• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.1 s.90
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• pp.21-25
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• 2005

Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, has been suggested as a potential risk factor for Parkinson's disease. Heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), a marker for oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress, is known to catalyze heme to biliverdin, carbon monoxide and free iron in response to various stimuli. Here we show that paraquat activates HO-1 expression in a time-and dose-dependent manner in substantia nigra(SN) dopaminergic neuronal cells. Activation of Ho-1 by paraquat was regulated primarily at the level of gene transcription. Deletion analysis of the promoter and the 5' distal enhancers, E1 and E2, of the HO-1 gene revealed that the E2 enhancer is a potent inducer of the paraquat-dependent Ho-1 gene expression in dopamninergic neuronal cells. Mutational analysis of the E2 enhacer further demonstrated that the transcription factor activator protein-1(AP-1) plays an important role in mediating paraquat-induced HO-1 gene transcription. Moreover, using specific inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKs), we investigated the role of paraquat and MAPKs for HO-1 gene regulation in dopaminergic cells. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) inhibitor SP600125 significantly suppressed the expression of HO-1 by paraquat. All these results demonstrate that induction of HO-1 by paraquat requies the activation of the AP-1 and JNK pathway.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.72-77
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• 2016

Purpose: During laparoscopic gastrectomy, an aberrant left hepatic artery (ALHA) arising from the left gastric artery (LGA) is occasionally encountered. The aim of this study was to define when an ALHA should be preserved during laparoscopic gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: From August 2009 to December 2014, 1,340 patients with early gastric cancer underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. One hundred fifty patients presented with an ALHA; of the ALHA was ligated in 116 patients and preserved in 34 patients. Patient characteristics, postoperative outcomes and perioperative liver function tests were reviewed retrospectively. Correlations between the diameter of the LGA measured on preoperative abdominal computed tomography and postoperative liver enzyme levels were analyzed. Results: Pearson's correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the diameter of the LGA and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels on postoperative day 1 in the ALHA-ligated group (P=0.039, P=0.026, respectively). Linear regression analysis estimated the diameter of the LGA to be 5.1 mm and 4.9 mm when AST and ALT levels were twice the normal limit on postoperative day 1. Conclusions: We suggest preserving the ALHA arising from a large LGA, having diameter greater than 5 mm, during laparoscopic gastrectomy to prevent immediate postoperative hepatic dysfunction.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.232-239
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of anti curvature filing with stainless steel k-file versus nickel-titanium ProFile in the shaping of mesial root canals of extracted mandibular molars. A total of 60 canals from 30 mesial roots of mandibular molar teeth were randomly assigned to three groups with n=20 each. They were prepared with different instruments and methods: The first group with stainless steel k-file and circumferential filing. the second with precurved stainless steel k-file and anticurvature filing and the third with ProFile C06 taper) and anticurvature filing. Using a micro-computed tomography system (skyscan-1076, SKYSCAN, Antwerpen, Belgium), pre-and post-operative specimens were scanned. Subsequently, canal images were superimposed and changes in root dentin thickness were measured at distal side (danger zone) of the canal. The data was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and the comparison of means was conducted using a post hoc multiple comparison Tukey test. There were significant differences in the change of root dentin thickness at the $7.5{\sim}8.5\;mm$ level between group 1 and 2, $3.5{\sim}6mm$ level between group 1 and 3 and $3.5{\sim}6mm$ level between group 2 and 3(n=20, P<0.05).

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.602-608
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• 2011

