A systematic review of sham acupuncture validation studies.

Background: Acupuncture is widely used worldwide; however, studies on its effectiveness have been impeded by limitations regarding the design of appropriate control groups. In clinical research, noninvasive sham acupuncture techniques can only be applied through validation studies. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the scope of existing literature on this topic to identify trends.

Trends in the Development of Acupuncture-Related Technologies Based on Patents in South Korea.

Background: Several studies have assessed the safety and efficacy of acupuncture, but none have reviewed patent trends related to acupuncture as an intervention. This study analyzed trends in patents for the development of acupuncture-related technologies in Korea.

Methods: The Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) was searched for information on acupuncture-related patents registered until August 11, 2021, without any limit on the search period.

Improving Upper Limb Spasticity in Patients with Stroke by Electroacupuncture Therapy: a Pre- and Post-Treatment Study.

Background: : Post-stroke upper limb spasticity (PS-ULS) causes a decline in the quality of life of patients by reducing their ability to perform normal daily activities.

Objectives: : We performed pre- and post-treatment analyses of the changes in stroke patients with ULS following constant electroacupuncture therapy (EAT).

Methods: : Thirty patients with PS-ULS underwent 12 sessions of EAT over 4 weeks.

Microbial energy metabolism fuels an intestinal macrophage niche in solitary isolated lymphoid tissues through purinergic signaling.

Maintaining macrophage (MΦ) heterogeneity is critical to ensure intestinal tissue homeostasis and host defense. The gut microbiota and host factors are thought to synergistically guide intestinal MΦ development, although the exact nature, regulation, and location of such collaboration remain unclear. Here, we report that microbial biochemical energy metabolism promotes colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) production by group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) within solitary isolated lymphoid tissues (SILTs) in a cell-extrinsic, NLRP3/P2X7R-dependent fashion in the steady state.

The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on premature births during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide observational study in Korea.

Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and hand washing, have been associated with a decline in the preterm birth rate worldwide. We aimed to evaluate whether the preterm birth rate in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown has changed compared to that in previous years.

Method: A birth registry from the Korea Statistical Information Service, which is a nationwide official database, was used to include all births claimed to have occurred between 2011 and 2020.

A decrease in the incidence of encephalitis in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study between 2010 and 2021.

Limited data are available on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on encephalitis. Therefore, we evaluated trends in encephalitis in South Korea between 2010 and 2021 using data from the National Health Insurance Service. During the pandemic (February 2020 to 2021), the monthly incidence of encephalitis declined by 0.

Safety of Live Immunization in DiGeorge Syndrome: A Retrospective Single-Center Study in Korea, 2005-2021.

Live immunization is contraindicated in patients with DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). We retrospectively investigated the occurrence of adverse events after live immunization in patients with DGS in Korea. The data of patients matching the International Classification of Disease-10 code of DGS (D82.

Risk of Dental Discoloration and Enamel Dysplasia in Children Exposed to Tetracycline and Its Derivatives.

Purpose: To examine the risk of dental abnormalities after exposure to tetracycline and its derivatives (TCs) in Korean children.

Materials And Methods: Children aged 0-17 years with a claim for prescriptions of TCs between 2002 and 2015 were identified from the Sample Research Database 2.0 of the National Health Insurance Service.

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Recurrence of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Between Children and Adult.

Purpose: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, benign, and self-limited disease, characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. Herein, we analyzed the differences in its clinical manifestations and risk factors for recurrence between children and adults.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with KFD at a tertiary referral hospital between 2005 and 2019.

Physicochemical Analysis of Yogurt Produced by H40 and Its Effects on Oxidative Stress in Neuronal Cells.

H40 (H40) was isolated from kimchi, and its probiotic properties and neuroprotective effect was evaluated in oxidatively stressed SH-SY5Y cells. H40 was stable in artificial gastric conditions and can be attached in HT-29 cells. In addition, H40 did not produce β-glucuronidase and showed resistant to several antibiotics.

Usefulness of virtual reality-based training to diagnose strabismus.

To study the usefulness of virtual reality (VR)-based training for diagnosing strabismus. Fourteen residents in ophthalmology performed at least 30 VR training sessions to diagnose esotropia and exotropia. Examinations of real patients with esotropia or exotropia before and after the VR training were video-recorded and presented to a strabismus expert to assess accuracy and performance scores for measuring the deviation angle and diagnosing strabismus with anonymization.

Potential neuroprotective effects of heat-killed KC24 using SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide.

