• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.42-55
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• 2017

Objectives: This study were investigated clinical studies published in international and Korea's journals to assess the effect of Korean Medicine for infertility. Methods: PubMed and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) were searched for this review up to Nov 2016.: using terms of 'infertility' and 'subfertile'. Results: Fifty clinical studies were finally selected. All studies were assessed as the noncomparative studies, and mainly case reports. The year of publication of literatures was the highest at from 2011 to 2015, accounted for 44%. Among 50 studies, there were 5 studies on males, 43 studies on females and 2 studies on both male and female. The number of subjects varies from 1 to 1277. The number of studies with subjects less than 10 was the greatest. Of all the studies, only three were institutional review board (IRB) approved. There were 9 studies that indicated whether the grant was supported. The duration of treatment was between 30 and 360 days, and most cases were within 180 days. Intervention methods were 100% for herb medicine, 40% added on acupuncture, and 29% added on moxibustion. Conclusions: Further clinical trials of well designed is needed to accumulate enough information to establish the evidence for Korean Medicine for infertility.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.85-94
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• 2017

Objectives: To explore experiences of treatment-related side effects and supportive care among Korean breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: Focus group interview was conducted with six Korean women with breast cancer. Participants were recruited through snow-balling. Interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. NVivo-11 was used to code the data into themes. Results: Two major themes were identified: (1) experiences of Western medicine, including treatment, side effects, needs and costs; (2) experiences of supportive care with Korean medicine, including the same as above. All participants experienced Western medicine in treatment phase and reported impairment of physical, emotional, and social functioning during and after Western medicine treatment. Only three participants used Korean medicine after treatments end. The negative responses from Western medicine doctors were the most important factor keeping participants from accessing Korean medicine when treatment-related side effects occurred. For this reason, some participants used Korean medicine without disclosure. Participants usually acquired information about Korean medicine from online community or other BCS, which was another important factor because it raised concerns about side effects and credibility of Korean medicine. High cost was also reported as barrier in using Korean medicine. During the cancer treatment, participants tended to endure their treatment-related side effects. Conclusions: Korean BCS may be at high risk of physical or emotional distress during treatment period. Findings suggest that there is a high need for supportive care to relieve treatment-related side effects and improve patients' quality-of-life. Furthermore, developing a systematic guidance or credible information sources should be warranted to help patients find the best supportive care options including Korean medicine.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.68-84
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• 2017

Objectives: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by ovulatory disorder, polycystic ovaries and clinical or laboratory hyperandrogenemia, also associated with an increased risk of various other long-term complications. The purpose of this study is to develop a standard instrument of pattern identifications in Korean medicine for PCOS. Methods: We retrieved the patterns and symptoms from Korean and Chinese literatures which mentioned pattern identifications of PCOS. In order to develop the instrument, we took the consultation from the advisor committee based on the collected informations from literatures. Finally the questionnaire of pattern identification for PCOS was developed. Results: 1) 5 pattern identifications and 53 symptoms and signs were selected from 20 references. 2) We obtained the mean weights which reflected the standard deviations from each symptom of the pattern by 15 experts. 3) We designed the Korean medicine Instrument on pattern identification for PCOS. It was composed of 61 questions, 44 of patient-reported format and 17 of assessor-reported format. Conclusions: Instrument of pattern identification for PCOS was developed through experts' discussion. Further study is required to identify the validity and reliability of this pattern identification instrument for PCOS.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.107-119
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods: We searched 10 electronic databases (CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, AMED, CiNii, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, OASIS, Korea Traditional Knowledge Portal) to identify eligible studies published before November 2016. We included randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) using moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: Ten RCT studies were eligible in our review. The overall risk of bias was evaluated as unclear. The meta-analysis of 4 trials indicated that favorable results for the use of moxibustion. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials suggests that moxibustion can achieve good efficacy for PD patients. However, because of studies included analysis was biased due to unclear risk of bias and unreliable study design, future high-quality RCT studies are needed to determine the association moxibustion with PD.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.37-48
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• 2017

Objectives: Artemisiae Annuae Herba is the dried aerial part of Artemisia annua L. (AAL). In Oriental medicine, Artemisiae Annuae Herba (AAH) is traditionally used to treat fever. AAH clears summerheat or damp-Heat, clears deficiency fevers, cools the blood and stops bleeding, stops malarial disorders and relieves heat, clears liver heat and brightens the eyes. Recently, there were many studies about effects of AAH on anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hair growth and plasma lipid composition. So, we expected AAH has an availability that can effect on skin whitening and elasticity. Methods: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of AAH on skin whitening and elasticity in SK-MEL-2 cells. In this experiment, the effects of AAH on proliferation rates, melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activities and production levels of tyrosinase, MMP-1 and MMP-9 in vitro were examined. Results: AAH did not affect viability of SK-MEL-2 cells and inhibited melanin synthesis induced by ${\alpha}$-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) significantly. In addition, AAH also inhibited tyrosinase activity and lowered tyrosinase level in SK-MEL-2 cells. Finally, AAH inhibited productions of Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Conclusions: These data suggest that AAH can be used to treat patients with skin diseases such as freckled face and also used as skin whitening agent.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.133-143
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined treatment of needle-embedding therapy and acupuncture for breast augmentation. Methods: 136 patients had needle-embedding therapy and acupuncture combined treatments for breast augmentation. The treatments was performed once a week for 10 weeks. We measured bust circumference, underbust circumference, bust circumference and underbust circumference difference, treatments either before or after. Results: The mean of bust circumference was $77.75{\pm}4.93cm$ before the procedure and $80.25{\pm}5.01cm$ after the procedure, $2.50{\pm}1.95cm$ significantly increased. The mean of underbust circumference was $70.01{\pm}3.99cm$ before the procedure and $70.49{\pm}4.08cm$ after the procedure, $0.48{\pm}1.48cm$ significantly increased. the mean of bust circumference and underbust circumference difference was $7.74{\pm}2.24cm$ before the procedure and $9.76{\pm}2.55cm$ after the procedure, $2.01{\pm}1.72cm$ significantly increased. Conclusions: The combined treatment comprising needle-embedding therapy and acupuncture had a significant effect with regard to breast augmentation.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.81-92
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• 2017

