• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.741-750
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• 2023

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Korean medicine treatments on Buerger's disease. Methods: From December 27, 2022, to January 16, 2023, we treated Soeumin patients with Buerger's disease admitted to a hospital specializing in Korean medicine. The patient's symptoms included feelings of coldness in the lower extremities, feelings of dullness, and stabbing pain. For treatment, Korean medicine treatments, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medications (Sogyeonghwalhyeol-tang granules and Gwangyebujaijung-tang-gami) were administered. The patient's improvement was evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) every day. Lower extremity and foot temperatures were evaluated using digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI). Results: Through the treatment regimen, the patient's NRS scores decreased, and lower extremity and foot temperatures increased. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatments for cold lower extremities, feelings of dullness, and stabbing pain caused by Buerger's disease are potentially effective.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.77-84
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• 2024

Background: The facial artery is an important blood vessel responsible for supplying the anterior face. Understanding the branching patterns of the facial artery plays a crucial role in various medical specialties such as plastic surgery, dermatology, and oncology. This knowledge contributes to improving the success rate of facial reconstruction and aesthetic procedures. However, debate continues regarding the classification of facial artery branching patterns in the existing literature. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive anatomical study, in which we dissected 102 facial arteries from 52 embalmed and formaldehyde-fixed Vietnamese cadavers at the Anatomy Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Results: Our investigation revealed eight distinct termination points and identified 35 combinations of branching patterns, including seven arterial branching patterns. These termination points included the inferior labial artery, superior labial artery, inferior alar artery, lateral nasal artery, angular artery typical, angular artery running along the lower border of the orbicularis oculi muscle, forehead branch, duplex, and short course (hypoplastic). Notably, the branching patterns of the facial artery displayed marked asymmetry between the left and right sides within the same cadaver. Conclusion: The considerable variation observed in the branching pattern and termination points of the facial artery makes it challenging to establish a definitive classification system for this vessel. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an anatomical map summarizing the major measurements and geometric features of the facial artery. Surgeons and medical professionals involved in facial surgery and procedures must consider the detailed anatomy and relative positioning of the facial artery to minimize the risk of unexpected complications.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.135-141
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• 2024

The article examines the key constants of reengineering the modern educational cluster, associated with the processes of digital transformation of all spheres of modern socio-cultural space. The first constant is the strategic rethinking of the educational process organization and awareness of the new roles of all participants (tutors, applicants, controlling elements, etc.). The other constant involves practical re-design of the system of educational services, which consists in the reorientation from the traditional model of education functioning for society to the implementation of the educational format in the form of new projects (structural, target, business). Consequently, the purpose of the study is to highlight the attitudes relevant to the modern realities of information and technological support of education in the context of socio-economic interactions of society. The criteria for the reengineering of educational concepts and the structural organization of the educational sphere are defined. The modern world is going through a period of complete digital transformation of all spheres of public activity. The scientific intelligence notes that education is no exception in these processes, as the dependence of educational realities on information and computer technologies is now noted. The COVID-19 pandemic, for all its tragedy, was also a kind of trigger, clearly marking the new components that have become defined in the organization of the educational process. The conclusion is made that the use of digital technologies in the organization of the educational institution or in the organization of the educational process has become not an auxiliary element, but a dominant factor. Mobility, dynamism, interdisciplinarity, synergy - all these aspects are relevant for socio-economic interactions of society and should be provided by educational programs. The results of the study can be used in the reorganization processes of educational institutions and institutions. Further research requires aspects of the analysis of the foreign experience of reengineering in education, carried out taking into account digital transformations of modern sociocultural space.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.176-185
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• 2024

Purpose: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is common among children in Bangladesh. Its management depends mainly on risk stratification. This study aimed to assess the severity of pediatric AP using computed tomography (CT). Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in pediatric patients with AP at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results: Altogether, 25 patients with AP were included, of whom 18 (mean age, 10.27±4.0 years) were diagnosed with mild AP, and 7 (mean age, 10.54±4.0 years) with severe AP. Abdominal pain was present in all the patients, and vomiting was present in 88% of the patients. Etiology was not determined. No significant differences in serum lipase, serum amylase, BUN, and CRP levels were observed between the mild and severe AP groups. Total and platelet counts as well as hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum creatinine, random blood sugar, and serum alanine aminotransferase levels (p>0.05) were significantly higher in the mild AP group than in the severe AP group (p=0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT severity index (CTSI) were 71.4%, 72.2%, 50%, and 86.7%, respectively. In addition, significant differences in pancreatic appearance and necrosis were observed between the two groups on CT. Conclusion: CT can be used to assess the severity of AP. In the present study, the CTSI effectively assessed the severity of AP in pediatric patients.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Introduction: The importance of clinical skills training in traditional Korean medicine education is increasingly emphasized. Since the clinical skills tests are high-stakes tests that determine success in national licensing exams, it is essential to develop reliable multifaceted analysis methods for clinical skills tests in actual education settings. In this study, we applied the multifaceted validity evaluation methods to the evaluation results of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation module to confirm the applicability and effectiveness of the methods. Methods: In this study, we used internal consistency, factor analysis, generalizability theory G-study and D-study, ANOVA, Kendall's tau, descriptive statistics, and other statistical methods to analyze the multidimensional validity of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation test in clinical education settings over the past three years. Results: The factor analysis and internal consistency analysis showed that the evaluation rubric had an unstable structure and low concordance. The G-study showed that the error of the clinical skills assessment was large due to the evaluator and unexpected errors. The D-study showed that the variance error of the evaluator should be significantly reduced to validate the evaluation. The ANOVA and Kendall's tau confirmed that evaluator heterogeneity was a problem. Discussion and Conclusion: Clinical skills tests should be continuously evaluated and managed for validity in two steps of pre-production and actual implementation. This study has presented specific methods for analyzing the validity of clinical skills training and testing in actual education settings. This study would contribute to the foundation for competency-based evidence-based education in practical clinical training.

