• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2014

Objective : To report long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy (MI-PCF) performed in patients with unilateral single-level cervical radiculopathy. Methods : Of forty-six patients who underwent MI-PCF for unilateral single-level radiculopathy between 2005 and 2013, 33 patients were included in the study, with a mean follow-up of 32.7 months. Patients were regularly followed for clinical and radiological assessment. Clinical outcome was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) for the neck/shoulder and arm, and the neck disability index (NDI). Radiological outcome was measured by focal/global angulation and disc height index (DHI). Outcomes after MI-PCF were evaluated as changes of clinical and radiological parameters from the baseline. Mixed effect model with random patients' effect was used to test for differences in the clinical and radiological parameters repeat measures. Results : There were no complications and all patients had an uneventful recovery during the early postoperative period. VAS scores for neck/shoulder and arm improved significantly in the early postoperative period (3 months) and were maintained with time (p<0.001). NDI improved significantly post-operatively and tended to decrease gradually during the follow-up period (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in focal and global angulation at follow-up. Percent DHIs of the upper adjacent or operated disc were maintained without significant changes with time. During the follow-up, same site recurrence was not noted and adjacent segment disease requiring additional surgery occurred in two patients (6%) on the contra-lateral side. Conclusion : MI-PCF provides long-term pain relief and functional restoration, accompanied by good long-term radiological outcome.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.25-34
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• 2021

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture after rotator cuff surgery. Methods Key words such as rotator cuff surgery and acupuncture were searched in 10 databases (Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, Ovid-AMED, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], KoreaMed, KMBASE), and only suitable randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. Results 6 RCTs were finally selected, and acupuncture showed positive results for pain relief and functional recovery after rotator cuff surgery. However, the analyzed 6 RCTs showed a high overall risk of bias. Conclusions In the future, RCTs with a higher level of evidence on the effect of acupuncture after rotator cuff surgery need to be continuously conducted.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.35-47
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• 2021

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of herbal medicine after total knee arthroplasty. Methods Key words such as total knee arthroplasty and herbal medicine were searched in 10 databases (Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, Ovid-AMED, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], KoreaMed, KMBASE), and only suitable randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. Results 8 RCTs were finally selected, and herbal medicine showed positive results for pain relief and functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty. However, the analyzed 8 RCTs showed a high overall risk of bias. Conclusions In the future, RCTs with a higher level of evidence on the effect of herbal medicine after total knee arthroplasty need to be continuously conducted.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1228-1232
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• 2000

Objective : This study was undertaken to analysis gamma knife radiosurgery(GKR) effect for trigeminal neuralgia after long term follow-up. Methods : There were 11 trigeminal neuralgia patients. The authors irradiated 67-85 Gy maximally to the nerve root entry zone(NREZ) using single 4mm collimator, just 1-6mm lateral side from the junction of the trigeminal nerve and pons. For the first 3 cases, we targeted the junction between the nerve and the pons. In theses cases, the pons was irradiated 56 or 60 gray in the surface. In the later 8 cases, the isocenter is positioned more distal side so that the brain stem surface would receive less than the 20% isodose. Results : The average follow-up duration was 25 months(13-50 months). Pain relief was noticed within a week to 5 months. In 3 patients, pain was relieved completely and in other 3 patients, mark improvement was achieved(80-90%). Remaining 4 patients showed significant improvement(30-50%). There was recurrence in only one case and she complained with similar intensity of pain at the last follow-up. There was no significant complication related to GKR. Conclusion : GKR is considered effective for trigeminal neuralgia based on the long term follow-up evaluation, but more clinical experience is needed to evaluate the efficacy of GKR for trigeminal neuralgia as a primary treatment modality.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.152-157
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of shortening scarf osteotomy on pain relief and range of motion (ROM) of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in hallux rigidus patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three cases of 19 patients who had been treated with shortening scarf osteotomy for the hallux rigidus between January 2007 and December 2013 were reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 21.4 months, and the mean age was 59.2 years. The first metatarsal bone was shortened until the ROM of the first metatarsophalangeal joint was greater than $80^{\circ}$ or $40^{\circ}$ of dorsiflexion. The length shortened by scarf osteotomy was measured. The authors also measured and compared the joint interval difference of the standing foot using an anteroposterior radiography. Moreover, the difference of ROM of the first metatarsophalangeal joint between the preoperative and final follow-up periods was also compared. The clinical results were evaluated and compared using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring system and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Results: The mean shortening length was about 6.5 mm (range, 4~9 mm). The joint space has been increased to 1.8 mm, and the ROM of the first metatarsophalangeal joint has also been increased to $18.4^{\circ}$ after the operation. In three cases, the postoperative ROM has been decreased to less $10^{\circ}$. The AOFAS score has been improved from 41.7 (range, 32~55) to 86.2 (range, 65~95), and the VAS score was also decreased from 3.7 (range, 3~5) to 1.3 (range, 0~3). Two cases have shown no decrease in pain even after the operation. Conclusion: Shortening scarf osteotomy was found to decrease joint pain by decompressing the pressure of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. This osteotomy also helped improve the ROM of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Shortening scarf osteotomy can be considered one of the effective methods for joint preservation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to reveal the circumstances under which the cases of harm to health caused by humidifier disinfectant were neglected and show the points where the number of victims and the degree of damage could have been reduced. In addition, it attempts to describe how damage management proceeded immediately after the incident and actually exacerbated the damage. Finally, it explores the unfortunate aspects of the recent trial. By doing so, it attempts to take this as an opportunity to consider whether a tragic event such as the humidifier disinfectant incident could occur in the future. Methods: This study collected and analyzed data on chemical material characteristics related to humidifier disinfectants, data on health effect characteristics, data on related laws and regulations from the Ministry of Environment, data related to the damage investigation by the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, and current contents. Results: The lack of related systems and laws is the area where the greatest responsibility for the cause of the humidifier disinfectant disaster falls, so it is difficult for the government to escape this responsibility. Establishing a dedicated department to identify the prevalence of certain diseases within the functions of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to monitor health can greatly contribute to the prevention and management of diseases through early detection and management of group outbreaks caused by harmful factors. Humidifier disinfectant damage relief should have been expanded earlier beyond HDLI (humidifier disinfectant lung injury) to include non-specific diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, and interstitial pneumonia. The scope of relief benefits should have also been expanded earlier to include the payment of disability benefits. Fortunately, with the 2020 revision of the Special Act, the conditions for estimating causal relations were eased and individual screening systems such as health impact assessment were reorganized along with the introduction of a rapid screening system. Conclusions: The management system for chemical substances in a country is clearly of paramount importance, and the ministry in charge must have a response system in case of damage to health effects. Administration that looks at the victims' situation from their point of view is needed, and technical countermeasures are required to quickly recognize the prevalence of certain diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.171-179
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• 2008

