• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권6호
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• pp.757-766
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• 2020

Objective : Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a severe and life-threatening disease. Although commonly performed, the effect of timing in surgical treatment on patient outcome is still unclear. With this study, we aim to provide evidence for early surgical treatment in patients with SEA. Methods : Patients treated for SEA in the authors' department between 2007 and 2016 were included for analysis and retrospectively analyzed for basic clinical parameters and outcome. Pre- and postoperative neurological status were assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). The self-reported quality of life (QOL) based on the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) was assessed prospectively. Surgery was defined as "early", when performed within 12 hours after admission and "late" when performed thereafter. Conservative therapy was preferred and recommend in patients without neurological deficits and in patients denying surgical intervention. Results : One hundred and twenty-three patients were included in this study. Forty-nine patients (39.8%) underwent early, 47 patients (38.2%) delayed surgery and 27 (21.9%) conservative therapy. No significant differences were observed regarding mean age, sex, diabetes, prior history of spinal infection, and bony destruction. Patients undergoing early surgery revealed a significant better clinical outcome before discharge than patients undergoing late surgery (p=0.001) and conservative therapy. QOL based on SF-36 were significantly better in the early surgery cohort in two of four physical items (physical functioning and bodily pain) and in one of four psychological items (role limitation) after a mean follow-up period of 58 months. Readmission to the hospital and failure of conservative therapy were observed more often in patients undergoing conservative therapy. Conclusion : Our data on both clinical outcome and QOL provide evidence for early surgery within 12 hours after admission in patients with SEA.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.409-415
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• 1997

The influences of dietary supplement of citron tea on the hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis have been studied by examining placental glutathione S-transferase(GST-P) positive foci area in a liver tissue, contents of total cytochrome P450, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) and glucose 6-phosphatase(G6Pase) in hepatic microsome and glutathione S-transferase(GST) activity. Weaning Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed AIN76 diet with or without citron tea supplement. Rats of CTR and CTR+ groups were fed diet without citron tea supplement while CDI and CDI+ groups were fed diet with citron tea supplement for the entire experimental period(13 weeks). Rats of CDP and CDP+ groups were fed diet without citron tea supplement for the first 7 weeks and swiched to citron tea containing diet for the last 6 weeks of experimental period. CTR+, CDI+ and CDP+ groups were carcinogen treated group. Diethylnitrosamine(DEN) was used as a carcinogen initiator and injected to the rats of carcinogen treated groups as a single dose of 200 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally after 4 weeks of feeding. 2-Acethylaminofiuorene(AAF) was used as a carcinogen promoter and supplied in the diets of carcinogen treated rats as 0.02% content for the last 6 weeks starting from 2 weeks after DEN injection. Rats were sacrificed after 13 weeks of feeding. Liver/body weight ratio and GST activities were increased by carcinogen treatment. However, they were not changed by citron tea supplement. Total cytochrome P450 contents were not changed by carcinogen treatment or citron tea supplement. TBARS contents of carcinogen treated rats showed tendency to decrease by citron tea supplement. G6Pase activity decreased by carcinogen treatment and citron tea supplement. The area of GST-P positive foci detected in carcinogen treated rats were decreased by citron tea supplement and not affected by the timing and the duration of citron tea supplement. These results suggest that citron tea has suppressive effects on hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis probably through antioxidant compounds by decreasing TBARS contents.

• 한국잡초학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.266-271
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• 2010

기존의 쌀겨농법 기술을 보완하여 잡초방제효과를 증진하기 위해 쌀겨의 분시방법 및 대두박과의 혼용, 중경제초와의 병행을 통한 잡초방제효과 및 쌀 수량의 변화를 조사하였다. 쌀겨 및 대두박 투입시기 조절에 따른 잡초방제효과 시험에서는 쌀겨관행구에서 잡초억제율이 가장 높아 대두박을 쌀겨와 같이 투입하는 것은 부적절하였다. 그러나 이앙 후 5일의 대두박 처리에서 피 발생이 적어 대두박 내 초기 피 발생 억제물질 존재 여부에 대한 추후 연구가 필요한 것으로 생각된다. 관행에 비해 잡초발생이 많은 쌀겨 및 대두박 시용의 경우 중경제초 병행 효과가 있었고 이에 대한 정밀한 중경제초 시기 및 방법에 대한 시험이 필요할 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.103-113
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• 2002

