• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.76-83
• /
• 2021

While carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy affecting the wrist, resulting in substantial physical, psychological, and economic effects, there is no gold standard therapy for CTS. In this case series study, we aimed to report CTS patients treated with Carthami Semen Pharmacopuncture (CSP) and electroacupuncture (EA) showing improvements in their symptoms, and the combinatorial effects of CSP and EA. We collected medical records of CTS outpatients who received CSP and EA at Chuku Acupuncture & Moxibustion Korean Medicine Clinic from August 2017 to September 2018. The outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, paresthesia, the Korean version of the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire (K-BCTQ) score, and changes in nocturnal pain, Tinel sign, and Phalen's test. We included patient satisfaction at the completion of all treatments. 17 patients were included for this case series study. After treatment, VAS for pain decreased significantly from 50.41 ± 16.19 to 9.59 ± 9.46, VAS for paresthesia also decreased significantly from 63.50 ± 11.49 to 14.75 ± 12.97, and K-BCTQ symptom severity scale decreased from 2.48 ± 0.68 to 1.89 ± 0.70 (all p < 0.001). Nocturnal pain, Tinel signs, and Phalen's test showed improvements after all the treatments. All the patients reported favorable overall satisfaction with the treatments, and 69.23% wanted future pharmacopuncture treatments if CTS recurred. No complications were detected. The combination of CSP and EA could be an effective and safe option in treating CTS.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.296-304
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to demonstrate objective stability of postoperative pain management status managed by nurse-based, anesthesiologist-supervised Acute Pain Service (APS). Methods: A retrospective descriptive review was conducted with 5,748 patients who had used intravenous Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) from January to December 2017. Data were analyzed using descriptive statics, Frequency analysis, ANOVA, Cross tabulation with χ2test, and Correlation coefficient. Results: As the APS nurse's education date increased, the period of using PCA was statistically significantly longer, and the period of stopping PCA while using it became shorter (p<.001). Statistically significant, the most painful operations were extremities, spine, upper abdomen, and thorax, while the least painful surgery was lower abdomen (p<.001). Lower abdominal surgery used the highest amount of PCA (p<.001), and extremities and spinal surgery, the lowest amount of PCA and frequently stop using it (p<.001). The most common side effects were nausea and vomiting after surgery, with an incidence of 16.0% within 24 hours and 9.8% within 48 hours. The overall error caused by PCA was 1.5%, with 84.3% being caused by human errors. Conclusion: With the pain management effect of APS nurses, patients used PCA more effectively. There were also fewer side effects and error rates compared to prior studies. Therefore, it is suggested that this system is safe and effective for pain management.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.117-128
• /
• 2022

Background: Moderate sedation is an integral part of dental care delivery. Target-controlled infusion (TCI) has the potential to improve patient safety and outcome. We compared the effects of using TCI to administer remifentanil/manual bolus midazolam with manual bolus fentanyl/midazolam administration on patient safety parameters, drug administration times, and patient recovery times. Methods: In this retrospective chart review, records of patients who underwent moderate intravenous sedation over 12 months in a private dental clinic were assessed. Patient indicators (pre-, intra-, and post-procedure noninvasive systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate) were compared using independent t-test analysis. Patient recovery time, procedure length, and midazolam dosage required were also compared between the two groups. Results: Eighty-five patient charts were included in the final analysis: 47 received TCI-remifentanil/midazolam sedation, and 38 received manual fentanyl/midazolam sedation. Among the physiological parameters, diastolic blood pressure showed slightly higher changes in the fentanyl group (P = 0.049), respiratory rate changes showed higher changes in the fentanyl group (P = 0.032), and the average EtCO₂ was slightly higher in the remifentanil group (P = 0.041). There was no significant difference in the minimum SpO₂ levels and average procedure length between the fentanyl and remifentanil TCI pump groups (P > 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in the time required for discharge from the chair (P = 0.048), indicating that patients who received remifentanil required less time for discharge from the chair than those who received fentanyl. The dosage of midazolam used in the fentanyl group was 0.487 mg more than that in the remifentanil group; however, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of TCI administered remifentanil combined with manual administered midazolam has the potential to shorten the recovery time and reduce respiration rate changes when compared to manual administration of fentanyl/midazolam. This is possibly due to either the lower midazolam dosage required with TCI remifentanil administration or achieving a stable, steady-state low dose remifentanil concentration for the duration of the procedure.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of Cordyceps Militaris(CM) complex extract treatment on patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). We reviewed medical records of 9 rheumatoid arthritis patients who visited the pain & rehabilitation center, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University and were treated with CM complex extract from October 14, 2019 to October 14, 2020. We analyzed the records of DAS 28(Disease Activity Score 28), CDAI(Clinical Disease Activity Index), SDAI(Simplified Disease Activity Index), VAS(Visual analogue Scale), and KHAQ-D(Korean Health Assesment Questionnaire-Disability Index) before and after treatment to evaluate the effects of CM complex extract on RA. As a result, the scores of DAS 28(p<0.05), CDAI(p<0.01), SDAI(p<0.01) and VAS(p<0.01) were statistically significantly decreased, after 8 weeks of taking CM complex extract in RA patients. In conclusion, CM complex extract treatment may have potential effects of reducing disease activity and pain and improving quality of life in patients diagnosed with RA.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.183-193
• /
• 2022

