• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2022

Objectives: Using algometer, measure the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the epigastric pain(心下痞硬) and calculate the cut-off value, and this can serve as the basis for prognostic diagnosis of functional dyspepsia so we would like to evaluate its diagnostic value. Methods: We investigated 353 patients with functional dyspepsia symptoms who admitted Gangnam Weedahm Oriental Hospital from February 1, 2021 to February 27, 2021. At the time of the patient's visit, an oriental medical doctor measured the pressure at the first pain point on the Algometer of (CV14), twice each, at 1minute intervals. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve and the optimal cut-off value derived through the diagnosis of the (CV14) PPT value for epigastric pain(心下痞硬) and the gold standard of oriental medical doctor, it was evaluated through. Results: In 353 patients, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.909 (p=0). In addition, the optimal cutting value was 10.05 (kg/cm2), which was statistically significant. Additionally, the sensitivity of the Algometer's PPT measurement was 0.704 and the specificity was 0.884. As a result, if the PPT value of the Algometer exceeds 10.05 (kg/cm²) in terms of the optimal cutting value, it can be seen that epigastric pain(心下痞硬) is lost. Conclusion: Algometer's PPT value measurement can be a reliable test method for quantification of epigastric pain(心下痞硬) diagnosis and can be useful as an objective indicator.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

Background: There are various conservative treatment options for lateral epicondylitis (LE). The aim is to evaluate pain, daily functioning, and complications after ultrasound-standardized autologous blood injections in patients with LE. Methods: For this prospective cohort study, consecutive patients (>18 years) diagnosed with LE were included. Autologous blood was injected using a medical device containing an injection disposable with 12 small needles (Instant Tennis Elbow Cure [ITEC]) device. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), subjective elbow score (SES), palpation and provocation pain, satisfaction, and complications of treatment were measured at baseline and two months after treatment. Paired t-tests and Fisher's exact tests were used for calculating the difference between pre- and post-treatment outcomes. Results: Fifty-five elbows were analyzed. Mean time between pre- and post-treatment was 11.1 weeks (standard deviation [SD], 8.9 weeks). The mean PRTEE score decreased from 68.2 (SD, 15.7) before surgery to 53.2 (SD, 25.9; p<0.001) after. The mean SES improved from 36.9 (SD, 20.8) to 51.7 (SD, 27.4; p<0.001). Despite this improvement, only 44.7% of patients showed relevant clinical improvement in PRTEE, and 37.3% showed significant clinical improvement based on SES. Four patients reported a complication and the injection disposable failed three times. Conclusions: Ultrasound-standardized autologous blood injection using the ITEC device is not an effective tool in reducing symptoms related to LE. This study showed that only half of all patients experienced a positive effect. In this heterogeneous cohort of patients, we showed no added value of ultrasound standardization.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1211-1222
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the opinions of experts on abdominal examinations in Korean Medicine included in the curriculum of the College of Korean Medicine. Methods: Among Korean doctors, 14 experts on abdominal examinations were interviewed; the experts included 9 professors of Korean internal medicine, 1 expert in diagnostics of Korean Medicine, 1 primary care Korean medicine doctor, and 3 executives of a (former) Korean association of the abdomen. The interview consisted of questions regarding recognition of the clinical importance of abdominal examinations, how to perform abdominal examinations, the most frequent abdominal examination findings encountered in clinical practice, and the definition of some of the abdominal examination findings. Results: Most interviewees recognized abdominal examinations as important and used them in clinical practice. Opinions on additions and corrections were collected regarding observation items, posture, method, and order during abdominal examinations. Abdominal examination findings that were common clinically were abdominal fullness (腹滿), epigastric stuffness (心下痞鞕), abdominal tenderness, epigastric fullness (心下滿), and rib distention (胸脇苦滿). The answers to the question related to the definitions of abdominal examination findings included consent and supplementary opinions regarding definitions of deficiency-excess, cold-heat, abdominal tenderness, tension of abdominal muscles, succession sounds, and borborygmus; these were mainly selected based on abdominal symptoms that are highly quantifiable. Conclusions: In the future, based on the results of this study, additional research related to the drafting of a standard abdominal examination in Korean medicine should be conducted to provide an opportunity to increase the reliability of Korean medicine diagnosis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.554-560
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• 2022

