• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.265-276
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• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the clinical characteristics of 6 patients who were not improved after admitted conservative treatment in this 311 patients. Methods : We retrospectivety reviewed 311 patients of Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc which undenvent admitted conservative treatment from November 1997 to June 2000. 311 patients were diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in addition to physical examination. Other complications were not detected in 311 patients with Hemiated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc. In case that the scoliosis appeared to caused by severe pain, we included this scoliosis patient with the object of survey. Results : 1. In 6 patients who were not improved, 4 patients were large herniation and 2 patients were medium herniation. 2. In all of 6 patients, the angle of straight leg raising test was low and was not imporved unril discharge. 3. X-ray findings showed straightening in all of 6 patients, disc space narrowing in 3 of 6 patients. 4. X-ray findings showed scoliosis in 3 of 4 patients who were severe pain. 5. The onset was relarively long from 30 days to 7 years. 6. The age was relatively young from 10's to 30's. 7. The adimission date was ralatively long from 32 days to 105 days. Conclusions : In 6 patients, there were observed much volume of disc herniation, low angle of straight leg raising test, young people in an age group, straightening of x-ray finding.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2014

Objectives : The Purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical application of Bee venom pharmacopuncture and conservative treatment for lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and Femoroacetabular Impingement. Methods : Patient is hospitalized at Dept. of Oriental Internal Medicine, Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital, diagnosed as lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and Femoroacetabular Impingement and treated by Bee venom pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion. This study was measured by NRS(Numerical Rating Scale), ODI and EQ-5D. Results : After Bee venom pharmacopuncture and conservative oriental medical treatment, the patient's pain was controlled and NRS score was decreased. ODI and EQ-5D also were improved. Conclusions : As seen in this one case, Oriental conservative treatment and Bee venom pharmacopuncture have a positive effect to control pain with lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and Femoroacetabular Impingement.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explain the effect and reciprocal action among tumor necrosis factor (TNF) like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), and transforming growth factor-$\beta1$ (TGF-$\beta1$) on degeneration of human intervertebral disc (IVD). Methods: Human intervertebral disc tissues and cells were cultured with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium/Nutrient F-12 Ham (DMEM/F-12) media in $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. When IVD tissues were cultured with TWEAK, Fn14 that is an antagonistic receptor for TWEAK and TGF-$\beta1$, the level of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) was estimated by dimethyl methyleneblue (DMMB) assay and sex determining region Y (SRY)-box 9 (Sox9) and versican messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were estimated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: When human IVD tissue was cultured for nine days, the sGAG content was elevated in proportion to culture duration. The sGAG was decreased significantly by TWEAK 100 ng/mL, however, Fn14 500 ng/mL did not change the sGAG production of IVD tissue. The Fn14 increased versican and Sox9 mRNA levels decreased with TWEAK in IVD tissue TGF-$\beta1$ 20 ng/mL elevated the sGAG concentration 40% more than control. The sGAG amount decreased with TWEAK was increased with Fn14 or TGF-$\beta1$ but the result was insignificant statistically. TGF-$\beta1$ increased the Sox9 mRNA expression to 180% compared to control group in IVD tissue. Sox9 and versican mRNA levels decreased by TWEAK were increased with TGF-$\beta1$ in primary cultured IVD cells, however, Fn14 did not show increasing effect on Sox9 and versican. Conclusion: This study suggests that TWEAK would act a role in intervertebral disc degeneration through decreasing sGAG and the mRNA level of versican and Sox9.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.139-149
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to observe the effect of balanced acupuncture on herniated intervertebral disc of lumbar spine patients. Methods : We investigated 23 cases of in-patients with acute & subacute herniated intervertebral disc of lumbar spine in oriental hospital, and divided patients into two groups. We treated one group(12 people) by complex oriental medical treatment with Balanced acupuncture, and the other group(11 people) by complex oriental medical treatment without Balanced acupuncture. To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment applied for two groups, we used visual analog scale(VAS) and rating scale for low back pain at admission and discharge. Results : 1. In balanced acupuncture group and control group, compared with baseline and final. VAS was significantly improved. 2. In Balanced acupuncture group and control group, compared with baseline and final. Rating scale for low back pain was significantly improved. 3. VAS and rating scale for low back pain improvement rate in balanced acupuncture group were no statistical significance compared with control group. Conclusions : Balanced acupuncture might be used for relieving symptoms related with herniated intervertebral disc of lumbar spine, but it's no statistical significance.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1071-1082
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the efficacy of using Korean medicine treatment with cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. Case presentation: We used Korean medicine treatment (Gyejigabuja-tang, acupuncture) to treat a hospitalized patient with cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. To evaluate the treatment, we used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The degree of cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet was also evaluated using evaluation paper. The generic health status was measured using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale. The 31-year-old female underwent 13 days of inpatient treatment. Her pattern identification was that both hands and feet are cold (BiYangHeo) types. The treatments were herbal medicine and acupuncture. She took Gyejigabuja-tang for 13 days. She also received acupuncture for 20 minutes twice a day at LI11 (曲池), L14 (合谷), TE5 (外關) on her hands, LR3 (太衝), SP6 (三陰交), SP9 (陰陵泉) ST36 (足三里), GB41 (足臨泣) on Feet, GV4 (命門), GV3 (腰陽關), BL23 (腎兪), BL24 (氣海兪), BL25 (大腸兪), and BL26 (關元兪) on the low back. After 2 weeks of treatment, the NRS scale of her cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet symptoms dropped from NRS 7 to NRS 3, and her low back pain dropped from NRS 6 to NRS 3. Her cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet evaluation paper score decreased from 64 to 32, and her EQ-5D increased from 0.487 to 0.681. After the end of treatment, continued symptom improvements and no significant side effects were confirmed. Results: These findings suggest that Korean medical treatment (Gyejigabuja-tang, acupuncture) may be effective for treating cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. The NRS, evaluation paper, and EQ-5D scores improved after treatment, with no side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.447-453
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• 2021

