• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.175-190
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• 2011

Objectives: Even though there has been no consensus on the concept of viscera organ between the oriental and western medicine, we tried to investigate the correlation between clinical biomarkers of five Jang and chronological age and develop the models for predicting five Jang biological ages by statistical analysis. Methods: We obtained data from about 120,000 subjects who visited health promotion centers for health promotion and disease prevention from January 2004 to June 2009. Participants were included if they were over 20 years old, and excluded if reported to have cardiovascular disease or other serious medical illness such as cancer, malignant hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, cardiopulmonary insufficiency, liver disease, pancreatic disease or renal disease. Among the clinical biomarkers obtained, we selected the biomarkers which were associated with the function of 5 Jang in previous studies, or showed statistically significant correlation with age. Multiple regression models were used for building prediction models of biological age after adjusting for potential confounders for men and women, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to examine the linear relationship between age and various biomarkers, and multiple regression analysis was used for building the prediction models of five Jang biological ages for men and women, respectively. All statistical data analysis was performed by using SPSS Version 12.0 software and statistical significance was obtained if p<0.05. Results: For males, the best models were developed using 12, 2, 8, 3, and 4 biomarkers for predicting biological ages of heart, lung, liver, pancreas, and kidney, respectively (R2 = 0.57, 0.43, 0.11, 0.24, and 0.93, respectively). Similar to males, for the females, 10, 2, 8, 3, and 4 biomarkers were selected as the models respectively (R2 = 0.76, 0.44, 0.14, 0.38, and 0.89, respectively). Conclusions: As we have developed for the first time the models for predicting five Jang biological ages with common clinical biomarkers, it is expected that these models may be used as clinical supplementary tools in the evaluation of aging status and functional decline of five Jang according to age in health promotion centers and private clinics. At the same time, it is considered that the use as objective tools to evaluate aging status and functional decline of each Jang.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.65-89
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• 2012

Objective : In order to investigate and improve public Korean medical health service satisfaction level, this study was designed. Method : A questionnaire has been conducted on 212 patients who received treatments at six public health centers in the northern part of Gyeongbuk during 15 days between Sep. 24 and Oct. 8, 2011. Result : 1. An Investigation on the usage of herbal clinics in public health centers reveals that 63.7% have received three times or more medical treatments previously and 61.8% have had their illness treated at other medical institutions. In regard to illness 32.1% have had arthritis or muscle aches. 50.9% have taken insurance medication after having had treatments at the public health centers. 66% have assessed acupuncture and moxa cautery the most satisfying. 2. To a question regarding whether herbal health treatment costs higher than that of physician's, the highest response at 31.6% is 'No'. And to a question regarding whether herbal medicines administered at public health centers have more side effects than that of physician's, the highest response at 39.6% is 'No'. 3. To a question regarding whether herbal treatment of public health centers has little effect against acute disease, 48.1% of responses are 'Fair'. To a question regarding whether herbal treatments, when compared with physician's treatments, boost better recovery of patients, 48.1% of responses are 'Fair'. To a question regarding whether herbal medicine is unscientific, when compared with that of western medicine, 38.2% of responses are 'Fair', To a question regarding whether herbal medicine has faster effect on disease than western medicine, 41.0% of responses are 'Fair'. To a question regarding whether herbal medicine is more effective on disease prevention and promotion of health than disease treatment, 38.2% of responses are 'Fair'. And to a question regarding whether the lack of various types of physical therapy devices in herbal medicine, when compared with western medicine causes inconvenience in herbal treatment, 42.0% of responses are 'Fair'. Those responses take up highest portion at each questionnaire. 4. A comparative study between herbal treatments and physician's treatments has also been conducted. To questions regarding which one of the two considering types of disease is the better, responses are the latter accounted for 43.9% against 'Cancer', the latter accounted for 45.3% against 'Endocrine disorders', the former accounted for 30.7% against 'Psychiatric disorders', the latter accounted for 38.2% gainst 'Otolaryngological(ENT) disease', the former accounted for 47.6% against 'Post traumatic stress disorder', and the former accounted for 52.4% against 'Muscle-skeletal disease'. 5. An investigation on frequency of patients' visits via (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. 6. First, an investigation on frequency of reasons of medical treatments reveal that age, occupation, monthly income, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Secondly, an investigation on frequency of subjects taking insurance medicines after herbal health treatments reveal that monthly income (p<0.05) of subject shows a statistically significant difference. 7. First, an investigation on frequency of a claim that herbal treatments of public health center does not have great effect on acute disease reveals that age, education, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Secondly, an investigation on frequency of analysis that herbal treatments has faster effect on disease compared with western treatments reveals that education level, religion, monthly income, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. 8. When herbal clinics of public health centers and general herbal medicine institutions are compared, a survey on additional treatments that herbal clinics need the most reveals that education level, monthly income, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Secondly, an investigation on frequency of subjects who want various forms of herbal medicines reveals that occupation and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Conclusion : In order to improve efficiency of treatments and enhance patient's satisfaction level, this study suggests measures such as providing a differentiated acupuncture treatments as a whole, streamlining an reception procedure, adopting more elaborated computer system for a patient to get proper medical attention, standardizing a treatment duration in order for a maximum result, keeping regular office hours, and optimizing a consultation time for a patient.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.134-149
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• 2008

Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic condition among reproductive-age women. It consisted with menstrual clamps and other symptoms such as nausea. vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Pain control for this disease mainly through NASIDs. but recently CAM therapies, acupuncture and others for painful menstruation are widely used in western countries. But RCT articles about dysmenorrhea in Korea, are not enough to lead such global research trends. The purpose of this study is to review treatment method and other research tendency about dysmenorrhea in Korean Medicine(KM) related dominant journals. Methods: Searching was done through web site and directly searched dysmenorrhea related articles in journals of Korean medicine Gynecology, published during 1996-2007. Results: Twenty five articles were searched in KM related journals, then two of them were simple case report and ten were paper of clinical trials. But there no RCT or control group-designed study. All of them present positive effect on dysmenorrhea but drop out rates were relatively high. Conclusion: KM therapies including acupuncture and herbal medicine have some beneficial effect to resolve menstrual cramps, but KM therapy related Korean articles don't have strong objective power as a evidence in the viewpoint of EBM. So continuous clinical trials such as RCT and multi center trials are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.182-194
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• 2005

Objectives: After the discontinuance of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI)clinical trial in the U.S. in July 2002, I thought that the domestic medical field would come to a crisis in hormonal treatment for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. However, the domestic condition of HRT has barely changed. This study was designed to investigate world research trends in HRT and bring forward the response of the Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) Research Group. Methods: I investigated recent domestic ;md world research trends about HRT and climacteric syndrome. Based on this analysis, I predicted western medical research trends and direction for HRT and medical care of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Results and Conclusions: I propose that we (TKM Research Group) have to explain the side effects of HRT for postmenopausal women and try to suggest complementary therapy for it. For that aim, the Association of Korean Medicine's effort is very important, as well as personal practitioner's actions.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.17-34
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• 2023

Objectives Few studies to date reviewed herbal medicines prescribed to pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to summarize and analyze these herbal medicines. Methods Nine databases were searched for studies published up until November 24, 2020. Nine case reports and one case series involving 17 pediatric patients were included in the study. The clinical symptoms, interventions, outcomes, pattern identification, composition, and frequency of herbal medicine administration were analyzed. Results The symptoms of pediatric patients with COVID-19 treated with herbal medicines were mild or moderate. Herbal medicines have been used to alleviate symptoms, such as fever and cough. No adverse events were reported. All of the patients who received herbal medicines were discharged from the hospital after symptomatic relief. Pattern identification revealed that the lungs were the most affected organs. Epidemic toxins, wind, dampness, and heat were the primary etiological factors. More pediatric patients with COVID-19 were prescribed a combination of herbal and Western medicines than herbal medicines alone. The frequently used herbs include Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Lonicerae Flos, Scutellariae Radix, Armeniacae Semen, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, and Astragali Radix. Conclusions Our review can serve as a reference for the treatment of COVID-19 in children.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.79-96
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• 2023

Objectives This study was designed to review the effect of Jakyakkamchobuja-tang on rat model with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods We used seven databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Library) from their inception to May 2023 without language restrictions. Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation's tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. RevMan software (V5.4) was used for the meta-analysis. Results Five studies were selected following our inclusion criteria. The arthritis index decreased significantly (standardized mean difference=-2.06; 95% confidence interval=-3.07 to -1.04; p<0.0001) in Jakyakkamchobuja-tang group. Also, serum cytokines in serum and paw swelling degree decreased in Jakyakkamchobuja-tang group. Conclusions Jakyakkamchobuja-tang may be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Although there is a limitation that the design of drug dosage varies between papers, it can be expected to be applied as an alternative to Western medicine, and it is believed to contribute to the standardization of herbal treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.15B no.5
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• pp.397-406
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• 2008

