• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2006

Artemisia vulgaris, one of the most religious plants in Nepal, is used in the treatment of various ailments. In this study, antioxidative activity of essential oil from A. vulgaris was evaluated, using different in vitro methods and antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method against skin disease microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans and Propionibacterium acnes. The essential oil exhibited a concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. It showed strong metal chelating activity with low reducing and antioxidant power. However, gradual increase in radical scavenging activity was obtained with increasing concentration and reaction time. It also possessed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and notable susceptibility was observed against S. pyogenes and P. acnes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.353-356
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• 1993

Advent of new imaging modalities such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound contributed greately to the specific imaging diagnosis. However plain chest X-ray is still most prequently used for imaging diagnosis of respiratory disease in clinical pratic and it is important to make a good quality of X-ray film and good interpretation. The optimal chest X-ray should be taken with full inspiration without rotation and motion and the exposure is at the level of barely demonstrable thoracic vertebral disc space. It is recommended that higk KVP technique for detection of lesions which is overlaped by mediastinum, heart and rib cage. It is better to examine chest X-ray film start at some distance(6-8 feet) and closer to the film later on and the reader should not read a film in fatigue condition. The reading room should be quiet and relately dark illumination. It is important, to make a good X-ray film and good interpretation to reduce the observer error.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.11-17
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was designed to find out the effectiveness of reposition sense, muscle fatigue response on lumbar spine after apply lumbosacral stabilization exercise program to 4 patients with chronic low back pain and for 12 weeks. Method: In this study the reposition sense was measured in 3 angle(60, 30, 12) of the lumbar spine motion with blind by MedX test machine and the difference of instability to lumbar vertebra segments in flexion, extension test of standing position and spinal load test Mattress Test by Spinal Mouse. The stabilization exercise program was applied 2 times a week for 12 weeks in hospital and 2 times a day for 20 minutes at home. Result: The results of the present study were that the repositioning sense was appeared the most error in 12 angles of lumbar flexion and Men was appeared to decrease an error more than female in average value of 4 angles after 12 weeks. And average error of male was decrease more than female. Thus the effects of lumbosacral stabilization exercise was improved repositioning sense of prorioceptor. Fatigue response test(FRT) results, in male, was raised muscle fatigue rate during increase weight, on the other hand female appeared lower than male. Conclusion: As a results, lumbosacral stabilization exercise was aided to improvement of lumbar spine repositioning sense and vertebra segments stabilization. It was showed the rate of decrease in typically 12 degree angle point of each 3 angle(60, 36, 12). Especially, that spine instability patients will have a risk when in lifting a load or working with slight flexion posture around 12 degree during the daily of living life and it is probably to increase recurrence rate. Thus, not only lumbar extension muscle strength but also stability of vertebra segments in lumbar spine may be very important.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.343-347
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• 2014

Objective : To evaluate the relationship between postoperative increase in intervertebral disc space height (IVH) and posterior axial neck in cases of degenerative cervical disease treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods : A total of 155 patients who underwent ACDF with more than 1 year follow up were included. Radiologically, IVH and interfacet distance (IFD) of the operated segment were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. We clinically evaluated neck and arm pains according to visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and assessed neck disability index (NDI) scores preoperatively, postoperatively, at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. The relationship between radiological parameters, and clinical scores were analyzed using a regression analysis. Results : The mean increase in IVH was 2.62 mm, and the mean increase in IFD was 0.67 mm. The VAS scores for neck pain preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year postoperatively were 4.46, 2.11, 2.07, 1.95, and 1.29; those for arm pain were 5.89, 3.24, 3.20, 3.03, and 2.18. The NDI scores were improved from 18.52 to 7.47. No significant relationship was observed between the radiological evaluation results regarding the increase in intervertebral height or interfacet distance and clinical changes in VAS or NDI scores. Conclusion : The increase in intervertebral space or interfacet distance by the insertion of a large graft material while performing ACDF for the treatment of degenerative cervical disease was not related with the change in VAS scores for neck and arm pains and NDI scores postoperatively and during the follow-up period.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.430-435
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata ethanol-extract on food spoilage or foodborne disease microorganism. The antimicrobial activity of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata extract was determined by a paper disc method. The extract exhibited growth inhibiting activities in a concentration dependent manner on 7 species of microorganisms. The extract of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7. The growth inhibitory effects of the extract at the concentration of 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 mg/L on food poisoning microorganism were determined against Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus. The growth of microorganisms was not affected by the extract at the concentration up to 250 mg/L, but was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited by the extract at the concentration higher than 500 mg/L. The results in the present study demonstrate antimicrobial effects of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata ethanol-extract against foodborne pathogens, suggesting that Ampelopsis brevipedunculata could be an effective natural antibacterial agent in food.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.87-89
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the antibacterial activities and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6 strains of Beauveria bassiana against mulberry pathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial activities and the MIC were measured using paper disc method and broth dilution method, respectively. The antibacterial activities were found out just B. bassiana J200, and shown at 13 mm from Erwinia rhapontici KACC 10407 and at 17 mm from Pseudomonas syringae KACC 10390 and Xanthomonas campestris KACC 12134. The MIC were all observed at 4.0% from E. rhapontici KACC 10407, P. syringae KACC 10390 and X. campestris KACC 12134. The results suggest that B. bassiana could play a good role for biological control against mulberry pathogenic bacteria.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2009

Background: Discogenic pain can develop into chronic low back pain that is very difficult to treat effectively, because the pathogenesis of the disease still remains controversial. To clarify the pathogenesis, numerous animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration have been proposed in the literature, each with attendant advantages and disadvantages. The aim of this study was to determine the most efficacious method and dose of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection into intervertebral disc to develop a discogenic pain in a rat. Methods: CFA was injected into the L5-L6 or L4-L5 disc of male Sprague-Dawley rats in various conditions including a dose of CFA (10, 20, or 50 uL), drilling, injection site sealing using cyanoacrylate, and injection velocity. Sham animals were subjected to the same procedure, except for the CFA injection. Mechanical and heat allodynia were serially measured at both hindpaws until 8 weeks post-operatively. Serial MRI analyses were performed to observe degenerative changes of the discs. In addition, CGRP & Substance P-immunoreactivities (ir) in the superficial dorsal horn were evaluated at 4 weeks using immunohistochemistry. Results: Each condition provoked various problems such as development of hindpaw paralysis, CFA leakage, and no pain development. Mid-sagittal T2 MRI revealed no significant degenerative changes in the CFA injected disc. The CGRP-ir of the bilateral superficial dorsal horns at the level of L5-L6 was significantly increased in the CFA group. Conclusions: A total of 10 uL CFA injection into L5-L6 disc for a period of 10 minutes using a 26-gauge needle without drilling was the most efficacious way to develop discogenic pain animal model.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.450-457
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• 2019

Objective : Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is commonly used surgical procedure for cervical degenerative disease. Among the various intervertebral spacers, the use of allografts is increasing due to its advantages such as no harvest site complications and low rate of subsidence. Although subsidence is a rare complication, graft collapse is often observed in the follow-up period. Graft collapse is defined as a significant graft height loss without subsidence, which can lead to clinical deterioration due to foraminal re-stenosis or segmental kyphosis. However, studies about the collapse of allografts are very limited. In this study, we evaluated risk factors associated with graft collapse. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 33 patients who underwent two level ACDF with anterior plating using allogenous bone graft from January 2013 to June 2017. Various factors related to cervical sagittal alignment were measured preoperatively (PRE), postoperatively (POST), and last follow-up. The collapse was defined as the ratio of decrement from POST disc height to follow-up disc height. We also defined significant collapses as disc heights that were decreased by 30% or more after surgery. The intraoperative distraction was defined as the ratio of increment from PRE disc height to POST disc height. Results : The subsidence rate was 4.5% and graft collapse rate was 28.8%. The pseudarthrosis rate was 16.7% and there was no association between pseudarthrosis and graft collapse. Among the collapse-related risk factors, pre-operative segmental angle (p=0.047) and intra-operative distraction (p=0.003) were significantly related to allograft collapse. The cut-off value of intraoperative distraction ${\geq}37.3%$ was significantly associated with collapse (p=0.009; odds ratio, 4.622; 95% confidence interval, 1.470-14.531). The average time of events were as follows: collapse, $5.8{\pm}5.7months$; subsidence, $0.99{\pm}0.50months$; and instrument failure, $9.13{\pm}0.50months$. Conclusion : We experienced a higher frequency rate of collapse than subsidence in ACDF using an allograft. Of the various preoperative factors, intra-operative distraction was the most predictable factor of the allograft collapse. This was especially true when the intraoperative distraction was more than 37%, in which case the occurrence of graft collapse increased 4.6 times. We also found that instrument failure occurs only after the allograft collapse.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.458-472
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• 1987

