• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.10-19
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to find out the characteristics of patients with facial palsy based on the National Health Insurance(NHI) statistical yearbook and provide the information pertaining to supplement Coverage of NHI. Methods: Based on the data of NHI between 2004 to 2021 for facial palsy(G51) obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the analyses were carried out according to the distribution of gender and the number of patients, visits, reimbursed days, and medical expenses by using the SAS 9.4. Results: The crude rate of facial palsy was reported as 361.71(2021) comparable with 419.60(2004) and 534.11(2009). The rate of men increased from 293.96(2004) to 302.27(2021) but the rate of women decreased from 450.88(2014) to 420.80(2021). The number of patients maintained around 190,000, however, it declined for patients treated Korean medicine(KM) after 2010. As the medical expenses were elevated, especially Western medicine(WM), that of WM exceeded KM's since 2018. The expenses of women were higher than men's in KM. By contrast, there was no difference with gender in WM. For reimbursed days per visits, it has been increased in WM but there was no difference in KM. Conclusion: Although the rate of patients with facial palsy in KM was high with no difference in the whole number of patients and reimbursed days per visits in KM annually, the number of patients in KM decreased but medical expenses elevated. According to this, it is necessary for reinforcing Coverage of NHI to research other factors related to KM.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.251-263
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review the clinical research trends in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Korean medicine (KM). Methods: We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Google Scholar and five Korean databases through May 2019, for studies on KM to treat PTSD. Clinical research that conducted KM treatment of PTSD patients were included. Two researchers independently conducted study selection and data extraction process. Results: Totally, eight studies were included in this review. Types of traumatic events that patients experienced included physical violence/threatening, traffic accidents, sexual violence and personal tragic events. KM interventions performed included acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, physical therapy, and KM-based psychotherapy. Treatment duration varied from two days to more than five months. Follow-up began at least one week to three months after the end of treatments. It was reported that the major psychological and/or somatic symptoms of PTSD, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and musculoskeletal pain, subjectively improved, as well as other objective outcomes: Impact Event Scale-Revised Korean version (IES-R-K), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Hwabyung Symptoms/characters, Electroencephalography (EEG) change, etc. Statistical studies were conducted in three studies only. Outcomes such as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), BDI, and IES-R-K showed statistically significant improvement after KM treatments. There was no study reporting adverse events during or after the interventions. Conclusions: According to this review, diverse types of KM treatments have been used among PTSD patients in eight studies. The KM treatments effectively improved psychological and somatic symptoms of PTSD patients. However, the lack of high quality research as well as the lack of standardization of KM treatments for PTSD are limitations. Further methodologically robust clinical trials should be performed, and the standardization of KM treatments for PTSD should be sought.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2012

Objective : To set up the concept and the category of the medical humanities in Korean medicine education through researching and analysing the curriculum of 12 colleges and school of Korean medicine (KM) in Korea. Methods : We collected self-evaluation reports from 12 KM institutions, and analyzed subjects regarding medical humanities and social medicine. The subjects' relevance with medical humanities was verified using the learning objectives of KOMEEI(Korea Oriental Medicine Education and Evaluation Institute). The number of relevant subjects, the credits and educational hours, and the time of opening, etc. were analysed. Results : 12 KM institutions provide 44 subjects as medical humanities and social medicine related subjects. Among them, 17 subjects were corresponded to the actual learning objective of medical humanities. These subjects account for an average of 7% in total curriculum. Most of the subjects are required courses for premedical students and the fourth year students of medical school. Conclusions : This paper suggests the public discussion on the learning objective and the categories of the medical humanities education in KM institutions. Further studies on developing the educational contents and evaluation tools are also needed to produce good doctors with ability and personality.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.527-536
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• 2017

Objectives : The present study, to confirm the osteoblast differentiation effects of Acer tegmentosum Maxim. (AT) extract. Methods : In this experiment, cell viability, Alizarin red S assay, and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity with AT extract (50, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Also, we studied the expression of differentiation regulator with AT extract in primary calvarial osteoblasts cells (pOB). Results : As a result of AT treatment, we determined that AT extract stimulates ALP activity and alizarin red activities in the pOB cells for mineralization for 18 days. Moreover, these factors increasing osteogenic markers such as Runt-related transcription factor2 ($Run{\times}2$), osteocalcin (OC), osteopontin, osterix, smad1, smad5, activating transcription factor4 (ATF4) and collagen type I alpha 1. Conclusions : These results indicate that AT extract have effect on bone through the promotion of osteoblastic differentiation, suggesting that it could be used for the treatment of bone diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.19-36
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the general public's perception of Korean Medicine (KM) treatment for traffic accident (TA) patients during pregnancy. Methods: A self-developed questionnaire was distributed to outpatients and inpatients between the ages of 19 and 70 at KM hospitals located in Bucheon. The subjects were asked whether they thought KM treatment could be applied to TA patients during pregnancy. The perceptions of acupuncture, pharmacupuncture, herbal medicine, and Chuna treatment during pregnancy were also investigated. Results: 87.50% answered that KM treatment could be applied to TA patients during pregnancy. Most respondents thought that musculoskeletal symptoms of TA could be treated with KM (85.71%). 93.75%, 87.50%, 56.25%, and 52.08% of the respondents said they were willing to recommend acupuncture, pharmacupuncture, herbal medicine, and Chuna treatment to patients after TA during pregnancy. The respondents answered that acupuncture (95.83%), pharmacupuncture (91.67%), herbal medicine (62.50%), and Chuna (66.67%) is effective for pain controlling during pregnancy, and acupuncture (8.33%), pharmacupuncture (12.50%), herbal medicine (45.83%), and Chuna (39.58%) could be affect the risk of premature birth, miscarriage or birth defects. Conclusions: Acupuncture and pharmacupunture treatment are perceived positively, whereas herbal medicine and Chuna treatment are perceived negatively by the general public for the TA patients during pregnancy. In order to establish the correct awareness of KM treatment for TA patients during pregnancy, more clinical studies and case reports on the efficacy and safety of KM treatment during pregnancy are required.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2009

