• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.45-52
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of HT008 on pain relief and functional improvement in participants with mild knee osteoarthritis (OA) in comparison with that of glucosamine sulfate. Methods : This randomized double-blind trial was conducted at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in Seoul where participants with knee pain for more than 6 months and degenerative osteoarthritis were enrolled. The 100 participants were received either HT008 or glucosamine sulfate 750 mg twice daily for 8 weeks and evaluated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment. We primarily evaluated the differences between two groups with respect to changes in the visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score from baseline to week 8. Secondarily the difference between and within two groups with respect to changes in WOMAC stiffness and physical function score, and Lequesne Functional Severity Index (LFI) were also evaluated. Results : At week 8, treatment with HT008 resulted in a significant reduction of the VAS for pain and WOMAC pain scores compared to the glucosamine sulfate (both p=0.003). Patients receiving HT008 experienced statistically significantly greater improvements in WOMAC physical function scores and LFI (p = 0.014 and p=0.016, respectively) than glucosamine sulfate-treated group. The within-group change in WOMAC physical function and stiffness, and LFI during the 8-week intervention revealed significant improvements in HT008-treated group. Conclusions : HT008 treatment allows significant pain reduction and functional improvement compared with glucosamine sulfate. These data confirm HT008 as an effective and safe symptomatic drug for knee OA.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-122
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of children diagnosed as cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) in Korea. Methods: Diagnosis was made based on clinical features and confirmed by a mutation in the cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome 1 (CIAS1) gene. Especially, osteocartilaginous overgrowth in the patella or distal femur was so characteristic that its presence warranted a diagnosis of chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous and articular/NOMID. Results: We observed the clinical features of 9 Korean CAPS patients. All the patients suffered from an urticarial rash with recurrent fever. Among the 9 patients, 6 presented with rash and 4 with fever on the 1st or 2nd days of birth. Eight patients showed myalgia, and 7 patients showed arthralgia in the joints, and 6 patients showed radiologic findings of arthropathy including cupping of the metaphysis, excessive growth of the epiphysis, osteopenia or overgrowth of the cartilage. Four patients showed brain atrophy, enlarged ventricles or leptomeningeal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. Intellectual disability was observed in 1 patient. Five patients had eye involvement as conjunctivitis, uveitis, chorioretinitis, avascular area or papillary edema, and 3 patients showed progressive hearing loss. All 9 patients showed increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Conclusions: All the patients carried a mutation on exon 3 of the CIAS1 gene. After the anakinra (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) therapy, the fever and rash immediately disappeared, and CRP and ESR were improved.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.171-178
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• 2009

Objectives : To investigate the correlation between DITI and assessment instruments of knee OA. Methods : Data were obtained from 127 subjects with OA of the knee. They were asked to answer VAS pain scale, LFI, WOMAC and KHAQ. Correlation was assessed by examing the pearson's correlation and spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Results : The thermal difference between the patella of knee was correlated with VAS, LFI and WOMAC. Age, duration, BMI and sex were not correlated with the thermal differences of each region. Conclusions : DITI value was useful for evaluating the severity of OA. And we should find out the standardization of analysis of DITI value for diagnosis of OA.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2005

Objective : This study is performed for the purpose of examining into the efficacy of the Bee Venom Acupuncture Treatment for Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint. Methods : We investigated 25 cases of patients with Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint from 1st June 2005 to 13th July 2005. The 25 patients were taken Bee Venom Acupuncture over three times irregularly. Treatment efficiency was monitored through VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and improvement degree of the grade of clinical symptoms. Conclusions : We brought to the conclusion that the Bee Venom Acupuncture has possibility to be efficient to cure the Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint patients. So we suggest the possibility to use this new remedy for the Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2009

Objectives: With more and more health economic evaluations being performed in many countries, the question of whether the results from the foreign studies can be transferred to other country is becoming important. The objective of this study was to conduct a case study using three transferability diagnosis tools for economic evaluation on rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Three diagnosis tools were used to assess transferability: Welte's tool, Boulenger's and Urdahl's. Five researchers who have experience on economic evaluation made consensus on the evaluation through the semi-delphi method. Results: With Welte's tool, absolute and relative prices in healthcare, practice variation, health-status preference, productivity and work-loss time were evaluated as biased. The transferability information score by Boulenger's was 85.9%, which means qood quality reporting. In case of Urdahl's, research questions were well defined and reporting was transparent and explicitly stated. However, both the relevance of data inputs to Korea and robustness of model were relatively low. In conclusion the UK study on rheumatoid arthritis could be partially transferable to Korea, and will need modeling-based adjustments.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1 s.65
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• pp.229-239
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• 2006

Objectives : Articular cartilage is a potential target for drugs designed to inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to stop or slow the destruction of the proteoglycan and collagen in the cartilage extracelluar matrix. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of KHBJs for cartilage-protective effect in human and rabbit articular cartilage explants. Methods : The cartilage-protective effects of KHBJ were evaluated by using glycosaminoglycan degradation assay, collagen degradation assay, colorimetric analysis of MMPs activity, and histological analysis in rabbit and human cartilage explants culture. Results : KHBJs significantly inhibited GAG and collagen release of rabbit and human cartilage explant in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, KHBJs inhibited MMP-3 and MMP-13 activities from IL-$1{\alpha}$-treated cartilage explants cultures. Histological analysis indicated that KHBJ004 reduced the degradation of the cartilage matrix compared with that of IL-$1{\alpha}$-treated cartilage explants. KHBJ004 had no harmful effect on chondrocytes viability or cartilage morphology in cartilage explants. Conclusions : These results indicate that KHBJs inhibits the degradation of proteoglycan and collagen through the downregulation of MMP-3 and MMP-13 activities without affecting the viability or morphology of IL-$1{\alpha}$-stimulated rabbit and human articular cartilage explants.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2018

