• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.881-886
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• 2011

AMPA receptor (AMPAR)s are heterotetrameric structures made up from 4 units (GluR1-4) and are thought to underlie perception of persistent inflammatory pain. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-evoked inflammation induces synaptic GluR2 internalization, which is initiated by GluR2 phosphorylation, in dorsal horn neurons during the maintenance of CFA-induced hypersensitivity. The present study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation has any effect on GluR2 trafficking by using immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. We examined that CFA-induced dorsal horn GluR2 internalization was attenuated by EA treatment. EA treatment could also decrease the level of pGluR2 regardless of whether CFA injection was administrated or not. In addition, previous studies suggest that microglial cells are increased without morphological change in CFA injected animal. In our study, increases in microglial cells in CFA group were observed, whereas EA with or without CFA-injected group showed similar aspects with normal group. In conclusion, our results indicate that EA might blunt CFA-evoked inflammation by coordinating mechanisms at the upstream step of neuron activation and GluR2 phosphorylation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 1996

From January 1980 to May 1995, ninety-six patients had been treated by free-flap transfer for the soft tissue defects of the extremities. Ninety-eight cases of free-tissue transfer were reviewed to evaluate the clinical reliability in terms of survival and quality of long-time function after reconstructive surgery. Among these 98 cases(27 cases in latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, 25 in dorsalis pedis flap, 20 in forearm fasciocutaneous flap, 9 in groin flap, 7 in gracilis myocutaneous flap, 6 in 1st web space flap of foot and 4 cases in tensor fascia lata flap), 92 cases of then were survived. 7 cases were performed with vein grafts. We ananalyzed the reconstruction of the extremities on 98 cases with the soft tissue defects which had been reconstructed free-flap transfer and followed for minimum 1 year period at Korea University Hospital. 1. 92 cases(93.9%) of the total 98 cases were successful and can be obtained the excellent results in soft tissue free-flap transfer. 2. While there were no clinically significant differences in survival rate of flaps transferred from different potential flap donor sites,3 cases of 9 groin flaps were showed higher failure rate due to the complications such as arterial thrombosis, infection and anatomical variation of vessels. 3. Postoperative thrombectomy was performed in 30 cases to be occured in the arterial and venous thrombosis. The revision was failed in 2 cases due to persistent arterial thrombosis and infection, then treated with skin graft. 4. Vein graft was frequently required in severely compromised-soft tissue defects resulted from high-energy trauma. The vein graft was not stitistically significant on the frequency of flap failure rate(P<0.04). 5. Meticulous monitoring, careful planning, early revision and technical considerations will provide for a high clinical success of the free-flap transfer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2015

Objectives: Pine needles were used as a passive air sampler (PAS) of atmospheric persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This study was performed to investigate concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) deposited on pine needles near a waste incinerator and PCDD/Fs source contributions using principal component analysis (PCA). Methods: Two-year-old pine needles were sampled at 11 points with respect to distance and wind direction from the incinerator. PCDD/Fs deposited on pine needles were analyzed with HRGC/HRMS. The source contribution of PCA was calculated with SPSS. Results: The average concentration of PCDD/Fs deposited on pine needle was 0.79 (0.27-1.76) pg TEQ/g dry, PCDDs with 0.24 (0.01-0.95) pg TEQ/g dry and PCDFs with 0.56 (0.27-0.82) pg TEQ/g dry, respectively. The average concentration fraction of PCDDs was 29.7%, that of PCDFs was 70.3%, and PCDFs were more prevalent than PCDDs. The contributions of PCDD/Fs sources were estimated as incineration at 58.3% and automobiles at 28.4%. However, a relation and regulation between PCDD/Fs concentrations deposited on pine needles and distance from incinerator or wind direction was not shown. Conclusion: It was concluded that atmospheric PCDD/Fs concentrations near an industrial complex with a waste incinerator were affected by multiple sources. However, PCDD/Fs concentrations were lower than in other inland cities with the exception of background area.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.372-376
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this large prospective study is to assess the association between the disappearance of the lateral spread response (LSR) before and after microvascular decompression (MVD) and clinical long term results over two years following hemifacial spasm (HFS) treatment. Methods : Continuous intra-operative monitoring during MVD was performed in 244 consecutive patients with HFS. Patients with persistent LSR after decompression (n=22, 9.0%), without LSR from the start of the surgery (n=4, 1.7%), and with re-operation (n=15, 6.1%) and follow-up loss (n=4, 1.7%) were excluded. For the statistical analysis, patients were categorized into two groups according to the disappearance of their LSR before or after MVD. Results : Intra-operatively, the LSR was checked during facial electromyogram monitoring in 199 (81.5%) of the 244 patients. The mean follow-up duration was $40.9{\pm}6.9$ months (range 25-51 months) in all the patients. Among them, the LSR disappeared after the decompression (Group A) in 128 (64.3%) patients; but in the remaining 71 (35.6%) patients, the LSR disappeared before the decompression (Group B). In the post-operative follow-up visits over more than one year, there were significant differences between the clinical outcomes of the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion : It was observed that the long-term clinical outcomes of the intra-operative LSR disappearance before and after MVD were correlated. Thus, this factor may be considered a prognostic factor of HFS after MVD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.610-614
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• 2016

