• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.18-25
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the various imaging factors associated with aggravation of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and develop a scoring system for prediction of LDH aggravation. Materials and Methods: From 2015 to 2017, we retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of 60 patients (30 patients with aggravated LDH and 30 patients without any altered LDH). Imaging factors for MRI evaluation included the level of LDH, disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy, facet joint degeneration, ligamentum flavum thickness and interspinous ligament degeneration. Flexion-extension difference was measured with simple radiography. The scoring system was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: The aggravated group manifested a higher grade of disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy and facet degeneration than the control group. The ligamentum flavum thickness in the aggravated group was thicker than in the group with unaltered LDH. The summation score was defined as the sum of the grade of disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy and facet joint degeneration. The area under the ROC curve showing the threshold value of the summation score for prediction of aggravation of LDH was 0.832 and the threshold value corresponded to 6.5. Conclusion: Disc degeneration, facet degeneration, back muscle atrophy and ligamentum flavum thickness are important factors in predicting aggravation of LDH and may facilitate the determination of treatment strategy in patients with LDH. The summation score is available as supplemental data.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the degree of senile macular degeneration in elders aged 65 or older and identify factors associated with senile macular degeneration in elders within communities. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional descriptive study were 388 elders without cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Data were collected through face to face interviews using a questionnaire in an urban area from June 2010 to December 2011. To detect senile macular degeneration, the participants' self-tests were carried out with Amsler grid testing. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of health behavior and knowledge about eye health on senile macular degeneration. Results: The proportion of participants with senile macular degeneration was 11.6%. Factors that significantly increased the risk of senile macular degeneration included eye discomfort and history of ophthalmic examination (p<.05). Factors that significantly decreased the risk of senile macular degeneration included regular change of magnifiers, non-use of magnifiers, and knowledge about preventive effects of non-smoking and antioxidant vitamin intake on senile macular degeneration (p<.05). Conclusion: This study showed that programs for preventing senile macular degeneration were necessary for elders within communities and the results of this study can be used for developing those programs.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.1-18
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• 2001

Aging has been recognized as the primary cause of disc degeneration. A biomechanical characteristics of disc degeneration has been demonstrated that intradiscal pressure is reduced. With the increasing population of elderly people, disc degeneration and associated problems of nerve entrapment are becoming more prevalent. Presently, research on reduced intradiscal pressure associated with degeneration is insufficient. In this study. we used the Finite Element Method (FEM) of computerized simulations to investigate the effects of variation in intradiscal pressure on mechanical behaviours of L4-5 intervertebral disc degeneration. Degeneration was classified using four grades based on initial intradiscal pressure; Normal (135 kPa), mild(107 kPa), moderate (47 kPa) and severe (15 kPa). The predicted results f3r bending loads were as follows; 1 . Range of motion increased progressively with severity of degeneration with flexion and lateral bending moments, but decreased with extension moments. 2. Discal bulging of posterolateral aspect was larger in lateral bending and extension moment. But bulging was increased with severity of degeneration in lateral bending and torsion(same side).3. The rate of increasing intradiscal pressure was decreased in all bending motions with severity of degeneration. In conclusion, lateral bending and extension moment yield greatest bulging in severe degeneration. In torsion, although bending load produces disc bulging, disc bulging was associated more strongly with severity of degeneration than increasing torsional moments. Clinical Implications: Discal bulging may produce nerve root impingement and irritation. The effect of loading and posture on the varying degrees of disc degeneration has important implications especially in the elderly. In the presence of disc degeneration, avoidance of end range postures, especially extension and lateral bending may help reduce discal bulging and in turn, nerve entrapment.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.321-327
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• 2014

Ultrastructural studies of oocyte degeneration in the oocyte, and the functions of follicle cells during oocyte degeneration are described to clarify the reproductive mechanism on oocyte degeneration of Mactra chinensis using cytological methods. Commonly, the follicle cells are attached to the oocyte. Follicle cells play an important role in oocyte degeneration. In particular, the functions of follicle cells during oocyte degeneration are associated with phagocytosis and the intracellular digestion of products. In this study, morphologically similar degenerated phagosomes (various lysosomes), which were observed in the degenerated oocytes, appeared in the follicle cells. After the spawning of the oocytes, the follicle cells were involved in oocyte degeneration through phagocytosis by phagolysosomes. Therefore, it can be assumed that follicle cells reabsorb phagosomes from degenerated oocytes. In this study, the presence of lipid granules, which occurred from degenerating yolk granules, gradually increased in degenerating oocytes. The function of follicle cells can accumulate reserves of lipid granules and glycogen in the cytoplasm, which can be employed by the vitellogenic oocyte. Based on observations of follicle cells attached to degenerating oocytes after spawning, the follicle cells of this species are involved in the lysosomal induction of oocyte degeneration for the reabsorption of phagosomes (phagolysosomes) in the cytoplasm for nutrient storage, as seen in other bivalves.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.465-475
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of workload on musculoskeletal degeneration. Background: It is important that workers maintain a health body for a long time as a measure of aging workers. In order do so, it is necessary to find out if workload can effect on musculoskeletal degeneration. Method: Epidemiological studies on workload or occupation and disc degeneration, osteoarthritis of knee were identified through database and bibliography searches. Results: Epidemiological studies showed that workload certainly effect on musculoskeletal degeneration. But we couldn't know which of individual factors and occupational factors further contribute to the musculoskeletal degeneration. And we could find that studies on workload and genetic factors were very few. In addition, there was also very few studies that it was possible interaction between individual factors as obesity and occupational factors as heavy manual lifting. Conclusion: Our reviews suggest that it need to conduct study between workload and genetic factors for musculoskeletal degeneration. This further study can identify attributable risk of workload for musculoskeletal degeneration, and contribute to the measure of aging workers. Application: This paper can help to establish research plan for the measure of aging workers.

