• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2023

Vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) is an important indicator to predict myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) in dogs. When the caudal margin of cardiac silhouette and the dorsal margin of caudal vena cava (CdVC) could not be seen exactly, another way to evaluate VLAS is needed. The objective of this study was to assess whether a new modified VLAS (m-VLAS) could be used as an indicator to predict MMVD in 57 small breed dogs with MMVD. The m-VLAS was also used to classify American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine staging groups and left heart enlargement confirmed with echocardiograph (EchoLHE) groups. The m-VLAS was measured as the distance from the ventral aspect of the carina to the dorsal aspect of the intersection of the cardiac silhouette and the farthest LA caudal margin, not the CdVC, followed by drawing the same line beginning at the cranial edge of T4. Based on VLAS values and m-VLAS values measured for dogs with MMVD, correlations between these values and left heart enlargement groups were then evaluated. There were significant differences in both the VLAS and the m-VLAS between EchoLHE groups. The AUC of the ROC curve of the m-VLAS to detect EchoLHE was higher than that of the VLAS. The optimal cutoff value for the m-VLAS was >2.7, which had a higher specificity (86.84%) than the VLAS specificity (71.05%). This study reveals that a new m-VLAS is a more specific indicator than the VLAS for predicting left side heart enlargement in small breed dogs. Therefore, the m-VLAS can be used as a clinically useful radiographic measurement alternative to or better than the VLAS.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.215-220
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) and NT-proBNP levels. Sixty-three dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) were recruited for this study. The MMVD group was classified according to the ACVIM stage based on medical history, clinical signs, and thoracic radiography and echocardiography findings. The N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were measured using fluorescent immunoassay. VLAS and VHS values were measured using a digital caliper in the right lateral view. There were significant differences in VLAS for each American college of veterinary internal medicine (ACVIM) stage (p < 0.01). As the ACVIM stage increased, it tended to increase. Vertebral heart score (VHS) also showed a tendency to increase with the ACVIM stage (p < 0.01). VLAS was divided into three groups: VLAS <2.6, 2.6≤ VLAS <3.1, and VLAS ≥3.1. NT-proBNP values were significantly different between the three groups (p < 0.01), and VLAS and NT-proBNP values showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.756, p < 0.01). In conclusion, there were significant differences among ACVIM stages B1 and B2, B1 and C-D, and B2 and C-D groups regarding VLAS. Furthermore, NT-proBNP increased proportionally as VLAS increased. Measurements of VLAS may be helpful in the diagnosis of MMVD in addition to the existing radiological and echocardiographic methods.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2021

Recently, a new method of evaluating left atrial size called vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) was introduced in dogs. Total 155 dogs were examined at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University. In this study, myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) stage and VLAS showed a significant correlation in those dogs. Also, the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and VLAS has yet to be examined. We found a strong positive correlation between VLAS and CRP-a significant increase in CRP was observed with increasing VLAS values. Thus, it would be beneficial to measure VLAS besides employing the current radiological and echocardiographic methods when evaluating heart size. Measuring VLAS could be an additional diagnostic tool for diagnosing MMVD in dogs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 2006

This study was purposed to investigated the antioxidant effects of water (VLWS) and aqua-acupuncture solution (VLAS) from root of Vitis labrusca. VLWS and VLAS was were assessed to determine the mechanisms of its antioxidant activities. The VLWS and VLAS exhibitde a concentration-dependent inhibition of DPPH free radicals. This VLWS-mediated antioxidant activity was similar to that L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C). In addition, the VLWS and VLAS showed dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity, including superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, using different assay systems. The VLWS and VLAS were also found to be strongly inhibited linoleic acid oxidation in a ferric thiocyanate assay (FTC) system. Finally, the VLWS and VLAS significantly prevented Fenton's reagent-induced DNA nicking.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2020

Left atrial enlargement (LAE) is an important diagnostic factor in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). It is associated with the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF). Recently, a new radiographic left atrial measurement called vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) was introduced. This can be considered as a left atrial enlargement above 2.3. It appears to be related to the severity of MMVD. However, serial changes in VLAS in relation to disease progression and improvement in patients have yet to be studied. This study aims to assess the value of VLAS as a left atrial size monitoring indicator by examining correlations with VHS, LA/Ao ratio and LVIDDN, and comparing serial changes in dogs. A total of 126 dogs were studied with their owners' consent. The dogs were classified into four MMVD groups (Control, B1, B2, C-D) following the ACVIM Guideline by performing a physical examination, radiography and echocardiography. Besides, 24 and 17 dogs were reevaluated to compare values in relation to the progression and improvement of MMVD. VLAS showed significant increase according to the progress of the MMVD stage. This was the same in the Maltese breed group. A strong positive correlation was found between LVIDDN, VHS, LA/Ao ratio, and VLAS. The results of this study found VLAS to be significantly different according to left atrium size, and there was a correlation between disease progression and VLAS levels in each dog. Therefore, VLAS may be used to detect changes in left atrium size as an additional monitoring index of MMVD.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.299-321
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• 2016

Previous studies on strategic alliance formation have largely overlooked the effects that organizations' routine development can have on the relationship between organizations' network position and their alliance ambidexterity strategy. This study extends ambidexterity research by adding internal and network perspectives and examining their cumulative effects on alliance ambidexterity. We first acknowledge the interplay between organizations' internal knowledge exploration/exploitation strategies and organizations' alliance ambidexterity and determine that organizations with a high level of internal knowledge breadth are more likely to make focused alliance decisions. Second, our analysis of 145 US-based information technology organizations with an active alliance behavior reveals that having well-formed routines as a result of previous collaborations strengthens the tendency of brokerage organizations to follow alliances that focus on either exploration or exploitation. Although most alliance studies have commonly argued in favor of an ambidextrous approach, this study provides critical evidence that both internal knowledge exploration/exploitation strategies and development of routines constrain organizations' alliance formation decisions, guiding them towards a more focused approach.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2002.07c
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• pp.1590-1593
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• 2002

We propose a dynamic location management scheme and named it Virtual Dynamic Location Area(VDLA) scheme. It allocates LA on the basis of terminal mobility, VDLA consists of two phases: VLA allocation and final LA selection phases. In the first phase it allocates primary and secondary VLAs to the terminal. In the second phase the terminal selects one of them using LA selection criterion. Cost analysis of the proposed scheme is peformed and its location management cost is compared with those of FLA and DBLA.