• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.444-454
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• 2021

Objectives: High natural killer cell activity (NKA) is associated with a clinically favorable status in patients with cancer. This study explores whether traditional Korean medicine (TKM) improves NKA in patients with cancer. Methods: We report three clinical cases involving patients with cancer who underwent NKA tests while they received TKM treatment, including acupuncture, moxibustion, wild ginseng pharmacopuncture, and Korean herbal medicines. We analyzed the treatment process and NKA test results of each patient. Results: The NKA of all three patients presented with an increasing tendency during the treatment process. Patient 1, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, received inpatient treatment 3 times between September 16, 2017 and February 27, 2019. The NKA increased from 7.2 pg/mL to 571.7 pg/mL. Patient 2, who had thyroid cancer, was hospitalized 4 times between July 23, 2019 and August 27, 2020. The NKA improved from 317.4 pg/mL to 2000 pg/mL. Patient 3, who had liver cancer, received inpatient treatment 4 times between May 27, 2016 and January 10, 2017. The NKA increased from 22.2 pg/mL to 459.5 pg/mL. The chief complaints of these patients also were alleviated. Conclusions: TKM may be an effective treatment for accelerating NKA. Further research is needed to establish evidence that TKM stimulates NKA.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.485-492
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this case report is to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment, including Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang, on anxiety and abdominal pulsation in a patient diagnosed with functional dyspepsia. Method: The patient was treated with Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping therapy. Changes in symptoms were evaluated using a self-reported numerical rating scale (NRS) score every morning. The gastrointestinal symptom score (GIS) was checked on admission and discharge day. Results: After 6 days, the NRS scores for anxiety, abdominal pulsation, abdomen discomfort, and GIS all decreased. Conclusion: The results suggest that Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang with Korean medicine could be effective for treating anxiety, abdominal pulsation, and accompanying abdomen symptoms. However, further evaluation is needed to clarify the relationship between the treatment's effect and Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.413-422
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• 2022

Objectives: To investigate the weight loss effect of Gambi-tang in obese and overweight adults. Methods: From September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021, a retrospective chart analysis was conducted on adult men and women who were prescribed Gambi-tang to address obesity and overweight in the National Medical Center (NMC). Partial analysis by age, obesity (Body Mass Index, BMI), duration of dose, and cumulative dose was also conducted. Results: The weight and BMI of the study subjects showed a significant decrease of more than 5% on average before and after treatment. In an analysis of age, significant differences by age could not be confirmed. In the analysis by obesity level, the effect of reducing weight, body fat, and abdominal fat rates in the obese and highly obese groups was greater than in the normal and overweight groups. There was no significant difference by group in the analysis by dosage period. In the analysis by cumulative dose, the greater the cumulative dose up to 1,800 g, the greater the decrease in weight and body fat. The side effect that patients appealed to the most was misjudgment, but not to a serious extent. Conclusions: Gambi-tang has been shown to be effective in weight and body fat loss for both obese and overweight adult men and women.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.244-253
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• 2022

Objective: This study reports on the management of a patient with myasthenia gravis (MG) following myasthenic crisis (MC) using Korean medicine. Methods: A 77-year-old Class V MG patient was treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and Korean herbal medicine. A manual muscle test was used to derive a Medical Research Council (MRC) score and the patient's subjective view of his dyspnea was measured to assess MG symptoms. Results: The MRC grade indicated significant deterioration after 65 days of treatment, although there was no change in the patient's subjective dyspnea assessment. But no other MG or MC complications occurred. Conclusion: This study suggests that Korean medicine could be used for the management of Class V MG patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.101-115
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• 2021

Objectives : This study compares clinical practice students' perception of Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) in a College of Korean Medicine using actors as Actor Standardized Patient (ASP) and enrolled students as Student Standardized Patient (SSP). Methods : Targeting the clinical practice students who completed the clinical practice education in the first semester of the fourth year in the Department of Korean Medicine, a survey was conducted on total six categories such as satisfaction with CPX using ASP and SSP, prior knowledge about clinical practice education, self-evaluation, difficulties in the process of performing the CPX, satisfaction with ASP/SSP, and familiarity with them. Results : In the results of the survey, the mean score of CPX program using SSP was higher than that of CPX program using ASP in every area. Among them, in the satisfaction with CPX itself and prior knowledge about various clinical practice education, the mean score of CPX program using SSP was statistically significantly higher than that of CPX program using ASP. Conclusions : Overall, the clinical practice students' satisfaction with CPX program using SSP was higher than that of CPX using ASP, and statistically significantly higher in some areas.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study is to report the improvement of a basal ganglia infarction patient with left hemiplegia and gait disturbance after treatment with Korean medicine. Methods: The patient was treated using acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. To evaluate the effect on clinical symptoms, a manual muscle test, the Modified Functional Ambulation Classification, and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index were used. Results: After 118 days of treatment, scores for all three scales improved. Conclusion: Treatment with Korean medicine appears to be effective for improving the clinical symptoms of basal ganglia infarction with hemiplegia and gait disturbance, but further research is needed to verify this.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.254-263
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• 2022

