• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.1255-1259
• /
• 2016

Background: Oral physiotherapy or mouth exercise is considered to be an adjunct but mandatory treatment modality for oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). This study planned to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a newly designed mouth exercising device (MED) in OSMF patients receiving local ointment, intra-lesional drugs and surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 231 OSMF patients were selected and treated with basic regime including topical corticosteroids, oral antioxidants and the icecream-stick exercise regime and allotted randomly to two equal groups A and B. Group-A patients were additionally given MED. Subgroups A1 and B1 patients with an inter-incisal distance (IID) 20-35mm were not given any additional therapy; subgroup A2 and B2 patients (IID 20-35mm) were treated additionally with intra-lesional injections. Subgroups A3 and B3 with IID<20mm were managed surgically. IID was measured at baseline and at 6 months recall. The change in IID measurements was calculated and statistically analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and Tukeys multiple post hoc analysis. Results: Average improvement in IID after six months of recall visits was observed to be 8.4 mm in subgroup-A1 (n-53) compared to 5.5 mm in B1(n-50) (p<0.01). The IID improvement in subgroup-A2 was found to be 9.3mm (n-46) compared to 5.1 mm in B2 (n-48) (p<0.01). In the surgery group, mouth opening improvement was observed to be 9.6 mm in subgroup A3 (n-18) compared to 4.8 mm for B3 (n-16) (p<0.01). Conclusions: Use of the MED appears to be effective for increasing oral opening in OMSF patients in conjunction with local, injection and/or surgical treatment.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.451-456
• /
• 2016

Background Comprehensive aesthetic surgery training continues to be a challenge for residency programs. Our residency program developed a rhinoplasty-based objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) based upon validated methods as part of the residency education curriculum. We report our experience with the rhinoplasty-based OSCE and offer guidance to its incorporation within residency programs. Methods The encounter involved resident evaluation and operative planning for a standardized patient desiring a rhinoplasty procedure. Validated OSCE methods currently used at our medical school were implemented. Residents were evaluated on appropriate history taking, physical examination, and explanation to the patient of treatment options. Examination results were evaluated using analysis of variance (statistical significance P<0.05). Results Twelve residents completed the rhinoplasty OSCE. Medical knowledge assessment showed increasing performance with clinical year, 50% versus 84% for postgraduate year 3 and 6, respectively (P<0.005). Systems-based practice scores showed that all residents incorrectly submitted forms for billing and operative scheduling. All residents confirmed that the OSCE realistically represents an actual patient encounter. All faculty confirmed the utility of evaluating resident performance during the OSCE as a useful assessment tool for determining the Next Accreditation System Milestone level. Conclusions Aesthetic surgery training for residents will require innovative methods for education. Our examination showed a program-educational weakness in billing/coding, an area that will be improved upon by topic-specific lectures. A thoroughly developed OSCE can provide a realistic educational opportunity to improve residents' performance on the nonoperative aspects of rhinoplasty and should be considered as an adjunct to resident education.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.991-996
• /
• 2015

Side population (SP) cells have stem cell-like properties with a capacity for self-renewal and are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore the presence of SP cells in human breast cancer probably has prognostic value. Objective: To investigate the characteristics of SP cells and identify the relationship between the SP cells levels and clinico-pathological parameters of the breast tumor and disease-free survival (DFS) in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 122 eligible breast cancer patients were consecutively recruited from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007 at Yunnan Tumor Hospital. All eligible subjects received conventional treatment and were followed up for seven years. Predictors of recurrence and/or metastasis and DFS were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Human breast cancer cells were also obtained from fresh human breast cancer tissue and cultured by the nucleic acid dye Hoechst33342 with Verapami. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to isolate the cells of SP and non-SP types. Results: In this study, SP cells were identified using flow cytometric analysis with Hoechst 33342 dye efflux. Adjusted for age, tumor size, lymph nodal status, histological grade, the Cox model showed a higher risk of recurrence and/or metastasis positively associated with the SP cell level (1.75, 1.02-2.98), as well as with axillary lymph node metastasis (2.99, 1.76-5.09), pathology invasiveness type (1.7, 1.14-2.55), and tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) (1.54, 1.01-2.36). Conclusions: The SP cell level is independently associated with tumor progression and clinical outcome after controlling for other pathological factors. The axillary lymph node status, TVDT and the status of non-invasive or invasive tumor independently predict the prognosis of breast cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.380-384
• /
• 2010

