• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.418-420
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• 2012

Pectus excavatum is rare, but it is the most common type of sternal congenital disorder. There are many surgical methods to correct pectus excavatum such as the Ravitch method, Wada method, Silastic mold method, and the Nuss operation. We report a case of minimal invasive surgery for pectus excavatum using a polyvinyl alcohol sponge.

• Carbon letters
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• v.18
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• pp.71-75
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• 2016

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.244-251
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• 2009

To assess the algicidal effect of a bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens HYK0210-SK09 (SK09), attached to activated carbon polyvinyl alcohol (ACPA) and cellulose sponge (CS) carriers against Stephanodiscus hantzschii, the present study was carried out in an indoor-microcosm. As comparing immobilization effects of two carriers, the ACPA carrier allowed for higher packing cell density of SK09 compared to the CS carrier. In the microcosm, immobilized SK09 cells were applied to control S. hantzschii blooms. Immobilized SK09 cells exhibited a species-specific activity towards the diatom, showing an algicidal effect up to 72% attached by ACPA carriers and to 51% attached by CS carriers. In particular, a level of conductivity treated with ACPA carriers was decreased than that of CS carriers. The present study clearly demonstrates that ACPA-immobilized SK09 cells could effectively control S. hantzschii blooms and improve water quality in the microcosm ecosystem.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2019

Prussian blue (PB) is well known for its excellent $Cs^+$ ions adsorption capacity. Due to the high dispersibility of PB in aqueous phase, composite materials imbedding PB in supporting materials have been introduced as a solution. However, building PB particles inside porous supporting materials is still difficult, as PB particles are not fully formed and elute out to water. In this study, we suggest layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly to provide better immobilization of PB on supporting materials of poly vinyl alcohol sponge (PVA) and cellulose filter (CF). Three different PB attachment methods, ex-situ/in-situ/LBL assembly, were evaluated using PB leaching test as well as $Cs^+$ adsorption test. Changes of surface functionality and morphology during PB composite preparation protocols were monitored through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that LBL assembly led to better PB attachment on supporting materials, bringing less eluting PB particles in aqueous phase compared to other synthesis methodologies, such as ex-situ and in-situ synthesis. By enhancing the stability of the adsorbent, adsorption capacity of PVA-PB with LBL improved nine times and that of CF-PB improved over 20 times. Therefore, the results suggest that LBL assembly offers a better orientation for growing PB particles on porous supporting materials.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2015

Ceramic foams are prepared as positive images corresponding to a plastic foam structure which exhibits high porosities (85-90%). This structure makes the ceramic foams attractive as a catalyst in a dry reforming process, because it could reduce a high pressure drop problem. This problem causes low mass and heat transfers in the process. Furthermore, the reactants would shortly contact to catalyst surface, thus low conversion could occur. Therefore, this research addressed the preparation of dry reforming catalysts using a sol-gel catalyst preparation via a polymeric sponge method. The specific objectives of this work are to investigate the effects of polymer foam structure (such as porosity, pore sizes, and cell characteristics) on a catalyst performance and to observe the influences of catalyst preparation parameters to yield a replica of the original structure of polymeric foam. To accomplish these objectives industrial waste foams, polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foams, were used as a polymeric template. Results indicated that the porosity of the polyurethane and polyvinyl alcohol foams were about 99% and 97%. Their average cell sizes were approximate 200 and 50 micrometres, respectively. The cell characteristics of polymer foams exhibited the character of a high permeability material that can be able to dip with ceramic slurry, which was synthesized with various viscosities, during a catalyst preparation step. Next, morphology of ceramic foams was explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and catalyst properties, such as; temperature profile of catalyst reduction, metal dispersion, and surface area, were also characterized by $H_2-TPR$ and $H_2-TPD$ techniques, and BET, respectively. From the results, it was found that metal-particle dispersion was relatively high about 5.89%, whereas the surface area of ceramic foam catalysts was $64.52m^2/g$. Finally, the catalytic behaviour toward hydrogen production through the dry reforming of methane using a fixed-bed reactor was evaluated under certain operating conditions. The approaches from this research provide a direction for further improvement of marketable environmental friendly catalyst production.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.616-620
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• 2011

