• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.802-813
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• 2018

This case report describes a patient with olivopontocerebellar atrophy accompanied by sleep disorder and gait disturbance whose condition was improved by treatment with Korean medicine. The 61-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (Multiple Systemic Atrophy-Cerebellum), was admitted to hospital twice and treated with Korean medicine (acupuncture and herbal medicine) and rehabilitation. The Korean medicine was Gwibiondam-tang-gami and Jaeumgeonbi-tang-gami. Clinical symptoms were assessed by the Modified Bathel index, functional independent measurement, Berg balance scale, and Unified Multiple System Atrophy rating scale. A brain MRI at the one-year follow up after onset showed similar progress but clinical symptoms were improved after treatment, and the evaluation index score increased. Multiple system atrophy, a type of degenerative neurological disease, has no targeted treatment. In this situation, although this report describes a single case, Korean medicine treatment could provide a meaningful improvement in the sleep disturbance and gait disorder symptoms of patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.814-821
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• 2018

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common cancers in Korea, and thyroidectomy is the first-line treatment. Hypoparathyroidism is a common complication of thyroidectomy and can cause symptoms such as numbness, spasm, and anxiety, but these issues have seldom been reported in the Korean medical literature. The present case was a 53-year-old thyroid cancer patient who complained of numbness caused by hypoparathyroidism, general weakness, fatigue, and postoperative pain after total thyroidectomy. The patient was treated with Korean medicine treatment, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion, and her changes in clinical symptoms were measured with a numeric rating scale (NRS), the Karnofsky performance status scale (KPS), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). After treatment, her clinical symptoms were improved, leading to an improvement in her quality of life. Therefore, Korean medicine may be effective in the treatment of thyroid cancer patients who experience numbness caused by hypoparathyroidism, general weakness and fatigue after total thyroidectomy.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.668-675
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Galkunhwanglyeonhwanggum-tang (GGT), and Sopunghwalhyeol-tang (SPT) on gene expression of MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and eNOS in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: HUVECs were treated with GGT and SPT at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL. Gene expression of MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and eNOS in HUVECs was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and electrophoresis was performed to verify the gene expression level. Results: 1. MCP-1 gene expression was more strongly decreased by SPT than by GGT. 2. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene expressions were more strongly decreased by SPT than by GGT 3. GGT significantly increased eNOS gene expression, but SPT did not. Conclusions: These findings suggest that GGT and SPT regulate gene expression related to anti-inflammatory effects in HUVECs. Clinical application of these Korean medicines to diseases related to dyslipidemia, such as cardiovascular disease, will require additional in vivo experiments to verify the anti-inflammatory effects of GGT and SPT.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.787-799
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• 2020

Objectives: Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare papulosquamous disorder with unknown etiology. Studies on adults have not been conducted yet in Korean medicine. We report the progress of Korean medicine treatment for adult-type pityriasis rubra pilaris. Methods: A 62-year-old female patient was diagnosed with PRP in June 2019. After the diagnosis of PRP, retinoid treatment was continued for about 6 months, and then the drug was switched to an oral immunosuppressant. However, the patient's symptoms did not improve, but instead worsened. The patient was treated with Mihudeungsikjang-tang and acupuncture therapy. We evaluated her treatment progress based on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a visual analogue scale (VAS), and the changes in the patient's subjective symptoms. Results: After Korean medicine treatment, the DLQI and VAS scores improved from 18 points to 16 points and from 6 points to 4 points, respectively. The whole-body itching and scaling were reduced by 30% compared to pretreatment. The itching and pain in the neck, which had been severely symptomatic, decreased by 50%. The pain and dysesthesia in the upper and lower extremities disappeared, but the erythema still remained. Conclusions: Conventional treatments for PRP have limitations due to adverse effects and difficulty in treating refractory forms. Korean medicine treatment is worth considering as it can complement the limitations of conventional treatments, although more studies will be needed.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.811-820
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine treatment of a gait disturbance in a patient with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus induced by secondary Parkinsonism. Methods: The patient was treated with Korean herbal medicine (Yukmijihwang-tang-gami), acupuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitation exercise. The gait of the patient was evaluated by the 10 m Walk Test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, 360° turning test, Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), and GAITRite. Results: After 20 days of traditional Korean medicine treatment, we observed improvement in the symptoms of the gait disturbance. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine treatment might be effective in the treatment of gait disturbance in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus induced by secondary Parkinsonism.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.885-891
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this case report was to present the effects of Korean medicine treatment in a patient with functional abdominal pain. Methods: A 24-year-old female patient was treated with Sogeonjung-tang and Gammaekdaejo-tang extract granules with acupuncture therapy. Abdominal pain and soreness were assessed daily with a numeric rating scale (NRS) Results: With 7 days of treatment, abdominal pain was relieved from NRS 7 to NRS 3. By the 6th day of treatment, abdominal soreness had disappeared. Conclusion: These results show that functional abdominal pain can be relieved with Korean medicine treatment. However, further well-designed studies are required to confirm these findings.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.926-932
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• 2020

