• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aims to report the clinical efficacy of Korean medical treatment of a patient with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accompanied by obesity and dyslipidemia. Methods: A 52-year-old man with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and dyslipidemia was treated with Saenggangunbi-tang extract from November 3, 2021 to January 8, 2022. During the treatment period, the patient also undertook exercise and maintained a hypocaloric diet to reduce body weight. Changes were observed in the patient's symptoms, laboratory findings, such as liver enzymes and lipid profiles, and bioelectrical impedance analyzer results. Results: After taking Saenggangunbi-tang extract for approximately two months, with concomitant adjustments to exercise and diet, the serum levels of liver enzymes and triglyceride were decreased and the patient's body weight, body mass index, hepatic steatosis index, and visceral fat area were also reduced. In addition, symptoms including fatigue and dyspepsia improved. Conclusion: This study suggests that Saenggangunbi-tang extract with exercise and a regulated diet could be a helpful treatment strategy for managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with metabolic disorders.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2022

Objective: This study investigates the efficacy of Korean medical treatment for a patient with peripheral facial palsy caused by cerebellar artery infarction. Methods: A 45-year-old male patient with right facial palsy and left side numbness from cerebellar artery infarction was treated with herbal medicine (ligigeopoongsan), acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and cupping therapy for 37 days. The effects were evaluated using the House-Brackmann (H-B) and Yanagihara's unweighted grading systems. Results: Following treatment, the patient's H-B grade decreased and Yanagihara score improved. Conclusion: Korean medical treatment improved peripheral facial palsy in a patient with cerebellar artery infarction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2022

Background: Bronchiectasis patients with neutrophilic airway inflammation develop symptoms of chronic cough, sputum production, and recurrent exacerbations. Roflumilast has anti-inflammatory actions via decreased neutrophilic airway inflammation. The effectiveness of roflumilast to reduce bronchiectasis exacerbation has never been evaluated. Methods: We conducted a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Our primary objective was to assess the effect of roflumilast compared with that of a placebo in reducing exacerbation rates in bronchiectasis patients. The secondary objectives were the changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Bronchiectasis patients older than 18 years who had had two exacerbations during the previous 12 months were randomly assigned to receive either 500 ㎍ of either roflumilast or a placebo once daily for 6 months in a 1:1 ratio. Results: Forty bronchiectasis patients who had experienced exacerbations were screened. Thirty patients completed the study after 6 months of treatment: roflumilast group (n=15) and placebo group (n=15). The rates of exacerbations were 0.57 and 0.59 per patient in the roflumilast and placebo groups, respectively. Prebronchodilator FEV₁ increased by 0.07 L from baseline in the roflumilast group and decreased by 0.015 L in the placebo group, but the difference was not significant. No significant differences were observed in the change of SGRQ scores between the roflumilast and placebo groups. Roflumilast had significant side effects, including loss of appetite and headache. Conclusion: Roflumilast did not significantly affect the rate of exacerbations or quality of life. However, FEV₁ tended to improve more in the roflumilast group than in the placebo group.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.220-234
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• 2022

Purpose: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) has increased in recent years, and the optimal surgical strategy for AEG remains highly controversial. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction (PG-DT) for the treatment of patients with AEG. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with Siewert type II/III AEG between January 2013 and July 2018. Clinicopathological characteristics, survival, surgical outcomes, quality of life (QOL), and nutritional status were compared between the PG-DT and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis (TG-RY) groups. Results: After propensity score matching, 33 patients in each group were analyzed. There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival. The surgical option was not an independent prognostic factor based on the multivariate analysis. In addition, no differences were found in terms of surgical complications. There were no significant differences in QOL assessed by the Visick grade, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, or endoscopic findings. Furthermore, the long-term nutritional advantage of the PG-DT group was significantly greater than that of the TG-RY group. Conclusions: PG-DT is a safe and effective procedure for patients with local Siewert type II/III AEG, regardless of the TNM stage.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2022

In this study, we tried to investigate the efficacy of combined light therapy using low-power lasers at 655 nm and LEDs emitting wavelengths at 625 ± 5 nm and 850 ± 10 nm in hair loss and scalp. A total of 33 subjects were enrolled in this clinical trial. Each subject used the LLLT and LED device on the scalp for 10 min on a daily basis for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of LLLT and LED device use, there were significant improvements in redness, elasticity, and hydration of the scalp. Additionally, hair luster and tensile strength were improved. A remarkable decrease in total shed hairs was observed in all subjects at 4, 8, and 12 weeks without any serious adverse event. Combined light therapy using LLLT and LEDs proved to be an effective treatment for reducing hair loss and improving scalp condition.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.150-158
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• 2020

Background and Objectives Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is used widely to promote hair growth in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). This study examined the clinical efficacy and safety of a home-use LLLT device with a newly designed array of light sources and software optimized for individual types of AGA. Materials and Methods The study was a randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled trial. Forty-eight subjects (39 men and nine women) were assigned randomly in a 2:1 ratio to use either the test device (LG Pra'L HGN1, LG electronics, Korea) or sham device. The subjects used the LLLT device three times a week for 16 weeks. Phototrichogram was used to measure the hair density and hair thickness at 0, 8, and 16-weeks. Adverse events were closely monitored. Results After 16 weeks of using the device, the test group showed a significant increase in hair density and hair thickness compared to the control. In the test group, the hair density increased 6.96 counts/cm² at eight weeks and 13.67 counts/cm² at 16 weeks from the baseline. The hair thickness increased 7.21 ㎛ at eight weeks and 11.80 ㎛ at 16 weeks compared to the baseline. Conclusion The home-use LLLT device with a novel array of light sources and an individualized program according to the types of hair loss appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality for both male and female AGA patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 2021

