• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.114-134
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the changes of women's postpartum symptoms, including their weights, edema index and quality of life (QOL) over the first six weeks after childbirth. Methods: The study participants were 31 postpartum women treated in the Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, at Woo-Suk University Korean Medicine Hospital, from May 20th to August 5th, 2016. In the first 2 weeks of the postpartum period, the main data collection method was to interview each patient and write down all of their complaints, and additionally referring to each participant's PHR (Personal Health Records). At the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th week, the researcher interviewed participants by phone once a week. The participants' weight, edema index (ECW/TBW) and the quality of life (by EQ-VAS) were measured at 1st and 2nd week after childbirth. And, EQ-VAS was assessed once more at the 6th week after childbirth. As a last step, the participants responded to a survey on satisfaction regarding their postpartum care with Korean Medicine. Results: 1. In the 1st one week after childbirth, edema was the most frequent complaint. It was about joint pain of the upper limbs in the 2nd and 3rd weeks, sweating in the 4th week, and joint pain of the upper limbs in the 5th and the 6th weeks. 2. In the 1st two weeks of the postpartum period, the weight of the participants decreased from $66.33{\pm}9.30kg$ to $62.60{\pm}8.92kg$ (p<0.001) and the edema index ECW/TBW decreased from $0.399{\pm}0.010$ to $0.385{\pm}0.0 4$ (p<0.001). The EQ-VAS significantly improved from $61.77{\pm}17.72$ to $73.51{\pm}14.67$ (p<0.001). In the last 4-weeks of the postpartum period, the EQ-VAS decreased from $74.30{\pm}14.25$ to $73.63{\pm}13.35$, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.749). 3. Regarding the satisfaction with postpartum care with Korean Medicine, 60% of the participants responded that it was 'Excellent' and 40% said it was 'Good'. Conclusion: Over the entire postpartum period, the most frequent complaints were about musculoskeletal symptoms. Postpartum care with Korean Medicine treatments in the early postpartum period improves various postpartum symptoms and the quality of life for postpartum women.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.65-78
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the weight change of the high-risk group and the general maternal group and weight-relating factors in the early postpartum period. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of those who received postpartum care from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, in the postpartum care center affiliated with one Korean Medicine hospital. A total of 257 postpartum women's medical charts were included and divided into the high-risk group and the general maternal group. We investigated the weight changes and Body mass index (BMI) of the postpartum women and compared the difference between the two groups after taking the postpartum care. Finally, we used a Pearson correlation analysis to identify the weight-relating factors in the early postpartum period. Results: All the postpartum women showed the following results; 33.81±4.03 years old as the mean age; 22.23±3.28 as pre-pregnancy BMI; 58.21±9.18 kg of pre-pregnancy weight increased into 70.75±9.70 kg in the last month of pregnancy. Of the total 257 patients, 149 (58.0%) of high-risk pregnancy experience and 108 (42.0%) of general pregnancy were included. The edema index right after childbirth was significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the general maternal group (p<0.001), but there was no significant difference in BMI. After treatment with Korean medicine treatments, body weight, BMI, and edema index decreased significantly in both groups (p<0.01). As a result of correlation analysis, weight gain during pregnancy had a significant negative correlation with pre-pregnancy weight and pre-pregnancy BMI and a significant positive correlation with weight and BMI of the last month of pregnancy. In particular, pre-pregnancy BMI and body weight showed a significant negative correlation only in the high-risk group. Postpartum weight loss was significantly positively correlated with pre-pregnancy weight, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight & BMI of the pregnancy last month, weight gain during pregnancy, and decrease in edema (p<0.01) Conclusions: The weight during pregnancy of the high-risk group increased in inverse proportion to the pre-pregnancy BMI. The level of edema right after childbirth was significantly higher than that of the general maternal group, but showed a significant decrease after 2 weeks of Korean medicine treatments. Although it implicates the need for active Korean medicine treatments in the early postpartum period, further studies with controlled groups are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-19
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of early puerperium symptoms and Blood Stasis Index in women during the first two weeks after childbirth. Methods: 38 women staying at Korean postpartum management facilities were studied. Questionnaires were filled out on the date of arrival and departure. Changes in overall physical conditions including neuropsychiatric, circulatory, digestive, musculoskeletal, and urogenital and breast symptoms as well as Blood Stasis Pattern were studied. Results: 1. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were shown in order of Depressed Feeling, Insomnia, Dizziness, Headache, and Easy to Anger and Nervous on arrival. All symptoms showed improvement after two weeks, without significance. 2. Circulatory symptoms were shown in order of Excessive Sweating, Edema, Fatigue, Hot Flash, Anemic Feeling, Alternating Chills and Fever, Cold Hypersensitivity, Chills, Oppression in the Chest, and Palpitation on arrival. Hot Flash, Excessive Sweating, and Edema showed significant improvement after two weeks. 3. Digestive symptoms were shown in order of Dyspepsia, Dry Mouth, Constipation, and Loss of Appetite. All symptoms showed improvement after two weeks, without significance. 4. Pain of Muscles & Joints showed improvement after two weeks, without significance. Pain of Teeth & Gingiva showed slight worsening after two weeks, without significance. 5. Urogenital and Breast symptoms were shown in order of Wound Pain, Fever and Distending Pain in the Breast, and Lower Abdominal Pain on arrival. All symptoms showed significant improvement after two weeks. 6. Blood Stasis Index showed significant improvement after two weeks. Conclusion: Most symptoms were improved in women staying at Korean postpartum management facilities for two weeks. Hot Flash, Excessive Sweating, Edema, Wound Pain, Lower Abdominal Pain, Fever and Distending Pain in the Breast and Blood Stasis Index showed significant improvement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.96-101
• /
• 2007

