• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2018

Purpose: The Korean government approved selected nonprescription drugs (Over-The-Counter drug; OTC drug) to be distributed in convenience stores from 15. Nov. 2012. This study examined the changes in the incidence and the clinical outcome of acute pharmaceutical drug poisoning after the deregulation of OTC drug sales. Methods: This study analyzed the data of Emergency Department based Injury In-depth Injury Surveillance (EDIIS), Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2011 to 2014. The following items were examined: age, gender, intention, alcohol association, pharmaceutical drugs resulting acute poisoning, the clinical outcomes in emergency department, and the admission rate of intensive care unit (ICU). This is a retrospective cross section observational study. Results: A total of 10,162 patients were subject to pharmaceutical drug poisoning. Acute poisoning by acetaminophen and other drugs were 1,015 (10.0%) and 9,147 (90.0%) patients, respectively. After the deregulation of OTC drug sales, acute poisoning by other drugs increased from 4,385 to 4,762 patients but acute poisoning by acetaminophen decreased from 538 to 477 patients (p<0.05). The rate of admission of acetaminophen poisoning increased from 36.1% (194/538) to 46.8% (223/477). The admission rate to the ICU by acetaminophen poisoning increased from 4.6% (25/538) to 11.3% (54/477) after the deregulation of OTC drug sales (p<0.05). Conclusion: Since the deregulation of OTC drugs sales, pharmaceutical drug poisoning has increased but acetaminophen poisoning has decreased. The rate of hospitalization and ICU admission by pharmaceutical drug poisoning with or without acetaminophen has also increased.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

Many pharmaceutical products are available through prescription (Rx) only status. As a result, access to physicians and insurance coverage play a key role in the use of these products, and therefore may affect the population to whom advertising is targeted at. The movement of pharmaceutical products from prescription (Rx) to Over-the-Counter (OTC), or Rx-to-OTC switch changes the cost of acquiring the drug and therefore may change the incentives manufacturers have at targeting particular population segments. This study examines whether Rx-to-OTC switch changes the frequency and the distribution of who is exposed to pharmaceutical advertising. Using an archive of pharmaceutical advertisements and National Consumer Survey, this study examines how individuals with particular demographic characteristics are exposed to pharmaceutical advertisements before and after drugs are moved from Rx to OTC. The results provide evidence that individual's advertising exposure increases after Rx-to-OTC switch. Moreover, the increase in advertising exposure is greater for the low socioeconomic status (SES) consumers which implies they may get more information about the disease, treatment and product after the Rx-to-OTC switch through advertising. If low SES consumers have more exposure to the advertising after products switched to OTC, then FDA policies regulating this switch should recognize the potential role of advertising providing access to health-related information.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2023

Visually impaired people have difficulty accessing medical services and drug information, and it is not easy for them to take the correct drugs. A health law has been established to deal with this, but the plans are not unified and not applicable to all over-the-counter medicines. Therefore, we planned an application that provides instructions for taking general medicines using image recognition technology, bar code, and QR recognition technology for visually impaired people who are in the blind spot of taking general medicines. In this research, we will optimize the camera shooting environment standards and UI and UX screens for image recognition for the visually impaired, and improve the accessibility for the visually impaired to make it more convenient. If you can apply the results of your research to an application and provide it, it will help people with visual impairments learn the correct way to take over-the-counter medicines.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.333-345
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• 2012

A product labelling is one of key tools in ensuring that a patient uses drugs safely and effectively in self-care without professional support. This study aimed to explore the readability and comprehensibility of the information contained on two package inserts of medicines. Two package inserts were tested with first year college students. Fifty-one potential consumers underlined words they could not understand and answered 10 scenario questions. Any differences among groups with different characteristics were statistically tested. Secondly, the readability of two package inserts was assessed with comparison to the level of the 6th grade Korean textbooks. As results, more than 80% of participants properly replied to straightforward questions concerning indication, dosage, duplication, use in pregnancy and contraindication, and 73% about formulation. Less than half answered correctly in multiple choice questions about pediatric use (41%) and side effects (35%). Little discrepancy was observed in the comprehensibility between participants' characteristics. Drug inserts contained about 20% more professional-level words than 6th grade textbooks. In conclusion, Korean consumers may face challenges to understand drug information due to professional terminology and outdated expressions in the current package inserts. To secure safe and effective use of over-the-counter agents, greater efforts should be made to develop more consumer friendly labels. In the other hand, educational supports are required to prepare consumers in a proper level of knowledge for the safe use of drugs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2021.07a
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• pp.347-349
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• 2021

전문의약품은 의약품안전사용서비스(DUR)를 이용하여 병원에서 처방받은 약에서 부작용이 나타났을 때 기록하고 다음에 약을 처방받을 때 부작용이 나타난 약과 비슷한 계열의 약은 처방받지 않는다. 하지만 일반의약품은 약 구매 기록조차 남지 않아 어떤 약을 언제 처방받았는지 모르고 부작용을 관리할 수 없어 불편함을 겪는다. 이 연구를 통해 제안하는 어플은 처방내역과 복약관리, 약 추천, 약국 찾기로 구성된다. 일반의약품을 처방받은 날짜와 시간, 증상, 효과, 부작용에 대하여 기록하며, 기록을 분석하여 증상에 대한 약을 추천함으로써 치료 효과를 높일 수 있다. 환자가 스스로 투약에 관심을 가지고 기록을 관리함으로써 환자가 주체가 되어 질병을 개선할 수 있다.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.356-361
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• 2012

Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid derivative found in many foods and beverages. Dietary caffeine may interact with commonly-consumed over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in body. In this study, cytotoxic effects on the intestinal cells by combined treatment of caffeine with several OTC drugs, including ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Cytotoxic effect of caffeine was more potent in normal intestinal INT 407 cells than in colon cancer HCT 116 cells. Relative toxicity of caffeine and the OTC drugs was significantly enhanced in INT 407 cells when treated together. Intracellular thiol levels of the cells treated with the OTC drugs increased in the presence of caffeine. When HCT 116 cells were incubated with each OTC drug after or before caffeine treatment, the relative cytotoxicity of the OTC drugs increased. The present study may provide basic information about possible health effects through the interactions between caffeine and OTC drugs in the intestinal cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2008

Scopolamine patch is an effective anticholinergic and antiemetic agent for motion sickness in S. Korea. Since this medication is Over The Counter (OTC) medication and may cause serious side effects when misused. Therefore, we evaluate the safety and efficacy for scopolamine patch in this study. We selected and surveyed total 43 patients who purchased scopolamine patch from three different pharmacies located at S and C Express Bus terminals and P Port at Seoul, Cheongju, and Busan. In the result, 11 patients (8${\sim}$15 year old:25.6%) were correctly used scopolamine patch with a children dose and 2 patients were misused. 26 (15${\sim}$60 year old: 60.4%) and 4 (over 6o year old: 9.3%) patients were correctly used with a adult dose. 33 patients (69.9%)answered that they knew the directions well how to use scopolamine patch correctly. Only 24.2% (n=8) patients learned the directions by pharmacist's consultation. Most patients (45 frequencies with duplicate counts) had some experienced side effects and among those drowsiness is the most common one. In conclusion, scopolamine patch as a non-prescription drug (OTC) should be monitored by pharmacist with correct drug consultation.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.13
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to develop whitening mouth rinses formulated with industrial mushrooms and compare them with over-the-counter whitening mouth rinses. Materials and Methods: Formulations with black shimeji mushrooms, mushroom substrates, and mushroom stalks were developed. Bovine enamel/dentin samples were divided into 7 groups (n = 10): Colgate Luminous White, Listerine Whitening Extreme (LWE), Listerine Cool Mint (LC), mushroom extract rinse (MEC), mushroom substrate rinse (MSB), mushroom stalk rinse (MTC), and artificial saliva. Samples were stained with black tea for 6 days, and then were immersed in 100 mL of each mouth rinse twice daily for 14 days. Color parameters (CIELAB [ΔE^*], CIEDE2000 [ΔE₀₀], whiteness index for dentistry [ΔWI_D]) and microhardness (Knoop hardness number [KHN]) were analyzed at T₁ (initial), T₂ (24 hours), and T₃ (7 days). Mouth rinse pH was measured, and enamel was examined using a scanning electron microscope. Data were analyzed using generalized linear models, and KHN with the generalized linear mixed model for repeated measures (p ≤ 0.05). Results: ΔE^* was higher in LW and MSB groups. No significant differences were found for ΔE₀₀ (p = 0.0982) and ΔWI_D (p = 0.2536). Experimental mouth rinses did not promote enamel whitening based on ΔE₀₀ and ΔWI_D. LWE and LC reduced KHN and had a more acidic pH, while MEC had higher KHN at T2. MEC, MSB, and MTC had alkaline pH, not altering the tooth surface. Conclusions: Black shimeji mushrooms are promising for mouth rinse development due to their alkaline pH and non-altering effect on surface microhardness.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2008

Good Laboratory Practice(GLP) is becoming more and more important in the research and development of Oriental Pharmacy(OP) and its globalization. If a OP product is to be registered as Over-the-Counter(OTC) drug and enter international markets, the safety and efficacy studies conducted according to GLP requirements is necessary. The article introduces the content of GLP requirements and the recent development of GLP. The safety and efficacy assessment for OP or herbal medicines under GLP are also covered. This paper also briefly describes the areas that should be covered by GLP regulation and the areas that do not need to follow GLP requirements.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2006

Herbal medicines are widely used for centuries to treat illness and improve health in Asia and the use of these remedies has become a worldwide form of alternative therapy. However, there is very limited evidence from randomized controlled trials to support the efficacy of the vast majority of herbal products. Of the commonly used herbal medicines, systemic clinical experiences and promising experiments in animals have found potential evidence of efficacy for six herbal medicines (Unkei-to, Hachimijio-gan, Keishi-bukuryo-gan, Toki-shakuyaku-san, Shakuyaku-kanzo-to, Sairei-to) in the treatment for female reproductive dysfunction. Because herbs may contain potent bioactive substances, the physician should have an opportunity to outline more stringent regulation, similar to over-the counter drug.