• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2021

Background The result of illicit polymer injection is chronic inflammation with foreign-body granuloma (FBG) formation. Treatment can be divided into medical and surgical. Some patients develop severe complications with need surgical treatment. This study aims to describe patients who underwent surgical removal of the FBGs and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA); additionally, we evaluated the quality of life after surgery. Methods In this retrospective single-center study, the authors examined data of patients who underwent surgical removal of FBG caused by illicit polymer injection for cosmetic purposes and confirmed ASIA from 2015 to 2020 by three different surgical approaches. Descriptive summary statistics were reported on patient demographics, presenting symptoms and clinical examination features, treatment strategies, histopathology reports and quality of life. Results The cohort included 11 female patients with FBGs and ASIA. The most affected anatomical zones were the combination of gluteal region, thighs and legs (40%); and thighs with legs (20%). Main presentation was: skin hyperpigmentation (90.9%), skin induration (63.6%), chronic fatigue (63.6%), and ulcers (36.4%). Surgical modalities consisted of: ultrasonic-assisted liposuction in four patients (36.4%); open en bloc excision and primary closure in four patients (36.4%); and open en bloc excision and microsurgical reconstruction in three patients (27.2%). The postoperative quality of life visual analog scale score was 83.9. Conclusions ASIA treatment represents a challenge for the plastic surgeon. Adequate surgical treatment emphasizing, when possible, the total or near-total resection of the FBG must be performed to improve ASIA evolution.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.111-125
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• 2018

Purpose : Cachexia, is a complex metabolic syndrome associated with underlying illness and characterized by loss of muscle with or without loss of fat mass. Patients with cachxia shows various symptoms including fatigue, anxiety, pain, sleep disorders, and poor appetite. Medications therapy, dietary and exercise therapy, and emotional support are recommended to treat patients with cachexia. However, evidence-based research verifying the role of exercise therapy in patients with cachexia is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic exercise on fatigue and anxiety in patients with cachexia. Methods : Case report. A 29-year-old woman was diagnosed with cachexia. Following 2 weeks of inpatient and 4 weeks of out-patient treatment. we assessed her weight, as well as pain, fatigue, and anxiety level. As an the patient exercised for an hour 5 times a week for 2 weeks,-and during the outpatient visit, she exercised for an hour twice a week for 4 weeks. Her weight was measured using a weighting scale. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale, and fatigue and anxiety levels were assessed using questionnaires. Results : Following 6 weeks of treatment, exercise therapy a positively affected the patient's weight, as well as pain, fatigue, and anxiety levels. We observed a weight gain of 4.5 kg, pain reduction of 5.1 points. Fatigue reduction of 43 points, anxiety reduction of total 41 points. Conclusion : Exercise therapy positively affects weight, as well as pain, fatigue, and anxiety levels in patients with cachexia. However, generalization of this observation is inappropriate based on this single case study.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.42-56
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• 2019

Background: Individuals with mechanical neck pain show biomechanical and neurophysiological changes, including cervical spine muscle weakness. As a result of deep muscle weakness, it causes stability disability and reduced upper thoracic spine mobility, which finally leads to functional movement restriction such as limited range of motion and dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that thoracic spine manipulation and mobilization could reduce symptoms of mechanical neck pain in patients. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobility exercise on cervicothoracic function, posture feature, and pain intensity in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Methods: The study subjects were 26 persons who were randomly assigned to the experimental (with thoracic mobility exercise) and control groups (without thoracic mobility exercise), with 13 subjects in each group. The cervicothoracic function (neck functional disability level and cervicothoracic range of motion), posture feature, and pain rating (using a quadrupled visual analogue scale [QVAS]) were measured before, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks. Results: Statistically significant group-by-time interactions were found with repeated analyses of variance for the Korean neck disability index (KNDI), all cervical range of motion (CROM), all thoracic range of motion (TROM), cranial rotation angle, sagittal shoulder posture (SSP), and QVAS (p<.05). All groups showed significant improvements from all times in all the evaluated methods. The KNDI, CROM, TROM of left rotation, and SSP in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 3 weeks, and the TROM of the right rotation and QVAS in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 6 weeks when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Thoracic mobility exercise during 6 weeks might be effective intervention to improve the functional level, posture feature, and QVAS pain rating for managing individuals with mechanical neck pain.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.209-215
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• 2019

