• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1071-1082
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the efficacy of using Korean medicine treatment with cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. Case presentation: We used Korean medicine treatment (Gyejigabuja-tang, acupuncture) to treat a hospitalized patient with cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. To evaluate the treatment, we used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The degree of cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet was also evaluated using evaluation paper. The generic health status was measured using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale. The 31-year-old female underwent 13 days of inpatient treatment. Her pattern identification was that both hands and feet are cold (BiYangHeo) types. The treatments were herbal medicine and acupuncture. She took Gyejigabuja-tang for 13 days. She also received acupuncture for 20 minutes twice a day at LI11 (曲池), L14 (合谷), TE5 (外關) on her hands, LR3 (太衝), SP6 (三陰交), SP9 (陰陵泉) ST36 (足三里), GB41 (足臨泣) on Feet, GV4 (命門), GV3 (腰陽關), BL23 (腎兪), BL24 (氣海兪), BL25 (大腸兪), and BL26 (關元兪) on the low back. After 2 weeks of treatment, the NRS scale of her cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet symptoms dropped from NRS 7 to NRS 3, and her low back pain dropped from NRS 6 to NRS 3. Her cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet evaluation paper score decreased from 64 to 32, and her EQ-5D increased from 0.487 to 0.681. After the end of treatment, continued symptom improvements and no significant side effects were confirmed. Results: These findings suggest that Korean medical treatment (Gyejigabuja-tang, acupuncture) may be effective for treating cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. The NRS, evaluation paper, and EQ-5D scores improved after treatment, with no side effects.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.669-676
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• 2013

Demineralized bone particle (DBP) is a biomaterial used widely in the field of tissue engineering. In this study, in order to study the effect of DBP/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold on disc regeneration in vivo environment, we prepared the porous DBP/PLGA hybrid scaffold. Disc defect was induced by removing the nucleus pulposus tissue after incision the annulus fibrosus tissue in half and scaffolds were transplanted. After 1, 2 and 3 months later, the extracted discs were confirmed by collagen synthesis and glycosaminoglycan (sGAG). We conducted histology (H&E, Safranin-O, Alcian blue, Type I Collagen, Type II Collagen). From the results, it was confirmed that collagen and sGAG content were high in DBP/PLGA scaffold, and the regeneration of intervertebral disc was possible.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.298-301
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• 2010

Degenerated conditions such as herniated disc or spinal stenosis are common etiologies of lumbar radiculopathy. Less common etiologies include spinal extradural cyst such as synovial cysts and ganglion cysts. Ganglion cyst of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) of the spine is a rare entity that can result in classical sciatica. Posterior longitudinal ligament cyst has no continuity with the facet joint and has no epithelial lining. Two young male patients presented with unilateral sciatica and were found to have intraspinal cystic lesions causing lumbar radiculopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated rounded, cystic lesions (i.e., hypointense on T1-but hyperintense on T2-weighted images) adjacent to minimally dehydrated, nonherniated disc spaces in both cases. These patients underwent posterior decompression and cysts were excised, and their sciatic symptoms were completely resolved. Histological examination showed typical features of ganglion cysts in these cases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

This review of national and international randomized controlled trials of Salviae miltiorrhizae radix pharmacopuncture for lumbar herniated intervertebral discs was performed to assess its clinical efficacy. There were 5 online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, NDSL, OASIS, and RISS) searched on June 1st, 2020. Studies were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were reviewed by risk of bias assessment. This review included 14 Chinese studies. The sample sizes ranged from 50 to 100. The numbers of treatments ranged from 20 to 30, with most patients receiving 20 treatments. The longest treatment periods were 10-15 and 15-20 days, of which each accounted for 29% of the studies. The most frequently used evaluation indices were the Japanese Orthopedic Association and the Visual Analog Scale scoring method. The most frequently used acupoints were EX18 and BL25, which accounted for 31% of the total number of acupoints. In 50% of the studies, the pharmacopuncture injection volume was 2 mL. Acupuncture treatment was the most common control group. Eleven studies reported that the intervention group had significantly improved symptoms. However, most of the included studies were of low quality.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2006

Two cases of canine intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) were treated twice a week with injection-acupuncture (injection-AP) using 0.1 ml/acupoint. In case 1, a paralysed dog with cervical intervertebral disc disease (C3-C4), was submitted to injection-AP with dexamethasone (1 mg/ml) at session 1-2 and thiamine (25 mg/ml) at session 3-5. Injected acupoints included GV-16, GB-20, BL-10, LU-7, LI-4 and SI-6. The acupoints GV-6, GV-20 and SP-6 were added at session 2-5. Trigger point (TP) therapy with 0.2 ml of 2% lidocaine was used in session 3-5 at TP in the infraspinatus and triceps muscles. Treatment was stopped when paralysis disappeared after 5 injection-AP treatments; there were no recurrent symptoms in the follow-up period of 5 months. In case 2, an ataxic dog with lumbar IVDD (L1-L2), was submitted to injection-AP with dexamethasone at session 1 and 2 and thiamine at session 3-4. Injected acupoints included GV-6 as the main point, ST-36, GB-30, ST-40, GB-34, ST-41 and BL-40. TP therapy with 0.2 ml of 2% lidocaine was used at TP in the ileocostorum lumborum and quadriceps muscles. Treatment was stopped when ataxia disappeared after 4 treatments; there were no recurrent symptoms In the fallow-up period of 5 months. Injection-AP using dexamethasone and thiamine, combined with TP therapy using lidocaine, effectively alleviate the symptoms of canine cervical and lumbar IVDD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis for herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) of lumbar spine patients with piriformis muscles tenderness. Methods : This research was carried out on the 60 inpatients who received treatment for their HIVD of lumbar spine from January 1 to May 31, 2014 in DaeJeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. We divided them into two groups ; group A(n=30) : common treatment on HIVD of L-spine without Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis(acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herb medication, Chuna and physiotherapy), and group B(n=30) : common treatment on HIVD of L-spine with Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis. We evaluated the treatment effect of each group on tenderness(checked by Algometer pressure), and with a numeric rating scale(NRS), and oswestry disability index(ODI). The evaluations of tenderness were performed 8 times : admission day, and on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th and 21st day after admission. The evaluations of NRS and ODI were performed 3 times : admission day, and on the 12th and 21st day after admission. The statistical significance was evaluated by SPSS 18.0 for Windows. Results : In group B, tenderness was significantly decreased compared with group A. The difference of tenderness from admission day to the 12th day showed significant reduction compared with group A. Conclusions : Dong-qi acupuncture is more effective in reducing piriformis muscle tenderness in the early stages of treatment. We expect that patients who receive Dong-qi acupuncture will be satisfied with Korean medical treatment and trust their doctor.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.312-319
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• 2021