The present paper attempts to investigate the factors which may affect the attitude toward Oriental Medicine among the university students in Korea and China. The research on determining factors that may influence the attitude toward the Oriental Medicine can provide the answers for the question how the traditional things can acquire their present position and make a development in modern society. The East Asian countries such as Korea and China have promoted the western-style changes and development, thinking that modernization means the westernization. Given this, the research on the attitude toward Oriental Medicine can be a good case study that shows how tradition sustains its place and develops. The present study makes two hypotheses in order to analyze the factors which make the influence on the attitude toward the Oriental Medicine: Hypothesis there will be no significant difference between the socio-demographic variables and attitude toward Oriental Medicine. Hypothesis there will be significant differences between traditionalism, modernity, nationalism, and attitude toward Oriental Medicine. The statistical results show that hypothesis 1 was confirmed in the case of the gender of the participants, whereas it was not confirmed in the case of the birthplace, economic status, and nationality. And hypothesis 2 was not confirmed in the relations between nationalism and modernity and the attitude toward Oriental Medicine, whereas it was confirmed in the relations between traditionalism and the traditional medical concept and attitude toward Oriental Medicine.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.140-143
• /
• 2006

Acid- and enzymatic hydrolysis properties of two fructans(inulin and levan) and their oligofructoses has been investigated. At pH 1, the initial fructose release rate differs and is rapidly hydrolyzed in the order of levan oligosaccharide and inulin oligosaccharide, levan, inulin. At pH 4.5, 7 and 14, no or little amount of fructose are found from four samples. At the presence of inulinase in the reaction mixture, the fructose is rapidly produced from all samples, whilst invertase treatments show low activities. The results allow the estimation of the fructose release rate in many foodstuff processing conditions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.53-58
• /
• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial, antiperspirant and deodorant effect of herb mixtures including Schisandra chinensis(SC). This herb mixtures including Schisandra chinensis was made of Astragalus membranaceus(AM), Triticum aestivum(TA), Atractylodes japonica(AJ) and peppermint essential oil extracted from Mentha piperita(MP). We examined antimicrobial activity, antiperspirant activity and L-leucine dehydrogenase activity of the herbal extracts. We found that the mixture of SC and MP have the best antimicrobial effects on B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii and mixture of SC, AJ, AM and TA have best antiperspirant effect. Moreover, the combination of SC and AM showed the most inhibitory effect on L-leucine dehydrogenase activity. These results suggested that the herb mixtures Including Schisandra chinensis have good antimicrobial and antiperspirant effects.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.425-430
• /
• 2020

Background: Asbestos exposure is associated with the development of the cancer malignant mesothelioma (MM). Measurement of soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) has been suggested as a method for detection of MM in its early stages. We prospectively examined SMRP levels in participants with asbestos exposure who are a group at a high risk of development of MM. Methods: This study was a follow-up of our cohort of 322 asbestos-exposed participants. No further participants developed MM or malignancy over the study period. Mean follow-up time was 22.9 months. Results: Mean (standard deviation) SMRP levels at baseline and follow-up were 0.94 (0.79) and 0.91 (0.86) nmol/L (p = 0.1033), respectively. Mean SMRP levels of the healthy individuals exposed to asbestos at baseline was significantly lower than those of participants with asbestosis and pleural plaques alone; similar patterns were found on follow-up measurements. There was a statistically significant effect of age on serial SMRP measurements. Our study confirms higher levels in participants with nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders. Levels decreased in asbestos-related disorders other than asbestosis, where a small increase was observed. We did not detect any further cases of malignancy. Conclusion: Monitoring programs for early detection of MM need to take into account increased SMRP levels found in benign asbestos-related diseases.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2019