Background: Pain is an unpleasant sensation ranging from mild localized discomfort to agony and is one of the most commonly experienced symptoms in oral surgery. Usually, local anesthetic agents and analgesics are used for pain control in oral surgical procedures. Local anesthetic agents including lignocaine and bupivacaine are routinely used in varying concentrations. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 0.25% and 0.5% bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in infraorbital nerve block. Methods: Forty-one patients undergoing bilateral maxillary orthodontic extraction received 0.5% bupivacaine (n = 41) on one side and 0.25% bupivacaine (n = 41) on the other side at an interval of 7 d. The parameters evaluated for both the bupivacaine concentrations were onset of action, pain during procedure (visual analog scale score [VAS]), and duration of action. The results were noted, tabulated, and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The onset of action of 0.5% bupivacaine was quicker than that of 0.25% bupivacaine, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.306). No significant difference was found between the solutions for VAS scores (P = 0.221) scores and duration of action (P = 0.662). Conclusion: There was no significant difference between 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.5% bupivacaine in terms of onset of action, pain during procedure, and duration of action. The use of 0.25% bupivacaine is recommended.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the effect of Postural Yinyang Correction of the Temporomandibular joint (Functional Cerebrospinal Therapy, FCST) for phantogeusia. Methods: A patient with phantogeusia was treated at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Dong-Eui University Korean Medicine Hospital from Oct 10th, 2018 to Dec 4th, 2018. A patient received 24 times of FCST with Customized TMJ Balancing Intraoral Appliance, upper cervical manipulation. To estimate the efficacy, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and questionnaire. Results: The patient showed a certain degree of improvement in phantogeusia and other subject symtoms within 8 weeks. Adverse effects were not reported. Conclusions: These results showed that FCST using an Customized TMJ Balancing Intraoral Appliance, may be useful for reducing the symptoms of phantogeusia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 2019

Objective : Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are often detected as incidental findings. However, the natural history remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the natural history and growth pattern of untreated PAs. Methods : Between 2003 and 2014, 59 PAs were managed with clinico-radiological follow up for longer than 12 months without any kind of therapeutic intervention. Tumor volumes were calculated at initial and last follow-up visit, and tumor growth during the observation period was determined. Data were analyzed according to clinical and imaging characteristics. Results : The mean initial and last tumor volume and diameter were $1.83{\pm}2.97mL$ and $13.77{\pm}6.45mm$, $2.85{\pm}4.47mL$ and $15.75{\pm}8.08mm$, respectively. The mean annual tumor growth rate was $0.33{\pm}0.68mL/year$ during a mean observation period of $46.8{\pm}32.1months$. Sixteen (27%) PAs showed tumor growth. The initial tumor size (HR, 1.140; 95% confidence interval, 1.003-1.295; p=0.045) was the independent predictive factor that determined the tumor growth. Six patients (11%) of 56 conservatively managed non-symptomatic PAs underwent resection for aggravating visual symptoms with mean interval of 34.5 months from diagnosis. By Cox regression analysis, PAs of last longest diameter over 21.75 mm were a significant prognostic factor for eventual treatment. Conclusion : The initial tumor size of PAs was independently associated with the tumor growth. Six patients (11%) of conservatively managed PAs were likely to be treated eventually. PAs of last follow-up longest diameter over 21.75 mm were a significant prognostic factor for treatment. Further studies with a large series are required to determine treatment strategy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.827-837
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• 2019

