• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: The genicular nerve block (GNB) is demonstrated from several reports to alleviate pain and improve knee functionality in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Ultrasound (US)-guided GNB has been the most used imaging method. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of US-guided versus blind GNB in the treatment of knee OA. Methods: This prospective, randomized clinical trial included patients with knee OA based on American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria. The patients were evaluated for clinical and dynamometer parameters at the baseline, 4 weeks after treatment, and 12 weeks after treatment. The patients underwent blind injection or US-guided injection. Results: When compared with the baseline, both groups showed significant improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life parameters. Significant differences were observed between the groups for clinical parameters (30-second chair stand test, 6-minute walk test) in favor of the US-guided group. On the other hand, blind injection was more significantly effective on some parameters of the Nottingham Health Profile. There wasn't any significant improvement in isokinetic muscle strength for either group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that both US-guided and blind GNB, in the treatment of knee OA, were effective in reducing symptoms and improving physical function. GNB wasn't an effective treatment for isokinetic muscle function. US-guided injections may yield more effective clinical results than blind injections.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.122-128
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of sagittal spinopelvic alignment on the clinical parameters, motor symptoms, and respiratory function in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: This study was a prospective assessment of treated patients (n=28, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage 2-3) in a PD center. Twenty-eight subjects ($68.5{\pm}5.7yrs$) participated in this study. The clinical and demographic parameters, including age, sex, symptoms duration, treatment duration, and H&Y stage, were collected. Kinematic analysis was conducted in the upright standing posture with a motion capture system. A pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed in the sitting position using a spirometer. The motor symptoms were assessed on part III of the movement disorder society sponsored version of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (MDS-UPDRS). SPSS 18.0 was used to analyze the collected data. Results: The exceeding 12 degrees group of the lower trunk showed significantly higher on the clinical parameters than the below 12 degrees group. In addition, the exceeding 12 degrees group of the lower trunk showed a significantly lower forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) / forced vital capacity (FVC) (%) and 25-75% forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF) (L/s) than in the below group. On the other hand, there was no difference in the upper trunk and the cervical pelvis between the groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the sagittal balance in the lower trunk is related to the clinical parameters and respiratory function, but not the motor symptoms in patients with mild to moderate PD.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.88-99
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• 2021

Purpose: Direct intraoral scanning and superimposing methods have recently been applied to measure the dimensions of periodontal tissues. The aim of this study was to analyze various correlations between labial gingival thickness and underlying alveolar bone thickness, as well as clinical parameters among 3 tooth types (central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines) using a digital method. Methods: In 20 periodontally healthy subjects, cone-beam computed tomography images and intraoral scanned files were obtained. Measurements of labial alveolar bone and gingival thickness at the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines were performed at points 0-5 mm from the alveolar crest on the superimposed images. Clinical parameters including the crown width/crown length ratio, keratinized gingival width, gingival scallop, and transparency of the periodontal probe through the gingival sulcus were examined. Results: Gingival thickness at the alveolar crest level was positively correlated with the thickness of the alveolar bone plate (P<0.05). The central incisors revealed a strong correlation between labial alveolar bone thickness at 1 and 2 mm, respectively, inferior to the alveolar crest and the thickness of the gingiva at the alveolar crest line (G0), whereas G0 and labial bone thickness at every level were positively correlated in the lateral incisors and canines. No significant correlations were found between clinical parameters and hard or soft tissue thickness. Conclusions: Gingival thickness at the alveolar crest level revealed a positive correlation with labial alveolar bone thickness, although this correlation at identical depth levels was not significant. Gingival thickness, at or under the alveolar crest level, was not associated with the clinical parameters of the gingival features, such as the crown form, gingival scallop, or keratinized gingival width.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권7호
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• pp.1132-1141
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate changes in the median nerve, retinaculum, and carpal tunnel on ultrasound after successful endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR). Materials and Methods: This prospective study involved 37 wrists in 35 patients (5 male, 30 female; mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 56.9 ± 6.7 years) with primary carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). An in-house developed scoring system (0-3) was used to gauge the clinical improvement after ECTR. Ultrasound was performed before ECTR, and at 1, 3, and 12 months post-ECTR. Changes in the median nerve, flexor retinaculum, and carpal tunnel morphology on ultrasound after ECTR were analyzed. Ultrasound parameters for different clinical improvement groups were compared. Results: All patients improved clinically after ECTR. The average clinical improvement score ± SD at 12 months post-ECTR was 2.2 ± 0.7. The median nerve cross-sectional area proximal and distal to the tunnel decreased at all time intervals post-ECTR but remained swollen compared to normal values. Serial changes in the median nerve caliber and retinacular bowing after ECTR were more pronounced at the tunnel outlet than at the tunnel inlet. The flexor retinaculum had reformed in 25 (68%) of 37 wrists after 12 months. Conclusion: Postoperative changes in median nerve and retinaculum parameters were most pronounced at the tunnel outlet. Even in patients with clinical improvement after ECTR, nearly all ultrasound parameters remain abnormal at one year post-ECTR. These ultrasound parameters should not necessarily be relied upon to diagnose persistent CTS after ECTR.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.467-474
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• 2019

