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Recently, it has been suggested that isoflurane might reduce dopamine release from rat midbrain dopaminergic neurons, the neurobiological substrate implicated in the reinforcing effects of abused drugs and nondrug rewards. However, little is known about effects of isoflurane on neurobehavioral activity associated with chronic exposure to psychoactive substances.The present study was designed to investigate the effects of isoflurane on cocaine-reinforced behavior. Using behavioral paradigm in rats, we evaluated the effects of isoflurane on cocaine self-administration under fixed ratio (FR) and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. We also tested the effects of isoflurane on lever responding by nondrug reinforcers (sucrose and food) in drug-naive rats to control for the nonselective effects of isoflurane on cocaine- and nicotine-taking behavior. To further assess the ability of isoflurane to modulate the motivation for taking a drug, we evaluated the effects of isoflurane on nicotine self-administration. Using different groups of rats, the effects of isoflurane on the locomotor activity induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of cocaine (15 mg/kg) were also examined.Isoflurane significantly suppressed the self-administration of cocaine and nicotine without affecting food consumption. Unlike food-reinforced responding, responding for sucrose reinforcement was decreased by isoflurane. Isoflurane reduced breaking points under a PR schedule of reinforcement in a dose-dependent manner, indicating its efficacy in decreasing the incentive value of cocaine. Isoflurane also attenuated acute cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion.The results provided evidence that isoflurane decreases cocaine- and nicotine-reinforced responses, while isoflurane effect is not selective for cocaine- and nicotine-maintained responding. These results suggest that isoflurane inhibitions of cocaine- and nicotine-maintenance responses may be related to decreased effects of dopamine, and further investigation will need to elucidate this relationship.

Background: Acupotomy is a type of acupuncture where a scalpel-shaped needle (miniscalpel needle) is used instead of a normal acupuncture needle to exfoliate adhesion sites or to relax entrapped regions. This study aimed to identify the descriptive characteristics of patients who received acupotomy treatment at a single Korean Medicine Clinic.Methods: This retrospective review analyzed the medical charts of patients who had received acupotomy at least once from August 2017 to December 2019 at a single Korean Medicine Clinic. The demographic characteristics, chief complaints, acupotomy treatment sites, and principal diagnosis codes were analyzed.Results: We identified 551 outpatients; the average age was 52 ± 14.26 years and 49.9% were male. The patients underwent an average of 8.47 sessions of acupotomy. Altogether, 35.91% of the acupotomy treatments were administered to the spinal regions, of which 60.01% were in the lumbar region. The codes related to the lumbar spinal condition/disease which were used most frequently. The chief complaints were dizziness, lumbar spinal stenosis, and Dupuytren’s contracture in patients over 60 years of age.Conclusion: This is the 1st analysis of acupotomy treatment patterns in Korea to date. Acupotomy is primarily administered in the treatment of spinal conditions/diseases, especially for those involving the lumbar region. Future studies are necessary to determine the clinical outcomes of patients who receive acupotomy treatment and the safety of this treatment.

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective on alcohol use disorder. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. To investigate the effects of Shenmen (HT7) acupoint on brain activation induced by cue-elicited alcohol craving, 30 right-handed healthy light to moderate alcohol drinkers were recruited from the community. They were randomly assigned to undergo acupuncture either at HT7 (experimental acupoint, n = 15) or Jingqu (LU8, control acupoint, n = 15) acupoints. This randomized controlled study was performed in Daegu Haany University and Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Republic of Korea. Recruitment and data collection were conducted from December 2018 to May 2019. The results showed that after acupuncture at HT7 acupoint, the activation of orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was greatly increased, while the activation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was obviously reduced, and subject's craving for alcohol was reduced when he/she seeing alcohol-related video clips involving various alcohols (beer, wine, or soju) or drinking scenarios. Acupuncture at HT7 more greatly reduced subject's alcohol cravings than acupuncture at LU8 acupoint. These findings suggest that acupuncture can improve the self-control of mild to moderate social drinkers through the activation of the orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, thereby reducing the craving for alcohol. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Daegu Haany University Korean Medicine Hospital, Republic of Korea (approval No. DHUMC-D-18026-PRO-02) on November 30, 2018.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to introduce the procedures and methods for mission and vision development at a College of Korean Medicine (CKM), which established its mission and vision using Delphi techniques and big data analysis on various members and stakeholders.Methods: A total of 754 participated in the Delphi survey. A Delphi survey was conducted with professors, students, parents, and alumni stakeholders to establish Daegu Haany University CKM’s mission and vision. The data were analyzed through content analysis and big data analysis of keywords.Results: As a result of the study, the most important keywords to be included in the mission and vision were "professionalism" and "morality." Included in the mission were the concepts of "morality" and "professionalism," which were emphasized by the four groups. All surveyed stakeholders regarded "scientific," and "global" as important themes to be included in the vision.Conclusions: The present study confirmed that there were themes commonly prioritized by all stakeholders for college mission and vision, and a difference in demand for educational goals between professors and students was also affirmed. Therefore, institutions of higher learning should develop their mission and vision by appropriately reflecting the needs of the interest groups.

Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) is a widely used clinical procedure for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. However, few clinical studies have been conducted on the efficacy and safety of TEA for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and data from randomized controlled trials are lacking. This randomized controlled pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting large-scale studies on the efficacy and safety of TEA for KOA.Forty participants were included in the study and randomly divided into 2 groups (TEA and acupuncture) of 20 each. The intervention period was 6 weeks. The experimental group received TEA once a week (total of 6 sessions) on 14 defined knee areas, and the control group received acupuncture twice a week (total of 12 sessions) on 9 defined acupuncture points. The primary outcome measure was the visual analogue scale score, and the secondary outcome measures were the short-form McGill pain questionnaire, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores. Participants were assessed prior to the intervention (baseline) and at 3, 6, and 10 weeks (4 weeks after the end of intervention). The adverse effects of TEA and acupuncture were documented. Hematological examination and biochemical tests were performed at the screening and at 6 weeks.Of the 40 participants, 37 completed the study and 3 participants dropped out. Both the TEA and acupuncture groups showed a significant improvement in the visual analogue scale, short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores in a time-dependent manner. However, there was no significant interaction between group and time. No serious adverse events were reported in the groups, and no clinically significant changes were observed in the hematological and biochemical parameters.This pilot study suggests that TEA is a safe and effective procedure for relieving pain in patients with KOA. The results of this study provide basic data and indicate the feasibility of large-scale clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TEA for KOA.

국가 또는 지방자치정부가 자산조사나 근로의무 등의 조건이 없이 모든 개인에게 제공하는 정기적 현금 급여인 기본소득은 최근 4차산업혁명으로 인한 노동시장의 변화 및 코로나 19 사태 이후 가계 및 경기 부양과 관련하여 논의가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 기본소득에 대한 찬반의견은 다양한 이념적 스펙트럼에 걸쳐 분포하는데, 이를 반대하는 측은 노동과 관계없는 소득의 비윤리적 측면, 노동자들의 이탈로 인한 사회 전체의 생산성 저하, 기본소득의 재원 확보에 대한 우려를 표명한다. 기본소득을 지지하는 측에서는 오늘날 우리가 누리는 부의 대부분이 나눔이 필요한 공공재(public goods)라는 사실, 개인의 인권 보호를 위한 최소한의 장치 확보, 소비진작을 통한 수요 확대 및 불평등 완화, 그리고 자산조사와 관련한 행정비용의 경감과 낙인효과(stigma effect) 방지라는 측면에서 기본소득을 긍정적으로 본다. 기독교는 기본소득 자체가 아니라 기본소득이 지향하는 개인의 가치 존중과 사회통합에 대하여 우호적인 입장을 견지한다. 하나님의 형상으로 창조되고, 그리스도 구속의 대상이 되는 인간의 존엄성과 가치는 인간의 죄성(罪性)이라는 측면을 고려하여 균형있게 추구되어야 하는데, 인간의 죄성이 도덕적 해이(moral hazard)와 무임승차문제(free-rider problem) 등을 통해 기본소득 도입의 취지를 변질시킬 수 있기 때문이다. 이는 기본소득과 관련한 논의 과정 및 기본소득 지급의 절차에 대한 모니터링을 요청한다. 그러한 균형 및 점검과 관련하여 예수께서 제시하신 포도원 품꾼의 비유는 인류를 향한 보편적 은혜 및 분배의 정의를 강조하며, 단순히 실업을 개인의 문제로 보지 않고 사회 구조적인 문제를 통해 통전적으로 바라보게 한다. 또한, 희년의 정신은 이스라엘 백성들을 향한 하나님의 특별은총이 이방인들을 포함하는 일반은총의 차원으로 확장하게 함으로써 인간의 존엄성과 가치를 동등하게 존중하는 새로운 지평을 연다. 그러나 기본소득 자체를 맹신하여 절대화하는 것은 지양해야 하며, 기본소득을 둘러싼 논의를 통해 인간의 존엄성과 가치를 회복하고, 사회 구조적인 불평등과 분배의 문제를 해결하는 수단을 강구하는 것이 바람직하다.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the clinical effectiveness of treatment of Korean medicine on superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions.Methods: A total of 55 inpatients diagnosed with SLAP lesions by magnetic resonance imaging, were investigated from May 1st, 2014 to May 31st, 2019 at Haeundae Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. The patients were sorted by gender, age, causing factor, illness duration, period of hospitalization, SLAP lesion type, complications, and treatments. Treatments included acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Chuna therapy, herbal treatment, and physiotherapy. After treatment, the Numeric Rating Scale, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and European Quality of Life 5-Dimension questionnaire were used to evaluate treatment effect.Results: There were more males than females in this study (1:0.83). Patients were more likely to be in their 50s (38.18%), have an unknown etiology (70.91%), and be in the subacute disease stage (41.82%). According to the SLAP lesion type, most of the inpatients had Type 2 lesions (69.09%). For inpatients diagnosed with SLAP lesions, the mean shoulder numeric rating scale score decreased from 5.55 ± 0.90, to 4.07 ± 1.18 (p < 0.001), the mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score decreased from 50.35 ± 18.36, to 39.90 ± 19.34 (p < 0.001), and the mean European quality of life 5-dimension index increased from 0.70 ± 0.16, to 0.75 ± 0.13 (p < 0.01) after treatment.Conclusion: Treatment of Korean medicine effectively decreased pain and increased the quality of life of the patients with SLAP lesions in this study.

