• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.211-227
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• 1999

This study was planned and carried out in an attempt to investigate health status and life style. Using a guidline developed by the researcher open-ended interviews were done with a hundred and sixty Korean elderly people, from April 17, through June 2, 1988. The data were analyzed by frequencies, means, percentile scores and Chisquare-test. Major health deviations identified are ; arthritis, blood pressure discrepancies, neuralgia, and powerlessness. Discomfort in relation to elimination(75%) and to rest-activity, especially to the activities of daily living(78%) are experienced ; 11% revealed to be in need of assistance from others. One or more sensory discrepancies are complained by 75% of the subjects. Only 20% of the subjects reported being satisfied with the life-time achievements. Factors revealed that 'descendants' were the major source of pleasure. Leisure hours were spent mostly 'watching TV' 'Healthy life', 'harmonious family life' and 'frequent communication with the family' were the three most frequent wishes towards their family members. 'Insurance for ageing', 'free health care', 'work', 'cultural facilities' and 'warm attention' were the request toward the society.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.20-33
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• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilaiit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 ㎎/㎏, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Th1 and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells In the pancreas. further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• Plant Resources
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilajit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 mg/kg, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Thl and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells in the pancreas. Further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2007

Palpation of the pulse has been used in Korean traditional medicine since ancient times to assess physical health. Pulse wave contour may be obtained by measuring arterial pressure or blood volume change of skin. The latter is called as Photoplethysmography(PPG) or digital volume pulse(DVP). The PPG signal is measured by a device comprising an infrared light sourece and a photodetector. Although less widely used, this technique deserves further consideration because of its simplicity and ease of use. The contour of the PPG is formed as a result of a complex interaction between the left ventricle and the systemic circulation. It usually exhibits an early systolic peak and an early diastolic peak. the first peak is formed mainly by pressure trasmitted along a direct path from the left ventricle to the finger. The second peak is formed in part by pressure transmitted along the aorta and large arteries to sites of impedance mismatch in the lower body. The contour of the PPG is sensitive to changes in arterial tone and is influenced by ageing and large artery stiffness. Measurements taken directly from the PPG or from its second derivative can be used to assess these properties. In some mathematical approaches, the extraction of periodic components using frequency analysis was tried to analysis of the PPG. But we don't understand yet what kind of factor in the cardiovascular system or human body is related with the respective specific Fourier components of PPG. This review describes the background to measurement principles, representative contour, contour analysis and frequency domain analysis of PPG, and current and future.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2009

Bile juice prevents deposition of cholesterol in the blood vessel, digests fat, and absorbs fatty acid and vitamins, and it plays a great role on metabolism. Recently, emotional stimulus and mentally over-depression cause a person to come to illness, and westernization of way of life makes more patients with cholelithiasis, resulting into without bile secretion after cholelithotomy. Ageing, and gastrectomy and kidney transplantation are also the causes of more cholelithiasis occurrences. To solve these medical problems, we studied how Fel Sus Scrofa, which is not different from human bile juice, was used in the traditional Korean medicine. We I researched flavor, property, efficacy of Fel Sus Scrofa and how it was used by folk medicine, and we studied the usage examples of Fel Sus Scrofa in Sanghanlon and Dongeuibogam. The property of Sus Scrofa is bitter and cold. Its efficacy is to deposit glycogen. So it is known that it has been widely used, with many edible forms, without any humoral loss, for the inflammatory disease from various fever, problems of urine and feces, cutaneous disease, pulmonary disease, opthalmopathy, fever, thirst from diabetes, hepatocystic duct disorder. Fel Sus Scrofa can be used internally and externally to prevent humoral loss, and to control cutaneous disease among various pediatric disorder full of fever. And as we have in mind that it also can be used to treat patients with cholestasis after cholecystectomy, it is expected that post study of it must be done.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2473-2476
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• 2014

Background: Little is known about the cancer screening prevalence and correlates in older adults from different racial backgrounds. In the context of heightened efforts for prevention and early diagnosis, we collected information on screening for two major types of cancers: cervical and breast cancer in order to establish their prevalence estimates and correlates among older South African women who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adults Health (SAGE) in 2008. Materials and Methods: We conducted a national population-based cross-sectional study with a multi-stage stratified cluster sample of 3,840 individuals aged 50 years or older in South Africa in 2008. In this analysis, we only considered the female subsample of (n=2202). The measures used included socio-demographic characteristics, health variables, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess the association of socio-demographic factors, health variables and cancer screening. Results: Overall, regarding cervical cancer screening, 24.3% ever had a Papanicolaou (PAP) smear test, and regarding breast cancer screening, 15.5% ever had a mammography. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, younger age, higher education, being from the White or Coloured population group, urban residence, greater wealth, and suffering from two or more chronic conditions were associated with cervical cancer screening, and higher education, being from the White or Indian/Asian population group, greater wealth, having a health insurance, and suffering from two or more chronic condtions were associated with breast cancer screening. Conclusions: Cancer screening coverage remains low among elderly women in South Africa in spite of the national guideline recommendations for regular screening in order to reduce the risk of dying from these cancers if not detected early. There is a need to improve accessibility and affordability of early cervical and breast cancer screening for all women to ensure effective prevention and management of cervical and breast cancer.