• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 2000

According to the North Korean documents , North Korean government have emphasized the development of the Koryo medicine (traditional korean medicine) and encouraged the combination of the Koryo and the modern medicine. It is regarded that this attitude arose from the ruler's will toward independency in the medical field and at the same time the lack of modern medical resources . Combinations of the Koryo medicine and the modern medicine in the clinical textbooks are classified as follows: first, mixed medication of the Koryo and the modern medicine. Second, combination of the traditional acupuncture(or moxibustion) and the medication of modern medicines. Third, injection of modern medicines at acupoints. Forth, an intramuscular or an intravenous injection of the Koryo medicine. Fifth, anesthesia using Koryo medicine. Sixth, simple surgery at the acupoints. Lastly, combination of injection and the traditional therapy(eg. acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping) Despite of many achievements in the field of combined medical treatment, recent economic failure and severe famine for several years caused collapse of the health care delivery system in North Korea, and it is hard to find combined practices actually.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Objectives: To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: We conducted a search across 9 electronic databases to find all randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that used Chuna manual therapy as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: Our inclusion criteria were met by 5 RCTs. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of Chuna manual therapy combined with oriental usual care (UC) in terms of the efficacy rate, pain, and duration of morning stiffness when compared to western UC. Positive results were also obtained in terms of the efficacy rate, when Chuna manual therapy combined with medication was compared to medication treatments alone. Conclusions: Our systematic review found encouraging, but limited evidence of Chuna manual therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. However, to obtain stronger evidence without the drawbacks of trial design and the quality of studies, we recommend a comparative research to test the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2023

Purpose: Dyssynergic defecation (DSD) is one of the important causes of chronic constipation in children. We aimed to analyze the clinical features, diagnostic test results, and treatments for DSD in children. Methods: Children diagnosed with DSD using fluoroscopic defecography were enrolled in this study. Clinical data, including the results of colon transit time (CTT) test and biofeedback (BF) therapy, were collected from medical records retrospectively. Results: Nineteen children were enrolled. The median age was 9 years (6-18 years), the median frequency of bowel movement was 1/7 days (1-10 days), the median duration of constipation was 7.0 years (2-18 years), the median age of onset of constipation was 2.5 years (1-11 years). In the CTT test, outlet obstruction type was noted in 10/18 (55.6%), slow transit type in 5/18 (27.8%), and normal transit in 1/18 (5.6%). The median CTT was 52 hours (40-142 hours). Initial medical therapy was performed with the polyethylene glycol 4000, and the response was good in 9/19 (47.4%), fair in 9/19 (47.4%), and poor in 1/19 (5.0%). BF was performed in 8/19, with good results in 6/8 (75.0%) children and failure in 2/8 (25.0%) children. After long-term medical therapy (11/19), 3/5 showed good response with medication alone, 6/8 showed good response with BF and medication combined. Conclusion: DSD should be considered as a cause of chronic constipation in children, especially in those with abnormal CTT test results. BF combined with medical therapy is effective even with age-limited cooperation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 2024

Background: Medication's benefits and harms require careful management. Laws mandate pharmacists to provide essential medication details since inadequate counseling may pose risks. This study explores public expectations for pharmacist-provided side effect information to enhance safety. Methods: A self-developed questionnaire was created for participant to self-report, refined through pilot surveys with experts and laypersons. Nineteen items were categorized into four sections, using closed-ended questions. Adults over 20, having obtained prescription medications within the past year, were surveyed via convenience sampling. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and T-tests using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 and Microsoft Excel. Results: The study involved 189 participants, with a slightly higher proportion of females (59.3%) than males (40.7%), predominantly in their 20s (45.0%) and college graduates (57.1%). Health professionals represented 76.2% of respondents. Over half visited pharmacies at least 5 times yearly for prescriptions. Indirect experience with side effects was more common (30.2%) than direct experience (17.5%). Most (82.0%) showed interest in media-reported side effect events. Satisfaction with pharmacist-provided side effect explanations was low (59.7%), but importance was high (98.9%). Preferences favored combined verbal and written explanations (65.1%), with a majority desiring explanations for common but less serious side effects (82.5%). Healthcare professionals found explanations significantly more sufficient than non-professionals did. Older individuals, those living with elderly, and frequent pharmacy visitors attributed greater importance to pharmacist-provided explanations. Conclusion: Koreans view pharmacist-provided medication side effect explanations as vital but find current services lacking. Enhancements in content and delivery methods are needed in pharmacy counseling to meet public expectations.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.113-123
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study was to report the improvement in two patients with different complaints of sleep disorder treated with herbal medication based on the Shanghanlun disease pattern identification diagnostic system (DPIDS), and hypothesize the meaning of word '更'. Methods : According to DPIDS, patients were diagnosed with Taeyang-byung no. 29 provision, and took Gamchogungang-tang herb medication 15 or 90days. The results of administration were evaluated by the hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HDSS) and the visual analog scale (VAS). Results : After administration of Gamchogungang-tang 15 or 90days, based on 29 provision of Gamchogungang-tang diagnosed according to Shanghanlun provisions, in one case the HDSS decreased from 3 to 1 and the VAS decreased from 10 to 1. In the other case, the VAS decreased from 10 to 1. Conclusions : Each patient not only recovered from symptoms of hyperhidrosis and alopecia areata, but also from sleep disorders following administration of a single medication of Gamchogungang-tang. This case report suggests that the word '更' in the 29 provisions of Shanghanlun means sleep disorder in this case.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.316-319
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• 2012

