• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.706-716
• /
• 2021

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, is characterized by chronic abdominal pain and bowel habit changes. Although diverse complicated etiologies are involved in its pathogenesis, a dysregulated gut-brain axis may be an important factor. Red ginseng (RG), a traditional herbal medicine, is proven to have anti-inflammatory effects and improve brain function; however, these effects have not been investigated in IBS. Methods: Three-day intracolonic zymosan injections were used to induce post-infectious human IBS-like symptoms in mice. The animals were randomized to receive either phosphate-buffered saline (CG) or RG (30/100/300 mg/kg) for 10 days. Amitriptyline and sulfasalazine were used as positive controls. Macroscopic scoring was performed on day 4. Visceral pain and anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by colorectal distension and elevated plus maze and open field tests, respectively, on day 10. Next-generation sequencing of gut microbiota was performed, and biomarkers involved in gut-brain axis responses were analyzed. Results: Compared to CG, RG significantly decreased the macroscopic score, frequency of visceral pain, and anxiety-like behavior in the IBS mice. These effects were comparable to those after sulfasalazine and amitriptyline treatments. Moreover, RG significantly increased the proliferation of beneficial microbes, including Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Parabacteroides goldsteinii. RG significantly suppressed expression of IL-1β and c-fos in the gut and prefrontal cortex, respectively. Further, it restored the plasma levels of corticosterone to within the normal range, accompanied by an increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone. Conclusion: RG may be a potential therapeutic option for the management of human IBS.

• Annals of Coloproctology
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.312-316
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Anemia is associated with poor treatment results for a variety of cancers. The effect of low hemoglobin levels on long-term outcomes after the treatment of patients with an anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. For that reason, this study aimed to investigate the effect of anemia on treatment outcomes following chemoradiation for an anal SCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent curative treatment for an anal SCC between 2009 and 2015 at 2 trusts in the United Kingdom. Data were collated from prospectively collected cancer databases and were cross-checked with operating-room records and records in the hospitals' patient management systems. Results: We identified 103 patients with a median age of 63 years (range, 36-84 years). The median overall survival was 39 months (range, 9-90 months), and the disease-free survival was 36 months (range, 2-90 months). During the follow-up period, 16.5% patients died and 13.6% patients developed recurrence. Twenty-two people were anemic prior to treatment, with a female preponderance (20 of 22). No differences in disease-free survival (P = 0.74) and overall survival (P = 0.12) were noted between patients with anemia and those with normal hemoglobin levels. On regression the analysis, the combination of anemia, the presence of a defunctioning colostomy, lymph-node involvement and higher tumor stage correlated with poor overall survival. Conclusion: In this study, anemia did not influence disease-free survival or overall survival. We suggest that the interaction between anemia and survival is more complex than previously demonstrated and potentially reliant on other coexisting factors.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.169-177
• /
• 2019

From the past to the present, justice has attracted many people's attention. Most of the previous studies carried out in relation to justice are studies of the resulting variables, and there is a great advantage that they let us know about the importance of justice. However, the findings are focused only on the behavior of the members of the organization according to the status of justice already perceived. Therefore, studies on the antecedent of justice are also necessary to understand justice accurately. This study identifies the factors that can directly affect justice and the contextual factors that could moderate their relationship. In particular, using the '2017 Public Employee Perception Survey' released by the Korea Institute of Public Administration, we examined how innovative behavior of public employees affects the perception of distributive justice and how the relative professionalism, which is the situation variable, moderates the relationship between variables. A regression analysis of 321 public employees showed that innovative behavior affects the perception of distributive justice, and that the positive relationship of innovation behavior to the perception of distributive justice is weakened when the level of individual perceived relative professionalism is high.

