• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was performed to review the research trends in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Methods: Studies were searched through The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. The search term for the subject were 'Eating Disorder', and 'Anorexia Nervosa'. Clinical research that conducted TCM treatment for AN patients were included. Studies were analyze according to study design, therapy method, diagnostic criteria, population and intervention. Results: 23 articles were selected. According to study design, studies were classified into two randomized controlled trial (RCT), three single group before-and-after studies, and 18 case reports. According to therapy method, they included 19 herbal medicine studies, two acupuncture treatment studies, and two complex treatment studies. The most common pattern identification was 'liver depression with spleen deficiency' (肝鬱脾虛), and the most used herb was 'Root of Bupleurum falcatum' (柴胡). Most of the studies showed effective results in increasing appetite and weight. Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrate that TCM treatments for AN has been effective in alleviating chief symptoms. However, in terms of evidence-based medicine, lack of RCT on TCM treatments for AN and absence of objective diagnostic criteria in case reports are limitations. Therefore well-designed further clinical studies should be performed based on the results of this study are recommended.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2017

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of concurrent therapy with cognitive behavior therapy and person-centered counseling in addition to general Korean herbal medicine treatment for a patient with anorexia nervosa. Methods: A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa was treated with Korean herbal medicine treatment, cognitive behavior therapy, and person-centered treatment. The results were evaluated through a feeding interview, self-checklist, beck depression inventory (BDI) and InBody test. Results: After the treatment period, the treatment effects such as improvement of dietary restriction and elimination behavior, weight gain, and reduced depression were confirmed. Conclusions: This study suggests that concurrent therapy together with cognitive behavior therapy, person-centered counseling, and general Korean herbal medicine treatment is effective on patients with anorexia nervosa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.937-942
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to identify the mechanism about the regulation of appetite by examining the expression patterns of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the hypothalamus of either fasted for 24 hours or anorexia mutant mouse. In order to investigate expression pattern of the vasoactive intestinal peptide, immunohisto-chemistry was employed along with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and dot blotting. Immunohistochemistry has shown that level of expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide and appetite-suppessing neuropeptide, was lower in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and higher in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the anorexia mutant group than in the comparable regions in the control group. This pattern was repeated in the fasting group, which also showed lower and higher levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide expression in the SCN and PVN respectively, In contrast, the vasoactive intestinal peptide mRNA level in the entire hypothalamus via RT-PCR and dot blotting was similar in the fasting and control groups, while it was significantly increased in the anorexia mutant group.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.491-498
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to put clinical emphasis on the importance of considering medical precautions, such as drug history and a possible infection, when treating elderly patients. Methods: We closely observed two elderly female patients aged 79 and 76 who had been hospitalized for the treatment of anorexia at the Department of Hepato-Hemopoietic System, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital in April 2018 for 5 and 9 days, respectively. Results: Through an elaborate medical investigation including a detailed inquiry and laboratory examinations, modifying some drugs and treating a urinary tract infection were preferentially needed to treat these two patients. In the first case, her overall symptoms, including anorexia, were improved after taking Dansambohyeol-tang combined with three types of antacids adjusted by holding 10 drugs in total, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that mainly causing chronic gastric ulcer. In the second case, the urinary tract infection was detected by blood test and urine analysis during the hospitalization period. After taking Geummogpaljeong-san and antibiotics for the treatment of the infection, the chief complaints including anorexia and the negative reaction to nitrite in the urinary analysis were improved. Conclusion: Considering the clinical precautions, including medications and infection possibility, is important especially when treating elderly patients.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Samryungbaekchul-san on childhood anorexia. Methods We searched 11 English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese databases for studies published up to May 30, 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of Samryungbaekchul-san on childhood anorexia were included. In the meta-analysis, relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were indicated as dichotomous variables, and mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CIs were indicated as continuous variables. Results We included 12 RCTs with 1345 participants. The Samryungbaekchul-san treatment group had a significantly higher total effective rate (TER) than that of the western medicine control group (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.64, I² = 0%). The combined Samryungbaekchul-san and western medicine treatment group had significantly higher TER (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.40, I² = 0%) and levels of neuropeptide Y (SMD 0.93, 95% CI 0.47-1.39, I² = 70%) and ghrelin (SMD 1.45, 95% CI 1.14-1.76, I² = 0%) than those of the western medicine alone group. Additionally, leptin levels were significantly lower in the combined treatment group (SMD -1.19, 95% CI -1.88 to -0.51, I² = 86%) compared with the western medicine alone group, although statistical heterogeneity was substantial. Conclusions Samryungbaekchul-san may be effective for childhood anorexia. However, owing to limitations such as high clinical heterogeneity between the studies, unclear risks of biases, and insufficient reports of adverse events and follow-ups, well-designed RCTs with a low risk of bias are needed in the future.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Objectives This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Five-Visceral Weak Children Questionnaire (FWCQ) in childhood anorexia and to propose optimal cutoff values. Methods We conducted two surveys, spaced one month apart, targeting the parents of 366 children aged 2-9 years who had been diagnosed with anorexia for at least one month. To evaluate the reliability of the FWCQ, we calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient and employed the test-retest method. Additionally, correlation analysis was performed between the FWCQ and each visceral question, and discriminant validity was assessed by comparing responses from the anorexic and normal groups. Furthermore, we determined the cutoff value of the spleen weak score, which is closely associated with appetite, for the anorexic group. Results The first survey yielded responses from 336 participants, followed by 171 responses in the second survey conducted one month later. The FWCQ demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.776), and test-retest results were consistent. The correlation coefficients between the FWCQ and each visceral question were all statistically significant. Moreover, significant discriminant validity was observed between the anorexic and normal groups in the FWCQ score and the heart, spleen, and kidney weak scores. The optimal cutoff value for the spleen weak score in the anorexic group was found to be 5.5 points (with a sensitivity of 73.44% and specificity of 66.47%). Conclusions The FWCQ exhibited strong reliability and validity in children with anorexia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1066-1069
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• 2002

