• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of pharmacopuncture combined thread implantation therapy for treating localized obesity. The study was conducted on 3 subjects with abdominal localized fat, 1 subject with thigh and 1 subject with calf localized fat. We practiced two kinds of pharmacopunture, which were cultivated wild ginseng and contacting Ephedra sinica pharmacopuncture. In addition, we practiced thread implantation to 20 points on muscle membrane layer. We performed these treatments once in 2 weeks, totally for 3 times. After treatments, abdominal circumference and waist-hip ratio were reduced by 4.6 % and 0.13, respectively. In addition, circumferences of thigh and calf were reduced by 5.8 % and 4%. We supposed that this combined therapy could be useful to deal with localized fat deposit. Long-term evaluation and further studies are required to identify effect size of this therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore research trends in gold implantation therapy performed on the animal and human body, through a review of clinical studies focused on gold thread, gold needle and gold bead. Methods : Medical databases, including Pubmed, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, RISS4u, KISTI, OASIS and KTKP, were searched for relevant articles published from their launch to December 31, 2015 using the key word 'gold' with '$thread^*$', '$needle^*$', '$acupuncture^*$', '$wire^*$', '$bead^*$', '$embed^*$', '$implant^*$', or '$insert^*$'. The results were classified into in vivo studies, clinical trials and clinical reports. Analysis of the results was conducted in several research areas, from the identity of studies such as nationality and published year, to the gold preparations-features and implanted locations and to the outcomes that reflect the clinically favorable or adverse effect of gold implantation therapy. Results : A total of 30 studies including 11 in vivo studies, 4 clinical trials and 15 case reports, were found in the search. We observed certain research trends according to the research time, nationality and target indication of the studies. The studies primarily revealed a chronic local inflammatory response which could be a useful mechanism for pain-relief in musculoskeletal diseases and facial rejuvenation. Researches concerning long-term reactions or adverse effects were rare. Conclusion : The results show that the efforts to discover the level of clinical efficacy of gold implantation therapy were steady and worldwide. However, further researches on the longterm effect, and more importantly, the safety of gold implantation therapy are required.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2013

This study was to investigate the effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture and thread implantation therapy on abdominal obesity. These 5 subjects were selected among the patients who were 30 to 38 years old. We practiced combined therapy such as cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture on 5 points of abdominal fat and thread implantation therapy on 10 points of abdominal fat, twice a week, totally for 2 weeks. And the other therapies and recommendations about nutrition and exercises were totally excluded for 2 weeks. Body weight was reduced by 1.0 kg. Fat mass was reduced by 1.36 kg. And waist circumference was reduced by 3.98 cm. Thus it was acknowledged that waist partial fat could be reduced only by 2 interventions within 2 weeks. It could be more effective than any other combined therapy program including 10 therapy methods of oriental medicine.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the thread embedding treatment studies of obesity in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Methods : We reviewed 59 studies on cat-gut-embedding treatment of obesity which were published from 2005 to 2012. The studies were searched using the data base-CAJ(China Academic Journals; 中國期刊全文數據庫)(2005~2012). Results : Selected 59 studies were divided into 27 case series and 32 control studies. The number of studies has increased since 2005, more rapidly in 2011~2012. Most case series reported were about effectiveness of thread embedding monotherapy treating obesity. Control studies reported were about effectiveness of thread embedding treatment compared with acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and medicine. Most studies on thread embedding treatment of obesity showed that its effectiveness was very good. Conclusions : There have been many reports of thread embedding treatment studies of obesity in Traditional Chinese Medicine. We believed that these studies could be applied to the clinical practice and basic research in Korea.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.42-45
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• 2012

Background : Conservative techniques designed to block or delay the aging process have been utilized in various ways for many years. However, their effects can be relatively minimal and short-term in most cases compared to surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gold thread implantation for the treatment of periorbital wrinkles. Methods : A total of 78 consecutive patients who showed mild to severe periorbital wrinkles were deemed appropriate candidates, including 69 women and 9 men ranging from 31 to 59 years (mean, 47 years). Six gold threads about 4 cm in length were inserted subdermally in each patient at intervals of about 0.5 cm. Follow-up assessments were performed 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the procedure. The efficacy was rated by the physician using the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale and patients who made global assessments of changes in periorbital wrinkles using the Visual Analog Scale. Adverse events were monitored throughout the course of the study. Results : The patients showed significant improvements after the procedure. There were minor complications such as foreign body sensation in the eye (2.63%) and eye pain (1.32%) that improved spontaneously without any specific treatments. Conclusions : Subdermal implantation of gold thread improves the appearance of periorbital wrinkles and does not appear to have serious side effects. Insertion of gold thread may be an effective and safe method for facial rejuvenation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.16-44
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• 2014

Objective : To search the trend of studying thread-embedding therapy in Korean medicine academia up to now and to expand the range of using thread-embedding therapy in the future, this study was designed. Methods : Using search portal sites the following; http://oasis.kiom.re.kr, http://www.riss.re.kr, collected 37 articles and devided those three parts and classificated those into four subsection as follows; total analysis, original article, case report. Results : The number of articles are 8 review articles, 14 original articles, 15 case reports. In the year 2013, 14 articles were published and ranked highest(37.8%). The journal of acupuncture & moxibustion medicine society ranked highest(40.5%). 5 persons ranked highest(32.4%) in number of author. Facial beauty care ranked highest(21.6%) in clssification of disease. Remedy item ranked highest(50.0%) in classification of subjects of 8 review articles. No more than 25 persons ranked highest(66.7%) and 6~12months of treatment period ranked highest(33.3%) in 14 original articles. Conclusions : Thread-embedding therapy is considered very useful on various part of Korean medicine clinic. We need to expand application scope of thread-embedding therapy in the future.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2022