Purpose: Nasal bone fracture is the most common type of facial bone fracture and most of nasal bone fracture is combined with septal fracture frequently. Nasal septum is important to support the distal nose and to maintain the nasal airway. But nasal septal fractures are usually unrecognized and untreated at the time of operation. Recently, various materials were using for nasal packing after closed reduction, however these materials are not focused on the correction of nasal bone and nasal septal fracture and many patients are suffered from nasal packing materials. Thus, the purpose of this study is to compare routine packing materials and rolled silastic sheet with respect to postoperative effect of correction of nasal bone fracture and discomfort of nasal packing materials. Methods: We examined 320 patients treated nasal bone fracture from January 2008 to December 2010. For Group I (n=92), $Merocel^{(R)}$ was used for nasal packing, for Group II (n=152) vaseline gauze was used, and Rolled silastic sheet (RSS) with vaseline gauze packing (VGP) was used for Group III (n=76). Under the general anesthesia, all patients were operated by closed reduction and nasal packing was done using three kinds of packing materials. At the time of postoperative 7 days, packing material was removed and studied for pt's satisfaction and postop. complications. Results: In patients with RSS with VGP, the complaints (nasal obstruction, foreign compressive sensation and discomfort during food ingestion) of keeping the nasal packing were decreased ($p$ <0.05) and the postoperative complication (deviation) were decreased comparing to vaseline gauze packing and $Merocel^{(R)}$ packing, however, these differences were not statistically significant ($p$ >0.05). Conclusion: Postoperative nasal packing with RSS with VGP was more comfortable to the patients and it was more effective method to correct the nasal bone fracture and nasal septal fracture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.2 s.271
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• pp.136-139
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• 2007

Bilateral popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is a rare vascular disease, which leads to ischemic claudication as a result of disturbance to the blood flow from the abnormal relationship of the popliteal artery to the gastrocnemius muscle, a fibrous band or the popliteus muscle in the young male population. A 58-years-old male patient, complaining of ischemic claudication, coldness and 3rd toe gangrene of left leg of 1 month's duration was admitted to our institution. His left ankle-brachial index was decreased; therefore, a femoral artery angiography was peformed, which revealed a total occlusion below the distal superficial femoral artery of the left leg. An EKG revealed atrial fibrillation, suggestive of a thromboembolism of the popliteal artery due to atrial fibrillation; therefore, Urokinase thrombolysis was attempted. After the Urokinase thrombolysis, popliteal artery entrapment syndrome was diagnosed, with MRI then performed for an anatomical diagnosis. The popliteal artery entrapment was type 1, where the popliteal artery was displaced medial to the Gastrocnemius head. After complete removal of the popliteal artery aneurysm, interposition was performed with a contra lateral greater saphenous vein graft. A mild right popliteal artery aneurysm still remained, but surgery was not performed. Currently, the patent is surviving, without complications. Herein, the good results obtained for the surgical treatment of a severely affected leg, and the conservative treatment of a mildly affected leg, are reported.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 1991

The present study intended to evaluate the influences of MetagonimMi yokogawai on the activities of brush border membrane bound enzymes of the small intestine. Mice were infected with 500 metacercariae respectively, and the worm recovery, morphological changes and enzyme activities were observed chronologically. A part of them were followed after the treatment. Recovered worms decreased in number continuously after the infection, and they were less than 10% after 2 weeks and almost Bero after 28 weeks. Villous atrophy and stromal inflammation were found at two locations of the proximal jejunum from 2 weeks to 4 weeks after the infection. The enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase and disaccharidases (sucrase, lactase, maltase, and trehalase), showed lowered activities in the duodenum and proximal jejunum of the infected mice but they increased in the distal jejunum for the first two weeks. From three weeks after the infection, the activities were gradually recovered. In one week treated mice, they recovered the activities at 2 weeks from the treatment, but there found no differences of the activities between the 3 week treated group and infected controls. The present data reveal that M. yckogawai infection induces degenerative changes of the host's intestinal mucosa not only morphologically but functionally during the initial phase of infection. The lowered enzyme activities in acute metagonimiasis should be associated with malabsorption and diarrhea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.387-394
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• 2007

