• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.254-257
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• 1997

Ganglion impar lies immediately anterior to the sacrococcygeal junction and blockade of the ganglion is used to treat anorectal and perineal pain. Although the technique introduced by Plancarte et at is widely practised, the bent needle is sometimes difficult to position precisely and patients find the procedure painful. We modified this approach of block of ganglion impar by positioning the needle into the sacrococcygeal junction and using the loss of resistance technique. With the patient in the lateral position, a skin wheal was raised at 1-1.5cm below the sacral hiatus. Twenty-three gauge short needle was directly placed into the sacrococcygeal junction with aid of fluoroscopic guidance. From 1 cm behind the anterior margin of the vertebral body in lateral view, we used the loss of resistance technique to confirm the retroperitoneal space. We found this modified approach easier to perform during six blocks for three patients with anorectal or perineal pain. Our modified approach through the sacrococcygeal junction may provide opportunity for wider administration of this procedure because of its simple technique, reduced pain during procedure and decreased risk of infection.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2004

PET/CT combines the functional information from a positron emission tomography (PET) exam with the anatomical information from a computed tomography (CT) exam into one single exam. A CT scan uses a combination of x-rays and computers to give the radiologist a non-invasive way to see inside your body. One advantage of CT is its ability to rapidly acquire two-dimensional pictures of your anatomy. Using a computer these 2-D images can be presented in 3-D for in-depth clinical evaluation. A PET scan detects changes in the cellular function - how your cells are utilizing nutrients like sugar and oxygen. Since these functional changes take place before physical changes occur, PET can provide information that enables your physician to make an early diagnosis. The PET exam pinpoints metabolic activity in cells and the CT exam provides an anatomical reference. When these two scans are fused together, your physician can view metabolic changes in the proper anatomical context of your body. PET/CT offers significant advantages including more accurate localization of functional abnormalities, and the distinction of pathological from normal physiological uptake, and improvements in monitoring treatment. A PET/CT scan allows physicians to measure the body's abnormal molecular cell activity to detect cancer (such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, lymphoma, melanoma and other skin cancers), brain disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy), and heart disease (such as coronary artery disease).

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2004

Materials and Methods: We studied 50 cases of peroneal perforating branch about branching pattern, course, length of vascular pedicle, and perforating level of the perforating cutaneous branches from Oct. 1985 to November 2003 by doppler flow meter and intraoperative findings. Results: 1) The perforating cutaneous branches were classified into four types, the Straight Branch (27cases), the Proximal Oblique Branch (11cases), the Branch from Muscular Artery (10cases), the Distal Oblique Branch(2 cases) respectively. The most common patten was Straight Branch, that was 54%. 2) There were 3 pathways of these branches, the most common one passed between the Soleus and Peroneus muscles(34 cases, 68%) 3) The length of vascular pedicle in Buoy Flap was variable from from 3 cm to 15 cm, but 32 cases(64%) were distributed between 5 cm and 6 cm. 4) The perforating level of branches were 5.9 cm in average from fibular neck to subcutaneous perforator artery 5) Peroneal Buoy Flap in possible to reconstruct both seperated bone and skin defect in some distance by One-Stage Operation and we can harvest maximal $8{\times}16cm$ sized flap in one perforating artery. If we include more two perforating artery, we get more wide flap which can cover large defect.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1998

Despite of technical advances in surgery & other therapeutic modalities five-year survival rates in patients with carcinoma of hypopharynx have remained low. Many techniques have been used to create a structure capable of allowing the passage of food and fluids in an attempt to maintain the anatomy and physiology of the upper digestive system. The development of microsurgical techniques and the concept of mucocutaneous unit has brought about important changes in the reconstruction of cervical esophagus following tumor resection. The one-stage procedure using microvascular anastomosis of free jejunal graft provides physiologic reconstruction of cervical esophagus and has a low morbidity rate as well as a short recuperation time. With free jejunal graft, there is marked improvement in the quality of life and numerous advantages over the previous methods of reconstruction. Reconstruction of esophageal defect after resection of carcinomas of the hypopharynx, and cervical esophagus has traditionally been carried out with deltopectoral, or musculocutaneous skin-lined flaps. A second approach is to reconstruct the defect with the colon or stomach. A more ideal mettled is to repair these defects with mucosa-lined flaps. The authors experienced 35 cases of reconstruction of cervical esophagus after resection of carcinoma of the hypopharynx with free jejunal autograft and one case of secondary repair with radial forearm free flap after failure of initial free Jejunal autograft. Postoperative results were satisfactory in most patients and two patients expired in 8 days postoperatively because of carotid blow out by chronic inflammation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.194-199
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• 2023

Moderate soft-tissue defects need stable coverage, ideally with tissue of similar characteristics and low donor site morbidity. We propose a simple technique for the coverage of moderate skin defects in the limbs. It allows intraoperative transformation of a propeller perforator flap (PPF) into a keystone design perforator flap (KDPF) in cases of unsatisfying perforator vessel or in cases of unpredictable intraoperative events. Between March 2013 and July 2019, nine patients with moderate soft-tissue defects (mean defect size 4.5 × 7.6 cm) in the limbs (two on the upper limbs and seven on the lower limbs) were covered using this technique. We performed four PPFs and five KDPFs. The mean follow-up was 5 months. There was one complication, partial distal tip necrosis in a PPF located in the leg, which healed by secondary intention within 3 weeks. The donor site was closed directly in all cases. No functional impairments were noted regardless of the perforator flap utilized. This technique enables us to employ flexible surgical strategies and allows us to make adjustments based on the patient's vascular anatomy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.106-114
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• 2014

