• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.175-179
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Sternal fractures after blunt thoracic trauma can cause significant pain and disability. They are relatively uncommon as a result of direct trauma to the sternum and open reduction is reserved for those with debilitating pain and fracture displacement. We reviewed consecutive 11 cases of open reduction and fixation of sternum and tried to find standard approach to the traumatic sternal fractures with severe displacement. Methods: From December 2008 to August 2010, the medical records of 11 patients who underwent surgical reduction and fixation of sternum for sternal fractures with severe displacement were reviewed. We investigated patients' characteristics, chest trauma, associated other injuries, type of open reduction and fixation, combined operations, preoerative ventilator support and postoperative complications. Results: The mean patient age was 59.3years (range, 41~79). The group comprised 6 male and 5 female subjects. Among 11 patients who underwent open reduction and fixation for sternal fracture with severe displacement, 6 cases had isolated sternal fractures and the other 5 patients had associated other injuries. Sternal fractures were caused by car accidents (9/11, 81.8%), falling down (1/11, 9.1%) and direct blunt trauma to the sternum (1/11, 9.1%), respectively. 3 of the 7 patients (42.9%) who underwent sternal plating with longitudinal plates showed loosening of fixation. Otherwise, none of the 4 patients who underwent surgical fixation using T-shaped plate had stable alignment of the fracture. Conclusion: Sternal fractures with severe displacement need to be repaired to prevent chronic pain, instability of the anterior chest wall, deformity of the sternum, and even kyphosis. In the present study, a T-shaped plate with a compression-tension mechanism constitutes the treatment of choice for displaced sternal fractures.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.267-272
• /
• 1994

We studied the role of assisted fertilization(subzonal insemination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection) in enhancing fertilization and pregnancy rate in obstructive azoospermia. MESA was performed in the patients with congenital absence of the vas deferens and unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia. Sperm were aspirated microsurgically from various sites along the epididymal stump. Sperm were then washed on a mini-PercoH gradient or swim-up method and treated by 2-deoxyadenosine and pentoxifylline. Conventional IVF(group I, 14 cycles), SUZI(group II, 13 cycles) and ICSI(gruop III, 28 cycles) were carried out in 55 treatment cycles. The clinical results are as follows: 1. Fertilization rates for group I, II and III were 16.1 %,31.4% and 48.6%, retrospectively (p<0.05). 2. Clinical pregnancy rates for group I, II and III were 7.1 %,7.7%, and 32.1 'Yo, retrospectively. 3. In 5 of MESA-ICSI cycles, epididymal sperm from alloplastic spermatocele were used and 2 clinical pregnancies (40%) were obtained. According to our results the combined MESA-ICSI procedure is highly effcient in improving fertilization and pregnancy rate in congenital absence of the vas deferens and unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.512-520
• /
• 2005

Phytoestrogens, especially Yak-kong or soybean-derived isoflavones have been traditionally used as a supplement of estrogen for preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis in oriental folk medicine. In a previous study, we demonstrated that as Yak-kong and soybean increased MG-63 human osteoblastic cell proliferation, the expression of estrogen receptor $\alpha\;and\;beta\;(ER\;\alpha:\;ER\;\beta$) both were increased. However, the increased level of ER $\alpha$ is much higher than that of ER$\beta$. To determine whether the altered level of ER $\alpha$ expression affects Yak-kong or soybean induced MG-63 cell proliferation, we established cell lines stably expressing either ER $\alpha$ or antisense ER $\alpha$ RNAs. Increased expression of ER a in MG- 63 cells (ER $\alpha$-MG63) enhanced Yak-kong or soybean induced proliferation which paralleled with the enhanced expression of IGF-I. Inhibition of ER $\alpha$ expression by antisense $ER\;\alpha\;RNAs\;(As-ER\;\alpha-MG63$) caused these cells to insensitize Yak- kong or soybean induced proliferation and IGF-I expression. Furthermore, the comparable effects between Yak-kong and the combined treatment of genistein and daidzein at $0.5\;{\times}\;10^{-8}M$, which is a concentration of these two isoflavones similar to Yak-kong at 0.001 mg/ml, on cell proliferation and IGF-I expression in $ER\;\alpha-MG63\;or\;As-ER\;\alpha-MG63$ cells demonstrate that ER $\alpha$ plays an important, active role in MG-63 cell proliferation induced by phytoestrogens, especially Yak-kong or soybean derived isoflavones.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.43 no.12
• /
• pp.989-1001
• /
• 2020

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes salmonellosis and mortality worldwide. S. Typhimurium infects macrophages and survives within phagosomes by avoiding the phagosome-lysosome fusion system. Phagosomes sequentially acquire different Rab GTPases during maturation and eventually fuse with acidic lysosomes. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a bioactive lipid that is associated with the generation of chemoattractants and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In our previous study, LPC controlled the intracellular growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by promoting phagosome maturation. In this study, to verify whether LPC enhances phagosome maturation and regulates the intracellular growth of S. Typhimurium, macrophages were infected with S. Typhimurium. LPC decreased the intracellular bacterial burden, but it did not induce cytotoxicity in S. Typhimurium-infected cells. In addition, combined administration of LPC and antibiotic significantly reduced the bacterial burden in the spleen and the liver. The ratios of the colocalization of intracellular S. Typhimurium with phagosome maturation markers, such as early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1) and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1), were significantly increased in LPC-treated cells. The expression level of cleaved cathepsin D was rapidly increased in LPC-treated cells during S. Typhimurium infection. Treatment with LPC enhanced ROS production, but it did not affect nitric oxide production in S. Typhimurium-infected cells. LPC also rapidly triggered the phosphorylation of IκBα during S. Typhimurium infection. These results suggest that LPC can improve phagosome maturation via ROS-induced activation of NF-κB pathway and thus may be developed as a therapeutic agent to control S. Typhimurium growth.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.3-8
• /
• 2023

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by damage to brain neurons related to dopamine. Non-clinical animal models mainly used in Parkinson's disease research include drug-induced models of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and 6-hydroxydopamine, and genetically modified transgenic animal models. Parkinson's diagnosis can be made using brain imaging of the substantia nigra-striatal dopamine system and using a radiotracer that specifically binds to the dopamine transporter. In this study, ¹⁸F-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carboxymethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane was used to confirm the image evaluation cutoff between normal and parkinson's disease models, and to confirm model persistence over time. In addition, the efficacy of single or combined administration of clinically used therapeutic drugs in parkinson's animal models was evaluated. Image analysis was performed using the PMOD software. Converted to standardized uptake value, and analyzed by standardized uptake value ratio by dividing the average value of left striatum by the average value of right striatum obtained by applying positron emission tomography images to the atlas magnetic resonance template. The image cutoff of the normal and the parkinson's disease model was calculated as SUVR=0.829, and it was confirmed that it was maintained during the test period. In the three-drug combination administration group, the right and left striatum showed a high symmetry of more than 0.942 on average and recovered significantly. Images using ¹⁸F-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carboxymethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane are thought to be able to diagnose and evaluate treatment efficacy of non-clinical Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.82-90
• /
• 2024

Objectives: Nitric oxide is the most important mediator of penile erection after the onset of sexual excitement. It activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), increasing penile blood flow. Most pharmaceutical medications prevent enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) from breaking down cGMP, thus keeping its level high. However, due to the adverse effects of pharmacological therapies, herbal drugs that improve sexual function have gained attention recently. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine amino acid on the sexual performance of individuals with erectile dysfunction (ED) using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Methods: Over three months, 98 men with erectile dysfunction were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg of herbal supplements or placebo pills. Each herbal tablet contained 100 mg of protodioscin, 35 mg of ginsenosides, and 250 mg of L-arginine. Results: The results showed that the changes in the average scores of ILEF-5 within each group before and after the intervention indicated that all parameters related to the improvement of sexual function in patients with erectile dysfunction improved in the herbal treatment group (p < 0.001). The herbal group significantly improved IIEF-5 scores in nondiabetics (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the changes of IIEF-5 scores between the two intervention and control groups in diabetic patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine have properties that increase energy and strengthen sexual function, making them suitable for patients with sexual disorders.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.402-417
• /
• 2023

Objective: Liver fibrosis is a highly conserved wound-healing response and the final common pathway of chronic inflammatory injury. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-fibrotic effect of the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma water extract (RW) and silymarin in a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis model. Methods: The liver fibrosis mouse model was established through the intraperitoneal injection of TAA (1 week 100 mg/kg, 2-3 weeks 200 mg/kg, 4-8 weeks 400 mg/kg) three times per week for eight weeks. Animal experiments were conducted in five groups; Normal, Control (TAA-induced liver fibrosis mice), Sily (silymarin 50 mg/kg), RSL (RW 50 mg/kg+silymarin 50 mg/kg), and RSH (RW 100 mg/kg+silymarin 50 mg/kg). Biochemical analyses were measured in serum, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ammonia levels. Liver inflammatory cytokines and fibrous biomarkers were measured by Western blot analysis, and liver histopathology was evaluated through tissue staining. Results: A significant decrease in the liver function markers AST and ALT and a reduction in ammonia and total bilirubin were observed in the group treated with RSL and RSH. Measurement of reactive oxygen species and MDA revealed a significant decrease in the RSL and RSH administration group compared to the TAA induction group. The expression of extracellular matrix-related proteins, such as transforming growth factor β1, α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen type I alpha 1, was likewise significantly decreased. All drug-administered groups had increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 but a decreasing tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1. RSL and RSH exerted a significant upregulation of NADPH oxidase 2, p22^phox, and p47^phox, which are oxidative stress-related factors. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory proteins such as cyclooxygenase 2 and interleukin-1β were markedly suppressed through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B activation. Conclusions: The administration of RW and silymarin suppressed the NADPH oxidase factor protein level and showed a tendency to reduce inflammation-related enzymes. These results suggest that the combined administration of RW and silymarin improves acute liver injury induced by TAA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.134-145
• /
• 2001

Introduction: Noises in the ear, whether real or imagined, are called tinnitus. Subjective causes of tinnitus(which is heard only by the patient) are extremely common and the majority of them are treated conservatively. For certain individuals their tinnitus is a major handicap; for others a trivial concern. The most common from of subjective tinnitus is a rushing, hissing or buzzing noise; it is frequently associated with sensorineural heanng loss. The patient may be unaware of the hearing loss, especially if it is a high frequency deficit of moderate severity. The character of the tinnitus may give a clue to the etiology. But the patient often has difficulty in explaining his/her tinnitus in absolute terms, as they have no other tinnitus with which to compare it but their own Tinnitus, like pain, is a subjective state and trying to objectively assess the severity is problematic. Audiological techniques to match subjective loudness to machine-produced noise may offer some help, in that sound intensity matches can bear little correspondence to subjective complaint. In spite of many studies, most patients presently seen complaining of tinnitus are told by their doctors that there is no treatment and that they will have to learn to live with this symptom. Objectives: To perform a clinical analysis of tinnitus and estimate the efficacy of Oriental Medical treatment according to the Byeonjeung(辨證). Subject: We studied 34 patients with complaints of tinnitus who had visited Pundang Cha Oriental Medicine Hospital Department of Otorhinolaryngology from March 1998 to February 2000. All of them had been treated 2 or 3 times a week with acupuncture treatment and had taken herbs according to the Byeonjeung(辨證) method. It was therefore possible for me to know whether their symptoms improved or not. Parameters Observed and Method: We treated them with acupuncture & herb-medication. Sometimes we gave them moxibustion or negative therapy with bloodletting at the acupuncture points(耳門, 聽宮, 聽會). Parameters Observed 1) Distribution of age & sex 2) Chief complaints 3) The sites of tinnitus 4) The quality of tinnitu 5) The duration of disease 6) The problem induced tinnitus 7) Factors increasing disease severity 8) The classification of the Byeonjeung(辨證) 9) The efficacy of treatments Results: 1. Age and sex distribution: The most common occurrence was found in males in their twenties: 6 males($17.7\%$), and in females in their thirties and over sixty: 8 females($23.5\%$). Total patient numbers for men and women were 20 men($58.8\%$), 14 women ($41.2\%$). 2. The most frequent major complaints were hearing disturbances related to tinnitus; and dizziness with tinnitus; each comprising 10 cases($29.4\%$). There were also 7 patients($20.6\%$) with only tinnitus. 3. Tinnitus sites: 13($38.2\%$) said that they felt tinnitus in both ears, equally. In the right ear, 9($26.5\%$), in the left, 6($17.7\%$). 4. The most frequent descriptive symptoms of tinnitus were: humming, hissing, buzzing etc. 5. The duration of disease. 14cases($41.2\%$) had a duration of less than 1 year. 6. 15cases($44.1\%$) complained that it was hard to watch TV or make a phone call because of tinnitus. 10 cases($29.4\%$) complained about depression. 7. Factors increasing severity of tinnitus: ⅰ) fatigue: 18cases($52.9\%$) ⅱ) stress/ tension: 10 cases($29.4\%$) ⅲ) alcohol and tobacco: 5cases($l4.7\%$) 8. Classification through Byeonjeung : ⅰ) 19 cases($55.9\%$) were classified as showing Deficiency syndrome. ⅱ) 15 cases($44.l\%$) were classified as showing Excess syndrome. The deficiency of Qi was 7($20.6\%$), deficiency of Xue, 8($23.5\%$) and insufficiency of the Kidney Yin & Yang, 4($11.8\%$). The flare of Liver fire was 8($23.5\%$) and phlegm-fire, 7($20.6\%$), 9. The efficacy of treatments showed: an improvement in 17cases($50.0\%$); no real improvement or changes in 13 cases($38.2\%$); and some worsening in 4 cases($11.8\%$). In the group with deficiency in Qi, 4($57.1\%$) improved, 1($14.3\%$) showed no change and 2($28.6\%$) were aggravated. In the cases of deficiency in Xue, 6($75.0\%$) improved, 2($25.0\%$) showed no change. In the cases of insufficiency of Kidney Yin & Yang, 3($75.0\%$) showed no change and 1($25.0\%$) were aggravated. In the group of flare of Liver fire, 4($50.0\%$) improved, 3($37.5\%$) no change and 1($12.5\%$) were aggravated. In the cases of phlegm-fire, 3($42.9\%$) improved, 4($57.1\%$) showed no change. Conclusion: We would recommend that any further studies of tinnitus utilize trial treatments of longer than 2 months duration, as any positive effects observed in our study showed that improvement occurred fairly slowly. And we suggest that this study could be utilized as a reference for clinical Oriental Medical treatment of tinnitus. If we try to apply music or sound therapy treatment properly combined with ours, we expect it to provide psycological stability in addition to inducing masking effects, even though it may not directly decrease or completely remove tinnitus.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
• /
• v.59 no.12
• /
• pp.1114-1121
• /
• 2018

Purpose: We report the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing additional widening of the limbal incision to prevent disease recurrence after conjunctivo-limbal autograft combined with pterygial excision. Methods: We retrospectively compared 95 eyes with primary and 12 eyes with recurrent pterygia randomized to treatment via two surgical methods: conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone and combined with widening of the limbal incision to allow for pterygial removal. We widened the limbal incisions by 1 mm on both the superior and inferior limbal margins and removed the pterygia. The outcomes were compared between 39 eyes undergoing conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone and 68 eyes undergoing conjunctivo-limbal autograft with widening of the limbal incision. Results: The mean overall postoperative follow-up period was $29.6{\pm}10.5months$ and conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone group was $27.4{\pm}11.5months$, combined with widening of the limbal incision group was $30.7{\pm}9.7months$. Six pterygia (15.4%; four primary and two recurrent) developed in those undergoing conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone and two (2.9%; one primary and one recurrent) in those undergoing additional widening of the limbal incision; the recurrence rate differed significantly between the two groups (p < 0.05). In the group treated with conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone, the mean time to development of a new primary pterygium was $6.3{\pm}3.4months$ and that to development of a recurrent pterygium $4.3{\pm}2.5months$; the respective values for the group undergoing additional widening of the limbal incision were $12.1{\pm}2.6$ and $8.4{\pm}4.6months$; the recurrence rates differed significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Conjunctivo-limbal autograft with additional widening of the limbal incision used to treat both new primary and recurrent pterygia was more effective in terms of reducing pterygial recurrence than conjunctivo-limbal aAutograft alone.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.5 s.250
• /
• pp.377-381
• /
• 2005

Background: Extra-anatomic bypass was performed in the patient who could not use anatomic bypass due to many causes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of extra-anatomic bypass surgery. Material and Method: We reviewed 31 patients who underwent extra-anatomic bypass surgery at Pusan national university hospital. We analysed the combined diseases, etiologic diseases, symptoms, patency rate and the factors affecting patency rate retrospectively. Result: There were 26 cases of femoro-femoral bypass and 5 cases of axillo-bifemoral bypass among 31 patients. The mean age was 70.23 years. Combined disease were hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and ischemic heart disease in order of frequency. The indications for surgery were disabled claudication, tissue necrosis, rest pain, and a cute ischemia. We analysed the ages, smoking history, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, severity of limb ischemia, and hyperlipidemia as factors affecting patency rate. We could not find any statistical differences between these factors. The primary graft patency rates were $73.65\%$ one year, $73.65\%$ two year, and $65.46\%$ three year respectively according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Conclusion: Nevertheless extra-anatomic bypass has a relatively low patency rate, it has good merits that is less dangerous, simple and easy re-do surgery compared to anatomic bypass. We think that extra-anatomic bypass is one of the good treatment modalities for the high risk vascular patients.