Objective : The purpose of this study was to present the outcome of the microsurgical foraminotomy via Wiltse paraspinal approach for foraminal or extraforaminal (FEF) stenosis at L5-S1 level. We investigated risk factors associated with poor outcome of microsurgical foraminotomy at L5-S1 level. Methods : We analyzed 21 patients who underwent the microsurgical foraminotomy for FEF stenosis at L5-S1 level. To investigate risk factors associated with poor outcome, patients were classified into two groups (success and failure in foraminotomy). Clinical outcomes were assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of back and leg pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Radiographic parameters including existence of spondylolisthesis, existence and degree of coronal wedging, disc height, foramen height, segmental lordotic angle (SLA) on neutral and dynamic view, segmental range of motion, and global lumbar lordotic angle were investigated. Results : Postoperative VAS score and ODI improved after foraminotomy. However, there were 7 patients (33%) who had persistent or recurrent leg pain. SLA on neutral and extension radiographic films were significantly associated with the failure in foraminotomy (p<0.05). Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis revealed the optimal cut-off values of SLA on neutral and extension radiographic films for predicting failure in foraminotomy were $17.3^{\circ}$ and $24^{\circ}s$, respectively. Conclusion : Microsurgical foraminotomy for FEF stenosis at L5-S1 level can provide good clinical outcomes in selected patients. Poor outcomes were associated with large SLA on preoperative neutral (>$17.3^{\circ}$) and extension radiographic films (>$24^{\circ}$).

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2008

Background: Because genetic manipulation is commonly accomplished in mice, mouse models for pain have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms of persistent pain. The purpose of this experimental study is to develop a mouse model for understanding incision induced postoperative pain. Methods: A longitudinal incision was made at the hindpaw of male DBA/2 mice. The withdrawal frequency(WF) from applications of von Frey filaments and the response frequency (RF) to blunt mechanical stimulation were examined in an incision group and a control grouP. The withdrawal latency (WL) to radiant heat and a pain score based on weight bearing were also measured. Tests were performed 1 day before incision, and 2 hours, 1-3 days, 5 days and 7 days after incision. Results: The WF for the strongest filament was $35.0{\pm}9.1%$ before incision and this increased to $100.0{\pm}0%$ at 2 hours and to $65.0{\pm}9.1%$ at 7 days after incision. The RF to the blunt stimulus was $4.1{\pm}4.1%$ before incision and $100.0{\pm}0.0%$ at 2 hours and $42.8{\pm}10.8%$ at 7 days after incision. The WL was $6.6{\pm}0.5sec$ before incision and $2.4{\pm}0.3sec$ at 2 hours and $5.9{\pm}0.6sec$ at 7 days after incision. The pain score increased from $1.1{\pm}0.8$ to $7.4{\pm}1.5$ at 2 days after incision. Conclusions: A mouse model of acute postoperative pain was developing by making a surgical incision in the mouse hindpaw. Mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia lasting for several days demonstrate that this model has similarities to the human post-operative pain state. Future studies will allow us to further investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms of incisional pain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.565-570
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• 1995

