• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the combined effect of acupotomy, selective cryolysis and herbal medicine therapy for treating regional fat accumulation of thigh. Twenty-four patients were selected for the study. A session of selective cryolysis and acupotomy treatments were performed on both thighs once a week, for four weeks, with administration of herbal medicine. Thigh circumference, weight, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle mass, and body fat rate were measured before and after the procedure. Statistical significance (P<0.05) was determined using the paired t-test. After treatments, thigh circumference was significantly reduced by $3.57{\pm}1.41cm$ in 4 weeks (P<0.001). Weight, BMI, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat rate too were significantly reduced (P<0.001). Of the 24 patients, 1 reported an adverse event of frostbite. We assume this combined therapy can be useful when dealing with localized fat accumulation. Long-term evaluation and further studies are required to identify the specific effect size.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1499-1504
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• 2000

Objectives : In general, conventional T2, T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy must be one of the most effective treatments for the essential palmar hyperhidrosis. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a high rate of side effects, such as embarrassing compensatory sweating and Hornor's syndrome. The authors have performed a selective T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy to our patients to see whether it provides successful results with less side effects. Its preliminary results were compared with those of conventional T2, T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy. Methods : The thoracoscopic sympathicotomy was performed in 54 patients suffering from essential palmar hyperhidrosis. Twenty-four patients underwent a conventional sympathicotmy(group A) from Jan 1997 to Dec 1997 and 30 patients a selective T3 sympathicotmy(group B) from Jan 1998 to Dec 1999. For assessment of postoperative success and of complications all patients charts were reviewed. Patients further received a postal questionnaire regarding long-term effect, satisfaction, and side-effects. Results : No recurrence was observed in both groups. The global rate of compensatory sweating was significantly(p ＝0.020) different in both groups : 11 patients(45.8%) in group A and 5 patients(16.73%) in group B. The Hornor's syndrome was observed only in 4 patients in group A. The preliminary results of the procedure in group A were considered fully-satisfying by 16 patients(66.6%), 6 patients(25%) were satisfied partially, and only 2 patients(8.3%) were dissatisfied, and those of the procedure in group B satisfying by 26 patients(86.6%), 4 patients(13.3.% ) were satisfied partially, and none dissatisfied. Conclusion : The selective T3 sympathicotomy results in a significant decrease in the rate of disturbing side effects comparing to conventional T2, T3 sympathicotomy and it dose not lead to recurrence. Our results contribute to recommendations of a selective T3 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy as treatment of choice in essential palmar hyperhidrosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2004

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly the highly selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been shown to decrease the growth of tumor, in part, by inhibition of neovascularization. Recently, besides mature endothelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to contribute neovascularization in angiogenic tissues. In this study, we addressed a question whether nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, could affect differentiation of EPCs into adhesive endothelial cells in vitro. Total mononuclear cells were isolated from cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were incubated with nimesulide or vehicle control for 7 days. The number of adherent and spindle-shaped cells decreased by nimesulide treatment in a concentration-dependent fashion at a concentration range of 5 - 200 ${\mu}M$. Moreover, the adherent cells double positive for DiI-ac-LDL uptake and lectin binding significantly decreased upon nimesulide treatment. There was no change of expression of CD31 between treatment and control groups, whereas slight reduction was detected upon treatment in expression of VE-cadherin, ICAM-1, vWF, ${\alpha}v$, and ${\alpha}5$. Nimesulide also reduced cell viability during first 3 days' culture and induced apoptosis in adherent EPCs, resulting in increased annexin-V-positive and propidium iodide-negative cells. Taken together, these results suggest that nimesulide could be applied for the inhibition of new vessel formation, in part, by inhibiting differentiation and survival of EPCs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.238-246
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• 2021

Objective : To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics and surgical experience of 10 adults with spinal extradural meningeal cysts (SEMCs) in the thoracolumbar spine which may further provide evidence for surgical decision-making. Methods : Ten adults with SEMCs in the thoracolumbar spine were surgically treated and enrolled in this study. Clinical manifestations, imaging data, intraoperative findings and postoperative outcome were recorded. Results : Clinical manifestations of SEMCs included motor and sensory dysfunction of the lower limbs and urination and defecation disturbance. The cysts presented as intraspinal occupying lesions dorsal to the spine, ranging from the T8 to L3 level. Defects of eight cases were found on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Selective hemilaminectomy or laminectomy were used to reveal the defect within the cyst, which was further sutured with microscopic technique. The final outcome was excellent or good in seven cases and fair in three cases. No recurrence was observed during follow-up. Conclusion : SEMCs are rare intraspinal cystic lesions. Radiography and MRI are clinically practical methods to assess defects within SEMCs. Selective hemilaminectomy or laminectomy may reduce surgical trauma. Detection and microscopic suturing of the defects are the key steps to adequately decompress the nervous tissue and prevent postoperative recurrence.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2023

Autophagy is a process of eliminating damaged or unnecessary proteins and organelles, thereby maintaining intracellular homeostasis. Deregulation of autophagy is associated with several diseases including cancer. Contradictory dual roles of autophagy have been well established in cancer. Cytoprotective mechanism of autophagy has been extensively investigated for overcoming resistance to cancer therapies including radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. Selective autophagy inhibitors that directly target autophagic process have been developed for cancer treatment. Efficacies of autophagy inhibitors have been tested in various pre-clinical cancer animal models. Combination therapies of autophagy inhibitors with chemotherapeutics are being evaluated in clinal trials. In this review, we will focus on genetical and pharmacological perturbations of autophagy-related proteins in different steps of autophagic process and their therapeutic benefits. We will also summarize combination therapies of autophagy inhibitors with chemotherapies and their outcomes in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Understanding of current knowledge of development, progress, and application of cytoprotective autophagy inhibitors in combination therapies will open new possibilities for overcoming drug resistance and improving clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1060-1067
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• 2006

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of reservoirs on water quality and the distribution of pathogenic and indicator bacteria in a drinking water distribution system (total length 14km). Raw water, disinfected water, and water samples from the distribution system were subjected to physicochemical and microbiological analyses. Most factors encountered at each season included residual chloride, nitrate, turbidity, and phosphorus for heterotrophic bacterial distribution, and hardness, heterotrophic bacteria, sampling site, and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) for bacteria on selective media. No Salmonella or Shigella spp. were detected, but many colonies of opportunistic pathogens were found. Comparing tap water samples taken at similar distances from the water treatment plant, samples that had passed through a reservoir had a higher concentration of heterotrophic bacteria, and a higher rate of colony formation with 10 times as many bacteria on selective media. Based on the results with m-Endo agar, the water in reservoirs appeared safe; however, coliforms and opportunistic pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa were identified on other selective media. This study illustrates that storage reservoirs in the drinking water distribution system have low microbiological water quality by opportunistic pathogens, and therefore, water quality must be controlled.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2023

Liver fibrosis is caused by chronic liver damage and results in the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix during disease progression. Despite the identification of the HAT enzyme p300 as a major factor for liver fibrosis, the development of therapeutic agents targeting the regulation of p300 has not been reported. We validated a novel p300 inhibitor (A6) on the improvement of liver fibrosis using two mouse models, mice on a choline-deficient high-fat diet and thioacetamide-treated mice. We demonstrated that pathological hall-marks of liver fibrosis were significantly diminished by A6 treatment through Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining on liver tissue and found that A6 treatment reduced the expression of matricellular protein genes. We further showed that A6 treatment improved liver fibrosis by reducing the stability of p300 protein via disruption of p300 binding to AKT. Our findings suggest that targeting p300 through the specific inhibitor A6 has potential as a major therapeutic avenue for treating liver fibrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.216-229
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• 2023

Background: The role of the sympathetic nervous system appears to be central in causing pain in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The stellate ganglion block (SGB) using additives with local anesthetics is an established treatment modality. However, literature is sparse in support of selective benefits of different additives for SGB. Hence, the authors aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of clonidine with methylprednisolone as additives to ropivacaine in the SGB for treatment of CRPS. Methods: A prospective randomized single blinded study (the investigator blinded to the study groups) was conducted among patients with CRPS-I of the upper limb, aged 18-70 years with American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I-III. Clonidine (15 ㎍) and methylprednisolone (40 mg) were compared as additives to 0.25% ropivacaine (5 mL) for SGB. After medical treatment for two weeks, patients in each of the two groups were given seven ultrasound guided SGBs on alternate days. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to visual analogue scale score, edema, or overall patient satisfaction. After 1.5 months follow-up, however, the group that received methylprednisolone had better improvement in range of motion. No significant side effects were seen with either drug. Conclusions: The use of additives, both methylprednisolone and clonidine, is safe and effective for the SGB in CRPS. The significantly better improvement in joint mobility with methylprednisolone suggests that it should be considered promising as an additive to local anaesthetics when joint mobility is the concern.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.396-400
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• 1991

Massive and untreated hemoptysis is associated with a mortality of greater than 50 percents. Since the bleeding was from a bronchial arterial source in the vast majority of patients, embolization of the bronchial arteries has become an accepted treatment in the management of massive hemoptysis because it achieves immediate control of the patients. We have controlled massive hemoptysis in a case with selective bronchial arteral embolization with Gelfoam.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.182-185
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• 2006

Various immunotherapeutic modalities have been used based on the autoimmune pathogenic mechanisms of myasthenia gravis (MG). Cell-mediated immunity as well as auto-antibodies may play a role in the remission and relapse of MG. We recently experienced two patients with MG who showed spontaneous remission after inadvertent severe leukopenia. These findings suggest that the cell-mediated immune process is important in the treatment of MG, and selective suppression of leukocyte may induce remission in the patients with intractable MG.