• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2016

Purpose: Nerve conduction study (NCS) test is a standard diagnostic study of the tarsal tunnel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between the results of the NCS and postoperative clinical results. Materials and Methods: From June 2004 to July 2015, 104 patients were diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome and treated surgically. Of 104 patients diagnosed through NCS preoperatively and postoperatively, 41 patients were included in this study. There were 23 male and 18 female patients with mean age of 49.2 years old and the average follow-up period was 15.5 months. NCS, pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and subjective satisfaction were examined preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: On the preoperative NCS, 32 patients (78.0%) were positive and 9 patients (22.0%) were negative, and 32 positive NCS patients consisted of 9 positive (28.1%), 16 improved (50.0%), and 7 negative (21.9%) postoperatively. VAS score was 7.4 preoperatively and 4.4 postoperatively. According to satisfaction, there were 8 excellent (19.5%), 21 good (51.2%), 6 fair (14.6%), and 6 poor (14.6%) patients. For 32 patients who were positive on the preoperative NCS, the postoperative VAS score was 4.87 and there were 7 excellent (21.9%), 16 good (50.0%), 4 fair (12.5%), and 5 poor (15.6%) patients. Sixteen patients were negative on the postoperative NCS, with a VAS score of 3.75, 1 excellent (6.3%), 11 good (68.8%), 2 fair (12.5%), and 2 poor (12.5%). There was no statistical correlation between the preoperative NCS and postoperative VAS score (p=0.10), between preoperative NCS and postoperative satisfaction (p=0.799), between preoperative NCS and postoperative VAS score (p=0.487), and between postoperative NCS and postoperative satisfaction (p=0.251). Conclusion: For patients diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome and treated surgically, NCS showed little correlation with postoperative result.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.375-395
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• 2006

Purpose: Lingual nerve (LN) damage may be caused by either tumor resection or injury such as wisdom tooth extraction, Although autologous nerve graft is sometimes used to repair the damaged nerve, it has the disadvantage of necessity of another operation for nerve harvesting. Moreover, the results of nerve grafting is not satisfactory. The nerve growth factor (NGF) is well-known to play a critical role in peripheral nerve regeneration and its local delivery to the injured nerve has been continuously tried to enhance nerve regeneration. However, its application has limitations like repeated administration due to short half life of 30 minutes and an in vivo delivery model must allow for direct and local delivery. The aim of this study was to construct a well-functioning $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus for the ultimate development of improved method to promote peripheral nerve regeneration with enhanced and extended secretion of hNGF from the injured nerve by injecting $rhNGF-{\beta}$ gene directly into crush-injured LN in rat model. Materials and Methods: $hNGF-{\beta}$ gene was prepared from fetal brain cDNA library and cloned into E1/E3 deleted adenoviral vector which contains green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene as a reporter. After large scale production and purification of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, transfection efficiency and its expression at various cells (primary cultured Schwann cells, HEK293 cells, Schwann cell lines, NIH3T3 and CRH cells) were evaluated by fluorescent microscopy, RT-PCR, ELISA, immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, the function of rhNGF-beta, which was secreted from various cells infected with $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, was evaluated using neuritogenesis of PC-12 cells. For in vivo evaluation of efficacy of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, the LNs of 8-week old rats were exposed and crush-injured with a small hemostat for 10 seconds. After the injury, $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus($2{\mu}l,\;1.5{\times}10^{11}pfu$) or saline was administered into the crushed site in the experimental (n=24) and the control group (n=24), respectively. Sham operation of another group of rats (n=9) was performed without administration of either saline or adenovirus. The taste recovery and the change of fungiform papilla were studied at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Each of the 6 animals was tested with different solutions (0.1M NaCl, 0.1M sucrose, 0.01M QHCl, or 0.01M HCl) by two-bottle test paradigm and the number of papilla was counted using SEM picture of tongue dorsum. LN was explored at the same interval as taste study and evaluated electro-physiologically (peak voltage and nerve conduction velocity) and histomorphometrically (axon count, myelin thickness). Results: The recombinant adenovirus vector carrying $rhNGF-{\beta}$ was constructed and confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequence analysis. GFP expression was observed in 90% of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected cells compared with uninfected cells. Total mRNA isolated from $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected cells showed strong RT-PCR band, however uninfected or LacZ recombinant adenovirus infected cells did not. NGF quantification by ELISA showed a maximal release of $18865.4{\pm}310.9pg/ml$ NGF at the 4th day and stably continued till 14 days by $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected Schwann cells. PC-12 cells exposed to media with $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected Schwann cell revealed at the same level of neurite-extension as the commercial NGF did. $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus injected experimental groups in comparison to the control group exhibited different taste preference ratio. Salty, sweet and sour taste preference ratio were significantly different after 2 weeks from the beginning of the experiment, which were similar to the sham group, but not to the control group.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2019

