• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Cheong-A-Won Gagambang (JCE003) treatment for degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. There were 36 adults with degenerative knee osteoarthritis who were randomly allocated into JCE003 1,000 mg, JCE003 2,000 mg, or the placebo group (in a 1:1:1 ratio). The participants received 12 weeks of treatment and had scheduled tests every 6 weeks. The primary outcomes were measured using the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scale, and the secondary outcomes were measured using the visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions, patient global impression of change, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Changes between baseline scores and scores following study completion were analyzed. Results: There were 29 participants whose data were analyzed in this study. The change of Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities, visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions scores showed significant improvement in the JCE003 1,000 mg group. The change of patient global impression of change was significantly improved in the placebo group. There were 14 adverse events, but there was no clinically significant relationship with the intake of JCE003 compared with the placebo. Conclusion: Taking JCE003 may be effective at improving knee pain in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis and appears to be safe. Based on this study, the concentration and feasibility of the test group may be used when conducting a large-scale clinical trial of degenerative knee osteoarthritis in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2017

Pain is subjective, while statistics related to pain research are objective. This review was written to help researchers involved in pain research make statistical decisions. The main issues are related with the level of scales that are often used in pain research, the choice of statistical methods between parametric or nonparametric statistics, and problems which arise from repeated measurements. In the field of pain research, parametric statistics used to be applied in an erroneous way. This is closely related with the scales of data and repeated measurements. The level of scales includes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. The level of scales affects the choice of statistics between parametric or non-parametric methods. In the field of pain research, the most frequently used pain assessment scale is the ordinal scale, which would include the visual analogue scale (VAS). There used to be another view, however, which considered the VAS to be an interval or ratio scale, so that the usage of parametric statistics would be accepted practically in some cases. Repeated measurements of the same subjects always complicates statistics. It means that measurements inevitably have correlations between each other, and would preclude the application of one-way ANOVA in which independence between the measurements is necessary. Repeated measures of ANOVA (RMANOVA), however, would permit the comparison between the correlated measurements as long as the condition of sphericity assumption is satisfied. Conclusively, parametric statistical methods should be used only when the assumptions of parametric statistics, such as normality and sphericity, are established.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.217-224
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• 2013

Objectives : The object of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment and to urge in-depth research on plantar fasciitis. Methods : Four patients, diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, were treated by Korean medicine interventions; acupuncture at K13, BL60, BL40, indirect moxibustion at local region, oral intake herbal medicine and Korean physical therapy on plantar fascia. Visual analog scale(VAS) was adpoted as a method of measuring the effect of treatment on plantar pain. Results : As a result, the plantar pain decreased and VAS score was declined at three cases. However, at one case, the symptom was not changed and VAS score was same. Conclusions : Korean rehabilitative complex therapy can be effectively used for plantar fasciitis. Further studies are needed to set up a rehabilitation protocol with Korean medicine interventions on this disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.366-369
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• 2006

Objective : There are various surgical approaches to far-lateral lesions in the L5-S1 intervertebral space. Of these is the validity of a paramedian tangential approach is being investigated in this study. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients who had been diagnosed as having a far-lateral L5-S1 disc herniations, osteophyte, costal process hypertrophy, and had undergone a paramedian tangential approach from November 1999 through December 2003. The degree of symptoms and improvement were compared via the visual analog pain scale, before and after surgery. Results : This study included 4 males and 21 females with a mean age of $62{\pm}11.8$ years old. The average follow-up period after surgery was $8.2{\pm}2.7$ months. The visual analog pain scale taken before surgery was $6.7{\pm}1.1$ points, while the post-surgical scale was $2.4{\pm}0.9$ points showing a significant degrease [p < 005]. There were no complications that developed during surgery. Conclusion : A paramedian tangential approach is less invasive in the soft tissue than that of the median approach. This approach may effectively reduce nerve root compression and expand intervertebral foramens, and is devoid of the risk of spinal instability after surgery. The authors suppose that a paramedian tangential approach is quite an effective technique to relive compression in the far-lateral L5-S1 intervertebral space.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2000

Objectives : Herniated lumbar intervertebral disc (HIVD) is one of the cause of low back pain and radiculopathy. To evaluate the efficiency of simultaneous administration of herb medicine and non-steroid-anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs), we investigated 48 HIVD patients confirmed by CT or MRI and treated with acupuncture, bed rest, herb medicine, physical therapy and NSAIDs. Methods : The patients were divided into four groups as follows : The A group were 11 cases treated with only herb medicine A. The A+W group were 14 cases treated with herb medicine A and NSAIDs. The B group were 11 cases treated with herb medicine B. The B+W group were 12 cases treated with herb medicine Band NSAIDs. We evaluated the pain degree by visual analog scale (VAS). Results : The mean VAS was reduced to $4.89{\pm}2.62$ after 2 weeks therapy and pain decrease was the most prominent in the group having within a week duration ($3.25{\pm}2.49$). Pain scale was decreased to $4.57{\pm}2.95$ in A+W group, $4.91{\pm}1.97$ in A group, $4.72{\pm}2.68$ in B group, and $5.41{\pm}2.67$ in B+W group after 2 weeks therapy. Conclusions : These results indicate that oriental medical theraphy is useful enough to treat the HIVD patients and herb medicine decrease the pain of the HIVD effectively. Therefore, the more research about herb medicine for pain killing drugs should be done.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of inhaled clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) oil or linalyl acetate on patients' anxiety and stress levels before undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Forty-five eligible participants were randomly assigned to inhale clary sage oil, or linalyl acetate, each at concentrations of 5% vol/vol in almond oil or pure almond oil (control). State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), Stress rating scale, anxiety-visual analog scale (Anxiety-VAS), stress-visual analog scale (Stress-VAS), blood pressure, and heart rate were measured before and after the inhalation prior to undergoing chemotherapy. Results: Anxiety-VAS and Stress-VAS were significantly lower after than before inhalation of clary sage oil (p< .01 and p< .05, respectively) and linalyl acetate (p< .05 and p< .05, respectively), despite having no significant difference in the three groups compared with control group. Systolic (p< .05) and diastolic (p< .01) blood pressure before undergoing chemotherapy were significantly lower after than before inhalation of linalyl acetate, while there was no significant difference in after than before inhalation of clary sage oil, despite both reducing levels of anxiety and stress. Conclusion: These findings suggest that linalyl acetate inhalation may be inappropriate in lowering anxiety and stress in patients undergoing chemotherapy, despite its anxiolytic and antistress effects, while clary sage oil inhalation may be useful in reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing chemotherapy, which has a risk of hypotensive side effects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2022

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Phellinus linteus (PL) extract for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) a pilot clinical study was performed. Methods: There were 24 patients with KOA who enrolled in this double-blind, randomized, controlled, clinical trial. There were 3 groups: PL 1,000 mg/day (PL 1,000), PL 1,500 mg/day (PL 1,500), and dextrin 3,000 mg/day (placebo). Patients took capsules twice a day, 3 capsules at a time, over 8 weeks. Patients were monitored prior to treatment (Visit 1: Week 0), and followed up every 4 weeks (Visit 2: Week 4 and Visit 3: Week 8) where outcome measurements were taken. The primary outcome measure was the score from the Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities from baseline to Week 8. The secondary outcomes were measurements from the visual analog scale, quality of life scale, erythrocyte sedimentation, and c-reactive protein. Adverse events were recorded at every visit. Results: The Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities score showed the greatest improvement in symptoms of KOA in the PL 1,500 group compared with the placebo group. The erythrocyte sedimentation tended to decrease in the PL 1,500 group compared with the placebo group (which was within the normal range). The visual analog scale score decreased in all groups, with no significant differences between groups. No adverse events related to PL were reported. There were no abnormal hematological or physical findings. Conclusion: This pilot clinical trial was the first step to assess the efficacy and safety of PL used in the treatment of patients with KOA.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.346-356
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• 2018

