• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.233-250
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of inpatients who were admitted to Korean medicine hospital due to traffic accident. Methods 1,162 traffic accident patients who were admitted to department of Korean Rehabilitation Medicine of Cheonan Korean Medicine Hospital, Dae-Jeon University from 1st, January, 2011 to 31th, December, 2012 were analyzed according to the medical charts. Results 1. The average treatment result was 3.22 and in most (71.52%) of the patients, symptoms were more than improved. 2. In distribution according to age and sex, people in their 30s numbered the most both in male (12.65%) and female (14.72%). The 1,162 inpatients comprised of 457 (39.33%) male and 705 (60.67%) female. 3. 541 (46.56%) patients admitted in 2011 and 621 (53.44%) patients admitted in 2012. 4. 695 (59.81%) patients visited Cheonan Korean Medicine Hospital within 0~2 days after their traffic accident, followed by 242 (20.83%) patients who visited within 3~5 days after their traffic accident. Patients who admitted earlier showed more improvement in symptoms. 5. The average admission days were 9.32 days. Most (57.66%) patients discharged within 1 week. 6. 825 (71.00%) patients were driving sedan at the time of accident, followed by 105 (9.04%) SUV owners and 71 (6.11%) pedestrians. 7. Rear-end collision accident numbered the most (45.61%), followed by lateral collision (24.35%) and frontal collision (14.72%). 8. Most frequently prescribed examination was X-ray (95.52%), followed by CT (8.69%) and MRI (3.01%). 9. Most frequently given diagnosis was sprain (1,126 (96.90%) patients), followed by concussion & abrasion (178 (15.32%) patients) and fracture (109 (9.38%) patients). 10. Most frequently given Korean medicine treatment was acupuncture (1,162 (100%) patients), followed by anti-inflammatory pharmacopuncture (652 (56.11%) patients) and moxibustion (462 (39.76%) patients). 11. Most frequently given Korean medicine physiotherapy was infra-red (1,161 (99.91%) patients), followed by cupping therapy (1,152 (99.14%) patients) and hotpack (1,137 (97.85%) patients). 12. Most frequently prescribed herb medicine was huishou-san (13.51%), followed by dangguixu-san (12.65%) and yaojiao-tang G (7.06%) Conclusions In this study, people in their 30s, females, within 0~2 days since the accident took the highest percentage from each category of patients who admitted to Korean Medicine Hospital due to traffic accident. Patients who admitted earlier showed more improvement in symptoms and also discharged earlier.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.77-83
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• 2016

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of making Korean Medicine-Western Medicine collaboration Critical Pathway for Acute Postoperative Pain after Back Surgery. Methods This preliminary Critical Pathway (CP) was composed of 9 Index of vertical axis (assesment, treatment, patient movements, consultation, diet, other, administration, examination, education) and 5 hospitalization periods of horizontal axis through a review of the literature and reference data of medical records. This preliminary CP's Content Validity Index (CVI) survey was carried out by 20 personnel of two different medical institutions from 06, June, 2016 to 15, June, 2016. All data were double-cross checked and analyzed. Results Of those questioned, there were 13 males and 7 females in age, 6 professors, 7 medical residents, 7 nurses in position of 20 personnel. According to the survey, among the 62 contents, 32 contents are above 80 percent agreements, 12 contents were between 70 to 80 percent and 18 contents below 70 percent agreements. Especially, Most contents in treatment index were below fixed validity. Overall Contents Validity in Index, Treatments (72.7%), Diet (100.0%), Other (100.0%), Administration (75.0%) and Examination (100.0%) were in high validity. On the other hands, Assessments (29.4%), Patient movements (0.0%), Consultation (30.0%) and Education (33.3%) were in low position. Conclusions This survey results can be evidence of possibility to develop New Korean Medicine-Western Medicine Collaboration Critical Pathway for Acute Postoperative Pain after Back Surgery.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2015

