• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.346-368
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• 2021

Background: Recalcitrant disc herniation may result in chronic lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica. Fluoroscopically directed epidural injections and other conservative modalities may provide inadequate improvement in some patients. In these cases, percutaneous neurolysis with targeted delivery of medications is often the next step in pain management. Methods: An evidence-based system of methodologic assessment, namely, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used. Multiple databases were searched from 1966 to January 2021. Principles of the best evidence synthesis were incorporated into qualitative evidence synthesis. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with significant pain relief and functional improvement (≥ 50%). Duration of relief was categorized as short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months). Results: This assessment identified one high-quality randomized controlled trial (RCT) and 5 moderate-quality non-randomized studies with an application of percutaneous neurolysis in disc herniation. Overall, the results were positive, with level II evidence. Conclusions: Based on the present systematic review, with one RCT and 5 non-randomized studies, the evidence level is II for percutaneous neurolysis in managing lumbar disc herniation.

• CELLMED
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.72.1-72.3
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• 2024

Objective: Improvement of symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using OCNT Methods: The patient was a Korean woman in her 50s who was experiencing foot pain due to rheumatoid arthritis and was experiencing discomfort in her daily life. OCNT was applied to the patient for approximately 6 months. Results: After starting OCNT, the patient's joint pain and chest pain gradually decreased, and after about six months, she no longer felt discomfort due to these symptoms. Conclusion: For rheumatoid arthritis patients suffering from joint pain and chest pain, OCNT can help relieve symptoms.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.13
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• pp.48.1-48.6
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• 2023

Objective: Case study of hemorrhoid improvement by ortho-cellular nutrition therapy. Methods: A Korean woman in her 40s had been experiencing hemorrhoid symptoms for two years, and recently, severe anal pain rendered her unable to carry out daily activities. Results: After implementing nutrition therapy, the patient's anal pain and edema were completely resolved. Conclusion: Applying nutrition therapy to patients with hemorrhoids can assist in symptom relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 1998

Background: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) have been used for various pain syndromes for their analgesic effects. They, however, often have anticholinergic side effects and therefore search for more selective drugs with fewer side effects is justified. Paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor devoid of autonomic side effects, was evaluated for its role as an analgesic adjuvant in the management of neuropathic pain. Method: According to individual diagnostic group as diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, central pain syndrome and cancer related plexopathy, 10 patients per each group were equally accumulated. Patients have been stabilized in their analgesic regimen at least four weeks prior to enrollment into study. TCA, if taken, was discontinued for two weeks for wash out period. Baseline four point verbal pain intensity score was obtained and oral administration of paroxetine 20 mg was initiated. At two weeks follow-up visit, pain intensity scores, pain improvement scores judged by family, drug efficacy, tolerability and overall evaluation were assessed. The incidence of side effects were also obtained. Result: After two weeks of treatment, pain intensity scores decreased in 77.5% of patients and no patients experienced aggravation. These findings were objectively reflected in pain improvement scores judged by family members. But, the number of nonresponders was different among groups. In drug efficacy, tolerability and overall evaluation, the proportions of patients who scored as excellent or good were 75%, 80% and 80% respectively. Incidence of side effects was 27.5%, but the side effects spontaneously disappeared after discontinuation of medication. Conclusion: Paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, appears to be effective as adjuvant analgesic for the management of various neuropathic pain syndromes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.33-45
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to compare the effects of spinal manipulation combined with medication on low back pain (LBP), range of motion, and disability in patients with chronic LBP. Methods : Twenty patients with chronic LBP were included in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to the spinal manipulation with medication group (n=10) or the medication only group (n=10). The intervention group received spinal manipulation for 15 minutes, twice a week, and took medication twice a day for eight weeks. The control group received the medication twice daily for eight weeks. Pain intensity assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion, and disability due to LBP assessed using the Oswestry disability index were measured before and after the intervention. Results : The intervention group showed a significant improvement in pain intensity compared to the control group (p<.05), and the intervention and control groups significantly improved low back pain after the intervention (p<.05). The intervention group showed a significant improvement in the range of motion in flexion, extension, right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion, and right rotation (p<.05). The intervention group also showed a significant improvement in the change of disability in total score, pain intensity, personal care, lifting and standing compared to the control group (p<.05). Conclusion : This study showed that the combination of spinal manipulation and medication can benefit patients with chronic LBP, as evidenced by significant improvements in pain intensity, ROM, and disability. These findings suggest that utilizing both spinal manipulation and medication can positively affect individuals with chronic LBP. The results of this study should be applied in clinical settings to optimize treatment outcomes in patients with chronic LBP.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 2019