Despite geographic barriers such as oceans, many freshwater algal species inhabit different continents of the world. A unicellular freshwater alga, Mallomonas caudeata, commonly occurring in Asia, Europe, and America of the northern Hemisphere, is closely related to human life such as monitoring blooms and defecting changes in climates. In order to demonstrate its occurrence in Korea and to infer its phylogeny, we sequenced nuclear SSU and plastid rbcL genes from isolates collected in six different reservoirs. We have also investigated transmission electron microscopy of the Korean isolates. SSU sequences of the species from Korea and USA were almost identical, having pair-wise divergences of 0.06% in SSU and 0.45% in rbcL. Both gene trees revealed that the species was clearly separated from other species of the genus, while the genus was not monophyletic. Rhizoplasts are composed of microfibrils organised in striated rootlets attached to the multilayered plate of basal bodies and arranged on the surface of the nucleus at their distal ends. The rhizoplast constitutes a basal body-nucleus connector similar to that of typical Synurophyceas. The results that Mallomonas was not supported by both SSU and rbeL data sets require a further study with additional taxon sampling.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.197-212
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of fluoride application on the aspect of shear bond strength of three aesthetic restorative materials to dentin. One light-cured composite resin(Palfique Esterite) and two light-cured glass ionomer cements(Fuji II LC and Compoglass)were used in this study. 120 permanent molars were used for this study. The teeth were extracted due to the origin of periodontal disease. The crowns of all teeth were removed, and the remaining roots were embedded in epoxy resin. The mesial or distal surfaces of roots were ground flat to expose dentin and polished on wet 320-, 400-, and 600 grit SIC papers for a total of 120 prepared flat root dentin surfaces. The prepared samples were divided into six groups. Group 1, 3, and 5 were control groups and group 2, 4, and 6 were experimental groups. Sixty samples for experimental groups were treated with 2% NaF solution for 5 minutes. Group 1 and 2 were bonded with Plafique Esterite, group 3 and 4 were bonded with Fuji II LC, and group 5 and 6 were bonded with Compoglass. After 24 hours water storage at $37{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, all samples were subjected to a shear to fracture with Instron universal testing machine(No.4467) at 1.0 mm/min displacement rate. Dentin surfaces treated with each conditioners before bonding and interfacial layers between dentin and aesthetic restorative materials were observed under Scanning Electron Microscope(Hitachi S-2300) at 20Kvp. The data were evaluated statistically at the 95% confidence level with ANOVA test. The result were as follows; 1. Among the control groups, group 1 showed strongest bond strength and group 3 showed weakest. 2. Among the experimental groups, group 2 showed strongest bond strength and group 6 showed weakest. 3. Statistical analysis of the data showed that pretreatment of dentin with 2% NaF solution significantly decreased the bond strength of three aesthetic restorative materials to dentin(P<0.05). 4. SEM findings of fluoride treated dentin surfaces (2, 4, 6 group) demonstrated dentin surfaces covered with fluoridated reaction products. 5. Except group 4 and 6, resin tags were formed in all groups.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.66-78
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between vasomotor symptoms with upper-lower body temperature differences, and to identify Kidney Deficiency pattern (腎虛證) in menopausal women. Methods: 51 women who visited Kangnam Kyung-Hee Oriental Hospital from July to December, 2013 were analyzed. The experimental group consisted of 30 patients reported with vasomotor symptoms (Vasomotor symptom group, VG), while the control group consisted of 21 patients without vasomotor symptoms (Control group, CG). According to their chief complaints, VG was further divided into VHG (vasomotor-hot flash group) and VCG (vasomotor-cold hypersensitivity group). The temperature differences between upper and lower body part (CV17-CV4), proximal and distal extremity part (LU4-HT8, ST32-LR3) were checked. All patients reported other complaints such as headache, sweating, anxiety, dyspepsia, leukorrhea, which belong to Kidney Yang Deficiency pattern (腎陽虛證) or Kidney Yin Deficiency pattern (腎陰虛證). The relationship between vasomotor symptom and repetition rate of additional complaints were analyzed. Results: Statistical analysis showed that lower abdomen temperature of experimental group was lower than the control group. Temperature differences of upper and lower body (CV17-CV4) was significantly larger in vasomotor symptom group. VHG had more symptoms of sweating, chest discomfort, constipation, which belong to Kidney Yang Deficiency pattern group. VCG had more symptoms of leukorrhea, diarrhea, and dyspepsia, which belong to Kidney Yin Deficiency pattern group. Conclusions: Climacteric women who suffered from vasomotor symptoms showed lower temperature tendency in [CV4], larger temperature differences in [CV17-CV4] compared to the control group. Among them, VHG showed more symptoms of Kidney Yin Deficiency pattern, whereas VCG showed more symptoms of Kidney Yang Deficiency pattern.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1060-1068
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.