• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제50권11호
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2018

Although the positive effects of recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2 (rFGF-2) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been implicated in previous studies, knowledge of its role in COPD remains limited. The mechanism of FGF2 in a COPD mouse model and the therapeutic potential of rFGF-2 were investigated in COPD. The mechanism and protective effects of rFGF-2 were evaluated in cigarette smoke-exposed or elastase-induced COPD animal models. Inflammation was assessed in alveolar cells and lung tissues from mice. FGF-2 was decreased in the lungs of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. Intranasal use of rFGF-2 significantly reduced macrophage-dominant inflammation and alveolar destruction in the lungs. In the elastase-induced emphysema model, rFGF-2 improved regeneration of the lungs. In humans, plasma FGF-2 was decreased significantly in COPD compared with normal subjects (10 subjects, P = 0.037). The safety and efficacy of inhaled rFGF-2 use was examined in COPD patients, along with changes in respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. A 2-week treatment with inhaled rFGF-2 in COPD (n = 6) resulted in significantly improved respiratory symptoms compared with baseline levels (P < 0.05); however, the results were not significant compared with the placebo. The pulmonary function test results of COPD improved numerically compared with those in the placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant. No serious adverse events occurred during treatment with inhaled rFGF-2. The loss of FGF-2 production is an important mechanism in the development of COPD. Inhaling rFGF-2 may be a new therapeutic option for patients with COPD because rFGF-2 decreases inflammation in lungs exposed to cigarette smoke.

• Annals of dermatology
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.688-693
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• 2018

Background: There are few pharmacologic options to reduce erythema and flushing in patients with recalcitrant erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR). We previously reported two cases of refractory flushing and erythema of rosacea that were successfully treated with intradermal botulinum toxin injection, and additional research is needed to prove the efficacy and safety of this treatment. Objective: To report the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin injection as an aid in persistent erythema of rosacea patients. Methods: A total of 20 Korean patients with recalcitrant ETR were enrolled to receive treatment by injection of botulinum toxin. Patients received one treatment of intradermal botulinum toxin injection and were assessed 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment. The severity of erythema and telangiectasia was investigated by a non-treating physician, and the Erythema Index (EI) was assessed by mexameter at each visit. Patient satisfaction and any adverse events were also assessed at each visit. Results: 17 patients completed all follow-up visits and were included in the analysis. Intradermal injection of botulinum toxin significantly reduced erythema severity and EI in ETR patients. Patients reported a satisfaction score of $2.94{\pm}0.56$ at 8 weeks after treatment. Except for three patients who discontinued the study early due to inconvenience of facial muscle paralysis, 17 patients participating in the final analysis did not report side effects except injection pain at the time of the procedure. Conclusion: Intradermal injection of botulinum toxin can be used as an effective and relatively safe adjuvant agent for recalcitrant and persistent erythema of ETR patients.

• 지질동맥경화학회지
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.97-104
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical benefits between high-intensity and low-to moderate-intensity statin therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: A total of 1,230 patients in the Korea AMI Registry (KAMIR) were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the dosage of statin for the secondary prevention after AMI. The primary endpoint was composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including cardiac death, non-fatal MI, repeat revascularization during the 12 months of clinical follow-up. Result: The primary endpoint occurred in 101 patients (11.3%) from the low-to moderate-intensity statin group and 45 patients (13.4%) from the high-intensity statin group. The cumulative incidence of MACEs during 12-month follow-up was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.323). After multi-variate analysis, MACEs-free survival rate was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: High-intensity statin therapy did not show additional clinical benefit over low-to moderate-intensity statin therapy after AMI.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제19권10호
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• pp.630-640
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• 2019

최근 일련의 사건은 대중문화예술 산업에 종사하는 스태프에 대한 부실한 작업 안전 문제에 대해 다시 논의할 수 있는 계기가 되었다. 우리나라에서는 그동안 대중문화예술제작물스태프의 문제에 대해 표준계약서를 통한 해결을 주된 정책의 한 방법으로 추진하고 있었다. 그럼에도 불구하고 기존의 표준계약서가 스태프의 작업 안전 문제에 대해서 시장의 특성 및 요구 등을 적절히 반영하지 못하고 있다 보니 마련된 표준계약서를 현실에서 활용하고자 하더라도 실질적인 효과를 얻는데 큰 한계가 발생한다. 이에 본 연구에서는 표준계약을 통한 계약당사자 간 의무 규율 사항을 개선함으로써 스태프의 작업 안전에 대한 유의미한 효과를 얻고자 하였다. 이를 위해 안전사고의 주요 원인과 계약 사례 등을 고려하여 계약항목의 구성을 최적 작업역량 유지를 위한 부정적 요인의 제거, 스태프 개인의 주의 해태(懈怠) 원인의 제거, 외부요인에 의한 주의 해태 원인 제거로 설정하고, 이들 각 상위 구성요소에서 각각 다루어야 할 구체적인 계약사항을 제시하였다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.865-872
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this case report was to describe the effect of Hyeolgusamhwa-tang (絜矩三和湯 ) on abdominal distension caused by Qi (氣脹) in a patient with functional dyspepsia. Methods: A female Korean patient was treated with Hyeolgusamhwa-tang and acupuncture for 14 days. We observed objective symptoms, such as bloating, nausea, belching, loss of appetite, and heartburn, and we also measured her abdominal circumference. Results: After treatment, her abdominal circumference was decreased from 87 cm to 83.5 cm, and her food intake was improved from the baseline. The other objective symptoms, like general weakness, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, and heartburn, were improved or disappeared without any adverse events reported. However, we could not find any significant differences for some symptoms, such as nausea. Conclusions: This case suggests that Hyeolgusamhwa-tang and acupuncture therapy could be effective in reducing functional distension in patients diagnosed with distension caused by Qi (氣脹).

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.79-85
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin B12 treatment in subacute combined degeneration (SCD) caused by nitrous oxide (N₂O) abuse. Methods: Relevant literature was accessed through PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and KoreaMed. All the literature that was relevant to human use of vitamin B12 treatment for SCD caused by N₂O abuse was included. Case reports were excluded if the treatment regimens were not precisely described. The literature search was conducted by two investigators during September 2019 for the final publication period. The languages of the publications were restricted to English and Korean. Results: Twenty-three published articles that contained 24 cases were included. Sixteen cases among them were treated with intramuscular vitamin B12 of 1 mg/day and the rest received different doses or routes. Although most cases described significant clinical improvements, one case showed no beneficial effect due to the patient's noncooperation. Another case showed adverse events, including spinal myoclonus, following vitamin B12 therapy. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 has been broadly used for the treatment of SCD caused by N₂O abuse. However, most of the relevant studies were case reports that reported various regimens of vitamin B12 administration. Further studies are needed to establish a standard regimen of vitamin B12 because the incidence of N₂O abuse may increase in South Korea.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.141-155
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• 2021

Objective The purpose of this study is to gather information from clinical studies conducted in China and analyze the effects of herbal medicine treatment for childhood vitiligo. Methods The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with herbal medicine treatment for childhood vitiligo from the Chinese Academic Journal (CAJ) from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched. Then, each study was analyzed by demographics, disease durations, interventions, treatment periods, outcomes, adverse events, and compositions of the herbal medicine used. Result A total of 6 RCTs were included. All the trials except for one used a combination of Chinese herbal medicine with Western medicine as their treatment groups. The total efficacy rate was used to measure the effectiveness, and the treatment groups reported a significantly higher total efficacy rate compared to the control groups in all studies. In one study, a control group treated with compound glycyrrhizin capsule and topical compound kaliziran tincture combination treatment was compared with a treatment group which used the same treatment that the control group received in addition to oral herbal medicine. This study also showed higher total effectiveness in the treatment group than the control group. Conclusions In pediatric vitiligo, a combination of herbal medicine treatment rather than Western medical treatment alone can improve symptoms. In addition, it was suggested that the therapeutic effect can be enhanced when oral herbal medicine is used in combination with other herbal medicine treatments.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제42권5호
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• pp.1082-1093
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• 2021

