• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.193-206
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• 2008

Purpose: In spite of many arguments on the result of WHI (Women's Health Initiative) study, no one can deny the necessity for researches on the alternative treatment to HRT (hormone replacement therapy). In this study, the author wanted to investigate the method of precedent acupuncture RCTs (randomized controlled trials) to make out the appropriate acupuncture study design on postmenopausal and perimenopausal hot flashes in Korea. Methods: Precedent studies were investigated using Pubmed search and key-words "acupuncture and hot flash", "acupuncture and menopause", "acupuncture and vasomotor", limited to RCT, from 2000 to 2008 April. Results: As a result. 10 studies were searched. In the hereafter studies, multi-center clinical trials which consist of population group of postmenopausal and perimenopausal women that would be pre-stratified and more than 50 patients per treatment arm seem adequate. Sham control study can make out the proper consequence because many people are get used to acupuncture in Korea. Flexible choice of acupoints addressed an individual's symptoms using standardized algorithm is recommended. Treatment consist of 4 weeks' observation, 11 acupuncture sessions during 7 weeks, follow-up of 3 months or more after treatment and hot flash score as a primary outcome measure seem appropriate. After all, higher level of description according to global standard must be obtained in the study report and publishing. Conclusion: The researchers should develope the methodology of acupuncture clinical trial on the postmenopausal and perimenopausal hot flashes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.765-774
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• 2010

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to explain the phenomena of hot flashes in climacteric women by using Mexameter, Skin Thermometer, Corneometer, and Laser Doppler Perfusion Imager (LDPI) objectively and to identify the interrelation between the subjective and objective measurements of hot flashes by comparing the two as reported in retrospective questionnaires. Methods: The participants were one hundred women (45-60 yr) who were not currently on hormone therapy, and had reached hot flash scores of 10 or higher. Hot flashes were measured in a temperature and humidity controlled room for 7 hr from 10 am to 5 pm. Hot flashes were measured subjectively and recorded via the Hot Flash Diary Report. When participants felt the hot flashes, they were measured objectively by Mexameter, Skin Thermometer, Corneometer, and LDPI. Results: The frequency of hot flashes in participants ranged from 1 to 7 times. When hot flashes occurred in participants, the erythema, skin temperature, skin hydration, and blood perfusion showed statistically significant changes in all measurements. But, the subjective and objective measurements of hot flashes showed only weak correlations. Conclusion: Results indicate a need for future research with subjective and objective measuring instruments chosen depending variations identified for the study.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.49-62
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• 2024

Objects: This study was conducted to examine the effect of acupuncture on hot flashes symptoms that occurred after adjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. Methods: A total of 7 electronic databases, including Pubmed, Cochrane Central, Embase, and CNKI, were used to search for randomized controlled trials studies on acupuncture treatment for hot flashes that occurred after adjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. Studies published from January 2014 to March 2024 were targeted, and Breast Cancer, Hot Flashes, Acupuncture, and Electroacupuncture were used as search keywords. The intervention method, treatment period and follow-up period, results, side effects, and acupuncture points were analyzed. Results: According to the inclusion criteria, 7 studies were finally selected. Acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acupuncture and enhanced self-care were combined as intervention methods of the treatment group, and the most common control group was the use of sham acupuncture. The selected study was evaluated by the symptoms of hot flashes, quality of life, depression, and quality of sleep. In terms of hot flashes, quality of life, and depression, a significant number of treatment groups showed improvement results than control group. The most commonly used acupuncture points in the study were 百會 (GV20), 關元 (CV4), 氣海 (CV6) each of which was used twice. Conclusions: According to this study, the improvement of symptoms was confirmed when acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment were used for hot flashes that occurred during breast cancer adjuvant endocrine therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.124-131
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• 2023

