• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.75-87
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• 2015

Background: Lumbar discogenic pain without pain mediated by a disc herniation, facet joints, or the sacroiliac joints, is common and often results in chronic, persistent pain and disability. After conservative treatment failure, injection therapy, such as an epidural injection, is frequently the next step considered in managing discogenic pain. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the efficacy of lumbar epidural injections in managing discogenic pain without radiculopathy, and compare this approach to lumbar fusion or disc arthroplasty surgery. Methods: A systematic review of randomized trials published from 1966 through October 2014 of all types of epidural injections and lumbar fusion or disc arthroplasty in managing lumbar discogenic pain was performed with methodological quality assessment and grading of evidence. The level of evidence was based on the grading of evidence criteria which, was conducted using 5 levels of evidence ranging from levels I to V. Results: Based on a qualitative assessment of the evidence for both approaches, there is Level II evidence for epidural injections, either caudal or lumbar interlaminar. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests fluoroscopically directed epidural injections provide long-term improvement in back and lower extremity pain for patients with lumbar discogenic pain. There is also limited evidence showing the potential effectiveness of surgical interventions compared to nonsurgical treatments.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.346-368
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• 2021

Background: Recalcitrant disc herniation may result in chronic lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica. Fluoroscopically directed epidural injections and other conservative modalities may provide inadequate improvement in some patients. In these cases, percutaneous neurolysis with targeted delivery of medications is often the next step in pain management. Methods: An evidence-based system of methodologic assessment, namely, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used. Multiple databases were searched from 1966 to January 2021. Principles of the best evidence synthesis were incorporated into qualitative evidence synthesis. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with significant pain relief and functional improvement (≥ 50%). Duration of relief was categorized as short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months). Results: This assessment identified one high-quality randomized controlled trial (RCT) and 5 moderate-quality non-randomized studies with an application of percutaneous neurolysis in disc herniation. Overall, the results were positive, with level II evidence. Conclusions: Based on the present systematic review, with one RCT and 5 non-randomized studies, the evidence level is II for percutaneous neurolysis in managing lumbar disc herniation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.201-209
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• 2013

Objectives: The goal of this study was to perform an economic analysis of a primary stenting with drug-eluting stents (DES) compared with bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admitted through an emergency room (ER) visit in Korea using population-based data. Methods: We employed a cost-minimization method using a decision analytic model with a two-year time period. Model probabilities and costs were obtained from a published systematic review and population-based data from which a retrospective database analysis of the national reimbursement database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment covering 2006 through 2010 was performed. Uncertainty was evaluated using one-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results: Among 513 979 cases with AMI during 2007 and 2008, 24 742 cases underwent stenting procedures and 20 320 patients admitted through an ER visit with primary stenting were identified in the base model. The transition probabilities of DES-to-DES, DES-to-BMS, DES-to-coronary artery bypass graft, and DES-to-balloon were 59.7%, 0.6%, 4.3%, and 35.3%, respectively, among these patients. The average two-year costs of DES and BMS in 2011 Korean won were 11 065 528 won/person and 9 647 647 won/person, respectively. DES resulted in higher costs than BMS by 1 417 882 won/person. The model was highly sensitive to the probability and costs of having no revascularization. Conclusions: Primary stenting with BMS for AMI with an ER visit was shown to be a cost-saving procedure compared with DES in Korea. Caution is needed when applying this finding to patients with a higher level of severity in health status.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.73-85
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of Korean medicine treatment, and to analyze problems and demands to provide basic data on Korean medicine in military medical services. Methods: This survey was completed by 30 volunteer Korean medicine military doctors on service via a web-based questionnaire system. The questionnaire was developed through in-depth interviews with Korean medicine military doctors and consisted of general information on the subject, overall characteristics of the medical environment, current status of Korean medicine care in each workplace, problems and needs, and related clinical evidence and education. Results: Korean medicine military doctors administered acupuncture treatment most frequently in clinical practice. The most common complaints were related to musculoskeletal diseases, which accounted for 86.5% of all diseases, including those of the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. Most of the problems in Korean medicine care were pointed out as being due to a lack of awareness of Korean medicine in the military. Many doctors were aware that it is necessary to establish clinical evidence for Korean medicine in the military, and were also positive about the possibility of performing clinical research in the military, but the experience of actual participation in clinical research or related education was uncommon. Conclusions: Korean medicine military treatment differs from private medical care due to the specificity of each workplace and the military medical system. In the future, it will be necessary to establish an appropriate Korean medicine treatment model in the military suitable for these characteristics and strategic plans for clinical evidence.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.840-860
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• 2021

Imaging plays a key role in the diagnosis and characterization of thyroid diseases, and the information provided by imaging studies is essential for management planning. A referral guideline for imaging studies may help physicians make reasonable decisions and minimize the number of unnecessary examinations. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) developed imaging guidelines for thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer using an adaptation process through a collaboration between the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency and the working group of KSThR, which is composed of radiologists specializing in thyroid imaging. When evidence is either insufficient or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence for recommending imaging. Therefore, we suggest rating the appropriateness of imaging for specific clinical situations in this guideline.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.232-243
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was to identify the level of knowledge and performances on evidence-based infection control and influencing factors on performance among nurses in intensive care unit. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. Two hundred thirty-nine nurses at intensive care units were conveniently recruited from seven hospitals located in Seoul and Kyounggi province. Data were collected with a questionnaire survey about evidence-based infection control. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. Results: Both level of knowledge (mean 9.15 out of 19) on preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia and central venous catheter induced bloodstream infection, and performance on evidence-based infection control (1.94 out of 4) were moderate. Performance of evidence-based practice for infection control was related to reading research articles regularly, professional satisfaction, and taken education course. Conclusion: These results indicate that systematic and organizational strategies for enhancing evidence-based infection control are needed to improve quality of intensive nursing care.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2008

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4795-4800
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• 2014

Background: Few studies have directly compared clinical efficacy and safety among Chinese herb injections (CHIs) for gastric cancer (GC). The present study aimed to compare CHIs combined with FOLFOX regimens for GC to show which provides the best CHIs results. Materials and Methods: 9 electronic databases and 6 gray literature databases were comprehensive searched in April 20, 2013. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently selected and assessed the included trials. The risk of bias tool described in the Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0 and CONSORT statement were used to assess the quality of the trials. All calculations and graphs were performed and produced using ADDIS 1.16.5 software. Results: A total of 541 records were searched and 38 RCTs met the inclusion criteria (2,761 participants), involving 10 CHIs. The results of network meta-analysis showed that compared with FOLFOX alone, combinations with Kanglaite, Astragalus polysaccharides, Cinobufacini, or Yadanziyouru injections could furthest strengthen ORR, improve the quality of life, reduce nausea and vomiting, and reduce the incidence of leukopenia (III-IV). Conclusions: Kanglaite injection, Astragalus polysaccharides injection, Yadanziyouru injection were superior to other CHIs in clinical efficacy and safety for GC. The conclusions now need to be confirmed by large sample size direct head-to-head studies.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2007

Objectives : The diagnosis of depression is based on a highly variable set of symptoms. Therefore, depression should not be viewed as a single disease, but a heterogenous syndrome comprised of different pathophysiologies. There are several subtypes of depression which were already incorporated in DSM-IV. This article provides a systematic review of pharmacological treatments of two recognized subtypes of depression-dysthymic disorder and atypical depression. Methods : Systematic search of relevant literatures on dysthymic disorder and atypical depression was performed by proposed search strategy of the Clinical Research Center for Depression of Korean Health 21 R&D Project. All identified literatures were carefully reviewed and classified according to SIGN grading system and summarized in a narrative manner. Results : For the treatment of dysthymic disorder and atypical depression, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors( SSRIs) and moclobemide have more evidence than the other antidepressants. SSRIs and moclobemide showed superior tolerability than tricyclic antidepressants. Conclusions : The authors proposed treatment recommendations for dysthymic disorder and atypical depression by the methods of evidence-based medicine(EBM). However, guideline developing methods of EBM also have several inevitable limitations. Therefore, in the absence of clear and significant differences in efficacy, the choice of medication must be individualized for a particular patient based on psychiatrist's own clinical decision.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2016

There were no Korean evidence-based multidisciplinary guidelines for gastric cancer. Experts from related societies developed guidelines de novo to meet Korean circumstances and requirements, including 23 recommendation statements for diagnosis (n=9) and treatment (n=14) based on relevant key questions. The quality of the evidence was rated according to the GRADE evidence evaluation framework and the recommendation grades were classified as either strong or weak. The topics of the guidelines cover diagnostic modalities (endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, and radiologic diagnosis), treatment modalities (surgery, therapeutic endoscopy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy), and pathologic evaluation. Major limitation of the present guideline is that there is no enough evidences in Korea. Therefore, clinical studies about gastric cancer for evidence generation should be conducted.