• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze nursing research trends on the complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for the cancer patients in Korea. Method: Thirty eight articles published in 17 nursing-related journal from 1987 to 2008 were analyzed. Results: Nursing Researches on CAT for the cancer patients have increased since 2000. Among the 38 studies, 34 studies used Quasi-experimental design and 13 studies (33%) were conducted for the breast cancer patients. Mind-body therapy (53%), manual healing therapy (42%), and pharmacologic and biological therapy (5%) were the often used CAT types. Nausea, vomiting, vital signs, immune cell, pain, and fatigue were measured as physiologic outcome variables; anxiety, depression, and hope as psychological outcome variables; and quality of life as social outcome variables. Conclusion: More CAM studies are needed targeting the patients with various cancer types and home-based cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.48-61
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was aimed to review the effect of acupuncture on endometriosis related pain in patients. Methods: Researchers searched data through 6 online databases up to November 2020. The data was limited to randomized controlled trial studies on endometriosis patients diagnosed with laparoscopy. Results: 7 Randomized controlled trials were included in this study. All of studies were published in Chinese, in China. Intervention of treatment group were composed of simple acupuncture and electroacupuncture. Intervention of control group were made up with mifepristone, herbal medicine and acupuncture. Outcome measurements were effective rate, serum Cancer antigen-125 (CA-125), Visual analogue scale (VAS)/pain score, and recurrence rate in 1 year. In all outcome measurements, treatment group were more effective than control group and it was statistically significant. Conclusions: Acupuncture therapy is effective in decreasing endometriosis related pain and preventing recurrence. However, because endometriosis is easy to recur, additional long-term research is needed.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.218-230
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop the telecommunication guideline that was possible to make the immediate, logical decisions and to evaluate the possibility of the use by verifying it from the specialists' group. Methods: Telecommunication guideline was designed with selected six symptoms which were pain, dyspnea, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and cough based on the results of literature. Results: This study showed that the patients understood well about the contents of the questions, examination, and education. Also, 85% of them fulfilled the guidelines of the adjustment and more of them were satisfied with the results shown to all of them compared to the previous telecommunication. And 95% of them replied that the information from the telecommunication was more useful than any other information sources related to the information of cancer and self management that were used previously. Conclusion: The telecommunication was considered to complement the weakness during the time the cancer patients spent at home after the treatments. Also, it was expected to be a role as an immediate and comprehensive method of decision making and a passage for information supply which was considered the specialty of individual patient related to an inquiry of the self management.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.263-266
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• 2005

The ganglion impar is a solitary retroperitoneal structure at the caudal end of the paravertebral sympathetic chain. Block of this ganglion has been advocated as a means of managing intractable perineal pain. In 1990, Plancarte et al performed a neurolytic block of the ganglion impar using 4-6 ml of 10% phenol through the intergluteal skin over the anococcygeal ligament. However, technical difficulties are encountered with the placement of the needle while performing this technique, with complications from the injection of phenol also being a possibility. In 1995, a modified approach for blocking the ganglion impar through the sacrococcygeal ligament was introduced by Wemm and Saberski. We used a radiofrequency (RF) lesion generator to create a controlled and localized lesion with a lower incidence of neural damages compared to chemical neurolysis. RF thermocoagulation of the ganglion impar through the sacrococcygeal ligament was performed on a 70-year-old male patient with constant anal pain using a curved TEW electrode. The patient has been relieved of his pain, without serious complication. Therefore, this technique may be an easier and safer approach, which is associated with fewer chances of complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2019

Going back to basics prior to mentioning the use of antipsychotics in patients with pain, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition of pain can be summarized as an unpleasant experience, composed of sensory experience caused by actual tissue damage and/or emotional experience caused by potential tissue damage. Less used than antidepressants, antipsychotics have also been used for treating this unpleasant experience as adjuvant analgesics without sufficient evidence from research. Because recently developed atypical antipsychotics reduce the adverse reactions of extrapyramidal symptoms, such as acute dystonia, pseudo-parkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia caused by typical antipsychotics, they are expected to be used more frequently in various painful conditions, while increasing the risk of metabolic syndromes (weight gain, diabetes, and dyslipidemia). Various antipsychotics have different neurotransmitter receptor affinities for dopamine (D), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), adrenergic (${\alpha}$), histamine (H), and muscarinic (M) receptors. Atypical antipsychotics antagonize transient, weak $D_2$ receptor bindings with strong binding to the $5-HT_{2A}$ receptor, while typical antipsychotics block long-lasting, tight $D_2$ receptor binding. On the contrary, antidepressants in the field of pain management also block the reuptake of similar receptors, mainly on the 5-HT and, next, on the norepinephrine, but rarely on the D receptors. Antipsychotics have been used for treating positive symptoms, such as delusion, hallucination, disorganized thought and behavior, perception disturbance, and inappropriate emotion, rather than the negative, cognitive, and affective symptoms of psychosis. Therefore, an antipsychotic may be prescribed in pain patients with positive symptoms of psychosis during or after controlling all sensory components.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.497-507
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this article was to evaluate the health related quality of life (HRQoL) of cancer survivors and to identify its predictors according to gender. Methods: The research was conducted with the data for 203 (cancer survivors?) taken from the 6th wave of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the EQ-5D index score was used for the measurement of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The independent variables inluded socio-demographic data, health related factors (survival duration, disability, subjective health recognition), and psychosocial factors (stress, unmet medical needs). The data were analyzed by the t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: the HRQoL of the female cancer survivors was significantly worse than that of the males in terms of their mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression quality of life. The only statistically significant factor affecting the HRQoL of the male cancer survivors was their subjective health recognition. In the case of the female cancer survivors, the statistically significant factors were their age, subjective health recognition and unmet medical needs. Conclusions: the results of this study showed a different pattern of predictors according to the gender of the cancer survivors. Therefore, gender should be considered when assessing and addressing the individual care needs of cancer survivors, in order to obtain optimal treatment outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1224-1231
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify comprehensive predictors of fatigue in cancer patients. Methods: One hundred ten cancer patients visiting in-patient or out-patient clinics of a university hospital located in Incheon participated in this study. Results: The hematologic indicators (WBC and Hemoglobin) were significant fo. explaining fatigue. The psychological factors of fatigue were statistically significant. Both anxiety and depression, included as psychological factors, were significant in explaining fatigue in cancer patients. The influence of physical factors on fatigue was also statistically significant. Among the variables included as physical factors, pain, nausea/vomiting/anorexia, and sleep disturbance were significant whereas, dyspnea was not significant. The influence of the daily activity factor on fatigue was statistically significant. Among the variables included as daily activity factors, regular exercise or not and the usual activity level were significant in explaining fatigue of cancer patients, while the level of rest was not statistically significant. Conclusions: From the study results fatigue of cancer patients appeared to be influenced by multidimensional factors, such as physiological, physical, psychological, and activity related factors.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2020

