• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.299-308
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• 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chuna therapy for Sciatica. We searched the following 16 online databases without a language restriction (Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL, Ovid, Kmbase, RISS, NDSL, OASIS, KISS, KNAL, KTKP, DBpia, CNKI, Wangfang, J-stage) to find randomized controlled clinical trials that used Chuna therapy for Sciatica. The methodological quality of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and meta-analysis were performed. Among 496 articles that were searched, 15 RCTs were finally selected for systematic review. 14 studies showed that Chuna therapy has positive effect on sciatica. Two studies noted that there were side effects, and the difference between the intervention group and the control group was statistically insignificant. One study noted no side effects and the rest of the study, there was no mention of side effects. Meta-analysis showed positive results for Chuna single therapy in terms of efficiency rate compared to painkiller, herb medicine excepting acupuncture. When comparing Chuna therapy plus acupuncture and acupuncture, Chuna therapy plus acupuncture had a more positive result than acupuncture in terms of efficiency rate. Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB)evaluation method, most of the studies's selection, performance, detection and reporting bias were unclear. The studies showed that Chuna therapy can significantly effective on sciatica. However, most of the studies's Risk of Bias included in the analysis were not low enough. In the future, to prove the level of evidence of Chuna therapy, more high-quality studies will be needed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.281-290
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review the research trends in the treatment of acupuncture on schizophrenia in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods: Articles in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from September 2008 to August 2018 were reviewed. The selected articles were evaluated by the Jadad Scale. Results: 11 articles were selected from a total of 33 articles. 1 study was single group before-and-after study while the other 10 studies were randomized controlled trial studies. Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders-3 was most frequently used as a diagnostic criterion. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale was most commonly used as an outcome measurement. From Jadad Quality Assessment Scale of the 11 articles, the quality of the studies generally was low. Conclusions: BaekHoi (GV20) and YinDang (EX-HN3) are most commonly used in acupuncture treatment. According to this study, acupuncture treatment in addition to western medication on schizophrenia is more effective as compared to the controls. In future, this study could be primary data for development of more clinical research on the treatment of schizophrenia in Korean medicine.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.291-302
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• 2024

Objectives: To report result of Korean medicine treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder caused by a traffic accident. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with left talus fracture due to a traffic accident that occurred 10 days before visiting our hospital. The patient complained symptoms such as re-experiencing, intrusiveness, insomnia, and anxiety. We diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder and applied Korean medicine treatment including Samulanshin-tang-gami pharmacopuncture, other acupuncture, herbal medicine, and supportive therapy. PCL-5, EQ-5D, and NRS were used as an evaluation tool. The patient's quality of sleep was also evaluated. Results: At 8 weeks after starting treatment, the patient's PCL-5, EQ-5D, and NRS PCL-5 scores all decreased, with PCL-5 score decreased from 51 to 20, mean NRS score decreased from 7 to 4.667, and EQ-5D score decreased from 54444 to 22223. The overall sleep quality of the patient increased. Conclusions: Korean medicine therapy including Samulanshin-tang-gami pharmacopuncture, other acupuncture, herbal medicine, and supportive therapy might be useful for alleviating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by a traffic accident.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.103-123
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review RCTs of acupuncture treatment for neck pain and to establish standards of acupuncture treatment for neck pain. Methods : We searched articles in Pubmed using ICD 10. Study quality was assessed using the FEAS and Jadad score. Results and Conclusions : Three review studies and nineteen clinical trials were searched and reviewed. Among the nineteen clinical trials reviewed, positive outcome was reported in thirteen studies. Most frequently used meridians were GB, BL, SI, GV and LI, The most frequently used acupuncture points were $GB_{20}$, $GB_{21}$, $LI_4$, $BL_{10}$, $GV_{14}$ and $SI_3$. More than two needles were inserted in the studies and needle retention time was more than 10 minutes. The most frequently used needle length was 40mm, and diameter was 0.25mm and 0.30mm. The mean number of treatment sessions were more than 10 times. Frequency of treatment was more than once a week, And treatment duration was more! than 5 weeks. The total FEAS scores ranged from 3 to 15.5, and the mean value was 9.39. Jadad score ranged from 2 to 5, and the mean value was 3.42. The number of studies scoring over three points on the Jadad scale was sixteen.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.185-206
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• 2021

Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of pharmacopuncture treatment for insomnia disorder to derive clinical evidence and recommendation grades. Methods: Studies that verified effects of pharmacopuncture on primary insomnia were included. Characteristics and quality of included studies were assessed using Risk of Bias (RoB). Results: A total of 25 studies were selected. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and effective rate were primarily used for outcome measurement. Vitamin B12 was the most used pharmacopuncture material. The most frequently used acupuncture point was Anmian (Ex-HN). The volume of the acupuncture solution ranged from 0.25 mL to 2 mL. Acupuncture treatment depth was 0.5 cm to 2 cm. In three studies, the procedure was performed at 16:00. Meta-analysis of studies revealed that the effective rate of the pharmacopuncture group was significantly higher than the group using sleeping pills group (RR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.45, p=0.04, I²=69%). PSQI was decreased in the intervention group (MD=-2.19, 95% CI: -2.90 to -1.48, p<0.00001, I²=0%). Effective rates of pharmacopuncture and acupuncture groups were higher than that of the acupuncture group (RR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.17, p=0.0002, I²=0%). PSQI was decreased in the intervention group (MD=-1.87, 95% CI: -2.36 to -1.38, p<0.00001, I²=0%). Although the effectiveness rate of the pharmacopuncture group was not significantly higher than that of the acupuncture group (RR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.27, p=0.1, I²=9%), the PSQI was decreased in the pharmacopuncture group (MD=-2.10, 05% CI: -3.29 to -0.91, p=0.0005, I²=34%). The quality of clinical studies was poor. Conclusions: Based on results of this study, it is proper to use 0.5 to 2 mL of pharmacopuncture solution such as Danshen and Ciwujia with a depth of 0.5 to 2 cm at around 4 p.m. to treat insomnia disorder, focusing on Anmian (Ex-HN) and Sameumgyo (SP6).

