• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study was to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 gene and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) genes are associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Methods : A total of 157 patients with OPLL and 222 controls were recruited for a case control association study investigating the relationship between SNPs of FGF2, FGFR1, FGFR2 and OPLL. To identify the association among polymorphisms of FGF2 gene, FGFR1, FGFR2 genes and OPLL, the authors genotyped 9 SNPs of the genes (FGF2 : rs1476217, rs308395, rs308397, and rs3747676; FGFR1 : rs13317 and rs2467531; FGFR2 : rs755793, rs1047100, and rs3135831) using direct sequencing method. SNPs data were analyzed using the SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, Haploview, and Helixtree programs. Results : Of the SNPs, a SNP (rs13317) in FGFR1 was significantly associated with the susceptibility of OPLL in the codominant (odds ratio=1.35, 95% confidence interval=1.01-1.81, p=0.048) and recessive model (odds ratio=2.00, 95% confidence interval=1.11-3.59, p=0.020). The analysis adjusted for associated condition showed that the SNP of rs1476217 (p=0.03), rs3747676 (p=0.01) polymorphisms in the FGF2 were associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and rs1476217 (p=0.01) in the FGF2 was associated with ossification of the ligament flavum (OLF). Conclusion : The results of the present study revealed that an FGFR1 SNP was significantly associated with OPLL and that a SNP in FGF2 was associated with conditions that were comorbid with OPLL (DISH and OLF).

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2009

Objectives : Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a rare cause of thoracic myelopathy. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the surgical outcome on the basis of preoperative clinical and radiological findings. Methods : Data obtained in 26 patients whot underwent posterior decompression for thoracic myelopathy, caused by thoracic OLF, were analyzed retrospectively. Patient age, duration of symptoms, OLF type, preoperative and postoperative neurological status using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system, surgical outcome, and other factors were reviewed. We compared the various factors and postoperative prognosis. All patients had undergone decompressive laminectomy and excision of the OLF. Results : Using the JOA score, the functional improvement was excellent in 8 patients, good in 14, fair in 2, and unchanged in 2. A mean preoperative JOA score of 6.65 improved to 8.17 after an average of 27.3 months. According to our analysis, age, gender, duration of symptoms, the involved spinal level, coexisting spinal disorders, associated trauma, intramedullary signal change, and dural adhesions were not related to the surgical outcome. However, the preoperative JOA score and type of OLF were the most important predictors of the surgical outcome. Conclusion : Early diagnosis and sufficient surgical decompression could improve the functional prognosis for thoracic OLF. The postoperative results were found to be significantly associated with the preoperative severity of myelopathy and type of OLF.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2006

This study was performed to assess the growth plate closure time with aging in the Korean native goat. Radiographs of proximal and distal epiphysis of humerus, radius, ulna, femur and tibia were obtained at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 30, 43 and 52 weeks after birth in 30 Korean native goats. The secondary ossification centers were scrutinized and assessed the maturity process on the basis of the criteria(stage 0 to 10). The secondary ossification centers of proximal and distal epiphysis of humerus, radius, femur and tibia and proximal ulna epiphysis appeared immediately after birth. While, that of distal ulna epiphysis appeared during the 1st to 2nd week of life. The fusion of distal humeral epiphysis occurred during the period from 8 to 12 months. The fusion of proximal radial epiphysis and distal tibial epiphysis were found at 1 year. The fusion of proximal and distal epiphysis of ulna and femur, proximal epiphysis of humerus and tibia and distal epiphysis of radius were found at 1 year or more than 1 year. As a result, growth plate closure was highly related to age in the Korean native goat and it is suggested that the estimation of animal's age might be useful by illustration of maturity process of the secondary ossification centers in the Korean native goat.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.127-149
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• 2004

Objective : Ossification of ligaments within spinal canal, i.e., OPLL and OLF, is uncommon clinical entity as a cause of the progressive compression myelopathy or radiculopathy. More and more cases being reported in the field of occidental medicine, but very few cases have been reported in the field of oriental medicine. The purpose of this study is to report on oriental medical approaches to OPLL and OLF. Methods : Subjects of this study are 3 cases of OPLL and 3 cases of OLF who visited Won-kwang oriental medical hospital(Dept. of acupuncture and Moxibustion) from May, 2002 to October, 2003. These patients undergo oriental medical treatment such as acupuncture, cupping, Bee-Venom therapy and herbal medication and so on. We made a comparison JOA scores between before treatment and after treatment and we evaluated results of treatment. Results : The results of treatment in these six cases are as follows ; One case was evaluated 'Excellent', one case was evaluated 'Good', two cases were evaluated 'Fair' and two cases were evaluated 'Failure'. One of these cases had a surgical operation after discharge from this hospital. Conclusions : After oriental medical care for these cases, there are some improvements such as decrease of pains, relief of myelopathy etc. But, it had little effect on some cases, therefore we considered that more special study to find various and effective methods of oriental medical treatment for these diseases should be made.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.130-134
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• 2018