Objectives: The combined use of herbal and Western medicine is increasing. However, herbal medicine is highly likely to interact with Western medicine making it important to understand the effects of co-administration. This study investigates the ratio of patients who take Western medicine with herbal medicine, the types of medicines commonly prescribed together, and the results of hospital examinations. Methods: We investigated patients who were hospitalized at Kyung Hee University Korean Medical Hospital for at least one day from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2017. There were some inclusion criteria. First, we chose patients aged 19 and over. Second, we chose patients who were diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) with diagnosis codes M13, M15, M17 according to KCD-7. Third, patients had liver function tests, renal function tests, and general hematology tests performed at least two times during hospitalization. Results: Among a total of 131 OA patients, 32 (24.4%) patients were treated with herbal-Western medicine combination therapy. The most commonly prescribed herbal medicine was Daegalwhal-tang, and the most commonly prescribed Western medicine was celecoxib. In the laboratory findings, all liver function tests, renal function tests, and general hematology tests showed no difference compared to admission day. There were also no differences between herbal medicine single treatment and herbal-Western medicine combination treatment. Conclusions: From these results, we suggest that herbal medicine single treatment and herbal-Western medicine combination treatment for OA patients does not cause adverse effects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.120-130
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• 2003

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Dong-si acupuncture therapy and General acupuncture therapy for the patients with acute ankle sprain. Methods : This study has been carried out for 60 cases of ankle sprain patients who have visited Dong-Seo Oriental medical Hospital from May 1, 2002 to September 30, 2002. We have treated 30 cases of them by Dong-si acupuncture therapy and the other 30 cases by General acupuncture therapy. And we have compared those two group. Results : 1. There was no significant difference at the treatment period and the number of treatment times in comparing two groups. 2. The number of treatment times for good effect is that : Dong-si took $1.57{\pm}0.85$ times and General acupuncture therapy took $2.15{\pm}0.96$ times. And we have found that the effect of Dong-si acupuncture therapy is faster than the other.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.25-34
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the Mulberry Extract Complex in a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial and animal study on degenerative arthritis. Methods : Animal study: Mulberry Extract Complex is composed of extracts of mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit, mulberry leaves and black beans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). To evaluate the serum level of interleukin-2, interferon-$\gamma$, and prostaglandin E2, an animal model of degenerative arthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate was employed. Clinical study: The efficacy index (VAS, K-WOMAC) was compared among patients with symptoms of degenerative arthritis before and after Mulberry Extract Complex ingestion as well as the one in groups. Evaluations of the improvement by the subjects and by doctor assessment were also performed. Results : Animal study: Mulberry Extract Complex reduced the serum level of interferon-$\gamma$ and prostaglandin E2 in an animal model with degenerative arthritis. Clinical study: The VAS change showed statistical significance in the experimental groups after 4 weeks (PP set) and 8 weeks (ITT set) of ingestion. When the K-WOMAC was analyzed using a modified ITT set to determine the effectiveness, statistically significant results were obtained in the fields of pain & symptom within the Mulberry Extract Complex group as well as between the Mulberry Extract Complex and placebo groups after 8 weeks of ingestion. Results from the improvement evaluation by subjects and the assessment of improvement by doctors showed statistical significance in the experimental groups (PP set) after 8 weeks. Conclusions : Mulberry Extract Complex could be useful for the improvement of various symptoms of degenerative arthritis based on its anti-inflammatory activity and its reduction of VAS and K-WOMAC pain scores.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2014

Osteoarthritis is a disease that has considerable effect on both individuals and economy. The number of osteoarthritis patients are gradually increasing as people get to enjoy longevity. This study was conducted to examine 30 osteoarthritis patients. Following is the report which shows the effectiveness of KJ27 based on statistical data analysis. Among 5 who have reported that they were not able to walk or use their knees at all, 80% of them were completely recovered. Among 18 who have stated that it was very hard for them to walk for more than a kilometer, 66.7% were completely recovered. Among 7 who have reported that it was little bit difficult for them to walk, 71.4% were completely recovered. Among 25 out of 30 who were very unsatisfied with former treatments, 70% of them stated that they were very satisfied with KJ27 treatments, and 30% of them stated that they were satisfied with it. Among 5 who had not had any type of osteoarthritis treatments, 100% have stated that they were very satisfied with the treatment. 18 patients who were under this treatment for a month were completely recovered; 10 patients who were under this treatment for 2 months were completely recovered; and finally 2 patients who were under this treatment for 3 months and longer were completely recovered. It is not clearly understood whether KJ27 will eradicate the entire symptoms of osteoarthritis, yet. Numerous case studies and experiments should be conducted to improve and apply KJ27.