• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.111-128
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• 2023

Trigger finger is a common cause of hand disability that results in finger catching, clicking, or locking. Conventional treatment options such as medication, injection, and surgery have limitations. Studies have indicated that acupuncture and acupotomy can be effective in treating trigger finger. However, no review regarding these treatment modalities has been published yet. This review included randomized controlled trials published until January 2023, investigating acupuncture-related interventions. The primary outcomes of interest included the effectiveness rate (ER) and pain intensity, measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and secondary outcomes were the Quinnell grade (QG) and recurrence rate (RR). Adverse events (AEs) have also been reported wherever available. Overall, 19 studies were included, and results demonstrated that arcedge acupuncture improved the ER and QG and reduced NRS, and acupuncture was effective in reducing VAS. Compared with conventional surgery, acupotomy alone improved the ER and QG and lowered VAS and RR, with relatively fewer AEs. Acupotomy add-on treatment was more effective than conventional treatment; however, careful interpretation is needed for VAS. Acupotomy add-on treatment was more effective than acupotomy alone. However, the overall results must be interpreted with caution because of study quality, small sample size, and heterogeneity of the results.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.665-673
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• 2014

We compared standard culture methods as well as conventional PCR and real-time PCR for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in milk, cheese, fresh-cut vegetables, and raw beef that have different levels of background microflora. No statistical differences were observed in sensitivity between the two selective media in all foods. In total, real-time PCR assay exhibited statistically excellent detection sensitivity (p<0.05) and was less time consuming and laborious as compared with standard culture methods. Conventional culture methods showed poor performance in detecting L. monocytogenes in food with high levels of background microflora, generating numerous false negative results. While the detection of L. monocytogenes in fresh cut vegetable by culture methods was hindered only by L. innocua, various background microflora, such as L. innocua, L. welshimeri, L. grayi, and Enterococcus faecalis appeared on the two selective media as presumptive positive colonies in raw beef indicating the necessity of improvement of current selective media. It appears that real-time PCR is an effective and sensitive presumptive screening tool for L. monocytogenes in various types of foods, especially foods samples with high levels of background microflora, thus complementing standard culture methodologies.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2024

The standard radiation protection method in the angiography suite involves the use of a thyroid shield, a lead apron, and lead glasses. However, exposure to substantial amounts of ionizing radiation can cause cataracts, tumors, and skin erythema. A newly developed curtain-type radiation protection device consists of a curtain drape composed of a five-layer bismuth and lead acrylic head-shielding plate, with both bearing an equivalent 0.25 mm lead thickness. In this study, a quality assurance phantom was used as the patient to create radiation scatter from the radiographic source, and an anthropomorphic mannequin phantom was used as the interventionalist to measure the radiation dose at seven different anatomical locations. Thermoluminescent dosimeters were used to measure the radiation dose. The experimental groups consisted of all-sided or one-sided curtain set-ups, the presence or absence of a conventional shielding system, and the orientation of beam irradiation. Consequently, the curtain-type radiation protection device exhibited better radiation protection range and capabilities than conventional radiation protection systems, especially in safeguarding the forehead, eyes, arms, and feet, with minimal radiation exposure. Moreover, the mean shielding ratios of the conventional shielding system and curtain-type radiation protection device were measured at 51.94% and 93.86%, respectively. Additionally, no significant decrease in the radiation protection range or capability was observed, even with changes in the beam orientation or one-sided protection. Compared with a conventional shielding system, the curtain-type radiation protection device decreased radiation exposure doses and improved comfort. Therefore, it is a potential new radiation protection device for veterinary interventional procedures.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1275-1284
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• 2019