• 한국간담췌외과학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.56-62
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-guided gallbladder drainage (ERGD) is an alternative to percutaneous cholecystostomy (PTC) for hospitalized acute cholecystitis (AC) patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed propensity score matched (PSM) AC hospitalizations using the National Inpatient Sample database between 2016 and 2019 to compare the outcomes of ERGD and PTC. Results: After PSM, there were 3,360 AC hospitalizations, with 48.8% undergoing PTC and 51.2% undergoing ERGD. There was no difference in median length of stay between the PTC and ERGD cohorts (p = 0.110). There was a higher median hospitalization cost in the ERGD cohort, $62,562 (interquartile range [IQR] $40,707-97,978) compared to PTC, $40,413 (IQR $25,244-65,608; p < 0.001). The 30-day inpatient mortality was significantly lower in hospitalizations with ERGD compared to PTC (adjusted hazard ratio 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1-0.41; p < 0.001). There was no difference in association with blood transfusions, acute renal failure, ileus, small bowel obstruction, and open cholecystectomy conversion (p > 0.05) between hospitalizations with ERGD and PTC. There was lower association of acute hypoxic respiratory failure (adjusted ratio [AOR] 0.46, 95% CI: 0.29-0.72; p = 0.001), hypovolemia (AOR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49-0.82; p = 0.009) and higher association of lower gastrointestinal bleed (AOR 1.94, 95% CI: 1.48-2.54; p < 0.001) with ERGD compared to PTC. Conclusions: ERGD is a safer alternative to PTC in patients with AC. The risk complications are lower in ERGD compared to PTC but no difference exists based on mortality or conversion to open cholecystectomy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.573-577
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• 2023

Pachyonychia congenita is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hypertrophic nail plates, hyperkeratotic nail beds, and thickened hyponychium of the fingers and toes, impairing manual dexterity and resulting in poor aesthetics. The current body of literature describes various treatment modalities, but no singular approach has been defined as the gold standard. In this case, the authors employed different surgical techniques for treating pachyonychia congenita to evaluate the most effective approach. A 3-year-old boy presented with hypertrophic nail growth involving all digits of both hands and feet. Three surgical procedures were performed on the patient's fingers and toes using germinal matrix excision (GME) alone, GME plus partial sterile matrix excision (pSME), or GME plus complete sterile matrix excision (cSME). The digits treated with GME + cSME exhibited no recurrence of nail growth. Those treated with GME alone exhibited recurrence of hypertrophic nail growth, although their growth slowed. Excision of GME + cSME prevented recurrence of hypertrophic nails, while GME alone or with pSME led to slower-growing hypertrophic nails. Complete excision of the germinal and sterile matrices with skin graft closure may be a definitive treatment for pachyonychia congenita, but further studies are needed to validate these findings.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.51.1-51.11
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• 2024

Importance: Feline calicivirus (FCV)-associated viral systemic disease (VSD) is a severe systemic disease caused by virulent FCV strains and has a very poor prognosis. Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of a nosocomial FCV-VSD outbreak involving 18 cats in Korea. Methods: Medical records of cats diagnosed with FCV-VSD from March to September 2018 at a referral veterinary hospital were reviewed. The patient's signalment, history, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were evaluated. Results: Two outbreaks involving 18 cats diagnosed with FCV-VSD occurred over a 6-month period at a referral hospital in Korea. Anorexia, lethargy, fever, and limb edema were the most commonly observed clinical symptoms. Lymphopenia and macrothrombocytopenia were the most common hematological findings, and hyperbilirubinemia and increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and serum amyloid A were the most frequent results of serum biochemistry. FCV was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 11 patients and the remaining 7 were suspected with FCV-VSD. The overall mortality rate was 72.2%. The hospital was closed and disinfected twice, and no additional outbreaks have occurred since the last patient. Conclusions and Relevance: The clinical and diagnostic characteristics and outcomes of FCV-VSD described in this study can be used to recognize and contain infectious diseases through quick action. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a nosocomial outbreak of FCV-VSD in Asia.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.27-40
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• 2010

