• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2015

Objectives : This study was designed to obtain basic data for a further large-scale trial as evaluating the efficacy and safety of Geochangmanryeung-dan(GMD) and acupuncture on patient with spinal stenosis treated by epidural steroid injection. Methods: The study is a randomized controlled pilot clinical trial, conducted over 8 weeks. Twenty participants will be recruited and randomly allocated to 2 groups: an experimental(GMD and acupuncture with epidural steroid injection) group and a control(only epidural steroid injection) group. The epidural steroid injection will be administered once per 2 weeks for 6 weeks(3 times in total). GMD will be administered as a dose of 5 pills, 3 times per day, for 6 weeks. Acupuncture will be performed 2 times per week for 6 weeks(12 times in total). The primary outcome will be measured by visual analogue scale and self-rated walking distance. The secondary outcome will be measured by PainVision, short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Oswestry Disability Index. Both primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The last assessment(at 8 weeks) will be performed 2 weeks after treatment cessation. Conclusions : This clinical trial, as the pilot study for a future large-scale trial, will provide clinical information for evaluating the efficacy and safety of GMD and acupuncture treatment in combination with epidural steroid injection for the treatment of spinal stenosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.47-55
• /
• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of further acupuncture research as an effective alternative and safe treatment for abdominal pain control in patients with pancreatitis. Methods and Results : This study is an open-label, assessment-blind, parallel designed pilot clinical trial. Thirty participants will be assigned to the acupuncture group(n=15) and usual care group(n=15). All patients will receive the conventional standard-of-care(SOC) therapy, but only the experimental group will receive acupuncture therapy six times a week, and the duration of acupuncture therapy will be held up to 12 weeks or until the pains are to be resolved. For the conventional SOC therapy, painkiller will be given. In treatment group, the subjects will receive the identical SOC therapy in combination with electroacupuncture therapy on twelve acupuncture points(LI4, PC6, SP6, GB39, ST36, ST37), and auricular acupuncture therapy on five auricular acupuncture points(Sympathetic, Shen Men, Abdomen, Pancreas gall, and Spleen). The primary outcome will be measured using the visual analogue scale(VAS), and the secondary outcome will be measured using the painkiller demand, quality of life index and severity of pancreatitis by abdominal computed tomography(CT). Assessments will be made at baseline and at week 1, 4, 8 and 12. Results of abdominal CT will be evaluated at baseline and at week 12. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for abdominal pain in patients with pancreatitis.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2012

Purpose : We aim at presenting the optimum radiologic factor through the evaluation of dose variation and of image quality through the use of a grid in Humerus examination and the change of dose because of the change of radiologic factor. Materials and Methods : We divided it in 3 cases: when using a grid or not and when using IP(Image Plate) in a digital system. Also, as fixing kVp to 70kVp it changed mAs, and fixing mAs to 10 it changed kVp, we put up resolution chart and Burger rose phantom on the acrylic phantom of 7cm (the same level of Humerus) to evaluate the dose and image. We used Image J program to evaluate the quantitative resolution of the obtained image, and made the qualitative evaluation and statistical analysis of the image saved in PACS for 20 radiologic technologist with more than 10 years of experience in order of evaluate its contrast. We used SPSS10(SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois) for statistical analysis. Results : We observed the analytic result of resolution by the change of kVp that it was $4.539dGycm^2$ in 60kVp and $757.472dGycm^2$ in 75kVp, which increased about 64.6% of dose, while for the resolution it had the pixel value 30.7% better with 851 in 60kVp than 651 in 75kVp. Also, we analyzed the result of resolution by the change of mAs that it was $3.106dGycm^2$ in 5mAs, and $12.470dGycm^2$ in 20mAs, which increased about 400% of dose, while for the resolution DR had 678 in 5mAs, and 724 in 20mAs that increased about 6.8% of resolution. We made the qualitative evaluation of contrast by the change of kVp that DR showed the higher quality than CR, but the contrast by the change of kVp had no special different at the moment of visual evaluation, nor statistically significant difference(P>0.05). We observed the qualitative evaluation of contraste by the change of mAs that the contrast increased as DR increased mAs, and had statistically significant difference(P<0.05). On the other hand, CR had no significant difference for more than 10mAs nor statistically significant difference(P>0.05). Conclusion : In case of some patients with radiographic exposure by the repeated examination such as emergent patient or Follow up patient, they are considered to try to limit the use of a grid, to set kVp under 65kVp in fixed mode, to select less than 10mAs and to reduce the possibility of patient being bombed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2008

Recently needs for the convergence of CAD and GIS data are increasing, and many studies on converting two systems to each other are being carried out. In this study, to revise and update the building data of digital map using CAD data for construction, the outline of building is abstracted from the CAD data and the outline is generalized to the same level of detail with the building data of digital map. Several line simplification algorithms to generalize the outline are adopted and compared, especially at the view of satisfaction to the drawing rule for digital map. Douglas-Peucker algorithm, Lang's algorithm, Reumann-Witkam algorithm, and Opheim algorithm are applied as the line simplification method. To evaluate the results of these algorithms, visual assessment and variation ratio of the number of points, total length of lines, the area of polygon, and satisfaction ratio to the drawing rule of digital map are analyzed. The result of Lang algorithm and Douglas-Peucker algorithm show superior satisfaction ratio. But general satisfaction ratio is 50~60% for all algorithm. Therefore there seems to be a limit to use these algorithms for the simplification method to update the building data in digital map and it is necessary to develop line simplification algorithm which satisfy the drawing rule well.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.69
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 2007

Objectives : This study was to assess the effectiveness of Oriental medical treatment on carpal tunnel syndrome, comparing its outcome with that of Western medical treatment. Methods : After being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by electromyography, subjects were enrolled in Kyung Hee Medical Center from March 2006 to January 2007. We prescribed Kejibokryung-hwan to the Oriental medical therapy group (OM group) and NSAIDS to the Western medical therapy group (WM group). Effectiveness was assessed by degree of pain using visual analog scale (VAS) before and after 3 weeks' treatment. Adverse effects were also monitored. Results : There were 21 patients in the OM group and 19 in the WM group. No statistical significant difference was detected at the baseline assessment. After 3 weeks of medication, pain was reduced about 26% in the OM group and 46% in the WM group. These findings might be explained by that more than half of the WM group received local steroid injection, which has been known to have more rapid analgesic effect that oral medication. Although pain reduction rate was higher in the WM group than in the OM group, we suggest that Oriental medical treatment is still effective, faking into consideration the fact that completely recovered cases were found only in the OM group. No adverse effect was found in either of the groups. Conclusion : This work could help us to understand the effectiveness of Oriental medical treatment on carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Forsythia suspensa fruit extracts (FSfE) ($0.1{\sim}1.0%$) and their active component on melanogenesis. FSfE dose-dependently inhibited melanin synthesis (up to $63.1{\pm}3.1%$ at the concentration of 1.0%) without cell cytotoxicity. We purifed one active compound from FSfE and identified its structure. It was identified as 4-[(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)methyl)]dihydro-3-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-2(3H)-furanone (arctigenin) by $^1H-NMR,\;^{13}C-NMR$, and Mass analysis. Arctigenin also inhibited melanin synthesis in a dose dependent manner (up to $52.7{\pm}3.1%$ at the concentration of $3.0{\mu}g/mL$). In order to verify the whitening activity of the cream containing 3% FSfE, we performed the clinical test with twenty five female volunteers for 8 weeks. Bioengineering analyses and visual assessment by doctors at the initial time point and 8 weeks after applications showed that cream containing FSfE have significant whiteining effect (paired t-test). From the results, we conclude that the FSfE can be used as a useful whitening agent.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.219-228
• /
• 2006

Objectives : To observe the effect of acupuncture treatment on Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI) in frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 17 voluntary patients received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The patients were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment, after 1 week of treatment, after 2 weeks, 3 weeks and after 4 weeks of treatment. Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI), Range of Motion(ROM) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). DITI was measured before treatment and after 4weeks of treatment. The obtained data was analyzed. Results : CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension showed significant(p<0.05) improvement. Abduction and flexion both improved after 4 weeks of treatment, but the improvement was statistically insignificant(p>0.05). DITI showed improvement but the improvement was insignificant(p>0.05). Conclusion : 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment significantly improved CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension in frozen shoulder patients(p<0.05). The improvement of abduction and flexion after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment was insignificant(p>0.05). DITI results improved after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment. But the change of thermal difference was insignificant(p>0.05).

