• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2021

Patients complaining with somatic symptoms are very common in clinical practice, and are often consulted to medical department. But it is difficult to treat well. The treatment of somatic symptom disorder is multi-modal as none of the methods on their own provide a satisfactory outcome. The treatment of somatic symptoms disorders is complicated by lack of boundary, conceptual clarity, and overemphasis on psychosocial causation and effectiveness of psychological treatments. In clinical practice all classes of psychotropics are used to treat somatic symptoms disorder. Drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inibitors(SSRI), serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), atypical antipsychotics are studied. The evidence indicates that these drugs are effective in somatic symptom disorders. All classes of antidepressants seem to be effective against somatic symptom disorders. SSRIs are more effective against hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder, and SNRIs appear to be more effective than other antidepressants when pain is predominant. The author suggest that psychiatrists should know how to treat patients complaining with somatic symptoms by using not only psychotherapeutic approach but also pharmacological treatment. It will be helpful to reduce suffering and increase quality of life of these patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the perception of the somatic symptoms and the cognitive emotion regulation strategies in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods : A total of 48 patients meeting DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and 48 normal controls were recruited for participation in this study. We evaluated subjects using Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Somato-Sensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). We analyzed data using an independent t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results : In terms of SSAS, PTSD patients presented higher average SSAS scores than normal controls but the result is not statistically significant. In PTSD patients, the severity of PTSD is significantly correlated with CERQ-rumination and CERQ-catastrophizing. The SSAS scores of PTSD patients show the significant positive correlation with PTSD hyperarousal symptoms, CERQ-catastrophizing and CERQ-blaming others. Conclusions : These results reveal that patients with PTSD have maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies such as rumination and catastrophizing. Somato-sensory amplification seems to be related with PTSD hyperarousal, CERQ-catastrophizing and CERQ-blaming others. Therefore, reducing somato-sensory amplification, rumination and catastrophizing can be helpful to reduce PTSD symptoms and somatic symptoms in PTSD patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2021

Objectives : Although dysfunctional breathing is a common symptom in general population and affects qualities of life, it is still underdiagnosed. There are some studies of prevalence of it in astma, but few studies in anxiety and depressive disorders. The purposes of this study were to explore the prevalence of it in anxiety and depressive disorders, and to investigate whether anxiety and depressed mood influence it. Methods : 135 patients diagnosed with anxiety or depressive disorders, and 124 controls were recruited. Nijmegen questionnaire was used to assess dysfunctional breathing, and Hospital anxiety depression scale was used. Results : The prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in anxiety or depressive disorders was higher than that in control. In the linear regression model, anxiety accounted for 59.6% of dysfunctional breathing, but depressed mood did not. With covariate adjusted for anxiety, scores of dysfunctional breathing in anxiety or depressive disorders were higher than in controls. Conclusions : Dysfunctional breathing in anxiety or depressive disorders is higher than that in control. Adjusting anxiety, its difference is still. Anxiety affects dysfunctional breathing, but depressed mood does not.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2018

Objectives : Residential services are provided to help patients with chronic mental illness, but those have some problems because of provider focused services and uniformized training. So the purpose of the study was to explore residential needs of patients with the chronic mental illness such as chronic schizophrenia. Methods : A survey was conducted on 139 mental illness patients using mental health facilities at Ansan city area in South Korea. We investigated their demographic and social characteristics, the degree of self- reliance and residential service needs. Results : More than half of them had the desire for self-reliance, and they needed job support mostly. They were positive about the use of residential facilities and needed daily living skill and social skill training. Also they preferred day rehabilitation in type of facility. And they wanted to operate in a way that they returned home at the weekend after group home. Conclusions : For facilitating the recovery of patients with chronic mental illness, it would be necessary to provide individualized residential rehabilitation services and to improve existing residential facilities and programs reflected on the patients' needs.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2018

