• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.142-155
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine whether there is a significant efficacy difference on infant and young child atopic dermatitis patients treated with Korean Medicine Treatment through 6 months between topical steroid used group and non-steroid group. Methods: The degree of atopic dermatitis was measured by the Objective SCORAD Index (OSI) with photographs of patients. Detailed analysis of the OSI score was compared based on the use of topical steroid. Results: 1. There was not a significant difference between the topical steroid group and the non-steroid group in regards of gender, age and initial OSI score. 2. The non-steroid group's OSI score decreased significantly from 50.17 to 29.20. 3. The topical steroid group's OSI score decreased significantly from 54.21 to 34.95. 76.19% of the patients in the topical steroid group discontinued steroid use within the 6-month period. The average time of discontinuation since the beginning of treatment was 3.36 months. 4. The OSI Improvement rate comparison of topical steroid group with non-steroid group did not show a significant difference over a 3-month and 6-month period. 5. Distribution of severe cases decreased in Both topical steroid and non-steroid group after 6 month treatment. Conclusions: The OSI score of infant and young child atopic dermatitis patients in both topical steroid and non-steroid group was decreased significantly with Korean medicine treatment through 6 months. There was no significant difference between topical steroid group and non-steroid group in OSI improvements over a 3-month period and 6-month period.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: In this study, we compared the outcomes of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss who underwent steroid treatment with or without hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy and were followed-up in our clinic. Subjects and Methods: Patients were divided into two groups according to their treatment regimen. Steroid group received intravenous 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone which was due to be completed in 2-3 weeks with decreasing doses, and five doses of 0.5 mL intratympanic dexamethasone. Steroid+HBO group received the same steroid treatment with the addition of HBO therapy. The audiologic results of both treatment groups were compared after considering the patients' risk factors. Results: There was no significant difference between the steroid and Steroid+HBO groups in terms of hearing gain and degree of recovery, both at all degrees of hearing loss, and in severe and profound hearing loss. Hearing gain was similar when evaluated by audiogram type and admission time in both treatment groups. Conclusions: We found that the addition of HBO therapy to systemic plus intratympanic steroid treatment did not affect hearing gain at all degrees of hearing loss in this study. Furthermore, audiogram type and admission time did not affect hearing gain between the two groups.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: In this study, we compared the outcomes of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss who underwent steroid treatment with or without hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy and were followed-up in our clinic. Subjects and Methods: Patients were divided into two groups according to their treatment regimen. Steroid group received intravenous 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone which was due to be completed in 2-3 weeks with decreasing doses, and five doses of 0.5 mL intratympanic dexamethasone. Steroid+HBO group received the same steroid treatment with the addition of HBO therapy. The audiologic results of both treatment groups were compared after considering the patients' risk factors. Results: There was no significant difference between the steroid and Steroid+HBO groups in terms of hearing gain and degree of recovery, both at all degrees of hearing loss, and in severe and profound hearing loss. Hearing gain was similar when evaluated by audiogram type and admission time in both treatment groups. Conclusions: We found that the addition of HBO therapy to systemic plus intratympanic steroid treatment did not affect hearing gain at all degrees of hearing loss in this study. Furthermore, audiogram type and admission time did not affect hearing gain between the two groups.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.321-328
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) administration alone or exercise combined with DHEA before steroid treatment on rat hindlimb muscles. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of three groups: a steroid group(S, n=10) that had no treatment for 7 days before steroid treatment; a DHEA-steroid group(DS, n=8) that had 0.34 mmol/kg/day DHEA injection once a day for 7 days before steroid treatment and an exercise+DHEA-steroid group(EDS, n=9) that ran on the treadmill combined with 0.34 mmol/kg/day DHEA injection for 7 days before steroid treatment. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected. Body weight, food intake, muscle weight, myofibillar protein content and cross-sectional area of the dissected muscles were determined. Results: The DS group showed significant increases(p<.05) as compared to the steroid group in body weight, and muscle weight of gastrocnemius muscles. The EDS group showed significant increases(p<.05) as compared to the S group in body weight, muscle weight, myofibrillar protein content, and Type II fiber cross-sectional area of soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles. Conclusion: Exercise combined with DHEA administration before steroid treatment prevents steroid induced muscle atrophy, with exercise combined with DHEA administration being more effective than DHEA administration alone in preventing muscle atrophy.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2011

Polymyositis is diffuse, inflammatory myopathy with proximal-muscle weakness due to lymphocyte infiltration to the muscle layer. The exact cause of the muscle weakness is unclear but may be related with an immunologic mechanism. Using high-dose steroid is the treatment of choice for polymyositis. It is difficult to distinguish steroid-resistant polymyositis from steroid myopathy, however, in the course of high-dose steroid therapy. These authors encountered a steroid myopathy patient during polymyositis treatment with high-dose steroid. A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with polymyositis and was treated with high-dose steroid. Her condition was initially improved, but in the course of the treatment, her symptom was aggravated without increasing the muscle enzymes. Her muscle weakness was improved by reducing the steroid dosage.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2019

