OBJECTIVE: Acupotomy is a modern acupuncture method that includes modern surgical methods. Since acupotomy is relatively more invasive than filiform acupuncture treatment, it is important to establish the safety profile of this practice. To justify further large-scale prospective observational studies, this preliminary study was performed to assess the feasibility of the approach and investigate the safety profile and factors potentially associated with adverse events (AEs). METHODS: This was a prospective pilot study that assessed the feasibility of a large-scale forthcoming safety study on acupotomy treatment in a real-world setting. The feasibility (call response rate, drop-out rate, response rate for each variable and recruitment per month) and safety profile (incidence, type, severity and causality of AEs, and factors potentially associated with AEs) were measured. RESULTS: A total of 28 participants joined the study from January to May 2018. A follow-up assessment was achieved in 258 (1185 treatment points) out of 261 sessions (1214 treatment points). The response rate via telephone on the day after treatment was 87.3%. There were 8 systemic AEs in all the sessions (8/258; 3.11%) and 27 local AEs on the total points treated (27/1185; 2.28%). Severe AEs did not occur. Total AE and local AE occurrence were associated with blade width and the number of needle stimulations per treatment point. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that it could be feasible to analyze the safety of acupotomy in a real-world setting. Moreover, the primary data on some relevant AEs could be determined. We are planning large-scale prospective studies based on these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) KCT0002849 (https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/11487).
Humans ; Feasibility Studies ; Prospective Studies ; Pilot Projects ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Research Design ; Treatment Outcome

In order to discover lifespan-extending compounds made from natural resources, activity-guided fractionation of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) ethanol extract was performed using the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model system. The compound 6-gingerol was isolated from the most active ethyl acetate soluble fraction, and showed potent longevity-promoting activity. It also elevated the survival rate of worms against stressful environment including thermal, osmotic, and oxidative conditions. Additionally, 6-gingerol elevated the antioxidant enzyme activities of C. elegans, and showed a dose-depend reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in worms. Further studies demonstrated that the increased stress tolerance of 6-gingerol-mediated worms could result from the promotion of stress resistance proteins such as heat shock protein (HSP-16.2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD-3). The lipofuscin levels in 6-gingerol treated intestinal worms were decreased in comparison to the control group. No significant 6-gingerol-related changes, including growth, food intake, reproduction, and movement were noted. These results suggest that 6-gingerol exerted longevity-promoting activities independently of these factors and could extend the human lifespan.
Caenorhabditis elegans* ; Caenorhabditis* ; Eating ; Ethanol ; Ginger* ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; Longevity* ; Natural Resources ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reproduction ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of lung cancer patients in Korea, where there is a higher number of smokers than in Western countries. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 1655 lung cancer patients, who were diagnosed at a university hospital between September 1996 and August 2005. Age, gender, cell types and clinical stage were analysed. Of 941 patients, who responded to a questionnaire at the time of diagnosis, the smoking habits, occupational history, family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives, coexisting diseases (diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease), body weight loss, ECOG performance status and presenting symptoms, were examined prospectively. In addition, coexisting diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and active pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 1655 patients, the male to females ratio was 3.6. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cancer whereas adenocarcinoma was more common in lifetime nonsmokers or women. 19.9% of the patients were non smokers and 80.1% ever smokers. Since 2000, there was an increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma with a corresponding decrease in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. 6.2% of patients were asymptomatic. A coincident diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made in: 44.1%, 22.2%, 10.7%, 3.9%, and 1.6% of patients, respectively. A positive family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives was identified in 4.4% of patients. An occupational history relevant to lung cancer was identified in 12.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: There is a high proportion of cigarette smokers in Korean lung cancer patients. The most common cell type was squamous cell carcinoma. However, a more detailed, prospective study of the clinical characteristics will be needed to better characterize lung cancer in Korea.
Adenocarcinoma ; Body Weight ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Tobacco Products ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND:Rocuronium is a non depolarizing muscle relaxant of rapid onset and of intermediate action duration. It is particularly suitable for short operation and rapid control airway. But, intravenous rocuronium cause pain and a withdrawal movement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous lidocaine on pain and withdrawal movement in patients receiving rocuronium. METHODS: The study was approved by our institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. One hundred and twenty patients, ASA physical status 1-2 undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgery were randomly enrolled. Allergy history to trial drug, chronic pain, pregnancy, patient on analgesics, difficult vein access and deeply sedated patients were excluded. Patients were not premedicated, and had a 20-18 G intravenous catheter inserted into a hand dorsum before operation. On arrival in the operation room, routine non-invasive monitors were placed and the free flow of intravenous fluid without edema, redness or hardness was confirmed. A subparalyzing dose of rocuronium 0.06 mg/kg (RS group) or vecuronium 0.01 mg/kg (VS group) was administered after 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl in one group, and a subparalyzing dose of rocuronium 0.06 mg/kg (RL group) or vecuronium 0.01 mg/kg (VL group) was administered after 2 ml of 2% lidocaine injection in a second group. All patients then received 5 mg/kg of 2.5% thiopental sodium and 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium (RS and RL group) or 0.1 mg/kg of vecuronium (VS and VL group). Muscle relaxant-induced pain and withdrawal movements were assessed using 4-grade scales (0-3). Vein redness was measured just after administration and vein hardness five minutes after intubation using 4-grade scales (0-3). RESULTS: Incidence of pain (8.2 times) and withdrawal movement (6.2 times) was more frequent in the rocuronium group than in the vecuronium group (P< 0.01). Lidocaine pretreatment decreased the incidence of pain significantly (5.7 times, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Rocuronium causes more pain and withdrawal movements than vecuronium. Lidocaine pretreatment significantly reduced the incidence and severity of pain, and withdrawal movements in both groups.
Analgesics ; Anesthesia, General ; Catheters ; Chronic Pain ; Edema ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Hand ; Hardness ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Informed Consent ; Intubation ; Lidocaine* ; Pregnancy ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Veins ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: The effect of substance P (SP) on the hyperalgesia induced by inflammation is controversial, and as SP remains in the periphery just for a short period of time after release from the nerve ending, the contribution of SP on the development of sustained mechanical hyperalgesia in rats with inflammation is questionable. The purpose of this experiment is to evaluate the effect of SP on the development of mechanical hyperalgesia induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) using SP antagonist [D-Arg, D-Phe, D-Trp, Leu]-substance P (SPA). METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups; control (normal saline) and three different doses of SPA (0.25 microgram, 2.5 microgram, 25 microgram/0.1 ml). Inflammation was induced in rats by injecting 0.15 ml of FCA intraplantarly. Rats showed typical hyperalgesia within 12 hours after injection and maintained it for about one week. To test the effect of SPA on the developement of inflammation, either SPA or saline was injected at 1 h before and at the time of FCA injection under light halothane anesthesia after a baseline test. The effect of SPA on hyperalgesia was assessed by measuring mechanical hyperalgesia at 2, 6, 12, 24 hrs and 4 days after injection of the drug. To test the effect of SPA on fully developed inflammation, tests were done 2 days after injection of FCA. Mechanical hyperalgesias were assessed at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after the drug injections. RESULTS: SPA injected to suppress the initial SP spill over decreased the mechanical hyperalgesia in a dose dependent manner. SPA injected after the full development of inflammation also decreased mechanical hyperalgesia. CONCLUSIONS: SP released at the initial phase of inflammation as well as SP released after the development of inflammation are all important for the maintainance of mechanical hyperalgesia.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Halothane ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia* ; Inflammation* ; Male ; Nerve Endings ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance P*

