Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the healing effect of Hyeolbuchugeotang (HC) in rats with rib fracture. Methods Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (naive, control, positive control, HC-L and HC-H). All groups except naive group were subjected to bone fracture of rib. Naive group received no treatment at all. Control group was fed with phosphate buffered saline. Positive control group was orally medicated with tramadol. Experimental group was orally medicated with HC extract (50 mg/kg for low concentration [HC-L], 100 mg/kg for high concentration [HC-H]). X-ray and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) were conducted to assess the effect of HC. We analysed the level of 2) transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Ki67, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-β, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) on 7 and 14 days after fracture. ALP, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine was measured for safety assessment. Results X-ray and micro-CT, showed HC enhance bone repair process. Callus formation was increased in experimental group at 7 days after fracture, but decreased at 14 days after fracture. 7 days after fracture, the level of TGF-β1 in experimental group was decreased. The level of Ki67, Runx2 in HC-H, TRAP in HC-L was increased. 14 days after fracture, the level of Ki67 in HC-L and HC-H was decreased. The level of ALP, Runx2, BUN in HC-L, TRAP in HC-L and HC-H was increased. Conclusions Taken together the results, HC promoted healing of bone fracture. In conclusion, HC has a potential to promote healing of bone fracture.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of inpatients who were admitted to Korean medicine hospital due to neck pain. Methods Four hundred fifty nine neck pain patients who were admitted to Cheonan Korean Medicine Hospital, Dae-jeon University from 1st, January, 2013 to 31th, December, 2013 were retrospectively reviewed according to medical charts. Results In this study, people in their 30s, females, within 0~2 weeks after onset, motivated by traffic accident, diagnosed with neck sprain, with no medical history related to neck pain, underwent outpatient treatment at medical institutions, took the highest percentage from each category of patients who admitted to Korean Medicine Hospital due to neck pain. In most (78.77%) of the patients, symptoms were more than improved. Conclusions Neck pain inpatients in Korean medicine hospital, it is difficult to find tendency. This study suggests the characteristics of neck pain inpatients who were hospitalized in Koean medicine hospital. (J Korean Med Rehab 2015;25(2):119-134)

The aim of this clinical study was to find out the changes of vital sign, body composition, skin status before and after combined spa-exercise therapy in participants of middle-aged women. Methods In this study 24 participants of middle-aged women went through 12 weeks of combined spa-exercise therapy. Each week vital sign, body composition, skin status were measured before exercise, which consisted of warming-up, whole body exercise and final exercises bathing in spa (32~36 o C). Results 1. The average of systolic blood pressure significantly decreased from 126.38± 19.33 mmHg to 120.46±11.18 mmHg after 11 weeks of spa-exercise therapy (p＜0.05). 2. The average of moisture of skin significantly increased from 36.83±3.18 to 44.21±7.43 after 11 weeks of spa-exercise therapy (p＜0.05). 3. The average of elasticity of skin significantly increased from 59.75±3.50 to 62.63±2.29 after 11 weeks of spa-exercise therapy (p＜0.05). 4. The average of diastolic blood pressure, pulse, et cetera. didn't significantly change after spa-exercise therapy. Conclusions The results showed that 12 weeks of spa-exercise therapy had significant effect on reducing systolic blood pressure, increasing moisture, elasticity of skin in participants of middle-aged women, which means spa-exercise therapy may be used as a treatment on high blood pressure and cutaneous diseases. Further studies are anticipated to find out other various effects of spa-exercise therapy.