• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.792-799
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• 2022

As a vital problem in reproductive health, recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) affects about 1% of women. We performed this study with an aim to explore the molecular mechanism of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and find optimal or effective methods to improve RSA. First, ELISA was applied to evaluate the expressions of IL-23 and its receptor in HTR-8/SVneo cells after IL-23 treatment. CCK-8, TUNEL, wound healing and transwell assays were employed to assess the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells, respectively. Additionally, the expressions of apoptosis-, migration-, epithelial-mesenchymal transition- (EMT-) and p38 MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins were measured by western blotting. To further investigate the relationship between IL-23 and p38 MAPK signaling pathway, HTR-8/SVneo cells were treated for 1 h with p38 MAPK inhibitor SB239063, followed by a series of cellular experiments on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, as aforementioned. The results showed that IL-23 and its receptors were greatly elevated in IL-23-treated HTR-8/SVneo cells. Additionally, IL-23 demonstrated suppressive effects on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and EMT of IL-23-treated HTR-8/SVneo cells. More importantly, the molecular mechanism of IL-23 was revealed in this study; that is to say, IL-23 inhibited the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and EMT of IL-23-treated HTR-8/SVneo cells via activating p38 MAPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, IL-23 inhibits trophoblast proliferation, migration, and EMT via activating p38 MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting that IL-23 might be a novel target for the improvement of RSA.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2009

Objective : In the present study, the authors investigated the clinical and imaging features as well as the therapeutic outcomes of SIH (spontaneous intracranial hypotension) patients. Methods : A retrospective review of 12 SIH patients was carried out. The diagnostic work-up included lumbar tapping and measurement of CSF opening pressure, radioisotope cisternography, brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) myelography. Autologous epidural blood patching was performed in patients who did not respond to conservative therapies, including analgesics, steroids, hydration and rest. Results : Typical postural headache was found in 11 (91%) patients. Nine (75%) patients showed pachymeningeal enhancement on their initial T1-weighted MR images. The CSF opening pressure was less than 60 mm$H_2O$ in 9 of 11 patients. Autologous epidural blood patching was performed in 7 patients, and all of them showed good responses. Conclusion : SIH can present with various clinical presentations and neuroimaging findings. Autologous epidural blood patching is thought to be the treatment of choice for patients with SIH.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2016

Background: For treatment of pneumothorax in Korea, many institutions hospitalize the patient after chest tube insertion. In this study, a portable small-bore chest tube (Thoracic Egg; Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was used for pneumothorax management in an outpatient clinic. Methods: Between August 2014 and March 2015, 56 pneumothorax patients were treated using the Thoracic Egg. Results: After Thoracic Egg insertion, 44 patients (78.6%) were discharged from the emergency room for follow-up in the outpatient clinic, and 12 patients (21.4%) were hospitalized. The mean duration of Thoracic Egg chest tube placement was 4.8 days, and the success rate was 73%; 20% of patients showed incomplete expansion and underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. For primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients, the success rate of the Thoracic Egg was 76.6% and for iatrogenic pneumothorax, it was 100%. There were 2 complications using the Thoracic Egg. Conclusion: Outpatient treatment of pneumothorax using the Thoracic Egg could be a good treatment option for primary spontaneous and iatrogenic pneumothorax.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.445-448
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• 2002

New banana-shaped achiral compounds, 1,3-phenylene bis [4-{4-(7-octenyloxy)phenyliminomethyl}benzoate](PBOEB), 1,3-phenylene bis [4-{3-fluoro-4-(7-octenyloxy)phenyliminomethyl}benzoate] (PBFOEB), 1,3-phenylene bis [4-{4-(10-undecyloxy)phenyliminomethyl}benzoate](PBEUB), and 1,3phenylene bis [4-{3-fluoro-4-(10-undecyloxy)phenyliminomethyl}benzoate](PBFEUB) were obtained by general synthetic methods. PBOEB and PBFOEB having the octenyloxy groups such as $-(CH_2)_6CH=CH_2$ showed ferroelectric switching, and their values of spontaneous polarization on reversal of an applied electric field were 120 nC/$cm^2$ and 225 nC/$cm^2$, respectively. PBEUB and PBFEUB having the undecyloxy groups such as $-{CH_2)_9CH=CH_2$ showed antiferroelectric switching, and their values of spontaneous polarization on reversal of an applied electric field were 120 nC/$cm^2$ and 140 nC/$cm^2$, respectively. We could obtain ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases by controlling the number of carbon atom in alkenyloxy chains of bent-core molecules.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2002

