• 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.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.74-86
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This article aims to review clinical studies related to traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) up to date. Methods: EMBASE, Pubmed and eight Korean databases were searched for clinical studies about TKM for CRCI up to July 2016. We selected articles about subjects with cancer, using TKM interventions including acupuncture, moxibustion or herbal medicine, containing assessment about cognitive function. Results: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one randomized controlled feasibility study were included. Selected studies were containing assessments about cognitive function but not as primary outcomes. The three studies included one acupuncture study and two herbal-medicine studies. Only one herbal-medicine study showed improvement in cognitive function. Conclusions: Few clinical studies mainly focusing CRCI treated with TKM have been performed and have shown contradictory results until now. Future studies should be performed considering findings from pre-clinical and clinical studies altogether, and they should be controlled to minimize risk of bias thorough out overall courses of designing, conducting and reporting them.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.264-273
• /
• 2010

While ginseng is reported to have a wide array of applications, there is growing evidence for its indications in diabetes and vascular disease. A clear connection, however, has not been established between ginseng's composition, dose and its targeted efficacy in humans. We therefore developed and initiated the Korean Red Ginseng Clinical Testing Program for diabetes and vascular function which is an efficacy and safety-based clinical screening model for ginseng. The most efficacious sources, ginsenoside profiles, doses, and modes of administration were examined in sequential, acute, followed by long term, randomized-controlled trials to investigate the efficacy and safety profiles. This review discusses the current state of the clinical research of Korean red ginseng program conducted in Toronto, paving the way for the use of clinically selected ginseng and its ginsenoside fractions in the management of diabetes and vascular diseases.

• 한국임상약학회지
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.131-136
• /
• 2012

Objective: This study evaluated and compared the adherence to the CONSORT for quality of reports on the randomized controlled trials (RCT) abstracts by four major Korean Science Citation Index (SCI) journals and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Methods: A descriptive analysis of published RCT abstracts in Korean SCI journals and NEJM from 2007/01 to 2011/06 was conducted by two reviewers, independently extracting data from a PubMed search. A modification of CONSORT for abstract was used including 16 checklist items. Reporting of checklist items for individual group was conducted to compare adherence patterns between two groups. Results: We identified the potential 57 RCT abstracts from Korean SCI and 50 from NEJM meeting our inclusion criteria; among them, three abstracts from Korean SCI and one from NEJM were excluded. Among total 16 checklist items based on CONSORT statement, Korean SCI journals and NEJM were statistically equivalent in 4 items; Korean journals were better in three items and NEJM were in nine. The methodological quality domains were inadequately reported in both journals: allocation concealment about 1.9% and 4.0%, and blinding 44.4% and 40.8%. In general, The CONSORT adherence of NEJM was better than that of Korean SCI in the method and result domain (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The quality of NEJM reporting of RCT abstracts was better than that of Korean SCI, in general. This study on adherence of RCT reports from Korean SCI journals and NEJM abstracts to the CONSORT statement reveals that there is a need for improvement, especially Korean SCI. Further investigation on the quality of RCT reports and ways to improve reporting quality is required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제41권2호
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2024

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 80%. Among nonsurgical treatments for chronic LBP, Korean medicine treatments are highly preferred, and pharmacopuncture therapy combining acupuncture and herbal medicine is widely used. However, no evidence-based study has focused on the use of various types of pharmacopuncture. Methods: The pragmatic randomized controlled clinical trial will include 44 participants; recruitment will start in July 2023. All participants will receive integrated Korean medicine treatment including acupuncture, cupping, and infrared therapy, and the intervention group will also receive pharmacopuncture. After 16 treatment sessions, twice a week for 8 weeks, follow-up assessments will be performed at week 9. As a pragmatic randomized controlled clinical protocol, the type, dose, and acupoints of acupuncture and pharmacopuncture are not determined in advance but are selected and recorded according to the clinical judgment of the Korean medicine doctor. Results: The primary outcome will be measured using a visual analog scale score, and the secondary outcomes include the Oswestry disability index, patient global impression of change, no worse than mild pain, and range of motion. Safety will be assessed by examining participants' self-reported adverse events and vital signs and conducting blood tests before and after the test. Conclusion: This study aims to provide clinical evidence of the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture for chronic LBP.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.136-144
• /
• 2019