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2005

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the fall risk factors. Method: The subjects were 87 persons who were older than 65 years living at 28 nursing home in Seoul and Gyunggi province. Subjects were interviewed using RAFS II for intrinsic factor and the environmental factor were assessed using a structured questionnaire from Oct. to Dec. in 2004. The data were analyzed by SPSS(ver. 12.0) programs, using descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, and t-test. Result: The 37.9% of the subjects experienced the fall, and its average number is $1.94\pm1.75$. The Women's experience of the fall was higher than that of the men, but it was no significant difference with gender. There was no significant difference with the age and duration of living. The mean of the intrinsic risk factor was 13.38 in total score 39 points marks on the RAFS II scales. The intrinsic risk factor score of the fallen group 15.71 was significantly higher than the non-fallen group 12.10. The variables of recent fall experience(t=4.72, p=0.000) and urinary dysfunction(t=2.64, p=0.010) was significantly higher than the non-fallen group. The highest variable of the intrinsic factor was the age and the variables of drug intake, balance, chronic disease, recent fall experience, urinary dysfunction were followed in order. The mean of the environmental risk factor was 0.24 points. No significant differences were shown in environmental risk factor between the fallen and the non-fallen groups. To the fallen group, the place of entrance was the highest risky environmental factor. To see in area dimension, the floor surfaces was the highest risky environmental factor and equipment and illumination factor was the following risky elements in order. In the total score of environmental risk factors based on the ares, the fallen group was 0.26 and the non-fallen group was 0.24, but there were no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: This results suggested that visual protection strategy, set up the safety device in the place of entrance and inner stairway, bathroom and nonskid mat in the nursing home would be contribute to the prevention of the fall for the elderly.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.79-85
• /
• 2015

Objectives: A vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is characterized by back pain and fracture of a vertebral body on spinal radiography. VCFs of the thoraco lumbar spine are common in the elderly. In general, appropriate analgesics should be prescribed to reduce pain and, thus, promote early mobilization. The ideal treatment approach for VCFs has not been determined. In Korea, acupuncture and herbal medication have been used to treat VCFs for many years. There is empirical evidence that acupuncture might benefit patients with a VCF. However, no randomized, controlled, clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and the safety of acupuncture for treating a VCF have been published. Therefore, we designed a randomized, controlled, pilot, clinical trial to obtain information for the design of a further full scale trial. Methods: A five week protocol for a randomized, controlled, pilot, clinical trial is presented. Fourteen patients will be recruited and randomly allocated to two groups: a control group receiving interlaminar epidural steroid injections once a week for three weeks, and an experimental group receiving interlaminar epidural steroid injections plus acupuncture treatment (three acupuncture sessions per week for three weeks, nine sessions in total). The primary outcomes will be the pain intensity (visual analogue scale and PainVision$^{TM}$ system). The secondary outcome measurements will be the answers on the short form McGill pain questionnaire and the oswestry disability index. Assessments will be made at baseline and at one, three, and five weeks. The last assessment (week five) will take place two weeks after treatment cessation. This study will provide both an indication of feasibility and a clinical foundation for a future large scale trial. The outcomes will provide additional resources for incorporating acupuncture into existing treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, narcotics and vertebral augmentation. This article describes the protocol.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.217-225
• /
• 1999

These studies were designed to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic gel system (lower alkanol concentration: 40-60%) compared to general hydrogel system (lower alkanol concentration: 10-35%) on transdermal delivery of piroxicam and its anti-inflammatory activity. Piroxicam was incorporated into a hydroalcoholic gel and a hydrogel containing polymers, solvents, and cosolvents. The pH of gel was about 6.3-7.3 and the solvent mixtures were composed of water and various concentrations of ethanol (35, 40, 50, and 60%). For the in vitro study, the skin permeation of piroxicam from the gel formulations was investigated using Franz modified diffusion cells fitted with hairless mouse skin. For the in vivo study, the anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic gel was compared to other commercial products (piroxicam hydrogel and ketoprofen hydrogel) in rat and human. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using carrageenan induced foot edema model in rat. For the clinical study, it was evaluated from determining efficacy and acceptability with 98 patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain. A novel piroxicam hydroalcoholic gel was successfully formulated in the range of 40-50% of ethanol as solvent, more than 10% of propylene glycol, 5% of $Transcutol^{\circledR}$ and 1 % of benzyl alcohol. The skin permeation of piroxicam using hydroalcoholic gel system was greater than that of general hydrogel system $(flux\;:\;139.1-148.2\;{\mu}g/cm^2/hr\;vs.43.0-84.5 {\mu}g/cm^2/hr)$ in vitro. In carrageenan-induced edema model, the anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic gel was better than that of piroxicam hydrogel for edema inhibition (75.1 % vs. 62.9%, p