Objective: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive, irreversible brain damage and cognitive decline. Although the diagnosis and treatment of the prodromal symptoms of dementia are important, no treatment for mild cognitive impairment has been currently established. Herein, we report the case of an 80-year-old female patient with memory complaints treated with Gugijihwang-tang, a traditional Korean medicine herbal formula, as an add-on medication. Case Presentation: The patient was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment based on clinical examinations using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale, Global Deterioration (GDR) Scale, and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale. She was treated with Gugijihwang-tang bis in die for 12 months while continuing her original medications, including 5-mg donepezil and 590-mg acetyl-l-carnitine. The MMSE score in the Korean Version of the CERAD Assessment Packet increased from 21 to 27 during the 12-month treatment period, and the CERAD 2 score increased from 33 to 62. The instrumental ADL scale score improved from 11 to 5. Other clinical examination results also showed improvement. The patient was satisfied and experienced no significant adverse events related to the Gugijihwang-tang treatment. Conclusion: This case suggests that Gugijihwang-tang could be considered as a treatment method for patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.98-105
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• 2021

Background: In recent events of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, computed tomography (CT) scans are being globally used as a complement to the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. It will be important to be aware of major organ dose levels, which are more relevant quantity to derive potential long-term adverse effect, for Korean pediatric and adult patients undergoing CT for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: We calculated organ dose conversion coefficients for Korean pediatric and adult CT patients directly from Korean pediatric and adult computational phantoms combined with Monte Carlo radiation transport techniques. We then estimated major organ doses delivered to the Korean child and adult patients undergoing CT for COVID-19 combining the dose conversion coefficients and the international survey data. We also compared our Korean dose conversion coefficients with those from Caucasian reference pediatric and adult phantoms. Results and Discussion: Based on the dose conversion coefficients we established in this study and the international survey data of COVID-19-related CT scans, we found that Korean 7-year-old child and adult males may receive about 4-32 mGy and 3-21 mGy of lung dose, respectively. We learned that the lung dose conversion coefficient for the Korean child phantom was up to 1.5-fold greater than that for the Korean adult phantom. We also found no substantial difference in dose conversion coefficients between Korean and Caucasian phantoms. Conclusion: We estimated radiation dose delivered to the Korean child and adult phantoms undergoing COVID-19-related CT examinations. The dose conversion coefficients derived for different CT scan types can be also used universally for other dosimetry studies concerning Korean CT scans. We also confirmed that the Caucasian-based CT organ dose calculation tools may be used for the Korean population with reasonable accuracy.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.37-46
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• 2021

Objective : This study aims to examine the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines in upper respiratory tract infection by conducting systematic review against amoxicillin. Methods : Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published by December 2020 were searched in PubMED database. Study selection was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. The Risk of Bias of the RCTs were evaluated based on the Cochrane criteria. Study selection and bias assessment were conducted independently by two researchers, and the third party was involved if there is a disagreement. Results : Three RCTs were included. Meta-analysis was not performed due to different specific disease and outcome measurements among the included studies. Herbal medicine showed statistically significant improvement in symptoms and endoscopic findings compared to amoxicillin in acute rhinosinusitis. In addition, herbal medicine showed statistically significant improvement in symptoms and a smaller dose of additional antibiotics in acute tonsillitis. However, herbal medicine showed no significant effects compared to amoxicillin in chronic sinusitis patients after functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In terms of adverse events, no significant difference was observed between the herbal medicine group and the amoxicillin group in all studies. Conclusion : Herbal medicine might be more effective than amoxicillin in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. Nevertheless, it is hard to clear that conclusion due to the fact that the collected studies were conducted on different specific diseases and herbal medicine, and that the included studies had flaws in the research methodology.