• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.30-50
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• 2023

Objectives : To investigate the active compounds and therapeutic mechanisms of Atractylodes Lancea(Thunb.) D.C. and Magnolia Officinalis Rehder et Wilson in the treatment of dermatitis accompanied by pruritus, as well as their potential to complement or replace standard drugs. Methods : We conducted the network pharmacological analysis. We selected effective ingredients among the active compounds of research target herbs. Then we explore pathway/terms of the common target proteins among research target herbs, fexofenadine and disease. Results : We selected 9 active compounds are selected from Atractylodes lancea and identified 231 target proteins. Among them, 74 proteins are associated with inflammatory skin diseases that cause pruritus. These proteins are involved in various pathways including, 'Nitric-oxide synthase regulator activity', 'Hydroperoxy icosatetraenoate dehydratase activity, Aromatase activity', 'RNA-directed DNA polymerase activity', 'Arachidonic acid metabolism', 'Peptide hormone processing', 'Chemokine binding' and 'Sterol biosynthetic process'. Additionally, coregenes are involved in 'IL-17 signaling pathway'. Similarly, we selected 2 active compounds from Magnolia officinalis and identified 133 target proteins. Among them, 33 proteins are related to inflammatory skin diseases that cause pruritus. These proteins are primarily involved in 'Vascular associated smooth muscle cell proliferation' and 'Arachidonic acid metabolism'. There is no significant difference between the pathways in which coregenes are involved. Conclusions : It is expected that Atractylodes Lancea will be able to show direct or indirect anti-pruritus and anti-inflammatory effects on skin inflammation accompanied pruritus through suppressing inflammation and protecting skin barrier. Meanwhile, it is expected that Magnolia Officinalis will only be able to show indirect anti-inflammation effects. Therefore, Atractylodes Lancea and fexofenadine are believed to complement each other, whereas Magnolia Officialinalis is expected to provide supplementary support on skin disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.348-356
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• 2019

Background: Recently, the number of lung transplants in South Korea has increased. However, the long-term outcome data is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of adult lung transplantation recipients. Methods: Among the patients that underwent lung transplantation at a tertiary referral center in South Korea between 2008 and 2017, adults patient who underwent deceased-donor lung transplantation with available follow-up data were enrolled. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Through eligibility screening, we identified 60 adult patients that underwent lung (n=51) or heart-lung transplantation (n=9) during the observation period. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (46.7%, 28/60) was the most frequent cause of lung transplantation. For all the 60 patients, the median follow-up duration for post-transplantation was 2.6 years (range, 0.01-7.6). During the post-transplantation follow-up period, 19 patients (31.7%) died at a median duration of 194 days. The survival rates were 75.5%, 67.6%, and 61.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. Out of the 60 patients, 8 (13.3%) were diagnosed with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), after a mean duration of $3.3{\pm}2.8years$ post-transplantation. The CLAD development rate was 0%, 17.7%, and 25.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. The most common newly developed post-transplantation comorbidity was the chronic kidney disease (CKD; 54.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (25.9%). Conclusion: Among the adult lung transplantation recipients at a South Korea tertiary referral center, the long-term survival rates were favorable. The proportion of patients who developed CLAD was not substantial. CKD was the most common post-transplantation comorbidity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6705-6709
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• 2015

Background: Venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) constitute a group of diseases including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). They regarded as the second leading cause of death in cancer patients and several studies have confirmed that VTEs have a negative impact on survival and recurrent rate in both ovarian and endometrial cancer cases. The incidence of VTEs differs worldwide and depends on several risk factors including race, underlying disease, lifestyle, body weight, BMI and genetic risk factors. There is heterogeneity of DVT rates between Asian and Western countries. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the character and incidence of VTEs in gynecologic oncology patients in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital over a 10 year period. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed with VTEs defined as objective diagnosis of acute DVT or PE with typical symptoms and signs. Diagnoses were approved byan internist and/or confirmed with imaging studies. Data from both outpatient and inpatient sessions of the affected cases from January 2004 to December 2013 were extracted. General characteristics of the patients were collected with details of the diseases, types of cancer, stage, date of diagnosis of cancer, operative data, treatment outcome, progression free survival and overall survival. Results: Thirty cases of VTEs were identified in a total 2,316 gynecologic oncology cases. The incidence of symptomatic VTEs in total gynecologic oncology patients in our institution is 1.295%. The incidence of VTEs in ovarian cancer patients in our institution was 5.9%. Duration for VTE detection ranged from 13 months before diagnosis of cancer to 33 months after diagnosis of cancer. Most of the VTE cases were detected in ovarian cancer patients (60%). The most common cell type was adenocarcinoma (moderately to poorly differentiated) which accounted for 26.7% of the cases. The second most common cell type was clear cell carcinoma with 23.3% of the cases. Thirty percent of VTE cases developed before cancer was diagnosed, 20% were diagnosed at the same time as cancer detection and fifty percent developed after cancer was diagnosed. Median disease free survival of the gynecologic oncology patients with VTE was 7.5 months. Median overall survival (OS) was 12 months. Median progession free survivals of DVT and PE groups were 11.5 and 5.5 months, respectively. OS of DVT and PE was 12.0 and 11.5 months respectively. Conclusions: The incidence of VTE in Asian countries is believed to be lower than in European or Western countries. From our retrospective review, the incidence of VTEs in all types of gynecologic oncology was 1.295%, much lower than reported in the West. The reason for the lower incidence may genetic differences. Another factor is that VTE in this review was symptomatic, which is less than asymptomatic VTE. More than half of VTEs in this study developed in ovarian cancer patients. The results are compatible with earlier reports that among gynecologic malignancies, the incidence of VTE is highest in ovarian cancer.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.478-484
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• 2018

