• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2011

Background: Facet joint disease plays a major role in axial low-back pain. Few diagnostic tests and imaging methods for identifying this condition exist. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is reported that it has a high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing facet disease. We prospectively evaluated the use of bone scintigraphy with SPECT for the identification of patients with low back pain who would benefit from medial branch block. Methods: SPECT was performed on 33 patients clinically suspected of facet joint disease. After SPECT, an ultrasound guided medial branch block was performed on all patients. On 28 SPECT-positive patients, medial branch block was performed based on the SPECT findings. On 5 negative patients, medial branch block was performed based on clinical findings. For one month, we evaluated the patients using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index. SigmaStat and paired t-tests were used to analyze patient data and compare results. Results: Of the 33 patients, the ones who showed more than 50% reduction in VAS score were assigned 'responders'. SPECT positive patients showed a better response to medial branch blocks than negative patients, but no changes in the Oswestry disability index were seen. Conclusions: SPECT is a sensitive tool for the identification of facet joint disease and predicting the response to medial branch block.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality bowling on emotional changes using EEG (Electroencephalogram). Sixteen bowling players who have at least three years of experiences in bowling participated in this study. Their aged ranged from 26 to 35 years old with a mean age of 29.6 years. The frontal lobes (Fp2-Fp1, F4-F3, F8-F7) of each player were measured while subjects were performing five games of bowling. And after performing every frame, their emotion was measured immediately with Visual Analogue Scale. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance to test differences in the alpha value of each region of the frontal lobes. The dependent variable is the alpha power of the cerebral asymmetry. The results showed that players who scored a strike showed higher VAS values than those who missed the spares or cleared the spares; those who cleared spares showed higher VAS values than those who missed spares In addition, with respect to frontal R-L asymmetry score, the alpha-wave of the left frontal lobe was activated when scoring a strike and clearing spares and the alpha-wave of the right frontal lobe was activated when missing spares. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that success or achievement in competition gives rise to positive emotions and vice versa. This study neurophysiologically proved that performance outcomes during a competition directly influence players' emotion and brain waves.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.163-166
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• 2011

Objective : Both the paraspinal muscle sparing approach and percutaneous screw fixation are less traumatic procedures in comparison with the conventional midline approach. These techniques have been used with the goal of reducing muscle injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and to compare the safety and efficacy of the paraspinal muscle sparing technique and percutaneous screw fixation for the treatment of L5-S1 spondylolisthesis. Methods : Twenty patients who had undergone posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) at the L5-S1 segment for spondylolisthesis were prospectively studied. They were divided into two groups by screw fixation technique (Group I : paraspinal muscle sparing approach and Group II: percutaneous screw fixation). Clinical outcomes were assessed by Low Back Outcome Score (LBOS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for back and leg pain at different times after surgery. In addition, modified MacNab's grading criteria were used to assess subjective patients' outcomes 6 months after surgery. Postoperative midline surgical scarring, intraoperative blood loss, mean operation time, and procedure-related complications were analyzed. Results : Excellent or good results were observed in all patients in both groups 6 months after surgery. Patients in both groups showed marked improvement in terms of LBOSs all over time intervals. Postoperative midline surgical scarring and intraoperative blood loss were lower in Group II compared to Group I although these differences were not statistically significant. Low back pain (LBP) and leg pain in both groups also showed significant improvement when compared to preoperative scores. However, at 7 days and 1 month after surgery, patients in Group II had significantly better LBP scores compared to Group I. Conclusion : In terms of LBP during the early postoperative period, patients who underwent percutaneous screw fixation showed better results compared to ones who underwent screw fixation via the paraspinal muscle sparing approach. Our results indicate that the percutaneous screw fixation procedure is the preferable minimally invasive technique for reducing LBP associated with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.490-495
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• 2010