The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the ameliorative effects of a new soybean product (cheonggukjang) fermented with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SCGB1 (SFBA) in atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model. Visual evaluation of AD induction in the mice indicated the remarkable control of SFBA in reducing the pathological severity of AD-like skin lesions reported as the SCORAD score of AD clinical symptoms. The results revealed that SFBA reduced dorsal skin and epidermal thickness to a similar extent with prednisolone. Further analysis revealed the dominance of SFBA in restraining mast cell infiltration in the dermis; immunoglobulin-E expression in serum; and TH2 IL-4 cytokine and itch-related IL-31 cytokine in the mice skin and serum. SFBA also suppressed scratching behaviours in mice induced by compound 48/80. Further histological findings also revealed the alleviation of collagen fiber deposition in dermal skin of the AD mice model. These actions of SFBA were examined to be mediated by its suppression of the phosphorylation activation of key signalling molecules such as $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK responsible for the induction of cytokine production. Thus, SFBA can be considered as a promising functional food for managing clinical, histological and immunological spectra associated with AD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

This review of national and international randomized controlled trials of Salviae miltiorrhizae radix pharmacopuncture for lumbar herniated intervertebral discs was performed to assess its clinical efficacy. There were 5 online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, NDSL, OASIS, and RISS) searched on June 1st, 2020. Studies were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were reviewed by risk of bias assessment. This review included 14 Chinese studies. The sample sizes ranged from 50 to 100. The numbers of treatments ranged from 20 to 30, with most patients receiving 20 treatments. The longest treatment periods were 10-15 and 15-20 days, of which each accounted for 29% of the studies. The most frequently used evaluation indices were the Japanese Orthopedic Association and the Visual Analog Scale scoring method. The most frequently used acupoints were EX18 and BL25, which accounted for 31% of the total number of acupoints. In 50% of the studies, the pharmacopuncture injection volume was 2 mL. Acupuncture treatment was the most common control group. Eleven studies reported that the intervention group had significantly improved symptoms. However, most of the included studies were of low quality.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2021

While carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy affecting the wrist, resulting in substantial physical, psychological, and economic effects, there is no gold standard therapy for CTS. In this case series study, we aimed to report CTS patients treated with Carthami Semen Pharmacopuncture (CSP) and electroacupuncture (EA) showing improvements in their symptoms, and the combinatorial effects of CSP and EA. We collected medical records of CTS outpatients who received CSP and EA at Chuku Acupuncture & Moxibustion Korean Medicine Clinic from August 2017 to September 2018. The outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, paresthesia, the Korean version of the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire (K-BCTQ) score, and changes in nocturnal pain, Tinel sign, and Phalen's test. We included patient satisfaction at the completion of all treatments. 17 patients were included for this case series study. After treatment, VAS for pain decreased significantly from 50.41 ± 16.19 to 9.59 ± 9.46, VAS for paresthesia also decreased significantly from 63.50 ± 11.49 to 14.75 ± 12.97, and K-BCTQ symptom severity scale decreased from 2.48 ± 0.68 to 1.89 ± 0.70 (all p < 0.001). Nocturnal pain, Tinel signs, and Phalen's test showed improvements after all the treatments. All the patients reported favorable overall satisfaction with the treatments, and 69.23% wanted future pharmacopuncture treatments if CTS recurred. No complications were detected. The combination of CSP and EA could be an effective and safe option in treating CTS.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to report on the effect of providing customized visiting exercise, a musculoskeletal intervention method, to the elderly in the community. Methods: In this study, subjective pain was measured to evaluate pain and physical ability of the elderly, and timed up & go (TUG) test and psychological level test were performed for myofascial pain perception symptoms and gait function. Measurements were performed twice before and 4 weeks after treatment. Participants in the exercise group (n=108) performed the spine exercise, whereas those in the spine exercise group (n=108) performed the spine exercise using complex exercise program (3 times/week for 4 weeks). Results: The significant test of visual analogu scale (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), TUG, psychosocial factor according to applying the exercise within groups used T-test. In the result following analysis, there was significance on VAS (p=.000), PPT (p=.000), TUG (p=.000), Psychosocial factor (Depresion; p=.000, Anxiety; p=.000) within group. Conclusion: Then, exercise has benefit on the VAS, PPT, TUG, psychosocial factor in patients with myofacial pain syndrome. So, it may suggest that exercise will be helpful of the pain, gait and psychosocial factor improvement the patients with spine pain.