Wilson's disease is a rare inborn error of metabolism inherited as a autosomal recessive trait. The disease has varied mode of manifestations. It is characterized by different neurologic disorder and hepatic disease. I experienced a case of Wilson's disease in 40 year old woman who was suffered from liver cirrhosis, severe anorexia, and classical neurologic symptoms such as tremour, dysarthria and ataxia. The symptoms was not relieved by D-penicillamine, Youngyanggaksan and Samchulgunbi-tang but anorexia was improved significantly by same medication.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-42
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• 2001

Anorexia nervosa(AN) is a disorder characterized by disturbance of body image, fear of gaining weight, severe weight loss and, in female, amenorrhea. Compared with normal persons, patients with AN have neuropathic symptoms more frequently. But electrophysiologic abnormalities have rarely been reported. We experienced a case with recurrent neuropathic symptoms after severe weight loss. Further evaluation revealed AN. Electrophysiologic study showed sensorimotor polyneuropathy and focal neuropathy with conduction block. As far as we know, this feature of neuropathy in AN has not been described. We describe unusual feature of neuropathy in our patient with literature review.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.263-269
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• 2009

1. Objective This study is about a Soeumin patient who had Yul Gyuk similarity with anorexia, nausea, sialism. In this study, we report the effects of Sasang constitutional treatment to this patient. 2. Methods This patient was treated by Soeumin's constitutional medications and acupunture according to the result of Sasang constitutional diagnosis. 3. Results and Conclusions This patient's chief complaints were anorexia, nausea, and sialism. By using Gyejibanhasaenggang-tang mainly, he showed positive response about his symptom. This study shows that Gyejibanhasaenggang-tang has effect to Yul Gyuk similarity in Soeumin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.360-362
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• 2015

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (PM) is an uncommon condition in which free air enters the mediastinum. This usually occurs either through esophageal tears after vigorous vomiting, or after alveolar rupture subsequent to a rapid increase in intra-alveolar pressure. Spontaneous PM is a rare entity in anorexia nervosa (AN) and self-induced vomiting is often the cause of PM in patients with AN. We experienced a case of spontaneous PM in an anorexic adolescent, in whom vomiting was not the cause of PM.