Objective : Bone cement augmentation procedures such as percutaneous vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty have been shown to be effective treatment for acute or subacute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of bone cement augmentation procedures for long standing osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with late vertebral collapse and persistent back pain. Methods : Among 278 single level osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures that were treated by vertebral augmentation procedures at our institute, 18 consecutive patients were included in this study. Study inclusion was limited to initially, minimal compression fractures, but showing a poor prognosis due to late vertebral collapse, intravertebral vacuum clefts and continuous back pain despite conservative treatment for more than one year. The subjects included three men and 15 women. The mean age was 70.7 with a range from 64 to 85 years of age. After postural reduction for two days, bone cement augmentation procedures following intraoperative pressure reduction were performed. Imaging and clinical findings, including the level of the vertebra involved, vertebral height restoration, injected cement volume, local kyphosis, clinical outcome and complications were analyzed. Results : The mean follow-up period after bone cement augmentation procedures was 14.3 months (range 12-27 months). The mean injected cement volume was 4.1 mL (range 2.4-5.9 mL). The unipedicular approach was possible in 15 patients. The mean pain score (visual analogue scale) prior to surgery was 7.1, which decreased to 3.1 at 7 days after the procedure. The pain relief was maintained at the final follow up. The kyphotic angle improved significantly from $21.2{\pm}4.9^{\circ}$ before surgery to $10.4{\pm}3.8^{\circ}$ after surgery. The fraction of vertebral height increased from 30% to 60% after bone cement augmentation, and the restored vertebral height was maintained at the final follow up. There were no serious complications related to cement leakage. Conclusion : In the management of even long-standing osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture for over one year, bone cement augmentation procedures following postural reduction were considered safe and effective treatment in cases of non-healing evidence.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2009

Background: The advances in surgical technology, anesthesia and perioperative care have made it possible to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy on an outpatient basis. This study was conducted to assess the analgesic effect and the adverse events of different dosing methods when using transdermal fentanyl patches (TDFPs) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Sixty patients who were to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were divided into two groups. Group 1: 2 TDFPs that released $12{\mu}g/h$ were applied after the induction of anesthesia and these 2 patches were removed after 24 hours. Group 2: 2 TDFPs that released $12{\mu}g/h$ were applied after the induction of anesthesia and one patch was removed after 7 hours and the other patch was removed after 24 hours. The intensity of the postoperative pain was assessed by using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and assessing the adverse events, including dizziness, pruritus and nausea/vomiting, were recorded for 48 hours postoperatively. Results: The VAS score of postoperative pain was not significantly different between the two groups at all times. The incidence of dizziness in groups I and II was 10 and 3, respectively, and the incidence of nausea/vomiting in group I and II was 4 and 0, respectively. The incidences of dizziness and nausea/vomiting in group II were significantly lower than those of group I (P<0.05). Conclusions: A dosing method that removes half of the TDFPs ($24{\mu}g/h$) after 7 hours of application caused a lower incidence of dizziness and nausea/vomiting without any significant difference of postoperative analgesic efficacy, as compared to leaving on both the TDFPs (24$\mu$g/h) for 24 hours after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.323-334
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• 2002

Purpose: This study was designed to verify preemptive effects of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) infusion on postoperative pain in women having a total abdominal hysterectomy. Method: The research design was a nonequivalent control group post test only design. The participants in this study were 50 women who were scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy at a University affiliated Hospital in Suwon, Korea. The subjects were divided into two groups. For the experimental group, IV-PCA infusion was started before the skin incision and for the control group. IV-PCA infusion was started after the skin was closed. Each group was evaluated in terms of pain score by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the number of times they pushed the button for IV-PCA at postoperative hours 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24. The data were collected from July 1 to December 10, 2001. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS/PC + program. Result: 1. There was no difference between the two groups, over six points for the number of times the control button for IV-PCA was used. Group differences and interaction effect were not significant. 2. There was no significant difference in pain scores between the two groups, over seven time points. A significant interaction effect was observed between groups and measurement Points in time. 3. There was a significant difference in the requirements for additional analgesia between the two groups, 32% of the control group received additional analgesia. Conclusion: Preemptive analgesics administration may have a better effect in relieving postoperative pain than the usual analgesic treatment which is started after surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2009