Background Hypertrophic scars cause aesthetic concerns and negatively affect the quality of life. A gold standard treatment for hypertrophic scars has not been established due to various responses of modalities. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a noninvasive and affects scar remodeling by fibroblast regulation. This study investigated the effectiveness of ESWT for hypertrophic scars. Methods Twenty-nine patients were enrolled. All patients underwent ESWT once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Their scars were assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), erythema index, melanin index, and scar pliability before treatment and again 4 weeks after treatment completion. Results Thirty-four hypertrophic scars in this study had persisted for between 6 months and 30 years. Most scars developed after surgical incision (55.88%). The chest and upper extremities were the predominant areas of occurrence (35.29% each). Most of the POSAS subscales and total scores were significantly improved 4 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the pain, itching, and pigmentation subscale were improved. The pliability, melanin index, and erythema index were also improved, but without significance. The patients were satisfied with the results and symptoms alleviation, although subjective score changes were insignificant. No serious adverse events were found. The patients reported pruritus in 62.5% and good pain tolerance in 37.5%. Subgroup analyses found no differences in scar etiologies or properties at different parts of the body. Conclusion The ESWT is a modality for hypertrophic scar treatment with promising results. Most of POSAS subscales were significantly improved.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.136-146
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate weight change and analyze adverse events in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who were prescribed with Gamitaeeumjowee-tang. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for medical records of patients with PCOS, who were administered with Gamitaeeumjowee-tang for a period of 12 weeks between January 2019 and December 2021. Outcomes were total weight loss/weight loss rate, the percentage of patients who lost more than 5% and 10% of their baseline weight. Adverse events (AEs) reported by patients were evaluated by severity, causality and system-organ classes. Results: A total of sixty-seven patients were included (mean±standard deviation, Age 28.78±5.25 years, weight 76.78±12.84 kg, body mass index 29.2±4.26 kg/m²). The average total weight loss in PCOS patients was 6.57±3.07 kg and the average weight loss rate was 8.55±3.65%. The percentage of patients with more than 5% and 10% weight loss compared to their baseline weight was 86.56% and 25.37% respectively. The analysis of adverse events are as follows: Causality assessment with World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre of AEs showed 'Unlikely' was the most common (71.7%) and severity evaluations with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events showed almost all symptoms were mild (98.9%). Conclusions: Gamitaeeumjowee-tang helps to lose weight of PCOS patients, which is overweight or obese, and no serious adverse events have occurred. Additional well-designed clinical studies are recommended.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.307-317
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• 2023

Objectives: To introduce the progress of treatment and improve clinical use after application of Emotion-to-Emotion Therapy (ETE Therapy) for treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Methods: A patient who was diagnosed with PTSD that occurred after violence in the family mainly complained about abdominal pain, depression, and fear. We treated the patient with ETE therapy as the main treatment. Subjective Units of Distress scale (SUDs), The Core Seven-Emotions Inventory Short Form (CSEI-s), and Mentalizing the Rooms of Mind (MRM) were evaluated before and after the treatment for assessing the clinical effect. Results: After treatment, overall clinical symptoms of the patient were alleviated. This result was supported by a decrease in SUDs. There were meaningful drops in 'Fear', 'Fright', 'Sorrow' in CSEI-s scores, consistent with the direction of 'Sa-seung-Gong (思勝恐)' used as major technique of ETE therapy. Resources and positive emotions in MRM were increased after treatment. Conclusions: ETE therapy may be effective for treating PTSD. It might play a significant role in cognitive reconstruction.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.152-168
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine remedies suggested in the papers of ovarian cyst in Chinese Medicine Journals and to establish the further direction. Methods: The papers published between 1994 and 2009 in China Academic Journal were reviewed. Results: 1. It was on Bo-Ryu Enema that main focus of investigation was placed. A variety of randomized controlled trials and case series were found. As a result, a lot of proper manual arts and prescriptions were provided out of them. 2. Acupuncture is reported as significant in reducing the size of ovarian cyst and improving clinical symptoms, which covers electrical acupuncture, enlongated needle and moxibustion, burning acupuncture. 3. External application was verified as an effective therapy for the case of a combined treatment with oral medicine. 4. Modern medical equipments such as ultra short wave medical cure, TDP could improve the efficiency of traditional remedies like Bo-Ryu Enema, external application. Conclusion: It would be necessary to practically come up with a diversity of remedies besides oral decoction of medical ingredients, and establish standard of evidence of them.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.285-293
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• 2023

