• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.74-80
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• 2009

Objective : To evaluate clinical and radiological results of two different fusion techniques in adult low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis. Methods : Between November 2003 and December 2004, 46 consecutive patients underwent instrumented mini-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (mini-TLIF) (group I) at Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Between February 2003 and October 2006, 32 consecutive patients underwent instrumented circumferential fusion (group II) at Leon Wiltse Memorial Hospital, Suwon, Korea. The mean follow-up periods were 29.7 and 26.1 months, respectively. Results : Mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain decreased, respectively, from 6.98 and 6.33 to 2.3 and 2.2 in group I and from 7.38 and 6.00 to 1.7 and 1.0 in group II. Mean Oswestry disability index (ODI) improved from 51.85% to 14.4% in group I and from 60% to 9.1% in group II. In both groups, VAS and ODI scores significantly changed from pre- to postoperatively (p<0.001), but postoperative outcome between groups was statistically not significant. Radiologic evidence of fusion was noted in 95.7% and 100% of the patients in group I and II, respectively. In both groups, changes in disc height, segmental lordosis, degree of listhesis, and whole lumbar lordosis between the pre- and postoperative periods were significant except whole lumbar lordosis in both groups. Conclusion : Clinical and functional outcomes demonstrate no significant differences between groups in treating back and leg pain of adult patients with low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis. However, in terms of operative data (i.e. operation time and hospital stay), instrumented mini-TLIF demonstrated better results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.81-84
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• 2009

Objective : Many biomechanical and clinical studies on adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) have addressed cranial segment. No study has been conducted on caudal segment degeneration after upper segment multiple lumbar fusions. This is a retrospective investigation of the L5-S1 segment after spinal fusion at and above L4-5, which was undertaken to analyze the rate of caudal ASD at L5-S1 after spinal fusion on and above L4-5 and to determine that factors that might have influenced it. Methods : The authors included 67 patients with L4-5, L3-5, or L2-5 posterior fusions. Among these patients, 28 underwent L4-5 fusion, 23 L3-5, and 16 L2-5 fusions. Pre- and postoperative radiographs were analyzed to assess degenerative changes at L5-S1. Also, clinical results after fusion surgery were analyzed. Results : Among the 67 patients, 3 had pseudoarthrosis, and 35 had no evidence of ASD, cranially and caudally. Thirteen patients (19.4%) showed caudal ASD, 23 (34.3%) cranial ASD, and 4 (6.0%) both cranial and caudal ASD. Correlation analysis for caudal ASD at L5-S1 showed that pre-existing L5-S1 degeneration was most strongly correlated. In addition, numbers of fusion segments and age were also found to be correlated. Clinical outcome was not correlated with caudal ASD at L5-S1. Conclusion : If caudal and cranial ASD are considered, the overall occurrence rate of ASD increases to 50%. The incidence rate of caudal ASD at L5-S1 was significantly lower than that of cranial ASD. Furthermore, the occurrence of caudal ASD was found to be significantly correlated with pre-existing disc degeneration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Objective : Craniovertebral junction (CVJ) consists of the occipital bone that surrounds the foramen magnum, the atlas and the axis vertebrae. The mortality and morbidity is high for irreducible CVJ lesion with cervico-medullary compression. In a clinical retrospective study, the authors reviewed clinical and radiographic results of occipitocervical fusion using a various methods in 32 patients with CVJ instability. Methods : Thirty-two CVJ lesions (18 male and 14 female) were treated in our department for 12 years. Instability resulted from trauma (14 cases), rheumatoid arthritis (8 cases), assimilation of atlas (4 cases), tumor (2 cases), basilar invagination (2 cases) and miscellaneous (2 cases). Thirty-two patients were internally fixed with 7 anterior and posterior decompression with occipitocervical fusion, 15 posterior decompression and occipitocervical fusion with wire-rod, 5 C1-2 transarticular screw fixation, and 5 C1 lateral mass-C2 transpedicular screw. Outcome (mean follow-up period, 38 months) was based on clinical and radiographic review. The clinical outcome was assessed by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Results : Nine neurologically intact patients remained same after surgery. Among 23 patients with cervical myelopathy, clinical improvement was noted in 18 cases (78.3%). One patient died 2 months after the surgery because of pneumonia and sepsis. Fusion was achieved in 27 patients (93%) at last follow-up. No patient developed evidence of new, recurrent, or progressive instability. Conclusion : The authors conclude that early occipitocervical fusion to be recommended in case of reducible CVJ lesion and the appropriate decompression and occipitocervical fusion are recommended in case of irreducible craniovertebral junction lesion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1937-1941
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• 2014

Aims: To evaluate anti-cancer activity of Asparagus racemosus (AR) leaf extract on UOK146, a renal cell carcinoma cell line, and explore its mechanism of action. Materials and Methods: Dried AR leaves were extracted with chloroform and dissolved in DMSO. This extract was applied to UOK146 and cell death was estimated by MTT assay. In addition PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcripts were detected by real time PCR. Results: Extract was found to be cytotoxic with an $IC_{50}$ of 0.9 mg/ml as estimated by dose response curve. Antitumor activity of the permissible doses of the extract was assessed by the down regulation of PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcript (38%) responsible for oncogenicity of the UOK146 cell line. No increment in the BAX, a proapoptotic marker level was observed. Conclusions: Evidence of antiproliferative effect, PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcript inhibition and static BAX level clearly indicate that AR extract provides or elicits an apoptosis independent anticancer effect on RCC cells by some specific mechanism of regulation.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.611-622
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• 2012

