• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.109-119
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to describe prenatal nursing intervention studies on pregnant women and their families published in Korean nursing journals to identify research trends and to analyze the characteristics of intervention studies. This scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's framework. We identified a research question and searched six domestic electronic databases for relevant articles. Forty-five references that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were finally selected. We extracted the data using an analytic framework, and then collated and summarized the characteristics of the intervention studies. The most frequently used research designs were non-randomized controlled trials (91.1%), and only a few studies applied a specific theoretical framework (24.4%). The participants were mainly pregnant women only (64.4%) during the third trimester (35.6%) of pregnancy. Prenatal education was the most common type of intervention (48.9%), followed by complementary therapy (37.8%) and psychosocial support programs (13.3%). The most commonly used outcome variables were drawn from the psychological domain (44.5%), although distinct types of outcome variables-especially from the psychological and physical domains-were used to measure the effectiveness of different types of prenatal interventions. This review suggests that further prenatal nursing intervention studies in Korea should expand the study participants to include pregnant women's family members, high-risk and vulnerable groups, and women throughout entire pregnancy. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop integrative prenatal nursing interventions that promote family support and participation by facilitating partnerships among women, families, and nurses before, during, and after pregnancy.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.237-244
• /
• 2019

Understanding the mechanisms of cancer drug resistance is a critical challenge in cancer therapy. For many cancer drugs, various resistance mechanisms have been identified such as target alteration, alternative signaling pathways, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and epigenetic modulation. Resistance may arise via multiple mechanisms even for a single drug, making it necessary to investigate multiple independent models for comprehensive understanding and therapeutic application. In particular, we hypothesize that different resistance processes result in distinct gene expression changes. Here, we present a web-based database, CDRgator (Cancer Drug Resistance navigator) for comparative analysis of gene expression signatures of cancer drug resistance. Resistance signatures were extracted from two different types of datasets. First, resistance signatures were extracted from transcriptomic profiles of cancer cells or patient samples and their resistance-induced counterparts for >30 cancer drugs. Second, drug resistance group signatures were also extracted from two large-scale drug sensitivity datasets representing ~1,000 cancer cell lines. All the datasets are available for download, and are conveniently accessible based on drug class and cancer type, along with analytic features such as clustering analysis, multidimensional scaling, and pathway analysis. CDRgator allows meta-analysis of independent resistance models for more comprehensive understanding of drug-resistance mechanisms that is difficult to accomplish with individual datasets alone (database URL: http://cdrgator.ewha.ac.kr).

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.25-42
• /
• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify factors that affect the utilization of Korean medicine (KM) among children with cerebral palsy (CP) and explore a processing model of decision-making by their parents. Methods : We conducted an individual in-depth interview with 21 mothers of children with CP who were recruited during the observational study. A grounded theory of Strauss and Corbin was used for qualitative analysis. Thus, collected data were classified into open coding including 121 concepts, 27 sub-categories and 7 categories. Results : The central phenomenon of the process of using KM for children with CP is 'KM as an optional treatment not essential'. Therefore there are many obstacles to starting KM treatment and it is easily interrupted for various reasons, unlike general rehabilitation treatment. However, if the patient experiences the therapeutic effect, the parents want to continue KM treatment. They try to provide treatment as much as possible if they can afford it. The parents give priority to general rehabilitation treatment and value the information and experience provided by the caregivers in similar situation as well as expert opinions. Conclusions : To expand and generalize KM treatment for children with CP, efforts to change interventional conditions such as treatment effect, treatment cost, treatment compliance, and convenience of treatment based on the understanding of the strategy used by the parents in KM utilization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.61-74
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse: 1) the clinical effectiveness and safety of traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) and frequency of TKM therapies used and their relationship with conventional treatments. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 6-78 months (n=126). The children who used herbal medication for >30 days or acupuncture treatment >12 sessions within 6 months were defined as the integrated rehabilitation (IR) group; the remaining participants were included in the conventional rehabilitation (CR) group. Results: Changes in the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) were greater in the IR group (6.4±6.1) than in the CR group (4.6±5.8). The reduction in the number of other health problems was greater in the IR group than in the CR group. The GMFM-66 improvement was greatest in gross motor function classification system level 1. There was no between-group difference in the frequency of rehabilitation therapy (10.9±6.6 and 12.0±9.9 in the IR and CR groups, respectively). Conclusion: TKM may offer additional benefits in terms of the GMFM-66 score and other health problems. However, there is a need for further randomized controlled trials involving a restricted CP type and a controlled treatment type and intensity to confirm these findings.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2020

