• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2009

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, principally characterized by synovial inflammation of the joints. We previously reported the effect of acupuncture for RA, but the mechanism is still unclear. Various factors such as oxidative stress and angiogenesis were involved in the pathogenesis of RA, and recently, it has also been reported that cytokines also play a major role in RA. Thus, we investigated whether acupuncture could induce any changes in the levels of cytokines including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) as well as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) in the sera of RA patients. Methods: The forty three patients who met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for RA recruited. The acupuncture group (n=21) underwent 14 sessions of partially individualized acupuncture treatment for 6 weeks, and the control group had no treatment (n=13) over the same periods. We evaluated ESR, CRP and RF. In addition, to find out the mechanism of acupuncture, we assessed the changes of the cytokine activities using protein cytokine array in the sera of the patients. Results: Acupuncture significantly decreased the levels of ESR and CRP, but RF were not changed after 6-week acupuncture treatments. Moreover, acupuncture reduced the levels of VEGF, angiogenin and EGF in the sera of the patients. Interestingly, they were related with angiogenesis, which is an important process in the pathogenesis of RA. The levels of oncostatin, interleukin(IL)-$1{\alpha}$, IL-8, leptin, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage-derived chemokine, macrophage inflammatory proteins-1, platelet-derived growth factor BB and RANTES were not changed significantly. Conclusions: The effect of acupuncture for reliving RA symptoms can be partially explained by inhibition of angiogenesis factors in the sera of the RA patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between cytokine and chemokine levels and the clinical severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters were performed. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, interferon-${\gamma}$-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory $protein-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ were measured. The severity of patients' clinical course and radiologic findings were also assessed. Results: Seventy-two patients (35 males and 37 females) with a median age of 3.9 years (range, 1-16 years) were enrolled. Patients with lobar pneumonia (n=29) had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and IL-18 values than those with broncho-interstitial pneumonia (n=43). However, the cytokine and chemokine values did not differ between the group that was treated with corticosteroids (n=31) and the one that was not (n=41). The CRP, ESR, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-18, and IP-10 values showed positive correlations with fever duration prior to admission. The CRP and ESR values were positively correlated with IL-18, and LDH, with IP-10 levels. Conclusions: CRP, ESR, LDH, IL-18, and IP-10 values were associated with the severity of the disease, manifesting lobar pneumonia or prolonged fever duration prior to admission.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.834-840
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• 2022

Objective : C-reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell (WBC) count are inflammatory markers used to evaluate postoperative infections. Although these markers are non-specific, understanding their normal kinetics after surgery may be helpful in the early detection of postoperative infections. To compliment the recent trend of reducing the duration of antibiotic use, this retrospective study investigated the inflammatory markers of patients who had received antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery according to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service guidelines and compared them with those of patients who had received antibiotics for 5 days, which was proven to be non-infectious. Methods : We enrolled 74 patients, divided into two groups. Patients underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) at a single institution between 2019 and 2020. Group A included 37 patients who received antibiotics within 24 hours after the PLIF procedure, and group B comprised 37 patients who had used antibiotics for 5 days. A 1 : 1 nearest-neighbor propensity-matched analysis was used. The clinical variables included age, sex, medical history, body mass index, estimated blood loss, and operation time. Laboratory data included CRP, ESR, and WBC, which were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. Results : CRP dynamics tended to decrease after peaking on POD 3, with a similar trend in both groups. The average CRP level in group B was slightly higher than that in group A; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed operation time, number of fused levels, and estimated blood loss as significant predictors of a greater CRP peak value (r²=0.473, p<0.001) in patients. No trend (a tendency to decrease from the peak value) could be determined for ESR and WBC count on POD 7. Conclusion : Although slight differences were observed in numerical values and kinetics, sequential changes in inflammatory markers according to the duration of antibiotic administration showed similar patterns. Knowledge of CRP kinetics allows the assessment of the degree of difference between the clinical and expected values.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2023

Objectives: Suspending bisphosphonates (BPs) to reduce the risk and severity of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) remains controversial. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the clinical significance of BP suspension before surgery in osteoporosis patients with MRONJ. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 24 osteoporosis patients with MRONJ who were treated from 2012 to 2020 at Seoul National University Dental Hospital and compared the treatment outcomes of those who suspended BPs with those who did not. The number of surgical interventions, follow-up panoramic radiographs for relative bone density measurement, and laboratory blood tests including white blood cells, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, absolute neutrophil count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and alkaline phosphatase were analyzed. ANOVA, Student's t-test, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare results. Fisher's exact test was used to discover the association between treatment outcome and BP suspension, and Pearson's correlation test was used to measure the statistical relationship between the changes in serum inflammatory markers. Results: The number of interventions was significantly higher in the non-drug suspension group due to recurrence (P<0.05). The relative bone density in patients who suspended BPs was significantly different over time (P<0.05), with the highest density at one-year follow-up. Fisher's exact test shows an association between successful treatment outcomes and BP suspension. The alkaline phosphatase and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels decreased significantly in the BP-suspended group, and a positive correlation was found between these elevated markers. Conclusion: A significant increase in bone density throughout follow-up and a lower number of interventions were found in the BP suspension group compared to the non-drug suspension group. Also, BP suspension decreased inflammatory markers in the serum after surgery, resulting in good treatment outcomes. BP suspension is a prognostic factor for MRONJ and should be implemented before surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2011

