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Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) for adjacent segmental disease (ASD) after anterior cervical fusion (ACF). As ACF is accepted as the standard treatment for cervical spondylosis, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various surgical techniques to overcome symptomatic ASD after the previous surgery. Herein, PCF was performed for the treatment of symptomatic ASD and the feasibility of the surgery was evaluated. Methods Forty nine patients who underwent PCF due to symptomatic ASD from August 2008 to November 2017 were identified. For demographic and perioperative data, the sex, age, types of previous surgery, ASD levels, operation times, and bleeding amount were recorded. The clinical outcome was assessed using the visual analogue scale for the neck and arm, the modified Odom’s criteria as well as neck disability index. Radiologic evaluations were performed by measuring disc softness, disc height, the cervical 2–7 sagittal vertical axis, cervical cobb angle, and facet violation. Results Thirty-seven patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups based on the location of the pathology; paracentral (group P) or foramina (group F). Both groups showed significant clinical improvement (p0.05). Conclusion PCF showed satisfactory clinical and radiologic outcomes for both paracentral and foraminal pathologies of ASD after ACF. Complications related to anterior revision were also avoided. PCF can be considered a feasible and safe surgical option for ASD after ACF.

Background: Concerning of progression of deformity, it is reluctant to utilize a posterior approach if preoperative sagittal alignment is kyphotic or straight. The purpose of this study was to determine interval changes in cervical segmental angles after posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) and analyzing factors affecting cervical sagittal re-alignment in the postoperative period. Methods: Within 2 days and 6 months after PCF, postoperative plain radiograph was obtained to compare the cervical sagittal alignment with preoperative alignment in 286 consecutive patients. Sagittal angle between C2 and C7 formed by lines drawn at the base of axis and the superior endplate of the C7 vertebral body on lateral radiograph. To evaluate clinical outcomes, patients were routinely asked to gauge levels of pain they feeling at that point in time by visual analogue scale (VAS) on admission, prior to postoperative radiographs and 6 months after operation follow-up in outpatient. Results: More than two-third of the patients presenting with kyphotic or straight curvature improved short-term following operation. On follow-up plain radiographs after 6 months, the improvement of sagittal alignment was well maintained, but rather more prominent (P

Objective We evaluated the efficacy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in detecting perioperative cerebral thromboembolic events after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods This retrospective case series included 51 consecutive patients that underwent ACDF. To assess baseline presence of plaque or stenosis, all patients were assessed for risk factors of cerebrovascular events and underwent carotid ultrasound preoperatively and cerebral DW-MRI was performed in all patients postoperatively, with areas of high signal intensity interpreted as a cerebral thromboembolic event. Results One male patient who underwent a C4/5 ACDF had a focal diffusion abnormality on DW-MRI concerning for cerebral thromboembolic events in the right posterior cerebral artery territory. He remained asymptomatic and did not display related neurological symptoms, such as visual deficits. Conclusion Asymptomatic cerebral thromboembolic events can be detected by DW-MRI after ACDF. The incidence of such events remains very rare despite the direct manipulation and associated alteration of common carotid artery flow dynamics.

In this paper, we present the new method of analyzing image sticking on the liquid crystal display (LCD), which is one of the main problems deteriorating image quality. We have first categorized the main factors of the image sticking and then simulated the proportion of these factors using the experimental data. We hope that the new analyzing method helps to understand the basic mechanism of the image sticking and to solve the stubborn problem of LCDs.

Wnt signaling controls critical developmental processes including tissue/body patterning. Here we report the identification of a novel regulator of Wnt signaling, OTTOGI (OTG), isolated from a large-scale expression screening of human cDNAs in zebrafish embryos. Overexpression of OTG in zebrafish embryos caused dorso-anteriorized phenotype, inhibited the expression of Wnt target genes, and prevented nuclear accumulation of β-catenin. Conversely, knockdown of zebrafish otg using specific antisense morpholino promoted nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and caused ventralization. However, OTG failed to rescue headless-like phenotype induced by inhibition of GSK-3β activity, suggesting that OTG acts upstream of GSK-3β. OTG bound specifically to Frizzled8 (Fz8) receptor and caused retention of Fz8 in the endoplasmic reticulum possibly by preventing N-linked glycosylation of Fz8. Taken together, our data indicate that OTG functions as a novel negative regulator of Wnt signaling during development by the modulation of cell surface expression of Fz receptor.

Symptomatic thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum is rare, and a modality for its treatment has not yet been fully established; most reported patients complained of myelopathy. Herein, the authors will report on an extremely rare presentation of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum, along with clinical outcomes. The patient complained of chest discomfort and myelopathy symptoms for 1 year secondary to thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum. He underwent one surgical procedure. Postoperatively, his symptoms such as chest discomfort and myelopathy improved completely. As of this report, the patient has had a good postoperative recovery, had good overall health, and adapted well to his social activities.