Background: After tooth extraction, pain due to dry socket and pain in the adjacent tooth are common. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze pain in the adjacent tooth after surgical extraction of the mandibular third molar. Methods: Postoperative pain due to dry socket, pain in the adjacent tooth, and pain from other causes were present. Group A included patents with dry socket alone; group B included patients with pain in the adjacent tooth alone; and group C included patients with both. The duration of symptoms was recorded. In addition, the prognosis of pain was divided into the complete improvement, improvement, maintenance, deterioration, and complete deterioration groups. Results: A total of 312 mandibular third molars were extracted from 13, 60, and 10 patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms was 5 days in group A and B and 15.2 days in group C. There were statistically significant differences in the duration of symptoms between groups A and C and groups B and C. Conclusion: Pain in the adjacent tooth after third molar extraction can be caused by inflammatory reactions and pressure on this tooth. The pain caused by pressure on the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone results from the cytokines released by osteoclasts, which are responsible for bone destruction. However, pain from periodontal ligament damage caused by excessive pressure may be misunderstood as pulpal pain. Unconscious parafunctional habits, such as clenching and bruxism, could also be associated with post-extraction pain.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the improvement rate in managering patients who had lumbago and pain in loin & feet by herbal-acupunture therapy with conservative treatment. Methods : 40patients who invited from March. 2003 to May. 2004 with lumbago and pain in loin & feet inve, were divided into two classes. A class was managed with conservative treatment(acupuncture, herb med, negative therapy, bed rest and physical therapy) and herbal-acupuncture therapy, the other class was managed with conservative treatment only. Two classes were distributed by sex and age, therapeutic periods, radiolographic results and therapeutic results that checked with VAS(visual analog scale) and ODI(Oswestry disability index). Results : According to VAS and OBI results, A class was managed with conservative treatment and herbal-acupuncture therapy shows the improvement in controling the pain of lumbago etc. comparing with the other class.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.48-55
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• 2001

Objective : The main cause of back pain & sciatica is HNP of L-spine. Recently, 8 Constitution Acupuncture is largely used for it, but the effects isn't announced. So we studied. The perceived pain diminishment is compared with Body acupuncture and 8 Constitution acupuncture. Methods : VAS(Visual analogue scale) was used for this research, with the pain indicator of 10 and 0 which represents a patient admission to a hospital and a status of no pain respectively. Two groups, consisting of Body acupuncture group with 17 persons and 8 Constitution acupuncture group with 12 persons, was randomly allocated for this research. SPSS(Statistical Program for Social Science) for window is used for a statistical analysis, and the independent T-test is performed to gauge the improvement of VAS, in which case, value of P below 0.05 is considered as useful. Results : The result of the VAS of comparison analysis between two groups after 10 days, shows that the improvement of subjective symptoms in Body acupuncture group is more effective than that in 8 Constitution acupuncture group. (independent T-test, P=0.009)

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.264-270
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) presented in a tertiary medical center, characteristics of patients and results of the diagnostic work-up together with an outcome during the follow up. Methods: This was a retrospective, single center, observational study including all patients who were diagnosed with FGID based on Rome III criteria from January to December 2015 in tertiary medical center. Results: Overall 294 children were included (mean age, 8.9 years [range, 1-18 years]; 165 females). Majority had functional constipation (35.4%), followed by functional abdominal pain (30.6%), irritable bowel syndrome (17.0%), functional dyspepsia (12.6%), functional nausea (3.4%) and abdominal migraine (1.0%). Regression model found that only significant factor associated with improvement of symptoms is the establishment of the functional diagnosis at the first visit (hazard ratio, 2.163; 95% confidence inverval, 1.029-4.544). There was no association between improvement of symptoms and presence of alarm signs/symptoms (weight loss, nocturnal symptoms and severe vomiting) at diagnosis. Furthermore, in pain symptoms (functional abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia) no treatment positively correlated with pain improvement. Conclusion: Regardless of the initial diagnosis of FGID, positive diagnosis at the first visit increases a chance for resolution of symptoms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.233-238
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Korean medicine treatments on pain reduction and functional improvement of patients after rotator cuff surgery. We studied 10 patients who had admitted to Dunsan Korean Medical hospital after have being diagnosed as rotator cuff tear and got a surgery at other hospital from April 30, 2014 to April 30, 2019. This study was conducted as retrospective study which analyzes patient's medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS statistics 24 program. We used Numeric Rating Scale to evaluate pain reduction, Range of Motion to evaluate shoulder functional improvement and Five-point likert scale to evaluate the patient's satisfaction. The result showed that Korean medicine treatments statistically significantly reduced pain on the patients after rotator cuff surgery. Although there were improvement of Range of Motion, it wasn't statistically significant. In conclusion, we found that the Korean medicine treatments showed a positive effect on pain reduction of patients after rotator cuff surgery and got a high satisfaction.