• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the general effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation of the ankle joint acupuncture points(BL62 and KI6) on the brain waves of elderly women as a pilot study to figure out the possibility of candidate non-invasive and non-chemical stimulation method for the enhancing the brain function. Methods : A randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial was performed in 31 healthy women(mean age, 54.5 years) within a treatment duration of 12 sessions. In the experimental group, low-frequency electrical stimulation was applied using the maximum range of the individual insensible strength(mean current, $0.04{\mu}A$). The control group received sham stimulation. The background electroencephalographic activity was measured before and after the12 sessions. Results : After 12 sessions of stimulation, the relative power of the alpha wave increased(32 of 32 channels: significant difference in 11 channels, p<0.05); the theta(30 of 32 channels: significant difference in 10 channels, p<0.05), beta(31 of 32 channels), and gamma(30 of 32 channels: significant difference in 7 channels, p<0.05) powers were also decreased compared with the sham group. Conclusions : Electrical stimulation on the ankle joint acupuncture points(BL62 and KI6) seemed to stabilize the elderly women brain by inducing the alpha power and reducing beta, theta, and gamma powers. These results provide insight into the action mechanism of the stimulation and can assist the future developement of a non-invasive and non-chemical treatment technique for stressor related cognitive problems.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.89-100
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• 2018

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that delivers 1-2 mA of current to the scalp. Several clinical studies have been conducted to confirm the therapeutic effect of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with tDCS. Some studies have shown tDCS's antidepressant effect, while the others showed conflicting results in antidepressant effects. Our aim of this review is to understand the biological bases of tDCS's antidepressant effect and review the results of studies on tDCS's antidepressant effect. For the review and search process of MDD treatment using tDCS, the US National Library of Medicine search engine PubMed was used. In this review, we discuss the biological mechanism of tDCS's antidepressant effect and the existing published literature including meta-analysis, systematic review, control trial, open studies, and case reports of antidepressant effects and cognitive function improvement in patients with MDD are reviewed. We also discuss the appropriate tDCS protocol for MDD patients, factors predictive of response to tDCS treatment, the disadvantages of tDCS in MDD treatment, and side effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.161-166
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• 2014

Lung cancer is the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and a lack of effective methods for early diagnosis has greatly impacted the prognosis and survival rates of the affected patients. Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are considered to be largely responsible for tumor genesis, resistance to tumor therapy, metastasis, and recurrence. In addition to representing a good potential treatment target, TICs can provide clues for the early diagnosis of cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA) alterations are known to be involved in the initiation and progression of human cancer, and the detection of related miRNAs in TICs is an important strategy for lung cancer early diagnosis. As Hsa-miR-155 (miR-155) can be used as a diagnostic marker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a smart molecular beacon of miR-155 was designed to image the expression of miR-155 in NSCLC cases. TICs expressing CD133 and CD338 were obtained from A549 cells by applying an immune magnetic bead isolation system, and miR-155 was detected using laser-scanning confocal microscopy. We found that intracellular miR-155 could be successfully detected using smart miR-155 molecular beacons. Expression was higher in TICs than in A549 cells, indicating that miR-155 may play an important role in regulating bio-behavior of TICs. As a non-invasive approach, molecular beacons could be implemented with molecular imaging to diagnose lung cancer at early stages.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2675-2677
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• 2015

Background: Depending on various pathological factors, non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) shows varying degrees of recurrence. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of recurrence of NMIBS in our centre, study the influence of intrinsic tumour characteristics like grade, stage, size and number, and compare our results with data in the published literature. Materials and Methods: A hospital based retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent treatment for NMIBC from 2011 to 2014. The factors studied were number, size, grade, stage and site for correlation with recurrence. Statistical analysis was performed using Medcalc version 12, using Pearson's Chi square test to ascertain associations between variables. Results: A total of 73 patients with NMIBC were studied of which 48 (65.8%) had low grade and 25 (34.2%) had high grade tumours. Some 38 patients (52.1%) had Ta tumours, 34 (46.6%) had T1 and one had CIS. Mean follow up was 34.3 months. Recurrence rates were found to be 33.3% in low grade and 52.0% in high grade tumours. The overall recurrence rate in our centre was 39.7%. Significant correlations were seen between stage and recurrence, with a rate of 15% for Ta and 63.3% for T1 tumours. Fourteen out of 21 bladder cancers (66.6%) with multiple tumours demonstrated recurrence (p=0.006). Grade, size and site had no influence. Conclusions: In our study, recurrence of NMIBC was found to be directly proportional to stage and number of primary tumours, but not grade, size and site. The incidence of recurrence of NMIBC both stage wise and grade wise in our centre was also low compared to the data in the published literature.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.991-996
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• 2015

Side population (SP) cells have stem cell-like properties with a capacity for self-renewal and are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore the presence of SP cells in human breast cancer probably has prognostic value. Objective: To investigate the characteristics of SP cells and identify the relationship between the SP cells levels and clinico-pathological parameters of the breast tumor and disease-free survival (DFS) in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 122 eligible breast cancer patients were consecutively recruited from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007 at Yunnan Tumor Hospital. All eligible subjects received conventional treatment and were followed up for seven years. Predictors of recurrence and/or metastasis and DFS were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Human breast cancer cells were also obtained from fresh human breast cancer tissue and cultured by the nucleic acid dye Hoechst33342 with Verapami. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to isolate the cells of SP and non-SP types. Results: In this study, SP cells were identified using flow cytometric analysis with Hoechst 33342 dye efflux. Adjusted for age, tumor size, lymph nodal status, histological grade, the Cox model showed a higher risk of recurrence and/or metastasis positively associated with the SP cell level (1.75, 1.02-2.98), as well as with axillary lymph node metastasis (2.99, 1.76-5.09), pathology invasiveness type (1.7, 1.14-2.55), and tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) (1.54, 1.01-2.36). Conclusions: The SP cell level is independently associated with tumor progression and clinical outcome after controlling for other pathological factors. The axillary lymph node status, TVDT and the status of non-invasive or invasive tumor independently predict the prognosis of breast cancer.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1231-1239
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• 2010

