• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.418-425
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to introduce the ultrasound-guided transmeniscal injection in medial compartment knee osteoarthritis and analyze the clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: The electronic medical records of 36 patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis who were treated with an ultrasound-guided transmeniscal injection from March 2019 to July 2019 were accessed for this retrospective review. Using an ultrasound guided spinal needle, the patients received an intra-articular steroid injection at the medial compartment of the knee. A physical examination was conducted at the initial visit (pre-injection), and at one week, four weeks, and eight weeks after the injection. The numeric pain rating scale (NRS), Lequesne index, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) score were measured at each visit and analyzed over time. The percentage change of the patients who revealed substantial improvement was analyzed. The NRS, Lequesne index, and percentage of patients, who revealed substantial improvement over time classified by osteoarthritis grade, were analyzed. Results: The NRS and Lequesne index decreased at one week, four weeks, and eight weeks after the injection compared to the initial baseline, and the pain-relief effect continued without change until eight weeks. The percentage of patients who showed substantial improvement at one, four, and eight weeks was 50.0%, 47.2%, and 52.8%, respectively. The WOMAC scores decreased at one, four, and eight weeks compared to the initial baseline, and the decrease was continued without any difference until eight weeks. The percentage of patients with osteoarthritis stage 1 or 2 who revealed more than substantial improvement was significantly higher at one, four, and eight weeks than those with osteoarthritis stages 3 or 4 (p<0.05). Conclusion: In patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, the pain reduction and functional improvement persisted for at least eight weeks after the ultrasound-guided transmeniscal injection at the medial compartment. In particular, patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis stage 1 or 2 showed more effective pain reduction.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.814-821
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• 2019

Objective: This case study reports on the result of Korean medicine treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm. Methods: A 46-year-old female Korean patient with diffuse esophageal spasm received electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion treatment for 2 weeks in hospital. Results: Decreases in the visual analog scale (VAS) (from 8.7 to 7.0), numeric rating scale (NRS) (from 7.0 to 5.5), gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) (from 9 to 6), and gastroesophageal reflux disease-health related quality of life questionnaire (GERD-HRQL) (from 46 to 38) scores were observed after the treatment. Conclusion: Evaluation of Korean medicine treatment is worthwhile for rare diseases like diffuse esophageal spasm.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.777-786
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• 2020

Background: This study is a report on a case of a Wernicke's encephalopathy with quadriplegia, ataxia, and impaired cognition, whose condition was improved by Korean medicine treatment. Case report: A 51-year-old man diagnosed with Wernicke's encephalopathy was treated with acupuncture, Banhabakchulchunma-tang mixed with Ondam-tang-gami (半夏白朮天麻湯合溫膽湯加味), cupping, moxibustion, and rehabilitation. Clinical symptoms were measured with the Manual Muscle Test (MMT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Korean Mini Mental Status Exam (K-MMSE), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and a numeric rating scale (NRS). After 22 days of treatment, his clinical symptoms showed improvement. The motor function improved (MMT Rt. side Gr. 4+G/4+G, Lt. side Gr. 4G/4+G → Rt. side Gr. 5-N/4+G, Lt. side Gr. 5-N/4+G), Ataxia was relieved (BBS 3→33), cognition improved (K-MMSE 15→27), ADL scores showed improvement (FIM 58→90, MBI 40→75), and the NRS score decreased for headache (3→0). Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment could be effective in the treatment of patients with Wernicke's encephalopathy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effect of Korean Medical Treatment and acupuncture based on M-test theory & herbal medicine for treating systemic sclerosis. Methods : We treated a patient diagnosed with systemic sclerosis. We used general acupuncture & acupuncture based on M-test theory, herbal medicine, moxibustion, and physical therapy. The outcomes were evaluated by using peripheral body temperature measurement, numeric rating scale(NRS), visual analog scale(VAS), and an activities of daily living(ADL) questionnaire for systemic sclerosis. Results : The average peripheral body temperature increased from $36.16^{\circ}C$ to $36.38^{\circ}C$. The NRS showed no difference, but VAS decreased from 7.43 to 5.43. The ADL questionnaire score decreased from 17 to 12. Conclusion : This case study suggests that Korean Medical Treatment and acupuncture based on M-test theory & herbal medicine could be effective for treating systemic sclerosis. However, further studies are needed to confirm this result.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2017

