• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of traditional korean medicine treatment on patients with olfactory disorder who did not respond to steroid treatment. Methods : A retrospective chart review was conducted on 16 patients who visited the outpatient clinic with olfactory disorder for over 1 month. The patients were treated with Herbal medicine, acupuncture, electronic moxibustion, intranasal pharmacopuncture, and olfactory training. The treatment effect was evaluated by KVSS I test. Results : There was no significant difference in KVSS I test score according to sex, age, duration of treatment, number of treatment, the days after onset. There was no significant difference in the KVSS I test scores before and after the treatment for the cases of sinonasal disease, head trauma, and idiopathic cases. However, there was a significant difference in cases of post-viral olfactory disorder. Conclusion : Traditional korean medicine may be effective for patients with post-viral olfactory disorder that did not show improvement in steroid treatment.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.319-323
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• 2021

Background: Prophylactic antibiotics are used to prevent surgical wound infection; however, proper indications must be followed with careful consideration of the risks and benefits, especially in clean or clean-contaminated wounds. Nasal bone fractures are the most common type of facial bone fracture. The most common method for treating nasal bone fracture is closed reduction, which is performed inside the nasal cavity without an incision. The purpose of this study was to determine the need for antibiotic use in the closed reduction of nasal bone fractures. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the National Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital of the Republic of Korea between 2016 and 2018. The records of patients who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fracture were reviewed and classified according to sex, age, comorbidities, perioperative antibiotic usage, postoperative complications, nasal packing, anesthesia type, surgeon's specialty, and operation time. Results: Among the 373 patients studied, the antibiotic prescription rate was 67.3%. Just 0.8% of patients were prescribed preoperative antibiotics only, 44.0% were prescribed postoperative antibiotics only, and 22.5% were prescribed both preoperative and postoperative antibiotics. There were no cases that satisfied the definition of "surgical site infection." Furthermore, 2.1% of infection-related complications (e.g., mucosal swelling, synechia, and anosmia) occurred only in the antibiotic usage group. The use of nasal packing, anesthesia type, and surgeon's specialty did not show any difference in infection-related complication rates. Conclusion: According to the study findings, the routine use of perioperative antibiotics is not recommended in uncomplicated nasal bone fracture surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.8-19
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• 2022

Objectives: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients experience various non-motor symptoms, among which constipation is the second most common after anosmia. However, there are no clear guidelines or effective treatment for constipation in PD. Methods: To investigate the efficacy of Majainhwan (MH) on constipation in patients with PD, we conducted a retrospective chart review study of PD or Parkinsonism patients with constipation who received outpatient or inpatient treatment and whose previous laxatives were replaced by MH from August 2016 to July 2019. Results: In this study, a total of 68 patients' medical records were reviewed. Among the 44 outpatients with MH treatment, "effective" results were observed in 86.4% patients. Similarly, among the 24 inpatients, "effective" results were noted in 95.8% patients. The adverse effect was "diarrhea" reported in five cases. Conclusion: Based on these findings, we could suggest that MH is relatively safe and may be effective in the treatment of constipation in patients with PD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.155-162
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• 2022

Even after testing negative for COVID-19, some patients continue to struggle with a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal problems and neurological problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined long COVID (Post COVID-19 conditions) as "A disease occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months, that cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis." As a possible pathological mechanism of long COVID, three hypotheses are proposed: the persistence of the infectious state due to the residual virus, the persistent inflammatory response, and the autoimmune response. The main symptoms of long COVID are shortness of breath (dyspnea), abdominal pain and dyspepsia, fatigue, cognitive problems (brain fog), anosmia and dysgeusia, and chest pain, palpitations and tachycardia. In the Chinese guidelines, COVID-19 patients were divided into mild, moderate, severe, and recovery, and prescriptions with effective therapeutic effects were summarized to encourage combined treatment of chinese and western medicine. Globally, only symptomatic therapy is recommended for long COVID, but a specific treatment has not yet been proposed. Recently, morbidity code for post COVID-19 conditions was created, and it is planned to announce guidelines for long COVID treatment and management in the first half of 2023. In line with this trend, the Korean medical community needs to make efforts to prepare treatment guidelines for patients with long COVID.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2002

