Background: Laboratory animals remain critical to biomedical research, despite the increasing availability of alternative approaches. Indeed, scientists strive to reduce and refine and replace the use of laboratory animals, even in the face of public calls for ever-more stringent regulation for the protection and care of animals in research. This report outlines the current status and legal regulatory issues with regard to the procurement and use of animals for research in Korea. Results: The number of animals used for education and research purposes was increased nationwide, from 2.5 to 4.9 million in 2015 and 2021, respectively. When compared with figures from the UK, institutions in Korea were found to use more mammals such as mice and dogs. In our research, we identified three major issues concerning recent animal supply in Korea, particularly: (1) Purchase of dogs from unregistered animal supplier for a dog cloning project; (2) Purchase of dogs from an unclear source for veterinary education and training; (3) Illegal cat experiments using cats obtained from unauthorized routes. Conclusions Our findings support the notion that alternatives to laboratory animal research should be implemented. We conclude that improvements in the regulations and guidelines for animal suppliers, together with the recent introduction of legislation will improve animal safety and wellbeing of animals in laboratory research in Korea.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study. PURPOSE: To develop a methodological approach for conducting ultrasound-guided lumbar facet nerve block by defining essential ultrasound-guided landmarks in order to assess the feasibility of this method. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The current role of ultrasound guidance for musculoskeletal intervention treatments has been reported upon in previous literature. METHODS: Ultrasound-guided facet nerve block was done in 95 segments for 50 patients with chronic back pain by facet arthropathy. After the surface landmarks of the spinous process and iliac crest line were confirmed, longitudinal facet views were obtained by a curved array transducer to identify the different spinal segments. The spinous process and facet joint with transverse process were delineated by transverse sonograms at each level and the target point for the block was defined as lying on the upper edge of the transverse process. The needle was inserted toward the target point. After a contrast injection, the placement of the needle and contrast was checked by fluoroscopy. RESULTS: Eighty-seven segments (91.6%) could be guided successfully to the right facet nerve block by using ultrasound. After fluoroscopic control, 8 needles had to be corrected because of problems with other segments (3 cases) and lamina placements (5 cases). For the 42 patients who underwent successful block by ultrasound, however, the mean visual analogue score for back pain was improved from 6.2 +/- 0.9 before the block to 4.0 +/- 1.0 after the block (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided longitudinal facet view and the surface landmarks of the spinous process and iliac crest line seems to be a promising guidance technique for the lumbar facet nerve block technique.
Back Pain ; Deception ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Needles ; Nerve Block ; Prospective Studies ; Transducers ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Korean Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is currently facing some operational pressing issues. 1) Review of the animal protocol containing controversial technology. 2) Review of the multi-institution animal protocol. 3) Review of veterinary clinical trials for client-owned animals. 4) Delay in the review process in large institutions with a single IACUC. Here, the following three solutions are proposed to address the above issues. 1) Establishment of public IACUC. 2) Establishment of the Veterinary Clinical Study Committee as an advisory body to the IACUC. 3) Operating multiple committees rather than increasing the number of committee members on a single committee.

The purpose of this study is was to compare the color stability of alkasite and other restorative materials commonly used in the field of pediatric dentistry and to study a color change in response to various beverages. Test specimens of glass ionomer, resin modified glass ionomer, alkasite restorative material, and composite resin were prepared, and the color stability was measured after thermocycling. Each specimen was also subdivided into 5 groups and submerged in PBS, coffee, green tea, coke, and orange juice to analyze the color change from the original CIE L*a*b* values after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Composite resin showed the best color stability after thermocycling, followed by alkasite restorative material, glass ionomer, and resin modified glass ionomer. Submerging in various beverages for 7 days resulted in color change in all test specimens, with alkasite restorative material showing less color change than glass ionomer but greater change than composite resin. Alkasite restorative material showed the greatest color change in coffee, followed by green tea and orange juice, but almost no change in coke and PBS even after 28 days of submersion.

