• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.340-345
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• 2008

Extract of Acanthopanax senticosus has recently been demonstrated to possess significant antidiabetic potential, in accordance with the traditional use of this plant as an antidiabetic natural health product. The present study evaluated the effects of fermented extract (FE) of this plant on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose uptake, and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model. A 3 h pretreatment with FE prevented $IL-1{\beta}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ toxicity in isolated rat islets. However, it did not affect insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. In addition, pretreatment of mice with FE blocked the destruction of streptozotocin-induced islets and the development of type 1 diabetes. FE reduced blood glucose level, increased insulin secretion, and improved glucose tolerance in streptozotocin-treated mice, whereas nonfermented extract (NFE) had moderate effects. Immunohistochemical staining for insulin clearly showed that pretreatment with FE blocked the STZ-induced islets destruction and restored the number of islet cells that secreted insulin to the level of the control. Although the active principles and their mechanisms of action remain to be identified, FE may nevertheless represent a novel complementary therapy and a source of novel therapeutic agents against type 1 diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the utilization behaviour and influencing factors of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies among elderly people with chronic diseases. Methods: The study population was selected among 9 welfare facilities for the aged in 2 cities among Daegu Metropolitan City & Gyeongsangnam Province by two-stage cluster sampling. 250 senior citizens participated in a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the utilization of CAM therapies and various characteristics of the elderly. All statistics were analyzed using the PASW (ver 18.0). Results: Among 233 elderly peoples, 70.4% (164 persons) had used various kinds of CAM therapies (including nutritional methods, pharmacologic and biologic treatments, etc.) more than once during the last year. 48.8% (64 persons) ~ 60.7% (88 persons) of the elderly used CAM therapies without health and medical experts' counsel. The elderly with perceptions of CAM therapy used it 2 times more than those without knowledge of CAM therapies. The number of chronic diseases was more likely to increase the usage of nutritional methods (OR=2.92, 95% CI: 1.07-7.97), manipulative and body-based practices (OR=5.85, 95% CI: 1.97-17.34), pharmacologic and biologic treatments (OR=2.92, 95% CI: 1.49-8.17). Elderly with diabetes used nutritional methods 3.76 (95% CI: 1.49-9.47) more than elderly without diabetes. Conclusions: CAM therapies use in the aged with chronic diseases appears common. The findings suggest that the clinical efficacy and safety of CAM therapies on medical management of chronic disease may be investigated and that patient-physician communication need to be strengthened.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2019

