• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.124-139
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment for two patients complaining of discomfort after receiving Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: The patients were hospitalized for 50 days and 12 days, respectively. They were treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion. We used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) on numbness in extremities and headache, Manual Muscle Testing Grading System (MMT), Criteria for Sweating Categorization, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate the clinical effects of the treatment. Results: In Case 1, headache improved from peak NRS 9 and average NRS 7 on admission day to both NRS 3 on discharge. The SF-36 score was also increased, suggesting that the quality of life was improved. In Case 2, numbness in the extremities improved from NRS 8 on the day before admission to NRS 2 on discharge, and general condition also improved. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine can be an effective treatment for patients who experience long-lasting discomfort after being vaccinated with COVID-19, but with no abnormal findings in the examination.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.919-928
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• 2022

As seen in the COVID-19 pandemic, unexpected emergence of new viruses presents serious concern on public health. Especially, the absence of effective vaccines or antiviral drugs against emerging viruses significantly increases the severity of disease and duration of viral circulation among population. Natural products have served as a major source for safe and effective antiviral drugs. In this study, we examined the virucidal activity of medical herb extracts with a view to discover novel antiviral agents with desired levels of safety and antiviral efficacy. Ethanol extracts of ten selected medical herbs were tested for antioxidant activity and in-vitro cytotoxicity in various animal cell lines. Of note, the herbal extracts showed broad and potent virucidal activities against rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, and influenza A virus. The extracts of Sorbus commixta and Glycyrrhiza uralensis showed strong virucidal activities against influenza A virus. We also examined whether the extracts of Sorbus commixta and Glycyrrhiza uralensis can be used as inactivating agents to prepare an inactivated viral vaccine. In a mouse model, influenza A virus inactivated by the extracts elicited high levels of neutralizing antibodies, and the vaccination provided complete protection against lethal challenge. These results suggest that herb-derived natural products can be developed to antiviral drugs as well as inactivating agents for preparation of inactivated viral vaccines.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2023

Objectives The purpose of this case study was to report a case of anorexia and fatigue after getting vaccinated COVID-19 treated based on Sasang Constitutional Medicine. Methods The patient was hospitalized for 4 days and treated with herbal medicine and moxibustion. The patient was asked to score for daily energy level out of 100 on his own and we used Karnofsky Performance Score(Karnofsky PS) on daily health status to evaluate the clinical effects. We also checked daily amount of meal and evaluated original symptoms such as insomnia, gastric discomfort, bowel movement and dysuria in four stages. Results At initial, the patient could only eat one spoon of a meal and was unable to carry on herself without any assistance, so she used a wheelchair on the day of admission. When discharged, the patient can eat half of a meal at each mealtime and perform normal activities by herself. Discussion This case demonstrates that Sasang constitutional approach to anorexia and fatigue caused by COVID-19 vaccination can be an useful treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.731-741
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• 2020

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeCoronavirus 2). To date, seven coronaviruses that can infect humans were reported. Among them, infections with four coronavirus strains (HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1) resulted in mild symptoms such as common cold, whereas SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV caused severe symptoms and epidemics in 2002 and 2012, respectively. In the most recent, SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and became a notorious cause of the ongoing global pandemics. To diagnose, treat, and prevent COVID-19, the development of rapid and accurate diagnostic tools, specific therapeutic drugs, and safe vaccines essentially are required. In order to develop these powerful tools, it is prerequisite to understand a phenotype, a genotype, and life cycle of SARS-CoV-2. Diagnostic techniques have been developing rapidly around world and many countries take the fast track system to accelerate approval. Approved diagnostic devices are rapidly growing facing to urgent demand to identify carriers. Currently developed commercial diagnostic devices are divided into mainly two categories: molecular assay and serological & immunological assay. Molecular assays begins the reverse transcription step following polymerase chain reaction or isothermal amplification. Immunological assay targets SARS-CoV-2 antigen or anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody of samples. In this review, we summarize the phenotype, genome structure and gene expression of SARS-CoV-2 and provide the knowledge on various diagnostic techniques for SARS-CoV-2.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations on deaths of the COVID-19 cases in some elderly long-term care facilities (LTCF) in Gwangju Metropolitan City. Methods: The study subjects were 659 COVID-19 cases in residents of 7 elderly LTCF, Gwangju, from 21 Dec. 2021 to 28 Jan. 2022. The used variables were confirmed dates for COVID-19, demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, presentation of symptoms, death and vaccination related characteristics including type of vaccine, doses and dates. Vaccination status were classified as not vaccinated, partially and fully vaccinated. The associations of vaccination status and deaths of COVID-19 cases were tested by chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The rates of not vaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated were 19.4%, 10.2% and 70.4%, respectively. The mortality rate of the cases was 6.4%. The death rate by vaccination status was 16.4% in not vaccinated, 15.4% in partially vaccinated and 2.6% in fully vaccinated, showing a statistically significant difference. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals, CIs) of death compared to fully vaccinated were 7.64 (3.87-16.34) in non-vaccinated, and 6.97 (3.44-14.14) in partially vaccinated. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination seems to work effectively in preventing deaths of COVID-19 cases of elderly LTCF residents. This finding support that fully vaccinations in high risk group such as elderly LTCF residents is very important for one of strategies of COVID-19 management.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.379-389
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• 2022