The facial contour deformity can cause significant handicaps in social life and a psychological stress to the patient. From January 1991 to November 1998, ten patients were operated on for correction of facial contour deformities with three types of free flap: deepithelialized scapular (n = 6), deepithelialized groin (n = 3) and omental free flap (n = 1). The distribution of diseases were Romberg's disease (n = 3), hemifacial microsomia (n = 2), facial lipodystrophy (n = 1), sequelae after surgery (n = 3) and post-traumatic deformity (n = 1). The patient ages ranged from 12 to 42 years. An incision was made at preauricular (n = 3) or submandibular area (n = 7). After making a subcutaneous pocket just above SMAS, the flap was placed within the pocket. The microvascular anastomosis was performed using superficial temporal vessel (n = 3) or facial vessel (n = 6) as a recipient. The flap margin was sutured to the fascia or periosteum and fixed by bolster sutures to reduce gravitational migration. There were no flap loss. Flap revisions consisting of minor contour corrections were performed in eight patients. A stable restoration of facial contour was achieved in all patients. Microvascular free tissue transfer has the advantages that it can be used on the irradiated bed and restore a large defect of facial contour. The deepithelialized groin free flap is suitable for correction of generalized defect of facial contour such as hemifacial microsomia because of its abundance of fatty tissue. In the deepithelialized scapular free flap, the dorsal thoracic fascia can be folded and tailored into variable width and thickness to correct subtle deformity of facial contour such as Romberg's disease or facial lipodystrophy. The omental free flap is not considered the first choice in facial contouring surgery as it requires laparotomy and has a greater tendency to gravitational migration.
Adipose Tissue ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Facial Hemiatrophy ; Fascia ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Goldenhar Syndrome ; Groin ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Lipodystrophy ; Periosteum ; Stress, Psychological ; Sutures