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major side effect of anti-cancer drugs. Neurotensin receptors (NTSRs) are widely distributed within the pain circuits in the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of NTSR1 by examining the effects of an NTSR1 agonist in rats with CIPN and investigate the contribution of spinal serotonin receptors to the antinociceptive effect. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (weight 150-180 g) were used in this study. CIPN was induced by injecting cisplatin (2 mg/kg) once a day for 4 days. Intrathecal catheters were placed into the subarachnoid space of the CIPN rats. The antiallodynic effects of intrathecally or intraperitoneally administered PD 149163, an NTSR1 agonist, were evaluated. Furthermore, the levels of serotonin in the spinal cord were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Intrathecal or intraperitoneal PD 149163 increased the paw withdrawal threshold in CIPN rats. Intrathecal administration of the NTSR1 antagonist SR 48692 suppressed the antinociceptive effect of PD 149163 given via the intrathecal route, but not the antinociceptive effect of intraperitoneally administered PD 149163. Intrathecal administration of dihydroergocristine, a serotonin receptor antagonist, suppressed the antinociceptive effect of intrathecally administered, but not intraperitoneally administered, PD 149163. Injecting cisplatin diminished the serotonin level in the spinal cord, but intrathecal or intraperitoneal administration of PD 149163 did not affect this reduction. Conclusions: NTSR1 played a critical role in modulating CIPN-related pain. Therefore, NTSR1 agonists may be useful therapeutic agents to treat CIPN. In addition, spinal serotonin receptors may be indirectly involved in the effect of NTSR1 agonist.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.370-379
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• 2018

This study was conducted 1) to investigate the effects of treatment and other factors on the quality of life of thyroid cancer surgical patients and 2) to provide fundamental data for development of an intervention and symptom management program to improve the quality of life of those patients. A total of 76 patients who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent thyroidectomy from July 2013 to December 2014 participated in this study. To investigate the factors affecting quality of life, a t-test and ANOVA analyses were conducted, after which multiple regression analysis was performed. The results were statistically significant between preoperative and one month after surgery of sex, cancer history, fatigue, and quality of life until 3 months after surgery of stage, cancer history, anxiety, and pain. Multiple regression analysis showed that the most influential factors affecting the quality of life were depression and fatigue at one month prior to and after surgery and anxiety at three months after surgery, while no factors were found to be influential at six months after surgery. Overall, the results of this study suggested that it is imperative to manage depression and fatigue one month prior to and after surgery to reduce the physical and psychological pain experienced by thyroid cancer patients. Moreover, three months after the surgery, anxiety should be closely monitored and controlled to improve the quality of life of the patients. This approach is expected to reduce the burden on the health care system and social costs, which will positively affect public health.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.105-108
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• 1998

Backgrounds: Cervical epidural nerve block is useful in the management of a variety of acute, chronic and cancer related pain syndromes involving the head, face, neck and upper extrimity. To safely perfom the cervical epidural block, an appreciation of the expected distance from skin to epidural space is important. We studied the distance from skin to cervical epidural space of adults to determine if any relationship exists between patient height, weight and neck circumference and the distance from skin to epidural space. Methods: Patients 170, suffering from neck and upper extremity pain with cervical HIVD(herniated intervertebral dics) were selected. Cervical epidural block was performed at $C_{6\sim7}$ or $C_{7-}T_1$ intervertebral space. Then measured the distance from skin to epidural space and analysed the relationship between age, height, weight and neck circumference and the distance from skin to epidural space. Results: The cervical epidural depth of male $C_{6\sim7}$, male $C_{7-}T_1$, female $C_{6\sim7}$ and female $C_{7-}T_1$ groups were $5.17{\pm}0.63$, $5.47{\pm}0.59$, $4.84{\pm}0.56$ and $5.01{\pm}0.60$ cm respectively. Cervical epidural depth significantly correlated with body weight, ponderal index and neck circumference. Conclusions: The distance from skin to cervical epidural space has significant relationships with weight, ponderal index and neck circumference. Although experience is important, patient's weight and neck circumference are indicating factor, of the cervical epidural depth.