Objectives: This review aims to report the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled studies (RCTs) using electroacupuncture on primary dysmenorrhea up to Dec 2016. The following databases were searched : OASIS, PubMED, EMBASE, CENTRAL. The results of the studies were analyzed and the risk of bias was assessed. Results: Five studies were included in this review. In most studies, the effect of electroacupuncture at Sameumgyo (SP6) was better than that of electroacupuncture at Hyeonjong (GB39), nonacupoint and no intervention about Visual analog scale (VAS), Verbal rating scale (VRS) and Retrospective symptom scale (RSS). But there were no significant effects on Resistance Index (RI) and S/D ratio (the ratio between peak systolic to end-diastolic flow velocity in uterine arteries). Serous adverse events were not reported. Conclusions: This review shows that electroacupuncture is effective on primary dysmenorrhea with no serious adverse events.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Objectives: The object of this study was to identify the anti-inflammatory effects of Patrinia scabiosaefolia aqueous extract (PSE). Methods: RAW 264.7 cells were pre-treated with PSE and then incubated with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability, production of nitric oxide (NO), secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) were measured. In addition, we observed mice survival rate after LPS and their cytokine levels of serum. We also observed inflammatory and hemorrhagic change on the histological sections of the liver. Results: PSE inhibited LPS-induced NO production, interleukin (IL)-6 secretion, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. In addition, PSE reduced the death rate of LPS-induced mice and IL-6 production on the serum of mice. PSE inhibited inflammation and hemorrhage on liver tissue as well. Conclusions: The results suggest that PSE have anti-inflammatory effects by inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ and JNK activation, IL-6 secretion, and NO production. So PSE may be effective treatment for the inflammatory disease.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.120-132
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine clinical studies on the treatment of dysmenorrhea treatments and analyze the results to provide sufficient evidence to provide adequate evidence of the efficacy of the ear-acupuncture treatment on dysmenorrhea patients. Methods: The search for foreign papers used 'Pubmed', a research engine in the America National Library of Medicine. Used searching terms were 'dysmenorrhea' and 'menstrual pain' in all cases. And among these studies, we searched by using key word 'auricular acupuncture' or 'ear acupuncture' or 'auricular acupressure' or 'ear acupressure'. Results: Overall 53 studies, 7 studies were finally selected to this study. There was 1 controlled study, 3 clinical trials, and 3 randomized-control studies. About acupoints in study, the endocrine was used in all 7 papers. Internal genitals, shenmen, sympathesis, kidney, liver were used in 4 papers, central rim, hypo-cortex, uterus were used in 2 papers, central of cymba auriculae was used in 2 paper. In 4 papers, the effect of ear acupuncture treatment was effective in relieving menstrual pain. Moreover, we can see that ear acupuncture therapy was effective in reducing menstrual pain than in oriental herb medicine. Conclusions: As a result of the 7 papers, we found that patients with menstrual pain decreased after ear acupuncture therapy. However, there was little research and it was limited to achieving the results of the analysis. A vigorous clinical study should be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of ear acupuncture therapy and standardize treatment methods.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.35-46
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of herbal medicine on obesity and overweight female patients and to gather the information of a proper treatment goal for anti-obesity program in Korean medicine clinic.Methods: 230 subjects were recruited and those data were analyzed for body-mass index (BMI), treatment duration, weight, body fat, muscle volume and body fat/weight loss ratio. It was compared among age groups and severity of obesity.Results: It was achieved to loss 12-13 kg for 105.8 days thru obesity program of Korean medicine clinic. There were no significant differences for BMI loss, weight loss, body fat loss, muscle volume gain and treatment duration among age groups. It was found that there were significant differences among overweight, obesity and severe obesity group for BMI loss, weight loss, body fat loss and muscle volume gain except treatment duration. It was assumed the weight loss for 1 month was 3.2 kg, 4.2 kg, 4.5 kg for each severity group respectively.Conclusions: It was found herbal medicine treatment would be effective for female obesity and expected the patients could achieve 12-13 kg weight loss for 15 weeks treatment including 8-12 weeks herbal medicine administration and BMI loss per month could be 1.22 kg/m², 1.60 kg/m² and 1.70 kg/m² for severity of obesity respectively. Hereafter, further controlled study with more numbers of patients should be needed to determine the goal of medical treatment for obesity.