Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analysis the relationship between hours of smartphone use and neck pain in university students. Methods : A survey of 2,353 university students was conducted in Gyeonggi province and Incheon city using a self report questionnaire from April 1 to 11 2013. The questionnaire of questions regarding the hours of using smartphone, mainly used function in participant's smartphone and neck discomfort degree. Neck disability index(NDI) was used to evaluate degree of pain. The collected data were analyzed with the t-test and Kendall's tau test using the SPSS 21.0 program and R 3.1.0, respectively. Results : 1. Almost all of the survey participants(99.07 %) were smartphone users. 66.97 % of them answered that they use their smartphone daily more than 2 hours and 48.18 % of them answered that they use their smartphone 10 to 30 minutes everytime they use it. 2. The overall distribution of NDI scores was 'no disability(0~4 score, 62.92 %)', 'mild disability(5~14 score, 32.85 %)', 'moderate disability(15~24 score, 1.19 %)'. As a result of t-test, we found that the average NDI score for female students was significantly higher than the average NDI score for male students(p<0.05). 3. The Kendall's tau test revealed that total time spent daily using smartphones has a strong positive correlation with 'pain intensity', 'lifting', 'reading' 'headache', 'concentration', and 'driving'(p<0.05) in NDI. Also, time duration of one time smartphone usage has a strong positive correlation with 'pain intensity', 'lifting', 'reading', 'headache', 'concentration', 'work', and 'recreation'(p<0.05). 4. The Kendall's tau test revealed that total NDI scores have a significantly strong positive correlation with both of total time spent daily using smartphones(p<0.05) and time duration for one time smartphone usage(p<0.05). This results imply that long-time use of smartphone has a strong relationship with neck pain. Conclusions : The results of the study would be a good starting point for future studies to reduce the risks of chronic neck pain caused by smartphone usage.

We previously found that snake venom toxin inhibits nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity in several cancer cells. NF-κB is implicated in cancer cell growth and chemoresistance. In our present study, we investigated whether snake venom toxin (SVT) inhibits NF-κB, thereby preventing human cervical cancer cell growth (Ca Ski and C33A). SVT (0-12 μg/ml) inhibited the growth of cervical cancer cells by the induction of apoptotic cell death. These inhibitory effects were associated with the inhibition of NF-κB activity. However, SVT dose dependently increased the expression of death receptors (DRs): DR3, DR5 and DR downstream pro-apoptotic proteins. Exploration of NF-κB inhibitor (Phenylarsine oxide, 0.1 μM) synergistically further increased SVT-induced DR3 and DR5 expressions accompanied with further inhibition of cancer cells growth. Moreover, deletion of DR3 and DR5 by small interfering RNA significantly abolished SVT-induced cell growth inhibitory effects, as well as NF-κB inactivation. Using TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand resistance cancer cells (A549 and MCF-7), we also found that SVT enhanced the susceptibility of chemoresistance of these cancer cells through down-regulation of NF-κB, but up-regulation of DR3 and DR5. In vivo study also showed that SVT (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) inhibited tumor growth accompanied with inactivation of NF-κB. Thus, our present study indicates that SVT could be applicable as an anticancer agent for cervical cancer, or as an adjuvant agent for chemoresistant cancer cells.

Objectives : The objective of this study was to report two cases that patients with external epicondylitis were improved by based on 'eight vacuity' theory bloodletting therapy, acupuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture. Methods : In this study, patients were treated with bloodletting therapy, then acupuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture to Ashi point on eight vacuity of elbow in the patients without retention of needles. Subsequently, electroacupuncture and Dong-qi acupuncture treatment were implemented in order to strengthen the effect of acupuncture. In terms of evaluation methods, visual analog scale(VAS) score, range of motion(ROM), grip strength and physical examination were used to assess external epicondylitis-related symptoms. Results : VAS score decreased, ROM and grip strength were increased and physical examination was improved in all cases. Conclusions : It was suggested that the symptoms of intractable external epicondylitis could be improved by eight vacuity theory adopted bloodletting therapy, acupuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture.

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