• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1149-1155
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• 2018

Epileptic encephalopathies are genetically heterogeneous disorders which leads to epilepsy and cause neurological disorders. Seizure threshold 2 (SZT2) gene located on chromosome 1p34.2 encodes protein mainly expressed predominantly in the parietal and frontal cortex and dorsal root ganglia in the brain. Previous studies in mice showed that mutation in this gene can confers low seizure threshold, enhance epileptogenesis and in human may leads to facial dysmorphism, intellectual disability, seizure and macrocephaly. Objective of this study was to find out novel gene or novel mutation related to the gene phenotype. We have identified a large consanguineous Saudi family segregating developmental delay, intellectual disability, epilepsy, high forehead and macrocephaly. Exome sequencing was performed in affected siblings of the family to study the novel mutation. Whole exome sequencing data analysis, confirmed by subsequent Sanger sequencing validation study. Our results showed a novel homozygous mutation (c.9368G>A) in a substitution of a conserved glycine residue into a glutamic acid in the exon 67 of SZT2 gene. The mutation was ruled out in 100 unrelated healthy controls. The missense variant has not yet been reported as pathogenic in literature or variant databases. In conclusion, the here detected homozygous SZT2 variant might be the causative mutation that further explain epilepsy and developmental delay in this Saudi family.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2019

Objectives : This review determines the evidence of effectiveness and safety of Chuna manual therapy (CMT) for pediatric allergic rhinitis. Methods : We searched 12 electronic databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CAJ, J-STAGE, RISS, DBpia, NDSL, KISTI, KISS, and KMBASE) and two related journals up to the end of April, 2019. We only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating CMT for the treatment of pediatric allergic rhinitis. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool 1.0. Results : Twelve RCTs were eligible in our inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis of five studies demonstrated positive results for the using CMT for the treatment of pediatric allergic rhinitis. When used in conjunction with traditional Chinese medicine, CMT treatment significantly improved total efficacy rate compared with traditional Chinese medicine alone (P<0.02, n=5). Conclusions : Based on a published meta-analysis, there is reliable evidence for the use of CMT in treating pediatric allergic rhinitis. However, it should be noted that the studies included in this systematic review were heterogeneous and were of low quality, warranting further investigation using well-designed RCTs.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-20
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• 2019

This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers. The review shows that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers. Results show that exposures to chemical substances were associated with skin reactions, e.g., hand eczema. Heavy lifting and awkward postures were risk factors for low back pain, and high job demands were risk factors for mental health outcomes. The review identified young unskilled workers including school drop-out workers as particularly vulnerable groups when it comes to occupational accidents. In addition, apprentices and young skilled workers were found to be vulnerable to work-related illnesses. It is essential to avoid stereotyping young Nordic workers into one group using only age as a factor, as young workers are a heterogeneous group and their vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health risks are contextual. Politicians, researchers, and practitioners should account for this complexity in the education, training and organization of work, and workplace health and safety culture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.96-109
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy for the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. There were 9 databases searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials until August 3, 2019 regarding acupotomy versus conventional Western medicine, conventional Western medicine treatment with and without acupotomy, and Korean medicine treatment with and without acupotomy, and meta-analysis was performed. Of 303 potentially relevant studies retrieved, 43 were systematically reviewed. All studies were conducted in China. Effective rate, visual analogue scale, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index were used as the evaluation scales. The Ashi point was selected most frequently. In all studies, the intervention group was more effective than the control group. Meta-analysis revealed that acupotomy showed statistically significant beneficial results. Although acupotomy had a beneficial effect on knee osteoarthritis, the risk of bias of the included studies was not low. The majority of the results from the evaluation scales used were highly heterogeneous (> 50%) which reduced confidence in the estimation of effect, or had a small sample size. Further clinical research and development is required in the future.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.507-525
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• 2021

Local anesthesia is indispensable in dentistry. Worldwide, millions of local anesthetic injections are administered annually, and are generally considered safe invasive procedures. However, adverse effects are possible, of which dentists should be aware of. This scoping review aimed to provide an extensive overview of the reported literature on the adverse effects of dental local anesthesia. The types of papers, what is reported, and how they are reported were reviewed. Additionally, the incidence and duration of adverse effects and factors influencing their occurrence were also reviewed. An electronic search for relevant articles was performed in PubMed and Embase databases from inception to January 2, 2020. The titles and abstracts were independently screened by two reviewers. The analysis was narrative, and no meta-analysis was performed. This study included 78 articles. Ocular and neurological adverse effects, allergies, hematomas, needle breakage, tissue necrosis, blanching, jaw ankylosis, osteomyelitis, and isolated atrial fibrillation have been described. Multiple adverse effects of dental local anesthesia have been reported in the literature. The results were heterogeneous, and detailed descriptions of the related procedures were lacking. Vital information concerning adverse effects, such as the dosage or type of anesthetic solution, or the type of needle used, was frequently missing. Therefore, high-quality research on this topic is needed. Finally, the adverse effects that are rarely encountered in real-world general practice are overrepresented in the literature.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 2021

