• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.204-209
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• 2019

For a minimally invasive approach to access the facial nerve, we designed an extended epitympanotomy via a transmastoid approach that has proven useful in cases of traumatic facial nerve palsy and pre-cholesteatoma. To evaluate the surgical exposure through an extended epitympanotomy, six patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy were enrolled in this study. The same surgical technique was used in all patients. Patients were assessed and the degree of facial nerve paralysis was determined prior to surgery, 1-week post-operatively, and 6-months post-operatively using the House-Brackmann grading system. In all cases, surgical exposure was adequate. All patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy were male and the age range was 13 to 83 years. In all cases, the location of the facial nerve damage was limited to the area between the first and second genu. Symptoms of all the patients improved by 6 months post-operation (p=0.024). There were no complications in any of the patients. Extended epitympanotomy is useful for safe, rapid surgical exposure of the attic area, sparing the patient post-operative dimpling, skin incision complications, and lengthy exposure to anesthesia. We suggest that surgery for patients with facial nerve palsy secondary to trauma be performed using this described technique.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.301-305
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• 2020

Background: Radiographic modalities have been commonly used to evaluate pectus carinatum (PC), and compressive orthotic bracing is the most widely accepted treatment method. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of 3-dimensional (3D) body surface scanning as an alternative modality for the evaluation of PC. Methods: The medical records of 63 patients with PC who were treated with compressive orthotic bracing therapy between July 2017 and February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Using both 2-view chest radiography (posteroanterior and lateral view) and 3D body scanning, the height of maximal protrusion of the chest wall was measured both before and after 2 weeks of bracing therapy. The difference between the pre- and post-treatment measurements was calculated for both modalities, and these differences were compared and analyzed. Results: Based on the comparison between the pre- and post-treatment radiographs, bracing therapy produced favorable outcomes in all patients (p<0.001). The measurements obtained via 3D scanning were strongly correlated with those obtained via chest radiography (r=0.60). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, 3D body surface scanning appears to be an effective, radiation-free, and simple method for the post-treatment follow-up evaluation of PC, and thus can be considered an alternative to radiography.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1763-1770
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• 2013

A series of the block copolymers were successfully synthesized from post-sulfonated hydrophilic and hydrophobic macromers via three-step copolymerization. The degrees of sulfonation (DS) of the copolymers (10%, 30%, or 50%) were controlled by changing the molar ratio of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts. The resulting block copolymers were characterized by $^1H$ NMR and other technologies. The membranes were successfully cast using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution at $100^{\circ}C$. The copolymers were characterized to confirm chemical structure by $^1H$ NMR and FT-IR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that all sulfonated block copolymers exhibited good thermal stability with an initial weight loss at temperatures above $240^{\circ}C$. The membranes showed acceptable ion exchange capacity (IEC) and water uptake values in accordance with DS. The maximum proton conductivity was 184 mS $cm^{-1}$ in block copolymer-50 at $60^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity, while the conductivity of Nifion-115 was 160 mS $cm^{-1}$ under the same measurement conditions. AFM images of the block copolymer membranes showed well separated the hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. From the observed results it is that the prepared block membranes can be considered as suitable polymer electrolyte membranes for the application of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5607-5609
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• 2014

