• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.324-328
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• 2023

Excessive inflammation in the body causes immune cells to release cytokines that damage normal tissues and cells, leading to rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis. Pulsed magnetic field(PMF) stimulation has many applications in the treatment of neurological, muscular disorders and pain. Therefore, in this study, we aim to investigate the effect of PMF stimulation on the regulation of excessive inflammation in the overall immune system. Macrophages, a primary immune cell, and T cells, a secondary immune cell, were co-cultured in the insert wells under the same conditions, and then inflammation was artificially induced. The changes in inflammatory activity following PMF stimulation were measured by pH and IL-6 concentration. After inflammation induction, both cells became more acidic and increased IL-6 expression, but after PMF stimulation, we observed improved acidification of macrophages and T cells and decreased IL-6 expression. Our results showed that infected macrophages activated T cells and that the recovery of excessive inflammatory response regulation after PMF stimulation proceeded more rapidly in macrophages. Therefore, this study suggests that PMF has a positive anti-inflammatory effect on the overall immune system and thus has the potential to be used as a non-invasive therapy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.329-343
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• 2023

Recently, acupuncture has demonstrated extraordinary clinical results in the treatment of several categories of health conditions worldwide. The mechanisms of action of acupuncture (including immune mechanisms) have been investigated by biomedical studies over the last few decades. The immune mechanisms of representative clinical conditions and their clinical effects were thoroughly assessed, with a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms of action of acupuncture (including immune responses) in this study. Conditions such as stroke, migraine, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, sepsis, and allergic diseases were meticulously examined. This in-depth analysis aims to ensure a foundational understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in acupuncture, thereby serving as an initial step toward integrating the impact of acupuncture on the immune system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2009

Objectives : Although CTTH is one of the most common symptom in primary headache, the mechanism and treatment is not definite. The purpose of this study is to research about clinical characteristic and roentgenographic finding of the cervical spine in CTTH to determine relationship between the cervical spine and headache. Methods : This study was carried out on 93 patients with CTTH. By roentgenographic finding, they were classified into four groups - HNP, Spondylosis, Sprain, Normal. Then the HNP group was divided again into two groups - singer type and multiple type. Results: 1. Among 93 patients with CTTH, 69(74.19%) patients had abnormal cervical spine by roentgenographic finding. 2. There were HNP, spondylosis, sprain in abnormal roentgenographic finding. And a great majority of the patients were diagnosed as cervical sprain. 3. There were no significant difference between four groups on sex, weight, height, blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate. But on ages, the HNP group showed the highest average while the sprain group showed the lowest. 4. The patients in HNP group had more frequent, severe pain, longer onset and higher onset-age than those of the other three group. 5. The patients in Multiple-type HNP group had severe pain, longer pain-duration, longer onset, more pre-symptoms and younger onset-age than those of the Single-type HNP group. Conclusions : A great majority of the patients with CTTH had abnormal cervical spines. Also, we found out that the worse the grade of HNP, heavier the level of headache.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.172-178
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• 2016

Background: This study was designed to assess serum vitamin D status (25-OHD) in the fibromyalgia (FM) patients and to compare it with a healthy control group. It also aimed to investigate the correlation of serum vitamin D level with FM symptom severity and invalidation experiences. Methods: A total of 74 consecutive patients with FM and 68 healthy control participants were enrolled. The eligible FM patients completed the Illness Invalidation Inventory (3*I), the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) and a short-form health survey (SF-12). Venous blood samples were drawn from all participants to evaluate serum 25-OHD levels. Mann-Whitney tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed and Spearman's correlations were calculated. Results: 88.4% of FM patients had low levels of serum 25-OHD. FM patients had significantly higher level of serum 25-OHD than the control group ($17.24{\pm}13.50$ and $9.91{\pm}6.47$ respectively, P = 0.0001). There were no significant correlations between serum 25-OHD levels and the clinical measures of disease impact, invalidation dimensions, and health status. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that an increased discounting of the disease by the patient's spouse was associated with a 4-fold increased risk for vitamin D deficiency (OR = 4.36; 95% CI, 0.95-19.87, P = 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that although high rates of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency were seen among FM patients and healthy non-FM participants, but it seems there was no intrinsic association between FM and vitamin D deficiency. Addressing of invalidation experience especially by the patient's spouse is important in management of FM.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2002