Objectives This systematic review aimed to provide evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Chuna manual therapy (CMT) for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods We searched 12 electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CiNii, ScienceON, KMbase, KISS, OASIS, KMTANK, and RISS) up to the end of October 2021. We only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating CMT for the treatment of CTS. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 1.0. Results Six RCTs were eligible for inclusion in our study. A meta-analysis of four studies demonstrated positive results for the use of CMT when used in conjunction with Korean medicine treatment compared to those for Western conservative treatment for CTS. Conjunction treatment significantly improved the total efficacy rate compared to conservative treatment alone (P=0.0007, n=4). Conclusions There is reliable evidence for the use of CMT in treating CTS based on a published meta-analysis. To measure only the effect of Chuna, an experimental group should be designed with Chuna alone to evaluate its effectiveness. However, it should be noted that the studies included in this systematic review were heterogeneous and of low quality, thus warranting further investigation using well-designed RCTs.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.649-661
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• 2019

Objective: To systematically review the evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and change in ADC during the intra- or post-treatment period, for the prediction of locoregional failure in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Materials and Methods: Ovid-MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched up to September 8, 2018, for studies on the use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the prediction of locoregional treatment response in patients with HNSCC treated with chemoradiation or radiation therapy. Risk of bias was assessed by using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. Results: Twelve studies were included in the systematic review, and diagnostic accuracy assessment was performed using seven studies. High pre-treatment ADC showed inconsistent results with the tendency for locoregional failure, whereas all studies evaluating changes in ADC showed consistent results of a lower rise in ADC in patients with locoregional failure compared to those with locoregional control. The sensitivities and specificities of pre-treatment ADC and change in ADC for predicting locoregional failure were relatively high (range: 50-100% and 79-96%, 75-100% and 69-95%, respectively). Meta-analytic pooling was not performed due to the apparent heterogeneity in these values. Conclusion: High pre-treatment ADC and low rise in early intra-treatment or post-treatment ADC with chemoradiation, could be indicators of locoregional failure in patients with HNSCC. However, as the studies are few, heterogeneous, and at high risk for bias, the sensitivity and specificity of these parameters for predicting the treatment response are yet to be determined.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.69-99
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to systematically review the effectiveness and safety of traditional herbal medicine treatments for metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients receiving antipsychotic drugs (APs). Methods: We searched 11 domestic and foreign databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using traditional herbal medicines for MS in patients receiving APs. Results: Twenty RCTs conducted in China were included in the analysis. The most common disease among the participants was schizophrenia. Most studies used the 2004 Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) standards as the diagnostic criteria for MS. The most used prescription was Yukultang (Liuyu-tang). The most used herbal material was Pinelliae Rhizoma, followed by Poria, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Traditional herbal medicines were mostly reported to improve the symptoms of MS. Conclusions: Traditional herbal medicines may be effective in improving the symptoms of MS in patients receiving APs. However, the quality of the included studies was low, and the studies were heterogeneous. Methodologically rigorous clinical studies on traditional herbal medicine treatments for MS in patients receiving APs are needed.

• Journal of KIISE:Databases
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.564-571
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• 2007

One of the methods for integrating XML data in distributed environments is using XML view. User can query toward distributed local XML views by using global XQuery queries in XQuery which is a standard query language for searching XML data. The global XQuery queries naturally contain join operations because of integrating and searching distributed heterogeneous data. Since join operations are generally expensive for processing a query, its processing technique is very important for efficient processing of global XQuery queries. Therefore there are some studies on the efficient processing of join operations and one of these studies is that selects minimum join cost by estimating a join selectivity. In case of SQL, there are already some researches for estimating a join selectivity and join cost of global SQL queries. However we can not apply their methods for estimating the selectivity of join operations in SQL queries into XQuery queries because of the structural difference between relational data and XML data. Therefore this paper proposes a method for estimating a selectivity of join operations in XQuery queries using the information of XML views. Our contribution is three threefold. First, we define the difference point for estimating join selectivity between SQL and XQuery. Second, we estimate join selectivity in XQuery queries by referring XML views. Third, we evaluate our estimating method.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.136-147
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of integrated palliative care intervention on quality of life in terminally ill patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed via PubMed, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, LWW (Ovid), CINAHL and several Korean databases. The main search strategy was to combine terms indicating palliative care intervention, presence of terminal illness and study design. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias for randomized studies and Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized studies. Data were analyzed by the Stata 10 program. Results: Eight clinical trials met the inclusion criteria with a total of 356 participants. Integrated palliative care interventions were administered for a mean of 6.5 weeks, 5.6 sessions and an average of 47.8 minutes per session. Effect sizes were heterogeneous, and subgroup analysis was done. Integrated palliative care interventions had a significant effect on quality of life (ES=1.83, P=0.018, $l^2=92%$), spiritual well-being (ES=0.78, P=0.040, $l^2=0$), depression (ES=0.86, P<0.001, $l^2=32$) and anxiety (ES=0.69, P=0.041, $l^2=71.1$). But integrated palliative care interventions had no significant effect on pain (ES=0.365, P=0.230, $l^2=69.8$). Conclusion: Results support findings that integrated palliative care interventions were helpful in lessening depression and anxiety and improving quality of life and spiritual well-being, however, the interventions did not assist pain management in terminal cancer patients. These findings suggest that various integrated palliative care interventions can assist terminal cancer patients with better quality of life in the socio-psycho-spiritual dimension.