• Neurospine
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.338-347
• /
• 2018

Objective: Patients with extradural spine tumors are at an increased risk for intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and postoperative wound dehiscence due to radiotherapy and other comorbidities related to systemic cancer treatment. In this case series, we discuss our experience with the management of intraoperative durotomies and wound closure strategies for this complex surgical patient population. Methods: We reviewed our recent single-center experience with spine surgery for primarily extradural tumors, with attention to intraoperative durotomy occurrence and postoperative wound-related complications. Results: A total of 105 patients underwent tumor resection and spinal reconstruction with instrumented fusion for a multitude of pathologies. Twelve of the 105 patients (11.4%) reviewed had intraoperative durotomies. Of these, 3 underwent reoperation for a delayed complication, including 1 epidural hematoma, 1 retained drain, and 1 wound infection. Of the 93 uncomplicated index operations, there were a total of 9 reoperations: 2 for epidural hematoma, 3 for wound infection, 2 for wound dehiscence, and 2 for recurrent primary disease. One patient was readmitted for a delayed spinal fluid leak. The average length of stay for patients with and without intraoperative durotomy was 7.3 and 5.9 days, respectively, with a nonsignificant trend for an increased length of stay in the durotomy cases (p=0.098). Conclusion: Surgery for extradural tumor resections can be complicated by CSF leaks due to the proximity of the tumor to the dura. When encountered, a variety of strategies may be employed to minimize subsequent morbidity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.320-325
• /
• 2018

Objectives: This pilot study tested the effectiveness of a brief alcohol-related intervention delivered by the social media app WeChat to teach about ethanol-induced facial flushing and increase the willingness of students who see another student flushing to suggest that he or she should reduce or stop drinking. In the context of Chinese drinking culture, it is sometimes socially difficult to refuse a drink, even when experiencing physical discomfort, such as flushing. Methods: Classrooms of students in a medical university in China were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Students in the intervention group were invited to view 3 alcohol education lessons on WeChat during a 2-week period. A pretest and posttest before and after the 2-week period assessed changes in students' willingness to intervene if they saw someone flush while drinking. Data were collected about students' alcohol use and their ratings of the lessons. Results: Mixed-design analysis of variance yielded a significant time-by-treatment interaction effect on the variable of willingness to suggest that a flushing person stop or slow down their drinking, and the change was significant between the intervention and control groups. One-way analysis of covariance yielded a significant treatment effect at the posttest, after controlling for the pretest score. Students rated the lessons above the midpoint of the scale for being informative, interesting, and useful. Conclusions: The pilot study showed that a brief alcohol-related intervention delivered by WeChat could produce a measurable positive change in the willingness of university students to suggest that a student who flushes should stop drinking. This pilot study also suggested improvements for future lessons and evaluation design.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2019

The first hospice care center in Korea dates back to the East West Infirmaries (Dongseodaebiwon in the Korean language) of the Goryeo period in the early 11th century. It has been 50 years since hospice care was introduced in Korea. Initially hospice care was provided in the private sector, including those with a religious background, and its development was slow. In the 1990s, related religious organizations and academic associations were established, and then, a full-swing growth phase was ushered in as the Korean government institutionalized hospice care in the early 2000s. As a result, enhanced quality of hospice care service could be provided, which meant better pain management and higher quality of life for late stage cancer patients and their families. Still, the nation lacked a realistic reimbursement system which was needed to for financial stability of the affected patients. However, the national health insurance scheme began to cover hospice palliative expenses in 2015. In 2016, the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients in Hospice and Palliative Care or at the End of Life was legislated, allowing terminally-ill patients to refuse meaningless life-sustaining treatments. As the range of diseases subject to hospice palliative care was expanded, more challenges and issues need to be addressed by the service providers.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.911-918
• /
• 2018

Various studies on the effect of mushroom, a member of phytonutrients, on inflammatory diseases have been reporter over the years, Among various species mushrooms, King oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) and winter mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) are popular dietary ingredients for Asian cuisine. The extracts from all the three mushrooms were used to determine the antioxidative effect and the cytotoxicity. Result analysis were repeated more than three times to get an average${\pm}$standard deviation, and statistical significance were confirmed by SPSS. As a result, total phenol content of the king oyster mushroom and the winter mushroom were $19.66{\pm}0.10mg/g$ and $22.08{\pm}1.10mg/g$, respectively. Also, the total flavonoid content was $15.21{\pm}1.31mg/g$ for the king oyster mushroom and $20.50{\pm}4.52mg/g$ for winter mushroom. The results in winter mushroom showed higher values in total phenol and flavonoid content than in the king oyster mushroom. All samples of extracts showed free radical DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity with their 10 mg/mL concentration. These results indicate that the extract of the king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) and the winter mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) may be possible phytonutrients with the anti-inflammatory and the anti-cancer effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.3-11
• /
• 2019