Objectives : The significance of leukoaraiosis on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is uncertain, but it is often seen with vascular risk factors or in the context of cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate the effect of leukoaraiosis on the severity and course of delirium. Methods : Periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity on brain MRI were rated in 42 patients with delirium by semiquantative visual rating scale. Correlations between their grades and the scores of Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (K-DRS-R-98) were analyzed, and the interaction effects between the groups according to the levels of leukoaraiosis and two evaluation points were also analyzed. Results : The grade of deep white matter hyperintensity in the occipital lobe was positively correlated with the scores on the total, severity items, cognitive items, and non-cognitive items of K-DRS-R-98. The cognitive items scores of K-DRS-R-98 in the low grade group of periventricular hyperintensity showed significantly steeper decrease than the high grade group. Conclusions : A difference in severity or recovery speed of delirium according to the level of leukoaraiosis may result from disruption in brain functional connectivity. Our results have a clinical implication in that the severity and course of delirium can be possibly predicted using the level of leukoaraiosis.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2020

Objectives : To identify the relationship between somatization, stress, depression, anxiety, and psychological symptoms risk for nurses working in the intensive care unit. Create clinical evidence of psychosomatic medicine research and complement the meaning of somatization. Methods : Seventy of the mental health checkups conducted by the National Mental Health Center among the nurses using tools including Perceived Stress scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Patient Health questionnaire-15, Korean Beck Depression Inventory, Korean Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Symptom Checklist-90-Revision. Results : 12.9% of the patients experienced more than moderate somatization. There was no statistical relationship between somatization and psychological stress perception, but feeling of anxiety and decreased self-confidence were related to the level of somatization. The group with severe somatization experienced more depression and anxiety. The group with high physical fatigue also had no statistical relationship with psychological stress perception, but had an effect on the feeling of tension, stress, or decreased control. Physical fatigue level was increased by experience of depression, not by anxiety. For psychological symptoms the higher the level of somatization, the higher the obsession and hostility was explored. In the linear regression model, stress, depression, and anxiety accounted for 39.3% of somatization and 16.1% of physical fatigue symptoms. Conclusions : We can estimate the decrease in stress cognitive symptoms, accompanying depression and anxiety, compulsion and hostility as characteristics of somatization. The causal relationship between somatization and psychological symptoms cannot be confirmed in this study, but the interrelationships are observed, can be referred to mediation strategies.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of sleep quality and interpretation bias for ambiguity in the relationship between hopelessness and suicidal ideation in psychiatric patients. Methods : A total of 231 psychiatric outpatients and inpatients completed the Beck Hopelessness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Ambiguous/Unambiguous Situations Diary-Extended Version, and Ultra-Short Suicidal Ideation Scale. Data analysis was conducted using regression analyses and bootstrap sampling. Results : The results of this study showed that hopelessness had a direct effect on suicidal ideation, and that sleep quality and interpretation bias for ambiguity mediated the association between hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Moreover, there was a significant double mediating effect of sleep quality and interpretation bias for ambiguity on the relationship between hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Conclusions : These results suggest that it is important to consider both sleep quality and interpretation bias for ambiguity to prevent hopelessness from leading to suicidal idea. These results suggest that considering both sleep quality and interpretation bias for ambiguity may be important in preventing hopelessness from leading to suicidal ideation.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.611-625
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to investigate the characteristics of beginning science teachers' subject matter knowledge (SMK) as revealed in their classroom teaching methods. In this research, we explored six beginning teachers' classroom teaching episodes on the 'work and energy' unit. Using open-ended interviews with the teachers and group discussions taking place on a regular basis to analyze and compare the classes of six beginning teachers, we extracted the features of beginning science teachers' SMK. Using grounded theory methods, the characteristics of beginning science teachers' SMK drawn from this research are: (1) beginning teachers' positivistic epistemology on science, (2) claiming the teacher's authority based on rich subject content knowledge, and (3) beginning teachers' science elitism. These epistemological characteristics are realized such PCK as (1) representational errors caused by the teacher's own science misconception, (2) doing harm to students with too much content knowledge, (3) sporadic content presentation lacking a focus, and (4) surplus class hours with lack of effective science teaching explanations. Suggestions for alternative perspectives on science SMK are presented by experienced teachers. In conclusion, science teachers' SMK is necessary, but not sufficient, for effective teaching. Science teachers' SMK does have an effect on science teaching, mediated by other types of teacher knowledge. The beginning teachers need a systematic support to transform their SMK into a viable PCK.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2024

