Effect of acupuncture on diabetic peripheral neuropathy: an uncontrolled preliminary study from Korea

Jeon, Eonju,Kwon, Hyojung,Shin, Imhee,Kang, Seokbong,Shon, Hosang BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2014 ACUPUNCTURE IN MEDICINE Vol.32 No.4

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>Diabetic neuropathic pain can severely influence quality of life, and patients may be dissatisfied with treatment.</P><P><B>Objective</B></P><P>To carry out an observational study of the effects of acupuncture for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain, in preparation for a full study.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Nine patients with diabetic neuropathic pain were recruited from a Korean diabetic clinic and given 12 sessions of acupuncture over 4 weeks. Their symptoms were evaluated using the Total Symptom Score (TSS) and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) at baseline and 4 weeks after the last treatment.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Mean TSS scores reduced from 7.99 (SD 3.55) at baseline to 4.95 (SD 4.41), at the 8-week follow-up—a statistically non-significant change (p=0.057). The MNSI scores improved from 6.33 (SD 1.31) before treatment to 4.33 (SD 3.00) after acupuncture treatment—a significant improvement (p=0.010). One participant experienced an exacerbation of diabetic neuropathy symptoms, but two patients gained complete relief of their diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) symptoms.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>The results of this study justify further investigations into the effects of acupuncture on DPN.</P>

Integrative package for low back pain with leg pain in Korea: A prospective cohort study

Park, Jongbae J.,Shin, Joonshik,Choi, Youngkwon,Youn, Yousuk,Lee, Sangho,Kwon, Seung-Ro,Lee, Hyangsook,Kang, Man-Ho,Ha, In-Hyuk,Shin, Imhee Elsevier 2010 COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES IN MEDICINE Vol.18 No.2

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P>Back pain significantly affects both patients and society through personal suffering, supporting burden, work loss, and incurred expenses. With no unequivocal support for surgery versus conservative treatment, an integrative approach has become popular in Korea.</P><P><B>Objectives</B></P><P>To investigate the outcomes of an integrative package for low back pain with leg pain.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>A prospective cohort study involving patients with low back and leg pain and confirmed disc herniation was carried out at an outpatient clinic in Korea. The treatment package comprised of herbal medicines, acupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, and a Korean version of spinal manipulation (Chuna). Study participants were evaluated at baseline and every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Low back and leg pain intensity levels were measured on a visual analog scale (0–10), back function was evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index (0–100), and the overall quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 Health Survey (0–100 in 8 different subcategories).</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Out of 150 patients, 128 completed the 24 weeks of therapy. Patients reported improvements in all outcome measures. At the completion of the study, low back pain scores improved by a mean of 3.3 (95% CI=2.8 to 3.8), and leg pain scores improved by a mean of 6.3 (95% CI=5.9 to 6.6). Significant improvements in ODI and SF-36 scores were observed at 4 weeks and sustained throughout.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>This integrative package was effective in the treatment of LBP with leg pain and warrants further rigorous investigations.</P>

Current Use of Depression Rating Scales in Mental Health Setting

EunJeong Lee,JungBum Kim,ImHee Shin,KyungHee Lim,SangHee Lee,GyungAh Cho,HyungMo Sung,SungWon Jung,Mark Zmimmerman,Yanghyun Lee 대한신경정신의학회 2010 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.7 No.3

Objective-This study was to investigate the current use of depression rating scales by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists in Korea. Methods-The questionnaires from many psychiatrists and clinical psychologists were included in the analysis. The questionnaire was composed of items about examining the percentage of patients clinically using depression rating scales, reasons for not use of them, the degree of satisfaction, the perceived agreement rate between the result of depression rating scales and doctor’s clinical interview in the evaluation of patients with depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed by χ2 and independent t-test. Results-The clinical use of depression rating scales was more frequent in the psychologists than in the psychiatrists. The purposes for using depression rating scales were assessed into six areas, there was no significant difference in between two groups, and both groups po-inted out their purpose as rating of severity and screening. The reasons for not using scales were that their interview may be sufficient for diagnosis and assessment of depressive patients and they are not familiar with the use of depression rating scales. The psychiatrists usually prefer the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Symptom Checklist 90-Revision (SCL-90-R) in order of frequency, and the clinical psychologists are more likely to use the BDI, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and SCL-90-R. Overall rate of satisfaction in the use of the scales was 67.29±14.45% and overall perceived agreement rate was 70.89±16.45%. Conclusion-Currently used depression rating scales at the clinical practice were not various. Therefore, to heighten clinicians’ utility of these depression rating scales measures, either educational efforts or advertisements, or both, will be necessary to spread them wildly.