The purpose of this one group pre and post test study was to evaluate the effect of self-help programs(SHP) which has been conducted from 1997 to 2000. The SHP was held by Korean Rheumatology Health Professionals Society(KRHP) once a week for 6 weeks for chronic arthritis patients in Korea. Eight hundred fifty five subjects completed the program at 43 sites. The effect of SHP were evaluated by flexibility, pain, activities of daily living(ADL), fatigue, depression and self-efficacy. After SHP, followings were found: 1. Participants' characteristics of SHP were most common in living in Seoul, women, sixties, high school graduates, house wifes, osteoarthritis, completed in 1999. 2. The flexibility of arm, knee, ankle joint were significantly increased, but the flexibility of the shoulder was not changed. 3. Level of pain was decreased significantly from 5.21 to 3.99, and the number of painful joints were decreased from 4.96 to 4.18 significantly. 4. The score of ADL was increased from 53.74 to 54.97 significantly. 5. The score of depression and self-efficacy was not changed. In conclusion, SHP was clearly proved to be an effective nursing intervention to Increase the flexibility of arm, knee, ankle joint and enhanced ADL. Also SHP decreased pain and fatigue. More research is needed to determine the role of self-efficacy and depression in the SHP, use of a randomized design and longer follow up period to understand more about the effects of the program.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.539-548
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• 2020

TTH(tension-type headache) is the most common primary headache among adults. Long-term headaches cause chronic headaches and have a better impact on daily life. The purpose of this study is to compare the contributions to TTH through AVE(audio-visual entertainment) and STM(soft tissue mobilization) suitable for management of pathogenic and psychogenic factors of TTH. The participants of this study were from 30 people who complained of intermittent or persistent headaches for more than 6 months, and 10 participants each in the AVE group, STM group, and AVE plus STM group. In the assigned group, a total of 12 sessions were performed three times a week for 4 weeks after the baseline, followed by post-test. Outcome measures measured PPTs(pressure pain thresholds), psychophysiological parameters, and EEG(electroencephalogram). The measured results were analyzed for interaction between time and group through a two way rmANOVA(repeated measurement variance analysis). As a result of the PPTs, interaction was found in the results of the right trapezius (p<.05), and the more improvement was observed in the AVE group. Therefore, through AVE based on psychological factors rather than direct access to the muscles of pathogenic factors, a positive impact on the PPTs was shown, but the average value of the psychophysiological parameters and brain waves that were not statistically significant. The amount of change was observed. Through this, it is suggested that audio-visual stimulation could be considered in the management of TTH.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.79-89
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate various application methods of focused ultrasound and apply them to clinical use in Korean medicine. Methods : Search was performed using the search engines of electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ScienceON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Japan Science Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-STAGE) and Citation Information by NII (CiNii), from inception to July 2023 without language limitation. Inclusion criteria were clinical studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and animal experimental studies related with focused ultrasound treatments for acupoints or meridian sinews. Results : Total 17 papers, 7 for RCT, 6 for in vivo animal studies, and other experimental studies, were finally selected. Indications used in studies were shoulder pain, back pain, chronic back pain, and degenerative knee arthritis. In experimental studies, studies on animal models of hypoxic ischemic brain damage and hyperlipidemia were also conducted. As for the acupoints, LR3, LI4, and ST36 were used in clinical studies and, in animal experimental studies, GV20, KI1, and ST36 were used. As for the dose, 4 studies below 3 W/cm² and 3 studies in the range of 0.625 to 5 W/cm² in clinical studies, and all studies did not exceed 5 W/cm². In animal experimental studies, 0.5 W/cm², 2 W/cm², 7.5 WW/cm², 15 W/cm², 10~20 W/cm² were used. In all three studies describing the penetration depth during irradiation, it was less than 1 cm. Conclusions : We suggest that focused ultrasound is an appropriate treatment tool for stimulating the acupoints to transfer heat energy. Future studies with rigorous and well-designed RCTs for various diseases will be required to ascertain the focused ultrasound stimulate acupoints or meridian sinews.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.40-48
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• 2005

