• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the effects between the degree of herniated intervertebral lumbar disc (HIVD) at L4-5 level and improvement of low back pain treated by Korean Medicine therapy. Methods 567 patients who received inpatient treatment from May 2014 to December 2015 in the Daejeon-Jaseng of Korean Medicine Hospital were divided into 6 groups by the degree of HIVD at L4-5 level confirmed with a Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging. All patients received a combination of treatment including acupunture, chuna manual therapy, pharmacopunture, herbal medication. They were compared and analyzed on the basis of improvement between measuring Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ5D Index) as they were hospitalized and as they were discharged. The statistically significance was evaluated by SPSS 23.0 for windows. Results After treatment, Normal stage on Intervertebral Lumbar Disc at L4-5 level group's Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ5D Index) improvement was $1.30{\pm}1.62$, $4.52{\pm}11.82$ and $0.04{\pm}0.11$ respectively. Bulging group's improvement was $3.25{\pm}2.81$, $8.28{\pm}13.02$ and $0.09{\pm}0.17$ respectively. Spinal canal occupying ratio (SOR) less than 20 group's improvement was $2.15{\pm}1.92$, $11.79{\pm}17.81$ and $0.13{\pm}0.23$ respectively. SOR 20 to less than 40 stage group's improvement was $2.13{\pm}1.92$. $10.79{\pm}15.93$ and $0.10{\pm}0.26$ respectively. SOR 40 to less than 60 group's improvement was $2.16{\pm}2.24$, $9.80{\pm}16.62$ and $0.15{\pm}0.25$ respectively. Surgery group's improvement was $2.47{\pm}2.21$, $11.64{\pm}18.53$ and $0.15{\pm}0.27$ respectively (p<0.03). But there was no statistically significance between 6 group's improvement after treatment (p>0.05). Conclusions After inpatient treatment by Korean Medicine therapy, Most patient's pain, disability and Health Related Quality of Life was improved significantly. But there was no statistically correlation between the degree of HIVD at L4-5 level and improvement of low back pain. So We think that future research of higher quality and correct statistics shall be necessary.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2015

Background: Suicide is one of important health problems in Korea. Previous studies showed factors associated with suicide in individual levels. However, suicide was influenced by society that individuals belong to, so it was required to analyze suicide in local levels. The purpose of this study was to analyze the regional disparities of suicide mortality by gender and the association between local characteristics and suicide mortality. Methods: This study included 229 city county district administrative districts in Korea. Age- and sex-standardized suicide mortality and age-standardized suicide mortality (male/female) were used as dependent variables. City county district types, socio-demographics (number of divorces per 1,000 population, number of marriages per 1,000 population, and single households), financial variable (financial independence), welfare variable (welfare budget), and health behavior/status (perceived health status scores and EuroQol-5 dimension [EQ-5D]) were used to represent the local characteristics. We used hot-spot analysis to identify the spatial patterns of suicide mortality and negative binomial regression analysis to examine factors affecting suicide mortality. Results: There were differences in distribution of suicide mortality and hot-spot regions of suicide mortality by gender. Negative binomial regression analysis provided that city county district types (city), number of divorces per 1,000 population, financial independence, and EQ-5D had significant influences on the age- and sex-standardized suicide mortality per 100,000. Factor influencing suicide mortality was the number of divorces per 1,000 population in both male and female. Conclusion: Study results provided evidences that suicide mortality among regions was differed by gender. Health policy makers will need to consider gender and local characteristics when making policies for suicides.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.175-184
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of complex Korean Medicine treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries with meniscus tear. Four patients were treated with complex Korean Medicine by acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medication. We evaluated the improvement of knee pain and function by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC Index), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D Index). After treatment, we found that knee pain was reduced and joint function was improved by NRS and WOMAC index in all cases. In the evaluation of health-related quality of life through EQ-5D index, there was no significant difference in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis and severe meniscal injury. This results show that complex Korean Medicine may be an effective option for ACL injuries with meniscus tear. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify the effect of Korean Medicine therapy on ACL injuries with meniscus tear.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.81-87
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the improvement of complex Korean Medicine treatment for patients with rotator cuff injuries and determine the clinical improvement by number of damaged lesion. Methods Forty-one patients who diagnosed with rotator cuff injury were included in the retrospective study. Patients were treated with acupuncture, electroacupuncture and pharmacopuncture. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Shoulder Pain and Disablity Index (SPADI) and EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D Index). Results Both NRS and SPADI scores were significantly reduced after treatment (p<0.01), but EQ-5D for assessing quality of life and clinical improvement by number of damaged lesion were no significant improvement (p>0.05). Conclusions These results show that patients with rotator cuff injuries could gain improvement from complex Korean Medicine. Further research is required to confirm the effectiveness of Korean Medicine treatment.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.312-322
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• 2019

