• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1256-1261
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• 2021

Rubus coreanus Miquel (bokbunja), Korean black raspberry, is known to possess various phytochemicals that exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, most studies on Rubus coreanus Miquel have been performed with the solvent extracts and/or a single component to demonstrate the efficacy, while studies evaluating the effect of the whole fructus of Rubus coreanus Miquel are limited. In this study, therefore, we employed the isoproterenol (IPN)-induced myocardial infarction model and investigated the effect of freeze-dried powder of Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCP) on oxidative stress and prevention of organ damage. Oral administration of RCP reduced the level of toxicity markers, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) without affecting body weight and diet intake. The oxidative stress marker glutathione (GSH) increased about 45% and malonaldehyde (MDA) decreased about 27% compared to the IPN group with RCP-H (3%) administration. By histological analysis, IPN induced significant myocardial damage in the heart and vascular injury in the liver, and RCP administration ameliorated the damages in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, RCP activated the antioxidant system leading to prevention of damage to organs by IPN in rats, making it possible to expect beneficial efficacies by consuming the whole fructus of Rubus coreanus Miquel.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.122-122
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• 2019

Protaetia brevitarsis (PB) extracts has been traditionally used as medicinal stuff to treat blood stasis, occlusion of menstruation, tetanus and liver cancer in Asian countries (Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, India and Myanmar). Especially, Donguibogam, which is traditional korean medicinal book, described the PB extracts as traditional medicine to treat hepatic diseases and vascular disorders. The PB extracts has been considered as highly nutritional food. The major constituents of PB extracts are rich in protein, healthy fats, iron, calcium. Recent studies announced that PB extracts has hepatoprotective effect and anti-microbacterial effect. However, the effect of PB on ulcerative colitis has not been uncovered yet. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of PB extracts in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model. Cytotoxicity of PB was determined by MTT assay and the antiinflammatory effect of PB extract was investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production. PB extracts did not show any cytotoxicity. AIso, PB extracts supressed NO production in LPS-stimulated mice peritoneal macrophages. To determine whether PB could be an effective treatment on ulcerative colitis, DSS was administered in BALB/c mice for 10 days. PB extract significantly improved the clinical signs of DSS-induced UC, including body weight loss, colon length shortening, and disease activity index increase, with histological markers of colon injury. These findings indicated the possibility of PB as a therapeutic agent on ulcerative colitis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.397-402
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• 2018

Purpose: Transcatheter device closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is challenging in early infancy. We evaluated PDA closure in infants less than 6 months old. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of infants less than 6 months of age who underwent attempted transcatheter device closure in our institution since 2004. To compare clinical outcomes between age groups, infants aged 6-12 months in the same study period were reviewed. Results: A total of 22 patients underwent transcatheter PDA closure during the study period. Patient mean age was $3.3{\pm}1.5months$, and weight was $5.7{\pm}1.3kg$. The duct diameter at the narrowest point was $3.0{\pm}0.8mm$ as measured by angiography. The most common duct type was C in the Krichenko classification. Procedural success was achieved in 19 patients (86.3%). Major complications occurred in 5 patients (22.7%), including device embolization (n=1), acquired aortic coarctation (n=2), access-related vascular injury requiring surgery (n=1), and acute deterioration requiring intubation during the procedure (n=1). Two patients had minor complications (9.1%). Twenty-four infants aged 6-12 months received transcatheter device closure. The procedural success rate was 100%, and there were no major complications. The major complication rate was significantly higher in the group less than 6 months of age (P=0.045). There was a trend toward increased major complication and procedural failure rates in the younger age group (P<0.01). Conclusion: A relatively higher incidence of major complications was observed in infants less than 6 months of age. The decision regarding treatment modality should be individualized.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.455-461
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• 2019

