• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2007

Objective : The authors tried to reveal some unique features of lipomeningomyelocele (LMMC), including clinical presentation, factors precipitating onset of symptoms, pathologic entities of LMMC associated with tethered cord syndrome, and surgical outcome in LMMC patients. Methods : Seventy-five patients with LMMC were enrolled in this study. Neuro-imaging and intraoperative findings allowed classification of LMMC into three Types. The patients were divided into two groups by age : A (51 patients), from birth to 3 years, and B (24 patients), from 3 to 24 years. For prevention of retethering of the cord, a mega-dural sac rebuilding procedure was performed in 15 patients. Results : During a mean postoperative follow-up period of 4 years, the surgical outcome was satisfactory in terms of improved pain and motor weakness, but disappointing with reference to the resolution of bowel and bladder dysfunction. Among these 75 patients with LMMC, preoperative deficits were improved after surgery in 29 (39%), remained stable in 28 (37%), changed slightly in 13 (17%), and worsened in 5 (7%). Patients in group A achieved better outcomes than those in group B. Depending on the type of lesion, patients with types I and II LMMC have better outcomes than those with type III LMMC. Finally, retethering of the cord with neurological deterioration occurred in 4 (5.3%) of the 75 patients, but no retethering was found in the 15 patients who were recently treated with a mega-dural sac rebuilding procedure. Conclusion : Our data continue to support the opinion that early diagnosis and optimal surgery are still essential for the treatment of patients with LMMC, since there is a high likelihood of residual neurological functions that can be preserved. Based on our surgical experience of untethering and decompression of lipomas, a mega-dural sac repair is useful to prevent retethering of the cord.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1096-1103
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• 1999

A study was conducted to clarify the impact of recombinant porcine somatotropin (pST) on the efficiency of absorbed nitrogen use for protein deposition in growing pigs. Three levels of dietary crude protein (9.0, 11.5, 14.0% CP) were used. Each had either a sub-optimum or near optimum lysine: CP concentration (Low-lysine, 3.8 g/100 g CP and High-lysine, 5.5 g/100g CP) in order to achieve different metabolic efficiencies for nitrogen deposition (ca. 45 vs. 60%). Twelve crossbred female pigs $(59{\pm}4kg\;BW)$ were placed in metabolism cages and fitted with bladder catheters. Each pig received an excipient injection daily for the first 10-d, a pST (5 mg/d) injection for the second 10-d, and then excipient for the last 10-d. Pigs were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments (2 pigs/diet) and fed 4 times per d at $92g/kg\;BW^{0.75}$ $(3{\times}maintenance)$. Means for the excipient period were compared to means for the pST period. Urinary nitrogen (N) output declined in pST-treated pigs (p<0.01) irrespective of dietary protein content or lysine level. Nitrogen retention increased by an average of 11% (p<0.01) with pST treatment (726 vs. $803mg\;N/kg^{0.75}\;BW/d$). Forty-eight percent of the absorbed N was retained with Low-lysine diets, but this increased to 53% with pST injection (+11%, p<0.01). Pigs fed High-lysine diets retained 62% of absorbed N which increased to 69% with pST (+11% p<0.01). the addition of lysine improved N use by 27% (High vs. Low, p<0.01), but the effect of lysine and pST was additive (+40%). Therefore, pST improves N retention and the efficiency of apparently absorbed N use in growing pigs (>60kg). It does so with diets having the potential for either low or high efficiencies of N use (48% and 62%). More work is needed to determine if the partial efficiency of N use improves in direct proportion to pST dose since the improvement in protein deposition is a function of pST dose.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.52-61
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• 1995

Ultrastructural characteristics were examined with leaves of three species, O. japonicus A. Berger, O. malacophyllus Fisch., and O. sikokianus Owhi that probably have CAM mode. The mesophyll cells of these Orostachys possessed vacuoles with precipitates, myelin-like figures, and plasmalemmasomes, along with typical chloroplasts, microbodies and darkly stained bodies in their thin peripheral cytoplasm. Separation of the plasmalemma from the cell wall, leaving a space between them, was a common phenomenon in these species. A complex array of small to large vacuoles which contain small, membrane-bounded vesicles or vacuole-like structures were frequently found. A well-developed thylakoid system was observed in the chloroplasts and this indicates that the photosynthetic capacity of these mesophyll cells is probably active. A peculiar configuration of cytoplasm, especially around the chloroplasts, was also encountered. The variety of cytoplasmic constituents and vacuoles suggest the water-storing mesophyll cells may be complex in function. Some cellular features detected in this study strongly suggest the possible occurrence of CAM mode in Orostachys species.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

