• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2024

Purpose: Despite the high incidence of abdominal stab injuries, the rate of nontherapeutic laparotomies and the predictors of therapeutic laparotomies have rarely been studied in low-income settings. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study involved three of the largest academic medical centers in central Ethiopia. All patients who sustained an anterior abdominal stab injury and underwent exploratory laparotomy, regardless of the intraoperative findings, were included over the 3-year course of the study. Results: Of the 117 patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy, 35 patients (29.9%) underwent nontherapeutic laparotomies. Three factors predicted therapeutic laparotomy: hollow viscus evisceration (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-28.64; P=0.032), localized and generalized peritonitis (AOR, 4.77; 95% CI, 1.90-11.93; P=0.001), and white blood cell count ≥11,500/mm³ (AOR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.002-7.650; P=0.049). The overall positive predictive value of the therapeutic predictors was 80.2%, while the negative predictive value of all predictor-negative patients was 58.1%. The predictors would have prevented 51.4% of the nontherapeutic laparotomies. Conclusions: Close to one-third of the patients had a nontherapeutic laparotomy. The clinical predictors of therapeutic laparotomy were shown to have a high positive predictive value despite a lower negative predictive value. Further prospective studies that involve all patients who sustain anterior abdominal stab injuries are needed to potentially improve on the negative predictive value of the predictors suggested by our study.

• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2014

As the number of treatments in the therapeutic ultrasound field targeted at fat tissue increase, the performance of the equipment should be evaluated for safety using a fat phantom. In this study, a fat phantom was fabricated using olive oil and a tissue-mimicking material (TMM) phantom. To evaluate the acoustic properties of the TMM phantom according to the changes in the olive oil, the composition ratio of a liquid mixture of olive oil with a surfactant was adjusted from 5-20% in 5% steps. The acoustic properties of the phantom were evaluated using the sound velocity, attenuation coefficient, density, and acoustic impedance. The experimental results showed that the sound velocity decreased with increasing amount of olive oil but the other acoustic properties did not change. In addition, the phantom using an olive-oil mixture with a 15% composition ratio was most similar to the acoustic characteristics of fat tissue with a sound velocity of 1477.35 m/s, an attenuation coefficient of 0.514 dB/MHz-cm, a density of $1.07g/cm^3$, and an acoustic impedance of 1.575 MRayl. These experimental results are expected contribute to the accuracy of the results using a TMM phantom and will be useful for the therapeutic ultrasound field targeted at subcutaneous fat tissue.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2023

Background & Objectives: Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) offer advantages in adherence and cost-effectiveness compared to free combinations (FCs), but they can also complicate the prescribing process, potentially leading to therapeutic duplication (TD). This study aimed to identify the prescribing patterns of FDCs for dyslipidemia and investigate their associated risk of TD. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study involving drugs that included statins, using Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service-National Patient Sample (HIRA-NPS) data from 2018. The unit of analysis was a prescription claim. The primary outcome was TD. The risk ratio of TD was calculated and adjusted for patient, prescriber, and the number of cardiovascular drugs prescribed using a multivariable Poisson model. Results: Our study included 252,797 FDC prescriptions and 515,666 FC prescriptions. Of the FDC group, 46.52% were male patients and 56.21% were aged 41 to 65. Ezetimibe was included in 71.61% of the FDC group, but only 0.25% of the FC group. TD occurred in 0.18% of the FDC group, and the adjusted risk ratio of TD in FDC prescriptions compared to FC was 6. 44 (95% CI 5. 30-7. 82). Conclusions: Prescribing FDCs for dyslipidemia was associated with a higher risk of TD compared to free combinations. Despite the relatively low absolute prevalence of TD, the findings underline the necessity for strategies to mitigate this risk when prescribing FDCs for dyslipidemia. Our study suggests the potential utility of Clinical Decision Support Systems and standardizing nomenclature in reducing medication errors, providing valuable insights for clinical practice and future research.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5325-5329
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• 2015

Farnesiferol C is a natural compound with various anti-cancer properties that belongs to the class of sesquiterpene coumarins. However, the low bioavailability of farnesiferol C limits its therapeutic potential. Here, we overcame this problem utilizing dendrosome nano-particles and evaluated the anti-cancer effect of dendrosomal farnesiferol C (DFC) on the AGS gastric cancer cell line. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2,5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were respectively used to detect the anti-proliferative properties of DFC and expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 as a hallmark of apoptosis. Compared to the void farnesiferol C (FC), our data showed that DFC significantly suppresses the proliferation of AGS cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). Also, DFC meaningfully increased the expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in AGS cells (P<0.01). The findings demonstrate that our nano-based formulation of farnesiferol C could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent in cancer targeting.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2002

To clarify the therapeutic effect of aquapuncture therapy on bovine foot rot, the experimental cattle were divided into control (conventional treatment), aquapuncture and combined treatment groups. Each group was composed of 6 Holstein cows with bovine foot rot. In the present study, the change in grade of lameness, total leukocyte counts, N/L. ratio, mean recovery rates (days) and histopathological changes of interdigital tissue before and after treatment were evaluated. The grade of lameness was decreased by treatment in each group, with the decreasing in order of combined > aquapuncture > control group. In change of total peripheral blood leukocyte counts, the tendency of decrease was found. Significances were detected on 9th day (P < 0.05) in control, on 6th day (P < 0.01) in aquapuncture group, and on 3rd (P < 0.05) and 6th day (P < 0.05) in combined group, respectively. In addition, significances were detected on 3rd and 6th day in aquapuncture, and on 3rd day in combined group by comparison with that of control, respectively. N/L ratio was decreased by therapy in each group with the decreasing in order of combined > aquapuncture ) control group. Significances were detected on 6th day (P < 0.01) between aquapuncture and combined groups. The mean recovery rates(days) were rapid with the decreasing in order of combined > acuapuncture > control group. In histopathological findings of interdigital tissue, the findings of inflammation and hemorrhage were not observed after treatment in each group. In conclusion, it was thought that aquapuncture and combined therapy was very effective on treatment of bovine foot rot.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2022

