• 동의신경정신과학회지
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.151-161
• /
• 2010

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate any clinical studies regarding the herbal medicine for dementia focusing on Korean literature for future rigorous clinical research. Methods: Every article relevant to dementia was initially obtained from oriental medical related journals by electronic search at journal web sites or manual searches. Journals were limited to those registered with the Korea Research Foundation. From initial findings. two independent reviewers selected clinical articles and these articles were further analyzed separately by predefined criteria according to prospective and retrospective studies. For randomized controlled trial and non randomized controlled trial. quality assessment was also conducted. Results: From ninety seven patients initially obtained articles. twenty three patients were finally analyzed. One article was randomized controlled study. Four articles were prospective whereas eighteen patients were retrospective. In the qualitative evaluation of prospective articles. there was deduction regarding pre-calculated study size and prospective data collecting. Assessment measurement most frequently used was Mini Mental State Examination. The order of frequency of use herbs were identified. Conclusions : According to our study. the herbal medicine for dementia in general showed a positive effect in the cognitive aspects of dementia patients. Further well-designed randomized controlled studies should be conducted.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
• /
• 제23권3호
• /
• pp.87-106
• /
• 2013

Objectives We will provide basic information on bee venom clinical tests and aid the practical use of bee venom in such tests, through examination of RCT research related to bee venom that was reported domestically. Methods We collected 365 articles on Bee venom study result from the OASIS system using the Keyword 'bee venom, apitoxin, apitherapy, bee sting'. The initially selected theses were primarily screened for clinical research. Out of these, case studies and non randomized controlled trial (non-RCT) were ruled out. As a result, 39 studies of randomized controlled trial (RCT) research were chosen as the subjects of study. Results RCT research related to bee venom was first presented in 2003, and 39 studies have been published until 2012. 18 studies were tests to confirm the effectiveness of bee venom, 7 studies were comparisons between SBV and BV, and 13 studies were comparisons with other types of treatment. Research conducted through appropriate randomization methods were 20 studies, and inappropriate randomization methods were used in 19 studies. In therms of Jadad score, 12 studies received 4~5 points, 15 studies received 1-3 points, and 12 studies received zero point. Conclusions In order to assure good quality RCT research, appropriate guidelines should be provided, and proper evaluation standards should be established. In-depth study is needed concerning the difference of responses to treatment according to the types of treatment received. A standardization of treatment should be reached as a result.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.14-22
• /
• 2010

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate any clinical research regarding asthma published by the Korean Oriental Medical Society and its sub-societies for future rigorous clinical research. Methods: Every article relevant to asthma was initially obtained from journals in the Korean Oriental Medical Society and its sub-societies by electronic search at journal web sites or manual search. Journals were limited to those registered by the Korea Research Foundation. From initial findings, two independent reviewers selected clinical articles and these articles were further analyzed separately into predefined criteria according to prospective and retrospective studies. For prospective studies, quality assessment was also conducted. Results: From 99 articles initially obtained, 19 were finally analyzed. 14 were prospective whereas 5 were retrospective. Among the prospective articles, there were no randomized controlled trials and the non-randomized studies had no control groups, with several problems of quality regarding pre-calculated study size and unbiased assessment. None of the retrospective studies described asthma diagnosis objectively and outcome measures were either non-relevant to asthma or non-validated. Conclusions: Well-designed randomized controlled studies for asthma are needed and more rigorous non-randomized controlled studies should be conducted.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.27-38
• /
• 2018

