• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of motor neurons, resulting in motor weakness of the limbs and/or bulbar muscles. Pain is a prevalent but neglected symptom of ALS, and it has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. This review outlines the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and management strategies of pain in ALS to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes related to pain. Pain is a prevalent symptom among patients with ALS, with a variable reported prevalence. It may occur at any stage of the disease and can involve any part of the body without a specific pattern. Primary pain includes neuropathic pain and pain from spasticity or cramps, while secondary pain is mainly nociceptive, occurring with the progression of muscle weakness and atrophy, prolonged immobility causing degenerative changes in joints and connective tissue, and long-term home mechanical ventilation. Prior to treatment, the exact patterns and causes of pain must first be identified, and the treatment should be tailored to each patient. Treatment options can be classified into pharmacological treatments, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiepileptic drugs, drugs for cramps or spasticity, and opioid; and nonpharmacological treatments, including positioning, splints, joint injections, and physical therapy. The development of standardized and specific assessment tools for pain-specific to ALS is required, as are further studies on treatments to reduce pain, diminish suffering, and improve the quality of life of patients with ALS.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.58.1-58.10
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• 2022

Background: Laryngeal paralysis is a common idiopathic degenerative neurological disease in older medium-to-large breed dogs, with surgical correction of the obstruction being the treatment of choice. Objectives: This study evaluated the use of laryngeal silicone stents to treat canine laryngeal paralysis in dogs where classic surgical treatment was not accepted by the owners. Methods: Dogs diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis, for which the owners refused arytenoid lateralization surgery as a first-line treatment, were treated with laryngeal silicone stents. Results: Six dogs with bilateral laryngeal paralysis were included in the study. All dogs showed improvement in clinical signs immediately after the procedure. No clinical signs or radiographic changes were noted in four out of six dogs in the follow-up visit performed 1 wk later. One dog was suspected of aspirating water while drinking, but the signs disappeared after repositioning the stent. Another dog had a relapse of stridor due to caudal migration of the stent. This dog underwent arytenoid lateralization surgery because larger stents are not commercially available. At the time of writing, between seven and 13 mon after stent placement, no significant incidents have occurred in four dogs, and all owners report a satisfactory quality of life. Conclusions: Laryngeal silicone stenting is an interesting alternative for treating dogs with acquired laryngeal paralysis when the owners refuse classic arytenoid lateralization surgery. Furthermore, stent placement can be a temporary solution to stabilize these dogs until a permanent surgical treatment can be performed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1968

Presented here are the results for clinical study on 65 cases of simple goiter the author treated during the period of 4 years and 10 months from Jan. 1963 through Oct. 1967 at the Seoul National University Hospital and Han-Il Hospital. It had been customary to classify simple goiter, according to the gross morphological characteristics of the thyroid gland, as diffuse and nodular type. This paper attempts to investigate the histopathological changes and treatment of simple goiter respectively. Sixty five cases of simple goiter were classified into 4 types; namely degenerative type was 20 cases (30.8%), proliferative type was 7 cases (10..8%), colloidal type was 24 cases (36.9%) and cyst formation with degeneration was 14 cases (21.5%), on the basis of histopathological findings. Thus, it is essential that simple goiter should be differentiated from thyroid tumors as soon as practicable. The effectiveness of medical treatment with desicated thyroid and autohemotherapy for certain simple goiter are also discussed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2023

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is crucial for stabilizing the ulnar side of the wrist but can be partially torn due to degenerative changes, falling, or sudden injuries. However, only a few studies have focused on the use of Korean medicine treatments for TFCC-related wrist pain. This case report presents the successful outcomes of integrated Korean medicine treatment in a patient with a partial TFCC tear. The diagnosis was confirmed via magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed the tear. Subsequently, the patient received integrated Korean medicine treatments. The assessment of the pain scale scores revealed a significant reduction in wrist pain and an improvement in daily life activities. Based on the findings of this study, integrated Korean medicine treatments have been proven to be an effective treatment option for patients with a partial TFCC tear. However, further research is needed to determine the potential benefits and mechanisms of these treatments in managing TFCC-related wrist pain.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2024

The reproductive biology of the Washington clam Saxidomus purpuratus, from Yeosu, Korea was investigated based on 699 individuals collected from January to December 2022. The sex ratio of this species was not significantly different from a 1:1 (male:female) sex ratio (P>0.05). Monthly changes in gonadosomatic index were analyzed to estimate the spawning season. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into the following stages: active (Jan.-Mar.), ripe (Mar.-Nov.), spent (Apr.-Dec.), and degenerative (Jun.-Dec.) stages. The spawning period ranged from March to December with the main periods being from April to June and from September to November. The shell length at 50% female group maturity (SL₅₀) was estimated to be 60.2 mm.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2024

Cellular prion protein (PrP^C) encoded at Prnp gene is well-known to form a misfolded isoform, termed scrapie PrP (PrP^SC) that cause transmissible degenerative diseases in central nervous system. The physiological role of PrP^C has been proposed by many studies, showing that PrP^C interacts with various intracellular, membrane, and extracellular molecules including mitochondrial inner membrane as a scaffold. PrP^C is expressed in most cell types including reproductive organs. Numerous studies using PrP^C knockout rodent models found no obvious phenotypic changes, in particular the clear phenotypes in development and reproduction have not demonstrated in these knockout models. However, various roles of PrP^C have been evaluated at the cellular levels. In this review, we summarized the known roles of PrP^C in various cell types and tissues with a special emphasis on those involved in reproduction.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.435-440
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• 2013

Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline (20%) decreased serum testosterone level which was similar to the surgical castration in the rat, showing the state of chemical castration. In the present study, we further verify the efficacy of this less invasive method as an alternative of surgical orchidectomy in the andrological field. Sterilized 20% saline was directly injected into the adult male rats (750 ${\mu}l$ per testis). The tested rats were divided into 3 groups including intact group (intact), orchidectomy group (ORX) and saline injection group (SAL) after bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of injection. All rats were sacrificed at 4 weeks after injection. The reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostates) were collected and used for DNA and protein pattern analyses. Also, patho-histological studies on the testes were performed. In contrast to the intact group, similar DNA damages of testis and seminal vesicle were appeared in ORX group and SAL group. The DNA degradations seemed to be the results of necrosis rather than apoptosis. In the protein pattern analysis, all the testing tissues exerted similar patterns in the ORX group and the SAL group compared to the those of intact group. Patho-histological studies revealed that severe degenerative changes in testicular seminiferous tubules and massive infiltration of immune cells in SAL group. The present study confirmed that direct injection of hypertonic saline into the testis caused the equivalent biochemical changes in the accessory sex organs as shown in the orchidectomized animals. These results suggest that hypertonic saline injection model could be a useful castration model which can substitute for surgical castration when its safety is secured through further study in the future.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.22 no.2 s.37
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• pp.345-372
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• 1992

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of changes of mandibular position on temporomandibular joint in internal derangement patients Twenty-four female New Zealand White Rabbits, weighing over 3.5kg, were utilized in this study . Bilateral temporomandibular joint surgery was performed in twenty-one of the rabbits to displace disc anteriorly through incising the retrodiscal tissue 1-2mm posterior to the disc, thus inducing internal derangement. They were divided into three groups nine were left untreated after surgery, six were fitted with functional protrusive appliances 4 weeks after surgery, and six wore collar appliances to apply 4 ounces of mandibular refractive force per side 4 weeks after surgery. The remaining three served as the control group. Histologic examinations were performed after sacrificing them by threes at 4-week intervals. The results were as follows. 1. Histologic findings similar to internal derangement were observed in the rabbits whose retrodiscal tissues had been incised. 2. In the rabbits untreated after surgery, articular surface on condylar process and articular eminence showed severe erosion and deformation, and displaced disc manifested changes in both shape and internal architecture. 3. Functional protrusion after surgery resulted in progressive remodeling on postero-superior portion of condyle and glenoid fossa, while it also brought about erosion on articular eminence and anterior portion of condyle. 4. Mandibular retraction after surgery resulted in compression of retrodiscal tissue and regressive remodeling of posterior portion of condyle.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 1990

Follicular atresia is a universal and characteristic phenomenon of both non-mammalian and mammalian vertebrates. Generally it is estimated that greater than 99% of follicles become atretic in higher domestic animals and human. The number of selected follicles developing to the preovulatory stage are thus fewer. Follicles can become atretic at any stage of development. The previous studies emphasized on descriptive and retrospect aspects of a limited population of the fully grown preovulatory follicle. The main efforts in ovarian physilogical researches are focused on follicular development culminating in ovulation but recent advances have resulted in a better understanding of atresia. Nowadays, recent studies are concentrated on the induction of atresia in a selected population of follicles and of the associated cellular, endocrine, biochemical and molecular changes. The factors initiating atresia and follicle selections are worthy of investigations. Another intriguing question is whether one can predict when a follicle will become atretic, i.e., what biochemical markers indicate that a follicle is destined for atresia. It is generally agreed that atretic process may vary even in antral follicles at different stages of their differentiations and among species. The dicisive factors are follicular responsiveness and the hormonal milieu. Some generalizations can be made on the basis of experimental induction of atresia. Alteration of the pattern of follicular steroid production is associated with the initiation stage of atretic process. Atresia appears to be a process unfolding gradually and affecting progressively in increasing number of functions and components of the follicle. The oocyte may be the latest to be afflicted in the atretic process. The high steroidogenic activity of atretic follicles lends support to the notion that atresia is not necessarily a degenerative process and that atretic follicles may play an essential role in ovarian physiology. The simultaneous occurence of growth and atretic processes may render the search for regulatory mechanisms involved in atresia difficult extremely. The questions such as how follicles are selected to undergo ovulation rather than atresia or what the mechanism of atresia is remain unanswered. However, the factors regulating or modifying ovarian hormonal milieu for the initiation of follicular growth and maturation or of atresia are being elucidated.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.177-187
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• 1988

This study was designed to investigate the effects of split irradiation on the salivary ductal cells, especially on the intercalated cells of the rat parotid glands. For this study, 24 Sprague-Dawley strain rats were irradiated on the head and neck region with two equal split doses of 9Gy for a 4 hours interval by Co-60 teletherapy unit, Picker's model 4M 60. The conditions of irradiation were that field size, dose rate, SSD and depth were 12×5㎝, 222 cGy/min, 50㎝ and 1㎝, respectively. The experimental animals were sacrificed 1. 2, 3, 6, 12, hours and 1, 3, 7, days after the irradiation and the changes of the irradiated intercalated cells of the parotid glands were examined under light and electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. By the split irradiation, the degenerative changes of intercalated cells of the parotid glands appeared at 3 hours after irradiation and the most severe cellular degeneration observed at 6 hours after irradiation. The repair processes began from 12 hours after irradiation and have matured progressively. 2. Under electron microscope, loss of nuclear membrane, microvilli and secretory granules, derrangement of chromosomes, degeneration of cytoplasm, atrophy or reduction of intracytoplasmic organelles were observed in the intercalated ductal cells after split irradiation. 3. Under light microscope, derrangement of ductal cells, widening of cytoplasms and nuclei, hyperchromatism and proliferation of ductal cells were observed in intercalated ducts after split irradiation.