Purpose: Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster syndrome (MRK) is second common cause of primary amenorrhea. It is a syndrome of vaginal aplasia and Mullerian duct anomaly. Vaginal aplasia varies from agenesis of whole vagina to aplasia of upper 2/3. For reconstructing vagina, various methods are introduced. Gracilis myocutaneous flap was the first attempt in that the flap is used in vaginal reconstruction. Various flap-based vaginal reconstruction methods have been introduced. Modified Singapore flap (pedicled neurovascular pudendal thigh fasciocutaneous flap) is one of those methods that used posterior labial artery as pedicle, and pudendal nerve branch as sensory root. As its donor lies on inguinal crease that is easily hidden and there are benefits on sexual intercourse by early sensory recovery, authors think that modified Singapore flap is effective for young MRK syndrome patients. Methods: Eight patients underwent surgery between 2008 and 2010. The flap was designed on both groin area with external pudendal artery branch as a pedicle. All flaps were fixated in pelvic cavity with absorbable suture, and additional compression on neovaginal wall was supplied by polyvinyl alcohol sponge ($Merocel^{(R)}$). Results: All patients were successfully reconstructed without flap related complications such as congestion or partial flap loss. The average size of the flap (each side) was 69.34 $cm^2$. Polyvinyl alcohol sponge ($Merocel^{(R)}$) was inserted into neovagina for 5 days on every patient. One case of rectal laceration was occurred while making pelvic pocket by OBGY team. Other complications such as lumen narrowing, wound contracture or vaginal prolapsed were not reported during 8 months of follow up. Conclusion: Modified Singapore flap is a sensate fasciocutaneous flap that is thinner than other myocutaneous flap such as VRAM, and more durable over skin graft. Therefore this is a good choice for vaginal reconstruction in MRK syndrome. And known complications of Modified Singapore flap could be reduced with careful procedure and mild compression techniques.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.647-650
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• 2014

Objective: To explore the efficiency of single application of lobaplatin in tran-scatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for patients with a primary hepatic carcinoma who were unable or unwilling to undergo surgery. Methods: 173 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma diagnosed by imaging or pathology were randomly divided into experimental and control groups and respectively treated with lobaplatin and pirarubicin hydrochloride as chemotherapeutic drugs for TACE. The amount of iodipin was regulated according to the tumor number and size, and then gelatin sponge or polyvinyl alcohol particles were applied for embolisms. The efficiency of treatment in the two groups was compared with reference to survival time and therapeutic response. Results: The experimental group (single lobaplatin as chemotherapy drug) was superior to control group (single pirarubicin hydrochloride as chemotherapy drug) in the aspects of survival time and therapeutic response, with statistical significance. Conclusions: Single lobaplatin can be as a chemotherapy drug in TACE and has better efficiency in the aspects of mean survival time and therapeutic response, deserving to be popularized in the clinic.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.350-354
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• 2014

Background The authors sought to compare the use of the nonabsorbable polyvinyl alcohol sponge (PVA, Merocel) and absorbable synthetic polyurethane foam (SPF, Nasopore Forte plus) as intranasal splints after closed reduction of fractured nasal bones during the hospitalization period. Methods The medical records of 111 patients who underwent closed reduction for nasal bone fracture at Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, from 2012 to 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. PVA (group A) or SPF (group B) was packed as an internal splint after closed reduction. The efficacy of the materials was compared and statistically analyzed. Results PVA was used in 82 patients, and SPF was used in 29 patients. The patients in group B complained significantly more of nasal pain on the first day after operation than the patients in group A. Headaches on the operation day were significantly more painful in group B than in group A. Bleeding on the fourth postoperative day was significantly reduced in group B as compared to group A. The patients in group B exhibited significantly more intensive nasal obstruction on the operation day and the following day than the patients in group A. However, on the third and fourth postoperative days, the nasal obstruction in group B was less than that in group A. The pain and bleeding related to the packing material was significantly reduced in group B as compared to group A. Conclusions The use of SPF as an absorbable packing material is a reasonable substitute for the traditional nonabsorbable material.