Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of Pharmacopuncture Therapy for Cervical Disc Herniation: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: Cervical disc herniation (CDH) is increasingly prevalent, highlighting the need for more effective treatments. Although pharmacopuncture therapy is one of the most widely used treatment methods for CDH in Korean medicine clinical practice, there are few high-quality studies conducted in Korea. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacopuncture therapy for CDH through a pragmatic clinical trial that reflects clinical practice while utilizing well-designed study settings of a randomized controlled trial.

Reassessing the Use of Membranes in Peri-Implantitis Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of In Vivo Studies.

Peri-implantitis (PI) presents a growing challenge in implant dentistry, with regenerative surgical approaches often incorporating barrier membranes despite the uncertainty of their clinical value. This systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo studies aimed to evaluate the efficacy of barrier membranes in the reconstructive surgical treatment of PI. A comprehensive electronic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, covering studies published from 1990 to 2024.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy for temporomandibular disorder: A randomized clinical trial.

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy (CMT) for temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) remain unclear. Here, we compared the effectiveness of CMT and usual care for treating myofascial TMD. A 26-week randomized controlled trial was conducted from 2018 to 2019 with 80 patients across five hospitals in Korea who were diagnosed with myofascial TMD and had temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain lasting more than three months.

Anti-Obesity Potential of Barley Sprouts in Dog Diets and Their Impact on the Gut Microbiota.

Barley sprouts, the germinated and grown leaves of barley, contain various bioactive compounds, including policosanol, saponarin, and lutonarin. The ingestion of barley sprouts may benefit canine weight management, potentially owing to the anti-obesity properties of bioactive compounds. However, there is limited evidence on the efficacy and safety of barley sprout supplementation in dogs.

Nutritional value of common carbohydrate sources used in pet foods.

Diet digestibility can vary based on factors such as the type of ingredients, processing techniques, formulation, fiber content, and nutrient interactions. Unlike proteins and fats, there is no specific carbohydrate requirement, which typically constitutes 30%-60% of commercial dried dog foods. Because of the significant proportion of carbohydrates in dog food, this study aimed to evaluate the differences in nutrient digestibility among barley, brown rice, corn, mung bean, and rice, which are common carbohydrate sources in commercial dog foods.

Pharmacopuncture therapy for adhesive capsulitis: A pragmatic randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Although several studies have reported the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for adhesive capsulitis (AC), research on pharmacopuncture therapy for AC remains limited. We compared the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture and physiotherapy for AC.

Methods: This pragmatic, randomized, controlled, parallel-group pilot study enrolled patients with limitations of shoulder movement and a numeric rating scale (NRS) score for shoulder pain ≥5 randomized (1:1) to the pharmacopuncture therapy (PPT) and physiotherapy (PT) groups.

Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmacopuncture on Inpatients with Tension Headache Caused by Traffic Accidents: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture for pain relief and functional improvement in patients with traffic accident (TA)-induced acute tension headaches. The study employed a parallel, single-centered, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial design. Eighty patients complaining of acute tension headaches were randomized into the integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKM treatment) group and the pharmacopuncture group on suboccipital muscles (suboccipital muscles pharmacopuncture + IKM treatment), with 40 participants assigned to each group.

Using Platelet-Rich Fibrin to Remove Graphite Tattoos May Yield Excellent Long-Term Result.

Graphite tattoos are rarely reported because they are mainly caused by an accidental injury or habits during childhood that cause a pencil to penetrate the oral mucosa. Unlike other pigmentations, it stains layers that are deeper than the subepithelial and mucosal layers, and in most cases, it takes the form of a grayish black macule. This case report describes depigmentation with the denudation technique that was followed by a novel approach of using platelet-rich fibrin to cover exposed bone.

Prediction of apparent total tract digestion of crude protein in adult dogs.

To predict the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) in dogs we developed an system using an digestion method and a statistical analysis. The experimental diets used chicken meat powder as the protein source, with CP levels of 20% (22.01%, analyzed CP value as dry-based), 30% (31.

Effectiveness of lumbar motion style acupuncture treatment on inpatients with acute low back pain: A pragmatic, randomized controlled trial.

Background And Purpose: This parallel, single-center, pragmatic, randomized controlled study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT; a combination of acupuncture and Doin therapy) to reduce pain and improve the functional disability of patients with acute low back pain (aLBP) due to road traffic accidents.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-six patients with aLBP admitted to the Haeundae Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine in South Korea due to traffic accidents were treated with integrative Korean medicine (IKM) with additional 3-day MSAT sessions during hospitalization (MSAT group, 48 patients) or without (control group, 48 patients), and followed up for 90 days.

Results: The mean numeric rating scale (NRS) scores of low back pain (LBP) of the MSAT and control groups were both 6.

Transcription-induced active forces suppress chromatin motion.

The organization of interphase chromosomes in a number of species is starting to emerge thanks to advances in a variety of experimental techniques. However, much less is known about the dynamics, especially in the functional states of chromatin. Some experiments have shown that the motility of individual loci in human interphase chromosome decreases during transcription and increases upon inhibiting transcription.

Delayed Implant Fixture Displacement into the Maxillary Sinus Five Years Post-Loading: Unraveling the Causes - A Case Report.

Reports of implant fixtures dislocating into the maxillary sinus during sinus graft procedures are well-documented. However, cases of fixtures migrating into the sinus long after placement have yet to be reported. This case report details the surgical extraction of a displaced screw and cement-retained prosthesis, including a fixture and its abutment, from the maxillary sinus after a minimum of 5 years under functional load.

Rabbit Meat Extract Induces Browning in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes via the AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway.

The browning of white adipocytes may be an innovative approach to address obesity. This study investigated the effects of rabbit meat extract on 3T3-L1 adipocytes, with a specific emphasis on inducing browning. The browning effects of rabbit meat extract were evaluated by analyzing genes specifically expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes using quantitative PCR and immunoblotting.

Phantom study of layered sensor module for photon-counting BMD detector.

In this study, we perform bone mineral density (BMD) calculation by designing a layered sensor module (LSM) that divides high- and low-energy spectra from a single shot of X-rays. Gamma-ray evaluation supports this mechanism; low-energy gamma rays are absorbed in the front detector, whereas high-energy gamma rays are absorbed in the rear detector. In this phantom study, LSM divides a single shot of X-ray into two spectra with different distributions of energy, thereby affording X-ray images with different properties, such as contrast and gray scale.

Effectiveness of motion style acupuncture treatment for patients with shoulder disorders: A prospective observational study.

Context: Shoulder disorders impair the ability to work. In most cases, the primary symptoms caused by shoulder disorders consist of pain and limitations in the range of motion.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT), a conservative treatment modality for shoulder disorders.

Effects of resistant starch on anti-obesity status and nutrient digestibility in dogs.

This study investigated the effects of corn resistant starch (RS) on the anti-obesity properties, nutrient digestibility, and blood parameters in healthy beagles. Four spayed and six castrated beagle dogs were divided into a control group (CON) with a diet comprising rice and chicken meal and a treatment group (TRT) with a diet comprising corn with an increased RS content by heating-cooling and chicken meal. All dogs in the CON and TRT groups were fed a 1.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy With Hyper-IgM Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Boy.

Hyper-immunoglobulin (Ig) M syndrome is a congenital immunodeficiency disorder characterized by increased serum IgM with low serum IgG, IgA, and IgE. We report the case of a 6-year-old boy with hyper-IgM syndrome as an underlying disease who showed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging after visiting the hospital due to left upper extremity muscle weakness, gait disturbance, and speech impairment. At the time of hospitalization, he was treated with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, and his condition improved somewhat, but 6 months later, he visited the hospital with rapid deterioration.

Obese dogs exhibit different fecal microbiome and specific microbial networks compared with normal weight dogs.

Canine obesity is a major health concern that predisposes dogs to various disorders. The fecal microbiome has been attracting attention because of their impact on energy efficiency and metabolic disorders of host. However, little is known about specific microbial interactions, and how these may be affected by obesity in dogs.

Body Weight Development in Adult Dogs Fed a High Level Resistant Starch Diet.

This study investigated the effect of Dodamssal rice, which has a high content of resistant starch, on obesity and hematologic properties in dogs. In Experiment 1, 24 spayed dogs were divided into three feeding groups: normal-fat basal diet (control), high-fat diet with 12% normal amylose type rice (hNAR), and high-fat diet with 12% high amylose type rice (Dodamssal rice; hHAR). In Experiment 2, 8 spayed dogs were assigned to a normal amylose type rice (NAR) group and a high amylose type rice group (HAR) with a normal-fat basal diet.

Influence of Bile Salts and Pancreatin on Dog Food during Static In Vitro Simulation to Mimic In Vivo Digestion.

The addition of pancreatin and bile salts in different concentrations during in vitro digestion causes changes in the digestibility of crude protein (CP), fat, and dry matter (DM). The effects of bile salts and pancreatin on the digestibility of ether extract (EE), CP, and DM in developing a static in vitro digestion model for dogs were assessed using different concentrations of pancreatin (0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 g/L digestive solution) and bile salts (0, 2.

Gut microbiota profiling in aged dogs after feeding pet food contained .

Health concern of dogs is the most important issue for pet owners. People who have companied the dogs long-term provide the utmost cares for their well-being and healthy life. Recently, it was revealed that the population and types of gut microbiota affect the metabolism and immunity of the host.

Evaluating sulfoxaflor residues in pig tissues using animal modeling.

Maximum residue limits (MRL) for pesticides in feed have been set to protect public health and produce safe livestock products. experiments to establish MRL are essential, as livestock are commonly used to obtain reliable quantitative information. Here, we aimed to evaluate whether small laboratory animals can replace or reduce monogastric livestock in experiments to quantify pesticide residues after oral consumption through feed.

The Effectiveness of Pharmacopuncture in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Protocol for a Multi-Centered, Pragmatic, Randomized, Controlled, Parallel Group Study.

Purpose: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a chronic degenerative disease. Non-surgical intervention is recommended, considering the risks and benefits for the affected age group, as well as the characteristics of the disease. However, to date, no studies have compared various non-surgical interventions to ascertain the appropriate first-line non-surgical treatment for LSS.