Objective: This study reports the effects of Korean medicine therapy for fatigue and anorexia after endoscopicretrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for common bile duct stone with cholangitis. Methods: A 76-year-old woman was admitted for fatigue and anorexia after ERCP and she was treated with Hyansayangyi-tang-gami as well as acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping therapies. Symptoms were evaluated using a numericrating scale (NRS), and liver function was examined through laboratory test. Results: After 19 days of treatment, the patient's fatigue improved from NRS 7 to NRS 4, and her anorexia score also improved, from NRS 9 to NRS 1~2. Liver function also increased. Conclusion: This study suggests that Korean medicine can be used for managing fatigue and anorexia following ERCP.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2022

Objective: Jowiseunggi-tang (JWSGT) is a traditional herbal medicine commonly used for purgative activity in constipation. This study evaluates JWSGT for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC), the most common and debilitating gastrointestinal effect of opioid use. Methods: A 64-year-old man with floor of mouth cancer was hospitalized for OIC, and JWSGT was administered orally twice a day for 10 days, along with acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. The primary outcome measures were defecation type according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) and the frequency of bowel movements. The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) were used as secondary measures. Results: After three days of JWSGT administration, spontaneous bowel movements were observed two to three times per week with improved BSFS from type 2 to 4. A reduction in BFI score (8.7 to 2.0) and an increase in FACT-G score (44.3 to 59.0) suggested an improvement in fatigue level and quality of life. Conclusion: This is the first report to assess the efficacy of JWSGT for the management of OIC in patients with cancer, and JWSGT may be an effective option to improve symptoms and quality of life in this group.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.294-302
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• 2022

This work reports the case of a middle cerebral artery infarction patient with hyperhidrosis and left upper extremity paresthesia whose condition improved following Korean medicine treatment. The patient was hospitalized for 10 days and treated with herbal medicine, mainly Hwanggigyeji-tang, and acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion. The hyperhidrosis was clinically classified and the patient's subjective discomfort in this regard was also checked. A subjective percentage of strength and sensation in the left extremity was evaluated to assess the clinical effects of the treatment. After treatment, the hyperhidrosis classification improved from Grade 3 to Grade 0, and the patient's subjective discomfort was greatly improved and continued for the two weeks after discharge. In addition, subjective strength and sensation improved by 20% and 5%, respectively, compared to time of admission. These results suggest that Korean medicine is effective in treating paresthesia after stroke and long-lasting hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the effects of Ginseng Radix (G), Rehmanniae Radix (R), and Fermented red-ginseng extracts (FRG) on cognitive function in scopolamine-induced memory-impaired mice. We measured the effects of G, R, and FRG on the improvement of memory and cognition via behavior analysis. In addition, we measured the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the hippocampus of each group of mice. The expression of β-amyloid, Tau, and BDNF in the brain tissues were observed through immunohistochemical staining. Ginseng Radix (G) and Fermented red-ginseng (FRG) have effectively improved cognitive function in the water maze test. Ginseng Radix (G), Rehmanniae Radix (R), and Fermented red-ginseng (FRG) have improved the willingness of mice to explore the new environment, as confirmed by Y maze test. In addition, immunohistochemical staining revealed that Ginseng Radix (G) decreased the expression of β-amyloid and Tau in the hippocampus. In addition, fermented red-ginseng (FRG) increased the expression of BDNF. Ginseng Radix (G), Rehmanniae Radix (R), and Fermented red-ginseng (FRG) have decreased the concentration of acetylcholinesterase in the hippocampus as compared with the control group of mice. In conclusion, Ginseng Radix (G), Rehmanniae Radix (R), and Fermented red-ginseng (FRG) are considered to have the potential for development as candidate drugs to control the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD).