• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2022

Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a condition/disease which involves involuntary muscle contractions causing the eye to repetitively close, making it impossible for the patient to perform daily activities. This study reports Korean medicine treatment of a rare case BEB in a 34-year-old male patient whose symptoms showed minimal improvement following botulinum toxin injection (the standard treatment). Acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine treatment for 11 days resulted in clinical improvement for all symptoms as assessed by using the Jankovic Rating Scale, Blepharospasm Disability Index, numerical rating scale, duration of spasms lasting more than 1 hour per day, and number of spasms lasting less than 1 minute per day. This case report suggests that comprehensive Korean medicine treatment could be a treatment option for BEB in patients who do not respond well to botulinum toxin injection.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2023

The purpose of this case report is to introduce a case of immediate results with TMJ balancing therapy (TBT) in the treatment of chronic patellofemoral pain (PFP). A 17-year-old female patient with 4-month-old chronic knee pain that was unresponsive to conventional treatment was treated with TBT for a total of 5 sessions. The primary outcomes were evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC). Following the first treatment, the NRS decreased rapidly, and the KWOMAC improved after a total of five treatments. These findings suggest that TBT can be an effective pain management option for chronic PFP patients with temporomandibular joint malposition. However, as this study is a report of a single case, further research is necessary.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.601-607
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• 2015

Background Autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy is increasingly preferred worldwide as a breast cancer treatment option. However, postoperative nipple-areola complex (NAC) necrosis is the most significant complication of nipple-sparing mastectomy. The purpose of our study was to identify the risk factors for NAC necrosis, and to describe the use of our skin-banking technique as a solution. Methods We reviewed cases of immediate autologous breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy at our institution between June 2005 and January 2014. The patients' data were reviewed and the risk of NAC necrosis was analyzed based on correlations between patient variables and NAC necrosis. Moreover, data pertaining to five high-risk patients who underwent the donor skin-banking procedure were included in the analysis. Results Eighty-five patients underwent immediate autologous breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy during the study period. Partial or total NAC necrosis occurred in 36 patients (43.4%). Univariate analysis and binary regression modeling found that body mass index, smoking history, radiation therapy, and mastectomy volume were significantly associated with NAC necrosis. Of the 36 cases of NAC necrosis, 31 were resolved with dressing changes, debridement, or skin grafting. The other five high-risk patients underwent our prophylactic skin-banking technique during breast reconstruction surgery. Conclusions NAC necrosis is common in patients with multiple risk factors. The use of the skin-banking technique in immediate autologous breast reconstruction is an attractive option for high-risk patients. Banked skin can be used in such cases without requiring additional donor tissue, with good results in terms of aesthetic and reconstructive outcomes.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.606-620
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although some juices affect subjective sleep quality, there is a lack of information on the effect of a specific juice on objective sleep quality and heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep; thus the present study investigated whether a blended juice made from natural extracts influenced sleep quality and HRV during sleep in adults with disturbed sleep. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, crossover study was conducted on twenty-five adults (15/10, female/male) complaining of difficulty initiating or maintaining nighttime sleep (Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI] ≥ 5). During feeding sessions (FS), subjects received sleep-inducing juice made of natural ingredients (250 mL/trial) twice a day for 8 weeks or non-FS (N-FS) for 8 weeks while maintaining normal activities. Sleep quality and parameters were recorded via wearable actigraph for 7 consecutive days, and PSQI scores were assessed before and after the intervention. HRV was also monitored at rest and during sleep. RESULTS: After receiving the sleep-inducing juice intervention (FS), PSQI scores were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) and correlated with a significant decline in fatigue severity scale and visual analogue scale levels (P < 0.05; both). HRV indices of vagal activity were significantly improved during FS (P < 0.05), and no significant differences in N-FS were observed. Sleep efficiency and total sleep time increased significantly (P < 0.05) and sleep latency, total counts, sleep fragmentation index, and movement index, decreased significantly (P < 0.05, all 4) during FS, with no significant differences-observed during N-FS. CONCLUSIONS: This study results demonstrated that an 8-week course of sleep-inducing juice has led to improve sleep quality, suggesting an enhanced cardiac vagal tone during sleep. Thus, it could be a well-tolerated option for adults with disturbed sleep.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.131-131
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• 2010

The power of semiconductor laser diodes has been limited primarily by the heating effects which occur at high optical intensities. The actual limiting event can take one of a number of forms such as. catastrophic optical damage or filamentation. A general approach to this problem is to design a heterostructure which creates a high powered output while maintaining low internal optical intensities. A graded index separate confinement heterostructure (GRIN-SCH) is one such structure that accomplishes the above task. Here, the active region is sandwiched between graded index layers where the index of refraction increases nearer to the active layer. This structure has been shown to yield a high efficiency due to the confinement of both the optical power and carriers, thereby reducing the optical intensity required to achieve higher powers. The optical confinement also reinforces the optical beam quality against high power effects. Quantum dots have long been a desirable option for laser diodes due to the enhanced optical properties associated with the zeroth dimensionality. In our work, we use PICS3D software created by Crosslight Software Inc. to simulate the performance of In0.67A10.33As/A10.2Ga0.8AsquantumdotsusedwithaGRIN-SCH. The simulation tools are used to optimize the GRIN-SCH structure for high efficiency and optical beam quality.