Early identification and intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were reported to be important for outcomes or clinical courses. However, there have been a few robust evidences for effectiveness of early intervention until now. This review aims to identify the effectiveness of early intervention by investigating the randomized controlled trial (RCT) of early intervention for autism. There are some RCT studies using behavioral program. Although there are some significant findings, the outcome measurements and small sample size are the limitations. Further studies are needed.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
• /
• 제27권4호
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2014

Objective : This study was carried out to analyze the quality and quantity of Clinical Trials that have been published in the journal of korean medical ophthalmology, otolaryngology, dermatology(JKOOD). Methods : We analyzed 25 clinical trials that published in JKOOD from 1988 to 2014. We excluded case reports, protocol and retrospective studies and classified searched papers into three categories; Randomized Clinical Trials(RCT), Non Randomized Clinical Trials(NRCT), Before After Study(BAS) by using study Design Algorithm for Medical literature of Intervention(DMAI). All articles were analyzed according to diagnosis, statistics program and intervention period. The bias of RCTs were evaluated by Cochrane Risk of Bias(RoB). Result : 1. The number of searched journals is 25 papers; 13 RCT, 2 NRCT, 10 BAS 2. Distribution of clinical trial; 'Atopic dermatitis' ranked the highest(44%) in disease, 'External application' raked the highest(71%) in treatment method. 3. 'allocation sequence' and 'prevention of allocated intervent to patients and therapists' are graded 'Low' but 'incomplete outcome date' and 'selective outcome' are graded 'Uncertain'. Conclusions : It is necessary to study more RCT. It will be helpful to study systematic reviews and meta analysis in JKOOD.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제30권6호
• /
• pp.80-85
• /
• 2009

Objective: This study aimed to build an overview of randomized clinical controlled trials (RCTs) for chronic fatigue-related symptoms to extract the useful data for management of patients and development of therapeutics using Korean traditional medicine in the future. Methods: All RCT-derived papers for chronic fatigue-related symptoms were collected via PubMed Database. We surveyed elementary information of RCTs such as clinical question, study design, and its quality and results. Results: A total of fifty-three RCTs met these review criteria. Most of the RCTs were performed in Western countries, particularly the UK and USA. The major portion of RCTs focused on chronic fatigue syndrome using immune modulators, psychotherapeutic and anti-depressants. Five RCTs using complementary and alternative medicine, including herbal remedies, showed positive results. Conclusions: Fatigue-related symptoms are a main target of Oriental medicine. This study provides helpful information for planning clinical study of chronic fatigue-related symptoms using traditional Korean medicine.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.94-101
• /
• 2008

Objectives : To discuss the types of control groups in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of herbal medicine, and to provide suggestions for improving the design of control group in future clinical trials. Methods : We reviewed the 8 articles about clinical trial design of Chinese herbal preparation which were published from 2005 through 2008. We selected those articles from CNKI(中國知識基礎施設工程(http://www.cnki.net)). Results : It is necessary to have control group in randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of Korean herbal preparation. But there are problems in the selection of appropriate control group drug. This paper lists several problems about the choice of control drug and puts forward some proposals and countermeasures. There are problems such as ethics and manufacturing matching placebo and positive control herbal drug. Conclusion : To improve the quality of control group design, we introduce standard drug plus placebo drug method and add-on research for placebo control group design, double dummy technique, using negative control drug or composite control drug for active control group design.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.269-282
• /
• 2021

This review aimed to assess and compare the outcomes of the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) and Gow-Gates mandibular nerve block (GGMNB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. A descriptive systematic review of quantitative research was conducted wherein the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA)" was adopted, and the Problem/Patient/Population, Intervention/Indicator, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) criteria were used to structure the research question. A literature search was performed using PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Ovid. Selection criteria were applied for populations over nine years of age, of either sex, with irreversible pulpitis, and articles published in English regarding conventional IANB or IANB and Gow-Gates techniques between 2009 and 2019. Prospective randomized clinical trials or randomized controlled trials were included in the review, in which anesthetic efficacy or success was measured. After screening, four articles were included. Three studies were randomized clinical trials, and two were randomized controlled trials. The validity and reliability of the individual studies were examined. There was evidence of the higher efficacy of the GGMNB technique than that of the IANB technique. However, both techniques can be mastered through training.