• Title/Summary/Keyword: Supporting tissue

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Histochemical Detection of Ionic Zinc in the Rat Olfactory Mucosa: Zinc Selenium Autometallography ($ZnSe^{AMG}$) (랫드 후각점막내 Zinc 이온의 조직화학적 동정)

  • Nam, Dong-Woo;Sun, Yuan-Jie;Kim, Sung-Joo;Kim, Yong-Kuk;Kim, Soo-Jin;Yu, Yun-Cho;Jeong, Young-Gil;Jo, Seung-Mook
    • Applied Microscopy
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.145-154
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    • 2003
  • The present study was designed to demonstrate ionic zinc in the rat nasal mucosa by means of zinc selenium autometallography ($ZnSe^{AMG}$). Rats were given sodium selenide either intraperitoneally (i.p) or intranasally (i.n). Prior to the i.n. administration the rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg, i.p.). A thin plastic tube coupled to a Hamilton syringe was then inserted into the right nostril and $10{\mu}l$ of the solution was instilled. For the i.p. administration non-anesthetized rats were given $100{\mu}l$ of the sodium selenide solution (10 mg/kg). Control rats were instilled with saline. After 2 hrs survival, the rats were anaesthetized and transcardially perfused with 3% glutaraldehyde. The olfactory area was removed and put into same fixative. The nose was then sectioned ($30{\mu}m$) horizontally, autometallography (AMG) was performed according to Danscher et al. (1997). After silver enhancement, fine AMG grains were scattered in the whole length of the olfactory epithelium containing olfactory receptor neurons, sustentacular and basal cells. However, much higher concentration of the AMG grains occupied near the surface and in the basal region of the olfactory epithelium. Both groups of i.p. and i.n. administration showed almost same level in the concentration of the AMG grains. In i.n. group, few AMG grains were also found in olfactory nerves of the lamina propria, suggesting zinc transport into the olfactory bulb via olfactory axons. At the electron microscopic level, the AMG grains were most entirely found in the supporting cells of the olfactory epithelium, and they were mostly localized in lysosome-like organelles. The i.n. group showed various signs of tissue damage of the olfactory mucosa, where dense concentration of AMG grains were localized at crystalloid structures. The present study demonstrated dense population of ionic zinc in the rat olfactory epithelium. zinc may play a role in the olfactory functioin and in the pathogenesis of the neurodegerative disorders affecting nose.

Isotopic Determination of Food Sources of Benthic Invertebrates in Two Different Macroalgal Habitats in the Korean Coasts (동위원소 분석에 의한 동해와 남해 연안의 상이한 해조류 군락에 서식하는 저서무척추동물 먹이원 평가)

  • Kang, Chang-Keun;Choy, Eun-Jung;Song, Haeng-Seop;Park, Hyun-Je;Soe, In-Soo;Jo, Q-Tae;Lee, Kun-Seop
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.12 no.4
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    • pp.380-389
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    • 2007
  • Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were analyzed in suspended particulate organic matter, macroalgae and macrobenthic invertebrates in order to determine the importance of primary organic matter sources in supporting food webs of rocky subtidal and intertidal macroalgal beds in the Korean coasts. Investigations were conducted at the inter tidal sites within Gwangyang bay, a semi-enclosed and eutrophicated bay, and the subtidal sites of the east coast, a relatively oligotrophic and open environment, in May and June 2005. Water-column suspension feeders showed more negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the other feeding guilds, indicating trophic linkage with phytoplankton and thereby association with pelagic food chains. In contrast, animals of the other feeding guilds, including interface suspension feeders, herbivores, deposit feeders, omnivores and predators, displayed relatively less negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the water-column suspension feeders and similar with that of macroalgae, indicating exclusive use of macroalgae-derived organic matter and association with benthic food chains. Most the macrobenthic species were considered to form strong trophic links with benthic food chains. In addition, the distribution of higher $\delta^{15}N$ values in macrobenthic consumers and macroalgae at the intertidal sites of Gwangyang Bay than those at the subtidal sites of the east coast suggests that anthropogenic nutrients may enhance the macroalgal production at the intertidal sites and in turn be incorporated into the particular littoral food web in Gwangyag Bay. These results confirm the dominant role of macroalgae in supporting rocky subtidal and intertidal food webs in the Korean coasts.

