Chronic Levator Ani Syndrome Treated with Traditional Korean Medicine: A Case Report

손창규 대한한방내과학회 2024 大韓韓方內科學會誌 Vol.45 No.1

This case report highlights the efficacy of traditional Korean medicine in treating chronic levator ani syndrome. A 47-year-old male suffered from chronic anorectal pain for 14 years. Over the last 5 months, the severity and frequency of the pain increased, and he was unresponsive to Western medicine and acupuncture outside Korea. The patient reported moderate anorectal pain from early morning until midday, affecting daily efficiency and concentration. The pain was triggered by defecation and alleviated by lying down. He was diagnosed with levator ani syndrome related to “cold symptoms of the liver and kidney - Yin”, for which modified Nangan-jeon was prescribed. Indirect moxibustion (CV4, Ki1), Aconitum ciliare Decaisne pharmacopuncture (GV1, BL33), and acupuncture (HT7, ST36, SP6, LR3, LI4) were also administered weekly. After 8 weeks, the anorectal pain decreased by 2 points on a numeric rating scale, leading to patient satisfaction and return to his home country.

경북지역에서 분리된 Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium의 Class I Integron Gene Cassette 특성과 PEGE 유형분석

손창규,이정아,이도영,허완,정중교,Sohn, Chang-Kyu,Lee, Jung-A,Lee, Do-Young,Hun, Wan,Jung, Jung-Kyo 한국미생물학회 2006 미생물학회지 Vol.42 No.1

2003년부터 2004년까지 정북지역에서 발생한 설사환자로부터 17주, 돼지로부터 18주 등 총 35주의 Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium이 분리되었고, 분리된 균주를 대상으로 항균제 내성양상, class I integron 특성 및 pulse-field gel electrophoresis유형(PFGE 유형; pulsotype)이 조사되었다. 35주 모두가 한가지 이상의 항균제에 내성을 나타내었고, 돼지로부터 분리된 대부분의 균주는 ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprime, tetracyclin, nalidixic acid에 내성을 나타내었다. 35주를 대상으로 class I, II 및 III integron gene cassette를 검색한 결과, 설사환자로부터 분리된 17주 중 3주가 dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette을 보유하였고, 돼지로부터 분리된 18주중 11주가 dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette를, 1주가 aadA2 integron을 보유하였다. 그러나 35주 모두가 class 2 integron gene cassette와 class 3 integron gene cassette는 보유하지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 35주의 PEGE 유형은 5가지로 분류되었으며, 31주가 pulsotype A로 나머지 4주는 pulsotype B, C, D, E형으로 각각 나뉘어졌다. 이러한 결과로 볼 때 경북지역에서 사람과 돼지에서의 S. enterica serovar Typhimurium에 의한 살모넬라중은 몇 종류 유행주의 전파에 의한 것임을 보여줄다. dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette를 보유한 13주가 pulsotype A, dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette을 보유한 1주가 pulsotype B, aadA2 integron을 보유한 1주가 pulsotype E, integron을 보유하고 있지 않은 15주가 pulsotype A로 나타났다. Thirty five Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains were isolated from diarrheic patients and pigs in Gyeongbuk area from 2003 to 2004. All 35 strains (17 strains from diarrheic patients and 18 from pigs) were resistant to more than one drug and most of strains isolated from pigs were resistant to ampicillin, ohloram-phenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprime, tetracyclin and nalidixic acid. Each isolate was also screened or the presence of class I, II and III integron gene cassettes. Among 35 strains,3 out of 17 strains isolated from diarrheic patients, carried dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette and among 18 strains isolated from diseased pigs, 11 strains carried dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette and 1 strain carried aadA2 integron only. But any class II and class II integron gene cassette were not detected in 35 strains. Thirty five strains were divided by five pulsotypes. Thirty one strains out of thirty five were pulsotype A. Among the remaining 4 strains, one each strain belonged to pulsotype B, C, D and pulsotype E. This data of pulsotypes showed that the widespread of pulsotype A, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in human and pigs in Gyeongbuk area may have been caused by the dissemination of a few epidemic strains in this area. Thirteen strains contain dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette showed pulsotype A and one strain contains dhfrX-orfF-aadA2 integron gene cassette showed pulsotype B. One strain contains aadA2 integron showed pulsotype E. But fifteen strains do not contain any integron showed pulsotype A.