Objectives : To evaluate the long-term survival effects of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) on refractory metastatic lung cancer and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which have historically poor survival rates. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted using the medical records of two patients in Daejeon University hospital. The first patient, with SCLC, was treated from January 2000 to December 2009 and the other, with metastatic pulmonary cancer from primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), was treated from September 2004 to February 2014. The patients were treated with herbal medicines at one-month intervals. During hospitalization, acupuncture and indirect moxibustion were performed concurrent with the administration of Western therapy. Treatment efficacy was assessed monthly using chest radiography, chest computed tomography, and laboratory examination data, and by measuring patient performance status. Results : Both patients exhibited a stable disease course for more than 9 years after the initial diagnosis of intractable lung cancer, suggesting that their disease status was controlled by TKM. Conclusions : We suggest that a combination of TKM with conventional Western therapy for refractory lung cancer patients is effective in controlling various symptoms related to lung cancer and improving quality of life, and may potentially prolong overall survival.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of dry cupping treatment applied to back-shu points on the autonomic nervous system. Methods : Two groups of sympathicotonia and normal with each 30 volunteers were set up for this experiment. The sympathicotonia group was selected by the criterion for sympathicotonia by the questionnaire composed of 11 items. After 10 minutes for environmental adaptation, the first HRV(heart rate variability) test was conducted, and then, dry cupping therapy was applied to back-shu points for 5 minutes to stimulate sympathetic ganglia lying along the spine. The second HRV test was carried out just after the cupping therapy under the same condition and then, the third test was repeated after two hours based on the first test time. Results : 1. In sympathicotonia group, SDNN(standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals), RMSSD(the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals), Ln(HF)(high frequency power), nmHF(normalized high frequency power) increased and mHR(mean heart rate), nmLF(normalized low frequency power) decreased significantly right after dry cupping therapy which means dry cupping affects on autonomic nervous system. The effect lasts in these items of nmLF, Ln(HF), nmHF, rLHF(rate ratio of LF/HF). 2. In normal group, SDNN, RMSSD increased and mHR decreased significantly right after dry cupping therapy, too. But, Ln(LF)(low frequency power), nmLF, rLHF unexpectedly increased and nmLF, rLHF stay increased up to 2 hours. Conclusions : The results suggest that the dry cupping therapy has effect on the autonomic nervous system. It is effective to stabilize hyper-sympathetic tone of people diagnosed as Sympathicotonia and activate parasympathetic tone.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to find out the characteristics of patients who admitted due to industrial accident and to promote the superiority of oriental medical treatment on the sequelae of industrial accident. Methods : We analyzed the medical charts of 51 inpatients in a local oriental medicine hospital. The patients had been hospitalized from May 1, 2003 to October 31, 2010. Results : 1. By gender, males accounted for 78.4%, while females 21.6%. By age, most incidences occurred in the forties(29.4%), fifties(23.5%) and thirties(19.6%) in order. 2. Most causes of accident was carelessness(27.5%) and fall down(21.6%) was the next. 3. With regard to the interval from occurrence of accidents to hospitalization, 20 cases(39.2%) were found to be hospitalized 31～90 days after the accidents, followed by 11 cases(21.6%) in 91～180 days and 7 cases(13.7%) in 181～360 days. 4. Most cases turned out to be injuries with 40 patients from Sequelae of intracerebral hemorrhage (23.5%) and Lumbar and other intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy(13.7%). The mean duration of hospitalization was $209.03{\pm}346.04$ days. Inpatients of Organic brain syndrome NOS numbered the longest stay($676{\pm}86.26$days), Sequelae of intracerebral hemorrhage recorded $541.91{\pm}541.83$ days hospitalized. 5. Most of inpatients were treated with acupuncture(100%), herbal medication(98.0%), oriental physiological therapy(82.3%), and moxibustion(76.4%). Conclusions : This article will help the researchers related to Oriental medicine establish basic source of Oriental medicine approach for inpatients due to industrial accident.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.375-384
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• 2021

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the clinical features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients who attended a Korean medicine hospital and the treatment effects through retrospective chart reviews. Methods: The medical records of 82 outpatients who had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and visited the Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department of Kyung Hee Korean Medicine Hospital from 8 January 2015 to 8 January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. To assess the treatment outcomes, we used the FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), DLCO (Diffusing capacity of the Lung for CO), 6-minute walk test, and HRCT (High Resolution Computed Tomography). Results: The study group consisted of 28 females and 54 males. The median age of the patients was 67.98±11.44 years. The chief complaints were cough (n=51) and dyspnea (n=49). Other frequent symptoms were general weakness (n=8), weight loss (n=4), and a fever (n=2). A total of 77 (93.90%) patients were prescribed Korean herbal medicine, and 52 (63.41%) patients were treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, ICT, or pharmacopuncture. After treatments, FVC, DLCO, the 6-minute walk test, and HRCT were maintained or worsened slightly. Conclusions: This study presented the characteristics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients treated by Korean medical therapies, and further studies of Korean medical treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients would be valuable.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.891-900
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the improvement of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after long-term combined Korean medical treatment. Methods: A patient diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitation for four separate hospital stays. To evaluate their respiratory discomfort and limb weakness, we used Manual Muscle Testing, the Pulmonary Function Test, and the Korean Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised. Results: The weakness of the muscles of the lower extremities and respiratory function was improved. Conclusion: We consider that combined Korean medicine treatments might be an effective treatment for muscle weakness and respiratory discomfort of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To verify the effectiveness of these treatments, further research is required.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2018