The Bone regenerative effects of tetracycline blended chitosan membranes on the calvarial critical size defect in Sprague dawley rats (백서 두개골 결손부에서 항생제를 함유한 키토산 차단막의 골재생 유도 효과)

  • Chae, Gyung-Joon;Kim, Tae-Gyun;Jung, Ui-Won;Lee, Soo-Bok;Jung, Yong-Sik;Lee, Yong-Keun;Kim, Chang-Sung;Chae, Jung-Kiu;Cho, Kyoo-Sung;Kim, Chong-Kwan;Choi, Seong-Ho
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.35 no.4
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    • pp.1019-1037
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    • 2005
  • The major goals of periodontal therapy are the functional regeneration of periodontal supporting structures already destructed by periodontal disease as well as the reduction of signs and symptoms of progressive periodontal disease. There have been many efforts to develop materials and therapeutic methods to promote periodontal wound healing. There have been increasing interest on the chitosan made by chtin. Chitosan is a derivative of chitin made by deacetylation of side chains. Chitosan has been widely studied as bone substitution and membrane material in periodontology. Many experiments using chitosan in various animal models have proven its beneficial effects. Tetracycline has been considered for use in the treatment of chronic periodontal disease and gingivitis. The aim of this study is to evlauate the osteogenesis of tetracycline blended chitosan membranes on the calvarial critical size defect in Sprague Dawley rats. An 8mm surgical defect was produced with a trephine bur in the area of the midsagittal suture. The rats were divided into five groups: Untreated control group versus four experimental group. Four types of membranes were made and comparative study was been done. Two types of non-woven membranes were made by immersing non-woven chitosan into either the tetracycline solution or chitosan-tetracycline solution. Other two types of sponge membranes were fabricated by immersing chitosan sponge into the tetracycline solution, and subsequent freeze-drying. The animals were sacrificed at 2 and 8 weeks after surgical procedure. The specimens were examined by histologic analyses. The results are as follows: 1. Clinically the use of tetracycline blended chitosan membrane showed great healing capacity. 2. The new bone formations of all the experimental group, non-woven and sponge type membranes were greater than those of control group. But, there was no significant difference between the experimental groups. 3. Resorption of chitosan membranes were not shown in any groups at 2 weeks and 8 weeks. These results suggest that the use of tetracycline blended chitosan membrane on the calvarial defects in rats has significant effect on the regeneration of bone tissue in itself. And it implicate that tetracycline blended chitosan membrane might be useful for guided tissue regeneration.

AN INVESTIGATION OF TRAUMATIC DENTAL INJURIES IN CHILDREN (소아의 치아와 지지조직 외상에 관한 분석)

  • Baik, Byeong-Ju;Yang, Yeon-Mi;Yang, Cheol-Hee;Kim, Jae-Gon
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.600-612
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study is concerned with an investigation of the actual condition of traumatic injuries of teeth and supporting structures in children to set up possible criteria for prevention and treatment of injured teeth. The materials consisted of the clinical records of 431 traumatically injured teeth of 212 children, accumulated during two years from the first of April in 1998 to the end of March in 2000, supplied from the Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry, Chonbuk National University Hospital. The incidence of injuries in boys was extremely high for permanent teeth, twice as high as in girls. Accidents to primary teeth were most common from 1 to 2 years of age and to permanent teeth were most from 8 to 9 years of age. The most common cause of trauma was a fall for both primary and permanent teeth, followed by collision. The anterior teeth in maxilla was most frequently affected by trauma in both the primary and permanent teeth. The most common type of trauma were loosening for the primary teeth, followed by luxation types which included the intrusion, displacement and extrusion and complete avulsion types. For the permanent teeth, the most common type of trauma were tooth fracture. The most common trauma of soft tissue was laceration of upper lip, lower lip and gingiva of maxilla Concerning treatment at the first visit, primary teeth with only loosening and concussion were not usually treated. Permanent teeth were often treated by crown restorations for crown fractures and by endodontic procedures for pulpal exposure. Though we could elucidate actual condition of traumatic injuries of teeth in children, we should make a follow-up survey to ensure the prognosis of injured teeth and establish the most desirable criteria for traumatized teeth in children.

