• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.11
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• 2023

Objectives: Advancements in nanotechnology have led to the widespread usage of nanoparticles in the endodontic field. This bibliometric study aimed to determine and analyze the top 100 most-cited articles about nanoparticles in endodontics from 2000 to 2022. Materials and Methods: A detailed electronic search was conducted on the "Clarivate Analytics Web of Science, All Databases" to receive the most-cited articles related to the topic. Articles were ranked in descending order based on their citation counts, and the first 100 were selected for bibliometric analysis. Parameters such as citation density, publication year, journal, country, institution, author, study design, study field, evidence level, and keywords were analyzed. Results: The top 100 most-cited articles received 4,698 citations (16-271) with 970.21 (1.91-181) citation density in total. Among decades, citations were significantly higher in 2011-2022 (p < 0.001). Journal of Endodontics had the largest number of publications. Canada and the University of Toronto made the highest contribution as country and institution, respectively. Anil Kishen was the 1 who participated in the largest number of articles. The majority of the articles were designed in vitro. The main study field was "antibacterial effect." Among keywords, "nanoparticles" followed by "Enterococcus faecalis" were used more frequently. Conclusions: Developments in nanotechnology had an impact on the increasing number of studies in recent years. This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive view of nanoparticle advances and trends using citation analysis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.285-297
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess and compare the effectiveness of manual therapy in alleviating infant crying, a common symptom of nocturnal crying (NC) and infantile colic (IC). Methods: Total effective rate, crying time and adverse events were used as outcome indicators. To assess the quality, the risk of bias was determined for each study by two authors, using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. RevMan 5.0 was used for data analysis. A total of 98 articles were identified from 6 electronic databases. Results: Among them, twenty-seven studies which included 13 NC and 14 IC were included. Meta-analysis showed favorable effects tuina therapy on total effective rate (TER) of NC (RR: 1.20 [95% CI 1.05 to 1.37], p = 0.007), chiropractic therapy on crying time change of IC (SMD: -0.83 [95% CI -1.61 to -0.06], p = 0.04) and massage on total crying time of IC (SMD: -0.86 [95% CI -1.09 to -0.63], p < 0.00001). This systematic review compares different manual therapies for the treatment of NC and IC. While tuina, chiropractic, and massage show results in alleviating symptoms, the overall evidence remains limited due to the low quality and heterogeneity of the included studies. Conclusion: Therefore, further high-quality research with unified control groups is needed to establish manual therapy as a recommended treatment option for NC and IC. Protocol registration number is CRD42022348143 01/08/2022.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2024

Functional brain imaging techniques have been used to diagnose psychiatric disorders such as dementia, depression, and autism. Recently, these techniques have also been actively used to study hearing loss. The present study reviewed the application of the functional brain imaging techniques in auditory research, especially those focusing on hearing loss, over the past decade. EEG, fMRI, fNIRS, MEG, and PET have been utilized in auditory research, and the number of research studies using these techniques has been increasing. In particular, fMRI and EEG were the most frequently used technique in auditory research. EEG studies mostly used event-related designs to analyze the direct relationship between stimulus and the related response, and in fMRI studies, resting-state functional connectivity and block designs were utilized to analyze alterations in brain functionality in hearing-related areas. In terms of age, while studies involving children mainly focused on congenital and pre- and post-lingual hearing loss to analyze developmental characteristics with and without hearing loss, those involving adults focused on age-related hearing loss to investigate changes in the characteristics of the brain based on the presence of hearing loss and the use of a hearing device. Overall, ranging from EEG to PET, various functional brain imaging techniques have been used in auditory research, but it is difficult to perform a comprehensive analysis due to the lack of consistency in experimental designs, analysis methods, and participant characteristics. Thus, it is necessary to develop standardized research protocols to obtain high-quality clinical and research evidence.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1118-1138
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• 2023

Objectives: Sarcopenia is an age-associated skeletal muscle disorder that can profoundly impact the health of elderly people. However, the efficacy of herbal medicine in sarcopenia is uncertain. This review aims to investigate evidence of the effect of herbal medicine on sarcopenia. Methods: We systematically searched 12 electronic databases for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Only trials that met the inclusion criteria were selected, and the characteristics of the included studies were extracted and synthesized in a narrative manner. The quality of the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 tool. Results: 7 RCTs involving 672 participants with sarcopenia met the inclusion criteria. The intervention combining herbal medicine and conventional treatment (i.e., exercise, nutritional support) had a significant therapeutic effect compared with the conventional treatment, showing improvement in muscle strength (i.e., grip strength), muscle mass (i.e., appendicular skeletal muscle mass index), and physical function (i.e., gait speed, short physical performance battery, and timed up and go test). However, the methodological quality of the included RCTs was relatively low due to their high RoB, making it difficult to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicine in sarcopenia. In terms of safety, several adverse events were reported. Conclusion: This review suggests that herbal medicine has a positive effect on muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance in elderly patients with sarcopenia, but there is a clear need for further research in this area.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-61
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• 2024