Background: Provocative discography (PD) is a test that is useful in diagnosing discogenic pain (DP). In this study, to diagnose DP, we used a posterolateral approach of needle placement and followed pressure criteria laid down by the Spine Intervention Society. The aim was to identify the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings (desiccation, high intensity zone and change in shape and size of the disc) and the results of PD. Methods: Records of 50 patients who underwent PD for DP were analyzed. A total of 109 PDs were performed, with 54 suspect and 55 control discs. Alternate pain generators were ruled out. Results: A total of 35 suspect discs were positive on PD. The mean disc pressure in the suspect disc was 31.9 ± 7.9 psi (range, 15-44). Of the 50 patients who underwent PD, 35 had positive MRI findings. A significant positive correlation was found only between disc desiccation and discography result (r = 0.6, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that only desiccation successfully predicted the result of discography (OR = 26.5, P < 0.001); a high intensity zone and a disc protrusion/extrusion had an OR 2.3 and 1.24, respectively. Disc desiccation of Pfirmann grade 3 or more had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.93 and 0.64 respectively in identifying painful discs; the positive likelihood ratio was 2.58 while the negative likelihood ratio was 0.11. Conclusions: In patients with DP, disc desiccation is the most useful MRI feature that predicts a painful disc on PD.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.163-170
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• 1994

Low back pain is one of the moot common human diseases, striking $70\~80$ percent of the population. Many of the causes of low back pain are unknown. Yet, degenerative and mechanical changes are regarded by some as the most common cause of low back pain is physical therapy using various types of modalities and exercise. Therefore physical therapist must understand not only structure of intervertebral disk but also biomechanics of the lumbar intervertebral disk for prevent accourance of low back pain and treat patients with low back pain. The purpose of this article was to study biomechanices of the lumbar intervertebral disk and its intradiscal pressure in various position.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.241-256
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• 2011

Objectives: This study is to observe the effect of oriental medicine treatment combined with Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on traumatic rupture of intervertebral disc patients caused by traffic accidents. Methods: The patients who have traumatic rupture in lumbar(L)-spine(case 1) and cervical(C)-spine(case 2) were treated by oriental medicine treatment in combination with Soyeom pharmacopunture therapy. VAS(visual analog scale), ROM(range of motion), and physical exam were checked on a daily basis while NDI(neck disability index) and ODI(Oswestry disability index) were examined for 3 times at 7 day interval. Results: 1. Fer 8-9 days from the admission day, the sole use of oriental medicine treatment did not make many improvements in the case of two patients' symptoms. After combining with Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy, chief complaints were improved significantly. 2. In case 1, lumbago decreased from VAS 10 to VAS 5 and lumbar ROM got better than before. ODl score cropped from 42 to 27. 3. In case 2, left shoulder pain and nuchal pain lowered from VAS 10 to VAS 4, left upper limb numbness and weakness were improved, The patient showed nearly fun ROM. NDI score decreased from 26 to 19. Conclusions: Oriental medicine treatment in combination with Soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy is proved to be helpful to improve the symptoms of the traumatic rupture of intervertebral else patients caused by traffic accident.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.180-187
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• 2000

Objective : A number of evidence have suggested a pivotal role of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) on the degeneration of intervertebral disc. Proteins of intervertebral disc mainly consist of collagen and proteoglycan. These proteins can be destructed by MMP, resulting in changes of main collagen type and degeneration of matrix proteins. The present study was to determine the different effects of MMP-1 and MMP-2 on the degenerative spinal diseases, resulting from aging process. Clinical Materials & Methods : Thirty-one patients were randomly selected among 350 patients whose discs were resected during operation from March 1997 to February 1999. Patients were divided into two groups: group I with spinal stenosis and group II with herniated intervertebral disc. Group II was subdivided into the ruptured(Group Iia) and unruptured(Group Iib). Increases in MMP-1 immunopositive cells were observed in both groups, as evidenced by immunocytochemical staining. However, in marked contrast, the number of MMP-2 immunopositive cells were only seen in group II. There was no significant difference between Group IIa and Group IIb. The MMP-2 immunopositive cells were increased in the anulus fibrosus of ruptured(Group Iia) more than unruptured(Group Iib), but statistically it was not significant. In addition, the immunopositivity of MMP-1 and MMP-2 was proportional to patients's age. Conclusion : These results strongly suggests the possible involvement of MMP-2, but not MMP-1 in progressive herniated intervertevral disc.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.177-180
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to examine whether the effects of acupotomy therapy were beneficial for the treatment of protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc. Methods: The number of patients (n = 80) were equally assigned into treatment group and control group. Treatment group was given acupotomy therapy twice a week, and control group was given acupuncture 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. The beneficial effect and changes in score of the Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) for low back pain were observed. Results: Among 40 cases in the treatment group, there were 25 (62.5%) with an excellent effect, 13 (32.5%) with good effect, 1 (2.5%) with a medium effect and 1 (2.5%) with poor effect, with the total experiencing an excellent/good effect of 95.0%. Among 40 cases in the control group, there were 11 (27.5%) with an excellent effect, 17 (42.5%) with good effect, 10 (25.0%) with a medium effect, and 2 (5.0%) with poor effect, with an excellent/good rate of 70.0%. The result of the rank sum test showed Z = -4.923, p < 0.05 in the comparison, indicating a significantly better outcome following acupotomy compared with acupuncture. JOA scores increased in both groups after treatment (p < 0.05), which was more significant in the acupotomy treatment group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupotomy therapy has a beneficial effect on protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc.