The Effects of Manual Acupuncture on Mitochondrial Fusion and Fission Gene Expression in Rat Spleen.

Background: A significant amount of research has been conducted to establish the validity of acupuncture, and it has been demonstrated through animal disease model studies that acupuncture influences mitochondrial changes. However, to more accurately examine the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment effectiveness in pathological models, it is crucial to investigate changes in disease-free animals. Among various hypotheses regarding the effects of acupuncture on the body, we focused on the result that acupuncture stimulation is related to mitochondria. Objectives: We examined the effects of acupuncture mitochondrial fission and fusionrelated mediators in disease-free Sprague Dawley (SD) rats' spleen meridian acupoints. Methods: SD rats were divided into control, SP1, SP2, SP3, SP5, and SP9 acupuncture groups. Acupuncture was performed at each point for 10 minutes daily for four days. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) and fission protein 1 (Fis1) levels were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), optic atrophy-1 (OPA1), mitofusin-1 (MFN1), and mitofusin-2 (MFN2) levels were assessed via western blotting. Mitochondria protein concentrations and NADH dehydrogenase activity in spleen tissues were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: PGC-1α expression decreased in the SP1 (p < 0.01), SP5 (p < 0.05), and SP9 (p < 0.05) groups, while Fis1 expression increased in the SP1 (p < 0.01), SP5 (p < 0.01), and SP9 (p < 0.05) groups. DRP1, OPA1, MFN1, and MFN2 levels exhibited no significant changes. Mitochondrial protein concentrations decreased in the SP2 (p < 0.01), SP3 (p < 0.01), SP5 (p < 0.01), and SP9 (p < 0.01) groups, while NADH dehydrogenase activity decreased in the SP2 (p < 0.05) and SP9 (p < 0.05) groups. Conclusion: Acupuncture at the SP9 acupoint influenced the mitochondrial fission pathway by modulating PGC-1α and Fis1 mediators in the rat spleen under non-disease conditions.

Changes in Mitochondria-Related Gene Expression upon Acupuncture at LR3 in the D-Galactosamine-Induced Liver Damage Rat Model.

Hepatic diseases, such as hepatonecrosis, hepatitis, and hepatocirrhosis, are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and increased reactive oxygen species generation and inflammation, ultimately leading to liver failure. In this study, we examined if acupuncture at LR3 can affect mitochondria-related gene expression in a liver damage model of experimentally induced acute liver failure (ALF). ALF was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in experimental rats, who then received either sham (ALF), manual acupuncture (MA), electroacupuncture (EA), or silymarin (PC, positive control) treatment. Liver tissues were extracted from experimental and untreated control rats for histopathological analysis and expression profiling of genes involved in mitochondrial function. Of the 168 mitochondria-related genes profiled, two genes belonging to the solute-carrier transporter family (Slc25a15 and Slc25a25) and Ndufb7 were upregulated. Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was more downregulated in MA than ALF. Furthermore, MA reversed D-GalN-induced inflammatory cell infiltration, destruction of hepatic cell plates, and increase in the levels of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. MA at LR3 can reduce the risk of D-GalN-induced ALF by inducing the expression of metabolic and inflammation-related genes and regulating proinflammatory factor production in hepatic mitochondria.

Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Combined Treatment Attenuates Colitis in Rats.

This study aimed to verify the efficacy of a combined treatment of Jakyakgamcho-tang (JGT) and acupuncture (CV12, ST25, CV4) on colitis induced by dextrane sulfate sodium (DSS). Changes in immuno-mediated factors and metabolites were investigated. Colitis symptoms such as body weight loss and elevated disease activity index were alleviated by the combined treatment. Moreover, treatment with JGT and acupuncture restored the disturbed architecture of colon by suppressing inflammatory cytokine levels of IFN-[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] < 0.05), IL-5 ([Formula: see text] < 0.05), and IL-13 ([Formula: see text] < 0.0001) compared with the DSS group. Analysis of metabolic profiles of serum revealed that treatment groups were clearly separated from the DSS group, suggesting that JGT and acupuncture treatment altered serum metabolites. Furthermore, treatments caused opposite metabolite patterns for dimethylbenzimidazole, 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, proline, phosphate, glycolic acid, aspartic acid, tryptophan, phthalic acid, ornithine, and glutamic acid compared with the DSS group. The combined treatment group induced more effective metabolite patterns than the JGT group, implying that acupuncture treatment can restore metabolic changes caused by DSS induction. These results indicate that the simultaneous treatment of JGT administration and acupuncture procedure provides better management of the immune function and inflammatory expression of colitis than a single treatment. It is assumed that intestinal microbial control can be achieved by acupuncture stimulation as well as by taking herbal medicine.

