• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.156-164
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• 2021

Several types of pain occur following spinal cord injury (SCI); however, neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the most intractable. Invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have been studied in clinical trials to treat chronic NP following SCI. The evidence for invasive stimulation including motor cortex and deep brain stimulation via the use of implanted electrodes to reduce SCI-related NP remains limited, due to the small scale of existing studies. The lower risk of complications associated with non-invasive stimulation, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), provide potentially attractive alternative central neuromodulation techniques. Compared to rTMS, tDCS is technically easier to apply, more affordable, available, and potentially feasible for home use. Accordingly, several new studies have investigated the efficacy of tDCS to treat NP after SCI. In this review, articles relating to the mechanisms, clinical efficacy and safety of tDCS on SCI-related NP were searched from inception to December 2019. Six clinical trials, including five randomized placebo-controlled trials and one prospective controlled trial, were included for evidence specific to the efficacy of tDCS for treating SCI-related NP. The mechanisms of action of tDCS are complex and not fully understood. Several factors including stimulation parameters and individual patient characteristics may affect the efficacy of tDCS intervention. Current evidence to support the efficacy of utilizing tDCS for relieving chronic NP after SCI remains limited. Further strong evidence is needed to confirm the efficacy of tDCS intervention for treating SCI-related NP.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2022

Background: The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia remains a challenging issue. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) provide optimized therapy for chronic pain. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the attenuation of trigeminal neuralgia by SHED. Methods: Trigeminal neuralgia was induced by chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve. The mechanical threshold was assessed after model establishment and local SHED transplantation. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphology and Caspase12 expression in trigeminal ganglion (TG) was evaluated as well. BiP expression was observed in PC12 cells induced by tunicamycin. Results: The local transplantation of SHED could relieve trigeminal neuralgia in rats. Further, transmission electron microscopy revealed swelling of the ER in rats with trigeminal neuralgia. Moreover, SHED inhibited the tunicamycin-induced up-regulated expression of BiP mRNA and protein in vitro. Additionally, SHED decreased the up-regulated expression of Caspase12 mRNA and protein in the TG of rats caused by trigeminal neuralgia after chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve mode. Conclusions: This findings demonstrated that SHED could alleviate pain by relieving ER stress which provide potential basic evidence for clinical pain treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2021

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. Despite the effectiveness of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and lidocaine patches in reducing PHN, many patients still face intractable pain disorders. In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated whether hydromorphone through intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was effective in relieving PHN. Methods: Patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups, one group received oral pregabalin with IV normal saline, another group received oral pregabalin with additional IV PCA hydromorphone for two weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatments. Results: Two hundred and one patients were followed up for 12 weeks. After treatment, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of patients in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference of NRS scores between the two groups was statistically significant at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. The frequency of breakthrough pain in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 and 4 weeks after treatment. After treatment, the quality of sleep in the hydromorphone group was significantly improved compared with the control group. The most common adverse reactions in the hydromorphone group were dizziness and nausea, with no significant respiratory depression. Conclusions: IV PCA hydromorphone combined with oral pregabalin provides superior pain relief in patients with PHN, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.190-194
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture on breast keloid. Methods: The acupuncture was used for relieving pain and pruritus. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated with inspection and patient's report. Results: After treatment, the symptoms of breast keloid were improved. Conclusion: This case report shows that the acupuncture relieves the pain and pruritus caused by keloid.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.122-129
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• 2003

In this study, a group of 25 patients between the ages of $22{\sim}55$ received acupuncture treatments for tennis elbow. The variance has some high value. 1. The distribution of an age group in 22 to 55 and the average age of men is $40.9{\pm}9.3$ and the average age of women is $39.5{\pm}3.6$. Total average age is $40.4{\pm}8.4$. 2. Before the acupuncture treatments the average pain degree for the group is $4.72{\pm}0.6$ and after treatments, it is $2.36{\pm}1.6$. Statistically, the variance has some high value. 3. There were statistically significant difference in the pain degree before and after the acupuncture treatment according to the age. By these results, acupuncture treatments will be useful to the first-line treatment for tennis elbow.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.25-28
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• 2019