BACKGROUND: The effect of spinal nitric oxide (NO) on mechanical allodynia brought about by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced inflammation is not known. From our previous experiment nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor nitroG-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) given intraplantarly during the induction period decreased a mechanical hyperalgesia occurring because of FCA-induced inflammation. Therefore, we investigated the spinal effect of NO on mechanical allodynia after the development of allodynia produced by FCA-induced inflammation in rats. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were prepared with lumbar intrathecal catheter implantation. Inflammation was induced in the rats by injecting 0.1 ml of FCA under halothane anesthesia. Behavioral tests were done 1, 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after injection of FCA. In the other group, intrathecal L-NAME (10 microgram) was given prior to FCA injection to examine the effect of pretreatment. On postinjection day 2, either L-NAME (10 microgram) or methylene blue (10 and 30 microgram) was administered intrathecally after the baseline measurement. The withdrawal response on mechanical allodynia was assessed by applying von Frey filaments to the right lesioned hindpaw and contralateral paw (as control) at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. Sodium nitroprusside was administered intrathecally to determine the reversal effect of increased threshold in the L-NAME group. RESULTS: Injection of FCA produced a significant mechanical allodynia over time. Pretreatment with L-NAME did not prevent such a mechanical allodynia. Intrathecal L-NAME, but not methylene blue, reduced the mechanical allodynia, which was reversed by sodium nitroprusside. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal NO is likely invloved in the mechanism of the development and maintenance of mechanical allodynia in a state of FCA-induced inflammation.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Catheters ; Halothane ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia* ; Inflammation* ; Male ; Methylene Blue ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitroprusside ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: Henoch-Sch nlein purpura(HSP) is a common pediatric disease presenting most frequently with skin, gastrointestinal, joint and renal manifestations. The prognosis of HSP is mainly determined by the involvement of the kidney, but prognostic markers have not been established. We evaluated the patients who have HSP nephritis with nephrotic syndrome. METHOD: Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were observed and analyzed in 34 cases with HSP which were manifested by nephrotic syndrome, hospitalized at Kyung Hee university Hospital during the period from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1998. RESULTS: 1) Male to female ratio was 1.3:1, and mean age at onset was 8.3 year. 2) Mean duration from symptom onset to renal biopsy was 10.5 weeks. 3) Proportion of patients presenting with acute nephritis was 32.4%, gross hematuria 17.6%, microscopic hematuria 50%. 4) The findings of renal biopsy were 20 cases of grade II, 11 cases of grade III, 2 cases of grade I, 1 case of grade IV according to classification by ISKDC. 5) Patients with grade I were recovered with no residual defect, but patients with grade IV shows active renal disease(states C). CONCLUSION: Among the patients with Henoch-Sch nlein purpura accompanying nephrotic syndrome, more aggressive treatment might be needed in patients showing crescents formation on renal biopsy. A prospective study will be needed to explore the progression of this disease.
Biopsy ; Classification ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Joints ; Kidney ; Male ; Nephritis* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prognosis ; Purpura ; Skin

The author analyzed the r-CBF data of 19 patients who admitted to the Kyung Hee University Medical Center under the diagnosis of definite "Moyamoya" disease from 1983 to 1992. Seven of them were followed-up from 1 to 18 months. The results were as fllow : 1) In moyamoya disease patients, the mean hemispheric r-CBF has a tendency to be lower than that of healthy persons. 2) In moyamoya disease patients, the ipsilateral r-CBF also shows a tendency to be lower than that of contralateral side. 3) The 133Xe-inhalation method is one of useful methods to evaluate CBF in Moyamoya disease, especially for follow-up. 4) The results of follow-up study for Moyamoya disease by 133Xe-inhalation method corelate very well with the change in clinical status of the patients. 5) In Moyamoya disease patients, the follow-up by means of 133Xe-inhalation method is one of useful methods to select a good candidate for surgical treatment such as STA-MAC anastomosis.
Academic Medical Centers ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Moyamoya Disease*

The authors analyzed 105 cases of spinal cord tumor in regarding to the age, sex, location and distribution, clinical presentation and postoperative outcome. They were confirmed by pathologic study at the Kyung Hee Medical Cented from 1981 to 1991. The incidence of spinal cord tumors was slightly predominant in males. The most commom tumor was neurogenic tumor. The neurogenic tumor composed 43.8%(46 cases), and the rests were meningioma 15.2%(16 case), metstasis 10.5%(11 cases) and others. The tumor were located most frequently in the thoracic area(31.4%) and in the intradural extramedullary space(56.1%). Most common initial symptom of spinal cord tumors were pain and it's mean duration was 8.3 month. The patients were assigned to one of four groups according to their neurologic deficit. About 66.6%(70 cases) of the patients were included in Groups I and II(mild neurologic deficit), and others were classified in Groups III and IV(significant to severe neurologic deficit). Complete tumor removal was achieved in 70.4%(4 cases) of the patients, and subtotal removal was performed in 26.7%(28 cases), and biopsy was performed in 2.9%(3 cases). Among the 105 patients, the postoperative outcomes on dischage were recovery in 36 cases(34.3%), improved in 45 cases(42.9%), stationary state in 12 cases(11.4%), and progression in 12 cases(11.4%).
Biopsy ; Hospital Distribution Systems ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Meningioma ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; Spinal Cord*