• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2022

Background: Bird dog exercise (BDE) is one of the lumbar stabilization exercises that rehabilitate low back pain by co-contraction of the local and global muscles. Previous studies have reported the effect of various type of BDEs (for example, practicing the exercises on various surfaces and changing the limb movement) for muscle co-contraction. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of knee joint flexion position of the raised lower limb on abdominal and back muscle activity during BDE in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Thirteen males participated in this study (age: 32.54 ± 4.48 years, height: 177.38 ± 7.17 cm). Surface electromyographic (SEMG) data of the internal abdominal oblique (IO), external abdominal oblique (EO), lumbar multifidus (MF), and thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum (ICLT) were collected in two knee joint flexion positions (90° flexion versus 0° flexion) during BDE. The SEMG data were expressed as a percentage of root mean square mean values obtained in the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results: Greater muscle activity of the IO (p = 0.001), MF (p = 0.009), and ICLT (p = 0.021) of the raised lower limb side and the EO (p = 0.001) and MF (p = 0.009) of the contralateral side were demonstrated in the knee joint flexion position compared to the knee joint extension position. Greater local/global activity ratios of the abdominal muscle (i.e., IO and EO) of the raised lower limb (p = 0.002) and the back muscle (i.e., MF and ICLT) of the contralateral side (p = 0.028) were also noted in the knee joint flexion position. Conclusion: BDE with a knee joint flexion position might be recommended as an alternative lumbar stabilization exercise to enhance muscle activity in both the raised lower limb and the contralateral sides of the trunk for individuals with CLBP.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2023

Background: Malnutrition and impaired immune responses significantly affect the clinical outcomes of patients with atherosclerotic stenosis. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score has recently been utilized to evaluate perioperative immunonutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between immunonutritional status, indexed by CONUT score, and postoperative complications in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 188 patients who underwent elective CEA between January 2010 and December 2019. The preoperative CONUT score was calculated as the sum of the serum albumin concentration, total cholesterol level, and total lymphocyte count. The primary outcome was postoperative complications within 30 days after CEA, including major adverse cardiovascular events, pulmonary complications, stroke, renal failure, sepsis, wounds, and gastrointestinal complications. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the factors associated with postoperative complications during the 30-day follow-up period. Results: Twenty-five patients (13.3%) had at least one major complication. The incidence of postoperative complications was identified more frequently in the high CONUT group (12 of 27, 44.4% vs. 13 of 161, 8.1%; p<0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that a high preoperative CONUT score was independently associated with 30-day postoperative complications (hazard ratio, 5.98; 95% confidence interval, 2.56-13.97; p<0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed that the CONUT score, a simple and readily available parameter using only objective laboratory values, is independently associated with early postoperative complications.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.87-92
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• 2023

Purpose: Concomitant ankle injuries associated with tibial shaft fractures can affect postoperative ankle joint pain and various postoperative ankle complications. This study compared the clinical outcomes between surgical treatment and conservative treatment of concomitant ankle injuries associated with tibial shaft fractures. Materials and Methods: From January 2015 to June 2020, a retrospective study was conducted on 118 tibia shaft fractures at the orthopedics department of the hospital. Associated ankle injuries were analyzed using plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and intraoperative stress exams. The clinical outcomes were compared using the pain visual analog scale (pain VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot score (AOFAS score), and Karlsson-Peterson ankle score (KP score). Results: Seventy-two (61.02%) of the 118 cases were diagnosed with associated ankle injuries. Fifty-six cases underwent surgery for the ankle injury, and 16 cases underwent conservative treatment. The clinical results (according to the pain VAS score, AOFAS score, the KP score) were 1.79±1.26, 94.48±4.03, and 94.57±3.60, respectively, in the surgical treatment group, and 3.00±1.03, 91.06±3.02, and 91.25±3.31, respectively, in the conservative treatment group. Conclusion: Surgical treatment showed better clinical outcomes than conservative treatment in concomitant ankle injury in tibia fractures. Therefore, surgical treatment produces better clinical outcomes than conservative treatment in concomitant ankle injuries in tibia fractures. Hence to improve the clinical outcomes, more attention is needed on ankle joint injury in tibial shaft fractures for selecting suitable surgical treatments for those patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.44-52
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• 2018

