• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.205-213
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• 2019

Objectives: Maternal folic acid supplementation is considered mandatory in almost every country in the world to prevent congenital malformations. However, little is known about the association of maternal folic acid intake with the occurrence of childhood cancer. Hence, this study aimed to determine the effects of maternal folic acid consumption on the risk of childhood cancer. Methods: A total of 158 related articles were obtained from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ProQuest using standardized keywords, of which 17 were included in the final review. Results: Eleven of the 17 articles showed a significant protective association between maternal folic acid supplementation and childhood cancer. Using a random-effects model, pooled odds ratios (ORs) showed a protective association between maternal folic acid supplementation and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (OR, 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86). However, there was no significant association between maternal folic acid supplementation and acute myeloid leukaemia (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.06) or childhood brain tumours (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.19). Conclusions: Maternal folic acid supplementation was found to have a protective effect against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Thus, healthcare professionals are recommended to provide regular health education and health promotion to the community on the benefits of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.181-212
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• 2023

Objectives: To examine the efficacy and safety of cupping therapy for insomnia disorder and provide clinical evidence that could contribute to further research. Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that verified effects of cupping therapy for insomnia disorder from 11 domestic and foreign databases. Included studies were evaluated using Risk of Bias (RoB). Results: Nineteen RCTs were selected. Wet cupping was more frequently used than dry cupping. Moving cupping was mostly used among dry cupping methods. Dry cupping was mainly performed in Bladder Meridian on the back. Wet cupping was mainly performed on BL18, LR14, and BL15. The most common treatment period was 4 weeks. The average number of treatments per week was about 2.4 times for all types of cupping, about 3.2 times for dry cupping and about 1.9 times for wet cupping. All selected studies showed a significant sleep improvement compared to the control group. As a result of the meta-analysis, in terms of effective rate, SAS score, and SDS score, the wet cupping in combination with acupuncture was significantly more effective than acupuncture alone, although the quality of selected RCTs was low. Conclusions: Cupping therapy is effective for insomnia disorder. Based on results of this study, it is reasonable to use wet cupping two times per week on BL18, LR14, and BL15 or use moving cupping three times per week in Bladder Meridian on the back for 4 weeks to treat insomnia disorder.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.215-223
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• 2024

Purpose: Patients who receive frequent blood transfusions are at an elevated risk of developing hepatic fibrosis due to iron overload in the liver. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of transient elastography (TE) (FibroScan^®) for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with pediatric cancer. Methods: We enrolled 106 consecutive cases of acute leukemia in individuals under 21 years of age. The participants were followed for 2 years. Based on their serum ferritin (SF) levels, the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (SF≥300 ng/mL) and group 2 (SF<300 ng/mL). A liver FibroScan^® was performed, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the various parameters in the liver function test (LFT), alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in a subgroup of patients aged 5-8 years in group 2 compared to those in group 1. The indices of liver fibrosis determined by TE, including the FibroScan score, controlled attenuation parameter score, steatosis percentage, and meta-analysis of histological data in viral hepatitis score, as well as indirect serum markers of liver fibrosis such as the aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, Fibrosis 4 score, and AST to platelet ratio index, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The association between the TE results and LFT parameters was only significant for ALT. Conclusion: Transfusion-associated iron overload does not have a significant correlation with severe liver fibrosis. FibroScan^® is not a sensitive tool for detecting early stages of fibrosis in survivors of pediatric leukemia.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.217-230
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to review studies on somatization disorder in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods: We reviewed studies in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) to 2017. Keywords were 軀體化障碍, Somatization disorder, somatic symptom disorder. We included Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), and excluded non-Randomized Controlled Trial (nRCT), non-related somatization disorder or traditional Chinese medicine, non-clinical trials, dissertations for degrees. Jadad scale and Cochrane Library's Risk of Bias (RoB) were used for assessment of the quality of studies. Results: Twelve studies were selected. The Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders-3 (CCMD-3) was most frequently used as diagnostic criteria for somatization disorder. As for outcome measurement, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) was used most commonly. Meta-analysis of 10 studies revealed effective rate of Chinese Herbal Medicine groups (CHM) was significantly higher than Western Medicine groups (WM) (RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.27, p=0.02, $I^2=40%$). There was no significant difference in effective rate of CHM+WM and WM (RR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.49, p=0.46, $I^2=83%$). And also, effective rate of Acupuncture group (Acu) revealed no significant difference compared to that of WM (RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.95 to 1.44, p=0.13, $I^2=84%$). For HAMD, there was significant difference in CHM vs, WM group and Acu vs. WM group. Quality of selected 12 RCTs was low. Conclusions: Therapies practiced in traditional Chinese medicine may be effective options for somatization disorder. treatment. For further clinical studies in Korean medicine, this study could be groundwork for development of diagnosis and treatment on somatization disorder.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.423-432
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate effectiveness of deep breathing exercise as a postoperative intervention to prevent pulmonary complications. Methods: A search of databases from 1990 to 2012 was done including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and eight Korean databases. Ten studies met eligibility criteria. Researchers trained in systematic review, independently assessed the methodological quality of selected studies using the Cochrane's risk of bias tool. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.2 program. Results: Among ten RCTs in four studies, deep breathing exercise was compared with an instrument using interventions such as incentive spirometry, in the other four studies deep breathing exercise was compared with non-intervention, and in last two studies bundles of interventions including coughing and early ambulation were assessed. A significant difference was found between deep breathing exercise group and non-intervention group. The odds ratio (OR) of occurrence of pulmonary complications for deep breathing exercise versus non-intervention was 0.30. However, there was no significant difference between deep breathing exercise group and incentive spirometry group (OR=1.22). Conclusion: Deep breathing exercise is vital to improving cost-effectiveness and efficiency of patient care in preventing postoperative pulmonary complications. For evidence-based nursing, standardized guidelines for deep breathing in postoperative care should be further studied.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.81-93
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• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Chuna therapy for primary dysmenorrhea. Methods Researchers searched on 7 electronic databases (Pubmed, National Digital Science Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wangfang med online, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service and Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System). The search included Korean, English, Chinese reports and there was no limit on the search period. All of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that used Chuna manual therapy for primary dysmenorrhea were selected. Results 27 RCTs met required condition. Meta-analysis showed positive results for Chuna manual therapy for primary dysmenorrhea in terms of therapeutic effects and reduction of symptom scores compared to west medicine, herbal medicine, acupucture and other treatments. Conclusions Above results showed that performing chuna is effective in treating dysmenorrhea. However, in some studies, there was no statistic significance between the experimental group and the control group. Also, according to Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) evaluation method, quality of the studies were not high enough. Since most of the materials were in Chinese, more high-quality clinical trials about Chuna therapy for primary dysmenorrhea are needed in Korea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.362-413
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to examine the recent clinical research trends on the efficiency of traditional herb medicine (THM) on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to provide clinical evidence of herbal medicine, Banhasasin-tang or Banxiexin decoction by using a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials (RCTs). Methods: In this study, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included that verified effects of traditional herbal medicine (THM), including a Banxia-xiexin-tang decoction, as a treatment for GERD. A study of the literature in Chinese and Korean databases was performed for papers published from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2020. The selected literature was assessed by Cochrane's risk of bias (RoB). Results: A total of 90 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Except for four RCT studies, all studies identified the effect of a Banxia-xiexin-tang decoction in the treatment of GERD. The effectiveness of treatment was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group, as shown through various evaluation indicators, including the reflux disease diagnostic questionnaire (RDQ). Adverse effects were reported in 22 articles (24.44%). Conclusions: Treatment with Banhasasin-tang, or a Banxia-xiexin-tang decoction, was found to be effective in treating GERD. However, due to the low quality of available studies, the significance of this conclusion is somewhat limited. This study could serve as a foundation for further clinical studies on the development of diagnosis and treatment methods for GERD based on Korean medicine.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.77-84
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• 2022

Objectives This study is designed to identify the effectiveness of herbal medicine for osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods We will investigate 10 databases, 4 Korean databases (KoreaMed, KMBASE, Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], ScienceOn) and 6 of abroad (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], WanFang, Citation Information by NII [CiNii]) without publication date, language limitation for clinical study of herbal medicine for osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Type, dose, duration, frequency of herb medicine will be analyzed. Results Randomized controlled trials about herbal medicine or herb extract for osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis should be included in the study. Cochrane's risk of bias tools will be used to assess quality of the study. Mean differences or standardized mean differences of 95% confidence intervals will calculated and data synthesis will be conducted using Review Manager (RevMan, ver.5.3; The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). Conclusions It is expected to provide basic data for the active use of herb medicine by systematically synthesizing and analyzing the actual situation, effectiveness, and safety of herb medicine for osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to review the study design, participants, intervention and its outcomes of studies for post-dura puncture headache using systematic review. Total 4234 studies were searched from 1980 to 2016 years,15 studies were included in final. Total 5239 patients were participated in studies, and 10 RCTs studies and 5 observational studies were included. The findings showed that experimental studies used the 24hr bedrest intervention as a control group for comparing the prevalence of headache with the early ambulation intervention group. The prevalence of headache in ambulation group was lower than 24hr bedrest group (except 2 studies). The high risk methodological bias should be considered when understandings the research findings. Based on this study, meta-analysis study for investigating the proper period of time for bedrest should be performed in further study.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2021

Objectives To assess the effectiveness of chuna manual therapy for patients with total knee arthroplasty. Methods We searched 9 electronic databases(KISS, NDSL, RISS, OASIS, KMBASE, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CNKI, Wangfang data) using the keywords 'total knee arthroplasty OR total knee replacement' and 'tuina OR chuna' to identify RCTs that investigated the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy after total knee arthroplasty. Results 23 RCTs were selected based on inclusion criteria. The systematic review showed positive effect of using chuna manual therapy after total knee arthroplasty. Conclusions 23 studies reported that chuna manual therapy had significant effects on total knee arthroplasty. However, many studies were exposed to probable high risk of bias. Also, all of the studies were published in one overseas country. Therefore, further research is required using well-designed RCTs to support the effectiveness of chuna manual therapy.