• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.59-76
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• 2004

Objectives : The usage of acupuncture has gained popularity for certain chronic pain conditions. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in various diseases has not been fully established and the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to yangno$(SI_6)$ on the neuropathic pain was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in human is a neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. When rats developed pain behaviors, EA was applied for 30 min. under enflurane anesthesia with repeated train stimuli at the intensity of 10X of muscle twitch threshold. The foot withdraw latency of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : EA increased the mechanical threshold of the foot in the rat model of neuropathic pain significantly for the duration of 1 hr. suggesting a partial alleviation of pain. EA applied to SI6 point produced a significant improvement of mechanical sensitivity of the foot lasting for at least 1 h. However, $ST_{36}$ point did not produce any significant increase of mechanical sensitivity. The improvement of mechanical threshold was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effort was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on the neuropathic pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a point, $ST_{36}$. In addition, this analgesic effect of EA is mediated by a adrenergic mechanism of descending control of spinal cord from the brain. Conclusions : The data suggest that EA produces a potent analgesic effect on the neuropathic pain model in the rat; and 2) that EA-induced analgesia is mediated by a adrenergic mechanism of descending control in a point specific manner.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.431-445
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• 2000

In general the prevalence of old people is high and frequently have multiple diseases and symtoms requiring treatment. The nature of illness in the elderly has to be faced, and drugs do have an important part in the treatment of that illness. The purpose of this study were to describe health status and medication, and to provide some basic data for elderly's health education, especially for the right medication. Body mass index, self perceived health status, activities of daily living, disease and experience of past operation were surveyed to recognize the 249 elderly's actual health status. The degree of the elderly's understanding the way of medication, experience of side effects, experience of drug combination and incidence of drug adverse reaction along with drug combination were examined for medication. The aged $women(BMI; 10.7\pm13.3\%)$ overweighed the aged $men(BMI; 4.0\pm10.4\%)$. $69.0\%$ of them recognized their health good. Their activities of daily living were diminished following by the age group(p=0.0068) and relationship with self perceived health status were very significant(p=0.0005). They(192 elderly) suffered from multiple disease such as $osteoarthritis(49.5\%)$, $hypertension(32.0\%)$, gastric $disorder(16.1%)$, $diabetes(14.6\%)$, $osteomalacia(10.9\%)$, cardiovascular $disease(9.9\%)$, senile $cataract(5.7\%)$, skin $rash(5.2\%)$, liver $disease(4.2\%)$, kidney $disease(3.6\%)$, spinal cord $problem(3.6\%)$, respiratory $disease(2.1\%)$ $tuberculosis(1.0\%)\;etc(1.0\%).$ $28.3\%$ of them replied that they had an operation for appendictis senile cataract, peptic ulcer, spinal cord problem, pleurisy, hemorrhoid and the rest. Most of $them(87.4\%)$ knew the way very well how to use drugs, and $21.6\%$ of the replied 171 elderly experienced adverse drug reaction. Drug compliance rate were $high(83.6\%)$. In our study 56.9% of the 167 elderly took several medicine together. And $18.9\%$ of the 95 elderly who did drug combination had an experience of drug interaction. One person kept average 5.5 kinds of drugs at home among 243 elderly. They kept $digestives(79.4\%)$, $ointments(68.7\%)$, $vitamins(59.7\%)$, $analgesics(59.7\%)$, cold $medicines(45.3\%)$ antiarthritic $drugs(33.3\%)$, health $foods(27.7\%)$, antihypertensive $drugs(25.1\%)$, anti peptic ulcer $drugs(24.7\%)$, $laxatives(19.8\%)$, $antacids(16.5\%),\;antibiotics(l6.5\%)$, hypoglycemic $agents(10.3\%)$, cardiac $stimulants(7.0\%)$, $diuretics(4.5\%)$, antiarrhythmic $drugs(4.9\%)$, anti anginal $drugs(4.1\%)$, $hypnotics(3.3\%)$, $etc(38.3\%)$. With this result, we ascertain that polypharmacy in the elderly caused by multiple disease is common, which lead to drug interaction. So our task is to educate elderly how to use drugs in order to maximize their efficiency and to minimize their adverse effects.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.27-44
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• 2015

