• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.788-797
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• 2018

Objective To investigate the effect of upper limb rehabilitation combining robot with low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients. Methods Patients who had hemispatial neglect after right hemisphere stroke were randomly divided into rTMS only group, robot only group, and combined group. All groups received conventional neglect therapy and additional treatment for each group. rTMS group received rTMS therapy. Robot group received robot therapy, while combined group received both therapies. The effect of therapy was assessed with Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-3 (MVPT-3), line bisection test, star cancellation test, Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). These measurements were evaluated before and after treatment. Results For each group, 10 patients were recruited. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics or initial values among the three groups. Two weeks after the therapy, all groups showed significant improvement in MVPT-3, line bisection test, star cancellation test, CBS, MMSE, and K-MBI. However, changes in measurements showed no significant differences among groups. Conclusion Treatment effect of the combined therapy of robotic therapy and low-frequency rTMS therapy for hemispatial neglect was not statistically different from that of each single treatment. Results of this study did not prove the superiority of any of the three treatments. Further study with large number of patients is needed to evaluate the superiority of these treatments.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.139-147
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to verify the effectiveness of combined marine healing programs by analyzing the physical composition of metabolic patients, blood lipids and the effects of the inflammatory factors, the C -reactive protein(CRP). Methods : the combined marine treatment program was conducted for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week on the 10 adult patients with metabolic diseases and the results of their body composition, blood lipids and CRP were analyzed before and after the subjects completed the program. For the statistical analysis, the mean and standard deviation (M±SD) of each variable were calculated using SPSS version 20 and a paired t-test was conducted in order to test for the differences before and after the combined marine treatment program. All significant levels were set to 𝛼=.05. As a result of the experiment Results : First, regarding the changes in body composition and blood pressure after the 5-day combined marine treatment program was completed, there were statistically significant differences found in weight (p<.01) and systolic blood pressure (p<.05). Second, regarding the changes in blood lipids and CRP after the program was conducted, there were statistically significant differences found in total cholesterol (p<.05) while there was no statistically significant difference found in the variables of neutral fat, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and CRP. Conclusion : the study results were integrated, the 5-day combined marine treatment program had a positive effect on weight, blood pressure and total cholesterol in the patients with metabolic diseases. Therefore, the short-term marine treatment program was thought to be effective for them. However, considering no significant differences were found in neutral fat, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and CRP, further development and research on combined marine treatment programs should be conducted in the long term to create an effective program for patients with metabolic diseases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.194-201
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• 2017

Background Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains high concentrations of growth factors involved in wound healing. Hydrogel is a 3-dimensional, hydrophilic, high-molecular, reticular substance generally used as a dressing formulation to accelerate wound healing, and also used as a bio-applicable scaffold or vehicle. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PRP and hydrogel on wound healing, in combination and separately, in an animal wound model. Methods A total of 64 wounds, with 2 wounds on the back of each nude mouse, were classified into 4 groups: a control group, a hydrogel-only group, a PRP-only group, and a combined-treatment group. All mice were assessed for changes in wound size and photographed on scheduled dates. The number of blood vessels was measured in all specimens. Immunohistochemical staining was used for the analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Results Differences in the decrease and change in wound size in the combined-treatment group were more significant than those in the single-treatment groups on days 3, 5, 7, and 10. Analysis of the number of blood vessels through histological examination showed a pattern of increase over time that occurred in all groups, but the combined-treatment group exhibited the greatest increase on days 7 and 14. Immunohistochemical staining showed that VEGF expression in the combined-treatment group exhibited its highest value on day 7. Conclusions This experiment demonstrated improved wound healing using a PRP-hydrogel combined treatment compared to either treatment individually, resulting in a decrease in wound size and a shortening of the healing period.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.75-86
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• 2024

Spinal cord infarction is one of the rare strokes with no clear signs of serious nerve damage or after-effects. This study reports on the effectiveness of a combined treatment of Korean medicine and acupuncture on bilateral paraplegia, dysuria, and constipation in a patient with sudden-onset spinal cord infarction. An 84-year-old male patient was diagnosed with spinal cord infarction in August 2022. After diagnosis by whole spine MRI, he received treatment for two months at another hospital, but the improvement was insignificant. He then received Korean medicine treatment, and during this period, his lower extremity manual muscle test grade improved from 3 to 4 and his modified Rivermead mobility index score increased by 13 points, compared with hospitalization. Dysuria improved with acupuncture, and constipation improved with herbal medicine treatment. A combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture can be used to treat paraplegia, dysuria, and constipation caused by spinal cord infarction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.213-226
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was aimed to show the effect of electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture on abdominal obesity without patient dieting, exercise or use of herbal medication. Methods : Women over 85 cm in waist circumference were treated with electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture. Acupuncture points were located at the abdomen ($CV_{12}$, $CV_6$, $ST_{25}$, $ST_{21}$, $SP_{15}$, $SP_{14}$), extremities ($LI_4$, $LI_{11}$, $ST_{36}$, $ST_{44}$) and were stimulated 30 minutes with 2.1~3 Gaus, 500 Hz, tolerable strength. The Interference wave forms were by Whata 153 (Medi Lab, Korea). Two or three treatment sessions per week (five or ten sessions in total) were done. Before treatment, and after the last treatment, we measured waist circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio, thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio, visceral fat area, free fat mass, body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass. We also measured the subcutaneous temperature of the abdomen($CV_{12}$, $ST_{25}(Rt)$, $ST_{25}(Lt)$, $CV_6$) by using digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI). Results : In this study, significant reductions were shown in waist circumference, hip circumference, thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio and body fat mass. There were no significant differences in waist hip ratio, free fat mass or skeletal muscle mass. There were also significant increases of the subcutaneous temperature on $CV_{12}$, $ST_{25}(Rt)$, $ST_{25}(Lt)$. Conclusions : From the above results, electroacupuncture combined with magnetic acupuncture might be an effective treatment for abdominal obesity.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.169-186
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical evidence to support the use of acupuncture combined herbal medicine for post-stroke depression. Methods: Studies were identified by searching Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, NDSL, RISS, KMbase, KISS, and CNKI. Randomized controlled trials that verified effects of the acupuncture combined with the herbal medicine for PSD were included in this study. Literature searches of English, Chinese, and Korean databases were performed. Two authors independently extracted the data and assembled the study quality. Results: Of 698 RCTs screened, 17 RCTs were selected. Most of the studies had unclear risk of bias. Among the 17 RCTs, 10 were meta-analyzed. As for the outcome measurement, the effective rate and the HAMD were most commonly used. The meta-analysis of the studies revealed that the PSD cure effective rate in the acupuncture combined with herbal medicine group was higher than that in the Western medicine group (RR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.33, p<0.00001, I²=0%). Also, the HAMD in the acupuncture combined with herbal medicine group was significantly different compared to the Western medicine group (MD -5.54, 95% CI -9.80 to -1.29, p=0.01, I²=99%). The quality of the selected RCTs was low. Conclusions: Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine is effective for treating post-stroke depression. However, It is worth noting that the included studies were of relatively poor quality. The sample sizes were also small. Based on the findings of this study, further investigations into the diagnosis and treatment of PSD are warranted.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

