• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.1283-1290
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• 2014

This study was conducted to apply microcurrents of $500{\mu}A$ effective for ATP generation to leg muscles to which delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) had been induced in order to examine whether the microcurrent stimulation was effective for gait improvement. Forty subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group of 20 subjects and a placebo group of 20 subjects. Microcurrents were applied immediately after inducing DOMS and 24 hours and 48 hours thereafter and changes in the center of pressure (COP), cadence, and affected stance phases were measured. According to the results of the measurement, changes in the COP, cadence, and affected stance phases at 48 hours after the induction of DOMS were statistically significant compared to the values before the induction. The COP of the experimental group became statistically significantly lower and the ratio of affected stance phases of the experimental group became statistically significantly higher compared to the placebo group at 48 hours after the induction of DOMS. Therefore, $500{\mu}A$ microcurrents showed effects for gait improvement by promoting the recovery and healing of damaged muscles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.322-336
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• 2021

Objective: Endometriosis is a chronic debilitating inflammatory condition characterized by the presence of endometrial tissues outside the uterine cavity. Pelvic soreness and infertility are the usual association. Due to the poor effectiveness of the hormone therapy and the high incidence of recurrence following surgical excision, there is no single effective option for management of endometriosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells studied for their broad immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties; however, their efficiency in endometriosis cases is still a controversial issue. Our study aim was to evaluate whether adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) could help with endometriosis through their studied anti-inflammatory role. Methods: Female Wistar rats weighting 180 to 250 g were randomly divided into two groups: group 1, endometriosis group; established by transplanting autologous uterine tissue into rats' peritoneal cavities and group 2, stem cell treated group; treated with AD-MSCs on the 5th day after induction of endometriosis. The proliferative activity of the endometriosis lesions was evaluated through Ki67 staining. Quantitative estimation of interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and transforming growth factor β expression, as well as immunohistochemical detection of CD68 positive macrophages, were used to assess the inflammatory status. Results: The size and proliferative activity of endometriosis lesions were significantly reduced in the stem cell treated group. Stem cells efficiently mitigated endometriosis associated chronic inflammatory reactions estimated through reduction of CD68 positive macrophages and the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: Stem cell therapy can be considered a novel remedy in endometriosis possibly through its anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.6-10
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• 2020

[Purpose] Milk is a commonly ingested post-exercise recovery protein source. Casein protein, found in milk, is characterized by its slow digestion and absorption. Recently, several studies have been conducted with a focus on how pre-sleep casein protein intake could affect post-exercise recovery but our knowledge of the subject remains limited. This review aimed at presenting and discussing how pre-sleep casein protein ingestion affects post-exercise recovery and the details of its potential effector mechanisms. [Methods] We systematically reviewed the topics of 1) casein nutritional characteristics, 2) pre-sleep casein protein effects on post-exercise recovery, and 3) potential effector mechanisms of pre-sleep casein protein on post-exercise recovery, based on the currently available published studies on pre-sleep casein protein ingestion. [Results] Studies have shown that pre-sleep casein protein ingestion (timing: 30 minutes before sleep, amount of casein protein ingested: 40-48 g) could help post-exercise recovery and positively affect acute protein metabolism and exercise performance. In addition, studies have suggested that repeated pre-sleep casein protein ingestion for post-exercise recovery over a long period might also result in chronic effects that optimize intramuscular physiological adaptation (muscle strength and muscle hypertrophy). The potential mechanisms of pre-sleep casein protein ingestion that contribute to these effects include the following: 1) significantly increasing plasma amino acid availability during sleep, thereby increasing protein synthesis, inhibiting protein breakdown, and achieving a positive protein balance; and 2) weakening exercise-induced muscle damage or inflammatory responses, causing reduced muscle soreness. Future studies should focus on completely elucidating these potential mechanisms. [Conclusion] In conclusion, post-exercise ingestion of at least 40 g of casein protein, approximately 30 minutes before sleep and after a bout of resistance exercise in the evening, might be an effective nutritional intervention to facilitate muscle recovery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.240-249
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• 2022

Background: Widespread pain partially depends upon sensitization of central pain mechanisms. However, mechanisms controlling pain distribution are not completely known. The present study sought to assess skin temperature variations in the area of experimentally-induced pain and potential sex differences. Methods: Pressure-pain thresholds (PPTs) were measured on the right infraspinatus muscle. At the end of Day 0, all participants performed an eccentric exercise of the shoulder external rotators to induce muscle soreness 24 hours after. On Day 1, participants indicated on a body chart the area of pain induced by 60 seconds of suprathreshold pressure stimulation (STPS; PPT + 20%) on the right infraspinatus muscle. Skin temperature variations in the area of referred pain were recorded with an infrared thermography camera, immediately before and after the STPS. Results: Twenty healthy, pain-free individuals (10 females) participated. On Day 0, the pre-STPS temperature was higher than the post-STPS temperature on the arm (P = 0.001) and forearm (P = 0.003). On Day 1, the pre-STPS temperature was higher than the post-STPS temperature on the shoulder (P = 0.015), arm (P = 0.001), and forearm (P = 0.010). On Day 0, the temperature decrease after STPS in females was greater than in males on the forearm (P = 0.039). On Day 1, a greater temperature decrease was found amongst females compared with males at the shoulder (P = 0.018), arm (P = 0.046), and forearm (P = 0.005). Conclusions: These findings indicate that sympathetic vasomotor responses contribute to expand pressure-induced referred pain, especially among females.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2023

