• Bulletin of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.38-46
• /
• 1990

A numerical solution method of the boundary integral equation for axisymmetric potential flows is presented. Those are represented by ring source and ring vorticity distribution. Strengths of ring source and ring vorticity are approximated by linear functions of a parameter $\zeta$ on a segment. The geometry of the body is represented by a cubic B-spline. Limiting integral expressions as the field point tends to the surface having ring source and ring vorticity distribution are derived upto the order of ${\zeta}ln{\zeta}$. In numerical calculations, the principal value integrals over the adjacent segments cancel each other exactly. Thus the singular part proportional to $\(\frac{1}{\zeta}\)$ can be subtracted off in the calculation of the induced velocity by singularities. And the terms proportional to $ln{\zeta}$ and ${\zeta}ln{\zeta}$ can be integrated analytically. Thus those are subtracted off in the numerical calculations and the numerical value obtained from the analytic integrations for $ln{\zeta}$ and ${\zeta}ln{\zeta}$ are added to the induced velocity. The four point Gaussian Quadrature formula was used to evaluate the higher order terms than ${\zeta}ln{\zeta}$ in the integration over the adjacent segments to the field points and the integral over the segments off the field points. The root mean square errors, $E_2$, are examined as a function of the number of nodes to determine convergence rates. The convergence rate of this method approaches 2.

• Asian Spine Journal
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.1060-1068
• /
• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 1999

The nucleotide sequences of a 504 bp segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene were analyzed to survey the intraspecific variation of the brown frog, Rana dybowskii, collected from nine populations in South Korea. Comparisons of sequence divergence of the cytochrome b gene suggest that the populations examined are clearly classified into two types (type 1 and type 2), diverged from each other by a high value of 14.3-15.9% sequence divergence. The two types are distributed allopatrically in most populations, but only one population occurs sympatrically. In the Tonghae population, their spawning grounds differ in that type 1 spawns in the puddle and type 2 spawns in the mountain creek. Based on the genetic divergences of the cytochrome b gene sequences, the phylogenetic status of Korean R. dybowskii is elucidated by comparing it with related brown frogs distributed in an area adjacent to the Korean Peninsula. Interspecific sequence divergences among type 1, type 2 and other related brown frog species (Russian R. dybowskii, R. pirica, R. ornativentris, R. chensinensis: 2n=24 chromosomes) used in this study ranged from 11.7 to 16.3%. R. dybowskii in Tsushima is very similar to our type 1 (sequence divergence＝0-1.6%) and R. chensinensis in western China is closest to our type 2 (sequence divergence＝6.8-7.5%).

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.163-168
• /
• 2001

Purpose : This study is conducted to evaluate the clinical success of secondary alveolar bone grafting using autogenous iliac particulate cancellous bone marrow in cleft maxilla. Materials and methods : We evaluated 107 cleft patients who had been admitted to the Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Pusan National University Hospital from January 1, 1991 to January 31, 1999 and had been performed secondary alveolar bone grafting with autogenous particulated cancellous bone marrow from iliac crest. Results : 1. Men were 70 and women were 37, which shows 65.4% and 34.6% and the proportion of males to females was 1.9:1. Unilateral cases were 89(83.2%) and bilateral cases were 18(16.8%). 2. Age of bone grafting is widely distributed from 7 to 29, and the average was 13.2. 3. Success rate was 97.8% in unilateral cases, 94.4% in bilateral cases. Overall success rate was 96.7%. 4. We evaluated the bone graft contour by the percentage of bone attachment level adjacent to the alveolar cleft and the menial side showed 82.4% and the distal 87.7%. 5. The amount of notching the alveolar ridge at the grafted site through the ratio of notching length up to the most apical base to the length of proximal segment anatomic root was 0.19.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.212-216
• /
• 2011

