• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2011

Backgroud: The objective was to evaluate the distance from the skin and the diameter of the piriformis muscle and their relationship to the body mass index (BMI). Methods: The study was a prospective study involving 60 patients. Patients were prepared on a radiological table in the prone position. Several images were obtained of each. In this view, the distance between the subcutaneous tissue and the piriformis muscle, and the diameter of the piriformis, were measured at three points (medially to laterally). Results: The distance to the piriformis from the skin was $6.6{\pm}0.9\;cm$, $6.3{\pm}0.8\;cm$, and $5.2{\pm}0.9\;cm$ in terms of the lateral, center, and medial measurement, respectively. The center of the piriformis had a greater diameter with $1.7{\pm}0.4\;cm$ (0.9-2.5) cm. The distance to the piriformis increased with BMI. Conclusions: This study shows that the lateral of the piriformis muscle has a relatively greater distance from the skin. The center of the piriformis showed a greater diameter than other two portions. We found that the distance of the piriformis from subcutaneous tissues was correlated with BMI, but the diameter of the piriformis was not affected by BMI. These measurements can be used as a reference for determining the piriformis injection site in patients with piriformis syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.284-305
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• 1997

A Literatural study on the etiological factors, classification, prescription of hemorrhoids and hemorrhoids complicated by anal fistula following results were obtained. 1. The cause of hemorrhoids are long time sit, long time gate, overfatigue, overeating, imbalance of stool( constipation or diarrhea), pregnant fertility(overfatigue after childbirth, insufficiency of middle warmer energy), uncontrol sexual excess, pathgenic factors of wetness, heat, wind, dry, genetic cause, excess of anxiety, pile up of heat poison, weakness of entrails and viscera. The cause of hemorrhoid complicated by anal fistula are attack of external wind, heatness, dry, fire, wetness(pathgenic factors), inapporiate treatment and chronic disease, greasy diet, excess of anxiety, constipation, uncontrol sexual excess, obstacle of circulation of vital energy and blood on anal site. 2. Classification of hemorrhoids are female hemorrhoids, male hemorrhoids, pulse hemorrhoids, intestines hemorrhoids, vital energy hemorrhoids, wine hemorrhoids, blood hemonhoids, flowing hemorrhoids. Classification with other method are external hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids, mixed hemorrhoids, excrescence hemorrhoids, nipple homorrhoids. External hemorrhoids is classified of varicosis of hemorrhoidal vein, connective tissue form, thrombus form. Classification of hemorrhoid complicated by anal fistula are simple lower hemorrhoid, lower mixed hemorrhoid, deep hemorrhoid, outer of one hole hemorrhoid, a horseshoe hemorrhoids. Once more classificated of four are space of sphincter muscle form, penetration sphincter muscle form, upper of sphincter muscle form, outer of sphincter muscle form. 3. Therapy method of hermorrhoid and hemorrhoid complicated by anal fistula are internal method, fumigation method method, ointment, method of close with medicine, necrotizing method, hot medicated compress( gxternal method), injection, insertion, bind, (operation) and acupuncture therapy (the others method) 4. Herb medicine for many used of internal method are Scutellaria baikalensis George(黃芩), Coptis japonia Makino(黃連), Rehmania giutinosa Liboschitz ex Fischer & Meyer(生地黃), Poncirus trifoliata Refinesque(枳殼), Sanguisorba officinalis Linne(地楡), Sophora japonica L.(槐花), Cnidium officinale Makino (川芎), Astragalus membranaceus Bunge(황기), Angelica gigas Nakai (當歸). 5. Herb medicine for many used of fumigation are Schlechtendalia Chinesis J. Bell (五倍子), Artemisia Vulgaris L. var indica Maxim(艾葉), Poncirus trifoliata Refinesque (枳殼), Nepeta japonica Maximowicy(荊芥), And herb medicine for many used of ointment are Calomelas(輕粉), Alum(白礬), Boswellia carterii Birdwood(乳香), Os Draconis Fossilia Ossis Mastodi(龍骨).

