• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2002

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovial hyperplasia and joint destruction. The synovial fibroblasts express cell adhesion molecules and have a role in adhesive interation with inflammatory cells in synovial tissue. It has been suggested that hypoxic conditioins are thought to exist in arthritic joints, and several studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in hypoxic condition can initiate events that lead to pro-adhesive changes via increased expression of adhesion molecules. So, this study wsa designed to examine whether antioxidant can inhibit hypoxia-induced expression of ICAM-1 in cultured human synovial fibroblasts. Methods: Synovial fibroblasts were isolated from synovial tissue in patients with RA and cultured at hypoxic condition. Antioxidant, PDTC (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) were pre-treated for an hour before the hypoxic culture and synovial fibroblasts were harvested at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours time points. Cell surface ICAM-1 expression in synovial fibroblasts was examined by the flow cytometric analysis. To analyse the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed. The levels of cytokines in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA, and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ was analysed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The adhesive reaction between synovial fibroblasts and lymphocytes was assayed by measurement of fluorescent intensity of BCECF-AM in lymphocytes. Results: Hypoxic stimuli up-regulated the ICAM-1 expression as well as the adhesive interaction of human synvial fibroblasts to lymphocytes in a time-dependent manner, and PDTC inhibited hpyoxia-induced ICAM-1 expression and cell-cell interaction. PDTC also inhibited the hypoxia-induced activation of intracellular transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$. PDTC decreased the amount of hypoxia-induced production of IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. Conclusion: These studies demonstrate that PDTC inhibit the hypoxia-induced expression of the adhesion molecule, ICAM-1 and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in cultured human synovial fibroblasts.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.157-166
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• 2001

Oryoungsan which first recorded in Sanghanron, the clinical medical book consists of treating acute febrile disease according to its change, is one of the frequently used oriental medicines. these days, it has been prescribed in symptoms accompanied by edema mostly. therefore it is easy to consider it as a type of diuretics. In Sanghanron it was originally used in the symptoms of perspiration, decreased urine volume, thirsty, flatulence. these symptoms indicate loss of body fluid and the prescription which orders "taking warm water sufficiently" supports this. On this background, it is supposed that Oryoungsan treats dehydration after providing water and electrolytes. To consider that herbal medicines consisted of Oryoungsan make electrolytes go out of the body, The healing mechanism of dehydration doesn't meet this. Because Oryoungsan was used in condition of fever or in similar condition, it is more resonable to understand that restoration of increasing blood flow to the subcutaneous venous plexus regulating body temperature in febrile condition into body circulation, resulting into maintaining main blood volume and into treating decreased urine volume and thirsty is Oryoungsan's function in the dehydration or febrile condition. That is, symptoms are decreased or disappeared through restoring unbalance of internal body fluid. The other target is pain controls, especially chronic headache, facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia. it is suggested that the function of pain control of Oryoungsan is related to 5-HT(5-hydroxytrypamine), nerve transmitter in the endogenous analgesic system. Moreover it is also suggested that Oryoungsan is relate to 5-HT, considering the fact that gastroparesis, a symptom of cyclic vomiting syndrome treated with 5-HT1D receptor agonist is similar to the 'bi', symptoms appeared in the Oryoungsan-related disease.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.443-452
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization behavior of medical services according to the characteristics of socioeconomic status (SES) and prevalence by using the 6th National Health and Nutrition Survey data for adults over 25 years old. Frequency and technical statistical analysis, ANOVA, ${\chi}^2$-test, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS 23.0. The results were as follows: more female than male, 65 years old and over, high school graduate, and unemployed and income quintiles were similar. The SES score considering education level, function, and income quintiles was the highest at 7-8, and most of the respondents felt moderate about their subjective health condition. The mean number of prevalence was $1.07{\pm}1.497$, the mean utilization of outpatient services was $0.50{\pm}0.045$, and the mean number of inpatient services use was $0.12{\pm}0.454$. Depending on general characteristics, there was a significant difference between subjects with prevalence and subjective health conditions. Higher age was associated with lower education, skill level, income, and SES score, and average prevalence was associated with poor subjective health conditions. More serious prevalence was associated with greater utilization of inpatient services. More chronic prevalence was associated with utilization of outpatient services. In other words, higher SES score was associated with lower overall use of medical services. Lower SES score was associated with higher use of medical services. In conclusion, we must develop appropriate health education programs that can prevent diseases in groups with low socioeconomic characteristics. There is the need to construct and implement a community-based appropriate health service system so that proper medical services can be used.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.332-336
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• 2012

