• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.40.1-40.18
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the influence of different obturation techniques compared to cold lateral compaction on the success rate of primary non-surgical endodontic treatments. Materials and Methods: Systematic searches were performed for studies published up to May 17^th, 2022 in MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and Grey Literature Reports. Randomized clinical trials and nonrandomized (nonrandomized clinical trials, prospective or retrospective) studies that evaluated the success rate of primary non-surgical endodontic treatments obturated with the cold lateral compaction (control) and other obturation techniques were included. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tools for randomized trials (RoB 2) and nonrandomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) were used to evaluate the risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Results: Eleven studies (4 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 4 prospective, and 3 retrospectives) were included. Two RCTs were classified as having some concerns risk of bias and 2 as a low risk of bias. Two nonrandomized studies were classified as having a critical risk of bias and 5 as having a moderate risk of bias. The GRADE analysis demonstrated a very low to moderate certainty of evidence. Conclusions: This systematic review generally evidenced no differences in the success rate of primary non-surgical endodontic treatments when the cold lateral compaction technique and other obturation techniques are performed. Further well-designed studies are still necessary.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1-27
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• 2023

Objectives : To investigate the modern research achievements of agarwood and its association with the efficacy of herbal medicine based on the in vivo and in vitro activities of volatile compounds detected in agarwood. Methods : Databases such as PubMed and ScienceOn were searched for medicinal in vivo and in vitro activity studies on agarwood. They were categorized into "medicine and pharmacy" and "others not related to medicine and pharmacy," and the studies on medicine and pharmacy were organized according to active efficacy. The efficacy and virtue of agarwood as identified in the book (or herbal medicine/herbology) corresponded to modern medical terms and diseases in reference to the . Separately, the Gas Chromatography & Mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis results of agarwood from a total of 5 production areas of Aquilaria crassna from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia as identified in previous studies were consulted to search for research papers on the medicinal activity of the 13 compounds of the aromatic sesquiterpene family detected in agarwood, and they were categorized according to topic. Results : There were 123 studies on the medicinal activity of agarwood. Overall, 46 studies on single extracts of agarwood reported activities such as improving mental health, including anti-anxiety and stability, and antiallergic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and digestive system protective effects. In total, 59 papers on the activities of single compounds isolated from agarwood reported anti-inflammatory and mental health benefits. Separately, 13 compounds detected in agarwood, such as α-agarofuran and β-caryophyllene, were reported by 110 studies to have anticancer, stabilizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. There were also papers on the cultivation methods and resin formation conditions of agarwood trees unrelated to the efficacy of herbal medicine. Conclusion : Among the pharmacological papers, a total of 57 papers corresponded to the effects of agarwood in traditional herbal medicine, including 33 papers related to agarwood extracts and 24 papers analyzing 8 types of sesquiterpenes, such as β-caryophyllene and cedrol, from previous studies. Based on the research findings of each paper, it was possible to correlate the effects of agarwood in traditional herbal medicine with the achievements of modern pharmacological research. In addition, further research is anticipated in new areas related to traditional herbal medicine, including the improvement of mental health such as anti-depression, as well as activities related to anticancer, antioxidant, and hair growth.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.96-120
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• 2023

Objectives: This study reports the findings that support the efficacy of herbal medicine (HM) for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: We conducted meta-analysis of findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for PMS treated with HM. The articles were published before July 2022, located using 9 databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, CiNii, SCIENCE ON, KoreaMed, OASIS). Results: We observed 2,034 studies, of which 23 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The risk of bias in the included studies was relatively unclear or high. Meta-analysis of 3 RCTs showed that HM group had a significantly higher total effective rate than the western medicine group (RR 1.20 [95% CI 1.06, 1.36, p=0.004]). Meta-analysis of 1 RCT showed that HM group had a significantly lower symptom score (MD -3.04 [95% CI -5.36, -0.72, p=0.01]), while there was no significant difference in daily record of severity of problems scale (MD -20.52 [95% CI -49.33, 8.29, p=0.16]). Conclusions: HM significantly improved PMS symptoms than general treatment and no serious adverse events were reported. However, the evidence on the effectiveness and safety of HM for PMS was not enough to provide reliable results due to the small number and low quality of included studies. We believe that rigorous RCTs will lead to more reliable evidence of the intervention.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.23-37
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• 2023

