• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: We aimed to analyze treatment outcomes following different initial management approaches and confirm treatment regimens for acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) that would yield the best results. Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 106 patients with ALHL who visited a university hospital's otology clinic from March 2013 to June 2019. Pure-tone averages at the initial visit and at 2 and 4 weeks after the initial visit were evaluated. Results: Forty-nine patients were enrolled in this study; of them, 41 (83.7%) exhibited complete recovery (CR) at 2 weeks and 43 (87.8%) exhibited CR at 1 month after the initial visit. Regression analysis revealed that CR at 2 weeks after the initial visit was associated with diuretic use [Exp(B): 10.309, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007-100]. An initial daily low-dose steroid use was marginally significant [Exp(B): 1.042, 95% CI: 0.997-1.092; p=0.066]. Isolated diuretic use [Exp(B): 25.641, 95% CI: 1.121-90.909; p=0.039] was an independent, good prognostic factor at 1 month after the initial visit. However, other treatment regimens did not affect the final results. Conclusions: A combination of initial daily administration of ≤30 mg prednisolone plus diuretics was sufficient as the first-line treatment for ALHL. High-dose steroids and salvage intratympanic steroid injections can be applied as a second choice; however, the predicted outcome would not be good in that case.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: We aimed to analyze treatment outcomes following different initial management approaches and confirm treatment regimens for acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) that would yield the best results. Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 106 patients with ALHL who visited a university hospital's otology clinic from March 2013 to June 2019. Pure-tone averages at the initial visit and at 2 and 4 weeks after the initial visit were evaluated. Results: Forty-nine patients were enrolled in this study; of them, 41 (83.7%) exhibited complete recovery (CR) at 2 weeks and 43 (87.8%) exhibited CR at 1 month after the initial visit. Regression analysis revealed that CR at 2 weeks after the initial visit was associated with diuretic use [Exp(B): 10.309, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007-100]. An initial daily low-dose steroid use was marginally significant [Exp(B): 1.042, 95% CI: 0.997-1.092; p=0.066]. Isolated diuretic use [Exp(B): 25.641, 95% CI: 1.121-90.909; p=0.039] was an independent, good prognostic factor at 1 month after the initial visit. However, other treatment regimens did not affect the final results. Conclusions: A combination of initial daily administration of ≤30 mg prednisolone plus diuretics was sufficient as the first-line treatment for ALHL. High-dose steroids and salvage intratympanic steroid injections can be applied as a second choice; however, the predicted outcome would not be good in that case.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.396-407
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• 1999

Although tinnitus is a common disease, it's reason, pathogenesis and treatment are not examined clearly. As tinnitus is a subjective complaint, it is not easy to evaluate objectively and to compare with another. In this study, we intend to estimate the effect of a variety of oriental medical treatments to tinnitus. We inquired about 30cases of tinnitus patients visited the Kwang-ju Oriental Medical Hospital of Wonkwang University from Apr. 1998 to Sep. 1998. We examined the 30cases in the view of sex, age, occupation, duration, etiologic factors, past history, associating symptoms, quality of tinnitus, and recovery rate after treatments. The results were as follows: 1. In distribution of sex, the ratio of male was $63.3\%$(19cases)and\;female\;was\;36.6\%$(11cases). 2. In distribution of age, the ratio of the 2th decade was $6.6\%(2cases),\;the\;3th\;decade\;was\;20.0\%(6cases),\;the\;4th\;decade\;was\;16.6\%(5cases),\;the\;5th\;decade\;was\;23.3\%(7cases),\;the\;6th\;decade\;was\;30.0\%\;(9cases),and\;the\;7th\;decade\;was\;3.3\%(1case)$. 3. In distribution of occupation, the ratio of employee was $23.3\%$(7cases), house-keeper was $63.3\%(11cases),\;farmer\;was\;16.6\%(5cases),\;teacher\;was\;13.3\%$ (4cases), and student, merchant, soldier was each $3.3\%$(1case). 4. In distribution of duration, the ratio of under 1month was $6.6\%$ (2cases), 1 month -6 months was $20.0\%$(6cases), 6 months- 12months was $30.0\%$(9cases), 12months-36months was $23.3\%$(7cases), and over 36months was $20.0\%$(6cases). 5. In etiologic factor of tinnitus, the ratio of unknown reason was $40.0\%$ (12cases), overwork was $16.6\%$(5cases), emotional stress was $10.0\%$(3cases), noise was $6.6\%$(2cases), cases of laying overwork upon stress was $13.3\%$(4cases), head trauma was $3.3\%$(1case), gun report was $3.3\%$ (1case), and after sickness was $6.6\%$(2cases). 6. 9 cases had experienced such a disease as meniere's disease, tympanitis, labyrinthitis, trauma of tympanum, hypertension, etc. 7. Commonly associated symptoms were dizziness, deafness, uneasiness, headache, ear fullness, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and forgetfulness. 8. Most frequent quality of tinnitus were buzzing, whistling, humming etc. 9. In $76.6\%$(23cases) of tinnitus patients, it was improved, but in $23.3%$(7cases) of them, not improved. Total recovery rate was $42.2\%$.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.224-252