Heterotopic ossification (HO) around the hip joint is not uncommon following neurological injury. Often, surgical treatment is performed in patients with restricted motion and/or refractory pain due to grade III or IV HO according to Brooker classification. The major complication that occurs as a result of surgical HO removal is perioperative bleeding due to hyper-vascularization of the lesion. Here, we report a case of preoperative embolization in a 51-year-old male patient presenting with restricted bilateral hip range of motion (ROM) due to HO following a spinal cord injury. In the right hip without preoperative arterial embolization, massive bleeding occurred during surgical removal of HO. Thus, the patient received a transfusion postoperatively due to decreased serum hemoglobin levels. For surgery of the left hip, preoperative embolization of the arteries supplying HO was performed. Surgical treatment was completed without bleeding complications, and the patient recovered without a postoperative transfusion. This case highlights that, while completing surgical removal for ROM improvements, orthopedic surgeons should consider preoperative arterial embolization in patients with hip HO.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2016

Understanding of morphological structures such as the sphenoid spine and pterygoid processes is important during lateral transzygomatic infratemporal fossa approach. In addition, osseous variations such as pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges are significant in clinical practice because they can produce various neurological disturbances or block the passage of a needle into the trigeminal ganglion through the foramen ovale. Two hundred and eighty-four sides of Korean adult dry skulls were observed to carry out morphometric analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, to investigate, for the first time among Koreans, the incidence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges, to compare the results with those available for other regional populations, and to discuss their clinical relevance as described on literatures. The mean of maximum widths of the left and right lateral plates of the pterygoid process were 15.99 mm and 16.27 mm, respectively. Also, the mean of maximum heights of the left and right lateral plates were 31.02 mm and 31.01 mm, respectively. The ossified pterygospinous ligament was observed in 51 sides of the skulls (28.0%). Ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was complete in four sides (1.4%). In 47 sides (16.6%), the pterygospinous bridge was incomplete. The ossified pterygoalar ligament was observed in 24 sides of the skulls (8.4%). Ossification was complete in eight sides (2.8%) and incomplete in 16 sides (5.6%). This detailed analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process and related ossification of ligaments can improve the understanding of complex clinical neuralgias associated with this region.

• The Korean Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.189-198
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• 2018

A 31 years old female had been suffered from a bony swelling in right premolar region of the mandible for 12 years, recently grown rapidly. A fistula tract developed on the right anterior mandibular border, but the lesion was relatively asymptomatic. In the radiological examination, the tumor mass was irregularly mixed with radiolucent and radiopaque areas, forming multiple cystic spaces. Under the diagnosis of calcifying odontogenic cyst, the mandibular mass was resected and examined pathologically. After decalcification, the dissected tumor mass showed multiple small cystic spaces and calcifying fibrous tissue, mimicking calcifying odontogenic cyst or ameloblastoma. Histological observation showed many calcifying cementoid materials and ossifying trabeculae. The cystic spaces were turned out to be dilated vascular channels lined by endothelial cells, containing plasma fluid. However, the main lesion was diagnosed as cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF), and the atypical vascular channels were greatly dilated and gradually expanded the whole tumor mass. The present COF was examined through immunohistochemical (IHC) array, and investigated for tumor cell characteristics, exhibiting abnormal ossification and aneurysmal cystic changes. IHC array disclosed that the tumor cells grew progressively in the lack of apoptosis, and that they showed lower expression of RUNX2 than BMP-2, RANKL, and OPG, and increases of protein expression in $HIF-1{\alpha}$, VEGF-A, and CMG2. These data suggested that the reduced expression of RUNX2, osteoblast differentiation factor, be relevant to abnormal ossification of COF, and that the consistent expressions of angiogenesis factors be relevant to de novo angiogenesis in COF, subsequently resulted in aneurysmal cystic changes.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.294-304
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• 2021

Ankylosing spondylitis causes ankylosis of the spine due to ossification of the articular cartilage and ligaments around the vertebral body as well as the sacroiliac joint. This pathophysiology limits joint movement and, in many cases, causes pain and deformity of the spine. If this disease is left untreated, it ultimately causes ankylosis and ossification of the whole-body joints. The symptoms generally develop before age 30 years, and the gradual progression of the disease adversely affects the physical function, professional ability, and quality of life. This increases the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders, such as depression. The authors are aware of this severity and introduce recent trends and studies to prevent surgical treatment with various medications before systemic ossification. This paper presents various surgical treatments and complications in patients who were unable to prevent progression and underwent surgical treatment.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2015

This research has been launched in order to observe the osteological development of sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus larvae and juveniles and will be used for the basic data of phylogenetically systematics research. We got some samples of larvae and juveniles from a adult fish which belongs to the sea cage in Geomun-do, Yeosu-si, Jeolla-namdo province, and we have watched them. The average of breeding water temperature was $21.5{\sim}24.5^{\circ}C$ (average $23.0{\pm}1.5^{\circ}C$). In yolk-sac larvae just after hatching, ossification was not observed at all, and when the average total length reached 2.66 mm, the premaxillary and maxillary forming the upper jaw, dentary forming the lower jaw, and parasphenoid forming the skull base were ossified. In addition, the preopercle and opercle forming the opercular region began to be ossified. The caudal skeleton supporting the caudal fin is built with the caudal complex consisting of the malleus and incus. Until the average total length reached 2.59 mm, ossification did not occur at all and the urostyle bent at 45-degree angle. As to the ossification of the pterygiophore, when the average total length was 6.12 mm, the first interhemal spine began to be ossified in articulation with two spines of the anal fin, and the synapse also began to be ossified in articulation with two spines of the dorsal fin. When the average total length was 21.9 mm, individuals with completed ossification of the interhemal spines and synaptic clefts began to appear.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.547-548
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• 2021