• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2003

Purpose : Acute pyelonephritis in children may result in permanant renal damage which later in life may lead to hypertension and renal failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors that might be useful for predicting the development of renal scar in children with urinary tract infection(UTI). Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 442 patients with UTI who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Chonbuk National University Hospital, during the period from April 1992 to March 2002. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of renal scar on the follow-up DMSA renal scan, and we compared the factors associated with renal scarring between the two groups. Results : There were no significant differences in sex, causative organism and acute phase reactants between the groups with and without renal scar. The age at diagnosis was significantly higher in the renal scar group compared to that without scar. Of the 60 patients with renal scar, 78% had vesicoureteral reflux(VUR), but 13% of patients without scar had VUR. Furthermore, the severity of VUR was significantly correlated with renal scar formation. 53% showed multiple cortical defects on the initial DMSA renal scan, compared to 32% in the non-scar group. In addition, 76% of patients showing multiple cortical defects on the initial DMSA renal scan with VUR had renal scar. Conclusion : The presence and grade of VUR, and findings on the initial DMSA renal scan would contribute to predict risk of renal scar formation in children with UTI.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.435-440
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• 1996

The effect of benzalkonium chloride on skin permeability of partially modified antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-ODN), which are designed as scar formation inhibitor, was investigated using Franz Diffusion Cell. When the concentration ratio of PS-ODN-quarternary ammonium salt complex is more than 1:100, the apparent partition coefficient (APC) of each complex was increased in the following order; tetraphenyl phosphonium chloride (TPP) < cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB) < benzalkonium chloride (BZ). The permeability of PS-ODN through the rat skin increased in the presence of BZ. The fluxs of PS-ODN with BZ were increased by addition of Pluronic F 68 or Triton X-100 to phosphate buffered saline (PBS), respectively. When the mole ratio of PS-ODN to BZ is 1:10, the fluxs penetrated of PS-ODN with BZ was greatest. The increase of the permeability in the presence of BZ might be due to the formation of lipophilic ion-pair complex between PS-ODN and BZ. By regulation of mole ratio of PS-ODN to BZ, the development of topical dosage forms using PS-ODN as scar formation inhibitor will be possible with minimal systemic exposure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2016

Objective : A common cause of failure in laminectomy surgery is when epidural, peridural, or perineural adhesion occurs postoperatively. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a temperature-sensitive, anti-adhesive agent (TSAA agent), Guardix-SG$^{(R)}$, as a mechanical barrier for the prevention or reduction of peridural scar adhesion in a rabbit laminectomy model. Methods : Twenty-six mature rabbits were used for this study. Each rabbit underwent two separate laminectomies at lumbar vertebrae L3 and L6, left empty (the control group) and applied 2 mL of the TSAA agent (the experimental group), respectively. Invasive scar formation or inflammation after laminectomy was quantitatively evaluated by measuring the thickness of the dura, the distance from the surface of dura to the scar tissues, the number of inflammatory cells in the scar tissues at the laminectomy site, and the concentration of collagen in histological sections. Results : At 6 weeks postsurgery, the dura was significantly thinner and the distance from the surface of dura to the scar tissues was greater in the experimental group than in the control group (p=0.04 and p=0.01). The number of inflammatory cells was not significantly different in the two groups (p=0.08), although the mean number of inflammatory cells was relatively lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusion : The current study suggests that the TSAA agent, Guardix-SG$^{(R)}$, could be useful as an interpositional physical barrier after laminectomy for the prevention or reduction of adhesion.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

Background: Relaxin is a transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ antagonist. To determine the effects of relaxin on scar reduction, we investigated the scar remodeling process by injecting relaxin-expressing adenoviruses using a pig scar model. Methods: Scars with full thickness were generated on the backs of Yorkshire pigs. Scars were divided into two groups (relaxin [RLX] and Control). Adenoviruses were injected into the RLX (expressing relaxin) and Control (not expressing relaxin) groups. Changes in the surface areas, color index and pliability of scars were compared. Results: Fifty days after treatment, the surface areas of scars decreased, the color of scars was normalized, and the pliability of scars increased in RLX group. Conclusion: Relaxin-expressing adenoviruses improved the surface area, color, and pliability of scars. The mechanism of therapeutic effects on scar formation should be further investigated.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2009

