• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2007

Purpose: Because of the anatomical characteristics, it is difficult to perform radical operation in spinal tumor. Numerous operations on primary and metastatic spinal tumor have been performed and among those total en bloc spondylectomy has produced decent clinical result. Clinical and radiological results have been analyzed based on five total en bloc spondylectomy on primary and metastatic spinal tumor. Materials and Methods: Patients included in this study were one with primary and four with metastatic spinal tumors, from June 1997 to January 2006. Two of the four were originated form kidney. One was from breast and the other one was not identified. McAfee's 4 point scale, VAS and Frankel's classification have been used as clinical assessment of pain and neurological symptoms. Clinical assessment have been conducted for every 3 months after operation including local recurrence, bone union and complications. Results: Assessment of pain decreased from average of 3 before operation to 1.6 after operation in McAfee's scale and VAS decreased from average of 9.2 to 1.6. Neurological deficit after operation improved from C to D in Frankel's category. Local recurrence has been detected on metastatic adenocarcinoma of L4 during follow up. Conclusion: Total en bloc spondylectomy is evidently useful operational method for primary and metastatic spinal tumor since it completely decompresses spinal nerves, decreases axial pain immediately and improves the quality of remaining life.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2009

This study aims to evaluate CT (Computed Tomography) characteristics through the estimation of HU (Hounsfield Unit) and the corresponding variations using coefficient of variation values for various materials as a function of physical factor. HU values for various materials with varying densities as a function of physical factor were measured using MDCT (Siemens SOMATOM Sensation 4, Germany). The results showed that the HU values were decreased and increased as a function of kVp and material density, respectively. Especially, the HU values for bone and iodine at 140 kVp were 32% and 42% smaller than those at 80 kVp, respectively. In case of iodine, the HU values also decreased and increased as a function of kVp and concentration, respectively. While the HU values were fixed as a function of mAs. The decreased ratio of HU values between 80 keV and 140 keV was different at various concentration and maximum difference was shown as 1.73 at 3% concentration. These results indicated that it may be possible to separate composition of materials, e.g. iodine and bone, using single source CT. The results showed that dual energy techniques using single source CT can be applied to material separation and expand CT imaging techniques to other practical applications.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.186-191
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• 2009

Background: Osteoporosis is a significant comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study examined the prevalence and risk factors associated with osteoporosis in patients with COPD. Methods: The bone mineral densities (BMDs) of the lumbar spine and femoral bone were measured in 53 patients with clinically stable COPD and 41 age- and gender-matched control subjects showing a normal lung function. Osteoporosis was defined as a T-score $\leq$-2.5. The subjects' clinical characteristics and laboratory data were reviewed, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with osteoporosis in COPD patients. Results: The prevalence of osteoporosis was 47% and 32% in the COPD patients and controls, respectively. In particular, using the femoral neck T-score, the prevalence of osteoporosis in COPD patients was higher than that in the controls (26% vs. 5%; p=0.006). The average T-score of the lumbar spine (p=0.025) and femoral neck of COPD patients were significantly lower than those of the controls (p=0.001). The forced expiratory volume in the 1 second ($FEV_1$) % predicted (p=0.019; odds ratio [OR], 0.955; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.919-0.993) and age (p=0.024; OR, 1.144; 95% CI, 1.018-1.287) were independently associated with osteoporosis in patients with COPD. Conclusion: Using the femoral neck T-score, the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with COPD was higher than the age-and gender-matched controls. A lower $FEV_1$ and older age further increase the risk of osteoporosis in patients with COPD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.215-217
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• 2016

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent form of leukemia in Europe and North America, and it mainly affects older individuals. Many approaches are implemented in the management of CLL from a watch and wait (W&W) strategy to chemotherapeutic regimens. We here reviewed our clinical practice for the relevance of the W&W strategy in Lebanese CLL patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 95 patients with CLL diagnosed in four institutions in Lebanon, between 1992 and 2013, were selected and their files were reviewed. Characteristics of these patients were noted including age, sex, RAI and Binet scores, CBC values, presence of hepatomegaly or splenomegaly, performance of bone marrow biopsy or peripheral blood flux cytometry for diagnosis, adoption of W&W strategy, different chemotherapeutic regimens and the indications for treatment. Results: Some 38 patients (40%) diagnosed with CLL were women and 57 (60%) were men with a mean age of 65.1 years [36-89]. Of the total, 50.5%, 17.2%, 14%, 7.5% and 10.8% had an RAI score at diagnosis of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, while 65.6%, 17.2% and 17.2% had Binet scores of I, II and III. The mean lymphocyte count at diagnosis was $39885/mm^3$ [1596-290000], the mean hemoglobin level was 12.7 g/dl [6.2-17] and the mean platelet count was $191255/mm^3$ [14000-458000]. While 26.3% of patients with CLL had splenomegaly, only 7.4% had hepatomegaly. Some 33.7% had undergone a bone marrow biopsy, 66.3% flow cytometry of circulating blood and 5.3% a lymph node biopsy. Overall, the W&W was adopted in 62.4% (58) of patients with a mean duration of 37.7 months [3-216]. The W&W was used in 82.6%, 73.3%, 46.2%, 14.3% and 0% of patients having RAI scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, and, it was used in 80%, 46.7% and 6.25% with Binet scores of I, II and III. The most frequent indication for treatment was anemia and thrombocytopenia, accounting for 32.7% of cases. The most frequently used chemotherapeutical regimens were chlorambucil until the end of the last century and flufarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab during the last decade. Conclusions: This retrospective review of CLL clinical practice showed an important implementation of the W&W strategy with a long duration, especially in early stage cases with low RAI or Binet scores.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2002

