Toxicokinetics of Korean Traditional Medicines(TKM) is the description of what rate TKM will enter the body and what happens to it once it is in the body in terms of toxicology. However, it is not easy to understand TKM toxicokinetics because of various factors such as a mixture of 2-30 kinds of herbal materials containing thousands of chemicals, and complex chemical properties. For these reasons, little is known about toxicokinetics of TKM. This study was aimed to characterize and review the absorption, distribution and metabolism of korean traditional medicines in a view of toxicokinetics. For this aim, some of korean traditional medicines were reviewed on a basis of drug-drug interaction, biotransformation and intestinal metabolisms by bacteria. As the factors affecting mainly on toxicokinetics of TKM, individual herbal material's degree of lipophilicity and metabolic rate, and decoction components according to different kinds of herbal materials were considered. Other factors such as intestinal pH and bacterial activity for metabolism affecting on TKM toxicokinetics, especially in small intestine. It would be a better way for improving the adverse or poor effects caused by TCM if the factors affecting on toxicokinetics of TKM is considered.

Objective : This study was to evaluate the single dose toxicity of Bojungikki-tang(Buzhongyiqi-tang, BJIKT) in male and female mice. Method : Aqueous extracts of BJIKT were administered to female and male ICR mice as an oral dose of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg (body weight) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Guidelines. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy ; organ weight and histopathology of 12 principle organs were examined. Results : we could not find any mortality, clinical signs, and changes in the body and organ weight. In addition, no BJIKT-treatment related abnormal gross findings and changes in histopathology of principle organs were detected except for some sporadic accidental findings. Conclusion : The results obtained in this study suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximate lethal dose of BJIKT aqueous extracts in both female and male mice were considered as over 2,000 mg/kg, the limited highest dosage recommended by KFDA Guidelines, and can be safety used in clinics.

Objectives : This study is to explain the effects of Yoga therapy for relieving dysmenorrhea on the aspect of Oriental Medicine and to identify the therapeutic Yoga asanas applicable to clinic medicine. Methods : We searched papers using Pubmed, CNKI and 7 Korean medical databases. We used "Yoga" and "Dysmenorrhea" as keyword. Limitations were as follows ; the last 20 years of publications and search range only including RCTs. Papers without inclusion criteria were excluded. We classified all the searched RCTs studies into Yoga exercise prescriptions. Results : A total of 47 studies were found. And 38 were excluded during extract screening. Finally 3 RCTs were selected and analyzed out of 9 papers. Blood sampling and survey questionnaires were used in the outcome measure. They reported that Yoga exercise could be used for dysmenorrhea patients, which has a curative effect. Conclusions : Yoga therapy can be explained as Meridian muscle theory in the concept of Oriental Medicine. Also, it may be a favorable choice for dysmenorrhea patients. Further studies to describe the effects of Yoga therapy will be needed more.

The average human life span has increased due to the development of modern medicine and science, resulting in prolonged life expectancy and increase in the population counts of the geriatric age group. In particular, a dramatic increase of elderly patients suffering from senile disorders including neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease(AD), and vascular dementia has become a serious social problem in public health. Thus, this study is aimed to summarize available clinical trial data on several commonly used medicines include donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, memantine and oriental medicine, and examine the effect of oriental medicine combined with western medicine in the treatment of patients with senile disorders using the data from literature reviews and survey studies.