Objectives This study was carried out to find the effects of Gami-cheongyulsaseub-tang (hereinafter referred to GCST) on the inhibition of zymosan-induced pain in rats and collagen II-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mouse. Methods As an acute inflammatory pain model, peripheral inflammation was induced by intraplantar injection of zymosan into the right hind paw in rats and then the hyperalgesia and pain regulating factors in spinal cord were analyzed. As a chronic inflammation model, the mixture of collagen II and complete Freund's adjuvant was treated into mice to establish rheumatoid arthritis and then body weight, thickness of hind paw, pathological change of spleen, immunological rheumatoid factor (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgM and anti-collagen II), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and bone injury were analyzed. Results In the acute inflammatory pain model, GCST significantly inhibited the thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and the pain regulating factors, including Fos, CD11b, PKA and PKC, in the spinal cord with a dose-dependent manner. In the chronic rheumatoid arthritis model, GCST administration decreased arthritic index and paw edema as compared with CIA control group. In particular, GCST reduced significantly the serum levels of total IgG2a, IgG2b, IgM, and specific anti-collagen II, but not total IgG1. GCST also resulted in the attenuation of bone injury and spleen enlargement/adhesion in CIA mice. Moreover, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in CIA mice was significantly reduced by GCST in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions Comparison of the results in this study showed that GCST had anti-nociceptive and immunomodulatory effects. These data imply that GCST can be used as an effective drug for not only rheumatoid arthritic pain but also other auto-immune diseases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.577-583
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• 2017

Objective : Laminoplasty is an effective surgical method for treating cervical degenerative disease. However, postoperative complications such as kyphosis, restriction of neck motion, and instability are often reported. Despite sufficient preoperative lordosis, this procedure often aggravates the lordotic curve of the cervical spine and straightens cervical alignment. Hence, it is important to examine preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative kyphotic alignment changes. Our study aimed to investigate preoperative radiologic parameters associated with kyphotic deformity post laminoplasty. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 patients who underwent open door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2011 and December 2015. Inclusion criteria were as follows : 1) preoperative diagnosis of OPLL or CSM, 2) no previous history of cervical spinal surgery, cervical trauma, tumor, or infection, 3) minimum of one-year follow-up post laminoplasty with proper radiologic examinations performed in outpatient clinics, and 4) cases showing C7 and T1 vertebral body in the preoperative cervical sagittal plane. The radiologic parameters examined included C2-C7 Cobb angles, T1 slope, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), range of motion (ROM) from C2-C7, segmental instability, and T2 signal change observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical factors examined included preoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, disease classification, duration of symptoms, and the range of operation levels. Results : Mean preoperative sagittal alignment was $13.01^{\circ}$ lordotic; $6.94^{\circ}$ lordotic postoperatively. Percentage of postoperative kyphosis was 80%. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to postoperative Cobb angle change; a control group (n=22) and kyphotic group (n=27). The kyphotic group consisted of patients with more than $5^{\circ}$ kyphotic angle change postoperatively. There were no differences in age, sex, C2-C7 Cobb angle, T1 slope, C2-C7 SVA, ROM from C2-C7, segmental instability, or T2 signal change. Multiple regression analysis revealed T1 slope had a strong relationship with postoperative cervical kyphosis. Likewise, correlation analysis revealed there was a statistical significance between T1 slope and postoperative Cobb angle change (p=0.035), and that there was a statistically significant relationship between T1 slope and C2-C7 SVA (p=0.001). Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope demonstrated loss of lordotic curvature postoperatively. Conclusion : Laminoplasty has a high probability of aggravating sagittal balance of the cervical spine. T1 slope is a good predictor of postoperative kyphotic changes of the cervical spine. Similarly, T1 slope is strongly correlated with C2-C7 SVA.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to analyze women's health problems using Green & Kreuter's(1991) PRECEDE model and to develop health education program for women's health. The subjects were recruited women from Wonju city 18 years or older. 1. The results showed that about 50% of the women were satisfied with their lives as women, 23% of the sample felt there was a need for a women's health care center. The mean number of health problems was 3.1 and the prevalence rate, 44.4%. 2. We developed on educational program according to group differences related to health problems, diagnosis of disease, variables influencing health promotion behavior, and programs which each group wanted. Also we stressed self-efficacy and self-help group for the management of individual health to all groups. 3. The diagnoses of diseases that were experienced premarital over the past year were gastritis, bronchitis, spinal disk, and fracture, for the childbearing/rearing group, gastritis, vaginitis and cervicitis, cervical cancer and cystitis and nephritis and arthritis and for the middle-aged/elderly group arthritis, gastritis, vaginitis and cervicitis, and spinal disk. Of the sample 30.5% did not have a health exam in the past year, and only 10% of the premarital group, 12.5% of the childbearing/child-rearing group, and 18.3% of the middle aged-elderly group were concerned about their health and did something for their health. 4. The average score on the HPLP was 2.41. the HPLP was scores according to group were found to have significant differences. self-efficacy, family functions, health attention and were considered important variables in the premarital group, in the childbearing/child-rearing group self-efficacy, family functions, internal locus of control, health attention, and health perception and power others locus of control and then for the middle aged-elderly group self-efficacy, health attention, internal locus of control, family functions and health perception. 5. There are a few educational programs in the city provided by the Wonju Health Center and by community health nurse practitioners. The premarital group requested the educational programs on diet, health exercise, family health and stress management. Also the childbearing/child-rearing group wanted programs on diet, family health, stress management, and health exercise, and the middle-aged/elderly group wanted that of family health, diet, climacteric changes stress management and health exercise. The program suggested that this program should be applied to women in the community to insure adequate management of women's health. Follow-up research with PROCEED is needed to analyze health outcomes, also, a women's health nursing specialist system is required to develop health promotion, and improve the quality of life for women.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.414-422
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• 2019

