• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2 s.53
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• pp.153-163
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• 2006

Essential metals have been known to interact with non-essential toxic metals in the aspects of absorption, transport and deposition in the body. Iron deficiency has been reported to increase lead and/or cadmium absorption. The relation between iron and lead has been understood well in children but not in adults. Two hundred seventy adults (118 males and 152 females) were recruited from 3 different residental areas (rural, coastal and urban) to investigate the effects of environmental lead exposure on body iron status. The subjects were interviewed for life-style and diet of the last 24 hours, and measured for blood lead and body iron. The lead concentration in the whole blood was determined by a flameless method using an atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The body iron was evaluated with values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBCs, serum total iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity and ferritin. The mean concentration of blood lead in adult was $3.31{\mu}g/dL$. The concentration was higher in male ($3.97{\mu}g/dL$) than in female ($2.86{\mu}g/dL$). The blood lead was influenced by residental area, life-style, smoking and drinking, occupation and diet habit of subjects, but not by age. A positive correlation was observed between the blood lead level and the serum iron or ferritin. These results suggest that environmental lead exposure in Korean adult may not be higher than other developed and developing countries. It is further indicated that blood lead in adult could be influenced by life-style, and environmental and genetic factors but no inverse relation with body iron as shown in children.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.31-51
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• 2009

The characteristics of Jin's ideas on clinic theory can be arranged as follows. 1. Jin emphasized warming and tonifying[溫補] in treatment and the part that shows this the best is the taking care of[調理] the Vital gate[命門], kidney, liver, and spleen. His ideas were based on his understanding of a human life's origin, and was influenced by Seolgi(薛己), Joheon-ga(趙獻可) and Janggaebin(張介賓)'s Vital gate and source Gi theory(元氣說) so scholastically, he has that in common with them but was later criticized by later doctors such as Oksamjon(玉三尊) as an 'literary doctor(文字醫)' who followed the ideas of "Uigwan(醫貫)". 2. The warming and tonifying school[溫補學派], who were influenced by Taoism, said in their theory of disease outbreak[發病學說] that since one must not hurt one's Yin essence and Yang fire [陰精陽火] there is more deficiency than excess, so that was why they used tonifying methods. Jin was also like them and this point of view is universal in internal medicine, gynecology, pediatric medicine and surgery and so on. 3. Jin, who saw the negative form of pulse diagnosis[診脈] emphasized following symptoms over pulse diagnosis using the spirit of ‘finding truth based on truth[實事求是]' in "Maekgyeolcheonmi(脈訣闡微)", but emphasized 'the combination of pulse and symptoms[脈證合參]'. He understood pulse diagnosis as a defining tool for symptoms, and in "Seoksilbirok(石室秘錄)" simplified pulse diagnosis into 10 methods : floating/sunken(浮沉), slow/fast(遲數), large/fine(大小), vacuous/replete(虛實) and slippery/rough(滑澀). 4. Jin used 'large formulas(大方)' a lot that usually featured a large dose, and in " Bonchosinpyeon(本草新編)" he thought of the seven formulas(七方) and ten preparations(十劑) as the standard when using medicine. He did away with old customs and presented a 'new(新)' and 'extra(奇)' point of view. He especially used a lot of Insam(人蔘) when tonifying Gi and Geumeunhwa(金銀花) when treating sores and ulcers. 5. In the area of surgery Jin gave priority to the early finding and treatment of disease with internal treatment[內治] and was against the overuse of acupuncture. However records of surgical measures in a special situation like lung abscesses(肺癰) and liver abscesses(肝癰), and anesthetic measures using 'Manghyeongju(忘形酒)' and 'Singoiyak(神膏異藥)' and opening the abdomen or skull, and organ transplants using a dog's tongue are important data. 6. Jin stated the diseases of Gi and blood broadly. Especially in the principles of treating blood, blood diseases had to be forwarded[順] and Gi regulation[理氣] was the number one priority and stated the following two treatments. First, in "Jeonggiinhyeolpyeon(精氣引血篇)" of volume 6 of "Oegyeongmieon(外經微言)", for the rules for treating blood he stated the pattern identification of finding Gi in blood and blood in Gi. Second, he emphasized Gi regulation(理氣) in blood diseases and stated that the Gi must be tonifyed after finding the source of the loss of blood.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.550-557
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of Bi-Su as a pattern identification (PI) index in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects were 424 hospitalized stroke patients within 1 month from onset and diagnosed with the same PI subtypes (dampness & phlegm, qi deficiency, fire & heat, eum deficiency, and blood stasis) by agreement of two clinical experts. Bi-Su type is a kind of body shape (Bi : fat, Su : lean). Bi-Su type and degree (Bi-Su score) were decided by clinical expert. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were used as an obesity index. Correlation analysis between Bi-Su score and obesity index (Spearman) and variance analysis for Bi-Su score, BMI, and WHR among PI subtypes (ANOVA) and sex were carried out. Results : While there was partial correlation between Bi-Su type and BMI($r^2$=0.634, p<0.001), the distribution of the BMI group based on the Bi-Su group showed the broadest range. The Bi-Su score in the dampness & phlegm group was higher than in the other groups (p<0.001). BMI in the dampness & phlegm groups was also higher but the BMI differences among PI subtypes was low (p=0.002). The Bi-Su score in the dampness & phlegm group was similar in both sexes, although the hand score in the eum deficiency group was the lowest, especially in males. Conclusions : Although BMI is not an objective enough tool for evaluating Bi-Su type, Bi-Su type is more appropriate than BMI as PI index. Therefore Bi-Su type could be used as one of the PI indices for dampness & phlegm or eum deficiency group in stroke patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1252-1255
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• 2005

