• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.22-24
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• 2022

Elapid snakes have neurotoxic venom which causes diverse neuroparalytic manifestations, including fatal respiratory failure. In South Korea, since elapid snakebites are very rare, the cobra antivenom, which is effective against neurotoxicity, was only introduced recently. Most physicians in South Korea have little experience in the treatment of patients who have been bitten by elapid snakes. A 19-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with sudden diplopia, 1 hour after a snakebite on the left 2nd finger. The patient presented with drowsiness and complained of mild dizziness and binocular diplopia. After 1 hour, he had sudden onset of dyspnea and dysphagia and appeared to be agitated. He was immediately intubated and received mechanical ventilation as he was unable to breathe on his own. A total of 2.5 mg of neostigmine diluted with normal saline was slowly infused, and 1 vial of cobra antivenom was infused for an hour, 5 times every 2 hours, for a total of 5 vials. He slowly recovered self-breathing; on the 3rd day of hospitalization, he showed tolerable breathing and was extubated. He was discharged without any neurological deficits or other complications.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.1933-1937
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• 2004

Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) refers to the varied clinical manifestations of reflux of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus and is preferable to the 'reflux esophagitis'. Clinical symptoms of reflux esophagitis are heartburn, dysphagia, blood loss, abdominal pain, nocturnal wheezing, coughing, hoarseness. We applied oriental medicines to patient who had reflux esophagitis. we treated them with herb-medication, acupuncture, moxa therapy and aroma therapy for about 2 months. During this period, we observed that symptoms had been improved.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 2013

Hyponatremia, the most common electrolyte disorder, has been rarely reported as causing rhabdomyolysis. Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS), a demyelinating disease of the central pons and/or other areas of the brain, is infrequently reported as associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia. This paper reports a case of ODS after correction of severe hyponatremia complicated by rhabdomyolysis. A 47-year-old female with a history of chronic alcoholism presented herself at the hospital with altered consciousness after three days of nausea and vomiting. She was on a thiazide diuretic for essential hypertension. Her blood tests upon her hospital admission showed hyponatremia ($Na^+$ 98 mEq/L), hypokalemia ($K^+$ 3.0 mEq/L), and elevation of her serum creatine phosphokinase (3,370 IU/L) with an increase in her serum myoglobin level 11,267 ng/mL). She was treated with intravenous fluid therapy that included isotonic and hypertonic salines along with potassium chloride. She became more alert, and her neurological condition gradually improved after the first five days of her therapy. On the ninth day after her admission, she developed progressive quadiaresis associated with dysarthria, dysphagia, and dystonia despite the resolution of her hyponatremia. Magnetic resonance imaging of her brain on 16th day revealed symmetrical areas of signal hyperintensity in her central pons, basal ganglia, and precentral gyrus in T2-weighted images, which are consistent with ODS. Her neurological symptoms steadily improved after six weeks with only supportive treatment and rehabilitation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Eating behaviour disorder during early childhood is a common pediatric problem. Many terminologies have been used interchangeably to describe this condition, hindering implementation of therapy and confusing a common problem. The definition suggests an eating behaviour which has consequences for family harmony and growth. The recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition does not cover the entire spectrum seen by pediatricians. Publications are substantive but level of evidence is most of the time low. This purpose of this review is to clarify terminology of eating behaviour problems during early childhood; including benign picky eating, limited diets, sensory food aversion, selective eating, food avoidance emotional disorder, pervasive refusal syndrome, tactile defensiveness, functional dysphagia, neophobia and toddler anorexia. This tool is proposed only to ease the clinical management for child care providers. Diagnostic criteria are set and management tools are suggested. The role of dietary counselling and, where necessary, behavioural therapy is clarified. It is hoped that the condition will make its way into mainstream pediatrics to allow these children, and their families, to receive the help they deserve.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.122-130
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a pressure sore in a stroke patient. An 86-year-old female patient diagnosed with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the right basal ganglia had symptoms of left hemiparesis, dysphagia, and a 4.5-cm-by-2.5-cm left trochanteric pressure sore. Clinical outcomes were measured using the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) pressure injury stages, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) pressure ulcer stages, and the Braden scales. Treatment with Korean medicine, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dressing therapy, significantly improved the trochanteric pressure sore, as reflected by a NPUAP stage change from III to I, an AHCPR stage change from III to I, and a Braden scale change from 13 to 18. These findings suggest that Korean medicine treatment may be effective to treat pressure sores in stroke patients.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.90-96
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• 2014

Drooling causes inconvenience and develops complications, therefore it can be very stressful to patients and caregivers. Drooling caused by neurological disabilities appears to be the consequence of dysfunction in the coordination of the swallowing mechanism. However, there is no explanation about drooling by brain injury in oriental medicine literature. This is the case report about a stroke patient with drooling improved by electro-acupuncture therapy. The patient already applied scopolamine patch, and improved drooling before admission. However, caregiver concerned about side effects, so we stopped using scopolamine patch and applied electro-acupuncture for drooling treatment. The patient was treated by 4 acupuncture points on either side of Yeomcheon(CV 23), and Jichang(ST 4), Hyeopgeo(ST 6) with mixed low frequency electro stimulation. Although we stopped using scopolamine patch, drooling maintained improved state without a change, futhermore after 16 days later, drooling had disappeared until the patient discharged. This result showed electro-acupuncture is useful method to improve drooling caused by brain injury.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.1255-1258
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• 2015