Background: Related to escalating health care costs and the questionable effectiveness of multiple interventions including lumbar facet joint interventions, cost effectiveness or cost utility analysis has become the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine influencing coverage decisions. Methods: Cost utility of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in managing chronic low back pain was performed utilizing data from a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with a 2-year follow-up, with direct payment data from 2016. Based on the data from surgical interventions, utilizing the lowest proportion of direct procedural costs of 60%, total cost utility per quality adjusted life year (QALY) was determined by multiplying the derived direct cost at 1.67. Results: Patients in this trial on average received $5.6{\pm}2.6$ procedures over a period of 2 years, with average relief over a period of 2 years of $82.8{\pm}29.6$ weeks with $19{\pm}18.77$ weeks of improvement per procedure. Procedural cost for one-year improvement in quality of life showed USD $2,654.08. Estimated total costs, including indirect costs and drugs with multiplication of direct costs at 1.67, showed a cost of USD $4,432 per QALY. Conclusions: The analysis of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in the treatment of chronic low back pain shows clinical effectiveness and cost utility at USD $2,654.08 for the direct costs of the procedures, and USD $4,432 for the estimated overall cost per one year of QALY, in chronic persistent low back pain non-responsive to conservative management.

• 재활치료과학
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.27-38
• /
• 2020

서론 : 본 연구는 무작위 대조군 실험(Randomized control trial: 이하 RCT) 연구에서 치료의향분석(Intention-to-treat analysis)의 올바른 활용에 대해서 고찰하고자 한다. 본론 : 치료의향분석은 RCT 연구에서 무작위 분배 이후에 모든 대상자의 데이터를 결과에 포함하는 분석방법이다. RCT 연구의 결과는 일반화에 있어서 매우 높은 타당성을 갖는다. 이런 측면에서 중도 탈락을 포함한 모든 대상자의 데이터를 결과 분석에 포함하여야 그 결과를 실제 임상에 적용했을 때 중재의 효과가 예측 가능하기 때문이다. 이런 이유로 RCT 연구에 대한 질평가 도구들은 치료의향분석 실시여부를 확인하고 있다. 그럼에도 많은 연구자들은 치료의향분석의 이해도가 낮아 잘못 활용하고 있거나 활용하지 않는 경우가 많다. 결론 : 본 고찰 연구를 통해 국내 많은 연구자들이 치료의향분석방법을 정확하게 이해하고 올바르게 활용하여 RCT 연구에 반영할 것을 기대한다.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
• /
• 제18권6호
• /
• pp.652-666
• /
• 2018

본 연구는 폐암으로 폐절제술을 시행 받은 환자에게 적용한 운동 중재를 파악하고 그 효과의 차이를 규명하기 위하여 체계적 문헌고찰 및 메타분석을 실시하였다. 국내외 전자데이터베이스를 통해 1990년부터 2016년까지 총 1,322개의 논문이 검색되었으며, 문헌 선별 과정을 통해 최종 13개의 문헌을 선정하였다. 최종적으로 925명을 대상자가 포함된 8개의 대조군이 있는 무작위 대조군(randomized controlled trial; RCT)논문와 5개의 대조군이 있는 비무작위 대조군(non-randomized controlled trial; NRCT)논문을 확인하였다. 결과변수에 대한 중재의 효과크기를 메타분석한 결과, 중재군의 건강관련 삶의 질 EORTC QOL-C13/30 (the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire) (MD-0.50 95 % CI -0.83-0.18)과 중재군의 건강관련 삶의 질 SF-36 PCS (the Medical Outcomes 36-Item Short Form Health Survey PCS) (MD 0.75, 95 % CI 0.41-1.10)에서 대조군보다 통계적으로 유의하게 높게 나타났다. 따라서 본 연구의 결과는 운동 중재가 폐암으로 폐 절제술을 시행 받은 환자의 건강관련 삶의 질을 잠재적으로 향상시킬 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
• /
• 제33권2호
• /
• pp.90-111
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the effect and safety of Korean Traditional Medicine treatment for postpartum pain, and to suggest desirable future clinical research trend. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on postpartum pain were searched using domestic and foreign search engines to investigate the effect and safety of Korean Traditional Medicine on postpartum pain, and 12 studies were selected as a result. Results: There were 4 studies using Acupoint Therapy, 3 studies using Herbal Medicine, 3 studies using Using Acupoint Therapy and Herbal Medicine together, and 2 studies using Manipulative Therapy for postpartum pain. As control interventions, non-treatment, other Korean Traditional Medicine treatment, or Western medicine were used. All the studies reported a significant effect in experimental group compared to the control group, with no or minor side effects. Conclusions: Korean Traditional Medicine treatment showed effectiveness and safety for postpartum pain. In the future, it is necessary to eliminate the ambiguity of recruiting subjects and to study the most effective application method of Korean Traditional Medicine treatment for postpartum pain.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• 제50권2호
• /
• pp.83-96
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefit of additional toothbrushing accompanying non-surgical periodontal treatment on oral and general health in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We conducted a doubled-blind randomized controlled trial in 60 T2DM patients between June 2013 and June 2014. The patients were randomly assigned to the scaling and root planing (SRP) group; the scaling and root planing with additional toothbrushing (SRPAT) group, in which additional toothbrushing was performed by toothpick methods; or the control group. Microbiological and oral examinations were performed for up to 12 weeks following treatment. Non-surgical treatment was conducted in the experimental groups. The SRP group received scaling and root planing and the SRPAT group received additional toothbrushing with the Watanabe method once a week from the first visit through the fifth visit. The primary outcomes were changes in haemoglobin A1c (or glycated haemoglobin; HbA1c) levels, serum endotoxin levels, and interleukin-1 beta levels. Periodontal health status was measured by periodontal pocket depth, the calculus index, and bleeding on probing (BOP). Results: Both the SRP and SRPAT groups showed improvements in periodontal health and HbA1c, but the SRPAT group showed significantly less BOP than the SRP group. Furthermore, only the SRPAT group showed a statistically significant decrease in serum endotoxin levels. Conclusions: Non-surgical periodontal treatment was effective in improving HbA1c and serum endotoxin levels in T2DM patients. Furthermore, non-surgical treatment with additional tooth brushing had a more favourable effect on gingival bleeding management. Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT000416.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제54권5호
• /
• pp.342-347
• /
• 2021

Thoracic surgeons need to be aware of several important points regarding intraoperative lymph node dissection during surgery for non-small cell lung cancer with ground-glass opacities. The first point relates to the need for lymph node dissection during sublobar resection. Since even patients undergoing sublobar resection may benefit from lymph node dissection, it should be selectively performed according to adequate indications, which require further study. Second, there seems to be no difference in postoperative morbidity between systematic sampling and systematic dissection, but the survival benefit from systematic dissection remains unclear. The results of randomized controlled trials on this topic are conflicting, and their evidence is jeopardized by a high risk of bias in terms of the study design. Therefore, further randomized controlled trials with a sound design should investigate this issue. Third, more favorable survival outcomes tend to be positively associated with the number of examined lymph nodes. Minimum requirements for the number of examined lymph nodes in non-small cell lung cancer should be defined in the future. Finally, lobe-specific lymph node dissection does not have a negative prognostic impact. It should not be routinely performed, but it can be recommended in selected patients with smaller, less invasive tumors. Results from an ongoing randomized controlled trial on this topic should be awaited.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• 제51권3호
• /
• pp.199-212
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This randomized clinical placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus reuteri as a probiotic in guided pocket recolonization (GPR) for the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP) adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP). Methods: Forty-eight CP patients were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: group 1 (SRP+placebo), group 2 (SRP+single application of probiotic), and group 3 (SRP+incremental application of probiotic). Clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 8, 12, and 24 weeks, whereas biochemical parameters were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Results: At 24 weeks, the probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level improved in all 3 groups from baseline with no significant intergroup differences; however, a statistically significant difference was observed in localized plaque and gingival scores between groups 1 and 3 (P<0.05). At 12 weeks, matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), nitric oxide (NO), and gingipains-R (Rgps) levels improved in all 3 groups, with statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 3 for MMP-8 and NO (P<0.05), but no difference for Rgps levels. Conclusions: Within its limitations, the results of this study show that incremental 3-time application of L. reuteri as a probiotic led to improvements in clinical and biochemical parameters. This protocol can be a useful adjunct to SRP in the non-surgical management of CP.