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report the improvement of symptoms in patients with systemic erythema multiforme through Korean medicine treatment. Methods : We treated 51 years old male patient who diagnosed with erythema multiforme for 15 days with acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopucture, cupping therapy and Hwangryunhaedok-tang wet dressing therapy. We used two herbal medicine; Hwabanhaedok-tang for first 10 days and Danggwieumja for another 5 days. Improvement of symptoms was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and photography of lesions. Results : Most of the erythema disappeared, leaving only pigmentation. Subjective symptoms of patients such as itching, hot flash, dryness were decreased from VAS 7 to VAS 1-2. Conclusions : We found that Korean medicine treatment including herbal medicine, acupuncture was effective in improving systemic acute erythema multiforme.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3533-3536
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women in the world. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) at treatment endpoint in cancer clinical trials is widely considered to be increasingly important. The aim of this review was to provide a literature-based assessment of the validity, reliability and responsiveness of breast cancer-specific HRQL instruments in women breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The databases consulted were Medline, PubMed, and Embase. The inclusion criteria required studies to: (1) involve use of HRQL measures; (2) cover women with breast cancer under standard treatment (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy); (3) involve the validity, reliability, or responsiveness of HRQL; (4) deal with validation of breast cancer-specific HRQL instruments. Results: A total of 16 studies were identified through the literature search that met the 4 inclusion criteria. Some seven instruments were assessed among these 16 studies: EORTC QLQ-BR23, FACT-B, FACT-ES, HFRDIS, LSQ-32, QLICP-BR, and SLDS-BC. EORTC QLQ-BR23, FACT-B, LSQ-32, QLICP-BR, and SLDS-BC are more general breast cancer-specific HRQL instruments. FACT-EB is the endocrine subscale combined with FACT-B in order to measure the side effects and putative benefits of hormonal treatment administered in breast cancer patients. HFRDIS is the HRQL measure focusing on hot flash concerns. Conclusions: This paper provides an overall understanding on the currently available breast cancer-specific HRQL instruments in women breast cancer patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review of Clinical trials related to the treatment of chemotherapy induced-toxicity by acupuncture therapy. Methods : We searched PubMed by using word of "chemotherapy induced, acupuncture" (Limits : Full text available, 10 years, Clinical trials, Humans, English). We analyzed 15 research paper and examined published journals, years, countries, topic, study design, their results, interventions, participants and instruments of assessment. Results : Eleven journals with fifteen papers were searched. These papers were published in USA, Germany, etc. On the topic of these clinical trials, seven of them were about nausea(vomiting), two about peripheral neuropathy, two about hot flash, two about arthralgia and one about neutropenia, one about fatigue. Six of these studies were single blinded, randomized controlled trial. Twelve studies reported significant effect. The median for number of final participants was 35.5 persons. Assessment for outcomes were versatile questionnaire, nerve conduction studies, WBC, ANC, G-CSF examination, etc. Conclusions : Their median for impact factor was 3.650 and average modified Jadad score of six RCTs was 4.33. In order to provide appropriate evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in treatment for chemotherapy-induced toxicity, more rigorous and well-designed studies are necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2011

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical use of Kupperman's Index, Menopausespecific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) by comparison with the Subjective measures of hot flush. Methods: The participants were 107 women (45-60 yr) who were not currently on hormone therapy, and had reached hot flash scores of 10 or higher. The evaluating indexes of this trial are hot flush score, hot flush VAS, Hot flush consistence time, sweating VAS, Kupperman`s Index, Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS). Results: 1. The hot flush score, hot flush VAS, sweating VAS were significantly correlated with each other, but the Hot flush consistence time with no special relationship was found on Subjective measures of hot flush 2. The Kupperman's Index, Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) and Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) were significantly correlated with each other. 3. There was significant correlation between Subjective measures of hot flush and Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Thus Menopausespecific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL) is considered the most suitable on hot flush related research. Conclusions: There was significant correlation between Subjective measures of hot flush and Menopausal scale, thus the use of various indicators are needed for the assessment of climacteric symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.114-125
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• 2011