Objective : UV irradiatiion causes skin-aging involving coarse wrinkles, thickning, dyspigmentation, and rough skin surface. This study was aimed to elucidate the anti-winkle activity of complex diet of Korean red ginseng (RG) and fish oil (FO) on UV-induced Photoaging. Methods : To investigated photo-protective effects of Korean red ginseng and fish oil on UV-induced damaged skins, SKH hairless female mice were randomly divided into six groups [control, UV, UV/RG, UV/FO, UV/RG/FO(low), UV/RG/FO(high)]and orally administered three times a week respectively. UV radiation was applied to the backs of the mice three times a week for 8 weeks. Expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-13 and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in skin were measured by immunohistochemical staining. Results : In this study, UVB-induced epidermal hypertropy was diminished by RG group or FO group or complex group of RG and FO. Expression levels of MMP-3 and MMP-13 were reduced and expression level of TIMP-1 was increased by RG group or FO group or complex group of RG and FO. Especially MMP-3 and MMP-13 were markedly reduced by diet of FO and complex diet of RG and FO compared with untreated group. Conclusions : This results suggest that complex diet of RG and FO have a anti-wrinkle activity on UV-induced photo-aging and intrinsic aging.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.360-367
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the effects of total ginseng saponin (TGS) on the cutaneous wound healing process using histological analysis. A total of 24 ICR mice, 5-weeks-old, were used for all in vivo experiments. Mice were divided into control and TGS-treated groups and four equidistant 1-cm full-thickness dorsal incisional wounds were created. The wounds were extracted at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-injury for histomorphometrical analysis including wound area and contracture measurements, keratinocyte migration rate, and calculation of infiltrating inflammatory cells. The results showed that the wound area was smaller and keratinocyte migration rate was higher in the TGS-treated group than that of the control group from days 3 to 7. Inflammatory cells in the TGS-treated group at days 1 and 3 were reduced compared to the control group. Wound contraction in the TGS-treated group was greater than in the control group on days 3 to 5, and collagen deposition in the TGS-treated group was higher than in the control group during wound healing. The results indicate a beneficial effect of TGS when used to treat skin wounds.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.354-359
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• 2012

We examined that the protective effects of ANX1 on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced skin inflammation in animal models using a Tat-ANX1 protein. Topical application of the Tat-ANX1 protein markedly inhibited TPA-induced ear edema and expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$). Also, application of Tat-ANX1 protein significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in TPA-treated mice ears. The results indicate that Tat-ANX1 protein inhibits the inflammatory response by blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK activation in TPA-induced mice ears. Therefore, the Tat-ANX1 protein may be useful as a therapeutic agent against inflammatory skin diseases.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the high voltage pulsed Current (HVPC) stimulation on the healing rate and the proliferative activity of keratinocytes and IGF-I mRNA expression of an incisional wound in rat skin. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats ($265{\sim}290g$) were randomly divided into HVPC (n=10) and control group (n=10). Rats received 10 mm length of full-thickness incision wound on the back under the anesthesia. The HVPC group received electrical stimulation with a Current intensity of 50 V at 100 pps for a duration of 30 minutes, while the control group was given the same treatment without electricity for a week. Polarity was negative in first three days and positive thereafter. The wound length was measured and evaluated as percentage. The mean number of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) per nucleus and level of IGF-I mRNA expression were calculated. The mean percent of wound closure were $51.17{\pm}17.76%$ and $80.71{\pm}11.91%$, respectively, in the sham treated control and HVPC stimulated groups (t=-4.308, P<0.001). The mean NOR number per nucleus of the keratinocytes in the control and HVPC group were $1.85{\pm}0.20$ and $2.70{\pm}0.23$, respectively (t=8.638, P<0.001). The IGF-I mRNA level were $0.76{\pm}0.44$ and $1.32{\pm}0.41$, respectively, in the control and HVPC stimulated wounds (t=2.906, P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between the mean NOR number per nucleus and IGF-l mRNA level with a Pearson product moment correlation coefficient of 0.72 (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the HVPC may activate the rRNA of the basal keratinocytes and upregulate the IGF-I mRNA levels by alteration of the electrical environment, and it may increase proliferative activity of the keratinocytes in the skin wound of the rat.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-137
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• 2011

In order to improve efficacy of oriental medicines and to study the application of fermented oriental medicine in clinicals, the efficacy of CYT and CYTBH on atopic dermatitis were evaluated. The results and conclusions are as follows. CYT and CYTBH significantly improved the atopic dermatitis symptoms in NC/Nga mice by naked eye evaluation and significantly decreased clinical index in both groups. CYT and CYTBH both decreased the cell numbers of CD3+, CD11b+Gr-1+ cells in dorsal skin. Of the cells, CYT significantly decreased CD11b+Gr-1+ cells whereas CYTBH significantly decreased all immune cells. CYT and CYTBH both decreased the production rate of IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ activated by CD3/CD28. In the case of CYTBH, significant decrease in all cases was observed. CYT and CYTBH decreased the production rate of IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17 in serum. Significant decrease of IL-5 in the case of CYT and IL-5 and IL-13 in the case of CYTBH were observed. CYT and CYTBH significantly decreased transcription of IL-5 mRNA and IL-13 mRNA in skin. Significant decrease in IgG1 and IgE immunoglobulins in serum were oberved in both groups. Significant decrease was only observed in the case of CYTBH. Both CYT and CYTBH significantly decreased the secretion of histamine. Both CYT and CYTBH suppressed erythema, hemorrhage, edema, excoriation, erosion of skin tissues of NC/Nga mice resulting in the decrease of thickness of epidermis. Significant decrease of infiltration of obese cells was also observed. The results above indicated that both CYT and CYTBH had significant efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis through immune modulation. Animal studies showed that CYTBH had superior activity than that of CYT suggesting further and continuous studies on the changes in ingredients or absorption improvement by fermentation should follow.