In this study, the muscle strength and endurance of the lumbar at flexion and extension were determined using an isokinetic muscle strength meter (Biodex) in patients with chronic lumbar go (10 male and 10 females), and the changes in muscle strength and endurance of the lumbar at flexion and extension after application of Y-shaped sacrospinalis muscle taping, typically used for patient with lumbar go, were studied. In addition, the sacrospinalis muscle taping of a different shape (I-shaped taping) was applied bilaterally centering on the spine, and the muscle strength and endurance of the lumbar at flexion and extension were determined and compared with those before taping. In addition, the results after application of Y-shaped taping and I-shaped taping were also compared. 1. The extensor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $60^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio Taping and after application of Y-shaped taping showed the level of significance (p<.05). The flexor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $60^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio taping and after application of Y-shaped taping did not show the level of significance. 2. The flexor muscle endurance of the lumbar at loading of $90^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio Taping and application of Y-shaped taping did not show the level of significance. The extensor muscle endurance of the lumbar at loading of $90^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio Taping and after application of Y-shaped taping did not show the level of significance. 3. The extensor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $60^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio Taping and after application of I-shaped taping showed the level of significance (p<.05). The flexor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $60^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio Taping and after application of I-shaped taping showed the level of significance (p<.05). 4. The flexor muscle endurance of the lumbar at loading of $90^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio taping and after application of I-shaped taping showed the level of significance. The extensor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $90^{\circ}$/sec before application of kinesio Taping and after application of I-shaped taping showed the level of significance (p<.05). 5. In comparison between after application of Y-shaped taping and after application of I-shaped taping, the flexor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $60^{\circ}$/sec did not show the level of significance. In comparison between after application of Y-shaped taping and after application of I-shaped taping, the extensor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $60^{\circ}$/ sec showed the level of significance (p<.05). 6. In comparison between after application of Y-shaped taping and after application of I-shaped taping, the flexor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $90^{\circ}$/sec did not show the level of significance. In comparison between after application of Y-shaped taping and after application of I-shaped taping, the extensor muscle strength of the lumbar at loading of $90^{\circ}$/sec did not showed the level of significance (p<.05).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 1996

Between 1987 and 1994, 21 patients were treated surgically for aortic aneurysm involving the thoracoabdominal aorta. There were 11 males and 10 females, and their age ranged from 20 to 67 years old and mean age was 41.5 years. Many complained of back pain, chest pain or discomfort, and flank pain, but three patients were asymptomatic. 15 patients had chronic dissection (71.4%) and 6 had nondissecting fusiform or saccular aneurysm(28.5%), and of those 15 patients with chronic dissection, 6(28.5%) had atherosclerosis assniated with hypertension, 5 (23.8%) were Martian syndrome, and 2 (9.5%) were associated with pregnancy. The diameter of an aneurysm ranged from 6cm to 12cm, and their extent was classified as type I in 7(33.3%), type II in 8(38.1%), type III in 3(14.3%), and type IV in 3(14.3%) patients based on Crawford classification for TAA . Diseased aorta was replaced with artificial vascular graft in all but one patient. In whom the aortic tear site due to pseudoaneurysm was closed by primary suture. For the spinal cord protection during the operation, we used partial cardiopulmonary bypass (FV-FA or PA-FA bypass) in 12 patients (57.1%), Biopump (LA-FA bypass) in 4(19.0%), total circulartory arrest and CPB in 2 (9.5%), Gott's heparinized shunt in 1(4.7%), and simple aortic cross clamping in 2 (9.5%). The most common complication after the operation was hoarseness due to unilateral vocal cord palsy which onured in 5 patients (23.8%), and the next common complication was wound infection in 4 patients(19.0%), paraplegia in 2 patients (9.5%), chylothorax in 1 patient(4.7%). The hospital mortality rate was 9.5% (2deaths), and there was no late death. Our experience shows that the graft replacement of TAAA had reasonable rate of mortality, low rate of serious complication, and provided good post operative state of the pati nts, and since the thoracoabdominal aortic operation is not a high risky procedure anymore, we recommend a radical operation for the indicated patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.122-136
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• 2000