Objective : This study systematically reviewed the collaborative team interventions of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health-Children and Youth (ICF-CY) framework to establish the professional domain of occupational therapists in Korea and their role as experts in IEP cooperative team interventions in special education. Methods : Articles were collected from the EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and PubMed databases. International search terms included "Special education," "Individualized education plan (IEP)," "IEP process," "IEP implementation," and "Occupational therapy." The study period was limited from January 2013 to February 2023, and the final 10 studies were analyzed using secondary classification. Results : Most studies were randomized experiments targeting individuals with autism, and often employed environmental improvements. The IEP collaborative team interventions using the ICF-CY framework emphasized goals related to activity (five studies), participation (four studies), and body structure/function (one study). Conclusion : Occupational therapists play a crucial role in collaborative IEP team interventions. This study established expertise in the context of special education in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate on the application of the yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) lasers for acupoints irradiation. Methods : We conducted a systematic search for peer-reviewed studies published from inception to November 2023, in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in English, Science ON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) in Korean, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang in Chinese, and Japan Science Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-STAGE) and Citation Information by NII (CiNii) in Japanese. Inclusion criteria were original articles including clinical and experimental studies related with YAG lasers for acupoints including Ashi or meridian sinews. Results : Among the 8 selected studies, there were 7 studies on human subjects and 1 study on animals, 7 studies on Nd:YAG (1,064 nm) laser, and 1 study on Er:YAG (2,940 nm) laser. A total of 16 acupoints were used, 15 of which were in the face and 1 of which was located in the foot. In addition, there were two studies using Ashi. 4 studies looked at the effect of pain relief, 2 studies looked at safety, 1 study looked at changes in blood flow, and 1 study looked at the effect of skin care. There were no reported adverse events, and the YAG laser was confirmed to be safe and effective in pain relief, beautifying the skin, and increasing blood flow. Conclusions : We suggest that high intensity YAG lasers can be applied to laser acupuncture or laser moxibustion. YAG lasers are considered to be worth using for various clinical indications of Korean medicine because of photobiomodulation effects, analgesic action, and deep penetration depth. Further scientific research and clinical evidences should be warranted.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.128-148
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• 2023

Dementia is an umbrella term that describes the loss of thinking, memory, attention, logical reasoning, and other mental abilities to the extent that it interferes with the activities of daily living. More than 50 million individuals worldwide live with dementia, which is expected to increase to 131 million by 2050. Recent research has shown that poor oral health increases the risk of dementia, while oral health declines with cognitive decline. In this narrative review, the literature was based on the "hypothesis" that dementia and oral health have a close relationship, and appropriate oral health and occlusal rehabilitation treatment can improve the quality of life of patients with dementia and prevent progression. We conducted a literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using the search terms "dementia," "major neurocognitive disorder," "dentition," "occlusion," "tooth loss," "dental prosthesis," "dental implant," and "occlusal rehabilitation" in the title field over the past 30 years. A total of 131 studies that scientifically addressed dementia, oral health, and/or oral rehabilitation were included. In a meta-analysis, the random effect model demonstrated significant tooth loss increasing the dementia risk 3.64-fold (pooled odds ratio=3.64, 95% confidence interval [2.50~5.32], P-value=0.0348). Tooth loss can be an important indicator of cognitive function decline. As the number of missing teeth increases, the risk of dementia increases. Loss of teeth can lead to a decrease in the ascending information to the brain and reduced masticatory ability, cerebral blood flow, and psychological atrophy. Oral microbiome dysbiosis and migration of key bacterial species to the brain can also cause dementia. Additionally, inflammation in the oral cavity affects the inflammatory response of the brain and the complete body. Conversely, proper oral hygiene management, the placement of dental implants or prostheses to replace lost teeth, and the restoration of masticatory function can inhibit symptom progression in patients with dementia. Therefore, improving oral health can prevent dementia progression and improve the quality of life of patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.45-59
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• 2023