There is accumulating evidence that microRNAs are emerging as pivotal regulators in the development and progression of neuropathic pain. MicroRNA-15a/16 (miR-15a/16) have been reported to play an important role in various diseases and inflammation response processes. However, whether miR-15a/16 participates in the regulation of neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain development remains unknown. In this study, we established a mouse model of neuropathic pain by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerves. Our results showed that both miR-15a and miR-16 expression was significantly upregulated in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Downregulation of the expression of miR-15a and miR-16 by intrathecal injection of a specific inhibitor significantly attenuated the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia of CCI rats. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 downregulated the expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumor-necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), an important regulator in neuropathic pain and inflammation, was a potential target gene of miR-15a and miR-16. Inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 markedly increased the expression of GRK2 while downregulating the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and $NF-{\kappa}B$ in CCI rats. Notably, the silencing of GRK2 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-15a/16 inhibition in neuropathic pain. In conclusion, our results suggest that inhibition of miR-15a/16 expression alleviates neuropathic pain development by targeting GRK2. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of neuropathic pain and suggest potential therapeutic targets for preventing neuropathic pain development.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.311-320
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• 2019

Discogenic pain which develops during the degenerative process of intervertebral disc is an intractable disease of musculoskeletal system. Unlike other diseases in modern medical science, it is not clinically confirmed through objective imaging and clinicopathologic index. Moreover, current technology has been facing difficulties finding fundamental treatment. This study examined through reviewing literature whether the therapeutic rationales of interventional procedures for the discogenic pain, such as nerve block, intradiscal electrothermal therapy and nucleoplasty, are valid and whether safety reviews such as preclinical tests are carried out faithfully during the technology development process. As a result, it is presumed that there is not yet an interventional treatment for discogenic pain, whose therapeutic rationale has been objectively verified. And there are some cases of interventional treatment that have not been adequately equipped with the preclinical test steps necessary to review the safety of the procedure during the technology development process. In conclusion, since there is still no interventional treatment for discogenic pain which has clear therapeutic rationale, it is necessary to recognize that a more careful approach is needed to judge whether the procedure is performed in clinical settings. And medical ethical issues may arise for some interventional treatment that are deemed to have been carried out without a thorough review of safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.131-143
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• 2001

