• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2010

The aim of this study was to detect longitudinal alterations on lumbar vertebral trabecular bone quality (microarchitecture and degree of mineralization) and bone mineral density (BMD) during pregnancy Virginal eighteen mice were used. Then, twelve mice were mated. Mice lumbar vertebrae were scanned before mate, at 7 days of pregnancy (early pregnancy, 6 mice) and immediately after delivery (late pregnancy, 6 mice) by using in-vivo micro-computed tomography Structural parameters, degree of mineralization and BMD were measured. During early pregnancy, there were no significant alterations on structural parameters, degree of mineralization and BMD. At late pregnancy, Tb.Th (11.8%) and BMD (12.7%) were significantly decreased and Tb.N (6.3%), Tb.Pf (43.0%) and BS/BV (15.1%) were significantly increased (p<0.05). Additionally, the lower degree of mineralization was increased, although, the higher degree of mineralization was decreased. These results indicated that the quality and BMD might be not affected during early pregnancy. At late pregnancy, however the bone quality and BMD were likely to be negatively affected.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2015

We tested the hypothesis that micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis provides a better quantitative readout of the therapeutic potential of methotrexate (MTX) for treating collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and compared to conventional histopathological examination. Rats were divided into three groups: Group 1 (G1) was treated with 0.9% saline, whereas groups 2 (G2) and 3 (G3) were boosted with type II collagen at days 0 and 7. Following the first collagen immunization, rats in G1 and G2 were treated with 0.9% saline and those in G3 were treated with 1.5 mg/kg MTX from day 14 to 28. All rats were sacrificed on day 28, at which point and all hind knee joints were analyzed by micro-CT and histopathological examination. Micro-CT analyses showed that bone volume and trabecular number were significantly decreased in G2 and G3 compared to G1 (p<0.01), as was percent bone volume (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). However, bone surface/bone volume was significantly increased in G2 and G3 compared to G1 (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Trabecular separation was significantly increased in G3 compared to G1 (p<0.05). Histopathological examination showed that knee joints of rats in G2 and G3 showed severe joint destruction with inflammatory cell infiltration. However, cartilage destruction was slightly reduced in G3 compared to G2. Taken together, these results suggest that MTX treatment reduced cartilage destruction in rats with CIA, and micro-CT analyses made it possible to quantify arthritic bony lesion.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.250-261
• /
• 2006

Diabetes mellitus, as a major health problem for the elderly, is associated with an extensive list of complications involving nearly every tissue in the body and has been shown to alter the properties of bone and impair fracture healing in both human and animals. The objective of this study was to examine the healing process of a mandibular fracture in the streptozotocin-induced rats histomorphometrically and histologically. A standardized fracture model was chosen and based on blood-glucose value at the time of surgery. A total of 11-weeks old 36 rats were divided into 2 groups; One is a streptozotocin-induced diabetic group and the other is a non-diabetic group. All was fractured experimentally. Three animals from each group were killed 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks after fracture and specimens were processed undecalcified for quantitative bone histomorphometric and histologic studies. The diabetic group showed a significant decrease of histomorphometry-based parameter including trabecular bone volume, trabecular thickness in comparison to the non-diabetic rat. This was confirmed histologically. In conclusion, this study suggests that in streptozotocin-induced diabetics, the healing process of bone fracture was impaired and delayed about 2-3 weeks comparing to non-diabetics.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.47 no.9
• /
• pp.506-511
• /
• 2014

We investigated the effects of high calorie and low calorie diets on skeletal integrity, and whether ${\beta}$-adrenergic blockade (BB) attenuates bone loss induced by dietary calorie alteration. Male 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice were assigned to either an ad-lib fed control diet (CON), a high calorie diet (HIGH), or a low calorie diet (LOW) group. In each diet group, mice were treated with either vehicle (VEH) or propranolol, a ${\beta}$-adrenergic antagonist. Over 12-weeks, ${\beta}$-blockade mitigated body weight and fat mass increases induced by the high calorie diet. Femoral trabecular bone mineral density and the expression levels of osteogenic marker genes in bone marrow cells were reduced in HIGHVEH and LOWVEH mice, and BB significantly attenuated this decline only in HIGH mice. In summary, the magnitude of bone loss induced by low calorie diet was greater than that caused by high calorie diet in growing mice, and ${\beta}$-blockade mitigated high calorie diet-induced bone loss.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2006