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CQI Action Team Approach to Prevent Pressure Sores in Intensive Care Unit of an Acute Hospital Korea (중환자의 욕창 예방 연구 : 욕창 예방 QI팀을 중심으로)

  • Kang, So Young;Choi, Eun-Kyung;Kim, Jin-Ju;Ju, Mi-Jung
    • Quality Improvement in Health Care
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.50-63
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    • 1997
  • Background : A pressure sore was defined as any skin lesion caused by unrelieved pressure and resulting in damage to underlying tissue. The health care institutions in the United States were reported the incident rate of pressure sores ranging from 6 to 14 %. Intensive Care Unit needed highest quality of care has been found over 40% incidence rate of pressure sore. Also, Annual expenditures for the care of pressure sores in patients in the United States have been estimated to be $7.5 billion; furthermore, 50 percent more nursing time is required to care for patients with pressure sore in comparison to the time needed to implement preventive measures against pressure sore formation. However, In Korea, there were little reliable reports, or researches, about incidence rates of pressure sore in health care institution including intensive care unit and about the integrated approach like CQI action team for risk assessment, prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Therefore, this study was to develop pressure sore risk assessment tool and the protocol for prevention of pressure sore formation through CQI action team activities, to monitor incident rate of pressure sore and the length of sore formation for patients at high risk, and to approximately estimate nursing time for sore dressing during research period as the effect of CQI action team. Method : CQI action team in intensive care unit, launched since early 1996, reviewed the literature for the standardized risk assessment tool, developed the pressure sore assessment tool based on the Braden Scale, tested its validity, compared on statistics including incidence rate of pressure sore for patients at high risk. Throughout these activities, CQI action team was developed the protocol, called as St. Marys hospital Intensive Care Unit Pressure Sore Protocol, shifted the emphasis from wound treatment to wound prevention. After applied the protocol to patients at high risk, the incident rate and the period of prevention against pressure development were tested with those for patients who received care before implementation of protocol by Chi-square and Kaplan-Meier Method of Survival Analysis. Result : The CQI action team found that these was significant difference of in incidence rate of pressure sores between patients at high risk (control group) who received care before implementation of protocol and those (experimental group) who received it after implementation of protocol (p<.05). 25% possibility of pressure sore formation was shown for the patients with 6th hospital day in ICU in control group. In experimental group, the patients with 10th hospital day had 10% possibility of pressure sore. Therefore, there was significant difference(p<.05) in survival rate between two groups. Also, nursing time for dressing on pressure sore in experimental group was decreased as much as 50% of it in control group. Conclusion : The collaborative team effort led to reduced incidence, increased the length of prevention against pressure sore, and declined nursing care times for sore dressing. However, there have had several suggestions for future study. The preventive care system for pressure sore should be applied to patients at moderate, or low risk throughout continuous CQI team activities based on Bed Sore Indicator Fact Sheet. Hospital-wide supports, such as incentives, would be offered to participants for keeping strong commitment to CQI team. Also, Quality Information System monitoring incidents and estimating cost of poor quality, like workload (full time equivalence) or financial loss, regularly in a hospital has to be developed first for supporting CQI team activities as well as empowering hospital-wide QI implementation. Being several limitations, this study would be one of the report cards for the CQI team activities in intensive care unit of an acute hospital and a trial of quality improvement of health care in Korea.

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Clinical evaluation of the removable partial dentures with implant fixed prostheses (임플란트 고정성 보철물을 이용한 가철성 국소의치의 합병증에 관한 임상적 평가)