The number of public transportation users has dropped drastically due to COVID-19. In this work, my survey was conducted to uncover the factors that influence citizens' travel patterns. Data were collected and logistic regression analysis on the shifts in transportation was undertaken. Additionally, an importance-performance analysis was carried out to investigate how to effectively operate public transportation systems and improve facilities. The main research findings were as follows: First, the more individuals were concerned about COVID-19 (+) and being infected when using public transportation (+), the greater the tendency to switch to private transportation modes. Secondly, when it came to personal traits, respondents who could drive a car (+) or owned a car (+)or did more online shopping (+) or used public transportation for trips (+) tended to switch over, compared with respondents who could not drive or did not own a caror used public transportation to commute. In addition, respondents who were vaccinated (-) or had more household members tended not to switch transportation modes, compared with those who were not vaccinated or had fewer household members. Third, it is important to continue the following efforts to safeguardhygiene linked to public transportation: wearing masks, disinfecting hands, controlling diseases, and general cleaning. The conclusion was that it is important to put traffic congestion and ventilation issues first, especially in regards public transportation, which was not rated as satisfactory enough compared to its importance. The research findings can provide useful basic data when establishing countermeasures to the current COVID-19 circumstances in the areas of public transportation operation and management and in the event of an infectious disease outbreak in the future.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.330-338
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• 2021

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors affecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention. Methods: For an anonymous online survey, recruitment notices were posted on an anonymous community by each university, and an online survey was conducted through online form from June to July 2021. COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were measured using a questionnaire based on previous literature and reflecting the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 Response Guidelines. The psychological antecedents of vaccination were measured by 5C scale. Results: Two-hundred and ninety-four college students (women 67.3%) answered the survey; 179 (60.9%) reported that they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. The mean scores for COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were 22.97±5.33 (out of 35) and 9.92±2.22 (out of 12), respectively. For the psychological antecedents of vaccination, the mean scores for confidence, collective responsibility, calculation, complacency, and constraints were 4.45 (± 1.24), 5.61 (± 1.09), 5.09 (± 1.18), 2.42 (± 1.11), and 2.37 (± 1.19) out of 5 points, respectively. The confidence, calculation, and collective responsibility were associated with vaccination intention. Additionally, the top reason for those who were less prone to accept vaccination against COVID-19 was concern about vaccine safety. Conclusion: The higher the confidence in the vaccine and the higher the collective responsibility, the higher the vaccination intention. As it is a factor related to an individual's perception of COVID-19 information, it is necessary to increase confidence in the vaccines through obtaining accurate information on the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 2021

The COVID-19 virus is a β-genus virus that causes infection by mediating the angiotensin convertible enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is distributed in large numbers in the human respiratory tract. The disease requires effective post-management of antibody production by complete healers and vaccinators because there is no perfect remedy for the virus infection. This study aimed to develop recombinant proteins specifically responsive to neutralizing antibodies in clinical specimens and use them to develop a rapid diagnostic kit to diagnose neutralizing antibodies quickly and conveniently against the COVID-19 virus and confirm the possibility of commercialization through a performance evaluation. Rapid diagnostic kits using COVID-19 S1 RBD recombinant proteins can be applied to rapid diagnostic kits, with positive percentage agreement (PPA) and negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 100% and 98.3%, respectively, compared to the U.S. FDA-approved ELISA kits. If the performance of the rapid diagnostic kit is improved and neutralizing antibodies can be analyzed quantitatively using quantitative analysis equipment, it can be used as important data to predict immunity to the COVID-19 virus and determine additional vaccinations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2020.07a
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• pp.625-628
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• 2020

현재 지구촌은 신종 감염병인 '코로나바이러스 감염증-19(COVID-19)로 인해 혼란을 겪고 있다. 우리나라의 경우 1만 명 이상 감염자가 발생하였으며, 사망자 역시 200여 명이 넘었다. 하지만 위와 같은 감염병을 치료하기 위한 백신은 계속 개발중에 있으며, 현재는 감염 예방 수칙으로 감염의 위험성에서 벗어나고 있는 실정이다. 또, 지구촌에 큰 혼란을 주었던 사스, 신종플루, 메르스와 같이 주로 호흡기를 통해 타인에게 전파되는 신종 감염병 출현 빈도 역시 계속 증가하고 있다. 이외에는 황사, 미세먼지에 관한 문제들로 인해 일상속에서 이뤄지는 생활 방역의 중요성이 대두되고 있는 상황이다. 본 논문에서는 생활 방역의 대표적 수칙인 마스크 착용에서 상황별 올바른 마스크 선택의 중요성을 알려주어 시민의식을 높일 수 있는 VR 연동 'Wearing a Mask' 구현에 대해 제안하고자 한다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.181-197
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• 2021

Objectives : This study reports a 42-year old female inpatient who visited for recurrent herpes zoster on the right hand and right side of the face on 5 days after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. She already had 2 times of herpes zoster prior to this outbreak. Methods : During 10 days of hospitalization, both treatments were simultaneously applied to her. For Korean medical treatment, acupuncture, herbal medicine including Sipjeondaebo-tang, and Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture were mainly used. Collaborating with internal medicine of our hospital, essential medications for herpes zoster including antihistamine, corticosteroid, and acyclovir were administered. To assess symptoms, taking photos and numerical rating scale(NRS) were used. Results : On the 3rd day of hospitalization, erythema on the right hand disappeared. On the 4th day, discomfort arisen by zoster lesions dropped from NRS 8, which was initially evaluated, to NRS 0. Facial lesion also steadily improved. At the moment of discharge, erythema on the right side of oral angle disappeared and mild traces of vesicular lesions remained on the right hand. Conclusions : Considering her medical history, the recent recurrent herpes zoster was suspected as an adverse event of COVID-19 vaccination. Unlike general course of herpes zoster, the skin lesions and discomfort were rapidly improved owing to the collaborated treatment during the 10 days. This study may be the first literature on herpes zoster following COVID-19 vaccination in Korea.