• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study is to develop a specialized clinical research protocol for acupuncture treatment specifically designed for disaster survivors based on insights from an expert survey. Methods: An expert panel comprising specialists in neuropsychiatry, acupuncture, and clinical research methodology was assembled. Initial data to inform the clinical research protocol design was collected utilizing open-ended responses, multiple-choice questions, and a 5-point Likert scale to gauge agreement levels. Next, this data was disseminated to a panel of experts. A cohesive clinical research protocol was then formulated during a core panel meeting by integrating insights from a panel of 10 experts. Results: The protocol developed herein entails a non-randomized controlled study involving participants aged 19~64 years old who have been identified as high-risk or cautious according to the National Trauma Center screening test. The study design includes the establishment of an active control group, which allows for the assessment of an additional effect through comparison with conventional therapy. The selected acupuncture approach involves a combination of manual acupuncture and ear acupuncture. For clinical outcome assessment, the Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale for DSM-5 was proposed to gauge trauma symptoms. Representative scales for various domains such as depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, pain, and quality of life were also provided for reference. Conclusions: The developed protocol is anticipated to streamline the swift design and initiation of clinical trials during disaster scenarios. It is also designed to be scalable, thereby enabling its application in both non-randomized control group studies and single-group before-and-after comparisons.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2001

To identify nongenotoxic carcinogen determined as negative by ICH guideline-recommended standard genotoxicity test battery; Ames test, chromosome aberration assay, mouse lymphoma $tk^{+/-}$ assay, in vivo micronucleus assay, we picked bisphenol A as a model compound. In this study, we applied in vitro BalB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay and Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transfarmation assay. Bisphenol A was treated upto $769.2 ug/m{\ell}$ in BalB/c 3T3 cells and upto $125 ug/m{\ell}$ in SHE cells. bisphenol A didn't induced morphological transformation both with one stage treatment protocol and with two stage treatment protocol. But, treated far 48 hr, Bisphenol A induced morphological transformation significantly in SHE cells.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.203-217
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to propose our rehabilitation protocol involving Korean medicine for patients with patellar fracture and report its effectiveness. Further, for the same patellar fracture patients, we created different protocols for those who underwent surgical treatment and those who required conservative treatment. Among patients who received inpatient treatment at our hospital for three years from August 2017 to August 2020, we included three patients who underwent surgical treatment for patellar fracture and one patient who required conservative treatment for patellar fracture. The degree of improvement of the patients was evaluated using physical examination findings of the knee joint, numeric rating scale, pain disability index, Lysholm knee score, and walking state. After each treatments, we observed that the range of motion of the knee joint, numeric rating scale, pain disability index, Lysholm knee score, and walking state improved in the patient groups. Even with the same patellar fracture, we observed that different rehabilitation treatments involving Korean medicine should be applied to patients who underwent surgical treatment and those who required conservative treatment. However, further studies are needed to design a rehabilitation protocol involving Korean medicine.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 2012

This study was designed to adopt two estrus synchronization protocols in zebu and crossbred heifers and their effects on pregnancy rate after timed artificial insemination (TAI). A number of 120 cyclic heifers were allotted for two different treatment groups and one control group. Heifers under protocol A were injected with GnRH at first day followed by a single dose of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ at Day 11 and injection of GnRH at the day of AI; and heifers belonged to protocol B were treated with GnRH, two $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injections at 11 days apart and injection of GnRH at AI. AI was done at fixed time (within 72~96 hours after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection) in both protocols and pregnancy was confirmed by rectal palpation on 80~120 days of post AI. In control group; local heifers were conceived higher (30%) proportion than that of crossbred heifers (25%; p<0.05). In protocol A, the local breed were conceived higher (38.9%) proportion compared with crossbred (25%; p<0.05). In protocol B, local breed heifers were conceived higher (38.9%) proportion compared with crossbred heifers (33.3%; p<0.05). The overall pregnancy rate in protocol A and protocol B was 33.3% and 36.6%, respectively. The proportion of pregnancy rate of local heifers (38.9%; Protocol A) was significant (p<0.05) in comparison with local heifers (30%) in control group (p<0.05). The overall pregnancy rate between pooled control group (28.3%) and treatment group (35%) was significantly (p<0.05) differ from each other's. Results of present study concluded that estrus synchronization followed by fixed time AI could be applied for higher pregnancy rate in zebu and crossbred heifers.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.467-470
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• 2013

The rupture of a renal artery aneurysm is a rare disease that is difficult to diagnose. Although we usually consider the appropriate treatment to be open laparotomy with aortic aneurysm surgery or stenting with graft insertion through intravascular intervention, thus far, there is no general consensus on the treatment protocol for renal artery aneurysm. Notably, ruptured renal artery aneurysm is a true critical emergency that may result in a fatal outcome. We are reporting two renal artery aneurysm patients who had ruptured and underwent emergency laparotomy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 1992

