• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2004

Objective : This study is designed in order to evaluate the therapeutic effect of venesection on acute low back pain. Methods : From Nov. 1st 2003 to Apr. 30th 2004, 40 cases of low back pain patients at acute stage were divided into 2 groups; one group(control group) took only acupuncture therapy, and the other group(test group) took acupuncture and venesection therapy. Pain rating score(PRS) was used to assess the pain for its intensity, frequency, duration, and aggravating factors. And visual analog scale(VAS) was used, too. PRS and VAS was checked twice, before the treatment and after the treatment. Treatment was done twice a day. Results : Both acupuncture therapy and acupuncture with venesection therapy showed good effect on low back pain of acute stage. And the latter group showed better effect on decreasing pain than former. It was proved by the difference between PRS and VAS checked before treatment and what checked after treatment. But it was not proved statistically. Conclusion : Only acupuncture and acupuncture with venesection can be recommended as a useful therapy to treat low back pain of acute stage.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.198-210
• /
• 1997

To examine the double-faced thymoleptic(antidepressant and antimanic) effects of risperidone in mood disorders, this article reviews the psychotropic-induced mania, thymoleptic effects of antipsychotics, therapeutic effects of risperidone and risperidone(RIS)-induced mania(RIM) in mood disorders, risk factors of RIM, possible neurochemical mechanism of these thymoleptic effects, pathophysiological and clinical significance of thymoleptic effects, and suggestive clinical guideline of RIS in mood disorders. RIS appeared effective for bipolar disorder at a lower dose than that recommended for schizophrenia, especially in the cases of maintenance of mood stabilizers, and gradual titration from low doses. Manic induction/exacerbation can occur by chance during RIS treatment in mood disorders, schizoaffective disorders, and schizophrenias. The possible risk factors for RIM are refractory mood disorder, especially in bipolar I disorder with poor initial response ; refractory schizoaffective disorders, especially in bipolar type with poor initial response ; refractory chronic schizophrenias, especially with initial responses ; psychotic features ; higher initial doses ; rapid titration ; combined therapy with antidepressants in refractory depression ; and RIS monotherapy in mania/hypomania. RIS is a drug that preferentially block 5-HT2 receptors. The effects of low dose are due mainly to the blockade of 5-HT2 receptors. There are more gradual increase in D2 blockade with increasing dose and this D2 blocking properties become apparent at higher doses. This may be related to a modulation of dopaminergic transmission by 5-HT2 antagonism at lower doses with the direct action of RIS on DA receptors coming into play at higher dose. The serotonergic antagonistic effect may be important for its effects on depressive symptoms. This, together with adequate blo-ckade of D2 receptors, may not necessarily lead to destabilization of mood disorder, but rather to more therapeutic effects. Therefore, this dose-receptor affinity relationship with both antidepressant and antimanic effects according to treatment duration can explain a continuum of antidepressant effect, antimanic effect, behavioral stimulation, and manic/hypomanic induction/exacerbation. It was the recognition of a useful psychiatric side effects by a thoughtful observer with fertile minds that led to their ultimate utilization as psychotropic drugs, i.e., phenothiazine, MAOI, TCA, and lithium. And, in vivo pharmacological challenge by novel psychotropics, as a neurochemical probe, with more specific actions is a useful tool to select pharmacologically homogeneous subgroup of the same phenotypical(clinical) condition, to further study the unknown underlying pathogenesis of various mental illnesses. Finally, RIS may be a useful alternative or adjunctive drug for patients with mood disorders without psychotic features or refractory to treatment with standard antipsychotic drugs. The more conservative doses(tirated slowly from 1-3 mg/d) of RIS, and maintenance of mood stabilizer in the cases with risk factors of RIM are recommended in mood disorder.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 1989

Investigations were carried out into the time-and dose-related changes in acute skin reaction following graded single dose (20,30 and 40 Gy) of x-ray irradiation in Wistar rats, in order to evaluate the radioprotective effect of Diethon on skin. For the duration of skin response over 1. 5 score in dose of 40 Gy, the Diethone group of 24.7 days was significantly different (p<0.02) from that of control (29.8 days) and vaseline (29.2 days) groups, it was $17.1\%$ diminution of skin response period compared with that of control group. By the averaging daily scores for 10 days during peak skin reaction the mean scores were obtained. Mean score of Diethone group $(2.43\pm0.22)$ was significantly different (p<0.01) from that of control $(2.91\pm0.23)$ and vaseline $(2.81\pm0.18)$ groups of 40Gy dose. By iso-effect dose obtained at level of 2.5 score the dose reduction factor (DRF) was 1.41 which reduced radiation dose of $41\%$ by radioprotective effect of Diethone. From this experimental data, it may be possible to give higer radiation dose to large and/or radioresistant tumor mass rather than conventional treatment doses for improving therapeutic ratio by using topical application of skin radioprotector.

