• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.455-465
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• 2010

Purpose : This study is intended to examine the motor skill learning on balance and coordination in the cerebellar injured rats by 3AP. Methods : This study selected 60 Sprague-Dawley rats of 8 weeks. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 15 rats to each group. Group I was a normal control group(induced by saline); Group II was a experimental control group(cerebellar injured by 3AP); Group III was a group of motor skill learning after cerebellar injured by 3AP; Group IV was a group of treadmill exercise after cerebellar injured by 3AP. In each group, motor performance test, histologic observations, synaptophysin expression and electron microscopy observation were analyzed. Results : In motor performance test, the outcome of group II was significantly lower than the group III, IV(especially group III)(p<.001). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of dendrities and nucleus of cerebellar neurons. Group III, IV were decreased in degeneration of cerebellar neurons(especially group III). In immunohistochemistric response of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex, experimental groups were decreased than group I. Group III's expression of synaptophysin was more increased than group II, IV. In electron microscopy finding, the experimental groups were degenerated of Purkinje cell. Conclusion : These result suggest that improved motor performance by motor skill learning after harmaline induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex and that is related with synaptic plasticity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.22 no.2 s.73
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• pp.131-143
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• 2004

Given a path represented by a sequence of link numbers in a graph, the vine is differentiated from the loop in a sense that any link number can be visited in the path no more than once, while more than once in the loop. The vine provides a proper idea on complicated travel patterns such as U-turn and P-turn witnessed near intersections in urban transportation networks. Application of the link label method(LLM) to the shortest Path algorithms(SPA) enables to take into account these vine travel features. This study aims at expanding the LLM to a K-th path search algorithm (KPSA), which adopts the node-based-label correcting method to find a group of K number of paths. The paths including the vine type of travels are conceptualized as drivers reasonable route choice behaviors(RRCB) based on non-repetition of the same link in the paths, and the link-label-based MPSA is proposed on the basis of the RRCB. The small-scaled network test shows that the algorithm sequence works correctly producing multiple paths satisfying the RRCB. The large-scaled network study detects the solution degeneration (SD) problem in case the number of paths (K) is not sufficient enough, and the (K-1) dimension algorithm is developed to prevent the SD from the 1st path of each link, so that it may be applied as reasonable alternative route information tool, an important requirement of which is if it can generate small number of distinct alternative paths.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1996

The conventional glutaraldehyde (GA) fixation method of tissue valves is considered to be responsible for accelerated valve degeneration. The release of toxic GA from the valve tissue is believed to limit endothelial cell (EC) ingrowth. Removal of toxic GA by reaction with L-glutamic acid and storage in a Paraben solution may offer good EC growth. To investigate the conditions for endothelialization of tissue valves, the growth properties of ECs on the conventionally and alternatively treated pericardial tissue were compared. Conventional preparation included zero-pressure fixation for 72 hours in phosphated-buffered saline (PBS) solution containing 0.5% GA at 4$^{\circ}C$ and storage into PBS containing 0.2% GA(group I). Alternatively treated pericardial tissues were divided into three postfixation treatment groups : (1) storage in PBS solution containing Paraben(group II), (2) treatment with PBS containing 8$^{\circ}C$ L-glutamic acid(PH 7.35) and storage in PBS solution containing Paraben (g oup III), (3) treatment with L-glutamic acid dissolved in distilled water (PH 3.5) (group IV). Pericardial tissue were transferred into the 24-well plate after storage for 4 weeks. ECs were harvested enzymatically from the bovine pulmonary artery and grown to confluence on culture flask surfaces. Detached ECs by trypsin were incubated into the each well of the 24-well plate including test pericardial tissues. Cells were detached by trypsin, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 days after incubation and counted on the hemacytometer. Cell viability test was performed by frypan-blue exclusion method. Acute cell death in the group I were found even after prolonged washing. The group II showed prolonged cell survival compared with the group I. Both group III and group IV showed better cell growth than group II. There was no statistically significant difference between group III and group IV method in terms of EC growth. This results suggest that treatment by L-glutamic ac id and storage in a Paraben solution be a promising approach for improvement of durability of GA-treated tissue valves.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2009

Background: Discogenic pain can develop into chronic low back pain that is very difficult to treat effectively, because the pathogenesis of the disease still remains controversial. To clarify the pathogenesis, numerous animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration have been proposed in the literature, each with attendant advantages and disadvantages. The aim of this study was to determine the most efficacious method and dose of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection into intervertebral disc to develop a discogenic pain in a rat. Methods: CFA was injected into the L5-L6 or L4-L5 disc of male Sprague-Dawley rats in various conditions including a dose of CFA (10, 20, or 50 uL), drilling, injection site sealing using cyanoacrylate, and injection velocity. Sham animals were subjected to the same procedure, except for the CFA injection. Mechanical and heat allodynia were serially measured at both hindpaws until 8 weeks post-operatively. Serial MRI analyses were performed to observe degenerative changes of the discs. In addition, CGRP & Substance P-immunoreactivities (ir) in the superficial dorsal horn were evaluated at 4 weeks using immunohistochemistry. Results: Each condition provoked various problems such as development of hindpaw paralysis, CFA leakage, and no pain development. Mid-sagittal T2 MRI revealed no significant degenerative changes in the CFA injected disc. The CGRP-ir of the bilateral superficial dorsal horns at the level of L5-L6 was significantly increased in the CFA group. Conclusions: A total of 10 uL CFA injection into L5-L6 disc for a period of 10 minutes using a 26-gauge needle without drilling was the most efficacious way to develop discogenic pain animal model.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.141-145
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• 2004

