• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.109-116
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• 2010

Objectives : Since The Journal of Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Society(JKAMS) started publishing in 1984, randomised controlled trials(RCTs) and non-randomised clinical studies(NRSs) consistently have increased in quality and quantity. There has been no study on quality assessment of NRSs. Thus, this study evaluted non-randomised comparative clinical trials in the JKAMS to assess the quantity and quality. Methods : Upon extracting NRSs for assessing the intervention effects from all the articles published in the JKAMS from 1984 to 2009, assessments were made on methodological index for non-randomised studies(MINORS). Also, the analysis were made upon the proportion of non-randomised comparative clinical trials within original articles. The mean scores by research methods and years, and total scores and mean scores of yearly research methods were analyzed. Results : A total of 44 trials on non-randomised comparative clinical trials were selected. In 1980s, 4.3% of the total selected original articles, in 1990s, 4.1%, and in 2000s 14.2% were NRSs. According to the research designs, the mean scores of MINORS were Case-control study 18.3, Controlled before and after 18.5, Quasi randomised trial 18.5, and non randomised trial 17.9(out of 24), respectively. Cross-sectional study was the most frequently used(41.9%). Conclusion : Although NRSs consistently increased in quantity, the assessed mean scores were low and most articles used Cross-sectional study. Thus, there should be studied using appropriate research methods in the future.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.141-154
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• 2024

Background: As preexisting comorbidities are risk factors for Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19), improved tools are needed for screening or diagnosing COVID-19 in clinical practice. Difficulties of including vulnerable patient data may create data imbalance and hinder the provision of well-performing prediction tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI) models. Thus, we systematically reviewed studies on AI prognosis prediction in patients infected with COVID-19 and existing comorbidities, including cancer, to investigate model performance and predictors dependent on patient data. PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched. This study included research meeting the criteria of using AI to predict outcomes in COVID-19 patients, whether they had cancer or not. Preprints, abstracts, reviews, and animal studies were excluded from the analysis. Majority of non-cancer studies (54.55 percent) showed an area under the curve (AUC) of >0.90 for AI models, whereas 30.77 percent of cancer studies showed the same result. For predicting mortality (3.85 percent), severity (8.33 percent), and hospitalization (14.29 percent), only cancer studies showed AUC values between 0.50 and 0.69. The distribution of comorbidity data varied more in non-cancer studies than in cancer studies but age was indicated as the primary predictor in all studies. Non-cancer studies with more balanced datasets of comorbidities showed higher AUC values than cancer studies. Based on the current findings, dataset balancing is essential for improving AI performance in predicting COVID-19 in patients with comorbidities, especially considering age.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.177-186
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review clinical trials using Qigong exercise on patients with hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods : Electronic literature searches for clinical trials (randomized trial, non-randomized trial, before-after study) of Qigong exercise were performed in 21 electronic databases (5 international databases and 16 Korean databases). English, Korean or Chinese articles were included. Laboratory or animal studies were excluded. Results : A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Five randomized controlled trials, Four non-randomized trials and two before-after studies were included. Seven studies used self-developed Qigong exercise. Two studies used Guolin Qigong exercise and two studies used Qigong exercise with an anti-hypertension drug. Of the nine randomized trials or non-randomized trials, four studies used an anti-hypertension drug control and three studies used waiting list controls. Compared to baseline, a change in blood pressure after the Qigong exercise treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results effect of blood pressure between Qigong exercise and controlled trials were not consistent. Conclusions : There are low-quality clinical trials of Qigong exercise for hypertension. To evaluate the effects of Qigong exercise, more rigorous trials are warranted.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.285-292
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• 2013

Ginseng is a well-known traditional medicine used in Asian countries for several thousand years, and it is currently applied to medicine, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements due to its many healing and energygiving properties. It is well demonstrated that ginsenosides, the main ingredient of ginseng, produce a variety of pharmacological and therapeutic effects on central nerve system (CNS) disorders, cardiovascular disease, endocrine secretions, aging, and immune function. Korean red ginseng extract is a dietary supplement containing ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 extracted from Panax ginseng. While the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the extract have been well established, its toxicological properties remain obscure. Thus, four-week oral toxicity studies in rats were conducted to investigate whether Korean red ginseng extract could have a potential toxicity to humans. The test article was administered once daily by oral gavage to four groups of male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Neither deaths nor clinical symptoms were observed in any group during the experiment. Furthermore, no abnormalities in body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights, or histopathology were revealed related to the administration of the test article in either sex of any dosed group. Therefore, a target organ was not determined in this study, and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of Korean red ginseng extract was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.165-182
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to understand clinical usefulness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on students' mental health. Methods: Ten databases were included to extract clinical studies on effects of EFT intervention with students. Characteristics of selected studies were described, and biases were assessed with Risk of Bias (RoB) or Risk of Bias Assessment for Non-Randomized Studies (RoBANS). Results: A total of 14 clinical trials were extracted for analysis. There were 8 randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), 2 non-randomized-controlled trials (nRCTs), and 4 before-after studies. EFT have significant clinical usefulness in public speaking anxiety, test anxiety, stress, depression, learning related emotions, adolescent anxiety, and eating issues. The risk of selection bias in most studies was high or uncertain. Conclusions: EFT is an effective clinical technique for managing students' mental health issues. However, the included studies have been conducted with relatively poor quality and small sample size. Clinical trials with high quality study design and well-designed EFT education programs are needed to generalize clinical usefulness.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.87-96
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review clinical trials using moxibustion on hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods : Electronic literature searches for clinical trials (randomized trial, non-randomized trial, before-after study) of moxibustion were performed in nine electronic databases (four international databases and five Korean databases) and handsearch. English, Korean or Chinese articles were included. Laboratory or animal studies were excluded. Results : A total of twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven randomized controlled trial, three non-randomized trials and two before-after studies were included. Seven studies used direct moxibustion(two are scarring one) and five used indirect one. Five of twelve studies used moxibustion treatment just one time, except for that most frequency was once daily or 2-3 times per week for 1-2 months. Of ten randomized or non-randomized studies, three used antihypertension drug control and another three used waiting list control. Compare to baseline, change of blood pressure after moxibustion treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect in blood pressure between moxibustion and controlled were not consistent. Methodological quality of clinical trials included in this review was low and has risk of bias, especially in blinding of parcitipant. Conclusions : There are little high-quality clinical trials of moxibustion for hypertension. To evaluate the effect of moxibustion, more rigorous trials are warranted. Also, methodology of clinical trials have to be descripted in detail.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.77-86
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• 2011

