• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.75-83
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• 2020

Background: The effect of the Valsalva maneuver applied in resistance exercise has shown contradictory results. This study aims to investigate the effect of the Valsalva maneuver on resistance exercise by examining the changes that occur by applying the Valsalva maneuver during trunk flexion and extension resistance exercise in healthy adults. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: 34 healthy adults were conveniently recruited. According to the with or without Valsalva maneuver, the flexion and extension of the trunk were measured and evaluated. Results: Paired t test showed that there was a statistically significant difference in maximum torque of trunk flexion in the resistance exercise with Valsalva maneuver. However, there was no statistically significant difference in trunk extension (p<.05), in the total and average work of trunk flexion and extension (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study in which the difference in the amount of exercise according to the application of the Valsalva maneuver was not significant, show that the practice of the Valsalva maneuver, which has a risk of injury, should be avoided in rehabilitation exercises.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2020

Treatment-induced neuropathy in diabetes (TIND) is a reversible neuropathy that occurs in patients with diabetes, usually after a fast improvement in glycemic control. TIND is defined as the sudden onset of neuropathic pain or autonomic dysfunction with a large improvement in glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] level of ≥ 2% over 3 months). We report the first case of a 24-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus who developed TIND in Korea. Her HbA1c level had decreased from 16.7% to 7.3% within a 3-month period. She developed acute-onset, severe, and continuous burning pain affecting her back and lower extremities. She was administered tapentadol (50 mg), pregabalin (75 mg), and vitamin B with minerals twice daily for neuropathic pain. She complained of orthostatic hypotension; thus, midodrine (2.5 mg) and anti-embolic stockings were prescribed. She almost completely recovered 6 months after the onset. A physician should be aware of TIND and gradually reduce HbA1c levels to prevent the occurrence of TIDN. They must also try to provide relief from severe pain or autonomic dysfunction and emphasize on an almost complete recovery.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2020

Objective: Recent studies have shown that repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) reduces pain in various conditions. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of rPMS depending on the pain characteristics. Method: Adult patients aged 19~85 years evaluated at our institution between September 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 for subacute to chronic musculoskeletal pain equivalent to a numeric rating scale of 3 or higher for at least one month were enrolled. Pain scores as determined using a numeric rating scale at baseline and at the end of treatment were set as the primary outcome. Additionally, we classified the pain into nociceptive, intermediate, or neuropathic pain using the PainDETECT questionnaire and compared the responsiveness to rPMS according to the type of pain. Results: The average pain scores significantly decreased after the 2-week rPMS treatment in all enrolled subjects (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in pain reduction between groups divided by PainDETECT questionnaire. Conclusion: This study suggests that rPMS could safely relieve various types of pain.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2020

Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is commonly performed to provide relief of pain caused by radiculopathy. Intra-arterial injection of particulate steroid or direct needle injury can lead to spinal artery embolism or thrombosis. Also there is a possibility of vascular spasm. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spinal cord infarction that occurred after TFESI with non-particulate steroid in Korea. A 47-year-old female patient underwent C7 TFESI at local pain clinic. Injected materials were dexamethasone and mepivacaine. Right after the intervention, she felt muscle weakness and decreased sensation. On physical examination, she had decreased sensation from C4 to T2 dermatome in light touch and pin-prick test. Proprioception and vibration were intact. The motor grades of upper extremities were grade 1. Cervical and thoracic spine MRI was checked. Diffusion-weighted image and apparent diffusion coefficient image showed long extension of spinal cord infarction from C2 to T1 level.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.88-91
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• 2019

Unexplained pain and weakness, i.e., without obvious predisposing factors, are often encountered by physiatrists and efforts should be made to determine the cause. A 63-year-old male presented with radiating pain in his right arm and mild weakness of the right hand. An electrodiagnostic examination revealed distal symmetric sensory polyneuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, and denervation potentials in the forearm muscles, which were inconsistent with the cervical spine MRI images and symptoms. A predisposing undiscovered disease was revealed, i.e., squamous cell carcinoma in the lung; brain metastasis affecting the left primary motor cortex was also detected. Therefore, we concluded that the pain and weakness were related to paraneoplastic syndrome and brain metastases of the hand knob. The observed denervation potentials were characterized as trans-synaptic changes in the brain metastasis. This case highlights the importance of unexplainable focal pain and weakness in the increasing prevalence of cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2022

The clinical concept of coronary artery disease (CAD) has seen a paradigm shift over the last decade. CAD is mostly a progressive disease, and patients with CAD can develop acute coronary syndromes at any point in disease progression. In this clinical context, a new term, "chronic coronary syndrome," was published in the 2019 European Society of Cardiology guidelines, reflecting the importance of early diagnosis and active management. Recent advances have been made in the evaluation of CAD using coronary CT angiography (CCTA). The clinical usefulness of CCTA in patients with stable angina or chronic coronary syndrome begins with the detection of early asymptomatic CAD. The characterization of atherosclerotic plaque and its role in determining treatment strategies for CAD have been demonstrated for all stages of the disease. This review describes the pathophysiology of stable angina to aid in the understanding of the clinical applications of CCTA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.724-729
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• 2022

A duodenal web is an incomplete diaphragm of the duodenal lumen that causes a partial or (intermittent) complete obstruction. The size of a duodenal web's aperture determines the degree of obstruction, age at presentation, and radiologic findings. We report a case of duodenal web incidentally diagnosed in a 14-month-old boy who presented to the hospital after ingesting a foreign body. We provide a comprehensive report of multiple studies through abdominal radiograph, upper gastrointestinal study, endoscopy, and surgical findings. We emphasize that the duodenum should be considered as the location of the obstruction when infants exhibit delayed discharge or dynamic positioning of a foreign body in a radiologic examination.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.250-254
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• 2021

Diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor (D-TSGCT), previously known as pigmented villonodular synovitis, is a locally aggressive neoplasm that may arise from the synovium, bursa, or tendon sheath. D-TSGCT is usually monoarticular and can be classified into intra- and extra-articular forms, the latter of which is rarer. Here, we report a case of D-TSGCT in a 64-year-old female that involved the entire flexor and extensor tendon sheaths of both wrists. We describe the ultrasonography and MRI findings, as well as review the relevant literature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1274-1280
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• 2021

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare but distinctive type of influenza-associated encephalopathy characterized by symmetric multiple lesions with an invariable thalamic involvement. Although the exact pathogenesis of ANE remains unclear, the most prevalent hypothesis is the "cytokine storm," which results in blood-brain-barrier breakdown. We present the case of a 10-year-old boy with fulminant ANE confirmed with serial MRI studies, including diffusion-weighted imaging and susceptibility-weighted imaging. A comparison of these serial images demonstrated detailed and longitudinal changes in MRI findings during the clinical course corresponding to pathophysiological changes. Our case clarifies the pathogenesis of ANE brain lesions using serial imaging studies and suggests that early immunomodulatory therapy reduces brain damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.1134-1139
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• 2023

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumor primarily located in the head and neck. We report the imaging features of pathologically confirmed MCC in the trunk. On US, MCC showed heterogeneous echogenicity with perpendicular hypoechoic linear bands that resembled "columns of smoke" in the skin and subcutaneous layers as well as prominent vascularity. On MRI, the tumor showed hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on proton density and T2-weighted images with linear low-signal bands in the skin and subcutaneous layers as well as intense enhancement on T1-enhanced images. Although MCC has nonspecific imaging features, these characteristics may be helpful for the early diagnosis of this disease.