• 한국통신학회논문지
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• 제33권1A호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2008

Emitter degeneration에 의한 band SiGe HBT 이중 평형형 상향 주파수 혼합기의 선형성 개선 효과를 비교하였다. 시뮬레이션을 통해 출력 전력과 변환 이득을 동시에 고려하여 degeneration 저항값을 최적화 시켰으며 이를 $0.35{\mu}m$ Si-BiCMOS 공정을 이용하여 제작하였다. 제작 및 측정 결과, -5 dBm의 8.0 GHz LO 신호 및 100 MHz의 IF 신호 입력 시, degeneration 저항이 없는 상향 주파수 혼합기는 15.5 dB의 선형 변환 이득과 -13 dBm의 RF 출력 전력 및 3.7 dBm의 $OIP_3$를 나타내었고, degeneration 저항을 사용한 상향 주파수 혼합기는 9 dB의 선형 변환 이득과 -10 dBm의 RF 출력 전력 및 8.7 dBm의 $OIP_3$를 각각 나타내었다.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2008

Ultastructural studies of oocyte degeneration and follicle cells in female Spisula sachalinensis are described for clams collected from Jumunjin, Gangwondo, Korea. The follicle cells playan integral role in vitellogenesis and oocyte degeneration by assimilating products originating from the degenerated oocytes (thus allowed the transfer of yolk precursors needed for vitellogenesis). The functions of the follicle cells include phagocytosis and intracellular digestion of products originating from oocyte degeneration. During the period of oocyte degeneration, follicle cells of this species probably have lysosomal systems for the breakdown and reabsorption of various phagosomes(phagolysosomes) in the cytoplasm for nutrient storage; this process has been observed in other bivalves.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.282-285
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• 2004

Zoosporic fungi의 일종인 Blastocladiella emersonii에서는, 적은 수의 핵을 포함하는 작은 크기의 sporangium의 형성을 유도할 수 있다. 이들의 단축된 포자형성과정에서, sporangium내에 존재하던 일부 핵들의 소멸이 관찰되었다. 이 결과는 핵의 소멸이 포자형성과정의 필수적인 부분과정이라는 가설을 뒷받침해준다. 핵의 소멸과정은 형태적으로 세포질의 autophagy와 유사하였으며, autophagy의 형태적인 발달과정을 연구하기 위한 좋은 모델 시스템이 될 것으로 생각한다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.88-94
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• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study is to investigate predictable risk factors for radiologic degeneration of adjacent segment after lumbar fusion and preoperative radiologic features of patients who underwent additional surgery with adjacent segment degeneration. Methods : Between January 1995 and December 2002, 201 patients who underwent lumbar fusion for degenerative conditions of lumbar spine were evaluated. We studied radiologic features, the method of operation, the length of fusion, age, sex, osteoporosis, and body mass index. Special attention was focused on, preoperative radiologic features of patients who required additional surgery were studied to detect risk factors for clinical deterioration. Results : Follow-up period ranged from 3 to 11 years. In our study, 61 [30%] patients developed adjacent segment degeneration, and 15 [7%] patients required additional surgery for neurologic deterioration. Age, the postoperative delay, facet volume, motion range, laminar inclination, facet tropism, and preexisting disc degeneration of adjacent segment considered as possible risk factors. Among these, laminar inclination and preexisting disc degeneration of adjacent segment were significantly correlated with clinical deterioration. Conclusion : The radiologic degeneration of adjacent segment after lumbar fusion can be predicted in terms of each preoperative radiologic factor, age and the postoperative delay. Laminar inclination and preexisting disc degeneration of adjacent segment have shown as strong risk factors for neurologic deterioration. Thus, careful consideration is warranted when these risk factors are present.

• Clinical Pain
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.8-15
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• 2019

Objective: To determine the relationship between cervical sagittal parameters and the degree of the cervical disc degeneration at each cervical level by using cervical plain radiographs and disc degeneration grading. Method: This study analyzed 110 patients with posterior neck pain. Cervical radiographic measurements included the occipito-cervical (O~C2) angle; sagittal Cobb angles of C1~C2, C2~C7; and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) of C1~C7 and C2~C7. The degenerations of cervical discs at each level were evaluated through Pfirrmann grading system by magnetic resonance images of the cervical spine. The correlations between the cervical sagittal measurements and the disc degeneration at each level were analyzed by Spearman's correlation. Results: A significant correlation was found for the C2~C7 angle with disc degenerations at C2~C6 levels. O~C2 angle was correlated significantly with disc degenerations at C2~C4 and C5~C7 levels. There was significant correlation between C1~C2 angle and disc degeneration at C6~C7 level. No significant relationship was found between the cervical SVA and the cervical disc degeneration at all cervical levels. Conclusion: Cervical sagittal parameters representing cervical angles (C2~C7, O~C2, and C1~C2 angles) were significantly correlated with the degree of the cervical disc degeneration. These findings suggest that the loss of the natural cervical lordosis rather than loss of natural SVA could be correlated with progression of the cervical disc degeneration.