  • Kang, Soo-Hyun;Kim, Seong-Kyun;Heo, Seong-Joo;Koak, Jai-Young;Lee, Joo-Hee;Park, Ji-Man
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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    • v.54 no.3
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    • pp.239-245
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    • 2016
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify clinical complications in removable partial denture (RPD) with implant-supported surveyed prostheses, and to analyze the factors associated with the complications such as location of the implant, splinting adjacent prostheses, the type of retentive clasps, Kennedy classification, and opposing dentition. Materials and Methods: A retrospective clinical study was carried out for 11 patients (7 male, 4 female), mean age of 67.5, who received RPD with Implant-supported surveyed prostheses between 2000 and 2016. The mechanical complications of 11 RPDs and 37 supporting implant prostheses and the state of natural teeth and peripheral soft tissue were examined. Then the factors associated with the complications were analyzed. Results: The average of 3.4 implant-supported prostheses were used for each RPD. Complications found during the follow-up period of an average of 42.1 months were in order of dislodgement of temporary cement-retained prostheses, opposing tooth fracture/mobility, screw fracture/loosening, clasp loosening, veneer porcelain fracture, marginal bone resorption and mobility of implant, artificial tooth fracture. Complications occurred more frequently in anterior region compared to posterior region, non-splinted prostheses compared to splinted prostheses, surveyed prostheses applied by wrought wire clasp compared to other clasps, and natural dentition compared to other removable prostheses as opposing dentition. There were no significant differences in complications according to the Kennedy classification. Conclusion: All implant-assisted RPD functioned successfully throughout the follow-up. However, further clinical studies are necessary because the clinical evidences are still not enough to guarantee the satisfactory prognosis of implant-assisted RPD for long-term result.

Tracheal Reconstruction with Perichondrial Graft - An Experimental Study in Rabbits - (연골피막편 이식후 기관 결손부위의 재생에 관한 실험적 연구(제 1 보))

  • 이원상;서장수;이성은;홍원표;박찬일
    • Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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    • 1982.05a
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    • pp.10.3-11
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    • 1982
  • Recently through the advancement of medical and surgical managements and the development of low pressure cuffed endotracheal tube, incidence of tracheal stenosis was decreased significantly. Though its incidence was decreased markedly, stenosis was developted unfortunately in the situations such as long term use of respirator, heavy infection, trauma of the trachea and long term intubation etc. Tracheal stenosis had been handled with various methods such as mechanical dilatation, tissue graft techniques, luminal augumentation and end to end anastomosis due to their individual advantages but their effects were not satisfactory. In 1959 Lester had been found the regenerated cartilage from the perichondrium of the rib incidentaly. Since then Skoog, Sohn and Ohlsen were reported chondrogenic potential of perichondrium through the animal experiments. Though many different materials have been tried to rebuild stenosis and gaping defect of trachea, tracheal reconstruction has been a perplexing clinical problems. We choose the perichondrium as the graft material because cartilage is the normal supporting matrix of that structure and it will be an obvious advantage to be able to position perichondrium over a defect and obtain new cartilage there. The young rabbits, which were selected as our experimental animals, were sacrified from two to eight weeks after surgery. The results of our experiment were as follows; 1) In control group, the defect site of trachea was covered with fibrosis and vessels but graft site was covered with hypertrophied perichondrium and vessels. 2) Respiratory mucosa was completely regenerated in defect sites both control and grafted groups. 3) The histologic changes of the grafted sites were as follows: 2 weeks- microvessel dilatation, inflammatory reaction, initiation of fibrosis 4 weeks- decreased microvessel engorgement, submucosal fibrosis, decreased inflammatory reaction immatured cartilage island was noted in the grafted perichondrium (one specimen) 6 weeks- mild degree vascular engorgement submucosal fibrosis. chronic inflamatory reaction cartilage island and endochondrial ossification was noted in the grafted perichondrium (Two specimens) 8 weeks- minute vascular engorgement dense submucosal fibrosis. loss of inflammatory reaction. cartilage island was noted in the grafted perichondrium (two specimens) 4) There was no significant differences in regeneration between active surface in and out groups. 5) We observed immatured cartilage islands and endochondrial ossification in the perichondrial grafted groups where as such findings were not noted in control groups except fibrosis. We concluded that perichondrium was the adequate material for the reconstruction of defected trachea but our results was not sufficient in the aspect of chondrogenic potential of perichondrium. So further research has indicated possibility of chondrogenic potential of perichondrium.