Objectives : This study aims to report the effectiveness and safety of Korean medicine with thread embedding acupuncture in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Methods : A 73-year-old man who had suffered from severe facial pain for one year and who had had a healthy tooth extracted due to the pain is reported. He could not eat or sleep due to the severe pain. Acupuncture, thread embedding acupuncture, cupping, herbal steam, and herbal medicines were used for the treatment. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and adverse events were checked daily, and other outcomes (Baseline Evaluation, Visual Analogue Scale [VAS], Short Form Health Survey 36-Bodily Pain [SF-36 BP], and Patient Global Assessment [PGA]) were measured at hospital admission and discharge. During the follow-up examinations, his pain was evaluated roughly, without using any formal measurements, on the basis of a global assessment. Results : All measured parameters, including pain, quality of life, and patient satisfaction were noted to have improved at the time of discharge compared to admission: VAS from 10 to 1.5, NRS from 7-8 to 1-2, and SF-36 BP from 0 to 22.5, and the patient's global assessment was somewhat improved. He did not take any analgesics after discharge and noted only mild adverse events, like pain where the acupuncture and thread embedding acupuncture needles were inserted. His pain relief was maintained for 6 months. Conclusion : Korean medicine with thread embedding acupuncture might be a safe and effective treatment for TN. In the future, larger sample sizes and high quality randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm its efficacy and safety.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.140-155
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of korean medical treatments on recurrent aphthous stomatitis(RAS) diagnosed as excess pattern(實證) based on symptoms of damum(痰飮), blood stasis(瘀血) and fire-heat(火熱). Methods : We treated a 61-year-old male patient who has RAS by korean medicine, pharmacopuncture and acupuncture treatment. These treatments were performed from 2020.01.22. to 2020.02.29. We have confirmed the improvement of ulcer lesions and pain. We recorded images that include change of symptoms. Results : After the treatments were done, the scores of numeric rating scale(NRS), oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14), oral assessment guide (OAG) and world health organization oral toxicity scale (WHO OTS) were decreased. The NRS score was decreased from 7 to 1. The OHIP-14 score was decreased from 30 to 14. The OAG score was decreased from 17 to 9. The WHO OTS score was decreased from 2 to 1. And ulcer lesions were clearly decreased. Conclusions : According to the result, korean medical treatments such as korean medicine, pharmacopuncture and acupuncture treatment, that are targeted at excess pattern(實證) caused by damum(痰飮), blood stasis(瘀血) and fire-heat(火熱) can be effective for the treatment of RAS.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.47-58
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• 2019

Objectives: To conduct and report the results of a public health promotion program in Korean medicine (KM), namely the KM Visiting Care Service for Solitary Elderly, from November 2018 to April 2019. Methods: Six elderly people living in a rural area received the KM visiting care service, twice a week, for four months. This service consisted of acupuncture, auriculotherapy, and supportive counseling to manage their musculoskeletal pain, cognitive impairment, and/or depression. The changes of symptoms were assessed using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short form Korean (GDS-SF-K). Results: Through the 4-months KM visiting care service, the overall subjects' NRS-rated pain decreased slightly. Most showed improvement in MMSE-DS and/or MoCA-K, except one subject who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Depression assessed by GDS-SF-K showed improvement in a few subjects who were unable to walk independently. Satisfaction assessed through survey was generally high in all subjects. Conclusions: This KM Visiting Care Service for Solitary Elderly may help improve the pain and cognitive function of frail solitary elderly in rural areas. However, the protocol need to be improved to optimize the effect.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.252-264
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• 2023

Background: The primary aim of this study is to statistically analyze and compare the difference in treatment outcomes based on the frequency and duration of acupotomy treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Methods: The evaluation of efficacy and safety involved using visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), EuroQol 5-dimention (EQ-5D), and similar parameters. This was achieved through the establishment of a comparable cohort using propensity score matching. Group A comprised 46 patients who underwent 4 sessions of acupotomy treatment for 2 weeks, while Group B consisted of 15 patients who received 6 acupotomy sessions for 3 weeks. Results: For Group A, the average amount of change in VAS values at weeks 4 and 6 was significantly decreased. However, the average amount of change in RMDQ values was not significant. Notably, the average amount of change of EQ-5D values at week 6 increased significantly. As for Group B, the average amount of change of NRS values in weeks 2 and 3 was significantly decreased. Conversely, the average amount of change in RMDQ and EQ-5D values was not significant. In comparing the 2 groups at the final follow-up, the average amount of change in all evaluation values was not significant. Further, no significant interaction effect was observed in the changes over time in all evaluation values between the 2 groups. Conclusion: This study establishes that there was no statistically significant difference in pain reduction, functional impairment, and quality of life improvement between 2 group.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2023

Hemorrhagic cystitis refers to massive inflammation and the diffuse vesical bleeding of the bladder. In patients with hematuria complaining of dysuria and pain, it is necessary to differentiate various causes, including cystitis, nephritis, and prostatitis. After the diagnosis of hemorrhagic cystitis, antibiotics usually treat and prevent further urinary tract infections. In the present case, a 78-year-old female patient with hemorrhagic cystitis presenting with hematuria underwent Korean medical treatment with Jeoryeong-tang-hap-Samul-tang for 29 days. The effect of the treatment was assessed with the hematuria grading scale (HGS) per week, urinalysis per two weeks, and the NRS (numeric rating scale) of dysuria per day. After treatment, both HGS and NRS scores decreased, and protein, blood, and red blood cells (RBCs) in urinalysis improved. This case report suggests that Jeoryeong-tang-hap-Samul-tang might be an effective option for hemorrhagic cystitis patients who continuously take antiplatelets.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives: To demonstrate an improvement of neuropathic pain after surgical site infection in a patient with anorectal cancer by administration of Soshihotang (SSHT). Methods: A 65-year-old female patient diagnosed with anorectal cancer was administered SSHT to relieve her neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection. SSHT was administered from 4/22 to 5/2. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS), and opioids administered to relieve her pain was calculated. Results: During 10 days of treatment, the NRS scale of neuropathic pain was improved and the dosage of opioids administered reduced to less than half. Conclusions: This case suggests that SSHT could be effective for the management of neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection.