• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3979-3982
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• 2016

Background: Thailand remains a primarily agricultural country and Thai farmers are heavy users of pesticides. Coincidentally the incidence of cholangio carcinoma (CCA) is high in parts of the country, but no previous study has examined any association between the two. Materials and Methods: The present matched, case-control study covered patients admitted to Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. The case group comprised 210 cases diagnosed with CCA and the control group 840 diagnosed with other diseases. Cases and controls were matched for sex, age within five years, and date of admission within three months. Multiple conditional logistic regression was used for the analysis. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, pesticide use as compared with never used pesticide was not associated with CCA (ORadj=1.11, 95% CI: 0.77, 1.60) and neither was there any significant relationship between CCA and duration of pesticide use, type or number of types pesticide use. Conclusions: The current study thus found no association between pesticide use and CCA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.133-144
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• 2018

Objectives Since the health insurance coverage for traditional Korean medicine is very low, some physicians and researcher have suggested that government's institutional support is needed for korean medicine field. Therefore We examine the use of traditional medicine and western medicine in Taiwan, which operates a similar health insurance system to Korea. Methods We selected several studies from Pubmed and NHIRD, that could be used to numerically evaluate the use of traditional medicine. We reviewed the current status of medical use in Taiwan and compare it with that of Korea. Results Through a total of 87 studies, We found that 26.59%~31% of Taiwanese use Traditional medical institutions more than once a year, and the use of traditional medicine has been increasing since 2000. In adults than children, in women than men, the use rate of traditional medicine was high. Especially, herbal medicine was the most common intervention, accounting for 70% of traditional medical care. Conclusions The core of low insurance coverage for traditional Korean medicine is in lack of coverage for herbal medicine. Taiwan's case shows that the unmet demand for traditional Korean medicine of the Korean population can exist widely.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.391-397
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• 2014

A survey of 2,123 slaughtered adult sheep in markets of the south-east Kazakhstan established that the average contamination of animals by Echinococcus granulosus is 9.1% with primary localization of cysts in livers and lungs. The histologic structure of the muscle tissue of infected sheep displayed destructive changes with a prevalence of granular dystrophy. The amount of protein, fat, calcium and energetical value of such meat considerably decreased. Besides in the muscle tissue of the animals infected with echinococcosis there was a substantial increase of humidity and amount of ash as well as qualitative and quantitative changes of the amino acids profile. Along with damage to the synthesis of proteins and sharp insufficiency of vitamins A, E, $B_1$, and $B_2$ there was a shift in a lipidic exchange that was expressed as a noticeable reduction in the level of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The data support the conclusion that the meat from the sheep infected with echinococcosis is of inferior quality and quantity compared to that of healthy animals.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.69-82
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• 2022

Shin Hong-gyun was born on August 20, 1881. The second son of Shin Tae-geom (申泰儉) in Sangsang-ri, Sinbukcheong-myeon, Bukcheong-gun,Hamgyeongnam-do. His family had been practicing East Asian medicine as a family business. At that time, the families of East Asian doctors who passed the general examination of the Joseon Dynasty had been continuing the East Asian medicine business from generation to generation. Starting with exile in North Gando in 1911, he was located in Wangga-dong, 17 Doo-gu, Changbaek-hyeon. In 1915, he met General Choi Un-san in Bongo-dong, treated the soldiers suffering from cellulitis, and participated in the training process to prepare for the upcoming anti-Japanese war. However, because of a growing difference of opinion with General Choi Woon-san, Shin Hong-gyun left Bono-dong after a year and mets Sorae Kim Jung-geon and joined the founding of Wonjonggyo and Daejindan, an anti-Japanese armed group. It is said that Shin Hong-gyun established many schools in Korean villages destroyed by the Gyeongshin disaster and 14 schools were established under the names of Wonjonggyo and Daejin. After the Japanese established the puppet Manchukuo in 1931, the Manchurian Defense Forces were formed. Koreans and Chinese immigrants to Manchuria worked together to carry out a joint Korean-Chinese anti-Japanese operation towards the Japanese Empire. In 1933, 50 of the Daejindan members joined the Korean Independence Army, and among them, Shin Hong-gyun began to work as a medical doctor in earnest. During an ambush in Daejeonryeong Valley, he could not get a proper meal and, to make matters worse, got wet in the rainy season, so the situation was a challenge in various ways. At this time, Shin Hong-gyun showed his knowledge of herbal medicine, picked black wood ear mushrooms that grew wild in the mountains, washed them in rain water, and provided food to the independence fighters and relieved them of hunger. After the Battle of Daejeon-ryeong, the Japanese army's suppression of the independence forces intensified, and most of the independence fighters escaped from the Chinese army's encirclement and were scattered. Ahn Tae-jin and others led the remaining units and continued the anti-Japanese armed struggle in the forest areas of Yeongan, Aekmok, Mokneung, and Milsan.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2006

This research evaluated how the composition of Yak-sun(oriental diet therapy), taken as a nutritional supplement with daily meals, can effect the medical condition of those suffering from modern diseases like obesity and hyperlipideia. We produced Yak-sun tea, determined its nutrient composition and physical characteristics and evaluated how this tea effects affects the active oxygen concentration inside the body by clinical practices. The study results indicated that this tea significantly decrease active oxygen concentration. We think that scientific and objective evaluation was done on the components of Yak-sun tea prescription. We concluded that we could apply the components not only in the form of tea, but also in other food forms. The information we received from this conclusion will provide basic information for the application of oriental medicinal resources into other foods and will also be a steppingstone in the field of functional food research for the development of medicinal herbs which is already an important research field world-wide.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2005

In this study, lotus root(Nelumbo nucifera G.) which has been used in oriental medicine and folks remedy, was studied to apply to functional foods. We investigated the effects of the lotus root extracts(LTE) with hot water on the reduction of serum lipid and improvement of blood parameters in rats fed high fat diet for 5 weeks. Sprague-Dawley rats weigh $150g\pm15g$, were randomly assigned to 4 groups such as basal diet only(BDG), high fat diet without LTE(FDCG), high fat diet with $6\%$ LTE(FD6L), high fat diet with $12\%$ LTE(FD12L). The results of this study were as follows. Hematological data were not significantly different among 4 groups. Serum transferrin concentration and GOT activity were reasonable levels in FD6L and FD12L groups compared with FDCG group. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride in serum and atherogenic index were remarkably reduced in LTE supplemented groups as compared with the control group. But HDL-cholesterol contents in FD6L and FD12L groups were significantly increased compared with that in control group. These results imply that lotus root extracts could be used as a potent food resources for decrease of serum lipid concentration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1753-1755
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• 2012

This was a survey research conducted in Northestern Thailand during 2009-2010 and designed to evaluate the success of a health education program by comparing levels of health knowledge in the community before and after the launching of a Multi-professional Intervention and Training for Ongoing Volunteer-based Community Health Programme. The survey questionnaire included items about demographic characteristics and health knowledge. The participants were 1,015 members of various communities, who were randomly selected to be included in the survey before launching the intervention, and 1,030 members of the same communities randomly selected to be included in the survey after the intervention was completed. The demographic characteristics of both groups were similar. Overall knowledge and knowledge of all the diseases, except lung and cervical cancer, were significantly higher after the intervention. In conclusion, a Volunteer-based Community Health Programme has advantages for areas where the numbers of health personnel are limited. The use of trained community health volunteers may be one of the best sustainable alternative means for the transfer of health knowledge.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.542-548
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• 2005

In recent years, propolis has attracted much attention as an useful substance in medicine and functional food, even if it is known as a natural remedy in folk medicine since ancient times. propolis was registered as natural food since 1995 on Korean Food Act by Korean Food and Drug Administration(KFDA). The present study demonstrated the optimization of isolation of crude propolis by ethanol, and tumoricidal effect of pro polis. The optimal concentration of ethanol to separate a high quantity of propolis was $60\%$. The cytotoxic effect of ethanol extracted propolis against various cancer cell lines including murine lymphoma (Sarcoma-180), murine T-lymphoma (YAC-1), human breast carcinoma (MCF-7), human gastric carcinoma (KATOIII) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) and human lung adenocarcinoma (A-549) was observed using SRB and MIT assay. In order to investigate the curative activity by oral administration of propolis on tumor, ICR mice was subcutaneously implanted Sarcoma 180. In 300mg/kg and 600mg/kg propolis administered group, development of implanted tumors was inhibited by $40.9\%\;and\;67.9\%$ at 16th day, respectively. In the same dose of propolis administered group, development of implanted tumors was inhibited more strongly with dose dependent manner. Therefore, these data suggested propolis may show tumoricidal effects. In conclusion, these results indicate that propolis, one of the few natural remedies, can be used as functional food with tumoricidal effects.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2013

This study examines the meaning of classical texts in contemporary society. Drawing on an anthropological investigation of Somun Hakhoe, an association of Korean medicine doctors in South Korea, and its foundational text "Somun Daeyo", the present study explores the interconnectedness of medical texts and medico-social practices in bringing medical tradition into the contemporary era. The themes that author Lee Kyu-joon emphasizes in "Somun Daeyo" are thoroughly embodied in Somun Hakhoe's medico-social practices, such as the study activities based on "Somun Daeyo"(in particular, on Somun Buseol, the five articles written by the author, attached to "Somun Daeyo"), the focus on Buyang theory(扶陽論), and the distinctive feature of composing formula. The ethnographic data collected about the group activities of Somun Hakhoe also demonstrate that the social relationship of the teacher and disciples plays an important role in bringing East Asian medicine into the present. This study articulates the significance of the interaction between the classical text and the medico-social practices around it. The dynamism taking place in the interaction points to the "living tradition" actively flowing rather than being static in the past. This study illustrates the close relationship between medical history and medical anthropology and encourages more studies of classical texts based on the intimate relationship between the two disciplines.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.680-687
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• 2021

Coronavirus disease, COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), has a higher case fatality rate in European countries than in others, especially East Asian ones. One potential explanation for this regional difference is the diversity of the viral infection efficiency. Here, we analyzed the allele frequencies of a nonsynonymous variant rs12329760 (V197M) in the TMPRSS2 gene, a key enzyme essential for viral infection and found a significant association between the COVID-19 case fatality rate and the V197M allele frequencies, using over 200,000 present-day and ancient genomic samples. East Asian countries have higher V197M allele frequencies than other regions, including European countries which correlates to their lower case fatality rates. Structural and energy calculation analysis of the V197M amino acid change showed that it destabilizes the TMPRSS2 protein, possibly negatively affecting its ACE2 and viral spike protein processing.