Background: Locally advanced head and neck cancer is generally incurable and has a short survival rate. This study aimed to evaluate symptom relief, disease response, and acute toxicity after palliative hypo-fractionated radiotherapy and long-term survival in affected patients. Materials and Methods: Between January 2011 to December 2011, 80 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed as having stage III or stage IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 1-3, were offered palliative radiotherapy (20 Gy/5Fr/5 Days). Later these patients were evaluated on 30th day after completion of treatment for disease response based on World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria and palliation of symptoms using symptomatic response grading and acute toxicities by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Many patients were given post radiation therapy (RT) palliative chemotherapy for appropriate palliative care and a few patients were selected for further curative RT. The overall survival was also evaluated among this group of patients with last follow up date of 1st May, 2014. Results: The most common presenting complaint was pain followed by dysphagia. Most patients (60-70%) had appreciable relief in their presenting symptoms. A good response was observed in the majority following palliative RT; a few patients had progressive disease and some had stable and regressed disease. None of the patients experienced radiation toxicity that required hospital admission. Almost all showed grade one and two acute skin and mucosal toxicity one month after completion of treatment. The mean survival days for patients given only hypofractionated palliative RT was 307 days, those with post palliative RT and palliative chemotherapy was 390 days and patients who went on to receive further palliative RT and curative RT dose had significantly overall survival of 582 days. Conclusions: Advanced head and neck cancer should be identified for suitable palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy to achieve acceptable symptom relief in a great proportion of patients and should be followed by palliative chemotherapy or curative RT in suitable cases for long-term symptom-free survival.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.172-176
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• 2000

Objectives: To improve local control and reduce toxicity, 3-D conformal radiotherapy was used as a boost the primary tumor site following fractionated radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Eight patients with previously untreated nasopharyngeal carcinomas were treated with 3-D conformal radiotherapy following fractionated radiotherapy from September 1998 to April 2000. All patients had biopsy confirmation of disease before radiation therapy. Stages were II in 1, III in 5, and IV in 2. Two patients received cisplatin based chemotherapy in addition to radiation therapy; induction chemotherapy in 1, concurrent chemoradiation in 1. 3-D conformal radiotherapy delivered using 6MV Linac as a boost(range 25.2-28.8Gy, median 25.7Gy) following conventionally fractionated radiotherapy(range 50.4Gy). Average total dose ranged from 75.6-79.2Gy(median 76Gy). Follow-up time was 4-21 months(median 9.6 months). Results: Seven of 8 patients were evaluated radiologically within 3 months after completion of radiation therapy. All 7 patients were seen complete remission. One of 7 patients had distant metastasis after 5 months and local failure after 7 months. The tree interval of local recurrence was ranged from 4 - 21 months(median 10.2 months). One patient without radiological evaluation got complete remission clinically. Treatment related toxicity was grade 1-3 xerostomia, dysphagia, and mucositis. During 3-D conformal radiotherapy, there was no aggravation of any toxicity. Conclusion: Although the number of patients was small and follow-up period was short, 3-D conformal radiotherapy following conventional radiotherapy improved tumor control and dose escalation without increased toxicity. Survival and late toxicity should be evaluated through long term follow-up. In addition, it is necessary to confirm the benefits of 3-D conformal radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with randomized trial.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.15-28
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• 2018

Objective : This study sought to characterize and determine the qualitative level of a single target study for stroke patients. Methods : The National Science and Technology Information Center (NDSL), DBpia (DBpia), RISS (Radical Research Information Service), Korea Research Information (KISS), and the National Assembly Library's original case study from 2002 to 2017. A total of 24 single target research papers were selected through the screening process to analyze the quality level of research methods and research design. Results : ABA design was th most common study design method. One person was the most with 12(50%). and three were the second with 8(33.3%). Imagination was the most used as an independent lawyer. Dependent variables had the highest level of situability and one-sidedness. The study was also conducted with a variety of target behaviors, including 'memory', 'visual attention', 'dysphagia', 'visual-motor coordination', 'balance', 'activity of daily life' and 'edema' behaviors. It also showed a positive effect on all dependent variables. The Qualitative level was found to be above the intermediate level except for one study. Conclusion : It is academic significance that this study analyzes the items to be prepared for in the performance of a single target study and further studies may require the establishment of a weak but good-quality single target study for researchers conducting research in local communities and clinical sites.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.51-67
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• 2024

Objective : This study investigated trends in the use of assessment tools by occupational therapists working with adults and older adults. Methods : Occupational therapists were surveyed to gather data on general characteristics, assessment tool usage, assessment time and frequency, usage trends by area, and education. The tools were categorized by the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) into Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and play and leisure for occupations, and cognitive functions, motor functions, and psychosocial aspects for client factors. Data from 98 respondents were analyzed using frequency analysis and one-way ANOVA with SAS. Results : Most surveyed occupational therapists worked in university or general hospitals (40.82%). The assessment time per patient was under 30 min (62.25%), and re-assessment frequency was one~three months (68.38%). The most frequently used assessment tools by the OTPF were as follows: ADL: Modified Barthel Index (94.90%), IADL: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (31.63%), cognitive functions: Mini-Mental Status Examination (89.80%), visual perception: Motor-free Visual Perception Test (56.12%), dementia: Global Deterioration Scale (63.27%), motor functions: Jamar Dynamometer & Pinch Gauge (59.18%), dysphagia: Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (28.57%), physical examination: Range of Motion (59.18%), and psychosocial: Geriatric Depression Scale (33.67%). Conclusion : This study identified the use and rationale of assessment tools for occupational therapy in adults and older adults. These findings aim to enhance the curriculum and continuing education of occupational therapists.