Purpose: Excessive scarring in the forms of keloid and hypertrophic scar could be a consquence of the accumulation of granulation tissue cells due to aberrant control of apoptosis. Verapamil retard extracelluar matrix production and inhibits VEGF production in primary cultured keloid fibroblast. The object of this study was effect of verapamil on VEGF expression and apoptosis in early wound scarring of the rabbit ear. Methods: Full thickness wounds were created on the ventral side of 6 New Zealand rabbits's ear. 16 days after initial wounding verapamil and saline were injected each scars and scars were harvested 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks later. The wounds were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, TUNEL stain, immunohistochemical stain for VEGF and calculated scar elevation index. Results: Histologic analaysis demonstrated significant reduction in inflammation, vascularity and improvement in dermal collagen organization in experimental group. In TUNEL staining apotosis positive cells were increased and immunohistochemial staining of VEGF demonstrated significant reduction of VEGF expression in experimental group. No significant difference was noted in scar elevation index between two groups. Conclusion: This study suggest that intralesional injection of verapamil on early wound scarring of the rabbit ear decreased VEGF production and increased apoptosis and have a benefit on the pathophysiology of scar formation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.436-437
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• 2000

A 63-year-old male who had subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer three months ago underwent Tc-99m bone scintigraphy for the evaluation of skeletal metastases. He had no symptoms such as fever, tenderness, or wound discharge. On physical examination, the surgical scat along the midline of the upper abdomen had keloid formation and there was no radiographic evidence of calcification. Bone scintigraphy (Fig. 1A & 1B) demonstrated all unusual linear increased uptake along the midline of the upper abdomen that corresponded to the,skin incision for subtotal gastrectomy. Usually, an incisional scar will not be visualized in Tc-99m methylene diphosphate (MDP) scintigraphy beyond two weeks after surgery.$^{1)}$ Upon reviewing the literature, there were only a few reports where localization of Tc-99m MDP in surgical scars were found two months after surgery.$^{2)}$ It was also reported that a few cases with Tc-99m MDP uptake in the keloid scar developed after surgery. Although there are several potential mechanisms that may explain the uptake of Tc-99m MDP in scar tissue, the primary mechanism in older scars is suggested to be a result of pathological calcification.$^{2)}$ Siddiqui et al$^{3)}$ suggested it could be due to microscopic calcification in small resolving hematomas. However, the primary mechanism in keloid scar is not well-known. We should obtain oblique or lateral views to differentiate the uptake in healing surgical scars from the artifactual uptake.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.9-16
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report that applying the genetic discrimination method to Pinelliae Tuber is suitable as a countermeasure for the limitations of morphological identification announced publicly in the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety(MFDS). Methods : Randomly selected fifty samples in Pinelliae Tuber imported from China were used for morphological and genetic identification. The morphological identification was applied method announced publicly by the MFDS. The traits of morphological identification were classified as Pinellia ternata, P. tripartita, Pinellia pedatisecta, and Typhonium flagelliforme, according to the formation of tuberous root and tuber morphology. The genetic identifications were conducted by Sequence Characterized Amplified Region(SCAR) marker and DNA barcoding analysis for cross-validation, respectively. SCAR marker was verified according to the presence or absence of amplicon through PCR amplification using species-specific primers. DNA barcoding analysis used sequence information of the matK region. Results : As a result of the morphological identification, 27 out of 50 samples were identified as original species 'P. ternata' of genuine 'Pinelliae Tuber', and 23 were identified as adulterant species 'P. pedatisecta'. Unlike this, the genetic identification was identified as the original species 'P. ternata' in all 50 samples in the SCAR marker and matK regional sequence analysis. Conclusions : Pinelliae Tuber of morphological mutant that can not be classified by morphological identification is imported from China. The SCAR marker would be used as accurate and efficient assays for species identification of the morphological mutant.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1311-1316
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• 2005