■ Objectives This case study is to report the two cases of Gami-Guibitang on cognitive impairment after stroke with improved recall memory. ■ Methods We used Korean medicine treatments including Gami-guibitang, acupuncture and moxibustion to treat patients who had cognitive impairment after stroke for at least two months. We observed the changes of symptoms by measuring Korean version of Mini-mental status examination (MMSE-K), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and Global Detration Scale (GDS). ■ Results After treatment, the patient's symptoms were improved including MMSE-K, CDR and GDS. Improvement appeared to be prominent in recall memory. The general condition were also improved after treatment. ■ Conclusion This clinical case study suggests that Korean medicine including Gami-guibitang could be used to treat patients who had cognitive impairment after stroke especially suffering from degraded recall memory.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate safety of postpartum herbal medicine by assessing the effect of taking herbal medicine of postpartum period on liver function. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 167 mothers who underwent liver function tests (LFT) within 3 months before and after childbirth among mothers who gave birth at ○○ Hospital between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Mothers with abnormally elevated LFT during pregnancy were excluded. Among 167 women, 6 women are herbal-medicine-group took herbal medicine for 5-6 weeks during postpartum period, and 161 patients are general -group who did not take herbal medicine. LFT Variation of Subjects before and after childbirth were compared between the two groups. And subjects who had elevated liver levels above the normal range after delivery were classified separately, the characteristics and causes of changes in liver levels were analyzed, and the presence or absence of drug-induced liver damage was confirmed. Results: Among a total of 167 subjects, there were 5 women in the herbal-medicine-group and 150 women in the general-group who had changes in liver values within the normal range after childbirth. Aspartate transaminase (AST) change before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 3.40±1.82, and AST change in the general-group was 2.92±8.59, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.901). Increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 5.60±3.65, and ALT change in the general-group was 8.01±11.81, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.651). There were 12 subjects who had elevated AST, ALT above the normal range after delivery, including 1 in the herbal-medicine-group and 11 in the normal mothers group. Valuation of 1 Subject of the herbal-medicine-group before and after delivery was 17 IU/L of AST and 52 IU/L of ALT. Because results of AST, ALT is under the standard to diagnose to liver damage, she was observed without any treatment. However the cause of AST, ALT elevation was not found in the chart, she was receiving treatment for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The general-group had an average increase of AST 35.64±22.67 IU/L and ALT 53.00±26.80 IU/L. As a result of analyzing the cause, there were direct causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis B, and acute pyelonephritis. Abnormal elevations in liver levels were also found in mothers with hypothyroidism, diabetes, and fever of unknown cause, although they were not direct causes. Conclusions: To investigate the safety of taking herbal medicines, we assess the variation in AST and ALT within 3 months before and after delivery in the herbal-medicine-group and general-group. There was no significant difference between two groups.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.41-58
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• 2023

Objectives: This retrospective observational study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Cheongpebaedok-tang, a traditional Korean herbal medicine, provided via telemedicine to patients with asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 in Korea. Methods: From February to April 2020, a retrospective analysis investigated COVID-19 patients treated via Korean telemedicine. The study involved asymptomatic to mild cases receiving Cheongpebaedok-tang more than three times, along with continuous Korean medicine care in convalescence. Diagnoses and treatment adhered to the telemedicine guidelines of the Association of Korean Medicine, with varied Cheongpebaedok-tang prescriptions based on symptom severity. Symptom evaluation involved a detailed assessment using a 15-item tool at initial and final sessions. Results: The study included 27 patients, with a mean age of 48.7 ± 2.3 years (mean ± standard error). Patients began self-administering oral Cheongpebaedok-tang for an average of 19.4 ± 1.8 days after the date of COVID-19 diagnosis confirmation and continued the medication for 15.8 ± 1.2 days. The reported side effects of the Cheongpebaedok-tang included palpitations (11.1%), insomnia (7.4%), dizziness (3.7%), and diarrhea (3.7%). All side effects disappeared after adjusting the prescription according to standard treatment guidelines. The occurrence of all COVID-19-related adverse symptoms, except fatigue and myalgia, decreased. Fatigue was the most common chronic symptom persisting after 6 months (51.9%), followed by ocular symptoms (37.0%) and sore throat (22.2%). Conclusions: This study implies Cheongpebaedok-tang may offer a potentially safe, symptom-alleviating approach for managing mild COVID-19 cases via telemedicine, although further comprehensive research is warranted.