Purpose: We retrospectively analysed patients' dental and periodontal status according to the presence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the effects of NCDs on periodontal treatment outcomes. Factors influencing disease recurrence were investigated using decision tree analysis. Methods: We analysed the records of patients who visited the Department of Periodontology, Pusan National University Dental Hospital from June 2014 to October 2019. As baseline subjects, 1,362 patients with periodontitis and who underwent full-mouth periodontal examinations before periodontal treatment were selected. Among them, 321 patients who underwent periodontal examinations after the completion of periodontal treatment and 143 who continued to participate in regular maintenance were followed-up. Results: Forty-three percent of patients had a NCD. Patients without NCDs had more residual teeth and lower sum of the number of total decayed, missing, filled teeths (DMFT) scores. There was no difference in periodontal status according to NCD status. Patients with a NCD showed significant changes in the plaque index after periodontal treatment. The decision tree model analysis demonstrated that osteoporosis affected the recurrence of periodontitis. Conclusions: The number of residual teeth and DMFT index differed according to the presence of NCDs. Patients with osteoporosis require particular attention to prevent periodontitis recurrence.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.49-64
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study analyzed medical records and online survey of mothers who received herbal medicine treatment using the Jeollabuk-do Postpartum Health Support Project. Through this, we would like to discuss the proposal of a postpartum questionnaire of korean medicine for the initial examination, and the project direction. Methods: This study investigated the medical records of 46 mothers who received herbal medicine treatment using the Jeollabuk-do Postpartum Health Support Program at one korean medical hospital. The mother's general characteristics, past history, symptoms, and herbal medicine prescription were analyzed. In addition, through the 33 mothers who responded to the online survey questionnaire, 13 items including medication satisfaction, lactation, and side effects were investigated. Results: The average age of the subjects was 34.46±4.27 years. Musculo-skeletal pain was the most common in both medical records and online surveys. The date of visit from the date of delivery was 47.56±57.15 days. Boheo-tang was prescribed the most, and 84.8% of mothers answered positively about their health after taking herbal medicine. Conclusions: The satisfaction of mothers who received herbal medicine treatment through this project was very high. There were no significant side effects on the mother and the breastfeeding baby who took herbal medicine. In the future, support projects for postpartum korean medical treatment at the national or local level will be necessary.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2021

Objectives The present study examined the recent domestic and international trends of non-surgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Methods The studies on non-surgical treatment of LSS were investigated via searching Korean web databases and PubMed. As a result, 39 studies were analyzed according to the authors, the types of study, the relationship to surgical treatment and the method of treatment. Results The first authors' occupations were identified as 17 doctors, 12 Korean medicine doctors, six physiotherapists, three chiropractic doctors and one doctor of science. The most common type of study in Korea was the case report and most of the studies were retrospective. Overseas, there were many prospective or experimental studies including randomized controlled trials (RCT). In Korea, non-surgical treatment was performed independently of surgical treatment in most cases. Among non-surgical treatments, the most researched treatment was traditional Korean medicine (TKM), followed by injection therapy, exercise therapy, and physical therapy. Conclusions Through this review, we can determine the effectiveness of TKM and its research direction. TKM should be studied experimentally including RCT and it should be conducted not only on acupuncture, but also on other treatment methods such as acupotomy, chuna, and herbal medicine. It is also necessary to conduct studies on TKM before and after surgery to compare the effects of surgery and TKM together, as well the effects on non-surgical treatments.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 2022

