• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.29 no.3 s.54
• /
• pp.565-577
• /
• 1996

This study was conducted to evaluate the association of work posture with cervical spine abnormality toward 106 microwave-oven assemblers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain a general characteristics and a work history of workers. The posture of neck and shoulder joint of workers were measured with video tape recording and the simple X-ray of cervical spine was checked-up to observe the X-ray abnormality including degenerative change, curvature abnormality, disc space narrowing or disc canal narrowing. The result were as follows. 1. The prevalence of degenerative change among cervicobrachial disorder workers was 44.3% (47 persons), curvature abnormality was 43.4%(46 persons), disc space narrowing was 21.7%(23 persons), and disc canal narrowing was 21.7%(23 persons). 2. The prevalence of degenerative change at cervical spine was increased with the degree of neck flexion(flexed versus neutral, odds ratio [OR]=2.7), the total work posture of neck(mild or severe awkward versus neutral ; OR=1.2, 3.4). 3. The prevalence of degenerative change at cervical spine was increased with the degree of the right shoulder flexion, the heaviness of the materials carried by the right hand and the degree of awkwardness at the total work posture of right shoulder(p<0.05). 4. There was no evidence of association between curvature abnormality, disc space narrowing, disc canal narrowing and work posture. In conclusion the awkward work posture was related with degenerative change of cervical spine among microwave oven assembling workers and the further study in these field must be made to prove the association objectively.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.78-89
• /
• 2002

This study was performed to analyse some rick ffactors for chronic degenerative diseases of the Korean dict. The study subjects consisted of preschool children(PC), elementary school children(EC), high school students(HS), college students(CS), and adults over 30 years old living in Seoul and the surrounding areas. The subjects over 30 years old were classfied to 30-49 years, 50-69 years, and over 70 years. A dietary survey was conducted using 24-hour recall method and data were collected from 2392 subjects. The dietary risks for chronic degenerative disease such as food sources of fat consumption, high cholesterol intake, low dietary fiber intake, and low calcium intake and high protein intake were analyzed. Younger subjects had more animal fat proportion than older subjects did. HS and CS had the least fat proportion from fishes and shellfishes. Each mean cholesterol intake of PC, EC, HS, and CS was over 300mg/day, and HS load the highest level of 415mg/day. Cholesterol density of the diet of PC was the highest of 175mg/1000kcal and the level decreased when the age increased. The subjects consuming cholesterol over 100 mg/1000kca1 were about 70% of PC and HS. More than 20% of PC, EC, and HS consumed calcium under 75% of RDA with protein consumption over 125% of RDA. Dietary fiber intakes were 18g for HS, CS, 30-49 years, and 50 ∼ 69 years, 14g for EC and over 70 years, and 12g for PC. Ninety percent of PC and EC, 80% of HS and CS, and 70% of tole subjccts over 30years consumed dietary fiber under the level of 10g/1000kca1. The major food sources of dietary fiber were vegetables and grains. From these results, children and adolescents had ricks for chronic degenerative diseases on all the analyzed items. The results of this study would provide the basic information for development of dietary interventions to improve diet find health.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.129-140
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study was to examine the effect of a taping therapy on pain relief and the improvement of daily living for elderly having degenerative knee arthritis. Method: This study was conducted with a non-equivalent control-group pre-test and post-test design. Data were collected conveniently with 63 elderly who had having(a) pain due to degenerative knee arthritis, and (b) inconvenience in daily life(30 for an experimental group and 33 for a control group). The subjects were recruited from the elderly, participating in welfare programs held in a welfare organization and day-care facilities. The experimental group received an intervention of taping therapy offered twice a week, for 4 weeks. The data collection from the experimental group was done from the beginning of the therapy throughout two weeks later after the end of the therapy. Results: For the experimental group, pain scores came to more decreased significantly, as the periods in which taping therapy was conducted were getting longer. Physical function scores became also more decreased at significantly level, as taping therapy was more conducted. However, compared to the control group, the score change for the experimental was not significantly showed in physical function after the therapy ended. That is, there was no longer-lasting effect on physical function improvement. Conclusion: This study found that this therapy could be a useful self-management method that the elderly with degenerative knee arthritis can use easily at home. Because of insignificant result in longer-lasting effect, this taping therapy would be applied properly with the interval of 2~3days.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.286-293
• /
• 2003

Several polyphenolic compounds and complex mixtures were isolated from brown algae species. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydarzyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of these compounds were evaluated to determine their physiological usefulness as antioxidants for vascular protection. The antioxidative protection of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was also evaluated and compared with that of catechin, because the generation of oxidized LDL is one of the most active and specific risk factors contributing to atherogenesis. Oral administration to rats of a commercially available sample ($VNP^{TM}$) containing 30% of these polyphenolic compounds and 70% dietary fiber revealed that the serum reducing capacity measured in terms of FRAP value was significantly elevated 30 min after the treatment, but declined rather quickly thereafter, indicating the good oral absorption of the compounds and their fast binding to the lumenal surface of the blood vessels. An eight-week, human, clinical trial (n=31) of $VNP^{TM}$ showed significant improvement in erectile function measured by IIEF (international index of erectile function) score. These results collectively demonstrated the usefulness of these polyphenolic compounds as fundamental chemopreventive agents against vascular risk factors originating from oxidative stress.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2005