Objective : Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was the third most common cause of death in South Korea in 2014. Evidence from abroad suggests that comprehensive stroke centers play an important role in improving the mortality rate of stroke. However, surgical treatment for CVD is currently slightly neglected by national policy, and there is still regional imbalance in this regard. For this reason, we conducted a survey on the necessity of, and the requirements for, establishing regional comprehensive cerebrovascular surgery centers (CCVSCs). Methods : This investigation was performed using the questionnaire survey method. The questionnaire was consisted with two sections. The first concerned the respondent's opinion regarding the current status of demand and the regional imbalance of cerebrovascular surgery in South Korea. The second section asked about the requirements for establishing regional CCVSCs. We sent the questionnaire to 100 board members of the Korean Society of Cerebrovascular Surgeons. Results : Most experts agreed that cerebrovascular surgery patients were concentrated in large hospitals in the capital area, and 83.6% of respondents agreed that it was necessary to alleviate the regional imbalance of cerebrovascular surgery. With regards to personnel, over 90% of respondents answered that at least two neuro-vascular surgeons and two neuro-interventionists are necessary to establish a CCVSC. Regarding facilities, almost all respondents stated that each CCVSC would require a neuro-intensive care unit and hybrid operating room. The survey asked the respondents about 13 specific neurovascular surgical procedures and whether they were necessary for a regional CCVSC. In the questions about the necessity of cerebrovascular surgical equipment, all seven pieces of equipment were considered essential by all respondents. A further five pieces of equipment were considered necessary on site: computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, conventional angiography, surgical microscope, and surgical navigation. Our results may provide a basis for future policy regarding treatment of cerebrovascular disease, including surgery. Conclusion : Raising the comprehensiveness of treatment at a regional level would lower the national disease burden. Policies should be drafted regarding comprehensive treatment including surgery for cerebrovascular disease, and related support plans should be implemented.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2022

Background: People with special needs tend to require diverse behavioral management in dentistry. They may feel anxious or uncomfortable or may not respond to any communication with the dentists. Patients with medical, physical, or psychological disorders may not cooperate and therefore require sedation (SED) or general anesthesia (GA) to receive dental treatment. Using the healthcare big data in Korea, this study aimed to analyze the trends of SED and GA in special needs patients undergoing dental treatment. It is believed that these data can be used as reference material for hospitals and for preparation of guidelines and related policy decisions of associations or governments for special needs patients in dentistry. Methods: The study used selected health information data provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients with a record of use of one of the eight selected drugs used in dental SED between January 2007 and September 2019, those with International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), phobia, brain disease, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, genetic disease, autism, mental disorder, mental retardation, and dementia were selected. The insurance claims data were analyzed for age, sex, sedative use, GA, year, and institution. Results: The number of special needs patients who received dental treatment under SED or GA from January 2007 to September 2019 was 116,623. Number of SED cases was 136,018, performed on 69,265 patients, and the number of GA cases was 56,308, implemented on 47,257 patients. In 2007, 3100 special needs patients received dental treatment under SED while in 2018 the number of cases increased 6 times to 18,528 SED cases. In dentistry, ADHD was the most common disability for SED cases while phobia was the most common cause of disability for GA. The male-to-female ratio with respect to SED cases was higher for males (M : F = 64.36% : 35.64%). Conclusion: The application of the SED method and GA for patients with special needs in dentistry is increasing rapidly; thus, preparing guidelines and reinforcing the education and system are necessary.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2015

