• Medical Lasers
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.166-171
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• 2020

Background and Objectives Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder characterized by brown or dark brown colored macules and patches which mostly involve the face. Compared to nanosecond lasers, picosecond lasers have fewer adverse effects on surrounding tissues and give better results for melanin fragmentation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the pico-toning technique using a low fluence 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser on melasma patients. Materials and Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of melasma cases treated using the pico-toning technique from June 2017 to November 2020. Based on photographic images, the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score was blind evaluated by two independent plastic surgeons. Patient satisfaction was assessed through a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire after treatment sessions. All adverse effects and complications were reviewed based on medical records. Results A total of 23 patients were included in the study. The mMASI scores for baseline and 2 months after the last procedure were 5.1 ± 1.4 and 2.6 ± 0.4, respectively. The mean mMASI score reduced significantly after the treatment session (p < 0.05). The patient satisfaction score with the procedure was 3.8 ± 1.0. The subject satisfaction score and difference in the mMASI score before the procedure and 2 months after the last procedure showed a significant correlation. Adverse effects observed in this study were erythema (n = 1) and edema (n = 1). Conclusion The results of the study show that the pico-toning technique is effective in Asian patients with melasma. We believe that safety was enhanced by using low fluence, and thus better results were achieved with fewer adverse effects.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.85-93
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• 2021

Objectives This study aims to compare the effect of an ultrasound on a guided group and an unguided group on Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on the facet joint in patients with acute low back pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods 21 patients with acute low back pain caused by traffic accidents from March 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021 were included in this study. The study was conducted as a retrospective study which analyzes the patient's medical records. 11 patients (Group A) received ultrasound guided Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy and 10 patients (Group B) received unguided Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on the facet joint. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate improvements in functions and pain, and five point Likert scale to evaluate patient's satisfaction. Results Both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in the VAS and ODI on the 5th day of hospitalization. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Difference in the Likert scale between the groups was not statistically significant either. Conclusions We found that ultrasound guided Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on the facet joint showed similar efficacy compared with unguided Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy at facet joint on acute low back pain patients caused by traffic accidents.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe form of pain that affects the daily activities of a patient. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy is an emerging option for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TENS therapy as an adjunct to drug therapy for the treatment of TN. Methods: A total of 52 patients diagnosed with TN according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (version 3) were included. Each patient was randomized to either the TENS or placebo TENS groups. Intervention was given in continuous mode and 100-Hz frequency for 20 mins biweekly for 6 weeks. Parameters were measured at baseline, TENS completion and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year of follow up. The parameters observed were mean carbamazepine dose, mean visual analog scale (VAS) score, mean present pain intensity (PPI) score, and functional outcome. Non-parametric analyses, one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were applied for intragroup comparisons, while the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test were used for intergroup comparisons of variables. The chi-square test was applied to analyze categorical data. Results: Compared to the placebo TENS group, the mean dose of carbamazepine in the TENS group was significantly reduced at TENS completion, as well as at 6 months and 1 year follow up. Changes in mean VAS score, mean PPI score, and functional outcome did not show significant differences between the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: TENS therapy does not lead to any changes in pain levels but it may reduce the mean dose of carbamazepine when used as an adjunct treatment in patients with TN.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.202-212
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• 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Cheong-A-Won Gagambang (JCE003) treatment for degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. There were 36 adults with degenerative knee osteoarthritis who were randomly allocated into JCE003 1,000 mg, JCE003 2,000 mg, or the placebo group (in a 1:1:1 ratio). The participants received 12 weeks of treatment and had scheduled tests every 6 weeks. The primary outcomes were measured using the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scale, and the secondary outcomes were measured using the visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions, patient global impression of change, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Changes between baseline scores and scores following study completion were analyzed. Results: There were 29 participants whose data were analyzed in this study. The change of Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities, visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions scores showed significant improvement in the JCE003 1,000 mg group. The change of patient global impression of change was significantly improved in the placebo group. There were 14 adverse events, but there was no clinically significant relationship with the intake of JCE003 compared with the placebo. Conclusion: Taking JCE003 may be effective at improving knee pain in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis and appears to be safe. Based on this study, the concentration and feasibility of the test group may be used when conducting a large-scale clinical trial of degenerative knee osteoarthritis in the future.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.127-135
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• 2023

