• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 2024

Background: As the population is aging and indications are expanding, shoulder arthroplasty is becoming more frequent, especially bilateral staged replacement. However, surgeons are hesitant to use bilateral reverse prostheses due to potential limitations on activities of daily living. Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted to compare bilateral anatomic to bilateral reverse shoulder implants. PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20) were searched until April 2023. The clinical outcomes consisted of postoperative functional scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation [SANE], Physical Component Score [PCS], Mental Component Score, and Simple Shoulder Test), pain, and range of motion (external rotation and forward elevation). Three studies were included in this meta-analysis. Results: Bilateral anatomic implants had better postoperative functional outcomes and range of motion, but no significant difference was seen in postoperative pain when compared to the reverse prosthesis. Better ASES score, SANE score, and PCS as well as better external rotation and forward elevation were seen in the bilateral anatomic shoulder replacement group, but no significant difference in pain levels was seen between the two groups Conclusions: The results may be explained by the lower baseline seen in the reverse prosthesis group, which may be due to an older population and different indications. Nevertheless, more randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings. Level of evidence: III.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2024

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has been a remarkable advancement. However, the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of these vaccines in individuals with liver cirrhosis require careful evaluation due to their compromised immune status and potential interactions with underlying liver disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in liver cirrhosis patients. In the present study, we searched international databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. The search strategy was carried out by using keywords and MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms. STATA ver. 15.0 (Stata Corp., USA) was used to analyze the data statistically. The analysis was performed using the randomeffects model. We also used the chi-square test and I² index to calculate heterogeneity among studies. For evaluating publication bias, Begg's funnel plots and Egger's tests were used. A total of 4,831 liver cirrhosis patients with COVID-19 were examined from 11 studies. The rate of hospitalization in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 17.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9%-44%). The rate of fever in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 4.5% (95% CI, 0.9%-8.1%). The rate of positive neutralizing antibodies in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 82.5% (95% CI, 69.8%-95.1%). Also, the rates of seroconversion after the second vaccination in patients with liver cirrhosis and the control group were 96.6% (95% CI, 92.0%-99.0%), and 99.7% (95% CI, 99.0%-100.0%), respectively. COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated promising efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety profiles in individuals with liver cirrhosis, providing crucial protection against COVID-19-related complications.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.168-178
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• 2024

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the postoperative outcomes and complications of labral repair with those of labral reconstruction. An electronic search strategy was conducted from 1986 until August 2023 using the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20). The primary objectives included the postoperative clinical outcomes determined by the number of patients who reached minimal clinical important difference (MCID) on the visual analog scale (VAS), modified Harris hip score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Subscale (HOS-SS), Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Life (HOS-ADL), and International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12). In addition, analysis of the rate of revision arthroscopy, the rate of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA), the postoperative VAS, mHHS, HOS-SS, HOS-ADL, iHOT-12, nonarthritic hip score (NAHS), patient satisfaction, lower extremity function scale (LEFS), and the SF-12 (12-item shortform) was also performed. Any differences arising between the investigators were resolved by discussion. Seventeen studies were relevant to the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. A higher rate of patients who reached MCID in the mHHS (P=0.02) as well as a higher rate of revision arthroscopy was observed for labral repair (P=0.03). The remaining studied outcomes were comparable. Despite the greater predictability of success in the reconstruction group, conduct of additional studies will be required for evaluation of the benefits of such findings. In addition, labral reconstruction is more technically demanding than a labral repair.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.91-103
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• 2024

Stroke is one of the most common disabilities experienced by the elderly in the community. However, stroke progresses to a chronic level, patients are discharged from medical institutions and eventually no longer receive therapeutic interventions at home. In this systematic review, we compared home-based rehabilitation (HBR) with comparison for patients with stroke. Literature published in Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), PubMed, and Google Scholar were reviewed. A total of 1,158 studies were initially retrieved. After reading the full texts, 11 articles were included in the systematic review. Quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0, and Egger's regression test was used to evaluate publication bias. Data analysis was performed using the R studio software (R Studio). According to the quality assessment using RoB 2.0, three studies were evaluated as low risk, two as of some concern, and three as high risk. The overall effect size was moderate (0.309). The value of the balance function was a small effect size (0.201), while the value of the gait function was a moderate effect size (0.353). The values were small and moderate effect (0.154, 0.411) for the chronic and subacute conditions, respectively. According to the Egger's regression test, no publication bias was observed. The findings of this study indicate that HBR resulted in the greatest improvement in gait function in patients with subacute stroke compared to those with chronic stroke. Therefore, the application of this intervention to patients with stroke in the community is recommended.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.201-212
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• 2024

