• Title/Summary/Keyword: alternative medicine

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Biological Parameters of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) Fed on Rabbits, Sheep, and Cattle

  • Ma, Miling;Chen, Ze;Liu, Aihong;Ren, Qiaoyun;Liu, Junlong;Liu, Zhijie;Li, Youquan;Yin, Hong;Guan, Guiquan;Luo, Jianxun
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.54 no.3
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    • pp.301-305
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    • 2016
  • In order to determine the effect of various hosts on feeding performance of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, we used 3 mammalian species as hosts, cattle (Qinchuan), sheep (Tan), and rabbits (Japanese white rabbit) for infesting ticks. Five hundreds of R. microplus larvae were exposed to each animal (3 animals/host species). Tick recoveries were 11.0%, 0.47%, and 5.5% from cattle, sheep, and rabbits, respectively. The averages of tick feeding periods were not significantly different on cattle, sheep, and rabbits, 28.8, 25.3, and 26.7 days, respectively. The average weights of individual engorged female from cattle, sheep, and rabbits were 312.5, 219.1, and 130.2 mg, respectively and those of egg mass weights each to 85.0, 96.6, and 17.8 mg. The highest egg hatching rate was in the ticks from cattle (96.0%), followed by those from rabbits (83.0%) and sheep (19.2%). These data suggest that rabbits could be as an alternative host to cultivate R. microplus for evaluating vaccines and chemical and biological medicines against the tick in the laboratory, although the biological parameters of ticks were less than those from cattle.

Daily localization of partial breast irradiation patients with three-dimensional ultrasound imaging

  • Sayan, Mutlay;Vergalasova, Irina;Hard, Daphne;Wrigth, Heather;Archambault, Jessica;Gagne, Havaleh;Nelson, Carl;Heimann, Ruth
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.259-264
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    • 2019
  • Purpose: Accurate localization of the lumpectomy cavity during accelerated partial breast radiation (APBR) is essential for daily setup to ensure the prescribed dose encompasses the target and avoids unnecessary irradiation to surrounding normal tissues. Three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) allows direct visualization of the lumpectomy cavity without additional radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of 3D-US in daily target localization for APBR. Materials and methods: Forty-seven patients with stage I breast cancer who underwent breast conserving surgery were treated with a 2-week course of APBR. Patients with visible lumpectomy cavities on high quality 3D-US images were included in this analysis. Prior to each treatment, X-ray and 3D-US images were acquired and compared to images from simulation to confirm accurate position and determine shifts. Volume change of the lumpectomy cavity was determined daily with 3D-US. Results: A total of 118 images of each modality from 12 eligible patients were analyzed. The average change in cavity volume was 7.8% (range, -24.1% to 14.4%) on 3D-US from simulation to the end-of-treatment. Based on 3D-US, significantly larger shifts were necessary compared to portal films in all three dimensions: anterior/posterior (p = 7E-11), left/right (p = 0.002), and superior/inferior (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Given that the lumpectomy cavity is not directly visible via X-ray images, accurate positioning may not be fully achieved by X-ray images. Therefore, when the lumpectomy cavity is visible on US, 3D-US can be considered as an alternative to X-ray imaging during daily positioning for selected patients treated with APBR, thus avoiding additional exposure to ionizing radiation.

Arthroscopic Reconstrucion in Megafrequency of Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Dislocations (관절경을 이용한 고 빈도 재발성 전방 견관절 탈구의 재건술)