Chronic illness requiring attention and management during a long period of time puts great burden onto patients, their family and society. For patients with chronic illnesses, providing social support is the most important, and the fundamental support comes from their spouses. Amount and quality of support from spouses seems to differentiated according to the sex of patients. Female patients tend to believe that their spouses are not very supportive. Therefore, the researchers assessed the burden of husbands of female arthritis patients to discover the factors that result in greater burden. Also, they developed a theoretical model of husbands′ care for their wives through a qualitative research into husbands′ experience. Method 1: The study material was 650 female arthritis patients registered in an arthritis clinic. The questionnaire about the disease experience of female arthritis patients and the burden of husbands were sent. Returned questionnaires numbered 210(32.3%) and 27 were excluded because of inadequate answers. The remaining 183 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 51 years and the mean age of spouses was 55 years. The mean marital period was 28 years. The average duration since diagnosis was 9.1 years. Education level was varied from primary school to graduate school, and average income/month was 1,517,300 won. Method 2: Initial questionnaire studies on the burden of husbands were performed. Among 183 responding husbands, 23 consented to participate for a qualitative research. Data was obtained by direct and telephone interviews. The mean age of participants was 58 years, and the educational level and socioeconomic status also varied. Result: 1. Husbands′ burden: The average burden was 57.68 with a range of 6-96. 2. Burden and general characteristics: The husband′s burden correlated with the age of the patients, numbers in the family, therapy methods, patient′s level of discomfort, patient′s disease severity, patient′s level of dependence and the husband′s understanding of the level of severity. 3. Linear correlation analysis on burden: The husbands′ burden is explained in 22.5% by husband′s recognition of level of severity and husbands′ age. 4. There were four patterns of the burden on husbands: both objectve burden and subjective burden were high(pattern I), both of objectve burden and subjective burden were low(pattern II), objective burden was high but subjective burden was low(pattern III), objective burden was low but subjective burden was high(pattern IV). The pattern was correlated with the family income, educational level of the patients and their husbands, therapy methods, patient′s level of discomfort, patient′s disease severity, patient′s level of dependence and husband′s understanding of level of severity. 5. The core category of the caring experience of the husbands with arthritis patients was "companionship". The causal factor was the patients′ experience due to symptoms : physical disfigurement, pain, immobility, limitation of house chores, and limitation of social activities. Contextural factors are husbands′ identification of housework and husbands′ concern about the disease. The mediating factors are economic problems, fear of aging, feeling of limitation and family support. The strategy for interaction is mind control and how to solve emotional stress. The "companionship" resulted from caring activities, participation of household activities, helping patients′ to coping with emotional experience. 6. Companionship is established through the process of entering intervention, and caring state of mind. Entering intervention is the phase of participation of therapy and involvement of houseworks. The caring phase consists of decision on therapy, providing therapy, providing direct care, and taking over the household role of wife. Through caring phase, the changing phase set a stage in which husbands consolidate the relationship with their wives, and are reminded of the meaning of marriage. As a result, in changing phase, husbands′ companionship is enhanced. In conclusion, nursing care of chronic illnesses should include a family member especially the spouse. All information on disease shoud be provided to patients and whole family member. Strong support should also be provided to overcome difficulties in taking over role of other sex. Then the quality of life of patients and families will be much improved.