Distraction osteogenesis is a biologic process of new bone formation between the surfaces of bone segments that are gradually separated by incremental traction. Distraction osteogenesis is clinically applied as a new treatment modality of mandibular hypoplasia or bony defect area in maxillofacial area by many studies of distraction devices and method. But, disadvantages of distraction osteogenesis shows unfavorably long consolidation period and relapse tendency. Therefore, this experiment was designed to investigate the effectiveness of combined application of distraction and compression force for improving of bone quality and shortening of treatment period during distraction osteogenesis. Twenty-five Sprague-Dawley rats with $300{\sim}350gm$ were used. These were divided into two group as distraction group and combination group. The distraction group was added with conventional method during distraction osteogenesis, but the combination group was applied with compression force in the consolidation period. The rats were sacrificed for gross finding, radiographic and histologic findings at 3, 6 weeks after distraction. The results were as follow: 1. On radiographic finding, all combination of distraction and compression force group appeared more radiopacity than distraction group both at 3 weeks and 6 weeks after distraction group. 2. On histologic finding, the formation of mature lamellar bone were showed increasingly in combined group at 6weeks after distraction group. From this study, we may suggest that compression force application in consolidation period during distraction osteogenesis can be useful method to improve bone quality and to shorten the treatment period. But more experimental and clinical studies is necessitated on ideal application timing and method of compression force application during distraction osteogenesis.

• 대한구순구개열학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.87-94
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• 2005

Patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) generally demonstrate the asymmetries in the lip, nose and the naso-maxillary complex. And their skeletal asymmetries are known to be derived from the displacement of nasal septum, anterior nasal spine (ANS) and the pre-maxilla toward the non-affected side during the developmental and growth period. Due to the interruption of the important facial muscles, which are critical for the symmetric growth of premaxilla, functional matrix system fails to develop and results in the displacement of the ANS toward the non-affected side and nasal asymmetry. Therefore the rhinoplasty for CLP patients is required to have inter-skeletal and muscular rearrangement in the naso-maxillary complex in order to let them recover from esthetic and physiologic imbalances. And functional cheilorhinoplasty (FCR) has been a representative treatment of choice for this concept of treatment modality. The outcome and prognosis of primary or repair FCR have been known to be definitely affected by timing of the operation as well as adequate reconstruction of naso-labial muscles. However, sometimes FCR has an ineffective treatment results for patients after the facial growth period, and the limited rhinoplasty around the nose often fails to bring satisfying results. In order to circumvent this limitation, we performed ANS osteotomy for patients with unilateral CLP showing asymmetric nose, as an alternative way for corrective rhinoplasty. We could observe that the nose was rearranged along the facial mid-line by this osteotomy design and asymmetries were evidently improved postoperatively. Here we present this osteotomy method in CLP patients.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.69-80
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop a clinical practice observation course in a medical school that can give Korean medical students opportunities to experience the treatment environment in western medicine, and to analyze the results of the course. Methods: A total of 47 (collection rate: 85.5%) senior students of the College of Korean medicine in Gyunggi-do replied to the survey. Twenty-seven of them were male and 20 were female. They participated in the clinical practice observation course in the medical school two days a week for two weeks (total: four days) in the academic year 2011-2012. Before the course, an orientation was held; and upon the students' completion of the course, they presented their experiences and replied to the survey. Results: According to the survey, the purpose of the course was well explained (91.5%), and the course was necessary for Korean medical students (97.9%). The four-day course duration was inappropriate, though (83%). The female students were more satisfied with their participation in the fourth year and with the timing of the course than the male students were. The students who finished the course at the surgical departments recognized the necessity of the course more than the students who finished the course at the non-surgical departments. The advantages of the course included opportunities to observe operation scenes and experience clinical treatment processes and systems. The weakness of the course included poor organization due to the short preparation period. Conclusions: The course was confirmed as necessary for Korean medical students so that they would understand the treatment environment in western medicine. Through the course, the students broadened the understanding of the disease and developed a strong sense of identity as Korean medical students. The duration of the course needs to be extended, and its structure should be enhanced. Furthermore, various educational programs that offer Korean medical students opportunities to experience various clinical cases need to be introduced.

• 한국식품영양과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식품영양과학회 2001년도 International Symposium on Food,Nutrition and Health for 21st Century
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• pp.22-37
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• 2001

