• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-116
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• 1998

Purpose In this study, We observed the recovery process in the ability to move in the hind limbs of the rats whose spinal cord injuries were treated by Radix acouniti(RA). The purpose of this study is to see the effects of Radix acouniti(RA) water extract on the contraction of rat's spinal cord injury. Procedure First, the rats were subjected to hemisectional spinal cord injuries by a scalpel blade. Those rats, then, were divided into three groups: Sham operated rats group and the experimental group, which received the Radix acouniti(RA) water extract, and the control group, which had no treatment. Their recovery in the ability to walk was observed by the Open Field Test (OFT) for 14 days after the injuries. Method The OFT was applied at four points: the hip, knee, ankle joint, and the tail. Each joint was given a movement rating of from 0 to 3, depending on the amount of movement. A movement rating of 0 designates no movement, a 1 designates slight movement, a 2 designates increased movement, and a 3 designates active movement. Slight movement is defined as a joint displaying less than or equal to 30% of that joint range, increased movement is displaying less than or equal to 60% of that joint's range, and active movement is greater than or equal to 90% of that joint's range. Tail movement is also graded on a scale of 0 to 3. A rating of 0 indicates that the tail is down 100% of the time, one of 1 indicates that the tail is down more than 10%, one of 2 shows that the tail is down less than 50% but more than 10% of the time, and one of 3 shows that the tail is down less than 10% of the time. All four ratings were added together and then averaged to arrive at a single score. Results The sham group which did not go through spinal cord injuries showed near normal results on all 3 joints and tail from right after the operation, which one would expect. The RA oral application group showed more effective recovery of movememt function than the control group around 4 days after the spinal cord injuries. However, after 14 days, both groups displayed almost the same degree of movement recovery. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. After 14days the spinal cord injuries, movement was recovered in sham operated group, control group, and experimented group in the hip, the knee, the tail and then the ankle of rats, in that order. 2. Around 7 days after the spinal cord injuries, the experimental group proved the effectiveness of the therapy in terms of movement recovery. 3. The level of ALT, ALP, AST in RA treated group was slightly increased. 4. The level of BUN and creatinine in RA treated group was slightly increased. The above results indicate that RA therapy at an early stage can bring about better movement recovery in patients with spinal cord injuries from traffic accidents or industrial disasters. But there is apparent side effect of RA on clinical, therefore the study on this should be continued.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2017

Background: To compare the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic capsular release in patients with and without inferior capsular release for shoulder stiffness. Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2015, 39 patients who underwent arthroscopic capsular release for shoulder stiffness were enrolled and randomized into two groups. In group I, 19 patients underwent arthroscopic capsular release of the rotator interval and anterior capsule. In group II, 20 patients underwent arthroscopic capsular release of the anterior to inferior capsule, including the rotator interval. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant scoring system, Simple Shoulder Test, visual analogue scale for pain, and range of motion (ROM) were used for evaluation before surgery, at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery and on the last follow-up. Results: Preoperative demographic data revealed no significant differences (p>0.05). The average follow-up was 16.07 months. Both groups showed significantly increased ROM at the last follow-up compared with preoperative (p<0.05). At the last follow-up, no statistical differences were found (p>0.05) between groups I and II in functional scores and ROM (forward flexion, p=0.91; side external rotation, p=0.17; abduction external rotation, p=0.72; internal rotation, p=0.61). But we found that group II gained more flexion compared to group I at 3 months and 6 months (p<0.05) after the surgery. Conclusions: Both techniques of capsular release are effective for stiffness shoulder. However, the extended inferior capsular release shows superiority in forward flexion over anterior capsular release alone during 6 months of follows-up (level of evidence: Level I, therapeutic randomized controlled trial).

