• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1413-1440
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• 2021

On MRI, abnormal signals of the intervertebral disc, destruction of the upper and lower vertebral body endplate around the disc, and bone marrow edema around the endplate are considered typical findings of infectious spondylitis. These findings can also appear in various non-infectious spinal diseases, such as degenerative changes, acute Schmorl's node, spondyloarthropathy, synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO), chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. The imaging findings of infectious spondylitis that can be differentiated from these non-infectious spinal diseases on MRI are high signal intensity and abscess of the disc space, an abscess in the paraspinal soft tissue, and the loss of the linear low signal intensity on T1-weighted images of the bony endplate. However, these differentiation points do not always apply since there are many similarities in the imaging findings of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Therefore, for an accurate diagnosis, it is important to know the imaging characteristics related to the pathophysiology of not only infectious spondylitis but also non-infectious spinal diseases, which requires differentiation from infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

Background: In Changbai Mountains, Panax ginseng (ginseng) was cultivated in a mixture of the humus and albic horizons of albic luvisol in a raised garden with plastic shade. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ginseng planting on soil characteristics. Methods: The mixed-bed soils were seasonally collected at intervals of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-15 cm for different-aged ginsengs. Soil physico-chemical characteristics were studied using general methods. Aluminum was extracted from the soil solids with $NH_4Cl $(exchangeable Al) and Na-pyrophosphate (organic Al) and was measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: A remarkable decrease in the pH, concentrations of exchangeable calcium, $NH_4^+$, total organic carbon (TOC), and organic Al, as well as a pronounced increase in the bulk density were observed in the different-aged ginseng soils from one spring to the next. The decrease in pH in the ginseng soils was positively correlated with the $NH_4^+$ (r=0.463, p<0.01), exchangeable calcium (r=0.325, p<0.01) and TOC (r= 0.292, p < 0.05) concentrations. The $NO_3^-$ showed remarkable surface accumulation (0-5 cm) in the summer and even more in the autumn but declined considerably the next spring. The exchangeable Al fluctuated from $0.10mg\;g^{-1}$ to $0.50mg\;g^{-1}$ for dry soils, which was positively correlated with the $NO_3^-$ (r=0.401, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with the TOC (r=-0.329, p < 0.05). The Al saturation varied from 10% to 41% and was higher in the summer and autumn, especially in the 0-5 cmand 5-10 cm layers. Conclusion: Taken together, our study revealed a seasonal shift in soil characteristics in ginseng beds with plastic shade.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.372-376
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• 2019

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) caused by pseudogout is an uncommon disease. The authors report a 65-year-old female who complained of sudden pain and neurological symptoms on her left hand. Surgical decompression was performed. In the histologic study, a calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposit was confirmed. Her pain and neurological symptoms were relieved. Because CTS caused by pseudogout is rare, it is difficult to differentiate it from other diseases. This paper reports an uncommon case of CTS caused by pseudogout.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2008

In the process of bone remodeling, mineral phase of bone is dissolved by osteoclasts, resulting in elevation of calcium concentration in micro-environment. This study was performed to explore the effect of high extracellular calcium ($Ca{^{2+}}_e$) on mineralized nodule formation and on the expression of progressive ankylosis (Ank), plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1 (PC-1) and osteopontin by primary cultured mouse calvarial cells. Osteoblastic differentiation and mineralized nodule formation was induced by culture of mouse calvarial cells in osteoblast differentiation medium containing ascorbic acid and ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate. Although Ank, PC-1 and osteopontin are well known inhibitors of mineralization, expression of these genes were induced at the later stage of osteoblast differentiation during when expression of osteocalcin, a late marker gene of osteoblast differentiation, was induced and mineralization was actively progressing. High $Ca{^{2+}}_e$(10 mM) treatment highly enhanced mRNA expression of Ank, PC-1 and osteopontin in the late stage of osteoblast differentiation but not in the early stage. Inhibition of p44/42 MAPK activation but not that of protein kinase C suppressed high $Ca{^{2+}}_{e^-}$induced expression of Ank, PC-1 and osteopontin. When high $Ca{^{2+}}_e$(5 mM or 10 mM) was present in culture medium during when mineral deposition was actively progressing, matrix calcifiation was significantly increased by high $Ca{^{2+}}_e$. This stimulatory effect was abolished by pyrophosphate (5 mM) or levamisole (0.1-0.5 mM), an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor. In addition, probenecid (2mM), an inhibitor of Ank, suppressed matrix calcification in both control and high $Ca{^{2+}}_{e^-}$treated group, suggesting the possible role of Ank in matrix calcification by osteoblasts. Taken together, these results showed that high $Ca{^{2+}}_e$ stimulates expression of Ank, PC-1 and osteopontin as well as matrix calcification in late differentiation stage of osteoblasts and that p44/42 MAPK activation is involved in high $Ca{^{2+}}_{e^-}$induced expression of Ank, PC-1 and osteopontin.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2013