Treatment of an Elderly Patient with Acute Abdominal Pain with Traditional Korean Medicine

손창규 사단법인약침학회 2014 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.7 No.5

Abdominal pain in elderly patients leads to challenge due to diagnostic difficulty and high incidence of complications. This case report presents an elderly patient with acute and severe abdominal pain, who did not respond to Western treatments. The patient was diagnosed to have abdominal pain by Yang deficiency of spleen (脾陽虛). Acupuncture (mainly at LI4 and LR3), indirect moxibustion (CV4 and CV8), and a herbal drug [Daeh- wangBuja-Tang (大黃附子湯)] were given to the patient; the abdominal pain and related symptoms disappeared completely within 3 days. This study proved the potential use of traditional Korean medicine for treating abdominal pain in elderly patients.

Demand Survey for Application of Environmental Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis

손창규 대한한의학회 2014 대한한의학회지 Vol.35 No.2

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the demand for natural environment therapy among parents of patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods: The questionnaire-based survey was conducted on the parents of 310 patients with atopic dermatitis (158 male and 152 female, median age 8 years, ranging from 2 to 21 years). The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions including demographic information, preference of environmental therapy and related choices. Results: Regardless of illness severity or gender, parents agreed with the importance of environmental therapy in treatment for atopic dermatitis. 55.2% of parents had considered moving to the countryside for their children with atopic dermatitis. 74.5% of parents answered positively to the possibility of movement to an atopy-free village, and this rate was significantly higher in parents of patients with severe symptoms (p < 0.05). Educational facilities and eco-environment were considered to be the most important factors in their decision. In addition, parents opted for organic food cooperatives, which was also felt necessary for their children suffering from atopic dermatitis. Conclusions: This study is the first report suggesting the extent of demand for environmental therapies among patients with atopic dermatitis. This information will be helpful in developing therapeutics using the natural environment in Korean medicine.

아토피 환자의 치료선택 경향에 대한 설문연구

손창규,Son, Chang-Gue 대한한방안이비인후피부과학회 2014 한방안이비인후피부과학회지 Vol.27 No.1

Objective : This study aimed to survey the pattern of the treatment choice for atopic dermatitis. Methods : The questionnaire-based survey was conducted from the parents of 310 patients (median age 9 years, range 2 to 21 year, 158 male and 152 female) with atopic dermatitis. The questionnaire was consisted of 11 questions for the demographic information including treatment choice for atopic dermatitis. Results : The most agonizing factor of atopic dermatitis was pruritus, while the most frequent regions were arms and legs. Conventional therapy (60.3%), folk-remedy (23.9%) and treatment of Korean medicine (15.8%) were the preference of treatment by patients. Over half answers (58.4%) were negative for the current treatments, and the main complains was the absence of radical therapy (26.5%), insufficient information (20.6%), and expensive cost of treatments (19.0%), respectively. Conclusion : This study may provide the important information for the general prospective of parents of patients with atopic dermatitis, which is helpful to develop the Korean medicine-derived therapeutics for atopic dermatitis.

A Drug-Induced Liver Injury by Western Medication

손창규,Son, Chang-gue The Society of Internal Korean Medicine 2015 大韓韓方內科學會誌 Vol.36 No.1

본 증례보고는 퇴행성 관절염으로 양방병원에서 치료를 받던 중에 발생한 약인성 간손상으로 한방병원에서 진단 및 치료 받은 73세의 여성 환자의 증례를 소개하고자 한다. 환자는 약 3개월 동안 양방병원에서 비스테로이드성 소염제와 근육이완제 등을 처방 받아 오던 중 점차적으로 피로감과 오심 구역감 등의 위장장애를 호소하였다. 양방 의원에서 수 차례 약물치료를 하였으나 호전되지 않고 점차 극심한 피로감과 무기력감 및 위장증상으로 한방병원을 찾게 되었다. 한방병원에서 혈액검사상에 급성감염(AST 90 IU/L, ALT 100 IU/L, ALP 191 IU/L, GGT 614 IU/L) 소견을 보였다. 초음파 검사상 정상적 소견과 다른 기저질환의 배제 및 RUCAM score가 9로서 약인성 간손상으로 진단이 되었다. 15일간의 뜸치료와 침치료 및 한약물 (청간플러스시럽)의 복용으로 주관적 증상은 완전히 소실되었으며 GGT를 제외한 간기능 검사도 정상으로 회복되었다. 그동안 한약물과 관련된 약인성 간손상에 대한 연구가 주로 양의학계에서 이루어지다보니 한약물의 안전성에 대한 부정적 평가가 많았었다. 그러한 의미에서 본 증례보고는 양약에 의한 약인성 간손상에 대한 전형적인 증상의 특성을 보여주고 약인성 간손상에 대한 한의학적 관리 및 치료의 향후 연구에 대한 의미있는 증례를 제시한다고 하겠다. Objectives : To investigate the clinical features of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and traditional Korean medicine (TKM) -based management. Methods : A female patient diagnosed with DILI caused by Western drugs had been treated with Oriental therapies, then the subjective clinical outcome and biochemical parameters were monitored. Results : A 73-year-old female had taken Western drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and skeletal muscle relaxants) for about 3 months, and complained of severe abdominal discomfort and tiredness. Her RUCAM score was 9, which met the criteria for DILI (AST 90 IU/L, ALT 100 IU/L, ALP 191 IU/L, and GGT 614 IU/L). She was treated with herbal drugs, moxibustion, and acupuncture, and her symptoms completely resolved, with normalized hepatic enzymes within two weeks. Conclusions : This case report provides a clinical characteristic for a typical DILI caused by Western medicine, and shows an example of a TKM-based application.