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.109-115
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• 2019

Cervical dystonia (CD) is a disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent, involuntary muscle contractions which cause twisting, repetitive movements and abnormal postures. In this case report, a CD patients was treated with transfer energy capacitive and resistive (TECAR) therapy and conventional Korean medicine, which consists of acupuncture, Chuna manual medicine, pharmacopuncture and herbal medicine. For outcome measures, this study evaluated Cobb's angle, EuroQol five dimension scale (EQ-5D), numerical rating scale (NRS), neck disabillity index (NDI) and cervical range of motion. As a result, improvements were found in Cobb's angle ($18.65^{\circ}$ to $15.90^{\circ}$), EQ-5D score (0.808 to 0.862), NRS (5 to 3), NDI (16 to 8) and angle of cervical lateral bending ($15^{\circ}$ to $25^{\circ}$). In conclusion, this study shows that combined therapy of conventional Korean medicine treatment and TECAR therapy can be effective for CD patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2001

Background : It goes without saying that cumulative trauma disorders is spreading to various types of occupation in many advanced countries including America, and it forms considerable rate of total occupational disorders already. and as the result of it, the seriousness of worker health problem and economic loss owing to production loss, recuperation expense, etc. are on the increasing trend through whole society. In case of Korea, the related measures as well as accurate fact-finding survey data on cumulative trauma disorders aren't prepared in detail, so it implies forward problem would be serious. Purpose : The purpose of this study is to draw the risk factor of cumulative trauma disorders in production factory, to forecast the rate of occurrence of cumulative trauma disorders on the basis of subjective symptoms, and to present forward realistic and effective prevention measures by showing the risk of cumulative trauma disorders, objecting the production factory of a domestic riding automobile assembly shop, by estimating in the aspect of human-engineering through the analysis of risk factor being a cause of cumulative trauma disorders. Methods : For this study, I investigated work type and on-duty hours, breathing time, and subjective symptoms of cumulative trauma disorders through questionnaire, objecting the workers in press. car body, coating, and outfit factory. Results : As a result of research, 81.2% of workers were in the physical burden due to present working, and the highest prevalence by part of body is an waist. The higher a rule score, The higher the number of workers complaind for working intensity, and the higher age work duration, tool used time, the higher prevalence of subjective symptoms by part of body. The number of workers complaind subjective symptom for treatment is the highest in drugstore.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.74-85
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• 2007

Objective : In this study we wanted to confirm if proper stimulation and de-Qi of traditional Korean medical acupuncture could increase hot flash relief efficacy. Design : A randomized controlled, single blind study. We used two modalities of acupuncture, one with optimal stimulation [Study group; Korean medical acupuncture (TKMA)] and one with minimal stimulation [Control group; Minimal acupuncture (MA)]. Same acupoints [PC6(內關), HT8(少府), HT7(神門), LI4(合谷), ST36(足三里), SP6(三陰交), Ren4(關元)] were used in both groups. Fifty-two patients were treated twice a week for 8 weeks, and follow up was done after 4 weeks from the last treatment. Patients were checked hot flash VAS (visual analog scale), frequency and duration every time they visited. Results : Hot flash relief efficacy by 100mm hot flash VAS was obvious in both groups. Hot flash VAS scores of study group were smaller than the scores of control group at the early stage (3rd, $4^{th}$ and $8^{th}$ visit), but there wasn't a remarkable difference between study and control group at the end of the trial. Besides, diminution of hot flash VAS was faster and more even in the study group than control group by visualization using 'Box plot'. We compared frequency and duration of hot flash, 100mm sweating, palpitation, sleep disturbance VAS, and Kupperman Index, MENQOL, Patient's global assessment score. Both groups showed definite decrease from the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant. There wasn't any adverse event. Hot flash relief efficacy was kept in most patients after 4 weeks' follow-up. Conclusion : Acupoint combination by Traditional Korean medical theory is effective on hot flashes and hot flash relief efficacy was faster and more even in optimal stimulation than minimal stimulation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.31-45
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• 2017