To better define the relationship between dermal regeneration and wound contraction and scar formation, the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) loaded in collagen sponge matrix on the fibroblast cell proliferation rate and the dermal mechanical strength were investigated. Collagen sponges with acid-soluble fraction of pig skin were prepared and incorporated with EGF at 0, 4, and 8 $\mu$g/1.7 $cm^{2}$. Dermal fibroblasts were cultured to 80$\%$ confluence using DMEM, treated with the samples submerged, and the cell viability was estimated using MTT assay. A deep, $2^{nd}$ degree- burn of diameter 1 cm was prepared on the rabbit ear and the tested dressings were applied twice during the 15-day, post burn period. The processes of re-epithelialization and dermal regeneration were investigated until the complete wound closure day and histological analysis was performed with H-E staining. EGF increased the fibroblast cell proliferation rate. The histology showed well developed, weave-like collagen bundles and fibroblasts in EGF-treated wounds while open wounds showed irregular collagen bundles and impaired fibroblast growth. The breaking strength (944.1 $\pm$ 35.6 vs. 411.5 $\pm$ 57.0 Fmax, $gmm^{-2}$) and skin resilience (11.3 $\pm$ 1.4 vs. 6.5 $\pm$ 0.6 mJ/$mm^{2}$) were significantly increased with EGF­treated wounds as compared with open wounds, suggesting that EGF enhanced the dermal matrix formation and improved the wound mechanical strength. In conclusion, EGF-improved dermal matrix formation is related with a lower wound contraction rate. The impaired dermal regeneration observed in the open wounds could contribute to the formation of wound contraction and scar tissue development. An extraneous supply of EGF in the collagen dressing on deep, $2^{nd}$ degree-burns enhanced the dermal matrix formation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2011

Weonhyeong is one of important commercial strains. It has good characteristics of bundle formation, grey colored pilei and high productivity. We previously reported grouping of 70 strains of Pleurotus ostreatus in which one group contained 35 strains including Weonhyeong. Four strains in that group showed same profiles implicating no variety distinction for mushroom cultivation. Now we developed a specific marker for identification of Weonhyeong. Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) marker was developed from the RAPD amplicon. SCAR marker 'S-OPO5' produced only one band specific to 2183, 2240, 2595 and 2725 strains showing similar banding patterns to Weonhyeong in RAPD-PCR results. The sequence of 'S-OPO5' marker was unknown when compared with the data in the Genbank using BLASTN. BLASTX results indicated that the marker showed significant alignment with the protein sequences in Tricholoma bakamatsutake reverse transcriptase. The results indicate that this new SCAR marker ('S-OPO5') will be valuable to distinguish the Weonhyeong similar strains from Pleurotus spp.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.747-754
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• 2011

Purpose: The Abbe flap procedure has been used to correct disharmony of the upper and lower lips as well as for making a philtrum for patients with secondary cleft lip deformities. But the Abbe flap procedure adds two scars in addition to the prior operative scar on the upper lip. This study was conducted to determine the treatment outcomes of esthetic subunit excision of the scar on the philtrum and Abbe flap coverage for correction of cleft lip deformities with photogrammetric analysis. Methods: This study investigated a total of 11 patients with cleft lip deformities who underwent scar excision with Abbe flap coverage, and the patients were followed up for at least 6 months. Under general anesthesia, a mushroom-shaped Abbe flap was drawn on the lower lip with a width of 8 mm and a height 1~2 mm longer than that of the philtral midline. The epidermis and dermis of the scar on the upper lip were excised. In the cases with alar base depression, the orbicularis oris muscle was split vertically and transposed to the alar base. The Abbe flap was harvested as a pedicled flap containing a small amount of muscle and this was rotated 180-degree to be inserted into the upper lip. Mucosa, muscle, subcutaneous tissue and skin were closed in layers. The flap was divided at the 7~14 postoperative day. The postoperative outcomes were evaluated by using photogrammetric analysis. Three indices were measured from the standard clinical photographs taken before and after the surgery. For anthroposcopic assessment, observers described the postoperative outcomes using an ordinary scale method. Results: The postoperative values obtained in the photogrammetric analysis showed improvement as compared with the preoperative ones. Improved anthroposcopic outcomes were also noted. Conclusion: Scar excision and Abbe flap coverage were proven to be effective in improving protrusion and the height of the upper lip, the scar of the upper lip and the symmetry of Cupid's bow and the philtral column, as well as formation of the philtral dimple.