목 적: 본 연구의 목적은 유방암 세포(MCF-7) 이식 누드 마우스 모델을 이용하여 육종용 열수 추출물의 면역활성 효과를 통한 항암 활성을 체계적으로 평가하는 것이다. 육종용 열수 추출물은 유방암 치료제로 자주 사용되는 대표적인 경구용 항암제인 tamoxifen 경구 투여군과 비교하여 분석 연구하였다. 방 법: 총 110마리의 6주령 암컷 누드 마우스를 준비하여, 7일간 적응 후 체중이 일정한 마우스를 선정하여 우측 둔부 피하부위에 MCF-7 세포를 이식하였다. 종양세포 이식을 한 지 20일 후, 종양 크기 및 체중을 기준으로 그룹 당 8마리씩 본 실험에 사용하였다. MCF-7 이종 이식 21일 후부터 매일 1회씩 35일간 육종용 열수 추출물을 10 ml/kg의 용량(400, 200 및 100 mg/kg)으로 경구 투여하였으며, tamoxifen 역시 10 ml/kg의 용량(20 mg/kg)으로 경구 투여하였고, 정상 및 종양 이식 매체 대조군에서는 멸균증류수만 종양 이식 21일 후부터 동일한 방법으로 35일간 경구 투여 하였다. 결 과: 본 실험의 결과, MCF-7 세포 이식을 함으로써 현저한 비장 및 하악하 림프절 무게, 혈중 IFN-γ의 함량, IL-1β 및 IL-10의 함량, 비장내 TNF-α, 비장세포 및 복강 대식구의 활성의 감소가 관찰되었고, 비장 및 하악하 림프절의 림프구 감소에 의한 조직병리학적 위축 또한 관찰되었다. 그리고 체중 및 증체량의 감소 역시 관찰되었으며, 혈중 IL-6 함량의 증가, 난소 주위의 지방 무게의 감소 및 조직병리학적으로 난소 주위의 축적 지방 조직 위축 현상이 인정되어, 종양 이식 후에 전형적인 종양과 관련된 면역억제와 악액질 현상이 유발된 것으로 판단되었다. 한편 육종용 열수 추출물 400, 200 및 100 mg/kg 경구 투여군에서는 종양 이식 대조군에 비해 유의성 있는 현저한 항암활성이 투여 용량 의존적으로 관찰되었다. 또한 tamoxifen 20 mg/kg 경구 투여군에서는 종양 관련 악액질 소견이 오히려 악화되는 반면, 육종용 열수 추출물 경구 투여군에서는 면역활성 및 악액질 억제 효과가 관찰되었다. 결 론: 본 연구 결과, 육종용 열수 추출물의 적절한 경구 투여는 심각한 부작용 없이, 종양 관련 악액질 소견을 포함하여, 효과적인 유방암 치료 수단을 제공할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.726-740
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• 2023

Objectives: This review investigated the research on warm herbal foot bath therapy (WHFT) for insomnia. Methods: A search was conducted on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database to collect relevant studies published up to August 29, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing WHFT and sleeping pills in patients with insomnia were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. The results of the meta-analysis were presented as risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 11 RCTs were included. WHFT as monotherapy resulted in a significantly higher total effective rate (TER) (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.36; I²=25%) and an improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global sore (MD, -3.10; 95% CI, -4.24 to -1.95; I²=73%) compared to benzodiazepines. Additionally, WHFT as a combined therapy with benzodiazepines resulted in a significantly higher TER (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.27; I²=0%) and an improved PSQI global score (MD, -2.23; 95% CI, -4.09 to -0.38; I²=80%) compared to benzodiazepines alone. In network analysis visualizing the components of HWFT, four clusters were discovered, and Polygoni Multiflori Ramuls and Ziziphi Spinosae Semen were the key herbs used in WHFT. Overall, the methodological quality of the included studies was poor. Conclusions: There was limited evidence that WHFT as a monotherapy or combined therapy was effective in improving insomnia. The findings can be used as basic data for future WHFT research in South Korea.