• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical significance of T1 high signal intensity on the globus pallidus as a predictor of severe hepatic encephalopathy in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which is a distinct syndrome characterized by multi-organ dysfunction including cerebral failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2002 to April 2014, we retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) features of 74 consecutive patients (44 men and 30 women; mean age, 59.5 years) with liver cirrhosis. The chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment score was used to diagnose ACLF. The pallidal index (PI), calculated by dividing the mean signal intensity of the globus pallidus by that of the subcortical frontal white matter were compared according to ACLF. The PI was compared with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in predicting the development of ACLF. Results: Fifteen patients who were diagnosed with ACLF had higher hepatic encephalopathy grades (initial, P = 0.024; follow-up, P = 0.002), MELD scores (P < 0.001), and PI (P = 0.048). In the ACLF group, the mean PI in patients with cerebral failure was significantly higher than that in the patients without cerebral failure (1.33 vs. 1.20, P = 0.039). In patients with ACLF, the area under the curve (AUC) for PI was 0.680 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.52-0.85), which was significantly lower than that for the MELD score (AUC, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77-0.99) (P = 0.04). Conclusion: The PI can be an ancillary biomarker for predicting the development of ACLF and severe hepatic encephalopathy.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2019

Heart rate is a relatively simple and non-invasive method that is used as an important physiological indicator in many studies and has a close relationship with heart structure and function, cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac death. In general, appropriately low heart rate during resting means effective heart function and cardiovascular fitness; heart rate at recovery is an important indicator of health and disease condition. We found a beagle dog (Dog_1) with a high heart rate in the previous preliminary experiment. Therefore, purpose of this study was to compare the heart rate response of the Dog_1 with the control group during 12 weeks of interval exercise, to evaluate the structural and functional abnormalities of the heart and to verify the applicability of exercise program. Heart rate was checked during 12 weeks of interval exercise, and after the exercise was over, imaging examination and hematological and serum biochemistry were performed. As a result, Dog_1 (165.6 ± 1.5) showed significantly higher heart rate in low intensity session of interval exercise than control group (133.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.01). In addition, Dog_1 (181.2 ± 1.4) showed significantly higher heart rate than control group (155.1 ± 0.9) in high intensity session (p < 0.01). The heart rate (30 sec, 60 sec) during recovery state was higher in Dog_1 (30 sec: 156.8 ± 4.0, 60 sec: 166.8 ± 5.8) than in the control group (30 sec: 111.2 ± 2.5, 60 sec: 104.0 ± 5.1, p < 0.01). The results of the imaging examination of Dog_1 with high heart rate confirmed that the heart had no functional and structural abnormalities. All beagles with the interval exercise program did not show maladjustment, and in the hematological and serum biochemistry results, all the parameter were within the reference range. If the interval exercise program of this study is used in the future, it is expected to be used as an important basic data to achieve the purpose of health, welfare, and physical fitness improvement of dogs.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.82-90
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• 2019

Purpose: To evaluate the results of hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFX) for early glottic cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-five patients with cT1-2N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis who had undergone HFX, performed using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT, n = 66) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT, n = 19) were analyzed. For all patients, radiotherapy was administered at 60.75 Gy in 27 fractions. Forty-three patients received a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) of 2.3-2.5 Gy per tumor fraction. Results: The median follow-up duration was 29.9 months (range, 5.5 to 76.5 months). All patients achieved complete remission at a median of 50 days after the end of radiotherapy (range, 14 to 206 days). The 5-year rates for locoregional recurrence-free survival was 88.1%, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 86.2%. T2 stage was a prognostic factor for locoregional recurrence-free survival after radiotherapy (p = 0.002). SIB for the tumor did not affect disease control and survival (p = 0.191 and p = 0.387, respectively). No patients experienced acute or chronic toxicities of ≥grade 3. IMRT significantly decreased the dose administered to the carotid artery as opposed to 3D CRT (V₃₅, p < 0.001; V₅₀, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients treated with HFX achieved acceptable locoregional disease control rates and overall survival rates compared with previous HFX studies. A fraction size of 2.25 Gy provided good disease control regardless of SIB administration.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2018

Background: This research was performed to investigate the effects of Pulsatilla Koreana NAKAI pharmacopuncture (PPA) therapy on intestinal disease in rats with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Methods: The subjects were divided into five groups : A control group, saline group, pharmacopuncture group PPA1 ($0.2mg/1kg/40{\mu}{\ell}$), pharmacopuncture group PPA2 ($0.5mg/1kg/40{\mu}{\ell}$), and pharmacopuncture group PPA 3($1mg/1kg/40{\mu}{\ell}$). The experimental model of colitis was induced by infection of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for eighteen days. After colitis was induced, PPA therapy was practiced on the Chunchu (ST25) once every two days for a total six times. Thereafter Disease Activity Index (DAI), colon length, damage to the colonic mucosa, body weight, IL-6, IL-10, $IL-1{\beta}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $TGF-{\beta}1$, IL-23 and IL-17 were measured. Results: The results were as follows. 1. DAI was significantly decreased in the PPA groups. 2. Colon length was significantly increased in the PPA groups. 3. Damage of colonic mucosa was observed less in the PPA groups. 4. Body weight was significantly increased in the saline group and the PPA groups. 5. The PPA2 group showed a significant decrease in the intensity of IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels and the mean of IL-23. 6. The PPA3 group showed a significant increase in the intensity of IL-10 and $TGF-{\beta}1$ levels. 7. No significant differences were shown in the mean of IL-17. Conclusion: These results suggest that PPA therapy on Chunchu (ST25) can be used as an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2022

Purpose: This study evaluated the systemic and local effects of doxycycline (DOX) and low-intensity laser (LIL) treatment as adjuvants to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of experimental periodontitis in rats. Methods: The sample consisted of 180 male rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar), of which 30 did not receive induction of periodontal disease (negative control [NC] group) and 150 received induction of periodontal disease in the lower first molar. After 7 days, the ligature was removed, and the animals were divided into the following groups: NT (no treatment), SRP (SRP), DOX (SRP and DOX irrigation), LIL (SRP and laser irradiation), and DOX+LIL (SRP, DOX, and LIL). The animals were euthanized at 7, 15, and 30 days; thereafter, biochemical, radiographic, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Results: In the intragroup analysis, lower concentrations of α-1-glycoprotein acid (α-1-Ga) and complement 3 (C3) were observed in the DOX+LIL group than in all other groups at all time points, as well as lower levels of complement 4 (C4) at 15 and 30 days (P<0.001). Less bone loss was observed in the DOX, LIL, and DOX+LIL groups than in the NC and SRP groups at all time points (P<0.001). There was a smaller number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells in the DOX+LIL group than in the other groups at all time points (P<0.001). Positive correlations were observed between the systemic levels of α-1-Ga, C3, and C4 and the number of TRAP-positive cells. Conclusions: The combination of DOX with LIL as SRP adjuvants was effective both systemically and locally for the treatment of experimental periodontitis in rats.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.193-200
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• 2023

Purpose: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, idiopathic bowel disorder that can progress to partial or complete bowel obstruction. At present, there are no reliable diagnostic tests that can readily distinguish between acute inflammatory, purely fibrotic and mixed inflammatory and fibrotic. Our aim is to study the utility of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in combination with shear wave elastography (SWE) to differentiate fibrotic from inflammatory strictures in children with obstructive CD of the terminal ileum. Methods: Twenty-five (19 male) children between 2016-2021 with CD of the terminal ileum were recruited into the study. Among these patients, 22 had CEUS kinetic measurements of tissue perfusion, including wash-in slope (dB/sec), peak intensity (dB), time to peak intensity (sec), area under the curve (AUC) (dB sec), and SWE. In total, 11 patients required surgery due to bowel obstruction. Histopathologic analysis was performed by a pathologist who was blinded to the CEUS and SWE test results. Results: Patients that underwent surgical resection had significantly higher mean area under the curve on CEUS compared to patients responsive to medical therapy (p=0.03). The AUC also correlated with the degree of hypertrophy and the percent fibrosis of the muscularis propria, as determined by histopathologic grading (p<0.01). There was no difference in the mean elastography measurements between these two patient groups. Conclusion: CEUS is a useful radiological technique that can help identify pediatric patients with medically refractory obstructive fibrotic strictures of the terminal ileum that should be considered for early surgical resection.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.342-352
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• 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of physical activity practice rates and knowledge related to cardiocerebrovascular disease prevention on the health behavior of middle aged women. Data were collected from Oct to Nov 2017 from 142 middle-aged women living in 24 Eup, Myeon, and Dong areas in North Gyeongsangbuk-do Province using a structured questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The major factors influencing health behavior were found to be alcohol consumption (${\beta}=0.15$, p=0.009), diet (${\beta}=0.16$, p=0.003), vigorous intensity (${\beta}=0.14$, p=0.011), marriage (${\beta}=0.19$, p<0.001), interest in one's own health (${\beta}=0.23$, p<0.001), and health recognition (ill: ${\beta}=0.31$, p<0.001). Alcohol consumption and diet were factors of cardiocerebrovascular knowledge, vigorous intensity was a factor of physical activity practice rate, marriage and interest in one's own health were factors of general characteristics, and health recognition was a factor in health-related characteristics. Health-promotion activity was positively correlated with knowledge regarding cardiocerebrovascular disease prevention (r=0.41, p<0.001) and physical activity practice rate (r=0.44, p<0.001). It will be necessary to develop and apply practical intervention programs based on disease prevention knowledge and physical activity to enhance the health behavior of middle aged women.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2002

