• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral splints in reducing the intensity of pain in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction in both short and long-term treatment durations. Electronic databases, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and EMBASE were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing different types of splints to non-occluding splints, behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, counseling, and no treatment. The risk of bias was assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias recommendations. Fixed and random effects were used to summarize the outcomes. The effect estimates were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD) or risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were carried out according to the treatment duration. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis of short-term studies up to three months revealed no significant difference between the study groups. However, long-term studies exhibited a significant difference in pain reduction in favor of the control group. Total analysis revealed that the control group resulted in significant pain reduction (SMD 0.14, 95% CI 0.05-0.23, P=0.002, I²=0%). Oral splints are not effective in reducing pain intensity or improving function in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.298-310
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• 2023

Purpose: This study synthesized the literature on non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in older adults in long-term care facilities. Methods: Scoping review and thematic analysis methods were combined. On June 1, 2023, searches of primary electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL DBpia, KMbase, NDSL, and RISS, were performed, restricting the publication date from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2022. Guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute were used as a framework to set and conduct the scoping review. Results: The review identified 1,095 abstracts, from which 14 studies were included in the review. Consequent to the study, there were 10 randomized controlled experimental study designs, and 6 out of 14 studies were conducted in China. The numeric rating scale was widely used for pain assessment. Exercise intervention was provided in 7 studies and physiotherapy was provided in three studies. The outcome variables measured were pain self-efficacy, physical functions, and depression. Conclusion: This comprehensive overview guided nursing staff in long-term care facilities for planning and intervention of effective non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in the elderly.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2009

Background: Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain is a challenging condition that causes lower back or buttock pain; however, there is no universally accepted long-term treatment. There have been several reports of ligament prolotherapy for SI joint pain, but these have had inconsistent results, probably due to the lack of a specific diagnosis for patient selection and variability in the volume, number and sites of injection. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the efficacy of intraarticular prolotherapy for relieving SI joint pain diagnosed by local anesthetic intraarticular injection. Methods: Twenty-two patients with SI joint pain confirmed by 50% or more improvement in response to local anesthetic block underwent intraarticular prolotherapy with 25% dextrose water every other week three times. The numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed at the initial visit and after completion of a series of prolotherapy and the NRS was checked during monthly follow-up sessions to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this technique. Results: Twenty patients completed prolotherapy and followed up as scheduled. The NRS and ODI were significantly improved from 6 (4-8) and $34.1{\pm}15.5$ to 1 (0-3) and $12.6{\pm}9.8$ (P < 0.01), respectively, at 1 month after prolotherapy. The mean duration of pain relief of 50% or more was 12.2 months (95% CI, 10.0-14.3) as determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Conclusions: Intraarticular prolotherapy provided long-term relief of sacroiliac joint pain and may have more benefits than ligament prolotherapy or neurolysis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2017

Background: To achieve a prolonged therapeutic effect in patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome, radiofrequency medial branch neurotomy (RF-MB) is commonly performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of paravertebral muscle twitching when performing RF-MB in patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome. Methods: We collected and analyzed data from 68 patients with confirmed facet joint syndrome. Sensory stimulation was performed at 50 Hz with a 0.5 V cut-off value. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the twitching of the paravertebral muscle during 2 Hz motor stimulation: 'Complete', when twitching was observed at all needles; 'Partial', when twitching was present at 1 or 2 needles; and 'None', when no twitching was observed. The relationship between the long-term effects of RF-MB and paravertebral muscle twitching was analyzed. Results: The mean effect duration of RF-MB was 4.6, 5.8, and 7.0 months in the None, Partial, and Complete groups, respectively (P = 0.47). Although the mean effect duration of RF-MB did not increase significantly in proportion to the paravertebral muscle twitching, the Complete group had prolonged effect duration (> 6 months) than the None group in subgroup analysis. (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Paravertebral muscle twitching while performing lumbar RF-MB may be a reliable predictor of long-term efficacy when sensory provocation under 0.5 V is achieved. However, further investigation may be necessary for clarifying its clinical significance.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.130-142
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Pain in Older Adults Knowledge Survey (K-POAKS) to assess knowledge of pain in older adults including people with dementia for use in long-term care hospital nurses. Methods: Survey data were collected from a convenience sample of 179 nurses who have worked in long-term care hospitals in B, D and U cities. The Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 for internal consistency for test reliability was conducted. The content, criterion-related and construct validity were evaluated using SPSS/WIN 22.0. Results: The KR 20 was .75 and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) was a range of 0.84~1.00. The criterion-related validity was positively correlated with attitudes (r=.28, p<.001) and performance (r=.21, p=.004). The construct validity of K-POAKS was analyzed by conducting the principal component method using the exploratory factor analysis varimax rotation, and seven factors were derived above the eigenvalue of 1.0. The seven factors explained 58.5% of the total variation. Conclusion: The Korean version of the POAKS showed satisfactory internal reliability, content validity, criterion-related validity and construct validity. These results suggest that the K-POAKS could be used as a suitable tool to measure the knowledge of the aged people's pain, including that of dementia patients for long-term care hospital nurses.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.259-271
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• 2007

