• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and injection therapy through qualitative and quantitative analysis by synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted on patients with various shoulder diseases. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Methods: This review conducted a literature search through international electronic databases in January 2023 to compare the effects of ESWT and injection therapy. Qualitative analysis was performed as a risk of bias tool, and quantitative analysis was synthesized with a random effect model to show the effect size as a standardized mean difference (SMD). Results: Five RCTs involving 298 individuals with shoulder disorders were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. ESWT showed a moderate effect on pain (SMD=-0.44; 95% CI, -0.95 to 0.06) and a large effect on shoulder function (SMD =-0.81; 95% CI, -1.70 to 0.07) than injection therapy. A significant difference was found in the shoulder range of motion, showing a large effect size (SMD=1.50; 95% CI, 0.58 to 2.43). Conclusions: When considering treatment options for the management of patients complaining of shoulder disorders, it is appropriate to recommend ESWT first rather than injection therapy to increase the range of motion of the joint. In addition, ESWT is safe for pain control and shoulder function improvement, and a positive prognosis could be expected.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.79-96
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• 2023

Objectives This study was designed to review the effect of Jakyakkamchobuja-tang on rat model with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods We used seven databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Library) from their inception to May 2023 without language restrictions. Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation's tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. RevMan software (V5.4) was used for the meta-analysis. Results Five studies were selected following our inclusion criteria. The arthritis index decreased significantly (standardized mean difference=-2.06; 95% confidence interval=-3.07 to -1.04; p<0.0001) in Jakyakkamchobuja-tang group. Also, serum cytokines in serum and paw swelling degree decreased in Jakyakkamchobuja-tang group. Conclusions Jakyakkamchobuja-tang may be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Although there is a limitation that the design of drug dosage varies between papers, it can be expected to be applied as an alternative to Western medicine, and it is believed to contribute to the standardization of herbal treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2023

Objective: A previous study reported that cardiovascular training (CT) decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine with bidirectional effects. However, because of conflicting results of increasing and decreasing IL-6 levels in stroke patients, it is essential to clarify the effects of CT on IL-6 levels in this population. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the effects of CT on IL-6 levels in stroke patients through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), synthesizing and analyzing the effects qualitatively and quantitatively. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods: In this review, conducted in April 2023, electronic databases (Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Google Scholar) were searched to ascertain the effects of CT on IL-6 levels in stroke patients. For qualitative evaluation, ReVMan, provided by the Cochrane Group, was used, and for quantitative evaluation, a random-effects model and SMD (Standardized Mean Difference) were used. Results: Three RCTs measured IL-6 in 117 patients with stroke. The experimental group to which CT was applied showed no significant change compared to the control group.The result of analysis using the random effect model is SMD=-0.23; 95% confidence interval, -0.66 to 0.20. Conclusions: CT does not affect IL-6 levels in stroke patients. These results suggest that CT can be applied regardless of its positive or negative effect on IL-6 levels in stroke patients.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.30.1-30.15
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of final irrigation with cold saline solution after endodontic treatment compared with saline solution at room temperature against postoperative pain following endodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A broad search was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library (LILACS), and Grey Literature databases. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction, risk of bias using the Cochrane methodology, and certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Results: Eight studies were included in qualitative synthesis. Intracanal cryotherapy favored the reduction of postoperative pain in the systematic review. Four studies were included in meta-analyses. The meta-analysis showed that intracanal cryotherapy reduced postoperative pain in teeth with symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP) at 24 hours. There was no association between intracanal cryotherapy and control (room temperature) groups in teeth with normal periapical tissue with respect to postoperative pain at 24 hours and 48 hours. Conclusions: Intracanal cryotherapy was effective in reducing postoperative pain after endodontic treatment in teeth with SAP.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.191-200
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• 2023

This study aims to estimate the value of environmental services that could be generated by seawater flowing in the Geumgang Estuary by using meta-regression for benefit transfer. The environmental services that can be generated by seawater flowing are assumed to be improved water quality, increased biodiversity, and enhanced water-friendly effect. The analysis was conducted using 122 data from 28 studies from EVIS. The results show that households in the neighborhood where seawater is distributed are willing to pay about KRW 46,918, KRW 7,752, and KRW 7,859 per year for improved water quality, increased biodiversity, and enhanced water-friendly, respectively. The WTP of the national households other than neighboring households was found to be KRW 19,401, KRW 3,206, and KRW 3,250 for the three environmental services, respectively. The WTP for water quality improvement is higher than that for biodiversity increase and water-friendly effect increase, which may be due to the fact that water quality improvement is an environmental service that is close to the use value. In addition, neighboring households have a higher WTP than national households because neighboring households are more likely to evaluate the benefits of seawater flowing as a use value, while national households are more likely to evaluate it as a non-use value.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.742-750
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is commonly used for the resection of colorectal polyps ≤10 mm. Data regarding the influence of snare type on CSP effectiveness are conflicting. Hence, this meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes and safety of thin- and thick-wire snares for CSP. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature published between 2000 and 2021 was performed of various databases for comparative studies evaluating the outcomes of thin- versus thick-wire snares for CSP. Results: Five studies with data on 1,425 polyps were included in the analysis. The thick-wire snare was comparable to the thin-wire snare with respect to complete histological resection (risk ratio [RR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-1.09), overall bleeding (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.40-2.40), polyp retrieval (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.97-1.04), and involvement of submucosa in the resection specimen (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.72-2.28). There was no publication bias and a small study effect, and the relative effects remained the same in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: CSP using a thin-wire snare has no additional benefit over thick-wire snares in small colorectal polyps. Factors other than snare design may play a role in improving CSP outcomes.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.86-93
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• 2024

