• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.704-713
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Gastric varices (GVs) are a major cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. The current treatments of choice are balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) and the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). We aimed to compare the efficacy and outcomes of these two methods for the management of GV bleeding. Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients who received BRTO (n=157) or TIPS (n=19) to control GV bleeding from January 2005 to December 2014 at a single tertiary hospital in Korea. The overall survival (OS), immediate bleeding control rate, rebleeding rate and complication rate were compared between patients in the BRTO and TIPS groups. Results: Patients in the BRTO group showed higher immediate bleeding control rates (p=0.059, odds ratio [OR]=4.72) and lower cumulative rebleeding rates (logrank p=0.060) than those in the TIPS group, although the difference failed to reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in the rates of complications, including pleural effusion, aggravation of esophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and portosystemic encephalopathy, although the rate of the progression of ascites was significantly higher in the BRTO group (p=0.02, OR=7.93). After adjusting for several confounding factors using a multivariate Cox analysis, the BRTO group had a significantly longer OS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=0.44, p=0.01) and a longer rebleeding-free survival (aHR=0.34, p=0.001) than the TIPS group. Conclusions: BRTO provides better bleeding control, rebleeding-free survival, and OS than TIPS for patients with GV bleeding.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2 s.30
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• pp.9-16
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• 1995

Forty four patients with Bell's palsy were treated with acupuncture from onset and clinical observation was carried on from March 1994 through Feburary 1995. Acupuncture treatment was done 3 times per week and the acupuncture points were LI4 Hapkok, ST36 Choksamni, LI20 Yonghyang, BL2 Ch'anjuk, TE17 Yep'ung, ST4 Chich'ang, ST6 Hyopko, GV26 Sugu, CV24 Sungjang, GB14 Yangbaek and Ex-HN4 Oyo. They were inserted to a depth of 0.5 to 1.0 cm. After insertion, manipulation was carried on until the patients felt strong numbness or De Qi sensation induced by rotating or twisting needles. Through-needling in lengths varying from 2.0 to 3.5 cm was also applied from ST4 Chich'ang to ST6 Hyopko, from GV26 Sugu or CV24 Sungjang to ST4 Chich'ang and from GB14 Yangbaek to Ex-HN4 Oyo. The mean age was 39.3 and 63.6% of the patients were women, including one pregnant woman. There was no recurrent palsy in this study. By applying the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading scales, patients were evaluated weekly from the first treatment to judged recovery or the 7th week of the treatment. 86.4% of the patients were recovered completely within 7 weeks and the average healing period was 3.7 weeks.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.263-267
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• 2003

This study was carried out to test the efficacy of pharmacological inhibitors of the cell cycle transition in keeping bovine oocytes at the germinal vesicle(GV) stage and the reversibility of this inhibition. Bovine oocytes were incubated for 22∼24 hrs in the presence of various inhibitors : cycloheximide (2$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$), 6-DMAP (2 mM), and roscovitine (50$\mu$M). Bovine oocytes cultured with any of the inhibitors were significantly blocked at the GV stage. Reversibility of pharmacological inhibitors was assessed by culturing oocytes an additional 22∼24 hours in inhibitor-free medium. Examination of oocytes revealed that the inhibitory effect was fully reversible and effect of resuming meiotic progression on nuclear maturation varied according to the various inhibitors. This study suggests that cycloheximide, 6-DMAP and roscovitine can be applied to control meiotic arrest and resumption in maturation culture of bovine oocytes in vitro. More investigations are needed to better understand how the cell cycle of oocyte is blocked without problems to future developmental competence.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2007

Despite many efforts to improving canine in vitro maturation(IVM), the efficiency is still low compared to that of other mammalian species. The present study investigated the effects of gonadotropin, epidermal growth factor and cysteine supplementation on in vitro maturation of canine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in basic medium (TCM-199 containing 10% FBS, 0.11mg/ml sodium pyruvate supplemented with or without $10{\mu}g/ml$ FSH, 10ng/ml EGF and 0.57mM cysteine) for 72 hr at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in air. After culture, oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 $(10{\mu}g/ml)$ for 30 min at $4^{\circ}C$, and assessed their nuclear status (GV: germinal vesicle, GVBD: germinal vesicle break down, MI: metaphasse I, MII: metaphase II, UK: unknown stage). No differences were observed in GV, MI and MII rate except GVBD rate between with and without gonadotropins addition respectively (6.7%, vs. 17.2%). Supplementation of 10ng/ml of EGF in hormones added IVM medium resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher MII rate (4.54% vs.7.06%). Although there are no significantly difference, total of MI and MII rates were increased by adding cysteine. In conclusion, the present study indicates that supplementation of $10{\mu}g/ml$ LH and FSH, 10ng/ml EGF and 0.57mM cysteine in canine IVM medium show a positive influence on the progression of maturation to MII at 72 hr.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.301-305
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate whether addition of porcine epididymal fluid (pEF) into culture medium during in vitro maturation influences the nuclear maturation of porcine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes. Porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from follicles were cultured in tissue culture medium 199 (TCM 199) containing pEF. After 48hr of culture, oocytes were examined for evidence of GV breakdown, metaphase I, anaphase-telophase I, and metaphase II. The proportion of oocytes reaching at metaphase II (M II) stage was significantly (p<0.05) increased in oocytes cultured in the media supplemented with 10% pEF during in vitro maturation than in those without pEF regardless of cumulus presence or absence (54.6% vs 22.5%, 51.7% vs 24.2%). The supplementation of pEF during maturation of oocyte enhanced oocytes maturation in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Also significant differences (p<0.05) in the percentage of MII oocytes were observed according to exposure period in pEF. Present study suggests that pEF contains a enhancing component(s) for nuclear maturation of porcine immature oocytes in vitro.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.6-8
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• 2006