A study on the characteristics of mobile X-ray device using supercapacitor as internal power.

Mobile X-ray device is widely employed because it is useful for diagnosis in patients having mobility difficulties and in medical emergencies. As various devices for X-ray generation have continued to be developed, X-ray devices can now be used more safely and effectively. However, mobile X-ray devices generate relatively low X-ray doses due to the limitation of the power input. Therefore, the use of mobile X-ray devices is limited to thin parts of body. In this study, a new device was designed in order to increase the usefulness of mobile X-ray devices by offsetting the weaknesses of the existing mobile X-ray devices, rendering them useable independently. A supercapacitor and battery were used as the internal power source for the X-ray generation in the manufactured device. The pulse width modulation (PWM) method is applied to control the tube voltage and current required for generating the X-ray, and the pulse frequency modulation (PFM) method is applied to the control to generate the high voltage in order to enhance the precision and efficiency. The manufactured X-ray device was used to evaluate the control signal, frequency, and output characteristics according to changes in tube voltage and current. Based on the results of X-ray generation, it is confirmed that precise control was achieved by X-ray generation increases linearly with increasing tube voltage and tube current. This means that precise control of the manufactured mobile X-ray device is passible. In addition, the study confirmed that stable output was achieved by checking the tube voltage, tube current and exposure rate during the exposure times by high power condition.

Phantom Study of a New Laser-Etched Needle for Improving Visibility During Ultrasonography-Guided Lumbar Medial Branch Access With Novices.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the visibility and procedural parameters between a standard spinal needle and a new laser-etched needle (LEN) in real-time ultrasonography guided lumbar medial branch access in a phantom of the lumbosacral spine. METHODS: We conducted a prospective single-blinded observational study at a rehabilitation medicine center. A new model of LEN was manufactured with a standard 22-gauge spinal needle and a laser etching machine. Thirty-two inexperienced polyclinic medical students performed ultrasonography-guided lumbar medial branch access using both a standard spinal needle and a LEN with scanning protocol. The outcomes included needle visibility score, needle elapsed time, first-pass success rate, and number of needle sticks. RESULTS: The LEN received significantly better visibility scores and shorter needle elapsed time compared to the standard spinal needle. First-pass success rate and the number of needle sticks were not significantly different between needles. CONCLUSION: A new LEN is expected to offer better visibility and enable inexperienced users to perform an ultrasonography-guided lumbar medial branch block more quickly. However, further study of variables may be necessary for clinical application.

Prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen in men with Parkinson's disease are not different compared to age-matched control group: A prospective, case-controlled multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from gait disturbance as well as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). There have been no reports that evaluated the prostate volume (PV) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of patients with PD. In this study, we prospectively evaluated PV and PSA in men with PD. METHODS: From May 2009 to January 2012, 60 PD patients and 60 age-matched non-PD patients with LUTS enrolled at three centers in Korea. All participants (PD as well as non-PD patients) had LUTS at presentation. We measured the PV using a transrectal ultrasonography and checked the serum PSA level in patients with PD and their non-PD counterparts, who served as the age-matched control group, and then compared the data of both groups. Patients with abnormal digital rectal examination results and/or serum PSA levels >4.0 ng/mL underwent prostate biopsy. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 71.37 ± 7.36 years and 70.85 ± 6.31 years for PD and non-PD patients (P = 0.651), respectively. There were no significant statistical differences between the two groups in terms of total PV (28.56 ± 14.59 in PD vs. 29.21 ± 10.41 in non-PD, P = 0.727), transition zone PV (12.72 ± 8.76 vs. 12.73 ± 6.68, P = 0.993), and total serum PSA (1.88 ± 2.80 vs. 2.01 ± 2.02, P = 0.759). In the PD group, seven patients had PSA levels >4.0 ng/mL (range, 4.12-11.18 ng/mL). Among these patients, prostate cancer (PC) was detected in two patients. In the non-PD group, PSA levels >4.0 ng/mL were detected in nine patients (range, 4.16-8.28 ng/mL). Among these patients, PC was detected in three patients. The PC occurrence rate was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that a neurologic lesion causing PD does not affect PV and PSA. As both groups have a similar PC occurrence rate, it is clear that prostate evaluation is necessary for PD as well as non-PD patients.

Study on image processing of panoramic X-ray using deviation improvement software.