Objective : Scutellaria baicalensis is one of the most popular and multi-purpose herb in traditional medicine. It is also useful for its practicability to cultivate in Korea. The purpose of this study is to contribute to researches and applications of scutellaria baicalensis by analyzing and reviewing international researches on the compositions and the effects of scutellaria baicalensis. Methods : This study analyzed 146 articles from PubMed by searching with the keyword "Scutellaria baicalensis", "Huang quin", "Baical Skullcap", "Huang qin", "baical skullcap root", "ogon", "Hwanggeum" and "Hwangkeum", published within the last 10 years(from 2000 to 2009). We reviewed the 146 articles on Scutellaria baicalensis and its active constituents in terms of 'Active constituents', 'Experimental studies', 'Clinical studies', 'Drug interaction', 'Side Effects/Toxicity' and 'Pharmacokinetics'. Results : The active constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis are flavonoids such as baicalein, baicalin, wogonin and oroxylin-A. It is reported that scutellaria baicalensis and its active compounds have antiinflammatory activity, antitumor activity, antioxidant activity, antiviral and antibiotic activity, neuroprotective effects, hepatoprotective effects and cardiovascular effect. Conclusions : This study is aimed to summarize the results obtained within the last 10 years and to contribute to following researches and applications of Scutellaria baicalensis.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the music therapy on cognition, problematic behavior, and sleep disturbance in elderly with dementia. Method : The study was designed using a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects comprised of 39 elders (Experimental group : 19, Control group : 20) who living in D city. The instruments used for this study were the MMSE, problematic behavior assessment tool, and sleep assessment instrument. The data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 program. Results : The repeated measure ANOVA revealed that the music therapy had the effect on the problematic behavior and sleep. There were statistically significant differences in problematic behavior between the pretest and posttest in the experimental group. Conclusion : The study suggests that the music therapy can be applied for the aged with dementia to improve the problematic behaviors.

Objective : This study aimed qualitative change of traditional korean medical public health programs (TKM-PHP) by the research of present condition, problems and improvement direction about TKM-PHP. Methods : Data were collected from 222 of 996 public health oriental medical doctors(PHOMD) using the structured questionnaire by e-mail. Collected data were analyzed through frequency analysis, T-test, and ANOVA using SPSS 12.0 and significant level was 0.05. Results : 59.5% of the respondents said that the TKM-PHP are not efficiently executed because there are not enough motivations to entice oriental medical doctors in charge of the programs and because PHOMD and the government officials in charge lack in relevant experiences and skills. A majority of the PHOMD recognize a need for activating the TKM-PHP but less actively participate in the programs since there is not a good rewarding system and there are neither standard manuals nor methodological guidelines for the programs. In order to activate the TKM-PHP, it is urgent to employ full-time oriental medical doctors and to continually and systematically appoint the professional manpower in charge. And it is also needed for the state to secure an adequate budget and prepare schemes for persistently train such professionals. Conclusion : Activating the TKM-PHP will lead to the development of TKM, but there are still such problems as lack of the professional manpower in charge, an excessive burden of the duties of PHOMD, lack of program manuals, and a poor system for evaluation. To solve these problems, it is advised to construct foundations for administerial supports, draw up a standard manual, prepare a system for evaluation in consideration of the characteristics of TKM, and hire professionals to ensure sustainable programs.

Objective : The aims of this study are to investigate the trend of internet journalism about the toxicity and safety of the herbal medicine, and to suggest the regulatory solution of the issue. Method : In this study, we had searched the internet news article published from 2001 to 2011 in the five major portal sites-NAVER, DAUM, Nate, Google Korean, and Yahoo Korean. The search terms were 'herbal medicine', 'adverse event', 'toxicity'. If the articles described the same event in the same form and tone, the articles were considered overlapping. The overlapped articles were excluded. The articles were categorized by the form and tone. The form categories were straight news, interpretative story, editorial, interview, and the tone categories are the positive, the negative, and the neutral. The regulations were searched about the negative issue. Result : Total 56 articles were reviewed. There were 19 positive articles, 29 negative articles, 8 neutral articles. Most negative issues have the proper regulations, but insufficient measures for the adverse event reporting system. Conclusion : The herbal medicine specified adverse event reporting system is essential.

The purpose of this paper is to review the profitability of sixteen university hospitals of oriental medicine during 2007~2009. Data was collected from 16 hospitals that reveal financial statements to the public and the hospitals were classified into 7 groups. Net sales and COGS per 100 beds of the 7 groups were analyzed to measure profitability and as a percentage of net sales, the rates of personnel expenses, maintenance costs, and material costs were evaluated. The results showed that six groups had consecutively recorded net loss in medical services and differences in profitability among 7 groups were substantial. The analysis showed the profitability was significant for medium-sized hospitals. The rates of personnel expenses in net sales were above 50% in 6 groups with net loss and one group with net profit was 45%. This result indicate the rate of personnel expenses in net sales could be the main factor affecting profitability and further studies are recommended to analyze the determinants of profitability in oriental medical hospitals.