Effects of Korean mistletoe extracts (KM-110), Viscum album coloratum on the specific and non-specific immune responses of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica were examined. The optimal concentration not showing toxicity of KM-110 was determined to $30-40{\mu}g/ml$ in vitro and $100{\mu}g$/100 g of fish in vivo. Even $1000{\mu}g$ of KM-110/100 g of fish did not show any clinical problem in fish though the levels of toxic parameters were slightly increased. In terms of antibody production, KM-110 significantly elicited more antibody production than FCA or $\beta$-glucan. $\beta$-glucan plus KM-110 group synergistically enhanced antibody production. There was no significant difference between KM-110 and KM-110 plus $\beta$-glucan group. The ROI production by head kidney (HK) leucocytes of eel injected with 500 or $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110 was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced than the control and FCA-treated group. Maximum increase in the NBT reduction value was observed in $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110 group but no significant difference was found between 500 and $1000{\mu}g$ KM group. The level of serum lysozyme activity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the 500 and $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110- or FCA-treated group than in the control and $200{\mu}g$ KM-110 group. The phagocytic activities of HK leucocytes isolated from eel injected with 500 and $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than $200{\mu}g$ KM-110 and PBS-injected control group. Korean mistletoe appeared to be a good activator of the specific and non-specific immune responses of Japanese eel.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.105-120
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the perception of Korean Medicine (KM) doctors toward infertility treatment evaluation tools and develop a standard evaluation tool for mental and physical function improvement following Korean medicine treatment. Methods: An online survey (Moaform) was conducted, and responses were analyzed for members of the Society of Korean Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology and KM doctors who participated in the 2021-2022 traditional Korean medicine treatment infertility support program in Gyeonggi-do. Results: In fertility treatment, the most effective indicators that KM doctors wanted to evaluate other than pregnancy and childbirth were reproductive health indicators, overall health improvement, and stress improvement (33.1%, 21.2%, 18.9%). Furthermore, 45.1% of the respondents had experience using the presented infertility stress evaluation tools. For each evaluation tool, 52.1% and 54.6% of the respondents answered that it 'does not reflect the changing circumstances of the times' and that there were 'too many questions'. As for the developing a standard evaluation tool for infertility treatment in KM, KM doctors expected a simple and clear tool focusing on the pregnancy rate. They also wanted the tool to include a reproductive health index, overall function improvement and stress improvements. Conclusions: The survey confirmed the need to evaluate indicators for reproductive health, mental health, and infertility stress in addition to pregnancy rate to assess the effectiveness of KM infertility treatment. It also confirms the necessity of developing an infertility stress evaluation tool with simplified questions that reflects the changing time.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.25-42
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• 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
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the Korean medical examination protocol, which included 14 questionnaires and 20 medical examination devices. Methods: We conducted a pilot observational study of 90 subjects to measure the time required to fulfill each item of the Korean medical examination, to evaluate patient satisfaction, and to report improvements that can be made to the Korean medical examination protocol based on clinical coordinator and subject feedback. Results: Among the 90 subjects included in the study (59 women and 31 men; mean [standard deviation] age, 37.2 [12.3] years), over 80% intended to receive a Korean medical examination if hospitals provided it and would recommend a Korean medical examination to others. The average time spent on the overall Korean medical examination was approximately 88.0 (21.4) minutes. Three areas for improvements were reported: survey issues, including the number of items, understanding, and readability; error issues in device measurements; and environmental issues affecting the sequence of medical examinations and temperature. Conclusions: Most subjects were satisfied with the Korean medical examination. Future studies should be conducted with larger samples to collect data continuously.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.252-261
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• 2020

Objectives: Chronic diseases (CDs) continue to increase due to advances in medicine and increase in lifespan, affecting quality of life and resulting in economic loss through treatment costs. This study addressed the perception characteristics of the effectiveness of Korean medicine (KM) based on the existence of a CD to determine the national preference for KM treatment. Methods: Using data from the 2017 National Survey of KM Usage, we evaluated the perception on treatment effect of 16 diseases by dividing them into the CD group and the non-CD group. Response reliability was verified by applying the chi-square test (χ2-test) analysis method of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical program. Results: The analysis of the perception on effectiveness of KM for patients with CD (n = 1,050, 21.0%) and for patients with non-CD (n = 3,950, 79.0%) showed an overall similar trend for all the 16 diseases. The response rates of having some treatment effect were high for nine diseases namely, disc-related disease (CD: 70.7%, non-CD: 73.1%), osteoarthritis (CD: 72.3%, non-CD: 72.4%), frozen shoulder and shoulder pain (CD: 79.6%, non-CD: 81.4%), back pain (CD: 84.6%, non-CD: 85.0%), sprain (CD: 84.8%, non-CD: 84.1%), facial nerve paralysis (CD: 73.5%, non-CD: 71.7%), stroke (CD: 66.2%, non-CD: 62.8%), digestive disease (CD: 53.3%, non-CD: 50.0%), and common cold and rhinitis (CD: 44.7%, non-CD: 44.8%). Conclusion: The present results found that there was little difference in the perception on effectiveness of KM for each of the 16 diseases in patients with CD and non-CD, however, 70% or more of the respondents recognized some treatment effect on musculoskeletal disorders, regardless of the existence of CD. Preferential political support for KM treatment of chronic musculoskeletal disorders is recommended.