  • Ko, Sang-Hun;You, Chong-Il;Cho, Sung-Do;Choi, Chang-Hyuk;Cheon, In-Ho;Woo, Jong-Keun;Kwag, Chang-Yul;Yun, Dong-Jin;Choe, Seong-Won
    • Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.194-200
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    • 2005
  • Purpose: To evaluate the short-term follow up outcome and the effectiveness of arthroscopic vertical shift of anteroinferior capsulolabral complex, plication of AIGHLC (anterior band of inferior glenohumeral ligament complex) and thermal capulorraphy, posteroinferior suture plication, rotator interval closure as an adjuncts in recurrent instability of megafrequency with night time dislocation. Materials & Methods: From March 1998 to February 2004, we have had 18 shoulders out of 156. All of the cases have been night time dislocation above more one time. The age were average 29.4$(21{\sim}37)$ year old. The average follow up were 21.1 $(12{\sim}45)$months We checked Rowe score and ROM at pre-operation, post-operation 6 months,1 year & last follow up period. Results: Above good results were 16 cases(88.9%). The excellent were 6 cases, good were 10, fair 1, poor 1. Conclusions: In recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation in greater than 50 frequency, arthroscopic stabilization can be an alternative technique for selected patients against open inferior capsular shift. But more long ter n follow up and large materials will be needed in the future study.

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The Validity, Reliability and Discriminative Index of the Korean Version of Modified Barthel Index(K-MBI) in Stroke Patients (한국판 수정바델지수(K-MBI)의 타당도, 신뢰도, 문항변별도 검증: 뇌졸중 환자를 대상으로)

  • Choi, Yoo-Im;Kim, Won-Ho;Park, Eun-Young;Kim, Eun-Joo
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.13 no.9
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    • pp.4119-4125
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of this study was to identify the validity, reliability, and discriminative index of the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). For this, two hundreds twenty-thee stroke patients participated. Activities of daily living were measured through using K-MBI. Factor analysis was performed for identifying the construct validity and internal consistent and discriminative index were calculated. The result of factor analysis was that the 10 items of K-MBI have communality above .50, and was constructed one factor. Explained variance was 72.184%. The order of factor loading value was toileting, personal hygiene, transfer from bed to chair and back, ambulation/wheelchair, dressing, feeding, bowel control, bathing, bladder control, and stair climbing. Cronbach ${\alpha}$ of K-MBI was .994. The range of discriminative index was .783~.909, and was acceptable. One factor of K-MBI was identified through factor analysis, and reliability and discriminative index was also identified. Various psychometric properties of K-MBI should be investigated in further studies for valid assessment of activities of daily living in stroke patients.

Risperidone as a Janus in Mood Disorder (기분장애에서 risperidone의 양면성)

  • Yoon, Doh Joon
    • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.198-210
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    • 1997
  • To examine the double-faced thymoleptic(antidepressant and antimanic) effects of risperidone in mood disorders, this article reviews the psychotropic-induced mania, thymoleptic effects of antipsychotics, therapeutic effects of risperidone and risperidone(RIS)-induced mania(RIM) in mood disorders, risk factors of RIM, possible neurochemical mechanism of these thymoleptic effects, pathophysiological and clinical significance of thymoleptic effects, and suggestive clinical guideline of RIS in mood disorders. RIS appeared effective for bipolar disorder at a lower dose than that recommended for schizophrenia, especially in the cases of maintenance of mood stabilizers, and gradual titration from low doses. Manic induction/exacerbation can occur by chance during RIS treatment in mood disorders, schizoaffective disorders, and schizophrenias. The possible risk factors for RIM are refractory mood disorder, especially in bipolar I disorder with poor initial response ; refractory schizoaffective disorders, especially in bipolar type with poor initial response ; refractory chronic schizophrenias, especially with initial responses ; psychotic features ; higher initial doses ; rapid titration ; combined therapy with antidepressants in refractory depression ; and RIS monotherapy in mania/hypomania. RIS is a drug that preferentially block 5-HT2 receptors. The effects of low dose are due mainly to the blockade of 5-HT2 receptors. There are more gradual increase in D2 blockade with increasing dose and this D2 blocking properties become apparent at higher doses. This may be related to a modulation of dopaminergic transmission by 5-HT2 antagonism at lower doses with the direct action of RIS on DA receptors coming into play at higher dose. The serotonergic antagonistic effect may be important for its effects on depressive symptoms. This, together with adequate blo-ckade of D2 receptors, may not necessarily lead to destabilization of mood disorder, but rather to more therapeutic effects. Therefore, this dose-receptor affinity relationship with both antidepressant and antimanic effects according to treatment duration can explain a continuum of antidepressant effect, antimanic effect, behavioral stimulation, and manic/hypomanic induction/exacerbation. It was the recognition of a useful psychiatric side effects by a thoughtful observer with fertile minds that led to their ultimate utilization as psychotropic drugs, i.e., phenothiazine, MAOI, TCA, and lithium. And, in vivo pharmacological challenge by novel psychotropics, as a neurochemical probe, with more specific actions is a useful tool to select pharmacologically homogeneous subgroup of the same phenotypical(clinical) condition, to further study the unknown underlying pathogenesis of various mental illnesses. Finally, RIS may be a useful alternative or adjunctive drug for patients with mood disorders without psychotic features or refractory to treatment with standard antipsychotic drugs. The more conservative doses(tirated slowly from 1-3 mg/d) of RIS, and maintenance of mood stabilizer in the cases with risk factors of RIM are recommended in mood disorder.

