• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2016

Objectives: Bufonis venonum (BV) is toad venom and is the dried, white secretions of the auricular and the skin glands of toads. This study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of intravenous injection of Bufonis venonum pharmacopuncture (BVP) through a single-dose test with sprague-dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Twenty male and 20 female 6-week-old SD rats were injected intravenously in the caudal vein with BVP or normal saline. The animals were divided into four groups with five female and five male rats per group: the control group injected with normal saline, the low-dosage group injected with 0.1 mL/animal of BVP, the medium-dosage group injected with 0.5 mL/animal of BVP and the high-dosage group injected with 1.0 mL/animal of BVP. We performed clinical observations every day and body weight measurements on days 3, 7 and 14 after the injection. We also conducted hematology, serum biochemistry, and histological observations immediately after the observation period. Results: No mortalities were observed in any experimental group. Paleness occurred in the medium- and the high-dosage groups, and congestion on tails was observed in females in the medium- and the high-dosage groups. No significant changes in weight, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histological observations that could be attributed to the intravenous injection of BVP were observed in any experimental group. Conclusion: The lethal dose of intravenously-administered BVP in SD rats is over 1.0 mL/animal.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.5-13
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• 2010

Reactive Oxygen Species(ROS) are continuously produced at a high rate as a by-product of aerobic metabolism. Since tissue damage by free radical increases with age, the reactive oxygen species(ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$), nitric oxide(NO). Several lines of evidence provided that ROS appears to cause to develop aging-related various diseases such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease. Our reserch objective was to examine the in vitro biological activity of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture, including the total poly-phenol content, DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, Superoxide dismutase(SOD)-like activity, Nitrite scavenging ability. The total poly-phenol contents of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture was 35.859mg/L. Elctron donation ability on DPPH was 36.82%. The 2,2'-azinobis-3-ehtlbezothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical decolorization (ABTS) was 84.7%. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture was 44.33%. The nitrite scavenging effects were pH dependent, and were highest at pH 1.5(45.2%) and lowest at pH 6.0(11.3%). We conclude that Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture may be useful as potential sources of antioxidant.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.129-144
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aimed to provide a basis for treatment of Hwa-byung, a mental disorder frequently found among Koreans, by analysing published case reports and case series. Methods: In June 2015, a literature search for case reports and case series describing interventions for Hwa-byung was conducted in 7 databases for research publications in Korea, using Korean and English terms. Results: Thirty-two papers, reporting 439 cases of Hwa-byung, met the inclusion criteria. Since the first case report on Hwa-byung in 1996, case reports were continuously published until 2012. A total of 22 interventions were described, of which herbal medicine (71.9%), acupuncture (65.6%), and moxibustion (34.4%) were the most frequently described interventions. Twenty-five papers reported patterns, for which liver qi depression (28%) was most frequently used. A total of 48 outcome measures were used in 32 papers, of which Beck Depression Index (46.9%) and Symptom change (43.8%) were used in at least 10 papers. Conclusions: Since only 32 case reports/case series have been published on Hwa-byung in Korea, a strong basis for recommending standardized treatments is lacking. Therefore, a sufficient number of clinical studies, in particular randomized clinical trials (RCTs), are warranted to provide a clinical basis for treatment of Hwa-byung.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2018

Objectives: To observe the mitigating effects of a Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM) treatment program especially including pharmacopuncture, with Cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin chemotherapy on a both sides breast cancer patient. Methods: AA 74 year-old female patient diagnosed with both sides breast cancer (Right) pT1bpN0M0, (Left) pT1cpN1Mx was admitted to hospital of Dong-eui university in May of 2017. She received Cyclophosphamide and Doxorubicin from May $31^{st}$ to August $2^{nd}$, 2017 followed by TKM treatment consisting of herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and pharmacopuncture (Trionycis Carapax, Non-toxic Bee Venom, and Cultivated Wild Ginseng Extract) for a period of almost 4 months, from May $13^{th}$ to August $19^{th}$, 2017. Symptoms were evaluated by the grade of chief complaints refer to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Results: TKM including pharmacopuncture alleviated chemotherapy-induced nausea, fatigue, joint pain, diarrhea, insomnia. Conclusions: This case study potentiates TKM with pharmacopuncture's significant efficacy in aiding breast cancer patients suffering from Cyclophosphamide plus Doxorubicin induced adverse effects. Further research should take place for clear understanding of the exact amount of dosage and safety. Moreover it must be accompanied by long-term follow up researches.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

Objectives: In order to accurately measure skin moisture and accumulate normal skin moisture data, analyzing the uncertainty of the skin moisture measurement and establishing standard reference data is essential. It helps to evaluate the skin's condition and has great significance in diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the traceability of the equipment and the uncertainty of the results were analyzed for their potential use in the field of Korean medicine. The data was collected measuring skin moisture on the sole of the foot. Methods: One professional measured the moisture of the adult male's foot 10 times following a determined protocol. The standard uncertainty of repeated measurements was calculated from the mean value of 10 repeated measurements. Ten trainee participants also measured the adult male's foot following a determined protocol. The standard uncertainty by tester was calculated from the value of repeated measurements. Results: As a result of analyzing the difference between the mean and standard uncertainties in both the expert and trainees, it was confirmed that the variance in this study did not satisfy the normal distribution. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U-test was carried out, and it was found that there was no significant difference in the measured values of the two groups. The authorized uncertainty of measurements and traceability of all the equipment was not confirmed. Conclusions: This paper establishes the basis for later measurement-equipment research to provide the objective indicators to approach the dryness of plantar skin from dehydration, the Korean medicine perspective.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.66-80
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• 2020

Objectives: We investigated the current status of the consent form for bee-venom pharmacopuncture therapy, which is using in Korean medicine hospitals. We suggest the development of a standard informed consent form. Method: Through the questionnaire survey, status of using informed consent form was identified at 24 Korean medicine hospitals. We analyze different types of informed consent form, which was developed by each hospitals. We investigated the types of informed consent forms for various medical procedures through electronic searches. A standard informed consent form for bee-venom pharmacopuncture therapy was developed based on the medical law and the standard informed consent form for medical procedures developed by Korea Fair Trade Mediation Agency. Result: In our survey, 65% of the hospitals do not use consent well, only 35% of the hospitals use informed consent form, and the most hospitals use self-developed informed consent form. As a result of analyzing the contents of informed consent form used in each hospitals, the explanation of diagnosis, treatment precautions, suggestions for other treatments, consequences of not performing the scheduled procedure, possibility of treatment change was insufficient. 48% of hospitals manage consent in recording on a chart, 39% in scanned documents, and 13% in digital electronic consent form. Conclusion: A standard informed consent form for Bee-venom pharmacopuncture therapy include diagnosis, effectivness, necessity, indications, method, skin reaction test, hypersensitivity questionnaire, treatment precautions, possible hypersensitivity reactions and countermeasures, suggestions for other treatments, consequences of not performing the scheduled procedure, possibility of treatment change and the name of doctor.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.228-254
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• 2006

