• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.3 no.2 s.5
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• pp.92-97
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• 2003

Background: Gabapentin is a novel anti-epileptic drug, which is used in clinical practice to treat epilepsy. This drug is also used as an analgesic in pain patients. The antinociceptive effect of this drug was assessed using the formalin test in the rat. Methods: In order to investigate the effects of gabapentin on the trigeminal nerve territory, we injected 0.5% formalin into the upper lip. Adult, male, Sprague-Dawley rats received a $50{\mu}l$ subcutaneous injection of 5% formalin into one vibrissal pad and the consequent, facial grooming behavior was monitored. Consistent with previous investigations using tile formalin model, animals exhibited biphasic nocifensive grooming (phase 1, 0-12 min; phase 2, 12-60 min). Results: The intraperitoneal administration gabapentin 5 minutes prior to the formalin injection led to a significant, dose-dependent reduction in grooming time during phase 2. In high doses, gabapentin also reduced the time of grooming during phase 1. Conclusions: The Intraperitoneal injection of gabapentin has an analgesic effect in the facial formalin rat model and this analgesic effect increases dose-dependently.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.369-378
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• 2019

Background: Behavior guidance is a technique used to subdue inappropriate behavior by establishing communication that meets the needs of a child. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a mobile app (Little Lovely Dentist) compared to the tell-show-do (TSD) technique in managing anxious children during their first dental visit. Methods: Fifty children (30 boys and 20 girls) without any past dental experience, aged from 7 to 11 years, were randomly allocated into either the dental app group or the TSD group. The pre- and post-operative anxiety of children who underwent prophylactic cleaning was assessed both physiologically and subjectively using a heart rate measurement and the RMS pictorial scale, respectively. Results: The intragroup comparison of heart rate and RMS scores for children allocated to the dental app group was statistically significant (P value ≤ 0.001). However, a significant reduction only occurred in the RMS scores, but not the heart rate measurements, in the TSD group. Conversely, there was an increase in heart rates in the TSD group. Conclusion: Educating the child prior to a dental procedure using a smartphone application such as Little Lovely Dentist can significantly alleviate the anticipatory anxiety and engage children in dental treatment during their first visit.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2013

Background: Local steroid injection is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and electrophysiological effects of local steroid injection in patients with CTS over a 3-months period. Methods: Twenty-one patients (35 hands) with clinical and electrophysiological evidence of CTS were treated by injection of triamcinolone 40 mg to the carpal tunnel. Visual analog scale (VAS), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), rates of paresthesia, night awakening, and electrophysiological studies were used as outcomes. Clinical and electrophysiological assessments were performed before, 1 and 3 months after treatment. Results: Prior to treatment, 86% of patients complained of night awakening. At 1 and 3 months after injection, only 17% and 29% of the patients, respectively, had night awakening (p<0.001). All patients complained of paresthesia before the treatment. This symptom disappeared in 60% and 31% of the patients after 1 and 3 months, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to baseline, both BCTQ and VAS show significant improvement during the 3 months of the study (p<0.005). Although significant improvements in clinical parameters were shown, electrophysiological parameters were not significantly improved at 1 and 3 months. Conclusions: Local corticosteroid injection for the treatment of CTS provides significant improvement in symptoms for 3 months. On the other hand, no significant improvement was observed in electrophysiological parameters.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.12
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• pp.46.1-46.19
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• 2015

Background: This study examined whether activation of innate immunity and alterations of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism precede development of subclinical mastitis (SCM). Methods: Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein from 100 Holstein dairy cows at -8, -4, disease diagnosis week, and +4 weeks postpartum. Six healthy cows (controls - CON) and six cows that showed clinical signs of SCM were selected for serum analyses. All serum samples were analyzed for acute phase proteins (APP) haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA); proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and serum lactate, BHBA, and NEFA concentration. Data of DMI, milk production, and milk composition were recorded and analyzed. Results: The results showed that cows with SCM had greater concentrations of SAA, TNF (P < 0.01), and lactate before expected day of parturition (P < 0.05) compared to CON cows. Cows with SCM showed greater concentrations of lactate starting at -8 weeks (P < 0.05) and TNF starting at -4 weeks prior to the expected day of parturition (P < 0.01). Interestingly, at -4 weeks, concentrations of IL-1 and Hp were lower in cows with SCM compared to healthy cows (P < 0.01) followed by an increase during the week of disease diagnosis (P < 0.05). Subclinical mastitis was associated with lower DMI, at -4 weeks before calving, milk production (P < 0.05) and increased somatic cell counts (SCC) (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that SCM is preceded by activated innate immunity and altered carbohydrate metabolism in transition dairy cows. Moreover the results support the idea that Hp, lactate, and SAA, at -8 weeks, and TNF and IL-1 at -4 weeks can be used as early indicators to screen cows during dry off for disease state.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.150-158
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• 2015