Objectives : Adenophorae Radix(AR) is the dried root of Adenphora triphylla var. japonica HARA. AR has the efficacy of clarifying lung, emitting pus, expelling wind, stopping pruitus and so on. Recently, various studies are being done about anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of AR. So, we expected AR has an availability that can improve symptoms of atopic dermatitis(AD). Methods : In this study, we measured body weight, weight of ear, thickness of ear skin and dorsum skin, symptom score, reproduction rate of splenocytes in vivo and in vitro of mouse with AD induced by DNCB. We experimented with five groups of 9 mice, such as normal group, control group, AR spread(ARS) group, AR feeding(ARF) group, AR spread&feeding(ARSF) group. Results : Control group of body weight significantly reduced and APSF group significantly increased in the first and second week. In weight of ear and thickness of ear skin and dorsum skin, control group significantly increased and ARSF group significantly decreased. In macrophotography viewpoint of dorsal skin, ARS group, ARF group and ARSF group decreased severe pigmented skin lesion, erythema and desquamation as compared with control group. Especially ARSF group showed significant drop. ARS group, ARF group and ARSF group compared to control group were improved in histopathology observation. In vitro and in vivo, treatment group of AR increased proliferation rate of splenocytes, specially in vitro significantly. Conclusions : This experiment indicates Adenophorae Radix extracts is effective on AD induced by DNCB in mice.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.136-144
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the differences in factors related to the incidence of dental caries between children in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas and compared the DMFT and DMFS scores to confirm the effect of water fluoridation program (WFP) in Geoje and Changwon. Methods: The oral health examination and questionnaire survey were conducted in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. The number of surveyed children aged 8, 10, and 12 years in the fluoridated and non-fluoridated area of two cities was 1,524 and 1,383, respectively. Self-recorded questionnaires included self-perception of their own dental health, daily toothbrushing frequency, intake frequency of cariogenic sweet snacks and beverages, experience of gingival bleeding, experience of unmet dental treatment, and use of oral hygiene device except for toothbrush and toothpaste. The prevalence of caries and fissure-sealant status were surveyed. The logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the difference in children's self-rated oral health status between the fluoridated and non-fluoridated area. The mean number of sealed teeth and surfaces, marginal means of the DMFT and DMFS scores adjusted for the difference in the samples' sex distribution, and region were compared between the fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. Results: In the fluoridated area, the experience rate of unmet dental treatments was higher among children aged 10 years, intake frequency of cariogenic sweet snacks and beverages were higher among the whole sample, and experience rate of professional fluoride application were lower than in the non-fluoridated area. The DMFT score for permanent dentition adjusted for differences in sex, region, and mean number of fissure-sealed teeth in the fluoridated area was significantly lower among whole samples and 8-, 10-, and 12-year-olds alone than in the non-fluoridated area. Conclusions: WFP can alleviate oral health inequality because it is effective in reducing the incidence of caries among children is disadvantaged demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

Objectives: Bee venom (BV) is a widely used therapy in Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM). We previously reported that BV was clinically effective for treating Parkinson's disease, that phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) was the main component of BV, and that it induced regulatory T cells (Tregs) by binding CD206 on dendritic cells (DCs). Therefore, we aimed to reconfirm our findings in human blood samples and investigate the relationship between CD206⁺ DCs and clinical syndrome differentiation in TEAM. Methods: We surveyed 100 subjects with questionnaires on cold-heat patternization and obtained their blood samples. The obtained human peripheral blood monocytes (hPBMCs) were washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). After resuspension with ex vivo media, numbers of cells were counted. Tregs were counted after culturing the samples in a 37℃ CO₂ incubator for 72 h. Results: We divided the subjects into a relatively high CD206⁺ group or a relatively low CD206⁺ group. The heat factor scores of high CD206⁺ group were significantly higher than that of low CD206⁺ group (high vs low: 239.2 ± 54.1 vs 208.4 ± 55.1, p=0.023). After culturing with PLA₂, Tregs increased in the high CD206⁺ group but decreased in the low CD206⁺ group. Conclusion: In this study, we reconfirm that CD206⁺ DCs induced Treg differentiation by incubating human blood samples with PLA₂ and that they showed an association with syndrome differentiation, especially with heat patterns, in TEAM. A heat pattern in TEAM might be one indication for PLA₂ therapy because its score was elevated in the high CD206⁺ group.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.65-80
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• 2008