Purpose : The differential diagnosis between Modic type I degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis sometimes is difficult, because the affected bone marrows in both disease show similar signal intensity on conventional MR imaging. We evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-wighted MR imaging for differential diagnosis between Modic type I degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis. Materials and methods : The spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MR images of eight patients with Modic type I degenerative spines and 14 patients with infectious spondylitis diagnosed by clinical findings or CT-guided biopsies we re analyzed. The diffusion-weighted imaging sequence was based on reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (PSIF). Signal intensity changes of the vertebral bone marrow on conventional spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MR imaging were compared between degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis. Results : On T1-weighte d images, the affeted bone marrow in both disease showed hypointense signals. On T 2-weighted images, all of type I degenerative spine and 11 of infectious spondylitis showed hyperintensity, and three of infectious spondylitis showed heterogeneo us mixed signal intensity. On diffusion-weighted MR images, all of type I degenerative spine were hypointense with peripheral high signal intensity to normal vertebral body, but infectious spondylitis was hyperintense (n = 11) and hypointense (n=3). Conclusion : Diffusion-weighted MR imaging is useful to differentiate Modic type I degenerative spine from infectious spondylitis. On diffusion-weighted images, the high singal intensity of bone marrow suggests infectious spondylitis, whereas the low signal intensity of bone marrow with peripheral focal high signal intensity suggests type I degenerative spine.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2017

Citrus canker is an important bacterial disease of citrus in several regions of the world. Strains of Xanthomonas citri type-A (Xc-A) group are the primary pathogen where citrus canker occurs. After Xc-A entered the Northeast of Argentina in 1974, the disease spread rapidly from 1977 to 1980 and then slowed down and remained moving at slow pace until 1990 when it became endemic. Citrus canker was detected in Northwest Argentina in 2002. This paper presents the main steps in the fight of the disease and the management strategies that have been used to control citrus canker at this time. We think the process might be usefull to other countries with the same situation. Results from more than 40 years of research in Northeast (NE) Argentina indicate that we are at the limit of favorable environment for the disease. The severity of citrus canker is greatly affected by the environment and El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon which causes cyclic fluctuations on the disease intensity in the NE region. Weather-based logistic regression models adjusted to quantify disease levels in field conditions showed that the environmental effect was strongly modulated by the distance from a windbreak. Production of healthy fruits in citrus canker endemic areas is possible knowing the dynamics of the disease. A voluntary Integrated Plan to Reduce the Risk of Canker has been in place since 1994 and it allows growers to export unsymptomatic, uninfested fresh fruit to countries which are free of the disease and require healthy, pathogen free fruits. The experience from Argentina can be replicated in other countries after appropriate trials.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review laser acupuncture studies to find possibility for applying high intensity laser to acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. Methods : Searching papers was performed using search engines of five electronic databases, including Pubmed, Thomson ISI, EMBASE, Sciencedirect, and EBSCO, from inception to May 2011 without language limitation. Inclusion criteria were clinical studies with human, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case-control studies, and case reports. Selecting papers was performed with titles and abstracts in first step, scrutinize full text in second step, and then the extrated data was analyzed by two authors independently. The methodological quality for RCTs was evaluated using Jadad's scale. Results : Total 8 papers, (3 RCTs, 5 controlld studies, and 1 case reports), were finally selected. The study dealt with surgical laser, argon and $CO_2$ laser was one for each, with GaAs laser was two, and with new semiconductor laser, GaN, were four. The output range was from 110 mW to 15 W. The study diseases were alcohol addiction, knee osteoarthritis, bronchopneumonia and asthma for children, and circulation. All studies reported positive effect. The methodological quality in all RCTs was low because of below 3 points and all studies had few subject numbers. Conclusions : We suggest that high intensity laser can be applied to acupuncture and moxibustion. Further rigorous and well-designed study will be needed for various disease. The oriental medical society needs to take active measures to study and clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment with high intensity laser.