• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.184-189
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• 2004

Background: Hu syndrome, a neurological disorder, is characterized by the remote effect of small cell lung cancer on the neural degeneration. The suspicious effectors for this disease are anti-Hu autoantibodies or Hu-related CD8+ T lymphocytes. Interestingly, the same effectors have been suggested to act against tumor growth and this phenomenon may represent natural tumor immunity. For these diagnostic and therapeutic reasons, the demand for antibodies against Hu protein is rapidly growing. Methods: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were generated using recombinant HuR protein. Western blot analyses were performed to check the specificity of generated antibodies using various recombinant proteins and cell lysates. Extracellular stimuli for HuR expression had been searched and HuR-associated proteins were isolated from polysome lysates and then separated in a 2-dimensional gel. Results: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against HuR protein were generated and these antibodies showed HuR specificity. Antibodies were also useful to detect and immunoprecipitate endogenous HuR protein in Jurkat and BJAB. This report also revealed that TNF-${\alpha}$ treatment in BJAB up-regulated HuR expression. Lastly, protein profile in HuR-associated mRNAprotein complexes was mapped by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Conclusion: This study reported that new antibodies against HuR protein were successfully generated. Currently, project to develop a diagnostic kit is in process. Also, this report showed that TNF-${\alpha}$ up-regulated HuR expression in BJAB and protein profile associated with HuR protein was mapped.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.369-370
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• 2021

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.100-103
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• 2016

Patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) can rapidly develop profound anemia as the disease progresses, as a consequence of red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis and inadequate erythropoietin synthesis. Therefore, RBC transfusion should be considered in HUS patients with severe anemia to avoid cardiac or pulmonary complications. Most patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusion, even in the face of life-threatening medical conditions due to their religious convictions. These patients require management alternatives to blood transfusions. Erythropoietin is a glycopeptide that enhances endogenous erythropoiesis in the bone marrow. With the availability of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), several authors have reported its successful use in patients refusing blood transfusion. However, the optimal dose and duration of treatment with rHuEPO are not established. We report a case of a 2-year-old boy with diarrhea-associated HUS whose family members are Jehovah's Witnesses. He had severe anemia with acute kidney injury. His lowest hemoglobin level was 3.6 g/dL, but his parents refused treatment with packed RBC transfusion due to their religious beliefs. Therefore, we treated him with high-dose rHuEPO (300 IU/kg/day) as well as folic acid, vitamin B12, and intravenous iron. The hemoglobin level increased steadily to 7.4 g/dL after 10 days of treatment and his renal function improved without any complications. To our knowledge, this is the first case of successful rHuEPO treatment in a Jehovah's Witness child with severe anemia due to HUS.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2024

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder characterized by muscle pain, tenderness, and trigger points. Ultrasonography has emerged as a key tool for diagnosing and treating MPS owing to its ability to provide precise, minimally invasive guidance. This review discusses the use of ultrasonography in various approaches to evaluate and manage MPS. Studies have shown that shear-wave sonoelastography can effectively assess muscle elasticity and offer insights into trapezius stiffness in patients with MPS. Ultrasound-guided interfascial hydrodissection, especially with visual feedback, has demonstrated effectiveness in treating trapezius MPS. Similarly, ultrasound-guided rhomboid interfascial plane blocks and perimysium dissection for posterior shoulder MPS have significantly reduced pain and improved quality of life. The combination of extracorporeal shockwave therapy with ultrasound-guided lidocaine injections has been particularly successful in reducing pain and stiffness in trapezius MPS. Research regarding various guided injections, including dry needling, interfascial plane blocks, and fascial hydrodissection, emphasizes the importance of ultrasonography for accuracy and safety. Additionally, ultrasound-guided delivery of local anesthetics and steroids to the quadratus lumborum muscle has shown lasting pain relief over a 6-month period. Overall, these findings highlight the pivotal role of ultrasonography in the assessment and treatment of MPS.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.283-290
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) is a major coronavirus that infects humans with human Coronavirus (HuCoV)-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). SARS-CoV2 is currently a global pandemic pathogen. In this study, we developed conventional RT-PCR based diagnostic system for the detection of SARS-CoV2 which is relatively inexpensive but has high stability and a wide range of users. Three conventional RT-PCR primer sets capable of forming specific band sizes by targeting the ORF1ab [232 nucleotide (nt)], E (200 nt) and N (288 nt) genes of SARS-CoV2 were developed, respectively, and it were confirmed to be about 10~100 times higher detection sensitivity than the previously reported methods. In addition, a standard positive control that can generate specific amplicons by reacting with the developed RT-PCR primers and verify the false-positiv from contamination of the laboratory was produced. Therefore, the diagnostic system that uses the RT-PCR method is expected to be used to detect SARS-CoV2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.238-246
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• 2020

