• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.171-179
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• 2008

Objective: Bufonis Venenum is the traditional Korean medicine Chan Su, which is obtained from the skin and parotid venom gland of the toads. It has been used for myocardial diseases, inflammation diseases, pain relief, cancer and others. The main components of BV are cinobufotoxin, cinobufalin, bufalin and others. Of these, bufalin, the major active ingredient of BV, has been reported to induce apoptosis and to possess anti-tumor effects. There was no report of anti-tumor screening of BV on hepatic cancer and which signaling pathway can be involved. In order to examine the effect of BV on hepatic cancer and the related signaling pathway with BV-induced apoptosis, human Hep G2 cells were used. Methods: Analysis of apoptosis was confirmed by MTT assay. BV decreased cell viability in a dose and duration dependent manner. To observe which signaling molecules will be activated by BV, phosphorylation of MAPK (p38, ERK, JNK), caspase 8 and caspase 9 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: The phosphorylation levels of p38 started to increase at 5 min after addition of 5 ${\mu}g$/ml of BV and sustained to increase until 48 hours. The phosphorylation levels of other MAPK (ERK and JNK), caspase 8 and caspase 9 increased in a time-dependent manner. These imply that BV may activate different signaling pathways, MAPK, caspase 8 and caspase 9. These results propose that BV may induce apoptosis on Hep G2 cells through the activation of MAPK, caspase 8 and caspase 9.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.676-683
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3-level hybrid surgery (HS), which combines fusion and cervical disc replacement (CDR), compared to 3-level fusionin patient with cervical spondylosis involving 3 levels. Methods : Patients in the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) group (n=30) underwent 3-level fusion and the HS group (n=19) underwent combined surgery with fusion and CDR. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale for the arm, the neck disability index (NDI), Odom criteria and postoperative complications. The cervical range of motion (ROM), fusion rate and adjacent segments degeneration were assessed with radiographs. Results : Significant improvements in arm pain relief and functional outcome were observed in ACDF and HS group. The NDI in the HS group showed better improvement 6 months after surgery than that of the ACDF group. The ACDF group had a lower fusion rate, higher incidence of device related complications and radiological changes in adjacent segments compared with the HS group. The better recovery of cervical ROM was observed in HS group. However, that of the ACDF group was significantly decreased and did not recover. Conclusion : The HS group was better than the ACDF group in terms of NDI, cervical ROM, fusion rate, incidence of postoperative complications and adjacent segment degeneration.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore research trends in gold implantation therapy performed on the animal and human body, through a review of clinical studies focused on gold thread, gold needle and gold bead. Methods : Medical databases, including Pubmed, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, RISS4u, KISTI, OASIS and KTKP, were searched for relevant articles published from their launch to December 31, 2015 using the key word 'gold' with '$thread^*$', '$needle^*$', '$acupuncture^*$', '$wire^*$', '$bead^*$', '$embed^*$', '$implant^*$', or '$insert^*$'. The results were classified into in vivo studies, clinical trials and clinical reports. Analysis of the results was conducted in several research areas, from the identity of studies such as nationality and published year, to the gold preparations-features and implanted locations and to the outcomes that reflect the clinically favorable or adverse effect of gold implantation therapy. Results : A total of 30 studies including 11 in vivo studies, 4 clinical trials and 15 case reports, were found in the search. We observed certain research trends according to the research time, nationality and target indication of the studies. The studies primarily revealed a chronic local inflammatory response which could be a useful mechanism for pain-relief in musculoskeletal diseases and facial rejuvenation. Researches concerning long-term reactions or adverse effects were rare. Conclusion : The results show that the efforts to discover the level of clinical efficacy of gold implantation therapy were steady and worldwide. However, further researches on the longterm effect, and more importantly, the safety of gold implantation therapy are required.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2009

Reexpansion pulmonary edema is not a common phenomenon after chest tube insertion but some reports from 0% to 14%. There are various resulting complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome. We report a case of focal reexpansion pulmonary edema after chest tube insertion. A 49-year-old male came to the hospital due to ongoing dyspnea and left chest pain for 3 days. On chest X-ray, the patient had a left pneumothrax. We planned to insert a chest tube for symptom relief. To determine whether or not the chest had expanded as a result of the chest tube insertion, the patient underwent repeated chest X-rays the following day. The patient experienced brief respiratory symptoms upon initial suction; a chest PA showed patchy consolidated infiltration at the inserted site. After 5 days of conservative management, the recovered completely.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.56-63
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to examine how an effective rehabilitation exercise program influences the activity of shoulder muscles, and to help the clinical application of a rehabilitation program, for prevention and relief of pain, adhesion, and joint stiffness of patients who undergo rotator cuff repair. Methods: Nine test subjects were placed randomly into each group for a total of 27 subjects and exercise program interventions according to the group were conducted for six weeks, after which maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) value was re-measured for supraspinatus muscle, infraspinatus muscle, serratus anterior muscle, and middle deltoid muscle in all groups in order to compare changes in muscle activity before and after the experiment in order to perform comparative analysis of changes in muscle activity between groups, based on which four experimental hypotheses were confirmed. Results: Changes in muscle activity according to %MVIC showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) (p<0.001) in all muscles, except the middle deltoid muscle, and post-verification results showed that changes in muscle activity according to %MVIC were greater in test groups I and II, compared with the control group, for the supraspinatus muscle, infraspinatus muscle, and serratus anterior muscle. Conclusion: Therefore, rehabilitation through use of the methods described above should be applied efficiently in clinical settings and more research in development of much more efficient rehabilitation program interventions must be conducted.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2013

