• Title/Summary/Keyword: Course effect

Search Result 1,756, Processing Time 0.036 seconds

Effect of Diet Regimen of Sasang Constitution on Health Status (사상체질별 식이 섭생이 건강에 미치는 영향 -한방건강증진센터 시범운영을 위한 기초연구-)

  • Kim, Kwuy-Bun;Cho, Kyoul-Ja;Lee, Hyang-Yeon;Shin, Hye-Sook;Kim, Kwang-Joo;Moon, Heui-Ja;Kim, Yoon-Hee;Kang, Hyun-Sook;Park, Shin-Ae;Ji, Eun-Sun
    • Journal of East-West Nursing Research
    • /
    • v.7 no.1
    • /
    • pp.18-31
    • /
    • 2002
  • This study, as a basic research to manage a Chinese Medicine Health Promotion Center by way of showing an example, is a before and after experiment research for simple group to verify a difference with cholesterol, health status and perception of health in order to confirm a effectiveness of diet and regimen according to the 4th status of physical constitution. Research object was chosen of 42 persons who operate a physical constitutional dietary regimen among them after selecting professors and clinical nurses (55 persons) majoring in the science of nursing who participated in Chinese Medicine-oriented Nurse Training Course from Aug. of 2001 to Feb. of 2002 all over the country. Diagnostic tools for physical constitution was used of the questionary that is currently consisted of physical constitution grouping test in Eastern & Western Diagnose Center of K Medical Center, and rating of health status was used of the tool that standardized CMI(Cornell Medical Index) to be available for Korean, and perception measurement for health status was used of a visual analogue scale for the health status that each one perceive personally, and physiological status was measured of cholesterol in blood. Analysis for the collected data was carried out by percentage, $X^2$ test, paired t-test according to research object by using SPSS, and the results of this study are as follows. 1) There was no difference with cholesterol before or after the experiment for objects. As a result of estimation about difference with health status by areas before or after the experiment, there are more improved result in eyes, ears, digestive organs, bones and sinews organs, frequency of a disorder, habit, adaptation status, angry, healthy status than before the experiment. As a whole, after the experiment the health was more improved than before the experiment. As the result to inspect a difference of health perception between before and after experiment, after the experiment the health perception level was improved than before, however there was no meaningful differences. 2) As the result to inspect a difference of cholesterol between before and after experiment according to object's physical constitution, in the case of So-yang-in(a person with the minimum male: according to the male and female principles(the sun and the moon)) among the 4th status of physical constitution there was only meaningful difference statistically, however, after the experiment their cholesterol's value was increased. As the result to inspect the difference of health status between before and after the experiment according to physical constitution, all of Ta-um-in(a person with maximum the female), So-yang-in(with the minimum male), So-um-in(with the minimum female) had a meaningful difference before and after the experiment, which means that in all case by physical constitutional groups, after the experiment their health status was more improved than before the experiment. As the result to inspect a difference of health perception between before and after according to physical constitutions, in the case of Tae-um-in and So-um-in, average score after the experiment was risen than before the experiment so that it means that the level of health perception was improved, however, there was no meaning statistically. According to the above results, if continuous diet and regimen by each physical constitutions could be implemented, it is certain that the health could be maintained and promoted. And, what we are healthy is for oneself to feel it subjectively. However, I think that cholesterol score in blood that we can view objectively could be changed distinctly if we can implement a strict diet and regimen. Accordingly, it is necessary for a method and period of experiment to be more strict and longer. According to the above results, I would like to suggest as follows. 1) In order to understand health status by Korean's physical constitutions and to generalize it, these research will be repeated against much more objects that could be selected by proper grouping method to consider a representative. 2) It is necessary for a research to inspect health status by physical constitution by developing a health status measurement tool that has higher confidence and propriety based on physical constitutional theory.

  • PDF

Sociopsychological Factors related to Prediction of Treatment Outcome of the Temporomandibular Disorders (측두하악장애 치료결과의 예측에서 사회심리학적 요인의 영향)

  • Yeo, In-Sik;Han, Kyung-Soo;Kim, Yun-Hee
    • Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
    • /
    • v.30 no.4
    • /
    • pp.433-446
    • /
    • 2005
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the sociopsychological factors which might influence the course of the temporomandibular disorders and to develop models for prediction of treatment outcome related to pain, dysfunction and sound. For this study, 268 patients with temporomandibular disorders were selected from the patients presented to department of Oral Medicine, Wonkwang university dental hospital. Chief complaints of these subjects were largely grouped into three categories such as pain, dysfunction and sound, and 10 cm visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to record the state of the three complaints every visit and Treatment Index(VAS TI) was calculated from VAS. All the forty-two items obtained from clinical examination or questionnaire were statistically processed with $SPSS^{(R)}$ windows. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The items showed a difference between male and female subjects were maximum mouth opening, palpation score, jaw jerk during mandibular movement, and sleep disturbance. Among questionnaires such as SRRS, HAD scale and PSQI, the HAD scales showed the most highly significant correlation with the each scale item of the SCL-90R. 2. Among the groups classified by VAS TI, the group with the lowest VAS TI showed the highest VAS score in the start of treatment but showed the lowest score in the end of treatment, without respect to the type of chief complaint. From these results, it is assumed that the active treatment duration for the subjects with lower VAS score in the first visit would be longer than the subjects with higher score with the somewhat poor treatment outcome. 3. With regard to all the three complaints, the items showing significant effect in the model for prediction of treatment outcome were from questionnaire, except one item, maximum mouth opening, which suggest that the sociopsychological factors would be strongly related to development and progress of the symptoms.

Development and Application of the Explicit and Reflective Learning Strategy for Enhancement of the Elementary School Students' Basic Inquiry Skills -Based on Observation and Classification- (초등학생의 과학탐구기능 향상을 위한 명시적이고 반성적인 교수.학습전략 개발 및 적용 -관찰과 분류를 중심으로-)

  • Lee, Hye-Won;Min, Byeong-Mee;Son, Yeon-A
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
    • /
    • v.32 no.1
    • /
    • pp.95-112
    • /
    • 2012
  • The research evaluated the effects of the improvements in scientific inquiry for elementary school students and focused on the development and application of the explicit and reflective learning strategy through observation and classification. The explicit and reflective learning strategy was modified and completed with the review of the experts after the development of the draft based on the theoretical approach. The students were evaluated for their academic achievements in scientific inquiry skills before and after taking the course. The results were as follows: First, the steps of the developed learning strategy (1) to motivate, (2) to explore reflectively, (3) to guide explicitly, (4) to inquire explicitly, and (5) to verify reflectively were set to reflect the verification. Second, the results of applying the developed model to the lessons based on the quantitative analysis was effective for observation and classification skills in the quest for improved performance of the whole (the sum of observation and classification, inquiry skills) and the observed features, but there was no effect on classification. Also, the lessons applied the developed teaching strategy and showed effectiveness in improving academic achievement. Particularly in analyzing the relationship between the academic achievement and exploration capabilities, in order to improve academic achievement, the importance of improving inquiry skills was found. Third, the qualitative analysis of teaching and learning strategy developed by applying the lessons of this teacher guide and small group activities through the explicit and reflective observation and classification of the student learning activities showed the significant improvement of ability of the scientific inquiry skills. In addition to the improvement in the abilities of the classification showed after the formation of the most basic observation skills of the scientific inquiry.

Conceptual Design of the Three Unit Fixed Partial Denture with Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites (Glass fiber 강화 복합레진을 사용한 3본 고정성 국소의치의 개념 설계 연구)

  • Na, Kyoung-Hee;Lee, Kyu-Bok;Jo, Kwang-Hun
    • Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
    • /
    • v.18 no.3
    • /
    • pp.145-155
    • /
    • 2002
  • The results of the present feasibility study are summarized as follows, 1. The three unit bridge of knitted material and UD fibre reinforcement has both the rigidity and the strength against a vertical occlusal load of 75N. 2. Stress concentration at the junctional area between the bridge and the abutments, i.e. between the pontic and the knitted caps was observed. In the case of the bridge with reinforcement straps, it was partly shown that the concentration problem could be improved by simply increasing the fillet size at the area. Further refining in the surface of the junctional area will be needed to ensure a further improvement in the stress distribution. This will require some trade off in the level of the stress and the available space. A parametric study will help to decide the appropriate size of the fillet. 3. Design refinement is a must to improve the stress distribution and realize the most favourable shape in terms of fabrication. The current straight bar with a constant cross section area can be redesigned to a tapered shape. The curve from the dental arch should also be placed on the pontic design. In accordance with design refinement, the resistance of the bridge frame to other load cases should be evaluated. 4. Although not included in the present feasibility study, it is estimated that bridges of the anterior teeth can be made strong enough with the knitted material without further reinforcement using unidirectional materials. In this regard, a feasibility study on design concepts and stress analysis for 3, 4, 5 unit bridge is suggested. 5. Two types of bridge were analysed in terms of fatigue. The safe life design concept, i.e. fatigue design concept, looks reasonable for the bridge where if cracks should form and propagate there is virtually nothing a dentist to do. The bridge must be designed so that no crack will be initiated during the life span. In the case of crowns, however, if constructed with composite resin with knitted materials, it might be possible to repair them, which in general is impossible for crowns of PFM or of metal. Therefore for composite resin crowns, a damage tolerance design concept can be applied and reasonably higher operational stresses can be allowed. In this case, of course, a periodic inspection program should be established in parallel. 6. Parts of future works in terms of structural viewpoint which need to be addressed are summarized as the following: 1) To develop processing technology to accommodate design concepts; 2) More realistic modelling of the bridge and analysis-geometry and loading condition. Thickness variation in the knitted material, taper in the pontic, design for anterior tooth bridge, the effect of combined loads, etc, will need to be included; 3) To develop appropriate design concepts and design goals for the fibre composite FPD aiming at taking the best advantage of knitted materials, including the damage tolerance design concept; 4) To develop testing method and perform test such as static ultimate load test, fatigue test, repair test, etc, as necessary.

The Synthesis and MR Properties of New Macromolecular MR Contrast Agent (새로운 거대분자 MR 조영제의 합성 및 MR 특성에 관한 연구)

  • 장용민;장영환;황문정;박현정;전경녀;이종민;배경수;강봉석
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    • /
    • v.6 no.1
    • /
    • pp.35-40
    • /
    • 2002
  • Purpose : To evaluate the NMR relaxation properties and imaging characteristics of tissue-specificity for a newly developed macromolecular MR agent. Materials and methods : Phthalocyanine (PC) was chelated with paramagnetic ion, Mn.2.01g (5.2 mmol) of Phthalocyanine was mixed with 0.37g (1.4 mmol) of Mn chloride at $310^{\circ}C$ for 36 hours and then purified by chromatography (CHC13/CH3OH 98/2 v/v, Rf, 0.76) to obtain 1.04g (46%) of MnPC (molecular weight= 2000d). The $T1}T2$ relaxivity of MnPC was measured in 1.5T(64 MHz) MR using 0.1 mM MnPC. The MR image characteristics of MnPC was evaluated using spin-echo (TR/TE=500/14 msec) and gradient-echo (FLASH) (TR/TE=80/4 msec, flip angle=60) techniques in 1.57 MR scanner. The images of rabbit liver were obtained every 10 minutes up to 4 hours. To study the effect of concentration on image, 20 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM of MnPC were tested. Results : The relaxivities of MnPC at 1.5T(64MHz) were Rl=7.28 $mM^{-1}S^{-1},{\;}R2=55.56mM^{-1}S^{-1}$. Compared to the values of Gd-DTPA (Rl[=4.8 $mM^{-1}S^{-1})$], R2[=5.2 $mM^{-1}S^{-1}])$]), both T1/T2 relaxivities of MnPC were higher than those of Gd-DTPA. For both of SE and FLASH techniques, the contrast enhancement reached maximum at 10 minutes after bolus injection and the enhancement continued for more than 2 hours. When compared with small molecular weight liver agents such as Gd-EOB-DTPA, Gd-BOPTA and MnDPDP, MnPC was characterized by more prolonged enhancement time. The time course of MR images also revealed biliary excretion of MnPC. Conclusion : We developed a new macromolecular MR agent, MnPC. The relaxivities of MnPC were higher than those of small molecular weight Gd-chelate. Hepatic uptake and biliary excretion of MnPC suggests that this agent is a new liver-specific MR agent.