• Medical Lasers
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.28-31
• /
• 2019

Superficial fungal infections with dermatophytes, nondermatophyte molds, or yeasts are treated primarily with topical and/or systemic antifungal agents. Additional or alternative treatment modalities, particularly energy-delivering modalities, however, are used widely to induce fungicidal effects via selective photothermal reactions. In addition to light- or laser-based devices, plasma therapy also has antifungal properties. This report describes a Korean male patient with mycologically confirmed tinea pedis that was treated effectively with two sessions of nitrogen plasma treatment at one-week intervals using a plasma delivering system. Nitrogen plasma was prepared by loading a 0.28-ml inert nitrogen gas/pulse that was activated by a microwave generator. The other treatment settings were a nozzle diameter of 5 mm, pulse energy of 0.75 J, pulse duration of 7 msec, and two passes. One week after the first session of nitrogen plasma treatment, the patient exhibited marked reductions in scale and inflammation. One month after the final treatment, no clinical features of recurrence were found, and successive potassium hydroxide testing revealed negative results.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.483-491
• /
• 2019

Cordycepin exerts neuroprotective effects against excitotoxic neuronal death. However, its direct electrophysiological evidence in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying the protective effect of cordycepin against the excitotoxic neuronal insult in AD using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. ${\beta}$-Amyloid ($A{\beta}$) and ibotenic acid (IBO)-induced injury model in cultured hippocampal neurons was used for the purpose. The results revealed that cordycepin significantly delayed $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization. It increased the onset time/latency, extended the duration, and reduced the slope in both slow and rapid depolarization. Additionally, cordycepin reversed the neuronal hyperactivity in $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced evoked action potential (AP) firing, including increase in repetitive firing frequency, shortening of evoked AP latency, decrease in the amplitude of fast afterhyperpolarization, and increase in membrane depolarization. Further, the suppressive effect of cordycepin against $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization and neuronal hyperactivity was blocked by DPCPX (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an adenosine $A_1$ receptor-specific blocker). Collectively, these results revealed the suppressive effect of cordycepin against the $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excitotoxic neuronal insult by attenuating excessive neuronal activity and membrane depolarization, and the mechanism through the activation of $A_1R$ is strongly recommended, thus highlighting the therapeutic potential of cordycepin in AD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.295-302
• /
• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term lumbar stabilization exercise to patients suffering from chronic low back pain(CLBP) on the strength of their lumbar flexor and extensor and the postural balance of them and to suggest effective treatment duration for them. METHODS: Study subjects were 20 patients with CLBP who's been reported the pain for more than 12 weeks. For these subjects, muscle strength of both extensor and flexor of lumbar and the balancing ability were measured before and after the intervention. Lumbar stabilization exercise was composed of matt, ball and sling exercise. The intervention was applied for total 12 sessions for 4 weeks (3 times a week) and each session was for 40 minutes. RESULT: For muscle strength of both extensor and flexor of lumbar, there was significant differences after the application of lumbar stabilization exercise(p<.05). For balancing ability, stabilization shows significant differences in all of the positions except PC(eyes closed on pillows)(p<.05). Distribution of weight shows no significant differences but it was generally distributed within normal range after the exercise and Fall index shows significant differences between before and after the exercise(p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results could have positive effect on deciding different periods of therapeutic intervention.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.15 no.9
• /
• pp.435-441
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of recreational therapy as part of Social Adult Day Care Program administered in the state of New York for the Korean American elderly living in the United States. The study was conducted in a nonequivalent control group posttest-only design from February to April, 2017. The participants included 35 subjects in the experimental group and 35 subjects in the control group; among the sample, 66 participants' data were analyzed. The average age of subjects who participated in this study was 79.4 years, and the average duration of residence in the United States was 24.6 years. Based on the study results, the recreational therapy program provided by the day care center was found to have a positive effect on the participant's daily life performances, depression and loneliness. Therefore, a variety of cultural sensitive recreational therapy program for the elderly population should be developed and operated in the future; furthermore, evidence-based research should be conducted to evaluate the effects of these programs.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.111-122
• /
• 2006