Now a days problem in health has become common. So, instead of curing them, prevention through dietary supplements has proven to be useful. In the case of patients who have already developed the disease atleast relieving pain and suffer is a challenging thing. In this context L- arginine is doing better compared to other essential aminoacids up to some extent. Arginine was found to reduce the pain associated with pulmonary hypertension foun to be associated with sickle cell anaemia. It also reduces the reperfusion injury after ischemia, trauma and shock. Some of the drugs with L-arginine as component are under clinical trials and hope to be available in the market soon. Severe preeclampsia is characterised by headaches, blurred vision, and inability to have high photovision, nausea and vomiting. L-Arginine along with Vit C and E are given as medical food to the patients and decrease in condition symptoms is the project now under phase II clinical trial. However the role of arginine in ameolirating preeclampsia symptoms is uncertain except with that of hypertension. Arginine is used to treat pain in sickle cell anaemia, lung damage, reperfusion injury, Trauma and shock but should be excluded during sepsis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to overview the studies of acupuncture treatment for vulvodynia. Methods: In order to investigate the effect of acupuncture treatment for vulvodynia, we searched relevant studies in Pubmed, Cochrane, Oasis, KISS up to October 2018. After searching studies, we analyzed selected studies. Results: Six studies were included in this review. There were 3 randomized controlled studies and 3 before and after studies. The outcome measurement of vulvodynia was divided into pain, sexual function, and quality of life. The acupuncture treatment was effective in relieving vulvar pain, dyspareunia and improving quality of life. Conclusions: This study shows that acupuncture treatment is one of effective treatment methods for vulvodynia. Further large randomized placebo controlled trials will be needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.91-100
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• 2009

Objectives : The objective of this study is to investigate Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Clematidis Radix (CR) herbal-acupuncture on the test rats with induced acute pain. Methods : The effects of Clematidis Radix (CR)-distillates were investigated in three types of models with three different pain. Highly purified distillate of CR called CR herbal-acupuncture was injected to Zusanli ($ST_{36}$) acupoint. In the tail flick test, the CR herbal-acupuncture treatment did not show a significant effect of relieving acute pain. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of CR herbal-acupuncture, the second testing model'pain was induced by injecting formalin to its planter. For the last model, carrageenan was injected into tarsal joint. the medicinal effect of CR herbal-acupuncture was evaluated through the behavioral analyses such as licking time, weight distribution ratio and ankle circumference. Results : In the formalin test, the analgesic effect of CR herbal-acupuncture was more pronounced in the late phase (for 20 min after the early phase) than in the early phase (for the first 10 min post formalin injection). It was proven by weight distribution ratio testing and ankle edema testing that herbal-acupuncture of CR inhibited arthritis caused by the carrageenan. Conclusions : These results revealed that CR herbal-acupuncture was effective to alleviate the inflammatory pain and could be used as an analgesic treatment with an anti-inflammatory effect.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.120-132
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine clinical studies on the treatment of dysmenorrhea treatments and analyze the results to provide sufficient evidence to provide adequate evidence of the efficacy of the ear-acupuncture treatment on dysmenorrhea patients. Methods: The search for foreign papers used 'Pubmed', a research engine in the America National Library of Medicine. Used searching terms were 'dysmenorrhea' and 'menstrual pain' in all cases. And among these studies, we searched by using key word 'auricular acupuncture' or 'ear acupuncture' or 'auricular acupressure' or 'ear acupressure'. Results: Overall 53 studies, 7 studies were finally selected to this study. There was 1 controlled study, 3 clinical trials, and 3 randomized-control studies. About acupoints in study, the endocrine was used in all 7 papers. Internal genitals, shenmen, sympathesis, kidney, liver were used in 4 papers, central rim, hypo-cortex, uterus were used in 2 papers, central of cymba auriculae was used in 2 paper. In 4 papers, the effect of ear acupuncture treatment was effective in relieving menstrual pain. Moreover, we can see that ear acupuncture therapy was effective in reducing menstrual pain than in oriental herb medicine. Conclusions: As a result of the 7 papers, we found that patients with menstrual pain decreased after ear acupuncture therapy. However, there was little research and it was limited to achieving the results of the analysis. A vigorous clinical study should be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of ear acupuncture therapy and standardize treatment methods.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.275-285
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the application of elastic compression stocking during the stand for a long hours of works on edema and pain of lower extremities in ward nurses. Methods: The experimental group was subjected to elastic pressure tights for 5 days from the beginning to the end, and lower extremity edema and ankle and calf circumference were measured. Results: "There are significant differences in lower extremity pain the experimental group of elastic compression stocking and control group" was supported(p<.001). "There are significant differences in lower extremity edema the experimental group of elastic compression stocking and control group" was supported (p<.001). Conclusion: Applying elastic pressure stocking as a method of management of lower extremity pain and lower extremity edema in ward nurses, relieving symptoms related to lower extremity pain and lower extremity edema during work. This is an effective way to prevent problems and improve the health of nurses and provide quality nursing care.