Introduction: Although continuing education is necessary for practicing nurses, it is very difficult to organize traditional classes because of large numbers of nurses and working shifts. Considering the increasing development of mobile electronic learning, we carried out a study to compare effects of the traditional face to face method with mobile learning delivered as text messages by cell phone. Materials and Methods: Sixty female nurses working in our hospital were randomly divided into class and short message service (SMS) groups. Lessons concerning breast cancer screening were prepared as 54 messages and sent in 17 days for the SMS group, while the class group participated in a class held by a university lecturer of breast and cancer surgery. Pre- and post-tests were undertaken for both groups at the same time; a retention test also was performed one month later. For statistical analysis, the paired T test and the independent sample T test were used with SPSS software version 16; p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean age and mean work experience of participants in class and SMS groups was $35.8{\pm}7.2$, $9.8{\pm}6.7$, $35.4{\pm}7.3$, and $11.5{\pm}8.5$, respectively. There was a significant increase in mean score post-tests (compared with pretests) in both groups (p<0.05). Although a better improvement in scores of retention tests was demonstrated in the SMS group, the mean subtraction value of the post- and pretests as well as retention- and pretests showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (p=0.3 and p =0.2, respectively). Conclusions: Our study shows that teaching via SMS may probably replace traditional face to face teaching for continuing education in working nurses. Larger studies are suggested to confirm this.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.25.1-25.17
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• 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection induces excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine release and cell death, leading to organ damage and mortality. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is one of the damage-associated molecular patterns that can be secreted by pro-inflammatory stimuli, including viral infections, and its excessive secretion levels are related to a variety of inflammatory diseases. Here, the aim of the study was to show that SARS-CoV-2 infection induced HMGB1 secretion via active and passive release. Active HMGB1 secretion was mediated by post-translational modifications, such as acetylation, phosphorylation, and oxidation in HEK293E/ACE2-C-GFP and Calu-3 cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Passive release of HMGB1 has been linked to various types of cell death; however, we demonstrated for the first time that PANoptosis, which integrates other cell death pathways, including pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, is related to passive HMGB1 release during SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, cytoplasmic translocation and extracellular secretion or release of HMGB1 were confirmed via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence in the lung tissues of humans and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-overexpressing mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2010

Purpose: Brown's syndrome is characterized by the limited elevation in adduction from mechanical causes around the superior oblique tendon trochlea complex. In this particular case, post-traumatic facial deformity accompanied by Brown's syndrome was observed. We would like to report the satisfying cosmetic results obtained by reconstructing orbital roof and superior orbital rim and repositioning of zygoma. Methods: A 12-year-old patient was observed with facial deformity with strabismus in her right eye and orbital dystopia after the car accident and was eventually diagnosed with traumatic Brown's syndrome. Reconstructive surgeries could not be performed at the time of trauma due to the cerebral hemorrhage. At the second year after the trauma, a depressed fracture of the right orbital roof and superior orbital rim were reconstructed via the intracranial approach, and orbital dystopia was corrected via the zygoma triple ostectomy. In addition, a strabismus surgery was performed one year after her plastic surgery. Results: Facial deformity with orbital dystopia and strabismus was confirmed to be fully reconstructed after the surgery. Moreover, when the patient came in for a follow-up thirteen years after the operation, a developmental imbalance of the facial bones, diplopia, or any other surgical complications were not to be found. Conclusion: After the trauma, the patient with Brown's Syndrome accompanied by post-traumatic facial deformity, who went under the corrective surgeries after the meticulous examination and assessment pre-surgically, was able to acquire cosmetic satisfaction via those operations.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2011

In this paper, a methodology is proposed to improve the stress prediction of plates via Saint Venant's principle. According to Saint Venant's principle, the stress resultants can be used to describe linear elastic problems. Many engineering problems have been analyzed by Euler-Bernoulli beam(E-B) and/or Kirchhoff-Love(K-L) plate models. These models are asymptotically correct, and therefore, their accuracy is mathematically guaranteed for thin plates or slender beams. By post-processing their solutions, one can improve the stresses and displacements via Saint Venant's principle. The improved in-plane and out-of-plane displacements are obtained by adding the perturbed deflection and integrating the transverse shear strains. The perturbed deflection is calculated by applying the equivalence of stress resultants before and after post-processing(or Saint Venant's principle). Accuracy and efficiency of the proposed methodology is verified by comparing the solutions obtained with the elasticity solutions for orthotropic beams.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.479-485
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• 2001