당뇨병성 말초신경병증 통증환자에서 사암침법의 유효성: 무작위 배정 대조군 사전예비연구

전언주 ( Eonju Jeon ),권효정 ( Hyojung Kwon ),신임희 ( Imhee Shin ),정의달 ( Euidal Jung ),강석봉 ( Seokbong Kang ),손호상 ( Hosang Shon ) 경락경혈학회 2013 Korean Journal of Acupuncture Vol.30 No.4

Objectives: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), generally considered to be the most symptomatically distressing complication of diabetes, affects more than 50% of people with diabetes. However, no consistently effective treatment for DPN is available and patients are forced to struggle with medications that provide only partial relief. In this pilot study, we evaluated the clinical effects of Saam acupuncture for the treatment of painful DPN. Methods: A total of 10 patients with painful DPN were included in the study; 6 subjects with Saam acupuncture treatment and 4 subjects without it. Subjects were defined as having painful DPN if they had at least 2 points using total symptom score (TSS). Treatments were delivered three times a week for 4 weeks. Vitamin B12 was orally administrated in the all subjects. At initial (0 week) and follow-up after 4 weeks and 8 weeks, all subjects underwent TSS, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), and nerve conduction test. Results: After initial (0 week) and follow-up (8 weeks), TSS and MNSI were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.400 and p=0.830, respectively). However, in both two groups, according to time, there was a significant difference in TSS as well as MNSI (p=0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). Conclusions: Saam acupuncture may be considered as the effective treatment for the patients of DPN although the changes of the symptoms were of limited significance in this study. Further investigations are required to elucidate the role of Saam acupuncture for the pain control of DPN.

Total bilirubin level as a biomarker for dampness-heat differentiation in traditional Korean treatment for jaundice

Ki Cheul Sohn,Hyun-Jung Jung,A-Jin Lee,Sang-Gyung Kim,ImHee Shin,Sang Gyu Kwak 대한한의학회 2013 대한한의학회지 Vol.34 No.4

Total bilirubin level as a biomarker for dampness-heat differentiation in traditional Korean treatment for jaundice

Sohn, Ki Cheul,Jung, Hyun-Jung,Lee, A-Jin,Kim, Sang-Gyung,Shin, ImHee,Kwak, Sang Gyu The Society of Korean Medicine 2013 대한한의학회지 Vol.34 No.4

Objectives: Classifying the pattern of jaundice during diagnosis will significantly improve the outcome of common KM interventions. This study aimed at determining an objective index for accurately diagnosing heat and dampness KM patterns in patients with jaundice. Methods: We systematically reviewed laboratory findings from case reports published in the scientific literature of Korean medicine. Cases were classified as following either the heat or dampness pattern. Biochemical indices were compared using a Bayesian factor (BF) analysis and standard t-tests. Results: The laboratory findings of 32 patients were evaluated. The heat pattern was observed in 17 patients and the dampness pattern in 15. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of white blood cell count (BF=1.659); hemoglobin concentration (BF=2.627); platelet count (BF=1.019); or levels of direct bilirubin (BF=1.453), aspartate aminotransferase (BF=1.226), alanine aminotransferase (BF=1.340), alkaline phosphatase (BF=2.344), or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (BF=2.782). However, total bilirubin levels were significantly higher in the dampness pattern group (BF=0.854, P-value=0.070). Conclusions: Patients with high total bilirubin levels may predominantly follow the dampness pattern, while those with low levels may predominantly follow the heat pattern. These results are expected to be useful for the development of timely and efficient KM treatments as well as new integrative therapeutic approaches for jaundice. However, further studies are essential to fully validate the utility of total bilirubin as a biomarker for differentiating between heat and dampness patterns.

