The Effect of Trigger Point Injections on Pain in Patients with Advanced Cancer / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that in 62.5% of cases of incurable cancer pain, the complaint is due to myofascial pain syndrome. Trigger point injections using dibucaine hydrochloride help patients with such cancer pain. This study evaluated the efficacy of trigger point injections for alleviating pain in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: Twenty patients with advanced cancer who had a life expectancy of 6 months or less and had been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome were treated with trigger point injections. Prior to treatment, a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to measure the resting pain level and discomfort upon application of pressure on the site of pain. These values were compared with last treatment measurements. RESULTS: The mean pre-treatment VAS scores for pain at rest and upon application of pressure on the pain site were 7.3 and 9.0, respectively. These scores decreased significantly to 1.95 and 3.2, respectively, after the treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Trigger point injection is an alternative and effective pain control modality for advanced cancer patients with myofascial pain syndrome.

Association between Sleep Patterns and Health Indicators and Diseases in Adults Over 19 Years of Age in Korea: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2017

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep patterns and health in Korea, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2017.METHODS: In total, 12,646 individuals were divided into those who sleep more than 5 hours and less than 5 hours per day during the week. In addition, 512 people who slept less than 5 hours a day on weekdays were further classified into those sleeping on average less than 5 hours a day and those sleeping more than 5 hours a day on weekends.RESULTS: People who slept on average for more than 5 hours on weekdays were taller, had lower body mass index, and lower fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin levels than those who slept less than 5 hours on weekdays. In addition, the percentage of people with osteoporosis, cervical cancer, and depression was lower in the group that slept on average 5 hours or more on weekdays than in the group that slept less than 5 hours on weekdays. Among those who slept on average less than 5 hours a day on weekdays, individuals who slept more than 5 hours a day on weekends were taller and had lower fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin than those who slept less than 5 hours a day on weekends. The prevalence of patients with angina, arthritis, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and depression was higher in the group who slept less than 5 hours a day on weekends.CONCLUSION: There are differences in height, body mass index, fasting blood sugar level and glycated hemoglobin level and in the prevalence of angina, arthritis, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and depression according to weekday and weekend sleep times.