• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.73-89
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• 2022

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in the treatment of common shoulder diseases. Methods: The PubMed, Medline, and Central databases and trial registries were searched from their inception to October 2020 for randomized controlled trials of autologous PRP injections for shoulder diseases versus placebo or any control intervention. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed in the selection, analysis, and reporting of findings. The primary outcome was pain intensity (visual analog scale), and secondary outcomes were changes in function and quality of life (QoL). Results: A total of 17 randomized controlled trials of PRP versus control were analyzed. From 8-12 weeks to ≥1 year, PRP injections were associated with better pain relief and functional outcomes than control interventions. PRP injections were also associated with greater QoL, with an effect size of 2.61 (95% confidence interval, 2.01-14.17) at medium-term follow-up. Compared with placebo and corticosteroid injections, PRP injections provided better pain relief and functional improvement. In subgroup analyses, trials in which PRP was prepared by the double centrifugation technique, the platelet concentration in the PRP was enriched ≥5 times, leucocyte-rich PRP was used, or an activating agent was used before application reported the most effective pain relief at 6-7 months. Conclusions: PRP injections could provide better pain relief and functional outcomes than other treatments for persons presenting with common shoulder diseases. PRP injections have a greater capacity to improve shoulder-related QoL than other interventions.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.212-233
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• 2024

This is a retrospective review of surgical management for primary lymphedema. Data were extracted from 55 articles from PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials between the database inception and December 2022 to evaluate the outcomes of lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) and vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT), and outcomes of soft tissue extirpative procedures such as suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) and extensive soft tissue excision. Data from 485 patients were compiled; these were treated with LVA (n = 177), VLNT (n = 82), SAL (n = 102), and excisional procedures (n = 124). Improvement of the lower extremity lymphedema index, the quality of life (QoL), and lymphedema symptoms were reported in most studies. LVA and VLNT led to symptomatic relief and improved QoL, reaching up to 90 and 61% average circumference reduction, respectively. Cellulitis reduction was reported in 25 and 40% of LVA and VLNT papers, respectively. The extirpative procedures, used mainly in patients with advanced disease, also led to clinical improvement from the volume reduction, as well as reduced incidence of cellulitis, although with poor cosmetic results; 87.5% of these reports recommended postoperative compression garments. The overall complication rates were 1% for LVA, 13% for VLNT, 11% for SAL, and 46% for extirpative procedures. Altogether, only one paper lacked some kind of improvement. Primary lymphedema is amenable to surgical treatment; the currently performed procedures have effectively improved symptoms and QoL in this population. Complication rates are related to the invasiveness of the chosen procedure.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1331-1340
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• 2021

A 42-year-old patient with functional dyspepsia had suffered from early satiation and postprandial fullness for 1 year despite Western medicine treatment. We treated her with the Spleen Daoyin method, along with acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine and scored her symptoms using a 4-point Functional Dyspepsia-related Quality of Life (4p-FD-QoL) questionnaire, the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and a visual analogue scale (VAS). A 7-day Spleen Daoyin treatment decreased her 4p-FD-QoL score from 61 to 51, with a marked decrease in the emotional part (18 to 10). Her GSRS score did not change, but her bloating score decreased from 3 to 1. Her VAS score decreased from 6.6 to 4.3 for upper abdomen discomfort, but lower abdomen discomfort was unchanged. The patient showed high compliance and satisfaction with exercise therapy and reported no adverse events. Spleen Dayoin may be a useful therapy for functional dyspepsia, especially when accompanied by psychological problems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2022

