Analyzing the Effect of Social Distancing Policies on Traffic at Sinchon Station, South Korea, during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic is recognized as one of the most serious global health problems, and many countries implemented lockdown measures to mitigate the effects of the crisis caused by this respiratory infectious disease. In this study, we investigated the relationship between social distancing policies and changes in traffic volume in Sinchon Station, South Korea. We used an official COVID-19 report provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDA) and Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) to review social distancing policies, and the changes in traffic patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic between January 2020 and November 2021 were analyzed.

Expansion of CD45RAFOXP3 regulatory T cells is associated with immune tolerance in patients with combined kidney and bone marrow transplantation.

Objectives: Simultaneous transplantation of a solid organ and bone marrow from the same donor is a possible means of achieving transplant tolerance. Here, we attempted to identify biomarkers that indicate transplant tolerance for discontinuation of immunosuppressants in combined kidney and bone marrow transplantation (CKBMT).

Methods: Conventional kidney transplant (KT) recipients ( = 20) and CKBMT recipients ( = 6) were included in this study.

Effects of desensitizing agents for cervical dentin hypersensitivity: A randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of five commercially available desensitizing agents with different mechanisms applied to hypersensitive teeth.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on subjects suffering dentin hypersensitivity in Korea University Guro Hospital from October 2013 to April 2015. A total of 64 subjects met the selection criteria and were randomly assigned to five commercially available desensitizing agents, and applied according to the manufacturers' instructions.

Bee venom acupuncture alleviates trimellitic anhydride-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice.

Background: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA), a novel type of acupuncture therapy in which purified bee venom is injected into the specific acupuncture point on the diseased part of the body, is used primarily for relieving pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms. In the present study, therapeutic potential of BVA to improve atopic dermatitis, a representative allergic dysfunction, was evaluated in the mouse model of trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced skin impairment.

Methods: Mice were treated with 5% TMA on the dorsal flank for sensitization and subsequently treated with 2% TMA on the dorsum of both ears for an additional 12 days after a 3-day interval.

Lymph node metastasis: ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MR imaging versus PET/CT in a rabbit model.

Purpose: To prospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and integrated positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) for the depiction of lymph node metastasis in an animal model, with histologic findings as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: This experiment was approved by the local animal care committee. VX2 carcinoma was implanted into the thighs of 11 rabbits 4 weeks before the imaging study.

The relationship between PTC taster status and taste thresholds in young adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare taste detection and recognition thresholds of young males and females, and young phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) "tasters" and "nontasters" for stimuli representing sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami classes of taste sensations.

Study Design: Thirty-eight men and 37 women (mean [SD] age = 24.5 [2.

Is laparoscopic appendectomy useful for the treatment of acute appendicitis in Korea? A meta-analysis.

We performed a meta-analysis using results in the Korean literatures to determine whether laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) or open appendectomy (OA) provide the better outcome in possible acute appendicitis patients. To perform the meta-analysis, an extensive literature search was conducted, giving priority to the Journal of the Korean Surgical Society, and domestic literature in its search database, published since January 1993, to ascertain the usefulness of LA in the treatment of acute appendicitis. The criteria used for the quality evaluation were as follows: 1) study subjects must have been evaluated clinically for suspected acute appendicitis, and 2) articles were included only if sufficient data (e.