• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.1247-1260
• /
• 2009

This dissertation aims to study the five tastes in the Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine. Medicinals as well as Foods are classified by the five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent, which can be tasted by the tongue. With the development of the theory dealing with the medicinal properties, some flavors are summarized out of clinical actions of medicinals, therefore, there is a little difference between the flavors of medicinal herbs and the tastes got by tongue. Each taste acts on or has direct influence on a specific vital organ, and each of which has different physiologic actions. Taste also has a long-term or post digestive effect on the body and its metabolism. When each taste is consumed in moderation, it benefits the corresponding organ. Over-indulgence in any taste harms the organ and creates imbalance among the five vital organ systems. The Korean medicinal herbs with same flavor mostly possess similar actions while the medicinal herbs with different flavors show different actions in the treatment, which are shown as follows. Sour has absorbing, consolidating and astringent actions and acts on the liver. Bitter has the actions of drying or resolving dampness, purging and lowering and acts on the heart. Sweet has the nourishing, harmonizing and moistening actions and acts on the spleen. Pungent has an action of dispersing and promoting circulation of gi and blood and acts on the lungs. Salty has the effects of softening hard nodes or masses and promoting defecation, etc and acts on the kidneys. The five organ systems control and support each other. Proper coordination only exists when there is no one organ stronger or weaker than the rest. Since the five tastes have direct influences on the five organs, the diet we take should have a good combination of the five tastes in order to promote internal balance and harmony. They control our well-being and create dietary balance. Excessive consumption of any of these could result in adverse effects. In a word, when the properties of the five tastes respectively are distinguished, their natures and flavors cannot be separately considered. I think the harmonization of food and medicinals should be stressed on good nutritional diet to maintain good health. The traditional belief that food and medicine share the same origin is a part of Korean medicine tradition.

• Health Communication
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.217-221
• /
• 2018

Background: There are practical difficulties to show exact clinical symptoms such as seizure to medical students at Clinical Performance Examination (CPX). We developed a new CPX case of child's seizure on video using smartphone. Methods: A total of 356 $4^{th}-year$ students of five universities in Daegue-Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam area took the clinical skill examination from June $13^{th}$ to $17^{th}$ in 2016. Among them, 72 students took the new CPX case in June $15^{th}$ and 71 students filled out the questionnaire on whether the new CPX with smartphone video is helpful, authentic, difficult, and necessary for other CPX. All the questions were measured on 5-Likert scale. Results: Mean score of the new CPX was 57.1, lower than the mean scores of the other 11 CPX cases, 62.8. For the question "Smartphone videos helped to solve the problem", 45 students (63.4%) answered 'Very much'. For the question "Is it realistic compared to other questions?" 30 students (42.3%) and 25 students (35.2%) answered 'Very much' and 'Much'. For the question "Is it difficult compared with other questions?" 18 students (25.4%) and 26 students (36.6%) answered 'Very much' and 'Much'. As for the question "I would like to have more tests using smartphone video", 26 students (36.6%) answered 'So and so'. Conclusion: A majority of students responded that video presentation was helpful and authentic to figure out the CPX, whereas they assessed smartphone video was more difficult compared with other CPXs. Further, students were negative toward using smartphone video for the other CPXs.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.89-106
• /
• 2022

Objectives In this study, a scoping review was conducted to inform decision-making related to traditional Korean medicine for people with disabilities in the future. Methods Seven databases were searched to find previous studies on traditional Korean medicine for people with disabilities. Studies published until August 2021 were considered. Using the methodology of scoping review, research on traditional Korean medicine for people with disabilities was reviewed with the following steps: 1) drawing research questions, 2) searching for related studies, 3) selecting studies, 4) extracting data, and 5) analyzing and reporting results. Results Out of 2,072 studies, 7 research papers and 10 reports were finally selected. The research papers included 5 cases studies, 1 survey study, and 1 chart review. Most studies used herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment, but the reports on the interventions were not detailed. The reports included policy studies, project performance guidelines, and project results reports, and most of the evaluation indicators tended to be standardized. Conclusions This study reviewed the literature on traditional Korean medicine for people with disabilities. It presents future directions for clinical research on traditional Korean medicine for people with disabilities and can be used to inform healthcare policies and clinical practice. In the future, quantitative research such as clinical trials, meta-analysis, and health insurance big data analysis is needed to understand the current status and effects of traditional Korean medicine for people with disabilities. In addition, qualitative research is necessary to identify unmet demands of traditional Korean medicine for people with disabilities.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.43-54
• /
• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-based quantitative parameters to distinguish uterine sarcomas from atypical leiomyomas on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: A total of 138 patients (age, 43.7 ± 10.3 years) with uterine sarcoma (n = 44) and atypical leiomyoma (n = 94) were retrospectively collected from four institutions. The cohort was randomly divided into training (84/138, 60.0%) and validation (54/138, 40.0%) sets. Two independent readers evaluated six qualitative MRI features and two DWI-based quantitative parameters for each index tumor. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the relevant qualitative MRI features. Diagnostic classifiers based on qualitative MRI features alone and in combination with DWI-based quantitative parameters were developed using a logistic regression algorithm. The diagnostic performance of the classifiers was evaluated using a cross-table analysis and calculation of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Mean apparent diffusion coefficient value of uterine sarcoma was lower than that of atypical leiomyoma (mean ± standard deviation, 0.94 ± 0.30 10^-3 mm²/s vs. 1.23 ± 0.25 10^-3 mm²/s; P < 0.001), and the relative contrast ratio was higher in the uterine sarcoma (8.16 ± 2.94 vs. 4.19 ± 2.66; P < 0.001). Selected qualitative MRI features included ill-defined margin (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 17.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-503, P = 0.040), intratumoral hemorrhage (aOR, 27.3; 95% CI, 3.74-596, P = 0.006), and absence of T2 dark area (aOR, 83.5; 95% CI, 12.4-1916, P < 0.001). The classifier that combined qualitative MRI features and DWI-based quantitative parameters showed significantly better performance than without DWI-based parameters in the validation set (AUC, 0.92 vs. 0.78; P < 0.001). Conclusion: The addition of DWI-based quantitative parameters to qualitative MRI features improved the diagnostic performance of the logistic regression classifier in differentiating uterine sarcomas from atypical leiomyomas on preoperative MRI.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.21 no.12
• /
• pp.1294-1304
• /
• 2020