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate tinnitus of Plain Questions $\ll$素問$\gg$ and Miraculous Pivot $\ll$靈樞$\gg$. Methods : We conducted a study on the original text paragraphs of Internal Classic $\ll$內經$\gg$ containing the tinnitus and analysis of Yang, Ma, Zhang, Wang etc. We drew a parallel between tinnitus from Internal Classic $\ll$內經$\gg$ and matching diagnoses from western medicine. Results : The results were as follows. 1. Tinnitus in Plain Questions $\ll$素問$\gg$Tong Pyeong Heo Sil Ron <通評虛實論> was similar to the symptoms of diabetes mellitus complication and schizophreniform disorder in western medicine. 2. Liver fire tinnitus in Plain Questions $\ll$素問$\gg$ Yuk Won Jeong Gi Dae Ron <六元正紀大論> was similar to the symptoms of psychological distress in western medicine. 3. Phlegm fire tinnitus in Plain Questions $\ll$素問$\gg$ Ji Jin Yo Dae Ron <至眞要大論> was similar to the symptoms of meniere's disease and malfunction of autonomic nervous system in western medicine. 4. Blood deficiency tinnitus in Miraculous Pivot $\ll$靈樞$\gg$ Sa Gi Jang Bu Byeong Hyeong <邪氣藏府病形> was similar to the symptoms of anemia in western medicine. 5. Tinnitus in Miraculous Pivot $\ll$靈樞$\gg$ Gyeong Geun <經筋> was similar to the myofacial pain syndrome of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the masseter muscle in western medicine. 6. Gallbladder deficiency tinnitus in Miraculous Pivot $\ll$靈樞$\gg$ Gwol Hyeong <厥病> was similar to the symptoms of otitis media and labyrinthitis in western medicine. 7. Kidney deficiency tinnitus in Miraculous Pivot $\ll$靈樞$\gg$ Gyeol Gi <決氣> and Hai Ron <海論> was similar to the symptoms of degenerative auditory organ in western medicine. 8. Tinnitus in Internal Classic $\ll$內經$\gg$ showed close relations with the symptoms of the wind character. Conclusion : We analyzed the original text paragraphs of Internal Classic $\ll$內經$\gg$ and explanations about tinnitus. Further studies are needed to compare oriental medicine and western medicine diagnoses to develop better treatments for tinnitus.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.16-31
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study is to analyze the charcateristics of inpatients in Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology Clinic by gender, age, season, and department of medical care after hospitalization from March, 2012 to February, 2018. Method : From March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2018, patients who were admitted to the Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology Clinic of Korean Medical Hospital were classified by gender, age, department, and season, and their relationship, hospitalization period, number of outpatient visits Differences were analyzed objectively using various statistical methods using IBM SPSS 18.0. Results : 1. The number of inpatients was 432, including duplication. Of these, 317 were female and 115 were male. The number of female patients was 2.8 times higher. 2. The average age of the inpatients was 43.9 years and the number of middle-aged 40-50 patients was 48.6%. 3. The number of inpatients in the departments was in the order of dermatology, otology, laryngology, rhinology, and ophthalmology. The most hospitalized diseases were eczema in the dermatology department, sudden hearing loss in the otology department, tonsillitis/peritonsillar abscess, rhinitis in the rhinology department, and dry eye syndrome in ophthalmology. 1) The effect of gender on the difference in the number of inpatients by subdivision was statistically significant. 2) The effect of age on the difference in the number of inpatients by subdivision was statistically significant. 3) The effect of seasons on the difference in the number of inpatients was not statistically significant. 4. The number of inpatients by season was in the order of winter, spring, summer, autumn, and the number of inpatients decreased significantly in autumn. 1) The effect of gender on the difference in the number of hospitalized patients by season was not statistically significant. 2) The effect of age on the difference in the number of hospitalized patients by season was not statistically significant. 5. The average length of hospital stay for inpatients was 10.7 days. 1) The effect of gender on length of hospital stay was not statistically significant. 2) The effect of age on hospital stay was not statistically significant. 3) The effect of the subdivision on hospital stay was statistically significant. 4) The effect of the season on hospital stay was not statistically significant. Conclusion : As a result of this study, the most distinctive feature of the present study was the high rate of inpatients with otic disease like idiopathic hearing loss and Meniere 's syndrome and the high rate of female patients. This may be related to the increased prevalence of the disease and the severity of the disease. In addition, the high rate of female patients suggests that women are more likely to be affected by illnesses, as well as to have more medical use and severe symptoms requiring hospitalization. In the future, it would be better to provide various treatment plans and policies for patients with otic diseases and female patients. Also it would be good if studies on these fields are made in the future.