The Ti-6Al-4V extra low interstitial (ELI) alloy has been widely used as an orthopedic implant material because of its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, it still has many problems, including a high elastic modulus and toxicity of the Al and V elements. Therefore, non-toxic biomaterials with a low elastic modulus need to be developed. A high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) process is introduced to improve the effect of sintering. Rapid sintering of spark plasma sintering (SPS) under pressure was used to make an ultra fine grain of Ti-25 wt.%Nb-7 wt.%Zr-10 wt.%Mo-(10 wt.%CPP) composites with bio-attractive elements for increasing strength. These composites were fabricated by SPS at $1000^{\circ}C$ at 60 MPa using HEMM powders. During the sintering process, $CaTiO_3$, TixOy, and CaO were formed because of the reaction between Ti and CPP. The effects of CPP content on the physical and mechanical properties of the sintered Ti-Nb-Zr-Mo-CPP composites were investigated. The biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of the Ti-Nb-Zr-Mo alloys were improved by the addition of CPP.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 1983

A series of laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the chemical composition, characterization of humic substances by physical and chemical methods and reaction of Na-pyrophosphate, $Ca(OH)_2$ and rice straw with albumin on the degradation of soil organic matter in the volcanic ask soils of the Jeju Island. Results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The contents of organic matter, available silicon, active iron and aluminum concentration in volcanic ash the soils were remarkably higher but available phosphorous was comparatively lower than the mineral soils. In volcanic ash soil, the contents of potassium, calcium and magnessium were higher in upland soil than that of forest soil. The ratios of active $Al^{{+}{+}{+}}/Fe^{{+}{+}}$, C/P and $K/Ca^+$ Mg were apparently high in volcanic ash soils while that of $SiO_2$/O.M. was high in mineral soil. 2. The carbon/nitrogen ratio in humin, humic acid content in organic matter, and carbon contents of humin in total carbon of soil organic matter were apparently higher in the volcanic ash soils than in the mineral soils, The total nitrogen and fractions of acid or alkali soluble nitrogen were remarkably high in volcanic ash soils while mineralizable nitrogen ($NH_4$-N and $NO_3$) contents were high in mineral soils. 3. The values of K600, RF and log K were also higher in volcanic ash soils than those in mineral soils, and the absorbance in the visible range were high and color was dark in the soil of which humification was progressed Extracted humic acid from volcanic ash soil was less reactive to the oxidizing chemical reagent and was persistance to the acid or alkali hydrolysises. 4. The major oxygen-containing functional groups in humic substances of volcanic ash soils were phenolic-OH alcoholic-OH and carboxyl groups while those in mineral soil were methoxyl and carbonyl groups. 5. Absorption spectra of alkaline solution of humic acid ranged from 200 nm to maxima 500 nm. Visible spectra peaks of from humic substances in the visible region were recognized at 350, 420, 450 and 480 nm. Only one single absorbance peak was observed in the visible region at 362 nm for Heugag series and two absorbance Peak were also at 360 nm and 390 nm for Yeungrag series. 6. Evolution of carbon as $Co_2$ was increased with addition of Na-pyrophosphate in Namweon and Heugag series, and "priming effects" took place on the soil organic matter decomposition by addition of rice straw with albumin in Ido series.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in-vitro efficacy of the active ingredients of dentifrice following treatment time. The whitening effect was evaluated by a change in lightness value relative to the contact time of hydrogen peroxide, by using artificially stained hydroxyapatite discs. The anti-calculus effect was assessed based on the amount of calcium eluted from the human dental calculus by sodium pyrophosphate. Remineralization was evaluated by the Vickers hardness test following the application of sodium fluoride to bovine enamel. In order to view dentinal tubules occlusion, the formation of insoluble calcium salts by bovine dentin specimens was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Change in lightness value (${\Delta}L$) was $5.50{\pm}1.51$ after 1 min of treatment, $5.73{\pm}0.43$ after 3 min, $8.64{\pm}0.24$ after 10 min, $18.93{\pm}0.76$ after 30 min, and $27.35{\pm}0.54$ after 60 min. The amount of calcium eluted from the human dental calculus was $4.23{\pm}0.14ppm$ after 1 min of treatment, $4.51{\pm}0.04ppm$ after 3 min, $12.12{\pm}0.16ppm$ after 10 min, $17.85{\pm}0.81ppm$ after 30 min, and $25.15{\pm}0.32ppm$ after 60 min. The Vickers hardness change value (${\Delta}VHN$) was $1.96{\pm}1.44$ after 1 min, $1.52{\pm}1.06$ after 3 min, $9.06{\pm}0.15$ after 10 min, $10.83{\pm}5.13$ after 30 min, and $12.55{\pm}2.09$ after 60 min. Partial dentinal tubules occlusion was observed at 10 min and complete occlusion was evident at 60 min. In summary, the use of patch type dentifrices for 10, 30, or 60 min were 1.57 to 8.26 times more effective than using the paste type dentifrices for 1 to 3 min. Based on these findings, it is reasonable to expect that the use of patch type dentifrices for 10 min would lead to remineralization, anti-calculus and dentinal tubules occlusion effects, and that use for 30 min would result in a whitening effect.