This survey was conducted to investigate the present conditions of operational management in the 45 animal manure public resource center (APRC) in Korea. The regional distribution, processing capacity per year, capacity of liquid fertilizer storage tank, solid-liquid separation, utilization of facilities, odor reduction facility, on-site odor strength, complained in the community, liquid fertilizer sprayed area, use the Agrix, land application recipe, composting degree, quality management and general grading were surveyed and evaluated. General grading was divided with 5 stages (very good, good, fair, lack and bad). The number of evaluated “very good” animal manure public resource center was 7, and “good” was 5 and more than “fair” was 27. However, the number of evaluated negatively including “lack” and “bad” was occupied as 40% of the 45 animal manure public resource center.(Key words : APRC, Operational management, Liquid fertilizer, General grading)

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.

A 79-year-old woman developed neurological deficits 6 weeks after the onset of a thoracic osteoporotic compression fracture. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the thoracic spine revealed an epidural hematoma at the T10-L2 levels. Acute decompressive laminectomy and percutaneous vertebroplasty were performed. Following the surgery, the patient's neurologic deficits improved and follow-up MR imaging showed complete resolution of the hematoma. Spinal epidural hematomas are rare and associated delayed neurological deficits are extremely rare. Conservative treatment may be effective for epidural hematomas in neurologically intact patients, but epidural hematomas can be a cause of neural compression and symptomatic deterioration resulting in delayed neurological deficits during the follow-up period.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Despite an increasing trend for anterior approach, microsurgical and endoscopic advances have enabled excellent outcomes by minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy with motion preservation, for managing cervical radiculopathy. On the other hand, the poserior approach inherently compromises posterior column integrity, where roughly two-thirds of cervical load is transmitted. Hence, surgeons often avoid posterior cervical foraminotomy in patients presenting with imaging evidence of kyphosis or straightening to prevent postoperative kyphotic deformity. PURPOSE To determine interval changes in cervical segmental angles after postrior cervical foraminotomy and analyzing factors affecting cervical sagittal re-alignment in the postoperative period. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING In this retrospective study, we reviewed interval change in cervical segmental angles after posterior cervical foraminotomy. analyzing factors affecting cervical sagittal re-alignment in the immediate postoperative period and at 6-months follow-up. PATIENT SAMPLE Between January, 2007 and January, 2013, a total of 289 consecutive patients underwent key-hole post cervical foraminotomy at single center for unilateral radiculopathy due to degenerative cervical disease. Patients with myelopathy, neoplasm, congenital deformity, fracture, or history of previous cervical spine surgery were excluded, as were patients with focal instability at affected levels. Pathology predisposing to radiculopathy was softened disc (n=157), foraminal stenosis (n=116), or both (n=16). OUTCOME MEASURES On admission, prior to postoperative radiographs and 6 months after operation follow-up in outpatient, patients were routinely asked to gauge levels of pain they feeling at that point in time by VAS and it was recorded in medical chart. METHODS Within 2 days and 6 months after posterior cervical foraminotomy, postoperative plain radiographs were obtained to compare the cervical sagittal alignment with preoperative alignment in 289 consecutive patients. Sagittal alignment was evaluated using Cobb's angle between C2 and C7 formed by lines drawn at the base of axis and the superior endplate of the C7 vertebral body on the lateral radiograph. To evaluate the clinical outcomes, patients were routinely asked to gauge levels of pain they experienced by VAS on admission, prior to postoperative radiographs and 6 months after operation follow-up in outpatient. RESULTS More than two-third of the patients presenting with kyphotic or straight curvature improved short-term following operation. On follow-up plain radiographs after 6 months, the improvement of sagittal alignment was well maintained, but rather more prominent. Improvement in sagittal alignment was dominant when radiculopathy was due to softened discs, rather than stenosis, and with shorter symptom duration. Patient age had no significant impact on outcomes. In patients with higher preoperative VAS score, Cobb's angle was significantly lower, and as perioperative VAS score declined, sagittal alignment improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data suggest that loss of preoperative cervical lordotic curvature may be a distorted reflection due to pain. Particularly in acute-onset radiculopathies from softened discs, posterior cervical foraminotomy is thus a valid surgical option, despite preoperative loss of normal lordotic sagittal alignment. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

An integrated magnetic (IM) transformer is proposed for a phase shifted full bridge (PSFB) converter with zero voltage switching (ZVS). In a proposed IM transformer, the transformer is located on the center leg of E-core and the output inductor is wound on two outer legs with air gap. The proposed IM transformer is analyzed by using the magnetic capacitor model. For reducing the core size, EE core is redesigned. The proposed IM transformer is experimentally verified on a 1.2 kW prototype converter. The converter efficiency with the proposed IM transformer is about 93 % at full load and its volume size can be reduced. It can be expected that the power density can be largely increased with the proposed IM transformer.

