• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.695-706
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• 2021

Objectives: This study reports a case of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in which the patient experienced improved limb weakness, facial paralysis, paresthesia, and systemic pain after Korean medicine treatment. Methods: A 25-year-old female patient diagnosed with GBS received the herbal medicine Banhasasim-tang Soft Ext., acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and rehabilitation treatment. To confirm the change in symptoms, the manual muscle test (MMT), Korean Version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Yanagihara grading system (Y-score) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were performed. Results: After Korean medicine treatment, there was a significant improvement in GBS-related clinical symptoms. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment could be effective in improving symptoms of limb weakness, facial paralysis, paresthesia, and systemic pain related to GBS. However, this study has limitations as a case report, and more studies are needed.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.247-251
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• 2020

Objectives: Ganglion cysts require a sustainable treatment that suppresses their frequent recurrence. This study aimed to explore the clinical effects of Scolopendra pharmacopuncture (SP) and electroacupuncture on ganglion cysts. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patient records and follow-up reports for 20 patients with wrist ganglion cysts who received SP and electroacupuncture from April 2016 to March 2017. The cyst diameter, recurrence, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain, the Korean version of the disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (K-DASH) score, and the Korean version of the patient-rated wrist evaluation (K-PRWE) score before and after treatment were noted. Results: After treatment, the cyst diameter decreased significantly from 13.61 ± 6.41 mm to 5.15 ± 6.18 mm (p < 0.001), and VAS score for pain decreased from 1.31 ± 1.77 to 0.41 ± 0.33 (p = 0.021). Further, the K-DASH score decreased significantly from 8.97 ± 12.66 to 2.21 ± 7.39 (p = 0.016), and score for the function subscale of K-PRWE decreased from 11.37 ± 4.48 to 9.1 ± 3.67 (p = 0.046). No recurrences were reported from the followed-up patients. Any complication related to SP or electroacupuncture was not observed, except mild rash, itching, and swelling at the injection site in four patients. Conclusion: Combination of SP and electroacupuncture may be effective in treating ganglion cysts; further prospective studies with large population are needed to clarify the effect of SP and electroacupuncture.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.63-73
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM) using Korean Medicine treatment on acute lower limb muscle weakness through four case studies. Methods SMWLM, with other Korean Medicine treatments, was performed on four patients who underwent treatment at OOOO Korean Medicine Hospital from August 2017 to July 2018. Additionally, results of the Numerical Rate Scale(NRS), EuroQol-FiveDimensions(EQ-5D),Oswestry lowback pain disability questionnaire(ODI), Straight Leg Raise(SLR) test, and Manual Muscle Test(MMT) were evaluated. Results There was a significant increase in NRS, ODI, and EQ-5D scales with im-rovements of SLR angle and MMT figures to a normal range. Conclusions This study suggested that Korean Medicine treatment combined with SMWLM may affect treating acute lower limb muscle weakness. Further clinical studies are needed to establish a definite conclusion.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.355-361
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• 2020

This study was designed to assess the toxicity of capsaicin-containing (CP) pharmacopunture using an in vitro chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster lung (CHL/IU) cells. In order to determine the high dose level in the main study of this study, a dose range finding study was conducted first. The high dose was selected at 10.0% of CP pharmacopuncture extract, and then diluted sequentially to produce lower dose levels of 5.00, 2.50, 1.25, 0.625 and 0.313% by applying a geometric ratio of 2. As a result, the cytotoxicity and precipitation of the CP pharmacopuncture as a test substance were not evident at any dose level during short-time treatment with and without metabolic activation and continuous treatment without metabolic activation. Therefore, the dose levels for this study were chosen as 10.0, 5.0, and 2.5%., and the treatment volume was 1.3 mL. In addition, negative and positive controls were set. In main study, the frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations in CP treated groups was less than 5% in short-time treatment with and without metabolic activation and continuous treatment without metabolic activation. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference when compared to the negative control group. The frequency of cells with structural chromosomal aberrations in the positive control group was more than 10% compared to the negative control group, and it increased statistically significantly. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, CP pharmacopuncture did not show the possibility of causing chromosome aberrations.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2014