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder characterized by abdominal discomfort or pain accompanied by a change in stool condition. Owing to its complicated mechanisms, a standard treatment for IBS has not yet been established. Yukgunja-tang (YGT) is a Korean herbal medicine known in Asia to be effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms. In this study, we will conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy and safety of YGT in IBS treatment. Methods and analysis: English databases, such as Embase, Medline (via PubMed), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, will be searched for articles published up to April 2023. Additional databases, such as five Korean, one Chinese, and one Japanese database, will be included. RCTs and quasi-RCTs will also be included in the assessment of the efficacy of YGT. The overall efficacy rate will be the primary outcome, and data such as IBS quality-of-life measurements, global symptom scores, and adverse events will be the secondary outcomes. Review Manager Version 5.3 will be used for evaluation, and the risk of bias (RoB) will be evaluated using Cochrane Collaboration's RoB tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach will be used to score the quality of evidence. Conclusion: This study will demonstrate the efficacy and safety of YGT for treating patients with IBS.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aims to establish a Korean medicine doctor's range of services in the dementia relief primary care system based on the previously developed dementia clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Developing a dementia relief primary care Clinical Pathway (CP) can aid clinically when the Korean medicine primary care doctor conducts treatment. Methods: We analyzed Dementia Korean Medicine Primary Care Model Data and then applied CP Methodology to develop the configuration of the Korean Medicine Primary Care Model. For patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD), vascular dementia (VD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the Korean Medicine Primary Care Model focuses on improving cognitive function, everyday living abilities and easing symptoms through interventions described in CPGs. The contents of the draft model later include references to already-existing CPs. Results: The study sites were chosen as Korean medical clinics connected to primary care physicians in the dementia-friendly model. The CP used a time task matrix version to arrange the clinical chronology, which included all examinations, diagnoses, and treatment procedures, from the initial appointment to follow-ups and the end of therapy. Conclusions: It anticipates that Korean primary care doctors familiar with dementia can use the offered therapies for the first time by creating the dementia Korean medicine primary care model in this study. This is expected to maximize the range of medical services provided by Korean medicine and improve the standard of medical treatment.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.60-69
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• 2023

Purpose: Despite enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and/or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, individuals with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) I or II often experience significant growth deficiencies. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (hGH) treatment in children diagnosed with MPS I or II. Materials and Methods: A total of nine pediatric patients-four with MPS I and five with MPS II-underwent treatment with ERT and hGH at Samsung Medical Center. Results: The mean hGH dose administered was 0.26±0.03 mg/kg/week. In the MPS I group, three patients showed an increase in height Z-score from -4.09±0.83 to -3.68±0.43 after 1 year of hGH treatment, and to -3.10±0.72 by the end of the hGH regimen. In the MPS II group, while the height Z-score of four patients decreased according to standard growth charts, it improved from 1.61±1.79 to 2.71±1.68 based on the disease-specific growth chart through hGH treatment. Two patients discontinued hGH treatment due to lack of efficacy after 22 and 6 months each of treatment, respectively. No new-onset neurological symptoms or necessity for prosthetic or orthopedic surgery were reported during hGH treatment. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the impact of hGH on MPS patients, demonstrating its potential to reverse growth deceleration in some cases. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of hGH on changes in body composition, muscle strength, and bone health in this population.