• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.193-198
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of Cordyceps Militaris(CM) complex extract treatment on patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). We reviewed medical records of 9 rheumatoid arthritis patients who visited the pain & rehabilitation center, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University and were treated with CM complex extract from October 14, 2019 to October 14, 2020. We analyzed the records of DAS 28(Disease Activity Score 28), CDAI(Clinical Disease Activity Index), SDAI(Simplified Disease Activity Index), VAS(Visual analogue Scale), and KHAQ-D(Korean Health Assesment Questionnaire-Disability Index) before and after treatment to evaluate the effects of CM complex extract on RA. As a result, the scores of DAS 28(p<0.05), CDAI(p<0.01), SDAI(p<0.01) and VAS(p<0.01) were statistically significantly decreased, after 8 weeks of taking CM complex extract in RA patients. In conclusion, CM complex extract treatment may have potential effects of reducing disease activity and pain and improving quality of life in patients diagnosed with RA.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1671-1679
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• 2021

Objective: We quantitatively measured the fat fraction (FF) in the vertebrae of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigated the role of FF as an indicator of both active inflammation and chronicity. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 patients with AS who underwent spinal MRI were retrospectively evaluated. The FF values of the anterosuperior and anteroinferior corners of the bone marrow in the L1-S1 spine were assessed using the modified Dixon technique. AS activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and serum inflammatory marker levels. AS disease chronicity was assessed by AS disease duration and the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between FF and other clinical characteristics. Results: The mean FF ± standard deviation of the total lumbar spine was 43.0% ± 11.3%. At univariable analysis, spinal FF showed significant negative correlation with BASDAI (β = -0.474, p = 0.002) and ASDAS with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP; β = -0.478, p = 0.002) and a significant positive correlation with AS disease duration (β = 0.440, p = 0.001). After adjusting for patient age, sex, and total mSASSS score, spinal FF remained significantly negatively correlated with BASDAI (β = -0.543, p < 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (β = -0.568, p < 0.001), and ASDAS with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = -0.533, p = 0.001). Spinal FF was significantly lower in patients with very high disease activity (ASDAS-CRP > 3.5) than in those with only high disease activity (2.1 ≤ ASDAS-CRP ≤ 3.5) (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Spinal FF may help assess both AS disease activity and chronicity.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2010

Purpose: The study sought to identify the differences in chronic diseases and physical activity in elderly women by BMI. Method: The subjects of this study were 644 elderly women 60-80-years-of-age living at home. The research instruments were physical activity levels and chronic diseases. Subjects were given a self-report questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the SPSS win program. Result: Hypertension, prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipemia were significantly different in the subjects according to body mass index, being higher in obese subjects than in non-obese subjects. Physical activity in each of the body mass index groups did not differ significantly. Conclusion: Obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases. This knowledge could help elderly women control their weight, reduce chronic diseases, and ultimately, gain better health.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate hematologic features in Korean children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in order to determine appropriate management strategies. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the complete blood count (CBC) profiles and assessed the incidence of anemia in 25 children with IBD (Crohn disease, 16; and ulcerative colitis, 9). The correlation between hemoglobin (Hb) and duration of illness and the activity index of IBD were also investigated. Results: The incidence of anemia was 76% in IBD, 88% in Crohn disease, and 56% in ulcerative colitis. Leukocytosis and thrombocytosis were only found in Crohn disease (56% and 25%, respectively). No statistically significant correlation was observed between Hb and duration of illness in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis or between Hb and the activity index in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Conclusion: The incidence of anemia found in this study was slightly higher than in previous reports. Additionally, there was no correlation between Hb and the duration of illness or the activity index. Therefore, even if the duration of illness is short, or the activity index is low, appropriate management of children with IBD should include careful evaluation for anemia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.286-298
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• 2006

The study aimed to identify major factors related to global self-rated health of the community-dwelling elderly people in rural areas. Interviews were conducted with 433 persons over 65 years of age. The socio-economic characteristics, chronic disease status, measures of functional and mental health, life satisfaction, health-related behaviors including smoking, drinking, exercise, social activity, dietary habit, and food intakes were analyzed to determine their influence on self-rated health index. Data on food intake were obtained through the 24-hour recall method. The self-rated health of rural elderly was poor or very poor as reported by 42.6% and 52.4% of the men and women, respectively. Poor self-rated health was found to be related to elderly aged $65{\sim}74$, female, absence of work, more chronic diseases, dependence on Instrumental Activity Daily Living (IADL), higher mental unhealthy days, lower current life satisfaction, less social activity, lower dietary habit scores, lower intake of total food, fruit, eggs, fishes & shell fishes, vitamin C (%RDA), and Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR). The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that poor self-rated health index is significantly associated with more chronic diseases, mental unhealthy days, gastrointestinal disease, musculoskeletal disease, less social activity, and lower intake of fruits. The results also suggested that improving the nutritional status and functional ability, and reducing the burden of chronic diseases are beneficial to the self-rated health index of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1077-1088
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• 2018

Objective: To correlate CT parameters on detector-based dual-energy CT enterography (DECTE) with Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) and externally validate quantitative CT parameters. Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine patients with CD were retrospectively enrolled. Two radiologists reviewed DECTE images by consensus for qualitative and quantitative CT features. CT attenuation and iodine concentration for the diseased bowel were also measured. Univariate statistical tests were used to evaluate whether there was a significant difference in CTE features between remission and active groups, on the basis of the CDAI score. Pearson's correlation test and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the correlation between quantitative CT parameters and CDAI. For external validation, an additional 33 consecutive patients were recruited. The correlation and concordance rate were calculated between real and estimated CDAI. Results: There were significant differences between remission and active groups in the bowel enhancement pattern, subjective degree of enhancement, mesenteric fat infiltration, comb sign, and obstruction (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between CDAI and quantitative CT parameters, including number of lesions (correlation coefficient, r = 0.573), bowel wall thickness (r = 0.477), iodine concentration (r = 0.744), and relative degree of enhancement (r = 0.541; p < 0.05). Iodine concentration remained the sole independent variable associated with CDAI in multivariate analysis (p = 0.001). The linear regression equation for CDAI (y) and iodine concentration (x) was y = 53.549x + 55.111. For validation patients, a significant correlation (r = 0.925; p < 0.001) and high concordance rate (87.9%, 29/33) were observed between real and estimated CDAIs. Conclusion: Iodine concentration, measured on detector-based DECTE, represents a convenient and reproducible biomarker to monitor disease activity in CD.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.248-258
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to investigate factors influencing the Framingham risk score-Coronary heart disease (FRS-CHD) according to gender and body mass index (BMI) of adults who participated in the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-3). Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with secondary analysis with KNHANES V-3. The FRS-CHD scores were measured with ages, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. With demographic characteristics, family history of ischemic heart disease, types (intensity) and days of physical activities, perceived stress, drinking, menopause (in female), and BMI scores were measured. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regressions. Results: FRS-CHD was significantly associated with types (intensity) and days of physical activities, educational level, occupation, and marital status, explaining 19.1~76.8% of the variance in men. FRS-CHD was significantly associated with types (intensity) and days of physical activities, menopause, and education level, explaining 55.0~59.5% of the variance in women. Conclusion: Factors influencing FRS-CHD were significantly different according to gender and BMI. To reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, it is necessary to develop gender-specific physical activity programs according to BMI.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effect of exercise program used for treatment of activity of daily living skill in patients with dementia. Methods : We searched foreign studies registered from 2007 to 2014 based on PubMed database, using the following search terms : dementia, alzheimer disease, cognitive impairment, exercise program, physical activity, activity of daily living, ADL. Total 5 studies included from 215 studies after analysis papers. Results : selected paper's average pedro score was 6, Katz index of ADLs, Bathel ADL index, IADL activity of daily living assessment tool were used. there was significant improves of activity of daily living skill in the use of exercise program groups and it prevent decreased of activity of daily living skill. Conclusion : This study provide evidence of exercise program applied in clinical use and demonstrate effective on activity of daily living ability. This results expected to help suggesting basic data for exercise program to improve activity of daily living ability and making effective treatment approach method in the future.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2010

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of Oriental treatments on one patient who was diagnosed to Crohn's disease. Methods: One patient was diagnosed as Crohn's disease by physician. We used acupuncture and moxibustion at 曲池(LI11), 天樞(S25), 足三里(ST36), 合谷(LI4) and (GL25), 2 times per week about one month. We analyzed the change symptom by Crohn's disease activity index(Harvey-Bradshaw index) before and after treatment. Results: After treating acupuncture and moxibustion in the case, We found out that the Crohn's disease activity index score was significantly improved after treatment. First the number of liquid or very soft stool was decreased to 2 times a day and the stools became more solid condition. The abdominal pain and use of anti-diarrhea medication score came to none. The well being score set slightly below poor condition. Conclusions: These result suggest acupuncture, moxibustion were effective to Crohn's disease clinical symptom. These could help patient ordinary life by reducing abdominal pain and diarrhea.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.114-123
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• 2021

Background: Evaluation of the effectiveness of caudal epidural injection on pain, spine mobility, disease activity, and activity of daily living in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients. Methods: A total sample of 47 patients were registered in this study. They were randomly assigned into 2 groups; Group I received caudal epidural injections, ultrasound-guided, with 1% lidocaine hydrochloride mixed with triamcinolone, whereas Group II did not receive any injections. All participants fulfilled the ASAS criteria for axial SpA. Outcome measures were as follows: visual analogue scale, Oswestry disability index (ODI), modified Schober test, lateral lumbar flexion, and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) with assessment at baseline, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks post-treatment. This clinical trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov under the number NCT04143165. Results: There was a significant difference between both groups regarding pain, ODI, spine mobility and ASDAS scores in favor of group I. This effect was at its maximum after 2 weeks. Despite the decline of this effect after 2 months, the difference between the groups remained significant. Higher disease activity, younger age, and shorter disease duration were associated with better outcomes. Conclusions: Epidural injection of lidocaine and triamcinolone is a cost effective and a practical technique for controlling pain, as well as improving the function of the spine and disease activity scores in axial SpA patients with acceptable complications and relatively sustained effect.