Objective : It is well known that plate-to-disc distance (POD) is closely related to adjacent-level ossification following anterior cervical plate placement. The study was undertaken to compare the outcomes of two different anterior cervical plating methods for degenerative cervical condition. Specifically, the new method involves making holes for plate screws first with an air drill and then choosing a plate size. The other method was standard, that is, decide on the plate size first, locate the plate on the anterior vertebral body, and then drilling the screw holes. Our hypothesis was that the new technical tip may increase POD as compared with the standard anterior cervical plating procedure. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients who had a solid fusion after anterior cervical arthrodesis with a plate for the treatment of cervical disc degeneration. Twenty-three patients underwent the new anterior cervical plating technique (Group A) and 26 patients underwent the standard technique (Group B). POD and ratios between POD to anterior body heights (ABH) were measured using postoperative lateral radiographs. In addition, operating times and clinical results were reviewed in all cases. Results : The mean durations of follow-up were $16.42{\pm}5.99$ (Group A) and $19.83{\pm}6.71$ (Group B) months, range 12 to 35 months. Of these parameters mentioned above, cephalad POD (5.43 versus 3.46 mm, p=0.005) and cephalad POD/ABH (0.36 versus 0.23, p=0.004) were significantly greater in the Group A, whereas operation time for two segment arthrodesis (141.9 versus 170.6 minutes, p=0.047) was significantly lower in the Group A. There were no significant difference between the two groups in caudal POD (5.92 versus 5.06 mm), caudal POO/ABH (0.37 versus 0.32) and clinical results. Conclusion : The new anterior cervical plating method represents an improvement over the standard method in terms of cephalad plate-to-disc distance and operating time.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.496-500
• /
• 2013

Objective : To evaluate the successful fusion rate in postmenopausal women with single-level anterior cervical discectomy and successful fusion (ACDF) and identify the significant factors related to bone successful fusion in pre- and postmenopausal women. Methods : From July 2004 to December 2010, 108 consecutive patients who underwent single-level ACDF were prospectively selected as candidates. Among these, the charts and radiological data of 39 women were reviewed retrospectively. These 39 women were divided into two groups : a premenopausal group (n=11) and a postmenopausal group (n=28). To evaluate the significant factors affecting the successful fusion rate, the following were analyzed : the presence of successful fusion, successful fusion type, age, operated level, bone mineral density, graft materials, stand-alone cage or plating with autologous iliac bone, subsidence, adjacent segment degeneration, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and renal disease. Results : The successful fusion rates of the pre- and postmenopausal groups were 90.9% and 89.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the successful fusion rate or successful fusion type between the two groups. In the postmenopausal group, three patients (10.8%) had successful fusion failure. In the postmenopausal group, age and subsidence significantly affected the successful fusion rate (p=0.016 and 0.011, respectively), and the incidence of subsidence in patients with a cage was higher than that in patients with a plate (p=0.030). Conclusion : Menopausal status did not significantly affect bone successful fusion in patients with single-level ACDF. However, in older women with single-level ACDF, the combination of use of a cage and subsidence may unfavorably affect successful fusion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.343-349
• /
• 2012

Objective : Pedicle-based dynamic stabilization systems, in which semi-rigid rods or cords are used to restrict or control spinal segmental motion, aim to reduce or eliminate the drawbacks associated with rigid fusion. In this study, we analyzed the two-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with the NFlex (Synthes Spine, Inc.), a pedicle-based dynamic stabilization system. Methods : Five sites participated in a retrospective study of 72 consecutive patients who underwent NFlex stabilization. Of these 72 patients, 65 were available for 2-year follow-up. Patients were included based on the presence of degenerative disc disease (29 patients), degenerative spondylolisthesis (16 patients), lumbar stenosis (9 patients), adjacent segment degeneration (6 patients), and degenerative lumbar scoliosis (5 patients). The clinical outcome measures at each assessment were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure back pain, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure functional status. Radiographic assessments included evidence of instrumentation failure or screw loosening. Results : Sixty-five patients (26 men and 39 women) with a mean age of 54.5 years were included. Mean follow-up was 25.6 months. The mean VAS score improved from 8.1 preoperatively to 3.8 postoperatively, representing a 53% improvement, and the ODI score from 44.5 to 21.8, representing a 51% improvement. Improvements in pain and disability scores were statistically significant. Three implant-related complications were observed. Conclusion : Posterior pedicle-based dynamic stabilization using the NFlex system seems effective in improving pain and functional scores, with sustained clinical improvement after two years. With appropriate patient selection, it may be considered an effective alternative to rigid fusion.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.56-66
• /
• 2010