Objective: To develop algorithms using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for automatic segmentation of acute ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and compare them with conventional algorithms, including a thresholding-based segmentation. Materials and Methods: Between September 2005 and August 2015, 429 patients presenting with acute cerebral ischemia (training:validation:test set = 246:89:94) were retrospectively enrolled in this study, which was performed under Institutional Review Board approval. Ground truth segmentations for acute ischemic lesions on DWI were manually drawn under the consensus of two expert radiologists. CNN algorithms were developed using two-dimensional U-Net with squeeze-and-excitation blocks (U-Net) and a DenseNet with squeeze-and-excitation blocks (DenseNet) with squeeze-and-excitation operations for automatic segmentation of acute ischemic lesions on DWI. The CNN algorithms were compared with conventional algorithms based on DWI and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) signal intensity. The performances of the algorithms were assessed using the Dice index with 5-fold cross-validation. The Dice indices were analyzed according to infarct volumes (< 10 mL, ≥ 10 mL), number of infarcts (≤ 5, 6-10, ≥ 11), and b-value of 1000 (b1000) signal intensities (< 50, 50-100, > 100), time intervals to DWI, and DWI protocols. Results: The CNN algorithms were significantly superior to conventional algorithms (p < 0.001). Dice indices for the CNN algorithms were 0.85 for U-Net and DenseNet and 0.86 for an ensemble of U-Net and DenseNet, while the indices were 0.58 for ADC-b1000 and b1000-ADC and 0.52 for the commercial ADC algorithm. The Dice indices for small and large lesions, respectively, were 0.81 and 0.88 with U-Net, 0.80 and 0.88 with DenseNet, and 0.82 and 0.89 with the ensemble of U-Net and DenseNet. The CNN algorithms showed significant differences in Dice indices according to infarct volumes (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The CNN algorithm for automatic segmentation of acute ischemic lesions on DWI achieved Dice indices greater than or equal to 0.85 and showed superior performance to conventional algorithms.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.256-263
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the image quality and dose reduction of low-dose three-dimensional (3D) rotational angiography (RA) for evaluating intracranial aneurysms. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical data and 3D RA datasets obtained from 146 prospectively registered patients (male:female, 46:100; median age, 58 years; range, 19-81 years). The subjective image quality of 79 examinations obtained from a conventional method and 67 examinations obtained from a low-dose (5-seconds and 0.10-μGy/frame) method was assessed by two neurointerventionists using a 3-point scale for four evaluation criteria. The total image quality score was then obtained as the average of the four scores. The image quality scores were compared between the two methods using a noninferiority statistical testing, with a margin of -0.2 (i.e., score of low-dose group - score of conventional group). For the evaluation of dose reduction, dose-area product (DAP) and air kerma (AK) were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: The mean total image quality score ± standard deviation of the 3D RA was 2.97 ± 0.17 by reader 1 and 2.95 ± 0.20 by reader 2 for conventional group and 2.92 ± 0.30 and 2.95 ± 0.22, respectively, for low-dose group. The image quality of the 3D RA in the low-dose group was not inferior to that of the conventional group according to the total image quality score as well as individual scores for the four criteria in both readers. The mean DAP and AK per rotation were 5.87 Gy-cm² and 0.56 Gy, respectively, in the conventional group, and 1.32 Gy-cm² (p < 0.001) and 0.17 Gy (p < 0.001), respectively, in the low-dose group. Conclusion: Low-dose 3D RA was not inferior in image quality and reduced the radiation dose by 70%-77% compared to the conventional 3D RA in evaluating intracranial aneurysms.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.48-64
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study was to review and evaluate the clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of treatment based on Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) for post-stroke patients by systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published in 10 electronic databases up to December 2020, were searched. For the included studies, Cochrane's risk of bias assessment was performed to analyze the methodological quality. The strength of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation system based on the results of analyses. All review processes were performed by two independent researchers. Results Five RCTs were finally included. All included RCTs were conducted for one month on post-stroke patients in 60-80s, four studies on Tae-Eum patients and one study on So-Yang patients. Four types of constitution-specific herbal medicine (Chungpyesagan-tang, Cheongsimsanyak-tang, Yeoldahanso-tang, and Yangkyuksanhwa-tang) and constitution-specific acupuncture therapy were identified as interventions. More than half of the included studies were evaluated as low quality due to the high-risk of bias in selection, performance, and detection. The combination of constitution-specific herbal medicine, acupuncture, and conventional treatment was more effective in improving the patients' motor impairment, dysphagia, aphasia, and depression than conventional treatment alone. No serious adverse events by SCM treatment were reported. Conclusions SCM treatment may improve the sequelae of post-stroke patients safely in combination with conventional treatment. Since the quality of clinical evidence included in this study was low, higher quality clinical evidence obtained in well-designed clinical studies will be needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.424-429
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• 2012