Background Fat is widely used in soft tissue augmentation. Nevertheless, it has an unpredictably high resorption rate. Clinically, external expansion with negative pressure is used to increase fat graft survival. In this study, fat graft recipient sites were preconditioned by external application of negative pressure in order to test for improvements in vascularity and fat graft survival. Methods Negative pressure was applied randomly to either the left or right dorsal ear of 20 New Zealand male white rabbits at a pressure of -125 mm Hg. The negative pressure was removed one week after the skin perfusion was measured. The skin flap at each ear was elevated, and 1 g of fat was grafted above the dorsal perichondrium. After one week, the fat weight, microvessel density, mature vessel density of the skin and fat, and amount of glycerol released were measured. Three months after the grafting, the same measurements were performed, with the exception of glycerol release. Results The fat survival rate of the experimental group ($75.4%{\pm}3.9%$) was higher than that of the control group ($53.1%{\pm}4.3%$) (P<0.001). Skin perfusion was higher in the experimental group. The glycerol release in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control. The microvessel density of the skin and fat was significantly higher in the experimental group. Three months after the grafting, the skin and fat mature vessel density was significantly higher in the experimental groups. Conclusions Negative pressure prior to fat grafting increased the vascularity of the recipient site, and, accordingly, enhanced fat graft survival.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.759-767
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• 2014

Background Infection caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing. Awareness of this infection is crucial yet problematic. Delayed management may lead to destructive results. We empirically treated a series of patients with clinical suspicion of NTM infection prior to the identification of the pathogen. Methods A total of 12 patients who developed surgical site infections between January 2011 and February 2014 were reviewed. Patients with a skin and subcutaneous infection resistant to standard management over two weeks, and previous history of aesthetic procedures within three months were regarded as highly suspected of having an NTM infection. A variety of diagnostic modalities were examined simultaneously, along with starting empirical treatment including a combination of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin, and surgical debridement. Results All wounds healed completely within 4 weeks. The mean follow-up duration was 7.2 months, and none of the patients developed relapse. Specific NTM pathogens were identified in six patients. Eight patients showed caseating granuloma implying an NTM infection. One patient showed an uncommon Stenotrophomonas infection, which was successfully treated. Three patients had no evidence of a pathogen despite repeated microbial tests. Complications such as scarring, pigmentation, and disfigurement were common in all the patients. Conclusions NTM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an unusual skin and soft-tissue infection. We propose an empirical regimen of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin as an efficient treatment option for an NTM infection.

• Water for future
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.30-40
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• 1975

Hydrogeological survey and geophysical prospecting have been carried out in Saudi Arabia for the purpose of finding groundwater in the soil and rock at the request of General trading company in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The surveyed area is located on $38^{\circ}-39^{\circ}$ 30' in longitude and $26^{\circ}-26^{\circ}$ 30' in latitude. The topography of this area is dominated by northwest southeast mountain range composed mostly of precambrian rocks and basalt of tertiary period. Geology is mainly composed of greenstone, granite, andesite, diorite rhyolite of pre-cambrian era and sandstone of cambrian period which are underlained by basalt and andesite of tertiary period and alluvium of quaternary unconformably. The instruments used in this investigation are TR-18B2 radioactivity unit which isjapanese patented and A.C. Terrameter, a resistivity meter manufactured by ABEM of Stockholm, Sweden. Radioactivity method has been conducted along the Alula-Khaybar road, totally 164Km by the car-borne. As a result of the above survey 16 places have been selected and these anomalies show 1.2N-1.6N compared to background of each area in intensity with width of 10-50m. Resistivity vertical profiling which made use of Schlumberger configuration method has been made over selected areas by radioactivity method to provide hydrogeological information for a water resources survey. The result of resistivity shows that good aquifers are located in the western part of surveyed area where sedimentary rock is distributed. The strata showing 10-50, ${\Omega}-m$ in resistivity are thought to be waterbearing layer. The variations in aquifer resistivity found, are thought to be due to verying clay content, which could be related to aquifer yield. It has proved impossible to detect small salinity variation in the buried aquifer by geophysics. As a result of resistivity prospecting 10 places are recommended to be drilled at the anomalies as shown attached map. yields from the proposed holes have been estimated approximately from $20m^3$ to $200m^3$ per day. Prior to drilling for groundwater, test boring using ${\c}4"$ should be drilled in order to obtain more reliable hydrogeological information for the construction of perfect wells.ells.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 1997

