Optimized treatment parameter by computer simulation for high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of uterine adenomyosis: Short-term and long-term results.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of using optimized parameters obtained by computer simulation for ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of uterine adenomyosis in comparison with conventional parameters. We retrospectively assessed a single-institution, prospective study that was registered at Clinical Research Information Service (CRiS) of Republic of Korea (KCT0003586). Sixty-six female participants (median age: 44 years) with focal uterine adenomyosis were prospectively enrolled.

and inhibition of host-based viral entry targets and cytokine storm in COVID-19 by ginsenoside compound K.

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that emerged as an epidemic, causing a respiratory disease with multiple severe symptoms and deadly consequences. ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 play crucial and synergistic roles in the membrane fusion and viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE-2 receptor for viral entry, while TMPRSS2 proteolytically cleaves the S protein into S1 and S2 subunits, promoting membrane fusion.

Fatigue Life Improvement of Weld Beads with Overlap Defects Using Ultrasonic Peening.

Welding defects are common during the production of large welded structures. However, few studies have explored methods of compensating for clear welding defects without resorting to re-welding. Here, an ultrasonic peening method to compensate for the deteriorated mechanical properties of overlap weld defects without repair welding was studied.

Production of Minor Ginsenoside CK from Major Ginsenosides by Biotransformation and Its Advances in Targeted Delivery to Tumor Tissues Using Nanoformulations.

For over 2000 years, ginseng (roots of C.A. Meyer) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine.

Determining the Definitive Time Criterion for Postherpetic Neuralgia Using Infrared Thermographic Imaging.

Introduction: The time criteria used in many studies of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) are arbitrary and do not have supporting evidence. Therefore, this study sought to determine the definite time criterion for PHN by analyzing the skin temperature to estimate the time point when zoster-induced skin inflammatory reaction ends.

Methods: Infrared thermography was used to measure the difference in skin temperature between the affected and unaffected areas (ΔTemp) in the craniocervical and thoracic regions of patients with herpes zoster (HZ).

Botulinum Toxin Type A for Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion Block in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Trial.

Background: The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that botulinum toxin would prolong the duration of a lumbar sympathetic block measured through a sustained increase in skin temperature. The authors performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to investigate the clinical outcome of botulinum toxin type A for lumbar sympathetic ganglion block in patients with complex regional pain syndrome.

Methods: Lumbar sympathetic ganglion block was conducted in patients with lower-extremity complex regional pain syndrome using 75 IU of botulinum toxin type A (botulinum toxin group) and local anesthetic (control group).

Deep Spinal Infection after Outpatient Epidural Injections for Pain: A Retrospective Sample Cohort Study Using a Claims Database in South Korea.

Background: Deep spinal infection is a devastating complication after epidural injection. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of deep spinal infection primarily after outpatient single-shot epidural injection for pain. Secondarily, this study assessed the national trends of the procedure and risk factors for said infection.

Pain Manifestations of COVID-19 and Their Association With Mortality: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and breakdown of pain symptoms among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection admitted for nonpain symptoms and the association between the presence of pain and intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death.

Patients And Methods: In this multicenter prospective study, data on the intensity and type of pain were collected on 169 patients with active severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection at 2 teaching hospitals in the United States and Korea and on 8 patients with acute pain at another large teaching hospital between February 1, 2020, and June 15, 2020.

Results: Sixty-five of 169 patients (38.

Evaluation of an effectiveness and safety of the electroacupuncture in the management of intractable neuropathic pain: A prospective, open-labeled, randomized, cross-over clinical trial.

Background: There is no sufficient evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture for neuropathic pain. This protocol describes a study that aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture combined with conventional medicine for patients with intractable neuropathic pain, when compared with conventional medicine alone.

Methods/design: This study is a prospective, open-labeled, randomized, cross-over clinical trial.

Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block as a Sympathetic Blockade for Upper Extremity Neuropathic Pain: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Purpose: Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (US-TPVB) is considered a treatment option for the management of acute pain in various pain-related conditions. We conducted a prospective pilot study to evaluate the possibility of US-TPVB as a sympathetic blockade in patients with neuropathic pain disorders in the upper extremities.

Patients And Methods: A total of 12 patients underwent US-TPVB between the T2 and T3 paravertebral space with 10 mL of 1% mepivacaine.

Measurement of Dynamic Elastic Modulus and Poisson's Ratio of Chemically Strengthened Glass.

Glass with strong durability and transparency has been in the spotlight in various fields, including displays. Elastic and shear moduli and Poisson's ratio are important properties of glasses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the change in mechanical properties, such as the dynamic elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio, with respect to the chemical strengthening time of glass for display applications, as measured by static and dynamic methods.

Electroacupuncture May Improve Burning and Electric Shock-Like Neuropathic Pain: A Prospective Exploratory Pilot Study.

To test the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) for managing intractable neuropathic pain (NeP) and assess the protocol for a larger confirmatory trial. A prospective, multicenter, single-armed, add-on, pilot study. At two tertiary university-based hospitals in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Better Surface Integrity and Tribological Properties of Steel Sintered by Powder Metallurgy.

The current research reports the improvement in surface integrity and tribological characteristics of steel prepared using a powder metallurgy (PM) by ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) at 25 and 300 °C. The surface integrity and tribological properties of three samples, namely, as-PM, UNSM-25 and UNSM-300 were investigated. The average surface roughness of the as-PM, UNSM-25 and UNSM-300 samples was measured using a non-contact 3D scanner, where it was found to be 3.

The Long-term Effectiveness of the Automatic Position-Adaptive System in Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Retrospective Comparative Study with a Two-Year Follow-up.

Objective: To compare the nonadaptive manual system with the position-adaptive system in subjects with permanent spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation over a two-year follow-up period.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary university-based national hospital.

Complex regional pain syndrome in the young male population: a retrospective study of 200 Korean young male patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in young male patients in South Korea, especially focusing on the association with military service.

Methods: From January 2007 to May 2017, we investigated the electronic medical records of 430 consecutive patients, aged 18 to 30 years, who visited Seoul National University Hospital Pain Center, with a suspected diagnosis of CRPS at the initial visit. The following patient details were available for analysis: demographic and disease-related variables, relevance to military service, medications, and the treatment modalities received.

A Randomized Comparison between 4, 6 and 8 mL of Local Anesthetic for Ultrasound-Guided Stellate Ganglion Block.

Background: Because it affords greater accuracy than landmark-based techniques, ultrasound guidance may reduce the volume of local anesthetic required for sympathetic blockade of the upper extremity. We hypothesized that 4 mL would provide a similar clinical effect when compared to larger volumes.

Methods: One hundred and two patients with chronic neuropathic pain of the upper extremity or face were randomly assigned to receive an ultrasound-guided (USG) stellate ganglion block (SGB) with either 4 mL (group A), 6 mL (group B) or 8 mL (group C) mL of 1.

Usefulness of the Korean Version of the CAGE-Adapted to Include Drugs Combined With Clinical Predictors to Screen for Opioid-Related Aberrant Behavior.

Background: As national opioid consumption in South Korea has soared, well-validated screening tools for opioid use disorder (OUD) have become indispensable. The aims of our study were to evaluate OUD using the Korean version of the CAGE-Adapted to Include Drugs (CAGE-AID) and the CAGE-Opioid (an alternative version of the CAGE-AID), and to investigate clinical predictors that might be useful to screen for OUD in conjunction with the CAGE-AID/Opioid questionnaires.

Methods: A single-center, prospective, observational study was performed.

Addressing Opioid-Related Chemical Coping in Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Noncancer Pain: A Multicenter, Observational, Cross-Sectional Study.

Opioid consumption has increased worldwide, which carries the risk of opioid use disorder (OUD). However, the literature on OUD and opioid-related chemical coping (OrCC) in chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is heterogeneous, with most studies conducted in the United States. We performed a multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study to address OrCC in long-term opioid therapy (LtOT) for CNCP in South Korea.

Comparison of effectiveness of epidural analgesia and monitored anesthesia care for high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of adenomyosis.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive thermodestructive procedure targeting internal organs with concentrated sonification energy that may cause pain. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of epidural analgesia (EA) and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in HIFU treatment of uterine adenomyosis.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-eight patients were included in this case-control study.

Ketamine infusion therapy for chronic pain management in South Korea: A national survey for pain physicians with a narrative review.

Although ketamine infusion therapy (KIT) has been used extensively for the treatment of chronic persistent pain, there remains high heterogeneity in the administration protocols. The aim of this study was to assess the current clinical use and the infusion protocols of KIT in South Korea and to compare the protocol details with previous relevant studies.In the first phase, an online survey about KIT, including protocol information, was distributed to pain physicians managing chronic pain patients at 47 teaching hospitals registered in the Korean Pain Society.

Predictive Factors of Successful Percutaneous Cervical Nucleoplasty for the Treatment of Pain with Cervical Herniated Disk.

Background: Percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty (PCN) is an effective treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral disc (C-HIVD). In this retrospective study, we evaluated clinical predictors that affect the successful outcome of PCN.

Methods: Fluoroscopically guided PCN was conducted for C-HIVD by one pain physician.

Efficacy and Safety of Lidocaine Infusion Treatment for Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background And Objectives: Lidocaine infusion therapy (LIT) is an effective treatment for relieving neuropathic pain (NeP). However, it remains unclear whether pain relief can be sustained through repeated lidocaine infusions. This study aimed to determine whether repeated intravenous administration of low-dose lidocaine could provide prolonged pain relief in patients with specific NeP conditions.

Effectiveness of Percutaneous Lumbar Extraforaminotomy in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Spinal Stenosis: A Prospective, Single-Armed, Observational Pilot Study.

Objective: In lumbar foraminal spinal stenosis (LFSS), numerous ligaments may play an important role in causing radiculopathy by narrowing the exit of the nerve root. In order to achieve effective decompression of lumbar foraminal ligaments, a specially designed instrument for percutaneous lumbar extraforaminotomy (PLEF) was invented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PLEF in patients with intractable radiculopathy from LFSS.

Opioid sparing effect and safety of nefopam in patient controlled analgesia after laparotomy: A randomized, double blind study.

Objectives: A double-blind randomised study to evaluate the opioid sparing effect and safety of nefopam when administered via intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA) with fentanyl.

Methods: Patients planned for elective open laparotomy, were randomly assigned to receive into fentanyl 25 µg/ml (SF group) or nefopam 2.4 mg/ml plus fentanyl 25 µg/ml (NF group).

Tribological characteristics of corrugated nano-scale dimpled and nanostructured surfaces.

The effects of ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) on the tribological characteristics of two different Cu-based alloys sintered on low carbon steel were investigated using a ball-on-disk reciprocating tribometer with a hardened bearing steel ball under oil-lubricated conditions. Experimental results showed that both the UNSM-treated Cu-based alloy specimens reduced the friction coefficient and enhanced the wear resistance compared to those of the polished specimens. Improvements in tribological characteristics of the UNSM-treated specimens may be attributed to the corrugated nano-scale dimpled and nanostructured surfaces and increased hardness.