• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.81-85
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• 2014

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most difficult pain syndromes to treat. Invasive treatments may be considered when patients fail to obtain adequate pain relief from noninvasive treatment approaches. Here, we present three cases of PHN in the mandibular branch treated with ultrasound-assisted mental nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency treatment. None of the patients had adequate pain relief from the medical therapy, so we performed the mental nerve block on the affected side under ultrasound assistance. Two patients showed satisfactory pain relief continuously over 12 months without any further interventions, whereas one patient only had short-term pain relief. For the patient had short-term pain relief we performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment (PRFT) on the left mental nerve under ultrasound assistance. After PRFT, the patient had adequate pain relief for 6 months and there was no need for further management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제59권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2016

Objective : The aim of this multicenter, matched-pair study was to compare the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and conventional external radiation therapy (RT) when used as a primary treatment in spine metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods : From 2005 to 2012, 28 patients underwent SRS as the primary treatment in spine metastasis from HCC. Based on sex, age, number of spine metastasis, Child-Pugh classification, interval from original tumor to spine metastasis, and year of treatment, 28 patients who underwent RT were paired. Outcomes of interest were pain relief, progression free survival, toxicities, and further treatment. Results : The perioperative visual analog scale (VAS) decrease was larger in SRS group than in RT group, but the difference was not significant (3.7 vs. 2.8, p=0.13). When pain medication was adjusted, the number of patients with complete (n=6 vs.3) or partial (n=12 vs.13) relief was larger in SRS group than in RT group; however, the difference was not significant (p=0.83). There was no significant difference in progression free survival (p=0.48). In SRS group, 32.1% of patients had 1 or more toxicities whereas the percentage in RT group was 63.0%, a significant difference (p=0.04). Six SRS patients and 7 RT patients received further intervention at the treated segment. Conclusion : Clinical and radiological outcome were not significantly different between the two treatments. Toxicities, however, were more prevalent in the RT group.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제41권
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• pp.5.1-5.5
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• 2019

Background: The present study aimed to determine whether laypeople and professionals rate the facial appearance of individuals with repaired complete unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP, BCLP) similarly based on viewing full facial images. Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional analytical design where five young patients aged 10 to 14 years, who had completed all stages of their unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate treatment (bilateral: three, unilateral: two), were evaluated by two groups. The assessment was done by laypeople and 97 qualified professionals (33 orthodontists, 32 plastic surgeons, and 32 oral and maxillofacial surgeons). Professionals were not involved in any stage of the patients' treatment. Results: The facial appearance assessment of the professional groups on different facial aesthetics was significantly lower than that of laypeople, and they had higher perceived need for further treatment. On the other hand, laypeople had higher aesthetic ratings and lower perceived need for further treatment. Differences were also observed between the assessments of the professional groups. Participants who had lower aesthetic assessments of the repair tended to report a higher influence of cleft lip and palate on social activities and professional life. Conclusion: Differences in perception exist between healthcare professionals and laypeople. The discrepancies between the professional groups could be attributed to different treatment modalities and protocols.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.65-84
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• 2001

We recently demonstrated that bee venom (BV) injection into acupoint (i.e. Zusanli) produced more potent anti-inflammatory and antinociciptive effect in Freunds adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model as compared with that of non-acupoint injection(i.e back). However, the precise components underlying BV-induced antinociceptive and/or anti-inflammatory effects have not been fully understood. Therefore, we further investigated the anti-arthritic effect of BV after extracting the whole BV according to solubility (water soluble: BVA, ethylacetate soluble: BVE). Subcutaneous BVA treatment (0.9 mg/kg/day) into Zusanli acupoint was found to dramatically inhibit paw edema and radiological change (i.e. new bone proliferation and soft tissue swelling) caused by Freunds adjuvant injection. In addition, the increase of serum interleukin-6 by RA induction was normalized by the BVA treatment as similar with that of non-arthritic animals. On the other hand, BVA therapy significantly reduced arthritis induced nociceptive behaviors (i.e., nociceptive score for mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia). Furthermore, BVA treatment significantly suppressed adjuvant induced Fos expression in the lumbar spinal cord at 3 weeks post-adjuvant injection. However, BVE treatment (0.05 mg/kg/day) has not any anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effect on RA. Based on the present results, we demonstrated that BVA might be a effective fraction in whole BV for long-term treatment of RA-induced pain and inflammation. However, it is clear necessary that further fraction study about BVA was required for elucidating an effective component of BVA.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