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Science teachers and Secondary students' Perception of Pseudoscience (사이비과학에 대한 과학교사와 중등학생의 인식조사)

  • Kang, Kyunglee
    • Journal of Science Education
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.87-116
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    • 2013
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate science teachers and secondary students' perception of pseudoscience. Subjects were 491 secondary students and 65 science teachers who enrolled in secondary schools located in Korea. The instrument of this study was a questionnaire which consisted of 33 items on 7 domains: fortune and fate, parapsychology, spiritual beings, alternative medicine, UFO and mystery, creationism, and introduction of the pseudoscience concepts in science education. The results suggested that it is necessary to develop science education programs focused on the pseudoscience for secondary students and science teachers. Media such as television, movie, and books should provide a well-organised scientific programs.

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Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fermented Dark Vinegar from Unpolished Rice (현미 발효 흑초의 항균활성)

  • Choi, Hakjoon;Gwak, Gyeongja;Choi, Dabin;Park, Jaeyoung;Cheong, Hyeonsook
    • Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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    • v.43 no.2
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    • pp.97-104
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    • 2015
  • Vinegar is a widely used acidic seasoning and can be manufactured using various methods and bases, including cereals, wheat, and fruits. Most studies on vinegar have been conducted to evaluate its antioxidant activity. In the present study, fermented dark vinegar (FDV) produced from unpolished rice was examined for its antimicrobial activity, biochemical content, including the amounts of sugar, total soluble sugar, organic acid, and free amino acids, and pH and physiological activity. The antimicrobial efficiency of FDV was assessed using the paper disc-agar diffusion method. FDV exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic bacteria and yeast strains that were tested. In fact, the activity of FDV was shown to be higher than that of the commercial antibiotics carbenicillin (50 µg/ml) and tetracycline (50 µg/ml) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Lodderomyces elongisporus. The antioxidant activity of FDV and ascorbic acid was evaluated. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, we found that FDV has the highest activity of the antioxidants. After spreading FDV onto tryptic soy broth and yeast extract-peptone-dextrose agar media, the microbial strains were isolated and characterized through physiological and biochemical analysis. Based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the isolated microorganisms exhibited a close similarity to Acetobacter papayae, Acetobacter pasteurianus, and Acetobacter peroxidans.

