (FSP) due to an increase in head and cervical protraction, reduced shoulder range of motion and a corresponding increase in scapula elevation and upward rotation. Unlike congenital vertebral kyphosis that are permanent and rigid deformities with bony and other structural deformations which cause respiratory impairment, these deformities in these patients may be more flexible. Since the thoracic hyperkyphosis has been implicated as having adverse health consequences it is necessary to evaluated the relationship between thoracic kyphosis and cardiopulmonary functions of patients with COPD and asthma. Methods: It was a cross-sectional analytical study. Eighty-four eligible patients with COPD and asthma were recruited from the Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and basic anthropometric parameters, pulmonary parameters, cardiovascular parameters, thoracic kyphosis (Cobb) angle and presence of respiratory symptoms of participants were assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: There was no significant correlation between the thoracic kyphosis and selected pulmonary parameters (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1, p=0.36), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC, p=0.95), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR, p=0.16), Thoracic expansion (TE, p=0.27)/cardiovascular parameters (Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP, p=0.108), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP, p=0.17) and Pulse Rate (PR, p=0.93) as well as the respiratory symptoms (SGRQ scores, p=0.11) in all subjects. Conclusion: There was no relationship between thoracic kyphosis and selected pulmonary/cardiovascular parameters as well as respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD and asthma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.447-459
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• 2021

Objective : Oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) is becoming the preferred treatment for degenerative lumbar diseases. As beginners, we performed 143 surgeries over 19 months. In these consecutive cases, we analyzed the learning curve and reviewed the complications in our experience. Methods : This was a retrospective study; however, complications that were well known in the previous literature were strictly recorded prospectively. We followed up the changes in estimated blood loss (EBL), operation time, and transient psoas paresis according to case accumulation to analyze the learning curve. Results : Complication-free patients accounted for 43.6% (12.9%, early stage 70 patients and 74.3%, late stage 70 patients). The most common complication was transient psoas paresis (n=52). Most of these complications occurred in the early stages of learning. C-reactive protein normalization was delayed in seven patients (4.89%). The operation time showed a decreasing trend with the cases; however, EBL did not show any significant change. Notable operation-induced complications were cage malposition, vertebral body fracture, injury to the ureter, and injury to the lumbar vein. Conclusion : According to the learning curve, the operation time and psoas paresis decreased. It is important to select an appropriately sized cage along with clear dissection of the anterior border of the psoas muscle to prevent OLIF-specific complications.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1017-1027
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• 2018

Study Design: This retrospective study was conducted including 18 patients who underwent posterior-only stabilization and fusion procedure for pseudoarthrosis in the ankylosed spine from October 2007 to May 2015. Purpose: This study aimed to describe the treatment outcomes in 18 patients with Andersson lesion (AL) who were managed using the posterior-only approach. Literature Review: AL is an unstable, localized, vertebral, or discovertebral lesion of the spine. It is observed in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The exact etiology of this disorder remains unclear, and the treatment guidelines are not clearly described. Methods: We analyzed 18 patients with AL who were treated with posterior long segment spinal fusion without any anterior interbody grafting or posterior osteotomy. Pre- and postoperative radiography, computed tomography, and recent follow-up images were examined. The pre- and postoperative Visual Analog Scale score and the Oswestry Disability Index score were evaluated for all patients. Whiteclouds' outcome analysis criteria were applied at the follow-up. Moreover, at study completion, patient feedback was collected; all the patients were asked to provide their opinion regarding the surgery and were asked whether they would recommend this procedure to other patients and them self undergo the same procedure again if required. Results: The most common site was the thoracolumbar junction. The symptom duration ranged from 1 month to 10 years preoperatively. Most patients experienced fusion by the end of 1 year, and the fusion mass could be observed as early as 4 months. Pseudoarthrosis void of up to 2.5 cm was noted to be healed in subsequent imaging. In addition, clinically, the patients reported good symptomatic relief. No patient required revision surgery. Whiteclouds' outcome analysis score at the latest follow-up revealed goodto-excellent outcomes in all patients. Conclusions: ALs can be treated using the posterior-only approach with long segment fixation and posterior spinal fusion. This is a safe, simple, and quick procedure that prevents the morbidity of anterior surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.102-105
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• 2019

Nitrotyrosine was found to be dependent on the severity of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). However, a correlation of serum nitrotyrosine concentration in dogs with MMVD and the progression of the disease has not been investigated. This study compared changes in serum nitrotyrosine concentration with the progression of MMVD. Nine client-owned dogs were recruited for the study. Dogs were classified by measuring the amount of regurgitation using echocardiography into mild, moderate, or severe MMVD groups. Serum nitrotyrosine concentration was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Serum nitrotyrosine concentration was significantly higher at 180 days than at 0 day (P < 0.05). However, serum nitrotyrosine concentration at 360 days was lower than that at 180 days (P < 0.05). Serum nitrotyrosine concentration at 540 days was lower than at 180 days (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between serum nitrotyrosine and left atrial to aortic root diameter ratio (LA/Ao ratio) (n = 33, $R^2=0.003$, P = 0.759). Also, there was no correlation between serum nitrotyrosine and vertebral heart score (VHS) (n = 33, $R^2=0.026$, P = 0.368) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, normalized for body weight by the formula (LVEDDN) (n = 33, $R^2=0.053$, P = 0.196). The results of the study suggest that the progression of MMVD is correlated with changes in serum nitrotyrosine concentration, which shows potential for use as a cardiac biomarker which can be used to analyze the progression of disease in MMVD.