Seventy-three patients with isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection the patients associated with other major cardiac anomalies such as single ventricle, DORV[Double Outlet Right Ventricle and large VSD[Ventricular Septal Defect were excluded were underwent surgical repair from January 1980 through October 1993. There were 45 boys and 28 girls. The mean age at operation was 19.9 months[range 6 days to 24 years and mean body weight was 7.1kg[range 2.6kg to 45kg . The anomalous locations of connection were supracardiac in 38, cardiac in 21, infracardiac in 5, and mixed in 9. In 38 patients[52% , the venous drainage was obstructed. The obstruction ratios according to the connection type were as follows: 53%[28/38 in supracardiac, 52%[11/21 in cardiac, 100%[5/5 in infracardiac, 22%[2/9 in mixed type. The associated cardiac anomalies were persistent left SVC[2 , tricuspid valve regurgitation[3 , cor triatriatum[1 , and mitral cleft[1 . And associated noncardiac anomalies were imperforate anus[1 and Neil Weightman syndrome[1 . The operative mortality was 23%. The causes of death were pulmonary hypertensive crisis, perioperative myocardial failure, pneumonia with sepsis, arrhythmia and etc. The statistically significant factors in postoperative mortality were the pulmonary venous obstruction and age [p<0.01 . The operative mortality was high in groups of age under 1 month and pulmonary venous obstruction. The mean follow-up was 27.1 months. There were two late deaths. The first patient was three months old boy with supracardiac type and severe obstructive symptoms. The postoperative echocardiography was showed anastomotic stenosis and reoperations were performed twice but the patients expired due to pneumonia and sepsis. The second patient was three month old boy with supracardiac type and total correction was done and was doing well postoperatively. Eight years later, he expired suddenly due to arrhythmia. But all the other patients were in NYHA Fc I and received no medications. The 5-year survival rate excluding early expired patients is 97.1 $\pm$ 0.03 %. In conclusion, although the operative mortality of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was relatively high compared to other major cardiac anomalies, we could expect excellent long-term results by early surgical correction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3983-3988
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer though preventable is still the leading cause of cancer death among women secondary to breast cancer. Persistent infection with HPV has been causally linked to the disease. A school based HPV vaccination program was introduced in late 2010 in Malaysia and nurse support is essential for its success. Objectives: To determine nurses knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and its vaccines, and factors associated with their knowledge. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working at primary health clinics in Kelantan from mid-June till the end of July 2014. Its involved 330 nurses selected through multistage random sampling. A validated self-administered questionnaire consisting of 11 items for the knowledge domain and eight items for the attitude domain was used. Results: The response rate of the study was 93.7%. The mean knowledge and mean attitude (SD) scores were 5.37 (1.76) and 29.8 (3.51) respectively. Only 24% knew that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and 67% correctly answered that Gardasil vaccine can protect against four types of HPV. Nearly 60% of participants wrongly answered that HPV vaccines cannot be offered to sexually active women. Likewise, 70.9% participants were not aware that HPV vaccine may be appropriate for females aged 9 through 26 years. Though 90% of participants believed that the vaccine is safe, nearly half of them were unsure about efficacy. From multiple linear regression analysis, among the factors tested only participant's level of education showed a statistically significant association with the HPV knowledge score (p <0.001). Conclusions: This study indicates nurses have favorable attitudes towards HPV vaccination; however they have significant knowledge deficit and major misunderstanding in critical knowledge items. Among the factors tested, nursing qualification is the only factor that is significantly associated with the nurses knowledge score.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare three surgical scrub methods-4% chlorhexidine gluconate(CHG) with brush, 4% CHG without brush, and waterless scrub using 1% CHG and 61% ethanol combination(alcohol-based agent)-for antimicrobial efficacy. Method: "Glove-juice technique" was used to evaluate microbial hand counts before surgical scrubs, 1 min and 3 hr after surgical scrubs. Result: Waterless scrub using CHG and ethanol combination resulted in a 4.8-log reduction at 1 min and 4.0-log reduction at 3 hr. CHG without brush resulted in a 4.7-log reduction at 1 min and 3.3-log reduction at 3 hr. The traditional scrub using CHG with brush resulted in a 3.6-log reduction at 1 min and 0.8-log reduction at 3 hr. The waterless scrub and CHG without brush showed significantly higher log reduction(p<.05) than CHG with brush at 1 min and 3 hr after surgical scrub. Waterless scrub showed greater log reductions than CHG without brush, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Waterless scrub using alcohol-based agent showed more persistent and immediate antimicrobial efficacy than either CHG with brush or CHG without brush.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2012

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which are used in a variety of consumer products. Several of those are produced in large quantities. Their chemical structure similarities to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as their toxicity, has been studied. PBDEs are persistent and lipophilic, which results in their bioaccumulation in the fatty tissues of organisms and enrichment throughout food chains. In addition, a number of studies also reported high levels of PBDEs in animals and food resulting from the use of contaminated animal feed Public concern about PBDEs levels in animals and food has been raised. Feed contamination by toxic chemicals has been the cause of the contamination of poultry products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PBDEs in pig feed to search the origin chase of POPs in pigs. Feed samples were obtained wheat from East Europe, corn from South America and America, soybean meal from Korea, America, South America and India and tallow from Korea. The preparation of samples was based on the EPA method 1614. Instrumental analysis was based on the use of high resolution gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Quantification was carried out by the isotopic dilution method. The analysis of ${\Sigma}PBDEs$ involved 22 PBDE congeners, including BDE-17, 28, 47, 49, 66, 71, 77, 85, 99, 100, 119, 126, 138, 153, 154, 156, 183, 184, 190, 191, 196 and 197.