Objectives The aim of this study is to observe the effectiveness of complex Korean medicine treatment applied to the patients with degenerative meniscal tear and the correlation among clinical effectiveness, body mass index (BMI) and Kellgren-Lawrence grade (KL-grade). Methods The study participants were 38 patients who had been diagnosed with degenerative meniscal tear. Participants were classified by BMI, KL-grade and treated with acupuncture, electroacupuncture and pharmacopuncture. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC Index) and EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D Index). Results Both NRS and WOMAC scores were significantly reduced after treatment (p<0.001). The EQ-5D for assessing quality of life showed further improvement (p<0.05). A statistically significant correlation was observed between the BMI and NRS, EQ-5D. KL-grade was correlated with WOMAC. Conclusions These results show that complex Korean medicine treatment to the patient with degenerative meniscal tear may be effective as a conservative therapy. Further research is required to confirm the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.46.1-46.16
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• 2023

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) affects all age group and occurs mainly in women. Pyroptosis is a novel programmed cell death featured with cell bursting and release of proinflammatory cytokines. A deeper understanding of AIH pathogenesis will contribute to novel therapy for AIH patients. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of IL-17 in immune-mediated liver injury. The levels of cytokines were measured by ELISA, and mRNA levels of STAT3 and IFN gamma-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) were detected by PCR. Expressions of STAT3, IFI16, gasdermin D and cleaved caspase-1 were measured by western-blotting. Immunohistochemical staining and transmission electron microscopy were applied to evaluate liver histopathological changes of the treated mice. Our results showed that the levels of IFI16 was increased in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further elevated after STAT3-overexpressed (STAT3-OE) lentivirus treatment. The levels of IFI16 were reduced in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 neutralizing Ab (nAb), but were significantly increased after STAT3-OE treatment. Pyroptosis was observed in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further cell damage was observed after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. Liver damage was alleviated in mice treated with IL-17 nAb, however sever damage was experienced after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. A binding interaction between IFI16 and STAT3 was detected in IL-17 treated hepatocytes. Glutathione transaminase activity was enhanced in concanavalin A-induced AIH mice compared to the control group (p<0.01). IL-17 plays an important role in activating STAT3 and up-regulating IFI16, which may promote the pyroptosis in AIH-related liver injury through STAT3-IFI16 axis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.151-160
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• 2009

Objectives : This study is to report five cases those have an important meaning as a result of treating female Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) patients in the reproductive years with oriental medical treatment. The patients had problems of pregnancy because of their RA and DMARDs(disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) before oriental medical treatment. Methods : These patients were treated by acupuncture, moxibution and herb medication. Results : The conditions of patients were improved with oriental medicine even if they had stopped DMARDs. And they became pregnant and the patients maintain their conditions. Conclusions : Oriental medical treatment was effective to improve the condition of RA patients and pregnancy. For more accurate studies, further studies would be needed with more cases.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.103-107
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to estimate the effects of spiral taping treatment on low back pain. Methods : 420 low back pain patients were treated with spiral taping or spiral taping plus herbal medicine, and no other treatments such as acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and chiropractic therapy were added. We evaluated the improvement by physical examination and pain. Results : 364 patients felt no pain or inconvenience of daily life and 43 patients showed improvement of pain or symptom after 1 month of treatment. 13 patients showed same pain with before treatment. Conclusion : These results suggest spiral taping treatments contribute to the improvement of low back pain. Further study is needed for the confirmation of this effect of spiral taping treatments on low back pain.

• BMB Reports
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.405-408
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• 1998

Endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by T4 endonuclease V or UvrABC nuclease treatments were compared in the dihydrofolate reductase gene of UV-irradiated Chinese hamster ovary B-11 cells. The number of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by T4 endonuclease V treatment followed by NaOH denaturation was twice that of formamide denaturation. Repeated treatment of damaged genomic DNA with T4 endonuclease V resulted in no further increase in the number of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected. The numbers of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by UvrABC nuclease using each denaturation condition were similar. Sequential treatment with the two endonucleases using formamide denaturation resulted in twice the number of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by treatment of each nuclease alone. Due to a lack of AP endonuclease activity these results suggest the presence of T4 endonuclease V-sensitive sites which could be complemented by alkaline gel separation or by UvrABC nuclease treatment.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.391-399
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• 2017

Objectives: To determine the effects of Korean medicine on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of an Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient. Methods: A 85-year old female patient diagnosed with AD was treated with herbal medicine formula Chungsimyeonja-tang (淸心蓮子湯), Woohwangchungsim-won (牛黃淸心元), and acupuncture. Korean version of Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE-K) scores were used at baseline and post treatment as outcome measures to evaluate clinical symptoms of the patient. Results: Improvements in MMSE-K post treatment scores were observed compare to those at baseline. BPSD were also alleviated. Such changes were visually noticeable. Conclusions: Herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment were effective in alleviating symptoms of AD. Further studies with a larger sample size and randomized clinical trials are needed to obtain more reliable and valid treatment outcomes.