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is the retrograde movement of gastric contents into the larynx, pharynx, and upper aero-digestive tract. LPR differs from gastroesophageal reflux in that it is often not associated with heartburn and regurgitation symptoms. Otolaryngological manifestations of acid reflux include a wide range of pharyngeal and laryngeal symptoms. Belafsky et al. developed a useful self-administered tool, the reflux symptom index (RSI), for assessing the degree of LPR symptoms. Patients are asked to use a 0 to 5 point scale to grade the following symptoms: 1) hoarseness or voice problems; 2) throat clearing; 3) excess throat mucus or postnasal drip ; 4) difficulty swallowing; 5) coughing after eating or lying down; 6) breathing difficulties ; 7) troublesome or annoying cough; 8) sensation of something sticking or a lump in the throat; 9) heartburn, chest pain, indigestion or stomach acid coming up. A RSI score greater than 13 is considered abnormal. As there is no validated instrument to document the physical findings and severity of LPR, Belafsky et al. developed an eight-item clinical severity scale for judging laryngoscopic finding, the reflux finding score (RFS). They rated eight LPR-associated findings on a scale from 0 to 4 : subglottic edema, ventricular obliteration, erythema/hyperemia, vocal-fold edema, diffuse laryngeal edema, posterior commissure hypertrophy, granuloma/granulation tissue, and thick endolaryngeal mucus. A RFS score of greater than 7 was found to suggest LPR-associated laryngitis. Although both indices (RSI and RFS) are widely used, there is some controversy about their validity (sensitivity and specificity) and reliability (intra-rater and inter-rater) in LPR diagnosis and treatment. We discuss the validity and reliability of RSI and RFS with literature review.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.249-253
• /
• 2005

The present study was carried out to investigate the skin irritation potential of lemon grass essential oil in rabbits. A volume of 0.5 ml of test article was applied to intact and abraded skins, respectively, for 24 h in 6 healthy male New Zealand White rabbits. Parameters measured during 72 h observation period were mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, and local irritation. All rabbits showed severe edema at both 24 h and 72 h after the application of test article. These animals also showed very slight to severe erythema and/or slight eschar formation at both 24 h and 72 h. The edema and erythema induced by lemon grass essential oil were recovered on day 7 of additional 11-day recovery period, but the eschar formation was not recovered at the end of recovery period. On the other hands, there were no treatment-related adverse effects on clinical sign, body weight and gross finding in rabbits. Based on these results, it was concluded that a single dermal application of the undiluted lemon grass essential oil caused very slight to severe edema, erythema and eschar formation in rabbits and showed a primary irritation index score of 5.63 indicating severe irritation. The results of this study strongly suggest that lemon grass essential oil should be used with care and in highly diluted forms especially when directly applied to the skin.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2019