Functional abdominal pain syndrome treated with Korean medication

손창규 한국한의학연구원 2014 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.3 No.2

A 37-year-old female patient with chronic and stubborn abdominal pain had been hospitalized five times in three Western hospitals, but no effects were observed. No abnormalities were found in blood tests, gastrointestinal endoscopy, sonogram, and computed tomography of the abdomen, except mild paralytic ileus. The patient decided to rely on Korean medicine as an inpatient. She was diagnosed with functional abdominal pain syndrome, and her symptom differentiation was the “Yang deficiency of spleen and kidney.” A herbal drug, Hwangikyeji-tang, along with moxibustion and acupuncture, was given to the patient. Abdominal pain and related symptoms were reduced radically within 16 days of treatment. This report shows a therapeutic potential of Korean medicine-based treatment for functional abdominal pain syndrome.

정천탕의 알러지에 대한 실험적 연구

손창규,설인찬 대한한의학회 2003 대한한의학회지 Vol.24 No.3

This report describes an inhibitory effect of Jungchuntang(JCT) on immediate hypersensitivity through IgE/mast cell/mediator pathaway. JCT is an Oriental herbal medication, which has been used for the treatment of allergic patients with espatially asthma in Korea. JCT significantly inhibited the IgE production in mice and IL-4 + anti CD40-mediated IgE production in vitro. JCT promoted IFN-expression but inhibited IL-4 and IL-6 mRNA expression. JCT dose-dependently inhibited the compound 48/80-induced histamine release from mast cell line, IC-2 cell. Thease results indicated that JCT has treatmentary effect on atopic disorder, such as asthma. 목적 : 정천탕(定喘湯, JCT)이 IgE/mast cell로 유도되는 천식(喘息)등의 알러지성 질환에 대한 효과를 실험적으로 검증하고자 하였다.

Case Report for a Refractory Levator Ani Syndrome Treated with Traditional Korean Medication

손창규 대한한의학회 2017 대한한의학회지 Vol.38 No.2

Objectives: To inform a clinical case of a refractory levator ani syndrome, that was improved by treatments of traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Methods: A 55-years old female had complained severe anorectal pain which didn’t respond to Western medicine therapeutics during 5 months including 45-day hospitalization. Whereas the symptom was rapidly resolved by the treatment in a Korean medicine hospital, and the clinical outcome was monitored. Result: There was no abnormality explaining the anorectal pain from blood tests, gastrointestinal endoscopy, sonogram and computed tomography for abdomen and pelvis. The patient was diagnosed with a levator ani syndrome. Based on the typical feature of tenderness of lower abdomen as well as beating sign around belly, an herbal drug, Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang (柴胡加龍骨牡蠣湯) was prescribed. In addition, the warm acupuncture at BL 31 to BL 33 and moxibustion on lower abdomen were given to the patient. The anorectal pain was radically reduced from treatment 7-day, and it almost disappeared within treatment 25-day. Conclusion: This case report would provide information for the potential of TKM therapies focused on the refractory levator ani syndrome which no satisfactory therapy exist.

A juvenile case with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and traditional Korean medicine-based treatment

손창규 한국한의학연구원 2018 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.7 No.2

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the common cause leading to chronic liver diseases recently. Unlikely past humankind history, NAFLD is like a new illness especially in developed countries due to decreased number of hepatic virus carriers and increased population with obesity. Among subjects with NAFLD, development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a key pathological step which determines the clinical progression. This study reports a case of a boy who has suffered from NASH for 2 years. This study aims to discuss the clinical feature, risk aspect, and treatment strategy of NASH as well as potential of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) therapies.