Objective: To determine whether T1 mapping could monitor the dynamic changes of injury in myocardial infarction (MI) and be histologically validated. Materials and Methods: In 22 pigs, MI was induced by ligating the left anterior descending artery and they underwent serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance examinations with modified Look-Locker inversion T1 mapping and extracellular volume (ECV) computation in acute (within 24 hours, n = 22), subacute (7 days, n = 13), and chronic (3 months, n = 7) phases of MI. Masson's trichrome staining was performed for histological ECV calculation. Myocardial native T1 and ECV were obtained by region of interest measurement in infarcted, peri-infarct, and remote myocardium. Results: Native T1 and ECV in peri-infarct myocardium differed from remote myocardium in acute (1181 ± 62 ms vs. 1113 ± 64 ms, p = 0.002; 24 ± 4% vs. 19 ± 4%, p = 0.031) and subacute phases (1264 ± 41 ms vs. 1171 ± 56 ms, p < 0.001; 27 ± 4% vs. 22 ± 2%, p = 0.009) but not in chronic phase (1157 ± 57 ms vs. 1120 ± 54 ms, p = 0.934; 23 ± 2% vs. 20 ± 1%, p = 0.109). From acute to chronic MI, infarcted native T1 peaked in subacute phase (1275 ± 63 ms vs. 1637 ± 123 ms vs. 1471 ± 98 ms, p < 0.001), while ECV progressively increased with time (35 ± 7% vs. 46 ± 6% vs. 52 ± 4%, p < 0.001). Native T1 correlated well with histological findings (R² = 0.65 to 0.89, all p < 0.001) so did ECV (R² = 0.73 to 0.94, all p < 0.001). Conclusion: T1 mapping allows the quantitative assessment of injury in MI and the noninvasive monitoring of tissue injury evolution, which correlates well with histological findings.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.181-187
• /
• 2008

Purpose: In order to establish efficient palliative treatment plans. It is important to estimate the survival time of a terminally ill cancer patient as accurate as possible. Proper estimation of life expectancy aids not only in improving the quality of life of the patient, it also promotes productive communication between the medical staff and the patient. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of survival time in terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: Between January 2004 and June 2007, 67 terminally ill cancer patients who were admitted or transferred for palliative care, were included. Patients were categorized into three groups by Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio. Demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and blood samples were analyzed. Results: In univariate analysis, survival time of the highest Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio group (${\geq}12.5$) was significantly shorter than that of the others (hazard ratio (HR)=3.270, P=0.001). After adjustment for low performance status (ECOG score 4) and dyspnea, high Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (${\geq}12.5$) was significantly and independently associated with short survival time (HR=2.907, P=0.007). Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio was also significantly increased before death (P=0.001). Conclusion: Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio can be useful in predicting life expectancy in terminally ill cancer patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.1454-1461
• /
• 2008

In oriental medicine, it is known that Eucommiae Cortex (EC) has strengthening and rehabilitative effects on the bone-muscle dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of EC on the skeletal muscle atrophy. The muscle atrophy was induced by unilateral transection of the sciatic nerve in Sprague-Dawley rats. EC (water-extract, 170mg/100 g body weight) was treated once a day for 12 days. In this study, the effect of EC examined the muscle weight of hind limb, cross section areas of muscle fibers, fiber type compositions, apoptosis related factors (Bax and Bcl-2). EC reduced muscle atrophy in soleus (SOL), medial gastrocnemius (MGT), extensor digitorum longus, and tibialis posterior significantly in the damaged hind limb. EC increased type-I muscle fibers and decreased type-II muscle fibers significantly in SOL of the damaged hind limb. EC enlarged cross section areas of type-I and type-II muscle fibers significantly in SOL. EC enlarged cross section areas of type-I and type-II muscle fibers significantly in. EC reduced apoptotic nuclei and atrophic muscle fibers in SOL and MGT. EC reduced Bax positive muscle nuclei in SOL and MGT. EC up-regulated Bcl-2 positive muscle fibers in SOL and MGT. These results suggest that EC has an anti-atrophic effect and anti-apoptotic effect against myonuclear apoptosis induced by the peripheral nerve damage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2 s.62
• /
• pp.217-230
• /
• 2005

Objectives: Chungpaesagan-tang (CPSGT), which is frequently used for treating patients of cerebrovascular disease, has not been reported by clinical doctors concerning the effect of neuronal aptosis caused by brain ischemia. To study the effect of CPSGT on focal cerebral ischemia in normal and diabetic rats and SHR, focal cerebral ischemia was induced by transient MCAO, and after onset CPSGT was administrated. Methods: Rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into four groups: sham-operated group, MCA-occluded group, CPSGT­administrated group after MCA occlusion, and normal group. The MCA was occluded by intraluminal method. CPSGT was administrated orally twice (l and 4 hours) after middle cerebral artery occlusion. All groups were sacrificed at 24 hours after the surgery. The brain tissue Was stained with $2\%$ triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) or $1\%$ cresyl violet solution, to examine effect of CPSGT on ischemic brain tissue. The blood samples were obtained from the heart.~. Tumor necrosis $factor-\alpha$ level and interleukin-6 level of serum was measured from sera using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Then changes of immunohistochemical expression of $TNF-\alpha$ in ischemic damaged areas were observed. Results: In NC+MCAO+CP and DM+MCAO+CP, CPSGT significantly (p<0.01) decreased the number of neuron cells compared to the control group. CPSGT markedly reduced (p<0.01) the infarct size of the forebrain in distance from the interaural line on cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats. CPSGT significantly reduced the $TNF-\alpha$ expression in penumbra region of damaged hemisphere in diabetic rats. Conclusions: CPSGT had a protective effect on cerebral ischemia in SD rats, especially in diabetic rats compared with normal SD rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7635-7638
• /
• 2013

Background: Sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9) has been recently proposed as a novel biomarker for early diagnosis of several human tumors, including ovarian, cervical and breast cancers. Its clinical value remains to be clarified for endometrial cancer (EC). In this study, we investigated the utility of serum SPAG9 levels in diagnosis of EC and its association with important clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary women's referral center in Ankara, Turkey. Preoperative serum samples were collected from patients surgically treated for endometrial cancer between June 2012-April 2013. Similar aged women with a biopsy proven benign endometrium were used as controls. Serum SPAG9 levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and assessed for links with clinicopathological factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess power of SPAG9 levels for EC prediction. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 63 women with EC and 27 with benign endometrium were included in the study. Mean age in the EC group was $58.7{\pm}1.1$. Median SPAG9 levels in the EC and control groups were 18.3 (range, 12.7-53.8) and 14.1 (range, 4.3-65.3), respectively (p<0.001). A cut-off value of 17 ng/ml for SPAG9 predicted presence of malignant endometrium with 74% sensitivity and 83% specificity [Area under curve (AUC)=0.82, p<0.001]. SPAG9 levels did not demonstrate any significant association with histological type, FIGO stage, tumor grade, size, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, cervical involvement, adnexal involvement, peritoneal cytology or lymph node status (all p>0.05). Conclusions: Testing for SPAG9 may be useful for early detection of EC in asymptomatic high-risk women. Its role in post-treatment follow-up and early detection of recurrence should be assessed in future trials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.140-149
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report the effect of herbal medicine and acupuncture on a breastfeeding woman's postpartum urticaria which was unresponsive to a 1st generation antihistamine and a topical steroid. Methods : Wheals and pruritus occurred to a 36-year-old breastfeeding woman 2 days after the parturition. Symptoms were unresponsive to about a week of systemic antihistamine and topical steroid treatments. GamiSamul-tang herbal decoction was administered three times a day for the first 21 days and twice a day for the next 10 days of the treatment. Acupuncture treatment was applied to 12 acupoints (both sides of LI04, LR03, ST36, LI11, SP10, SP6) for 15 minutes once a week, 5 times in total. The patient's symptom was evaluated with Weekly Urticaria Activity Scale (UAS7) and Visual Analogue Scale for Worst Pruritus within 24 hours ($VAS_{Pruritus}$) each time the patient visited out-patient department. Results : The scores of UAS7 and $VAS_{Pruritus}$ at the baseline were 38 and 8.2 respectively. 10 days after the herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment began, both decreased to 0 and wheal, pruritus, erythema didn't appeared again for the rest of the follow up periods. Conclusions : This study shows the possibility of using GamiSamul-tang and acupuncture to treat postpartum urticaria.