• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2008

Background: A transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is one of the methods for the conservative treatment of the lumbar spinal stenosis. As efforts to prolong the therapeutic duration and to predict the outcome of TFESI are very important, we analyzed factors considered to be associated with the therapeutic duration of a TFESI. Methods: Between August 2006 and March 2007, 69 patients (Group A: patients with no pain relief, Group B: patients with pain relief of less than 6 months, Group C: patients with pain relief of more than 6 months) who failed to the medical treatment were included to undertake a fluoroscopic-guided TFESI. Prior to treatment, the VAS (visual analogue scale), ODI (Oswestry disability index), BDI (Beck depression inventory), and BAI (Beck anxiety inventory) scores were determined to evaluate the degree of pain, disability, and psychological status. The VAS and ODI scores were used to assess the degree of pain relief. To identify the total duration of pain relief, regular outpatient visits for six months were conducted, and for the patients who were not able to visit the outpatient clinic regularly, outcome was assessed by telephone interviews after six months. Results: The dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA), ODI, pain duration, BDI, BAI, and age showed similar distribution for patients in the A, B, and C groups. Conclusions: The DSCSA, ODI, pain duration, BDI, BAI, and age were not associated with the therapeutic duration of TFESI in lumbar spinal stenosis patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.210-213
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• 1998

Background: Epidural steroid therapy has been well-established for the treatment of sciatica and low back pain. Disappointing results following surgical decompression or discectomy have led to wide trials of corticosteroids injected either systemically or into the intraspinally. Although epidural steroid is known to be very effective in the treatment of the patients with low back pain, few data showed the therapeutic duration of epidural steroid. Methods: We studied 120 patients who were treated with epidural steroid for the treatment of low back pain or sciatica or both. We retrospectively analysed the duration of analgesia, number of injections per each session, and complications. Results: The duration of analgesia ranged from 17 days to 300 days, and the mean duration was $73.7{\pm}70.5$ (SD) days. The mean number of injections per each session was $1.8{\pm}1.3$ (range: 1 to 12). There were no significant complications with epidural steroid injections. Conclusions: One to three epidural steroid injections at one week interval leads more than two months of pain relief without significant complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 1997

Background : There are several treatment of trigeminal neuralgia including Gasserian Ganglion Block. This paper retrospectively analyze the efficacy of Gasserian Ganglion Block as main treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : We studied 55 patients for followings; sex, age, duration from onset to visit, consulted mediator, causes, characteristics of pain, affected area, types of block, kinds and volume of used neurolytic agents, duration from first block to repeat block, types of repeat block, complications, if surgery was necessary after block. Results : Characteristic items of trigeminal neuralgia are similar with other studies. Mean duration of pain relief was 23 months. The duration was shortened in the repeat block. There were no significant complication. Conclusion : Considering Gasserian Ganglion Block as main treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is an effective and safe method. Therefore we would like to recommend the need to increase public awareness of trigeminal neuralgia and its possible treatment in pain clinics through mass commanication.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.284-292
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• 2024

Objective: Reconstruction methods, including stent-assisted coiling, multiple telescopic stents, and flow diverters, are preferred modalities for the treatment of unruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs). We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between two reconstructive flow diversion techniques: single flow diverter (FD) device and multiple telescopic stenting (TS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 39 patients with unruptured VADAs. Of these, 17 patients were treated with multiple TS and 22 with a single FD device. Aneurysm characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: All aneurysms included in this study successfully achieved flow diversion, regardless of the treatment modality and duration. However, the mean procedure duration to complete the diversion was shorter in the FD group. Subgroup analysis in TS group showed that there were no significant clinical differences between the low-profile visualized intraluminal support and Enterprise stents, except for the mean procedure duration. Conclusions: Both the single FD and multiple TS methods showed excellent angiographic and clinical outcomes in the treatment of unruptured VADAs. However, single FD required a shorter procedure duration and was associated with faster achievement of complete flow diversion.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.539-545
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to investigate the knowledge and self care behaviors of orthodontic patients using clear aligner. Methods : A total of 181 orthodontic patients using clear aligner in Daegu filled out the self-reported questionnaire from September 6 to October 18, 2010. and 162 subjects completed orthodontic treatment. Results : There existed a significant difference in knowledge and self care behaviors between gender and wearing duration of clear aligner(p<0.01). Treatment duration influenced significantly on the score of self care behaviors(p<0.01) and the high score of self care behavior showed in short duration of treatment. Conclusions : Self care behaviors were closely correlated with treatment duration. An information for the clear aligner will be helpful to improve the knowledge and self care behaviors.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 1998

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of different stimulation-duration of high frequency electroacupuncturet(EA) treatment on the neuronal activities in the spinal cord and brainstem using Fos immunohistochemical technique. Three different stimulus-duration was used in this experiment : 30minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours. The summerized results were summerized as follow : 1. The number of Fos expression was significantly increased in the spinal cord dorsal horn depending upon the increase of stimulus-duration (P<0.05). Otherwise, there was no significant difference between 30 minutes EA treated group and anesthetic control. 2. High frequency EA biphasic stimulation significantly enhanced the Fos expression in the DR, middle and rostral portion of PAG LD, and caudal PAG LV after 1 hour and 2 hours treatment. The number of Fos immunoreactive neuron in the brainstem was increased accorcting to the length of stimulus-duration. Those results indicate that at least 1 hour EA treatment was necessary to increase the neuronal activities in the spinal cord and brainstem. Those basic data from this study can be applied to establish the effective treatment of EA for pain control in the clinical field.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2006