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.193-201
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• 2008

The eventual goal of tumor immunotherapy is to develop a vaccine inducing a specific anti-tumor immunity. Cytokine gene therapy is an effective way at least in animal models, but limited efficacy and various side effects obstruct clinical applications. In this study, we developed a tumor vaccine expressing a membrane-bound form of IL-2(mbIL-2) and SDF-1 in B16F10 melanoma cells. The tumor clones expressing mbIL-2 showed reduced tumorigenicity, and additional expression of SDF-1 to mbIL-2 expressing tumor cells caused more severe reduction in tumorigenicity. However, expression of the SDF-1 alone did not affect on the tumorigenicity, probably because of limited production of SDF-1 in the SDF-1 transfected clones. When the mice once rejected mbIL-2/SDF-1 expressing tumor clone were re-challenged with wild type B16F10 tumor cells, all of the mice survived. This result suggests that mbIL-2/SDF-1 tumor clone is effective in inducing systemic anti-tumor immunity against wild type B16 melanoma. Furthermore, culture supernatant of tumor clones expressing SDF-1 induced lymphocyte migration in vitro. These results, all together, suggest that expression of mbIL-2 and SDF-1 in tumor cells enhances anti-tumor immune responses through different roles; the secreted SDF-1 may function as a chemoattractant to recruit immune cells to tumor vaccine injection site, and the mbIL-2 on tumor cells may provide costimulatory signal for CTL activation in physical contacts.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2008

Hot air sparging is a groundwater remediation technique, in which organic contaminants volatilized into hot air from the saturated to vadose zone. In the laboratory diesel (10,000 mg TPH/kg) was spiked in contaminated saturated aquifer soil. The hot air ($34.9{\pm}2.7^{\circ}C$) was injected in intermittent (Q=1,500 mL/min, 10 minute injection and 10 minute idle) modes. We performed microcosm tests using the groundwater samples to assess TPH reductive remediation activity. For Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of eubacterial communities in sludge of wastewater treatment plants and soil of experiment site, the 16S rDNA was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from the sludge and the soil. The obtained 16S rDNA fragments were digested with Msp I and separated by electrophoresis gel. We found various sequence types for hot air sparging experiment with sludge soil samples that were closely related to Bacillus (149 bp, Firmicutes), Methlobacterium (149 bp, Euryarchaeotes), Pseudomonas (492 bp, ${\gamma}$-Proteobacteria), etc., in the clone library. In this study we find that TPH-water was reduced to 78.9% of the initial value in this experiment aquifer. The results of the present study suggests that T-RFLP method may be applied as a useful tool for the monitoring in the TPH contaminated soil fate of microorganisms in natural microbial community.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.769-785
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• 2015

Although timber structures have been extensively used in underground temporary supporting system, their actual performance is poorly understood, resulting in potentially conservative and over-engineered design. In this paper, a novel wireless sensor technology, SmartPlank, is introduced to monitor the field performance of timber structures during underground construction. It consists of a wooden beam equipped with a streamlined wireless sensor node, two thin foil strain gauges and two temperature sensors, which enables to measure the strain and temperature at two sides of the beam, and to transmit this information in real-time over an IPv6 (6LowPan) multi-hop wireless mesh network and Internet. Four SmartPlanks were deployed at the London Underground's Tottenham Court Road (TCR) station redevelopment site during the Stair 14 excavation, together with seven relay nodes and a gateway. The monitoring started from August 2013, and will last for one and a half years until the Central Line possession in 2015. This paper reports both the short-term and long-term performances of the monitored timber structures. The grouting effect on the short-term performance of timber structures is highlighted; the grout injection process creates a large downward pressure on the top surface of the SmartPlank. The short and long term earth pressures applied to the monitored structures are estimated from the measured strains, and the estimated values are compared to the design loads.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2018

Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is involved in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. However, its role in lymphangiogenesis has been unknown. Here, we tested whether downregulation of DDR1 expression by miR-199a/b can suppress lymphangiogenesis. We also aimed to identify miRNA target site(s) in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of DDR1. Transfection with miR-199a/b-5p mimics reduced expression of DDR1 and tube formation in primary human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells, whereas miR-199a/b-5p inhibitors showed the opposite effects. Critically, injection of miR-199a/b-5p mimics suppressed DDR1 expression and lymphangiogenesis in a corneal alkali-burn rat model. The three well-conserved seed matched sites for miR-199a/b-5p in the DDR1 3'-UTR were targeted, and miRNA binding to at least two sites was required for DDR1 inhibition. Our data suggest that DDR1 promotes enhanced lymphangiogenesis during eye injury, and miR-199a/b-5p suppresses this activity by inhibiting DDR1 expression. Thus, this miRNA may be useful for the treatment of lymphangiogenesis-related eye diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 1981