Exposure to lead during pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in the offspring. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to low levels of lead acetate (0.2%) in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation causes behavioral impairment and affects the expression of proteins associated with neurodevelopment. Lead exposure altered several parameters in rat offspring compared with those unexposed in open-field, social interaction, and pre-pulse inhibition tests. These parameters were restored to normal levels after clozapine treatment. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of the hippocampus revealed that several neurodevelopmental proteins were downregulated in lead-exposed rats. The expression was normalized after clozapine treatment (5 mg/kg/day, postnatal day 35-56). These findings demonstrate that downregulation of several proteins in lead-exposed rats affected subsequent behavioral changes. Our results suggest that lead exposure in early life may induce psychiatric disorders and treatment with antipsychotics such as clozapine may reduce their incidence.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 2024

Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from various sources may impact health due to the generation of frequency bands. Broad pulses emitted within frequency bands can be absorbed by cells, influencing their function. Numerous laboratory studies have demonstrated that mobile phones-generally the most widely used devices-can have harmful effects on sex cells, such as sperm and oocytes, by producing RF-EMR. Moreover, some research has indicated that RF-EMR generated by mobile phones can influence sperm parameters, including motility, morphology, viability, and (most critically) DNA structure. Consequently, RF-EMR can disrupt both sperm function and fertilization. However, other studies have reported that exposure of spermatozoa to RF-EMR does not affect the functional parameters or genetic structure of sperm. These conflicting results likely stem from differences among studies in the duration and exposure distance, as well as the species of animal used. This report was undertaken to review the existing research discussing the effects of RF-EMR on the DNA integrity of mammalian spermatozoa.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.1-12
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• 1995

The purpose of this investigation was to determine pharmacokinetic parameters of gentamicin using linear least square regression(LLSR) and Bayesian analysis in Korean normal volunteers and appendicitis patients. Nonparametric expected maximum(NPEM) algorithm for population pharmacokinetic parameters was used. Gentamicin was administered every 8 hours for 3 days by infusion over 30 minutes. The volume of distribution(V) and elimination rate constant(K) of gentamicin were $0.215\pm0.0562,\;0.226\pm0.0325L/kg\;and\;0.339\pm0.0443,\;0.357\pm0.0243hr^{-1}$ for normal volunteers and appendicitis patients using LLSR analysis. Population pharmacokinetic parameters, VS and KS were $0.228\pm0.0614L/kg\;and\;0.00356\pm0.00041(hr{\cdot}mL/min/1.73m^2)^{-1}$ for appendicitis patients using NPEM algorithm. The V and K were $0.232\pm0.0568L/kg\;and\;0.337\pm0.0385hr^{-1}$ for appendicitis patients using Bayesian analysis. There were no differences in gentamicin pharmacokinetics between LLSR and Bayesian analysis.

• 대한영양사협회학술지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.72-80
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• 2012

This study examined the effects of custom nutrition education on dietary intakes and clinical parameters in patients diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. A total of 34 patients visited the anemia clinic of Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital. Among these, only 16 patients were available for follow-ups. A follow-up was conducted by a clinical dietitian 2 months from the first nutrition education session. Patients were all women. For custom nutrition education, we investigated anthropometric data, dietary assessment (24 hr-recall, FFQ), and self-recognized anemic symptoms. Weight did not show a significant difference but hemoglobin, hematocrit (P<0.01), serum iron, and serum ferritin (P<0.05) were significantly increased after the nutrition education. Serum total iron binding capacity was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Self-recognized symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue (P<0.001), shortness of breath, headache (P<0.01), brittle nails, and sore tongue (P<0.05) were significantly improved. Daily intakes of protein (P<0.05), total iron (P<0.01), and animal iron (P<0.001) were significantly increased. A significantly negative correlation was observed between current serum iron and the intake of carbohydrates, fat, or phosphorus (P<0.05). But current serum ferritin showed a significantly positive correlation with the frequency of intake of meat, poultry, and fish. It could be concluded that the custom nutrition education might be effective on quality of diet as well as iron status and it might also improve the clinical parameters in patients diagnosed with the iron deficiency anemia.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.10-17
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• 2011

Objective: To explore potential relationships between sperm DNA integrity and both semen parameters and clinical outcomes. Methods: Semen analysis of 498 samples was performed according to the 2010 criteria of the World Health Organization. The sperm DNA fragmentation Index (DFI) of the semen samples was assessed using a neutral comet assay. Results: Sperm DFI showed a significant correlation with semen parameters, including the patient's age, sperm viability, motility, morphology, and number of leukocytes (p<0.05). The sperm DFI values for asthenozoospermic (15.2%), oligoteratozoospermic (18.3%), asthenoteratozoospermic (17.5%), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic semen samples (21.3%) were significantly higher than that observed in normozoospermic semen samples (10.5%, p<0.05). A sperm DFI value of 14% was used as a threshold of sperm DFI in assessing whether DNA was highly damaged. In 114 IVF-ET cycles, the fertilization rate of the sperm DFI <14% group (70 cycles, 61.7%) was significantly higher than that observed for the ${\geq}14%$ group (44 cycles, 55.3%), but there was no difference in the other clinical outcomes between the two groups. In the ${\geq}14%$ group, the pregnancy rates of the ICSI cycles (40.0%) and half-ICSI (44.0%) were higher than conventional IVF cycles (30.7%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Along with the conventional semen analysis, the sperm DFI assessed using the comet assay was shown to improve the quality of the semen evaluation. To evaluate the precise effect of ICSI on pregnancy rates in the patients who demonstrate high sperm DFI values, further study is necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.469-479
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• 1992

Searching for the clinical effects of colloid solutions that used to increasing the oncotic pressure of priming solutions at the cardiopulmonary bypass, 29 patients [who were diagnosised as simple VSD around 10kg of body weight and scheduled to be operated from June 1990 to December 1990 at Sejong General Hospital] were divided randomly and prospectively to the two groups: A group [15] was received 4gm% albumin as addition to the priming solutions and B Group [14] the same amount of Ringer`s lactated solution. 34 clinical parameters [Body weight, sex, age, body surface area, Qp/Qs, pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiopulmonary bypass time, anesthetic time, intraoperatively infused crystalloid and colloid amount, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum sodium concentration, serum osmolarity, urine osmolarity, urine specific gravity, serum concentration, serum osmolarity, urine osmolarity, urine specific gravity, serum protein, serum albumin concentration, urine output, central venous pressure, postoperatively infused colloid amount, immedediate post-operative peak inspiratory pressure, cardiac index, blood pressure and pump flow during cardiopulmonary bypass, inotro-pic assist, diuretics, extubation period, total drain amount, duration of ICU] were measured and compaired between the two groups. There were no differences of preoperative and operative clinical parameters. And postoper-atively, practically there were no nearly differences at the clinical outcomes between the two groups, but some parameters [cardiac index, PIP, BP and pumpflow during CPB, etc] contributed to being preferable to the Group A at certain times [P<0.05]. Conclusively, it might be thought that the priming solution of cardiopulmonary bypass added by colloid solution had some beneficial effects on the patients, especially younger and associated with complex anomaly to be expected taken longer time of cardiopulmonary bypass, and more studies about the neonatal and complex anomaly cases were needed in that points.