Despite the effectiveness of oriental medical practice in the diagnosis of symptoms and providing cure to it, the preferences in western medicinal values is socially prevalent. The diagnosis of a disease using western medicinal practices provides us with an objective diagnostic result, however, decisions by oriental doctors are based on their heuristic intuitions developed by practice and experience. Objective solutions for the cure of symptoms using oriental medical therapy can have a high impact on the world market. Therefore, development of diagnostic machines based on oriental therapy can enhance the Ocular Inspection which is evaluated as one of the best diagnostic treatment among Oriental Medical Science, is not researched much compared to other diagnoses. Because there is no color diagnosis rules for digital machines to analyze the actual color, looking at the person's face color is one of the most important components to diagnose the disease or illness. The thesis proposes the implementation of absolute observing a person's face color standards of the color settings for objective diagnosis. As a results, comparative digital color analysis for observing a person's face color can be the most effective rule based Color scheme system to diagnose disease. A standard solution for the researching conditions is suggested to reduce the variable which may occur depending on the differences between the researching conditions.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.27-37
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Ginseng Radix Alba extract solution on the cell cycle regulation, apoptosis of human uterine myoma cells. Methods: Primary cultured human uterine myoma cells were treated with extract solution of Ginseng Radix Alba concentration of 1, 10 and $100mg/m{\ell}$ for 48 hours. We underwent flow cytometry and western blotting for cell cycle and apoptosis related factors. Results: In flow cytometry, a slight promotion of G1 phase in $1mg/m{\ell}$ group had been observed but, simultaneously a delay of G1 phase in 10 and $100mg/m{\ell}$ groups were also observed. The manifestation of cyclin D1 in Ginseng Radix Alba extract solution medicated group increased compared to the control group. The manifestation of Bax controlling apoptosis increased in terms of concentration but Bcl-2 showed no change. Also VEGF increased in terms of concentration. Conclusion: The present study suggests that Ginseng Radix Alba extract solution treatment in human uterine myoma cells induce the delay of cell cycle and apoptosis. These results suggest that Ginseng Radix Alba will be a promising agent for use in therapeutics agents against human uterine myoma.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.38-48
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Hominis Placenta (紫河車) on the growth of human uterine myoma cells and cell apoptosis. Methods: Human uterine leiomyoma cells were cultured and treated with Hominis Placenta extract for 48 hours. Cell proliferation and activity was analyzed by MTT assay. We analyzed the cell cycle of human uterine myoma cells treated Hominis Placenta extract by FACS. Expression of proteins related to cell apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-2), cyclin-D1 and VEGF were evaluated by Western blotting method. Results: The human uterine myoma cells treated by Hominis Placenta extract didn't proliferate below the concentration of $10mg/m{\ell}$. And there was no remarkable difference on cell cycle analysis below the concentration of $10mg/m{\ell}$. The expression of Bax was decreased and the expression of Bcl-2 was increased after the treatment of Hominis Placenta extract. But the expressions of cyclin-D1 and VEGF were increased after the treatment of Hominis Placenta extract. Conclusion: This study suggests that Hominis Placenta induce uterine myoma cell apoptosis and have effect on the myoma cell proliferation in the concentraion below $10mg/m{\ell}$.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.49-58
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus extract solution on cell cycle regulation and apoptosis of human leiomyomal cell. Methods: The leiomyoma cell of patients was used in the study, and we administered the extract solution of Astragalus membranaceus concentration at 1, $10mg/m{\ell}$ to the leiomyoma cell for 48 hours. We used flow cytometry and western blotting to confirm cell cycle and apoptosis. Results: In flow cytometry, G1 phase of the $1mg/m{\ell}$ and $10mg/m{\ell}$ group was shortened and S phase of the $1mg/m{\ell}$ and $10mg/m{\ell}$ group was increased. Cycline D1 expression increased in 1, $10mg/m{\ell}$ group. Bcl-2 expression decreased in 1, $10mg/m{\ell}$ groups than control group. And Bax expression that regulated cell apoptosis more increased in 1, $10mg/m{\ell}$ group than control group. VEGF expression rised in higher Astragalus membranaceus concentration group. Conclusion: This study suggest that Astragalus membranaceus might induce cell apoptosis of leiomyoma cell and shorten cell cycle. And Astragalus membranaceus would not have the regulation effect of cell cycle.