• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2020

Background: Due to the aging population in Korea, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become an increasingly common condition. Many patients with KOA prefer analgesics, herbal medicines, acupuncture, or exercise, rather than arthroscopic surgery or a knee replacement. Gyebutang (GB) granules are a herbal extract widely used to treat KOA in traditional Korean medicine, but there is insufficient evidence of its efficacy and safety. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, 2-armed parallel, controlled clinical trial has been designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GB combined with acupuncture for the treatment of KOA. There will be 100 patients with KOA enrolled in the study from 3 traditional Korean medicine hospitals. The participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group (GB and acupuncture) or a control group (celecoxib and acupuncture) in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive acupuncture treatment once a week for 6 weeks; one group will receive GB and the other will receive celecoxib for the same duration. Results: The primary outcome will be the change of knee osteoarthritic pain, based on scores on a 100 mm visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes will be scores on a numeric rating scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, patient global assessment, European quality of life 5-dimension 5-level scale, and adverse events. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide evidence of efficacy and safety of GB as a treatment for patients with KOA.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.223-231
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• 2014

In order to prevent the spread of non-indigenous aquatic species through the ballast water in commercial ships, International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted in 2004 the International Convention for Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments. The Convention mandates treatment of ballast water for most transoceanic voyages and its confirmation of treatment is made with plankton live/dead assay. Fluorescein diacetate assay (FDA), which produces bright green light for live phytoplankton, has been a de facto standard method to determine the survival of marine plankton, but its staining efficacy has been in dispute. In the present study, we examined the limitation of FDA, and compared its efficacy with Neutral red (NR) staining, another promising assay and widely used especially for zooplankton mortality. For all phytoplankton species studied in the present study, except Ditylum brightwellii, the staining efficiency was <50% with FDA. The green FDA fluorescence interfered with phytoplankton autofluorescence in most samples. In contrast, NR assay stained over 90% of both phytoplankton and zooplankton species tested in this study. FDA assay also showed that green FDA fluorescence rapidly faded when phytoplankton cells were exposed to microscope light. Both FDA and NR assay were negative on formalin-killed individuals of both phytoplankton and zooplankton species. Our results suggest that NR assay is more effective for determining the survival of marine plankton and can be applied to test the efficacy of ballast water treatment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.453-462
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• 2018

Background : The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) tends to be higher in the elderly. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy (Peg-IFN/RBV) was recommended as the first-line treatment in the past decades, but this regimen showed unsatisfactory results in terms of safety and efficacy especially in elderly patients. Recently, it was demonstrated that dual therapy with daclatasvir and asunaprevir was well tolerated and led to high sustained virological response (SVR) rates, irrespective of age. We conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir by involving elderly patients aged above 65 years. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b patients treated with daclatasvir plus asunaprevir from September 2015 to December 2016 at Seoul St. Mary's hospital. The patients were divided into two groups as elderly patients (older than 65 years) and non-elderly patients (younger than 65 years) and compared the efficacy and safety. Results : A total of 112 patients were treated with daclatasvir plus asunaprevir for chronic hepatitis C. Among them, 101 patients completed the whole treatment, and in 88 patients the amount of HCV RNA was measured after 12 weeks of treatment. There was no significant difference in SVR at 12 weeks between both the groups (p=0.68). Typically, 91.4%(32/35) of elderly patients and 94.3%(50/53) of non-elderly patients achieved SVR12. Common adverse events included elevation in transaminase level, headache, and gastrointestinal disorders. There was no statistical difference in the symptoms between the two groups. Conclusions : The combination therapy with daclatasvir plus asunaprevir exhibited similar rates of SVR12 in HCV elderly patients without leading to further adverse events compared to non-elderly patients. Therefore, it is proposed that daclatasvir plus asunaprevir therapy could be considered as an effective and safe treatment, even in patients aged over 65 years.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 1998

Considering various factors contributing oral malodor, the accurate prediction of prognosis is very important to both clinician and patients. The present study has been performed to invetigate the relationship between treatment effeicacy and pre-treatment volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) level. Ninety patients were divided into three groups, A(<150ppb), B(150< <200ppb), and C(>200ppb) groups, according to pre-treatment VSC level detected by Halimeter, and each group included 30 patients. Routine therapeutic measures for oral were provided to each patient which consisted of oral prophylaxis, tooth brushing and flossing instruction, tongue scraping by proper device, and gargling of 0.25% ZnCl2 Solution. The group with high pre-treatment VSC level (>150ppb) showed significant reduction of VSC level at 1 and 3 weeks after. However, the group with low pre-treatment VSC level (<150ppb) did not show any significant reduction during the experimental periods. Collectively, the results suggested that patients with high pre-treatment VSC level show better prognosis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2010