Background: In Korean medicine, carpal tunnel syndrome is treated by stimulating the acupoints around the wrist. Although a deep understanding of anatomy and guidance is needed to stimulate these acupoints to avoid undesirable side-effects, currently there are no published guidelines for acupotomy treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy compared with conventional acupotomy treatment. Methods: This is a randomized, patient-assessor, patient blind, parallel clinical trial. A total of 30 patients will be enrolled at Wonkwang University Gwangju Hospital, and will be allocated to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group will be treated using fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy and the control group will be treated using the conventional acupotomy method. Results: The primary outcome measure will be identification of a cross-section area of the median nerve measured by ultrasonography, and the secondary outcome measure will be the alleviation of pain measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, improvement in the Nerve Conduction Study, Tinel test, Phalen's test, EuroQol 5-dimension scale, and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire score. Safety components will be measured by monitoring vital signs, electrocardiographs, blood tests, general chemical tests, urine tests and pregnancy tests. In addition, observations for adverse effects will be performed during the trial. Conclusion: This study will provide a more effective, and less harmful way of treating carpal tunnel syndrome compared with conventional acupotomy. Fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy will help practitioners to be accurate in direction and depth of the needle for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2014

Objectives The objective of this study is to report the effects of acupuncture on neonatal brachial plexus palsy (neonatal brachial plexopathy). Methods We treated the patient with acupuncture for 4 months. Acupuncture was performed on the infant with flaccid paresis of a lower extremity. The effects of neonatal brachial plexus injury were measured by the active movement scale and the electromyographic test. Results 1. In electromyographic test, conduction velocity in left median nerve was elevated. 2. Active movement scale score was increased from 6 to 27 during the 4 months of treatment. 3. Grasping power of the patient's left hand was 60% stronger than the first medical examination. Conclusions This study showed that acupuncture was effective in treating the symptoms of brachial plexopathy. The further studies might be also needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.2 s.50
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• pp.398-405
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• 1995

We experienced a case of occupational lead poisoning employed in a secondary lead smelting plant for 12 years. The patient was 39-year-old male and had been felt dizziness, recent memory impairment and intermittent severe abdominal pain for 2 years. On admission, blood lead level was $92.9{\mu}g/dl$, urinary lead level was $19.9{\mu}g/l$ and zinc protoporphyrin level was $226.0{\mu}g/dl$. On the blood test, hemoglobin was 10.6g/dl and showed normocytic normochromic anemia. There were no abnormal findings in the biochemical and hormonal tests. Decrease of I.Q. and use of words in speaking were found in the psychiatric and psychologic examinations. We observed the finding of motor polyneuropathy in the nerve conduction velocity test. Computed tomographic finding showed calcification lesions in the basal ganglia, dentate nuclei, caudate nuclei, and especially characteristic multiple calcifications were located in the subcortical white matter.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2018

A 36-year-old male patient developed diffuse low back pain. His past medical history was unremarkable and had no family history of neuromuscular disease. He had no bladder and bowel problems. Creatine kinase was 172 U/L (normal < 170). Other fluid and blood chemistry tests were normal. Manual muscle test grades of extremities and sensory examination were normal. Muscle stretch reflexes were normal. Fasciculations and myotonia were not detected. Straight leg raising test was negative. There was no spinal root compression, spinal stenosis, or signal intensity change of spinal cord on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fatty change and atrophy of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar paraspinal muscles were noted on MRI. Nerve conduction studies were normal. Electromyography showed 1+ positive sharp waves in the lumbar paraspinal muscles. Electromyography of upper and lower extremity muscles revealed no abnormal spontaneous activity. We report a rare case of severe paraspinal muscle atrophy with fatty degeneration in a Young Adult.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.465-473
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• 2004

Purpose : The essential triad for nerve regeneration is nerve conduit, supporting cell and neurotrophic factor. In order to improve the peripheral nerve regeneration, we used polyglycolic acid(PGA) tube and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) gene transfected Schwann cells in sciatic nerve defects of SD rat. Materials and methods : Nerve conduits were made with PGA sheet and outer surface was coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) for mechanical strength and control the resorption rate. The diameter of conduit was 1.8mm and the length was 17mm Schwann cells were harvested from dorsal root ganglion(DRG) of SD rat aged 1 day. Schwann cells were cultured on the PGA sheet to test the biocompatibility adhesion of Schwann cell. Human BDNF gene was obtained from cDNA library and amplified using PCR. BDNF gene was inserted into E1 deleted region of adenovirus shuttle vector, pAACCMVpARS. BDNF-adenovirus was multiplied in 293 cells and purified. The BDNF-Adenovirus was then infected to the cultured Schwann cells. Left sciatic nerve of SD rat (250g weighing) was exposed and 14mm defects were made. After bridging the defect with PGA conduit, culture medium(MEM), Schwann cells or BDNF-Adenovirus infected Schwann cells were injected into the lumen of conduit, respectively. 12 weeks after operation, gait analysis for sciatic function index, electrophysiology and histomorphometry was performed. Results : Cultured Schwann cells were well adhered to PGA sheet. Sciatic index of BDNF transfected group was $-53.66{\pm}13.43$ which was the best among three groups. The threshold of compound action potential was between 800 to $1000{\mu}A$ in experimental groups which is about 10 times higher than normal sciatic nerve. Conduction velocity and peak voltage of action potential of BDNF group was the highest among experimental groups. The myelin thickness and axonal density of BDNF group was significantly greater than the other groups. Conclusion : BDNF gene transfected Schwann cells could regenerate the sciatic nerve gap(14mm) of rat successfully.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2004

