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Estuaries are connecting pathways where terrestrial carbon is transported to the ocean and environments where various biogeochemical cycles occur. It is essential to estimate the carbon flux across the land-sea continuum to accurately determine the global carbon budget. Additionally, understanding the carbon characteristics of estuarine environments provides valuable information for watershed management and coastal ecosystem conservation. This paper introduces research results in Korea regarding the organic carbon cycle in estuarine environments. In particular, it focuses on research results concerning organic carbon characteristics using stable and radioisotopes, and, based on this, suggests directions for future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) after microfracture on the remodeling of subchondral bone and cartilage healing in a model of full-thickness articular cartilage injury in a rabbit. Materials and Methods: A full thickness articular cartilage defect of 6×3-mm-size was created in the trochlear groove of the right femur in 24 rabbits. The defect was left empty in six rabbits, and microfracture was done in 18 rabbits. After microfracture, no treatment was done in six rabbits, defect was filled with fibrin glue in six rabbits, and with fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 in six rabbits. The effect of rhBMP-2 after microfracture was evaluated based on histological analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for analysis of collagen type at 8 weeks after surgery. Results: The score of histological grade scale of six rabbits in which the defect was filled with fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 was better than that of others and real-time PCR also showed a higher amount of collage type 1 and collage type 2 in these six rabbits. Conclusion: We consider that fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 after microfracture may accelerate cartilage healing in an articular cartilage defect and maybe helpful in healing the articular cartilage defect into more closely native hyaline cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the position of the 10-mm-sized femur tunnel drilled aiming for the bifurcate ridge using anteromedial portal technique with ‘Figure of 4 position' by 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) reconstruction images after anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to evaluate it's propriety. Materials and Methods: Out of 35 patients who underwent anatomic ACL reconstruction from March 2012 to February 2013, 32 patients who undergone postoperative 3D-CT scans were included in this study retrospectively. Medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle was reconstructed using Mimics, and then the position of the femoral tunnel was evaluated using the Bernard quadrant method and the results were compared with those of published literatures. The mean age of the patients was 32.6 years old. There were 25 cases of doublebundle ACL reconstruction with one femoral-two tibial tunnel. There were 7 cases of single bundle ACL reconstruction with one femoralone tibial tunnel. Results: The mean distance of the femoral tunnel center was 32.2%±2.9% (range, 27.4%-37.6%) along the line parallel to the Blumensaat's line from the posterior condylar surface and 46.7%±2.3% (range, 43.5%-51.1%) along the line perpendicular to the Blumensaat's line from the roof of the notch. In comparison with the results of published literature, although the center of the femoral tunnel was presented in the femoral footprint, it was located slightly more shallow and inferior than the center of the ACL footprints. Conclusion: The bifurcate ridge may be a good anatomic landmark when making a 10-mm-sized single femoral tunnel in ‘Figure of 4 position' using the anteromedial portal technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]