Objective : Several conservative treatments have been tried in peripheral facial nerve paralysis, because 80% of patients recover spontaneously. Surgical decompression may be helpful to the residual, medically intractable patients. We present here our experiences of facial nerve decompression via middle fossa approach, which seems to be one of good surgical therapeutic options for medically refractory peripheral facial nerve paralysis. Method : Three cases of medically intractable peripheral type facial paralysis were microscopically operated via middle cranial fossa approach to decompress the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve and geniculate ganglion by searching landmarks of middle meningeal artery, greater superficial petrosal nerve and facial hiatus. Results : After operation, two cases of Bell's palsy improved substantially and one case of post-traumatic facial paralysis improved partially. Conclusion : This report is presented to describe the surgical facial nerve decompression via middle fossa for early control of peripheral type facial paralysis. Surgical decompression of edematous peripherally paralysed facial nerve could be preferred to conservative treatment in some patients although more surgical experience should be required.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1222-1228
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• 2017

In the current study, we investigated the inhibitory activity of water soluble ${\beta}-glucan$ from oat (Avena sativa) against various digestive enzymes such as ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, sucrase, maltase and glucoamylase. Inhibition of these enzymes involved in the absorption of disaccharide can significantly decrease the post-prandial increase of blood glucose level after a mixed carbohydrate diet. The ${\beta}-glucan$ had the highest documented rate of small intestinal sucrase inhibitory activity (2.83 mg/mL, $IC_{50}$) relevant for potentially managing post-prandial hyperglycemia. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of ${\beta}-glucan$ on the level of post-prandial blood glucose in animal model. The post-prandial blood glucose levels were tested two hours after sucrose/starch administration, with and without ${\beta}-glucan$ (100, and 500 mg/kg-body weight). The maximum blood glucose levels (Cmax) of ${\beta}-glucan$ administration group were decreased by about 23% (from $219.06{\pm}27.82$ to $190.44{\pm}13.18$, p<0.05) and 10% (from $182.44{\pm}13.77$ to $165.64{\pm}10.59$, p<0.01) in starch and sucrose loading test, respectively, when compared to control in pharmacodynamics study. The ${\beta}-Glucan$ administration significantly lowered the mean, maximum, and minimum level of post-prandial blood glucose at 30 min after meal. In view of the foregoing, it is felt that our findings suggest that ${\beta}-glucan$ from oat serves to reduce post-prandial blood glucose rise secondary to slower absorption of glucose in the small intestine, via carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes inhibition.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2017

Purpose - Consumers heuristically have a specific stereotype on the price level of individual retail format because each format provides them with a different level of purchase satisfaction and emotional benefits. However, if price image which is consumers' overall impression of the aggregate price level of a retailer does not match with their expectations, its price level would be perceived as unfair. It will eventually lead to dissatisfaction and decreased revisit intention. Focused on department store and discount store, this study was designed to verify whether the price fairness plays a role of mediating effect on two influential relationships between price image and post-purchase satisfaction, and price image and repatronage intention. Research design, data, and methodology - A main survey was conducted to 140 students and 128 effective responses were used for the related analysis. T-test, factor analysis, reliability test, and mediated regression analysis were performed. Six hypotheses were developed to examine the mediating effect of price fairness on the two influential relationships between price image and post-purchase satisfaction, and price image and repatronage intention. It was also examined whether the price image of two different retail format is formed differently or not. Results - People perceived the price images of the two retail formats differently. Overall price level of department store is much higher than that of discount store. Analysis results showed that price image did not solely have a significant influence on post-purchase satisfaction unless price fairness as a mediating variable is added. Price fairness turned out to be having a significant influence on relationship between price image and repatronage intention. It influences on repatronage intention directly and also via price fairness. Conclusions - Post-purchase satisfaction can be achieved only if people perceive the price image as fair no matter how the price level is high or low according to traits of retail formats. If they think it's not fair, they would disapprove of the rightness for the price image, and also express their dissatisfaction with it. Consumers willingly make repeated visits to a store if they are convinced of appropriate price level which is perceived as fair, and if they experienced a satisfaction with overall benefits a particular store offered.