High dose [18F]FDG is prepared routinely using an automated synthesizer. Accordingly, an automated dispenser is needed to dispense [18F]FDG at the desired dose while reducing the operator's radiation exposure, and no dispenser capable of vial-to-vial and vial-to-syringe dispensing in one system is commercially available. Here, we describe simple devices for the vial-to-vial and vial-to-syringe dispensing of [18F]FDG.

Objectives the objective of this case is to report an occurrence of a skin rash in a dermatomal distribution subsequent to a lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Methods in this clinical report, a 54-year old woman performed a left L5 transforaminal epidural steroid injection to manage left thigh and foot pain and tingling. She developed a rash in left L5 dermatomal distribution following injection. Results and discussion this is the first described case of a focal dermatomal rash occurring following lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection and we wish to remind pain practitioner’s of the possibility of anaphylactic events.

The purpose of this article is to assess the interscan variability of semiautomated volume and attenuation measurements for pulmonary persistent pure ground-glass nodules.Thirty pure ground-glass nodules in 25 patients referred for known pure ground-glass nodules were evaluated with two consecutive unenhanced chest CT examinations performed within 10 minutes. For the second limited scan, patients were asked to first get off and then get back on the table to simulate a follow-up examination. CT images were reconstructed using two different algorithms (sharp, B60F; medium sharp, B50F). Two chest radiologists independently measured the volumes and attenuations of pure ground-glass nodules, twice on the first CT scan and once on the second CT scan, using commercial software. Interscan variability was measured using the Bland-Altman method.Nodule segmentation was successful in 98.3% (177/180) and 97.8% (176/180) of measurements with B60F and B50F, respectively. With respect to volume measurements, interscan variability for reviewer 1 was -17.7% to 18.3% with B60F and -18.8% to 15.7% with B50F; interscan variability for reviewer 2 was -18.6% to 18.9% with B60F and -15.6% to 17.2% with B50F. With respect to attenuation measurements, interscan variability for reviewer 1 was -7.2% to 7.9% with B60F and -7.9% to 9.4% with B50F; interscan variability for reviewer 2 was -7.7% to 8.1% with B60F and -8.5% to 9.9% for B50F.Variations in volume and attenuation measurements of persistent pure ground-glass nodules using commercial software were reasonably small, allowing the detection of clinically relevant growth.

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has gained widespread popularity for spinal disorders requiring fusion. The purpose of this study was to analyze ALIF failures. The medical records of 223 patients treated with ALIF between January 2007 and June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with unfavorable outcomes, including subsequent posterior decompression at the index level or poor outcomes after ALIF were identified based on clinical and radiological findings. The patients were divided into two groups: an unfavorable group and a favorable group. Preoperative clinical and radiological factors for each group were statistically analyzed. Two hundred of the 223 patients were enrolled in this study. Thirteen (6.5%) of 200 patients resulted in unfavorable outcome. Four patients (2%) of them underwent posterior decompressive surgery. The main cause of unfavorable outcomes was incomplete decompression of the foraminal stenosis. Unfavorable outcomes were obtained in patients with the level of L5-S1 (p = 0.036), higher body mass index (p = 0.048), higher percentage of slippage (p = 0.024), and severe facet arthropathy (p = 0.013). However, there was no difference in preoperative disc height, foraminal size, facet angle, facet tropism, or preoperative visual analog scale for back and leg pain, the Oswestry disability index, symptom duration, and fusion rate between the two groups. Based on these results, posterior decompression and fusion may be considered for obese patients with the level of L5-S1, high-grade spondylolisthesis, or severe facet arthropathy. On the other hand, ALIF can be used an effective alternative treatment in many spinal disorders requiring fusion.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) functionally expressed in salivary epithelial cells, but their roles remain elusive. Among TLRs family, TLR3 is activated by dsRNA, a byproduct of viral infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TLR3 in the inflammatory immune responses using HSG cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR and ELISA were performed to identify expression of TLRs and TLR3-mediated chemokine inductions. The chemotaxis assay of activated T lymphocytes was also performed. Treatment of HSG cells with polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) significantly increased interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interferoninducible T-cell α chemoattractant (I-TAC), and regulated on activation, normal T-cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) gene expressions in a concentration-dependent manner. Anti-TLR3 antibody blocked the increases of IP-10 and I-TAC genes. Poly(I:C)-induced increases of IP-10 and I-TAC were also confirmed at protein levels from cell lysates, but their release into extracellular medium was detected only in IP-10. We found that the culture media from HSG cells stimulated with poly(I:C) significantly increases T lymphocyte migration. Our results suggest that TLR3 plays an important role in chemokine induction, particularly IP-10, in salivary epithelial cells.