Utilization of panoramic X-ray device is getting wider. Panoramic X-ray has low resolution than general X-ray device and it occurs to distortion by deviation of image synthesis. Due to structural problems, it has been used restrictively to identify of tooth structure, not for whole head. Therefore, it designed and produced panoramic X-ray device which is possible to diagnostic coverage can be extended and had to be adjusted interval control between X-ray generator and image processing for whole of Maxillofacia's diagnosis. Produced panoramic X-ray device is composed basically of short image synthesis. In addition, it was confirmed the results by used the device which was applied deviation of the brightness of the image, filter to improve the location of the deviation and interpolation method. In this study, it was used 13 images including the front. It occurs to brightness deviation, position deviation, and geometric correction when synthesis of image, but it had been solved by deviation improvement software and a change of CCD camera's scan line which is used for image acquisition. Therefore, it confirmed expansion possibility of utilization range to commonly used panoramic X-ray device.

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in normal rectal flora of patients undergoing transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the normal rectal flora of patients undergoing transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy in Korea. METHODS: Between May 2010 and October 2010, rectal swabs were cultured from patients before transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy in three tertiary referral centers of Jeonbuk Province, Korea. Rectal swabs were collected using cotton-tipped culture swabs in a standard collection system immediately before prostate biopsy. The swabs were cultured on eosin methylene blue and McConkey agar at 37°C. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests were carried out according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 160 patients who had a rectal swab taken before prostate biopsy, microorganisms were isolated in 125 patients. Escherichia coli was isolated from the rectal swabs of 95 patients. The mean age was 68.1 years, the median serum prostate specific antigen was 5.6 ng/mL and the mean prostate volume measured by transrectal ultrasonography was 43.8 mL. Of the E. coli, 33.7%, 29.1%, 26.7%, 23.3%, 12.8%, 9.3%, 5.8%, 1.2% and 0% were resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, cephalothin, cefotaxim, amikacin and meropenem, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high level of resistance to ciprofloxacin and ampicillin, and a very low level of resistance to amikacin in the E. coli in the bowel flora. The prevalence of resistance to ciprofloxacin in Korea is significantly higher than that reported in Western countries.

Efficacy and safety of the TVT-SECUR® and impact on quality of life in women with stress urinary incontinence: a 2-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: As recently reported, the short-term results of the tension-free vaginal tape SECUR® (TVT-S) procedure seem to be similar to those of the conventional transobturator tape (TOT) procedure. However, results of efficacy and satisfaction with TVT-S are insufficient in patients with more than 1 year of follow-up. Therefore, we evaluated the results of the TVT-S procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) during 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 51 patients with clinical and urodynamic diagnoses of SUI who underwent the TVT-S procedure from March 2008 to February 2009. Preoperative evaluation included a history, cough stress test with full bladder, urodynamic study, and incontinence quality of life (I-QoL) questionnaire. Following the postoperative period, urinary incontinence status was examined through a physical examination and the I-QoL questionnaire was completed in an outpatient setting or by telephone. RESULTS: Data from 2 years of follow-up were available for 46 of 51 patients. The cure rate was 80.4% at 1 month after TVT-S and 76.0% at 2 years after TVT-S. The cure or improvement rate was 93.5% at 1 month after TVT-S and 86.8% at 2 years after TVT-S. The mean total I-QoL score increased by 42 points at 1 month after TVT-S (p<0.026) and by 32 points at 2 years after TVT-S (p<0.013). Most patients reported significant improvements in quality of life. At the 2-year follow-up, there were no significant complications related to TVT-S. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that TVT-S is an efficient and safe procedure for the improvement of both the quality of life of the patients and the SUI itself.

Minimally invasive video-assisted kidney transplantation (MIVAKT).

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery has been applied to nearly all fields of surgery due to its advantages such as reduced morbidity, a better cosmetic outcome, and early recovery. The recent advances in its technique have allowed us to use modified minimally invasive surgery technique in the field of kidney transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to March 2006, minimally invasive video-assisted kidney transplantation was carried out in 20 patients. Many clinical variables were compared with the conventional method. The operative procedure began with a 7 to 8 cm skin incision. A laparoscopic balloon dissector was used to create the retroperitoneal space for the placement of the grafted kidney. Vascular anastomosis and ureteroneocystostomy were performed under direct vision and with video-assisted TV monitoring. RESULTS: The average length of the wound was 7.8 cm and it was placed below the belt line. The average operating time was 186 min. Less analgesic was given compared with conventional methods. There was one postoperative complication, a mild lymphocele. All patients showed normalized serum creatinine levels within 4 d. All grafted kidneys showed normal findings on the postoperative ultrasound and renal scans. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive video-assisted kidney transplantation is technically feasible and may offer benefits in terms of better cosmetic outcomes, less pain, and quicker recuperation than conventional kidney transplantation.