This study was carried out to set up the ovum bank for ovum donation and to determine the best freezing method for human immature oocytes. Human immature follicular oocytes were cryopreserved by slow freezing and rapid thawing method. Immature follicular oocytes were treated by propanediol(PROH) solution by 2 and 4 step method in protocols A & B, respectively. In protocol C, immature oocytes were exposed to sucrose prior to treatment of PROH by 4 step method. We compared survival rate, maturation rate, and fertilization rate of immature oocytes among three protocols. Results were as follows. 1. Oocytes treated by the protocol C showed the highest survival rate( 70.3 %) and maturation rate(34.6%) after thawing. 2. Survival rate of oocytes treated by the protocol C was significantly higher than that of the protocol B after thawing(p<0.05). In conclusion, treatment of oocytes with sucrose prior to expose PROH was the best freezing method. Sucrose may have reduced the toxic effect of cryoprotectant to oocytes. We failed to induce fertilization of oocytes, which were treated by any protocols, by conventional insemination method, but obtained 28.8% fertilization rate by using partial zona dissection(PZD) method. This result suggests that micromanipulation(PZD) of the thawed oocytes before insemination will improve the fertilization rate.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was designed to compare the effective doses from low-dose and standard-dose multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanning protocols and evaluate the image quality and the spatial resolution of the low-dose MDCT protocols for clinical use. Materials and Methods : 6-channel MDCT scanner (Siemens Medical System, Forschheim, Germany), was used for this study. Protocol of the standard-dose MDCT for the orthodontic analysis was 130 kV, 35 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.8 pitch. Those of the low-dose MDCT for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery were 110 kV, 30 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch and 110 kV, 45 mAs, 2.5 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were placed at 31 sites throughout the levels of adult female ART head and neck phantom. Effective doses were calculated according to ICRP 1990 and 2007 recommendations. A formalin-fixed cadaver and AAPM CT performance phantom were scanned for the evaluation of subjective image quality and spatial resolution. Results : Effective doses in ${\mu}Sv$ ($E_{2007}$) were 699.1, 429.4 and 603.1 for standard-dose CT of orthodontic treatment, low-dose CT of orthodontic analysis, and low-dose CT of orthodontic surgery, respectively. The image quality from the low-dose protocol were not worse than those from the standard-dose protocol. The spatial resolutions of both standard-dose and low-dose CT images were acceptable. Conclusion : From the above results, it can be concluded that the low-dose MDCT protocol is preferable in obtaining CT images for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2019

Objectives: Medically compromised patients often fear required dental surgical procedures that can increase the risk of medical emergency when combined with reduced tolerance for stress. A stress reduction protocol (SRP) helps doctors minimize treatment-related stress and improves patient management with minimum complications. Diabetes and co-morbid hypertension carry 4-fold risk of aggravation of cardiovascular emergencies and 7.2-fold risk of mortality. Diabetic neuropathy can result in difficult diagnosis of myocardial infarction and reduces chances of surviving a myocardial infarction compared with a non-diabetic person. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of a protocol for management of patients having both diabetes and hypertension who required minor oral surgery to minimize the rate of cardiovascular emergencies. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 140 patients having both diabetes and hypertension who required minor oral surgical procedures. A systematic approachable protocol was designed for management of such patients. Results: Among 140 patients, 6 patients (4.3%) had cardiovascular complications, while 3 patients (1 with syncope and 2 with hypertension) did not require any intervention other than observation. Two patients were managed with aspirin and nitroglycerin, and 1 patient had possible myocardial infarction (overall incidence 0.7%) with chest pain, S-T segment elevation on electrocardiogram, and troponin level of 0.60 ng/mL. Conclusion: The proposed protocol helps to improve management of patients having both diabetes and hypertension. We recommend that patients with uncontrolled diabetes and uncontrolled hypertension and/or patients having history of cardiovascular complication should be treated in a medical facility with a readily available cardiology unit. This facilitates prompt response to emergency and instant implementation of treatment, helping to reduce morbidity and mortality.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2007

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare GnRH antagonist and agonist flare-up treatment in the management of poor responder patients. Methods: One hundred forty-four patients from Jan. 1, 2002 to Aug. 31, 2005 undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment who responded poorly to the previous cycle (No. of oocyte retrieved$\leq$5) and had high early follicular phase follicle stimulating hormone (FSH>12 mIU/ml were selected. Seventy-five patients received agonist flare-up protocol and 71 patients received antagonist protocol. We analyzed the number of oocytes retrieved, number of good embryos (GI, GI-1), total dose of hMG administered, implantation rate, cycle cancellation rate, pregnancy rate, live birth rate. Results: The cancellation rate was high in antagonist protocol (53.5% vs. 30.1%). The number of oocyte retrieved, the number of good embyos were high in agonist flare-up group. There was no statistical difference between GnRH agonist flare up protocol and GnRH antagonist protocol in implantation rate (14.5%, 10.1%), clinical pregnancy rate per transfer (29.4%, 21.2%) and live birth rate per transfer (21.6%, 18.2%). Although the result was not statistically significant, GnRH agonist flare up group showed a nearly doubled pregnancy rate and live birth rate per initial cycle than GnRH antagonist group. Conclusions: The agonist flare-up protocol appears to be slightly more effective than the GnRH antagonist protocol in implantation rate, pregnancy rate, live birth rate but shows statistically no significance. Agonist flare-up protocol improved the ovarian response in poor responders. However, based of the result of the study, we can expect improved ovarian response in poor responders by GnRH agonist flare up protocol.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.325-336
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• 2021

The occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is a formidable challenge for infants, parents, and healthcare professionals. Although data from the Middle East are scarce, experts consider FGIDs a prevalent condition in everyday clinical practice. The new Rome IV criteria revisited the definitions from a clinical perspective to provide a practical and consistent diagnostic protocol for FGIDs. However, the treatment practices for functional disorders vary considerably among Middle Eastern countries, often resulting in mismanagement with unnecessary investigations and treatments. In addition, the role of various treatment modalities, including probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, in FGIDs requires further discussion and evaluation. During a consensus meeting, a locally relevant approach for treating common FGIDs such as infant regurgitation, infant colic, and functional constipation was discussed and approved by regional experts. The participants suggested a simplified treatment plan and protocol for general pediatricians and other primary care physicians managing FGIDs. This easy-to-follow standardized protocol will help streamline the initial management of this complex disorder in the Middle East region and even globally.