Background: Electrophysiologic study accurately predicts the degree of degenerated motor axons but cannot give precise information on the type of injury that occurred in Bell's palsy. Because of these limitation for prognostic prediction in Bell's palsy, we evaluated divergence of electrophysiological time course for the purpose of presuming the type of injury in Bell's palsy. Methods: We did bilateral facial nerve conduction studies in 103 Bell's palsy patients, who visited to Han-Gang sacred heart hospital from 1998 to 2001. We compared the CMAP amplitude of disease site with that of normal site and suggested that decremental CMAP amplitude ratio (percentage) as a degree of denervation of affected facial nerve. Then we demonstrated the time course of denervation percentage. After defining normal range of CMAP amplitude difference from normal control group, we also evaluated if distinct time course of early minimal denervation is present. Results: Our results show that time course of the denervation in early stage of Bell's palsy reflect various injury type such as axonotmesis, neurotmesis or other unidentified type. We cannot identify the distinct time course of early minimal denervation. Conclusions: The time course as well as the maximal value of denervation are the best prognostic guidelines in Bell' s palsy. So repeated serial electrophysiologic test are inevitable to assess prognosis. As an another topic, early minimal denervation for prognostic prediction deserve to be evaluated as a future work up for prognostic prediction.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory technique that delivers low-intensity direct current to cortical areas, thereby facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity. This study was designed to investigate changes in various sensory functions after tDCS. We conducted a single-center, single-blinded, randomized trial to determine the effect of a single session of tDCS with the current perception threshold (CPT) in 50 healthy volunteers. Nerve conduction studies were performed in relation to the median sensory and motor nerves on the dominant hand to discriminate peripheral nerve lesions. The subjects received anodal tDCS with 1 mA for 15 minutes under two different conditions, with 25 subjects in each groups: the conditions were as follows tDCS on the primary motor cortex (M1) and sham tDCS on M1. We recorded the parameters of the CPT a with Neurometer$^{(R)}$ at frequencies of 2000, 250, and 5 Hz in the dominant index finger to assess the tactile sense, fast pain and slow pain, respectively. In the test to measure CPT values of the M1 in the tDCS group, the values of the distal part of the distal interphalangeal joint of the second finger statistically increased in all of 2000 Hz (p=.000), 250 Hz (p=.002), and 5 Hz (p=.008). However, the values of the sham tDCS group decreased in all of 2000 Hz (p=.285), 250 Hz (p=.552), and 5 Hz (p=.062), and were not statistically significant. These results show that M1 anodal tDCS can modulate sensory perception and pain thresholds in healthy adult volunteers. The study suggests that tDCS may be a useful strategy for treating central neurogenic pain in rehabilitation medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2000

Background: Pulsed radiofrequency (RF) lesioning is a painless procedure and causes no neurodestruction and neuritis-like reaction are common following conventional RF lesioning. There is little data about the effect of pulsed RF especially with regard to its suitability for the treatment of acute pain. The possibility of a placebo effect cannot be ruled out because a double-blind study was not performed in previous studies. There is also no neuropathologic study about pulsed RF. Methods: The rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (40 mg/kg, i.p.; supplemented as necessary). The common sciatic nerve was exposed by blunt dissection through biceps femoris. Pulsed RF was administered to the common sciatic nerve using a 30 ms/s pulse with for 120 seconds. The temperature reached was no more than $42^{\circ}C$. Analgesia was determined using hot-plate assay shortly and, 3 days and 1 week before, and 2 weeks after operation. Lesions were examined with LM (light microscope) and EM (electron microscope) 2 weeks later. Results: There were no differences in response latencies between the control and experimental group. There were many vacuoles with hyaline bodies in the Schwann cell cytoplasm rather than axon in LM and larger electron dense bodies. No changes were found in the axon or unmyelinated fibers. Only small changes were found in the sheaths of myelinated fibers and Schwann cells. Conclusions: We therefore do think that any analgesic effect of pulsed RF is not a result of block of neural conduction. But rather than it can be attributed to others factors. It was also ineffective as a treatment for acute pain such as that caused by the hot-plate test.