The present study was an investigation of the neuroprotective effects of probiotic bacteria in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells experiencing oxidative stress. The bacterial strains were: commercial GG; two isolated bacterial strains ( KU200170 and KU200661); and probiotic KC24. To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of the bacteria, a conditioned medium (CM) was prepared using HT-29 cells cultured with the heat-killed probiotic strains.

Mental health and quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis pain: The sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015).

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the association between mental health and quality of life of osteoarthritis (OA) patients according to the site of pain.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Participants: Data of 22,948 participants of the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2013-2015 were used.

Probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum KU200060 isolated from watery kimchi and its application in probiotic yogurt for oral health.

Lactobacillus fermentum KU200060 was isolated from watery kimchi and its probiotic characteristics were evaluated, including tolerance to artificial gastric acid and bile salt, production of enzymes, ability to adhere to HT-29 cells, and antibiotic susceptibility. The antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of L. fermentum KU200060 against Streptococcus mutans KCTC 5316 were compared to those of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus brevis KU15006.

Survival of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel soiled with different food residues.

Insufficient and ineffective cleaning practices can cause food residues to remain in kitchen and can facilitate bacterial attachment and persistence by protective films. The present study investigated the survival of five major foodborne pathogens on stainless steel coupons, in the presence of cooked rice, whole eggs, and soymilk. Foodborne pathogens showed different survival rates by desiccation and disinfection depending on food residues.

Probiotic Properties and Neuroprotective Effects of KU200793 Isolated from Korean Fermented Foods.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the probiotic characteristics and neuroprotective effects of bacteria isolated from Korean fermented foods. Three bacterial strains ( KU200060, KU200171, and KU200793) showed potential probiotic properties, such as high tolerance against artificial gastric juice and bile salts, sensitivity to antibiotics, nonproduction of carcinogenic enzymes, and high adhesion to intestinal cells. Heat-killed KU200060 and KU200793 showed higher antioxidant activity than heat-killed KU200171.

Comparing the performance of artificial intelligence and conventional diagnosis criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy using electrocardiography.

Aims: Although left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has a high incidence and clinical importance, the conventional diagnosis criteria for detecting LVH using electrocardiography (ECG) has not been satisfied. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for detecting LVH.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study involved the review of 21 286 patients who were admitted to two hospitals between October 2016 and July 2018 and underwent 12-lead ECG and echocardiography within 4 weeks.

Development and Validation of Deep-Learning Algorithm for Electrocardiography-Based Heart Failure Identification.

Background And Objectives: Screening and early diagnosis for heart failure (HF) are critical. However, conventional screening diagnostic methods have limitations, and electrocardiography (ECG)-based HF identification may be helpful. This study aimed to develop and validate a deep-learning algorithm for ECG-based HF identification (DEHF).

Antioxidant and immune-enhancing effects of probiotic 200655 isolated from kimchi.

Probiotic properties including antioxidant and immune-enhancing effects of 200655 isolated from kimchi were evaluated. The tolerance of three strains ( 200655, KCTC 3108, and GG to bile salts (0.3% oxgall, 24 h) was similar, and 200655 showed the highest tolerance to gastric juice (0.

Effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for poststroke patients with shoulder pain: study protocol for a double-center, randomized, patient- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled, parallel, clinical trial.

Background: Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine have suggested that acupuncture could alleviate poststroke shoulder pain, based on the clinical evidence. This study protocol is aimed at showing the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture therapy for stroke survivors with shoulder pain.

Methods: After assessing their eligibility, 60 stroke survivors with shoulder pain will be enrolled from two traditional Korean medicine hospitals and randomly divided into either the verum or the sham electroacupuncture (EA) group with a 1:1 ratio.

Smart device usage in early childhood is differentially associated with fine motor and language development.

Aim: We evaluated the relationships between the use of smart devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, and the development levels and language scores in young children.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis with 117 children aged three to five years was conducted. The participants were recruited from kindergartens in South Korea between November 2015 and April 2016.

Differential expression of microRNAs in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells treated with sodium butyrate using digital RNA counting.

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is an efficient supplement for increasing recombinant protein production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture. To elucidate the effects of NaBu on miRNA expression profile in recombinant CHO (rCHO) cells, differentially expressed miRNAs in NaBu-treated rCHO cells were assessed by NanoString nCounter analysis. This result showed that eight mature mouse miRNAs (let-7b, let-7d, miR-15b, miR-25, miR-27a, miR-99a, miR-125a-5p, and miR-125b-5p) were differentially expressed.

Corrigendum to "Acupuncture for Spasticity after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/870398.].