Background: The deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles have a crucial role in the management of neck pain. For preventing neck pain by activation of the DCF, craniocervical flexion (CCF) is an effective exercise. However, sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is considered to affect negatively the activation of the DCF. SCM muscle which is an accessory muscle for respiration is activated differently depending on types of breathing patterns. It's not certain that breathing patterns affect the SCM and DCF muscles thickness during CCF exercise. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of breathing patterns on the SCM and DCF muscles thickness during CCF exercise. Methods: Forty-five subjects participated in this study, and they were classified according to their breathing pattern, as follows: costodiaphragmatic breathing (CDB) and upper costal breathing (UCB) groups. Ultrasonographic imaging of the SCM and DCF muscles was performed during five incremental levels of CCF during tidal breathing and expiration. Results: There was a significant interaction between the breathing pattern and the phase of CCF for percentage of SCM muscle thickness changes (p<.05). In phase 1 CCF, a percentage of SCM muscle thickness changes was increased in the UCB group than in the CDB group (p<.05). There was an increase in DCF muscles thickness with each additional CCF phase (p<.05). Conclusion: Recruitment of SCM muscle was increased in the UCB group while performing CCF with a low intensity. There were no significant differences on DCF recruitment between the breathing pattern groups. Higher CCF exercise intensities elicited a higher DCF recruitment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.127-132
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• 2014

Purpose: Many substances in saliva or oral health care products interact with each other. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions between hyaluronic acid (HA), lysozyme, peroxidase, and glucose oxidase (GO) in enzymatic activities at low pH levels. Methods: HA (0.5 mg/mL), hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL, $30{\mu}g/mL$), bovine lactoperoxidase (bLPO, $25{\mu}g/mL$), and GO ($50{\mu}g/mL$) were used. The influences of HA, bLPO, and GO on HEWL activity were determined by measuring the turbidity of a Micrococcus lysodeikticus suspension. The influences of HA and HEWL on bLPO activity were determined by the NbsSCN assay, measuring the rate of oxidation of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid (Nbs) to 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) $(Nbs)_2$. The influences of HA and HEWL on GO activity were determined by measuring oxidized o-dianisidine production. All experiments were performed at pH 4, 5, and 6. Results: HA and GO did not affect the enzymatic activity of HEWL at pH 4, 5, and 6. bLPO enhanced the enzymatic activity of HEWL at pH 5 (p<0.05) and pH 6 (p<0.05) significantly. The enzymatic activity of bLPO was not affected by HA and HEWL at pH 4, 5, and 6. HA and HEWL did not affect the enzymatic activity of the GO at pH 4, 5, and 6. Conclusions: Peroxidase enhances lysozyme activity at low pH, otherwise there were no significant interactions in enzymatic activities between HA, lysozyme, peroxidase, and GO at low pH levels.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5283-5286
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• 2014

Stage of cervical cancer may adversely affect the quality of life (QOL) among patients. The objective of this study was to predict the QOL among cervical cancer patients by the stage of their cancer. A cross-sectional study from September 2012 until January 2013 was conducted among cervical cancer patients who completed treatment. All patients completed a interviewer-guided questionnaire comprising four sections: (A) socio-demographic data, (B) medical history, (C) QOL measured by general health status questionnaire (QLQ-30) and (D) cervical cancer specific module CX-24 (EORTC) was used to measured patient's functional, symptom scale and their global health status. Results showed that global health status, emotional functioning and pain score were higher in stage III cervical cancer patients while role functioning was higher in stage I cervical cancer patients. Patients with stage IV cancer have a lower mean score in global health status (adjusted b-22.0, 95 CI% -35.6, -8.49) and emotional functioning (adjusted b -22.5, 95CI% -38.1, -6.69) while stage III had lower mean score in role functioning (adjusted b -14.3, 95CI% -25.4, -3.21) but higher mean score in pain (adjusted b 22.1, 95 CI% 8.56, 35.7). In conclusion, stage III and IV cervical cancers mainly affect the QOL of cervical cancer patients. Focus should be given to these subgroups to help in improving the QOL.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.131-135
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between the amount of salivary metal ions released from fixed prostheses and the period of restoration insertion, and to evaluate the correlation between the type and amount of metal ions in saliva and oral lesions (OL). Methods: Based on the oldest prosthesis, we divided patients into two groups: more than 5 years (n=19) and less than 5 years (n=10). Patients were also divided into two groups by another criteria: the one with the presence (n=15), and the one with absence (n=14) of OL, and the amounts of metal ions were examined. Metal ions-gold (Au), copper, cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), nickel, zinc, aluminum, palladium (Pd), tin, and platinum (Pt)-were measured using laser ablation microprobe inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: Significantly higher quantities of Co, Pt, and Pd ions were released in patients with fixed prosthesis of more than 5 years (p<0.05). Measurement of the average amount of salivary metal ions was performed on patients with and without OL - Significantly higher amounts of Cr, Pd and Au ions were released in patients with OL (p<0.05). Conclusions: Old prostheses (${\geq}5years$) released metal ions, and among them were Co, Pt and Pd ions more than others. Patients with OL showed significantly higher levels of ion release, especially Cr, Pd and Au. There was a positive correlation between the amount of a certain kind of released metal ions, especially Pd, and the development of OL. Salivary Pd ion released from old prostheses could affect the pathogenesis of OL; therefore, long-term follow-up is important.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.185-196
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• 2024

