• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.298-305
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• 2023

Burkitt's lymphoma is a distinct subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma originating from B-cells that is notorious for its aggressive growth and association with immune system impairments, potentially resulting in rapid and fatal outcomes if not addressed promptly. Optimizing the use of Food and Drug Administration-approved medications, such as combining known safe drugs, can lead to time and cost savings. This method holds promise in accelerating the progress of novel treatments, ultimately facilitating swifter access for patients. This study explores the potential of a dual-targeted therapeutic strategy, combining the bruton tyrosine kinase-targeting drug Ibrutinib and the epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-targeting drug Lapatinib. Ramos and Daudi cell lines, well-established models of Burkitt's lymphoma, were used to examine the impact of this combination therapy. The combination of Ibrutinib and Lapatinib inhibited cell proliferation more than using each drug individually. A combination treatment induced apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phases. This approach is multifaceted in its benefits. It enhances the efficiency of the drug development timeline and maximizes the utility of currently available resources, ensuring a more streamlined and resource-effective research process.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.117-127
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• 2023

Purpose: No consensus currently exists regarding the maximal pressure of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy performed within 24 hours of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in therapeutic effects according to the first HBO₂ pressure (3.0 atmospheres absolute [ATA] vs. 2.8 ATA). Methods: We used prospectively collected registry data on CO poisoning at a tertiary academic hospital in the Republic of Korea. Adult patients with acute CO poisoning treated with HBO₂ within 24 hours after arrival at the emergency department and without the use of additional HBO₂ after 24 hours between January 2007 and February 2022 were included. Data from 595 patients were analyzed using propensity score matching (PSM). Patients with mild (non-intubated) and severe (intubated) poisoning were also compared. Neurocognitive outcomes at 1 month after CO poisoning were evaluated using the Global Deterioration Scale combined with neurological impairment. Results: After PSM, the neurocognitive outcomes at 1-month post-CO exposure were not significantly different between the 2.8 ATA (110 patients) and 3.0 ATA (55 patients) groups (p=1.000). Similarly, there was also no significant difference in outcomes in a subgroup analysis according to poisoning severity in matched patients (165 patients) (mild [non-intubated]: p=0.053; severe [intubated]: p=1.000). Conclusion: Neurocognitive sequelae at 1 month were not significantly different between HBO₂ therapy pressures of 2.8 ATA and 3.0 ATA in patients with acute CO poisoning. In addition, the 1-month neurocognitive sequelae did not differ significantly between intubated and non-intubated patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.239-248
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• 2024

Radiation therapy uses high energy, which can have side effects on the human body. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the appropriate dose is set for irradiation and to have confidence in the radiation produced by the generator. The EPR/Alanine dosimetry system is characterized by water equivalence, dose response linearity, and low fading, which makes it useful for quality control of radiation therapy equipment. In this study, we compared the signal and dose response curves of EPR/Alanine dosimetry by mass of alanine using 6 MV energy of a LINAC. An alanine dosimeter and EPR spectrometer from Burker, and a LINAC from Elekta, were used. A dose response curve and a 1st order regression equation were constructed from the irradiated dose and the EPR signal from the alanine dosimeter. We compared the signal magnitude and dose response curve with mass and checked the confidence through the measurement uncertainty of the dose response curve. As a result, it was found that the magnitude of the EPR signal increased by about 1.3 times at 64.5 mg, and the sensitivity of the dose response curve increased as the mass increased. The measurement uncertainty was evaluated to be between 5.84 % and 8.93 %. Through this study, it is expected that the EPR/alanine dosimetry system can be applied to the quality assurance and quality control of a LINAC.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.170-178
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• 2024

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are capable of differentiation into multiple lineages of cells, which has attracted attention for clinical therapy. However, ADSCs have poor proliferation capacity and a short life span in culture, which is an impediment in the application to clinical use. Previously, to overcome growth disadvantages, we had established an immortalized ADSC line (ADSC-T) by introducing the SV40 T antigen coding gene into primary human ADSC. In the present study, we evaluated the differentiation potential of this cell line and assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of its conditioned medium (CM). ADSC-T appeared to maintain the differentiation potential into adipocyte and chondrocyte. The CM of ADSC-T suppressed the NF-κB activity and its target gene expression of COX-2 and iNOS. Furthermore, the phosphorylations of MAPKs, including ERK, JNK and p38, were suppressed by the ADSC-T CM. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-13 were also suppressed by the CM of ADSC-T. In the Nc/Nga atopic model mice, the CM showed therapeutic effect on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis. These results indicate that the immortalized ADSC-T maintains the beneficial properties of primary ADSC and could be a versatile cell source for not only research into ADSC but also for production of CM suitable for clinical application.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.14-20
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• 2024