Treatment with exopolymers of Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 containing $\beta-1,3/1,6-glucan$ inhibited osteoclastogenesis of bone marrow stem cells in a co-culture system with calvariae osteoblastic cells. In addition, the treatment increased mineral deposition in osteoblastic cells. These two observations prompted us to evaluate whether the exopolymers could be used as an anti-osteoporotic agent, and efficacy of the exopolymers to prevent bone loss was compared with alendronate, a bisphosphonate, in ovariectomized mice prone to osteoporosis. Administration of the exopolymers to the ovariectomized mice resulted in improved effects on femur weight and histomorphometric changes of femur such as trabecular bone volume (TBV), trabecular bone thickness (TBT), and cortical bone thickness (CBT). In conclusion, the exopolymers treatment inhibited bone loss from osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy, and the effect was comparable to alendronate administration.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.14.1-14.6
• /
• 2014

KH-BaRoKer-SeongJangTang (KBS) is a recently developed formulation by using traditional drugs considering traditional medical theory of Oriental books such as ShinNongBonChoGyeong and JuRye, which has been used to improve the growth of child in Korea. Although KBS is usually prescribed to many children who are in retard for their age, its pharmacological effects have not been fully understood in experimental models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of KBS on bone growth. Growth plate thickness and bone parameters such as bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), connection density (Conn.D), and total porosity were analyzed by means of microcomputed tomography. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hepatic IGF-I mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription5 (STAT5) was investigated using Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The thickness of growth plate was increased by KBS. BV/TV, Tb.Th, TbN, Conn.D, and total porosity were improved by KBS. Hepatic IGF-I mRNA and serum IGF-I levels were elevated by KBS. Phosphorylation of STAT5 was increased with administration of KBS. These results suggest that KBS would be helpful to children who are in retard for their age through the elevation of IGF-I.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the different patterns of bone loss between the lumbar spine and the femur after ovariectomy in rats. Methods : Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a sham operation (the sham group) or bilateral ovariectomy (the ovariectomized group). Four and eight weeks after operation, six rats from each of the two groups were euthanized. Serum biochemical markers of bone turnover including osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which are sensitive biochemical markers of bone formation, and the telopeptide fragment of type I collagen C-terminus (CTX), which is a sensitive biochemical marker of bone resorption, were analyzed. Bone histomorphometric parameters of the 4th lumbar vertebrae and femur were determined by micro-computed tomography. Results : Ovariectomized rats were found to have higher osteocalcin, ALP and CTX levels than sham controls. Additionally, 8 weeks after ovariectomy in the OVX group, serum levels of osteocalcin, ALP and CTX were significantly higher than those of 4 weeks after ovariectomy. Bone loss after ovariectomy was more extensive in the 4th lumbar spine compared to the femur. Bone loss in the 4th lumbar spine was mainly caused by trabecular thinning, but in the femur, it was mainly caused by trabecular elimination. Conclusion : The present study demonstrates different patterns of bone loss between the 4th lumbar spine and the femur in ovariectomized rats. Therefore, when considering animal models of osteoporosis, it is important that bone sites should be taken into account.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.310-321
• /
• 1991