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the everyday use of face masks massively increased to prevent the spread of infection. Many people complain of ear pain and erosion when wearing a mask for extended periods of time. If prolonged mask usage is uncomfortable for ordinary people, a question arises-how much more inconvenient must mask wearing be for patients with a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) donor site in the retroauricular region? Herein, we evaluated complications related to face mask use in 27 patients with a retroauricular FTSG donor site, with the goal of clarifying whether the retroauricular region is still an appropriate FTSG donor site in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Complications in 27 patients treated by FTSGs harvested from the retroauricular region from 2019 to 2021 were investigated. A questionnaire comparing the normal and the operated sides was administered. Pain, itching, soreness, deformity, and symmetry were further investigated. Results: Pain and itching were the only observed complications. The operated side was slightly more painful than the normal side in four patients (14.8%), and four patients (14.8%) reported itching on the operated side. However, all patients who experienced complications stated that the pain or itching did not interfere with mask wearing. Most symptomatic patients were older than 60 years of age (23.8%, p= 0.185) and wore masks for longer periods of time (28.5%, p= 0.326). Conclusion: Few retroauricular donor site-related complications occurred, and none of these complications caused inconvenience in daily life. Therefore, in the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the retroauricular region as an FTSG donor site remains appropriate.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.66-79
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• 2007

Objectives : To explore the type and frequency of short term reactions, de Qi associated with acupuncture treatment and to determine the incidence of adverse events following acupuncture in Korea. Subjects and methods : This study is a retrospective and cross-sectional survey of patient reports. 1095 subjects, 585 of out-patients of the Oriental Medicine of Stroke & Neurological Disorders Center, East-West NEO Medical Center of Kyunghee University and 510 of out-patients of the Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stoke Center), Hospital of Oriental Medicine, Kyunghee Medical Center, from June through November of 2006, who had acupuncture, gave informed consent and completed one survey form. On this form, patients were asked to report short term acupuncture reactions, de Qi, patient satisfaction measurement (using VAS), and adverse events relating to acupuncture treatment. The acupuncturists of this study are Korean Medicine Doctors (KMD) who had worked as practitioners for 3-30 years or more. Results : The average age of the 1095 subjects was 58 years old. Positive short term acupuncture reactions after treatment were reported by 878 (80.2%), negative short term acupuncture reactions by 75 (6.8%) and no reactions were reported by 142 (13.0%). The most common positive short term acupuncture reactions were feeling 'relaxed', 472 (43.1%), followed by feeling 'less pain' 90 (8.2%), 'energized' 16 ( 1.5%), 'tingling' 16 (1.5%), 'heat feeling or Cold feeling' 10 (0.9%), and others 274 (25.0%), respectively. Negative short term acupuncture reactions were feeling 'pain' 37 (3.4%), tiredness 24 (2.2%), dizziness 9 (0.8%), and others 5 (0.2%), respectively. Traditionally described needling sensations of de Qi refer to a patient's response to distention, pulling, soreness, heaviness, numbness. 39.7% of subjects reported de Qi during needling, experiencing 'distention' 333 (30.4%), 'soreness' 52 (4.7%), 'pulling' 22 (2.0%), 'heaviness' 18 (1.6%), and 'numbness' 10 (0.9%) respectively. Positive short term acupuncture reactions and de Qi rate were the highest in the less than 40 years group (83/96 86.5%, 50/96 52.1%). No acupuncture reactions were highly seen in the over 70 years old group (31/187, 16.6%). Patient satisfaction level using VAS was a comparatively high $72.9{\pm}19.9$. Adverse events were only bleeding in 92 (8.4%) of the total subjects. High sensitive acupoints were 95 points as GV26 (54 times), LI4 (54 times), ST36 (53 times), GB20 (37 times), HT8(34 times), LV3 (29 times), SI3 (29 times), and LI11 (27 times) in order. Main impressions were stroke patients 430 (16.9%), headache 185 (16.9%), hypertension 97 (8.9%), and dizziness 85 (7.8%). Conclusions : Although 8 different Korean Medicine Doctors participated in this research, we obtained similar results from each. There were no significantly different results between the two hospitals. Short term acupuncture reactions and de Qi were most related to age. Except for bleeding there were no adverse events relating to acupuncture treatment in this study. We consider acupuncture treatment as very safe depending on practitioners. Positive short term acupuncture reactions after treatment were 12 times higher than negative short term acupuncture reactions. Subjects were comparatively satisfied with acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.645-653
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to develop a Pulsed Magnetic Fields(PMFs) system which can produce effects locally and simulate muscular tissues equally. To evaluate the PMFs system we caused DOMS(Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) to subjects in biceps of the arm. Then, we stimulated acupoint HT2 using PMFs(20 minutes) and TEAS(20 minutes) for 2 days. The other subjects did not stimulate. Then we checked body surface temperature in biceps of the arm. All subjects had an asymmetrical body surface temperature in biceps after exercise(Non-stimulation group=$2.00{\pm}1.16^{\circ}C$, TEAS group=$1.73{\pm}0.52^{\circ}C$, PMFs group=$1.48{\pm}0.51^{\circ}C$). After 1st stimulation all subjects had decreased temperature differences(Non-stimulation group=$1.37{\pm}0.71^{\circ}C$, TEAS group=$1.08{\pm}0.43^{\circ}C$, PMFs group=$1.23{\pm}0.15^{\circ}C$). PMFs group had a symmetry body surface temperature after 24 hours($0.05{\pm}0.06^{\circ}C$) and TEAS group had that after 48 hours($0.1{\pm}0.08^{\circ}C$). Non-stimulation group did not recovery after 48 hours($0.37{\pm}0.06^{\circ}C$). Therefore, PMFs on acupoint had an therapeutic effect in DOMS.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.37-47
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• 2013