The various total replacement artificial discs have developed because spinal fusion has shown a lesser mobility of an operated segment and an accelerated degeneration at adjacent discs. But almost artificial discs have not yet been reached on the substitute surgery of fusion because many problems such as those clinical success rates were not more than them of fusion have not solved. In this paper, vertically inserted assemble-screw fixture in vertebrae was proposed to improve the fixed capability of artificial disc. And also, to evaluate the design suitability of newly designed screw-type, including fixtures of commercial discs such as wedge and plate type, the 1/4 finite element model with a vertebra and various implanted fixtures were generated, and next, 3 bending motions such as flexion, bending and twisting under the moment of 10Nm and compression under the force of 1000N were considered, respectively and finally, FE analyses were performed. Results of three fixture types were compared, such as Range of Motion and maximal stress, and so on. For ROM, the screw type was average 58% less than the wedge type and was average 42% less than the plate type under all loading conditions. For average stress ratio at closer nodes between vertebra and each fixture, the wedge type was the lowest as minimum 0.02 in twisting, screw types were the highest as maximum 0.28 in compression. As the results of using cement material, it was predicted that the instability problem of the wedge type was better solved. The screw type which could be increased by implanting depth according to the number of assembling mid screws, showed that the decreased tendency of ROMs and maximal cancellous bone stresses. In further study, controlling the number of assembling screws that was suitable for a patient's bone quality, development of surgical tools and keeping on design supplementations, which will be able to develop the competitive artificial disc.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.211-219
• /
• 2017

Objective : This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients with subaxial cervical injury who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with autologous iliac bone graft or polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages using demineralized bone matrix (DBM). Methods : From January 2005 to December 2010, 70 patients who underwent one-level ACDF with plate fixation for post-traumatic subaxial cervical spinal injury in a single institution were retrospectively investigated. Autologous iliac crest grafts were used in 33 patients (Group I), whereas 37 patients underwent ACDF using a PEEK cage filled with DBM (Group II). Plain radiographs were used to assess bone fusion, interbody height (IBH), segmental angle (SA), overall cervical sagittal alignment (CSA, C2-7 angle), and development of adjacent segmental degeneration (ASD). Clinical outcome was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and Frankel grade. Results : The mean follow-up duration for patients in Group I and Group II was 28.9 and 25.4 months, respectively. All patients from both groups achieved solid fusion during the follow-up period. The IBH and SA of the fused segment and CSA in Group II were better maintained during the follow-up period. Nine patients in Group I and two patients in Group II developed radiologic ASD. There were no statistically significant differences in the VAS score and Frankel grade between the groups. Conclusion : This study showed that PEEK cage filled with DBM, and plate fixation is at least as safe and effective as ACDF using autograft, with good maintenance of cervical alignment. With advantages such as no donor site morbidity and no graft-related complications, PEEK cage filled with DBM, and plate fixation provide a promising surgical option for treating traumatic subaxial cervical spine injuries.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.335-343
• /
• 1996

The dipole-dipol electrical resistivity survey was conducted to investigate the probable contamination of the Han river by leachate from the near-by Nanjido Landfill. The survey line of 3 km was set along the unpaved road toward the Han river. For the convenience of the field work, the survey line was divided into four segments. The complete two-dimensional resistivity section was constructed by connecting the inversion result of each segment. Gravity survey was also carried out along the profile parallel to the resistivity line. Near surface resistivity generally appeared to be of very low value in most part of the survey area and the boundary between the alluvium layer and underlying basement rocks is well discriminated on the resistivity section. These results agree well with those of the preceding Schlumberger depth sounding made at adjacent area by Lee and fun (1995). The variation of thickness of the alluvium layer delineated by gravity anomaly profile also correlates well with the result of the resistivity survey on the qualitative basis. The problem of contamination by leachate from the Nanjido Landfill, where various waste materials have been dumped without any proper treatment facilities, has been remains unsolved yet. Therefore, we present the most probable passages of leachate flow based on the survey results and have briefly discussed about measure for contamination control. Considering the thickness of alluvium and the possible existence of fractured zone, the middle point between 1st and 2nd landfill and the midst of 1st landfill are the most hazardous regions to make leachates flow into the Han river. Since large amounts of leachates are observed from the test wells located on the lines extending from the border between the 1st and 2nd landfill and the middle of the lst landfill, contamination protection barriers are strongly recommended near these regions.