To observe the morphological changes and the expression of tenascin in synovium of human knee joint, between normal condition and degenerative arthritis, were processed by immunoelectron microscopic method. The results were summarized as follows. 1. In degenerative arthritis, the hyperplasia of synovial membrane was characterized by the increase of cell number in secretory synovial cells. 2. In normal condition, there was no marking of the immuno-gold for tenascin in synovial membrane. 3. In degenerative arthritis, the immuno-gold for tenascin were observed in endoplasmic reticulum of secretory synovial cells and extracellular matrix of synovial layer. On the basis of above findings, the hyperplasia of synovial membrane and the pathologic processes may be concerned with the increase of number of secretory synovial cells and of expression of tenascin, in degenerative arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.167-191
• /
• 2021

Objectives Degenerative osteoarthritis of knee is a disease with an increasing number of patients worldwide and its general treatments have some side effects. Methods 102 subjects were classified into test group 1, test group 2, and control group, and clinical trial products were taken for 12 weeks. The effectiveness was evaluated with changes in visual analogue scale, Korean-Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2. Results Both test group 1 and test group 2 were effective in reducing the pain of degenerative osteoarthritis of knee, and only test group 2 was effective in improving the ability to perform daily activities. No clinically significant changes were observed for any safety parameter. Conclusions In conclusion, the data of this study indicate that Zanthoxylum piperitum leaf extract has effectiveness and safety against mild degenerative osteoarthritis of knee.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.33-51
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the current status of clinical practice patterns of Korean medicine in the treatment of degenerative arthritis of the hip and finger joints using web-based survey. Methods: An e-mail questionnaire survey was conducted with the Korean Medicine Doctor(K.M.D) registered in the Korean Medicine Association. The survey data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Although the response rate of the survey was low, the characteristics of the respondents generally reflected the characteristics of the study population. A total of 35.2% of the respondents had heard of the guidelines; however, they did not use them for medical treatment. The reason as answered by 32.8% of the respondents was "not enough treatment time to check the manual and apply it." More than half (78.80%) answered that they were treating patients with both degenerative hip and finger arthritis; however, the average monthly number of first-time patients was ≤5. A total of 379 (60.9%) respondents answered that "acupuncture is very important," which was the only one that exceeded the majority compared to other treatments. As a result of the safety investigation, "Acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping" were considered high in safety, while "Pharmacopuncture and Bee venom acupuncture" were considered low in safety. Conclusions: This survey helped to determine the current clinical practice patterns of Korean medicine treatments, further providing basic data for CPGs for degenerative arthritis of the hip and finger joints.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2024

Objectives : The aim of this study is to set out case series study protocol to complete clinical pathway (CP) of hip and finger degenerative arthritis by applying CP, based on Korean medicine clinical practice guideline developed by clinical experts, to clinical field. Methods : The treatments included Manual acupuncture, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, chuna, and physiotherapy. They were conducted in the 2nd week of admission and 4th week of out patient department (OPD) days. We carried out 10-point Likert scale questionnaires on the clinical usefulness and the satisfaction of patients and staff after applying CP. Appropriateness and improvement on patients were conducted using a 10-point Likert scale. An open-ended questionnaire was also conducted to ask if there was any requirement to be added. Results : In past research studies, there were no related studies about Korean medicine CP on hip and finger degenerative arthritis. Final version of CP is going to be completed based on the questionnaire. Conclusions : This evidence-based case series study protocol is expected to contribute development of hip and finger degenerative arthritis.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between the degree of torn rotator cuff as recorded by MRI and degenerative change of acromion and greater tuberosity of humerus determined by simple radiographs. Materials and Methods: Of the 518 cases included in this study, a group of 234 cases had a chronic rotator cuff tear and a control group of 284 cases had an intact rotator cuff in shoulder MRI. The degree of degenerative changes was classified according to the length of spur and morphological change of acromion and greater tuberosity through the true anteroposterior simple radiograph in supraspinatus outlet view. The degree of tear (partial-thickness or full-thickness tear) and the size of complete rotator cuff tear were analyzed according to the MRI findings of shoulder. The authors also evaluated the correlation between the degree and size of torn rotator cuff and the degenerative change of acromion and greater tuberosity. Results: There were significant differences in the size and extent of torn rotator cuff according to the age, sex and degenerative change of acromion and greater tuberosity of humerus (p<0.001). More degenerative changes of acromion and greater tuberosity in simple shoulder radiographs showed the increased degree and size of torn rotator cuff (p<0.001). In addition, the higher degree and larger size of torn rotator cuff were noted in older age subjects (p<0.001) and in the female group (p<0.001). Conclusion: More degenerative changes of acromion and greater tuberosity in simple shoulder radiographs showed the increased degree and size of torn rotator cuff. Therefore, if a high degree of degenerative change of the acromion and greater tuberosity on simple radiograph is noted, the possibility of degenerative rotator cuff tear should be considered. In addition, the age and sex could be associative factors for larger size of torn rotator cuff.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.193-199
• /
• 2015

Degenerative retinal diseases affect millions of people worldwide, which can lead to the loss of vision. However, therapeutic approaches that can reverse this process are limited. Recent efforts have allowed the possibility of the stem cell-based regeneration of retinal cells and repair of injured retinal tissues. Although the direct differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into terminally differentiated photoreceptor cells comprises one approach, a series of studies revealed the intrinsic regenerative potential of the retina using endogenous retinal stem cells. Muller glial cells, ciliary pigment epithelial cells, and retinal pigment epithelial cells are candidates for such retinal stem cells that can differentiate into multiple types of retinal cells and be integrated into injured or developing retina. In this review, we explore our current understanding of the cellular identity of these candidate retinal stem cells and their therapeutic potential for cell therapy against degenerative retinal diseases. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(4): 193-199]