The implantable middle ear(IME) system, which has good sound quality. superior sound intelligibility and wide frequency characteristics. can resolve the sound distortion and ringing effect by sound feedback at high gain operation those are the major problems of conventional hearing aid. In this paper, we have manufactured the IME system using differential electromagnetic transducer(DET) and verified the performance of the system by carrying out vibration and animal implanting experiment. The DET was manufactured using micro-machining technology and vibration experiment of the transducer was performed to inspect whether the transducer could vibrate in accordance with the applied sound signal or not. And the result of the loaded experiment using temporal bone sampled from cadaver showed that the transducer can drive the middle ear bone and transmit the signal to inner ear After the internal unit of IME system was implanted in a dog. the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test was carried out. The result of the test indicated the Proper behavior of the IME system in the living body From the results of the experiments, it is verified that the manufactured system ewll work well when it is applied to human and a basis of clinical experiment of IME system to real human hearing impaired was be arranged.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2005

Bioflavone quercetin is thought to have an important role to inhibit bone loss by affecting osteoclastogenesis and regulating a number of systemic and local factors such as hormones and cytokines. In this study, we examined how quercetin acts on cytokine production and mineralization of osteoblast in the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha $(TNF-{\alpha})$ which has been known to play a pivotal role in bone metabolic diseases. Quercetin inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ secretion of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-6 in differentiated MC3T3-E1 cells. As indicated by the markers that are characteristics of the osteoblast phenotype, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition, quercetin treatment slightly prevented the $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ dramatic inhibition of differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. Further, quercetin inhibited the production of nitric oxide induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that quercetin inhibites $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ secretion of inflammatory cytokines in differentiated MC3T3-E1 cells without any cytotoxic effects.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 2014

In tissue engineering, a scaffold is a three-dimensional(3D) structure that serves as a template for regeneration the functions of damaged tissues or organs. Among materials for scaffolds, polycaprolactone(PCL) and ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate(${\beta}$-TCP) are biodegradable and biocompatible. In this study, we fabricated 3D PCL, blended PCL (60 wt %)/${\beta}$-TCP (40 wt %), and pure ${\beta}$-TCP scaffolds by a multi-head scaffold fabrication system. Scaffolds with a pore size of $600{\pm}20{\mu}m$ was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The effects of 3D PCL, blended PCL (60 wt %)/${\beta}$-TCP (40 wt %) and pure ${\beta}$-TCP scaffolds were analyzed by evaluating their mechanical characteristics. In addition, in an in-vitro study using osteoblast-like saos-2 cells, we confirmed the effects of 3D scaffolds on cellular behaviors such as cell adhesion and proliferation. In summary, the 3D blended PCL (60 wt %)/${\beta}$-TCP (40 wt %) scaffold was found to be suitable for human cancellous bone in terms of its the compressive strength, biocompatibility, and osteoconductivity. Thus, blending PCL and ${\beta}$-TCP could be a promising approach for fabricating 3D scaffolds for effective bone regeneration.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.149-163
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• 2005