Unintentional dispersal of organisms has explosively increased due to expansion of human activities. Among introduced organisms, some organisms are categorized as invasive species because of their effects on environmental risk, economic loss, and human health. In 2023, a leopard slug (Limax maximus) was reported in Suwon, Republic of Korea. This slug was designated as a potential invasive species because a wide range of plant species were identified as food sources for this slug in its original habitats. However, it is difficult to investigate the ecological risk of this newly introduced slug in Republic of Korea. Therefore, the potential ecological risk from this newly introduced slug was estimated by meta-genome analyses of its feces. Through meta-genome analyses, 22 Families, 28 Genera, and 26 Species of land plants were identified. Among these 26 identified plant species, six economically important crops - squash (Cucurbita maxima), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), rice (Oryza sativa), and oriental melon (Cucumis melo) - were identified. Therefore, leopard slugs potentially could cause economic losses in Republic of Korea. Further study is required to build a control strategy against leopard slugs.

• Journal of Rhinology
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.2-10
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• 2022

Background: Although the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in sinonasal inverted papilloma (SNIP) has been investigated, the link between HPV infection and SNIP recurrence remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between HPV infection and recurrence of SNIP. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases were searched (until 16 June 2021) to collect all relevant articles. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using the fixed effects model. In addition, subgroup analysis, assessment of publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Fourteen eligible articles, including 592 patients with SNIP, were included in this study. Pooled analysis revealed that HPV-positive cases exhibited a significantly higher OR of tumour recurrence than HPV-negative counterparts). A significant association between HPV infection and tumour recurrence remained stable in subgroup analyses according to the publication year of the studies. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that HPV infection is significantly associated with the recurrence of SNIP, suggesting the pathological role of HPV in SNIP. These results suggest that HPV infection should be considered in the management of SNIP.

• Journal of Investigative Cosmetology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.386-404
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• 2018

Here, we aimed to determine, using meta-analyses, the relative importance of factors influencing cosmetic purchasing behaviors. Specifically, effect sizes were compared for studies that included and excluded consumers aged in their fifties to identify and rank factors that have a major impact on the purchasing behavior of new seniors-individuals who have recently emerged as an important consumer group in the cosmetics market. To this end, 77 Korean journal articles, and masters and doctoral theses with cosmetic purchasing behavior as a dependent variable published between 2008 and 2017 were selected, and effect sizes of correlation coefficients were calculated for relevant variables. The study findings are as follows. First, the total effect size for factors influencing purchase behavior of cosmetics was slightly larger than medium and was statistically significant. Second, mediators, age, gender, item, price, and source were found to have statistically significant effect sizes. Third, for studies that included consumers aged in their fifties, user attributes and brand attributes were identified as important variables that were more influential at the purchase intention stage than the purchase stage, suggesting an age-group effect on cosmetic purchasing behavior. By identifying factors influencing cosmetic purchasing behaviors using a comparison of studies with and without consumers aged in their fifties, there appears to be significant implications for cosmetic marketing strategies aimed at new seniors.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.546-554
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise programs in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Method: Two investigators systematically searched and reviewed English articles from PUBMED from 1988 to 2004, selecting randomized controlled trials on structured exercise programs for DM patients. Out of 87 studies identified, a meta analysis was done for eleven studies which satisfied inclusion criteria and focused on glycemic indices, lipid indices, and cardiac function indices. Results: The means and standard deviations were compared for experimental groups that received exercise-only or exercise and diet programs and control groups that received no intervention or only diet education. The groups were considered homogeneous as the p value of the Q score in each variable group was over 0.05. The experimental groups demonstrated a moderate positive effect on HbA,c and $VO_{2max}$ (d=0.55 & 0.5), and a small positive effect on fasting blood glucose and cholesterol (d=0.38 & 0.27) compared to the control groups. HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, however, showed a very low positive effect (d=0.11 & 0.12) in the experimental groups. Aerobic exercise was more beneficial than resistance exercise on $HbA_1c$ (d=0.59 vs 0.28) in the groups. Conclusions: Regular exercise has a positive effect on $HbA_1c$, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and $VO_{2max}$ in Type 2 diabetic patients.