• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.402-411
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• 2011

1. Objectives: This study is about three vascular dementia patients with disorientation, memory impairment and cognitive disorder. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Sasang constitutional treatment and suggested using the Mini Mental Status Examination - Korea (MMSE-K), Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). 2. Methods: These three patients were treated by Sasang constitutional herbal medications based on "Donguisusebowon". Acupuncture and west medications were limited as much as possible. We evaluated the symptoms through the Mini Mental Status Examination - Korea (MMSE-K), GDS (Global Deterioration Scale). 3. Results and Conclusions: Disorientation, memory impairment and cognitive disorder that were these three patients chief complaints were improved. This case study shows that Sasang constitutional herbal medications are an effective treatment for vascular dementia patients.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.353-355
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• 2022

We report a case of an 80-year-old Korean man with chronic cerebral paragonimiasis who presented with progressive memory impairment. He suffered from pulmonary paragonimiasis 60 years ago and has been experiencing epilepsy since the age of 45. He began experiencing memory and cognitive deterioration 3 years ago. He visited the neuropsychiatric department of our hospital to check his symptoms and health from a year ago. Contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging study revealed calcifications and cystic lesions encompassing the right temporo-occipital region. Encephalomalatic changes were also observed in the right occipital and temporal areas. The anti-Paragonimus specific IgG antibodies in his serum showed a strong positive response. The neuropsychological test results showed a Global Deterioration Scale of 4 and a Clinical Dementia Rating Scale of 1. The chronic cerebral paragonimiasis lesions in the patient's right temporo-occipital region might induce the dementic change.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.229-242
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• 2018

High strength steel is widely used in industrial applications to improve the load-bearing capacity and reduce the overall weight and cost. To take advantage of the benefits of this type of steel in construction, an innovative hybrid fabricated member consisting of high strength steel tubes welded to mild steel plates has recently been developed. Component-scale uniaxial and multiaxial cyclic experiments have been conducted with simultaneous constant or varying axial compression loads using a multi-axial substructure testing facility. The structural interaction of high strength steel tubes with mild steel plates is investigated in terms of member capacity, strength and stiffness deterioration and the development of plastic hinges. The deterioration parameters of hybrid specimens are calibrated and compared against those of conventional steel specimens. Effect of varying axial force and loading direction on the hysteretic deterioration model, failure modes and axial shortening is also studied. Plate and tube elements in hybrid members interact such that the high strength steel is kept within its ultimate strain range to prevent sudden fracture due to its low ultimate to yield strain ratio while the ductile performance of plate governs the global failure mechanism. High strength material also significantly reduces the axial shortening in columns which prevents undesirable frame deformations.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.351-359
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• 2019

Neurocognitive testing commonly uses the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) to evaluate the overall cognitive function of patients at outpatient clinics, but the MMSE has recently been extensively used in the SNSB II (Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery II) for making diagnoses. We retrospectively investigated the results of routine neurocognitive tests and the results of the blood tests of 120 elderly patients who had been referred to a South Central Medical Center from 2017 to 2018 and who had been examined at a public health center. These subjects' space-time capability was high on the sub-region of the global deterioration scale (GDS). GDS showed a significant increase as the Na decreased on the electrolyte analysis. The subjects' concentration, their language-based orientation for space and time, their memory, and their scores for the frontal lobe function on GDS showed statistically significant reductions (P<0.001) For the normal and abnormal groups according to the ALT and creatinine levels, the frontal/execute function areas showed statistically significant differences (P<0.001) as well as negative correlation between GDS and ALT (P<0.01). In conclusion, this study provides basic information to develop test items that are important for patient screening and diagnosis, and several routine blood chemistry factors provide basic information for diagnosing and assessing the status and progress of cognitively impaired patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

Objectives : Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD) are characterized by progressive decline of cognitive abilities and a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms like depression. Among various diagnostic tools of AD, many studies showed that elevated levels of serum total homocysteine are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated whether elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in MCI and AD. Methods : A total of 86 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD participated. Total serum homocysteine levels in fasting blood samples were measured. We examined cognitive symptoms by MMSE-KC, Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical dementia rating(CDR) and depressive symptoms by Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(K-GDS). Results : The total serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in MCI with depression than in MCI without depression. There was no significant difference in the mean homocysteine levels between AD patients with depression and AD patients without depression. The total homocysteine levels showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with CDR, GDS. Conclusions : These findings suggest that elevated homocysteine level is a risk factor for the decline of cognitive function and depression. We found a significant relationship between elevated serum homocysteine level and depressive symptoms in MCI. But our study had several limitations, thus more research is needed to confirm this finding.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.23-35
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• 2017

Objectives : This study analyzed the trends of patient costs in 7diagnosis-related groups(DRG) since July 2013 when the government made it mandatory for all hospitals and clinics. Methods : Data were collected from the 7DRG score chart published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare(MoHW) from July 2013 to January 2017. The average value of the weekday relative value scale was multiplied by unit price, referred to as'- "patient costs by disease group"-' and they were analyzed by time series. Results : Patient costs had increased among all patients with a comprehensive disease. Small and medium-sized hospitals (hospitals and clinics) showed a slight increase in patient costs. Conclusions : Enforcement of the Korean diagnosis-related groups has led to management crisis in small and medium-sized hospitals and deterioration medical service quality. To solve this problem, The weekday relative value scale of small and medium-sized hospitals should be increased significantly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of task oriented circuit exercise(TOCE) on the balance and cognition in mild dementia patients. METHODS: The subjects of the study were 30 patients with mild dementia and assigned to the TOCE(task oriented circuit exercise) group(n=15) and aerobic exercise(AE) group(n=15). TOCE group performed six task three times weekly for 12 weeks. AE group underwent the cycle ergometer and treadmill exercise three times a week during the experimental period respectively. Timed up and go test(TUG), Berg balance scale(BBS) and AP1153 Biorescue were used to assess the parameters for the balance. Korean-mini mental state examination and Global deterioration scale(GDS) were used to assess the parameters for the cognition. For the statistical analysis, paired t-test and independent t-test were used to compare the differences among two groups. RESULTS: Each group showed improvement in balance and possibility for improving cognitive function. TOCE group especially, there were significant improvements in limit of stability. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that TOCE is a more diverse exercise programs introduced in the study. Furthermore, TOCE can be a helpful to improve the balance and cognition in mild dementia patients.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate cognitive function, performance of activities of daily living, and recognition on oral health with the cognitive function testto dementia or dementia-suspected patients in the outpatients. Methods: The subjects were 94 dementia or dementia-suspected patients visiting C University hospital for the dementia test. Study instruments included Korea Mini-Mental State Examination KMMS, The Bayer-Activities of Daily Living Scale; B-ADL, Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; S-IADL, Global Deterioration Scale; GDS, Korean Dementia Screening Questionnaire; KDSQ, and underlying diseases. Results: Dementia or dementia-suspected patients were 42 by KMMSE test, 25 patients had impaired functioning of daily living by B-ADL test, 27 patients showed the presence of depression by GDS test, and 45 patients showed impaired functioning of daily living. There was a statistically significant difference in the subjective recognition on oral health conditions. There was a statistically significant difference in the subjective recognition on oral health conditions by ADL. There was a positive correlation between the cognitive function and ADL performance. Higher cognitive function is proportional to ADL performance. Conclusions: The cognitive function was closely associated with ADL and subjective oral health conditions.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to test a validity and reliability of Cognitive Performance Scale(CPS), a cognitive measure generated from 5 items(comatose status, decision making, short-term memory, making self understood, and eating). Method: 393 patients in 2 hospitals for the elderly with dementia were measured with CPS by two nurses independently. The inter-rater agreement was tested by comparing two scores. The CPS score was compared with GDS, which was measured by doctors and nurses, and MMSE score which was drawn from the claim data of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. Result: The correlation coefficient between CPS and GDS was 0.742(p<0.0001), CPS and MMSE was -0.794(p<0.0001). The Cronbach's coefficient alpha of CPS was 0.742, Kappa value was 0.772~1.000. The CPS showed high validity and reliability in long term care hospitals of Korea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.1082-1093
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• 2021

Objective: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive, irreversible brain damage and cognitive decline. Although the diagnosis and treatment of the prodromal symptoms of dementia are important, no treatment for mild cognitive impairment has been currently established. Herein, we report the case of an 80-year-old female patient with memory complaints treated with Gugijihwang-tang, a traditional Korean medicine herbal formula, as an add-on medication. Case Presentation: The patient was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment based on clinical examinations using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale, Global Deterioration (GDR) Scale, and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale. She was treated with Gugijihwang-tang bis in die for 12 months while continuing her original medications, including 5-mg donepezil and 590-mg acetyl-l-carnitine. The MMSE score in the Korean Version of the CERAD Assessment Packet increased from 21 to 27 during the 12-month treatment period, and the CERAD 2 score increased from 33 to 62. The instrumental ADL scale score improved from 11 to 5. Other clinical examination results also showed improvement. The patient was satisfied and experienced no significant adverse events related to the Gugijihwang-tang treatment. Conclusion: This case suggests that Gugijihwang-tang could be considered as a treatment method for patients with mild cognitive impairment.