• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제67권5호
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• pp.586-592
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• 2024

Lateral spinal artery (LSA) aneurysms are extremely rare lesions that can rupture and cause subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) even though the spinal arteries communicate directly with the subarachnoid space. To date, six cases of LSA aneurysms have been reported in the literature. Herein, three such cases are reported. All patients presented to the emergency department with headaches. The patients in the first two cases were confirmed to have SAH and LSA aneurysms on a brain computed tomography (CT) angiography performed at the hospital. Two patients had prior instances of cerebral infarction and coronary disease, respectively, and were undergoing antiplatelet therapy. The antiplatelet medication was stopped for 2 weeks and 1 week, respectively, while conservative care was provided. Subsequently, a suboccipital craniectomy was performed, followed by aneurysm clipping. Following the surgery, both patients were discharged without any significant neurological deficits. Regarding the third patient, no aneurysm was found on brain CT angiography, and cerebral angiography was performed during the patient's hospital stay. She was hospitalized, where she received medication and conservative care, and was discharged with an improvement in bleeding without neurological symptoms. Subsequently, a LSA aneurysm was identified on a brain CT angiography performed at an outpatient clinic; however, the patient was transferred because she wanted to be treated at another hospital. LSA aneurysms are difficult to visualize using CT angiography; therefore, careful angiographic studies are required. Surgical clipping is the treatment of choice if the aneurysm is inaccessible by the endovascular treatment.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.25-38
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• 2020

Objectives: This review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Chai-Hu-Shu-Gan-San (CHSGS) for treatment of insomnia. Methods: 9 databases were comprehensively searched from their inception dates until Jan 2020 using keywords like Insomnia, Chai-Hu-Shu-Gan-San and Sihosogan-san. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using CHSGS as the main intervention for insomnia patients. We assessed the quality of RCTs using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Jadad scale. Results: 5 RCTs were included. The Chinese classification of mental disorders -3 (CCMD-3) was the most frequently used diagnostic criteria. The effective rate was the most frequently used as outcome. All the 5 RCTs that reported CHSGS and CHSGS adjunctive therapy on insomnia were more effective compared to western medication. Only one study reported adverse effects. The methodological quality of the included RCTs were generally poor. Conclusions: This review found that CHSGS may be effective to treating insomnia. However, because of the small number, heterogeneity and very low methodological quality of included studies, we could not draw any definitive conclusions. Therefore, more rigorous randomized control studies are warranted.

• 대한한의진단학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.69-83
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• 2005

Background and purpose: The purpose of this study is to review the recent achievements on ryodoraku and suggest new ryodoraku studies. Methods: The study papers related with ryodoraku, published in foreign countries and Korea up to the present, were collected first by internet search & journal. And then the collected papers were classified and summarized. Results and Conclusion: There are three study trends. One is finding some effect and analysis for some symptoms, another is finding a distinguishing mark and a diagnostic index, and the other is raising several points & providing solution & studying about relativity with another diagnosis. Some studies finding some effect and analysis for some symptoms are to be classified into four items(1. effect of drugs medication. 2. effect of ryodoraku therapy. 3. effect of other treatments. 4. effect of other treatments with ryodoraku therapy). Other studies finding a distinguishing mark and a diagnostic index are to be classified into two items(1. diagnostic index of symptoms. 2. distinguishing mark of disease). The other studies are to be classified into three items(1. ryodoraku introduction and raising several points at issue. 2. improvement machinery and tools. 3. studying about relativity with another diagnosis). Finally we need solving the ryodoraku problems(the condition of measurement and reproducibility, relation with Kyung-rak(經絡) and Ryodoraku, the reason of Ryodoraku points producing and etc.).

