• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.473-479
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare 1-year clinical outcomes between patients who underwent a Nuss operation or vacuum bell therapy and to present vacuum bell therapy as a possible alternative treatment modality for patients who prefer non-surgical correction of pectus excavatum. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of pectus excavatum patients who had undergone vacuum bell therapy for more than 1 year and examined patients who had undergone Nuss bar removal more than 1 year previously. The treatment outcomes were evaluated by comparing changes in the Haller index before and after treatment in both patient groups. Results: We included 57 patients in this study and divided them into 2 groups according to the type of treatment received. Both groups showed no significant difference in the post-treatment Haller index after 1 year of follow-up, although the Nuss operation group showed a greater change in the Haller index than the vacuum bell group. Conclusion: Although the Nuss operation is a well-established and effective treatment of choice to correct pectus excavatum, vacuum bell therapy showed comparable outcomes and could become an alternative treatment modality for select patients who prefer non-invasive treatment.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2019

Objective: For knee osteoarthritis (OA), there is a demand for alternative modalities in order to delay surgery and to avoid the side effects of medications. This study compared the effects of applying seaweed pack and mudpack for the treatment of knee OA. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-five patients with knee OA who satisfied the criteria were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method: mudpack (n=12) and seaweed pack (n=13). The two groups were treated for 20 minutes, twice a day for five continuous days at the Ocean Healing Center at Wando Island, South Korea. Participants were assessed by clinical scores (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey) and lab results (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ [$TNF-{\alpha}$]) during the follow-up period. Results: For the most part, clinical scores improved after therapy and maintained improvements for four weeks in both groups (p<0.05). In the seaweed group, $TNF-{\alpha}$ was significantly decreased at two weeks post-therapy (p<0.05). In both groups, IGF-1 was significantly increased immediately post-therapy (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences after therapy between the groups in clinical scores and labs. Conclusions: Seaweed packs and mudpacks had similar positive effects for knee OA. Additionally, the seaweed pack group showed decreased levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ at two weeks post-treatment, which may explain the reduced inflammatory reaction. For rehabilitation therapy, use of seaweed packs may serve as an alternative modality for the treatment of knee OA.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.356-362
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• 2022

Objective: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a nonsurgical treatment alternative to surgery for various musculoskeletal diseases that have traditionally been difficult to treat conservatively, including calcific tendinitis, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis. This study evaluated the effect of focused and radial shock wave therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Design: Randomized controlled study Methods: Forty participants with calcific tendinitis were randomized into focused shock wave therapy (FSWT, n=20) and radial shock wave therapy (RSWT, n=20) groups. Patients were examined before and one week after treatment. Pain intensity was subjectively assessed using the visual analogue scale and function was assessed using the Constant-Murley score (CMS) and range of motion (ROM). Results: The results showed a significant decrease in pain and significant increase in shoulder mobility and function in both groups. However, FSWT was significantly more effective than RSWT, based on CMS and ROM assessment. Conclusions: Although it is possible to raise the energy intensity of RSWT to increase the depth at which the energy becomes dispersed, higher energy intensity is associated with a greater risk of severe neurovascular damage, and that high-intensity stimulation can cause adverse effects such as pain and petechiae. Therefore, FSWT is considered to be a safe and effective method for treating tendinous lesions while minimizing adverse effects. In conclusion, both FSWT and RSWT can reduce pain and increase mobility and function. FSWT can be considered as an alternative for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.129-132
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• 2000

This study shows that menstrual pain is decreased conspicuously or disappeared completely after appliying taping therapy to the patients who han menstrual pain but could not find special teatments for it. The study also indicates that the taping therapy helped the patients who had a ton menstrual period to have the period reduced, and who had a short period to have it prolonged. All the phenomena of menstruation were inclined to maintain equlibrium due to the taping therapy. Therefore, it is believed that the taping therapy, which is one of the alternative medical fields, will minimize menstrual pain with the medical therapy.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.142-155
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of utilization, kinds and effective complementary-alternative therapy in elder arthritics, and then utilize the results as basic data for nursing intervention for elder arthritics. Study subjects consisted of 157 elder arthritics over 60 years old, data were collected through a structured questionnaire and face to face interviews. Data collection was done from July 2001 to August 2001. Subjects were sampled out from outpatients of department of rehabilitation of a university hospital in S city, outpatients of a local hospital in D city, and outpatient at public heath center in K and S city. Sexual distribution of subjects showed male 19.1% and the female 80.9%. The diagnosis distribution showed degenerative arthritis at 91% and reumatoid arthritis at 8.9% Duration of arthritics was 10 years over by 46.5%, duration of hospital treatment was 1-5 years by 41% The degree of pain by arthritis pointed out a mean point of 3.37 on a 5-point numeric scale 94.2% of subjects have experience complementary-alternative therapies used. Of the kind the subjects used, physiotherapy occupied 38.2%, Oriental medicine 36.3%, physical exercise 35.7%, nutritional therapy 22.3%, animal diet 8.9%, herbal diet 3.8%. The hardest thing due to arthritis represented disability in daily life by 59.8% and the pain problem by 30.5%. In conclusion, results of the study reveal that elder arthritics have used physiotherapy, Oriental medicine, physical exercise. Concrete strategies for nursing intervention about these complementary-alternative therapy are required to the established soon.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.1103-1110
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• 2013

This study was investigated the subjects' satisfaction in the therapy among the internet age. The subjects of the study were 200 women who have menses in ages from 18 to 55 among visitors of five public health centers and attendants of A church in Gwangju. The period of the study ranged from September 6 to October 10, 2010. As a study instrument, this study used a questionnaire developed based on questions from studies published by An Seung-duk(2003). This study used SPSS 17.0, for a frequency analysis, a cross-tabulation and a chi-squared test. During the analysis, 43.4% of the subjects used the complementary alternative therapy. 56.3% visited used oriental medical clinics or herbal medicine shops as places to use the therapy, 42.5% received medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping at oriental medical clinics. As expenses of the therapy, 56.3% spent less than 500,000 won a year. After the therapy, 51% answered they were satisfied with the therapy. In conclusion, it was discovered that use rate of the therapy is increasing, the subjects decided to use the therapy for themselves or through recommendation from acquaintances, and they mainly depended on reliable oriental medical clinics or folk remedies against menstrual pain, and insurance benefits for the therapy should be considered except oriental medical hospitals or clinics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.199-206
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• 2005

Cell therapy (CT) is a group of techniques to treat human disorders by transplantation of cells which have been processed and propagated independent of the living body. Blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant have been the primary examples of cell therapy. With introduction of stem cell (SC) technologies, however, CT is perceived as the next generation of biologies to treat human diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and heart disease. Despite potential of cell therapy, insufficient guidelines have been implemented concerning safety test and regulation of cell therapy. This review addresses the safety issues to be resolved for the cell therapy, especially SC therapy, to be successfully utilized for clinical practice. Adequate donor cell screening must preceed to ensure safety in cell therapy. In terms of SC culture, controlled, standardized practices and procedures should be established. Further molecular studies should be done on SC development and differentiation to enhance safety level in cell therapy. Finally, animal model must be further installed to evaluate toxicity, new concepts, and proliferative potential of SC including alternative feeder layer of animal cells.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.77-89
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze Korean clinical studies in Korean medicine and complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis and to propose for better methods of clinical studies and effective treatments on allergic rhinitis. Methods Electronic researches were performed with NDSL, RISS, KISTI, KISS, OASIS by keyword 'Allergic rhinitis'. Results The treatments used in 36 studies were herbal medicines, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, cupping, inject medicine to nasal cavity, aroma therapy, ointment, nasal cleansing solution, laser treatment, infra-red therapy, oxygen nebulizer, diet treatment, moxa-pellet treatment, mindfulness meditation and space-spine manipulation techniques. The most common acupoints were LI4 and LI20 (Large Intestine Meridian). The most common methods of assessment is subjective nasal symptoms. All studies using subjective nasal symptoms and quality of life as assessment methods to show valid results on the improvement of allergic rhinitis. Conclusions This study shows that Korean medicine and complementary and alternative medicine on allergic rhinitis are effective. It will be expected to use that various methods for allergic rhinitis and more clinical studies for allergic rhinitis and pediatric patients needed in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.90-98
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• 2008

Purpose: Menopausal syndrome is caused by urgent changes of sex hormone in women. The hormonal therapy can soothe the problems of menopausal patients, but it can increase the probability of another disease, such as breast cancer, heart attack, etc. So the demand of alternative herb therapy is increasing in Western countries. In Korea, herbal medicine is imported and used by Western doctors. To know and use the alternative herbal medicine, Korean Medical doctors should know their efficacy and safety. Methods: We researched the Medline(Pubmed) with the key word such as 'CAM', 'herb' and 'menopause'. We selected the herbs known as treating the menopausal syndrome and researched the similar or same herbs that are used in Korean medicine by the scientific name and efficient ingredients. To evaluate the efficacy of the herbs, we compared the herbs that were differently defined in alternative and Korean medicine Results: Balm, black cohosh, chaste berry, dong quai. evening primrose oil. ginkgo, St. John's wort, valerian root, and sarsaparilla were chosen as prevalent herbs used in alternative medicine. The pharmacologic effect of Black cohosh, licorice root, St. John's wort were recognized. But these three herbs are not usually prescripted for menopausal patients in Korean medicine. So we could apply these three herbs as one of Korean medical treatments. The efficacy of other herbs cannot be surely prescripted for menopausal patients. Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of alternative medicine is not proved yet. But to diversify the treatmental methods of Korean medicine, we need to prove and use these medicine as one of Korean medical treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.240-260
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• 2006

Purpose : The objective of this study is to serve guidelines for the investigation and management of uterine myomas with KM therapies. Methods : English-language articles from PubMed and Korean-language articles from the database of the journal of oriental gynecology were reviewed from 2000 to 2005, using the key words 'uterine myoma', 'uterine leiomyoma', 'fibroid', 'uterine artery embolization', 'endometrial ablation', 'myomectomy', and jagungguenjong(子宮筋腫)'. Results and Limits : The areas of clinical practices considered in formulating this guideline are assessment, KM therapies, medical treatments, myolysis, selective artery occlusion, endometrial ablation and surgical therapies including myomectomy and hysterectomy. Implementation of this guideline would optimize the decision-making process of women with uterine myomas and further investigation or therapy of their KM doctors. But we don't have abundant evidences of clinical trials of uterine myoma treated with KM therapy, though we treat or manage that with every-day clinical practices. Moreover cultural gaps between Korea and other western countries make many differences in the attitude to surgical therapies, especially hysterectomy. So it is very difficult to compare W therapies with other therapies. Moreover it is much difficult to estimate cost-effectiveness and benefit of those therapies in QOL. Conclusions : The majority of uterine myoma is asymptomatic and will not require any intervention or further investigation. But unmarried women who wish to marry and get pregnant want to find safe therapy for their asymptomatic uterine myomas. In that case, most of the patients prefer non-surgical therapy to surgical therapy. So KM herbal medicinal therapy is a good alternative method for those patients. For the symptomatic myomas, hysterectomy offers a definitive solution. However, it is not the best solution for women who wish to preserve their uterus. So KM therapy is a good alternative for them. But the predicted benefits of alternative therapies including KM therapy must be carefully weighed against the Possible risks of these therapies. To improve the quality of life of both women with asymptomatic and symptomatic myomas, selecting and treating patients should be done carefully. Moreover, the effect of KM therapy has to evaluated, comparing the possible situation without treatment and the benefit of constant treatment as a health-care system.