Purpose: Methods for quick and reliable detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae are needed for the diagnosis of pneumococcal disease and vaccine studies. This study aimed to show that sequential multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more efficient than conventional culture in achieving S. pneumoniae -positive results. Methods: Nasopharyngeal (NP) secretions were obtained from 842 pediatric patients admitted with lower respiratory infections at Severance Children's Hospital in Korea between March 2009 and June 2010. For identification and serotype determination of pneumococci from the NP secretions, the secretions were evaluated via multiplex PCR technique with 35 serotype-specific primers arranged in 8 multiplex PCR sets and conventional bacteriological culture technique. Results: Among the results for 793 samples that underwent both bacterial culture and PCR analysis for pneumococcal detection, 153 (19.3%) results obtained by PCR and 81 (10.2%) results obtained by conventional culture technique were positive for S. pneumoniae. The predominant serotypes observed, in order of decreasing frequency, were 19A (23%), 6A/B (16%), 19F (11%), 15B/C (5%), 15A (5%), and 11A (4%); further, 26% of the isolates were non-typeable. Conclusion: As opposed to conventional bacteriological tests, PCR analysis can accurately and rapidly identify pneumococcal serotypes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.406-411
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• 2011

Background: Invariant Natural killer T (iNKT) cells, a distinct subset of CD1d-restricted T cells with invariant $V{\alpha}{\beta}$ TCR, functionally bridge innate and adaptive immunity. While iNKT cells share features with conventional T cells in some functional aspects, they simultaneously produce large amount of Th1 and Th2 cytokines upon T-cell receptor (TCR) ligation. However, gene expression pattern in two types of cells has not been well characterized. Methods: we performed comparative microarray analyses of gene expression in murine iNKT cells and conventional $CD4^+CD25^-$ ${\gamma}{\delta}TCR^-$ T cells by using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) method. Results: Here, we describe profound differences in gene expression pattern between iNKT cells and conventional $CD4^+CD25^-$ ${\gamma}{\delta}TCR^-$ T cells. Conclusion: Our results provide new insights into the functional competence of iNKT cells and a better understanding of their various roles during immune responses.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2009

Purpose: This was conducted to assess the need for conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine for routine screening of trauma patients who revealed no spinal trauma on chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of trauma patients who underwent conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine following a chest and abdominal CT that revealed no spinal trauma. Results: Two hundred seventy-five trauma patients underwent conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine following a chest and abdominal CT that revealed no spinal trauma. In 274 of the cases, the thoracolumbar spine series was also negative. Conclusion: CT of the chest and abdomen is an adequate evaluation of the thoracolumbar spine in trauma patients who require routine thoracolumbar spine screening, making subsequent conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine unnecessary.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the detection rate and serotypes of Salmonella spp. in conventional and welfare poultry farms. Ten welfare (five layer and five broiler) and 15 conventional farms (five layer and ten broiler farms) were visited to collect environmental samples for identification and serotyping of Salmonella spp. The detection rate of Salmonella spp. was higher in the welfare farms than in conventional farms in both layer and broiler farms. In layer farms, Salmonella spp. was detected in 0.76% (1 out of 130) of samples from one of five welfare layer farms, but was not detected in the five in conventional layer farms. No significan ifference (P>0.05) was observed between the welfare and conventional layer farms. In broiler farms, Salmonella spp. was detected in 10.5% (21 out of 200) of samples from four of five welfare broiler farms and 3.5% (7 out of 200) of samples from five of ten conventional broiler farms, and a significant difference (p <0.05) was observed between the welfare and conventional broiler farms. Among 29 Salmonella spp. isolates, five isolates were serotyped to Salmonella enterica subsp. Enteritidis (n=2), Salmonella enterica subsp. Grampian (n=1), Salmonella enterica subsp. Virchow (n=1), and Salmonella enterica subsp. Senftenberg (n=1). These results suggest that microbial risks could be higher in welfare farms than in conventional farms due to easy access to open-air areas, environmental enrichment, and reduced use of antibiotics. Therefore, continuous monitoring and surveillance for Salmonella spp. is necessary to improve the microbiological safety of poultry meat.