Objectives : Symptoms caused by traffic accidents can be divided into localized pain and systemic symptoms. Edema and pain can be increased due to obesity. During hospitalization of obese patients after traffic accident injury, obesity and systemic symptoms such as edema, dizziness, abdominal fullness and heavy body feeling might increase more by decreased physical activity due to pain. Methods : This report details on two cases of obese female inpatients with systemic symptoms after a car accident who were treated with wild ginseng complex (WGC) pharmacopuncture combined with Korean Medicine (KM) automobile insurance treatment. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Neck Disablility Index (NDI) and the Oswestry Disablility Index (ODI) were evaluated before and after treatment for comparison. Body composition was also measured. Results : Localized pain improved with a decrease in patients' NRS, NDI and ODI scores. Systemic symptoms increased during hospitalization were also improved with changes of body composition. Conclusions : Combining WGC pharmacopuncture with KM automobile insurance treatment may be synergistically effective for the treatment of obese patients with systemic symptoms such as edema, heavy body feeling and abdominal fullness.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2007

Objectives : We examined to know the effect of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on arthritis mouse induced by type II collagen. Methods : To analyse immunomodulatory effects of CS, arthritis index, incidence, hind paw edema, DTH, spleen weight, the number of hemocytes, and surface-receptor expression of CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ cells in DBA/IJ mice which is experimental model of arthritis induced by collagen were measured in vivo. Results: CS reduced arthritis index, incidence, hind paw edema and DTH significantly as compared with the control group in experimental model of arthritis induced by collagen. CS enhanced the spleen weight significantly as compared with the control group but didn't enhanced the number of leukocytes and thrombocytes in experimental model of arthritis. CS enhanced the number of activating cells and surface-receptor expression of CD4+, CD8+ cells as compared with the control group but didn't enhanced those of CD19+ cells in experimental model of arthritis. Conclusion : We found out that CS may have a suppressing effect againist auto-immune disease and will be need continuous research in looking for the more effective mechanism in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.142-145
• /
• 2008

Background and Object: The aim of this study is to evaluate the change of patient's subjective voice handicap index (VHI) and acoustic parameters before and after laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal cord disease. Materials and Method: We analyzed 78 patients who received laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal cord disease from January 2004 to February 2007 retrospectively. There were 28 vocal polyp, 40 vocal nodule, 5 intracordal cyst and 5 Reinke's edema. Jitter, shimmer, harmony to noise ratio (HNR) were analyzed before surgery and 2-3months after surgery using the Doctor's speech science program. The voice handicap index introduced by the Pittsburgh Voice Center was used to examine patient's subjective change of voice quality. Results: Acoustic parameters of jitter, shimmer and HNR were improved in patients with vocal polyp and vocal nodule after surgery. The acoustic parameters were not improved in patients with Reinke's edema, statistically. Only jitter was improved significantly in patients with intracordal cyst (p<0.05). The VHI was significantly improved after surgery. The change of jitter and shimmer was significantly correlated with the change of VHI after surgery. Conclusion: The acoustic parameters and VHI were significantly improved in patients with benign vocal disease after laryngeal microsurgery.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 2019

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of manual lymph drainage (MLD) on women with breast cancer and lymph edema. Methods: This study was carried out with a total of 23 women with breast cancer and lymph edema. By drawing lots, women were assigned to either the manual drainage group (MLD, n=12), a control group (n=11). Outcomes such as the arm size, visual analogue scale, shoulder pain and disability index, and functional assessment cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) were measured to 0 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks intervention for both groups. Results: A significant difference was found in the arm size, pain, functional disability level, and quality of life between the two groups and time(p<.01). Significant difference in functional disability level between 2 and 8 weeks at 4 weeks and 8 weeks for pain(p<.01), and the quality for life was significantly different at all time points (p<.01). Conclusions: Applying MLD treatment to women with breast cancer proved to have a positive effect.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.13 no.1_2
• /
• pp.149-152
• /
• 1997

This test was performed to evaluate the ocular and skin irritation of EPO (Erythropoietin). The results as follows: 1. Ocular irritation test There were no observed clinical signs, body weght changes by EPO during experimental period. The acute ocular irritation index(A.O.I.), mean ocular irritation index(M.O.I.) and Day-7 individual ocular irritation index(I.O.I.) of EPO at dose of 1000U and 10, 000U were 0, respectively. Therefore we evaluated that EPO was non-toxic to eyes. 2. Skin irritation test There were no observed clinical signs, body weght changes and gross pathologic findings by EPO during experimental period. There were no observed erythema, eschar formation and edema formation on intact and abraded skin treated by EPO. The primary irritation index(P.I.I.) of EPO at dose of 1000U and 10, 000U were 0, respectively and were evaluated none irritating product about skin irritation.