Symmetrical proximal weakness and characteristic dermatologic manifestations are important in the diagnosis of dermatomyositis. We report a case of atypical presentation of dermatomyositis due to previous steroid use and also report steroid-induced myopathy which may occur from steroid administration during the course of treatment. A 77-year-old man, previous steroid user, showed rapidly progressing weakness after abruptly stopped medication. He has presented erythematous papule on face and anterior chest but no heliotrope rash and Gottron's papules were observed. Muscle enzyme (creatine kinase) concentration is increased, and needle electromyography shows increased spontaneous activity on proximal limb muscle. The muscle biopsy confirmed dermatomyositis. During the course of treatment, he revealed persistent weakness despite the continuous steroid use and stable creatine kinase level. Electrodiagnostic study suggests steroid-induced myopathy and after tapering steroid, proximal muscle strength improved. This case reports the effect of steroid use on dermatomyositis patients and a process of diagnosing coexisting steroid induced myopathy during treatment.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-36
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• 2005

Muscle atrophy is defined as a decrease in muscle mass, cross-sectional area, and myofibrillar protein content. Causes inducing muscle atrophy may be inactivity, denervation, undernutrition and steroid. Inactivity may decrease protein synthesis and increase protein breakdown of skeletal muscle. The muscle atrophy due to inactivity was induced by bed rest, hindlimb suspension, cast, total hip replacement arthroplasty, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Denervated atrophy may be induced by the loss of innervation from lower motor neuron. The atrophy was apparent in the lower limb of hemiplegic patients following ischemic stroke and in the hindlimb of ischemic stroke rats. Protein breakdown of skeletal muscle in the undernourished state results in muscle atrophy. The atrophy due to undernutrition was evident in cancer and leukemia patients and in the undernourished rats. Steroids have been used to treat allergies, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and to inhibit immune function following transplantation. Steroids may induce muscle atrophy by protein breakdown of skeletal muscle. Muscle Physiology Laboratoryat College of Nursing, Seoul National University proved that dexamethasone may induce hindlimb muscle atrophy in rats and exercise and DHEA may attenuate hindlimb muscle atrophy induced by the steroid in rats. Nurses working with patients undergoing steroid treatment need to be cognizant of steroid induced muscle atrophy. They need to assess whether muscle atrophy is being occurred during and after the steroid treatment. Moreover, they need to apply exercise and DHEA to the patients undergoing steroid treatment in order to attenuate the steroid induced muscle atrophy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of daily exercise before steroid treatment on mass, the type I and II fiber cross-sectional area, and myofibrillar protein content of hindlimb muscles in a rat model. Method: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group(n=10) that had a normal saline injection for 7days, a steroid group(n=10) that had a steroid injection for 7days, and an exercise-steroid group(n=10) that ran on the treadmill for 7days before a steroid treatment. Body weight and food intake were measured every day. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and the soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected. Result: The exercise-steroid group showed significant increases as compared with the steroid group in body weight, muscle weight of the soleus and gastrocnemius, type II muscle fiber cross-sectional area of plantaris, and myofibrillar protein content of the soleus, plantaris, and gastrocnemius. As compared with the control group, the steroid group showed significant decreases in body weight and diet intake, muscle weight, the type II fiber cross-sectional area and myofibrillar protein content of the soleus, plantaris, and gastrocnemius muscles. Conclusion: Daily exercise before steroid treatment attenuates hindlimb muscle atrophy, with type II muscle changes more apparent than type I muscle changes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.210-213
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• 1998

Background: Epidural steroid therapy has been well-established for the treatment of sciatica and low back pain. Disappointing results following surgical decompression or discectomy have led to wide trials of corticosteroids injected either systemically or into the intraspinally. Although epidural steroid is known to be very effective in the treatment of the patients with low back pain, few data showed the therapeutic duration of epidural steroid. Methods: We studied 120 patients who were treated with epidural steroid for the treatment of low back pain or sciatica or both. We retrospectively analysed the duration of analgesia, number of injections per each session, and complications. Results: The duration of analgesia ranged from 17 days to 300 days, and the mean duration was $73.7{\pm}70.5$ (SD) days. The mean number of injections per each session was $1.8{\pm}1.3$ (range: 1 to 12). There were no significant complications with epidural steroid injections. Conclusions: One to three epidural steroid injections at one week interval leads more than two months of pain relief without significant complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2005

Background: An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is usually used for the treatment of low back pain with radiculopathy. An ESI can be performed by two procedures: I) a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection and II) a transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Methods: Ninety-three patients, who had undergone transforaminal epidural steroid injection (Group II), and either a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection (Group I), were retrospectively studied. The authors assessed the pain, walking, standing improvement and side effects after each procedure, which were evaluated as being very good, good, fair or poor. Data were collected from the patients medical records and analyzed using the chi-squared test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the pain, walking, standing improvement and side effects between the two groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain improvement following transforaminal epidural steroid injection in those not effectively responding to an initial lumbar or caudal epidural block in Group II. Conclusions: A transforaminal epidural steroid injection is a useful alternative to a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection for low back pain with radiculopathy.