• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.104-114
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• 2021

Objective: To explore the perception of drug utilization review (DUR) system and DUR modernization pilot project among healthcare professionals and patients. Methods: We conducted 8 times of focus group interviews (FGI) between August 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The healthcare professionals and patients who participated in the DUR modernization pilot project were included in the present study. Based on the type of project participation or medical institution, the participants were divided into the following four groups: group 1, hospital; group 2, clinic; group 3, pharmacy; and group 4, patient. Within each group, interviews were conducted under a pre-defined agenda to identify the implicit perceptions of the participants; the contents of the interviews were, then, categorized. Results: Healthcare professionals established a consensus on the positive aspects of the DUR system and DUR modernization pilot project. However, substantial concerns remain, such as additional workload associated with monitoring adverse events or acquiring consents from patients. Furthermore, a difference of opinion over the DUR convenience system was observed. Among 3 DUR convenience system, the personal medication history review service was highly utilized, but pop-up hold function and communication system was rarely used. Conclusion: We observed that systematic intervention using the DUR system is effective for both healthcare providers and consumers. Adverse events caused by inappropriate drug use can be prevented by continuous patient monitoring. Therefore, the role of DUR system needs to be expanded to establish a safe drug management system.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2014

Purpose: Elevated serum phosphorus and potassium levels are a major problem for hemodialysis (HD) patients. Hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalemia are closely related to intake of dietary phosphorus and potassium. Methods: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of food consumed on serum phosphorus and potassium levels in 48 HD patients (20 males and 28 females). We collected anthropometric data, biochemical parameters, and dietary data of the subjects. Dietary data for usual intake were obtained by use of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) consisting of 21 food items. Results: The mean body mass index (BMI) was $22.2{\pm}3.0kg/m^2$, mean serum phosphorus level was $4.50{\pm}1.52mg/dl$, and mean serum potassium level was $4.74{\pm}0.73mEq/l$. Hyperphosphatemia (> 4.5 mg/dl) was found in 45.8% of subjects, and hyperkalemia (> 5.0 mEq/l) in 35.4%. Subjects who took medication only were 56% of total, and those who took medication with dietary therapy were 27%. Patients with medication and dietary therapy showed significantly lower serum phosphorus levels compared to patients with medication only (p < 0.05). Mean duration of HD was $7.9{\pm}7.3$ years and it showed positive correlation with serum potassium levels (p < 0.05). Serum phosphorus levels showed positive correlation with intake of mixed grains and soybean milk (p < 0.05). Serum potassium levels showed positive correlation with intake of mixed grains (p < 0.01), potatoes, fish, and high-potassium vegetables (p < 0.05). On the other hand, intake of white rice showed negative correlation with serum potassium levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that intake of white rice rather than mixed grains is an important factor in sustaining normal serum phosphorus and potassium levels. In addition, limiting intake of soybean milk, potatoes, and fish to under three serving per week is recommended. Finally, conduct of a strict dietary therapy along with medical treatment is desirable because inappropriate food intake increases serum phosphorus and potassium levels to a higher than normal range.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2016

Purpose: This study analyzed the difference in survival time of patients with delirium according to sedative medication. Methods: From January 2012 through December 2013, a retrospective cohort study was performed using the electronic medical records (EMR) of Pusan National University Hospital. Among 900 patients who died from cancer, we selected 240 who suffered delirium based on the EMR. The Nu-DESC delirium screening test was used to diagnose delirium. Results: The median length of delirium period was five days. Delirium characteristics were dominated by inappropriate behaviors (35.0%). Sedatives were administered in 72.1% of the cases. The most frequently used sedative was haloperidol which was used in 59.6% of cases. The delirium period significantly differed by patients' age (F=3.96, P=0.021), cancer type (F=3.31, P=0.010), chemotherapy (t=-3.44 P=0.001). The average survival time was 16.85 days for the sedative medication group and 9.37 days for the non-medication group, which, however, was not significant (t=1.766, P=0.079). Conclusion: In this study, the use of sedatives did not affect patients' survival time. Thus, appropriate sedative medication can be positively recommended to comfort terminal cancer patients and their families.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.32-44
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• 2002

Gu-Chang is a disorder characterized by recurring ulcers confined to the oral mucosa. Despite much clinical and research attention, the causes remain poorly understood. In this paper, we will compare Gu-Chang with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis(RAS) in order to know what is the similiarity between Gu-Chang and RAS. So we will arrange various oriental and western medical literatures which are important. As a result of arrangement of the causes, symptoms and therapys of Gu-Chang, we can conclude through the studies as follows. 1. The etiologies of Gu-chang are following. In the Sthenia syndrome, there are evil heat of external factor, heat of heart and spleen, insomnia, heat of upper warmer, stress and diet, heat of lung and heart, excessive heat of upper warmer, inappropriate food intake, heat conveyance of organ, heat of stomach merdian, moistured heat of spleen and stomach and stasis of liver energy. In the Asthenia syndrome, there are deficiency of stomach energy, deficiency of upper warmer leading to heat, deficiency of middle warmer leading to cold, deficiency of lower warmer leading to heat, deficiency of middle energy, deficiency of blood, decreased fire and deficiency of soil, yin fire of lower warmer, deficiency of heart yin, deficiency of spleen yin and deficiency of qi and blood. 2. In western medicine the causes of RAS is presumed as local, microbial, systemic, nutritional, genetic, immunologic factors. 3. Once Gu-chang is compared with RAS, in the deficiency of yin leading to hyperactivity of fire, deficiency of yin leading to floating of fire and stasis of liver energy, recurring of Gu-chang is similar to RAS. Although recurring of Gu-chang due to tripple warmer of excessive fire has no recurrance, since there are the degree of Pain, site of lesion, dysphagia etc, it is similar to major RAS. It is may be believed that Sthenia Gu-chang is similar to major RAS, shape of recurring, site of lesion, degrree of Pain and white color of Asthenia Gu-chang are similar to minor RAS, but there is no similarity concerning herpes RAS in the literatures that describe the symptoms. 4. Generally, the treatment of Gu-chang is divided into Asthenia and Sthenia Syndrome. The method of cure to Sthenia syndrome is heat cleaning and purge fire, Asthenia syndrome is nourish yin to lower and adverse rising energy and strength the middle warmer and benefit vital energy. 5. Following is the medication for Sthenia syndrome. Heat of heart and spleen is Do Jok San, Yang Gyek San, Juk Yup Suk Go Tang, evil heat of external factor is Yang Gyek San Ga Gam, Stasis of liver energy is Chong Wi Fae Dok Yum, moistured heat of spleen and stomach is Chong Gi Sam Syep Tang. The medication for Asthenia Syndrome is following. Deficiency of upper warmer leading to heat is Bo Jung Ik Gi Tang, deficiency of middle warmer leading to cold is Bu Ja Lee Jung Tang, deficiency of lower warmer leading to heat is Yuk Mi Ji Hwang Tang, deficiency of yin leading to hyperactivity of fire is Ji Baek Ji Hwang Hwan, deficiency of yin leading to floating of fire is Lee Jung Tang Ga Bu Ja Medicine for external use were Yang Suk San, Boo Wyen San, Rok Po San, Yoo Hwa San ate. 6. In western medicine, there is no specific treatment for RAS, and management strategies depend on dinical presentation and symptoms and includes antibiotics, oral rinses, glucocorticoids, immunomodulatory drugs, vitamines, analgesics, laser and antiviral agents.