• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.653-663
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• 2006

Objective : Graves' disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, is an autoimmune disorder associated with autoantibodies to the TSH receptor. The clinical features of Graves' disease are goiter and hypermetabolic symptoms induced by excessive hormones. Antithyroid drug therapy is the first-line treatment for Graves' disease in Korea, Japan and European countries. Yet in spite of a long period and high-dose of treatment, it is hard to achieve remission because of adverse effects, frequent recurrence and resistance to antithyroid drugs. Recently, it has been reported that the abnormal thyroid hormone and clinical symptoms of Graves' disease were reduced by Ahnjeonbaekho-tang (AJBHT). Methods : To investigate the effectiveness and action mechanism of AJBHT, we studied the influence of AJBHT on FRTL-5 thyroid cell proliferation, DNA synthesis and expression of T4, TSH, cAMP, Tg and TPO mRNA. Results : AJBHT significantly inhibited the FRTL-5 cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, T4 synthesis, cAMP production and the expression of Tg mRNA in comparison with control and MMI. Conclusions : These results suggest that AJBHT may inhibit the cell proliferation and DNA synthesis by regulating the cAMP, and suppress the T4 synthesis by modulating Tg mRNA expression and cAMP synthesis, and that it may be useful agent for treating the goiter and hormone abnormality of Graves' disease.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.42-57
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• 2020

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for various mental disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder) and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in elderly patients. Furthermore, ECT is a useful first-line treatment in emergency and crisis situations such as suicide risk, violent behavior, catatonia, and food refusal, which are more frequent in elderly patients. ECT is also effective in the treatment of the motor symptoms of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Due to the high risk of various physical diseases, the comorbid physical conditions of elderly patients should be individually controlled to optimize ECT treatment. Compared to young adults, in elderly patients the seizure threshold is higher, the seizure duration is shorter, and the anesthetic dose is lower. On the contrary, the response rate in the elderly is both faster and higher. Considering potential cognitive decline and the prevention of further deterioration of cognitive function in elderly patients, in the absence of significant comorbidities, twice weekly sessions and right unilateral electrode placement with a lower seizure threshold and less cognitive effect are preferred to bilateral electrode placement, which has a high risk of adverse cognitive effects. After an acute course of ECT, continuation and maintenance of ECT, combined with prescription of therapeutic drugs, may prevent possible relapse or recurrence of mental disorders. In conclusion, ECT can be used to treat mental disorders in elderly adults, with safety and effectiveness comparable to that in young adults.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report a metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma patient treated with wheel balanced cancer therapy (WBCT) regimen. Methods: A 52-year-old female patient diagnosed and incised with metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma visited the East West Cancer Center (EWCC) on Sep. 1st, 2018 for WBCT. The patient was treated with WBCT for an approximately 2 months, from Sep. 1st to Nov. 9th. Computed tomography (CT) was used to follow-up the tumor site. Laboratory analysis and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), version 5.0 were used to evaluate the safety of WBCT. Results: The surgical beds after surgery (Lt. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy) were maintained without recurrence at follow up chest CT, and related symptoms and quality of life (QOL) were improved during the WBCT. Conclusion: This case study suggests that WBCT may help to improve QOL of adrenocortical carcinoma patient.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2019

Background Venous malformations (VMs) are a common type of vascular malformation. However, their causes and management remain unclear, and few studies specific to VMs of the head and neck have been reported. This study describes our experiences with VMs of the head and neck. Methods This retrospective study included 82 patients who underwent treatment for head and neck VMs, among 222 who visited our vascular anomalies center. Medical records between 2003 and 2016 were reviewed to identify common features in the diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis of suspected head and neck VMs was based on the results of imaging studies or biopsies, and the VMs were analyzed based on magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and Doppler sonography findings. Results VMs were slightly more common in female patients (59.8%), and 45.1% of patients developed initial symptoms at the age of 10 or younger. Lesions were slightly more common on the right side (47.3%). The main sites involved were the cheek (27.7%) and lip area (25.5%). The muscle layer was commonly involved, in 98.7% of cases. Small lesions less than 5 cm in diameter accounted for 60.8% of cases, and well-defined types were slightly more prevalent at 55.4%. Improvement was observed in 77.1% of treated patients. Conclusions Early and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment according to individual symptoms are important for successful treatment of VMs. If treatment is delayed, the lesions can worsen, or recurrence becomes more likely. Therefore, VMs require a multidisciplinary approach for early and accurate diagnosis.

• Journal of Minimally Invasive Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.154-159
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• 2018