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SCIATIC NERVE REGENERATION USING CALCIUM PHOSPHATE COATED CONDUIT AND BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR GENE-TRANSFECTED SCHWANN CELL IN RAT (인회석 박막 피복 도관과 Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) 유전자 이입 슈반세포를 이용한 백서 좌골신경 재생에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Won-Jae;Ahn, Kang-Min;Hwang, Soon-Jeong;Choung, Pill-Hoon;Kim, Myung-Jin;Kim, Nam-Yeol;Yoo, Sang-Bae;Jahng, Jeong-Won;Kim, Hyun-Man;Kim, Joong-Soo;Kim, Yun-Hee;Kim, Soung-Min;Lee, Jong-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.199-218
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    • 2005
  • Purpose of Study: Peripheral nerve regeneration depends on neurotrophism of distal nerve stump, recovery potential of neuron, supporting cell like Schwann cell and neurotrophic factors such as BDNF. Peripheral nerve regeneration can be enhanced by the conduit which connects the both sides of transected nerve. The conduit maintains the effects of neurotrophism and BDNF produced by Schwann cells which can be made by gene therapy. In this study, we tried to enhance the peripheral nerve regeneration by using calcium phosphate coated porous conduit and BDNF-Adenovirus infected Schwann cells in sciatic nerve of rats. Materials and Methods: Microporous filter which permits the tissue fluid essential for nerve regeneration and does not permit infiltration of fibroblasts, was made into 2mm diameter and 17mm length conduit. Then it was coated with calcium phosphate to improve the Schwann cell adhesion and survival. The coated filter was evaluated by SEM examination and MTT assay. For effective allogenic Schwann cell culture, dorsal root ganglia of 1-day old rat were extracted and treated with enzyme and antimitotic Ara-C. Human BDNF cDNA was obtained from cDNA library and amplified using PCR. BDNF gene was inserted into adenovirus shuttle vector pAACCMVpARS in which E1 was deleted. We infected the BDNF-Ad into 293 human mammary kidney cell-line and obtained the virus plaque 2 days later. RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the secretion of BDNF in infected Schwann cells. To determine the most optimal m.o.i of BDNF-Ad, we infected the Schwann cells with LacZ adenovirus in 1, 20, 50, 75, 100, 250 m.o.i for 2 hours and stained with ${\beta}$-galactosidase. Rats(n=24) weighing around 300g were used. Total 14mm sciatic nerve defect was made and connected with calcium phosphate coated conduits. Schwann cells$(1{\times}10^6)$ or BDNF-Ad infected Schwann cells$(1{\times}10^6)$ were injected in conduit and only media(MEM) was injected in control group. Twelve weeks after surgery, degree of nerve regeneration was evaluated with gait analysis, electrophysiologic measurements and histomorphometric analysis. Results: 1. Microporous Millipore filter was effective conduit which permitted the adhesion of Schwann cells and inhibited the adhesion of fibroblast. We could enhance the Schwann cell adhesion and survival by coating Millipore filter with calcium phosphate. 2. Schwann cell culture technique using repeated treatment of Ara-C and GDNF was established. The mean number of Schwann cells obtained 1 and 2 weeks after the culture were $1.54{\pm}4.0{\times}10^6$ and $9.66{\pm}9.6{\times}10^6$. 3. The mRNA of BDNF in BDNF-Ad infected Schwann cells was detected using RT-PCR. In Schwann cell $0.69\;{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of DNA was detected and in BDNF-Adenovirus transfected Schwann cell $0.795\;{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of DNA was detected. The most effective infection concentration was determined by LacZ Adenovirus and 75 m.o.i was found the most optimal. Conclusion: BDNF-Ad transfected Schwann cells successfully regenerated the 14mm nerve gap which was connected with calcium phosphate coated Millipore filter. The BDNF-Ad group showed better results compared with Schwann cells only group and control group in aspect to sciatic function index, electrophysiologic measurements and histomorphometric analysis.