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.27-38
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• 2016

Backgrounds : Taiwan has similar national health insurance (NHI) system for traditional medicine with South Korea. Recently, new quality improvement policies for traditional medicine is being attempted in Taiwan. Objectives : This study aimed to review the Taiwanese NHI system for Chinese Medicine (CM) and introduce quality improvement policies. Methods : Research articles, reports, government publications and year books which handled traditional medicine system and NHI system in Taiwan were searched and collected. The authors analyzed and summarized the contents in a qualitative manner. Results : In Taiwanese NHI system, CM procedures and medication for outpatients are reimbursed through a mix of fee-for-service and global budget payment system. CM shares 4% of total expenditure of NHI in Taiwan. Mostly, the expenses for procedures are reimbursed regardless of disease type, however, in the specialized program for quality improvement, CM doctors have to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs). Conclusions : Taiwanese NHI system implemented SOP-based new reimbursement system for CM. Yet, the scientific evidences for SOPs are not sufficient, it can be useful references when we develope disease related reimbursement system for Korean Medicine in South Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권21호
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• pp.9535-9541
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• 2014

Background: Identifying risk factors of breast cancer is a key point for preventive strategies to reduce the incidence. The aim of current study was to determine most important risk factors for breast cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) using a systematic review. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science till August 24, 2012 and the reference lists of all included studies were searched. Analytic studies which had reported odds ratios (OR), relative risk (RR) or required data to calculate them were included. A total of 343 studies were critically appraised and finally 30 studies were meta-analyzed. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed by $I^2$ and Cochran's Q. Egger's test was used to assess publication bias. Results: Twenty five casecontrol studies, one nested case-control and four cohort studies were included. The largest ORs were obtained for history of no live birth (2.25; 95%CI: 1.58-3.18), body mass index (BMI) more than 30 (2.21; 95%CI: 1.71-2.36), age at first pregnancy more than 30 years old (1.52; 95%CI: 1.30-1.77) and meat consumption more than three times per week (1.39; 95%CI: 1.03-1.87). The other important predictors were higher education and smoking as risk factors, physical activity and ovulatory stimulating medication as protective factors. Conclusions: The most important predictors of breast cancer in EMR were history of no live birth, BMI more than 30, age at first pregnancy more than 30 years old, physical inactivity and smoking. Almost all these risk factors are consistent with known risk factors for this cancer in other parts of the world.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.187-199
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• 2015

Background: Singapore has the stable healthcare system with utilizing pharmacist manpower in proper positions by demand of populations' health among Asian countries. Objective: This study aims to systematically review (1) the pharmacists' role and (2) the pharmacy education system of Singapore in comparison with Korea. Method: We searched for information about academic, medical and governmental institutions related to professional pharmacists' practice in Singapore by primarily using database such as DBpia, KISS, Google Scholar and ProQuest and the official website of the Singapore Ministry of Health. We contacted and arranged the visit schedules with National University of Singapore, National Health Group's polyclinics, Agency for Integrated Care, National University Hospital, and community chain pharmacies. During onsite visits, we interviewed pharmacists working in each institution and obtained additional documents and materials relevant to this manuscript work. Results: To become a registered pharmacist in Singapore, the pharmacy curriculum requires four full-time academic years and six additional months allotted for pre-registration training. Pharm.D. course is offered for pharmacy graduate students with additional two full-time years of study. Team teaching and inter professional education program seem the most significant method in pharmacy education. Pharmacists working at hospitals, polyclinics, and community pharmacies in Singapore take broader roles and offer more cognitive services such as smoking cessation program and medication reconciliation. Especially, pharmacists in Agency for Integrated Care fill the role of primary care providers for the continuing care of the community through the governmental support toward the patients-centered integrated care. Conclusion: Singaporean pharmacists take significant and active roles in collaboration with other healthcare providers. Efforts such as interprofessional pharmacy education and governmental endorsement of the systematic and interactive care between pharmacists and other medical providers in Singapore are needed to be urgently applied to Korea healthcare system for the promotion of population health.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.51-57
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• 2015