[Purpose] Epidemiological evidence has shown that leisure-time physical activity and structured exercise before and after breast cancer diagnosis contribute to reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Thus, in this review, we aimed to summarize the physical activity-dependent regulation of systemic factors to understand the biological and molecular mechanisms involved in the initiation, progression, and survival of breast cancer. [Methods] We systematically reviewed the studies on 1) the relationship between physical activity and the risk of breast cancer, and 2) various systemic factors induced by physical activity and exercise that are potentially linked to breast cancer outcomes. To perform this literature review, PubMed database was searched using the terms "Physical activity OR exercise" and "breast cancer", until August 5th, 2020; then, we reviewed those articles related to biological mechanisms after examining the resulting search list. [Results] There is strong evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer, and the protective effect of physical activity on breast cancer has been achieved by long-term regulation of various circulatory factors, such as sex hormones, metabolic hormones, inflammatory factors, adipokines, and myokines. In addition, physical activity substantially alters wholebody homeostasis by affecting numerous other factors, including plasma metabolites, reactive oxygen species, and microRNAs as well as exosomes and gut microbiota profile, and thereby every cell and organ in the whole body might be ultimately affected by the biological perturbation induced by physical activity and exercise. [Conclusion] The understanding of integrative mechanisms will enhance how physical activity can ultimately influence the risk and prognosis of various cancers, including breast cancer. Furthermore, physical activity could be considered an efficacious non-pharmacological therapy, and the promotion of physical activity is probably an effective strategy in primary cancer prevention.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.102-130
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The persistence and unpredictability of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and new measures to prevent direct medical intervention (e.g., social distancing and quarantine) have induced various psychological symptoms and disorders that require self-treatment approaches and integrative treatment interventions. To address these issues, the Korean Medicine Mental Health (KMMH) center developed a field manual by reviewing previous literature and preexisting manuals. Methods: The working group of the KMMH center conducted a keyword search in PubMed in June 2021 using "COVID-19" and "SARS-CoV-2". Review articles were examined using the following filters: "review," "systematic review," and "meta-analysis." We conducted a narrative review of the retrieved articles and extracted content relevant to previous manuals. We then created a treatment algorithm and recommendations by referring to the results of the review. Results: During the initial assessment, subjective symptom severity was measured using a numerical rating scale, and patients were classified as low- or moderate-high risk. Moderate-high-risk patients should be classified as having either a psychiatric emergency or significant psychiatric condition. The developed manual presents appropriate psychological support for each group based on the following dominant symptoms: tension, anxiety-dominant, anger-dominant, depression-dominant, and somatization. Conclusions: We identified the characteristics of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed a clinical mental health support manual in the field of Korean medicine. When symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, doctors of Korean medicine can treat the patients according to the manual for the corresponding disorder.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.107-117
• /
• 2024

The objective of this study is to report the clinical effects of applying an integrated rehabilitation protocol to four patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries. The treatments applied included acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion, chuna manual therapy, functional electrical stimulation, and other physical therapies. The evaluation methods included American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale, functional independence measure (FIM), modified Barthel index (MBI), numeric rating scale (NRS) and other scales. All patients presented marked improvements in FIM, MBI, NRS and other scales, along with increased muscle strength in the manual muscle test. The application of our protocol resulted in clear clinical benefits and enhanced the recovery and quality of life for the patients in this study.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.11-27
• /
• 2013

Objective : This is a descriptive study using a program review collaborative group program by special educator and occupational therapist for supporting children's school tasks, and it is designed to explore how changed school performance skills and to analyze how applied intervention methods including sensory integrative approach. Methods : Participants were 6 male elementary students(5 = 1st grade, 1 = 2nd grade). Pilot program had reviewed and its results used as base for planning main program. Main program was implemented by collaborative process with teacher and occupational therapist for 1 year. School AMPS was used to assess school task participants, and informal motor and process skill observation was used to assess self-help activities. Description of records by professions about intervention strategies through assessments was described as qualitative way. Japanese sensory inventory was used by parents. Results : Through the collaborative process, assessing children, planning and modifying program, establishing intervention strategies were implemented. Self-help abilities in group program were increased much more independently. School task abilities were increased slightly but skills changed irregularly and unexpectedly and their reasons became considered more complex from sensory processing reasons to social and emotional reasons. Conclusion : Sensory integration had benefits for primary group program and more complex intervention strategies became to emerge demands for person- environment-task challenges. Collaborative practice with teacher and occupational therapist was supplement and synergic effect for children and group dynamics. More objective and comprehensive methods for measure collaboration and group effect would be needed in further study.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2013

Objectives: Korea has a dual medical system where traditional Korean Medicine (KM) and Western Medicine (WM) exist au equal terms with exclusive practice boundaries. The aim of this study was to identify complementary and substitute relationships between KM and WM in Korea. Methods: The data of 19,413 respondents were collected from the 2009 Korea Health Panel dataset. General characteristics and the medical utilization of respondents were analyzed descriptively. the Univariable Analysis was used to compare the factors that affected KM and WM utilization, and the Multivariable Analysis was applied to identify complementary or substitute relationships between the respondents' choices for KM and WM. The data were analyzed by the seven disease groups; diseases of nervous system, circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, skin and subcutaneous tissue, musculoskeletal system, and connective tissue, injury, poisoning and others. Results: 13.6% and 76.9% of respondents used KM and WM respectively last 12 mouths. 12.7% used both, and 0.9% used KM only. In overall, respondents who visited KM institutions used also WM. However, according to the analysis of choices of medical institutions, non-pharmacological KM treatment and WM has been used as a substitute for another in the diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and connective tissue, injury, poisoning and others. Conclusions: Despite some exceptional disease areas, Korean people use KM complementarily to WM, and this result can rationalize the recent Korean government policies encouraging the cooperation of KM and WM. This study can he used for the future policies development for KM service delivery.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The effects of Gamiondam-tang (GMODT) co-administration within 5min on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of tamoxifen were observed as a process of the comprehensive and integrative medicine, combination therapy of tamoxifen with GMODT to achieve synergic pharmacodynamics and reduce toxicity on the breast cancer. Methods: After 50mg/kg of tamoxifen treatment, GMODT 100mg/kg was administered within 5min. The plasma were collected at 30 min before administration, 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hrs after end of GMODT treatment, and plasma concentrations of tamoxifen were analyzed using LC-MS/MS methods. PK parameters of tamoxifen (Tmax, Cmax, AUC, $t_{1/2}$ and $MRT_{inf}$) were analysis as compared with tamoxifen single administered rats using noncompartmental pharmacokinetics data analyzer programs. Results: Co-administration with GMODT induced increased trends of plasma tamoxifen concentrations to 1hr after end of administration, and then showed decreased trends of plasma tamoxifen concentrations, and especially significant (p<0.05) increases of plasma tamoxifen concentrations were demonstrated at 0.5hr after end of co-administration with GMODT and also related significant (p<0.05) decreases of $AUC_{0-inf}$ and $MRT_{inf}$ as compared with tamoxifen single formula treated rats, at dosage levels of tamoxifen 10 mg/kg and GMODT 100 mg/kg within 5 min, in this experiment. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it is considered that single co-administration GMODT within 5min significantly inhibited the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen through variable influences on the absorption and excretion of tamoxifen, can be influenced on the toxicity or pharmacodynamic of tamoxifen.