• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.351-355
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• 2023

Background: Wet cupping (WC) is an efficient and cost-effective technique for removing metabolic waste from the bloodstream via the skin. The study aimed to examine the effect of WC on cholesterol levels including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a Sudanese population. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 30 participants undergoing regular WC therapy were enrolled. Blood samples collected twice: pre-WC therapy (case group) and 10-14 days afterward (controls). Results: Of the participants, 56.67% were male and 43.33% were female, aged 24-69. Pre-WC TC and LDL-C levels were significantly higher than the post-WC control group (p = 0.001). Conversely, HDL-C levels decreased significantly in the pre-WC cases compared to controls (p = 0.001). No significant sex-based difference in mean cholesterol levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: After WC, males and females experienced significant reductions in TC and LDL-C, and significant increase in HDL-C.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.222-230
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• 2023

Background: Distal biceps tendon repairs are commonly performed using open techniques. A minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repair technique using a speculum and hooded endoscope was developed to improve visualization, reduce soft-tissue dissection, and minimize complications. This paper describes the technique and reports the outcomes of 75 minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repairs. Methods: The operation reports and outcomes of 75 patients who underwent distal biceps tendon repair using this technique between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Median time to follow-up was 12 months (interquartile range [IQR], 6-56 months). Primary outcomes were function as measured by the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH) questionnaire, and rate of complications. Median DASH score was 1.7 of 100 (IQR, 0-6.8). There were 2 of 75 (2.7%) re-ruptures of the distal tendon. There were no cases of vascular injury, proximal radius fracture, or posterior interosseous nerve, median, or ulnar nerve palsy. Conclusions: In this series, minimally invasive distal biceps repair was safe and effective with a low rate of major complications. Recovery of function, as indicated by low DASH scores, was satisfactory, and inconvenience during recovery was minimized. Level of evidence: IV.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.296-306
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• 2019

온도는 곤충의 발달, 성장, 생식에 중요한 요인이며, 또한 곤충의 생존에 직접적 관련있는 물리적 요인이다. 변온동물인 곤충은 생존을 위해 기후변화에 반응을 해야 하며, 저온과 같은 취약한 환경하에서도 다양한 생존전략을 발달시켜야 한다. 본 연구는 저온에 대한 적응에 기여하는 유전자를 동정하기 위해 배추좀나방 유충의 지방체를 저온과 상온에 노출시켜 전사체 분석을 수행하였다. 저온전사체에서는 chitinase, 표피단백질, Hsp23, chytochrome, Glutathione S transferase, phospholipase 2 유전자의 발현이 증가된 반면, 에너지 대사에 관여하는 UDP-당전이효소, trehalase, trehalose transporter는 오히려 발현이 감소하였다. 저온에 곤충이 노출되었을 때, 대사중심인 지방체의 유전자 발현의 변화가 곤충의 온도 적응을 이해하는 단서를 제공할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.347-352
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• 2020

Background: Low self-esteem can be an issue among health-care workers due to the hierarchical medical system. Health-care workers are also in a high pressure environment that can lead to stress and burnout. This study was conducted to estimate the proportion of health-care workers with low self-esteem, high stress, and burnout and the factors associated with these in a private hospital in Bangalore city. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a random sample of health-care workers of various cadres - doctors, nurses, nursing aides, technicians, and workers in ancillary departments such as laundry, dietary, central sterile supply department, and pharmacy, with probability proportional to size. Rosenberg Scale for Self-esteem, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, and Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure were used as study tools. Results: Among the 306 health-care workers, there were high levels of low self-esteem (48.4%), stress (38.6%), and burnout (48.7%), with the lowest levels being among doctors. Those aged younger than 30 years had significantly lower self-esteem and greater stress. Conclusions: Health-care workers with low self-esteem were nearly thrice more likely to suffer high stress, Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.84 (1.36-5.92), and those who were stressed had more than three times higher chance of experiencing burnout, OR = 3.6 (2.02-6.55). Path analysis showed that low self-esteem among health-care workers had a direct effect on burnout, as well as an indirect effect through stress (mediator variable). This study indicates the need for screening and counseling for low self-esteem, stress, and burnout as part of a periodic medical examination of all cadres of health workers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권8호
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• pp.4169-4172
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• 2012