This study proposed two multisensor fusion methods for segment-based image classification utilizing a region-growing segmentation. The proposed algorithms employ a Gaussian-PDF measure and an evidential measure respectively. In remote sensing application, segment-based approaches are used to extract more explicit information on spatial structure compared to pixel-based methods. Data from a single sensor may be insufficient to provide accurate description of a ground scene in image classification. Due to the redundant and complementary nature of multisensor data, a combination of information from multiple sensors can make reduce classification error rate. The Gaussian-PDF method defines a regional measure as the PDF average of pixels belonging to the region, and assigns a region into a class associated with the maximum of regional measure. The evidential fusion method uses two measures of plausibility and belief, which are derived from a mass function of the Beta distribution for the basic probability assignment of every hypothesis about region classes. The proposed methods were applied to the SPOT XS and ENVISAT data, which were acquired over Iksan area of of Korean peninsula. The experiment results showed that the segment-based method of evidential measure is greatly effective on improving the classification via multisensor fusion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.422-426
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• 2005

Objective: Different types of interbody fusion cages are available for use in the surgical treatment of degenerative cervical diseases. The purpose of this study is to assess the technical feasibility, clinical efficacy and radiological results of intervertebral fusion with a carbon composite Osta-Pek frame cage (Co-Ligne AG, Switzerland) following anterior cervical discectomy. Methods: 41 patients (25males and 16females) with minimum 6months follow-up were included in the study. Disc height, cervical lordotic angle, segmental angle, and fusion rate were assessed by lateral radiographs. In this retrospective analysis, clinical outcome was assessed as evaluated according to Odom's criteria. Results: Fifty-four cages were implanted in 30 single-level, 9 two-level, and 2 three-level procedures. The mean disc height, cervical lordosis angle, segmental angle were $4.2{\pm}1.8mm,\;23.5{\pm}7.2^{\circ},\;2.3{\pm}3.3^{\circ}$ pre-operatively and $5.3{\pm}2.1mm,\;24.2{\pm}8.3^{\circ},\;3.8{\pm}3.5^{\circ}$ at 6months after the surgery. Six months after surgery, there was radiographic evidence of fusion in 92.7% (38/41) of the patients. According to Odom's criteria, 37 of 41 (90.2%) patients experienced good to excellent functional recovery. Conclusion: These clinical and radiological results suggest that the carbon composite Osta-Pek frame cages are safe and effective alternative to autologous bone graft after anterior cervical discectomy for treatment of degenerative cervical disease.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1986

Interspecific hybrids of Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus florida were formed by using protoplasts of complementing auxotrophs. The genetic markers were shown to segregate and recombine in the first generation of monosporus isolates from basidiocarp of seven fusion products. The analysis provides proof of heterokaryosis and strong evidence for haploidy of vegetative nuclei, a sexual cycle consisting of nuclear fusion and meiosis. In all the crosses there was no evidence of linkage between the genetic markers. Clamp connections were formed in monosporus mycelia from basidiocarp of fusion products.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.605-610
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• 2001

Objective : The authors investigated the efficacy of the calcium sulfate(OsteoSet$^{(R)}$ pellets) as an autograft extender when used to perform posterolateral lumbar fusions. Patients and Methods : Twenty patients who underwent lumbar posterolateral arthrodesis for various spinal diseases between October 1999 and March 2000 were evaluated. Arthrodesis was performed by transpedicular screw fixation and bone grafting with a mixture of autograft + calcium sulfate in a 1 : 1 ratio. At time intervals of 1, 2, 3, and 6 months, postoperative radiographs were obtained to review the resorption of calcium sulfate and the evidence of fusion. A modified Lenke scale was used to assess the status of the fusion. Results : At 2 months after operation, the average modified Lenke scale score for the OsteoSet$^{(R)}$ pellets group was 3.8. However at 6 months after operation, the average modified Lenke scale score for the OsteoSet$^{(R)}$ pellets group was 1.8. Resorption of calcium sulfate pellets was revealed in all cases at 6 months after surgery. Conclusion : It is presumed that a combination of calcium sulfate and autograft can play a role as an effective autograft extender in the posterolateral spinal fusion.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.465-470
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• 2013

Dempster-Shafer Evidence Theory is available for multi-sensor data fusion. Basic Probability Assignment is essential for multi-sensor data fusion using Dempster-Shafer Theory. In this paper, we proposed a novel method of BPA calculation with signal assessment. We took notice of the signal that reported from the sensor mote at the time slot. We assessed the variation rate of the reported signal from the terminal. The trend of variation implies significant component of the context. We calculated the variation rate of signal for reveal the relation of the variation and the context. We could reach context inference with BPA that calculated with the variation rate of signal.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.782-787
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• 2009

In prion disease, spongiform neurodegeneration is preceded by earlier synaptic dysfunction. There is evidence that soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) complex formation is reduced in scrapie-infected in vivo models, which might explain this synaptic dysfunction because SNARE complex plays a crucial role in neuroexocytosis. In the present study, however, it is shown that prion protein (PrP) does not interfere with SNARE complex formation of 3 SNARE proteins: syntaxin 1a, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant complex formation, SNAREdriven membrane fusion, and neuroexocytosis of PC12 cells were not altered by PrP. Thus, PrP does not alter synaptic function by directly interfering with SNARE complex formation.