Purpose: Intussusception is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in children. While most patients can be treated by enema reduction, about 20% require surgery. We investigated the usefulness and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery and the intraoperative risk of bowel resection. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed pediatric patients who underwent surgery for intussusception from 2010 to 2017. We collected data for age, gender, body weight, associated symptoms, duration of symptoms, white blood cell count, operating time, and postoperative complications. Results: Of 155 patients, 37 (23.8%) underwent surgery due to enema reduction failure in 29 (78.3%), recurrence in 6 (16.3%), a suspicious lead point in 1, and suspicious ischemic change observed on ultrasonography in 1. The mean age was $26.8{\pm}18.9$ months (range, 3.5~76.7 months), and the mean body weight was $12.9{\pm}3.9kg$ (range, 5.4~22.2 kg). Laparoscopic surgery was successful in 29 patients (78.4%), and 7 (18.9%) needed bowel resection and anastomosis. The mean operating time was $56.7{\pm}32.8min$. A lead point was found in 3 patients in the bowel resection group (p=0.005); in addition, the operating time and hospital stay were longer in this group. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery was successful in 78.4% of the patients with a short hospital stay and early oral intake. The only predictive factor for bowel resection was the presence of a lead point. Laparoscopic surgery may be an optimal treatment intervention for children with intussusception, except for those who show initial peritonitis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.567-581
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to summarize current clinical study trends and results regarding acupuncture treatments for hiccups. Methods: Studies published from 2012 to 2022 were searched on PubMed and domestic databases (OASIS, scienceON, RISS, KISS, KCI) using the keywords "hiccup^*", "singultus", "singultation", "hiccupping", "intractable hiccup^*", "acupuncture", "auricular acupuncture", "scalp acupuncture", "acupuncture point", "acupoint", "needle", "dry needle", "딸꾹질", and "침." The studies were analyzed according to the year, language, study design, characteristics of patients, and acupuncture intervention. Results: In total, 12 studies were selected: 8 case series, 2 case-control studies, and 2 case reports. Manual acupuncture was administered with more than 15 minutes of retention time, most frequently using ST36 and CV12. The acupuncture treatment was effective for hiccup symptoms in all studies, as assessed by clinical symptoms, such as duration time, number of episodes, and recurrence. Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment can be an effective and safe method for treating hiccups and can be used in clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2021

Intraosseous hemangioma is a rare, benign vascular tumor of endothelial origin. It accounts for fewer than 1% of all hemangiomas, and very rarely occurs in the face. Intraosseous hemangioma usually presents as an asymptomatic lesion, but symptoms can occur due to the mass effect. The authors describe a case of intraosseous hemangioma of the zygoma with a review of the relevant literature. A 44-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of painless swelling on the left zygomatic region that had been slowly growing for the past year. On physical examination, a hard, non-movable mass in a deep layer was palpated. On computed tomography performed to evaluate its layers and extent, trabeculation was found inside the mass, but the lack of destruction of the surrounding bone suggested that the mass was benign. Complete surgical excision was performed under local anesthesia. After complete excision of the mass, slight erosions remained on the cortical bone of the zygoma, but because it was small enough not to cause a facial deformity such as depression or asymmetry, no additional reconstructive procedure was performed. There were no symptoms or recurrence during a 8-month follow-up period.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.405-417
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• 2022

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated condition that has been identified as a potentially malignant oral disorder. Various therapies have been proposed for its management as alternative to corticosteroids. However, no definitive treatment has been identified that can result in complete remission or minimal recurrence. Hyaluronic acid has recently been used as an alternative therapy for the management of OLP. This study aimed to systematically review the effectiveness of Hyaluronic acid in the management of symptomatic OLP. Online electronic databases and manual searches were performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English between January 2010 and April 2022. RCTs were identified that compared the efficacy of hyaluronic acid and other interventional therapies at baseline and during follow-up. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Thongprasom sign scores, lesion size, degree of erythema, clinical severity, and disease severity were assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Seven studies were analyzed. Five studies reported a high risk of bias while the remaining two studies reported an unclear risk of bias. The overall quantitative assessment of size, symptoms, degree of erythema, and sign score in OLP lesions treated with HA was not statistically significant compared to that in the control group (P > 0.05). In addition, subgroup analysis comparing HA with placebo or corticosteroids did not yield statistically significant (P > 0.05) results. Qualitatively, both HA and tacrolimus resulted in an effective reduction in signs and symptoms. Clinical/disease severity index/scores were inconsistent. A high degree of heterogeneity was observed among the included studies. None of the included studies reported the side effects of HA. These findings suggest that corticosteroids, tacrolimus, placebo, and HA could be equally effective in OLP management. The clinical/disease severity index or score reduction cannot be determined with certainty. Thus, OLP can be treated with HA as an alternative therapy. Owing to limited clinical trials on HA, high heterogeneity, and high risk of bias in the included studies, definitive conclusions cannot be derived.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.477-484
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the improvement effect of symptoms of integrative cancer treatment (ICT) on recurrent gallbladder cancer patients. Methods: A 73-year-old patient with recurrent gallbladder cancer visited the Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University East West Cancer Center (EWCC) on February 2022. After the diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, the patient underwent cholecystectomy and relapsed during follow-up. After the operation, the cancer recurred during follow-up, and after radiation treatment, she had been receiving ICT since February 2022. The clinical outcomes were measured by X-ray, computed tomography (CT), laboratory findings, including tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9), and numeric rating scales (NRS). Results: After treatment, abdominal pain was relieved from NRS 5 to 2, and abdominal circumference decreased from 74.5 to 67. During and after treatment, we found neither hepatotoxicity nor nephrotoxicity in the laboratory findings. Conclusion: This case study suggests that ICT may improve symptoms in patients with gallbladder cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.85-89
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• 2020

Bow hunter's syndrome is a rare disease that shows the symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency resulting from a dynamic obstruction or stenosis of the vertebral arteries during neck movement. This paper reports a case of a 59-year-old male who visited the emergency room with diplopia, tinnitus, and gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography revealed a multiple cerebellar infarct, total obstruction of the right vertebral artery, and dynamic obstruction of the left vertebral artery during neck extension. As the infarction worsened, a thrombectomy was done. Posterior decompression and fusion at C5-6 were performed for the left vertebral artery. The left vertebral arterial patency was confirmed by intraoperative and postoperative angiography. No recurrence of the symptoms was observed for six months after surgery. Physicians need to pay attention to the diagnosis of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by an obstruction of the vertebral arteries during neck extension in cervical instability patients.