PURPOSE: The functional limitations in stroke survivors promote sedentary lifestyles and quality of life inadequacies, but there is increasing evidence that this could be minimized by physical exercise. Therefore, this study examined the effects of physical exercise on the quality of life (QoL) and functional capacity (ability to stand up from a sitting position) among stroke survivors drafted from two tertiary hospitals in Osogbo, Nigeria. METHODS: A purposive sampling technique was used to select 21 registered right or left outpatient hemiplegic stroke survivors in a pre- and post-test experimental research design. The research questions were presented using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, while an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the study hypothesis at the .05 alpha level for significance. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline (week 0), there were significant increases in the general quality of life, healthy well-being, physical exercise, pain perception, and environmental domains of QOL among the survivors in week four. Moreover, a significant increase was observed in these indices in week eight, compared to week four, except for the pain perception domain. Compared to the baseline, there was a significant decrease in the time it took the stroke survivors to stand up from a sitting position in week four. A significant decrease was observed in this index in week eight compared to week four. CONCLUSION: Marked corridor 20 meters brief walking exercise for eight weeks significantly improved the quality of life and ability to stand up from a sitting position in stroke survivors in Osogbo, Nigeria.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.82-99
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review systematically the effects of home based pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients using qualitative synthesis. Methods: Studies designed randomized controlled trials were identified to extract data and to assess the quality of studies in 8 domestic and 3 foreign search engines, and hand search reference reviews. Results: A total of 9 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the methodological quality of the studies ranged from average to poor. Home based pulmonary rehabilitation consisted of exercise, education, and psychosocial interventions. Several exercises such as aerobic, strength, respiratory muscle training, and flexibility were used in home based pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD patients. Upper muscle exercise and walking were the most frequently used exercises. The most common topics for education were 'knowledge of the illness' and 'drug management'. Walking distance test (WDT) and quality of life (QoL) were the most frequently measured as the dependent variables to evaluate rehabilitation outcomes, followed by pulmonary function test (PFT) and dyspnea. WDT was the most effective outcome, followed by dyspnea, QoL and PFT. Conclusion: This study informed about the details of scientific and effective home based rehabilitation programs in COPD patients for future researchers and clinicians. These findings can help expand the recognition and accessibility of home based rehabilitation in COPD patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.275-286
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of an intensive rehabilitation program on the pain, range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, function, quality of life (QoL), and depression of patients with traumatic rotator cuff injury caused by an industrial accident. Methods: Seventeen patients with traumatic rotator cuff injury caused by an industrial accident participated in this study. The 12-week treatment included 30 min of manual therapy and 30 min of exercise therapy twice a day, five times a week. The outcomes were measured for evaluating the pain, ROM, muscle strength, function, QoL, and depression before the commencement of the program and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results: According to the time of applying the intensive rehabilitation program, the pain (p<0.01), ROM (p<0.01), muscle strength (p<0.01), function (p<0.01), and depression (p<0.05) significantly improved with time. However, QoL was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study confirmed the excellent effect of an intensive rehabilitation program on the pain, ROM, muscle strength, function, and depression of patients with traumatic rotator cuff injury caused by an industrial accident. However, this study was limited by the absence of a control group. This pilot study highlights the need for more extensive research with a larger sample.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.568-577
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• 2024

Objective : Post-stroke shoulder pain (PSSP) is a common complication that limits the range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder, the patient's rehabilitation and in turn, affects the patients' quality of life (QoL). Several treatment modalities such as sling, positioning, strapping, functional electrical stimulation, and nerve block have been suggested in literatures, however none of the treatments had long-term effects for PSSP. In this study, the authors evaluated clinical efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) neuromodulation on the suprascapular nerve for PSSP, and suggested it as a potential treatment with long-term effect. Methods : This retrospective case series was conducted at a single center, a private practice institution. From 2013 to 2021, 13 patients with PSSP underwent PRF neuromodulation of the suprascapular nerve. The primary outcome measure was the Visual analog scale (VAS) score. The secondary outcome measurements included the shoulder ROM, Disability assessment scale (DAS), modified Ashworth scale, modified Rankin scale (mRS), and EuroQol-5 dimension-3L questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) scores. These parameters were evaluated before PRF modulation, immediately after PRF modulation, and every 3 months until the final follow-up visit. Results : Six men and seven women were enrolled, and all patients were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months. The mean VAS score was 7.07 points before PRF neuromodulation and 2.38 points immediately post-procedure. Shoulder ROM for abduction and flexion, DAS for pain, mRS, and EQ-5D-3L demonstrated marked improvement. No complications were reported. Conclusion : PRF neuromodulation of the suprascapular nerve is an effective modality in patients with PSSP, and has long-term effect of pain relief, improvement of QoL.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.41-52
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• 2013

