• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1102-1111
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the ultrasonography (US) features for diagnosing metastasis in cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with thyroid cancer and compare the US classification of risk of LN metastasis between European and Korean guidelines. Materials and Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, US-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed on 836 LNs from 714 patients for the preoperative nodal staging of thyroid cancer. The US features of LNs were retrospectively reviewed for the following features: size, presence of hilum, margin, orientation, cystic change, punctate echogenic foci (PEF), large echogenic foci, eccentric cortical thickening, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent US features for the diagnosis of metastatic LNs. The diagnostic performance of independent US features was subsequently evaluated. LNs were categorized according to the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) and European Thyroid Association (ETA) guidelines, and the correlation between the two sets of classifications was assessed. Results: Absence of the hilum, presence of cystic changes, PEF, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity were independent US features of metastatic LNs. Cystic changes, PEF, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity showed high specificity (86.8%-99.6%). The absence of the hilum had the highest sensitivity yet low specificity (66.4%). When LNs were classified according to the ETA guidelines and K-TIRADS, they yielded similar categorizations of malignancy risks and were strongly correlated (Spearman coefficient, 0.9766 [95% confidence interval, 0.973-0.979]). According to the ETA guidelines, 9.8% (82/836) of LNs were classified as "not specified." Conclusion: Absence of hilum, cystic changes, PEF, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity were independent US features suggestive of metastatic LNs in thyroid cancer. Both K-TIRADS and the ETA guidelines provided similar risk stratification for metastatic LNs with a high correlation; however, the ETA guidelines failed to classify 9.8% of LNs into a specific risk stratum. These results may provide a basis for revising LN classification in future guidelines.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.153-166
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• 2002

Objective : There is no case report on the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) treated by CHUNA manual therapy in oriental medicine. We experienced a patient(32-year-old female) with OPLL improved by CHUNA manual therapy in X-ray image and visual analogue scale(VAS), and we report it clinically. Methods : During the patient with OPLL was treated CHUNA manual therapy, acupuncture, and physical therapy, we examined cervical X-ray, CT and Moire topography and evaluated the patient's symptoms by VAS. And we observed whether the changes exist or not in X-ray and VAS. Results : VAS in symptoms was improved significantly(p<0.05), and the radiologic X-ray image in OPLL patient was improved. Conclusion : OPLL was generally treated conservative treatment and operation in severe case. But CHUNA manual therapy may be more effective in conservative treatment of OPLL, if more clinical studies and reaches are accomplished.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.141-150
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• 2004

Objectives : The objective of this study is to evaluate the treatment effect of Oriental therapy including exercise therapy in chronic ankylosing spondylitis with total hip replacement. Methods : Oriental therapy and exercise therapy were performed for 64days admission in a patient who had chronic ankylosing spondylitis with total hip replacement and physical tests were examined. Result : Pain and ROM of cervical. lumbar spine, and left hip joint has improved with this treatment. And Anorexia, dyspepsia, and fatigue were also decreased. Conclusions: In this case, oriental therapy was proved to be effective in improving chronic symptoms and general prostration of Ankylosing Spondylitis. And It is necessary to carry out exercise therapy regulary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.62-73
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• 2018

Objectives: This study conducted a retrospective review to compare the effectiveness of herbal medicine, while confirming the effectiveness of Korean medicine (KM) in traffic accidents (TA). Methods: We investigated the medical records of TA patients who were hospitalized at Muuido Korean medicine hospital from January 2016 to June 2018 retrospectively. Medical records included general characteristics (Gender, age), TA & treatment-related information (Collision type, chief complaint, hospitalization period, and herbal medicine prescription), and clinical scales (Five-scale improvement, numerical rating scale (NRS)). Statistical analysis was performed for data distribution and effectiveness comparison. Results: 755 TA patients showed 0.78:1 gender ratio. 20-50s years old, rear collision, pain in the cervical and lumbar spine, and hospitalization period within 14 days were the majority. KM improved 83.18% of 755 TA patients' symptoms and ROM over 'improvement' level, which indicated 30-70% improvement. With common KM treatments including acupuncture, cupping, heat therapy, and manipulation therapy, TA patients received various herbal medicines and herbal medicine for breaking severe blood stasis (Tongdo-san) showed improvement in both five-scale improvement and NRS change at the same time. Conclusions: We could confirm the effectiveness of KM, particularly herbal medicine in TA. It would be necessary to develop new herbal medicines such as Tongdo-san to treat TA-related symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1028-1037
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• 2023