Melatonin is secreted during the hours of darkness and is thought to influence the circadian and seasonal timing of a variety of physiological processes. Serotonin N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) which is found to be expressed in pineal gland, retina, and various tissues, catalyses the conversion of serotonin to N-acetylserotonin and is known as the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of melatonin. The compounds that modulate the activity of AA-NAT can be used to treat serotonin-and melatonin-related diseases such as insomnia, depression and seasonal affective disorders (SAD). Several assay methods have been developed by which to measure AA-NAT activity. We have also developed a simple, rapid and sensitive AA-NAT assay method that takes advantage of differences in the organic solubilities between acetyl CoA and N-acetyltryptamine. We screened modulators of AA-NAT activity from the water extracts of the medicinal plants. We found MNP1005 which strongly inhibited the activity of AA-NAT ($IC_{50}$=2.2$\mu$M). Enzyme inhibitory kinetic studies revealed that MNP1005 exhibited a noncompetitive inhibition toward tryptamine. The antidepressant effect of MNP1005 was investigated on behavioral despair test so called forced swimming test (FST). MNP1005 significantly increased swimming behavior by reducing immobility with treatment of 10 mg/kg when compared to the vehicle-treated control group (P < 0.05). This suggests that MNP1005 possesses antidepressant activity. The influence of chronic MNP1005 treatment on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was examined by in situ hybridization and Northern blot. Chronic treatment of MNP1005 blocked the downregulation of BDNF mRNA in the frontal cortex and other cortex regions in response to restraint stress.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.177-182
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• 2021

Background: Although prompt surgery after an orbital fracture is preferable, the actual timing of surgery in real-world settings varies. Therefore, this study investigated the outcomes of implant surgery for inferior orbital wall fractures by comparing three groups according to the time interval between the injury and surgery. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients' medical charts and initial computed tomography images from 2009 to 2020. The time to treatment was chosen by patients or their guardians based on the patients' comorbidities and the physician's explanation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of surgery (group 1: 3-7 days, group 2: 8-14 days, group 3: 15 or more days). Data were collected on age, the time interval until surgery, the dimensions of the defect, the operation time, the follow-up period, and the postoperative paresthesia score (ranging from 0 to 10). The outcomes were evaluated using a 4-point scale: 4=good (no complications), 3=fair (no subjective symptoms), 2=poor (remaining paresthesia), and 1=very poor (strabismus and/or enophthalmos). Results: The study included 85 patients with unilateral fractures who underwent surgery from 3 to 93 days after injury. The overall score distribution of the surgical outcomes was as follows: good=63, fair=7, poor=6, and very poor=9. The three groups showed no significant differences in the transverse dimension of the injury (p=0.110) or the anteroposterior dimension (p=0.144). In groups 1, 2, and 3, the postoperative outcome scores were 3.84±0.37, 3.63±0.87, and 2.93±1.33 (p=0.083), and the percentage of patients with good outcomes was 84%, 81.25%, and 57.14%, respectively. Conclusion: Performing surgery using an artificial implant within 2 weeks of the injury showed better outcomes and fewer postoperative complications than when treatment was delayed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권8호
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• pp.580-590
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• 2021

Patients with severe asthma have unmet clinical needs for effective and safe therapies. One possibility may be mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, which can improve asthma in murine models. However, it remains unclear how MSCs exert their beneficial effects in asthma. Here, we examined the effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUC-MSC) on two mouse models of severe asthma, namely, Alternaria alternata-induced and house dust mite (HDM)/diesel exhaust particle (DEP)-induced asthma. hUC-MSC treatment attenuated lung type 2 (Th2 and type 2 innate lymphoid cell) inflammation in both models. However, these effects were only observed with particular treatment routes and timings. In vitro co-culture showed that hUC-MSC directly downregulated the interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 production of differentiated mouse Th2 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthma patients. Thus, these results showed that hUC-MSC treatment can ameliorate asthma by suppressing the asthmogenic cytokine production of effector cells. However, the successful clinical application of MSCs in the future is likely to require careful optimization of the route, dosage, and timing.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.27-35
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and the clinical factors associated with prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in diabetic patients. Subjects and Methods: Forty-nine diabetic with unilateral SSNHL were retrospectively included. All patients received systemic high dose steroid therapy within one month after onset and had more than one month of follow-up audiogram. The basic characteristics of the patients, initial and follow-up audiograms, laboratory data, and methods of steroid treatment were collected. Results: Compared to reference values in healthy subjects, 79%, 55%, and 45% of the patients had higher values of mean neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), respectively. Older patients had significantly less degree of hearing loss, but they also had significantly worse hearing thresholds in the unaffected ear. After steroid treatment, less than half patients (47%) showed hearing recovery. Simultaneous intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) injections with systemic steroid did not confer an additional hearing gain or an earlier recovery rate in diabetic patients with SSNHL. In the multivariate analysis, initial hearing thresholds of affected ear and timing of steroid treatment were significantly associated with hearing prognosis in diabetic patients with SSNHL. Conclusions: Diabetic patients with SSNHL tended to have increased NLR, LMR, and PLR, which are reported to be associated with microvascular angiopathy. Simultaneous ITD injections to improve hearing recovery in diabetic patients with SSNHL seems unnecessary.