• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was designed to assess the general distribution, clinical effectiveness of Korean medical treatment on knee pain and the correlation between Korean medical therapy on knee pain and BMI. Methods : This is an observational study. 65 patients admitted to Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine with musculoskeletal disorders were observed from July, 2014 to July, 2015. They were analyzed according to sex, age, pain lesion, body mass index(BMI) and treatment efficacy. All patients received a combination of treatments during hospitalization, including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicines and physical therapy. A zero to ten numerating rating scale (NRS) assessing pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index(WOMAC) index and Range of Motion(ROM) was used before and after treatments. Statistical correlations among assessment measurements were evaluated by examining the paired t-test and the Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results : The average BMI of all patients was $24.03{\pm}2.95kg/m^2$. According to clinical definition of obesity by Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, 33.8% of all patients was within normal weight, 1.5% was underweight, 33.8% was overweight, 24.6% was obesity and 6.2% was morbid obesity. For knee pain patients, NRS (Numeric Rating Scale) decreased from $6.28{\pm}1.63$ to $3.94{\pm}2.03$(p<0.001). WOMAC index decreased from $48.14{\pm}17.63$ to $40.37{\pm}18.28$(p<0.001). But, there were no significant correlations in statistics among BMI, knee pain index and knee pain index improvement. Conclusions : Korean medical combination treatment might be effective in reducing pain and improving functional disorders for patients with knee pain. This study further confirmed the efficacy of Korean medical treatment on knee pain. But, more studies on correlation between knee pain and obesity and development of assessment measurement are needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Medicine & Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.21-30
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate questions and instructions for internal feedback effects on functional recovery and task performance while chronic stroke patients practised task-specific training. Method: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups; when patients performed same tasks, one was treated using questions and the other using instructions for internal feedback Both lasted 30 minutes, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included Erasmus MC Modifications to the Nottingham Sensory Assessment (EmNSA), Measurement Properties of the Motor Evaluation Scale for Upper Extremity in Stroke patients (MESUPES), Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory (CAHAI), Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in EmNSA and K-MBI(p>.05). But, in MESUPES and CAHAI, there was significant difference between the two groups(p<.05). Conclusion: In this study, questions for internal feedback during task-specific training are more effective in improving upper extremity motor function and task performance than instructions for internal feedback.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.15-25
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• 2018

Purposes: The objectives of this study present the direction of the criteria for the separately reimbursement of therapeutic medical device. Methodology: We summarized experts' opinion using Delphi survey and Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP). 48 experts were gathered from Medical Insurance Review Nurses Association, medical device industry, academy and association, Medical Device Expert Evaluation Committee. Descriptive statistics, consistency index, content validity ratio were analyzed. Findings: Clinical utility, patient safety, infection control, cost-homogeneity, cost-effectiveness showed high feasibility and importance, but market contribution and functional utility showed low feasibility and importance in a relative sense. The results of functional utility differed between clinical and non-clinical experts. Measurability was low across the whole area. Among the criteria for the separately reimbursement of therapeutic medical device. Patient safety/infection control and clinical utility showed the highest relative importance values, analyzed using AHP. Practical Implications: Patient safety and infection control are needed to be considered as one of Value Assessment Criteria. It is important to find out how to improve the measurability of therapeutic medical device.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.119-132
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to collect and analyze real world data to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of comprehensive traditional Korean Medicine treatment on quality of life, anorexia and cachexia of cancer patients. Methods: We analyzed medical records of 62 cancer patients admitted to O-I Dang Korean Medicine Hospital from February 2018 to February 2019. The primary outcome was a change score in the Anorexia/Cachexia Subscale of Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT). The secondary outcomes were Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), Trial Outcome Index(TOI) of FAACT, 11 point Pain Intensity Numeric Rating Score (11 PI-NRS) and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) and adverse event. Results: Cachexia and quality of life in cancer patients assessed by FAACT, increased by $5.59{\pm}14.83$ (p=0.004) after treatment. PI-NRS was reduced by $2.10{\pm}1.81$ (p<0.001) and TOI and FACT-G total scores were increased by $5.17{\pm}11.70$ (p=0.001) and $3.59{\pm}10.94$ (p=0.012), respectively. These results were also clinically meaningful assessed via minimal clinically important difference (MCID). There was no severe adverse event. Conclusion: These findings suggest that comprehensive traditional Korean Medicine treatment might be effective and safe strategy for improving quality of life, anorexia, cachexia and pain of cancer patients. Further advanced studies with controlled group and more participants with rigorous design are needed to ensure these findings.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2018

The basic hydrogel lens with addition of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) and N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide (NMV) were manufactured. The optical and physical characteristics of ophthalmic lens were evaluated by measuring water content, oxygen permeability (Dk), refractive index and optical transmittance. The water content & oxygen permeability (Dk) of sample containing Ref., DMA group and NMV group was in the average of 34.48%, 35.54~49.19% & $13.003{\sim}18.468{\times}10^{-11}(cm^2/sec)$($mlO_2/ml{\times}mmHg$) and 36.28~44.95% & $12.270{\sim}16.883{\times}10^{-11}(cm^2/sec)$ ($mlO_2/ml{\times}mmHg$), respectively. And also, refractive index of the sample containing Ref., DMA group and NMV group was in the average of 1.4350, 1.4330~1.4131 and 1.4335~1.4195, respectively. Standard hydrogel monomer containing DMA and NMV was expected to be used usefully as a material for fabricating hydrophilic functional ophthalmic lens.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2021

Objective: Insomnia is a very common symptom of cancer and has a substantial effect on the patients' quality of life. This study aimed to identify the effects of foot reflexology on insomnia in cancer patients. Methods: The study employed a before-after test design on a single group of 13 cancer patients with insomnia, selected by convenience sampling in Daegu. The foot reflexology treatment comprised 30-min sessions twice a week over four weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were measured at the baseline, at 2 and 4 weeks, and after 4 weeks post treatment completion. Brief Fatigue Inventory-Korean (BFI-K), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and 4 weeks after completing treatments. Results: Thirteen patients (mean age 44.77 ± 6.70 years), with thyroid, breast or cervical cancer, were included in the study. Post-treatment, PSQI (from 12.33 ± 3.17 to 8.54 ± 3.43, p<0.001), ISI (from 20.33 ± 3.88 to 13.38 ± 4.23, p<0.001), FACT-G (from 49.6 ± 13.27 to 61.35 ± 14.45, p<0.001), and BFI (from 6.46 ± 0.91 to 5.00 ± 2.02, p<0.001) scores improved significantly over those at the baseline. Conclusion: Foot reflexology can be a good alternative treatment to improve insomnia, fatigue, and quality of life in cancer patients

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2022

Objective: Insomnia is a very common symptom and has a great effect on the quality of life in cancer patients. This study was conducted to identify the effects of the aroma therapy on insomnia in cancer patients. Methods: The study was performed with one group in before-after test design. The subjects were 15 cancer patients with insomnia selected by convenience sampling in Daegu. The aroma therapy consists of 10-minute sessions twice a week over 6 weeks. The PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), ISI (Insomnia Severity Index) were measured at baseline and at 3 and 6 weeks, after 6 weeks after finishing treatment. STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), FACT-G (Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-General), HRV (Heart Rate Variability) were measured at baseline, post-treatment and after 6 weeks after finishing treatments. Results: Fifteen patients (mean age 50.93 ± 7.29 years), with breast, ovarian or gastric cancer, participated this study. At post-treatment, PSQI (from 14.18 ± 2.64 to 6.18 ± 3.03), ISI (from 19.00 ± 3.19 to 8.18 ± 5.14), FACT-G (from 55.65 ± 11.20 to 66.91 ± 12.33), and STAI (from 40.36 ± 8.10 to 34.73 ± 9.81, from 45.64 ± 6.07 to 39.73 ± 9.37) scores improved significantly over baseline(p<0.001). Conclusion: Aroma therapy improved insomnia, anxiety and quality of life on cancer patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.15-31
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review the instruments used to assess patient condition and the effects of Korean medical treatment for patients injured in traffic accidents in clinical studies in the Korean medical field published in South Korea. Methods : A literature study was performed, and clinical studies on patients injured in traffic accidents visiting Korean medical clinics or hospitals were examined. Data about chief complaints, tools used to assess either patients' condition or the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment, and time point of assessment were extracted. The studies were classified according to symptom. The use-frequency and the parent category of the assessment tools were also analyzed. Results : 78 studies were selected and classified into 5 categories based on the chief complaints, neck pain, lower back pain, headache, psychological symptoms and unspecified symptoms. Various scales were used to report the patient's pain severity, and functional or psychological status resulting from traffic accidents. Pain index, in particular VAS, was most frequently used and a few mechanical instruments and Korean medicinal assessment tools were mentioned. Conclusion : Most instruments used in Korean medicine clinical studies on patients injured in traffic accidents are self-reported tools. To assess both the patient's condition precisely and the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment on patients injured in traffic accidents, more appropriate and unified tools should be designed that consider pain, functional disability, psychological status and objective assessments measured by devices together.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 2002

Objectives : This study sought to define autonomic functional difference on heart rate variability between headache patients and normal subjects Methods : We determined, heart rate variability of 52 headache patients and 30 normal subjects by means of three time domain measures: Mean PR(mean pulse rate), SDNN(standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals), RMSSD(the square root of the mean of sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals), and five frequency domain measures: TP(total power), VLF(very low frequency), LF(low frequency), HF(high frequency). Results : 1) RMSSD, TP, HF, HF Norm of HRV decreased with aging and LF Norm, LF/HF increased with aging in headache patients. 2) There was no significant differences between migraine and tention headache in any standard index of HRV, whereas, HRV of total headache patients were smaller than those of normal subjects. 3) In the gender comparison, SDNN, RMSSD, HF of tention headache patients were the smallest and then migraine patients, normal subjects in order with man, whereas, LF Norm, LF/HF of normal subjects were the smallest with man. RMSSD of migraine patients were the smallest and then tention headache patients, normal subjects in order with women. 4) In the term of history of headache patients, SDNN, RMSSD were getting lower as long term. 5) There was no significant differences of HRV in physical symptom of headache patients. Conclusions : All of these results show that standard index of HRV of headache patients were significantly different with normal subjects.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 1985

The present study was undertaken to examine serum concentration of free $T_3,\;T_4$, in various functional states of the thyroid by Amerlex RIA kit method, which uses unidentified $T_3,\;T_4-labelled$ analogues, said to be unreactive with $T_3,\;T_4-binding$ proteins in serum, together with an antibody that binds both analogue and $T_3,\;T_4$. The test method has been compared with free $T_4$ index, which was product of total serum thyroxine and $T_3$ resin uptake ratio. Free $T_4$ value by this method was found to have a highly significant positive correlation with a free $T_4$ index (r; 0.957, p<0.005) and total $T_4$ (r:0.89, p<0.005) also, it was similar to other free $T_4$ measuring methods previously reported. So, it was showen to have the clinical utility as the screening test for thyroid function because it was a rapid; convinient, and reliable method for quantifying the free $T_4,\;T_3$ concentration in various thyroidal functional states.