Investigation of molecular and cellular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity is the major focus of many neuroscientists. There are two major reasons for searching new genes and molecules contributing to central plasticity: first, it provides basic neural mechanism for learning and memory, a key function of the brain; second, it provides new targets for treating brain-related disease. Long-term potentiation (LTP), mostly intensely studies in the hippocampus and amygdala, is proposed to be a cellular model for learning and memory. Although it remains difficult to understand the roles of LTP in hippocampus-related memory, a role of LTP in fear, a simplified form of memory, has been established. Here, I will review recent cellular studies of LTP in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and then compare studies in vivo and in vitro LTP by genetic/pharmacological approaches. I propose that ACC LTP may serve as a cellular model for studying central sensitization that related to chronic pain, as well as pain-related cognitive emotional disorders. Understanding signaling pathways related to ACC LTP may help us to identify novel drug target for various mental disorders.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2020

Spinal pain is a common patient complaint in clinical practice. Conservative treatment methods include oral medication, physical therapy, injections, and spinal orthoses. The clinical application of orthoses is debated because of potential complications associated with long-term use, such as muscle weakness and joint contracture. We reviewed the orthoses most frequently used to manage spinal pain. We review the use of soft cervical and Philadelphia collars, lumbosacral corsets, and thoracolumbosacral orthosis to manage spinal pain. Spinal orthoses can help reduce pain by protecting the muscles and joints of the injured spinal region, preventing or correcting malformations, and limiting trunk flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. The short-term use of spinal orthoses is known to improve pain and disability during the treatment period without significant adverse effects. Spinal orthoses are expected to alleviate pain and improve patients' lifestyle.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.93-111
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• 1984

The main purpose of this study is to develop a ratio scale measuring level of pain using Korean pain terms. The specific purposes of this study are to identify the degree of pain of each pain term in each subclass: to classify each subclass in terms of dimensions of pain; and to analyze factors of the Korean pain ratio scale clustering together. One hundred an4 fifty eight pain terms which were originally identified as representative terms and their synonyms were used for data collection. Fifty eight nursing professors ana sixty one medical doctors who have contacted with patients having pain were asked to rate the weight of each pain term on a visual analogue scale. Subclasses in which ranks of pain terms were same f s findings in two previous studies were 1) thermal 3 am 2) cavity pressure, 3) single stimulating pain, 4) radiation pain. and 5) chemical pain. Subclasses in which ranks of pain terms were confused were 1) incisive pressure, and 2) cold pain. Subclasses in which one new pain term was added were 1) inflammatory-repeated pain, 2) punctuate pressure, 3) constrictive pressure, 4) fatigue-related pressure, and 5) suffering-relate4 pain. Subclasses in which two new pain terms were added were 1) traction pressure, 2) peripheral nerve pain, 3) dull pain, 4) pulsation-related pain, 5) digestion-related pain, 6) tract pain, and 7) punishment-related pain. Subclass in which 3 new pain terms were included was fear-related pain. Rating scores of 5 words in 4 subclasses were significantly different between the normal group and the extreme group of subjects in terms of subjective rating. Only one word among 6 words was that newly added to the scale. Rating scores of 12 words in 9 subclasses were significantly different between doctor group and nursing professor group. Among these 12 words, only 3 were those newly added to the scale. In comparison of these 12 words, mean scores of the nursing professors were always 7 to 16 points higher than those of the medical doctors. In the analysis of judgement of subjects in terms of dimensions of pain terms, subclasses of dull pain, cavity pressure, tract pain and cold pain were suggested to be included in the miscellaneous dimension. As a result of factor analysis of the ratings given to 96 pain words using principal components analysis without iteration and with varimax rotation limiting the number of factors to 4, factors of severe pain (factor I) mild-moderate pain (factor II) , causative pain (factor III) and temperature-related pain(factor IV) were extracted with the factor loading above 0.388. When the pain words were re-arranged on the bases of factor loading above 0.368, number of factors decreased to only first two factors. Maximum score of pain word in factor II was 46.17 and the minimum score of the factor I was 45.36. Further studies are needed to identify the validity, reliability, sensitivity and practicability of this ratio scale using patients having various sources of pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of sensorimotor function at the shoulder joint according to long-term cane usage in stroke patients without apraxic behavior, in terms of the presence of shoulder joint pain, accuracy of tracking task, proprioceptive joint position sense, and nine-hole pegboard. Methods: Nineteen stroke patients with long-term cane usage (cane usage group) and nineteen stroke patients without cane usage (non-cane usage group) were recruited. All subjects were tested in pain presence, a tracking task for visuomotor function, joint reposition, and nine-hole pegboard in the shoulder joint regarding the non-affected side. Results: In the accuracy index for tracking task and the nine-hole pegboard test, significant differences were observed between the cane usage group and the non-cane usage group. However, although a higher emergence of shoulder pain and a lower accuracy for joint reposition sense were detected in the cane usage group in comparison to the non-cane usage group, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that long-term cane usage could induce to decrease in delicate movement and coordination in the non-affected upper arm in stroke patients. In addition, they could experience high frequency of shoulder pain and poor joint reposition sense. Therefore, careful evaluation and observation will be required concerning stroke patients with long-term cane usage.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.32-43
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify the long-term effects of the self-help program for arthritis patients. The subjects were 126 patients who have participated in the 6-week self-help program from 1997 to 2000, agreed to participate in this study by telephone interview and responded the mailed questionnaires. The measurement tools of this study were all self-reported questionnaires such as Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the number of pain sites, Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, Numerical Fatigue Rating Scale, CES-D depression scale, Self-efficacy scale, Social support scale. The repeated measure ANOVA revealed the significant differences among the pre post follow-up pain and fatigue. Whileas there were no significant differences the pre post follow-up pain site and physical functioning. And there were also no significant differences the pain, pain site, fatigue and physical functioning among three groups according to the duration of follow-up. These results suggested that the follow-up program after the self-help program was completed would be helpful for the physical wellbeing of arthritis patients.