• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.2 s.42
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• pp.202-209
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• 1993

A accidental spills of phenol(100%) to the river Nakdong with subsequent contamination of the tap water fer about two million consumers in Taegu city of Korea were occurred in March 1991. A historical cohort study of 6,913 individuals was undertaken to determine the associated with illness. Population subjects were divided into two groups of exposed and unexposed. Exposed subjects were reported to be phenol associated symptoms significantly higher than those in a nearby unexposed area(39.6% vs 9.4%, p<0.01). Especially, in the related symptoms, highly significant differences were noted in the number of subjects reporting gastrointestinal illness such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. During the accident, study subjects who experienced peculiar taste or odor in the tap water were significantly higher in the exposed areas(92% vs 34.3%). Chlorophenols formed from chlorination of water may have aggravated the problem.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2022

Cancer cachexia-anorexia is a multi-organ metabolic syndrome characterized by anorexia and weight loss. Generally, such symptoms are a serious problem in cancer patients, adversely affecting chemotherapy success and survival rate. Cachexia has been reported to accompany up to 80% of gastrointestinal cancers, such as pancreatic, lung, and colon cancer, though it is relatively rare in lymphoma or breast cancer patients. It is also known that cancer-induced anorexia occurs independently of chemotherapy, although decreased appetite due to chemotherapy is well reported. In terms of pathoflammatory cytokines that are excessively increased by tumor tissues. Since the mechanism of cancer cachexia is not yet fully understood, there are currently no therapeutic agents or diagnostic markers to treat it. A recently published study identified a substance secreted from cancer cells that induces cancer anorexia, and the molecular mechanism causing the eating disorder was discovered. An increase in the expression of this substance has been shown to be statistically correlated with the symptoms of cachexia in cancer patients, and it is therefore expected to be applicable in the diagnosis and development of therapeutic agents for cancer cachexia. This review article aims to provide an overview of the key molecular mechanisms of the anorexia and tissue wasting caused by cancer cachexia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.519-531
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• 2024

Objectives: This case study reports the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment in a patient with cyclic vomiting syndrome. Methods: A 29-year-old female Korean patient with cyclic vomiting syndrome received acupuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion for 2 weeks in hospital. Changes in symptoms were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Index for Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), Nausea Severity Scale (NSS), Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean version (NDI-K), quality of life using the Functional Dyspepsia Related Quality of Life questionnaire (FD-QoL), and gastric motility using electrogastrography (EGG). Results: Post-treatment, the patient showed high satisfaction and improvement in symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The following changes were observed in scores: GSRS: 23 to 19; VAS of nausea: 88 to 95; VAS of dyspepsia: 95 to 12; INVR: 13 to 1; NSS: 17 to 5; NDI-K: 107 to 78; and FD-QoL 84 to 27. We also found positive results in Channel 3 of EGG parameters, implying the improvement of gastric motility disorder. Conclusion: Korean medical treatment can be a therapeutic option for cyclic vomiting syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.271-280
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status of cancer patients and non-cancer patients who were admitted to an internal medical department and to determine the degree of malnutrition among these patients. The study was performed from May to July l996 with 151 subjects recruited from the general medical department at D University Hospital. For nutritional assessment the anthropometric and biochemical assessment were performed. Biochemical measurements included serum hemoglobin, albumin, and lymphocytes. For anthropometric assessment, patient's body weight, skinfold thickness in four areas, body mass index, and percent of body fat were measured. The results were as follows : 1) Of the 151 patients who were studied, 47 patients had cancer while 104 patients had non cancer related disease. The mean age of the cancer patients was 57 and 52 for non cancer patients. The percentage of patients who had lost body weight during the last 6 months was 29.8% in cancer patients and 15.4% in non cancer patients. This percentage difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant. However, there was no statistical significance between the 2 groups in gastrointestinal symptoms which lasted more than 2 weeks. 2) There was a statistically significant difference in nutritional status(lympocyte : P＝.002 ; skinfold thickness in four areas : p＜0.05) between the cancer and the non-cancer patients. The percentage of the patients who had the possibility of malnutrition was 65.5% in cancer patients and 6% in non-cancer patients. 3) There was a correlation between the weight loss during the last 6 months before admission and body mass index and skinfold thickness.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.166-169
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• 2016

Afferent loop obstruction following gastrectomy is a rare but fatal complication. Clinical features of afferent loop obstruction are mainly gastrointestinal symptoms. A 56-year-old female underwent radical total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy for treatment of advanced gastric cancer. After fourteen months postoperatively, she showed gradual development of edema of both legs. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed disease progression at the jejunojejunostomy site and consequent dilated afferent loop, which resulted in inferior vena cava (IVC) compression. A drainage catheter was placed percutaneously into the afferent loop through the intrahepatic duct and an IVC filter was placed at the suprarenal IVC, and self-expanding metal stents were inserted into bilateral common iliac veins. With these procedures, sympotms related with afferent loop obstruction and deep vein thrombosis were improved dramatically. The follow-up abdominal CT scan was taken 3 weeks later and revealed the completely decompressed afferent loop and improved IVC patency. Surgical treatment should be considered as the first choice for afferent loop obstruction; however, because it is more immediate and less invasive, non-surgical modalities, such as percutaneous catheter drainage or stent placement, can be effective alternatives for inoperable cases or risky patients who have severe medical comorbidities.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.459-461
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• 2009

Polycythemia vera is one type of myeloproliferative disorder which occurs due to the clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cell related to the production of leukocyte and megakaryocyte which produces a little less than erythrocyte. Polycythemia vera has a peak incidence in the sixth decade of life with males affected slightly more frequently than females. Vasquez first described polycythemia vera as an autonomous erythrocytosis in 1892, and a further description, delineation of the disease process and a complete course outline were made in 1899, 1903 and 1938, respectively. Symptoms include pruritus, tinnitus, vertigo, gastrointestinal (GI) pain, and bleeding gums. Hyperuricemia and hyperuricosuria are present in about 40% of these patients. Complications are hemorrhage, thrombosis, post-polycythemic myeloid metaplasia, and leukemic transformation. In case of surgery, complications such as hemorrahge and thrombosis are highly likable to happen. We report a case of preoperative and postoperative of a 63-year-old male, who was diagnosed as oral cavity cancer in the mouth floor, with known history of hypertension and polycythemia vera. We considered that conservative management would be an advisable treatment for patients with uncontrolled systemic disease.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose gabapentin for interdigital neuroma. Metrials and Methods: Between April 2000 and June 2003, 32 patients (39 feet) with interdigital neuroma were treated with using low-dose gabapentin. Two of the 32 patients were male, and thirty were female, and the average age was 47.4 years. The follow-up was 6 to 44months (mean 15.1 months). All cases were diagnosed by physical examination and ultrasonography or MRI. Low-dose gabapentin (300-600 mg) was prescribed and shoe modification was recommended. The patients were evaluated through questionnaire. Results: Neuroma was found in twenty one cases at the third intermetatarsal space, and thirteen at the second intermetatarsal space. The sensitivity of ultrasonography was 96% and that of MRI was 79%. Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent or good by 18 cases (57%). Average pain relief ratio was 50.3%, and in 14 cases, more than 80% of pain relief was noted. Nine (28%) of 32 patients showed they had no activity restrictions, such as daily activities or work, whereas 8 (25%) had mild restrictions and 15 (47%) had major restrictions. Twelve of 15 patient with major restrictions had been treated operatively (neurectomy; 10 cases, decompression; 2 cases). One case had gastrointestinal problem. Conclusion: Low-dose gabapentin for interdigital neuroma was one of the effective conservative treatments. The operation may be preserved for patient with the persist symptoms, nevertheless the conservative treatments and use of low-dose gabapentin.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 1981

The fasting serum gastrin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 32 normal healthy subjects without recognized gastrointestinal symptoms and 90 patients with various gastric diseases, who were visited or admitted to National Medical Center from February to June, 1981. The following results were obtained; 1) The fasting mean serum gastrin level in normal subjects was $55.9{\pm}26.3pg/ml$, and there was no difference between male and female. 2) The gastrin levels in gastric and duodenal ulcer were $85.0{\pm}28.4$ and $76.0{\pm}43.0pg/ml$ respectively, and it's values were elevated as compared with normal subjects. In gastric ulcer, the gastrin level was elevated than that of duodenal ulcer, but no significant difference in each other. 3) The gastrin level in stomach cancer was $89.5{\pm}42.2pg/ml$, and it's values were markedly elevated as compared with values in normal subjects. 4) The gastrin level in gastritis was $73.4{\pm}37.4pg/ml$, and it's values were elevated as compared with values in normal subjects. 5) The gastrin level in post-gastrectomy state was $50.3{\pm}16.3pg/ml$, and it's values were slightly decreased as compared with values in normal subjects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.734-739
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to propose a diagnostic method for classifying patients with dyspepsia by symptom type. The correlation between symptom types and X-ray findings was studied in 62 patients with indigestion. Methods: In this study, the complaints and abdominal X-ray findings were collected for 62 patients who visited the outpatient Korean medicine clinic. The medical information related to dyspepsia was grouped for similar patients and classified by symptom type. Results: The patients with dyspepsia were classified into three types according to their medical symptoms: Distention type (N=43, 68.3%), Abdominal Pain type (N=16, 25.5%), and Constipation type (N=12, 19.0%). Intestinal fecal findings (80.6%) on x-rays were noted in most of the cases, followed by intestinal gas pattern findings (14.5%). Conclusion: Classifying patients with dyspepsia by symptom types is an appropriate diagnostic method due to the unclear pathophysiology of indigestion and the difficulty in applying a Korean medical dialectic. Irrespective of the symptom types, the large number of fecal material findings (80.6%) on x-rays means an effect on the interior environment of the body where intestinal feces accumulate easily and decreased gastrointestinal motility in patients with indigestion. This can be correlated with "food accumulation (食積)" as intestinal feces are tangible substances. In addition, gas in the intestine increases visceral sensitivity, causing abdominal distention or pain. The gas pattern findings (14.5%) on x-ray were observed in the "Distention type" and "Abdominal pain type," but not in the "Constipation type."

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.309-319
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• 2007

Chest pain is classified into two major categories of cardiac chest pain and non-cardiac chest pain. Cardiac chest pain is caused by cardiovascular disease, for example, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, valvular heart disease, cardiac enlargement or hypertrophy, dissecting aortic aneurysm, pericarditis, myocarditis, etc. When the chest pain is not attributed to heart disease, it is termed non-cardiac chest pain. Non-cardiac chest pain is caused by pulmonary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal disease, psychiatric factor, etc. In tills case, we treated a 54-year old female patient who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and suspicious sick sinus syndrome. She complained of chest pain, exertional dyspnea, dizziness and headache. For treatment, we made use of Yugultangami(六鬱湯加味) and Daejobwan(大造丸). Before and after treatment, we measured Heart rate variability(HRV). In result, the clinical symptoms were improved and there was a significant increase in assessmeut by Heart rate variability(HRV). Tills result suggests that Yugultaugami aud Daejowhan have a good effect on cardiac chest pain.