Utricularia forms small, but complex carnivorous trap along the stem either in water or in soil depending upon species. The shapes and sizes of the traps, appendages, and trichomes are known to differ among aquatic, terrestrial and epiphytic species. In the present study, the morphology and microstructure of the trap in aquatic Utricularia japonica and terrestrial U. livida were examined using light and electron microscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of trap features between the aquatic and terrestrial species. The trap was found to be comprised of a thin walled bladder with numerous capitate trichomes, two-armed bifid and four-armed quadrifid glands in both species; however, the traps of the two species were different in size, and number and morphology of the trichomes and glands. Aquatic Utricularia was chlorenchymatous with chloroplasts distributed throughout the body, whereas the terrestrial species was translucent without plastids due to an adaptation to underground habitats. Furthermore, the former differed considerably in that the traps developed antenna and appendages around the entrance area. A peculiar trap entrance was also noted in U. livida, which exhibited radiating rows of various trichomes within funnel-shaped tissue. A large number of glandular trichomes covered the entrance area and door surface with four trigger hairs each in the aquatic form but only two in the terrestrial form. The glandular trichomes near the door secreted a large amount of mucilage that temporarily composed the velum in the U. japonica, however, it was not observed in the terrestrial species. All of the aforementioned features were highly related in their structure and function during carnivorous mechanism in Utricularia. The current findings provide important data for further comparison of the different life forms within Utricularia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.157-171
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• 2000

Front Points are told to be deeply related with viscera and bowels in oriental medicine. Since the Front Points are treated as response zone, it can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of disease in viscera and bowels. The location of Front Points are very similar to the several response zones in western medicine. Diagnostic aspect of Front Points to several response zones were discussed in here based on many thesis and reported laboratorial experiments. Front Points are located in the same latitude of viscera and bowels. So, diagnosis result in Front Points represent condition of each organs. Palpitation of the Front Points can make diagnosis of body surface and the organ beneath the body surface. Such use of Front Points for diagnosis can used as the treatment points also. Only three Front Points (LU-1, LI-14, GB-24) in lung, liver and gall bladder meridian are located on its meridian. The Front Points of Stomach (CV-12) cross its meridian or closely located to it. Unlike to those four Front Points that are matched to its meridian, other eight Front Points do not located or cross its meridian at all. It seems that the location of Front Points are decided by the location of organs and the conditions at a certain organ do not delivered by the meridians but delivered by main collaterals, tertiary collaterals and superficial collaterals instead. Among visceral response zones, Five Front Points (CV-3, CV-4, CV-12, LI-14, GB-25) are exactly matched to Head's response zone and other Front Points are closely matched to the Head's response zone. There are five Front Points (CV-12, CV-14, CV-17, LI-14, GB-24) that are matched with the location of pressing palpitation point and other Front Points are closely located to the pressing palpitation point. So far, it was clear that the Front Points do have important role as response points. Symptoms expressed to the Front Points were delivered conditions or symptoms occur in corresponding organ and the anatomical location of Front Points were also found near the corresponding organ. Diagnostic and therapeutic application of Front Points for Organ theory and in the Interpromotion-restraint of the five elements in oriental medicine can be made in future to increase its potential.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2007

Objectives and methods : The Euibujipsung is one of the huge-scale encyclopedias about Oriental Medicine. To search the most frequently used aupoints for dysarthria after stroke, we used Euibujipsung CD-ROM database with several chinese character keyword concerned with vernal function(語, 言, 音, 啞, 瘖, etc). Results : We found four popular acupoints(PC5, GV20, GV16, TE6), and five meridians (Governor vessel, Gall Bladder, Heart, Large Intestine and Triple Energizer). We also found that the extra meridians were used more frequently than other type of meridians. Conclusion : We think that these findings can give further ideas to clinical practice and research fields for stroke rehabilitation in Oriental medicine.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2013

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and associated diseases in children with a horseshoe kidney and compared these data between children and adults. Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records and radiological findings of 43 patients diagnosed with a horseshoe kidney in the Busan Paik Hospital. The subjects were divided into the children's group (14 cases, age <18 years) and the adult group (29 cases, age ${\geq}18$ years). Results: The study group consisted of 17 males and 26 females with a median age of 34 years. In the children's group (14 cases), 5 subjects were male and 9 were female, with a mean age of $6.7{\pm}6.2$ years. Most of the subjects were asymptomatic and were incidentally diagnosed with horseshoe kidney during their evaluation for another disease. Among the associated diseases in the children's group, Turner syndrome was the most common (5 cases), whereas ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stricture was observed in 2 cases (14.2%). None of the children exhibited abnormal renal function during the follow-up period. In the adult group (29 cases), 12 subjects were male and 17 were female, with a mean age of 48 years. Eighteen patients were incidentally diagnosed with horseshoe kidney during their evaluation for another disease, and 11 patients had hematuria or abdominal pain due to renal stones. Among the associated diseases in the adult group, Turner syndrome was the most common (5 cases), and UPJ stricture was observed in 5 cases; the other accompanying diseases included hydronephrosis and overactive bladder. Six patients exhibited decreased renal function (serum creatinine level >1.5) during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Horseshoe kidney is usually diagnosed incidentally in both children and adults. In the present study, we noted that Turner syndrome was the most common associated disease in children. In addition, most children were asymptomatic but had a high risk of urologic complications after the transition to adulthood. Therefore, children with horseshoe kidney require continuous follow-up.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.17-20
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• 2010

