• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare the skin temperature changes by the rechargeable and programmable electronic moxibustion device(EMD) with the traditional combustible moxibustion device(CMD). Methods : Skin temperature changes in six healthy volunteers induced by CMD and EMD were measured with digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI). Heat stimulation was applied on $LI_4$ and $TE_5$, and skin temperature changes on each point were measured at baseline and per minute for total 7 minutes, 2 minutes of heat stimulation and 5 minutes of observation. Results : There was no significant difference in the skin temperature changes between CMD and EMD. The temperature on $LI_4$ with EMD was $32.3{\pm}1.3^{\circ}C$ at baseline, $34.0{\pm}1.3^{\circ}C$ at 1 minute after heat stimulation start, $34.6{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$ at 2 minutes after, and from 3 minutes after heat stimulation, it maintained $32.6{\sim}32.8^{\circ}C$. Conclusions : Methods for measuring skin temperature changes induced by heat stimulation of moxibustion were established, and the possibility of effectiveness of the newly developed electronic moxibustion device was raised with this preliminary study. This study can contribute to the development of clinical research methodology for traditional Korean medicine.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2017

Among 45 patients of herniation of intervertebral disc with $L_4$ to $L_5$ herniation, who underwent infrared thermography, the number of female was larger than male and the age of 50s was highest. From the results measured from the distribution table, we have confirmed that there was no significant difference depending on sex and age (p> 0.05). The region of the highest ROI temperature for patients with $L_4-L_5$ intervertebral disc prolapse was the back of the posterior right tibia, and followed by the back of the left shin bone-below the front right knee-below the front left knee. There was a significant difference depending on the measured site. The average ROI temperature for patients was $30.30{\pm}0.50$ whereas that for normal persons was $31.20{\pm}0.58$, yielding the temperature difference of $0.66{\pm}0.59$ between the two groups. The ROI of patients was lower than $31.20{\pm}0.58$ (p <0.05) because the significance of the sample, which has been obtained from the results of a sample t-test, was less than 0.05 (p <0.05). From further researches, it may necessary to develope the methodology for correcting data regarding thermal environment and, in addition, to develope a new thermal index based on it. Therefore, we can confirm that pre-treatment for infrared thermography is very important in order to minimize the procedure for correcting data. It is required that radiologists who inspect disc herniations should carefully observe and consider the patients during their measurements.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify relationship between the PWV and the temperature difference. Methods: When it comes to senile patients who suffer from cold limbs, there is need to see whether or not the patient's low temperature of the limbs is do to arteriosclerosis. The Pulse Wave Velocity(PWV) is a non-invasive method measuring the artery's rigidness. And the Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging(D.I.T.I) is a non-invasive method to see the body's thermal change. Research on the interrelationship of the artery's rigidness and body's thermal distribution was done by using these two tests. The subjects of this research were patients between the age 40~65 who have done both the D.I.T.I and PWV in March 2005~ September 2005. They had to have no history of diabetes, coronary illnesses or cerebrovascular diseases which are diseases that can effect the outcome of the PVW, nor history of spondylopathy or dermatosis which can effect the outcome of the D.I.T.I. Results: The results were as follows. 1. There was a significant interrelationship between the right wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the right wrist-palm. 2. There was a significant interrelationship between the left wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the left wrist-palm. 3. There was no significant interrelationship between the right wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the right thigh-dorsum of foot. 4. There was no significant interrelationship between the left wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the left thigh-dorsum of foot. 5. The right ABI showed no significant interrelationship between the temperature difference of the right wrist-palm and the right thigh-dorsum of foot. 6. The left ABI showed no significant interrelationship between the temperature difference of the left wrist-palm and the left thigh-dorsum of foot. Conclusion: The study shows that there was a significant interrelationship between wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of wrist-palm.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.213-226
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was aimed to show the effect of electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture on abdominal obesity without patient dieting, exercise or use of herbal medication. Methods : Women over 85 cm in waist circumference were treated with electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture. Acupuncture points were located at the abdomen ($CV_{12}$, $CV_6$, $ST_{25}$, $ST_{21}$, $SP_{15}$, $SP_{14}$), extremities ($LI_4$, $LI_{11}$, $ST_{36}$, $ST_{44}$) and were stimulated 30 minutes with 2.1~3 Gaus, 500 Hz, tolerable strength. The Interference wave forms were by Whata 153 (Medi Lab, Korea). Two or three treatment sessions per week (five or ten sessions in total) were done. Before treatment, and after the last treatment, we measured waist circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio, thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio, visceral fat area, free fat mass, body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass. We also measured the subcutaneous temperature of the abdomen($CV_{12}$, $ST_{25}(Rt)$, $ST_{25}(Lt)$, $CV_6$) by using digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI). Results : In this study, significant reductions were shown in waist circumference, hip circumference, thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio and body fat mass. There were no significant differences in waist hip ratio, free fat mass or skeletal muscle mass. There were also significant increases of the subcutaneous temperature on $CV_{12}$, $ST_{25}(Rt)$, $ST_{25}(Lt)$. Conclusions : From the above results, electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture might be an effective treatment for abdominal obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.80-90
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Korean traditional treatments for Climacteric Syndrome Patients with Hwa-Byung. Methods: From February 2015 to May 2015, We treated 5 Cases Patients with Korean traditional treatments for a month. We measured treatment effects by Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). Results: After treatment, First, the scores of MRS, BDI were decreased. Second, the symptoms such as hot flush, pantalgia, palpitation, insomnia, fatigue were significantly improved. Also, the difference of 膻中 (CV17, Danjung) and 關元 (CV4, Guanyuan) temperatures were significantly decreased after treatment. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean traditional treatments such as Gamicheonglijagam-hwan, acupuncture, moxibustion are effective on Climacteric Syndrome Patients with Hwa-Byung.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.741-750
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• 2023

