• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2020

Sacral insufficiency fractures (SIF) are a common, but often underdiagnosed source of lower back pain without apparent trauma. This report presents the clinical outcome of a 75-year-old female with SIF, and an underlying medical history of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. She was treated non-operatively, in-hospital, with Korean medicine. Patient progress was assessed using the numerical rating scale and self-reported symptoms. Post-treatment, the numerical rating scale score for pain in her hip decreased from 7 to 2. At admission, the patient was unable to sit, and could only walk 3 m with assistance. At discharge, she could sit for longer than 1 hour and walk further than 200 m unassisted. On the follow-up visit, the patient was asymptomatic, and x-ray scans showed ossification of the sacral and pubic fractures. These results suggest that, Korean medicine can effectively reduce pain and aid rehabilitation in patients with SIF, without the need for surgery.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effects of needle-embedding acupuncture therapy combined with Korean medicine on a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. Methods : We treated one patient with a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc with needle-embedding acupuncture therapy combined with Korean medical treatment. We checked the numeric rating scale(NRS), oswestry low back pain disability index(ODI) and straight leg raising test(SLRT). Results : In this case, the numeric rating scale decreased, while the straight leg raising test results improved. Conclusion : Needle-embedding acupuncture therapy could be effective for pain-reduction for a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.320-324
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• 2021

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common degenerative spinal condition that can have unpredictable improvement and worsening of symptoms which include low back pain, radiating pain, claudication, and degenerative lumbar scoliosis affecting quality of life. In this study, thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was used as a conservative treatment for LSS in combination with complex Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, herbal medicines, and physical therapy). The treatment was evaluated using the numerical rating scale, walking distance and duration, and inclination of radiological lumbar scoliosis according to antalgic posture. TEA was performed 27 times between June 8, 2020, and March 16, 2021. The patient showed improvement in numerical rating scale score from 7 to 2, pain-free walking distance from 10 m to 900 m, and scoliosis inclination following treatment. The findings of this study suggest that TEA may be helpful in the treatment of LSS.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6711-6714
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• 2015

Background: Insomnia is a common condition in cancer patients. In spite of the high prevalence its associations have not been well studied. Existing data suggests that insomnia is related to depression and pain. However, the impact of ongoing chemotherapy on sleep is not investigated. Aim: To study the relationship between insomnia and chemotherapy after analysing confounding variables. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients who visited New England Oncology Clinic in Tamworth were recruited. Insomnia was assessed with the Bergen insomnia scale. The Montgomery Asberg Depression rating scale was used to measure depression. Pain was assessed with the Brief Pain inventory. Chronic medical conditions, type of cancer, side effects to chemotherapy, role of steroids and other drugs were studied as confounders. Results: A total of 56 patients participated in the study. Age ranged from 33 to 83 years (mean: 63.6, SD=10.97). There were 29 men and 27 women. 42 patients received at least one form of chemotherapy and 15 were receiving radiotherapy at the time of assessment. Mean insomnia score was significantly higher in those receiving chemotherapy than in those without chemotherapy (8.92 vs 17.2, two tailed p=0.005, 95% CI=2.63-13.71). There was no significant variation in insomnia scores in terms of chronic medical condition, type of cancer, psychiatric history, use of steroids or adverse effects of chemotherapy. However, total insomnia score was correlated with depression rating score (Pearson correlation, r=0.39, p=0.003) and magnitude of pain (r=0.37, p=0.006). On regression analysis only pain was found to be predictive of insomnia. Conclusions: Insomnia in patients with cancer is found to be associated with concurrent chemotherapy and correlated with degree of depression and pain. Identifying factors related to insomnia in cancer population has implications in its management and patient education.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.86-94
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• 2007

Objective : Kuesu point is a newly discovered point, it is located in 3-cun from the centre of sacrum laterally, paralleled to the 4th foramen on the sacrum. This controlled trial was to evaluate the superior effect of Kuesu point on back pain which radiated to lower extremities. Methods : Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) and Single Blind in patient was designed. Patients (n=31) were randomized to two groups, Kuesu-point acupuncture group (Group A, n=16) and non Kuesu point acupuncture group (Group B, n=15). Group A was acupunctured on B25 (大腸兪), B26 (關元兪) and B60 (崑崙) with Kuesu point. Group B was acupunctured on the same points without Kuesu point. The clinical subjects were female patients. Beside acupuncture, the other therapies were excluded. Clinical period was three weeks total. Each group was treated 4-5 times per week for 3 weeks. The outcome measurements were The Estimation Index of Backache (quality of life), Pain Rating Scale (pain intensity) and other physical examinations (ROM, SLR, etc.). Results : 31 patients (Group A: n=16, Group B: n=15) were Randomized, 6 of them dropped out. Eventually 25 patients (Group A: n=15, Group B: n=10) were included in the analysis. Group A acupunctured on Kuesu point scored more significant Estimation Index of Backache and lower PRS (Pain Rating Scale) than Group B acupunctured without Kuesu point (p=0.003/2). It turned out that the group acupunctured on Kuesu point show meaningful high improvement index. And other examination's results showed that the treatment effects of Group A are twice as better as Group B. Conclusion : These results suggest that Kuesu point acupuncture was more effective on lower back pain and improved the life quality of patients, being compared with non Kuesu point acupuncture.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2019

