• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.146-153
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• 2016

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs refer to medicines that are generally safe when used according to the product label. We aimed to assess and reflect upon changes in perception of health and health-related demands by decades in Korea according to the consumption and sales trends of OTC drugs. This study was conducted by literature search on the production and sale rankings of OTC drug market in Korea. Changes in the OTC drug market were analyzed and organized by decades to evaluate changes in drug demands and the influence of national and societal factors. There was a specific trend in the most popular drugs by decades. In the 1950s, drugs of top necessity were antibiotics and helminthics. In the 1960s, the pharmaceutical industry quickly grew and invigorators, such as Bacchus$^{(R)}$, Alps$^{(R)}$, Aronamin$^{(R)}$, were top manufactured drugs. Popularity of these invigorating drinks and vitamin products continued until the 1990s. In 1990s, sales of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ketotop Plaster$^{(R)}$, Trast Patch$^{(R)}$), and in 2000s, gum disease medicine (Insadol$^{(R)}$) and liver and intestine supplement (Ursa$^{(R)}$) were prominent. However, after the separation of prescribing and dispensing in 2000, the sales of OTC drugs decreased dramatically from 58.7% of the total market share in 1990s to 39.6% in 2000 and this trend has continued. In 2012, thirteen OTC drugs were allowed to be sold in convenience stores, and as the sales of health functional foods have been expanding beyond pharmacies, sales of invigorators and nutritional supplements in pharmacies have continued to decrease. As government's drug expenditure will continue to grow, reclassification of OTC drugs based on established safety information and deliberate team efforts on continued development of OTC drugs to meet the health demands of Koreans are required by the healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical industries, and the government.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.311-325
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• 2020

Background: Health statistics of pharmaceutical use and expenditure are essential to make and implement evidence-based pharmaceutical policy. This study aims to demonstrate the methods and results of pharmaceutical consumption and sales in 2018 according to the sources and methods given by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Methods: The medication list contains 39,346 medicines both reimbursed and non-reimbursed by the National Health Insurance in 2018. We used the therapeutic categories based on Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical Classification of World Health Organization. This study analyzed National Health Insurance claims data and supply data generated from wholesalers to health care facilities. The indicators are defined daily dose (DDD), per 1,000 inhabitants per day and US$ per capita. Results: In South Korea, the number of medications to which DDD were assigned was 18,055 and it was 45.9% of the total number of medications on the list. The consumption in anti-infective for systemic use (J) and musculo-skeletal system (M) was higher than the mean consumption among the OECD countries. The pharmaceutical sales per person in Korea was also higher than the mean sales per person across the OECD countries. Conclusion: We sought to explain the methods to produce pharmaceutical consumption and sales statistics which we had submitted annually to OECD. Considering the characteristics of pharmaceutical statistics, a direct comparison should be approached with caution. Since the growth in pharmaceutical spending has greatly increased over the past decade, we need to monitor pharmaceutical consumption and expenditure consistently.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 2011

The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) revised the Health Functional Food Act in 2008 and extended the form of health functional foods to general food types. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate consumers' perceptions of the expanded form of health functional food and to predict consumption patterns. For this study, 1,006 male and female adults aged 19 years and older were selected nationwide by multi-stage stratified random sampling and were surveyed in 1:1 interviews. The questionnaire survey was conducted by Korea Gallup. The subjects consisted of 497 (49.4%) males and 509 (50.6%) females. About 57.9% of the subjects recognized the KFDA's permission procedures for health functional foods. Regarding the health functional foods that the subjects had consumed, red ginseng products were the highest (45.3%), followed by nutritional supplements (34.9%), ginseng products (27.9%), lactobacillus-containing products (21.0%), aloe products (20.3%), and Japanese apricot extract products (18.4%). Opinions on expanding the form of health functional foods to general food types scored 4.7 points on a 7-point scale, showing positive responses. In terms of the effects of medicine-type health functional foods versus generic health functional foods, the highest response was 'same effects if the same ingredients are contained' at a rate of 34.7%. For intake frequency by food type, the response of 'daily consistent intake' was 31.7% for capsules, tablets, and pills, and 21.7% for extracts. For general food types, 'daily consistent intake' was 44.5% for rice and 22.8% for beverages, which were higher rates than those for medicine types. From the above results, consumers had positive opinions of the expansion of health functional foods to generic forms but are not expected to maintain accurate intake frequencies or amounts. Thus, continuous promotion and education are needed for proper intake of generic health functional foods.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.175-181
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• 2008