Background: No consensus exists regarding whether volatile anesthetics are superior to intravenous anesthetics for reducing postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing general anesthesia for surgery. Studies of this issue focused on anatomic pulmonary resection are lacking. This study compared the effects of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus volatile anesthesia on PPCs after anatomic pulmonary resection in patients with lung cancer. Methods: This retrospective study examined the medical records of patients with lung cancer who underwent lung resection at our center between January 2018 and October 2020. The primary outcome was the incidence of PPCs, which included prolonged air leak, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, empyema, atelectasis requiring bronchofiberscopy (BFS), acute lung injury (ALI), bronchopleural fistula (BPF), pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary edema. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the 2 groups. In total, 579 anatomic pulmonary resection cases were included in the final analysis. Results: The analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the volatile anesthesia and TIVA groups in terms of PPCs, except for prolonged air leak. Neither of the groups showed atelectasis requiring BFS, ALI, BPF, pulmonary embolism, or pulmonary edema after PSM. However, the length of hospitalization, intensive care unit stay, and duration of chest tube indwelling were shorter in the TIVA group. Conclusion: Volatile anesthetics showed no superiority compared to TIVA in terms of PPCs after anatomical pulmonary resection in patients with lung cancer. Considering the advantages of each anesthetic modality, appropriate anesthetic modalities should be used in patients with different risk factors and situations.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose is to discuss the clinical applications of Orungsan(Goreisan: 五苓散) as an alternative management for increased intracranial pressure in the field of neurosurgery in Japan. Methods and Results : Attention has focused on Kampo medicine(traditional Japanese medicine) for some cerebral disease including chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH) and cerebral infarction in Japan. Orungsan and one of its classes, Sirungtang(Saireto: 柴苓湯) are well known their effects on brain edema. After some studies of Orungsan has the anti-edemic effects by the inhibition of aquaporin, this herbal medicine has been used widely in the neurosurgery field in Japan. It is high time to think about where we are and we go ahead for the progress and the integration in medicine. We have reviewed the studies using Orungsan or Sirungtang, that was reported at the 20th annual meeting of 'the Japan society for Kampo medicine and neurological surgery' was held on November 5, 2011 in Tokyo. Fifteen studies related with Orungsan or Sirungtang were reported among all 32 studies at the meeting. Orungsan in ten, and Sirungtang in five among 14 studies contained specific clinical case. In the aspects of disease, thirteen papers were related with SDH, including CSDH(11), SSDH(1), aneurism clipping for SDH prevention(1), and one was acute cerebral infarction and one was multiple metastatic brain tumor. In the report style, case control study was 7(mostly retrospective), and the case report was 8. Conclusions : Orungsan may be plausible to be an alternative method to reduce brain edema after SDH and other brain injury in the field of neurosurgery.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2023

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to occupational hazards and the metabolic syndrome. A secondary objective was to analyze the additive and multiplicative effects of exposure to risk factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort was based on 31,615 health examinees at the Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital in Republic of Korea from 2012-2021. Demographic and behavior-related risk factors were treated as confounding factors, whereas three physical factors, 19 organic solvents and aerosols, and 13 metals and dust were considered occupational risk factors. Time-dependent Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios. Results: The risk of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in night shift workers (hazard ratio = 1.45: 95% confidence interval = 1.36-1.54) and workers who were exposed to noise (1.15:1.07-1.24). Exposure to some other risk factors was also significantly associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. They were dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, trichloroethylene, xylene, styrene, toluene, dichloromethane, copper, antimony, lead, copper, iron, welding fume, and manganese. Among the 28 significant pairs, 19 exhibited both positive additive and multiplicative effects. Conclusions: Exposure to single or combined occupational risk factors may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Working conditions should be monitored and improved to reduce exposure to occupational hazards and prevent the development of the metabolic syndrome.