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy for nocturnal crying. Methods We conducted search across the 3 electronic databases (Pubmed, CAJ and Oasis) to find all of randomized controlled clinical trials(RCTs) that used Chuna manual therapy as a treatment for nocturnal crying. The methodological quality of each RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and nRCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study tool. Results Two RCTs and three nRCTs met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of Chuna manual therapy in terms of the efficacy rate when compared to medication treatments alone. Positive results were also obtained, in terms of the efficacy rate, when comparing Chuna manual therapy combined with acupoint application therapy to Chuna manual therapy alone, but was not statistically significant. Conclusions Our systematic review found encouraging but limited evidence of Chuna manual therapy for nocturnal crying. We recommend clinical trials which compare the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy with usual care to obtain stronger evidence without the demerits of trial design.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.204-215
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• 2018

Background: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the effect of metformin on weight loss was assessed to determine whether metformin should be recommended for the prevention or treatment of weight gain in patients receiving antipsychotic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for all published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to June 2018. In addition, the references of relevant articles were also examined. Using Review Manager 5, the pooled estimates of the weighted mean difference (WMD) of the changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI) and the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: The meta-analysis included 15 RCTs. The pooled analysis showed that compared with placebo, metformin led to significant reductions in body weight (WMD: -2.09, 95% CI: -2.59, -1.60; p<0.00001) and BMI (WMD: -0.90, 95% CI: -1.08, -0.72; p<0.00001). The effect of metformin on weight loss was greater in patients receiving olanzapine than in patients receiving clozapine (body weight, WMD: -2.39, 95% CI: -3.76, -1.02; p=0.0006 for olanzapine; -1.99, 95% C: -3.47, -0.51; p=0.009 for clozapine; BMI, WMD: -1.15, 95% CI: -1.74, -0.57, p=0.0001 for olanzapine; WMD: 0.76, 95% CI: -1.23, -0.28; p=0.002 for clozapine). Conclusion: Metformin can be recommended to manage olanzapine-induced weight gain in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The magnitude of the reductionss in body weight and BMI implieds that the use of metformin to attenuate olanzapine-induced weight gain can minimize the risk of coronary heart disease.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.8-36
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• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review the methodology of clinical trials conducted with the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment on functional dyspepsia. Methods : We searched four international databases and three Korean databases including English, Korean and Chinese, through March 2016 for randomized controlled trials(RCT) and non-randomized case-control trials(CCT) that evaluated the effects of the acupuncture and moxibustion on functional dyspepsia. We abstracted the designs of the trials and the method of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment according to the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture. Results : A total 117 papers were reviewed. The 106 studies were conducted in China. There were 111 RCTs(95%), and 6 CCTs(5%). Sixty eight studies(59%) were conducted with the manual acupuncture, 29 studies of electro-acupuncture(25%), 11 studies of moxibustion(9%), 5 studies of acupoints embedding therapy(4%), 4 studies of acupoint injection therapy(3%) were conducted. ST36, CV12, ST25 were most frequently used for acupoints to treat functional dyspepsia. In 59 studies(50%), western medication was used in the control group, and the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion were evaluated with the symptoms in most studies. Conclusions : These results suggest that it is necessary to develop more detailed reporting standards about acupuncture and moxibustion treatment method as the method of acupuncture and moxibustion is getting more diverse, and more objective tools are needed in evaluating functional dyspepsia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

Objectives : Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common female gynecological diseases. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have been used to treat dysmenorrhea in Korea. The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for primary dysmenorrhea as described in studies in Korea. Methods : A total of 8 databases were searched, with the search concluding February 15, 2015. These were the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, DBpia, Korean Studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Library, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, Research Information Sharing Service, and Pubmed. Randomized controlled Trails(RCTs) comparing acupuncture or moxibustion therapy with non acupoints stimulation or medication were selected. Data abstraction and assessment of methodology was conducted by authors and disagreements were resolved by discussion. Results : 7 trials were included in this review, with a total of 308 participants. 4 trials reported on acupuncture, 1 trial reported on acupress by magnet, 1 trial reported on pharmacopuncture, and the other trial reported on moxibustion. Quality of methodology was low. 2 trials showed that experimental therapy was effective for pain relief compared to the controlled group. However, 5 trials did not show a significant difference in pain relief. Conclusions : Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy may reduce period pain, however, it is needed for well designed RCTs in Korea.