Between April 1986 and September 1990, 34 patients with a single or dominant right ventricle underwent modified Fontan procedure for definite palliation in Seoul National University Children`s Hospital. Their age at operation ranged from 8 months to 14 years [Mean 5.5 years]. The ventricular chamber was solitary and of indeterminate trabecular pattern in 6 patients. 28 patients had posteriorly located rudimentary chamber, all of which were trabecular pouches having no communication with outlet septum. The patterns of atrioventricular connection were common inlet[9], double inlet [11], left atrioventricular valve atresia [12] and right atrioventricular valve atresia with L-loop [2]. Pulmonary outflow tracts were atretic in 7 patients and stenotic in 26 patients. Major associated anomalies included anomalous systemic venous drainage [15], dextrocardia [12] and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection[3]. Shunt operations were previously performed in 13 patients and pulmonary artery banding and atrial septectomy in 1 patients. Surgery included intraatrial baffling in 26 patients, bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt in 13 patients, atrioventricular valve obliteration in 3 patients and atrioventricular valve replacement in 3 patients. Central venous pressure measured postoperatively at intensive care unit ranged from 18cm H2O to 28cm H2O [mean 23.2cm H2O]. Hospital mortality was 35.3% [12/34], all died out of low output syndrome. Suspected causes of low output syndrome include ventricular dysfunction [8], hypoplastic or tortuous pulmonary artery [2] and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance [2]. 19 patients had 31 major complications including low output syndrome [18], arrhythmia [4], acute renal failure [3] and respiratory failure [3]. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the groups receiving intraatrial baffling and AV valve replacement respectively [p<0.05]. 20 patients were followed up postoperatively with the mean follow-up period 15.0$\pm$11.6 months. There were no late death and follow-up catheterization was performed in 10 patients. Mean right atrial pressure was 15.4$\pm$6.8mmHg and ventricular contraction was reasonable in all but one case. Thus, Fontan principle can be applied successfully to all the patients with complex cardiac anomaly of single ventricle variety and better results can be anticipated with judicious selection of patient and improvement of postoperative care.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.607-619
• /
• 1999

Cortical support is an important factor, as the engagement of the fixture in strong compact bone offers an increased load-carrying capacity and initial stability. Because of the poor bone quality in the posterior mandible and other anatomic considerations, it has been suggested that implant fixtures be placed in these locations with apical engagement of the lingual cortical plate for so-called bicortication. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of cortical engagements and in addition polyoxymethylene(POM) intramobile connector(IMC) of IMZ implant on implant load transfer in edentulous posterior segment of mandible, using three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis models composed of cortical and trabecular bone involving single implant. Variables such as (1) the crestal peri-implant defect, (2) the apical engagement of lingual cortical plate, (3) the occlusal contact position (a vertical load at central fossa or buccal cusp tip), and (4) POM IMC were investigated. Stress patterns were compared and interfacial stresses along the bone-implant interface were monitored specially. Within the scope of this study, the following observations were made. 1) Offset load and angulation of fixture led to increase the local interfacial stresses. 2) Stresses were concentrated toward the cortical bones, but the crestal peri-implant defect increased the interfacial stresses in trabecular bone. 3) For the model with bicortication, it was noticed that the crestal cortical bone provided more resistance to the bending moment and the lingual cortical plate provided more support for the vertical load. But Angulation problem of the fixture from the lingual cortical engagement caused the local interfacial stress concentrations. 4) It was not clear that POM IMC had the effect on stress distribution under the present experimental conditions, especially for the cases of crestal peri-implant defect.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.156-161
• /
• 2014

It has been reported that safflower seeds have preventive effects against osteoporosis. Recently, safflower buds (SB) were found to have more useful functional ingredients than safflower seeds. In the current study, we evaluated the anti-osteoporosis effects of SB diet in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats were divided into five groups; sham operated group, OVX alone group, OVX plus $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E^2$ $10{\mu}g/kg$, i.p.) and OVX plus SB diet feeding group (0.3% or 1%). Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 1%) to OVX rats markedly increased bone mineral density (BMD) of femurs, compared to the OVX group. The OVX rats exhibited a marked increase in trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) and this change was inhibited by the feeding of SB diet, similar to that seen with OVX+E2 group. Moreover, feeding of SB diet to OVX rats decreased the markers of bone turnover, including osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). These results suggest that SB extract has a bone sparing effect in OVX-induced trabecular bone loss and prevents deterioration of bone microarchitecture by suppressing the rate of bone turnover. Therefore, SB may be useful for preserving bone mass and structure in estrogen deficient women with a potential role in reducing postmenopausal osteoporosis.