Background: Pain is one of the most troublesome problems caused by malignancy. We evaluated the change in pain status according to observance of NCCN guidelines in lung cancer patients. Methods: Lung cancer patients complaining of pain at admission were examined. The pain was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS) for 20 days and moderate-to-severe pain was defined as more than VAS level 3. The guideline observance was classified as high (more than 80%), medium (50~79%) and low (less than 50%). Results: Among the total 91 lung cancer patients with pain, 34 patients (37%) had moderate-to-severe pain. Their average VAS score at admission was 5.6. It decreased to 2.9 after a 20-day period of pain management. The time to reach a VAS less than 3 was 3 days in a high guideline observance group, while it took 6 days in a low observance group. In addition, the pain in the high observance group was controlled to less than 3 VAS level in 86% of patients, whereas only 25% of patients in the low observance group succeeded. Conclusion: Pain was more effectively controlled when the dose of drugs was modified according to NCCN guidelines in lung cancer patients indicating the importance of guideline observance in pain management.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the comparison between the subjective and the objective evaluation of pain control effect in masticatory muscle pain depending on time and dose change. Methods: The patients were recruited to this study and diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Experimental group were divided into three groups; saline injection group (n=10), morphine 1.5 mg injection group (n=10), and morphine 3.0 mg injection group (n=10). Evaluation list was the subjective pain evaluation (visual analogue scale, McGill pain questionnaire) and the objective pain evaluation (pressure pain threshold [PPT], pressure pain tolerance [PTO]). The subjective and the objective pain evaluation were performed at the times of just before injection, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after injection. Then, data were statistically analyzed. Results: The results were as follows: 1) There is no statistically significant difference between the results of the subjective and the objective pain evaluation with regard to the short-term (within 1 hour) analgesic effect of morphine sulfate. 2) However, after 1 hour of injection, while the subjective pain evaluation score still decreased, the objective pain evaluation didn't show significant changes in PPT and PTO (1 hour, p<0.05; 24 hours, p<0.01; 48 hours, p<0.001). 3) In comparison to changes in the dose, the McGill pain questionnaire was the most statistically effective method among the subjective pain evaluations (1.5 mg, p<0.05; 3 mg, p<0.01). Conclusions: Therefore, it was revealed that the subjective pain evaluation was more effective to evaluate long-term pain control, and that the McGill pain questionnaire could be an effective way to evaluate pain control depending on dose changes. It requires further investigations with time and dose extension.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of hydroxyapatite containing toothpaste with positive control toothpastes in reducing dentine hypersensitivity. Materials and methods: This clinical trial was a double-blind, randomized, parallel group comparison of two, namely hydroxyapatite containing toothpaste and strontium chloride containing toothpaste. A total of 55 subjects were included in this study. The subjects were given randomly assigned one of the two toothpastes after received tooth brushing instruction at baseline. Some clinical indices(PI, GI, PD), verbal rating score(VRS) for sensitivity to stimulus, the effect in relieving sensitivity and visual analogue scale(VAS) for sensitivity at baseline, week 2, week 4 and week 8 were assessed. All data were evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Results: Overall, PI and GI scores were significantly reduced compare baseline in all groups(p<0.05). In addition, there was significant difference in PI at 4 weeks and in GI at 4, 8 weeks between groups. The proportions of subjects relieved sensitivity were 70.4% in experimental group and 57.1% in control group at 8 weeks respectively. The VRS for sensitivity to three kinds of stimuli and VAS for sensitivity decreased according to time, there was no overall difference between two groups(p>0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the new hydroxyapatite containing toothpaste was similarly effective in reducing dentine hypersensitivity with pre-existing benchmark toothpaste.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.189-202
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• 2013

Objectives The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of the tongue coating pattern in the elderly patients with xerostomia. Methods Ninety-six elderly patients with xerostomia were recruited by advertisement and they visited the oral diseases clinics at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong from November, 2011 to August, 2013. After signifying the assent, the subjects who passed screening were enrolled this study. The subjects were evaluated on their clinical characteristics of xerostomia using visual analogue scale for xerostomia, dry mouth questionnaire, unstimulated salivary flow rate. In addition, Yin-deficiency questionnaire was used to evaluate the Yin-deficiency state and Winkel tongue coating index and Digital Tongue imagin system were used to measure the tongue coating of patients. Results The proportion of women was higher than that of men, and there were few smokers in this study population. This population had chronic and relatively severe xerostomia symptoms. Also, thin coating pattern was showed in this elderly patients with xerostomia and this result was regarded to the influence of Yin-deficiency. The thin coating patten was observed in the group with higher Yin-deficiency score. There was no difference in tongue coating between the hyposalivation and normosalivation group. Conclusion In the elderly patients with xerostomia, Yin-deficiency is might be considered as one of the main cause of xerostomia. Hence, it is thought that this patients showed the thin coating pattern. This results could be used in diagnosis and treatment for the elderly patients with xerostomia in traditional Korean medicine.