• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.170-181
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• 2022

This review evaluated the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) for chronic fatigue syndrome. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using EA as an intervention for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were identified in 6 databases (PUBMED, EMBASE, CNKI, J-STAGE, KMBASE, OASIS). Fatigue indicators were used as the primary outcome measures. The quality-of-life index, efficiency rate, and level of pain were used as secondary outcome measures. There were 408 patients from seven RCTs included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that EA was significantly associated with fatigue relief compared with the control group (n = 141 SMD = -1.55, 95% CI; -2.58 - -0.52, p = 0.003, I² = 92%). In addition, EA had a statistically significant improvement in quality of life compared with the control group (n = 176, SMD = -2.29, 95% CI; -3.68 - -0.90, p = 0.001, I² = 96%). One study reported ten cases of bleeding, however, no serious adverse events were reported in any of the included studies. This review determined that EA may have a greater clinical effect than the control group for fatigue relief and improved quality of life. However, there were several risks of bias identified. Not all of the RCTs accurately reported the research method, all studies were conducted in 1 country (China), and the number of studies included were small.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.8-23
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to review the relationship between environmental assessment (EA) and land use planning through the theoretical and practical perspective. Theoretically, this research studies environmental land use planning incorporating with environmental assessment. Practically, through the review on EA review opinion in Korea Environment Institute for recent 10 years, environmental land use mitigations are investigated. The results of this study are as follows:first, there have been new and innovative review criteria and mitigation methods in environmental assessment; second, land use mitigation tools have been mostly used in environmental assessment; finally, there is a need for mediating role by land use section in EA review system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.159-169
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• 2022

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a term that applies to symptoms such as persistent or recurring low back pain, paresthesia, sciatica, or numbness after spine surgery. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to have excellent analgesic effects although there have been no systematic reviews on the effects of EA on FBSS. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of EA on FBSS was conducted. Eight databases were searched for studies that used EA for FBSS and 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. RCTs of EA as combination therapy for FBSS compared with conventional treatment demonstrated improvement in the level of pain, lumbar functional scale scores, and quality of life. However, meta-analysis showed that reduction in pain was not statistically significant, while evaluation of lumbar function significantly improved, although the quality of evidence in the RCTs was generally low. RCTs comparing EA alone with conventional treatment demonstrated an improved level of pain, lumbar function, and effective rate of treatment. Meta-analysis showed that pain was significantly decreased in the EA alone group compared with the control group, although the quality of evidence was low. To improve the quality of evidence, high-quality RCTs are required in the future.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.147-167
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• 2009

Enterprise architecture is a business transformation effort. In an effort to assess an organization's EA effort and to identify complementary measures, most of countries utilize an EA maturity model. In Korea, the EA maturity model v2.1 has been used for this purpose. Since some limitations in the model were reported recently and there was much change in EA-related policy or approach with the advent of the new government, the need of modifying the current model has occurred. In this regard, our paper proposes an improved EA maturity model. The new model was developed through a series of systematic analysis such as an in-depth comparison of existing EA models, elicitation of alternatives for each decision-making element, and interviewing of experts.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 2021

Objectives The objective of this study was to appraise the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) for the treatment of cervical vertigo. Methods We performed a literature search using nine electronic databases up to the end of November 2020. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which appraised the effect of EA in the treatment of cervical vertigo. The risk of bias was evaluated from the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results Thirteen appropriate RCTs were included and analyzed. The efficacy rate of the EA group was statistically higher compared with the control group treated with western medicine (p<0.00001). EA treatment significantly improved efficacy rate when combined with western medicine than western medicine alone (p<0.0001). Also EA used with combined therapy (traction, traditional chinese medicine, injection) significantly improved efficacy rate compared with combined therapy alone (p=0.02). Meta-analysis of thirteen studies demonstrated positive results for using EA for the treatment of cervical vertigo. Conclusions Based on results, EA treatment could be effective in cervical vertigo. However, it should be noted that the studies included in this research are regionally biased and small in number. Further well-designed research should be required.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-39
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• 2006

Interest in EA has been Increasing recently, however, with the coming into effect from July 2006 of the 'Information Technology Architecture Act' which requires the public sector to adopt EA. Until now, the study of EA has been focused on concepts and methodologies for the adoption of EA. The fundamental issue, however, the study on the factors affecting the adoption of EA, has rarely been explored. This thesis therefore surveyed which factors have affected the adoption of EA. The analysis found that the adoption of EA was affected by the external environmental characteristics such as rules or regulations and the level of competition in the Industry concerned, and by the organization's information technology level. However, technological aspects such as perceived usefulness or perceived ease of use - traditionally considered as critical factors in adopting information technology - were found to be less influential. These results show that in Korea we still do not regard EA as a method of optimizing the IT resources of a company. In order for EA to be widely adopted, therefore, we should Put primary emphasis on efforts to properly appreciate its technological aspects, such as its technological usefulness or convenience.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.83-95
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• 2024