Background: Since 2003, Korea has consistently shown the highest suicide rate among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, and suicide remains the major cause of death. In particular, men are 2-3 times more likely to commit suicide than women, which called the 'gender paradox of suicide.' The areas with frequent suicide have spatially clustered patterns because suicide with a social contagion spreads around the neighborhood. The purpose of this study was twofold. The first was to estimate the hotspot areas of age-standardized male suicide mortality from 2008 to 2015. The second was to analyze the relationship between the hotspot areas and the regional characteristics for study years. Methods: The data was collected through the Korean Statistical Information Service. The study areas were 227 si gun gu administrative districts in Korea. The hotspot area was used as a dependent variable. Socio-demographic variables (number of marriages per 1,000 population, number of divorces per 1,000 population, and urbanization rate), financial variables (financial independence and social security budget), and health behaviors (EuroQol-5 dimension [EQ-5D], and depression experience rate) were used as independents variables. Results: The hotspot areas were commonly located in Gangwon-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Chungceongbuk-do. According to the results of panel logit regression, the number of divorces per 1,000 population, social security budget, and EQ-5D were statistically significant variables. Conclusion: The results of hotspot analysis showed the need for establishing a prevention zone of suicide using hotspot areas. Also, medical resources could be considered to be preferentially placed in the prevention zone of suicide. This study could be used as basic data for health policymakers to establish a suicide-related policy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.534-540
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• 2019

This study aimed to report the improvement in a vascular oculomotor nerve palsy patient treated with Korean medicine. A 68-year-old man with vascular oculomotor nerve palsy was treated with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and an herbal medicine (Gangwhalyufung-tang). This case was measured and assessed by the numerical rating scale (NRS), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D), score of diplopia, and ratio of MRD1. The NRS decreased, and the patient showed improvement in EQ-5D, score of diplopia, and ratio of MRD1. Korean medicine treatments are considered helpful in treating diplopia and ptosis due to vascular oculomotor nerve palsy.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.165-173
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• 2021

Objectives The objective of this study is to propose postoperative rehabilitation for spondylolisthesis after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in Korean medicine and to report its effectiveness. Methods There were two patients who were received Korean medicine with acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping and exercise treatment after PLIF. Patients were evaluated numeric rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), pain free walking distance (PFWD), Korean modified index (K-MBI), EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) index. Results Case 1 was improved NRS from 7 to 3, Case 2 was improved NRS from 7 to 2. Also, ODI, PFWD, K-MBI, EQ-5D score were improved in both cases. Conclusions This study suggests that Korean medicine rehabilitation could be effective for spondylolisthesis after PLIF.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.133-144
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• 2022

The objective was to propose effectiveness of conservative treatments including Korean medical treatments for symptomatic Schmorl's nodes (SNs). We conducted retrospective study that analyzed the medical records of two patients with the symptomatic SNs. They were treated by conservative treatments including Korean medical treatments for 3 weeks. We evaluated numeric rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) index. After treatment, NRS, ODI were decreased and EQ-5D index was increased. We performed literature search to analyze the mechanisms of its treatment and evaluate clinical trials. There were three major mechanisms: (1) Improving constructive stability of vertebrae, (2) alleviating pain, and (3) controlling autoimmunity. When comparing operative treatment (OT) trials and conservative treatment (CT) trials, we couldn't find conclusive basis that support which one is more effective. As OT trials reported some severe adverse events, CT trials reported mild adverse events. The conservative treatments that we used encompasses those mechanisms and is relatively safe. To obtain exact evidence of effectiveness, further studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.89-96
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to report the effects of Korean medicine treatment in wrist drop patient with thoracic outlet syndrome. We treated the patient for 8 days using Korean medicine treatment such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, Chuna manual therapy and pharmacopuncture. Changes in the numerical rating scale (NRS), EuroQol five dimension (EQ-5D) index, and symptoms were measured for assessment. After 8 days hospitalization, NRS decreased from 5 to 3, EQ-5D index and the symptoms of the patient also were improved. In conclusion, this case shows that Korean medicine treatment can be an effective treatment for wrist drop with thoracic outlet syndrome.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.361-368
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• 2023

Objectives: This study investigated the oral health and quality of life of patients with hypertension using the raw data of the 8th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the second year (2020) and 1,269 subjects were analyzed. Methods: The data underwent frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, general linear model analysis, and linear regression analysis using SPSS Statistics 26.0. Results: The quality of life (EuroQol-5 dimension: EQ-5D) of patients with hypertension was surveyed at 0.92 points/1 point. Quality of life according to general characteristics showed significant differences in gender (p<0.001), age (p<0.001), household income (p<0.001), and education level (p<0.001). Quality of life according to oral health showed significant differences in chewing discomfort (p<0.001), speaking discomfort (p<0.001), oral examination (p=0.004), toothache experience (p=0.020), subjective oral health (p<0.001) and oral care product use (p=0.006). Factors affecting quality of life were gender, age, household income, education level, chewing discomfort (B=-0.027, p=0.018), speaking discomfort (B=-0.049, p=0.026), toothache experience (B=-0.018, p=0.027) and subjective oral health (B=0.022, p<0.001). Conclusions: Based on the above results, it was confirmed that the oral health of patients with hypertension is a factor influencing the quality of life; thus, it is considered that it will be used as basic data for research on measures to improve oral health and quality of life.