Objectives: To understand relations general characteristics, lifestyle habits including smoking, alcohol habit, exercise, eating habit and menopausal symptoms measurement indicators during treatment for hot flush in menopausal women. Methods: The participants were 159 women (45~60 yr) who were not currently on hormone therapy, and had reached hot flash scores of 10 or higher. The evaluating indexes of this trial are hot flush score, hot flush visual analogue scale(VAS), Hot flush consistence time, sweating visual analogue scale(VAS), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS), Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Kupperman's Index. Results: 1. When the participants divided according to body mass index(BMI), overweight group showed a high score in all indicators. Therefore, obesity can aggravate the symptoms of menopause. 2. When the participants divided according to drinking habits, Hot flush consistence time of non-alcohol group showed a statistically significant difference. However, the sample size is uneven. Additional studies will be needed. 3. When the participants divided according to eating habits, Hot flush consistence time of regular group showed a statistically significant difference. However, the sample size uneven. Additional studies will be needed. 4. When the participants was divided depending on whether exercise, non-exercise group showed a high score in all indicators. Thus, exercise will be able to improve menopausal symptoms. Conclusions: Improvement of obesity and exercise will be able to improve menopausal symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.132-143
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide basic information on Korean medical research and treatment through analysis of breast cancer patients, who visited ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ university Korean medicine hospital. Methods: To analyze characteristics of breast cancer patients who visited korean medicine hospital, we searched medical records from January 1, 2016 to May 13, 2019, and 86 breast cancer patients were analyzed. Results: 1. The general characteristics of the subjects are as follows. The average age was $47.65{\pm}9.62years$ and 40's was the most (46.51%). The average height was $159.78{\pm}4.91cm$ and the average weight was $57.29{\pm}9.34kg$. The average body mass index (BMI) of the patients was $22.40{\pm}3.50kg/m^2$. 2. The stage distribution record indicated stage０ (9.72%), stageI (31.94%), stageII (34.72%), stageIII (20.83%) and stageIV (2.78%). 14 patients with unknown stage were excluded. 3. Before coming to the korean medicine hospital, of the 86 patients, 72 (83.72%) patients received surgical therapy, 55 (63.95%) patients received chemotherapy and 44 (51.16%) patients received radiotherapy. 11 (12.79%) patients chose oriental medicine as their primary treatment option. 4. The mean duration from diagnosis to hospital visit was $13.87{\pm}15.53months$. Among the total 86 patients, 46 (53.49%) patients visited for symptom relief during the follow-up period. 5. The most common symptom was general weakness in 29 (33.72%) patients, followed by hot flash, myalgia, insomnia, digestion disorder, numbness, edema, arthralgia, operation site pain, cold sensation and mastalgia. 6. Among 86 patients, 55 (63.95%) patients received acupuncture and moxibustion together. The most prescribed herbal medicine to subjects was Sibjeondaebo-tang-gamibang and Cheonhye-dan (25%). Conclusions: These results could be helpful to provide basic data on the Korean medical approach of breast cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.200-212
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• 2007

Purpose: To find objective validity of minimal acupuncture using a modified guide tube as a method to verify the effect of acupuncture. Methods: Subjects of this study were participants of a randomized clinical trial which was practiced to verify the effect of acupuncture on postmenopausal hot flash. There were 2 arms of treatment, one's for active acupuncture group(AG) with manipulation and De qi, the other's for minimal acupuncture group(MG) using a modified guide tube which was designed to give minimal stimulation to the patient. After 8 weeks' treatment followed by 4 weeks' observation, participants were asked to fill in self-report forms on their education, previous experiences of acupuncture, original idea on the efficacy of acupuncture and recognition of blinding. Results: 19 participants of 26 in AG and 19 of 26 in MG completed the self-report form. There was no difference between AG and MG in their education(p=0.5976, Fisher exact test) and previous experiences of acupuncture(p=0.9999, Fisher exact test). In their original ideas on the efficacy of acupuncture, most of AG and MG respondents have been thought that acupuncture is very effective or quite effective, and there was no difference between 2 groups(p=0.5065). 16 of 19 in AG and 14 of 19 in MG believed that they underwent more effective way, there was no statistical difference between 2 groups(p=0.6928, Fisher exact test). Participants believed in undergoing more effective way not because they recognized treatment method, but they were satisfied with the effectiveness of treatment retrospectively. Conclusion: As the result of this study, these authors suggest that minimal acupuncture using a modified guide tube is acceptable as a method to verify the effect of acupuncture in acupuncture-familiar Korean culture. Also further studies on the stimulation-specific effect of minimal acupuncture are demanded.