Objective : This study attempted to evaluate the ultrasonographic diagnosis of sinusitis compared to X-ray diagnosis and further to help the diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis through oriental medicine. Methods : Both A-mode ultrasonography and X-ray were taken of 30 symptom-positive patients and 10 symptom-negative controls. Nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, headache (facial pain), hyposmia (anosmia), throat discomfort and chronic cough were included in the symptoms of sinusitis. Both ultrasonographic and X-ray findings were divided into four groups (clear, mucosal thickening, air-fluid level and cystic shape) according to severity. Results : 1. The symptoms of patients (n=30) were as follows: nasal obstruction (83.3%), rhinorrhea (70.0%), postnasal drip (60.0%), chronic cough (53.3%), headache (40.0%), throat discomfort (40.0%), hyposmia (26.7%). 2. There was a significant correlation between symptoms and ultrasonographic findings (n=40, ${\gamma}=0.550$, P=0.001). 3. There was a significant correlation between symptoms and X-ray findings (n=40, ${\gamma}=0.555$, P=0.001). 4. There was a significant whole coincidence between ultrasonographic and X-ray findings (n=60, ${\gamma}=0.335, P=0.00l). Moreover, there was a significant coincidental trend between the two findings as they became severe (n=60, ${\gamma}=6.284$, P=0.012). 5. The distance of the ultrasonographic echoes was as follows: clear echo (n=9, from transducer pulse to air mucosa echo) $0.90{\pm}0.19cm$, mucosal thickening echo (n=23, from transducer pulse to air mucosa echo) 1.85{\pm}0.14cm, air-fluid level echo (n=26, from transducer pulse to back wall echo) $3.70{\pm}0.16cm$. 6. The highest diagnostic reliability of the ultrasonographic findings compared to X-ray findings was as follows: over-diagnosis in clear finding 77.3%, matched diagnosis in mucosal thickening finding 62.0%, matched diagnosis in air-fluid level finding 86.7%, matched diagnosis and under-diagnosis in cystic shape finding 50.0%. 7. In mucosal thickening, air-fluid level and cystic shape finding, there was a significant individual coincidence between the ultrasonographic and X-ray findings. In clear finding, there was no significant individual coincidence between the two findings. Conclusion : The ultrasonographic diagnosis significantly reflects the symptoms of sinusitis like X-ray diagnosis and is a valuable tool to screen prognostic factors such as mucosal thickening, air-fluid level and cyst. Therefore the ultrasonography will be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis in oriental medicine.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2021

Parkinson's disease is one of the typical neurodegenerative disease and it is caused by the destruction of substantia nigra in brain leading to lack of dopamine secretion, and it presents 4 major motor symptoms such as tremor, bradykinesia, stiffness, postural instability. Furthermore, it causes many non-motor symptoms such as anosmia, REM sleep conduct disorder, orthostatic hypotension, dementia and autonomic ataxia such as lack of adjusting blood pressure, hyperhydrosis, constipation. Dopaminergic therapy is the most commonly used strategy, but long term treatment of levodopa induce various adverse effects. Thus, many people are focusing on new therapies other than established therapies, and there are many tries and approaches with paradigm shift. Our medical team was able to get 4 cases of PD patients who are hospitalized in our hospital, treated by Whole Body Gi-Hyeol Therapy consisting of acupuncture therapy, herbal therapy, and mental therapy, and their conditions improved in perspective of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS), Heart Rate Variability(HRV), and Quality of life. Among all 4 cases, UPDRS score and quality of life score is gotton better, and among 2 cases SDNN, RMS-SD, TP, LF, HF scores are finely increased. And PDQ-39 score which shows quality of life is also improved. However, in spite of these improvements and positive results, there were no meaningful improvement in a hurt from a fall which is important to the aged, muscular atrophy which causes bone fracture and SMI(Skeletal Muscle Mass Index) which is indicator of osteoporosis. Thus, supplementary treatment about Whole Body Gi-Hyeol Therapy such as more active nutrition intervention, safe and effective kinesitherapy is needed, and from now on continuous case reports and systematic clinical research which has control group must be carried out.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.396-412
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the efficacy and safety of Korean medicine treatment. Methods: This study was conducted on 15 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome who visited the outpatient Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 10, 2021 to April 10, 2022. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 15 patients and collected clinical characteristics, Korean medicine treatments, outcome variables (Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (QOL-VAS), The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS)), adverse events, etc. Results: Of the 15 patients, seven (46.7%) were men, and the average age of all patients was 49.7±13 years. The most common symptom was cough (n=9, 60%), and it was followed by dyspnea or increased respiratory effort, fatigue, insomnia, anosmia, etc. The herbal medicine was prescribed for all 15 patients, and Saengmaek-san (n=8, 53.5%) was the most prescribed. Additionally, acupuncture and cupping were performed in four patients (26.7%) each, and electroacupuncture was applied to one patient (6.7%). As a result of Korean medicine treatment, NRS, mMRC, LCQ, QOL-VAS, and PCFS showed improvement, and adverse events were mild. Conclusions: This study presented the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and suggested that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in alleviating related symptoms and enhancing quality of life.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2022

Purpose: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged, and distinct epidemic waves of COVID-19 have occurred for an extended period. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 from the third wave to the middle of the fourth epidemic wave in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of hospitalized patients aged ≤18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The study periods were divided into the third wave (from November 13, 2020 to July 6, 2021) and the fourth wave (from July 7 to October 31, 2021). Results: Ninety-three patients were included in the analysis (33 in the third and 60 in the fourth waves). Compared with the third wave, the median age of patients was significantly older during the fourth wave (6.7 vs. 2.8 years, P=0.014). Household contacts was reported in 60.2% of total patients, similar in both periods (69.7 vs. 55.0%, P=0.190). Eighty-one (87.1%) had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among these, 10 (12.3%) had no respiratory symptoms. Anosmia or ageusia were more commonly observed in the fourth epidemic wave (10.7 vs. 34.0%, P=0.032). Most respiratory illness were upper respiratory tract infections (94.4%, 67/71), 4 had pneumonia. The median cycle threshold values (detection threshold, 40) for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and envelope (E) genes of SARS-CoV-2 were 21.3 and 19.3, respectively. There was no significant difference in viral load during 2 epidemic waves. Conclusions: There were different characteristics during the two epidemic waves of COVID-19.