Purpose: The hepatobiliary scan is the examination which is the possibility of knowing the function of liver, gall bladder and closing of the biliary tract. Also, after subtotal gastrectomy, the increased gastric-bile reflux is known as the primary reason of reflux gastritis. In this study, according to changing the acquisition method, we tried to prove the reflux time and reflux index in patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: From Oct 2008 to Jan 2009, 72 patients with subtotal gastrectomy who took the hepatobiliary scan (man: 52, woman: 20, age range: 31-77, mean age: $60.5{\pm}7$) in our department. We used the radiopharmaceutical $^{99m}Tc$-mebrofenin 185 MBq/0.5 cc. After 5 minutes, we acquired 300,000 counts anterior image on supine, and then we acquired right lateral and $45^{\circ}$ LAO position by using the time setting method. We acquired 30 min, 60 min, 90 min, 120 min and fatty meal by the same method. We painted the ROI of liver, GB and CBD on 30 min anterior image and LAO image in patients had occurred the bile juice reflux. And then we painted the ROI of stomach on others image. We calculated the reflux index from those values. Results: According to this study, we found out 40 patients (55.6%) who had occurred the gastric-bile juice reflux (1 person from 30 min, 7 persons from 60 min, 4 persons from 90 min, 28 persons from after fatty meal). Hourly, the bile reflux highest level is 6 persons from 60 min, 2 persons from 90 min, 32 persons from fatty meal among those people. The reflux index of anterior is 0.85-23.36% (mean 6.53%). The reflux index of LAO is 1-29.13% (mean 8.89%). By visual assessment, we can distinguish that there were 26 of the 40 patients (65%) had occurred the reflux on LAO image more than anterior image. Conclusion: We find out that the patients with subtotal gastrectomy had occurred gastric-bile juice reflux more than 50% from hepatobiliary scan. And after eating fatty meal, we can know that it's the most possible to occur the gastric-bile juice reflux. When it happened, we have to change the acquisition method to reduce the overlap between colon and stomach. This study will be more valuable in diagnosis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 1999

Purpose : VUR is state where urine regurge from bladder to ureter and kidney. It is shown in about 1/3 of urinary tract infection patients and it is classified as grade I to V. We compared results from RI VCUG(Radiisotope voiding cystourethrography) and X-ray VCUG which used in diagnosing VUR in children, to evaluate which is better in diagnosing VUR in children. Methods : 41 Patients(19 males, 21 females), who visited Pediatric department, Soonchunhyang university Hospital from peroid of 1991. January to 1998. July for recurrent urinary tract infection or abnormalities in ultrasonogams, were enrolled in the study. The age ranged from 9 months to 17 years and mean age was 5 1/2 years. Both RI VCUG and X-ray VCUG were done and follow-up test of urine culture, renal ultrasonogram and RI VCUG were done every month, every 3 month and every 6 month, respectively to observe the disappearance of VUR and evaluated the prognosis. Results : 24 patients had taken RI VCUG and 17(70.1%) patients showed positive result. 22 patients had taken X-ray VCUG and 9(40.1%) patients showed findings of VUR. 17 patients had taken both tests and 14 patients showed positive result in RI VCUG and 6 of these patients also showed reflux in X-ray VCUG. 3 patients who showed negative in RI VCUG, showed negative also in X-ray VCUG. For prognosis, resolution and scar formation was shown in 8 patients each. Persistent VUR was shown in 6 patients and 2 of these patients VUR was corrected by operation, 1 patient showed decreased renal function, and 1 patient was not follwed up. 8 of 9 patients who showed findings of VUR on DMSA scan formed a scar and 8 patients who showed no findings of VUR didn't form a scar. Urine culture was positive in 17 of 19 patients with VUR. Positive rate in urine culture was higher than that of patients with no VUR who showed positivity in 15 of 21 patients for urine culture. E. coli was most common organism and the period free of UTI was 14 months in VUR patients and it was shorter compared to patients without VUR which was 26 months. Conclusion : In diagnosing VUR in children, the positive rate was higher in RI VCUG than X-ray VCUG. Therefore, in early diagnosis when VUR is suspicious but not shown in X-ray VCUG, RI VCUG should be done and it will help to make accurate diagnosis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to analyse and conduct the comprehensive geriatric assessment for the elderly in rural area. The subjects were 388 older people aged 65 years or older living in the community. Data for comprehensive assessment such as physical, mental, functional, social and environmental conditions were collected from January to February, 2001 through a person-to-person interview. Of the total 388 olders, 169(43.6%) were men and 219(56.4%) were women. Mean ages of men and women were $73.5{\pm}6.4$ and $74.0{\pm}6.2$ years respectively. Three common diseases of the elderly were arthralgia(51.6%), chronic back pain(33.2%) and hypertension(18.6%), and higher in women than in men. Impairment rate of vision, hearing and bowel or bladder control was 59.0%, 20.1%, and 28.4% respectively. But that of lover extremities 3.4%. In terms of cognitive function, short term memory loss was found in 33.7% of males and 44.7% of females. The percentage of fully independent in the six ADL items was 72.2% in men and 58.9% in women. In the social supportive system, 49.5% of the elderly were living with spouse, and 22.9% living alone, 26.3% having care giver. These results will provide basic data for the development of community-based health program, which gives appropriate health service for the elderly living in the community.