  • PDF

Changes of Minute Blood Flow in the Large Vessels during Orthostasis and Antiorthostasis, before and after Atropine Administration (체위변화가 두부 및 하지의 분시혈류량에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Won-Kyun;Chae, E-Up
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology
    • /
    • v.19 no.2
    • /
    • pp.139-153
    • /
    • 1985
  • The passive tilt has been performed to study the orthostasis on the cardiovascular system. The orthostasis due to upright tilt was demonstrated as follows: the venous return, cardiac output and systemic arteiral blood pressure were decreased, whereas there was concomitant increase of heart rate, through the negative feedback mediated by such as the baroreceptor . Previous investigators have suggested that the tolerance to the orthostasis could he increased by blocking the cholinergic fiber with atropine which prevented vasodilation and bradycardia through the vasovagal reflex during the orthostasis. However, this hypothesis has not been clearly understood. This study was attempted to clarify the effect of atropine on the tolerance of the cardiovascular system to the upright and head-down tilt, and to investigate the change of the blood flow through head and lower leg with Electromagnetic flowmeter in both tilts before and after atropine state. Fourteen anesthetized dogs of $10{\sim}14kg$ were examined by tilting from supine position to $+77^{\circ}$ upright position (orthostasis), and then to $-90^{\circ}$ head-down position (antiorthostasis) for 10 minutes on each test. And the same course was taken 20 minutes after intravenous administration of 0.5mg atropine. The measurements were made of the blood flow(ml/min.) on the carotid artery, external jugular vein, femoral artery and femoral vein. At the same time pH, $PCO_2$, $PO_2$ and hematocrit (Hct) of the arterial and venous blood, and heart rate(HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured. The measurements obtained from upright and head-down tilt were compared with those from supine position. The results obtained are as follows: In upright tilt, the blood flow both on the artery and the vein through head and lower leg were decreased, however the decrement of blood flow through the head was greater than the lower leg And the atropine attenuated the decrement of the blood flow on the carotid artery, but not on the vessels of the lower leg. HR was moderately increased in upright tilt, but slightly in head-down tilt. The percent change of HR after the atropine administration was smaller than that before the atropine state in both upright and head-down tilts. Before the atropine state, RR was decreased in upright tilt, whereas increased in head-down tilt. However after the atropine state, the percent change of RR was smaller than that of before the atropine state in both upright and head-down tilts. In upright tilt, venous $PCO_2$ was increased, but arterial $PO_2$ and venous $PO_2$ were slightly decreased. Hct was increased in both upright and head-down tilts. The findings of blood $PCO_2$, $PO_2$ and Hct were not interferred by the atropine. In conclusion, 1;he administration of atropine is somewhat effective on improving the cardiovascular tolerance to postural changes. Thus, atropine attenuates the severe diminution of the blood flow to the head during orthostasis, and also reduces the changes of HR and RR in both orthostasis and antiorthostasis.

  • PDF

An Awareness of Welfare Facility for the Elderly and It's Related Factors of College Students (노인복지시설(老人福祉施設)에 대한 대학생(大學生)의 의식(意識)과 관련요인(關聯要因))

  • Jowa Yooun-Teak;Nam Chul-Hyun;Park Chun-Man
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.2 no.1
    • /
    • pp.87-111
    • /
    • 1998
  • For the newly approach of policy with the old aged era at hand, the result which examines the 1,200 students attending professional colleges and upward in three small-to-medium sized cities, for two months, from October 1, 1996 to November 30, in order to know the change of consciousness of the growing modern young intellectual age group is as follows. 1. The objects of survey consist of 72.1% of women, 40.4% of 20 to 21 age, 49.1% of atheists, and people from big cities and fishing and agrarian village occupy equally 40.2%. Concerning the long-termed residents, 49% of them dwell in big cities. In case of the parents' age is more than 55, 31.5% in fathers, and 10.9% in mothers. 2. The types of housing in which they desire to reside in their getting older are : 72.8% of them hope to live in individual houses, 16.6% in apartments or villas, and 3.4% in social welfare facilities. Out of respondents, compared with other groups, man rather than woman, those who are 20 to 21 age group and from fishing and agrarian villages and have over 7 family members and live with their parents have a higher preference for independent houses. 3. The districts in which they hope to live when they are old are : 41.6% of them, with the highest percent, hope to live in farming villages, the older they are, the more they hope to live in agricultural district, and women of 21 years and upward hope to live in big cities. On the other hand, the preferable degree for social welfare facilities is higher each in people who are 24 years and upward, buddhists, self-boarding students, and the more poorly they are off, the higher the percent is. 4. The types of preferable welfare facilities for the elderly are : 58.2% of them think silver towns desirable, 28.4% think the charged (or free) elderly welfare facilities. Compared with other groups, the percentage which prefer silver towns is higher in women, people from big cities, residents of main family, long-termed city residents, people with higher income, people having grandparents alive, and people who had experience of taking lectures on hygienics or social welfare. 5. 50.3% of the respondents insist that provision of living expenses against old age should be insured by social security system, and 42.8% by the elderly themselves. The percentage of the former shows higher in people of 21 years and upward, women, residents of fishing and agrarian villages, christians, people in more needy circumstances and people who have experience of using a medical institution. 6. Compared with other nations, 54.5% of the respondents have an opinion that elderly welfare and welfare work in Korea stays in insufficient level and most of them are women, people from farming village, residents of head family, people having younger parents and people being worse health condition, and they have a more positive attitude about the elderly welfare work. 7. 92.3% of the respondents answered that a national budget for the elderly welfare is scarce, and the percentage is higher in people who are older, residents of big cities, people in lower living condition and people in worse health condition. 8. 35.2% of the respondents answered that the proper cost of their old age must be over 220mi11ion. The more a family's total income is, the higher the percentage is. 9. The factors which have an effect on the preference of silver towns are sex(p<0.01, the type of the present residence(p<0.05), and a family's total income(p<0.05). 10. From the survey result of the above, we comes to the conclusion that, for the sake of welfare of the increasing elderly population, government authorities and parties concerned must exert their utmost for the elderly welfare by increasing a budget of it and establishing a number of facilities of the elderly welfare and silver towns located in fresh and comfortable villages. In addition, they have to set up a course of hygienics in all the colleges and instruct the contexts on hygienic welfare as well.