Objectives: Malignant gliomas are often treated with cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), CDDP) and radiation but results remain unsatisfactory. Since malignant glioma displays moderate resistance to conventional therapy, a new treatment modality is needed to improve the outcome of patients with these tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the combined use of Jongjihwan(JJH) and cisplatin(CDDP) on cultured malignant glioma cells, A172. Methodss & Results: The combined use of cisplatin and Jeongjihwan had synergistic effects on Al72 cells during 24 hr-incubation, This treatment resulted in a decrease of cell viability, Which was revealed as apoptosis Characterized by activation of caspase-3 protease as well as cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) with change of mitochondria membrane potential transition. The expression of members of the Bcl-2 protein family was modulated during co-treatment with Jeongjihwan and cisplatin. Activation of caspase-3 and mitochondrial alterations were central to co-treatment with Jeongjihwan and cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Conclusions: We conclude that co-treatment with Jeongjihwan and cisplatin-induced activation of the mitochondrial pathway enables cell death. Also, we suggest the combined theory of JJH and cisplatin could be a useful method for glioblastoma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.700-705
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• 2006

Purpose: For hypertrophic scars and keloids no universally effective treatment modality exists. Surgical revision, intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, pressure, laser, and others have been used with variable success, but many treatments are associated with high recurrence rates. Although optimal treatment remains undefined, successful treatment can be obtained through a combined therapeutic approach. Methods: We used three therapeutic modalities in combination, which are intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide, silicone gel sheeting, and 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser. Fifty-eight cases of hypertrophic or keloid scar were treated by combined therapeutic regimen for mean period of 18 months. The changes of thickness, color, and pliability of scars were evaluated with clinical photographs by grading scale. Results: As summing the grades and categorizing the result into three group, we obtained 28% good, 67% fair, and 5% poor results. There was a desirable improvement of scars with insignificant adverse effects. Conclusion: Combination of intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, and pulsed dye laser can lead to successful treatment of hypertrophic scar and keloid.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.15-26
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study was to report the cases of knee injury that are treated with both CPM and Korean medicine. Methods : We treated 3 patients who had knee joint pain and gait disturbance by knee injuries with Korean medicine and CPM treatment. We evaluated the outcomes by checking NRS, ROM, Lysholm knee score, walking state and other symptoms. Results : The NRS, ROM, Lysholm knee score, and other symptoms of 3 patients were improved before they. These results show possibilities of simultaneous treatment of Korean medicine and CPM. But there is a limit that the number of cases is not sufficient, and there was no long-term follow-up after discharge. Conclusions : Simultaneous treatment of Korean medicine and CPM has an effect on knee joint rehabilitation. Further studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of Korean medicine combined with CPM.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.45-52
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• 2019

Objectives : Hyperthermia is a widely used therapeutic tool for cancer therapy and a well-known inducer of apoptosis. Although the Cinnamomi cortex (CC) is a potent anticancer agent for several human carcinomas, it is less potent in the human U937 cell line. To explore any enhancing effects of CC with hyperthermia induced apoptosis, this study investigated the combined effects and apoptotic mechanisms of hyperthermia and CC in U937 cells. Methods : U937 cells were heat treated at $43^{\circ}C$ for 30 min with or without pre-treatment for 1h with CC and then incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ with 5% $CO_2$. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay and Trypan blue assay. Morphological changes reflecting apoptosis were visualized under microscope. Synergy effect of CC combined with hyperthermia were calculated by Compusyn software. The expression of proteins related to apoptosis and signaling pathways was determined by western blotting. Results : Hyperthermia with CC reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis. Combined hyperthermia and CC treatment markedly augmented apoptosis by upregulating proapoptotic proteins and suppressing antiapoptotic proteins, culminating in caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, the combined treatment, decreased the expression of in Bcl-2 family, cyclin D1, VEGF, MMP2 and MMP9 expression. Conclusion : This study provides compelling evidence that hyperthermia, in combination with CC, is a promising therapeutic strategy for enhancement of apoptosis and suggests a promising therapeutic approach for cancer.