One of the major sources of power drain in smartphones is a frame rendering and display process called graphics pipeline, in which power consumption depends largely on frame rendering operations per second (fps), known as the frame rate, and the quantity of UI content to be rendered. We discovered a major problem causing power consumption upon a scrolling operation: The Android graphics pipeline renders all or a large portion of the content displayed most recently at a frame rate of nearly 60 fps. This paper proposes a scrolling-aware rendering (SCAR) scheme to reduce the frame rate caused by a scrolling. When rendering a frame for UI content to be displayed, SCAR pre-renders UI content that is likely to be displayed soon in any subsequent scrolling operation. This frame is extended to place the pre-rendered UI content contiguously with the UI content to be displayed. Upon a subsequent scrolling, SCAR repositions the extended frame on screen by a scrolling distance instead of rendering a new frame. Our experiments on a smartphone show that SCAR reduced frame rates to below one fps in scrolling, thus saving power by up to 30%.

Background and Objectives: The currently used pharmacological agents for metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes have several limitations and adverse effects; thus, there is a need for alternative therapeutic drugs and health functional foods. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the pharmacological effects of water chestnut (fruit of Trapa japonica) extracts (WC: 50–200 mg/kg) for type II diabetes using a 45% Kcal high-fat diet (HFD)-fed type II obese diabetic mice model for a period of 84 days, and the effects were compared to those of metformin (250 mg/kg). Results: Increases in body weight, serum biochemical indices such as triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and blood urea nitrogen, increases in antioxidant defense system enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione, and mRNA expressions (such as AMPKα1 and AMPKα2) in the liver tissue and mRNA expressions (such as AMPKα2 mRNA, leptin, and C/EBPα) in the adipose tissue were observed in the HFD control group. The WC (50 mg/kg)-administered group showed no significant improvements in diabetic complications. However, HFD-induced obesity and diabetes-related complications such as hyperlipidemia, diabetic nephropathy, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), oxidative stress, activity of antioxidant defense systems, and gene expressions were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited and/or normalized by oral administration of WC (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg), particularly at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that WC at an appropriate dose could be used to develop an effective therapeutic drug or functional food for type II diabetes and various associated complications, including NAFLD.

Objectives We investigated the efficacy and safety of miniscalpel acupuncture (MA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in an assessor-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial; this would provide information for a large-scale randomized controlled trial. Methods Participants (n = 24) were recruited and randomly allocated to the MA group (experimental) or acupuncture group (control). The MA group received treatment once a week for 3 weeks (total of 3 treatments), while the acupuncture group received treatment two times per week for 3 weeks (total of 6 treatments). The primary outcome was pain as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes (intensity of current pain, stiffness, and physical function) were assessed using the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Assessments were performed at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 during treatment and at week 5 (2 weeks after the end of treatment). Results Of the 24 participants, 23 completed the study. Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS, SF-MPQ, and WOMAC. However, there were no significant differences between the MA and acupuncture groups. No serious adverse event occurred and blood test results were within normal limits. Conclusion Our results suggest that although both MA and acupuncture provide similar effects with regard to pain control in patients with KOA, MA may be more effective in providing pain relief because the same relief was obtained with fewer treatments. A large-scale clinical study is warranted to further clarify these findings.

