Efficacy and Safety of Useul for Dry Eye Disease: Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel, Phase 2 Clinical Trial.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a very frequently encountered ocular disease, making it a growing public health burden. However, current treatments for DED present unmet medical needs owing to their side effects or ineffectiveness. Therefore, an effective and safe therapeutic agent to manage DED is needed.

Reverse tube direction and epistaxis in left nasotracheal intubation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The incidence of epistaxis during nasotracheal intubation via the left nostril is more frequent than that during intubation via the right nostril. This study evaluated the effect of the reverse bevel and tip direction of the nasotracheal tube on the incidence of epistaxis during nasotracheal intubation via the left nostril.

Methods: Patients undergoing right-sided maxillofacial surgery requiring left nasotracheal intubation were randomly allocated to the control (tracheal tube in the conventional direction) or reverse (a 180˚ reverse direction, with the tube bevel facing the nasal septum and the leading edge (i.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and catheter-related bladder discomfort following transurethral resection of bladder tumour: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) is problematic in patients with a urinary catheter. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive analgesic modality used to relieve various types of pain.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of TENS on CRBD after transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT).

Polystyrene nanoplastics-induced intestinal barrier disruption via inflammation and apoptosis in zebrafish larvae (Danio Rerio).

Plastics are one of the most pervasive materials on Earth, to which humans are exposed daily. Polystyrene (PS) is a common plastic packaging material. However, the impact of PS on human health remains poorly understood.

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and 30-Day Postoperative Mortality in Geriatric Burn Patients.

Introduction: The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) can easily identify malnutrition-associated morbidity and mortality. We investigated the association between preoperative GNRI and 30-d mortality in geriatric burn patients who underwent surgery.

Methods: The study involved geriatric burn patients (aged ≥ 65 y) who underwent burn surgery between 2012 and 2022.

Extract Enhances Antioxidant Effect of Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell on Injured Human Ocular Cells.

Age-related ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy are major causes of irreversible vision impairment in the elderly. Conventional treatments focus on symptom relief and disease slowdown, often involving surgery, but fall short of providing a cure, leading to substantial vision loss. Regenerative medicine, particularly mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), holds promise for ocular disease treatment.

Current practices of cervical epidural block for cervical radicular pain: a multicenter survey conducted by the Korean Pain Society.

Background: Cervical epidural block (CEB) is an effective intervention for managing cervical radicular pain. This study aimed to investigate the current status of performing CEB in South Korea.

Methods: Pain physicians affiliated with the Korean Pain Society were asked to complete anonymous questionnaires regarding CEB between September and October 2022.

Effectiveness of the Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of Genicular Nerves in Patients with Chronic Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Study.

: Increasing evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of cooled radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for genicular nerves in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) exists. However, no study has been conducted to eliminate the potential influence of a placebo effect associated with this procedure. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of cooled RFA compared with a sham procedure in patients with painful knees due to OA.

Effects of Pulsed Radiofrequency Duration in Patients With Chronic Lumbosacral Radicular Pain: A Randomized Double-Blind Study.

Objectives: We hypothesized that the duration of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) application may affect the effectiveness of PRF in patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular pain (LRP).

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, double-blind, randomized study, 68 patients were randomly allocated to two groups: a 6-minute group, in which PRF was applied at 42 °C for 2 minutes followed by a 2-minute pause, repeated three times; and a 12-minute group, with a continuous application at 42 °C for 12 minutes. The total application time in each group was equal.

Cooled radiofrequency ablation of genicular nerves for knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and debilitating musculoskeletal condition that significantly affects the quality of life of millions of individuals worldwide. In recent years, cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) has become a viable treatment option for knee OA. This review thoroughly evaluated the existing literature on CRFA therapy for knee OA.

Isobavachin, a main bioavailable compound in Psoralea corylifolia, alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages and zebrafish by suppressing the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Psoralea corylifolia L. (PC) is widely used in traditional medicines to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases. Isobavachin (IBC) is a bioavailable prenylated flavonoid derived from PC that has various biological properties.

Association between De Ritis ratio and intraoperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing surgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a single center, retrospective, propensity score-matched study.

Background: Although elective surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) has increased, few studies have evaluated the risk factors for transfusion during UIA surgery. We evaluated the association between the preoperative De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase) and the incidence of intraoperative transfusion in patients who had undergone surgical UIA clipping.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgical clipping of UIA were stratified into two groups according to the preoperative De Ritis ratio cutoff levels (< 1.

Prevalence of and factors associated with stenotic thoracic ligamentum flavum hypertrophy.

Introduction: Stenotic thoracic ligamentum flavum hypertrophy can cause leg and/or low back pain similar to that caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. However, the thoracic spine may occasionally be overlooked in patients with leg and/or low back pain. An accurate understanding of the prevalence of stenotic thoracic ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and its associated factors is necessary.

Comparison of the effects of 5 and 10 L/minute fresh gas flow on emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: A high fresh gas flow of >5 L/minute is commonly used for emergence from inhalation anesthesia. In addition, a high fresh gas flow may have detrimental effects on climate change. However, no study has determined the optimal fresh gas flow for emergence from inhalation anesthesia.

Association between fatty infiltration in the cervical multifidus and treatment response following cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection.

Background: Recent attention has been directed towards fatty infiltration in the cervical extensor muscles for predicting clinical outcomes in several cervical disorders. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between fatty infiltration in the cervical multifidus and treatment response following cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection (CIESI) in patients with cervical radicular pain.

Methods: The data of patients with cervical radicular pain who received CIESIs between March 2021 and June 2022 were reviewed.

Vitamin C and catheter-related bladder discomfort after transurethral resection of bladder tumor: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Study Objective: We evaluated the effect of vitamin C administration on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD).

Design: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: University tertiary hospital.

Impact of Chart-Derived Frailty Index on 1-Year Mortality After Radical Cystectomy in 1004 Patients with Bladder Cancer.

Background: Radical cystectomy is a major urological procedure with high morbidity and mortality. The chart-derived frailty index (CFI), a measure of preoperative frailty, can be calculated by using demographic and routine laboratory variables. We assessed the impact of CFI on 1-year mortality after radical cystectomy.

Contralateral oblique view can prevent dural puncture in fluoroscopy-guided cervical epidural access: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Although the contralateral oblique (CLO) view at 50°±5° is clinically useful for cervical epidural access, no previous studies have confirmed its safety. This prospective observational study was conducted to assess the safety profile, including the risk of dural puncture, in fluoroscopically guided cervical epidural access using the CLO view.

Methods: In cervical epidural access using the CLO view, the incidence of dural puncture was investigated as the primary outcome.

Gene expression profiling of nasal inflammation induced by diesel particles using an in vivo system.

Korean diesel particulate matter 20 (KDP20) is a pollutant comprising a complex mixture of carbon and chemical irritants. Although particulate matter and nasal inflammation are strongly associated, the underlying molecular mechanism based on systematic transcriptome analysis remains unknown. In this study, genome-wide gene expression profiles of mouse nasal tissues were determined following exposure to KDP20 for 5 and 10 days and compared with those of the control (n = 4/group).

Injectable cultured bone marrow derived mesenchymal cells vs chondrocytes in the treatment of chondral defects of the knee - RCT with 6 years follow-up.

Articular cartilage has unique biological and biomechanical characteristics. Damage to this tissue fails to heal spontaneously, leading to progressive arthritis. Cartilage repair techniques have been looked forward to in the treatment of significant cartilage injuries.

Particulate Matter Exposure and the Changes in Immune Biomarkers: Effects of Biyeom-Go on the Nasal Mucosa of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis and a Particulate Matter-Treated Mouse Model.

This study was to investigate the effects of Biyeom-go (BYG, an herbal formula) on immune biomarkers present in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis under exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), and on changes in goblet cells and immune biomarkers in mice under exposure to Korea diesel particulate matter (KDP20).