Background: Increased oxidative stress and inflammation play a critical role in the etiopathogenesis of chronic tendinopathy. Melatonin is an endogenous molecule that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical and histopathological effects of exogenous melatonin administrations in supraspinatus overuse tendinopathy. Methods: Fifty rats were divided into the following four groups: cage activity, melatonin treatment, corticosteriod therapy, and control. Melatonin (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal; twice a day) and triamcinolone (0.3 mg/kg, subacromial; weekly) were administered to the treatment groups after the overuse period. Biochemical and histopathological evaluations were performed on serum samples and biopsies obtained from rats. Plasma inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were evaluated biochemically. Results: The TAS, TOS, OSI, iNOS, and VEGF values were significantly lower than the pre-treatment levels in rats receiving exogenous melatonin treatment (3 or 6 weeks) (p<0.05). TOS, iNOS, VEGF, and OSI values after 3 weeks of triamcinolone administration, and TOS, VEGF, and OSI levels after 6 weeks of triamcinolone application, were significantly lower than the pre-treatment levels (p<0.05). Conclusions: Exogenous melatonin application in overuse tendinopathy reduces oxidative stress and inflammation. Melatonin might be an alternative potential molecule to corticosteroids in the treatment of chronic tendinopathy.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2022

Background: We conducted a cross-sectional study of residents within and outside Fukushima Prefecture to clarify their perceptions of the need for smartphone applications (apps) for explaining exposure doses. The results will lead to more effective methods for identifying target groups for future app development by researchers and municipalities, which will promote residents' understanding of radiological situations. Materials and Methods: In November 2019, 400 people in Fukushima Prefecture and 400 people outside were surveyed via a web-based questionnaire. In addition to basic characteristics, survey items included concerns about radiation levels and intention to use a smartphone app to keep track of exposure. The analysis was conducted by stratifying responses in each region and then cross-tabulating responses to concerns about radiation levels and intention to use an app by demographic variables. The intention to use an app was analyzed by binomial logistic regression analysis. Text-mining analyses were conducted in KH Coder software. Results and Discussion: Outside Fukushima Prefecture, concerns about the medical exposure of women to radiation exceeded 30%. Within the prefecture, the medical exposure of women, purchasing food products, and consumption of own-grown food were the main concerns. Within the prefecture, having children under the age of 18, the experience of measurement, and having experience of evacuation were significantly related to the intention to use an app. Conclusion: Regional and individual differences were evident. Since respondents differ, it is necessary to develop and promote app use in accordance with their needs and with phases of reconstruction. We expect that a suitable app will not only collect data but also connect local service providers and residents, while protecting personal information.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.331-347
• /
• 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of major skin inflammatory diseases characterized by excessive Th2-mediated immune responses. Recent evidence provides that interlukin-13 (IL-13) plays the role of a key Th2 cytokine that drives the inflammation underlining AD. Due to adverse effects of commercially available synthetic drugs, the need for treatments based on natural products is gaining much attention. Sargassum horneri is an edible brown algae known for beneficial bioactivities including anti-inflammation. We investigated if polyphenol-rich S. horneri extracts (SHE) could suppress AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice and if that involved inhibition of the infiltration of Th2-mediated cytokine IL-13. We observed markedly increased infiltration of IL-13 positive cells in AD-like skin lesions of mice but SHE treatments decreased it. Also, the dermal expression of IL-13 was sufficient to cause inflammatory responses in mice skin resembling human AD. SHE suppressed the dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells where IL-13 plays a crucial role in skin tissues and in the recruitment of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, it was confirmed that SHE reduced T cell, dendritic cell, and macrophage populations in spleen. Moreover, SHE decreased the collagen deposition in skin and ear dermis resulting in reduced fibrosis that occurs in AD due to excessive collagen. Taken together, our results reveal that SHE suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells into skin dermis by decreasing the infiltration of IL-13 positive cells. Therefore, SHE could be taken as a useful therapeutic agent to alleviate AD.