Objectives The aim of this study was to analyze the trends of researches on oriental medicine treatments for supraspinatus tendinopathy. Methods We used five databases for searching researches; Korean studies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Research Information Sharing Service, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Only randomized controlled trials suitable for the subject were selected. The methodological quality of included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results Twenty randomized controlled trials were analyzed. There were 9 types of treatment interventions; acupuncture, acupotomy, pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture, fire needling, warming needle, catgut-embedding therapy, herbal medicine, cupping. The most frequently used treatment intervention was acupuncture and acupotomy. There were 9 outcome measurements including visual analog scale (VAS), Constant-Murley Score (CMS), and range of motion. The most used measurement was VAS. As a result of meta-analysis, acupuncture was more effective than control group in VAS. Additionally, acupotomy was clinically significant compared to control groups in VAS and CMS. Conclusions In this review, we analyzed researches on effectiveness of oriental medicine for supraspinatus tendinopathy. A provisional conclusion can be produced that acupuncture and acupotomy showed beneficial effect to supraspinatus tendinopathy. Although there were some RCT studies, many of them had a high risk of bias, so it is hard to conclude that our study can include overall clinical status. Further well-designed trials are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.15-29
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• 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study is to systematically review the effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation treatment on muscle wasting in cancer patients. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from seven online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service. The selected RCTs were evaluated for methodological quality through the Cochrane RoB. Results A total of 126 articles were identified, and 4 randomized controlled trials were selected for systematic review. In one study, it was found that there were statistically significant improvements in the Health-Related Quality of Life (FACTH&N total score, p<0.001). Additionally, significant effects were observed in measurements that represented the size of the quadriceps muscle (cross-sectional area of Vastus lateralis and Rectus femoris, p=0.004), maximum muscle strength, the twitch response of resistance muscles, and voluntary activation (p<0.001). However, no significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in terms of quadriceps muscle strength in two other studies (p>0.05). Lastly, while one study showed no significant differences in muscle fiber characteristics between the two groups, it did report significant improvements in measurements related to mitochondria within muscle tissue and muscle strength in the intervention group (p<0.05). Conclusions Neuromuscular electrical stimulation can be a method used to improve muscle strength in muscle wasting of cancer patients, but it is difficult to see its effects as significant compared to other treatments.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.125-144
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to investigate domestic clinical research trends in Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, identify diseases managed using Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, and suggest the direction for future studies to increase its clinical utilization. Methods This study used five steps proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA-extension for scoping reviews checklist. We examined published literature on Shinbaro pharmacopuncture studies reported until June 5, 2023, in the following eight databases (Research Information Sharing Service, Science ON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, KMBASE, The Society of Internal Korean Medicine, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library). The search terms used were 'Shinbaro' or 'Sinbaro'. Results A total of 47 studies were included in our analysis. Of these, 37 (78.7%) were interference time series studies. Shinbaro pharmacopuncture was the most frequently used treatment for lumbosacral disease (n=15). In the facial area, ST4 and ST6 were used in five out of six studies, and in the shoulder area, TE14 and LI15 were used in all studies. Nine of the 15 studies in the lumbosacral area used the EX-B2. The other parts mostly used the pressure points. Compared to other pharmacopuncture methods, the treatment effect was similar to that of bee venom, and faster than that of jungsongouhyul. Conclusions This is the first scoping review of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy in South Korea. Studies with a high level of evidence based on sole treatment, large capacities, and standardization of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture need to be conducted to increase its clinical utilization.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1875-1885
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• 2021

Objective: Central nervous system involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been increasingly reported. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of radiologically demonstrated neurologic complications and detailed neuroimaging findings associated with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed up to September 17, 2020, and studies evaluating neuroimaging findings of COVID-19 using brain CT or MRI were included. Several cohort-based outcomes, including the proportion of patients with abnormal neuroimaging findings related to COVID-19 were evaluated. The proportion of patients showing specific neuroimaging findings was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were also conducted focusing on critically ill COVID-19 patients and results from studies that used MRI as the only imaging modality. Results: A total of 1394 COVID-19 patients who underwent neuroimaging from 17 studies were included; among them, 3.4% of the patients demonstrated COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed (23.1%). The predominant cerebral neuroimaging finding was white matter abnormality (17.6%), followed by acute/subacute ischemic infarction (16.0%), and encephalopathy (13.0%). Significantly more critically ill patients had COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings than other patients (9.1% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.029). The type of imaging modality used did not significantly affect the proportion of COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Conclusion: Abnormal neuroimaging findings were occasionally observed in COVID-19 patients. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed finding. Critically ill patients showed abnormal neuroimaging findings more frequently than the other patient groups. White matter abnormalities, ischemic infarctions, and encephalopathies were the common cerebral neuroimaging findings.