Background: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUSs) are common in primary care. Atpresent, there are no proven, comprehensive treatments available in primary care forpatients with MUSs. However, MUS has parallels with "subhealth" or Mibyeong from tradi-tional East-Asian medicine, and thus, Mibyeong interventions could be effective in treatingMUS. Unfortunately, studies on Mibyeong and its intervention methods are relatively rare.Methods: We administered a web-based survey to 17,279 Korean medicine (KM) practitionersregistered with the Association of Korean Medicine. The response rate was 4.9% (n = 849).Based on the responses received, we assessed how much they agreed with concepts relatedto Mibyeong on a 7-point scale from "do not agree" to "strongly agree." Respondents werealso asked to indicate how frequently they encountered various subtypes and patterns ofMibyeong, and how frequently they use listed intervention methods.Results: Data from 818 respondents were analyzed after excluding those with no clinicalexperience. On average, respondents were male general practitioners aged between 30 yearsand 49 years, working or living in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do. Responses did not differ by demographics. Respondents generally thought that Mibyeongreferred to subjective or borderline findings without certain disease, and that Mibyeong hasvarious subtypes and patterns. Subtypes included fatigue, pain, and digestion problems; pat-terns were either deficiencies (e.g., qi, blood, and yin deficiency) or stagnations (e.g., liver qidepression and qi stagnation). Decoction was the most frequently used type of interventionfor Mibyeong of all items listed, followed by acupuncture and moxibustion. Patient educa-tion was also recommended, suggesting healthy eating, promoting healthy environment,and exercise.Conclusion: We were able to provide preliminary results on KM practitioners' recognition ofand interventions for Mibyeong, but further research is needed to develop a detailed defi-nition of Mibyeong and its myriad subtypes and patterns, and evaluations of the efficacy ofMibyeong interventions.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.225-238
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• 2021

Objective: This research reviews and investigates the trends in recent clinical studies of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in China. Method: We searched for clinical studies discussing Oriental medicine-based treatments for PKD in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. Thirteen clinical articles published from 2001 to 2019 were analyzed. The search focused on the authors, publication year, type of study, purposes of study, method and duration of treatment, evaluation criteria, and results of the selected articles. Results: Of the articles from the database, 9 case series and 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were analyzed. Ten articles used herbal medicine; 4 used herbal medicine for external use. Gamigyejibokryeong-hwan was the most common herbal prescription. The most frequently used herb was Polia Sclerotium (茯苓), and Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎) was employed in all the external uses. All 13 studies confirmed the efficacy of Oriental medicine treatments. Conclusion: 1. Scientifically designed and more varied clinical studies are required to develop treatments for PKD. 2. The current study could be used as basic data in future clinical studies on treatment and further studies of PKD.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2021

Objective : This study was designed to investigate effect of immature fruits from Citrus unshiu Markovich to mature them on antioxidative and antiaging-related enzyme activities in vitro. Methods : Fruits from Open field-cultivated C. unshiu Markovich (ripe and unripe fruits of Citri) made a purchase in Jeju island. We measured total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in mature C. unshiu Markovich (MC) and immature C. unshiu Markovich (IMC) 70% ethanol extract. DPPH free radical, ABTS radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities in both extracts were determined. Also, reducing power, SOD-like activities, elastase inhibition, and collagenase inhibition activities of these extract were assayed at 5, 1, 0.5, and 0.1 mg/㎖. Results : The total polyphenol contents in the ethanol extract of IMC were higher than those of MC (26.99 ± 0.89 mg/TAEg). And total flavonoid contents in them were very similar to both extract (MC; 7.25 ± 0.4 mg/RUEg and IMC; 7.44 ± 0.18 mg/RUEg). DPPH free radical scavenging activities, ABTS radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, and SOD-like activities of IMC-treated group showed significant increase compared to those of MC group in all treated concentrations. Particularly, DPPH free radical scavenging and elastase inhibition activities in IMC-treated group at 5 mg/㎖ showed similar with positive control group. Besides, IMC extract at 5 mg/㎖ concentration surpassed positive control (BHA or Vit. C) in SOD-like activities and ABTS radical scavenging capacity. Conclusion : These results suggest that IMC ethanol extract may be used as a natural antioxidant and a antiaging material for development of functional foods and cosmeceuticals.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.285-298
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• 2020