스마트폰 중독 정도와 한국형 청소년 자기행동평가척도와의 상관성에 대한 연구

서창민(Chang Min Seo),이종훈(Jonghun Lee),최태영(Tae Young Choi),김지현(Jihyun H. Kim),신임희(Imhee Shin),우정민(Jungmin Woo) 대한생물치료정신의학회 2012 생물치료정신의학 Vol.18 No.2

Objectives:Recent years, the smart-phone usage has been rapidly increased. While it gave us many conveniences and be-nefits, the adverse effects also came to emerge and threatened individual’s mental health. Especially, its overusage in the adolescents can have substantial impact on their psychosocial development. We aim to evaluate the psychopathologies of the adolescents according to smart-phone addiction level, by using the Korea-Youth Self Report. Methods:We selected four high schools within Daegu, Korea. Among the smart-phone users, 276 subjects were enrolled. The severity of addiction was measured through ‘2010 Smart-phone Addiction Rating Scales’ guided by the Korean Internet & Security Agency. The psychopathologies of the subjects were evaluated with the Korea-Youth Self Report. Results:The total score of the Smart-phone Addiction Rating Scales and the total problematic behavior score of Korea- Youth Self Report showed a positive correlation(r=.412, p<0.001). The group with more severely addicted showed higher T-scores on the nine of eleven subscales of the Korea-Youth Self Report[somatic complaints(p<0.05), anxiety/ depression(p<0.01), thought problems(p<0.01), attention problems(p<0.001), delinquency(p<0.001), aggressiveness(p <0.001), inter- nalizing problems(p<0.001), externalizing problems(p<0.001), total problematic behaviors(p<0.001)]. Among the contents and situations of smart-phone usage, utilizing the smart-phone for Social Network Services(OR : 1.83 ; 95% CI :1.29-2.59) and situations of smart-phone usage like ‘in bedtime’(OR : 1.52, 95% CI :1.04-2.23), ‘at bathroom’(OR : 1.84, 95% CI :1.28-2.65) w-ere risk factors for high level group of smart-phone addiction. Conclusions:We suggest that smart-phone addiction level is related to compromised psychological well-being of the adolescences. Also, Specific purpose and situations of smart-phone usages are associated to smart-phone addiction level. In the future, if more obvious psychopathologies and risk factors are grasped, it may be helpful in screening and intervention of high risk adolescent to smart-phone addiction.

육군훈련소 훈련병 구강건강 실태 연구

홍진선 ( Hong Jinson ),황일웅 ( Hwang Il-ung ),최병섭 ( Choi Byungseop ),오대근 ( Oh Daekeun ),정신 ( Jung Shin ),박임희 ( Park Imhee ),이선주 ( Lee Sunjoo ),조근철 ( Jo Keunchul ) 국군의무사령부 2015 대한군진의학학술지 Vol.46 No.1

Objectives; The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health status, dental treatment need and oral health awareness of army trainees in the Korea Army Training Center to develop the army policy on oral health and oral health providing. Methods; This study conducted by close oral examinations for 352 Army trainees based on the Korea National Oral Survey criteria with questionnaires. The questionnaires related to awareness and attitude on oral health. Results; DMFT index was 5.03, and DT was 0.65. DMFS index was 10.29 and DS was 1.49. Average of teeth needed dental treatment was 0.95 and 51.9% among teeth needed extractions was for the third molars. 48.3% of trainees needed periodontal treatment including scaling. Of the trainees, 15.4% considered their own oral status very good or good and 34.2% considered their dental status poor and very poor. Average frequency of toothbrushing was 2.6 times a day. 10.6% of trainees used tools for improving their oral health. Conclusions; Oral health status of army trainees affects the Army dental health care system. Close periodic oral examination on trainees and reevaluation is recommended.