This report presents examples of the use of Korean medicine to treat diarrhea after colon hemicolectomy. The patient was a male in his 80s who had undergone hemicolectomy 3 years previously for colon cancer. He complained of diarrhea and fecal incontinence and had attempted suicide. He was admitted to the internal medicine ward through the emergency room. Treatment did not improve his diarrhea, even with the use of antidiarrheal drugs, so he was transferred to the Korean Medicine Hospital, where he received daily acupuncture and medicine treatment. After Korean medicine treatment, his symptoms improved rapidly and his fecal incontinence stopped after one week of hospitalization. Two weeks after hospitalization, his stool had improved to normal stool, his hypotonia had also improved, and he was discharged. This report shows that Korean medicine treatment can be effective in treating patients with diarrhea. In the future, related cases will need to be accumulated.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.745-753
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• 2020

Background: A number of studies have identified the effect of Korean medicine treatment for oculomotor nerve palsy, but few have reported treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage. This paper reports two cases of oculomotor nerve palsy with ptosis and limitation of eye movement after subarachnoid hemorrhage whose conditions were improved by Korean medicine treatment. Methods: Two patients with ptosis and limitation of eye movement after subarachnoid hemorrhage were treated with Korean medicine, including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion, and pharmacoacupuncture. Clinical symptoms were measured as the distance of the interpalpebral fissure and eyeball movement (adduction, abduction). Results: After treatment, their clinical symptoms showed improvement. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment, including pharmacoacupuncture and electroacupuncture, could be adopted as a treatment method for oculomotor nerve palsy after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.777-786
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• 2020

Background: This study is a report on a case of a Wernicke's encephalopathy with quadriplegia, ataxia, and impaired cognition, whose condition was improved by Korean medicine treatment. Case report: A 51-year-old man diagnosed with Wernicke's encephalopathy was treated with acupuncture, Banhabakchulchunma-tang mixed with Ondam-tang-gami (半夏白朮天麻湯合溫膽湯加味), cupping, moxibustion, and rehabilitation. Clinical symptoms were measured with the Manual Muscle Test (MMT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Korean Mini Mental Status Exam (K-MMSE), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and a numeric rating scale (NRS). After 22 days of treatment, his clinical symptoms showed improvement. The motor function improved (MMT Rt. side Gr. 4+G/4+G, Lt. side Gr. 4G/4+G → Rt. side Gr. 5-N/4+G, Lt. side Gr. 5-N/4+G), Ataxia was relieved (BBS 3→33), cognition improved (K-MMSE 15→27), ADL scores showed improvement (FIM 58→90, MBI 40→75), and the NRS score decreased for headache (3→0). Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment could be effective in the treatment of patients with Wernicke's encephalopathy.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.1933-1937
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• 2004

Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) refers to the varied clinical manifestations of reflux of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus and is preferable to the 'reflux esophagitis'. Clinical symptoms of reflux esophagitis are heartburn, dysphagia, blood loss, abdominal pain, nocturnal wheezing, coughing, hoarseness. We applied oriental medicines to patient who had reflux esophagitis. we treated them with herb-medication, acupuncture, moxa therapy and aroma therapy for about 2 months. During this period, we observed that symptoms had been improved.