Mucin coat is deposited on the embryos during passage through the oviduct in rabbit. When in vitro cultured blastocysts were transferred to the recipients, the lack of mucin coat might account in part for failure of pregnancy after transfer. The present study were carried out to investigate whether deposition of mucin coat were induced when in vitro cultured blastocysts were transferred to recipients. At 19 ～20 hours post-coitus one-cell embryos were collected by flushing oviducts. These embryos cultured for 72 hours were reached to blastocyst stage. And these blastocysts were transferred to the oviduct of asynchronized (one day later than the donors) and synchronized recipient. To confirm deposition of the mucin coat, blastocysts transferred to the oviduct were recovered at 24 and 48 hours after the transfer. Fifty eight percent of blastocysts recovered from uterus of asynchronous recipient at 24 hours after transfer and 92.9% of blastocysts recovered from uterus of synchronous recipient were 0～10 ㎛ of mucin coat thickness. And 11.8% of blastocysts of asynchronized recipients and 7.1% of blastocysts from asynchronized recipients were in 11～20 ㎛ of mucin coat thickness. When blastocysts were recovered from uterus at 48 hours after transfer, 87.0% of blastocysts from asynchronized recipients and 5.9% of blastocyst from synchronized recipients were in 0～10 ㎛ of mucin coat thickness. And 76.5% of blastocysts of synchronized recipients and 4.4% of blastocysts from asynchronized recipients were in 11～20 ㎛ of mucin coat thickness. From these results it is speculated that the low implantation rate of in vitro cultured rabbit blastocysts transferred to oviduct of recipient was caused by high degeneration of the embryo after transfer and inappropriate deposition of mucin coat.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.173-181
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• 2012

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has a many function involved proliferation, differentiation and survival of many cells. In this study, to investigate whether S1P improve the developmental competence of porcine embryos, 50 nM of S1P were supplemented during in vitro maturation (with EGF or without EGF) medium and/or in vitro culture (IVC) medium. Addition of S1P was significantly increased the rate of oocytes reaching metaphase II (MII) compared to the control (83.5 vs. 64.1%) in without EGF medium, but not with EGF medium (89.5 vs. 84.6%). When treated with $1{\mu}M$ of N1N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS), a sphingosine kinase inhibitor which is blocked endogenous generation of S1P, the meiotic progression rates to MII stage (without EGF: 45.2 and with EGF: 66.7%) were significantly decreased and degeneration rates (without EGF: 51.2 and with EGF: 30.1%) were increased in both medium compared to control group during IVM periods. Also, the rates of blastocyst formation was significantly increased in the S1P treated group compared to control group (29.0 vs. 19.2%) of EGF supplemented medium, whereas there were no effect in the EGF free medium (9.0 vs. 10.5%). After 12 h IVM, the phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2, which is major signaling pathway of MAP kinase, were increased in the S1P group than that of control or DMS group. When supplemented of S1P during IVC, the rates of blastocyst formation and total cell number (30.2% and 40.6) were significantly increased in S1P-treated group compared with control (20.1% and 32.5), DMS (12.3% and 25.1), and S1P plus DMS group (24.7% and 33.6). The percentage of apoptosis nuclei in the S1P group was significantly decreased than other groups. Also, the rates of blastocyst formation (26.7 vs. 14%) and total cell number (42.8 vs. 32.5) were significantly increased in the S1P group than those of control group when S1P added during the entire IVM and IVC periods. Taken together, our results indicate that S1P supplementation in IVM and/or IVC medium affects beneficial effect of meiotic maturation and subsequent developmental competence of porcine embryos.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between in vitro maturation and plasminogen activators (PAs) activity on porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) exposed to oxidative stress. When COCs were cultured in maturation medium with hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), the proportion of the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and oocytes maturation were decrease with addition of $H_2O_2$, and were significantly (p<0.05) lower in medium with 0.1 mM $H_2O_2$ than control group. Also, the rate of degenerated oocytes was increased in as $H_2O_2$ concentration in eased. When COCs were cultured for 48 h, three plasminogen-dependent lytic bands were observed: tissue-type PA (tPA); urokinase-type PA (uPA); and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI). PA activity was quantified using SDS-PAGE and zymography. When $H_2O_2$ concentration was increased, tPA and tPA-PAI activities also increased in porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h, but not uPA. In other experiment, embryos were divided into three groups and cultured in (1) control medium, (2) control medium with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ and (3) control medium with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ along with catalase in concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. $H_2O_2$ decreased the rate of GVBD and maturation in porcine COCs but catalase revealed protective activity, against oxidative stress caused by $H_2O_2$. In this experiment, tPA and tPA-PAI activities were higher in media with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ alone. Increasing concentration of catalase decreased tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes. These results indicate that the exposure of porcine follicular oocytes to ROS inhibits oocytes maturation to metaphase-II stage and increase the oocytes degeneration. Also, we speculated that increased ROS level may trigger tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes matured in vitro.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.167-174
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• 2010

