• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate clinical evidence of acupuncture treatment for peripheral facial palsy in South Korea. Methods : All process was independently proceeded by two investigators. Literature search was performed in 9 databases from their inception to February 2013. Searched reports was twice excluded for title, abstract and body. And then, data extract and analysis was done before assessing risk of bias by Cochrane Handbook. Results : 10 randomized controlled trials(RCT) were finally included. 4 RCT handled postauricular pain with facial palsy. All articles at least used in combination with two treatments. Interventions like pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture, scalp acupuncture etcetera were conducted as treatment to evaluate efficacy, and some study reported advantageous effects of treatment group compared to baseline or control group. Adverse events didn't referd to in any studies. In assessing risk of bias, indefinite and uncertain information made all included trials to have a high risk of bias. Conclusions : Because of methodological deficit, there is no sufficient evidence to allow any conclusion about the efficacy of acupuncture for peripheral facial palsy. Therefore, well designed trials with high quality is needed from now on.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.269-282
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• 2021

This review aimed to assess and compare the outcomes of the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) and Gow-Gates mandibular nerve block (GGMNB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. A descriptive systematic review of quantitative research was conducted wherein the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA)" was adopted, and the Problem/Patient/Population, Intervention/Indicator, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) criteria were used to structure the research question. A literature search was performed using PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Ovid. Selection criteria were applied for populations over nine years of age, of either sex, with irreversible pulpitis, and articles published in English regarding conventional IANB or IANB and Gow-Gates techniques between 2009 and 2019. Prospective randomized clinical trials or randomized controlled trials were included in the review, in which anesthetic efficacy or success was measured. After screening, four articles were included. Three studies were randomized clinical trials, and two were randomized controlled trials. The validity and reliability of the individual studies were examined. There was evidence of the higher efficacy of the GGMNB technique than that of the IANB technique. However, both techniques can be mastered through training.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1149-1161
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• 2022

Purpose: This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the clinical effects of Injinho-tang on hyperbilirubinemia in hepatobiliary disorders. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled clinical trials that had administered Injinho-tang as an intervention in the following medical databases: Public/Publisher MEDLINE (PubMed), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Cochrane library, Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), ScienceON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Among the retrieved studies, only trials that met the inclusion criteria were selected, and serum total bilirubin values were extracted and analyzed from the finally selected trials. Results: The serum total bilirubin values of 1,302 patients with various hepatobiliary diseases were synthesized through a meta-analysis, which confirmed a decrease in serum total bilirubin of 21.03 𝜇mol/L (95% CI -29.58~-12.49, p<0.01) in the group administered with Injinho-tang compared with the control group. Conclusions: Injinho-tang is effective in alleviating hyperbilirubinemia in hepatobiliary diseases when administered with conventional treatment. However, the potential risk of bias, high heterogeneity among the included trials, and differences in herbal composition are limitations of the results of this meta-analysis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.488-495
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• 2023

Mitochondrial transplantation is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of mitochondrial diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA, as well as several metabolic and neurological disorders. Animal studies have shown that mitochondrial transplantation can improve cellular energy metabolism, restore mitochondrial function, and prevent cell death. However, challenges need to be addressed, such as the delivery of functional mitochondria to the correct cells in the body, and the long-term stability and function of the transplanted mitochondria. Researchers are exploring new methods for mitochondrial transplantation, including the use of nanoparticles or CRISPR gene editing. Mechanisms underlying the integration and function of transplanted mitochondria are complex and not fully understood, but research has revealed some key factors that play a role. While the safety and efficacy of mitochondrial transplantation have been investigated in animal models and human trials, more research is needed to optimize delivery methods and evaluate long-term safety and efficacy. Clinical trials using mitochondrial transplantation have shown mixed results, highlighting the need for further research in this area. In conclusion, although mitochondrial transplantation holds significant potential for the treatment of various diseases, more work is needed to overcome challenges and evaluate its safety and efficacy in human trials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review of Clinical trials related to the treatment of chemotherapy induced-toxicity by acupuncture therapy. Methods : We searched PubMed by using word of "chemotherapy induced, acupuncture" (Limits : Full text available, 10 years, Clinical trials, Humans, English). We analyzed 15 research paper and examined published journals, years, countries, topic, study design, their results, interventions, participants and instruments of assessment. Results : Eleven journals with fifteen papers were searched. These papers were published in USA, Germany, etc. On the topic of these clinical trials, seven of them were about nausea(vomiting), two about peripheral neuropathy, two about hot flash, two about arthralgia and one about neutropenia, one about fatigue. Six of these studies were single blinded, randomized controlled trial. Twelve studies reported significant effect. The median for number of final participants was 35.5 persons. Assessment for outcomes were versatile questionnaire, nerve conduction studies, WBC, ANC, G-CSF examination, etc. Conclusions : Their median for impact factor was 3.650 and average modified Jadad score of six RCTs was 4.33. In order to provide appropriate evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in treatment for chemotherapy-induced toxicity, more rigorous and well-designed studies are necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.447-456
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• 2014

Until now, a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) that has an ability to slow or arrest Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression has not been developed, and all clinical trials involving AD patients enrolled by clinical assessment alone also have not been successful. Given the growing consensus that the DMT is likely to require treatment initiation well before full-blown dementia emerges, the early detection of AD will provide opportunities to successfully identify new drugs that slow the course of AD pathology. Recent advances in early detection of AD and prediction of progression of the disease using various biomarkers, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) $A{\beta}_{1-42}$, total tau and p-tau181 levels, and imagining biomarkers, are now being actively integrated into the designs of AD clinical trials. In terms of therapeutic mechanisms, monitoring these markers may be helpful for go/no-go decision making as well as surrogate markers for disease severity or progression. Furthermore, CSF biomarkers can be used as a tool to enrich patients for clinical trials with prospect of increasing statistical power and reducing costs in drug development. However, the standardization of technical aspects of analysis of these biomarkers is an essential prerequisite to the clinical uses. To accomplish this, global efforts are underway to standardize CSF biomarker measurements and a quality control program supported by the Alzheimer's Association. The current review summarizes therapeutic targets of developing drugs in AD pathophysiology, and provides the most recent advances in the clinical utility of CSF biomarkers and the integration of CSF biomarkers in current clinical trials.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 1972

