• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2003

Purpose The cold hypersensitivity is a subjective symptom and it is very difficult to evaluate the severity. It is possible to detect cold hypersensitivity by measuring the skin temperature on DITI, but there is limitation only using DITI to find the objective grade of the symptom. To set a new objective standard for the diagnosis of cold hypersensitivity, we examined the relationship between the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for the cold hypersensitivity and the change of skin temperature on hands by cold stress test Method 23 patients with symptom of cold hypersensitivity were participated as subjects who visited the women medical center of Kangnam Kyunghee Korean Hospital, Kyung Hee Univ. from May 1, 2002 to August 31, 2002. There were all carefully examined to rule out other disease such as obesity, skin diseases, spinal nerve lesions and external wounds. Thermographic observations for this study were made using DITI. We performed cold stress test three times to compare with the results from thermographic observations by DITI: first, after 15 minutes-resting, second, right after 1 minutes soak in $20^{\circ}C$ water, the third for last, 10 minutes after the soak. VAS score was chosen to determine the severity of cold hypersensitivity. Result 1 male and 22 female patients were participated ranging in age from 22.17 to 45.21. There was a significant negative correlation between the recovery rate of finger skin temperature after cold stress test and the VAS score. And there was a significant positive correlation between the difference of finger skin temperature and the back and palm of hands after cold stress test and the VAS score. Conclusion In cold hypersensitivity patients, the cold stress test combined with DITI could be a accurate method for the objective evaluation of cold hypersensitivity, especially good at deciding the severity by numeric values. Using a more strict criterion, as diagnosing of cold hypersensitivity, and longer follow-up may improve the validity of the results attained in clinical trials.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2008

Purpose: During Postpartum period many women complain multiple pain, cold hypersensitivity, hot flush, sweating and so on. We call the postpartum disease as San Hu Pung. We studied characters of DITI Characters of women suffering from Postpartum disease. Methods: We studied 55 patients visiting OOhospital from February 2006 to November 2007. The subjects were categorized in two groups, symptom group(37) and no symptom group(18). We measured the temperatures of abdomen(CV17, CV12, CV4), upper and lower limb(PC8, LU4, LR3, ST32) and back(GB21, BL18, BL53). We studied the difference of DITI between two groups by Student T-test using SPSS for windows (version 12.0). Results: The general characteristics such as age, days of postpartum, primiparity, cesarean section, partum season, breast-feeding of two groups were not different statistically. Temperatures of abdomen(CV17, CV12, CV4) and back(GB21, BL18, BL53) of two groups were not different statistically. Temperatures of Lt. PC8 and both LR3 of symptom group were statistically higher than no symptom group. The difference between Lt. PC8 and LU4, both LR3 and ST32 of symptom group were statistically higher than no symptom group. Conclusion: The results suggest that women suffering from Postpartum disease shows high temperature on hand and foot. It seems that postpartum disease patients tend to have blood deficiency. DITI can be useful to diagnose San Hu Pung. The more studies to diagnose San Hu Pung would be needed.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify relationship between the PWV and the temperature difference. Methods: When it comes to senile patients who suffer from cold limbs, there is need to see whether or not the patient's low temperature of the limbs is do to arteriosclerosis. The Pulse Wave Velocity(PWV) is a non-invasive method measuring the artery's rigidness. And the Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging(D.I.T.I) is a non-invasive method to see the body's thermal change. Research on the interrelationship of the artery's rigidness and body's thermal distribution was done by using these two tests. The subjects of this research were patients between the age 40~65 who have done both the D.I.T.I and PWV in March 2005~ September 2005. They had to have no history of diabetes, coronary illnesses or cerebrovascular diseases which are diseases that can effect the outcome of the PVW, nor history of spondylopathy or dermatosis which can effect the outcome of the D.I.T.I. Results: The results were as follows. 1. There was a significant interrelationship between the right wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the right wrist-palm. 2. There was a significant interrelationship between the left wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the left wrist-palm. 3. There was no significant interrelationship between the right wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the right thigh-dorsum of foot. 4. There was no significant interrelationship between the left wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of the left thigh-dorsum of foot. 5. The right ABI showed no significant interrelationship between the temperature difference of the right wrist-palm and the right thigh-dorsum of foot. 6. The left ABI showed no significant interrelationship between the temperature difference of the left wrist-palm and the left thigh-dorsum of foot. Conclusion: The study shows that there was a significant interrelationship between wrist-ankle PWV and the temperature difference of wrist-palm.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2002

Stable Compression Fractures(SCF hereafter) are most often caused by trauma such as traffic accidents. These SCFs usually occur in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord. Human life spans have increased as a result of medical advances, which in turn has led to an increase in the elderly population. SCFs are divided into the categories of stable and unstable. The categories are determined through X-rays and P/Ex tests. The D.I.T.I. is then used to diagnose the severity and prognosis of the fracture injuries, and it allows an objective evaluation of the symptoms. This author researched 40 patients who were treated at Wonkwang University Oriental Medical Center from October 1995 to December 1996. The patients were diagnosed by X-ray as having SCFs and treated primarily with acupuncture. Both the changes in D.I.T.I. and patients' self-diagnoses of their conditions before and after treatment yielded the meaningful results which have been presented here. 1. 75% of those who suffer from Stable Compression Fractures are 60 years of older. Of those, the ratio of male to female is 1 to 4. This is due in part to the fact that many elderly women seek Oriental medicine treatment for conditions associated with advanced age. 2. 53.3% of these injuries occurred between T11 and L2. 3. 65% of patients were hospitalized for 10 to 29 days, and then able to be treated on an outpatiens basis. 4. The D.I.T.I. results showed 50% below $0.2^{\circ}C$, 30% between 0.3 and $0.5^{\circ}C$, 10% between 0.5 and $0.7^{\circ}C$, 10% between 0.7 and $0.9^{\circ}C$, and 0% over $0.9^{\circ}C$. 5. The results of treatment using Modified Evaluation System in Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fractures Method showed that 55% of patients achieved excellent recovery and 40% achived good recovery. After comparing the D.I.T.I. results before and after treatment, we found 50% of patients showed excellent recovery $({\Delta}T{\leq}0.2)$ and 40% showed good recovery$(0.2<{\Delta}T{\leq}0.5)$.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2002

1. Objectives Among many symptoms that the climacteric patients complain of, the major subjective symptom is both heat in the upper part and cold in the lower part of the body(e.g foot, knee, and leg). We use DITI as a method to prove the symptoms of climacteric patients such as both heat in the upper part and cold in the lower part of the body, diagnose these symptoms, and follow up the progress of the clinical treatments. 2. Subjects and Methods We compare the subcutaneous heat of the climacteric patients with the symptom of heat in the upper part and cold in the lower part of the body with young women without any specific disease. The age distribution of the experimental group is 28 patients in 40's, and 22 in 50's. The mean age of the experimental group is $48.5{\pm}4.25$. The age distribution of the control group is 17 patients in teen, 26 in 20's, 7 in 30's. The mean age of the control group is $23.31{\pm}6.45$. We measure the subcutaneous heat on the cheeks, upper arms, palms, thighs, knees, dorsum pedis, lower back, hip, upper abdomen, lower abdomen of both groups and analyse the results. 3. Statistical methods All the results are statiscally analysed using student T-test of Microsoft Exel program. Statistically significant value by the analysis of variance procedure is P<0.05. 4. Results 1. The subcutaneous heat of the whole body of the experimental group shows hypothermia compared with control group, and the hypothermic pattern gets severe on the periphery. ${\Delta}T$ between the right and left side of the body in experimental group is larger than that of control group. 2. ${\Delta}T$ between the cheeks and the hypogastric in the experimental group is significantly larger than that of the control group, which shows cold face. 3. ${\Delta}T$ between the upper arms and the palms in the experimental group is significantly larger than that of the control group, which shows cold hand. 4. ${\Delta}T$ between the thighs and the knees in the experimental group is significantly larger than that of the control group, which shows cold knee. 5. ${\Delta}T$ between the thighs and the feet in the experimental group is significantly larger than that of the control group, which shows cold foot. 6. ${\Delta}T$ between the hip and the lower back in the experimental group is significantly larger than that of the control group. That shows the Lower back is warmer than the hip. 7. ${\Delta}T$ between the upper and the lower abdomen in the experimental group is significantly larger than that of the control group, which shows cold hypogastric.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to analyze basic data for cold hypersensitivity patients with a questionnaire and investigate correlation between cold hypersensitivity and Heart Rate Variability(HRV). Methods : 49 patients who complain of cold hypersensitivity on hands and feet in ambulatory care were investigated in Oriental Gynecology, Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center and Women medical center, Kangnam Koreana hospital from May 1, 2006 to October 20, 2006. All patients were asked to answer a questionnaire. After careful I examination to rule out other disease which may affect Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging(DITI) and HRV data, patients were taken thermography for the diagnosis of cold hypersensitivity Based on the result of thermography, the patients were divided into two groups(Objective cold hypersensitivity and Subjective cold hypersensitivity). Then, these two groups were compared using HRV data which was measured in the supine position for 5 minutes. Results: 1. For most patients, cold hypersensitivity first developed during puberty. 2. The parts of the body that felt cold first time were hands and feet. 3. The cold sensation was increased in winter or at bedtime Showing that the sensation can be changed according to the level of coldness. 4. Among women who sufferfrom cold hypersensitivity, very few of them were treated. 5. More than half of cold hypersensitivity patients's family member also had a cold hypersensitivity. 6. The decrease in mean values of LF/HF ratio was observed in objective cold hypersensitivity group than subjective cold hypersensitivity group and the decrease was significant(P=0.014) when examined by Student t-test. Conclusions : It is necessary that the cold hypersensitivity patients should be treated carefully considering the facts mentioned above. And it can be suggested that dysautinomia be related with cold hypersensitivity and be evaluated by HRV.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.46-58
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• 2006