Background Various surgical management methods have been proposed for ischial sore reconstruction, yet it has the highest recurrence rate of all pressure ulcer types. A novel approach combining the advantages of a perforator-based fasciocutaneous flap and a muscle flap is expected to resolve the disadvantages of previously introduced surgical methods. Methods Fifteen patients with ischial pressure ulcers with chronic osteomyelitis or bursitis, who underwent reconstructive procedures with an inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) fasciocutaneous flap and a split inferior gluteus maximus muscle flap from January 2011 to June 2016, were analyzed retrospectively. The split muscle flap was rotated to obliterate the deep ischial defect, managing the osteomyelitis or bursitis, and the IGAP fasciocutaneous flap was rotated or advanced to cover the superficial layer. The patients' age, sex, presence of bursitis or osteomyelitis, surgical details, complications, follow-up period, and ischial sore recurrence were reviewed. Results All ischial pressure ulcers were successfully reconstructed without any flap loss. The mean duration of follow-up was 12.9 months (range, 3-35 months). Of 15 patients, one had a recurrent ulcer 10 months postoperatively, which was repaired by re-advancing the previously elevated fasciocutaneous flap. Conclusions The dual-flap procedure with an IGAP fasciocutaneous flap and split inferior gluteus maximus muscle flap for ischial pressure ulcer reconstruction is a useful method that combines the useful characteristics of perforator and muscle flaps, providing thick dual padding with sufficient vascularization while minimizing donor morbidity and vascular pedicle injury.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2020

Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is commonly performed to provide relief of pain caused by radiculopathy. Intra-arterial injection of particulate steroid or direct needle injury can lead to spinal artery embolism or thrombosis. Also there is a possibility of vascular spasm. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spinal cord infarction that occurred after TFESI with non-particulate steroid in Korea. A 47-year-old female patient underwent C7 TFESI at local pain clinic. Injected materials were dexamethasone and mepivacaine. Right after the intervention, she felt muscle weakness and decreased sensation. On physical examination, she had decreased sensation from C4 to T2 dermatome in light touch and pin-prick test. Proprioception and vibration were intact. The motor grades of upper extremities were grade 1. Cervical and thoracic spine MRI was checked. Diffusion-weighted image and apparent diffusion coefficient image showed long extension of spinal cord infarction from C2 to T1 level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2022

Background and Objectives Tracheostomy is a relatively safe procedure, and the recent emergence of COVID-19 has raised the need to perform tracheostomy immediately in the bed of an intensive care unit (ICU) rather than an operating room. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of complications related to surgical tracheotomy performed in the ICU by an ENT specialist. Materials and Method From March 2019 to January 2022, a total of 101 patients underwent tracheostomy in the ICU. Demographics and complications were classified according to postoperative period. Results Within 24 hours after the procedure, bleeding events were confirmed in 2 patients (2.0%) with mild bleeding. One case (1.0%) of ventricular fibrillation occurred shortly after the procedure. There were no complications from 24 hours to 1 week after procedure. After one week, 4 patients (4.5%) had a local infection, and 3 patients (3.4%) had a tube obstruction. During all follow-up periods, there were no serious side effects such as death, major vascular injury, pneumothroax. No complications were observed throughout the entire period in 6 COVID-19 patients. Conclusion The number of complications of surgical tracheotomy in the ICU performed by a specialist was lower than in previous studies, and there were no complications that delayed treatment or endangered life. The ENT training hospitals should provide sufficient training opportunities for residents to perform surgical tracheostomy and strive to minimize complications associated with the procedure and pre- and post-operative management under the detailed guidance and supervision of specialists.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2017

Although laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is considered as minimally invasive surgery, an advanced level of laparoscopic skill is still required. LPD comprises various procedures including reconstruction. Therefore, establishment of a safe approach at each step is needed. Prevention of intraoperative bleeding is the most important factor in safe completion of LPD. The establishment of effective retraction methods is also important at each site to prevent vascular injury. I also recommend the "uncinate process first" approach during initial cases of LPD, in which the branches of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery are dissected first, at points where they enter the uncinate process. This approach is performed at the left side of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) before isolating the pancreatic head from the right aspect of the SMA, which allows safe dissection without bleeding. Safe and reliable reconstruction is also important to prevent postoperative complications. Laparoscopic pancreatojejunostomy requires highly skilled suturing technique. Pancreatojejunostomy through a small abdominal incision, as in hybrid-LPD, facilitates reconstruction. In LPD, the surgical view is limited. Therefore, we must carefully verify the position of the pancreaticobiliary limb. A twisted mesentery may cause severe congestion of the pancreaticobiliary limb following reconstruction, resulting in severe complications. We must secure the appropriate position of the pancreaticobiliary limb before starting reconstruction. We describe the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications and appropriate technique for safe performance of LPD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1216-1221
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• 2020

Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been increasingly used to obtain secondary resectability for locally advanced pancreatic cancers. Although most patients require biliary decompression, only a few studies have investigated the safety of biliary stenting with chemoradiotherapy. Herein, we report a rare case of delayed hemorrhage of the hepatic artery caused by biliary stenting after chemoradiotherapy. The serial follow-up CT demonstrated that the biliary stent was approaching the right hepatic artery and eventually caused acute angulation and indentation. Diagnostic catheter angiography revealed contrast extravasation at the right hepatic artery, and endovascular embolization was performed. This report highlights the relevance of anatomical deformation after chemoradiotherapy, which can result in fatal complications. Indentation of the hepatic artery caused by biliary stents should be recognized as a warning sign of vascular injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.208-211
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• 2024

Intraneural hematoma is a rare disease that results in an impaired nerve function because of bleeding around the peripheral nerve, with only 20 cases reported. Trauma, neoplasm, and bleeding disorders are known factors for intraneural hematoma. However, here we report atypical features of asymptomatic and spontaneous intraneural hematoma which are difficult to diagnose. A 60-year-old woman visited our clinic with the complaint of a palpable mass on the right calf. She reported no medical history or trauma to the right calf and laboratory findings showed normal coagulopathy. Ultrasonography was performed, which indicated hematoma near saphenous vein and sural nerve or neurogenic tumor. We performed surgical exploration and intraneural hematoma was confirmed on sural nerve. Meticulous paraneuriotomy and evacuation was performed without nerve injury. Histological examination revealed intraneural hematoma with a vascular wall. No neurologic symptoms were observed. In literature review, we acknowledge that understanding anatomy of nerve, using ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool and surgical decompression is key for intraneural hematoma. Our case report may help establish the implications of diagnosis and treatment. Also, we suggested surgical treatment is necessary even in cases that do not present symptoms because neurological symptoms and associated symptoms may occur later.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.576-587
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• 2009

Background: The up-regulation of the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway might be involved in the change of vascular reactivity in rats 3 days after they suffer acute myocardial infarction. However, the underlying mechanism for this has not been clarified. Material and Method: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 min (Group AMI), whereas the sham-operated control rats were treated similarly without LAD occlusion (Group SHAM), The concentration-response relationships for phenylephrine (PE), KCl, acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were determined in the endothelium intact E(+) and endothelium denuded E(-) thoracic aortic rings from the rats 3 days after AMI or a SHAM operation. The concentration-response relationships of PE in the E(+) rings from the AMI rats were compared with those relationships in the rings pretreated with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. The plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations were checked via a Griess reaction. The cyclic GMP content in the thoracic aortic rings was measured by radioimmunoassay and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by real time PCR. Result: The mean infarct size (%) in the rats with AMI was $21.3{\pm}0.62%$. The heart rate and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly changed in the AMI rats. The sensitivity of the contractile response to PE and KCl was significantly decreased in both the E(+) and E(-) aortic rings of the AMI group (p<0.05). L-NAME completely reversed these contractile responses whereas indomethacin did not (p<0.05). Moreover, the sensitivity of the relaxation response to Ach was also significantly decreased in the AMI group (p<0.05). The plasma nitrite and nitrate content (p<0.05), the basal cGMP content (p<0.05) and the eNOS mRNA expression (p=0.056) in the AMI rats were increased as compared with the SHAM group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the increased eNOS activity and the up-regulation of the NO-cGMP pathway can be attributed to the decreased contractile or relaxation response in the rat thoracic aorta 3 days after AMI.