The primary aim of this dissertation is to contribute to the improvement of methods in physical examination by providing quality information for the current school system and advice for improving status. Present status, controversial points and possible remedies in physical examination were analyzed on a frequency and percentage basis. An $x^2$-test was used to verify the statistics between the results from the examination and each variable. In case of multiple categories of variables, an $x^2$ cs was adopted. Chronological data as well as both total and sampling physical examination data verified the statistics using an $x^2$-test. This thesis is based both on the data from middle school health care specialists in Gyunggi Province and on the analysis of physical examinations reported from local schools to the municipal education agency from 1997 to 1999. The results of the study are as follows: First, according to the survey, only 29.0% of the total schools had their school doctors examine all the students while most of the educational institutions failed to implement the whole process of physical examination on the list. It also turned out that the more students the schools have, the lower the rate of implementation of physical examination by school doctors(p=0.014). Second, the average time a school doctor spends for checkup turned out to be approximately 1.7 minutes per student This means that the quality of the physical examination is not guaranteed in the process. Third, 47.7% of those surveryed say that a dental examination was performed, each taking 21.24 seconds on average. In addition, it shows that some 31.5% wanted to have a task force team for dental checkups at the local health center. Given the fact that dental caries among students is progressively on the rise, the dental health centers that are now set up in some elementary schools should be expanded to cover the whole educational institution in order to raise awareness of the importance of dental care. Fourth, 48.5% of those surveyed say that a comprehensive physical examination should be adopted to promote the health of high schoolers. Since it takes a lot of public funds to implement a comprehensive method, it is essential to make sure that in-depth studies should be based on the frequency and methods of physical examination. Fifth, regarding such diseases among 3rd year middle school students in 1999, statistics shows that there was a slight difference in the prevalence rate of color blindness, and allergic diseases for male students ; and color blindness, hearing disturbance and allergic disease for female students. For those items, however, it is too little to say that there is a significant difference and accordingly it is assumed to be a problem of the measuring process. Sixth, the result of analysis on the sample physical examination and the total physical examination of the year 1999 shows as follows: For male students in the 3rd year of middle school, a slight difference appeared to those students in 11 items including eye problems and eye disease, otitis media, tonsillar hypertrophy, spinal shape, respiratory urinary allergic disease and other abnormal diseases(p<0.05). Particularly, the prevalence rate between students with and without disease was shown to be two times more in the following: eye problems, otitis media, tonsill hypertrophy, allergic diseases, etc. For female students in the 3rd year, prevalence rate showed little difference in 14 items(p<0.05). For items including eye problem, otitis media, tonsill hypertrophy, allergic disease, etc. it was shown that the rate was two times more between students with and without diseases. Physical examinations under the current school system are not producing any fundamental results for the health of the students. Methods and results are not trustworthy. Accordingly, a drastic overhaul of the current practices is needed in frequency, methods and items on the list in order to promote the health of the students. Cost-benefit studies as well as political considerations to ensure the development of efficient methods for physical examination are urgently needed at this moment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.761-768
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• 2001

Objective : To describe the underlying causes, surgical results, and prognostic factors in thoracic stenosis causing myelopathy, retrospective analysis for 28 cases of thoracic stenosis with surgery was performed Materials & Method : Twenty-eight patients(male, 15 ; female, 13) who underwent decompressive surgery for thoracic stenosis between 1987 and 1997 were analyzed. The mean age was 49 and the mean follow-up was 30.6 months. Statistical analysis with $SPSS^{(R)}$ was performed. Chi-square test was used for the analysis of relationship between subjects and multivariate analysis with general linear model was used to find prognostic factors. Result : Degenerative spondylosis was the most common cause, and three cases were associated with systemic diseases. Decompressive laminectomy was done in 23 cases, anterior decompression in four cases, and combined decompression in one case. Ossification of ligamentum flavum was found in 18 cases, facet hypertrophy in 13, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament in six, and ventral spur in four. Postoperatively, 16 patients improved functionally and 4 patients worsened. The group of which initial symptom duration was less than two years showed better result(p=0.003). The group with sufficient decompression and no additional proximal stenosis had better outcome(p=0.002, p=0.001). Conclusion : Chronic myelopathy caused by thoracic stenosis can be reversible with appropriate decompression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3979-3985
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• 2013

Background: Although primary malignant CNS tumors are registered in the national cancer registry (NCR) of Iran, there are no available data on the incidence of the primary malignant or benign CNS tumors and their common histopathologies in the country. This study analyzed the 10-year data of the Iranian NCR from March 21, 2000 to March 20, 2010, including a systematic review. Materials and Methods: The international and national scientific databases were searched using the search keywords CNS, tumor, malignancy, brain, spine, neoplasm and Iran. Results: Of the 1,086 primary results, 9 papers were selected and reviewed, along with analysis of 10-year NCR data. The results showed that primary malignant brain tumors have an overall incidence of 2.74 per 100,000 person-years. The analysis of the papers revealed a benign to malignant ratio of 1.07. The most common histopathologies are meningioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma and ependymoma. These tumors are more common in men (M/F=1.48). Primary malignant spinal cord tumors constitute 7.1% of the primary malignant CNS tumors with incidence of 0.21/100,000. Conclusions: This study shows that CNS tumors in Iran are in compliance with the pattern of CNS tumors in developing countries. The NCR must include benign lesions to understand the definitive epidemiology of primary CNS tumors in Iran.