Objective: Bufonis Venenum is the traditional Korean medicine Chan Su, which is obtained from the skin and parotid venom gland of the toads. It has been used for myocardial diseases, inflammation diseases, pain relief, cancer and others. The main components of BV are cinobufotoxin, cinobufalin, bufalin and others. Of these, bufalin, the major active ingredient of BV, has been reported to induce apoptosis and to possess anti-tumor effects. There was no report of anti-tumor screening of BV on hepatic cancer and which signaling pathway can be involved. In order to examine the effect of BV on hepatic cancer and the related signaling pathway with BV-induced apoptosis, human Hep G2 cells were used. Methods: Analysis of apoptosis was confirmed by MTT assay. BV decreased cell viability in a dose and duration dependent manner. To observe which signaling molecules will be activated by BV, phosphorylation of MAPK (p38, ERK, JNK), caspase 8 and caspase 9 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: The phosphorylation levels of p38 started to increase at 5 min after addition of 5 ${\mu}g$/ml of BV and sustained to increase until 48 hours. The phosphorylation levels of other MAPK (ERK and JNK), caspase 8 and caspase 9 increased in a time-dependent manner. These imply that BV may activate different signaling pathways, MAPK, caspase 8 and caspase 9. These results propose that BV may induce apoptosis on Hep G2 cells through the activation of MAPK, caspase 8 and caspase 9.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.251-259
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• 2011

The aim of this is to examine the effects of SSP therapy on the internal carotid arteries blood flow of 24 tension type headache patients(study group) and non tension type headache patients(control group), and on the reduction of their headaches, when applied to the acupuncture points. It stimulated the acupuncture point of headache 6 place with the SSP. It measured VAS and the blood flow of the internal carotid arteries with TCD. When the internal carotid arteries blood flow of study group and control group were compared by period, a significant difference was found in the 4th period(p<.05). When the Visual Analog Scale of study group and control group were compared by period, a significant difference was found in the 4th period(p<.05). The comparison of each measurement result of the internal carotid arteries blood flow of the study group found significantly increased. The comparison of each measurement result of the VAS of study group found significantly decreased. With regard to the control group, the VAS significantly decreased. The silver spike point low frequency electrical stimulation treatment, when applied to the acupuncture point, can significantly influence the internal carotid arteries blood flow of headache patients and can significantly reduce their headaches.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.921-928
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• 2014

This study investigated the quality characteristics of cookies containing capsaicin, the main source of spicy taste in pepper, which is well known for its various functions such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities, as well as pain-relief effect. Cookie samples were made by adding the capsaicin powder at different levels, including 40 mg% (C1), 85 mg% (C2), and 150 mg% (C3). In this study, measurement of the moisture, pH, color, spread factor, hardness, anti-oxidant activity, and sensory evaluation of the cookies was carried out. The results showed that the anti-oxidant activity increased when more capsaicin powder was added to the cookies (p<0.001). The moisture also increased with increasing capsaicin powder content (p<0.05), while the pH did not show any significant changes. As for the colors, the L value and b value decreased as more capsaicin powder was added, while the a value increased. The spread factor also increased significantly with the increase of capsaicin powder (p<0.01). Although the hardness increased with capsaicin powder content, no statistically significant differences were observed among the various cookies. In the sensory evaluation, Cookies containing 40 mg of capsaicin obtained the highest score in color, while cookies containing 150 mg of capsaicin showed the highest score in taste, texture, and overall acceptability.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to report the effect of oriental medical treatments on the 4 patients with lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. Methods : The 4 patients were treated by Bee Venom acupuncture, Dong-Qi acupuncture, acupuncture on tender points of the origin of the extensor carpi radialis and taping on the extensor carpi radialis. The state of patients was measured by visual analog scale(VAS), elbow range of motion(ROM) and patient's subjective symptom grade(PSSG). Results : After mean 9.5 times of treatments, the recovery of elbow ROM was measured and significant pain relief was seen as the average of VAS changed from 10 to 1.25 and average of PSSG changed from 2.75 to 0.5 grade. Conclusions : These results suggest that oriental medical treatments including Bee Venom acupuncture, Dong-Qi acupuncture, acupuncture, taping are effective to improve the lateral epicondylitis of the elbow.