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of magnetic therapy (MT) on pain threshold, blood flow, and balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods : A single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 30 patient with knee osteoarthritis. They were randomly allocated 2 groups; magnetic therapy group (MTG; n=15) and placebo magnetic therapy group (PG; n=15). The MTG group received 30 minutes magnetic therapy and 20 minute conservative physical therapy (Hotpack, ICT), magnetic therapy was conducted in magnetic therapy device (OM-100, NUGA, Korea). In the placebo magnetic group received 30 minutes placebo magnetic therapy and 20 minute conservative physical therapy. Each group performed 50 minutes a day 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome pressure pain threshold test, blood flow, balance ability were measured by a pressure threshold meter (Commander algometer, JTECH medical, USA), laser dofler image (Moor LDI2-IR, Moor instruments, USA), balance measurement system (BioRescue, Marseille, France). The measurement were performed before and after the 8 weeks intervention period. Results : Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in pain threshold, blood flow, and balance ability during intervention period. magnetic therapy group revealed significant differences in pain threshold, blood flow, and balance as compared to the placebo magnetic therapy group groups (p<.05). Our results showed that magnetic therapy was more effective than placebo therapy on pain threshold, blood flow, and balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Conclusion : Our findings indicate that magnetic therapy can improve pain threshold, blood flow, and Balance, highlight the benefits of magnetic therapy. This study will be able to be used as an intervention data for recovering pain threshold, blood flow, and balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.9.1-9.9
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• 2021

Objectives: This randomized clinical trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of buccal infiltration with piroxicam on the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) with buccal infiltration in irreversible pulpitis, with pain assessed using the Heft-Parker visual analogue scale (HP-VAS). Materials and Methods: This study included 56 patients with irreversible pulpitis in mandibular molars, randomly distributed between 2 groups (n = 28). After evaluating the initial pain score with the HP-VAS, each patient received IANB followed by buccal infiltration of 2% lignocaine with adrenaline (1:80,000). Five minutes later, the patients in groups 1 and 2 were given buccal infiltration with 40 mg/2 mL of piroxicam or normal saline, respectively. An access opening procedure (AOP) was performed 15 minutes post-IANB once the individual showed signs of lip numbness as well as 2 negative responses to electric pulp testing. The HP-VAS was used to grade the patient's pain during caries removal (CR), AOP, and working length measurement (WLM). Successful anesthesia was identified either by the absence of pain or slight pain through CR, AOP, and WLM, with no requirement of a further anesthetic dose. A statistical analysis was done using the Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The piroxicam group presented a significantly lower (p < 0.05) mean pain score than the saline group during AOP. Conclusions: Buccal infiltration with piroxicam enhanced the efficacy of anesthesia with IANB and buccal infiltration with lignocaine in patients with irreversible pulpitis.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.17-21
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• 2024

