• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.487-500
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• 2021

Background: Although the erector spinae plane block has been used in various truncal surgical procedures, its clinical benefits in patients undergoing spinal surgery remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical benefits of erector spinae plane block in patients undergoing spinal surgery. Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for randomized controlled trials comparing the erector spinae plane block with a nonblocked control for spinal surgery. Results: Twelve studies encompassing 696 subjects were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. We found that the erector spinae plane block decreased postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption in the postoperative and intraoperative periods. Moreover, it prolonged the time to the first rescue analgesic, reduced the number of patients who required rescue analgesia, and lowered the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. However, it did not exhibit efficacy in decreasing the incidence of urinary retention and itching or shortening the length of hospital stays, or the time to first ambulation. Conclusions: Erector spinae plane block improves analgesic efficacy among patients undergoing spinal surgery compared with nonblocked controls; however, there is insufficient evidence regarding the benefits of erector spinae plane block for rapid recovery.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.976-981
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture for improving polycythemia-vera-related symptoms and quality of life. Methods: A 56-year-old woman diagnosed with polycythemia vera received acupuncture treatment between February 19, 2021, and August 26, 2021. We observed the changes in subjective symptoms and conducted myeloproliferative neoplasm symptom assessment form total symptom score (MPN-SAF TSS) questionnaire. Results: After 13 acupuncture treatment sessions over six months, symptoms of polycythemia vera, such as fatigue, bone pain, itching, and headache, improved. Conclusion: This study suggests that acupuncture may be a helpful treatment strategy for polycythemia vera patients suffering from significant symptom burdens and reduced quality of life.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.399-404
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• 2019

Scabies is a parasitic skin infection with intense itching. Scabies infection seriously impairs quality of life, while outbreaks in medical institutions cause financial losses. This study aimed to present the annual and seasonal trend of prevalence of scabies in the national population. Scabies cases were extracted from National Health Insurance Service database and its epidemiologic characteristics were assessed. To analyze the seasonality of scabies occurrence, temperature and humidity were included in the model as weather factors, and the per capita gross national income index was adjusted. The annual prevalence by age group was 0.56-0.69 per 1,000 persons until the age of 40 years and peaked at 3.0-4.1 per 1,000 persons in the age group over 80 years. The number of women diagnosed with scabies has been consistently higher compared to that of men since 2010. Mean number of cases diagnosed as scabies was lowest in spring, approximately 4,000 cases, when the average temperature was less than $5^{\circ}C$ at 2 months prior, whereas more than 6,000 scabies cases occurred in autumn when temperatures exceeded $25^{\circ}C$ at 2 months prior. This study presents the epidemiological characteristics and seasonality of all cases nationwide over 8 years and will help to establish control policies.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.125-131
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• 2019

As a non-invasive method for alleviating allergic rhinitis, there has been a recent ongoing research in the treatment of light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers. A total of 15 subjects diagnosed with allergic rhinitis were selected for this study. Red and near infrared light emitted from LEDs with wavelengths of 660nm and 940nm were illuminated three times daily (three minutes per cycle) for a total of two weeks. The degree of nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing and nasal itching was evaluated by questionnaires before and after the test. Also, the serum IgE (Immunoglobulin E) was measured and compared before and after the test. As a result, the total score of symptoms of allergic rhinitis was decreased by 67% after the test (P<0.01). The level of IgE was decreased by 17% after the test (P<0.05). In conclusion, the non-invasive LED phototherapy method using red and near-infrared LED light was effective in alleviating symptoms of allergic rhinitis. There were no adverse effects or complications reported during and after the test.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medical treatment on prurigo pigmentosa which is so rare in asia except Japan. Methods : We experienced two cases of prurigo pigmentosa treated with herbal medicine, herbal-acupuncture, acupuncture. After treatment, we measured the change of symptoms including itching, erythematous papules. Results & Conclusions : Symptoms of prurigo pigmentosa were improved remarkably. According to the results, it is considered that the Korean medical treatment can be effective for the treatment of prurigo pigmentosa.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.203-206
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• 2019

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive neuroectodermal carcinoma arising from mechanoreceptor Merkel cells. Multiple MCCs are even rarer. We report a case of two independent MCCs simultaneously present in the cheek of a patient, which were effectively and esthetically treated using a cheek flap. Punch biopsy performed in a 60-year-old woman admitted with a chief complaint of two skin-colored hard nodules in her left cheek, accompanied by an itching sensation, was suggestive of MCC. Accordingly, we performed sentinel lymph node biopsy through the modified Blair incision under general anesthesia, in cooperation with the head and neck surgery department. The defect was covered with a cheek flap by slightly extending the existing incision following wide excision with a safety margin of 1 cm. This paper is significant in that it introduces an effective reconstruction technique that maintains function using a cheek flap for the management of this rare case. In addition, this paper is the first to classify multiple MCCs according to the time of onset. We believe that this paper presents an effective alternative reconstruction technique with sentinel node biopsy through the modified Blair incision.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.571-576
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• 2020