Objectives : To evaluate the association between working conditions and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korea. Methods : We obtained data on health history, lifestyle, housework and Working conditions, such as shift work, hours standing, working time, job demand, lifting at work and at home, between August and September 2000, from self-reported questionnaires. A group of 344, occupationally active, pregnant women from 51 industries were studied. Of the women studied, 328 women were further interviewed by telephone between November 2000 and September 2001. Result : Compared with daytime work, shift work increased the risk for preform birth (an adjusted risk ratio of 2.74, 95% CI=1.02-2.62) and low birth weight (an adjusted risk ratio of 2.74,95% CI=1.02-2.02). A significantly increased risk was found for prolonged standing, with an adjusted risk ratio of preform births of 6.80 (95% CI=2.01-23.0). There were no significant differences in the incidence of spontaneous abortion between the occupational working conditions, with the enception of a previous history of spontaneous abortion. Conclusion : These findings suggest that maternal working conditions, such as shift work and prolonged standing, contribute significantly to preterm birth and low birth weight.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.203-206
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• 2011

Purpose: Kabuki syndrome is a multiple malformation syndrome that was first reported in Japan. It is characterized by distinctive Kabuki-like facial features, skeletal anomalies, dermatoglyphic abnormalities, short stature, and mental retardation. We report two cases of Kabuki syndrome with the surgical intervention and speech evaluation. Methods: Both patients had velopharyngeal insufficiency and had a superior based pharyngeal flap operation. The preoperative and postoperative speech evaluations were performed by a speech language pathologist. Results: In case 1, hypernasality was reduced in spontaneous speech, and the nasalance scores in syllable repetitions were reduced to be within normal ranges. In case 2, hypernasality in spontaneous speech was reduced from severe level to moderate level and the nasalance scores in syllable repetitions were also reduced to be within normal ranges. Conclusion: The goal of this article is to raise awareness among plastic surgeons who may encounter such patients with unique facial features. This study shows that pharyngeal flap operation can successfully correct the velopharyngeal insufficiency in Kabuki syndrome and post operative speech therapy plays a role in reinforcing surgical result.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2016

Purpose: In general, confabulation is defined as confusion of reality with past events without apparent prompting, in association with disruption of the capacity for retrieval and encoding of memory. We report on a patient who showed spontaneous confabulation associated with injury of the Papez circuit following middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Methods: A 67-year-old female patient suffered cerebral infarct resulting from spontaneous MCA territory. After onset of the MCA infarct, she showed severe memory impairment and provoked confabulation. The Papez circuit was reconstructed for evaluation of part of it using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and tract volume were measured. Results: The right thalamocingulate tract showed a significant decrement of FA value and tract volume, and an increment of MD value by more than two standard deviations of that of normal control subjects. The tract volume in the left fornix and mammillothalamic tract decreased by more than two standard deviations of that of normal control subjects. Conclusion: Injuries of the Papez circuit were demonstrated in a patient who showed severe memory impairment and provoked confabulation following MCA infarct. We believe that analysis of the Papez circuit tract using DTT is useful in elucidating the cause of provoked confabulation in patients with MCA infarct.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.482-489
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• 1998

Purpose: Radionuclide cisternography may be helpful in understanding pathophysiology of postural head-ache and low CSF pressure in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. The purpose of this study was to characterize radionuclide cisternographic findings of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Materials and Methods: The study population consists of 15 patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Diagnosis was based on their clinical symptoms and results of lumbar puncture. All patients underwent radionuclide cisternography following injection of 111 to 222 MBq of Tc-99m DTPA into the lumbar subarachnoid space. Sequential images were obtained between 112 hour and 24 hour after the injection of Tc-99m DTPA. Radioactivity of the bladder, soft tissue uptake, migration of radionuclide in the subarachnoid space, and extradural leakage of radionuclide were evaluated according to the scan time. Results: Radionuclide cisternogram showed delayed migration of radionuclide into the cerebral convexity (14/15), increased soft tissue uptake (11/15), and early visualization of bladder activity at 30min (6/10) and 2hr (13/13). Cisternography also demonstrated leakage site of CSF in 4 cases and 2 of these were depicted at 30min. Epidural blood patch was done in 11 patients and headache was improved in all cases. Conclusion: The characteristic findings of spontaneous intracranial hypotension were delayed migration of radionuclide and early visualization of the soft tissue and bladder activity. These scintigraphic findings suggest that CSF leakage rather than increased CSF absorption or decreased production may be the main pathophysiology of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Early and multiple imaging including the bladder and soft tissue is required to observe the entire dynamics of radionuclide migration.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2009