Objectives ： The current review aimed to describe the major findings of the NIMH Collaborative Multisite Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (MTA) with regard to the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods ： We performed a general review of the literature regarding the efficacy of the MTA's proposed treatments. Results ： There is a large and still increasing body of evidence regarding the MTA's treatment outcomes. We present and discuss details of the findings at each follow-up point. Conclusion ： Currently, findings regarding the MTA's treatments suggest children with combined-type ADHD exhibit significant impairment in adolescence, despite their initial symptom improvement. Further studies, using innovative treatment approaches and targeting specific areas of adolescent impairment, are needed in order to enhance ADHD treatment outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: To determine the efficacy of filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit for the treatment of otomycosis. Subjects and Methods: This prospective study included 40 patients who were referred to our clinic with complaints of ear itching, pain, and fullness, and were diagnosed with unilateral otomycosis. After cleaning the mycotic hyphae from the external auditory meatus, the ear canal was filled with 1% clotrimazole, using an intravenous catheter and syringe. The patients received follow-up examinations on post-treatment days 7, 15, and 45. Results: The follow-up otomicroscopic examinations revealed that 95% of the ear canals were entirely clean and that all symptoms had resolved. The post-treatment scores of pain, aural fullness and itching were significantly lower than the pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). Conclusions: Filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit is an easy, efficient, and cost-effective treatment for otomycosis. Additionally, high patient compliance makes this treatment superior to long-term topical therapy.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: To determine the efficacy of filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit for the treatment of otomycosis. Subjects and Methods: This prospective study included 40 patients who were referred to our clinic with complaints of ear itching, pain, and fullness, and were diagnosed with unilateral otomycosis. After cleaning the mycotic hyphae from the external auditory meatus, the ear canal was filled with 1% clotrimazole, using an intravenous catheter and syringe. The patients received follow-up examinations on post-treatment days 7, 15, and 45. Results: The follow-up otomicroscopic examinations revealed that 95% of the ear canals were entirely clean and that all symptoms had resolved. The post-treatment scores of pain, aural fullness and itching were significantly lower than the pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). Conclusions: Filling the external auditory meatus with 1% clotrimazole at a single visit is an easy, efficient, and cost-effective treatment for otomycosis. Additionally, high patient compliance makes this treatment superior to long-term topical therapy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1085-1095
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Lijin-tang-gamibang on refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: This before-and-after study compared the first medical examination and examination at the end of medical treatment. Twelve refractory GERD patients who visited the Department of Digestive Diseases of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from August 14th, 2017 to October 14th, 2017, were treated with Lijin-tang-gamibang for four consecutive weeks. The clinical characteristics of refractory GERD and the efficacy of herbal medical treatment was assessed by questionnaires, the Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean version (NDI-K), the Korean Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (KGSRS), the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale (KPSS-10), the Qi Stagnation Questionnaire (QSQ), the Spleen Qi Deficiency Questionnaire (SQDQ), and the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). Prolonged effects were reported upon the follow-up telephone survey two weeks after treatment. Results: After treatment with the herbal medicine Lijin-tang-gamibang, the clinical characteristics of 12 refractory GERD patients were improved, especially in terms of the most common symptoms of acid regurgitation and heartburn. Each symptom score of NDI-K, KGSRS, NRS, SQDQ, and PGIC showed significant advances. Prolonged effects were reported in NDI-K, NRS and PGIC questionnaires two weeks after treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest that Lijin-tang-gamibang is an effective treatment for refractory GERD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.418-422
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• 2011

Background: It has recently become most general to use the small bore catheter to perform closed thoracostomy in treating iatrogenic pneumothorax. This study was performed for analysis of the efficacy of treatment methods by using small bore catheter such as 7 F (French) central venous catheter, 10 F trocar catheter, 12 F pigtail catheter and for analysis of the appropriateness of each procedure. Materials and Methods: From March 2007 to February 2010, Retrospective review of 105 patients with iatrogenic pneumothorax, who underwent closed thoracostomy by using small bore catheter, was performed. We analyzed the total success rate for all procedures as well as the individual success rate for each procedure, and analyzed the cause of failure, additional treatment method for failure, influential factors of treatment outcome, and complications. Results: The most common causes of iatrogenic pneumothorax were presented as percutaneous needle aspiration(PCNA) in 48 cases (45.7%), and central venous catheterization in 26 cases (24.8%). The mean interval to thoracostomy after the procedure was measured as 5.2 hours (1~34 hours). Total success rate of thoracostomy was 78.1%. The success rate was not significantly difference by tube type, with 7 F central venous catheter as 80%, 10 F trocar catheter as 81.6%, and 12 F pigtail catheter as 71%. Twenty one out of 23 patients that had failed with small bore catheter treatment added large bore conventional thoracostomy, and another 2 patients received surgery. The causes for treatment failure were presented as continuous air leakage in 12 cases (52.2%) and tube malfunction in 7 cases (30%). The causes for failure did not present significant differences by tube type. Statistically significant factors affecting treatment performance were not discovered. Conclusion: Closed thoracostomy with small bore catheter proved to be effective for iatrogenic pneumothorax. The success rate was not difference for each type. However, it is important to select the appropriate catheter by considering the patient status, pneumothorax aspect, and medical personnel in the cardiothoracic surgery department of the relevant hospital.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.171-175
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• 2014

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of anthelmintics against gastrointestinal parasitic infestation in periparturient dairy cows and its effect on milk yield and quality. Sixty pregnant cows of 1st & 2nd parity were divided into four groups. The efficacy of anthelmintic treatment was evaluated by counting faecal egg per gram (EPG) compared with pre-treatment values. The milk yield of each cow was recorded in pre and post treatment lactations. Cows of group A were treated with Nitroxynil 10 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously 30 days before parturition, group B were treated with combination of triclabendazole and levamisole 19.5 mg/kg body weight orally at calving and group C treated with $Endex^{(R)}$ at calving and 42 days after. The mean change in EPG 14 days after treatment was significantly higher (p<0.05) in treated (79.1%) cows than control. Average milk yield of group C ($2.8{\pm}0.8$) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than group A ($2.6{\pm}0.7$). Similarly, the average milk yield in all the treated cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher in treated lactation ($2.5{\pm}0.7$) than in the previous lactation ($2.2{\pm}0.7$). The average milk yield in all treated cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher than the control cows. Although, milk yields were higher in second parity than the first, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). The milk protein percentage was significantly higher (p<0.05) in treated group than the control group. Therefore, it may be concluded that periparturient anthelmintic treatment effectively reduced the gastrointestinal parasitic load and improved milk yield.