• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11.1-11.5
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• 2015

Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) prescriptions typically consist of several herbs based on the assumption that the herbs operate synergistically and/or cooperate on several related pathways simultaneously. This is a general concept that is widely accepted in TEAM, but it has not been tested systematically. To check this assumption statistically, we have text mined traditional Korean medicine text the Inje-ji(仁濟志, Collections of benevolent savings), a text that contains more than 5000 herb-cocktail prescriptions. We created herb-pairing network based on herb-herb pairing specificity and performed a systematic network analysis. Herbs were shown to be used selectively with other herbs and not randomly. Moreover, herb pairs were more specifically associated with symptoms than were single herbs. Single herbs and combinations of herbs specifically used for diabetes mellitus were successfully identified. As conclusion, herb-pairings in TEAM are not randomly constructed; instead, each herb was selectively used with other herbs. In terms of statistical significance, herb pairs were more specifically associated with symptoms than were single herbs alone. Collectively, these results suggest that it may be important to understand the interactions among multiple ingredients contained in herb pairs rather than trying to identify a single compound to resolve symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.13-25
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• 2023

Due to Japanese imperialism's invasion of Korea and the policy of exterminating national culture, many independence activists from Korean medicine participated in the Manchurian Independence Army activities and the fight for freedom. Kang Woo-kyu, who threw a bomb at the governor-General of Korea on September 2, 1919, can be cited as a leader who learned East Asian medicine. Kim Kwanje, who organized a secret organization by opening an East Asian medicine clinic in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, was involved in the struggle of the medical corps while working as a medical student. He is accused of providing a shelter by treating members of the Uiryeoldan. In 1919, the Manchurian Independence Army unit, which launched the March 1st Movement armed struggle, was established, and those who served as military doctors in various organizations can be found. Park Se-jung, who participated as an independent soldier at the age of 47, treated wounded soldiers and patients as a military doctor. A branch office was also created by raising military funds and participating in the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Jang Hyong was able to raise independent military funds, campaign for the provisional government's independence petition, and lecture across the country mostly disguised as an East Asian medicine doctor, which led to several imprisonments for "fraud charges under the guise of similar medical practices".

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.746-752
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• 2015

Background This study analyzed 100 consecutive patients with primary cutaneous melanoma over the course of 13 years to determine whether epidemiological differences correspond to different stages of the disease. We also investigated whether epidemiological characteristics affected the survival rate. Our results were compared with those of selected descriptive studies of melanoma in other East Asian populations, in order to determine whether cutaneous melanoma patterns are similar in East Asian populations. Methods The patients' medical records were reviewed retrospectively, and we analyzed the relationship of epidemiological characteristics to staging and survival rate. Additionally, papers from Hong Kong and Japan describing these phenomena in East Asian populations were subjected to a statistical comparison. Results The ratio of males to females was 1:1.8, and the foot was the most frequent tumor site (49%). Acral lentiginous melanoma occurred most frequently (55%). Nodular melanoma was associated with a higher stage. Stage III-IV tumors with Clark levels of IV-V were significantly associated with a low survival rate. A statistical analysis of comparable papers reported in Hong Kong and Japan showed similar results with regard to age, tumor location, and histopathological subtypes. Conclusions This study provides the first full epidemiological description of 100 consecutive cases of primary cutaneous melanoma in Korea, with results similar to those observed in other East Asian populations. Corresponding to previous findings, nodular melanoma tended to occur at a higher stage than other types, and tumors with high Clark levels and high stages showed a lower survival rate.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to help select an appropriate word embedding method when analyzing East Asian traditional medicine texts as data. Methods : Based on prescription data that imply traditional methods in traditional East Asian medicine, we have examined 4 count-based word embedding and 2 prediction-based word embedding methods. In order to intuitively compare these word embedding methods, we proposed a "prescription generating game" and compared its results with those from the application of the 6 methods. Results : When the adjacent vectors are extracted, the count-based word embedding method derives the main herbs that are frequently used in conjunction with each other. On the other hand, in the prediction-based word embedding method, the synonyms of the herbs were derived. Conclusions : Counting based word embedding methods seems to be more effective than prediction-based word embedding methods in analyzing the use of domesticated herbs. Among count-based word embedding methods, the TF-vector method tends to exaggerate the frequency effect, and hence the TF-IDF vector or co-word vector may be a more reasonable choice. Also, the t-score vector may be recommended in search for unusual information that could not be found in frequency. On the other hand, prediction-based embedding seems to be effective when deriving the bases of similar meanings in context.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.480-485
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• 2014

Background The objective of this article is to evaluate clinical outcomes of combined orbital floor and medial wall fracture repair using a three-dimensional pre-bent titanium implant in an East Asian population. Methods Clinical and radiologic data were analyzed for 11 patients with concomitant orbital floor and medial wall fractures. A combined transcaruncular and inferior fornix approach with lateral canthotomy was used for the exposure of fractures. An appropriate three-dimensional preformed titanium implant was selected and inserted according to the characteristics of a given defect. Results Follow-up time ranged from 2 to 6 months (median, 4.07 months). All patients had a successful treatment outcome without any complications. Clinically significant enophthalmos was not observed after treatment. Conclusions Three-dimensional pre-bent titanium implants are appropriate for use in the East Asian population, with a high success rate of anatomic restoration of the orbital volume and prevention of enophthalmos in combined orbital floor and medial wall fracture cases.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2016

Objectives Although the word Zheng (證) is widely used basic term in nowaday's East Asian traditional medicine, it's definition can't be found in ancient texts before 20th century, and the history in which that term got general meaning in public, have not been clearly introduced. So the present author show the way Zheng confirm it's modern implication. Methods To search the books that contain any contents on Zheng's definition, the author mainly used the electronic texts of Super Star Reader (超星閱讀器). To search modern study article on Zheng's definition, the author used China National Knowledge Infrastructure (www.cnki.net). Results The present study shows that : although Treatments according to disease Pattern Identification (辨證施治) have been prominent treatment modality in East Asian traditional medicine, the general definition of disease Pattern (證) was given in late 20th century. Especially from 1955 to 1965, some major scholars like Ren Ying Qiu (任應秋), Zhu Yan (朱顔), Qin Bo Wei (秦伯未) and Jiang Jian Fu (蔣見復) did important roles in it's concept creation. Conclusions Modern concept of Zheng (證) was defined in late 20th century.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-105
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• 2010

Research methodology on Traditional Medicine in East Asia refers to logical thinking system, empirical positivism system and methodology of developing these knowledge systems. Logical thinking system of abstract concepts such as analogy or abduction and positivism system of reasonable explanation such as the five elements and their characteristic theory have been used in various ways empirically or in the form of humanities and knowledge system was developed through parallel structure of empirical positivism and exegetical studies. After the 16th century, evidence was required along with the tradition of putting emphasis on rationality, logicality and empirical positivism and characteristics of medical humanities can be found in emphasizing on medical ethics. Data that can be considered as structural review paper or meta analysis from original data of research on Traditional East Asian Medicine should be evaluated as historical evidence which is equivalent to specialist opinion, descriptive disease research, single case report or case series. Historical evidence based medicine is a research method using Historical evidence to selectively support data that are faithful to traditional theory with higher possibility to be used in future traditional east Asian medicine that links between traditional knowledge and scientific research methodology. Moreover, historical evidence based medicine tries to re-evaluate the value of traditional knowledge and ultimately, guides the direction of development of traditional medicine through scientific rationality based on history and culture.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.746-753
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• 2008

East Asian traditional medicine(Asian medicine) should be understood correctly on the basis of Asian medical network. For the correct understanding we analyzed Asian medical history which could be divided into three categories based on Dong-Eui-Bo-Gam. There are three mechanisms of human diseases, which are the pathogenesis of six external etiological factors(wind, cold, summer-heat, dampness, dryness and fire) due to affection by exopathogen [外感六氣], the pathogenesis of five viscera due to internal injury [內傷五藏], and the pathogenesis of physical constitution due to vital activity [生命體質]. While Chinese medicine has mainly developed the pathogenesis of the former two, Korean traditional medicine has mainly developed the pathogenesis of physical constitution.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.45-67
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• 2022

Currently, there are about 20,000 or so known ancient medical texts from the East Asian medical traditions. Although the most famous texts are widely known, many texts still exist only as original manuscripts. We are interested exploring these texts to uncover the potential benefits of their therapeutic knowledge. This study aims to develop a database program that automatically converts the treatment skills described in the text version into a more structured version. In the previous study, our team analyzed patterns in the way that treatment skills are described and then tried to design a database program algorithm that identified every meaningful keyword used to describe treatment skills and put that word in the right cell of a structured table. This study continues the development of this program. East Asian medical herbal treatment information is broken down into 4 elements: the first one is the name or title of treatment skills, and the second is the symptoms to which the treatment is applied, the third is ingredients used, the fourth is how information is processed and the indications taken. This study presents the algorithm's principles on how to analyze and structure the fourth element, the processing of information and taking of indications, which is described in a form of ancient natural language.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2013

What is the fundamental cause of the broader gap between East and West medicine? This is a very long story that began in the late Renaissance and still continues today. Why it took so long time from the end of the XIIth century when acupuncture was firt imported to Europe to XX century when it was finally settled in France? We present three cases which caused the delayed establishment : A "blisters" article from Diderot and D'Alembert in the eighteenth century, the practice of acupuncture by Dr. Berlioz in Paris in early 19th century, and the reception of the works of Georges Soulie de Morant in France in the 1930's. We attempt to show the misunderstanding that has always prevailed between the East and West medicines because of different viewpoint : the West has not understood the richness and subtlety of the approach of East asian thought and wanted to "align" the Asian medical modality to west medicine with inappropriate and insufficient "experiments" without enough explanation of the principles and philosophical backgrounds. It was not the matter of technology but the mutual incomprehension of history and culture.