Objectives: Frozen shoulder (FS) is one of the most challenging shoulder disorders for patients and clinicians. Its symptoms mainly include any combination of stiffness, nocturnal pain, and limitation of active and passive glenohumeral joint movement. Conventional treatment options for FS are physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injection therapy, and arthroscopic capsular release, but adverse and limited effects continue to present problems. As a result, pharmacoacupuncture (PA) is getting attention as an alternative therapy for patients with FS. PA is a new form of acupuncture treatment in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) that is mainly used for musculoskeletal diseases. It has similarity and specificity compared to corticosteroid injection and hydrodilatation, making it a potential alternative injection therapy for FS. However, no systematic reviews investigating the utilization of PA for FS have been published. Therefore, this review aims to standardize the clinical use of PA for FS and validate its therapeutic effect. Methods: The protocol was registered in Prospero (CRD42023445708) on 18 July 2023. Until Aug. 31, 2023, seven electronic databases will be searched for randomized controlled trials of PA for FS. Authors will be contacted, and manual searches will also be performed. Two reviewers will independently screen and collect data from retrieved articles according to predefined criteria. The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and secondary outcomes will be effective rate, Constant-Murley Score, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, range of motion, quality of life, and adverse events. Bias and quality of the included trials will be assessed using the Cochrane handbook's risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Meta analyses will be conducted using Review Manager V.5.3 software. GRADE will be used to evaluate the level of evidence for each outcome. Results: This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted following PRISMA statement. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Conclusion: This review will provide scientific evidence to support health insurance policy as well as the standardization of PA in clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• 제84권6호
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• pp.1339-1349
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• 2023

Purpose To determine the efficacy and safety of iliac branch device (IBD) implantation and to evaluate its limitations based on 7 years of experience in a single center. Materials and Methods This single-center study included patients with bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms (CIAAs). We investigated follow-up CT and reviewed the internal iliac artery (IIA) patency and complications related to IBD. A retrospective analysis was performed and the overall survival rate and freedom from reintervention rate were reported according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Of the 38 patients with CIAAs, only 10 (12 CIAAs) were suitable for IBD treatment. Five patients underwent unilateral IBD insertion with contralateral IIA embolization, and three (60%) showed claudication; however, symptoms resolved within 6 months. The 7-year freedom from IBD-related reintervention rate was 77.8%. No procedure-related deaths occurred. Conclusion IBD has good technical success and long-term patency rates; however, anatomical factors frequently limit its application, particularly in Asians. Additionally, unilateral IIA embolization showed relatively mild complications and a good prognosis; therefore, it can be performed safely for anatomically complex aortoiliac aneurysms.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.27-40
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• 2024

Objective : This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the assessment tools used to assess the housing environment of older adults. Methods : Data were collected from January 2015 to August 31st, 2023, by searching databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and ProQuest. From the 267 articles, nine assessment tools were selected for analysis based on their original instruments. These tools were categorized and systematically organized for analysis based on their frequency of use, assessment purposes, sub-domains, scales, and other relevant criteria. Results : Among the nine tools, HOME FAST and IPAQ-E were the most frequently used (20% each). The objectives of these tools are to assess friendliness, physical barriers, fall prevention, dementia-friendly environments, physical activity, and accessibility. The measurement scope encompassed various factors, such as outdoor spaces, buildings, transportation, housing, and community support. Conclusion : When considering the suitability of housing for the older adults population, providing foundational data for the rational selection of evaluation tools with logical validity is important. This includes factors such as the objectives and measurement scopes of housing environment assessment tools.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.69-84
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• 2024