As the representative medical scholar at the time of Geumwon(金元) Dynasty, Idongwon(李東垣) deepened and developed the meaning of the diseases on internal injuries. He also proposed the primordial Gi[原氣] and Eum-Fire[陰火] theory in the physiology and pathology. Idongwon(李東垣) defined the pathological metabolism of internal injuries as the hyperactivity against Eum-Fire[陰火] due to the lack of primordial Gi[原氣不足], and he suggested the deficiency of Gi[氣虛] in the Spleen and Stomach and the surge of seven modes of emotion as the causes of the Eum-Fire[陰火] hyperactivity. Additionally, he established the therapy principles of eliminating Heat with Sweet and Warm drug[溫熱藥] and raising yang and spreading fire[升陽散火] based upon the above mentioned pathological metabolism. The Eum-Fire[陰火] that was suggested by Idongwon(李東垣) indicates the Heat syndrome[熱證] developed by internal causes[內因], and the principle reason is the consumption of the Spleen and Stomach Therefore, it is important to recuperate the function of Spleen and Stomach in treating the disease symptoms caused by Eum-Fire[陰火], and the therapies of eliminating Heat with Sweet and Warm drug [溫熱藥] and raising yang and spreading fire[升陽散火] are the corresponding ones. However, since vital Essence could be lacked due to the consumption of Spleen and Stomach, the therapy of replenishing Eum has to be considered. Additionally, the damp removal therapeutic method also has to be considered since Damp could be stagnated by the loss of function in Spleen and Stomach. In other way, Eum-Fire[陰火] developed by the consumption of Spleen and Stomach is somewhat similar aspect to the premier Fire[相火] that is developed by the lack of Eum[陰虛]. But complications could be developed if therapies of enriching the Eum[滋陰] to suppress Fire and replenishing Eum[補陰] are mainly used to control the symptoms developed by the lack of Eum[陰虛]. Namely, the drugs used to replenish Eum[補陰] mostly have the heavy and turbid properties, which contrarily have the possibility to debilitate the functions of Spleen and Stomach by causing Dampness within a body. So, care must be made in their use.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1482-1483
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• 2008

This report describes the design, fabrication and experimental results of an implantable micro pressure regulator. It consists of three silicon substrates, a glass substrate, and a PDMS layer. Silicon and glass substrates are fabricated by using bulk micro machining and sandblasting. The PDMS layer is used as a intermediate layer for Si-Si and Si-glass bonding processes. This micro regulator is a key component of the portable drug delivery systems for low power consumption. The device has some advantages, such as a passive type device, no power consumption, and simple structure.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.3 s.150
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• pp.205-216
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• 2007

South Korea is the representative consumption country of herbal medicines and most of herbal medicines circulating in Korea have been importing from the developing countries of Southeast Asia such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and so forth. Domestic hygiene and safety are continuously proposed because herbal medicines which are circulating have the possibility could remain contaminants or residues. Physicochemical contaminants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, radionucleosides, microbial toxins, biological contaminants such as microorganisms and animals, agrochemical residues such as pesticides, substances used for fumigation, antiviral agents, and solvent residues are classified as major contaminants and residues in herbal medicines from 2005 September WHO.$^{1)}$ Currently our administration have established a permission standard and the inspection criteria against the heavy metal, the residual pesticides and a residual sulfur dioxide. Furthermore our administration is continuously monitoring and conducting researches for the policies and their scientific ground against herbal medicines. But the appearances or discoveries of the harmful new species due to environmental and industrial developments are becoming social problems. Therefore it may be necessary to continuously consider and investigate regarding hereupon. Recently, the contamination of the mycotoxins against foods such as cereals, nuts and the powdered red pepper have developed and started became problematic issue, and possibility of contamination against the herbal medicine is proposed. And since populations who are using the herbal medicines very limited to several nations, recognition and researches about contamination of mycotoxins in herbal medicines are very insufficient. Therefore it will be need to more focus on the international regulation of quality control and safety for herbal medicines. Now on, we are going to introduce the importance, occurrence, characteristic properties, World-wide research trends and detoxification of aflatoxins, which is known as the most potent mutagen, carcinogen and teratogen mycotoxins.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.104-113
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze and consumption patterns diet/low-calorie food. Ubjects were 353 adult women aged 20s~50s. Ubjects were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): Normal group (BMI>23.0), overweight group (23.0${\leq}$BMI<25.0), and obesity group (BMI${\geq}$25.0). This study collected all information by self-administrated questionnaires. The SPSS version 21.0 was used for analysis of data. The obesity group lower education level (p<0.001), higher age (p<0.001) and higher income (p<0.001) than normal group. However, score of health status was highest in normal group (p<0.001). Proportion of obesity group pill type diet/low-calorie (p<0.034), drug (diuretic, appetite suppressant and riental medicine) (p<0.001), and cosmetic surgery (p<0.001). The main reason for consumption of diet/low-calorie was control without starving (28.0%). Obese group emphasized manufacturer, ingredient and reputation, whereas the normal group emphasized price and expected effectiveness (p<0.001).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2013

This study investigated the frequency, amount and consumption patterns of 50 potentially hazardous foods (PHF) along with consumers' risk perceptions towards PHF in Korea. A quantitative survey was performed from May through August by trained interviewers, surveying 1,000 adults aged over 18 who were randomly selected from six major provinces in Korea. Consumers perceived seafood, including shellfish, mussel, sashimi and sushi, as the top foods with the highest risk, followed by raw sliced beef. The food with the highest frequency intake per month was leafy vegetables, which is used to wrap other foods, followed by blanched vegetables, fried chicken, etc. The group of middle aged individuals with economic stability had the highest frequency intake of sashimi and sushi. Respondents living in small regions consume greater PHF portions at once. Food safety education with regard to the risk of PHF is essential for consumers, with high frequent intake of PHF.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.310-325
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• 2009

Veterinary drugs have been used to prevent livestock diseases for many years. In spite of having advantages, sometimes indiscriminate application, overdose and abuse may cause risk for human. Therefore, management and risk assessment of veterinary drugs become essential to ensure food safety. So the National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service (NVRQS) impose on registration for use of veterinary drugs also Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) fixed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs in food. Basically, KFDA set MRLs based on the veterinary drugs residual data. Moreover, KFDA estimates the theoretical maximum daily intake (TMDI) with food consumption data and population mean body weight. Recently, 116 veterinary drug MRLs including banned veterinary drugs have been established and other 32 veterinary drugs MRLs will be established within 2009. In 2010, MRLs among antibiotics and synthetic antibacterial agents in livestock fishery products (including milk and eggs) and honey (including royal jelly and propolis) which have not been set in Korea Food Code and Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) will be regulated as uniform limit (0.03 mg/kg). In future, veterinary drugs will be controlled strictly to strengthen public health by improving analytical method.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.706-716
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• 2005

High blood pressure is an important determinant of the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, renal failure, and peripheral vascular disease. Recommendations for control of high blood pressure emphasize lifestyle modification, including weight control, reduced sodium intake, increased physical activity. Subjects who were normotensive (n=19, $47.2\pm9.0$ y, BP l16/81 mmHg) ,treatment hypertensive (n=33, $54.2\pm6.9$ y, BP 132/85 mmHg) and non-treatment hypertensive (n=14, $50.1\pm11.0$ y, 149/94 mmHg) recruited. Anthropometric assessment (height weight waist circumference, hip circumference, fat$\%$, fat mass, and lean body mass) and dietary assessments (using 3-days food records, daily nutrient intakes were inuysed by CAN PRO 2.0 were carried out. Blood and 24-hour urine were collected). Test of recognition for salt taste threshold were performed. In non-treatment hypertensive male subjects, weight, $\%$IBW, BMI, and waist circumference were significantly higher than those of normotensive and treatment hypertensive subjects (p<0.05) .Food habits were not significantly different among the three groups. Intakes of vitamin A, vitamin B,, and vitamin B, were significantly higher in normotensive group (p<0.05). Intakes of sodium and salt taste recognition threshold were the highest in normotensive group and the lowest in treatment hypertensive group (p<0.05). Blood levels of lipids and minerals were not significantly different among the three groups. Urinary calcium level of normotensive group were significantly higher than that of treatment hypertensive and non-treatment hypertensive groups (p<0.05). These results indicate that continuous management of hypertension by drug and non-drug treatment affects salt taste recognition threshold and reduced the consumption of sodium. However, dietary sodium intake exceed recommended sodium intake to prevent and treat hypertension. It is necessary to develop the lifestyle modification program that may have beneficial effects on hypertension treatment.