Introduction: Mastalgia is the most common benign breast disorder during the fertility period of women. So far a wide range of natural or complementary medicines is used to cure mastalgia. Sanitary organizations need complete and suitable details to help women, for making the proper decision for alternative treatment based on the evidence. The aim of the present study is to introduce medicinal plant-based treatments about mastalgia and summarizes clinical trials about this disorder. Method: The articles were provided using mixture of keywords including cyclic pain, breast, treatment, therapeutics, therapy, clinical trial, herbal, drug, mastalgia and all the probable terms, in national and international databases SID, Iran Medex, Magiran, PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Science direct and Cochrane library, in both Persian and English languages. All cross-sectional and review articles about herbal treatment of mastalgia until 2018 November were studied. Results: Nineteen articles from all of the available articles (45 cases) and a sample size about of (1987 cases) were included in our study. The articles were clinical trials. The results revealed that mastalgia could be healed by Nigella sativa, Vitex agnus-castus, curcumin, Hypericum perforatum, Citrus sinensis, wheat germ, and Ginkgo biloba. Conclusion: Most of the evaluated medicinal plants possessing antioxidant compounds with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, exhibited healing effects in the treatment of mastalgia. Thus, medicinal plants can be considered in the treatment of mastalgia; however, further investigations are needed to obtain more details about their probable side effects.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.278-287
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to provide with basic information on application of hand acupuncture as a complementary and alternative therapy by giving some recognition of efficiency and effectiveness of hand acupuncture. And so, answers for questionnaires of 290 respondents were used for this research and collected from June 5 through 13, 1999 from adults twenty and over who were participating in the hand acupuncture training program in Seoul and had some direct experiences with hand acupuncture therapy, whatever they had been treated and/or had treated. To secure reliability of measurement tool. Cronbach'a has been calculated and Factor Analysis was done as Validity Analysis of question classification. Demograprucal characteristics of hand acupuncture experienced people and factors related to hand acupuncture experiences are calculated based on the real number and percentage. The degree of recognition of efficiency and effectiveness of hand acupuncture is made as average and standard deviation, while the degree of recognition of efficiency and effectiveness based on general characteristics come from one-way ANOVA. 1. According to socio-demographical analysis. the questioned could be classified firstly as age (40-49 : 32.5%. 30-39 : 24.9%. 50-59 : 21.9%. 60-69 : 14.7%. 20-29 : 6.0%). secondly gender (male 36.6%. female 63.4%). thirdly occupation (housewife: 43.8%. self-employed: 15.5%. company-employee: 14.8%). fourthly education (high school graduate: 41.9%, college graduate: 37.9%), and lastly monthly-income (1 to 2 million: 51.4%. 2 to 3 million: 20,3%) 2, As for the general aspects related to hand acupuncture. 80,0% of the respondents answered almost zero for the monthly average number of visit to hospital and 15.5% responded 1 to 2 visits, 6,2% of the respondents is complaining of a disorder of digestive system. 19,0% circulatory disease, 10.7% bad nervous system. By utilizing hand acupuncture, 84% of the questioned have following experiences in curing diseases: digestive system 47.3%, circulatory system 9.3%, nervous system 8.3%, 54,1% are curing 1 to 2 and 10.3% 3 to 4 patients on a daily basis with hand acupuncture. Research on the demerits of giving medical treatment with hand acupuncture shows 23,8% are feeling economic burden. 16.6% difficulty of learning and 16.2% weak theoretical backgrounds. 3. Among the efficiency recognition, possibility of general application is average 4,29 and simple treatment is 4,19. economic merits 4.36. possibility of establishment with supplementary and alternative medicine 4.17, medical effectiveness 4.09. 4, As a result of demographical analysis on the efficiency and effectiveness of hand acupuncture therapy, it appears that the recognition of efficiency based on occupation and the recognition of effectiveness based on monthly income are most significant to be noticed. In an orderly fashion. government-employee, self-employed, company-employee. and then housewife have perceived hand acupuncture very efficiently, And those who recognize hand acupuncture to be most effective are people earn 1 million to 2 million won a month, 5. The efficiency(p = .003) and effectiveness (p= .049) of hand acupuncture therapy by number of visit to hospital were statiscally significant, and effectiveness of hand acupuncture therapy by disease exist was statiscally significant (p= .033).

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

Background : Integrative cancer treatment is a holistic approach embracing body, mind, and spirit incorporating conventional treatments of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and personalized complementary treatments. Wheel Balance Therapy (WBT) of East-West Cancer Center(EWCC), Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University was developed to balance out all factors involved in cancer care based on the traditional theories of oriental medicine. Objective : This work aims to analytically review literatures on WBT and its related components. Methods : Literatures published from January 1st, 1990 to April 30th, 2011 were reviewed focusing on 4 main components of WBT; herbal medicine, immune activation, anti-cancer diet, and breathing/meditation. Data were retrieved from medical search engines and electronic data bases including Pubmed, Research Information sharing Service (RISS), Korean-studies Information Service System (KISS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Korea's National Digital Library (KNDL). Results : In this review, EWCC's most commonly prescribed formulas are explored. The composition of the formulas, their use in clinical settings as well as the background studies and other therapeutic efficacies are explained. Information on incorporating anti-cancer dietary support and breathing and meditation techniques, other therapies practiced as part of the center's integrative cancer care are also covered. Conclusion : WBT based on holistic theories of oriental medicine embracing body, mind, and spirit is expected to further contribute in promotion of cancer patients' quality of life and prolonged survival time.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic interventions for chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP) in adults aged 18-64 years. Methods: We searched for potentially relevant randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials through five Korean electronic databases (i.e., Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Medical Database, KoreaMed, and National Assembly Library) published from January 2010 to May 2019. Two investigators independently selected the studies based on the criteria and assessed risk of bias in the included studies. We estimated the effect size of interventions using Comprehensive Meta Analysis 3.3. Results: Of 10,151 studies, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Exercise reduced low back pain (Hedges's g=-1.53, 95% CI: -2.22 to -0.85) and pain-related disabilities (Hedges's g=-0.92, 95% CI: -1.40 to -0.45). We found that taping was effective in decreasing low back pain (Hedges's g=-1.12, 95% CI: -1.51 to -0.73) and pain-related disabilities (Hedges's g=-0.50, 95% CI: -0.93 to -0.07). Manual therapy yielded a marginally significant reduction in low back pain (Hedges's g=-2.32, 95% CI: -4.64 to 0.00), the therapy was not effective in decreasing pain-related disabilities. Conclusion: Although there was little evidence for the effectiveness of manual therapy in adults with CLBP, exercise and taping were effective to relieve pain and pain-related disabilities. Based on these findings, we suggest the development of non-pharmacologic interventions or a nursing intervention protocol for the CLBP management. Also, nurses should consider implementation of effective non-pharmacologic interventions for CLBP.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2006

Objective : Biologic responses to color stimulation was observed and analyzed in relation with Korean medicine diagnostics. Methods : Twelve volunteers participated and completed the questionnaire on Hanyeol or Joseup patterns of Korean medicine diagnostics. Standard deviation of RR intervals (SDNN), an overall indicator of heart rate variability, was measured while wearing partially transparent acetate film glasses of various colors: (1) transparency or black, (2) red, green, or blue, or (3) cyan, or yellow. Results : Different responses to the color environmental stimulation were observed. Yeol pattern score was inversely related with the SDNN value under red color stimulation. Conclusion : This line of observations may serve as a basis of clinical application of color therapy, in particular, in relation with pattern diagnosis of Korean medicine, and may be applied in combination with existing electrodermal meridian measurement systems for better evaluation of Gi (life energy) phenomenon.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.223-229
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• 2019

The number of knee-related disease patients and knee joint surgeries is steadily increasing every year, and for knee rehabilitation training for these knee joint patients, it is necessary to strengthen the muscle of vastus medialis and quadriceps femoris. However, because of the cost and time-consuming difficulties of receiving regular hospital treatment in the course of knee rehabilitation, we developed knee exoskeleton using rapid prototype for knee rehabilitation with feedback from the electromyogram (EMG) and inertia motion unit (IMU) sensor. The modules was built on the basis of EMG and an IMU sensor applied complementary filter, measuring muscle activity in the vastus medialis and the range of joint operation of the knee, and then performing the game based on this measurement. The IMU sensor performed up to 97.2% accuracy in experiments with ten subjects. The functional game contents consisted of an exergaming platform based on EMG and IMU for the real-time monitoring and performance assessment of personalized isometric and isotonic exercises. This study combined EMG and IMU-based functional game with knee rehabilitation training to enable voluntary rehabilitation training by providing immediate feedback to patients through biometric information, thereby enhancing muscle strength efficiency of rehabilitation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.105-115
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• 2014

Objective : Traditional medicine (TM) has been playing its role in national healthcare system and it is taken as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) from the viewpoint of modern Western medicine. In the UK, not a few practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are working as CAM practitioners using herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy. Cases of dispute in the TCM practice are not rare these days because patients who take TCM service are increasing by year. Method : In the UK, dispute cases of the Traditional Medicine of East Asia can be found these days, however, it is hard to find a reported court case. A medical dispute case of TCM will be analysed to see the legal management and the resolving principle in the alternative medicine practice with some cases of Korean Medicine (KM) being discussed. Results : The usual pattern of clinical negligence can be discussed from the points of a duty of care, breach of that duty by negligence, and the harm to the patient from that breach of duty. The judge followed this procedure In this case to discuss the claims. The department of health proposed to introduce regulation to provide the reasonable quality in TCM practice, and the governmental system would be essential to regulate both the TCM practice and practitioners. Conclusion : The dispute case of traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) practice is important for the clinical negligence in TCHM practice. Judging the negligence of a TCHM practitioner involves the conventional negligence principle in tort law, and the TCHM practitioners are required to keep up with the up-to-date information on the related medical specialty. The reasoning is almost the same as that shown in the court case of Korea. The TCHM practice in the UK needs to be under the regulation by the government. The standard of care we expect of a TCHM practitioner is a further matter to discuss from the healthcare and social viewpoints.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2019

Generative and vegetative parts of the cactuses have had a long-lasting position in folk medicine and their effects could partly be confirmed in scientific experiments. Nowadays, the cactus, fruits, and cladodes are the focus of many studies because of their desirable properties. Therefore, the summarized reports of valuable properties of medicinal plants may be a good way to familiarize researches with a new source of drugs with lower side effects and higher efficacy. Opuntia dillenii, a well-known member of the Cactaceae family, is used as a medicinal plant in various countries and grows in the desert, semi-desert, tropical and sub-tropical areas. It shows diverse pharmacological activities such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypotensive etc. OD fruit also possesses valuable constitutes for instance: betalains, ascorbic acid, total phenol, protein as well as essential elements which suggest the significant potential of this plant as a complementary therapy against several pathological conditions. This review describes experimental evidence about pharmacological and therapeutic potential of OD in order to give the basis of its application in the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases. More studies on OD can help better understanding of its pharmacological mechanism of action to explain its traditional uses and to identify its potential new therapeutic applications.