• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2023

Varicose veins have a substantial burden on individuals' aesthetics and overall quality of life. The current body of research on Korean medical interventions for varicose veins is limited in Korea, and exploration into clinical trends is lacking. This review specifically analyzed fire acupuncture, which is an understudied intervention in Korea that demonstrated efficacy in alleviating pain and paralysis while promoting tissue regeneration. A comprehensive investigation of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database was conducted, utilizing terms such as "varicose vein," "fire needle," "fire acupuncture," "burning acupuncture," "burning needle," "huǒzhēn," "xiàzhī jìngmài," and "jìngmài qūzhāng." This review included 14 studies investigating the role of fire acupuncture in treating varicose veins. We extracted variables, including age, sex, disease duration, intervention method, treatment frequency, treatment period, acupoints, and outcomes. Fire acupuncture appeared as the primary intervention method, followed by general acupuncture. The protruding part of varicose veins is the main treatment area for fire acupuncture, while the acupoints BL57 and ST36 were most frequently utilized for general acupuncture. Treatment results revealed significant improvement in all studies. However, there are limitations, such as scarce studies, limited side effects studies, and potential bias. Consequently, extensive and well-structured future studies are necessary to demonstrate the role of fire acupuncture in varicose veins.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.387-391
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• 2011

Background: The relationship between the degree of expression of matrix metalloproteinases or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases and venous reflux remains to be investigated. Materials and Methods: Primary varicose vein tissues were obtained from 23 patients, 18 females and 5 males, aged from 19 to 73. Cephalic or basilic veins were obtained for the control group from 10 patients who underwent vascular access for maintenance hemodialysis. Two operative techniques (high ligation with stripping or endovenous laser coagulation) were used. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 13 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 in the varicose vein group and control group was assessed semi-quantitatively by immunohistochemical slides stained with primary antibodies. Results: Twenty (87%) of the varicose vein group patients had greater or lesser saphenous vein diseases with reflux. The focal weak (+) stain for matrix metalloproteinases-2, and 13, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-4 was dominant in the varicose vein group; the focal or diffuse strong stain (++ or +++) was prevalent in the control group. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.01). The degree of reflux and the duration of symptoms were not significantly related to the expression of MMP-13 (p=0.317 and p=0.654, respectively). Conclusion: Further study should be performed to investigate the relationship between the clinical characteristics related to venous hypertension or reflux and expression of MMPs and TIMP in varicose veins.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.398-403
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the midterm clinical outcomes after modified high ligation and segmental stripping of small saphenous vein (SSV) varicosities. Methods: Between January 2010 and March 2013, 62 patients (69 legs) with isolated primary small saphenous varicose veins were enrolled in this study. The outcomes measured were reflux in the remaining distal SSV, the recurrence of varicose veins, the improvement of preoperative symptoms, and the rate of postoperative complications. Results: No major complications occurred. No instances of the recurrence of varicose veins at previous stripping sites were noted. Three legs (4.3%) showed reflux in the remaining distal small saphenous veins. The preoperative symptoms were found to have improved in 96.4% of the cases. Conclusion: In the absence of flush ligation of the saphenopopliteal junction, modified high ligation and segmental stripping of small saphenous vein varicosities with preoperative duplex marking is an effective treatment method for reducing postoperative complications and the recurrence of SSV incompetence.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2024

Varicose veins usually present in the superficial veins of the lower extremities and are one of the main clinical presentations of chronic venous disease (CVD). Patients' symptoms may vary according to the pathophysiology, location, and severity of CVD. The prevalence of CVD in Korea has been increasing gradually. However, due to its broad clinical spectrum and the subjective nature of its diagnosis using ultrasound, discrepancies in diagnostic and treatment quality may exist among treating physicians. There have been recent efforts to improve the quality of the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins in Korea by standardizing the diagnostic criteria and the indications for treatment. This study is a comprehensive review of the clinical manifestations and diagnostic criteria of CVD based on the most recent international and domestic guidelines and reports.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease-related knowledge, stress and quality of life for the patients with varicose veins. Methods: Data were collected via questionnaire from 138 patients with varicose veins in C University Hospital in Korea from November in Korea 2012 to August 2013. Results: Knowledge of the symptoms and diagnosis was the lowest. The scores from patients with disease-related knowledge tended to be low for both subjects over the age of 60 and subjects with low education (less than high school). The score for stress over complications was the highest. The level of stress is higher for women, subjects without spouses, subjects with higher severity of disease and patients who had been taking hormones in the past or are still taking hormones. The disease-related quality of life tended to be lower for women and subjects without spouses. 21% of the variance in quality of life was explained by the level of disease-related stress, disease severity and knowledge. Conclusion: Education and the management of nurses to improve disease-related knowledge for patients with varicose veins is highly recommended. Intervention, by reducing stress, is necessary to improve the quality of life for women, subjects without spouses, and subjects with higher severity of the disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2012