Background: The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) became compulsory in 2008 by the Animal Protection Act in Korea. Seoul National University (SNU), which conducts 5% of Korea’s total animal protocol reviews and uses 10% of national laboratory animal usage, has been influential in the review of animal protocols and management of animal facilities. This study was undertaken to suggest the operational improvement of the IACUC. It focused on the case of SNU. Results: The methodological framework consists of a qualitative approach. In particular, this study is focused on the grounded theory approach and sixty people were surveyed through purposeful sampling. Through this study, we found that various practical educations are necessary such as: (1) education for researchers on how to write a protocol, (2) standardization of screening criteria for various animal experiments by presenting various cases, (3) training on a detailed understanding of relevant laws and policies. In particular, an integrated management system, making it possible to share information among the related committees, would be essential for smoother operation of the IACUC. Conclusions If various levels of education and the integrated management system are established, it will be possible to enhance the excellence of researchers and to better manage the operation of the IACUC.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of virtual reality distraction on pain and anxiety in children during local anesthesia. Local anesthesia was administered to 3 groups: a control group without distraction, a group watching TV, and a group using a virtual reality device. The pulse rate and oxygen saturation rate were measured before and at the time of local anesthesia to assess the patients’ pain and anxiety, and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale was completed after local anesthesia.
The group using the virtual reality device had a significantly lower heart rate change and lower Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale score than those in the control group and the group watching TV (p < 0.05). The greatest difference in heart rate change and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale score, between the control and virtual reality distraction groups, was seen in 5 - 7-year-olds and a Frankl’s behavior rating scale grade of 3.
The virtual reality device alleviated pain and reduced anxiety in children during local anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary toxicity by bleomycin has multiple mechanisms including direct tissue toxicity due to oxygen-derived free radicals and indirect toxicity through amplification of pulmonary inflammation. To evaluate the effect of chelators or free radical scavenger to lung damage induced by bleomycin, penicillamine as a copper chelator, deferoxamine as an iron chelator and vitamin E as a free radical scavenger were administered. METHODS: Two hundred Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control, bleomycin treated, bleomycin-penicillamine treated, bleomycin-deferoxamine treated, and bleomycin-vitamin E treated groups. Rats sacrificed on day 1, day 3, day 4, day 7, day 14, and day 28 after treatment. Bronchoalveolar lavage, light microscopic and immunohistologic studies for type I, III, IV collagens, fibronectin, laminin and NBD phallicidin were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the total cell counts of bronchoalveolar lavage on day 1 from all treated animals and vitamin treated group showed an abrupt decrease in total cell counts with decrease of neutrophils on day 3. Bleomycin-vitamin E treated group had the least histologic changes such as pulmonary fibrosis. The alveolar basement membranes were positive for type IV collegen and laminin. Basement membranes of bleomycin, bleomycin-penicillamine, or bleomycin-deferoxamine treated groups were disrupted and fragmented on day 4 or 7. The bleomycin-vitamin E treated group had intact basement membranes until day 28. CONCLUSION: Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was related to the severity of acute injury to oxygen radicals or activation of neutrophils and disruption of basement membrane. Vitamin E seemed to be the most effective antioxidant in the inhibition of bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury and fibrosis.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Bleomycin ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cell Count ; Chelating Agents ; Collagen ; Copper ; Deferoxamine ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis* ; Free Radicals ; Iron ; Laminin ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Neutrophils ; Penicillamine ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Vitamin E* ; Vitamins*

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis (EGPA) should be considered in asthmatic patients who present with severe systemic symptoms and eosinophilia. Progressive renal insufficiency can occur during the acute phase of EGPA accompanied by renovascular involvement. A 58-year-old man visited local clinic with complaints of malaise, weight loss, fever, and dyspnea. Eosinophilia was revealed in peripheral blood. Pulmonary function tests were carried out, which yielded decreased lung function with positive bronchodilator response. Kidney and skin biopsies were performed, and histological examination showed acute necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis and leukoclastic vasculitis in the skin, which led to a diagnosis of EGPA (Churg-Strauss syndrome) associated with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The patient received pulse steroid therapy with parenteral methylprednisolone, followed by oral prednisolone. Clinical and laboratory findings improved dramatically, and remission was attained rapidly. The patient continued to be in remission for 5 months. Prompt and aggressive treatment with systemic corticosteroids is mandatory to control disease activity and to achieve remission.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Biopsy ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Fever ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lung ; Methylprednisolone ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone ; Renal Insufficiency ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Skin ; Vasculitis ; Weight Loss