• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.373-384
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand the cognition of the initiation of diseases of North Korean refugees in South Korea. Methods: 9 North Korean refugees hospitalized in Oriental Neuropsychiatry of National Medical Center participated in the interview. The statements were analyzed by using the phenomenological research methodology and Giorgi's analytical method, in particular, was applied. Results: A total of 4 categories and 15 sub categories were derived from the participants' descriptions. North Korean refugees who thought their diseases have begun while living in North Korea coming to South Korea, have fire disease because of the strict social system, limitations imposed on their actions, and the violence of their husbands. And who thought during escaping from North Korea, have anxiety about being killed, found and transferred to North Korea. They also suffered from a sense of guilt towards their family who were left behind as well as from depression. Consequently, they thought their skeletal diseases have begun during this period. Who thought during their period in Korea, their diseases like fire disease and depression have been worsen because of unfamiliar circumstances and doctors who said their problems had been caused by psychiatric disorder. Nevertheless, they did their jobs, felt happy and had a will to be cured thingking possibilities of overcoming diseases. Conclusions: These results suggest that various factors during different periods in the life of North Korean refugees could have an effect on their present diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.291-300
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• 1998

Dementia is the neurodegenerative process that affects cognition, behavior and function and one of the most prominent diseases of dementia is Alzheimer's disease(AD). AD is a dementing illness characterized clinically by the progressive and irreversible deafferentation of the limbic system, association neocortex and basal forebrain. A number of conditions are known to be predisposing risk factors for AD. In several of these, initiation of glial-mediated inflammatory pathways as a mechanism of AD is getting a lot of attention. On the other hand, a biochemical marker for monitoring the onset and progression of the disease would be a valuable tool for disease management. Also such a marker might be used as an end point in clinical intervention protocols. This biochemical marker will have the potential for identifying subjects afflicted with the disease and possibly for monitoring the onset and longitudinal progression of the disease. Here we have reviewed the latest papers of different approaches to AD. Of course, there is a section of PET which is very useful clinically nowadays.