This study was performed to determine the optimal ratio for preparing an extract comprising the Ecklonia cava and Hizikia fusiformis complex as a therapeutic material for alleviating inflammatory respiratory diseases. First, to examine the optimal ratio for preparing the complex (SD-EH), Ecklonia cava and Hizikia fusiformis extracts were used; four extracts with different mixing ratios were prepared. The effects of the SD-EH extract on MUC5AC mRNA expression in PMA-treated NCI-H292 cells were analyzed; it was confirmed that the MUC5AC expression was significantly reduced after treatment with the SD-EHA-001 (E(100) : H(0)), SD-EHB-001 (E(90) : H(10)), SD-EHC-001 (E(80) : H(20)), and SD-EHD-001 (E(70) : H(30)) extracts. Western blotting was used to determine whether the SD-EH extract affects the expression levels of COX-2 and MMP-9 in PMA-treated A549 cells. The protein expression levels of COX-2 and MMP-9 were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the cells treated with the SD-EHC-001 (E(80):H(20)), SD-EHD-001 (E(70) : H(30)), and SD-EHE-001 (E(60) : H(40) extracts than in the cells treated with PMA alone. The SD-EHC-001 (E(80) : H(20)) extract markedly downregulated the expression levels of MUC5AC, COX-2, and MMP-9. Therefore, the SE-EH extract may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for treating inflammatory respiratory diseases.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1993

We tried to establish the theoretical basis of clinical use of combined modality of hyperthermia and radiation therapy. For this purpose, we made an in vitro experiment in order to get the synergistic and/or additive effects on the cell killing of hyperthermia combined with radiation therapy by using the microwave-hyperthermia machine already installed at our department. In our experiment, we use two human cell lines: MKN-45 (adenocarcinoma of stomach) and K-562 (leukemia cell lines). In cases of combined treatments of hyperthermia and gamma-irradiation, the therapeutic effect was the highest in the simultaneous trial. Hyperthermia after gamma irradiation showed slightly higher therapeutic effect than that before irradiation without significant difference, but its effect was the same in the interval of 6 hours between hyperthermia and irradiation. The higher temperature and the longer treatment time were applied, the higher therapeutic effects were observed. We could observe the thermoresistance by time elapse at $43^{\circ}C$. When hyperthermia was done for 30 minutes at the same temperature, thermal enhancement ratio (TER) at DO. 01 (dose required surviving fraction of 0.01) were $2.5{\pm}0.08,\;3.75{\pm}0.18$, and $5.0{\pm}0.15\;at\;436{\circ}C,\;44^{\circ}C,\;and\;45^{\circ}C$ respectively in K-562 leukemia cell lines. Our experimental data showed that more cell killing effect can be obtained in the leukemia cell lines, although they usually are known to be radiosensitive, when treated with combined hyperthermia and radiation therapy. Furthermore, our data show that leukemia cell lines may have various intrinsic radiosensitivity, especially in vitro experiments. The magnitude of cell killing effect, however, will be less than that of MKN-45.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the correlation between the asymmetric ratio of occlusal force of the temporomandibular joint and the thickness of the middle scalene muscle. Methods: The study measured the occlusal force of the right and left temporomandibular joints in 30 subjects (12 males and 18 females). Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to examine the effect of occlusal force on the asymmetric ratio of the thickness of their middle scalene muscles by measuring the force using ultrasound after the break. Results: The correlation between the asymmetric ratio of occlusal force and muscle thickness is 0.41, according to Pearson's correlation coefficient. Therefore, the result shows a moderate correlation with the asymmetric ratio of the temporomandibular joint depending on differences in the thickness of the middle scalene muscle. Conclusion: Based on the above results, the asymmetric ratio of occlusal force was found to correlate with the thickness of the middle scalene muscle. Thus, therapeutic intervention is required for the middle scalene muscle in the case of temporomandibular joint disorder.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.936-941
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• 2010

The systematic approach to pharmacologic treatment is typically to begin with the safest, simplest, and most conservative measures. It has been realized that the more rapidly inflammation is under control, the less likely it is that there will be permanent sequelae. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the mainstay of initial treatment for inflammation. In addition, the slow-acting antirheumatic drugs (SAARDs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have efficacy of anti-inflammatory action in children with chronic arthritis. New therapeutic modalities for inflammation, such as etanercept and infliximab, promise even further improvements in the risk/benefit ratio of treatment. It is not typically possible at the onset of the disease to predict which children will recover and which will go on to have unremitting disease with lingering disability or enter adulthood with serious functional impairment. Therefore, the initial therapeutic approach must be vigorous in all children.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.242-246
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• 2012

The use of ionizing radiation (IR) is essential for treating many human cancers. However, radioresistance markedly impairs the efficacy of tumor radiotherapy. IR enhances the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a variety of cells which are determinant components in the induction of apoptosis. Much interest has developed to augment the effect of radiation in tumors by combining it with radiosensitizers to improve the therapeutic ratio. In the current study, the radiosensitizing effects of resveratrol and piperine on cancer cells were evaluated. Cancer cell lines treated with these natural products exhibited significantly augmented IR-induced apoptosis and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, presumably through enhanced ROS generation. Applying natural products as sensitizers for IR-induced apoptotic cell death offers a promising therapeutic approach to treat cancer.