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.165-174
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• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitor effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens on the hepatic and renal side effects of chemotherapy by using B16-BL6 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Methods : In this study, the effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens, on the side effects of chemotherapy were studied using B16 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Results : Sophora flavescen has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Sophora flavescen recovered the reduction of WBC and RBC during cisplatin chemotherapy. Water extract of Sophora flavescens significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced increase of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) which is a good indicator of renal toxicity. Sophora flavescens extract does not decrease the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin showing that it can selectively inhibit side effects of anticancer drugs preserving beneficial effort. Conclusion : Theses results suggest a possibility that Sophora flavescens extract can be used for cancer patients for the reduction of the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of the present study was to examine statistical methods used in articles published on the Korean Journal of Acupuncture from 2007 through 2012. Methods : Statistical methods and statistical packages used in original articles applied with descriptive statistics or inferential statistics were organized. Results : Out of a total of 195 original articles, 18 articles used descriptive statistics only and 177 articles used inferential statistics. 142 articles used 12 types of statistical packages. SPSS was used most at 97 times(63.4%). The number of descriptive statistical methods used was a total of 417 and among them 193 were presented as tables(46.3%) and 224 were presented as graphs(53.7%). The number of inferential statistics applied was a total of 256 and analysis of variance was used most at 90 times(35.2%). The number of parametric statistical methods used was a total of 170(75.6%) and that of nonparametric statistical methods used was a total of 55(24.4%). Analysis of variance and two sample t-test were most employed in both clinical and non-clinical research. The number of multiple comparison methods applied was a total of 67 and the number of Scheffe methods among them was most at 26 times(37.7%). Conclusions : In the present study, statistical methods used in the journal over the last six years were examined. The result of this study is considered to be a basic material to be referred to when evaluating the quality of the medical journal.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.49-63
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• 2021

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the trend in treating fracture with acupuncture and to evaluate the quality of case reports. Methods All case reports of fractures treated with acupuncture were extracted from four Korean web databases. We classified these studies by five fracture sites and investigated frequently used meridian and acupoint, outcome measurements, treatment period. And we assessed the quality of the case reports by the STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines. Results A total of 33 case reports were included. The outcome measurements were divided into six categories, and the outcome measurements used in more than three studies showed improvement in patient symptoms. The mainly used meridians for each fracture site were as follows: chest and abdomen (GB, LR, CV), back (BL, GB), upper limb (LI, TE), lower Limb (GB, ST, BL, SP). The most commonly used acupoints for each fracture site were as follows: chest and abdomen (Ashi points, GB24, GB25, GB26, LR13, LR14, CV16, CV17, CV18, CV19), back (BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL51, BL52, BL60, GB34), upper limb (LI4, LI10, LI11, TE3), lower limb (GB34, GB40). According to the STRICTA guidelines, more than 54.54% of the reports were found to be 'not reported' or 'not sufficient' in the following categories: 'response sought', 'description of participating acupuncturist', and 'number of needle insertions per subject per session'. Conclusions The meridians and acupuncture points frequently used for acupuncture treatment of fractures were near the fracture site. Future clinical studies involving acupuncture must be reported in accordance with the STRICTA guidelines to improve transparency and uniformity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.47-60
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• 2017

Objectives The aim of this research is to assess the effects of bee venom acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. Methods For a systematic review, we constructed a key question as the effect of bee venom acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis and selected RCTs and nRCTs. We searched the following 15 databases without a language restriction: Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL (CENTRAL), CINAHL, AMED, seven Korean medical databases (KoreaMed, Kmbase, KISS, NDSL, KISTI, Koreantk, OASIS) and three Chinese databases including CNKI, Wanfang and VIP database. Results A total of 300 potentially relevant studies were identified; only 13 studies were selected for systematic review. Almost studies showed that bee venom acupuncture has significant effect on knee osteoarthritis. 5 studies comparing bee venom acupuncture with acupuncture were included in the meta-analysis. The effect size of standardized mean difference (SMD) was analyzed as 'small effect' with 0.47 (95% CI: 0.10~0.83, Z=2.49, p=0.01). Conclusions The research showed that bee venom acupuncture can significantly reduce pain, stiffness and improve the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, most of the studies included in the analysis were evaluated as methodologically high risk of bias. This suggests that there is limitation applying this study. In the future, more Randomized Controlled trial should be actively conducted.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.281-284
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• 2020

Filum terminale lipoma is an inherited lumbosacral abnormality that can cause tethered cord syndrome. This report describes an unusual case of lumbago and sciatica, pain suspected to be caused by a filum terminale lipoma where a herniated intervertebral disc had occurred. The patient was hospitalized for 43 days and received integrative Korean medicine treatment, including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Chuna therapy, cupping therapy, physiotherapy and herbal medicine. Treatment effectiveness was assessed using the numerical rating scale, Oswestry Disability Index, European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions, and patient symptoms. After inpatient treatment, the pain the patient suffered was significantly reduced, and the evaluation indices scores reflected this. Integrative Korean remedies may be an effective option for lower back pain and lower extremity symptoms which are caused by filum terminale lipoma where a herniated intervertebral disc has occurred. Additional clinical research is required to support this observation.