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Korean medicine treatments on Buerger's disease. Methods: From December 27, 2022, to January 16, 2023, we treated Soeumin patients with Buerger's disease admitted to a hospital specializing in Korean medicine. The patient's symptoms included feelings of coldness in the lower extremities, feelings of dullness, and stabbing pain. For treatment, Korean medicine treatments, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medications (Sogyeonghwalhyeol-tang granules and Gwangyebujaijung-tang-gami) were administered. The patient's improvement was evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) every day. Lower extremity and foot temperatures were evaluated using digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI). Results: Through the treatment regimen, the patient's NRS scores decreased, and lower extremity and foot temperatures increased. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatments for cold lower extremities, feelings of dullness, and stabbing pain caused by Buerger's disease are potentially effective.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2015

This study is aimed to verify what effects horseback riding has in treating hospitalized patients with low back pain in the Korean medicine hospital. The method of this study is choosing 31 people among hospitalized male and female patients whose chief complaints were low back pain in 2 Korean medicine hospital in Gyeonggi Province. 14 people who agreed to take horseback riding treatment were classified into experimental group and 17, the rest of the people, were classified into control group. Both experimental group and control group were treated with Korean medicine. In addition, only experimental group performed horseback riding program. Changes of temperature difference by digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI), sit and reach test and visual analogue scale(VAS) survey were used as measuring tools. IBM SPSS Statistics 21 was used in processing statistics. Mean ${\pm}$standard deviation was indicated down to two places of decimals and the level of significance was judged as p<0.05. The summary of this study's result is as in the following. First of all, the meaningful difference was shown in the experimental group but not in the control group in the difference of temperature between Yintang and Kwanwon(the difference between up and down). Secondly, there were significant difference in the experimental group which performed horseback riding treatments but not in the control group resulting from examining the change of temperature difference between left and right Yongchon. Thirdly, there were significant difference between experimental and control group in the change of sit and reach. Especially, the change was much more in experimental group. As known from the results above, patients who only were treated with Korean medicine relieved low back pain, reordered pelvis and improved the motor ability. However, the group which carried out horseback riding at the same time reordered pelvis and improved the motor ability more obviously.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 2008

Background: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy is a definitive minimally invasive treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. Different techniques exist for controlling axillary hyperhidrosis, but they are temporary and expensive. We compared the results after using two different levels of sympathicotomy for treating axillary hyperhidrosis: T3-T4 and T4. Material and Method: Between June 2002 and May 2007, 30 patients with isolated axillary hyperhidrosis underwent either T3-T4 or T4 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Wonkwang University Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T3-T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation), and Group II (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation). The procedures were bilateral and simultaneous, involving the use of two 2-mm trocars and a 0-degree 2-mm thoracoscope under general anesthesia with single endotracheal intubation. Outcome parameters included satisfaction rate of treatment, degree of compensatory sweating, and postoperative complications. Patients were interviewed by telephone regarding satisfaction and compensatory hyperhidrosis. Result: There were no differences in age between group I and group II. The mean follow-up for the T3-T4 group was $38.7{\pm}2.3$ months, and the mean follow-up for the T4 group was $18.7{\pm}3.6$ months. The immediate therapeutic success rate (within 2 weeks postoperative) was 100% in both groups, and there were no recurrences in either group during the long-term follow-up period. The satisfaction rate was higher (93.3%) in the T4 group than in the T3-T4 group (53.3%), and the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis was lower in the T4 group (6.7%) than in the T3-T4 group (46.7%). Postoperative complications included one mild pneumothorax and two instances of intercostal neuralgia. Digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) correlated well with postoperative satisfaction. Conclusion: Both techniques proved effective for controlling isolated axillary hyperhidrosis. The T4 group had a higher satisfaction rate and lower severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis. Hence, thermal ablation of the lower interganglionic fibers of the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion on the fourth rib is a more practical and minimally invasive treatment than is the T3-T4 surgical method, according to the degree of compensatory sweating in isolated axillary hyperhidrosis.