The steam superheater and the steam pressure systems are time delay systems that have poles near the origin in the left half plane or a pure integrator. Smith predictor can't be applied to these systems any more, because of the steady state error for the step disturbance. In this paper, a new Smith predictor controller is proposed for the steam superheater and the steam pressure. A disturbance observer to estimate an input disturbance and a new controller to eliminate an effect of a disturbance are proposed. The simulation results verifies the efficiency of the proposed system.

In a popular video broadcasting method, two major technical issues are focused on both to reduce the viewer's waiting time maintaining a given bandwidth allocation and the client's buffer requirements. In this paper, we propose a pagoda staggered broadcasting (PSB) method which has a simple structure and substantially improves broadcasting efficiency in given bandwidth. The proposed method performs significantly better than the existing broadcasting methods in the viewer's waiting time and the buffer requirement with simplicity. The numerical results demonstrate that the viewer's waiting time of the PSB method is nearly equal to the existing pagoda broadcasting methods. However the complexity of this method decreases up to 60% if dividing coefficient h is 1 by adjusting the short front part of a video.

In providing video-on-demand (VoD) service to a number of clients through networks, two major technical issues are focused on both to reduce the viewer's waiting time maintaining a given bandwidth allocation and the client's buffer requirements. In this paper, we propose a pagoda staggered broadcasting (PSB) method which has a simple structure and substantially improves VoD efficiency. The proposed method performs significantly better than the existing VoD methods in the viewer's waiting time and the buffer requirement with simplicity. The numerical results demonstrate that the viewer's waiting time of the PSB method is nearly equal to the existing pagoda broadcasting methods. However the complexity of this method decreases up to 60 % if dividing coefficient h is 1 by adjusting the short front part of a video.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lysophospholipid involved in numerous physiological responses. However, the expression of LPA receptors and the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in epithelial cells have remained elusive. In this experiment, we studied the functional expression of LPA receptors and the associated signaling pathway using reverse transcriptase–PCR, microspectrofluorimetry, western blotting and immunocytochemistry in salivary gland epithelial cells. We found that LPA receptors are functionally expressed and involved in activating the Hippo pathway mediated by YAP/TAZ through Lats/Mob1 and RhoA/ROCK. Upregulation of YAP/TAZ-dependent target genes, including CTGF, ANKRD1 and CYR61, has also been observed in LPA-treated cells. In addition, based on data suggesting that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induces cell apoptosis, LPA upregulates TNF-induced caspase-3 and cleaved Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP). However, small interfering RNA treatment to Yes-associated protein (YAP) or transcriptional co-activator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) significantly decreased TNF-α- and LPA-induced apoptosis, suggesting that YAP and TAZ modulate the apoptotic pathway in salivary epithelial cells.

Objective: Dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA) is a way to measure the degree of central spinal canal compression. The objective was to investigate the correlation between the expansion ratio of DSCSA after unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) and the clinical results for lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and radiographs of 103 patients who underwent ULBD for symptomatic spinal stenosis in one year. We compared preoperative and postoperative clinical data and DSCSA and evaluated the correlation between clinical and radiographic measurements. Results: There was a significant increase of DSCSA after ULBD (p=0.000) and mean expansion ratio of DSCSA was 203.7± 147.2% (range -32.9-826.1%). Clinical outcomes, measured by VAS and ODI were improved significantly not only in early postoperative period, but also in the last follow-up. However, there were no statistically significant correlations between the preoperative DSCSA and clinical symptoms, Perioperative expansion ratio of DSCSA and clinical parameters were also not correlated to the improvement of clinical symptoms significantly in both early postoperative phase and last follow-up. Conclusion: Our result indicates that the DSCSA itself has a definite limitation to be correlated to the clinical symptoms, and thus meticulous correlation between the clinical presentation and MRI imaging is essential in determination of surgical treatment.

We fabricated the world first 23” PVA LCD panel of which transparent electrode (ITO) was patterned by “laser ablation process”. Generally photo process is used to pattern the transparent electrode. To simplify this photo process we tried to develop laser ablation process to pattern the ITO. Current photo process is composed of 6 steps such as Coating the Photoresist, Baking, Exposure, Development, Etching, and Stripping. But we succeeded in simplifying this process by the laser ablation process. From this experiment, we could identify the possibility of laser ablation process which can be used on the patterning process of transparent electrodes.