• Journal of Convergence Korean Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ultrasound therapy on left knee pain and instability diagnosed with Baker's cyst in a 25-year-old male patient. Methods: Patient was treated with Radio frequency ablation treatment on left knee from Naeseulan (EX-LE4) to Wijoong (BL40). The effect of radio frequency ablation was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) and Euro Qol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D Index). The treatment was executed one time a day everyday form May 28th to June 1st of 2020. Patient was observed from May 26th to June 1st. Results: After five sessions of radio frequency ablation, VAS of left posterior knee pain was improved while no improvement was discovered at left medial knee. In Korean WOMAC scale, only subscale of weight bearing and walking around plain were improved. EQ-5D did not show any improvement. Conclusion: The results suggest that radio frequency ablation treatment can be a valuable option in treating knee pain and daily living function. Further study seems to be needed based on long-term intervention.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2024

This retrospective case series assessed the effectiveness of commercially available oral fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating chronic enteropathies in eight animals, five dogs, and three cats, between 2020 and 2023 at the Seoul National University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Chronic enteropathies, often resistant to conventional therapies, present a significant challenge in veterinary medicine. To assess oral capsule FMT's effectiveness (Doggybiome^® one capsule daily for dogs and Kittybiome^® one capsule daily for cats) as a universal adjunctive therapy for chronic enteropathies across species not responding to traditional treatments. This retrospective case series applied a uniform evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms and treatment efficacy, utilizing established scoring systems (Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index [CIBDAI] and Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index [CCECAI] for dogs, Feline Chronic Enteropathy Activity Index [FCEAI] for cats) before and one month after FMT. This approach ensured consistency in hypothesis testing across the study population. Results revealed significant improvements in clinical indices post-FMT, with notable reductions in the CIBDAI, CCECAI, and FCEAI scores (p < 0.05). Additionally, symptoms such as anorexia, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss showed marked improvement, with normalization of appetite and activity levels observed in most cases. No adverse effects were reported, indicating the safety and tolerability of this treatment. This study highlights the potential of oral capsule FMT as a viable therapeutic option for dogs and cats with chronic enteropathies unresponsive to conventional treatments, providing a new avenue for clinical management. Further research is warranted to expand these findings and explore the microbiome changes associated with FMT in veterinary patients.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.84-92
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the safety and efficacy of a mandibular advancement device (MAD), 'Bioguard,' for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: In this 5-week prospective, multi-center, single group, and non-inferiority trial, patients who chose 'Bioguard' as their treatment option were evaluated using both questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS)) and polysomonography (PSG) (apnea hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen saturation). All patient data, including clinical records, PSG studies (both pre- and post-treatment), and adverse events (AEs), were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Results were obtained for 59 of 62 patients (95.16%). No significant difference in success rate was found between the MAD treatment and surgical treatment (95% CI). AHI, PSQI, ESS and oxygen saturation demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.001) after MAD treatment, and 39 of 62 patients (62.9%) reported 85 AEs. 79 of the 85 AEs (91.8%) were mild cases, and there were no severe AEs related to the MAD treatment. Conclusion: The MAD 'Bioguard' should be considered as an alternative treatment option for OSA patients.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.3-11
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• 2011

There are several causes to recalculate the contract amount in public construction projects. Among them, the escalation clause was introduced in 1969 and now the condition to recalculate the cost is effective after 90 days from the date of contract and the rate of fluctuation should be more than 3% from the date of bidding. The two calculation methods for the rate of fluctuation are item-adjustment and index-adjustment. According to the results of investigation into 4 public institutions and 163 projects, all of them have used the method of index-adjustment and the rate of projects that spend over 6 months obtaining the approval of contract amount adjustment is more than 90%. The reason for spending lots of time is caused by problems of the calculation method on the price fluctuation rate. Therefore, it is necessary that the calculation method should be diversified to cope with the problems and a option of the builder should be expanded as well. Furthermore, if the way to apply correction factors to construction price index and average index based on the producer and consumer price index made by the bank of Korea is added, then the duration will be reduced without additional expenses. This study proposed the diversification of the calculation method using price fluctuation rate and builders' expanded options as improvement on the managerial method of Price Fluctuation System for the prompt and efficient contract amount adjustment.