Background: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) have been implementing the expedited programs that promote the innovative approval of new medications to be used for serious diseases. The authors comprehensively investigated, analyzed, and compared the regulations and guidelines associated with the expedited programs. Methods: The expedited programs for innovative drug development and approval were searched from the homepages of FDA, EMA and MFDS. The detailed information on the regulations and guidelines associated with the programs was comprehensively extracted from various electronic repositories of each regulatory authority. The information on each program was analyzed, categorized, and compared from the points of benefits, applicability with scientific rationale, application procedure, and maintenance. Results: FDA's programs include Fast Track Designation, Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Priority Review Designation, and Accelerated Approval. EMA's regulation implements PRIority MEdicines (PRIME), Accelerated Assessment, Marketing Authorization under Exceptional Circumstances (MAEC), and Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA). MFDS has a single Expedited Program. These programs are broadly categorized into those that 1) facilitate early and proactive communication with regulatory authorities, 2) shorten the review time after submitting a marketing application, and 3) temporarily approve a marketing authorization under certain conditions. Conclusion: Each expedited program requires a different level and amount of safety and efficacy evidence to be submitted to each regulatory authority. This article will likely provide the comprehensive information on which program provides scientific and regulatory advantages to be taken for innovative medication development.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.296-301
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• 2023

Background: A supervised physiotherapy program (SPP) is a standard regimen after surgical rotator cuff repair (RCR); however, the effect of a home-based exercise program (HEP), as an alternative, on postoperative functional recovery remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the functional effects of SPP and HEP after RCR. Methods: We searched electronic databases including Central, Medline, and Embase in April 2022. The primary outcomes included the Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, University of California Los Angeles shoulder score, and pain score. Secondary outcomes included range of motion, muscle strength, retear rate, and patient satisfaction rate. A meta-analysis using random-effects models was performed on the pooled results to determine the significance. Results: The initial database search yielded 848 records, five of which met our criteria. Variables at 3 months after surgery were successfully analyzed, including the Constant score (mean difference, -8.51 points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -32.72 to 15.69; P=0.49) and pain score (mean difference, 0.02 cm; 95% CI, -2.29 to 2.33; P=0.99). There were no significant differences between the SPP and HEP. Other variables were not analyzed owing to the lack of data. Conclusions: Our data showed no significant differences between SSP and HEP with regard to the Constant and pain scores at 3 months after RCR. These results suggest that HEP may be an alternative regimen after RCR. Level of evidence: I.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.83-95
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• 2024

