Combined Treatment with Fasudil and Menthol Improves Functional Recovery in Rat Spinal Cord Injury Model.

Neuroprotective measures by preventing secondary spinal cord injury (SCI) are one of the main strategies for repairing an injured spinal cord. Fasudil and menthol may be potent neuroprotective agents, which act by inhibiting a rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) and suppressing the inflammatory response, respectively. We hypothesized that combined treatment of fasudil and menthol could improve functional recovery by decreasing inflammation, apoptosis, and glial scar formation.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among infertile women attending infertility specialty clinics in South Korea: does perceived severity matter?

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among infertile women is popular in many countries, including Korea. Previous research has repeatedly found more than half of infertile women surveyed use CAM therapies for fertility enhancement and overall well-being. However, there is currently little evidence to support this practice, and this raises the question of infertile women's experiences in the uptake of those modalities and sociodemographic and psychological factors associated with CAM use.

Alcohol-Induced Molecular Dysregulation in Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Precursor Cells.

Adverse effect of alcohol on neural function has been well documented. Especially, the teratogenic effect of alcohol on neurodevelopment during embryogenesis has been demonstrated in various models, which could be a pathologic basis for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). While the developmental defects from alcohol abuse during gestation have been described, the specific mechanisms by which alcohol mediates these injuries have yet to be determined.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer with undifferentiated histology: could we extend the criteria beyond?

Background: Endoscopic submucosal desection (ESD) is an effective treatment for selected patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). The purpose of this study was to examine the short-term and long-term outcomes of ESD of undifferentiated early gastric cancer.

Methods: Data for 1,241 patients who underwent ESD for treatment of EGC between February 2003 and May 2010 were collected.

Predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in signet ring cell gastric cancer and the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Purpose: Endoscopic submucosal dissection has recently been practiced on a differentiated type of early gastric cancer. However, there is no clear evidence for endoscopic treatments of signet ring cell carcinoma. The aim of this study is to identify the predictive clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis in signet ring cell carcinoma for assisting endoscopic submucosal dissection trials.

Performance of whole-blood interferon-gamma release assay in patients admitted to the emergency department with pulmonary infiltrates.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of a whole-blood interferon-gamma release assay in inpatients who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) with pulmonary infiltrates who required a differential diagnosis with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: The patients with pulmonary infiltrates who received a QuantiFERON (QFT) test in the ED were included as an inpatient group and were divided into TB and non-TB group based on the final diagnosis. Patients with pulmonary TB who were tested in the outpatient department served as a control group.

[The effects of psychosocial rehabilitation programs on the levels of self-efficacy for mentally disabled persons].

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of psychosocial rehabilitation programs provided by a psychosocial rehabilitation center on the levels of self-efficacy for mentally disabled persons. We followed the study subjects for 2 yr in order to examine whether the psychosocial rehabilitation programs had a positive impact on their levels of self-efficacy.

Methods: There were 18 subjects in the experimental group and they received all the psychosocial rehabilitation services available at the psychosocial rehabilitation center for 2 yr.

[The effects of a recovery education program on rehabilitation motivation, symptoms, and function for schizophrenic patients].

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of a recovery education program on rehabilitation motivation, symptoms, and function for schizophrenic patients.

Method: The study employed a quasi-experimental design. Participants for the study were 27 patients with schizophrenia, 14 in the experimental group and the other 13 in the control group.

Internal thoracic artery malperfusion: fast decision for an additional vein graft has impact on patient outcome.

Background: Internal thoracic artery (ITA) malperfusion has been described as a potentially devastating and lethal complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is our practice to perform an additional vein graft to the distal left anterior descending (LAD) artery in such cases.

Methods: From August 1999 to July 2002, 2877 CABG procedures were performed at our institution.