Objectives : Therapeutic effect of Balance Appliance of functional crebrospinal technique (FCST for meridian and neurologic yinyang balance was observed in two refractory torticollis cases. Methods : A unidentified severe torticollis two cases with several months of duration was managed by the Balance Appliance on temporomandibular joint (TMJ), combined with acupuncture and manual medicine. Results : Assessment was made by self assessment of subjective symptoms and clinical observation. The patient reported over-90% remission and returned to ordinary daily life after $3{\sim}5$ months of therapy, which effect was reported to maintain for 6 months. Conclusions : An impressive effect was observed and further clinical and biological research on FCST is expected.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.44-50
• /
• 2010

Purpose: To estimate the viral suppressive effect of entecavir monotherapy in Korean children and adolescents with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: One milligram of entecavir was administered once daily to 6 patients (4 boys; mean age, 17.5 years; range, 15.10~24.6 years) with lamivudine-resistant CHB for a mean duration of therapy of 13.4 months (range, 1~21.1 months). The therapeutic results were compared with 11 patients who received adefovir (0.3 mg/kg/day [maximal dose 10 mg]) for at least 12 months (mean, 33.4 months; range, 12.4~58.3 months). The serum HBV DNA level and serologic markers were measured every 2 months. Results: The interval to a HBV DNA titer decrement (>1 $log_{10}$) was 1.2${\pm}$0.2 and 4.4${\pm}$5.2 months (p=0.185) for the entecavir and adefovir groups, respectively. The interval to a HBV DNA titer decrement (>2 $log_{10}$) was 2.4${\pm}$2.3 and 9.2${\pm}$7.3 months (p=0.025), for the entecavir and adefovir groups, respectively. Conclusion: The therapeutic efficacy of entecavir was favorable in children and adolescents, especially in shortening the interval to a >2 $log_{10}$ decrement in the HBV DNA titer. Long-term follow up is needed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of entecavir for lamivudine-resistant CHB in children and adolescents.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.117-122
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study was to establish an in vitro culture system for ovarian preantral follicles of B6D2F1. First, we optimized the in vitro preantral-follicle culture by culture duration, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) type, and activin A concentration. Duration of in vitro culture for 9, 11, and 13 days was sufficient for the normal development of preantral follicles to antral follicles. Formation of cumulus cell-oocyte complex (COC) was induced by treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 2.5 IU/mL) and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 5 ng/mL). In addition, metaphase II (MII) oocytes formed during this in vitro culture of preantral follicles. In vitro preantralfollicle culture for 9 days showed higher rates of growth and maturation, thus yielding a greater number of antral follicles, and there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the number of MII oocytes (that formed from these preantral follicles via differentiation) between the 9-day culture and 11-day or 13-day culture. The follicles cultured for 9 days contained a tightly packed well-defined COC, whereas in follicles cultured for 11 days, the COC was not well defined (spreading was observed in the culture dish); the follicles cultured for 13 days disintegrated and released the oocyte. Second, we compared the growth of the preantral follicles in vitro in the presence of various FSH types. There were no significant differences in the growth and maturation rates and in differentiation into MII oocytes during in vitro culture between preantral follicles supplemented with FSH from Merck and those supplemented with FSH from Sigma. To increase the efficiency of MII oocyte formation, the preantral follicles were cultured at different activin A concentrations (0 to 200 ng/mL). The control follicles, which were not treated with activin A, showed the highest rate of differentiation into antral follicles and into MII oocytes among all the groups (0 to 200 ng/mL). Therefore, activin A (50 to 200 ng/mL) had a negative effect on oocyte maturation. Thus, in this study, we propose an in vitro system of preantral-follicle culture that can serve as a therapeutic strategy for fertility preservation of human oocytes for assisted reproductive medicine, for conservation of endangered species, and for creation of superior breeds.