• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.618-631
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• 2023

The brain houses vital hormonal regulatory structures such as the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which may confer unique susceptibilities to critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in patients with neurological disorders. In addition, the frequent use of steroids for therapeutic purposes in various neurological conditions may lead to the development of steroid insufficiency. This abstract aims to highlight the significance of understanding these relationships in the context of patient care and management for physicians. Neurological disorders may predispose patients to CIRCI due to the role of the brain in hormonal regulation. Early recognition of CIRCI in the context of neurological diseases is essential to ensure prompt and appropriate intervention. Moreover, the frequent use of steroids for treating neurological conditions can contribute to the development of steroid insufficiency, further complicating the clinical picture. Physicians must be aware of these unique interactions and be prepared to evaluate and manage patients with CIRCI and steroid insufficiency in the context of neurological disorders. This includes timely diagnosis, appropriate steroid administration, and careful monitoring for potential adverse effects. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay between neurological disease, CIRCI, and steroid insufficiency is critical for optimizing patient care and outcomes in this complex patient population.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-33
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• 2024

This study analyzed the experiences of victims of state violence, discovered differences between state violence and general trauma, and proposed ways to help heal trauma. Participants were composed of state violence victims and their families in total, including 11 from the Jeju 43 Incident, 11 from the Yeos u·Sunchoen 10.19 Incident and 6 form May 18th Democratic Uprising. As a result of using the grounded theory to analyze data, a total of 170 concepts, 57 subcategories, and 20 categories were derived. The central phenomenon was direct damage caused by state violence. This included 'post-traumatic stress', 'social stigma', 'isolation from community', 'socio-economical issues' and 'family dissolution'. As a result of the process analysis, the participants experienced six phases: 'trauma', 'isolation', 'resistance', 'resignation', 'recovery', and 'growth.' Each phase is sequential but at the time mutually affect each other. Based on the results, this study verified the difference between state violence and general trauma, and emphasized social and cultural factors, such as community support, were important factors in healing state violence trauma. Besides, the implications and limitations as well as suggestions for future research were mentioned.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.146-157
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• 2024

Objective : Chronic subdural hematomas (cSDHs) are generally known to result from traumatic tears of bridging veins. However, the causes of repeat spontaneous cSDHs are still unclear. We investigated the changes in vasculature in the human dura mater and outer membrane (OM) of cSDHs to elucidate the cause of their spontaneous repetition. Methods : The dura mater was obtained from a normal control participant and a patient with repeat spontaneous cSDHs. The pathological samples from the patient included the dura mater and OM tightly adhered to the inner dura. The samples were analyzed with a particular focus on blood and lymphatic vessels by immunohistochemistry, 3-dimensional imaging using a transparent tissue clearing technique, and electron microscopy. Results : The dural border cell (DBC) layer of the dura mater and OM were histologically indistinguishable. There were 5.9 times more blood vessels per unit volume of tissue in the DBC layer and OM in the patient than in the normal control. The DBC layer and OM contained pathological sinusoidal capillaries not observed in the normal tissue; these capillaries were connected to the middle meningeal arteries via penetrating arteries. In addition, marked lymphangiogenesis in the periosteal and meningeal layers was observed in the patient with cSDHs. Conclusion : Neovascularization in the OM seemed to originate from the DBC layer; this is a potential cause of repeat spontaneous cSDHs. Embolization of the meningeal arteries to interrupt the blood supply to pathological capillaries via penetrating arteries may be an effective treatment option.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.33-44
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• 2024

Chungbuk has various regional characteristics in terms of population composition by region, industrial facilities, and distribution of emergency medical institutions. However, there are no studies yet that have analyzed regional characteristic factors related to the occurrence characteristics of cardiac arrest patients. Therefore, this study provided basic data to establish a response system for OHCA patients suitable for the characteristics of the Chungcheongbuk-do region by analyzing the characteristics of OHCA patients and the transfer status of 119 paramedics in Chungcheongbuk-do. This study is a retrospective study that analyzed 1,188 cardiac arrest patients transferred by ambulance based on raw data from the survey on acute cardiac arrest in Chungbuk (2020). There are a total of 11 emergency medical institutions in Chungbuk-do, which are concentrated in city-level areas, so the transfer time of patients to hospitals in county-level areas was delayed. In the county-level area, the frequency of dispatch of special paramedics was relatively small, and the frequency of administration of cardiac arrest drugs to help resuscitate cardiac arrest patients was also low. In conclusion, efforts should be made to improve accessibility of emergency medical services (deployment of emergency vehicles in marginal areas, proper placement of emergency medical institutions, etc.), to promote prevention of traumatic cardiac arrest patients, and to expand the scope of work to strengthen the first aid expertise of paramedics.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.17.1-17.16
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• 2024

