• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.489-494
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• 2016

Neuropathic pain (NPP) is the main culprit among chronic pains affecting the normal life of patients. Procaine is a frequently-used local anesthesia with multiple efficacies in various diseases. However, its role in modulating NPP has not been reported yet. This study aims at uncovering the role of procaine in NPP. Rats were pretreated with procaine by intrathecal injection. Then NPP rat model was induced by sciatic nerve chronic compression injury (CCI) and behavior tests were performed to analyze the pain behaviors upon mechanical, thermal and cold stimulations. Spinal expression of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. JAK2 was also overexpressed in procaine treated model rats for behavior tests. Results showed that procaine pretreatment improved the pain behaviors of model rats upon mechanical, thermal and cold stimulations, with the best effect occurring on the $15^{th}$ day post model construction (p<0.05). Procaine also inhibited JAK2 and STAT3 expression in both mRNA (p<0.05) and protein levels. Overexpression of JAK2 increased STAT3 level and reversed the improvement effects of procaine in pain behaviors (p<0.01). These findings indicate that procaine is capable of attenuating NPP, suggesting procaine is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating NPP. Its role may be associated with the inhibition on JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.157-166
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• 2020

In this study, I tried to develop ZIGTECHnology clothing for renovation that can correct the body shape of elderly women according to aging and delay the change of body shape. Develop and suggest corrective clothing for elderly women with easy movement that can alleviate symptoms and delay changes in body shape by analyzing body types for each symptom, such as bending of shoulders, back and waist caused by aging and diseases such as spinal curvature. As a result of the wear evaluation of the developed ZIGTECHnology clothing designs 1, 2, and 3, in terms of functionality, Design 1 was evaluated as excellent by reducing the back angle by 3.17°, but design 3 was evaluated as the most excellent considering the fit. In the clothing of elderly women, the need for clothing that complements physical shortcomings increases, so it is thought that continuous development of body shape relief devices should be made.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.161-164
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• 2016

Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis manifest as demyelinating diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system. Concurrency of these two disorders is rarely documented in literature. A 4-year-old girl presenting with cough, fever, and an impaired walking ability was admitted to hospital. She had no previous complaints in her medical history. A physical examination revealed lack of muscle strength of the lower extremities and deep tendon reflexes. MRI could not be carried out due to technical problems; therefore, both Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis were considered for the diagnosis. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was started as first line therapy. Because this treatment did not relieve the patient's symptoms, spinal MRI was carried out on the fourth day of admission and demyelinating areas were identified. Based on the new findings, the patient was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, and high dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy was started. Electromyography findings were consistent with acute polyneuropathy affecting both motor and sensory fibers. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with concurrency of Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis. Interestingly, while concurrency of these 2 disorders is rare, this association has been demonstrated in various recent publications. Progress in diagnostic tests (magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological examination studies) has enabled clinicians to establish the right diagnosis. The possibility of concurrent Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis should be considered if recovery takes longer than anticipated.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.715-723
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• 1999

Bee venom (BV) has been traditionally applied to relieve pain and to cure inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neuritis. While several investigators have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of BV treatment, the anti-nociceptive effect of BV treatment on inflammatory pain is not reported. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the analgesic effect of BV treatment using Freund's adjuvant induced chronic arthritis model. Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis has been used as an experimental animal model for RA in humans to assess the efficacy of the anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs. In this study, subcutaneous BV treatment (1mg/kg/day) produced significantly reductions of symptoms related to arthritic pain (i.e. mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia). The anti-nociceptive effect of BV was observed from at least 12 days after BV treatment. Furthermore, BV treatment significantly suppressed adjuvant induced Fos expression in lumbar spinal cord. We also found that local injection of BV into near the inflammatory site (especially Zusanli-acupoint) showed more potent analgesic effect on arthritic pain rather than distant injection of BV from inflammatory site (arbitrary side of back). The present study demonstrates that BV treatment has anti-nociceptive effect on arthritis induced inflammatory pain. The analgesic effect of BV on RA is probably mediated by the effect of BV itself or possible other mechanism such as counter-irritation. Furthermore, it is possible that BV acupuncture is one of the promising candidates for long-term therapy of RA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2020

Objectives SJ004 is a natural herbal medicine that contains Acyranthes japonica Nakai and Eucommia ulmoides Oliver traditionally used for joint and spinal diseases. This study aimed to establish an efficient method of extracting SJ004 to standardize using the yield, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and antioxidant assay. Methods SJ004 was extracted with distilled water, 70% and 100% of ethyl alcohol (EtOH). The method validation of 20-hydroxyecdysone and pinoresinol diglucoside was determined by HPLC-photo diode array and the content of SJ004 was calculated. The antioxidant activity of each extract was compared and measured using total flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and ferric reducing antioxidant power according to the standard protocol. Results The yield was highest in pure water extract and lowest in 100% EtOH. But, the content of marker compounds indicating 20-hydroxyecdysone and pinoresinol diglucoside was highest in 100% EtOH extract. In the physiological activity measurement using antioxidant activity, 100% ethanol extract was highest. The limit of detection indicating 20-hydroxyecdysone and pinoresinol diglucoside were analyzed 0.33 ㎍/mL, 0.1616 ㎍/mL, and the limit of quantification were analyzed 1.01 ㎍/mL and 0.49 ㎍/mL respectively. Conclusions The experimental results showed that the extraction conditions have a significant effect on content of marker compounds and antioxidant activity. As a result of method validation, SJ004 was standardized by 20-hydroxyecdysone and pinoresinol diglucoside.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2010