A Prospective and Open-Label Trial of Quetiapine and Haloperidol in the Treatment of Delirium (섬망의 치료에 대한 Quetiapine과 Haloperidol의 전향적 개방형 연구)

  • Choi, Hag-Gyu;Park, Byoung-Sun;Lee, Hyun-Jung;Choi, Jin-Sook;Jho, Kyeong-Hyeong;Shin, Young-Min
    • Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.85-94
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    • 2005
  • Objectives: This prospective and open-label study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of quetiapine and haloperidol in patients with delirium. Methods : Fourty patients(19 patients in a quetiapine group : 21 patients in a haloperidol group) with delirium by DSM-IV were treated with flexible doses of open-label qvetiapine and haloperidol. To evaluate the primary efficacy of the medication, scores from the Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale(K-DRS) were assessed every seven days and to evaluate the secondary efficacy and safety, scores from the Clinical Global Impression-Severity, Korean Version of Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale were assessed at the baseline and the seventh day. Data were gathered from November 2004 to June 2005. Results : K-DRS scores for each group decreased significantly over the study period; however, no significant differences between groups were found. The group-by-time effect was not significant. In addition, there was no significant difference in the frequency of response to drugs between the two groups. No patients reported clinically significant side effects. Conclusion : These data show no significant difference in the efficacy and safety between quetiapine and haloperidol in the treatment of delirium. Since haloperidol has a great possibility of causing a extrapyramidal side effect resulted by previous studies, it is expected that quetiapine, a renowned medication with low side effects, may be a useful alternative agent to haloperidol, the classical antipsy-chotics, in the treatment of delirium.

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Debridement or Tuberoplasty for Massive Rotator Cuff Tear (광범위 회전근 개 파열에 대한 변연절제술 및 결절성형술)

  • Cho, Nam-Su;Oh, Hyun-Sup;Rhee, Yong-Girl
    • Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.146-152
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    • 2010
  • Purpose: The purpose of this article was to review the effectiveness of arthroscopic debridement and tuberoplasty, and to evaluate the clinical and radiologic results of our series for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears in the elderly. Materials and Methods: We reviewed articles that focused on the treatment options and decision making for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears. In particular, we summarized the reported results of arthroscopic debridement and tuberoplasty for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears in the elderly. Among consecutive patients who had arthroscopic tuberoplasty for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears in our series, thirty-two patients available for clinical and radiological evaluation at a mean follow-up of 29 months (range, 13-52 months) were enrolled and reviewed for the analysis. Results: At the last follow-up, the range of active forward flexion increased significantly with excellent pain relief and improvement in the ability to perform the activities of daily living. However, the group with less than 2 mm in preoperative acromiohumeral distance showed inferior postoperative results. Conclusion: Arthroscopic tuberoplasty may be an alternative option in irreparable massive rotator cuff tears for pain relief and improvement of range of motion. However, good results can not be expected if the acromiohumeral distance is less than 2 mm preoperatively and decreases postoperatively, or when the preoperative range of motion is less than $90^{\circ}$ on flexion and abduction.

Massive Rotator Cuff Tear Repair (광범위 회전근 개 파열의 봉합술)

  • Shin, Sang-Jin
    • Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.167-174
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    • 2010
  • Purpose: Anatomical repair of massive rotator cuff tear has been technically challenging because of medial retraction, muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration. Among several treatment options for massive rotator cuff tear, we reviewed rotator cuff repairs and investigated modalities for improvement of clinical outcomes, decreasing the re-tear rate, and increasing healing. Materials and Methods: Patient-related factors and rotator cuff-related factors were the two major groups of factors we considered when choosing a treatment plan. Results: Mobilization of a massive rotator cuff tear was increased by soft tissue release and by the interval slide technique. After meticulous soft tissue release, anatomical repair could be achieved. If the injury was not amenable to anatomical repair, alternative treatment options such as partial repair, the margin convergence technique and augmentation with a tenotomized biceps tendon were considered. Many reports of massive rotator cuff repair demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes, decreased pain, recovery of shoulder functions, and increases in muscle strength. However, the re-tear rate had been reported to be relatively high in long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Despite a high re-tear rate after massive rotator cuff repair, a better understanding of the pathogenesis, progression and clinical symptoms of massive rotator cuff tear and improved surgical materials and techniques will lead to satisfactory clinical outcomes.