Family has emerged as a key concept for health, and it has been identified as one of the most important conditions. The relationship between health habit and its management is different depending on family. The odd pair family, mostly rural lower income class, worry to have poor health because of no spouse and small family size. One thousand eight hundred and seventy(1870) subjects were collected in 9 provinces through the sampling of Probability Proportional to Size (PPS). Questionnaire method was conducted on health checking, bath states, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and the prevalence of farmer's health related problems. The main results were as follows: 1) The characteristics of odd pair families are that the head of household is female(77% ), the size of family is small(1.76 persons), the education level is low(7.5 years for male, 3.1 years for female) and the age group is old (male: 89.78 year old, female: 73.69 year old). 2) For the odd pair family, the frequency of health checking is quite low with one or two times per year(l0.2%) and the rate of no-health checking is much higher(35.8%) .3) Bathing utility is not available 29.6% of the odd pair family and only cold water is supplied at home for the 11.5 % of them. However, for the paired family, 9.8 % of them has no bathing utility and the rate of the family supplied with only cold water is just 7.9%. 4) The bathing frequency score of odd pair family is l.74points for male and 1.25 points for female. 5) The rate of smoking habits for odd pair family is 68.5 % and specially it is 7.6% for female, which is higher comparing with that of pair family. 6) The smoking frequency score of odd pair family is 1.57 points. 7) Alcohol drinking frequency score of odd pair family is 1.79 points for male, and 3.24points for female. 8) Farmers' syndrome(FS) revealed 38.7% of odd pair family and it is lower than that of pair family(57.3%). Special pain of FS was huckle bone and muscle(28.4%) and articular pain(24.l %). The pain rate of huckle bone and muscle(43.l %) and articular pain(33.5%) were higher in a year in odd pair family were lower than those of pair family: farming machine caused accidents(6.5%) and pesticide poisoning(5.7%). l0) The odd pair family use more frequently medical clinic or public health center for the treatment of FS(74.7%) and pesticide poisoning(62.5%) than the pair family for FS(69.0%) and for pesticide poisoning(.53.6%). The score of FS treatment is 5.70 points for odd pair family and it is not significantly different from 5.62 points of the paired family. The result of pesticide poisoning treatment score is as same as that of FS.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2019

Purpose: To evaluate the characteristics and the risk factors of early onset subsequent vertebral compression fractures after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Materials and Methods: A total of 44 patients, who had a new subsequent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty for an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture between January 2013 and December 2015, were recruited. The patients were divided into two groups according to the onset period of subsequent fracture. The number of patients who had a fracture within 3 months following vertebroplasty were 22 cases (Group A); after 3 months were 22 cases (Group B). Variables, including age, sex, bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), preexisting vertebral compression fracture, location of the initial fracture, intradiscal cement leakage, injected cement volume, restoration of vertebral body height, and correction of kyphosis, in the two groups were analyzed and compared retrospectively. Results: The age, sex, BMD, BMI, preexisting vertebral compression fracture, location of the initial fracture, intradiscal cement leakage, and correction of kyphosis were similar in the two groups. Both a greater volume of bone cement injected and a greater degree of vertebral height restoration contributed significantly to the risk of fracture within 3 months. Conclusion: The cement volume and degree of height restoration are risk factors for early onset fracture at the adjacent vertebrae after percutaneous vertebroplasty and close attention is needed during the follow-up period.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.205-221
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• 2004

Periodontal ligament(PDL) cells have been known as playing an important roles in periodontal regeneration and gingival fibroblasts are also important to periodontal regeneration by forming connective tissue attachment. There were rare studies about the gene expression patterns of PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts, therefore in this study, we tried cDNA microarray-based gene expression monitoring to explain the functional differences of PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts in vivo and to confirm the characteristics of PDL cells. Total RNA were extracted from PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts of same person and same passages, and mRNA were isolated from the total RNA using Oligotex mRNA midi kit(Qiagen) and then fluorescent cDNA probe were prepared. And microarray hybridization were performed. The gene expression patterns of PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts were quite different. About 400 genes were expressed more highly in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts and about 300 genes were more highly expressed in the gingival fibroblasts than PDL cells. Compared growth factor- and growth factor receptor-related gene expression patterns of PDL cells with gingival fibroblasts, IGF-2, IGF-2 associated protein, nerve growth factor, placental bone morphogenic protein, neuron-specific growth- associated protein, FGF receptor, EGF receptor-related gene and PDGF receptor were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts. The results of collagen gene expression patterns showed that collagen type I, type III, type VI and type VII were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts, and in the gingival fibroblasts collagen type V, XII were more highly expressed than PDL cells. The results of osteoblast-related gene expression patterns showed that osteoblast specific cysteine-rich protein were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts. The results of cytoskeletal proteins gene expression patterns showed that a-smooth muscle actin, actin binding protein, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain homolog and myosin light chain were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibrobalsts, and ${\beta}-actin$, actin-capping protein(${\beta}$ subunit), actin- related protein Arp3(ARP) and myosin class I(myh-1c) were more highly expressed in the gingival fibroblasts than PDL cells. Osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor(OPG/OCIF) was more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts. According to the results of this study, PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts were quite different gene expression patterns though they are the fibroblast which have similar shape. Therefore PDL cells & gingival fibroblasts are heterogeneous populations which represent distinct characteristics. If more studies about genes that were differently expressed in each PDL cells & gingival fibroblasts would be performed in the future, it would be expected that the characteristics of PDL cells would be more clear.