A 24-year-old man presented with mental change, fever, abdominal pain, tenderness and palpable mass on the lower abdomen. He was a non-Korean engineer and did not accompany a legal guardian, so medical history taking was difficult due to his mental status. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple rim-enhanced lesions of the brain, and abdominal computed tomography showed huge paraspinal abscess. Chest X-ray and computed tomography showed poorly defined nodular opacities. We initially thought that this patient was infected with toxoplasmosis with typical cerebral image finding and immunoglobulin laboratory finding of cerebrospinal fluid and serum study. The abdominal abscess was confirmed as tuberculosis through the pathologic finding of caseous necrosis. We used anti-tuberculosis medication and anti-toxoplasmosis medication for almost 4 months, and then his clinical state and radiological findings were considerably improved.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.244-249
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• 1995

We experienced one case of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in 26-year-old female patient. She had taken antituberculous medication under the impression of miliary tuberculosis on simple chest X-ray at peripartum period. On outpatient follow-up she complained of progressive exertional dyspnea in spite of medication. Through careful history taking and physical examination, high resolutional CT, and open lung biopsy she was diagnosed as pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis combined with incomplete type of tuberous sclerosis. So, we presented the case with the brief review the literatures.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.144-151
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• 2006

Objectives : Cognitive therapy is the most extensively researched psychological treatment for nonpsychotic unipolar outpatient depressive disorders. This review focused on the utility of this approach in severe or chronic depressive disorders, in relapse prevention and also on the potential benefits of combining cognitive therapy with medication. Methods : The author reviewed original studies and quantitative analyses on the effects of cognitive therapy, predictors of response, and neuroimaging studies of cognitive therapy in major depressive disorder. The sources used for the literature search were data bases : PubMed, EMBASE, CDSR on the internet, references in papers or books. Results : This review suggests that cognitive therapy is as effective as antidepressant medication in severe depressive disorders. And cognitive therapy can be an effective alternative to antidepressant medication. Patients benefited significantly more from combined cognitive therapy and antidepressant treatment than from either treatment alone. Most importantly, the addition of cognitive therapy to usual treatment appears to protect against future relapse in individuals known to be at high risk of repeated episodes of depression. In addition, subjects who received cognitive therapy showed significantly greater improvements in chronic depression than receiving antidepressant medication. Pooled data suggests that there is a significant relationship between the therapist's level of training or experience, the type of therapy used and patient outcome. Recent functional imaging studies examining brain changes following cognitive therapy report a variety of regional effects, but there is no consistent pattern across the few published studies. Conclusion : Cognitive therapy has proved beneficial in treating depressive patients. Despite empirical data supporting its efficacy, there are still problems in gaining access to cognitive therapy in clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.456-464
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• 2017

Objective : Although little is known about its origins, neck pain may be related to several associated anatomical pathologies. We aimed to characterize the incidence and features of chronic neck pain and analyze the relationship between neck pain severity and its affecting factors. Methods : Between March 2012 and July 2013, we studied 216 patients with chronic neck pain. Initially, combined tramadol (37.5 mg) plus acetaminophen (325 mg) was administered orally twice daily (b.i.d.) to all patients over a 2-week period. After two weeks, patients were evaluated for neck pain during an outpatient clinic visit. If the numeric rating scale of the patient had not decreased to 5 or lower, a cervical medial branch block (MBB) was recommended after double-dosed previous medication trial. We classified all patients into two groups (mild vs. severe neck pain group), based on medication efficacy. Logistic regression tests were used to evaluate the factors associated with neck pain severity. Results : A total of 198 patients were included in the analyses, due to follow-up loss in 18 patients. While medication was successful in reducing pain in 68.2% patients with chronic neck pain, the remaining patients required cervical MBB. Lateral cervical curvature, such as a straight or sigmoid type curve, was found to be significantly associated with the severity of neck pain. Conclusion : We managed chronic neck pain with a simple pharmacological management protocol followed by MBB. We should keep in mind that it may be difficult to manage the patient with straight or sigmoid lateral curvature only with oral medication.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.202-211
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• 2016

Objective: This clinical study reports on a case of generalized edema with hypoalbuminemia and pleural effusion improved by combined traditional Korean and Western medical treatments in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia medicated with dasatinib.Method: Combined traditional Korean and Western medical treatment was carried out, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and albumin injection. We examined the serum albumin, measured the circumference of both thighs and ankles to estimate the volume of the edema, and evaluated the pleural effusion symptoms.Results: The serum albumin increased, and generalized edema and pleural effusion improved significantly after the administration of Bojungchiseub-tang-gami.Conclusion: These results showed that complications of generalized edema and pleural effusion associated with dasatinib medication have the potential to be improved via combined traditional Korean and Western medical treatments.