Background : This study was designed to evaluate the continuous effects of single intravenous injection of antiemetics on nausea and vomiting during continuous morphine injection for postoperative pain control. Methods : Prior to the study, we divided patients into two major groups according to the type of surgery performed intra-abdominal(Open: O) and non intra-abdominal(Close: C). When patients regained orientation after routine general anesthesia, enflurane-$O_2-N_2O$, we injected bolus dose of morphine and started continuous injection of morphine for postoperative pain control(Group I; Control). After bolus injection and just before continuous injection, we injected single dose of droperidol(Group II) or ondansetron(Group III). Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, pain score and symptom-therapy score were checked at 10 minutes, 4, 8, 16, 24, 36 hours after continuous morphine injection. Results : The pain score of group III was lower than group II(10 min.) and group I(24, 36 hours) in the open group. Symptom-therapy score of group III(10 min., 4, 24 hours) and group II(10 min.) were lower than group I in the open group. In the close group, symptom-therapy score of group III(8 hours) was lower than group I. Conclusions : Single intravenous injection of antiemetics have a tendency of lowering symptom-therapy score for 36 hours in spite of their relatively short elimination half-life.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 1997

Background : Epidural morphine provides excellent postoperative analgesia but is often associated with side effects such as nausea, vomiting and pruritus. It has been reported that mixed agonist-antagonist, nalbuphine can reverse side effects of epidural morphine without compromising analgesia. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of each intravenous dose of nalbuphine for treatment of side effects following epidural morphine. Methods : All patients received continuous infusion(2 ml/hr) of epidural morphine-local anesthetics mixture(morphine 4 mg, 1% mepivacaine 50 ml and 0.25% bupivacaine 50 ml) following a loading dose (morphine 2 mg with 1% mepivacaine 7 ml). Patients requesting treatment for nausea, vomiting and pruritus randomly received intravenous nalbuphine 0.05 mg/kg(Group 1; n=20), 0.1 mg/kg(Group 2; n=20) or 0.15 mg/kg(Group 3; n=20). The severity of nausea, vomiting, pruritus, degree of pain, sedation and vital sign were assessed prior to and 30 min after each dose. Results : The severity of nausea, vomiting and pruritus decreased significantly in all groups(p<0.01). Pain and sedation scores were unchanged in all groups. One patient received nalbuphine 0.15 mg/kg, complained of dizziness, agitation and palpitation. His blood pressure who had increased to 170/100 after first dose. Conclusions : This study suggests that intravenous nalbuphine is good for treatment of side effects following epidural morphine, and the dose of Group 1, 0.05 mg/kg, may be recommended as an optimal dose.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of bone cement-augmented short segment fixation using percutaneous screws for thoracolumbar burst fractures in a background of severe osteoporosis. Methods : Sixteen patients with a single-level thoracolumbar burst fracture (T11-L2) accompanying severe osteoporosis treated from January 2008 to November 2009 were prospectively analyzed. Surgical procedures included postural reduction for 3 days and bone cement augmented percutaneous screw fixation at the fracture level and at adjacent levels without bone fusion. Due to the possibility of implant failure, patients underwent implant removal 12 months after screw fixation. Imaging and clinical findings, including involved vertebral levels, local kyphosis, canal encroachment, and complications were analyzed. Results : Prior to surgery, mean pain score (visual analogue scale) was 8.2 and this decreased to a mean of 2.2 at 12 months after screw fixation. None of the patients complained of pain worsening during the 6 months following implant removal. The percentage of canal compromise at the fractured level improved from a mean of 41.0% to 18.4% at 12 months after surgery. Mean kyphotic angle was improved significantly from $19.8^{\circ}$ before surgery to 7.8 at 12 months after screw fixation. Canal compromise and kyphotic angle improvements were maintained at 6 months after implant removal. No significant neurological deterioration or complications occurred after screw removal in any patient. Conclusion : Bone cement augmented short segment fixation using a percutaneous system can be an alternative to the traditional open technique for the management of selected thoracolumbar burst fractures accompanied by severe osteoporosis.