Objectives This review was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of manual acupuncture (MA) for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods We searched 12 electronic databases (DBpia, Korean studies Information Service System [KISS], Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], Research Information Sharing Service [RISS], China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], CINAHL, Clinical Key, Cochrane Library, Embase, JAMA, PubMed, Web of Science) to find randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) investigating therapeutic effects of MA for treating SIS. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores and numeric pain rating scale or visual analogue scale were analyzed as the main evaluation criteria. Results Among 181 studies, 169 were screened and only 12 RCTs were eligible in our review. Finally, 11 RCTs could be statistically analyzed. MA was more effective than sham treatment and physical therapy in terms of reducing pain (p=0.003, p=0.0007 each). Electroacupuncture (EA) showed more significant effect than physical therapy (PT) for improving shoulder pain (p<0.00001) and shoulder functionality (p<0.00001). Conclusions These results suggest that MA and EA could be superior option for treating SIS than sham treatment or PT. However this review has its limitations due to the small sample size and lack of well-designed RCTs that were included in the study. Further well-designed RCTs are necessary to provide high-level evidence.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.92-109
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study was to appraise the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) for the treatment of acute gout. Methods: Since no suitable study could be found in the domestic database, we performed a literature search up to the end of December 2020 using four international electronic databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of EA in the treatment of acute gout were included. The risk of bias was evaluated from the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: Eight appropriate RCTs were included and analyzed. Three evaluation tools were mainly used: Total Effective Rate (TER), Uric acid (UA), and Pain score (VAS). In the case of TER, in all eight cases, electroacupuncture alone and combined treatment showed a statistically significant level of improvement compared to Western medicine treatment. In the case of VAS score, electroacupuncture alone and combined treatment showed a more significant effect than Western medicine treatment. In the case of UA level, electroacupuncture combined treatment showed a more significant effect than western medicine treatment. Although not all three evaluation tools were used in all studies, the majority of studies showed that electroacupuncture was effective for acute gout patients. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that EA treatment may be effective for acute gout. It should be noted, however, that the studies included in this study were geographically biased, small in number, and mostly at high risk of bias. More well-designed studies are needed in the future.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2011

Hiatal hernia is a very rare disease in the pediatric population. However information from our esophageal atresia postoperative follow-up program has hypotheses; "Hiatal hernia may more frequently occur in postoperative esophageal atresia patients (EA group) than in the general pediatric population (GP group)" and "The tension on the esophagus after esophageal anastomosis may be an important etiologic factor of hiatal hernia in EA group". To prove the first hypotheses, we compared the incidence of hiatal hernia in the GP group with the incidence in the EA group. The Incidence in the GP group was obtained from national statistic data from Statistics Korea and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea. The incidence in the EA group was obtained from the medical record and the imaging studies of our esophageal atresia postoperative follow-up program. To prove the second hypothesis, the presumptive risk factors for the development of hiatal hernia in EA group, such as the type of esophageal atresia, degree of esophageal gap, the stage operation and the redo-operation with resection and re-anastomosis of esophagus were analyzed statistically. The total number of patients in the EA group was ninety-nine and there were 5 hiatus hernias. The incidence of EA group (5 %) is significantly higher than incidence of GP group (0.024 %). (p=0.0001) The statistical analysis of the presumptive risk factors for hiatal hernia development in EA group failed to show any evidence of correlation between postoperative esophageal tension and the hiatal hernia. This study shows that the postoperative patients with esophageal atresia have high occurrence of hiatal hernia and should be followed up carefully to detect hiatal hernia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.16-34
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• 2023

Herpes zoster (HZ) results from the reactivation of a varicella-zoster virus infection and is accompanied by moderate-to-severe pain in most patients. The most common treatment is medication; however, there are still limitations. Acupuncture reportedly has meaningful therapeutic effects and is a possible alternative option in HZ. However, no systematic reviews examining the use of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (EA) alone have been published; in this study, we therefore aimed to systematically review those techniques. We searched for clinical trials of acupuncture and EA treatment for HZ up to October 2022. Trials that used acupuncture were included. Outcomes were visual analog scale (VAS) and effective rate. Secondary outcomes were time to pain relief, time to pain elimination, incrustation, decrustation, lastly incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). In total, 22 randomized controlled trials were included in this research. Compared with conventional medication therapy, acupuncture was associated with a significant improvement in VAS, effective rate, and times to pain relief and elimination. Times to new blister cessation, incrustation, and decrustation (days) were significantly improved. Furthermore, the incidence rate of PHN was lower in acupuncture groups. The results suggest that acupuncture could be a reasonable treatment option for patients with HZ who suffer from pain and accompanying symptoms.