• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.396-407
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• 1999

Although tinnitus is a common disease, it's reason, pathogenesis and treatment are not examined clearly. As tinnitus is a subjective complaint, it is not easy to evaluate objectively and to compare with another. In this study, we intend to estimate the effect of a variety of oriental medical treatments to tinnitus. We inquired about 30cases of tinnitus patients visited the Kwang-ju Oriental Medical Hospital of Wonkwang University from Apr. 1998 to Sep. 1998. We examined the 30cases in the view of sex, age, occupation, duration, etiologic factors, past history, associating symptoms, quality of tinnitus, and recovery rate after treatments. The results were as follows: 1. In distribution of sex, the ratio of male was $63.3\%$(19cases)and\;female\;was\;36.6\%$(11cases). 2. In distribution of age, the ratio of the 2th decade was $6.6\%(2cases),\;the\;3th\;decade\;was\;20.0\%(6cases),\;the\;4th\;decade\;was\;16.6\%(5cases),\;the\;5th\;decade\;was\;23.3\%(7cases),\;the\;6th\;decade\;was\;30.0\%\;(9cases),and\;the\;7th\;decade\;was\;3.3\%(1case)$. 3. In distribution of occupation, the ratio of employee was $23.3\%$(7cases), house-keeper was $63.3\%(11cases),\;farmer\;was\;16.6\%(5cases),\;teacher\;was\;13.3\%$ (4cases), and student, merchant, soldier was each $3.3\%$(1case). 4. In distribution of duration, the ratio of under 1month was $6.6\%$ (2cases), 1 month -6 months was $20.0\%$(6cases), 6 months- 12months was $30.0\%$(9cases), 12months-36months was $23.3\%$(7cases), and over 36months was $20.0\%$(6cases). 5. In etiologic factor of tinnitus, the ratio of unknown reason was $40.0\%$ (12cases), overwork was $16.6\%$(5cases), emotional stress was $10.0\%$(3cases), noise was $6.6\%$(2cases), cases of laying overwork upon stress was $13.3\%$(4cases), head trauma was $3.3\%$(1case), gun report was $3.3\%$ (1case), and after sickness was $6.6\%$(2cases). 6. 9 cases had experienced such a disease as meniere's disease, tympanitis, labyrinthitis, trauma of tympanum, hypertension, etc. 7. Commonly associated symptoms were dizziness, deafness, uneasiness, headache, ear fullness, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and forgetfulness. 8. Most frequent quality of tinnitus were buzzing, whistling, humming etc. 9. In $76.6\%$(23cases) of tinnitus patients, it was improved, but in $23.3%$(7cases) of them, not improved. Total recovery rate was $42.2\%$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2016

Background and Objectives : After thyroidectomy, many patients experience problems report such things as reduced voice range and vocal fatigue, swallowing problems without superior and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate voice and swallowing problems before and after thyroid surgery without laryngeal nerve injury. Materials and Methods : Ninety-three patients who underwent thyroidectomy without laryngeal nerve injury and completed the follow-up evaluations were studied between June 2013 and December 2015. Each evaluation was performed preoperatively, as well as 1 week, 1 month postoperatively. Analysis was performed including voice handicap index (VHI), dysphagia handicap index (DHI), and acoustic voice analysis. Results : Patients show significant variation of parameters in the fundamental frequency (F), maximal phonation time (MPT), shimmer, jitter and soft phonation index (SPI) early after operation, and most of them showed recovery of parameters after 1month of operation. Perceptive complaint of voice and swallowing also showed significant decreased after operation (p<0.005). After 1month of operation, MPT, highest frequency and frequency ranges still showed significant decreased parameters. Comparing acoustic and perceptive parameters of total thyroidectomy and lobectomy, there was no significant changes between them except highest frequency (p=0.042). Conclusion : The results from both subjective and objective evaluations show voice and swallowing disturbance after thyroidectomy even in the absence of laryngeal nerve and provide patients information about the recovery process after surgery. Highest frequency parameter showed most significant changes after operation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.751-756
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• 2023

Objective: This study attempts to increase awareness of hepatotoxicity caused by antipsychotic drugs and to provide updated information on drug-induced liver injury (DILI) to physicians in Korean medicine (KM) clinics. Methods: This study presents a detailed case of a female patient diagnosed with DILI attributed to antipsychotic drugs, highlighting the improvement observed through laboratory findings. Results: A 56-year-old female patient with underlying disorders, including mixed connective tissue disease and depression, was under medical care. One day, she reported experiencing intense fatigue and distressing sensations, prompting the author to order blood tests. The levels of AST and ALT were significantly elevated by more than 2.5-fold, indicating hepatocellular DILI. The RUCAM score for antipsychotic drugs was 9, as no other medications, including herbal medicine, were being taken. Upon discontinuation of the antipsychotic drugs, the patient's laboratory findings returned to normal levels within 2 weeks, accompanied by a recovery of subjective symptoms. Conclusion: This study presents a noteworthy case of hepatotoxicity caused by antipsychotic drugs, serving as an illustrative example that highlights the crucial need for awareness among doctors of KM in clinical settings.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2003

Objectives: It is known that sedative hypnotics would make cross tolerance with alcohol and deteriorate quality of sleep in alcoholics. Light therapy is effective non-pharmacological intervention for sleep disturbance in circadian phase disorders, jet-lag, shift-work and age-related sleep disorders. Authors would investigate the effects of morning light therapy on sleep of patients with alcohol dependence during recovery state without withdrawal symptoms. Methods: 13 patients with alcohol dependence who have not any alcohol withdrawal symptom were recruited. Light therapy during 1 hour in the morning had been administered by 2500 Lux light box through serial 3 days. Sleep state of subjects were assessed by sleep log and the subjective satisfaction at sleep was by 100 mm visual analogue scale. Sleepiness, depressive mood, anxiety were evaluated by 100mm visual analogue scale at 8 AM, 2 PM and 8 PM. For assessment of performance ability that would be associated with sleepiness and vigilance, trail making test A, B and digit symbol substitution test were performed by two times on base line and 4th day. Univariate repeated-measures ANOVAs were performed for each measures except performance tests which were analysed by paired t-test. Results: Sleep latency and sleep efficiency were significantly improved with light therapy and satisfaction at sleep was. There was no significant difference in sleepiness at 2 PM with light therapy but sleepiness at 8 AM significantly decreased and at 8 PM increased. The time to complete Trail making test and digit symbol substitution test were significantly shortened at 4th day compared with baseline. Fatigue at 8 AM were not significantly changed with light therapy but at 2 PM and 8 PM significantly decreased. Depressive mood and anxiety were not significantly changed with light therapy. Conclusion: Although this study had some limitations, it showed that light therapy would be effective modality on sleep disturbance of patients with alcohol dependence who have recovered from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It is proposed that short term light therapy could be used clinically for alcoholics with insomnia. In the future, long term controlled studies using more objective tools for sleep are required to further investigate the effect of light therapy in alcoholics.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.706-711
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• 2017

Purpose: To analyze blinking patterns when watching an ultra-high definition (UHD) television and to compare the results between normal eyes and dry eyes. Methods: A total of 59 participants aged from 13 to 69 years were instructed to watch a colorful and dynamic video on a UHD television for 10 minutes. Before and after watching the UHD television, we measured the best corrected visual acuities, autorefraction, tear-break-up-time, degree of corneal erosion and conjunctival hyperemia via slit lamp biomicroscopy. In addition, questionnaires for the evaluation of eye fatigue and symptoms of a dry eye were completed. The definition of dry eye syndrome was that the tear-break-up-time of one of the eyes was less than 5 seconds, conjunctival injection, or marked corneal erosion. The number of blinks and the duration of blinking were both measured and analyzed at the early and late phases of video-watching. Results: After watching the UHD television in the normal eye group, the tear-break-up-time was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) and the degree of corneal erosion was significantly increased (p = 0.023). However, the subjective symptoms of participants were not aggravated (p = 0.080). There were no significant differences in blinking patterns in the dry eye group. On the other hand, in the normal eye group, the mean blinking time was significantly increased (p = 0.030). Conclusions: Watching an UHD television changes the tear-break-up-time, degree of corneal erosion, and blinking pattern in normal eyes, which may increase the risk of dry eye syndrome.