Objectives: To identify the relationship between the internet addition of elementary school students, and their health behavior and VDT syndrome, and thereby to detect the impact of internet addiction on the health behavior of elementary school students, to get the basic information necessary to develop a prevention program for internet addiction and to plan for VDT syndrome prevention program. Methods: We conducted this study during the period from jun 27, 2007 through July 8, 2007. The subjects of this study were 416 children whose grades were in 4th through 6th grades of elementary schools located in the city A in Kyung Pook Providence. Data were obtained from self-rating questionnaires. The questionnaires were composed of Korean Internet Addiction Self-examination on Internet Use Patterns (K-scale), Health Behavior Profile, VDT Syndrome, and general characteristics. We used t-test, AVOVA with Ducan method for Post-hoc comparison in means comparison between groups, $X^2$-test for frequency analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient. We used SPSS/PC(12.0 ver) program and the LISREL 8.53 Win program for covariance structural analysis. Results: Major results were as follows. 1. The internet addiction propensity distribution based on the distribution of scores were investigated according to the self diagnosis scale on internet addiction. 6.5% of them were high risk user group, 14.4% were potential risk users and 79.1% of them were common user groups. 2. Internet addictions by sex, internet use duration, frequency (days/week), time(hours/day), purpose, position, brightness of internet, attitude of parents and frequency of conversation of family members were statistically significant(p<0.01). 3. There was a statistically significant difference in VDT syndrome according to internet addiction groups(p<0.001) besides ocular symptoms, dry mouth and GI troubles. 4. The health behavior score was the lowest in high risk user group(p<0.001). There were significant differences between internet addiction groups in personal hygiene and habits of daily living(p<.002), the prevention of accidents(p<.002), the practice concerned with the prevention of infectious disease(p=.002), and mental health(p<.001). 5. There was also a significant negative correlation between internal addiction and health profile(r=-0.365, p<0.01) and a significant positive correlation between internal addiction and VDT syndrome(r=0.331, p<0.01). 6. As the result of structural model analysis, internet use time(/day), days of internet use(/1week), conversation frequency among family members, degree of brightness of internet use had significant direct effects on internet addiction. Conclusions: The results will help the development of an effective intervention program for the prevention and treatment of internal addiction by clarifying the effect of the internal addiction upon elementary school students' VDT syndrome and health behavior.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.333-345
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• 2024

Stem cells transplantation (SCT) is known as a newfound strategy for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) contain various regenerative features. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a laboratory model of MS. This meta-analysis study was conducted to assess the overall therapeutic effects of hUCMSCs on reduction of clinical score (CS) and restoration of active movement in EAE-induced animals. For comprehensive searching (in various English and Persian databases until May 1, 2024), the main keywords of "Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis", "Multiple Sclerosis", "Human", "Umbilical Cord", "Mesenchymal", and "Stem Cell" were hired. Collected data were transferred to the citation manager software (EndNote x8) and duplicate papers were merged. Primary and secondary screenings were applied (according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria) and eligible studies were prepared for data collection. CS of two phases of peak and recovery of EAE were extracted as the difference in means and various analyses including heterogeneity, publication bias, funnel plot, and sensitivity index were reported. Meta-analysis was applied by CMA software (v.2), P<0.05 was considered a significant level, and the confidence interval (CI) was determined 95% (95% CI). Six eligible high-quality (approved by ARRIVE checklist) papers were gathered. The difference in means of peak and recovery phases were -0.775 (-1.325 to -0.225; P=0.006; I²=90.417%) and -1.230 (-1.759 to -0.700; P<0.001; I²=93.402%), respectively. The overall therapeutic effects of SCT of hUCMSCs on the EAE cases was -1.011 (95% CI=-1.392 to -0.629; P=0.001). hUCMSCs transplantation through the intravenous route to the animal MS model (EAE) seems a considerably effective procedure for the alleviation of motor defects in both phases of peak and recovery.