Purpose : In this study, we aimed to explore the concept of chakra in Tibetan medicine, elucidate its unique characteristics, and assess the differences between the Tibetan and Indian chakra systems to enhance the understanding of the Tibetan chakra system. Methods : Here, relevant on Tibetan medicine and chakra system were collected from Google Scholar and Korean Academic Information Databases and meticulously analyzed. Moreover, number of main chakras, characteristics of the five elements, and principles of each chakra system were evaluated. Results : Development and precise location of chakras are extensively detailed in Tibetan medicine, indicating an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the chakra system. The Indian chakra system consists of seven chakras, whereas the Tibetan chakra system is composed of five chakras. Tibetan medicine focuses on three distinct energy elements, Lung, Tripa, and Beken, corresponding to the lower, middle, and upper sections of the body, respectively, with each exhibiting different arrangements and functions for each chakra in the Tibetan chakra system compared to those in the Indian chakra system. Furthermore, Tibetan medicine adheres to Buddhist principles, which attribute diseases to mental causes, thus exhibiting therapeutic potential for psychosomatic illnesses. Conclusion : Owing to the distinct and significant differences between the two chakra systems, the five chakras of the Tibetan system are challenging to conceptualize using the Indian framework of seven chakras. Hence, comprehensive understanding of the Tibetan culture and medicine is necessary to elucidate the Tibetan chakra system. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence for the existence of chakra and highlights the attributes of two key chakra systems, thereby providing valuable insights for energy medicine based on the intricate energy pathways of the body.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.31-54
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• 2024

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the current status of Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) in Canada, and derive its implications for Korean Medicine (KM). Methods : In order to understand the current status of CAM in Canada, a literature survey was conducted using academic databases such as PubMed, OASIS, RISS, and Google Scholar, and CAM regulations were identified through each state's legal website. Official documents provided on the Canadian government were referenced, and publications and official information were searched on the websites of related organizations. Results : In Canada, accredited CAM therapies include acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, natural therapy, massage therapy, homeopathy, and chiropractic. Regulations on these therapies vary from state to state in Canada, but all have laws, and education, licenses, organizations, and insurance systems are also regulated. In particular, the education and licensing system for natural therapy and chiropractic are relatively strict, and as a result, therapists can use the name of a doctor. The authority of CAM therapists is based on education. Conclusions : CAM therapies authorized in Canada have systematic regulation, and therapists have also been legally granted expertise. It may be surmised that the accumulation of policy and clinical evidence is important as one of the ways to maintain the expertise of KM.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.242-252
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the influence of psychological factors such as highly sensitive person, intolerance of uncertainty, depression, and self-esteem on nurses' perceptions of gaslighting damage. Methods: The participants were 178 nurses working in hospitals nationwide. Data were collected through a non-face-to-face approach using an online survey platform (Google Forms) with self-reported questionnaires. Perceptions of gaslighting damage were measured using the victim gaslighting questionnaire (VGQ). The collected data were analyzed with statistical methods such as independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS 25.0. Results: Of the participants, 94.4% were female. The participants' average age was 32.7 years old, 60.2% were unmarried, and 86.0% were staff nurses. The mean score of the VGQ was 40.49. There were statistically significant differences in the VGQ according to marital status, participants' time in their current department, total clinical career, and type of medical institution. The perception of gaslighting damage was statistically significantly positively correlated with intolerance of uncertainty, highly sensitive person, depression, and self-esteem. The most influential factor on nurses' perception of gaslighting damage was intolerance of uncertainty (β=.32, p<.001), followed by depression (β=.30, p<.001) and highly sensitive person (β=.23, p=.001). The total explanation of these variables for the perception of gaslighting damage by nurses was about 75.0%. Conclusion: This study suggests that it is necessary to develop an intervention program to reduce negative psychological factors affecting gaslighting in nurses and to cultivate nurses' strength to overcome gaslighting damage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder among reproductive-age women. As a leading cause of anovulatory infertility, it complicates fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization. The widely accepted 2003 Rotterdam diagnostic criteria for PCOS include sub-phenotypes based on variations in androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology. In this systematic review, we examined the impacts of inositol and vitamin D on fertility in PCOS. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, we used relevant keywords to comprehensively search databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and MDPI. From an initial pool of 345 articles, 10 met the inclusion criteria. The articles suggest that vitamin D and inositol, particularly myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol, may represent therapeutic options for PCOS. Vitamin D influences ovarian follicular development, glucose regulation, and insulin sensitivity. When combined with metformin therapy, it is associated with improved menstrual regularity and ovulation. Inositol is crucial for cellular signaling, energy metabolism, glucose regulation, and fertility. This systematic review underscores the importance of investigating inositol and vitamin D within a PCOS management strategy, given the disorder's prevalence and impacts on fertility and metabolic health. Although these agents show promise, additional research could clarify their mechanisms of action and therapeutic benefits. This review emphasizes the need for exploration of effective treatments to improve the quality of life among individuals with PCOS. Inositol and vitamin D represent potential options, but more studies are required to elucidate their roles in the management of this condition.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.399-412
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• 2024

This study aimed to analyze consumers' behaviors and reactions to the use-by date labeling system and provide policy implications for its efficient implementation, by utilizing 213 consumers data conducted via an Internet survey using the Google online form. We refer "pure consumption date" as the period that have passed sell-by date yet have not passed use-by date. Consumers' willingness to accept (WTA) for pure consumption date food was surveyed, which means the discount ratio of pure consumption date food compared to the original price by sell-by date. Setting the expected effects of use-by date labeling system as five: food waste reduction (waste), food purchasing cost reduction (cost), and international standardization (standard), etc., Tobit regression result showed waste had the greatest (negative) impact on consumer's WTA, while cost and standard had positive impact on consumer's WTA. The logistic regression result revealed that consumers trying to reduce grocery costs have higher probability to purchase use-by date labeling food, and further expect higher WTA. Also consumers valuing the importance of environmental protection or food quality are more likely to purchase use-by date food. Conversely consumers valuing food safety importance tend to have negative impact on purchasing use-by date food, hence expect higher WTA. It is noteworthy that consumers valuing the importance of promoting the use-by date labeling system have significantly higher probability of purchasing use-by date food. Additionally, consumers' WTA averaged 54.3%, implying that consumers are willing to purchase use-by date food when it is discounted more than 54.3% from the original price, where women expect higher WTA, the aged over 60 expect higher WTA, furthermore single-parent households expect 21.3% higher than the average WTA. However, old-aged, unmarried women, higher educated and higher income groups were negative in purchasing use-by date food. These results suggest that customized sales policy and effective promotion strategies reflecting socio-demographic characteristics of consumers would be necessary to achieve effective implementation of the newly introduced system.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.201-213
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• 2024

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to test our hypothesis that herbal tea may improve anthropometric parameters, metabolic factors, and hormone levels in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). A literature search was conducted on Information Sciences Institute, Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, up to March 2023 without applying language or date restrictions. RCTs that assigned herbal tea vs. placebo on PCOS women and evaluated changes in anthropometric measurements, metabolic indices, or hormonal profiles were included. Six RCTs with 235 PCOS women (119 in the intervention and 116 in the control group) were included. Meta-analysis showed that herbal tea consumption led to significant decreases in weight (weighted mean difference [WMD], -2.02 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.25, -0.80), body mass index (BMI) (WMD, -0.88 kg/m²; 95% CI, -1.47, -0.28) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) (WMD, -6.47 mg/dL; 95% CI, -8.49, -4.45), compared to the control group. Herbal tea supplementation has also significantly increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration (WMD, 0.56 IU/L; 95% CI, 0.17, 0.95). Meanwhile, the effect of herbal tea on the waist/hip ratio, hip circumference, waist circumference, body fat, fasting insulin, FBG/insulin ratio, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was not significant. Herbal tea might be a potential supplemental therapy to manage weight, BMI, FBG, and FSH in PCOS women. Further large randomized clinical trials are recommended to affirm these findings.