Going back to basics prior to mentioning the use of antipsychotics in patients with pain, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition of pain can be summarized as an unpleasant experience, composed of sensory experience caused by actual tissue damage and/or emotional experience caused by potential tissue damage. Less used than antidepressants, antipsychotics have also been used for treating this unpleasant experience as adjuvant analgesics without sufficient evidence from research. Because recently developed atypical antipsychotics reduce the adverse reactions of extrapyramidal symptoms, such as acute dystonia, pseudo-parkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia caused by typical antipsychotics, they are expected to be used more frequently in various painful conditions, while increasing the risk of metabolic syndromes (weight gain, diabetes, and dyslipidemia). Various antipsychotics have different neurotransmitter receptor affinities for dopamine (D), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), adrenergic (${\alpha}$), histamine (H), and muscarinic (M) receptors. Atypical antipsychotics antagonize transient, weak $D_2$ receptor bindings with strong binding to the $5-HT_{2A}$ receptor, while typical antipsychotics block long-lasting, tight $D_2$ receptor binding. On the contrary, antidepressants in the field of pain management also block the reuptake of similar receptors, mainly on the 5-HT and, next, on the norepinephrine, but rarely on the D receptors. Antipsychotics have been used for treating positive symptoms, such as delusion, hallucination, disorganized thought and behavior, perception disturbance, and inappropriate emotion, rather than the negative, cognitive, and affective symptoms of psychosis. Therefore, an antipsychotic may be prescribed in pain patients with positive symptoms of psychosis during or after controlling all sensory components.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2019

Background: As of now, the impact of low back pain (LBP) and its chronic state, chronic low back pain (CLBP), on mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has never been investigated among police officers. The present investigation aims at studying this relationship using a biopsychosocial model. Methods: Between May and October 2014, a Web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Quebec police officers (Quebec, Canada). Mental HRQOL was measured using the role emotional (RE) and the mental health (MH) domains of the SF-12v2 Health Survey. The impact of CLBP on mental HRQOL (as opposed to acute/subacute LBP or no LBP) was studied with a multivariate linear regression model. Results: Of the 3,589 police officers who participated in the study, 1,013 (28.4%) reported CLBP. The mean age of respondents was $38.5{\pm}8.7years$, and 32.0% were females. The RE (44.1/100) and MH (49.0/100) mean scores of the CLBP group were comparable with the scores found in populations suffering from cancer or heart diseases. Compared to officers without LBP, the presence of CLBP was significantly associated with lower RE (${\beta}$: -0.068; p = 0.003) and MH (${\beta}$: -0.062; p = 0.002) scores. These relationships were not found in the acute/subacute LBP group. Conclusion: Our results underscore how frequent CLBP is among police officers and how burdensome it is. Considering the importance of good physical and mental health for this occupational population, police organizations should be aware of this issue and contribute to the efforts toward CLBP prevention and management in the workplace.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.195-203
• /
• 2021

Although intra oral dental x-ray is a lower dose than other radiological examinations, pediatric patients are known to have a higher risk of radiation damage than adults. For this reason, pediatric dental x-ray requires management of dose evaluation and imaging conditions during the examination. In this study, the dose calculation program ALARA-Dental(child/adult) was used to evaluate the organ dose and effective dose exposed to each examination site during intra oral imaging of children during dental radiographic examination, and dose analysis according to the imaging conditions was performed. As a result, the highest organ dose distribution was shown at 0.044 ~ 0.097 mGy in all are as of the mucous membrane of oral cavity except for the maxillary incisors and canines. Also, in the case of the thyroid gland, the maxillary canine and maxillary premolar examination showed 0.027 and 0.020 mGy, respectively, and the dose distribution was 15.4% to 70.0% higher than that of the mandibular examination. As for the effective dose calculated during intra oral imaging, the maxillary anterior and canine examinations showed the highest effective doses of 0.005 and 0.004 mSv, respectively, and the maxillary area examination showed a higher dose distribution on average than the mandible.