Excessively Increased Joint-Line Obliquity After Medial Opening-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy Is Associated With Inferior Radiologic and Clinical Outcomes: What Is Permissible Joint-Line Obliquity.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the permissible joint-line obliquity (JLO) based on radiologic and clinical outcomes with midterm follow-up after medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO).

Methods: Patients who had undergone MOWHTO from March 2014 to May 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. They were divided into 4 groups based on JLO as represented by postoperative medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA).

The Effect of Cervical Fusion on Functional Sagittal Spinal Alignment Based on the Inflection Point: Case Series Study.

Study Design: A retrospective radiologic study.

Objective: The inflection point is the disc space between a lordotic and kyphotic segment of spine. To our knowledge, there has been no study evaluating changes in functional sagittal alignment determined by inflection points after cervical fusion surgery.

Repeat decompression and fusions following posterolateral fusion versus posterior/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar spondylosis: a national database study.

There is a low incidence of reoperation after surgery. It is difficult to detect statistical differences between reoperation rates of different lumbar fusion surgeries. National population-based databases provide large, longitudinally followed cohorts that may help overcome this challenge.

Anatomic double-bundle medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction with aperture fixation using an adjustable-length loop device: a 2-year follow-up study.

Background: To assess the clinical availability of an adjustable-length loop device for use in the double-bundle technique with aperture fixation at the patella and femur during anatomic double-bundle medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (DB-MPFLR) for recurrent patellar dislocation.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 11 patients (12 knees) with recurrent patellar dislocation who underwent anatomic DB-MPFLR with an ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon autograft. The graft was folded in half, and its central portion was hanged using the adjustable-length loop device.

Cadaver skin allograft may improve mortality rate for burns involving over 30% of total body surface area: a propensity score analysis of data from four burn centers.

Cadaver skin is used for temporary wound covering, but there is insufficient evidence regarding its clinical usefulness in patients with major burns. We aimed to analyze the effect of cadaveric skin allograft on mortality rates in patients with burns involving > 30% of total body surface area (TBSA). Our study included 1282 patients with > 30% of TBSA burned admitted to four hospitals in Korea between June 1, 2008 and December 31, 2016.

The influence of post-operative surveillance on the prognosis after curative surgery for gastric cancer.

Background/aims: Although routine post-operative surveillance after curative resection for gastric cancer is recommended, there are few reports on the value of postoperative follow-up. The aim of this study was to assess the possible role of post-operative surveillance as a prognostic factor after curative resection for gastric cancer.

Methodology: A total of 192 gastric cancer patients who suffered recurrences after curative resection between January 2001 and June 2012 were included in this study.

Propofol-ketamine or propofol-remifentanil for deep sedation and analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing burn dressing changes: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: In this study, we compared the propofol-ketamine and propofol-remifentanil combinations for deep sedation and analgesia during pediatric burn wound dressing changes.

Methods: Fifty pediatric patients aged 12-36 months, undergoing burn wound dressing changes, were randomly assigned to receive propofol-remifentanil (group PR) or propofol-ketamine (group PK) for deep sedation and analgesia. Patients in the group PR received 2 mg·kg(-1) propofol and 0.

Isolation and characterization of a novel thermostable alpha-amylase from Korean pine seeds.

Amylases have significant importance in broad industrial application including bio-ethanol production. Although amylases are widely distributed in microbes, plants and animals, it has been sought for new amylases from various sources with special industrial potential. In this study we firstly isolated and characterized a novel thermostable alpha-amylase from Korean pine seed.

A new colorimetric method for determining the isomerization activity of sucrose isomerase.

A new colorimetric method for determining the isomerization activity of sucrose isomerase was developed. This colorimetric method is based on the enzymatic reactions of invertase and glucose oxidase-peroxidase (GOD-POD). The main scheme for assaying sucrose isomerase activity is to degrade sucrose in the reaction mixture to glucose and fructose by invertase and to detect the concentration of glucose generated using GOD-POD.

Conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose by Enterobacter sp. FMB1, an isomaltulose-producing microorganism isolated from traditional Korean food.

Over 500 microorganisms isolated from Korean traditional foods, Maeju (source of soybean paste) and Nuruk (Korean koji), were screened to obtain an isomaltulose-producing microorganism. It was identified as Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 by 16S rRNA sequencing and the API 20E system.

Molecular consequences of PHOX2B missense, frameshift and alanine expansion mutations leading to autonomic dysfunction.

Heterozygous mutations of the PHOX2B gene account for a broad variety of disorders of the autonomic nervous system, either isolated or combined, including congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), tumours of the sympathetic nervous system and Hirschsprung disease. In CCHS, the prevalent mutation is an expansion of a 20-alanine stretch ranging from +5 to +13 alanines, whereas frameshift and missense mutations are found occasionally. To determine the molecular basis of impaired PHOX2B function, we assayed the transactivation and DNA binding properties of wild-type and mutant PHOX2B proteins.

Anti-obesity effect of Dioscorea nipponica Makino with lipase-inhibitory activity in rodents.

In the process of screening for pancreatic lipase inhibitors, which could be used as an anti-obesity measure, the methanol extract of Dioscorea nipponica Makino powder (DP) appeared to have potent inhibitory activity against porcine pancreatic lipase with an IC50 value of 5-10 microg/ml, where the enzyme activity was assayed by using 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate as a substrate. Further purification of active components present in the herb generated dioscin that belongs to the saponin family. Dioscin and its aglycone, diosgenin, both suppressed the time-dependent increase of blood triacylglycerol level when orally injected with corn oil to mice, suggesting their inhibitory potential against fat absorption.

Orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 directly transactivates the promoter activity of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in a cell-specific manner.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of catecholamine synthesis and its expression is necessary for neurotransmitter specification of all catecholaminergic neurons, while dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is essential for the noradrenergic phenotype. In the present study, we show that Nurr1, an orphan nuclear receptor critical for dopaminergic (DA) neuron development, directly transactivates the promoter activity of the TH gene in a cell type-dependent manner, while it does not regulate the DBH promoter. Consistent with these results, only the TH promoter contains multiple sequence motifs homologous to the known Nurr1-binding motif, NBRE.

Regulation of male sex hormone levels by soy isoflavones in rats.

Several studies have suggested that soybean intake is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. However, the mechanism of prostate cancer prevention by soybeans remains unclear. Because prostate cancer is reported to have an association with an increased level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and soybean isoflavones are known to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase, which is involved in the conversion of testosterone to DHT, the effects of soybean extract and isoflavones on the plasma levels of male sex hormones were investigated using male rats.

The distribution and morphology of calbindin D28K- and calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the visual cortex of mouse.

We studied the distribution and morphology of calbindin D28K- and calretinin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the mouse visual cortex with immunocytochemistry. Most of the calbindin D28K-IR neurons were located in layers II/III and V, while calretinin-IR neurons were predominantly located in layers II/III. The labeled neurons showed variations in morphology.

Changes of calretinin, calbindin D28K and parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the superficial layers of the hamster superior colliculus following monocular enucleation.

We studied the effects of monocular enucleation on the patterned distribution of calretinin-, calbindin D28K- and parvalbumin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the superficial layers of the hamster superior colliculus (SC). The calcium-binding proteins were localized using antibody immunocytochemistry. Almost complete depletion of the calretinin-IR fibers in the superficial layers of the contralateral SC was found following unilateral enucleation.