• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guide steroid injection according to Morton's neuroma size. Materials and Methods: From October 2008 to September 2011, 17 patients (23 cases) diagnosed with Morton's neuroma were investigated. All cases were female and mean age was 52.6 years old. Neuroma were measured by the horizontal and longitudinal length of the mass and underwent ultrasound-guided steroid (5 mg dexamethasone) injection. The efficacy of the injection was determined by Visual Analogue Scale pain score and patient satisfaction(subdivided 4 group-much improved, improved, not improved, aggrevation) Results: 7 of 23(30.4%) cases showed much improved and improved satisfaction and mean longitudinal and horizontal length were $0.71{\pm}0.39cm$ and $0.47{\pm}0.24cm$, respectively. 16 of 23(69.6%) cases showed not improved and aggrevation satisfaction and mean longitudinal and horizontal length were $0.83{\pm}0.42cm$ and $0.54{\pm}0.14cm$, repectively. There was a significant difference in VAS and patient satisfaction in case longitudinal and horizontal length were smaller than 0.5 cm and 0.4 cm. (p<0.05) Conclusion: The ultrasonography is a important modality in diagnosis and treatment of morton's neuroma. Ultrasound-guide steroid injection is effective in case longitudinal and horizontal length were smaller than 0.5 cm and 0.4 cm, respectively.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.391-401
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• 2008

Probiotics have emerged as a potential treatment modality for numerous gastrointestinal disorders, including IBD. However, few probiotics have undergone appropriate preclinical screening in vivo. Kefir is considered a probiotic, benefiting the host through its effects in the intestinal tract. Despite numerous studies examining the action of probiotics on the host organism, few have analyzed the effects on intestinal environment. We assessed the protective effect of kefir for three weeks before inducing colitis with 2% dextran sodium sulfate for five days. The DSS loads were similar in all DSS treatment group. The results of the experiment are as follows. Food intake and FER of experimental groups were not significantly different each other, but water consumption tended to be higher in all DSS treatment groups as compared with the normal control. And visual inspection of feces revealed mild diarrhea in rat given 2% DSS. The anti-inflammatory activity of kefir was determined by myeloperoxidase activity during the DSS treatment, and there was no significant difference in any group. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as a colonic lipid peroxidation were significantly lower in the kefir intake groups than in rats treated with 2% DSS alone. The DNA % in tail and tail moment values as a DNA damage level of the blood lymphocytes in kefir intake groups tended to be lower than 2% DSS treatment alone, especially tail lengths were significantly diminished. According to the colonic histopathological assay, there were a severe inflammation of lamina propria and submucosa and mild edema in mucosa and sub mucosa in DSS alone treated group. We found a slight regenerative change in kefir treatment groups. In our experiments, this means that ulcerative colitis related to oxidative injury might be prevented by kefir as a probiotic. Further studies of the potential benefits of kefir as a probiotic in inflammatory condition are encouraged.

• Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.147-153
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective case series. Objectives: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of postganglionic nerve block in symptomatic Schmorl nodules (SNs). Summary of Literature Review: SNs are common lesions that are often asymptomatic. In certain cases, SNs have been reported to cause severe axial back pain, thereby considerably impacting patients' quality of life. No consensus currently exists on the treatment of symptomatic SNs. Materials and Methods: From October 2015 to October 2017, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic SNs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that did not respond to conservative treatment after 4 weeks were included in the study. All patients received postganglionic nerve block. We evaluated effective pain relief (improvement of back pain of more than 50% compared with before the intervention) and functional improvements, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index scores obtained at 4 hours, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. Results: Symptomatic SNs were more common at the L2-3 level, and the lower end plate was more commonly involved than the upper end plate. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) showed effective pain relief, and no deterioration was observed within the followup period. Throughout the follow-up period, the VAS remained significantly improved compared to before the procedure (p<0.05). Complications were not reported in any cases. Conclusions: Postganglionic nerve block for symptomatic SNs that do not respond to conservative treatment is a non-invasive modality for pain relief.