Background: Dietary fat has been suggested to be the cause of various health issues. Obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and kidney disease are known to be associated with a high-fat diet (HFD). Obesity and associated conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are currently a worldwide health problem. Few prospective pharmaceutical therapies that directly target NAFLD are available at present. A Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng-plus-Bai-Hu-Tang (GBHT), is widely used by diabetic patients to control glucose level or thirst. However, whether it has therapeutic effects on fat-induced hepatic steatosis and metabolic syndrome remains unclear. Methods: This study was conducted to examine the therapeutic effect of GBHT on fat-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance in mice. Results: GBHT protected mice against HFD-induced body weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia compared with mice that were not treated. GBHT inhibited the expansion of adipose tissue and adipocyte hypertrophy. No ectopic fat deposition was found in the livers of HFD mice treated with GBHT. In addition, glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity in HFD mice was also improved by GBHT. Conclusion: GBHT prevents changes in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in a HFD mouse model. Our findings provide evidence for the traditional use of GBHT as therapy for the management of metabolic syndrome.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2002

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children and is comprised of the combination of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. Atypical HUS, rare in childhood, has worse prognosis than that of typical HUS and is associated with chemotherapy drug, other bacterial (especially Streptococcus pneumoniae) or viral infections, and so on. We report a case of HUS caused by pneumococcal infection in 4-year-old boy. While he was admitted with pneumonia and pleural effusion, pneumococcal infection could be revealed. Although HUS progressed rapidly, he immediately received 3-time hemodialysis and recovered completely after two weeks.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.587-593
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• 2013

Exhaustion syndrome(虛勞) became broadly experienced symptoms in Korean population. In this work, we carried out a systematic literature review on exhaustion syndrome(ES) and chronic fatigue. We searched through the databases Koreanstudies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, DataBase Periodical Information Academic for the articles published between 1994 and 2013, with the keywords 'exhaustion syndrome(虛勞)', 'consumption(虛損)', 'overexertion syndrome(勞倦)', 'fatigue', 'chronic fatigue' and 'degree of fatigue'. Among the first-run rough-searched 602 articles, we narrowed down the scope within the field of Oriental medicine (126 articles), and finally selected 28 articles appropriate to the intended research field; the selected articles were categorized by literature study(7 papers), clinical treatment (7), clinical diagnosis (5), treatment effects of herbal medicine (2), diagnosis in Sasang medicine and treatment effect of dry cupping therapy (2), and questionnaire-based diagnosis (5). We found that the overall research level on ES remained in the preliminary stages, and more efforts are needed in the field of terminology definition and standardization of diagnosis, and treatment efficacy validation beyond muscle fatigue. Finally, to develop reliable diagnostic devices on ES, we proposed a study design that included the development of objective ES diagnostic indicators and a clinical validation procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.57-60
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• 1989

The Melkersson-Rosenthal (M-R) syndrome consists of a triad of (1) recurrent peripheral facial nerve paralysis which develops alternately on both sides of face, (2) non-inflammatory facial edema, and (3) fissuring of tongue. A 59 years old female patient developed the left facial palsy on September, 1988. Right facial palsy developed continuously 2 months later after the spontaneous remission of left facial palsy. On February, 1989, we have found out M-R syndrome which accompanied with migraine type of intermittent headache, and hypertension in one attack of cerebral stroke several years ago, there were no diabetes mellitus, pulmonary tuberculosis and brain tumor in clinical studies. Although the causes of this syndrome were not noted, we performed the stellate ganglion block and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for treatment of the palsy, but the clinical effectiveness of these were not satisfactory.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2015

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of the Momguard noninvasive prenatal test by tracing the 'screen positive' results based on preliminary samples from Korean cohorts. Materials and Methods: This preliminary study is based on data collected by the LabGenomics Clinical Laboratory (Seongnam, Korea) with informed consent. Only pregnant women who underwent both the Momguard test and karyotyping were included in this study. Momguard test results were compared with those of the karyotyping analysis. Results: Among the 38 cases with 'screen positive' results by Momguard, 30 cases also had karyotyping results available. In three trisomy (T) 18 and three T13 cases, the Momguard results were concordant with the karyotyping results. For the T21 cases, except for one case belonging to the mid-risk zone, Momguard results from 23 out of 24 cases matched the karyotyping results. Conclusion: Momguard is a highly reliable screening tool for detecting T13, T18, and T21 cases in independent Korean cohort samples.