The aim of this study was developing the non-invasive focused magnetic stimulation system(NI_FMSS) that can stimulates acupoints which are small parts and knotted muscular tissues. To evaluate pain treatment effect of the NI_FMSS, we caused muscle fatigue to 25 subjects in biceps of the arm. Then, we stimulated acupoints(trigger points) HT2 using low frequency stimulator(10 subjects) and NI_FMSS(10 subjects). The other 5 subjects had not been stimulated. We analyzed muscle fatigue recovery with median frequency, RMS and median power in frequency domain for 5 days. We checked the magnetic stimulation effect on acupoint by evaluation of muscle fatigue recovery. Therefore, we identified that the NI_FMSS was more efficient system to relieve muscle pain than electric-stimulation system.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze chest-trauma patients and the old-aged patients with a traumatic hemopneumothorax. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 101 chest-trauma patients admitted to the department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery from June 1999 to November 2008. We evaluated the general characteristics of the chest-trauma patient, especially those of old-aged patients with a traumatic hemopneumothorax. Results: Rib fracture was observed in 99 of the cases, the location distribution was right: left =261: 255, with right being dominant. Rib fractures commonly involved the 4th and the 7th rib. The average number of rib fractures was 5.1, and the average number of rib fractures in the old-aged patients was significantly higher than that in the non-old-aged patients (p=0.04). There were 17 cases of a hemopnuemothorax in old-aged patients, 52 cases in non-old-aged patients. The blood loss through the chest tube for old-aged patients was significantly more than that for the non-old-aged patients, and the initial hemoglobin level was lower in the old-aged patients. Conclusion: Elderly trauma patients are more likely to die after trauma than other age groups. Even with relatively stable vital signs, invasive hemodynamic monitoring and intensive treatment are recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.266-278
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• 2021

Lobectomy is the standard treatment for early non-small cell lung cancer. Various surgical techniques for lobectomy have been developed, and minimally invasive thoracic surgery, such as video-assisted thoracic surgery or robot-assisted thoracic surgery, has been considered as an alternative to conventional open thoracotomy. The recently robotic lobectomy technique has developed since the first case series was published in 2002. Several studies have reported that robotic lobectomy has comparable oncologic and perioperative outcomes to those of video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy and open lobectomy. However, robotic lobectomy remains a challenge for surgeons because of the steep learning curve, reduced tactile sensation, difficulty in port placement, and challenges in cooperation between the surgeon and assistant. Many studies have reported on robotic lobectomy, but few have presented surgical techniques for robotic lobectomy. In this article, the surgical techniques and optimal performance of robotic lobectomy are described in detail for all 5 types of lobectomy for surgeons beginning with robotic lobectomy.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.42
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• pp.31.1-31.7
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• 2020

Background: Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a rare, sporadic, and benign congenital condition in which normal cancellous bone is replaced by fibro-osseous tissue with immature osteogenesis. FD localized in the cranial and facial bones is called craniofacial fibrous dysplasia (CFD). Cystic degeneration in CFD cases is rare; cystic degeneration appearing in both the maxilla and the mandible FD lesion is even rarer. The aim of this article was to report a case of fibrous dysplasia of the mandible and maxilla complicated by nonspecific cystic degeneration. Case presentation: A 30-year-old woman presented with a rare case of non-specific cystic degeneration in a mandible and maxilla FD lesion that occurred 11 years after surgery. She was diagnosed with polyostotic CFD and underwent maxillary and mandibular bone contouring. Cyst enucleation under general anesthesia was performed in the mandibular region due to pain and discomfort. Conclusions: In cases involving non-aggressive and non-invasive FD cystic degeneration in focal areas, conservative treatment is recommended. However, if cystic degeneration of FD develops rapidly and causes discomfort, pain, or dysfunction, surgical treatment should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2004

CyberKnife is a stereotactic radiosurgery system which could be used to treat many tumors and lesions. It provides the surgeon unparalleled flexibility in targeting using a compact light linear accelerator mounted on a robotic arm. Advanced image guidance technology tracks patient and target position during treatment, ensuring accuracy without the use of an invasive head frame. CyberKnife with Dynamic Tracking Software is cleared to provide radiosurgery for lesions anywhere in the body when radiation treatment is indicated. It has often been used to radiosurgically treat otherwise untreatable tumors and malformations. Moreover, this instrument treats tumors at body sites, most of which are unreachable by other stereotactic systems. Compared with conventional radiotherapy, it is fundamentally different that using non-invasive, frameless, no excessive radiation exposure to normal tissue. In oral malignant neoplasm, surgical excision and radiation therapy should be tried first, additionally chemotherapy could be considered. However, after failure of conventional therapies, patients had poor systemic condition and surgical limitation. So, CyberKnife could be a suitable therapy. A 49 years man was referred in recurred mandibular cancer treated by radiotherapy. The tumor was considered inoperable, because of extensive invasion and was not expected to good response to conventional therapies. We experienced a case of CyberKnife after 4 cycle chemotherapies, so we report it with review of literature.