Objectives In pediatrics of Korean Medicine, it is crucial to evaluate the overall symptoms of children, especially in the children who have serious troubles in their life. In the era when diagnosis in Korean Medicine is quite suitable to evaluate multiple allergic diseases, and when growing numbers are in needs, development of an objective measurement scale for diagnosis of allergic disease in Korean Medicine became essential. Therefore, in the study, pediatric Allergic Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PADQLQ) was translated into Korean version with validations on some aspects. Methods In this study, we translated and validated the PADQLQ and established psychometric evidence on its utility in Korean children with similar problems. 71 children, age of 6 ~ 18 with allergic disease has participated. Results The internal consistency reliability of the PADQLQ by Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was 0.94. In three domains (Practical, Physical, Emotional), the Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was 0.77, 0.90 and 0.69. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between PADQLQ total score and VAS was 0.75 (p<0.001). And, Structural validity was evaluated by the ANOVA test. QoL differences of the four groups in the three domains (practical, physical, emotional) were significant. The item discriminative indices were ranged from 0.1651 to 0.8188. Conclusions Korean version PADQLQ is highly reliable and valid for children with allergic diseases. This is significant to assess the relative seriousness of the allergic diseases and to evaluate the efficacy of different treatments in Korean Medicine.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.629-636
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of oral health on the quality of life of elderly patients with dentures or implants. It is our intention that through this analysis we can aid seniors in making the choice between dentures or implants, considering future masticatory function and the likely effects of this decision on the patients quality of life. Methods : This survey was conducted between November 1, 2010 and November 25, 2010, in Kyunggi-Do, whasung city. The research was carried out at one public health center, among elderly patients. 105 seniors were surveyed using the direct interviewing method, oral health related quality of life was measured by the Philadelphia Geriatric Center(PGC) Morale Scale. Collected data was examined using the SPSS 13.0 program, using frequency, mean, and standard deviation analysis, T-test and $x^2$ test. Results : The number of residual teeth for patients who have implants was $20.45{\pm}5.85$, while among those patients with dentures the number was considerably lower, $8.11{\pm}7.66$(p<0.05). The results of patients masticatory function, was $28.13{\pm}2.40$ for those with implants, and $25.35{\pm}4.15$ with dentures. The results were better for those with implants. Among implant patients overall satisfaction was rated $25.21{\pm}3.63$, higher than for those with dentures $20.20{\pm}6.79$(p<0.05). Quality of life was scored higher for patients with implants($12.76{\pm}2.61$) compared to those with dentures($10.47{\pm}3.52$)(p<0.05). The subjects masticatory function was highly related to the number of remaining teeth and greater masticatory function had a positive effect on patients quality of life and life satisfaction. Conclusion : Dental treatments such as dentures and implants will have a great influence on patients quality of life and life satisfaction. Implants can improve the oral health related quality of life and satisfaction and the general quality of life more than denture therapy.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to reveal the prevalence of Mibyeong and its symptoms including fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, dyspepsia, depression, anxiety and anger by using the national survey. Methods : Questionnaires were collected by Gallup Korea. Participants were chosen through stratified sampling method based on area, gender and age. Questionnaire was designated to confirm the recognition, managing of Mibyeong, investigation of life habit, medical history, basic information, QoL questionnaires (Short Form-12, EuroQol-5D) and understanding of Mibyeong medical service conditions. Generally all questionnaires were used for survey the Mibyeong status in public except QoL questionnaires. Questionnaires were fulfilled by professional surveyor as face to face interview. Descriptives was used for data analysis and the results were expressed as percentage ratios (%) Results : 1,101 of people were acquired in this study. Eighty point two (80.2%) percent of participants did not know the concept of Mibyeong accurately even though 80.6% complained of Mibyeong related symptoms. Among them, fatigue was accounted for the highest response (70.7%)in this study. Sixty point four percent of participants identified non-smoking, stop drinking, eating habits and sleeping habits as a way to manage their Mibyeong related symptoms. In addition, exercising (60.8%), visiting medical institution (58.4%) and taking health functional food (52.7%) were presented. Only 23.1% among people with symptoms Mibyeong visited medical facilities. Moreover, the quality of life was found to be significantly correlated with health status. Conclusions : This study could contribute to express the importance of announcing the concept of Mibyeong and status to Korean public. Moreover, more Mibyeong studies should be conducted in the future to evaluate the Mibyeong status objectively.