Purpose: To analyze the effectiveness of the treatment with the stretching exercise in the patients with iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome. Materials and Methods: 22 patients with ITB friction syndrome were treated with the stretching exercise of the ITB. The criterion for determining the good result is more than 75% recovery according to the classification of success of treatment. We analyzed the differences of the duration of treatment at which the good result it achieved according to sincerity of the stretching exercise. The sincerity of the exercise is defined at performing more than 50% of the exercise that we prescribed. Results: Of 22 patients, there were good results in 19 cases (87%) within 8 weeks after the treatment. Except for 3 cases who did not achieved good results, the average duration of the treatment is 28.1 days. In patients with good results there was no statistical significance for the relationship between the duration of symptoms before diagnosis (average 25.6 days) and the duration of the treatment (average 28.1 days). In comparison with the group who performed the exercise sincerely and the group who did not, the average duration of the treatment if 23 days and 32.7 days respectively and there was significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The stretching exercise in ITB friction syndrome was helpful in reducing the duration of treatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.110-117
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine factors influencing the duration of occlusal appliance (OA) treatment for patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement. Methods: Ninety patients were included for this study, who satisfied the following including criteria: (i) those who were diagnosed as disc displacement of TMJ by taking magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (ii) those who were finished OA treatment. The subjects were classified into three groups according to the period of OA treatment: (i) early response group (<6 months), (ii) moderate response group (6 months-1 year), and (iii) delayed response group (>1 year). Demographic data, data from chief complaints and past history of temporomandibular disorder, data from clinical examination and diagnostic imaging including panoramic view and TMJ MRI were compared among groups. One-way ANOVA and chi-square analysis were used to test statistical significance. Results: There were no significant differences in demographic data, data from chief complaints and TMJ imaging. However, only the prevalence of oral parafunctional habits including bruxism, clenching, and unilateral chewing showed significant differences among groups. Conclusions: Oral parafunctional habits could be factors to influence the duration of OA treatment in the patients with TMJ internal derangement.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

Purpose: To evaluate compliance by analyzing and comparing treatment duration, degree of improvement after treatment and treatment response of oral lichen planus (OLP) patients according to characteristics of them and the severity of the lesion. Methods: According to treatment process, 132 subjects with OLP who first visited the Department of Oral Medicine at the Pusan National University Dental Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020were classified into three groups: Treatment completed (CT) group, Under treatment (UT) group, and Dropped out during follow-up (DT) group. The reticulation/keratosis, erythema, and ulceration (REU) scoring system was used to assess the severity of OLP. The degree of improvement after treatment was evaluated in CT group. Results: There were 53 (40.15%) CT, 27 (20.45%) UT and 52 (39.39%) DT. In CT group, according to initial REU score there was a statistical difference in the degree of improvement, but not in the length of time to complete treatment. There was no statistical difference between the days it took for patients to feel symptom relief, and the days of entire treatment among three groups. However, there was a positive correlation between the REU score of gingiva and duration of treatment in DT group. In the CT and DT groups, there was a correlation between the length of time taken to relieve symptoms and the duration of treatment. Conclusions: The severity of the gingival lesion and the initial response to treatment have a large effect on the entire treatment period and prognosis, so it should be considered when explaining the disease prognosis and treatment period to patients, and the clinician needs to focus on initial symptom relief.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.463-472
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• 2006

Background: Since video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was introduced as a new treatment modality for empyema thoracis, numerous reports have suggested that VATS is a more effective treatment method than the traditional methods that mainly use antibiotics and drainage apparatus. However, no confirmative evidence of the superiority of VATS over the traditional method has been provided yet. Methods: We attempted to evaluate the efficacy of VATS for the treatment of empyema thoracis by reviewing past medical records and simple chest films. First, we divided the patients into two groups based on the treatment method: group A of 15 patients who were treated with the traditional method between January 2001 and December 2003, and group B of 9 patients who were treated with VATS between December 2003 and August 2006. The final outcomes used in this study were the number of days of hospital stay, chest tube duration, leukocytosis duration, febrile duration, and intravenous antibiotics usage duration. In addition, radiological improvements were compared. Results: The mean age(${\pm}$standard deviation) of 11 men and 4 women in group A was $58.2{\pm}15.7$ years, and of 9 men and 2 women in group B was $51.6{\pm}9.5$ years. Group B had a significantly shorter hospital stay ($16.6{\pm}7.4$ vs. $33.7{\pm}22.6$ days; p=0.014), shorter chest tube duration ($10.5{\pm}5.7$ vs. $19.5{\pm}14.4$ days; p=0.039), shorter leukocytosis duration ($6.7{\pm}6.5$ vs. $18.8{\pm}13.2$ days; p=0.008), shorter febrile duration ($0.8{\pm}1.8$ vs. $9.4{\pm}9.2$ days; p=0.004), and shorter duration of intravenous antibiotics usage ($14.9{\pm}6.4$ vs. $25.4{\pm}13.9$ days; p=0.018). However, radiological improvements did not show any statistical differences. Conclusion: Early application of VATS for empyema thoracis treatment reduced hospital stay, thoracostomy tube duration, leukocytosis duration, febrile duration, and antibiotics usage duration in comparison with the traditional methods. The early performing of VATS might be an effective treatment modality for empyema thoracis.