Background: The majority of women in rural India have poor or no access to cervical cancer screening services, although one.quarter of all cervical cancers in the world occur there. Several large trials have proven the efficacy of low-tech cervical cancer screening methods in the Indian context but none have documented the necessary components and processes of implementing this evidence in a low-resource setting. Methods: This paper discusses a feasible model of implementation of cervical cancer screening programme in low-resource settings developed through a pilot research project carried out in rural Tamilnadu, India. The programme used visual inspection of cervix after acetic acid application (VIA) as a screening tool, nurses in the primary care centres as the primary screeners and peer educators within Self-Help Women groups to raise community awareness. Results: The uptake of screening was initially low despite the access to a screening programme. However, the programme witnessed an incremental increase in the number of women accessing screening with increasing community awareness. Conclusions: The investigators recommend 4 key components to programme implementation in low-resource setting: 1) Evidence-based, cost-effective test and treatment available within the reach of the community; 2) Appropriate referral pathways; 3) Skilled health workers and necessary equipment; and 4) Optimisation of health literacy, beliefs, attitudes of the community.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.214-219
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• 1997

Background: Epidural neural blockade with local anesthetics combined with steroids has been in clinical trials for patients with low back pain. But pain treatment of low back pain remains somewhat problematic. Many patients with low back pain have epidural fibrosis and adhesions proved with magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) examination. These findings might play an important role in the origin of back pain. Present study was aims to investigate the effect of epidural adhesiolysis in patients with low back pain. Methods: We investigated 76 patients suspected with epidural fibrosis and adhesion was suspected. Nerve pathology was demonstrated and epidural fibrosis suspected or proved with MRI examination. 17G needle specially designed by Racz was inserted at sacral hiatus and catheter was inserted untill its tip was located at lesion site under fluoroscopic guidance. Injection of contrast dye was achieved and prospected spread of agents. Injection of 0.25% bupivacaine, triamcinolone, and 10% hypertonic saline via catheter were carried out daily for 3 days. Evaluation included assessment of pain relief (Numerical Rating Scale; NRS) post-epidural adhesiolysis 3 days, 1 week, and 3 months. We also looked for complication of epidural adhesiolysis. Results: Statistical analysis(Friedman nonparametric repeated measures test and Dune's multiple comparison test) demonstrated NRS was significantly less during 3 months after epidural adhesiolysis(P<0.05). Especially, there is a extremely significance in post-epidural adhesiolysis 3 days (P<0.001). Only four patients reported any complications the most common symptom among three persistent headache but disappeared after a few months without residual sequelae. Conclusion: We conclude epidural adhesiolysis is a safe and effective method of pain therapy for low back pain with proven lumbo-sacral fibrosis and adhesion. A direct visualization by epiduroscopy may be more useful to the resulting functional changes after epidural adhesiolysis.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.18-24
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• 2015

Background: In 2006, three farmers died at the bottom of an agricultural shallow well where the atmosphere contained only 6% oxygen. This study aimed to document the variability of levels of oxygen and selected hazardous gases in the atmosphere of wells, and to identify ambient conditions associated with the low-oxygen situation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey, conducted in June 2007 and July 2007, measured the levels of oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and explosive gas (percentage of lower explosive limit) at different depths of the atmosphere inside 253 wells in Kamphaengphet and Phitsanulok provinces. Ambient conditions and well use by farmers were recorded. Carbon dioxide was measured in a subset of wells. Variables independently associated with low-oxygen condition (<19.5%) were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Results: One in five agricultural shallow wells had a low-oxygen status, with oxygen concentration decreasing with increasing depth within the well. The deepest-depth oxygen reading ranged from 0.0% to 20.9%. Low levels of other hazardous gases were detected in a small number of wells. The low-oxygen status was independently associated with the depth of the atmosphere column to the water surface [odds ratio (OR) = 13.5 for 8-11 m vs. <6 m], depth of water (OR = 0.17 for 3-<8 m vs. 0-1 m), well cover (OR = 3.95), time elapsed since the last rainfall (OR = 7.44 for >2 days vs. <1 day), and location of well in sandy soil (OR = 3.72). Among 11 wells tested, carbon dioxide was detected in high concentration (>25,000 ppm) in seven wells with a low oxygen level. Conclusion: Oxygen concentrations in the wells vary widely even within a small area and decrease with increasing depth.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.162-165
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• 2017