Purpose: Anatomical repair of massive rotator cuff tear has been technically challenging because of medial retraction, muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration. Among several treatment options for massive rotator cuff tear, we reviewed rotator cuff repairs and investigated modalities for improvement of clinical outcomes, decreasing the re-tear rate, and increasing healing. Materials and Methods: Patient-related factors and rotator cuff-related factors were the two major groups of factors we considered when choosing a treatment plan. Results: Mobilization of a massive rotator cuff tear was increased by soft tissue release and by the interval slide technique. After meticulous soft tissue release, anatomical repair could be achieved. If the injury was not amenable to anatomical repair, alternative treatment options such as partial repair, the margin convergence technique and augmentation with a tenotomized biceps tendon were considered. Many reports of massive rotator cuff repair demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes, decreased pain, recovery of shoulder functions, and increases in muscle strength. However, the re-tear rate had been reported to be relatively high in long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Despite a high re-tear rate after massive rotator cuff repair, a better understanding of the pathogenesis, progression and clinical symptoms of massive rotator cuff tear and improved surgical materials and techniques will lead to satisfactory clinical outcomes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2008

Objective: To investigate the effects of Yeongdamsagantang (YDGT) on apoptosis of neuronal cells that can result in dementia. Method: The water extract of the YDGT was tested in vitro for its beneficial effects on neuronal survival and neuroprotective functions, particularly in connection with $A{\beta}$ oligomer-related dementias. $A{\beta}$ oligomers derived from proteolytic processing of the ${\beta}-amyloid$ precursor protein (APP), including the $amyloid-{\beta}$ peptide $(A{\beta})$, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. A neuroblastoma cell line stably expressing an $A{\beta}$ oligomerassociated neuronal degeneration was used to investigate if YDGT inhibits formation of $A{\beta}$ oligomer. To measure the ATP generating level in mitochondrial membrane, luciferin/luciferase luminescence kit (Promega) and luminator was used, and to survey the protein's apparition, confocal microscopy was used. Result: $A{\beta}oligomer$ had a profound attenuation in the increase in CT105 expressing neuro2A cells from YDGT. Experimental evidence indicates that YDGT protected against neuronal damage from cells, but its cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We demonstrated that YDGT inhibited formation of $amyloid-{\beta}$ $(A{\beta})$ oligomers, which were the behavior, and possibly causative, features of AD. The decreased $A{\beta}$ oligomer in the presence of YDGT was observed in the conditioned medium of this $A{\beta}oligomer-secreting$ cell line under in vitro. In the cells, YDGT significantly attenuated mitochondrion-initiated apoptosis. Conclusion: (i) a direct $A{\beta}$ oligomer toxicity and the apoptosis initiated by the mitochondria; and (ii) multiple cellular and molecular neuroprotective mechanisms, including attenuation of apoptosis and direct inhibition of $A{\beta}$ oligomer aggregation, underlie the neuroprotective effects of YDGT.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2011

Purpose: In this study, eye-health inequity was investigated by analyzing the relationship between household incomes and eye-health of senior citizens. Further, this study suggested the preliminary data for establishment of public eye-health policy in order to improve low income senior citizens' life quality. Methods: The data from the 2009 Survey of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination were analyzed in this study. The objectives of the KNHNE survey were over 65 year old group (1,668 people). Main factors of eye-health (visual acuity, cataract, pterygium, intraocular pressure, retinophathy, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinophathy, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia prevalence) were analyzed with t-test and chi square test. Results: Low income group revealed that refractive error rate and intraocular pressure were low, however, naked eye visual acuity and corrected visual acuity were high at 0.1 to less than 0.5. On the other hands, in the high income group, there was high prevalence of hyperopia. Cataract mainly occurred at low income group besides group which maximum corrected visual acuity was below 0.8 also highly showed cataract. Moreover, the prevalence of cataract showed that it related with smoking, drinking, occupation, and education level. Conclusions: Results revealed that there was inequity of eye-health which related with socioeconomic status of the elderly. Especially, the prevalence of cataract was correlated with life quality. Consequently, establishment of public eye-health policy seems to be required for eye-health inequity of low income senior citizens.