PURPOSE : Club dance is one of the most popular cultures worldwide and is getting popular in Korea over time. However, club still has negative awareness in the country due to the media spreading only harmful aspects of club culture. At any rate, nowadays many young aged people can easily have chances to experience clubs so we tried to find out the bad effects caused by clubs. METHOD : We conducted a survey and the number of participants who agreed to participate in this survey was 500, including both men and women. There are a total of 50 questions in the questionnaire form used by this study and the questions were divided into three categories: general(18), psychologic-related(7), social-cultural(9), and physical-related(16) questions. Data collected for this study was analyzed via frequency analysis using SPSS. RESULT : In our survey, most students who had already experienced the club culture tend to go to club once or twice a month, and they answered that they would feel bored if they were nor able to do so. In terms of social life, most respondents said that they had lower efficiency in working and studying the next day after going to clubs because of fatigue. In physical aspect, club users use then pelvis and lower back a lot while dancing. The respondents answered that they experienced muscle soreness, a loss in weight, and changes in their body as a consequence of intense dancing. They complaint pain mostly in lower limbs, so we could find out the fact that legs were primarily used for the club dance. CONCLUSION : To sum up, the club culture in undergraduate students affects on their daily living and body, and also has good effects as well as bad ones. Therefore, we need to look at the club culture positively and to improve bad effects of club culture.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.38-41
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• 2007

Increased risk of gastric cancer has been reported in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis that develops in conjunction with pernicious anemia. We report here a case of a gastric adenocarcinoma associated with pernicious anemia. A 40-year-old female patient had been diagnosed with anemia 6 years earlier at a local hospital. One month ago, she visited our hospital for aggravated dizziness and newly developed epigastric soreness. Her blood hemoglobin level was 4.2 g/dl, and a gastroscopic work-up for anemia discovered a 2.5-cm-sized, slightly elevated mucosal lesion at the anterior wall of the high body in the stomach. The biopsy of this lesion revealed a moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma. She underwent a total gastrectomy with a Roux en Y esophagojejunostomy with D2 lymph node dissection. The final stage of the gastric carcinoma was identified as T1N0M0. Based on this experience, we recommend that a follow-up gastroscopy be performed in patients with pernicious anemia with atrophic gastritis because of the increased risk of gastric cancer in patients with pernicious anemia.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.204-209
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• 2008

Purpose: The goal of this study was to review the clinicopathologic characteristics of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the stomach. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 13 patients who were diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor from January 1999 to August 2007 at Kosin Medical Center; 4,159 gastric cancer patients were treated surgically during the same time. The average follow up period was 14.3 months. Results: The majority of 13 patients were men (male-female ratio: 11:2) and the average age of patients with NET was 59.4 years (range: 42~72 years). The presenting symptoms were mostly epigastric pain and soreness. The tumor was limited to the mucosa or submucosa in two cases, and the tumor extended beyond the muscle layer in 11 cases. The mean size of the tumor was 7.0 cm, ranging from 0.7 cm to 15 cm. The type of the NEC (according to the WHO classification) was type 3 for eight patients, type 4 for four patients and type 1 for one patient. Regional lymph node metastasis was noted in 11 patients. Four cases showed recurrence of disease and the site of recurrence included liver in two patients, multiple organs (including the peritoneum and lung) in one patient and multiple organs (including liver, pancreas and duodenum) in one patient. The recurrent cases were type 3 and type 4 and the average survival period of the recurrent patients was 12.8 months. Conclusion: The majority of neuroendocrine tumors of the stomach were at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. These tumors frequently recurred in the liver and they have a poor prognosis.