• 척추신경추나의학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.185-196
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• 2009

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of oriental medicine conservative treatment on patients who show symptoms at the legion opposed to that shown in Magnetic Resonance Image(MRI) findings. Subject & Method: Oriental medicine treatment such as acupuncture and herbs was applied to two patients who were diagnosed as lateral herniated intervertebral disc of lumbar spine via MRI but whose pain and muscular force attenuation were shown at the opposed lower limb, for measuring its effects. Results: As for the two cases, the patients were favored in the Visual Analog Score (VAS) and the Straight leg Raising(SLR) test after the oriental medicine conservative treatment. In one case, the muscular force in the lower limb was favored. Conclusion: Based on the results in this study, oriental medicine conservative treatment might be effective on patients who show symptoms at the legion opposed to that shown in MRI findings.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국의학물리학회 2002년도 Proceedings
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• pp.352-355
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after stroke. Using 3T MRI scanner, functional MR imaging of the whole brain was performed in 12 normal healthy subjects during two stimulation paradigms; acupuncture manipulation on GB 34 and sham points. This study investigates the activation of the mortor cortex elicited by a soft and an intensified stimulation of GB 34. Three different paradigms were carried out to detect any possible modulation of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response in the somatomortor area to motor stimulation through acupuncture. Group analysis from seven individuals showed that bilateral sensorimotor areas (BA 3,4,6 and 7) showed stimulation related BOLD signal contrast of approximately 6% whereas very few areas were activated when sham stimulation is given. The present study shows that acupuncture fMRI study can be safely conducted in 3T MRI environment, and acupuncture stimulation in GB34 modulates the cortical activities of the somatomotor area in human. The present findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of motor function by acupuncture and form a basis for future investigations of motor modulation circuits in the stroke patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.57-71
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• 2004

Objective : Physiological evidence regarding acupuncture's effect in human patients is not yet well established, despite considerable evidence for its therapeutic efficacy. Besides target or disease specificity of acupuncture, acupuncture analgesia (AA) appears to be another large subclass that poses many questions, such as whether there is point specificity with respect to which acupoint is most effective for a particular condition. Methods : We observed brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of stimuli that consist of pain, pain following Meridian acupuncture, and pain following Sham acupuncture. Results : Among the new observations, the most interesting fact is that data sets of both Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture show decreased activation of the same brain areas related to the pain processing signals. Present functional MRI study demonstrate two important biological observations that could elucidate AA mechanism in human participants: the effects of acupuncture occur through mediation of the higher brain areas. Sham acupuncture stimulation appears to be almost as effective as traditional Meridian acupoint stimulation, suggesting that acupuncture is not entirely point specific. Decreased activation in the limbic paleo cortical areas appears to be the probable neurological manifestation of AA and strongly implies that acupuncture stimulation inhibits the transmission of ascending pain signals to the higher cortical areas by the previously known descending pain inhibitory circuit. Conclusion : We, therefore, a hypothesized that this pain inhibitory circuit is initiated and mediated via the broad sense Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (BS HPA) axis in conjunction to the "sensory stimulation."

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.90-96
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• 2023

The discoid meniscus is an innate modified form of the meniscus, characterized by middle hypertrophy and a larger than the regular diameter, leading to an absence of the characteristic "C" arrangement. Previously, no study has reported the traditional Korean medicine treatment of knee pain mainly due to discoid meniscus. Here, we report two cases of a discoid meniscus of the knee as the cause of knee pain. Patients were diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging for discoid meniscus and received traditional Korean medicine treatments, including pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and chuna. The pain was alleviated when assessed by patient-reported pain scale scores, and the general knee condition was improved. Thus, traditional Korean medicine treatments could be effective for patients who had discoid meniscus of the knee joint in this case report.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.78-89
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• 2023

This paper presents the clinical outcome of an 82-year-old female who experienced sudden back pain combined with lower limb paresthesia and weakness after epidural steroid injection. The magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine showed a spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) extending from T8 to L4. She was treated non-operatively in the traditional Korean medicine (TKM) hospital. The patient's progress was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIS), Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM III), and self-reported symptoms. During the 22-day hospitalization period,the NRS score decreased from 7 to 2 points, the motor score on the ASIS scale increased from 65 to 95 points. The subjective sense of lower extremities was felt by 1 increased to 8. The SCIM III score increased from 32 to 69 points. These results suggest that TKM could effectively reduce pain and aid the rehabilitation of patients with SEH.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.382-388
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• 2023

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is crucial for stabilizing the ulnar side of the wrist but can be partially torn due to degenerative changes, falling, or sudden injuries. However, only a few studies have focused on the use of Korean medicine treatments for TFCC-related wrist pain. This case report presents the successful outcomes of integrated Korean medicine treatment in a patient with a partial TFCC tear. The diagnosis was confirmed via magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed the tear. Subsequently, the patient received integrated Korean medicine treatments. The assessment of the pain scale scores revealed a significant reduction in wrist pain and an improvement in daily life activities. Based on the findings of this study, integrated Korean medicine treatments have been proven to be an effective treatment option for patients with a partial TFCC tear. However, further research is needed to determine the potential benefits and mechanisms of these treatments in managing TFCC-related wrist pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.244-247
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• 2018

Multiple vertebral compression fractures are a rare condition and are a serious consequence of postpartum osteoporosis. This report describes the case of a 35-year-old woman who had given birth to her first child 2 months before the onset of pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed compression fractures of 7 vertebrae. The patient was treated with both conventional, and Korean medicine methods including acupuncture and herbal prescriptions. The patient's progress was assessed using self-reported symptoms, scale scores and laboratory test results. Her pain was gradually alleviated and biochemical inflammation marker levels improved, but her functional status remained severely impaired. Clinical practitioners who treat women in the postpartum period must be aware of osteoporosis and potential vertebral fractures and need to consider Korean medicine as an alternative therapy to help such patients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.175-185
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• 2008

Objective : Acupuncture (from the Latin acus, "needle," and pungere, "to prick") is a technique of inserting and manipulating fine needles at specific points on the body. As a placebo acupuncture needle device was developed based on the visual impact of needling, it has been raised that it is useful only when acupuncture points and needling are visible to subjects. To examine the visual factor of the placebo acupuncture, the present study was aimed to compare the blinding index of the verum and placebo acupuncture between masked and unmasked situation. Methods : Thirty-six patients were randomly alloted to be stimulated with a verum or placebo acupuncture in a cross-over design. They were asked to guess a right answer whether they were stimulated with the verum or placebo acupuncture at LI4 in an unmasked or masked situation. The penetrating, pain, and deqi sensations were also measured after the stimulation using modified visual analogue scale. Results : The correct answer rate of the placebo acupuncture was 22.2% and 16.7% in an unmasked and masked situation, respectively (P>0.767). The blinding index of the placebo acupuncture was -0.56 (95%CI -0.84 to -0.27) and -0.67 (95%CI -0.91 to -0.42) in an unmasked and masked situation, respectively. The penetrating and deqi sensation of the verum acupuncture were significantly higher than those of the placebo acupuncture in both unmasked and masked situation. The pain sensation of the verum acupuncture was significantly higher than that of the placebo acupuncture in masked situation, but not in unmasked situation. Conclusion : Blinding of the placebo acupuncture was successful both in the unmasked and masked situation. These finding indicate that visual factor might not play a critical role in blinding of the placebo needle. We suggest that placebo needle would be also useful in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan even when the subject could not see the placebo needle.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제16권11호
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• pp.7367-7376
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• 2015

본 연구는 경혈점에 적용한 자장요법이 여고생의 월경통에 미치는 효과를 파악하여 여고생들에게 효율적인 자가 간호 중재로써의 활용가능성을 검증하고자 시도된 무작위 할당 대조군 전후설계이다. 자료수집기간은 2006년 3월부터 4월까지로, 보건실을 방문한 여고생에게 실험 전, 설문지에 통증척도인 도표 평정 척도(Grapic Rating Scale, GRS)와 분만어휘 평정척도(Adjective Labor Pain Rating Scale, ALPRS)를 작성하게 한 뒤 각 군에게 직경 12mm, 두께 3mm의 원형 자석에 800~1200Gauss의 자력이 있는 의료용 자석을 3시간동안 적용하였다. 설문지는 각각 자석 적용 직후 3시간과 제거 후 3시간에 설문지인 GRS와 ALPRS를 작성하게 하였다. 연구결과 경혈점에 자장요법을 적용한 실험군은 적용하지 않은 대조군보다 월경통 GRS와 ALPRS가 유의하게 감소하였다. 이상의 결과로 경혈점에 적용한 자장요법이 여고생의 월경통에 통증경감에 효과가 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 따라서 비약물요법으로서의 월경통 완화를 위한 간호중재법으로 활용할 것을 기대한다. 또한 본 연구에서 ALPRS가 월경통에 대해 타당성이 제시되었으므로 추후 연구를 통해 ALPRS의 타당도 검증을 위한 반복 연구가 필요하다. 여고생들의 월경통 경감을 위한 보완대체요법으로 적용하게 될 것을 제언한다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.185-189
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• 2017

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the change in radiating leg pain after traffic accidents in patients with and without herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) and improvement of radiating leg pain after traffic accidents. Methods: This was an retrospective study of 188 patients. Patients who had been admitted to the Hospital of Korean Medicine with the complaint of radiating leg pain after traffic accidents, and who had undergone lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging to determine the presence or absence of HIVD were observed from April to June 2016. We analyzed sex, age, length of admission, direction (to a single leg or to both legs) and locations, (medial, anterior, lateral or posterior side of the lower limb) of radiating leg pain, presence or absence of HIVD, and number, grade and position of HIVD. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the impact of radiating leg pain on patients. Results: Radiating leg pain NRS score decreased significantly in both the HIVD group (from $6.12{\pm}2.39$ to $4.31{\pm}1.87$, p < 0.001) and the no HIVD group (from $5.76{\pm}1.64$ to $3.85{\pm}1.41$, p < 0.001). ODI score also decreased significantly in both groups (HIVD, from $44.67{\pm}17.38$ to $26.83{\pm}13.18$; no HIVD, from $39.24{\pm}15.58$ to $19.69{\pm}12$.; both p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was no significant change in radiating leg pain after traffic accidents in patients with and without HIVD and improvement of radiating leg pain after traffic accidents.