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is a rare X-linked genetic disorder of urea synthesis in newborns. It is the most common urea cycle disorder and leads to elevated levels of ammonia in the blood. Excessive ammonia can cause various symptoms, including vomiting, lethargy, and coma. Boys have a more serious form of OTC deficiency than girls. If not treated immediately, severe OTC deficiency can lead to neurologic abnormalities, hyperammonemic coma, and death. Because late-onset OTC deficiency, which is more common in girls, presents mild symptoms, it is easy to miss diagnosis and prompt treatment. We describe an 11-month-old girl who presented periodic vomiting, intermittent lethargy, and seizure. She was diagnosed with OTC deficiency by elevated serum ammonia and urine orotic acid levels. Genetic analysis of the OTC gene revealed a missense mutation in exon 5 (c.418G>C). We reported an experience of exact diagnosis and successful treatment of late-onset OTC deficiency in our patient.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4567-4570
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• 2013

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the commonest radiocurable cancer in Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the treatment outcomes and late effects of radiotherapy for NPC patients treated in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Materials and Methods: All newly diagnosed patients with NPC referred for treatment to the Oncology unit at UMMC from 2004-2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment outcomes were 5 years overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), cause-specific survival (CSS), locoregional control (LRC) and radiotherapy-related late effects. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and differences in survival according to AJCC stage was compared using the log-rank test. Results: A total of 176 patients with newly diagnosed NPC were treated in UMMC during this period. Late presentation was common, with 33.5% presenting with T3-4 disease, 84.7% with N1-3 disease and 75.6% with AJCC stage 3-4 disease. Radical RT was given to 162 patients with 22.7% having RT alone and 69.3% having CCRT. The stipulated OTT was 7 weeks and 72.2% managed to complete their RT within this time period. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given to 14.8% while adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 16.5%. The 5 years OS was 51.6% with a median follow up of 58 months. The 5 years OS according to stage were 81.8% for stage I, 77.9% for stage II, 47.4% for stage III and 25.9% for stage IV. The 5 years overall CSS, DFS and LRC were 54.4%, 48.4% and 70.6%, respectively. RT related late effects were documented in 80.2%. The commonest was xerostomia (66.7%). Other documented late effects were hearing deficit (17.3%), visual deficit (3.1%), neck stiffness (3.1%), dysphagia (3.4%), cranial nerve palsy (2.5%), pneumonitis (0.6%) and hypothyroidism (1.2%). Conclusions: The 5 years OS and LRC in this study are low compared to the latest studies especially those utilizing IMRT. Implementation of IMRT for NPC treatment should be strongly encouraged.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate about comparison of Eastern-Western medicine on the acne. Methods : We searched Eastern and Western medicine books for acne. We analyzed these books and examined category, definition, etiology, classification, internal and external methods of treatment of acne. Results : The results were as follows. 1. In Eastern medicine, Acne belongs to the category of the Bunja(粉刺), Jwachang(痤瘡), Pyepungbunja(肺風粉刺). In Western medicine, the other name of Acne is acne vulgaris. 2. In Eastern medicine, the definition of Acne includes manual extraction of comedones and skin appearance. In Western medicine, Acne is a common skin disease during adolescence and a chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous unit of self localization. It is characterized by noninflammatory, open or closed comedones and by inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules and it affects the areas of skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicles, these areas include the face, neck, back, and the upper part of the chest. 3. In Eastern medicine, the cause and mechanism of Acne arose from the state of internal dampness-heat and spleen-stomach internal qi deficiency due to dietary irregularities and then invaded external pathogen such as wind-dampness-heat-cold-fire in lung meridian lead to qi and blood heat depression stagnation. So it appears in skin. In Western medicine, the etiology and pathogenesis of Acne is clearly not identified, but there are most significant pathogenic factors of blood heat depression stagnation. So it appears in skin. In Western medicine, the etiology and pathogenesis of Acne is clearly not identified, but there are most significant pathogenic factors of Acne; Androgen-stimulated production of sebum, hyperkeratinization and obstruction of sebaceous follicles, proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes and inflammation, abnormaility of skin barrier function, genetic aspects, environmental factors etc. 4. In Eastern medicine, differentiation of syndromes classifies clinical aspects, and cause and mechanism of disease; the former is papular, pustular, cystic, nodular, atrophic, comprehensive type; the latter is lung blood heat, intestine-stomach dampness-heat, phlegm-stasis depression, thoroughfare-conception disharmony, heat toxin type. In Western medicine, it divides into an etiology and invasion period, and clinical aspects; Acne neonatorum, Acne infantum, Acne in puberty and adulthood, Acne venenata; Acne vulgaris, Acne conglobata, Acne fulminans, Acne keloidalis. 5. In Eastern medicine, Internal methods of treatment of Acne are divided into five treatments; general treatments, the treatments of single-medicine and experiential description, the treatments depending on the cause and mechanism of disease, and clinical differentiation of syndromes, dietary treatments. In Western medicine, it is a basic principles that regulation on production of sebum, correction on hyperkeratinization of sebaceous follicles, decrease of Propionibacterium acnes colony and control of inflammation reaction. Internal methods of treatment of Acne are antibiotics, retinoids, hormone preparations etc. 6. In Eastern medicine, external methods of treatment of Acne are wet compress method, paste preparation method, powder preparation method, pill preparation method, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, ear acupuncture therapy, prevention and notice, and so on. In Western medicine, external method of treatments of Acne are divided into topical therapy and other surgical therapies. Topical therapy is used such as antibiotics, sebum regulators, topical vitamin A medicines etc and other surgical therapies are used such as surgical treatments, intralesional injection of corticosteroids, skin dermabrasion, phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, and so on. Conclusions : Until now, there is no perfect, effective single treatment. We think that Eastern medicine approach and treatment can be helpful to overcome the limitations of acne cure.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2011

Acute renal injury induced by ischemia is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients and a common complication in hospitalized patients. Thus, the work with acute renal failure and renal ischemia has been studied for many years. Although serum creatinine concentration that is widely used as an index of renal function performs fairly well for estimating kidney function in patients with stable chronic kidney disease, it performs poorly in the setting of acute disease. Thus, an ideal biomarker for acute kidney injury would help clinicians and scientists diagnose the most common form of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients, acute tubular necrosis, early and accurately, and may aid to risk-stratify patients with acute kidney injury by predicting the need for renal replacement therapy, the duration of acute kidney injury, the length of stay and mortality. In this study, renal ischemia and reperfusion were performed by clapming and un-clamping right renal artery in miniature pigs. Plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were examined at pre- clamping, after-clamping at 0, 1 and 3 hours. And we searched initial indicators in these samples. Also, renal tissue was collected and searched the initial indicator by PCR and western blotting. As a result, hypoxia inducible factor $1{\alpha}$ ($HIF1{\alpha}$), nuclear factor kappa-B ($NF{\kappa}B$), $I{\kappa}B$, erythropoietin (EPO), erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), angiopoietin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were showed significant changes among the renal protein. $HIF1{\alpha}$, EPO, and EPOR were showed significant changes among the renal gene. Thus, these markers will be used as initial diagnosis of acute renal failure.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.12
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• pp.491-500
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the caustic ingestion in children among different continents according to demographic characteristics (core purpose), main symptoms, common caustic agents, signs and symptoms, management, treatment and complications. Methods: This systematic review was performed by searching the databases Science Direct, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and PubMed, electronically and manually. We included studies that were published from 1980 to 2013, at University of Medical Sciences of Tabriz, Iran. A strategic search was performed with keywords including caustic, corrosive, ingestion and children, and was limited to articles in English and Persian. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS ver. 18. Results: Of 63 selected articles of caustic ingestion with 9,888 samples, the proportion of Africa was 3 articles (4.8%) and 95 samples (1%), America 9 articles (14.3%) and 305 sample (3%), Asia 29 articles (46%) and 2,780 samples (28.1%), Europe 17 articles (27%) and 3,002 samples (30.4%), and Oceania 5 articles (7.9%) and 3,706 samples (37.5%). The average age was in the Africa $3.07{\pm}2.02years$, America $3.17{\pm}1.83years$, Asia $3.34{\pm}1.58years$, Europe $3.58{\pm}2.09years$ and Oceania $3.52{\pm}2.02years$. Sex distribution was in Africa 76 males (0.91%) and 19 females (0.23%), America 49 males (0.58%) and 41 females (0.49%), Asia 1,575 males (18.76%) and 1,087 females (12.95%), Europe 1,018 males (12.13%) and 823 females (9.8%), and Oceania 1,918 males (22.85%) and 1,788 females (21.3%). Statistical analysis of the data indicated higher consumption in Europe and Oceania in the boys with higher average age of years. Conclusion: The comparison of caustic ingestion indicated that the cause substances of caustic ingestion in children are different among continents, therefore prevention strategy and different treatment guidelines among continents will be needed.