Purpose: The third molar extraction is one of the mostly performed procedures in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. In most of dental clinic or hospital, the third molar extraction used to be frequently performed in an office-based surgery, and most patients did not have specific medical history with young ages. Medical history taking are dependent on the only way by asking to the patients about their individual conditions. Therefore, as the specialists of the oral and maxillofacial surgery in the field of dentistry, we suggest a new policy that the preoperative lab must be performed routinely before extraction of the third molar. Methods: This study is based on 1,096 patients who have been managed with third molar extractions, from March 2008 to September 2011 by a single surgeon. The preoperative lab, including complete blood count, coagulation panel, chemistry and serology, was performed before any surgical procedures. The results were informed to the patients regardless of their abnormalities, and any abnormalities related to the surgical procedures, such as platelet count and coagulation factors, were checked and corrected safely. Results: Through the preoperative blood test, systemic diseases that the patients had not recognized before, such as anemia, leukopenia, fatty liver and chronic renal disease, were identified. Patients with acute or chronic leukemia, Hepatitis B, and HIV positive, were also detected as a small number. Also, the possibilities of the cross-infection between dentists and patients or between patients and patients, and any other emergency situations can be prevented; as well as the public health condition can be improved, too. The patients were satisfied with low cost preventive blood test and high quality of medical services. Conclusion: Therefore, routine medical lab testing, including history taking are needed before an office-based minor surgery, such as third molar extractions, and these results were suggested as a new policy in the field of dentistry.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.191-204
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• 2007

This study analyzes use and operation of silver ambulance with 110 patients who had used silver ambulance in Gwangju and Jeonnam regions from June of 2006 to June of 2007 and 53 paramedics who are involved directly in ambulance operation and the results of this analysis are as follows. 1. Users' health conditions, 69.1% of users answered as bad and 67.3% suffered from chronic diseases over 3 months and it was found that they used silver ambulance due to their bad health conditions. 2. Cronbach's alpha was 0.630 and family function index was generally reliable and solution was high as 1.60, but total points were low as 7.11 and it was considered that they had family troubles. 3. On the question of ambulance use, 44.5% answered they used it because it is free, 53.6% used it for appointed medical examination and treatment and 18.1% used it for emergency. 4. Degrees of satisfaction with ambulance and paramedics were 95.4% and 76.4% respectively and 80.0% of ambulance users answered ambulance arrived quickly within 15 min. 5. Correlation($x^2 $) between family or relative's residence and frequency of visits was 86.367 and its significance probability was 0.00 and it was found that it was significant in the level of 0.1%, but correlation($x^2 $) between visitors other than family or relatives and frequency of visits was 14.768 and its significance probability was 0.25 and it was found that it was not significant in the level of 5%. 6. Correlation($x^2 $) between transfer operation speed and mobilization time was found that it was not significant in the level of 5%. Correlation($x^2 $) between their own health condition purpose of ambulance use was 13.802 an 5.696 and its significance probability was 0.93 and it was found that it was not significant in the level of 1%, and it was considered because paramedics carried patients with safe operation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1978

To examine the result of the government Medical Aid Program which began in January, 1977 as a part of social security policy implementation, all the medical records of the clients and official statistics in the year were analysed. The specific objectives this study pursues include the magnitudes and patterns of morbidity and utilization, and the characteristics of clients. One Korean rural area, Koje county was selected as the study area and subsequently all the clinics and hospitals assigned to work out the Aid Program are the subjects for the survey. A brief summary of the sutdy results as follows: a. The clients of Koje county are 6.4% of the total population in the area, more than the average percentage of the clients in Korea. It reflects on low level of economic status of the residents of the area. b. The population structure of the clients indicates that the large proportions of young and old age group are overwhelming, while the middle age group share very small portions. c. The utilization rates for primary care are 2.0 persons, 11.6 visits and 22.6 treatment days per 100 persons per months. Annual hospitalization is rated as 13.7 cases and 164 days per 1,000 persons, The utilization rates are slightly lower than those expected rates during planning period but eventually become higher than those of general population in rural Korea. d. The factors which influence the utilization rates are identified with client group (low income vs indigent), age and sex. e. The utilization pattern for primary care demonstrates seasonal variation similar to the pattern of general rural population in the low income group, but none in the indigent group. f. The most common diseases revealed at the primary care clinics are the acute respiratory infection (26.9%), acute gastritis (10.8%), skin and subcutaneous infection (6.8%). The cases of acute conditions are outnumbered than the cases of chronic condition. 8. The clinics, hospitals and other related health institutions are well cooperated in dealing health care services in their own capacities. Considering the above results Medical Aid Program generated satisfactory results at least in the utilization aspect.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.926-934
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• 2005