Purpose: Some recent literatures report that it is possible to recover defected areas caused by enucleation of relatively large jaw cysts without using bone grafts. The aim was to find out whether spontaneous recovery of defected area with time occurred and what the contributing factors were. Materials and methods: In total, 194 patients were considered as patients. Out of these 194 patients, 74 patients who had no wound dehiscence and who were available for follow-up studies were selected. They were classified into two groups according to the size of radiolucent area in the preoperative panoramic radiographs: in one group, it was larger than $3{\times}4cm$, while in the other group, it was smaller than $3{\times}4cm$. Follow-up panoramic radiographs were taken immediately after the surgery, then after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. On those radiographs, changes in size and density of the defected areas were observed using the Gray-level histogram of Adobe photoshop v7.0. Correlation between bone regeneration and factors such as the type and size of the cysts, age, sex, site of the cysts and systemic disease was evaluated using the General repeated measure and Mann-Whitney Test. Results: Analyses of panoramic radiographs showed that the recovery of radiopacity after 12 months was more than 97% on average in defected areas that were smaller than $3{\times}4cm$. in the defected areas that were larger than $3{\times}4cm$, considerable portion showed recovery of radiopacity. No statistically significant change was observed in bone density according to the type of cysts. Young patients under 20 years of age with highly active metabolism presented more significant bone regeneration than patients over 20 years of age. Bone regeneration was more hampered in patients who had medical disease, compared with patients who didn’t have any medical problem. No statistically significant change was seen in bone density according to sex. Changes in bone density according to the site of cysts such as maxilla, mandible, anterior or posterior region were not considered to be significant. Conclusion: Analyses of panoramic radiographs suggest that in approximately 12 months after the enucleation of cysts, clinically acceptable spontaneous bone regeneration can be observed even though normal bone graft procedures have not been applied.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.778-790
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• 2008

This experiment investigated the effect of mixed extracts obtained from Mylabris phalerata Pall. and Drynariae Rhizoma on hair growth activity of the normal and spontaneous alopecia areata model of C57BL/6N mice for 16 days. First, we examined morphological regrowth of hair in normal and spontaneous alopecia model of C57BL/6N mice. Second, we examined immunoreactive density of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), c-kit and protein kinase $C-{\alpha}(PKC-{\alpha})$ in skin of normal C57BL/6N mice by immunohistochemical methods. Third, we investigated expression of $TGF-{\beta}$, prolactin and placenta lactogen after topical application of mixed extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall. and Drynariae Rhizoma to skin by RT-PCR. The results were as follows: Hair growth effect from middle and high concentration of mixed extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall. and Drynariae Rhizoma was observed in 80% of normal mice in whose hair had been clipped in 15th days. Hair growth effect of all concentrations of mixed extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall. and Drynariae Rhizoma was observed in 100% of spontaneous alopecia model of C57BL/6N mice in 15th days. Immunoreactive density of VEGF, c-kit and $PKC-{\alpha}$ in skin of all concentrations of mixed extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall. and Drynariae Rhizoma were strongly stained in epidermis, bulge, secondary hair germ cells and cutaneous trunci m. compare to control group in 10th day. In experimental III group, Immunoreactive density of VEGF, c-kit and $PKC-{\alpha}$ in skin were strongly stained in inner and outer root sheath of skin. The treatment of mixed extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall. and Drynariae Rhizoma increased the expression of $TGF-{\beta}$, placenta lactogen and prolactin in the skin of normal C57BL/6N mice compared to control group. These experiments suggest that mixed extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall. and Drynariae Rhizoma may stimulate the topical hair growth activity and it can be useful for treatment of alopecia areata.