Background: Radio-telemetry is a useful method to investigate the spatial ecology of species in the wild, by tracking the signal of a transmitter attached to an individual. The method of attaching a transmitter to a snake is representatively divided into surgical implantation, and external attachment, which latter is often used in small snake species. Results: In this study, we evaluated and compared the utility of two external attachment methods, the nylon thread method and the tape method, applied to a small grassland snake species of approximately 50 cm snout-vent length, the Slender racer (Orientocoluber spinalis), on an island in the Republic of Korea. The nylon thread method and the tape method were applied to four and five individuals, and radio-tracked for an average of eight and eleven days, respectively. The nylon thread method caused individual injury and disturbed their movement, while using the tape method, the transmitter package sometimes dropped off, but no injury or movement problems occurred. Conclusions: Considering that poor understanding of how to attach the transmitter makes it difficult to investigate the spatial ecology of small snake species, the tape method, evaluated in this study, could be applied to attach a transmitter and to study spatial ecology of such snakes.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2018

Thread lifting has become popular as a minimally invasive technique for facial rejuvenation. Commercially available threads are composed of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), or polydioxanone (PDO). However, the histological changes that occur in response to implanted threads are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate histological changes that occur in response to implantation with three types of bioresorbable threads (PLLA, PCL, PDO) in rat skin. PLLA, PCL and PDO threads were implanted in the dorsal skin of Sprague Dawley rats and tissue samples were harvested 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks post-implantation. To evaluate histologic changes induced by bioresorbable face-lifting threads, tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, Masson's trichrome stain and Herovici's collagen stain. All three threads induced neocollagenesis of type 3 collagen in the rat skin. The amount of collagen induced by the threads was dependent on the thread surface area. The PDO cavern-type thread was most effective in inducing neocollagenesis due to its extensive surface area. Our results suggest that type 3 collagen induced by bioresorbable threads depends on the thread surface area to uphold the dermis and contributes to facial rejuvenation.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.455-469
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• 1994

Regular radiographic examination has been considered an essential diagnositic method for osseointegrated dental implantation. This study investigated marginal bone loss through the measurement on periapical radiographs and changes in bone density through digital subtraction image radiographic method around 88 endoseous root-form dental implants in 43 human subjects. Four types of endosseous dental implants were investigated : Standard series, Mini series and Hex-lock system of Steri-Oss Dental implant system, and $Br{\aa}nemark$-type implant from 3i dental implant system, in a 3 month interval for a total period of 12 months. The results were as follows : 1. Rapid bone loss occurred in the first 3 months in all 4 groups, and the bone level stabilized at the first thread of the implant fixtures. Amount of bone loss for 12 months showed correlation with the length of the polished neck portion. 2. Most of the implant systems showed resorption of alveolar bone up to the polished neck portion although a long polished neck could delay the resolution. 3. Alveolar bone loss apical to the polished neck portion stabilized at the first thread of the fixtures with no correlation to either the time of exposure of the polished neck or types of implant systems. 4. No changes in bone density around the implant threads were observed throughout the experimental period. Bone density decreased at the marginal bone, and increased at the newly-formed alveolar crest. These results indicate that most of the alveolar bone loss occur within the first 12 months after installation of endosseous root-form dental implants resulting in the exposure of polished neck portions, and the bone level stabilizes thereafter at the first thread portions of the implant fixtures. The experimental period of 12 months seems insufficient for observing changes in bone density, and a long-term observation should be needed.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.549-560
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• 2006

Purpose : This experiment examined the effects of anodization on commercially pure titanium implant fixtures. Material & methods : The implant fixtures were anodized at three different voltage levels, producing three different levels of oxidation on the surface of the fixure. Implant were divided into four groups according to the level of oxidation. Group 1 consist of the control group of machined surface implants, Group 2 implants were treated by anodizing to 100 voltage, Group 3 implants were treated by anodizing oxidation to 200 voltage Group 4 implants were treated by anodizing oxidation to 350 voltage. Surface morphology was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and the surface roughness was measured using NanoScan $E-1000^{\circledR}$. Implantation of the fixtures were performed using New Zealand white rabbits. $Periotest^{\circledR}$ value(PTV) resonance frequency analysis(RFA), and removal torque were measured in 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks after implantation. Results : The results of the study were as follows: 1. Values for the measured surface roughness indicate statistically significant differences in Ra, Rq, and Rt values among group 1, 2, 3, and 4 at the top portion of the thread,(p<0.05) while values at the base of the threads indicated no significant difference in these values. 2. A direct correlation between the firming voltage, and surface roughness and irregularities were observed using scanning electron microscope. 3. No statistically significant differences were found between test groups regarding $Periotest^{\circledR}$ values. 4. Analysis of the data produced by RFA, significant differences were found between group 1 and group 4 at 12 weeks after implantation.(p<0.05) Conclusions : In conclusion, no significant differences could be found among test groups up to a certain level of forming voltage threshold, beyond this firming voltage threshold, statistically significant differences occurred as the surface area of the oxide layer increased with the increase in surface porosity, resulting in enhanced bone response and osseointegration.