One male Arabian horse, 13-year-old reared in Galway, Ireland, was diagnosed as laminitis. Hemo-acupuncture at TH01, SI01 and ST45 was used. Injection acupuncture with dexamethasone was also applied at the same acupoints after homo-acupuncture twice a week. Bee-venom was injected into GV01 at session 2. After session 3, the patient showed almost normal walking.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.533-540
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• 2015

Germination properties, leachate electrical conductivity (EC), and inorganic compound leaching were analyzed to ascertain the storage ability and change of physiological characteristics during storage of Hippophae rhamnoides seeds. Seeds were placed in an incubator at 25℃ and sown in different soil media (sand, vermiculite and horticultural substrate) after being stored for 6, 18 and 30 months at 2℃. All germination properties decreased in accordance to an increase of the seed storage period. Compared with the seed storage for 18 months, germination percentage (GP), germination performance index (GPI), and germination value (GV) of seeds stored for 30 months decreased by more than 50%. When the seeds were sown in different soil media in a greenhouse, those germination properties were similar to the seeds germinated in an incubator, and mean germination time, GPI and GV had a significant difference except GP among soil media. EC and inorganic ion concentration had a strong positive correlation with the seed storage period, but the ratios of inorganic ions from stored seeds revealed that K⁺/Mg²⁺ and Na⁺/Mg²⁺ were inversely correlated with the storage period.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.93-106
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• 2021

This study aimed to analyze the use of Korean medicine treatments for alopecia in among clinical studies. We identified and analyzed 22 studies from Korean databases; Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Science ON, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) and international database; PubMed. We analyzed the Korean medical treatment in each case and determined the tendency to use each intervention. We analyzed 1,464 patients from 22 selected studies. Herbal medicine, acupuncture, external medicine or products, pharmacopuncture, and phototherapy were used for alopecia treatment. The herbal medicines mainly used to treat alopecia were Gagam Cheongyoung-tang, Gagam Hwajung-hwan, and Yukmijihwang-tang·hwan. The acupoints primarily used were GV20, EX-HN1, GB5, KI3, PC6, ST36, GV22, and A-shi. The most commonly used pharmacopuncture therapies were Hwangryunhaedoktang (HH), Carthami Fructus (CF), Bee Venom (BV), and Hominis placenta (HP). The Korean medical treatment for alopecia improved the condition of patients. However, seven studies reported the occurrence of side effects such as pruritus, dazed, drowsiness, headache, pain, and diarrhea. This study shows the potential of Korean medicine for the treatment of alopecia. Further studies with a large sample size and long-term follow-up are warranted to establish the primary treatment guidelines and objective outcome measures for alopecia.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.581-585
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to establish the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture for Korean native goat. Electroacupuncture was applied to the 6 Korean native goats. In 3 of them, rumenotomy was performed, and in the other 3, laparotomy was done. The analgesic induction time was 15 to 30 minutes. The acupoints used were Tian-ping (Celestial Peace, GV-5), Bai-hui (Hundred Meetings, GV-20), left 13th thoracic nerve and left 3rd lumbar nerve. Electroacupuncture was performed in lateral recumbency. Needles were inserted 1-2 cm deep, and connected to the electroacupuncture apparatus. The electrical stimulation condition was 30 Hz and 2-6 volts. Initially, the voltage of analgesia mode was maximized in each channel. And, the output was slowly reduced to the critical point that goats could tolerate without obvious discomfort or pain. Surgical operation was done successfully under electroacupuncture analgesia in 6 Korean native goats. In addition, the changes of temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate were studied during acupuncture analgesia. For 3 months after surgery, no experimental animals showed clinical problem in 6 Korean native goats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.177-183
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• 2023

Objectives : One of the crucial combinations of acupoints for treating various disorders involves the Eight Confluent acupoints. The present study aims to investigate the selection patterns of the Eight Confluent acupoints in clinical trials and determine the most frequent pairings through network analysis. Methods : The frequencies of the Eight Confluent acupoints were extracted from the Acusynth database, which includes data from 421 clinical investigations. We examined the degree distribution, eigenvector centrality, proximity centrality, and betweenness centrality of these acupoint combinations using network analysis. Results : Data mining revealed that among the Eight Confluent acupoints, PC6 and TE5 were the most commonly applied in the treatment of 30 disorders. Additionally, we identified the most frequently co-occurring pairs of Eight Confluent acupoints by network analysis which included PC6-GV20, SP4-GV4, LU7-LI4, TE5-PC7, GB41-SP6, KI6-BL62, and SI3-BL62. Conclusions : Through the application of data mining and network analysis, we have elucidated the selection patterns and combinations of the Eight Confluent acupoints. These findings provide valuable insights that can enhance doctors' understanding of clinical database-driven Eight Confluent acupoint selection patterns.