This study aimed to review clinical studies about Acupotomy used for Knee Osteoarthritis. We searched the following 12 online databases (KISS, NDSL, RISS, OASIS, Earticle, Kmbase, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Cochrane library, Ebscohost, Ovid, CNKI, Wanfang), to find randomized controlled trials that used Acupotomy for knee osteoarthritis. The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials were assessed by using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and meta-analyses were performed. 16 randomized controlled trials were included. Total number of patients was 1169. The average duration of treatment was 3.14 weeks and most of the patients were treated once a week. The major treatment sites were ligaments, muscles, and tender nodules and the most used evaluation tool was the efficiency. We selected 4 studies and meta-analyzed them. All of the studies performed Acupotomy+sodium hyaluronate injection as a treatment group, and sodium hyaluronate injection as a control group. Meta-analysis showed positive results for Acupotomy+sodium hyaluronate injection in terms of efficiency rate compared to sodium hyaluronate injection. Also Meta-analysis showed positive results for Acupotomy+sodium hyaluronate injection in terms of WOMAC (pain, stiffness, function) compared to sodium hyaluronate injection. In this study, we reviewed studies about Acupotomy used for knee osteoarthritis. The studies showed that Acupotomy can significantly effective on knee osteoarthritis. But according to Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) evaluation method, most of the study's risk of bias was unclear. Threrefore, more high-quality studies will be needed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this scoping review was to analyze research trends about mental health of nurses working in Korean medicine (KM) hospitals in Republic of Korea. Methods: Searches were conducted using four electronic databases including Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, Korea Citation Index to collect relevant studies. The search date was March 4, 2021. All studies published up to the search date were considered. Observational studies reporting mental health outcomes of nurses working at KM Hospital were included. Results: A total of 11 cross-sectional observation studies were included. Four of them compared mental health of nurses working on KM and Western medicine (WM). Commonly reported outcomes related to mental health were job satisfaction, role conflict, and work stress. As a result of meta-analysis based on a 5-point Likert scale, the following factors were related to mental health of KM nurses: job satisfaction (2.844±0.067 points), role conflict (3.678±0.058 points), work stress (3.142±0.021 points), turnover intention (3.483±0.028 points), and burnout (3.180±0.033). Compared to WM nurses, KM nurses had significantly less work stress (p=0.000), role conflict (p=0.039), and job satisfaction (p=0.000). Conclusions: Mental health problems of nurses are known to be very common. Although improving them is an important social task, studies on mental health of KM nurses remain insufficient. Based on findings of this study, more cooperation between nurses and KM doctors should be made to improve the mental health of KM nurses, especially their job satisfaction in the future. The Korean Society of Oriental Neuropsychiatry needs to pay more attention to this topic.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2021

Many prior studies on neck pain after a traffic accident (TA), but there is a lack of research on risk factors for post-TA neck pain in Korea. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between post-traffic neck pain and the demographic characteristics of TA patients and to find any factors affecting the neck pain after TA. In this study, 120 TA patients in a Korean medicine hosipital were analysized. The Korean version of the Neck disability Index (NDI) and Numeral Rating Scale (NRS) were used. Data were summarized by frequency(%) and mean(standard deviation). Pearson correlation test, Independent sample t-test, chi-squre test, one-way ANOVA and two-way ANOVA were performed. The IBM SPSS Advanced Statistics for window, version 20.0 was used for statistical processing. All p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. NDI and NRS were highly correlated. NRS and NDI showed higher scores for women, those in 30s, BMI≥25, and side collisions, but there were no statistically significant differences. For women, the direction of collision was observed to affect NDI. In this study, it was confirmed that the NDI and NRS had a high correlation. However, it was confirmed that sex, degree of obesity, direction of traffic accident collision are not factors that significantly affect the intensity of neck pain and the functional disorder by neck. It is necessary to conduct an additional study by larger scale.