Background: Uncooperative behavior of children due to dental anxiety may interfere with the effective delivery of dental care and compromise the quality of treatment provided. Injection of local anesthesia is one of the most anxiety-inducing stimuli in pediatric dentistry. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a child-friendly device, having a combined effect of vibration and distraction, with the conventional method of injection on pain, anxiety, and behavior of pediatric patients aged 6-11 years. Methods: This randomized, crossover, split-mouth study included 30 children requiring a bilateral inferior alveolar nerve block. The children were equally divided into two groups: group 1, aged 6-8 and group 2, aged 9-11 years. All children were injected with anesthesia using the conventional and device method in two separate sessions. They were assessed for anxiety by measuring the pulse rate before and during the administration of local anesthesia. Behavior was assessed using Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale, and the child's experience while receiving anesthesia was assessed using the Wong Bakers Pain Rating Scale. Results: Results showed that the children who received local anesthesia using the device method had a lower mean pulse rate, FLACC scores, and pain rating scores than those who received local anesthesia using the conventional method. Conclusion: The device method was more effective than the conventional method in managing pain, anxiety, and behavior of patients aged 6-11 years. The device is a cost effective, simple, and child-friendly product for administrating local anesthesia in pediatric patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.115-127
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• 2023

Objectives Through this study, we investigated the effects of Korean medicine treatments on range of motion recovery and pain reduction in patients with Frozen shoulder. Methods In this study, the medical records of 26 patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder were retrospectively observed and analyzed through the IBM SPSS Statistics 25 program. We used range of motion to observe the patient's motion recovery and numeric rating scale to evaluate pain reduction. Results The shoulder range of motion increased statistically significantly from 160.0 (123.5~170.0) to 170.0 (160.0~180.0) (flexion), 115.0 (90.0~135.0) to 167.5 (130.0~178.8) (abduction), 40.8±22.1 to 58.3±16.0 (external rotation) (p<0.001). The average of numeric rating scale reduced statistically significantly from 6.7±2.0 to 3.2±1.4 (p<0.001). Depending on the period, the range of motion increased statistically significantly when visited within 3 months, also the pain score decreased 7.0 (5.4~8.0) to 3.0 (1.8~3.6) statistically significantly when visited within 3 months. In the treatment intervention, the increase in the range of motion and the decrease in pain were statistically significant, especially when the bee venom acupuncture and chuna manaul therapy were used together. Conclusions Korean medicine treatments was effective in improving the range of motion and reducing pain in frozen shoulders. In particular, when treated within 3 months of onset and when bee venom acupuncture and chuna manual therapy were used together, it was effective in recovering the range of motion and reducing pain.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.69-79
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aims to report the effect of Korean medicine treatments on a patient with secondary dysmenorrhea caused by Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome (HWWS). Methods: We treated the patient who had secondary dysmenorrhea caused by HWWS, with acupuncture, herbal medicines, pharmacopuncture and hyperthermia therapy at ⃝⃝Hospital of Korean Medicine from July 9th 2016 to September 8th 2016. We evaluated changes of symptoms by Visual analog scale score (VAS), Multidimensional verbal rating scale (MVRS) and Verbal rating scale (VRS). Results: After treatments, the clinical symptoms such as dysmenorrhea (lower abdominal pain & lower back pain), lower abdominal fullness were significantly improved, VAS was decreased, but the improvement of scores on MVRS, VRS were unclear. Conclusions: This case report shows that Korean medical treatment is effective to treat secondary dysmenorrhea caused by HWWS.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.81-93
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• 2022

Objective : This study reports on the case of a patient with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosed by the Shanghanlun disease pattern identification diagnostic system (DPIDS). We tried to verify the therapeutic effects of Soseunggi-tang (SSGT) administration and pathological character. Methods : The patient was administered SSGT for 31 days. We observed the progression of symptoms, patient compliance, and the presence of side effects. The progression of IBS was evaluated based the on Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). Abdominal pain, flatus, visual findings, and patient statements were also assessed. Results : According to the DPIDS, the patient was diagnosed with Yangmingbing (陽明病). As a result, his GSRS score dropped from 15 to 5, the visual analog scale (VAS) score for abdominal pain lowered from 9 to 4, and the VAS score for flatus decreased from 8 to 4. The stool type changed from diarrhea to a loose stool form. Conclusions : SSGT showed therapeutic effects on the patient diagnosed with IBS and Yangmingbing.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.127-134
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• 2019

The Objective of this study is to report the results of greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) patient with Korean medicine therapy. There were insufficient clinical trials and case reports of GTPS treated with Korean medicine, we report the GTPS case remarkably improved treatment results. We treated the patient with acupuncture, acupotomy, pharmacopuncture, Chuna manual therapy and herbal medication. To evaluate the treatment effects, we used the measures including Verbal numerical rating scale, Oswestry disability index and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-gluteal tendinopathy scale. After total of 26 days of treatment, the patient's hip pain and disability were greatly reduced, and the outcome measures showed this great improvement. Korean medicine therapy might be effective in GTPS, although further study is needed to determine the role for Korean medicine.