• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.391-400
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• 2011

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs and respiratory system and can be classified by a variety of factors such as infectious agents, etiology, infection area, and other criteria. From a 46-year-old male, who was suspected of being infected with atypical pathogen pneumonia and underwent such tests as serological testing, examination of sputum, urine examination, parasite examination, bronchoscopy, needle biopsy and so on, no significant abnormality was found. This patient also showed no specific symptoms like auscultatory abnormalities, high fever, nonproductive cough, muscle stiffness, sputum production, dyspnea. Prescription of broad-spectrum oral antibiotics and ant-parasitic didn't seem to be effective against bacterial and atypical pathogen. The patient's condition alternately repeated between natural cure and recurrence. The average healing process during which scarring, nodule recurrence and disappearance on the lungs happened was about 20 days. Chest radiography and chest high resolution computerized tomographic scans(HRCT scan) was performed to depict parenchymal aberrations and demarcate the extent and distribution of atypical pathogen pneumonia. As a result, chest radiography did not show the specific symptoms, whereas areas of opacity (seen as white) which represent consolidation were revealed in chest HRCT scan. This indicates that only chest radiography is not that useful for early diagnosis of atypical pathogen pneumonia in patients, since it can't show exactly what the symptom is because of the barriers such as diaphragm, liver, and spine. Therefore, it is desirable that chest HRCT should be used in the diagnosis to compare with the results of chest radiography. Here, report with literature investigations the case of recurrent atypical pathogen pneumonia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.77-93
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• 2008

Objectives : Though there were many clinical studies of acupuncture effects they didn't have appropriate control group or use another therapy for control group. So, we didn't say it was true acupuncture effect, though subjects in clinical study improved. Recently several sham needles for control group were developed and validated. This study aimed at summarizing the validation studies of these needles and evaluating the control group of the acupuncture clinical study. Methods : Computerized literature searches were performed using 'acupuncture' and 'placebo or sham' with a limitation of the results to RCTs in Pubmed, Sciencedirect, NDSL, KISS, RISS. Data were extracted regarding study design, sample size, acupuncture point, stimulation form, credibility testing. And We have examined 106 acupuncture clinical studies published by Pubmed from January 1, 2005 to April 30, 2008. Data were extracted author's country, subject of study, type of study groups, type of control groups, type of blinding, difference between the results in the control groups. Results : Streitberger's placebo needle, Fink's sham needle, Park sham needle, Kim sham needle were developed. They were validated at domestic and abroad. But the results were deviation depending on the each of the researcher. They has shown that sample, acupuncture points, experiences or knowledge of acupuncture dependent on the results. Recent three years, acupuncture clinical trial had different results. Significant differences between Study group and control group emerged from using other therapy or non-treatment for control group. Many study has no significant differences using sham acupuncture for control groups. Conclusions : Acupuncture clinical studies need to meet several requirements. First of all, they require the basics of randomized controlled clinical studies such as blinding and the accurate implementation and description of randomization. And also need to research the unique circumstances of these studies such as the development of sham acupuncture and blinding method which differs from other clinical trials.