A study was planned to see if the mammillary bodies have any influence upon orienting response Thirty-nine male rats were divided into two groups. One group of animals received electrolytic lesion of the mammillary bodies through stereotaxically implanted electrodes (mammillary body group), and the other group received the same treatment short of electrolytic lesion(operated control group). All animals were tested for orienting response 3 weeks after surgery. Orienting response was regarded as elicited when an animal in alertness ceased ongoing activity upon 1,000 Hz tone presentation and/or turned head toward the source of stimulus. Weak (momentary and inconspicuous) and strong (marked and more persistent) responses were discriminated. Occurrence and duration of orienting response were measured, and the rate of habituation was estimated in 20 trials. Shift of attention from sound to light stimulus (10 trials) as well as orienting response of thirsty animals to sound stimulus while drinking (5 trials) and while at rest (5 trials) were also tested. 1. Simple orienting respons to sound stimulus tended to occur more often and its duration tended to be shorter in the mammillary body group than in the operated control group. 2. With repetition of trials, the occurrence of orienting response in each trial decreased progressively in both groups (habituation). However, the rate of habituation was significantly less prominent in the mammillary body group than in the operated control group. 3. Under attention·shift situation, orienting response tended to occur less often and its duration tended to be shorter in the mammillary body group than in the operated control group. 4. Orienting response to sound stimulus while drinking to quench thirst tended to occur more often and its duration tended to be shorter in the mammillary body group than in the operated control group. In quiet state, however, there existed no group difference with regard to the occurrence and duration of the orienting response. Although no obvious inference can be drawn from the above results, they may suggest the mammillary bodies being involved in the orienting response as a control mechanism inhibitory to the occurrence and facilitatory to the habituation of the response.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.97-109
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• 2014

Objectives Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) is emerging as a potential therapeutic option for several conditions. However, evidence regarding accurate estimates of its adverse events are not available. Therefore, by combining occurrence rates of adverse events in relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we have aimed to give an overall estimated rate of each adverse event following BVA intervention. Methods A systematic search for adverse events of BVA in Pubmed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, NDSL, KoreaMed, KISS, RISS, KISTI, and KMbase was performed. For the quality assessment of the trials, we applied the CONSORT harms reporting recommendations. The overall occurrence rate of each adverse event was assessed as the primary outcome. The overall drop-out rate due to adverse events was assessed as the secondary outcome. Results Ten RCTs reported adverse events following BVA. Two RCTs were eligible of further synthesis. Adverse events of pruritus, localized edema, and erythema occurred significantly more frequently in the BVA group compared to the control group. Data of drop-outs were available in seven RCTs. However, no comparisons showed a significant difference. Conclusions Currently evidence of adverse events is far from sufficient for assessing a reliable, precise occurrence rate. Still, limited evidence shows a tendency that adverse events occur more frequently after the appliance of BVA compared to the control. Thus, we await well designed future studies of BVA with more proper and strict harms reporting methods.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.15-23
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the quantity and quality of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) published in the journal of Korean Society of Chuna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves (KSCMSN). Methods: All relevant RCTs were selected and extracted. Data extract of RCTs from all the articles published in the jounal of KSCMSN up to now, quantity assessment was made on the study design, sample size, intervention, control group and medical condition. of the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) check list. Assessment was performed by 2 independent reviewers and disagreement was discussed based on concensus. Results: Among the 276 articles, 10 RCTs were published. 1st articles were published in 2003 and half of RCTs were published in 2011. All RCTs were parallel 2-arm designed. Average sample size was 29.2 per study and 14.6 per arm. Main intervention was consisted as acupuncture 40%, pharmacopuncture 30% and Chuna 30%. Average of adequacy of CONSORT check list was 10.3% and overall reports were insufficient. Conclusions: Though RCTs published in jounal of KSCMSN were increasing, the quality remains low. KSCMSN should make a effort to follow the CONSORT statement and improve the quantity and quality of studies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5343-5348
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• 2014

Background: A meta-analysis was performed to examine the benefit/risk ratio for the addition of anti- HER MoAbs to chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric and gastroesophageal cancer from six randomized phase II/III trials. Materials and Methods: We searched relative trials from Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane library databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, Google Scholar and the NIH ClinicalTrials. Primary outcomes were overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were toxicities. All analyses were performed using STATA 12.0. Results: This meta-analysis included six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 2, 297 patients and we demonstrated that the anti-HER MoAbs arm did have a positive effect on ORR in the anti-HER MoAbs arm (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.00-1.64, p=0.01). There was an increasing benefit regarding OS (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60-0.88, p<0.05) and PFS (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.84, p<0.05) in the anti-HER2 subgroup, but a reduction of OS (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.87-1.36, p<0.05) and PFS (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.98 -1.28, P<0.05) in anti-EGFR subgroup. Some grade 3-4 toxicity had a significantly higher incidence in the anti-HER MoAbs arm. There was no significant publication bias for all endpoints. Conclusions: The addition of trstuzumab MoAb to chemotherapy for gastric and gastroesophageal cancer significantly improved outcome of OS and PFS endpoints, while other MoAbs led to no improvement in results. Some adverse events were increased in anti-HER MoAbs arm compared with the control.