Background: Lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) is a frequently presented condition/disease in Korean medical institutions. In this study, the economics of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial comparing TEA with sham TEA (STEA). Methods: This economic evaluation was analyzed from a limited social perspective, and the per-protocol set was from a basic analysis perspective. The cost-effectiveness analysis was based on the change in visual analog scale score, and the cost-utility analysis was based on the quality-adjusted life years. The final results were expressed as the average cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and furthermore sensitivity analysis was performed to confirm the robustness of the results observed. Results: The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the decrease in 100 mm visual analog scale score was 8.5 mm greater in the TEA group compared with the STEA group (p > 0.05). The cost-utility analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the quality-adjusted life years of TEA was 0.0026 years higher than STEA (p > 0.05). These results were robust in the sensitivity analysis, but were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In treating LHIVD, TEA appeared to have cost-effectiveness and cost-utility compared with STEA. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of cost, effectiveness, and utility indicators. Therefore, results must be interpreted prudently; this study was the 1^st to conduct an economic evaluation of TEA for LHIVD.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.608-612
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• 2007

A 4-year-old castrated male Cocker spaniel was referred with chief complaint of pelvic limbs paralysis and trembling. This dog was diagnosed as a case of myelomalacia complicated with intervertebral disc disease(IVDD) by radiography and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). This patient was treated by injection-AP with apitoxin, herbal medicine and moxibustion. The acupoints such as GV02-1, GV04, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14, BL11, BL18, BL23, BL25, BL28, GB21, HT07, KI03, LI04, LU07, SI03, SI06, ST36, ST38, ST39, ST40, ST41, GB30, GB31, GB34, Liv03, SP06 and trigger points($T1{\sim}T4\;and\;T9{\sim}L1$) were used for treatment. At the session 1, the dog could not stand and move the limbs. However, gradual improvement of clinical signs was observed after 7, 14 and 21 session of treatment. Although the clinical signs related to pelvic paralysis were not completely abolished with TVM methods, this case showed the marked improvement of clinical signs after 21 sessions of treatment. In conclusion, the present patient was a case with canine myelomalacia complicated with IVDD which showed not so complete but somewhat improvement by TVM method.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.77-83
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effects of Sinseon moxibustion for HIVD patients with low back pain. Methods : From March 1st, 2011 to May 31st, 2011, 95 HIVD patients who were admitted to Bu-Cheon Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital were divided into two groups. One group(control group) was treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine. The other group(experimental group) was treated with acupuncture, herbal medicine and Sinseon moxibustion. We evaluated the treatment effect of each group with numerical rating scale(NRS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI). The evaluations were performed four times(admission day, 5th day after admission, 9th day after admission, 13th day after admission) Results : 1. In both control group and experimental group, NRS and ODI decreased significantly in statistics as treatment was performed. 2. Between 9th day and 13th day after admission, experimental group showed significant reduction in NRS and ODI compared to control group. 3. From admission day to 13th day after admission, experimental group showed significant reduction in NRS and ODI compared to control group. Conclusions : We recommend that cotreatment of Sinseon moxibustion as a useful therapy to HIVD patients with low back pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.264-279
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• 2002

Objective : Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) is considered kind of degenerative disease usually found in the cervical vertebrae. Most of cases of OPLL have radiculopathy, myelopathy or both of them such as neck pain, numbness, myatonia. These symptoms seems to be similar with those of HIVD(Herniated intervertebral disc), sprain, spondylosis of C-spine. Lost of patients who have those symptoms are visiting oriental medicine hospital, clinic so we thought that making differential diagnosis, treating and prognosing might be needed with acupuncture, Herb medication. Methods : We examined the 3 patients of OPLL who visited Dong-in-dang Oriental Medicine Hospital from 1st November 1999 to 1st February 2002. We treated patients of OPLL with Oriental Medicine care (Acupuncture, Herb medication, Negative treatment) based on oriental diagnosis of neck pain(項强痛), numbness(痺證), myatonia. Results : clinical grade of 3 cases was all Gr III. After treated with oriental medical care, 2 cases were evaluated poor, I cases were evaluated fair and resulted in Clinical grade II. Conclusions : Treating OPLL with oriental medical carte was very difficult to palliate symptoms, to stop progress of OPLL. We might need to reconsider oriental medical care as conservative treatment for OPLL.