Purpose: We intended to observe the relations between Chiljehyangbuhwan and abdominal & palmar temperature according to primary dysmenorrhea severity. Methods: We selected the 100 primary dysmenorrhea patients by the screening tests (first screening test-inquiry, second screening test-clinical test. additionally WHR (Waist-to-Hip ratio) by Inbody 2.0). By the fixed blocked randomization and double blind method, Chiljehyangbuhwan or placebo was administered for 1 menstration period. Finally, 69 patients remainded. Before and after administration, we measured 4 points abdominal temperature (Chon-jung (CV17), Chung-wan(CV12), Kwan-won(CV4). Chung-guk(CV3)) by DITI(DOREX Inc., USA). And then we checked the difference of temperature $({\Delta}T)$ between CV17 and CV12/CV17 and CV4/CV17 and CV3/CV12 and CV4/CV12 and CV3. Also, we measured 2 points (palmar region, upper front of forearm) for the difference of palmar temperature $({\Delta}T)$. Then, we checked palmar temperature minus upper front of forearm temperature and took an average of right and left ${\Delta}T.$ After that. we compared ${\Delta}T$ with primary dysmenorrhea severity evaluated by VRS (verbal rating scale) and MVRS (multidimensional verbal rating scale). In dysmenorrhea severity. we standardized scale score and 3-group-severity by score (mild, moderate. severe). Besides, we compared palmar ${\Delta}T$ with abdominal ${\Delta}T$. For statistics, we used ANOVA and Spearman's rho correlations. SPSS 13.0 for windows. Results: In case of MVRS, though Chiljehyangbuhwan was correlated to abdominal ${\Delta}T$(CV12 and CV3/CV12 and CV4). it was not correlated to palmar ${\Delta}T$. In case of VRS, though Chiljehyangbuhwan was not correlated to abdominal ${\Delta}T$. it was correlated to palmar ${\Delta}T$. However. palmar ${\Delta}T$ was not correlated to abdominal ${\Delta}T$. Statistically they showed significant result (p<0.05). Conclusion: The primary dysmenorrhea patients showed that severity by MVRS was connected with abdominal ${\Delta}T$ (CV12 and CV3/CV12 and CV4) and severity by VRS was connected with palmar ${\Delta}T$ after Chiljehyangbuhwan administration. So we can consider Chiljehyangbuhwan partially effects the abdominal & palmar temperature according primary dysmenorrhea severity. However, palmar temperature was not correlated to abdominal temperature. Therefore, we need further study.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2006

Purpose : There are many patients with cold hypersensitivity who want oriental medicine treatment. But there has been no study of acupucture treatment effect on patients. So we examined effects of acupuncture treatment at different acupuncture points and compared results of 1st cold stress test and 2nd cold stress test. Method : 8 patients with hand cold hypersensitivity applied for this study. To rule out an bias, we excluded the patients with skin diseases, spinal nerve disease of cervial spine, external wounds. We measured body temperature with D.I.T.I. We performed cold stress test(CST) by 6 thermographic observation using D.I.T.I ; the 1st was taken after 15 minutes-resting, the 2nd was immediately taken after 1 minute soak in $20^{\circ}C$ water, the 3rd was taken at 10 minutes after the soak, and after a week, the 4th was taken after 15 minutes resting, the 5th was immediately taken after 1 minute soak in $20^{\circ}C$ water, the 6th was taken after 10 minutes with acupunture treatment. There were two groups of patients. First group was acupuncture that performed acupuncture therapy on distal points. Second group was acupuncture that performed acupuncture therapy on proximal points. We compared first CST and second CST recovery rate result. Results : The recovery rate at distal points acupuncture therapy was higher than before of that. but not significantly different. The recovery rate at proximal points acupuncture therapy was significantly higher than before of that. The recovery rate of both the back, the palms, all fingers of after proximal acupuncture therapy was significantly higher than before of that. Conclusions : Acupuncture could be effective therapy method on cold hypersensitivity, especially using proximal acupuncture points could be good at cold hypersensitivity patients. This was pilot study of very small samples, results had limitations. For further results more examine would be needed.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2004

Purpose: We intended to research the relations between abdominal temperature and primary dysmenorrhea severity. Methods: We selected the 95 primary dysmenorrhea patients by means of screening test (first screening test-inquiry, second screening test-clinical test, additionally Waist-to-Hip ratio (WHR) by Inbody 2.0). We measured 4 points abdominal temperature (Chon-jung(CV17), Chung-wan(CV12), Kwan-won(CV4), Chung-guk(CV3)) by DITI (DOREX Inc., USA). And then we checked the difference of temperature $({\Delta}T)$ between CV17 and CV4 / CV17 and CV3 / CV12 and CV4 / CV12 and CV3. After that, we compared ${\Delta}T$ with primary dysmenorrhea severity evaluated by multidimensional scales (verbal rating scale modified from the one devised by Bibe roglu & Berhrman(VRS; B&B), multidimensional verbal rating scale by Andersch & Milsom(MVRS)). In dysmenorrhea severity, we standardized scale score and 3-group-severity by score (mild, moderate, severe). For statistics, we used Pearson correlations and Spearman's rho correlations, SPSS 11.0 for windows. Results: In case of MVRS, MVRS score and 3-group-severity were not correlated to ${\Delta}T$. In case of VRS; B&B, VRS; B&B score was correlated to ${\Delta}T$ (CV12 and CV4 / CV12 and CV3) and 3-group-severity was correlated to ${\Delta}T$ (CV12 and CV3). Statistically they showed significant result (p<0.05). So we can consider that ${\Delta}T$ (CV12 and CV3) and the primary dysmenorrhea severity by VRS; B&B are most correlated. Conclusion: The primary dysmenorrhea patients showed that severity by VRS; B&B was connected with ${\Delta}T$ (CV12 and CV3). So we can consider DITI as primary dysmenorrhea evaluation instrument and must further research measurement points for the exact primary dysmenorrhea evaluation by DITI.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.202-211
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• 2006

Objectives : This study is designed to evaluate correlation between the data of D.I.T,I examination in Bell's palsy and the improving period. Methods : This study researched into the clinical statistics for 50 patients who are in Bell's palsy and they are treated with oriental medical care of Dongshin university during 18months from January 1, 2005 to June 1, 2006. The data which examinated by D.I.T.I, are the thermal difference of normal and abnormal site of acupuncture int Gl4 BL2 GB3 S3 S4 S6 TE17 in Bell's palsy. Result : There was statistic significance between thermal difference of normal, abnormal site and the improving period. The period was shorter in normal thermal pattern than hypothermal pattern, hyperthermal pattern. Conclusion : According to the result, there was a statistic significance that more thermal difference and more difficult to recover in Bell's palsy.