• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.757-766
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• 2020

Objective : Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a severe and life-threatening disease. Although commonly performed, the effect of timing in surgical treatment on patient outcome is still unclear. With this study, we aim to provide evidence for early surgical treatment in patients with SEA. Methods : Patients treated for SEA in the authors' department between 2007 and 2016 were included for analysis and retrospectively analyzed for basic clinical parameters and outcome. Pre- and postoperative neurological status were assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). The self-reported quality of life (QOL) based on the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) was assessed prospectively. Surgery was defined as "early", when performed within 12 hours after admission and "late" when performed thereafter. Conservative therapy was preferred and recommend in patients without neurological deficits and in patients denying surgical intervention. Results : One hundred and twenty-three patients were included in this study. Forty-nine patients (39.8%) underwent early, 47 patients (38.2%) delayed surgery and 27 (21.9%) conservative therapy. No significant differences were observed regarding mean age, sex, diabetes, prior history of spinal infection, and bony destruction. Patients undergoing early surgery revealed a significant better clinical outcome before discharge than patients undergoing late surgery (p=0.001) and conservative therapy. QOL based on SF-36 were significantly better in the early surgery cohort in two of four physical items (physical functioning and bodily pain) and in one of four psychological items (role limitation) after a mean follow-up period of 58 months. Readmission to the hospital and failure of conservative therapy were observed more often in patients undergoing conservative therapy. Conclusion : Our data on both clinical outcome and QOL provide evidence for early surgery within 12 hours after admission in patients with SEA.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2019

PURPOSE. The aim of the present randomized controlled study was to compare prefabricated all-ceramic, anatomically shaped healing abutments followed by all-ceramic abutments and all-ceramic crowns and prefabricated standard-shaped (round-diameter) titanium healing abutments followed by final titanium abutments restored with porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) implant crowns in the premolar and molar regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-two patients received single implants restored either by all-ceramic restorations (test group, healing abutment, final abutment, and crown all made of zirconia) or conventional titanium-based restorations. Immediately after prosthetic incorporation and after 12 months of loading, implant survival, technical complications, bone loss, sulcus fluid flow rate (SFFR) as well as plaque index (PI) and implant stability (Periotest) were analyzed clinically and radiologically. RESULTS. After 12 months of loading, an implant and prosthetic survival rate of 100% was observed. Minor prosthetic complications such as chipping of ceramic veneering occurred in both groups. No statistical significant differences were observed between both groups with only a minimum of bone loss, SFFR, and PI. CONCLUSION. All-ceramic implant prostheses including a prefabricated anatomically shaped healing abutment achieved comparable results to titanium-based restorations in the posterior region. However, observational results indicate a benefit as shaping the peri-implant soft-tissue with successive provisional devices and subsequent compression of the soft tissue can be avoided.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1978.09a
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• pp.141-143
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• 1978

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Design Studies Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.162-163
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.27-43
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• 1999

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 1999

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.645-658
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• 2021

Porins are essential for the viability of Gram-negative bacteria. They ensure the uptake of nutrients, can be involved in the maintenance of outer membrane integrity and define the antibiotic or drug resistance of organisms. The function and structure of porins in proteobacteria is well described, while their function in photoautotrophic cyanobacteria has not been systematically explored. We compared the domain architecture of nine putative porins in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and analyzed the seven candidates with predicted OprB-domain. Single recombinant mutants of the seven genes were created and their growth capacity under different conditions was analyzed. Most of the putative porins seem to be involved in the transport of salt and copper, as respective mutants were resistant to elevated concentrations of these substances. In turn, only the mutant of alr2231 was less sensitive to elevated zinc concentrations, while mutants of alr0834, alr4741 and all4499 were resistant to high manganese concentrations. Notably the mutant of alr4550 shows a high sensitivity against harmful compounds, which is indicative for a function related to the maintenance of outer membrane integrity. Moreover, the mutant of all5191 exhibited a phenotype which suggests either a higher nitrate demand or an inefficient nitrogen fixation. The dependency of porin membrane insertion on Omp85 proteins was tested exemplarily for Alr4550, and an enhanced aggregation of Alr4550 was observed in two omp85 mutants. The comparative analysis of porin mutants suggests that the proteins in parts perform distinct functions related to envelope integrity and solute uptake.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.194-202
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic therapy for neoplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) has become the standard of care over the past two decades. In clinical practice, we regularly encounter patients who fail to achieve complete squamous epithelialization of the esophagus. Although the therapeutic strategies in the individual stages of BE, dysplasia, and esophageal adenocarcinoma are well studied and largely standardized, the problem of inadequate healing after endoscopic therapy is only marginally considered. This study aimed to shed light on the variables influencing inadequate wound healing after endoscopic therapy and the effect of bile acid sequestrants (BAS) on healing. Methods: Retrospective analysis of endoscopically treated neoplastic BE in a single referral center. Results: In 12.1% out of 627 patients, insufficient healing was present 8 to 12 weeks after previous endoscopic therapy. The average follow-up duration was 38.8±18.4 months. Complete healing was achieved in 13 patients already after intensifying proton pump inhibitor therapy. Out of 48 patients under BAS, 29 patients (60.4%) showed complete healing. An additional eight patients (16.7%) improved, but only partial healing was achieved. Eleven (22.9%) patients showed no response to BAS augmented therapy. Conclusions: In cases of insufficient healing even under exhaustion of proton pump inhibitors, treatment with BAS can be an option as an ultimate healing attempt.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.491-498
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• 2022

Based on Goethe's color theory, this study presented concepts and classification methods through the following research methods for the purpose of defining sensory, emotional, and experiential colors as spatial colors in digital space. First, the concept of spatial color is defined through theoretical consideration and three (3) types of spatial color are classified as the surface, outline, and physical colors. Secondly, the study includes the characteristics of digital space and color sensory type. Third, based on the identified color sensory type through the previous theoretical consideration, the four (4) categorized digital spatial color were derived and presented as techno Chromatic, S.E.N.S.E, pixel, and blur colors were determined and proposed. Based on such research contents, this study is meaningful in that it systematized the meaning of Goethe's color theory in the present age through digital spatial color.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2020

Soil degradation can have an impact on the soil microbiota, but its specific effects on soil fungal communities are poorly understood. In this work, we studied the impact of soil degradation on the richness and diversity of communities of soil fungi, including three different degrees of degradation in Germany and Panama. Soil fungi were isolated monthly using the soil-sprinkling method for 8 months in Germany and 3 months in Panama, and characterized by morphological and molecular data. Soil physico-chemical properties were measured and correlated with the observed values of fungal diversity. We isolated a total of 71 fungal species, 47 from Germany, and 32 from Panama. Soil properties were not associated with fungal richness, diversity, or composition in soils, with the exception of soil compaction in Germany. The geographic location was a strong determinant of the soil fungal species composition although in both countries there was dominance by members of the orders Eurotiales and Hypocreales. In conclusion, the results of this work do not show any evident influence of soil degradation on communities of soil fungi in Germany or Panama.