Objectives : We conducted a literature search to identify trends with respect to miniscalpel acupuncture points (MAPs) of the cervical region with the aim of providing guidance regarding miniscalpel acupuncture (MA) in the cervical region. Methods : We searched 2 overseas sites (PubMed and Google Scholar) and 5 domestic sites (NDSL, RISS, KISS, OASIS and Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal) for clinical trials of MA of the cervical region. The search terms used were “acupotomy or miniscalpel acupuncture or miniscalpel” and “cervical.” Of 73 studies found, 11 were included in this review, 6 of which presented exact MAPs. Owing to the lack of data, we refer to 1 Korean and 4 Chinese articles to analyze the exact location and meaning of the MAPs used in the published studies and to propose other clinically applicable MAPs. Results : We identified 10 of the most commonly used MAPs in the published studies, including those located below the external occipital protuberance, 2-2.5 cm both side down of the external occipital protuberance, 4.5-5 cm both side down of the external occipital protuberance and C3-7 spinous process. Furthermore, we proposed 13 additional MAPs that can be used clinically. Conclusion : We hope that this study will form a basis for the development of MA and hope to improve the safety and reproducibility in future MA studies of the cervical region.

Objectives : In our previous study, single co-administration GMODT within 5 min significantly inhibited the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen through variable influences on the absorption and excretion of tamoxifen. Therefore, the object of this study was to elucidate the possible effects on the pha...

In the present study, it was evaluated whether east saline groundwater concentration solution (ESGWc) exerted a favorable inhibitory effect on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced allergic/atopic-like dermatitis (AD). AD was induced and boosted by sensitization with DNCB via topical application on the dorsal back skins. Mice with DNCB-induced AD were bathed in 100-, 200- and 400-fold diluted ESGWc. After 6 weeks bathing, changes to body weight, clinical skin severity scores, scratching behavior, serum total immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels, submandibular lymph node and spleen weights, splenic cytokine levels, skin cytokine mRNA expressions, antioxidant defense systems and superoxide anion productions were recorded to determine the effects of bathing on the histopathology of dorsal back skin tissues. All DNCB-induced mice demonstrated that the induction of AD through IgE-mediated hypersensitivities, oxidative stresses, activation of MMP and apoptosis of keratinocytes resulted in no significant differences in body weight between the different groups at each time point following initial sensitization. However, markers of DNCB-induced AD were significantly inhibited (P

Objectives : The objective of this study is to discuss problems and potential improvements of national health insurance fees associated with miniscalpel acupuncture according to Korean medical doctors`` workload, material cost and degree of risk. Methods : We researched the change of relative value points, national health insurance fees, the acupuncture process, and Korean medicine doctors`` workload related to Miniscalpel acupuncture, as compared to general meridian point acupuncture. We also examined material cost by surveying pharmacies, internet shopping malls and medical appliance shops. Results : Relative value point for Miniscalpel acupuncture decreased from 2010 to 2012, and remained the same from 2012 to 2016. National health insurance fees for Miniscalpel acupuncture increased by a small margin annually for rise of equivalent index. There was no reporting on workload related to Miniscalpel acupuncture. Material cost of Miniscalpel acupuncture was 18.2~20.7 times higher than actual cost of procedure. There were few studies examining medical accidents related to Miniscalpel acupuncture, and thus we could not evaluate degree of risk. Conclusion : We suggest revaluating Korean medical doctors`` workload related to including Miniscalpel acupuncture, to consider the material costs of Miniscalpel acupuncture, and investigate its degree of risk by researching medical accidents.

Objectives : This study was done to show the clinical effect of miniscalpel acupuncture treatment on osteoarthritis of the knee which is refractory to acupuncture treatment. Methods : A patient was treated with acupuncture for three weeks, non-treated(wash out period) for two weeks, and treated with miniscalpel acupuncture for three weeks. The effect of treatments were measured with Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Range of Motion(ROM), Short form McGill pain questionnaire(SF-MPQ), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC). Results : During the three weeks of acupuncture treatment, VAS, SF-MPQ and WOMAC improved, but after two weeks of the wash out period each score worsened. During the three weeks of miniscalpel acupuncture VAS, SF-MPQ, and WOMAC improved while ROM improved remarkably. Conclusion : These results suggest that miniscalpel acupuncture might be a therapeutic option for knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients who does not responded to acupuncture treatment.