• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2015

Background: In order to achieve the goals of community pharmacy practice, its legal, labour-related, and economic barriers need to be identified. This study examined pharmacists' perceptions of constraints on providing optimal pharmacy services in order to identify underlying factors and analyse the associations between barriers and pharmaceutical services in community pharmacies. Methods: A survey targeting pharmacy owners was conducted from May to June 2012 using a structured questionnaire including nine pharmaceutical service items. According to the service provision level, we classified pharmacists as inactive (fewer than 5 items among the listed 9 service items) and active providers (5 or more items). Principal component analysis was used to group significant factors for barriers into four thematic components. Associations between the participants' demographics and pharmacy characteristics and the services provided were explored by logistic regression analyses. Results: Participants were 402 pharmacists. Over 60% provided disease management services for hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia. Variables that affected pharmaceutical services included the lack of separate areas for patient counselling (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.18-3.80), and clinical knowledge and information-related barriers (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36-0.97). Conclusion: Strategies for improving clinical knowledge and providing expeditious information are necessary in order to improve community pharmacy services.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2011

Nanotechnology for cancer therapy is playing a pivotal role in dramatically improving current approaches to cancer detection, diagnosis, and therapy while reducing toxic side effects associated with previous cancer therapy. A widespread understanding of these new technologies will lead to develop the more refined design of optimized nanoparticles with improved selectivity, efficacy and safety in the clinical practice of oncology. This review provides an integrated overview of applications and advances of nanotechnology in cancer therapy, based on molecular diagnostics, treatment, monitoring, target drug delivery, approved nanoparticle-based chemotherapeutic agents, and current clinical trials in the development of nanomedicine and ultimately personalized medicine.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.27-28
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• 2003

Obesity is one of the most serious problems in human life which may cause various diseases, i.e., cancer, hypertension and diabetes. The biochemical and clinical researches on this issue have been widely studied worldwide, and the mechanism and improvement of obesity have been gradually clarified. In this workshop, three distinguished speakers from clinical, biochemical and pharmaceutical development fields have been invited. Professor Yasushi Saito is a high prestigious worldwide in terms of the study of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2008

Alendronate is a bisphosphonate that selectively inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Dosing convenience is an important element for the enhancement of patient compliance and the effective management of osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and compliance among alendronate pharmaceutical products (oral once-weekly alendronate 70 mg, daily alendronate 10 mg, and once-weekly alendronate 70 mg with Vitamin $D_3$ 2800 IU) in terms of the change in bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers, and compliance estimates. A retrospective chart review was conducted in patients with osteoporosis who received alendronate 70 mg (Group 1), alendronate 10 mg (Group 2), or alendronate 70 mg with Vitamin D3 2800 IU (Group 3) at the endocrinology department of a hospital in Korea from Jan. 1, 1998 to Mar. 31, 2008. The primary endpoints were the increases in spine antero-posterior BMD T-score and femur trochanter BMD T-score, and the compliance of alendronate products. Secondary endpoints included changes in bone turnover-related biochemical markers including bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, urinary N-terminal telopeptides (NTX) and osteocalcin, and in serum vitamin $D_3$ concentration. There was no statistical difference in the BMD increase among the three alendronate products; spine BMD T-score increased by $0.49{\pm}0.52$, $0.39{\pm}0.48$ and $0.50{\pm}0.41$, and femur trochanter BMD T-score by $0.29{\pm}0.42$, $0.21{\pm}0.53$ and $0.24{\pm}0.22$ in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. With respect to the increases in femur trochanter BMD T-score and the decreases in NTX and osteocalcin, 70 mg once-weekly group was remarkably superior to 10 mg daily group (p < 0.05) The compliance of 70 mg once-weekly group was significantly higher than that of 10 mg daily treatment group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, all three alendronate treatment groups were equivalent in effectiveness, and the compliance of 70 mg once-weekly group was better than that of 10 mg daily treatment group.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of study was to investigate the racial or ethnic differences in FDA-approved medications. Methods: Data on racial-based differences of drugs in PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) were analyzed by searching with keywords, "ETHNIC" and "RACE". Results: There were descriptions related to "ETHNIC" in product directions of 53 cases and "RACE" in 266 cases in 2010 PDR. After excluding 30 cases of duplicates, 289 cases were shown of which 28 cases were verified to demonstrate racial or ethnic differences. Drug category showing the higher racial or ethnic differences was cardiovascular drugs (7), followed by alimentary tract and metabolism drugs (6), nervous system drugs (5), and antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (3). Pharmacokinetic differences between race and ethnicity were observed most frequently; differences in AUC or Cmax showed in 15 drugs and clearance differences in 7 drugs. Conclusions: This study identified the racial differences in medication usage in PDR. Therefore, the results can contribute to safe use of medication in real clinical settings in regards to the racial or ethnic differences.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.263-272
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• 2018

Nonprescription drugs have become increasingly important in Korean healthcare. By leveraging lower-cost drugs and reducing expenditure associated with fewer physician visits, the nonprescription segment can deliver tremendous value to individual consumers and the Korean healthcare system. Many countries have provided simpler and more rapid routes to market entry for qualifying nonprescription drug products, using the established data on drug safety and efficacy, as well as public and professional opinion. In US, the FDA waived the pre-approval process for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs marketed through the OTC Monograph Process. In Australia and Canada, different OTC product application levels are defined, with a reduced level of assessment required when the risks to consumers are considered low. Japan established a new OTC evaluation system in 2014 to facilitate the Rx-to-OTC switch process. The legislative framework for medicinal products in the European Union allows for drugs to be approved with reference to appropriate bibliographic data for old active substances with well-established uses. Through a comparison of the regulatory framework and the requirements for nonprescription approval process in different countries, several ways to improve regulatory practice for the evaluation of nonprescription drugs in Korea have been suggested.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2019

Purpose: The prevalence of supernumerary teeth has been reported to be between 0.1% and 3.8%. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, clinical significance, and associated pathologies of fourth molars based on a retrospective study and a literature review. Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective prevalence study was conducted at the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Dentomaxillofacial Radiology of Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan. The study involved extracting data from the digital records of patients from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2017. The sampling frame included all patients who had panoramic radiographs, cone-beam computed tomography (CT), and multislice CT images during the period under review. Results: A total of 26,721 cases were reviewed and 87 fourth molars were identified. The prevalence of fourth molars in the 5-year study at Okayama was calculated as 0.32%. The mean age of patients with a fourth molar was 30.43 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:0.98. The vast majority of cases were in the maxilla (92%) and had normal shapes(89.7%); furthermore, 82.8% of cases were unerupted. Conclusion: The prevalence of fourth molars in the study population was found to be 0.32%, and fourth molars occurred with approximately equal frequency in males and females. Fourth molars were more common in the maxilla and were predominantly unerupted and small.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.09a
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• pp.23-29
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• 2011

• 한국임상약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.07a
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• pp.28-33
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• 2004