We have reported that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury leads to the differential dysregulation of the complement system in the synovium as compared to meniscus tear (MT) and proposed this as a mechanism for a greater post-injury prevalence of post traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). To explore additional roles of complement proteins and regulators, we determined the presence of decay-accelerating factor (DAF), C5b, and membrane attack complexes (MACs, C5b-9) in discarded surgical synovial tissue (DSST) collected during arthroscopic ACL reconstructive surgery, MT-related meniscectomy, osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee replacement surgery and normal controls. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry was used to detect and quantify complement proteins. To explore the involvement of body mass index (BMI), after these 2 injuries, we examined correlations among DAF, C5b, MAC and BMI. Using these approaches, we found that synovial cells after ACL injury expressed a significantly lower level of DAF as compared to MT (p<0.049). In contrast, C5b staining synovial cells were significantly higher after ACL injury (p<0.0009) and in OA DSST (p<0.039) compared to MT. Interestingly, there were significantly positive correlations between DAF & C5b (r=0.75, p<0.018) and DAF & C5b (r=0.64 p<0.022) after ACL injury and MT, respectively. The data support that DAF, which should normally dampen C5b deposition due to its regulatory activities on C3/C5 convertases, does not appear to exhibit that function in inflamed synovia following either ACL injury or MT. Ineffective DAF regulation may be an additional mechanism by which relatively uncontrolled complement activation damages tissue in these injury states.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated changes in interpersonal violence and utilization of trauma recovery services during the COVID-19 pandemic. At an urban level I trauma center, trauma recovery services (TRS) provide education, counseling, peer support, and coordination of rehabilitation and recovery to address social and mental health needs. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted considerable changes in hospital services and increases in interpersonal victimization. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted between September 6, 2018 and December 20, 2020 for 1,908 victim-of-crime patients, including 574 victims of interpersonal violence. Outcomes included length of stay associated with initial TRS presentation, number of subsequent emergency department visits, number of outpatient appointments, and utilization of specific specialties within the year following the initial traumatic event. Results: Patients were primarily female (59.4%), single (80.1%), non-Hispanic (86.7%), and Black (59.2%). The mean age was 33.0 years, and 247 patients (49.2%) presented due to physical assault, 132 (26.3%) due to gunshot wounds, and 76 (15.1%) due to sexual assault. The perpetrators were primarily partners (27.9%) or strangers (23.3%). During the study period, 266 patients (mean, 14.9 patients per month) presented before the declaration of COVID-19 as a national emergency on March 13, 2020, while 236 patients (mean, 25.9 patients per month) presented afterward, representing a 74.6% increase in victim-of-crime patients treated. Interactions with TRS decreased during the COVID-19 period, with an average of 3.0 interactions per patient before COVID-19 versus 1.9 after emergency declaration (P<0.01). Similarly, reductions in length of stay were noted; the pre-COVID-19 average was 3.6 days, compared to 2.1 days post-COVID-19 (P=0.01). Conclusions: While interpersonal violence increased, TRS interactions decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting interruption of services, COVID-19 precautions, and postponement/cancellation of elective visits. Future direction of hospital policy to enable resource and service delivery to this population, despite internal and external challenges, appears warranted.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2024