Background: Cryosurgery was recently introduced as a treatment for varicose veins in the lower extremities. Cryosurgery with freezing probes can be used to remove the great saphenous vein (GSV) via an inguinal incision alone. The aim of this study was to assess early outcomes and the feasibility of cryosurgery for varicose veins. Materials and Methods: Forty patients were enrolled in the present study from March 2009 to July 2010. All patients underwent careful physical examinations, and their GSV reflux was demonstrated by duplex ultrasonography. Clinical severity was measured according to the clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology (CEAP) classification. The impaired GSVs were removed with rigid cryoprobes after freezing. Patients had follow-up appointments at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Sclerotherapy was performed during follow-up on an outpatient basis as needed. Results: A total of 19 men and 21 women were enrolled. The mean follow-up duration was 3.4 months (range, 1 to 12 months). The clinical severity ranged from CEAP 2 to CEAP 6a. Thirty-eight patients underwent concomitant phlebectomy during surgery. No recurrences were reported during follow-up. There were three cases of minor complications. Two patients had paresthesia, and one had thrombophlebitis. Conclusion: Using cryosurgery techniques to treat varicose veins, the complication rates were minimal and outcomes were comparable to those of previous reports. This procedure is a safe and feasible treatment modality for varicose veins.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the job-related health problems of school teachers in Seoul area and investigate their disease management behavior. Methods: This study used the on-line survey to investigate frequent health problems and management behavior of teachers. And job-related diseases were identified using date from the National Health Insurance Corporation. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. Results: The frequent health problems of teachers were varicose veins, vocal cord disease and thyroid disease. And Job-related health diseases were varicose veins and vocal cord disease. These problems increased with career. 57.4% and 28.4% teachers in varicose veins and vocal cord disease did not do any management behavior to prevent or cure the disease. 56.8% teachers did not know how to prevent the diseases and 16.3% teachers did not practice even though they know the methods of prevention. Conclusion: Teacher's health examination should include varicose veins and vocal cord disease examination. And schools should try to offer various programs for preventing job-related health problems.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.875-878
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• 2001

Background: Although sclerotherapy is an established procedure in treating varicose veins, a wide disparity remains in the rates of success. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of sclerotherapy in combination with compression. Material and Method: From December 2000 to September 2001, a combined total of 50 legs in 39 patients with primary varicose veins were treated with sodium tetradecyl sulfate as sclerosant with the empty vein technique. Immediately after the injection, local compression was increased by a cotton wool roll, and additional compression was obtained with class II medical compression hosiery. Patients were evaluated at 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks for degree of improvement and complications. Result: There were 36 women and 3 men ranging in age from 26 to 66 years, with a mean age of 45.3 years. Good sclerosing results were obtained in all patients. Of fifty legs, five had minor complications, two small intravascular clots, two pigmentations, and one compression-related bulla, which needed no treatment. Conclusion: The use of a cotton wool roll for local compression is highly effective, and sclerotherapy in combination with compression is safe and effective in the treatment of varicose veins.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1036-1041
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• 1999

Background: To know the clinical aspects of varicose vein and the effectiveness of operative treatment, the patients who had been operated during the five and a half years were reviewed. Material and Method: From September 1993 to February 1999, 227 patients with varicose vein were operated upon. These patients were reviewed with history taking, physical examination, laboratory tests, operation and follow up visits at an out patient department. Result: The ages of the patients were from 20 to 69 years, mean 40.2 years. varicose veins. Occupations of the patients include housewives, store or factory owners, cooks, waiter or waitresses in a restaurant, salary men(women), teachers, hair stylists, professional athletes, in sequence, most of them require standing all day long. The 126 women had experienced child birth, among them 116 patients delivered more than 2 babies. All patients had protruding leg veins as the symptom. Most of them(61%) had pain. Other additional symptoms were heaviness, heatness, tingling, cramp, fatigue, etc. 68.3% of the patients had the symptoms for more than 10 years. Anatomical location of varicose vein was in long saphenous vein in 157 patients, in small saphenous vein in 27, and in other regions(combined or perforating vein) in 43 patients. There was no operative mortality. There were 2 patients who underwent reoperation due to recurrence during this study period. In one patient, it recurred in the distal perforating vein in small saphenous vein. The other patient had recurrence at the saphenofemoral junction in groin. The patients are doing well after the reoperation, but a long term observation is needed. Conclusion: Clinical aspects of varicose vein were reviewed. For the patients with varicose vein who had saphenofemoral regurgitation, operative treatment seemed to bea safe and effective modality of treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2017

Purpose : This study examined the symptoms and body flexibility according to physical change of the female college students who like to wear skinny jeans. Methods : This study targeted 39 female college students and conducted a questionnaire survey on physical change and disease, and measured waist flexibility and hip joint working range. Result : The study subjects showed much fatigue, subjective symptoms, and the highest varicose veins. As for comparison before and after waist flexibility measurement, the mean value of the waist flexibility was 17.97 before the experiment, and the mean value after the experiment was 17.63. Therefore there was a significant difference (P<.5). Conclusion : As a result of this study, the female college students revealed fatigue, varicose veins, and numbness, as well as waist flexibility and hip joint limitations even with a little walk.