It is well known that NERD(Non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a well known esophageal disease. Symptoms of NERD may be divided into two classes. Important symptoms are acid regurgitation and heartburn. Secondary symptoms are noncardiac chest pain, dysphagia, chronic coughing, hoarseness, sore throat, globus, halitosis, epigastric pain or discomfort and abdominal pain or discomfort related to bowel movement. The relationship between NERD and Tan-San(呑酸) is complex. But the most common symptoms of NERD are acid regurgitation and heartburn. These symptoms arc similar to Tan-San and can be treated with oriental medical herb and acupuncture. Ljintang-Gamibang(二陳湯加味方) mentioned in the Donguibogam(東醫寶鑑) is one of these oriental medical herbs. Therefore, this comparative study between first medical examination and end of medical treatment with Ljintang-Gamibang and acupuncture was made. The clinical progress of NERD was investigated. After treatment, all seven patients showed improvement in all symptoms associated with NERD, including general condition. The results of this study suggest that Ljintang-Gamibang and acupuncture are an effective treatment for NERD and progressive research to develop a practical treatment of NERD are needed.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.263-274
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• 1999

The public health service center and its branch are, as one of public institution, responsible for providing non-profitable medical service to local residents, which can't be addressed by private medical institutes. In addition, as a planning coordinator, they need to manage local medical resources effectively to make sure local residents can be offered good-quality health service fairly and impartially. The purpose of this study was to highlight the importance of physical therapy in public health service center's successful role performance, one of treatment to which local residents had a direct access. For attaining the purpose, an investigation was made into the actual facilities of public health service center and its branches in North Cholla province, the extent of use of physicaltherapy room, and the general characteristics of physical therapists. And literatures concerned were referred to. As a result, the dominant opinion was that the current physicaltherapy room shoulder be more reinforced(38.9%) or that it should he kept as it was(46.5%). Besides, the physical therapists investigated still were serving in a poor working condition. To elevate the quality and quantity of medical service, the current way to employ expert personnels temporarily or not to guarantee the position of physiotherapists should be removed immediately. Instead, physicaltherapists should be employed as regular public official. As, in home-visit project, physiotherapist are expected to play a bigger role in rehabilitation care or the management of patients with chronic disease, the physicaltherapy room should be increased and more physicaltherapists should be provided to health service institutions.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.60-70
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing medication adherence in hemodialysis patients among primary medical care and secondary medical care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized. Data were collected using questionnaires from 280 hemodialysis patients who had taken prescribed medication regularly as a result of chronic renal failure at primary and secondary medical care in Korea. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: There were statistically significant differences in medication adherence according to living area (p=.002), health condition (p<.001), amount of medication (p=.004), inconvenience for taking medication (p<.001), and depression level (p=.001). The mean of medication adherence was 3.72 points. Medication adherence was explained by perceived barrier related to medication taking (${\beta}=.338$), attitude (${\beta}=.250$), and depression (${\beta}=.132$). Conclusion: This study strongly recommended that nursing intervention program to improve medication adherence should be developed and a match control study in improvement of medication adherence for hemodialysis patients needs to be done.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

Chronic joint pain due to loss of cartilage function, degradation of subchondral bone, and related conditions are common plights of an arthritis patient. Antioxidant compounds could solve the problems in arthritic condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of D-carvone against complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. D-carvone was orally administered for 25 days at the doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg against CFA-induced arthritic rats. Changes in body weight, paw swelling, organ index, hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and histopathology were recorded. Oral treatment of D-carvone significantly improved the body weight, reduced the paw swelling, edema formation, and organ index in arthritic rats. The levels of white blood cells were reduced, red blood cells and hemoglobin levels were improved in D-carvone treated arthritic rats. Lipid peroxidation levels were lowered whereas enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were significantly elevated by D-carvone administration against arthritic rats. D-carvone significantly modulated inflammatory cytokine levels and improved the ankle joint pathology against CFA-induced arthritic inflammation. In conclusion, D-carvone proved significant anti-arthritic activity against CFA-induced arthritis in rats.