  • PDF

A comparison study of the characteristics of private and public security service of Koryo dynasty and modern security service (고려시대 공적·사적경호의 특성과 현대경호와의 비교연구)

  • Lee, Sung-Jin
    • Korean Security Journal
    • /
    • no.36
    • /
    • pp.417-442
    • /
    • 2013
  • This study considers the characteristics of the separation of public and private security service during Koryo dynasty, and compares it with the modern security service. Modern day security service's definition of private and public security service was used to distinguish them. Given the different historical settings, it's difficult to argue that the distinction between public and private service during Koryo dynasty was clear, but it can be said that public security service was centered around palace guard and concerns the activities of protest, and military made for the relationship, and private security service was centered around power of DoBang and includes the activities of malingering, and Byolchogun. During the early days of Koryo, protest, district military and soldiers who stay in the palace were all parts of a palace revolt and this institutional improvement of soldiers who stay in the palace was accomplished during King Seongjong's rule. The tradition of a palace revolt can find its roots in the middle military, and after the unification, a palace revolt was reformed into the king's palace revolt of second and the 6th along the course of establishing the nation's system. All of the changes stem from the reformation for consolidating the royal authority. Gyung Dae Seoung wanted to protect himself and he slept with his army night and days and because of that, group of soldiers was created and it was called DOBANG. Some members were from dobang gyeonryong, The forced were powerful because it was gathered with a warriors with extraordinaire martial arts and competent management. Most of the soldiers followed gyeong dae seung because they believed that he has a strong leadership and loves his people, and had a strong faith in him. However, the general gyeong jang had a belief that politics must be reverted to the previous so the relationships between jungbang wasn't smooth. Because of the economic operational problems, due to fraud committed by the mens under his command failed to maintain integrity and was criticised.The misconception also fed up with the emperor and the deepening relationships between the soldiers, his dobang was dismantled. After he took over the dobang, for his personal safety and to strengthen his position he compensated gyeon dae seong's dobang and developed the organization. In the process of extending the dobang Choi chung heon recruited many talented people to strengthen the military base, and also accepted the advice and expanded the power of Dobang. Choi Chung Heon thus consolidated his political gains by weakening the power of the king's army and adjusting the myth, which could've threatened his regime, and this was called Dobang number 6th. Dobang number six got even more powerful by his son named Choi woo, and after ruling, he expanded into a room, and a substantial reorganization of Dobang was developed. And then the creation of yabyeolcho also showed the effect to prevent the crisis. Although the palace guards who were public security service of Koryo Dynasty was still maintained during the military rule era when the royal authority was incapacitated, it was only maintained to have a symbolic meaning as the actual authority including military power was with Choi, the master of Dobang, private security service group. Likewise, during the rule of Choi, private securty service could reign over public security service, and the noteworthy characteristic of Dobang is that it assisted the private soldier groups to seize the military power by reorganizing and modifying military system. Although both differences and similarities can be found when comparing the guards of Koryo Dynasty with those of contemporary society, they have a similarity in terms of the essence of guards that they guarantee the safety of their clients. As for differences, the royalty of Koryo Dynasty and the pursuit of profit of contemporary society are in contrast, and contemporary guards can be seen as the fulfillment of responsibility and duty by free will, whereas guards of Koryo Dynasty were ruled with military coercion.

  • PDF

Effect of Preoperative White Blood Cell Count on Postoperative Course in Patients with Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (관상동맥우회술 환자에서 술 전 백혈구 수치가 수술 후 경과에 미치는 영향)

  • Son Kuk Hui;Kim Jae Ho;Kim Joung Taek;Yoon Yong Han;Kim Kwang Ho;Baek Wan Ki
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
    • /
    • v.38 no.10 s.255
    • /
    • pp.669-674
    • /
    • 2005
  • Background: There are several studies that report the relationship between leukocytosis and cardiovascular disease mortality. Most of these studies stand on the basis that atherosclerosis is mediated by inflammatory process. By the same token, preoperative white blood cell count is suggested as an independent predictable factor of postoperative mortality and morbidity in coronary artery bypass grafting. The purpose of this study is to define the influence of preoperative white blood cell count on postoperative morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting. Material and Method: The medical records of the 133 patients who had undergone isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at Inha University Hospital from 1996 to 2003 were reviewed. Patients were evenly divided into four groups, and named as group A, B, C, and D respectively based on their preoperative white blood cell count in ascending order. The number of patients in each group were 33 with exception of 34 in group A. The range of white blood cell count were from $1.3\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;5.9\times10^3/{\mu}L\;in\;group\;A,\; from\;6.0\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;7.0\times10^3/{\mu}L\;in\;group\;B,\;from\;7.1\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;8.9\times10^3/{\mu}L$ in group C, and from $8.9\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;16.9\times10^3/{\mu}L$ in group D. Result: The number of patients with recent myocardial infarction was 0 in group A, $2(6.1\%)$ in group B, $4(12.1\%)$ in group C, and $8(24.3\%)$ in D group, showing proportional increase to the white blood cell count (p<0.01). There were six postoperative deaths; $1(2.9\%)$ in group A, $1(3.0\%)$ in group B, $2(2.6\%)$ in group C, and $2(6.1\%)$ in group D (p=0.44), showing no significant difference between the groups. Postoperative wound infection occurred in 3 patients; all 3 patients were in group D, showing that postoperative wound infection is closely related to the preoperative white blood cell count. Conclusion: The association between preoperative white blood cell count and postoperative mortality could not be defined. The incidence of postoperative wound infection was found to be proportional to the preoperative white blood cell counts.

Combined Therapy of Alfa-Interferon and Thymodulin on Children with Chronic Active Hepatitis B (소아의 B형 만성 활동성 간염에서 저용량 ${\alpha}$-Interferon과 Thymodulin의 병용 치료 효과)

  • Choe, Byung-Ho;Ko, Cheol-Woo
    • Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
    • /
    • v.1 no.1
    • /
    • pp.79-89
    • /
    • 1998
  • Purpose: Though many antiviral or immunomodulatory agents have been used in patients with chronic HBV hepatitis, interferon is considered to be the only effective therapeutic agent so far. Among immunomodulatory agents, thymodulin, the oral form of thymosin, is currently in clinical trial. We compared the efficacy of alfa-interferon therapy alone with a combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin in children with chronic active hepatitis B. Method: Twenty three children aged 4.4~13.7 years who were known to be positive for HBsAg and HBeAg in serum for at least 6 months and who had biopsy-proven chronic active hepatitis were given either combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin or alfa-interferon alone, and all children were HBV DNA positive in their serum at the beginning. Follow-ups have been done for at least 1 year after a 6 month course of therapy and clearance of viral replication markers has been evaluated. Results: 1) During follow up period, 11 (48%) children were seroconverted to anti-HBe and were cleared of HBV DNA from their serum. However, 2 of them relapsed after discontinuance of interferon therapy. 2) Seroconversion occurred more frequently among those who had not been vertically transmitted, had elevated serum ALT levels and low HBV DNA levels before interferon therapy. 3) There was no significant advantage of the combined therapy with thymodulin compared to interferon therapy alone. Conclusion: Combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin failed to demonstrate synergistic effect. We think that combination therapies of alfa-interferon with other antiviral or immunomodulatory agents need to be studied in order to achieve better therapeutic responses.

  • PDF