Objectives : Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN), generally considered to be the most symptomatically distressing complication of diabetes, affects more than 50% of people with diabetes. However, no consistently effective treatment for DPN is available and patients are forced to struggle with medications that provide only partial relief. In this pilot study, we evaluated the clinical effects of Saam acupuncture for the treatment of painful DPN. Methods : A total of 10 patients with painful DPN were included in the study; 6 subjects with Saam acupuncture treatment and 4 subjects without it. Subjects were defined as having painful DPN if they had at least 2 points using total symptom score(TSS). Treatments were delivered three times a week for 4 weeks. Vitamin $B_{12}$ was orally administrated in the all subjects. At initial(0 week) and follow-up after 4 weeks and 8 weeks, all subjects underwent TSS, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument(MNSI), and nerve conduction test. Results : After initial(0 week) and follow-up(8 weeks), TSS and MNSI were not significantly different between the two groups(p=0.400 and p=0.830, respectively). However, in both two groups, according to time, there was a significant difference in TSS as well as MNSI(p=0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). Conclusions : Saam acupuncture may be considered as the effective treatment for the patients of DPN although the changes of the symptoms were of limited significance in this study. Further investigations are required to elucidate the role of Saam acupuncture for the pain control of DPN.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.251-259
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• 2011

The aim of this is to examine the effects of SSP therapy on the internal carotid arteries blood flow of 24 tension type headache patients(study group) and non tension type headache patients(control group), and on the reduction of their headaches, when applied to the acupuncture points. It stimulated the acupuncture point of headache 6 place with the SSP. It measured VAS and the blood flow of the internal carotid arteries with TCD. When the internal carotid arteries blood flow of study group and control group were compared by period, a significant difference was found in the 4th period(p<.05). When the Visual Analog Scale of study group and control group were compared by period, a significant difference was found in the 4th period(p<.05). The comparison of each measurement result of the internal carotid arteries blood flow of the study group found significantly increased. The comparison of each measurement result of the VAS of study group found significantly decreased. With regard to the control group, the VAS significantly decreased. The silver spike point low frequency electrical stimulation treatment, when applied to the acupuncture point, can significantly influence the internal carotid arteries blood flow of headache patients and can significantly reduce their headaches.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 1997

Endoscopic diagnosis and medical management from K43 and C45 patients, whose sex, occupation, character and life patterns are quite different each other, were discussed. The K43 was patient with erosive gastritis, which may caused by maldietary habits and life stresses. Although the effective drugs such as H2-receptor antagonists with atacids, H+/K+-pump inhibitors, prokinetics, colloidal bismuth, and sucralfates, were administrated for long time, symptomatic relief of abdominal pain was not improved. The tests of clinical phathology and abdominal sonogram were normal, visceral hypersensitivity was appeared from barostat test of stomach. However C45 had taken headache during every day life, and endoscopically confirmed as a gastric·duodenal ulcer patiant, which may caused by chronic use of NSAIDs. The her ulceric symptoms were suppressed from active stage to healing stage by using combination therapy for H. pylori with traditional antipeptic ulcer drugs, where as amitriptyline was administrated to the K43 but not effective. Nonulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome is pooly defined, and affect about 15% of the population annually in U. S. A. but don't seek medical care. Author would like to point out that statistics for visceral pains are absent in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.921-928
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• 2014

This study investigated the quality characteristics of cookies containing capsaicin, the main source of spicy taste in pepper, which is well known for its various functions such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities, as well as pain-relief effect. Cookie samples were made by adding the capsaicin powder at different levels, including 40 mg% (C1), 85 mg% (C2), and 150 mg% (C3). In this study, measurement of the moisture, pH, color, spread factor, hardness, anti-oxidant activity, and sensory evaluation of the cookies was carried out. The results showed that the anti-oxidant activity increased when more capsaicin powder was added to the cookies (p<0.001). The moisture also increased with increasing capsaicin powder content (p<0.05), while the pH did not show any significant changes. As for the colors, the L value and b value decreased as more capsaicin powder was added, while the a value increased. The spread factor also increased significantly with the increase of capsaicin powder (p<0.01). Although the hardness increased with capsaicin powder content, no statistically significant differences were observed among the various cookies. In the sensory evaluation, Cookies containing 40 mg of capsaicin obtained the highest score in color, while cookies containing 150 mg of capsaicin showed the highest score in taste, texture, and overall acceptability.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 2006

Percutaneous vertebroplasty consists of the percutaneous injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into a collapsed vertebral body in order to obtain pain relief and mechanically strengthen the vertebral body. This procedure is now extensively used in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. It is an efficient treatment, but it is not free of complications. Most complications after vertebroplasty are associated with PMMA leakage. Pulmonary embolism of PMMA is rare, but this can occur when there is a failure to recognize venous migration of cement early during the procedure. We encountered a case of a patient with asymptomatic pulmonary embolism because of PMMA after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Chest X-ray and CT scanning revealed numerous tubular branching opacities that corresponded to the pulmonary vessels at the segmental and subsegmental levels.