Extra-enteric infections by Blastocystis spp. have rarely been documented. Here, we report a case of extra-enteric blastocystosis in a patient with minimal cervicitis symptoms. A 47-year-old Hispanic female patient was attended in a primary health centre in Michoacan state, Mexico, for her routine gynaecological medical examination. As only symptom, she referred to a slight vaginal itching. The presence of several vacuolar-stages of Blastocystis spp. were identified by Papanicolaou staining; molecular identification was attempted by culture-PCR sequencing of a region of 18S gene from cervical and faecal samples obtained 2 months after cytological examination, even when patient declared that she tried self-medicating with vaginal ovules. Blastocystis ST1 was identified only in the faecal sample. The presence of Blastocystis spp. in the cervix of a patient with scarce symptomatology, demonstrates the extraordinary flexibility of this microorganism to adapt to new environments and niches.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.577-581
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• 2020

A 22-year-old Thai man from the Northeast region presented with acute eye swelling, itching, and discharge on his left eye. He was suspected of having gnathostomiasis and treated with albendazole and prednisolone for 3 weeks. Nine months later, he was treated with high-dose oral prednisolone for the preliminary and differential diagnoses with thyroid-associated orbitopathy and lymphoma. He had been administered prednisolone intermittently over a few years. Then he developed a painless movable mass at the left upper eyelid and recurrent pseudotumor oculi was suspected. The surgical removal of the mass was performed. A white pseudosegmented worm revealed a definite diagnosis of ocular sparganosis by a plerocercoid larva. Molecular diagnosis of the causative species was made based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Proper technique of extraction and amplification of short fragments DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue successfully identified parasite species. The result from the sequencing of the PCR-amplified cox1 fragments in this study showed 99.0% sequence homology to Spirometra ranarum. This is the first report of S. ranarum in Thailand.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.176-180
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• 2021

Several methods have been used to treat androgenetic hair loss, ranging from hair transplants to finasteride and minoxidil. Sometimes platelet-rich plasma injection therapy may be used to increase the satisfaction of patients who come to the hospital. However, some patients are sensitive to pain and are subjected to the inconvenience of requiring treatment after each blood sampling. The author had reported the effects of using a hair growth-promoting solution and Jetpeel^TM in parallel with a painless hair loss treatment method. However, the author was interested in more effective methods for patients with M-shaped or vertex hair loss who do not want to take medications or undergo hair transplant. In addition to the existing light-emitting diode therapy and electromagnetic field treatment, the author has made considered attempts to use various laser wavelength bands. However, the equipment for these methods can be expensive and are not suitable for patients who emphasize on cost-effectiveness. Therefore, the author used an existing reported method and a device based on the fractional erbium:YAG laser to provide the hair growth-promoting solution in parallel. The author chose a fractional 2940 nm-based laser device as a medium that could efficiently increase the growth phase, reduce the catagen phase, and facilitate intradermal product and drug delivery. As a result, there was a therapeutic benefit without any significant side effects such as redness and itching. Among the patients, the author reported the effects of the treatment on one patient with frontal M-shaped, mid, and vertex hair loss.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2021

This study evaluated the cosmetic effects of a far-infrared hot and cool mask (BBSkinplus) on face skin moisturization, whitening, and wrinkles using a randomized clinical trial. Forty female participants (mean age 47.7 ± 4.6 years) were allocated into the treatment group (BBSkinplus treatment and lotion application twice a day) or the control group (only lotion application twice a day), and moisture, brightness, and wrinkles were measured at 0, 1 and 2 weeks. The average values of each measurement were changed significantly by BBSkinplus treatment compared to the control group. At the 2-week treatment time point, the statistical differences in improvement rates between the two groups were significant at 8.7% vs. 3.9% for moisture (p < 0.01), 0.7% vs. 0.4% for brightness (p < 0.01), and -3.1% vs. 0.0% as Ra and -6.3% vs. 1.5% as R3z for wrinkles (p < 0.05), respectively. No notable complaint was reported regarding any kind of adverse effects such as erythema, itching, or burning. This clinical data support the potential of BBSkinplus as a home beauty device providing moisturizing, whitening, and anti-wrinkle effects on the face.