A heart supplies bloods of about 15, 000 liters to each human organ in a day. A normal function of heart valves is necessary to this act of heart. The disease of heart valve develops to a narrowness of a closure, resulting in an abnormal circulation of bloods. In an attempt to eliminate the affliction of heart valves, the operation method to repair with artificial heart valves has been developed and saved numerous patients over past 30 years. This replacement operation has been performed since early 1960`s in Korea, but all the artificial heart valves used are imported from abroad with very high costs until recent years. The artificial heart valve using pyrolytic carbon has been developed at KAIST, which was proved to be stable in the mechanical performance and durability. Therefore, the in viva performance of this valve was examined through animal tests. The artificial heart valves used in this study are tilting disc type valves, in which the disc were made of graphite coated with pyrolytic carbon and the cages were made of titanium. In viva testings of these valves were performed in 12 dogs, in which right ventriculo-pulmonary arterial [Croup I] or inter-aortic [Croup IV] valved conduit was implanted using polytetrafluoroethylene conduits containing KAIST valve and aortic valve [Group II] or pulmonary valve [Croup III] was replaced by a KAIST valve with a 21mm or 19mm tissue annulus diameter. In group I and II, pre-and post-operative transvalvular pressure gradient was measured and compared with other prosthetic valves. During post operative period laboratory examination was performed including hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell count, white cell, lactic acid dehydrogenase and platelet. The eight surviving dogs were sacrificed and autopsy was performed at 2, 6, and 8 weeks. KAIST valve has low transvalvular gradient and relatively high orifice area. Average ventriculo-aortic peak systolic transvalvular gradient was 14 mmHg in 21 mm valve and 19 mmHg in 19 mm valve. The valve has slight intravascular hemolysis effect. Thrombogenic effect of low polishing quality and eddy currents around small orifice is high. The valve has vulnerability of disc movement. These animal tests suggest that the improvement of the heart valve design, surface polishing state and prescription methods.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2005

Background: Discogenic leg pain is a major cause of health problems, often due to herniation of the intervertebral disc, and has traditionally been treated conservatively or with an open surgical discectomy. Conventional open surgery has many complications, such as nerve root injury, discitis and a relatively high mortality rate; failure of conservative treatments is also common. Recently, the $Dekompressor^{(R)}$ Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy probe was developed. Herein, we present the early results for a percutaneous lumbar discectomy in herniated lumbar disc disease. Methods: Eleven patients, including 8 men and 3 women, with ages ranging from 22 to 78 years, were enrolled in this study. Those patients with a previous history of back surgery were not excluded from the study. All patients were postoperatively evaluated for their clinical outcomes, such as visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain after 1 and 3 months, reduction in analgesics, functional improvement and overall satisfaction. Results: The percutaneous lumbar discectomy was completed in 11 patients (17 levels), with average reductions in pre-VAS of 61.3 and 60.2% at 1 and 3 months, respectively. Also, 72.7% of patients reported functional improvement, with 81.1% expressing overall satisfaction. There were no procedural related complications. Conclusions: We concluded that a percutaneous lumbar discectomy is a safe and effective treatment modality for a herniated lumbar disc.