Objective: To evaluate the computed tomography (CT) features for diagnosing metastatic cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and validate the CT-based risk stratification system suggested by the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) guidelines. Materials and Methods: A total of 463 LNs from 399 patients with DTC who underwent preoperative CT staging and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration were included. The following CT features for each LN were evaluated: absence of hilum, cystic changes, calcification, strong enhancement, and heterogeneous enhancement. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent CT features associated with metastatic LNs, and their diagnostic performances were evaluated. LNs were classified into probably benign, indeterminate, and suspicious categories according to the K-TIRADS and the modified LN classification proposed in our study. The diagnostic performance of both classification systems was compared using the exact McNemar and Kosinski tests. Results: The absence of hilum (odds ratio [OR], 4.859; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.593-14.823; P = 0.005), strong enhancement (OR, 28.755; 95% CI, 12.719-65.007; P < 0.001), and cystic changes (OR, 46.157; 95% CI, 5.07-420.234; P = 0.001) were independently associated with metastatic LNs. All LNs showing calcification were diagnosed as metastases. Heterogeneous enhancement did not show a significant independent association with metastatic LNs. Strong enhancement, calcification, and cystic changes showed moderate to high specificity (70.1%-100%) and positive predictive value (PPV) (91.8%-100%). The absence of the hilum showed high sensitivity (97.8%) but low specificity (34.0%). The modified LN classification, which excluded heterogeneous enhancement from the K-TIRADS, demonstrated higher specificity (70.1% vs. 62.9%, P = 0.016) and PPV (92.5% vs. 90.9%, P = 0.011) than the K-TIRADS. Conclusion: Excluding heterogeneous enhancement as a suspicious feature resulted in a higher specificity and PPV for diagnosing metastatic LNs than the K-TIRADS. Our research results may provide a basis for revising the LN classification in future guidelines.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.771-785
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• 2021

This study was performed to provide detailed and comprehensive information on inflammation-related blood indicators, joint range of motion, pain scale, and psychological indicators by patient characteristics by performing a 12-week home-based exercise program for ankylosing spondylitis patients. For the purpose of this study, 10 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were selected by age (30s vs. 40s vs. 50s), gender (male vs. female), and duration (less than 5 years vs. 5 years or more). The home-based exercise program was a combination of aerobic exercise and Pilates-based resistance exercise, and was performed 4 times a week for 12 weeks at an intensity of 50-70% of maximal heart rate (MHR). As a result, after 12 weeks of home-based exercise intervention, the blood C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration of patients with ankylosing spondylitis decreased (-35.6%, p=.002), and the blood inflammation level was improved, and each joint (hip, lumbar, cervical) improved mobility (p<.05). In addition, the bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) was decreased by -67% (p=.001) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was decreased by -64.8% (p=.001), stiffness and pain has been alleviated. In particular, as the degree of depression decreased by -65.5% (p=.001) and the degree of anxiety by -55.2% (p=.003), 12 weeks of home-based exercise improved not only physical changes but also psychological factors. On the other hand, there was no difference in exercise effect according to age, gender, and disease duration in ankylosing spondylitis patients (p>.05). These results suggest that the 12-week home-based exercise applied in this study can be an effective exercise program that can be universally used for ankylosing spondylitis patients regardless of patient characteristics.