Methylprednisolone (MPD) is a synthetic glucocorticoid drug used in treatment of many neurological diseases and neurotraumas, including spinal cord injuries. Little is known of the mechanism of MPD in neuronal cells, particularly the genetic expression aspect. DD-PCR was used in identification of genes expressed during MPD treatment of PC12 cells. We have isolated 3 predicted up- or down-regulated genes, which are differentially expressed in neurons by MPD. One of these genes, USP16 (ubiquitin specific protease 16), is the deubiquitinating enzyme that is up-regulated by MPD in neurons. In order to observe the effect of MPD on USP16 gene expression, PC12 cells were treated under several experimental conditions, including endoplasmic reticulum stress drugs. We have isolated the total RNAs in PC12 cells and detected USP16 and ER related genes by RT-PCR. Because its expression pattern is similar to expression of ER chaperons, USP16 gene expression is strongly associated with unfolded protein response. A meaningful negative effect on each tissue treated by methylprednisolone is not shown in vivo. USP16 gene expression is suppressed by LY294002 (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor), which suggests that USP16 gene expression is regulated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.447-453
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• 2021

Background: Provocative discography (PD) is a test that is useful in diagnosing discogenic pain (DP). In this study, to diagnose DP, we used a posterolateral approach of needle placement and followed pressure criteria laid down by the Spine Intervention Society. The aim was to identify the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings (desiccation, high intensity zone and change in shape and size of the disc) and the results of PD. Methods: Records of 50 patients who underwent PD for DP were analyzed. A total of 109 PDs were performed, with 54 suspect and 55 control discs. Alternate pain generators were ruled out. Results: A total of 35 suspect discs were positive on PD. The mean disc pressure in the suspect disc was 31.9 ± 7.9 psi (range, 15-44). Of the 50 patients who underwent PD, 35 had positive MRI findings. A significant positive correlation was found only between disc desiccation and discography result (r = 0.6, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that only desiccation successfully predicted the result of discography (OR = 26.5, P < 0.001); a high intensity zone and a disc protrusion/extrusion had an OR 2.3 and 1.24, respectively. Disc desiccation of Pfirmann grade 3 or more had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.93 and 0.64 respectively in identifying painful discs; the positive likelihood ratio was 2.58 while the negative likelihood ratio was 0.11. Conclusions: In patients with DP, disc desiccation is the most useful MRI feature that predicts a painful disc on PD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.447-459
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• 2021

Objective : Oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) is becoming the preferred treatment for degenerative lumbar diseases. As beginners, we performed 143 surgeries over 19 months. In these consecutive cases, we analyzed the learning curve and reviewed the complications in our experience. Methods : This was a retrospective study; however, complications that were well known in the previous literature were strictly recorded prospectively. We followed up the changes in estimated blood loss (EBL), operation time, and transient psoas paresis according to case accumulation to analyze the learning curve. Results : Complication-free patients accounted for 43.6% (12.9%, early stage 70 patients and 74.3%, late stage 70 patients). The most common complication was transient psoas paresis (n=52). Most of these complications occurred in the early stages of learning. C-reactive protein normalization was delayed in seven patients (4.89%). The operation time showed a decreasing trend with the cases; however, EBL did not show any significant change. Notable operation-induced complications were cage malposition, vertebral body fracture, injury to the ureter, and injury to the lumbar vein. Conclusion : According to the learning curve, the operation time and psoas paresis decreased. It is important to select an appropriately sized cage along with clear dissection of the anterior border of the psoas muscle to prevent OLIF-specific complications.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2019

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a severe disease that usually needs surgical treatment. We have treated two CSM patients with Korean traditonal medicine, which includes acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine and manual treatment (Chuna). For objective evaluation, we used Nurick's classification, JOA (Japanses Orthopedic Association) score, grip and release test and hand grasping power measurement. Post-treatment analysis has shown that grip and release test score and grasping power of two patients were both remarkably improved, along with the improvements on both Nurick's classification and JOA score. This study showed that Korean traditional medicine could be effective conservative treatment for CSM.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.122-133
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• 2021

This review aimed to evaluate the quality of case reports where acupotomy was performed according to the CAse REport (CARE) guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. Case reports on acupotomy published in Korea from 2013 to October 2020 were included in this review. A total of 28 acupotomy related case reports were selected, and a quality evaluation was verified using the CARE guidelines and JBI critical appraisal checklist. Among the case reports, spinal conditions/diseases were most commonly reported. The overall complete reporting rate for each study was relatively high (median of 63.4% according to the CARE guidelines and 73.4% according to JBI critical appraisal checklist for case reports and 62% for case series). However, low reporting rates were determined in several subcategories namely, "Intervention adherence and tolerability," "Timeline," "Diagnostic challenges," "Patient perspective," and "Adverse or unanticipated events" for case reports, and "Reporting of the presenting site/clinic," "Demographic information," "Statistical analysis," and "Clear criteria for inclusion" for case series. When reporting cases where acupotomy was performed, it is recommended that the CARE guidelines are followed to improve the quality of research. In addition, new guidelines and tools for the clinical situation of Korean medicine should be developed.