Abnormalities in the levels of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) are not associated with clinical disease and they do not require treatment. Congenital TBG deficiency is inherited in an X-linked manner. To date, some complete and partial TBG variants and one polymorphism have been identified by analysis of the TBG gene. Two male neonates were referred to us because of their low $T_4$ levels that were noted on the neonatal screening test. They showed normal levels of free $T_4$ and TSH. Their serum TBG was not detectable and those values of their parents were within the normal ranges. The genomic DNA was extracted from their white blood cells and the four coding exons of the TBG gene were amplified by using polymerase chain reaction. Sequencing of the four coding regions and all the intron/exon junctions revealed a single nucleotide deletion of the first base of the codon 352 of the mature protein in both of the neonates. This mutation resulted in a frameshift and a premature stop codon (TGA) 374. Their mothers were shown to be heterozygotes. We detected a single nucleotide deletion resulting in a frameshift in two male Korean neonates who had complete TBG deficiency.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2008

Thromboembolic disease associated with assisted reproductive techniques is considered to be extremely rare but most serious complication. The reasons for this are thought to hypercoagulable state characteristic of OHSS due to high serum levels of estrogen, hemoconcentration and reduced circulating blood volume, but is still unclear. The risk is increased those with rare hypercoagulable conditions such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, and those with a personal or family history of thromboembolic disease. The majority of thrombosis reported were venous site but arterial thrombosis mostly intracerebral was reported 5 cases in Korea so far. We present a case of basilar a. thrombosis at 11 days after hCG injection. The patient developed the right hemiparesis, and recovered after intraarterial thrombolysis and transluminal angioplasty. Protein S activity was decreased and vWF antigen was increased. Decreased protein S activity was also found in previous reported 4 cases, so we suggest screening test for protein S in OHSS patients.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.125-137
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate clinical factors of SQD syndrome by tracking plasma gut hormone (active ghrelin, active Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), pancreatic polypeptide(PP), total peptide YY(PYY)) profiling of pre-post prandial standard meal between SQD group and normal group. Methods A total of 24 adult participants were consecutively recruited on April 2014. They were diagnosed as either by SQD syndrome or normal by Spleen Qi Deficiency Questionnaire (SQDQ). On the experimental day, blood samplings of 2 ml were repeatedly collected at 6 points from 2 groups for measuring plasma levels of gut hormones. At every point, subjective appetite sensations were self-registered. Results & Conclusions 1. There were significantly lower subjective 'Appetite' (p=0.012) and higher 'Satiety' (p=0.012) in SQD group. At each time point, subjective 'Appetite' was significantly lower at 60 min after breakfast (p=0.034) and 'Satiety' were significantly higher at 15 min (p=0.020) and 120 min (p=0.044) after breakfast in SQD group. 2. There were no significant differences in plasma levels of gut hormones (active ghrelin, active GLP-1, PP, total PYY) between SQD and normal group. Also at each time point, there were no significant differences of plasma levels of gut hormones between SQD and normal group. 3. Changes in plasma levels of gut hormones compared to baseline were not significantly different at each time point between SQD and normal group. Plasma PYY levels compared to baseline increased in SQD group following 15 min and 30 min after breakfast but decreased in normal group. 4. Further investigation is needed to construct gut hormone profiling and in this perspective, we can approach evaluation tool on variable appetite in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) syndrome in the future.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2006

Hypocomplementemia is found in all types of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) but not in all patients. Hypocomplementemia can be ascribed to at least two circulating complement reactive modalities. The activation of the classical pathway produced by circulating immune complexes and the presence in the blood of anticomplement autoantibodies, called 'nephritic factor'(NF). The activation of the classical pathway by circulating immune complexes is probably the major mechanism responsible for hypocomplementemia in idiopathic MPGN type I. Nephritic factors have been shown to be responsible for the hypocomplementemia in both MPGN type II and III. NFa is probably the major mechanism responsible for the hypocomplementemia of idiopathic MPGN type II. NFt appears to be solely responsible for the hypocomplementemia in MPGN type III. Judging from the complement profile, NFt also may be present in some patients with MPGN type I. Although infection by meningococcus has been associated with deficiency of any of the plasmatic proteins of complement, it more commonly involves deficiency of the terminal components of the complement pathway(C5-C9). We experienced a patient who had MPGN and meningococcal meningitis. We examined the complement level and significantly lower levels of C3, C5 were found persistently. C7 was low at first and it returned to normal range after 2 months. C9 was normal at first, and was low after 2 months. This is the first reported case in which MPGN with meningococcal meningitis occurred.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1359-1367
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• 2008