Background and Objective : Increasing interest in anti-aging and anti-wrinkling agents for the skin has triggered the recent outflow of researches and studies in this field. This study was designed to investigate the effects of bee venom on skin wrinkling and skin aging by testing the skin wrinkling, skin elasticity, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), free radical level, anti-oxidative agent level, and skin tissue after infusion of bee venom on hairless mouse. Materials and Methods : Fifteen hairless mice aged between 36~40 weeks were divided randomly into 3 Group; the Bee Venom Syringe Group, the Bee Venom Needle Group, and the control group. The Bee Venom Syringe Group were injected subcutaneously with bee venom (0.1cc in total) using an insulin syringe on three spots in the lumbar spine (one spot on the center and two spots 1~2cm to the side bilaterally). The Bee Venom Needle Group were pricked with bee venom-smeared acupuncture needles on three longitudinal spots in the lumbar spine each 1cm apart, after which the needles were removed 10 minutes later. The Control Group did not receive any form of intervention. All procedures took place thrice a week for four weeks, during which the mice were allowed free access to water and fodder. The mice were measured and compared in the weight, skin wrinkling scale, skin elasticity, and TEWL before and after the experiment. After the experiment, blood samples were taken to measure the free radical and anti-oxidative agent level, and the skin tissue was sliced for examination. Data was analyzed using the SPSS program (ver 12.0). The ANOVA analysis was used to compare and contrast the three groups, and t-test for paired samples was used to evaluate skin-wrinkling before and after experiment. The cut-off p-value of significance was set at p<0.05. Results : 1. Administration of bee venom did not cause serious weight loss or gain. 2. Compared to the control group, the Bee Venom Syringe Group and the Bee Venom Needle Group both showed a decrease in skin wrinkling scale after intervention. Especially, the Bee Venom Syringe Group showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). 3. Compared to the control group, the Bee Venom Syringe Group and the Bee Venom Needle Group both showed an increase in skin elasticity. Especially, the Bee Venom Syringe Group showed a significant increase (p<0.05). 4. No significant change in TEWL was found in the mice in all the three groups before and after experiment. 5. Free radical level was normal in all 15 mice in all the three groups, and anti-oxidative agent was not significantly different across the three groups. 6. The Bee Venom Syringe Group, the Bee Venom Needle Group, and the control group did not show any significant difference in the thickness of epidermis and dermis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and skin wrinkling. The epidermis layer was relatively better preserved in the Bee Venom Syringe Group as compared to the Bee Venom Needle Group and the control group. Conclusion : Direct injection of bee venom on the hairless mouse using a syringe was found to improve wrinkling of the skin and increase skin elasticity but did not show effectiveness on skin dryness due to water loss. The bee venom appears to have suppressive effects on skin wrinkling, one of the symptoms of skin aging, through a process independent of suppression of free radicals or increase of anti-oxidative agent.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.389-396
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• 2001

목적 : 임상에서 사용하는 방사선량을 조사하여 환자의 자궁경부암 세포에서 유도되는 유전자를 검색하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 자궁경부암 환자에서 방사선치료 하루 전(대조군)과 1.8 Gy 조사후 40분 지나서(조사군) 자궁경부암 조직을 생검하여 각 군에서 total RNA를 추출하였다. differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction기법(DDRT-PCR)으로 발현이 증가 또는 감소된 유전자를 탐색하였다. 발현에 변화가 있는 cDNA를 추출하고 증폭하여 얻은 클론을 reverse Northern Blot방법을 이용하여 screening하였고, Northern Blot으로 확인하였다. sequencing을 실시한 후 NCBI database를 이용하여 blast search를 하였다. 발현이 감소한 유전자를 대상으로 다른 환자에서의 발현 양상을 확인하기 위하여 방사선치료를 받는 5명의 자궁경부암 환자를 대상으로 RT-PCR로 검사 하였다. 결과 : DDRT-PCR기법을 이용하여 방사선 조사군에서 발현이 증가 혹은 감소된 18개의 cDNA band를 발견하였다. reverse northern blot을 이용한 screening에서 발현이 증가된 10개의 클론과 감소된 1개의 클론을 확인하였다. 클로닝된 cDNA 조각들은 대부분 $400\~500\;bp$ 정도 되었으며, 그중 1개의 클론은 잘 알려져 있는 chemokine receptor CXCR4 유전자와 높은 상동성을 보였으며, 4개의 클론은 Human ESTs로 확인되었고 5개의 클론은 기능이 아직 확인되지 않은 알려져 있는 염기서열로 확인되었다. 방사선에 의하여 발현이 감소한 CxCa-11 클론이 모든 환자에서 방사선치료 전 시료에서 발현을 보였으나, 방사선치료 후 시료에서는 그 발현량이 감소하거나 발현이 안되었다. 결론 : DDRT-PCR을 이용하여 임상에서 자주 사용되는 방사선량을 환자의 자궁경부암에 조사했을 때 발현되는 유전자를 확인하였다. 이러한 유전자 발현의 확인은 방사선치료과정 중에 발생하는 일련의 기전들을 이해하는데 도움이 되리라 생각된다.