The Bone Regenerative Effects of Chitosan on the Calvarial Critical Size Defectin Sprague Dawley Rats (백서 두개골 결손부에서 키토산의 골조직 재생 유도 효과)

  • Jung, Ui-Won;Suh, Jong-Jin;Choi, Seong-Ho;Choi, Kyoo-Sung;Chai, Jung-Kiu;Kim, Chong-Kwan
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.851-870
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    • 2000
  • The major goals of periodontal therapy is the functional regeneration of periodontal supporting structures already destructed by periodontal disease as well as the reduction of signs and symptoms of progressive periodontal disease. There have been many efforts to develop materials and therapeutic methods to promote periodontal wound healing. There have been increasing interest on the chitosan made by chitin. Chitin is second only to cellulose as the most abundant natural biopolymer. It is a structural component of the exoskeleton of invertebrates(e.g., shrimp, crabs, lobsters), of the cell wall of fungi, and of the cuticle of insects. Chitosan is a derivative of chitin made by deacetylation of side chains. Many experiments using chitosan in various animal models have proven its beneficial effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the osteogenesis of chitosan on the calvarial critical size defect in Sprague Dawley rats. An 8 mm surgical defect was produced with a trephine bur in the area of the midsagittal suture. The rats were divided into two groups: Untreated control group versus experimental group with 50mg of soluble chitosan gel. The animals were sacrificed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgical procedure. The specimens were examined by histologic, histomorphometric and radiodensitometric analyses. The results are as follows: 1. The length of newly formed bone in the defects was $102.91{\pm}25.46{\mu}m$, $219.46{\pm}97.81{\mu}m$ at the 2 weeks, $130.95{\pm}39.24{\mu}m$, $212.39{\pm}89.22{\mu}m$ at the 4 weeks, $181.53{\pm}76.35{\mu}m$ and $257.12{\pm}51.22{\mu}m$ at the 8 weeks in the control group and experimental group respectively. At all periods, the means of experimental group was greater than those of control group. But, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. 2. The area of newly formed bone in the defects was $2962.06{\pm}1284.48{\mu}m^2$, $5194.88{\pm}1247.88{\mu}m^2$ at the 2 weeks, $5103.25{\pm}1375.88{\mu}m^2$, $7751.43{\pm}2228.20{\mu}m^2$ at the 4 weeks and $8046.20{\pm}818.99{\mu}m^2$, $15578.57{\pm}5606.55{\mu}m^2$ at the 8 weeks in the control group and experimental group respectively. At all periods, the means of experimental group was greater than those of control group. The experimental group showed statistically significant difference to the control group at the 2 and 8 weeks. 3. The density of newly formed bone in the defects was $14.26{\pm}6.33%$, $27.91{\pm}6.65%$ at the 2 weeks, $20.06{\pm}9.07%$, $27.86{\pm}8.20%$ at the 4 weeks and $22.99{\pm}3.76%$, $32.17{\pm}6.38%$ at the 8 weeks in the control group and experimental group respectively. At all periods, the means of experimental group was greater than those of control group. The experimental group showed statistically significant difference to the control group at the 2 and 8 weeks. These results suggest that the use of chitosan on the calvarial defects in rats has significant effect on the regeneration of bone tissue in itself

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Efficacy and Safety of Miniscalpel Acupuncture in Knee Degenerative Osteoarthritis Patients: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial (퇴행성 슬관절염 환자에 대한 도침요법의 효능 및 안전성 연구: 임상예비연구)

  • Jun, Seungah;Park, Mu Seob;Oh, Se Jung;Lee, Jung Hee;Gong, Han Mi;Choi, Seong Hun;Hwangbo, Min;Lee, Hyun-Jong;Kim, Jae Soo
    • Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.67-74
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    • 2016
  • Objectives : The Knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients are not satisfied with the conventional therapies of KDOA, which results in the use of alternative therapies. The miniscalpel acupuncture is effective in treating chronic soft tissue, releasing contractures. However, there is little scientific evidence supporting the use of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis. This study was designed to obtain basic data for a further large-scale trial as well as provide information about the feasibility of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients. Methods : We describe the protocol for a randomized controlled pilot clinical trial of 5 weeks duration. Twenty patients will be recruited and randomly allocated to two treatment groups: miniscalpel acupuncture treatment(experimental group); and acupuncture and electro-acupuncture treatment(control group). Miniscalpel acupuncture will be performed once with a 1-week interval for 3 weeks. Electro-acupuncture will be administered twice per week for a period of 3 weeks. The primary outcomes will be measured by visual analogue scale and range of motion. The secondary outcomes will be short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Both primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 1, 2, 3 and 5 weeks(i.e. 2 weeks after treatment completion). Conclusions : This pilot study will provide a basic foundation for a future large-scale trial as well as information about the feasibility of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis.