• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 2002

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a chronic immune-mediated peripheral myelinopathy. The major clinical features include slowly progressive, painless, and asymmetric weakness, usually of distal limb muscle. Early in the course of the disease, weakness is not necessarily associated with muscle atrophy, owing to the initial primary involvement of peripheral myelin. Chronic progressive weakness is often associated with some degree of concurrent axonal loss and subsequent muscle atrophy. Sensory symptoms are usually mild or absent, and involvement of cranial and respiratory muscles is rare. The findings of multifocal motor conduction block, abnormal temporal dispersion, and focal conduction slowing at segments not at risk for common entrapment or compression injury, associated with normal sensory conduction studies along the same segments, are the hallmark electrophysiologic features of MMN. The slow progression and absence of upper motor neuron signs are the major clinical points that separate MMN from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The role of GM1 antibodies, found in high titers in 22~84% of MMN patients, remains uncertain. The contention that MMN is an autoimmune disorder is largely based on the often dramatic improvement in symptoms following the administration of intravenuos immunoglobulin or cyclophosphamide.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2022

Facial diplegia (FD) rarely occurs as a regional Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) variant. A 70-year-old male presented with bifacial weakness that had started on the left side and extended to the right after several days. He was then treated using steroids and gradually improved. Serum antiganglioside antibody testing revealed positivity for anti-GM1 IgG antibodies. FD can be idiopathic, but it is an uncommon GBS variant. The ganglioside antibody test may increase the possibility of diagnosing isolated FD.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2023

One of the most common side effects of chemotherapeutic agents is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The occurrence of CIPN is increasing as the survival rate of patients with cancer improves and the cumulative dose or duration of neurotoxic drugs increases. Approximately 30-40% of patients receiving neurologically toxic drugs experience CIPN, which eventually increases the burden of medical expenses. However, preventive measures against CIPN have not yet been established. Clinical trials have tested various drugs for the management of neuropathic pain, but only duloxetine has shown any significant effect. Further studies should evaluate nonpharmaceutical treatments, such as exercise.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2014

Objective : This is a case series reporting degree of response to bee venom ointment as a symptom-control therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods : Four consecutive patients with CIPN were referred to the East-West Cancer Center from October 7th, 2013, to November 9th, 2013. Patients with CIPN were treated with bee venom ointment 1-2 times per day for 7-25 days. Visual Analog Score (VAS) pain scale was compared before and after treatment. All patients were closely examined for any allergenic responses following each treatment session. Results : Using each patient as their own comparator, marked improvements of VAS were observed in 4 patients. Most important, there were no related adverse side effects found. Conclusion : Bee venom Ointment may be considered as an complementary therapy for managing CIPN symptoms.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.251-258
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• 2004

Two cases of in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were reported in this clinical study. After the study, the results were as follows: 1. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy was occurred with both insulin dependent diabetic mellitus(IDDM) patients, long and short durations, and non insulin dependent diabetic mellitus(NIDDM) patients. However, the degree of subjective symptom was stronger with the former patients. 2. Non insulin dependent diabetic mellitus(NIDDM) patients on dosage of Gamisamultang (加味四物湯) showed remarkable decrease of duration of illness and pain; however, plantar causalgic pain was unremarkable. In contrast to non insulin dependent diabetic mellitus(NIDDM) patients, long duration of insulin dependent diabetic mellitus(IDDM) patients showed remarkable decrease of plantar causalgic pain: however, pain decreased unremarkably. 3. The general treatment of diabetic patients was the control of blood glucose level; however it seemed to be no effect on the degree of subjective symptom. When patients were treated with acupuncture, followed by electropucture, on Palpung(八風), Taechung(太衝:Liv3), Chok-imup(足臨泣: Gb41), Hyonjong(縣鐘 : G39), Sungsan(承山 : B57), Chok-Samni(足三里 : S36), and Yangnungchon(陽陵泉 : G34) showed a great effect on decreasing the pain.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2019

Third molar extraction, one of the important surgical treatments commonly practiced in dentistry, presents various symptoms after surgery ranging from temporary or mild symptoms to permanent or severe complications. However, oral burning pain, dysesthesia, parageusia, dry mouth, headache and pain in multiple teeth are not the common symptoms that patients often complain after dental extraction. Here, the authors report two cases who presented acute neuropathic symptoms mentioned above in the orofacial regions following third molar extraction. At the initial examination, the healing of the tooth sockets of two patients was normal. One patient was diagnosed as megaloblastic anemia associated with Vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency and was referred to the Department of Hematology for assessing the underlying etiology of anemia. The laboratory test for the other patient revealed microcytic anemia related to iron deficiency. The patient with iron deficiency anemia was successfully treated with iron supplement. These two cases suggest that anemia, as an underlying systemic disease, may be a rare etiology explaining acute onset of peripheral neuropathy in the orofacial regions after third molar extraction and should be considered in the assessment of patients who report neuropathic symptoms after dental extraction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common dose-limiting side effects of neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents that lead to decreased quality of life and dose reduction, delay or even cessation of treatment. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect and the underlying mechanisms of bee venom (BV) pharmacopuncture therapy for CIPN in animal models. We searched for the available experimental literature using BV for CIPN through the Pubmed databases. Ten experimental studies were finally included in this review. In the oxaliplatin or paclitaxel-induced CIPN animal model, BV significantly relieved pain caused both mechanical and cold stimulation. It was suggested that the effect of BV is mediated by the stimulation effect of spinal α1- and α2-adrenergic receptors as a potential mechanism. In the future, more experimental studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2022

Objective: This case report represented that Korean traditional medicine therapies can make effective results for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN) patients. Methods: A 63-year-old female patient has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer(Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor). Total excision of uterus and appendages was operated, and Bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin combination therapy was applied. After three cycles of chemotherapy, the severe side effects of neutropenia and CIPN occurred. Chemotherapy was terminated, but numbness and tingling pains in the limbs persisted for several months. We provided Korean medicine treatments including herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, moxibustion and physiotherapies. Results: After treatments, the numbness and pain were reduced from 10 to 1 in hand and 6 to 0 on the numeric rating scale(NRS). Functional assessment of cancer therapy/Gynecologic oncology group neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-NTX) score was improved from 58 to 97. Conclusion: According to these results, Korean medicine treatments could be considered effective for CIPN. Prospective studies are needed to confirm and expand these findings.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.451-459
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of modified Guibi-tang in a patient suffering from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: A 54-year-old Korean female patient diagnosed with recurrent ovarian cancer had CIPN with other symptoms, such as anorexia, dyspepsia, insomnia, etc. She was diagnosed with Simbiyangheo and hence treated with a modified Guibi-tang. Neuropathic symptoms were assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and a sensory score. Quality of life was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx). Results: After 14 days of treatment, the patients showed a decrease in NRS for bilateral limb pain and improvement in other symptoms, such as general weakness, insomnia, dizziness, and headache. Quality of life also increased. Conclusion: Modified Guibi-tang may be considered an optional treatment for CIPN if the patient is diagnosed with Simbiyangheo. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2006

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is the treatment of choice for many autoimmune neuropathic disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory Demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP), and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). IVIg is preferred because the adverse reactions are milder and fewer than the other immune-modulating methods such as steroid, other immunosuppressant such as azathioprine, and plasmapheresis. IVIg also has been used in other autoimmune neuromuscular disorders (inflammatory myopathy, myasthenia gravis, and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome) and has been known as safe and efficient agent in these disorders. Since IVIg would get more indications and be used more commonly, clinicians need to know the detailed mechanism of action, side effects, and practical points of IVIg.