1. King Hyeonjong(1641-1674) mainly suffered from eye disease and abscess. He specially took a hot spring bath for cure of eye and skin problems. He probably died of septicemia and the following gastro-intestinal infection at the age of 34, quite early for his age. 2. King Sukjong(1661-1720) was not very well all through his life, but lived quite longer than other Kings in the Joseon Dynasty. He suffered from various diseases like heart-based heat, abscess, edema, upper respiratory infections, etc. He frequently took the treatments of acupuncture and moxibustion. He presumably died of dysfunction of liver and kidney at the age of 60. 3. King Gyeongjong(1688-1724) suffered from political problems from birth to death, so he may have had excessive mental stress for his poor health. He mainly suffered from heart-based heat and abscess. It is quite not sure why he died in only one month from the onset of his symptoms, so many people thought that he was poisoned to death. He probably died of septicemia and the following gastro-intestinal infection at the age of 37. 4. King Yeongjo(1694-1776) lived for 83 years, which is the longest of all the Kings in the Joseon Dynasty. He mainly suffered from hypofunction of gastro-intestinal system with cold symptoms, coughs, uneasiness. He took various kinds of herbal medicine, of which he took ginseng the most. He is supposed to be dead due to his old age at 83.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.47-61
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this research is to develop new animal-experimental model for Sasang Constitutional Medicine, especially for partial Taeyangin(one of four constitution which has good pulmonary function and poor hepatic function) by AAP intraperitoneal injection, and to estimate from the viewpoint of obesity and lipid metabolism. Methods: The C57bl/6J mice was divided into 4 groups ; Normal group, AAP group, High-Fat-Diet(HFD) group, and HFD+AAP group. 200mg AAP was injected intraperitoneally to the AAP group twice a week for six weeks, and HFD group was fed with 60%-High-fat Diet for six weeks. HFD+AAP group got both AAP injection and 60%-High-fat Diet at the same time for the same period. In this period, We measured the weight and Food Efficiency Ratio(FER, %) once a week. After six weeks, We conducted the blood chemical test from the groups, and extracted the fat tissue to measure weight. Results & conclusion: In the liver function test, two AAP groups had higher AST and ALP, and normal LDH. The blood level of creatinine from all groups were normal. The rate in weight was lesser by 7.8% in HFD+AAP group, and had lesser FER than HFD group. Also They had lesser Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and had more HDL cholesterol than HFD group. HFD+AAP group hadmore glucose in serum and lesser Insulin-like Growth Factor 1(IGF-1) than HFD group.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.93-111
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study is to make evidence-based data for developing a traditional Korean medicine clinical practice guideline for acute bronchitis. Methods: We searched 3 international databases(PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL) and 7 domestic databases (KoreaMed, Kmbase, NDSL, KISS, KISTI, OASIS, KoreaTK) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acute bronchitis using medicine in recent 10 years. The chosen trials were analyzed by their study design, age range, intervention group, control group, primary and second outcome measure, inclusion and exclusion of participants and adverse events. Results: 15 RCTs are finally included in this study and most of their medications are herbal medicine. For diagnosis and outcome measure of acute bronchitis, Bronchitis Severity Score(BSS) was mostly used. Other measurements eligible are coughing fits, quality of life scale, sputum viscosity, change of individual symptoms and patient's satisfaction. Test duration was for average 7days and safety assessment was held by recording adverse events. Except for anti-inflammatory and antibiotic trials, all medications are found to be effective and well-tolerated. General risk of bias of chosen trials is evaluated low. Conclusions: A well designed clinical trials for traditional Korean medicine of acute bronchitis is needed and this study is expected to make it available.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.80-95
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of the Journal of Korean medicine case reports. Methods: Case reports published in the Journal of Korean Medicine from January 2015 to March 2020 were selected by using Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and the journal search system of the Korean Medical Association (https://www.jkom.org). The quality of the case reports was assessed using the Consensus-based Clinical Case Reporting Guideline Development (CARE) guidelines. Results: 33 case reports were selected for the assessment. Based on the CARE guidelines, 61.54% of the case reports included necessary information, but the quality level was uneven. More than 60% of the reports were missing data regarding 'Discussion of the strengths and limitations in your approach to this case', 'Intervention adherence and tolerability', 'Timeline', 'Medical, family, and psychosocial history including relevant genetic information', 'Patient perspective or experience', 'Adverse and unanticipated events', 'Administration of intervention', and 'De-identified demographic information and other patient specific information'. In most reports of over 90%, data regarding 'Diagnostic challenges', 'Intervention adherence and tolerability', and 'Key word' were not included. Conclusions: Efforts are needed to improve the quality of case reports in the Journal of Korean Medicine, and it is necessary to develop appropriate guidelines for case reporting for the Journal of Korean Medicine. In addition, all articles submitted to the Journal of Korean Medicine are to be complied with submission instructions and CARE guidelines.