Overweight and abdominal obesity caused by sedentary lifestyle may induce deconditioned and atrophied extensor musculature of the lumbar spine and be a potential risk factor for low back pain (LBP). Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the validity of high intensity circuit training (HICT) on weight loss and subsequent alleviation of spine curvature (SC) and visual analog scale (VAS) among middle aged men with abdominal obesity. The training program (1 exercise session for 30 minutes, three times a week for 12 weeks) consisted of 12 different functional exercises based on core strengthening multiple joint circuit training. Portions of the obesity index related to body composition were positively changed, which improved the angles of thoracic kyposis and lumbar lordosis, which appeared to effectively reduce lower back pain. Taken together, HICT specifically designed for LBP effectively decreased obesity related body composition and was superior to other treatments for decreasing aggravation of the spine curvature and LBP caused by abdominal obesity; however, weight loss should be the primary treatment target for LBP patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.388-394
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• 1999

To compare the effect of hyaluronate and dexamethasone on the temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis the author investigated 22 temporomandibular joint disorder(TMD) patients with pain and limitation of mouth opening who visited at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Chosun Dental Hospital and were made a diagnosis as Wilkes stage III or IV of TMJ internal derangement clinically and radiographically. The two groups consisted of 10 patients with injection of sodium hyaluronate 10mg$(Artz^{(R)})$(hyaluronate group) on the upper joint space of the affected temporomandibular joint 5 times at intervals of a week after arthrocentesis, and 12 patients with injection of dexamethasone$(Oradexon^{(R)})$ at a time(dexamethasone group). Maximum mouth opening, pain value and satisfaction value during mastication were assessed on a visual analog scale before arthrocentesis and after 6 months. Then the within-group and between-group differences were evaluated in the obtained data and the clinical success rate of each group was calculated according to our success criteria. The results were as follows. 1. the mean of maximum mouth opening before arthrocentesis and after 6 months in the hyaluronate group were 24.9mm and 39.0mm respectively, and those before arthrocentesis and after 6 months in the dexamethasone group were 25.7mm and 41.3mm respectively. 2. The mean of pain value on a visual analog scale in the hyaluronate group before arthrocentesis and after 6 months were 6.7 and 1.8 respectively, and those in the dexamethasone group before arthrocentesis and after 6 months were 7.0 and 1.8 respectively. 3. The mean of satisfaction value during mastication on a visual analog scale in the hyaluronate group before arthrocentesis and after 6 months were 2.8 and 7.7 respectively, and those in the dexamethasone group before arthrocentesis and after 6 months were 3.1 and 7.8 respectively. 4. There were statistically significant differences between all measurements before arthrocentesis and after 6 months(P<0.001), but no difference between all measurements in the hyaluronate group and those in the dexamethasone group. 5. The over all success rate of the hyaluronate group and the dexamethasone group were 60.0% and 63.6% respectively. In summary, there was significant difference between the effect of hyaluronate and dexamethasone on the temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis but hyaluronate is better than corticosteroid as the injection drug in consideration of the side effect related with repeated injection.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.93-99
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• 2011

Purpose : In order to investigate the effects of balance training on patients with degenerative arthritis. Methods : 30 participants aged 60 or older participated in balance training for an 8-week period. The effects of the balance training were measured by the visual analog scale(VAS) and static and dynamic balancing. The following are the results of the study. Results : There were no statistically significant differences in measurements of pain when control group participants were at rest and while walking as measured by VAS, but there were statistically significant reductions for the experiment group. Within the control group, there were no statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest results for opened and closed-eye static balance index and visual dynamic balance index. However, within the experiment group, there were statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest results for opened and closed-eye static and dynamic balance indices. Conclusion : The results above provide evidence that balance training effects pain and balance of patients with osteoarthritis and aids in functional movement.