Background Mastectomy leaves unsightly scarring, which can be distressing to patients. Laser therapy for scar prevention has been consistently emphasized in recent studies showing that several types of lasers, including fractional ablation lasers, are effective for reducing scar formation. Nonetheless, there are few studies evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of ablative CO₂ fractional lasers (ACFLs). Methods This study had a randomized, comparative, prospective, split-scar design with blinded evaluation of mastectomy scars. Fifteen patients with mastectomy scars were treated using an ACFL. Half of each scar was randomized to "A," while the other side was allocated to group "B." Laser treatment was conducted randomly. Scars were assessed using digital photographs of the scar and Vancouver scar scale (VSS) scores. Histological assessments were also done. Results The mean VSS scores were 2.20±1.28 for the treatment side and 2.96±1.40 for the control side. There was a significant difference in the VSS score between the treatment side and the control side (P=0.002). The mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores were 4.13±1.36 for the treatment side and 4.67±1.53 for the control side. There was a significant difference in VAS score between the treatment side and the control side (P=0.02). Conclusions This study demonstrated that early scar treatment using an ACFL significantly improved the clinical results of the treatment compared to the untreated scar, and this difference was associated with patient satisfaction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2021

Purpose : It is necessary to demonstrate the effect of non-invasive and non-pharmacological interventions such as manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for the management of nonspecific neck pain. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of myofascial release therapy plus therapeutic exercise for disability owing to neck pain and quality of life in individuals with nonspecific neck pain. Methods : Eighteen participants with nonspecific neck pain were randomly allocated to intervention (n=9) and control groups (n=9). The intervention group received a myofascial release therapy for 20 min and performed neck stabilization exercises for 30 min twice a week for 4 weeks. The control group performed neck stabilization exercises for 30 min twice a week for 4 weeks at the same time points as the intervention group. Disability owing to neck pain and quality of life were quantified using the neck disability index (NDI) and the Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. NDI and WHOQOL-BREF were assessed before and after intervention. Results : The disability owing to neck pain significantly changed between the groups over time (total score of NDI, p=.049). There were significant time and group interactions in pain (pain intensity of NDI, p=.035) and concentration (concentration of NDI, p=.049). Personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, work, driving, sleeping, and recreation did not show significant improvement between the groups over time. Total score, overall quality of life and general health, physical health domain, psychological domain, social relationships domain, and environmental domain quantified by WHOQOL-BREF did not show significant improvements between the groups over time. Conclusion : These results suggest the clinical use of myofascial release therapy in addition to therapeutic exercise for the management of nonspecific neck pain. Further studies are needed to generalize the findings of this study.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.13-26
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• 2021

Objectives : This study was planned to help clinical treatment by examining the efficacy and frequency of use of medicines with removing nebula and improving vision action, centering on historical literature. Methods : Chinese literature centered on CNKI published after 2000 and ophthalmic books of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Library, regardless of the publication period. Domestic literature was searched using NDSL and OASIS, and literature published after 2000 was referenced. Results : According to traditional medical classics, as medicine with removing nebula and improving vision action, medicine with dispelling wind and clearing heat action accounted for the majority. However, it is desirable to use these medicine in the early stages of the disease. Conclusions : 1. Among the external contacts that induce corneal opacity, the wind-heat pattern was the most common. Among the visceral manifestation patterns that induce corneal opacity, liver or spleen was the most common. Cold-tempered medicine which is dispelling wind, clearing heat and bottling up the liver were most commonly used as therapeutic medicine. 2. As removing nebula and improving vision medicine, Cassiae Semen, Chrysanthmi Flos, Eriocauli Flos, and Buddlejae Flos have been widely used. 3. It has been investigated that removing nebula and improving vision medicine can be effectively used in the early stages of various diseases that cause corneal opacity.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.103-118
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• 2022

Photorhabdus is a bacterial symbiont of entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis in the family Heterorhabditidae. Photorhabdus is known to have nematicidal activity in addition to insecticidal activity. P. temperata isolated from Korean indigenous H. megidis Gwangju strain also produced high control efficacy against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. P. temperata has drawn interest as a potential bionematicide for the control of root-knot nematodes thereby. For the registration as an organic agricultural material, the toxicity of P. temperata was assessed by the acute toxicity test in carp (Cyprinus carpio) and acute oral and dermal toxicity tests in Sprague-Dawley rat (Rattus norvegicus) in compliance with the guidelines of the Rural Development Administration (RDA). In the acute toxicity test in fish, neither lethality nor abnormal responses of carp were observed. Body length and weight of carp and changes in DO concentrations and pH values were not significantly different between the treated group and the untreated control. In the acute oral and dermal toxicity tests, clinical signs, abnormal behavior, mortality, and pathological findings were not observed in all the experimental rats. The weight increment of all rats was normal. Acute toxicity results of P. temperata in fish and rats belonged to categories III, IV, and IV of RDA, respectively. Toxicity results of the present study indicated that P. temperata could be a safe and promising bionematicide against root-knot nematodes and root lesion nematode.