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate domestic clinical studies related to the exercise program targeting farmers. Methods: Five Korean databases were seamed for prospective clinical trials of exercise program targeting farmers from 2001 to August, 2011. Only studies conducted in Korean language were searched. Results: Thirteen clinical studies were included among 3374 studies searched. Six were observational studies, four were non-randomized controlled trials, and three were randomized controlled trials. All of included studies reported favorable effects of exercise group compared to baseline of controlled group. Conclusions: We found various mistake in the applications of statistical methodologies in the studies of exercise program targeting farmers. It is necessary for more randomized controlled trials to evaluate effect of exercise program target farmers.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.15-24
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was carried out to assess the risk of bias of clinical trials on acne treatment with herbal medicine that have been published in Korea. Methods : 7 electronic databases in Korea were searched for clinical trials on acne treatment. Two independent reviewers selected clinical trials on herbal medicine treatment for acne. Selected studies are categorized according to DAMI(Study Design Algorithm for Medical literature of Intervention). RCTs are assessed according to Cochrane RoB(Risk of Bias), non-randomized studies(Before-after studies) are assessed according to RoBANS(Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study). Results : After selection process, 25 articles are left. Among 25 articles, 3 RCTs and 4 before-after studies are finally included. In RCTs, the proportion of 'unclear' is high in criteria of 'random sequence generation', 'allocation concealment', and 'blinding'. In before-after studies, 'high' is high in criteria of 'blinding for outcome assessment' and 'incomplete outcome data'. Conclusions : Considering the above results of the assessment, it is necessary to conduct more well designed clinical trials on acne treatment with herbal medicine.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.325-343
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• 2024

Objective : To understand how Chungsangboha-tang (CSBHT) is being utilized in clinical practice and research in Korea, clinical studies related to CSBHT published in domestic academic journals were analyzed. Methods : The search was conducted using the following six databases: Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, ScienceON, Research Information Sharing Service, Koreanstudies Information Service System, and The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine. After selecting relevant literature published before June 24, 2024, the studies were classified and analyzed according to their research design. Results : The final selection comprised 20 studies categorized as follows: 1 non-randomized controlled trial and 10 before-and-after studies in prospective clinical research, along with 7 case reports and 2 retrospective chart reviews in retrospective clinical studies. Among the 233 participants included in these studies, 169 had asthma, 53 had chronic cough, and 5 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Additionally, other conditions reported included Churg-Strauss syndrome, pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, and pulmonary hypertension. CSBHT was administered as a decoction in 13 studies, as granules in 6 studies, and both in one study. The most frequently used assessment tools were pulmonary function tests and quality of life evaluations. For safety assessment, liver function test results and adverse events were reported. Conclusion : To enhance the utilization of CSBHT in Korean medicine clinical practice, continuous accumulation of domestic clinical research is essential. Moreover, meticulously designed randomized controlled trials are necessary to elevate the level of evidence.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.42-64
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the non-surgical treatment of peripheral facial paralysis sequelae such as bell's palsy and Ramsay-hunt syndrome during last 10 years. Methods : We searched articles in the RISS, MEDLINE, CAJ from January, 2008 to June, 2018. Articles on the non-surgical treatment of bell's palsy and Ramsay-hunt syndrome sequelae were included. We extracted data about treatments, characteristics of intervention, outcomes from the included studies and classified in to 4 categories such as case studies, RCTs, nRCTs, literature reviews. Results : 132 potentially relevant studies were identified, of which 60 studies met our inclusion criteria. Of 60 included studies, 30 were case reports, 22 were RCTs, 4 were nRCTs, and 4 were reviews. China (81.8%) were the most common by country, bell's palsy(81.7%) by disease, and case reports(50%) by study type were the most common. Symptoms were lagophthalmos, asymmetry, contracture, spasm, dacryorrhea, synkinesis, paresthesia, crocodile tears mostly in the order of frequency, and these symptoms occurred at least one month after the onset of symptoms. The most common method of treatment was acupuncture, which was used in 49 studies. As the evaluation variables, the effective rate was the highest in 25, House-Brakmann grading system in 17, and Sunnybrook facial grading system in 7. In 95% of the studies, after-treatment was reported to be cured, but objectivity is low. Conclusions : This study suggests that Korean medicine such as acupuncture can play a valid role in the non-surgical treatment of peripheral facial paralysis sequelae. In the future, a systematic and well-designed clinical study is needed for treatment of peripheral facial paralysis sequelae.