Background: It is controversial issue that heparin decreases thrombosis for microsurgical anastomosis, and its effective role is under discussion. This study is for proving whether low-dose heparin is preventing thrombosis in free flap reconstruction. Methods: Through chart reviews of 134 patients, using low-dose heparin for free tissue transfer from 2011 to 2016, retrospective analysis was performed. 33 patients received low-dose heparin therapy after surgery. And 101 patients received no-heparin therapy. Complications included flap necrosis, hematoma formation, dehiscence and infection. Results: In no-heparin therapy group, comparing the flap necrosis revealed 16 cases (15.84%). And, flap necrosis was 6 cases (18.18%) in low-dose heparin therapy group. The statistical analysis of flap necrosis rate showed no significant difference (p=0.75). The results showed that there was no significant difference of flap necrosis rate between two groups. Conclusion: In this study, patients in the low-dose heparin group had no significantly lower rates of flap failure compared with no-heparin group. This suggests that low-dose heparin may not prevent thrombosis and subsequent flap failure to a significant extent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The level of serum albumin is an index of nourishment care and management. However, the distribution and correlates of serum albumin levels among individuals with motor disorders have not been reported until now. Therefore, we examined the distribution and correlates of serum albumin levels among individuals with motor disorders. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 249 individuals with motor disabilities (144 men, mean age: 51.4 years; 105 women, mean age: 51.4 years) was conducted at five institutions in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in 2008. The results were compared with data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey. RESULTS: The mean serum albumin levels were $4.0{\pm}0.4g/dL$ for men and $3.8{\pm}0.5g/dL$ for women. Overall, 17 (11.8%) men and 25 (23.8%) women had hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin level ${\leq}3.5g/dL$); these proportions were greater than those among healthy Japanese adults (${\leq}1%$). Low serum albumin level was related with female sex, older age, low calf circumference, low relative daily energy intake, low hemoglobin (Hb), low blood platelet count, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low $HbA_{1c}$, and high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The strongest correlates, based on standardized betas, were Hb (0.321), CRP (-0.279), and HDL-C (0.279) levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia is higher in individuals with motor disabilities than in healthy individuals and that inflammation is a strong negative correlate of serum albumin levels. Therefore, inflammation should be examined for the assessment of hypoalbuminemia among institutionalized individuals with motor disabilities.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.27-36
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• 2021

Background : Prone hip extension (PHE) is commonly used for exercises and tests in patients with low back pain. Previous studies have shown that pelvic compression belts (PCB) and non-elastic taping (NET) contribute greatly to improvements in lumbopelvic stability. This study aimed to compare the effect of two lumbopelvic stability methods such as PCB and NET on the trunk and hip extensor muscle activities during PHE tests. Methods: Subjects who experienced low back pain (low back pain group, LBPG; n=20) and those who did not experience low back pain (non-LBPG; n=20) participated in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform PHE with and without a PCB and NET. PHE tests were performed in the condition wherein the two stabilization methods were applied, and the actions of the muscles at that time were measured using surface electromyography (EMG). EMG data were collected from the hamstring, gluteus maximus, erector spine (ES), and multifidus (MF) muscles. The data were collected three times for 5 s with a 1-min rest between each of the three sets. Results: In the LBPG, EMG of the ES muscle was significantly reduced when NET or a PCB was applied (p<.05). There was no difference in the change in the ES muscle activity when NET and a PCB were applied. The ratio of MF/ES muscleactivity showed a significant increase in the LBPG with NET (p<.05). Conclusion: Both NET and PCB applied to subjects who experienced low back pain significantly reduced the ES muscle activity during PHE exercises and helped control the balance of the superficial and deep trunk extensor muscles.