Background: The pain caused by local anesthetic injection can lead to patient anxiety prior to surgery, potentially necessitating sedation or general anesthesia during the excision procedure. In this study, we aim to compare the pain relief efficacy and safety of using a digital automatic anesthetic injector for local anesthesia. Methods: Thirty-three patients undergoing excision of a benign soft tissue tumor under local anesthesia were prospectively enrolled from September 2021 to February 2022. A single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups by randomization: the experimental group with digital automatic anesthetic injector method (I-JECT group) and the control group with conventional injection method. Before surgery, the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety information scale was used to measure the patients' anxiety. After local anesthetic was administered, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale was used to measure the pain. The amount of anesthetic used was divided by the surface area of the lesion was recorded. Results: Seventeen were assigned to the conventional group and 16 to the I-JECT group. The mean Numeric Pain Rating Scale was 1.75 in the I-JECT group and 3.82 in conventional group. The injection pain was lower in the I-JECT group (p< 0.01). The mean Amsterdam preoperative anxiety information scale was 11.00 in the I-JECT group and 9.65 in conventional group. Patient's anxiety did not correlate to injection pain regardless of the method of injection (p= 0.47). The amount of local anesthetic used per 1 cm² of tumor surface area was 0.74 mL/cm² in the I-JECT group and 2.31 mL/cm² in the conventional group. The normalization amount of local anesthetic was less in the I-JECT group (p< 0.01). There was no difference in the incidence of complications. Conclusion: The use of a digital automatic anesthetic injector has shown to reduce pain and the amount of local anesthetics without complication.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제42권5호
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• pp.255-262
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• 2012

Objective: We aimed to compare the retention characteristics of Essix and Hawley retainers. Methods: Adolescents undergoing fixed appliance treatment at 2 centers were recruited for this study. Twenty-two patients (16 women and 6 men) wore Essix retainers (Essix group) while 20 (14 women and 6 men) wore Hawley retainers (Hawley group). The mean retention time was 1 year, and the mean follow-up recall time for both groups was 2 years. Two qualified dental examiners evaluated the blind patient data. Maxillary and mandibular dental casts and lateral cephalograms were analyzed at 4 stages: pretreatment (T1), post-treatment (T2), post-retention (T3), and follow-up (T4). Results: The results revealed that Essix appliances were more efficient in retaining the anterior teeth in the mandible during a 1-year retention period. The irregularity index increased in both arches in both groups after a 2-year post-retention period. The mandibular arch lengths increased during treatment and tended to return to their original value after retention in both groups; however, these changes were statistically significant only in the Hawley group. Cephalometric variables did not show any significant differences. Conclusions: The retention characteristics of both Essix and Hawley retainers are similar.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.90-93
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• 2013

Congenital coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CCAFs) are rare coronary artery abnormalities in which blood is shunted into a cardiac chamber or great vessel. If the fistula itself is large and tortuous, it is generally recommended to occlude the fistula to prevent several complications. In approaches of transcatheter occlusion, the transvenous approach is preferred over the transarterial approach. The transvenous approach would enable the cannulation of a relatively larger catheter or sheath without potential damage to the femoral vessels or normal coronary arteries, which can occur in the transarterial approach. The transvenous approach may also minimize the blind pouch after releasing the devices. Herein, we report the success of transvenous proximal closure of a CCAF using an Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP) in a 3-year-old patient with cardiomegaly. Complete occlusion was achieved by a single AVP and thrombus formation of the distal aneurysmal portion of the fistula. We suggest that this strategy of closing the proximal end with a dilated fistula using a single AVP by the transvenous approach may be a good option in treating CCAFs in a young child.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2003

Objective : Auricular acupuncture is a method of treatment that involves needling the ear in order to produce relief of symptoms. This concept was first developed by P.Nogier, french doctor and referred to as somatotopic representation. Many authors have commented the fact that the vagus nerve supplies the external auditory and the concha. The aim of this randomised, single blind study was to investigate whether auricular acupuncture of the ear produced changes in the pulse rate, an indicator of vagal tone. Methods: 10 healthy man volunteers were divided into normal and epinephrine stimulation group. Then each group was divided into vagus area acupuncture and control area acupuncture group again. Epinephrine stimulation group was injected by epinephrine 0.3cc twice, first. All of them were needled in either the vagus area or control area of the ear, and pulse rate changes were measured by patient monitor over 1 hour. Results : In the epinephrine stimulation group, there was significant differences in the pulse rate change between vagus area acupuncture and control area acupuncture group. After injection of epinephrine, the basal pulse rate was increased 1.3~1.4 times in the control group. However, in the vagus area acupuncture group the basal pulse rate was increased only 1.1~1.2 times.