DSOM(Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine) was made as a computerized assistant program for oriental medicine doctors to be able to diagnose with statistical basis. Then DSOM uses questionnaires filled out by subjects without enough explanatory guide. If the subject misunderstand the meaning of the passages, we might not rely on that result. So I designed this study to investigate the diagnostic correspondent rates between DSOM and practitioners. First, let the respondents answer to DSOM(DSOM-Ⅰ for the rest). After that, three doctors diagnosed the respondents and marked how much they had symptoms about 16 pathogenic factors in the score range 0${\sim}$5('0' means they didn't have that symptom, '1' means they had that symptom but mild, '3' means they had that symptom moderately, '5' means they had that symptom severely. And let the respondents answer to DSOM(DSOM-Ⅱ for the rest) again. Finally, we investigated the correspondent rates of diagnosis between DSOM-Ⅰ,Ⅱ and doctors'. We obtained conclusions as following. In the comparison of output frequency rate of the pathogenic factors, the difference between DSOM-Ⅰ and Ⅱ was 1%. In the correspondent rates of diagnosis between DSOM-Ⅰ,Ⅱ and doctors', In DSOM-Ⅰ and Ⅱ answered by subjects two times respectively, the correspondent rate was highest in insufficiency of Yang(陽虛) and liver(肝) as 93.2%, lowest in damp(濕) as 69.5% and showed 81.9% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean. In DSOM-Ⅰ and Ⅱ, and Doctors' diagnose, they showed the complete correspondent rates of 15.3${\sim}$61.0%, 15.3${\sim}$59.3% in individual pathogenic factor, 36.5%, 37.3% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean each, and within ${\pm}$1 errorrange, they showed the correspondent rates of 32.2${\sim}$93.2%, 35.6${\sim}$89.8% in individual pathogenic factor, 67.6%, 67.3% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean each, and within ${\pm}$2 error range, they showed the correspondent rates of 62.7${\sim}$98.3%, 71.2${\sim}$100% in individual pathogenic factor, 85.1 87.6%% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean each. In the correspondent rates of the severe case, In the cases that the Doctors' diagnostic score mean was over 3(the severity of disease is middle), there were deficiency of qi(氣虛), stagnation of qi(氣滯), blood stasis(血瘀), damp(濕), liver(肝), heart(心), spleen(脾) and they all showed the correspondent rates of over 60 except blood stasis(血瘀). In the cases that the weighed pathogenic factor was above 9, the correspondent rates were 50${\sim}$100%. deficiency of qi(氣虛), blood-deficiency(血虛), stagnation of qi(氣滯), blood stasis(血瘀), insufficiency of Yin(陽虛), insufficiency of Yang(陽虛), coldness(寒), heat (熱), damp(濕), dryness(燥), liver(肝), heart(心), spleen(脾), kidney(腎), phlegm(痰).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2005

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, zinc, copper as well as iron status(serum iron, total iron binding capacity, feritin etc)in blood samples of middle school students(n=300). The contents of heavy metals were determined using the GF-AAS (Graphite furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). The microwave digestion method and dilution method were compared. The dilution method showed the better recovery and detection limit than microwave digestion method. The values of toxic metals in whloe blood of boys & girls were 3.46 & 3.05 for Pb,0.063 & 0.065 for Cd respectively (ug/dL). Also the values of trace metals in serum of boys & girls were 105.9 & 92.6 for Zn, 98.3 & 99.0 for Cu respectively (ug/dL). The prevalence of iron deficiency was $7.5\%$ in 146 boys and $14.3\%$ in 156 girls. The mean values of lead in girls were higher in iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and anemia groups than normal group. The mean values of lead and zinc were higher in boys compared to those in girls(P<0.05), the mean values of cadmium and copper in boys were similar to those in girls. Our results of toxic metals such as Pb & Cd showed lower to CDC's(Centers for Disease Control) blood lead levels of concern for children, 10 ug/dL.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.439-445
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• 2013

Purpose: Previous studies suggest that the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in cord blood may show an inverse association with respiratory tract infections (RTI) during childhood. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood on infant RTI in a Korean birth cohort. Methods: The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood obtained from 525 Korean newborns in the prospective COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases were examined. The primary outcome variable of interest was the prevalence of RTI at 6-month follow-up, as diagnosed by pediatricians and pediatric allergy and pulmonology specialists. RTI included acute nasopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, croup, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Results: The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 32.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 21.4 to 53.2). One hundred and eighty neonates (34.3%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25.0 nmol/L, 292 (55.6%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations of 25.0-74.9 nmol/L, and 53 (10.1%) showed concentrations of ${\geq}75.0$ nmol/L. Adjusting for the season of birth, multivitamin intake during pregnancy, and exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, 25(OH)D concentrations showed an inverse association with the risk of acquiring acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age (P for trend=0.0004). Conclusion: The results show that 89.9% of healthy newborns in Korea are born with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (55.6% and 34.3%, respectively). Cord blood vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with an increased risk of acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age. More time spent outdoors and more intensified vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women may be needed to prevent the onset of acute nasopharyngitis in infants.