Objective: Classical markers of infection cannot differentiate reliably between inflammation and infection after neurosurgery. This study investigated the dynamics of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in patients who had elective spine surgeries without complications. Methods: Participants were 103 patients (47 women, 56 men) who underwent elective spinal surgery. Clinical variables relevant to the study included age, sex, medical history, body mass index (BMI), site and type of surgery, and surgery duration. Clinical and laboratory data were body temperature, white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT, all measured preoperatively and postoperatively on days 1, 3, and 5. Results: PCT concentrations remained at <0.25 ng/mL during the postoperative course except in 2 patients. PCT concentrations did not correlate with age, sex, DM, hypertension, BMI, operation time, operation site, or use of instrumentation. In contrast, CRP concentrations were significantly higher with older age, male, DM, hypertension, longer operation time, cervical operation, and use of instrumentation. Conclusion: PCT may be useful in the diagnosing neurosurgical patients with postoperative fever of unknown origin.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.17-22
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• 2012

Background : Sulfasalazine for treating ulcerative colitis has a clinical limitation due to its adverse effects. This case is about a patient with ulcerative colitis who could not tolerate sulfasalazine and was improved by Do-che decoction-based Korean medicine. Method and Results : Purulent and bloody diarrhea more than 20 times a day, mild fever, chilling and tenesmus were main symptoms of this patient who was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis 10 years ago. Do-che decoction-based Korean medicine which was recommended for purulent and bloody diarrhea in Dong-Ui-Bo-Gam, the classic literature of Traditional Korean Medicine was given to the patient for more than 1 month. After treatment, the frequency of purulent and bloody diarrhea, tenesmus and fever was decreased remarkably, and C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count and maximum temperature also dropped to the normal range. Conclusion : Do-che decoction-based Korean medicine has a potential effect and may be a alternative therapeutic option in patients with ulcerative colitis who cannot tolerate sulfasalazine due to its adverse effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.203-206
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• 2003

Castleman's disease is an atypical lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown origin. It has three histologic variants(hyaline vascular, plasma-cell, and mixed) and two clinical types(localized and multicentric). Some sufferers have constitutional symptoms and laboratory abnormalities such as anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The localized form is cured by complete surgical excision whereas the multicentric form is managed by prednisone and other immunosuppressor drugs. The prognosis of the multicentric form is worse than the localized form since malignancies and severe infections may lead to a rapidly fatal outcome. Castleman's disease has been rarely reported at pediatric age in Korea. We experienced two cases of Castleman's disease detected at 3 and 5 years of age. They were presented with painless enlargement of submandibulars and axillary lymph nodes but had no associated symptoms. The lesions were excised and diagnosed as Castleman's disease, and no recurrence was noted during follow-up periods.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.181-189
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• 1999

$O_3$, one of the air pollutants, has been related increasing morbidity rates due to respiratory damages. To investigate the effect of Ikgieum(益氣飮) on rats induced by exposur of $O_3$, an experimental study was done the changes on white blood cell(WBC), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), $pCO_2$ and, $pO_2$ in Blood. The experimental groups are the Normal group, Control group and Sample group(administered Ikgieum to rats induced by exposur $O_3$). The results were as follows; 1. The change on WBC on rats induced by exposur of $O_3$ were made significant differences in Sample group compared with Cntrol group. 2. ESR were made is significant differences in Sample group compared with Control group. 3. $pCO_2$ and $pO_2$ were made significant differences in Sample group compared with control group.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.279-288
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• 2011

The Dexamethasone (DEX) loaded chitosan microspheres were prepared by thermal denaturation and chemical cross-linking method using a dierent concentration of glutaraldehyde as chemical cross-linking agent. The prepared microspheres were evaluated for the percentage of Drug Loading (DL), Encapsulation Efficiency (EE) and surface morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). DL and EE were found to be maximum range of 10.0 to 10.79 % and 58.19 to 64.73 % respectively. The SEM Photographs of the resultant microspheres exhibited fairly smooth surfaces and predominantly spherical in appearance. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) shown that there was no interaction between the drug and polymer. In vitro and in vivo release studies revealed that the release of dexamethasone was sustained and extended up to 63 days and effectively controlled by the extent of cross-linking agent. Non-clinical parameters such as paw volume, hematological parameters like Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Paced Cell Volume (PCV), Total Leucocytes Count (TLC), Hemoglobin (Hb), Differential Cell Count (DCC) were investigated in Fruend's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritic rats. Radiology and histopathological studies were also performed in order to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the DEX-loaded microspheres in extenuating the rat arthritic model.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.85-87
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• 2010

We experienced a rare case of solitary syphilitic osteomyelitis of the skull without any other clinical signs or symptoms of syphilis. A 20-year-old man was referred due to intermittent headache and mild tenderness at the right parietal area of the skull with a palpable coin-sized lesion of softened cortical bone. On radiological studies, the lesion was a radiolucent well enhanced mass (17 mm in diameter). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (52 mm/h) and C-reactive protein (2.24 mg/dL) were elevated on admission. Serum venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) tests were positive. There were no clinical signs or symptoms of syphilis. After treatment with benzathine penicillin, we removed the lesion and performed cranioplasty. The pathologic finding of the skull lesion was fibrous proliferation with lymphoplasmocytic infiltration forming an osteolytic lesion. In addition, a spirochete was identified using the Warthin-starry stain. The polymerase chain reaction study showed a positive band for Treponema pallidum. Solitary osteomyelitis of the skull can be the initial presenting pathological lesion of syphilis.