Objective : This study aimed to categorize the lifestyles of older adults into two types - healthy and unhealthy, and use machine learning to identify the personal values that influence these lifestyles. Methods : This cross-sectional study targeting middle-aged and older adults (55 years and above) living in local communities in South Korea. Data were collected from 300 participants through online surveys. Lifestyle types were dichotomized by the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile (YLP)-Active, Balanced, Connected, and Diverse (ABCD) responses using latent profile analysis. Personal value information was collected using YLP-Values (YLP-V) and analyzed using machine learning to identify the relative importance of personal values on lifestyle types. Results : The lifestyle of older adults was categorized into healthy (48.87%) and unhealthy (51.13%). These two types showed the most significant difference in social relationship characteristics. Among the machine learning models used in this study, the support vector machine showed the highest classification performance, achieving 96% accuracy and 95% area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The model indicated that individuals who prioritized a healthy diet, sought health information, and engaged in hobbies or cultural activities were more likely to have a healthy lifestyle. Conclusion : This study suggests the need to encourage the expansion of social networks among older adults. Furthermore, it highlights the necessity to comprehensively intervene in individuals' perceptions and values that primarily influence lifestyle adherence.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.325-335
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: The number of sensitized heart failure patients on waiting lists for heart transplantation (HTx) is increasing. Using the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY), a nationwide multicenter database, we investigated the prevalence and clinical impact of calculated panel-reactive antibody (cPRA) in patients undergoing HTx. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 813 patients who underwent HTx between 2014 and 2021. Patients were grouped according to peak PRA level as group A: patients with cPRA ≤10% (n= 492); group B: patients with cPRA >10%, <50% (n=160); group C patients with cPRA ≥50% (n=161). Post-HTx outcomes were freedom from antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), acute cellular rejection, coronary allograft vasculopathy, and all-cause mortality. Results: The median follow-up duration was 44 (19-72) months. Female sex, re-transplantation, and pre-HTx renal replacement therapy were independently associated with an increased risk of sensitization (cPRA ≥50%). Group C patients were more likely to have longer hospital stays and to use anti-thymocyte globulin as an induction agent compared to groups A and B. Significantly more patients in group C had positive flow cytometric crossmatch and had a higher incidence of preformed donor-specific antibody (DSA) compared to groups A and B. During follow-up, group C had a significantly higher rate of AMR, but the overall survival rate was comparable to that of groups A and B. In a subgroup analysis of group C, post-transplant survival was comparable despite higher preformed DSA in a desensitized group compared to the non-desensitized group. Conclusions: Patients with cPRA ≥50% had significantly higher incidence of preformed DSA and lower freedom from AMR, but post-HTx survival rates were similar to those with cPRA <50%. Our findings suggest that sensitized patients can attain comparable post-transplant survival to non-sensitized patients when treated with optimal desensitization treatment and therapeutic intervention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• 제5권5호
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• pp.303-308
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• 2011

Background/Aims : The increasing use of diagnostic and therapeutic interventional radiology calls for greater consideration of radiation exposure risk to radiologist and radiological technician, and emphasizes the proper system of radiation protection. This study was designed to assess the effect of a protective grass shield. Methods : A protective grass was following data depth, 0.8 cm; width, 100 cm; length, 100 cm, lead equivalent, 1.6 mmPb. The protective shield was located between the patient and the radiologist. Thirty patients (13 male and 17 female) undergoing interventional radiology between September 2010 and December 2010 were selected for this study. The dose of radiation exposure was recorded with or without the protective grass shield at the level of the head, chest, and pelvis. The measurement was made at 50 cm and 150 cm from the radiation source. Results : The mean patient age was 69 years. The mean patient height and weight was $159.7{\pm}6.7$ cm and $60.3{\pm}5.9$ kg, respectively. The mean body mass index (BMI) was $20.5{\pm}3.0$ kg/m2. radiologists received $1530.2{\pm}550.0$ mR/hr without the protective lead shield. At the same distance, radiation exposure was significantly reduced to $50.3{\pm}85.2$ mR/hr with the protective lead shield (p-value<0.0001). The radiation exposure to radiologist and radiological technician was significantly reduced by the use of a protective lead shield (p value <0.0001). The amount of radiation exposure during interventional radiology was related to the patient' BMI (r=0.749, p=0.001). Conclusions : This protective shield grass is effective in protecting radiologist and radiological technician from radiation exposure.