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental health condition, and techniques using sensory stimulation in processing traumatic memories have gained attention. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a psychotherapy that combines tapping on acupoints with exposure to cognitive reframing. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of EFT as a treatment for PTSD by answering the following research questions: 1) What is the compliance and completion rate of patients with PTSD with regard to EFT protocol? Is the dropout rate reasonable? 2) Is the effect size of EFT protocol for PTSD sufficient to justify a future trial? Methods: Thirty participants diagnosed with PTSD were recruited. They received weekly EFT sessions for five weeks, in which they repeated a statement acknowledging the problem and accepting themselves while tapping the SI3 acupoint on the side of their hand. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) before and after the intervention. Results: Of the 30 PTSD patients (mean age: 34.1 ± 9.1, 80% female), 96.7% showed over 80% compliance to the EFT sessions, and 86.7% completed the entire study process. The mean PCL-5 total score decreased significantly after the intervention, with a large effect size (change from baseline: -14.33 [95% CI: -19.79, -8.86], p < 0.0001, d = 1.06). Conclusion: The study suggests that EFT is a feasible treatment for PTSD, with high session compliance and low dropout rates. The effect size observed in this study supports the need for a larger trial in the future to further investigate EFT as a treatment for PTSD. However, the lack of a control group and the use of a self-rated questionnaire for PTSD symptoms are limitations of this study. The findings of this pilot study can be used to plan a future trial.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to improve welfare services for the socially underprivileged, the disabled, by improving and streamlining the work environment of workers at day care facilities for the disabled. The research question consisted of three issues: conflict between employees, psychological exhaustion, and growth factors experienced as a Christian worker at a day care facility for the disabled. As a research method, from January 2024 to April 2024, 10 Christian workers working at a day care facility for the disabled were interviewed and collected facts about their experiences during the work process using Colaizzi's phenomenological research method. analyzed. According to the research results, the psychological processes experienced by workers are, first, 'conflict' between internal workers in the experience at a day care facility for the disabled, and second, exhaustion, such as symptoms of emotional exhaustion, dehumanization, and decreased sense of accomplishment, experienced by workers in 'burnout'. It was a traumatic experience. Third, in 'growth', workers overcame internal conflict and psychological exhaustion through spirituality and experienced growth with a sense of stability. This study is expected to provide useful data to improve the morale and work environment of workers at day care facilities for the disabled in the future.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.347-353
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• 2008

Background: Esophageal perforation is an emergency that. requires early diagnosis and effective treatment. A delay in diagnosis and treatment. significantly increases morbidity and mortality. Material and Method: Thirty-seven patients with esophageal perforation were surgically treated at our institutions between January 1990 and December 2006. We retrospectively reviewed the results of surgical treatment for esophageal perforation to understand the risk factors affecting survival inpatients. Result: Patients ranged in age from 21 to 87 years, with an average age of $52.7{\pm}16.98$ years. Thirty-one of the patients were men and six were women. There were 23 patients (62%) with spontaneous perforations, 10 patients (27%) with a traumatic perforation, and 4 patients (11%) with an iatrogenic perforation. The site of esophageal perforation was the cervical esophagus in 5 patients, the thoracic esophagus in 31 patients, and the abdominal esophagus in one patient. Twenty-nine patients underwent primary closure of the perforation and five patients had T-tube drainage. Exclusion-diversion procedures were performed in two patients and an esophagectomy was performed in one patient. There were six cases of mortality (16.22%) and 25 cases of postoperative complications in 15 patients (40.5%). Patients that were treated later than 24 hours after detection of the perforation showed a statistically significant high morbidity and mortality rate (p<0.05). Conclusion: The most important risk factor of esophageal perforation was the time interval between detection of the perforation and the initiation of treatment. A prompt diagnosis and effective treatment are necessary to decrease morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical results of symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus found in adults over 40 years old. Materials & Methods: From March 1994 to March 2004, 53 cases treated for lateral discoid meniscus in 48 patients aged over 40 years with the mean age $48.4(40{\sim}62)$ who were followed up more than 1 year, were analyzed by physical findings, simple X-ray, MRI and arthroscopic exam. Results: Most of the cases (42 cases, 79.2%) had symptoms for less than 1 year duration. 26 cases(49.1 %) out of 53 had trauma history. Simple radiologic evaluation showed that lateral condylar abnormality such as the flattening of lateral femoral condyle, marginal osteophytes, and subchondral sclerosis was seen in 37cases(69.8%). Also medial condyle showed degenerative changes in 16 cases (30.2%). Tear of discoid meniscus in 45 cases(84.9%) were examined by arthroscope and tear was not detected in 8 cases(15.1%). Type of tear was complex(18 cases), longitudinal(12 cases), horizontal(11 cases) and transverse(4 cases). Concomitant medial meniscal rupture was found in 7 cases(13.2%). The simple procedure done was reshaping(46 cases), subtotal resection(5 cases), total resection(1 case) and meniscal repair after reshaping in 6 cases, and arthroplasty was performed after arthroscopic examination in 1 case. Conclusion: Onset of symptom in adult lateral discoid meniscus is usually traumatic in origin. Most cases showed radiologic abnormality such as degenerative change in lateral condyles as well as medial condyles and the results of preservative surgical treatment was the most preferred option in most patients.