Experiments were conducted to test morphine sensitivity of the flexion reflex in the anemic decerebrate cats. Animals were immobilized with gallamine triethiodide(Flxaedil) and were artificially ventilated. The sural nerve was electrically stimulated(20V, 0.5 msec) and the flexion reflex was obtained by recording compound action potentials from the nerve innervated to the semitendinosus muscle. Intravenous injection of morphine $(0.5{\sim}2.0\;mg/kg)$ was found to have following effects on the flexion reflex. 1) Morphine tended to depress the early component of the flexion reflex and the effect was widely variable between animal preparations. 2) Morphine significantly depressed the late component of the flexion reflex, the effect being proportional to the dose of morphine. 3) The morphine effect on the flexion reflex was reversed by a small dose of naloxone hydrochloride$(0.025{\sim}0.1\;mg/kg)$. 4) Naloxone hydrochloride alone did not appear to facilitate the flexion reflex. 5) The main site for the morphine action was found to be the brain stem. From these results and those reported in literatures, we conclude that the late component of the flexion reflex well represents the pain sensation, thus the late component of the flexion reflex can be used as a reasonable subjective index of pain in experimental animals.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.280-286
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• 2017

Objective: This case series aims to report the efficacy and the safety of using snake venom pharmacopuncture (SVP) for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: Three heterogeneous cancer (1 endometrium, 1 cervix, and 1 prostate cancer) patients were referred to the East-West Cancer Center (EWCC), Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, from August 02, 2017, to September 15, 2017, for treatment with SVP, and they were treated with SVP 4 times, 6 times, and 8 times, respectively. During the treatment period, the efficacy of SVP therapy was assessed by using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), and the stability was evaluated by using blood tests. Following each session, all patients were examined closely for any allergenic responses or adverse effects. Results: All patients showed noticeable improvements of their NRS and CTCAE scores. Except for bleeding and bruising at the SVP injection site, no major side effects were noted. One of the patients reported mild chilling and a sore throat after receiving the second treatment; those symptoms went away after a few hours. No hematologic toxicity, hepatotoxicity, or nephrotoxicity was found on the blood test. Conclusion: The results of this research suggest positive potential benefits of using SVP for treating patients with CIPN. Also, the excellent safety results of SVP seen in this research should lead to larger clinical trials aimed at developing SVP into a potential intervention for managing patients with the symptoms of CIPN.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2005

Background: Chronic headache (CH) constitutes a significant public health problem, impacting on both the individual sufferer and society. Patients with CH, unresponsive to drug therapy or nerve block, suffer considerable disability due to the frequency and severity of attacks; therefore, they should be considered for novel therapy. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) has shown significant promise in the management of CH. In this paper, we review recent evidence on the efficacy of BoNT-A, and also report our experience with this treatment in CH patients. Methods: BoNT-A was used to treat 69 CH patients, including 47 in a chronic migraine group and 22 in a non-migraine CH group, who showed therapy-resistance to palliative drug or nerve block. We investigated the demography, dosage and site of BoNT-A injection, and used a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and the degree of satisfaction. The data were analyzed using t-tests and a Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance on ranks. Results: Significant decreases in the VAS for pain were found in both the chronic migraine and non-migraine CH groups, from 2, 4 and 12 weeks and from 4 and 12 weeks, respectively, after BoNT-A administration (P < 0.05). The chronic migraine group showed significantly lower VAS scores for pain than the non-migraine CH group from 2, 4 and 12 weeks after the BoNT-A administration (P < 0.05). Twenty eight patients (59.2%) in the chronic migraine group and eight (36.4%) in the non-migraine CH were satisfied with the BoNT-A treatment. Conclusions: This clinical study revealed that the use of BoNT-A demonstrated efficacy for CH patients resistant to drug therapy or nerve block. Moreover, BoNT-A proved itself more effective in the chronic migraine than non-migraine CH group.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2008

Background: Chronic pain after thoracotomy has been recently reproduced in a rat model that allows investigating the effect of potentially beneficial drugs that might reduce the incidence of allodynia or alleviate pain. Local anesthetics produce antinociception in normal animals and alleviate mechanical allodynia in animals with nerve injury although their mechanisms of action may differ in these situations. Our purpose of this study was to test whether the preoperative intercostal nerve block of bupivacaine could prevent the development of allodynia in a rat model of chronic postthoracotomy pain. Methods: All male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and the right 4th and 5th ribs were exposed surgically. The pleura were opened between the ribs to which a retractor was placed and was opened 10 mm in width. Retraction was maintained for one hour. Total 1 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine was injected at the intercostal nerves before (n = 17) or after (n = 16) surgery. A control group (n = 25) that underwent rib retraction did not receive any drug. Rats were tested for mechanical allodynia using calibrated von Frey filaments applied around the incision site during the three weeks following surgery. Results: The incidence of development of mechanical allodynia in the group that received intercostal injection with bupivacaine before surgery was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative intercostal nerves block around the surgical incision before thoracotomy may decrease the incidence of postthoracotomy pain syndrome.