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) can occur at any age, including childhood and adolescence, and pain-related TMDs can affect growth and quality of life. In the present study, recent trends in the diagnosis and treatment of TMDs in children and adolescents were analyzed over a 10-year period. Using 10 years of data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) and Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Dental Hospital, patients between 0 and 19 years of age diagnosed with K07.6 (temporomandibular joint disorders) were analyzed by 5-year bins. Both datasets indicated a higher prevalence in females (1.2-fold in HIRA, 1.5-fold in JBNU) and in ages 15 to 19 years (72.1% in HIRA, 74.7% in JBNU). HIRA reported a 42.3% increase in prevalence per 100,000 people, from 651.4 in 2011 to 927.0 in 2020. JBNU reported K07.66 (masticatory muscle disorders) as the most common diagnosis in subjects under 10 years of age and K07.60 (internal derangement of temporomandibular joint) in those over 10 years of age. In addition, both were treated mainly by a combination of physical therapy and medication, and the treatment rate increased in accordance with age. Because TMDs can affect various structures in the orofacial region and cause pain that tends to differ with age, an early and specific diagnosis appropriate for age is important for treatment. Therefore, pediatric dentists need to promptly recognize TMDs in children and adolescents and consult with specialists as the prevalence increases.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.465-473
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the desensitizing effects of a Nd:YAG laser (Sunlase, SUNRISE Technologies, Inc., USA) irradiation on cervically exposed hypersensitive dentine. 45 patients was irradiated with pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1.5 W, 20 Hz, 75 mJ/pulse, 4 minutes) as the experimental group, 27 patients was mock irradiated as the control group. The degree of sensitivity to the thermal and tactile stimuli were determined qualitatively with an evaporative stimulus defined as two times air blast at a distance of 3 mm from each site to be tested and with a mechanical stimulus as a slightly scratching the cervical site with a dental explorer. A qualitative registration of the degree of discomfort was determined according to a numerical pain scale(NPS) in an 11-point scale in which 0= "no pain" and 10="most excruciating pain imaginable". Recordings were assessed before treatment, immediately after, 1 and 2 weeks after treatment. Pain tolerance threshold and pulp vitality were evaluated with electric pulp tester before and immediately after treatment. 1. Desensitizing of hypersensitive dentine with Nd:YAG laser irradiation was more effective than that with mock irradiation. 2. The placebo effect of mock irradiation was recognized for severe sensitive teeth($NPS\;{\geqq}\;6$), but not for moderate sensitive teeth(NPS < 6). 3. Laser irradiation did not affect the pain tolerance threshold and pulp vitality of the hypersensitive teeth. 4. Desensitizing effect of laser irradiation for the hypersensitive teeth had been continuing at least 2 weeks. It was concluded that desensitizing of hypersensitive dentine with a Nd:YAG laser is effective and the maintenance of the positive result was more prolonged than the placebo effect.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.215-229
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• 2007

Objectives : Placebo phenomena have been considered as a confounding factor of clinical trial. Expectancy and belief of acupuncture have not been evaluated quantitatively. The present study was performed to analyze the emotional and cognitive factor .of acupuncture and investigate whether the expectancy of acupuncture treatment is associated with the cognition of acupuncture. Methods : The expectancy and the perception of bodily sensation (PBS) of 22 participants were assessed using self-reported questionnaire. The subjects used the self assessment manikin (SAM) to rate each of the standard affective image of the international affective picture system (lAPS) and other acupuncture-related image. Based on the degree of expectancy, the high expectant (HE) and the low expectant (LE) group were classified. The thermal and pressure pain threshold was objectively evaluated using radiant-heat device and algometer. The degree of expected pain of acupuncture and the actual pain of painful stimulation was subjectively evaluated using facial pain scales (FPS). Results : Using SAlVI analysis, we identified the negative correlation between hedonic valence and arousal dimension on acupuncture-related visual cue. The degree of the PBS and general pain threshold did not show any significant difference between the HE and the LE group. The HE group rated the acupuncture images as more pleasant, more arousing, than the LE group. In addition, we also found that the higher expectancy marked the lower FPS of the expected pain of acupuncture, but not of the actual pain of painful stimulation. Conclusions : Our preliminary study identified the psychological dimensions of acupuncture-related visual cue. These findings indicate that the expectancy of acupuncture could affect the cognition of acupuncture.