Objectives This review was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of manual acupuncture (MA) for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods We searched 12 electronic databases (DBpia, Korean studies Information Service System [KISS], Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], Research Information Sharing Service [RISS], China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], CINAHL, Clinical Key, Cochrane Library, Embase, JAMA, PubMed, Web of Science) to find randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) investigating therapeutic effects of MA for treating SIS. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores and numeric pain rating scale or visual analogue scale were analyzed as the main evaluation criteria. Results Among 181 studies, 169 were screened and only 12 RCTs were eligible in our review. Finally, 11 RCTs could be statistically analyzed. MA was more effective than sham treatment and physical therapy in terms of reducing pain (p=0.003, p=0.0007 each). Electroacupuncture (EA) showed more significant effect than physical therapy (PT) for improving shoulder pain (p<0.00001) and shoulder functionality (p<0.00001). Conclusions These results suggest that MA and EA could be superior option for treating SIS than sham treatment or PT. However this review has its limitations due to the small sample size and lack of well-designed RCTs that were included in the study. Further well-designed RCTs are necessary to provide high-level evidence.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated factors associated with the retention of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the first 3 years of treatment. Methods: A retrospective study using electronic health records was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Adult HIV-positive patients who started ART from 2010 until 2020 were included. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with ART retention in the first 3 years. Results: In total, 535 respondents were included in the analysis. The ART retention rates for the first, second, and third years were 83.7%, 79.1%, and 77.2%, respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed a negative association between CD4 count when starting ART and retention. Patients with CD4 counts >200 cells/mL were 0.65 times less likely to have good retention than those with CD4 counts ≤200 cells/mL. The year of starting ART was also significantly associated with retention. Patients who started ART in 2010-2013 or 2014-2016 were less likely to have good retention than those who started ART in 2017-2020, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.52 and 0.40, respectively. Patients who received efavirenz-based therapy were 1.69 times more likely to have good retention than those who received nevirapine (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 2.72). Conclusions: Our study revealed a decline in ART retention in the third year. The CD4 count, year of enrollment, and an efavirenz-based regimen were significantly associated with retention. Patient engagement has long been a priority in HIV programs, with interventions being implemented to address this issue.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.123-136
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Despite short-acting β₂-agonist (SABA) overuse being associated with poor asthma outcomes, data on SABA use in South Korea is scarce. Herein, we describe prescription patterns of SABA and other asthma medications in patients from the South Korean cohort of the SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA) III study. Methods: This study included patients with asthma aged ≥ 12 years, who had ≥ 3 consultations with the same healthcare provider, and medical records containing data for ≥ 12 months prior to the study visit. Patients were classified by investigator-defined asthma severity (per 2017 Global Initiative for Asthma recommendations) and practice type (primary or specialist care). Data on disease characteristics, asthma treatments, and clinical outcomes in the 12 months before the study visit were collected using electronic case report forms. Results: Data from 476 patients (mean age, 55.4 years; female, 63.0%) were analyzed. Most patients were treated by specialists (83.7%) and had moderate-to-severe asthma (91.0%). Overall, 7.6% of patients were prescribed ≥ 3 SABA canisters (defined as over-prescription). In patients prescribed SABA in addition to maintenance therapy, 47.4% were over-prescribed SABA. Most patients (95.4%) were prescribed a fixed-dose combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting β₂-agonist as maintenance therapy. Although asthma was well-controlled/partly-controlled in 91.6% of patients, 29.6% experienced ≥ 1 severe asthma exacerbation. Conclusions: SABA over-prescription was reported in nearly 50% of patients prescribed SABA in addition to maintenance therapy, underscoring the need to align clinical practices with the latest evidence-based recommendations and educate physicians and patients on appropriate SABA use.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.45-63
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• 2013

The purpose of this research is on the identification of the effects of perceived interactivity formed by the electronic collaborative referral system on the organizational loyalty. Two channels through which the effects proceeded were investigated. One is the "system channel" which consists of "interactivity of the inter-organizational system ${\rightarrow}$ intention of using the system ${\rightarrow}$ organization loyalty" (hypothesis 1, 2), that is the channel which anticipates that a better understanding on the interactivity of the inter-organizational system makes the intention of the using the system strong, and this strong intention results the higher organization loyalty. The other is "organization channel" which consists of "interactivity of the inter-organizational system ${\rightarrow}$ perceived interactivity on the counterpart ${\rightarrow}$ perceived relation benefits with the counterpart ${\rightarrow}$ organization loyalty" (hypothesis 3, 4, 5). The channel means that as the perceived interactivity of users on the inter-organizational system becomes greater, the perceived interactivity with the counterpart is increasing. And this makes the users feel that more benefits can be obtained by the relationship with system providing organization, and finally makes the organization loyalty that is the intention to maintain the relationship greater. The corroborative evidence data confirm the two channels are obtained by questing on the electronic referral system of Samsung Medical Center to the doctors of the first and second collaborated hospitals or clinics, and by analyzing statistically. The verification result for the "system channel" showed that as the perception on the interactivity of inter-organizational system was increasing, the intention for consistent using increased(support hypothesis 1), and then the organization loyalty that is the relationship maintaining indication by using the referral system also increased(support hypothesis 2). And the confirmation result for the "organization channel" indicated that the perceptive interactivity on the counterpart increased as the understanding on the interactivity of inter-organizational system increased(support hypothesis 3), consecutively, with the intuitive relation benefits increase with the counterpart(support hypothesis 4) the organization loyalty means the intention to maintain the relationship was confirmed to increase(support hypothesis 5). These results demonstrate that when the perceived interactivity in using many systems at the collaboration between organizations is increasing, the positive image on the systems creates the consistent system using intention, and the positive image increases the wants for preserving the relationship with counter organization. In addition, the perceived interactivity of inter-organizational system users affects directly on the perceived interactivity of the counter organization, so the important role of inter-organizational system in promoting the interactivity between cooperative counterparts was recognized. And the perceived interactivity on the counter organization become greater, the influence on the perceived benefits from cooperation is positive. Therefore, the perceived interactivity by using inter-organizational system was confirmed as a prerequisite for the continuous relationship.