• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.31-41
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• 2020

Background : The introduction of policies expanding the coverage of uninsured Korean Medicine (KM) services have requires an understanding of the following components of the service : current financial expenses, degree of financial burden on the patient, and financial effect of the coverage expansion. Objectives : This study aims to determine the annual trend of outpatients' characteristics and the category of out-of-pocket spending in KM. Methods : This study uses data from the Korea Health Panel to analyze use of KM in the Korean population. Using the user characteristics and behavior drawn from the Korea Health Panel data, out-of-pocket spending trends of KM were analyzed by year. The diagnosis and prescription of out-of-pocket spending were also analyzed. Results : The proportion of patients receiving uninsured medical treatment and the number of uninsured medical treatment in outpatient clinics have increased. However, the average out-of-pocket spending per person and out-of-pocket spending per visit are consistent or have decreased. Meaningful trends are the increase of R00-R99 (unclassified symptoms) and the decrease of K00-K93 (digestive system disease) and J00-J99 (respiratory system disease). Conclusions : Expansion of KM medical service and insurance is influenced by uninsured medical treatment of KM. Hence, research to increase medical treatment categories for out-of-pocket spending or explore diseases where KM diagnosis has been proven effective should be further developed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1108-1112
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• 2011

Voice can be widely used to classify the four constitution types and to recognize one's health condition from extracting meaningful features as physical quantity in traditional Korean medicine or Western medicine. In this paper, we proposed the method to update the standard operating procedure (SOP) to acquire and record voices for extracting stable vocal features since they are sensitive to the variation of a subject's utterance. At first, we obtained pitch frequencies from vowels and the sentence and intensity form the sentence as features with voices acquired under subjects' utterance conditions and then the deviation ratios of features from median values according to the utterance conditions were obtained and the condition to minimize the ratio was selected as a new SOP. As a result, we decided the SOP for a subject to utter vowels with the length of 2s~1s and sentences with over 2s interval between them after practice, in consideration of the deviation and qualitative requirements. Stable voice features obtained from updated SOP produce accurate diagnosis, which will be developed and simplified for using in the u-Healthcare system of personalized medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.134-138
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• 2011

Glycyrrhetinic acid, which is a component of licorice, can cause hypermineralocorticoidism through the inhibition of $11{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. So, a high dose intake of licorice can lead to hypermineralocorticoidism with potassium loss and depression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. We report a 73-year-old man with muscle weakness of proximal lower limbs with hypokalemia (Serum $K^+$: 1.4 mEq/L) due to taking self-prescribed licorice without OMD's diagnosis. He boiled 60~100g licorice / day in water and drank it intermittently for 1 month due to arthralgia and swelling of both his knees. Patient's serum renin activity and aldosterone level were far beyond the normal range. He also had metabolic alkalosis with pH 7.552. After quitting the licorice, hypokalemia and muscle weakness of proximal lower limbs gradually improved within 1week.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.165-182
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• 2001

In oriental medicine, diagnostic method was the four examination(四診) which was composed of inspection(望診), inquiring(問診), listening and smelling(聞診), palpation(切診). Inspection of skin color(望色) indicated the observation of patient's complexion(色診). In oriental medical theory, complexion of face was related to meridians(經絡) and zang-fu(贓腑). The change of complexion was reflected the ups and downs of qi(氣) and blood(血), the relative seriousness of an illness. especially, observation of complexion was essential in children, because of diagnostic difficulty and positive change according to each disease. The purpose of this study was to construct for standard measurement and invent for computerizing diagnostic system which was based on observation of complexion. It was objectively measured complexion using spectrophotometer and chroma meter. Measurement of complexion should make an offer the index of diagnosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1497-1502
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• 2009

The cerebellum processes input from other areas of the brain, spinal cord and sensory receptors to provide precise timing for coordinated, smooth movements of the skeletal muscular system. A stroke affecting the cerebellum may cause vertigo, nausea, balance and coordination problems. The papers on central vertigo caused by cerebellar infarction were reported by Kim, Ku, Ko, Choi, and Han. Their cases were classed as Heo hoon, Dam hoon, and Sangchopungyeul yeul dam, and they treated with Jaeumkunbi-tang, Taeksa-tang, Cheonghunwhadam-tang gami, Cheonginwhadam-tang, Hachulbosim-tang. In this paper, three patients who suffered from vertigo were diagnosed as cerebellar infarction. They felt too giddy to walk without any help. After Oriental medical treatment based on Dongeuibogam, their sequelae of cerebellar infarction - vertigo, nausea, ataxia - had improved dramatically. So we report these cases, and suggest Oriental medical treatment based on Dongeuibogam have effect on cerebellar infarction. But more clinical case reports should be further examined.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 1997

The degree of KAP study on oriental traditional medicine was examined with some korean from July 1st to August 30th in 1996. The result of the study for predicting health and ill patterns runs as fellows. 1) It is too weak to understand and adertise oriental traditional medicine doctors and the curable disease; moreover cured diseases rather preponderate. 2) Although most patients go to oriental traditional medical clinic for the purpose of medical herbs in package and acupuncture, they think the medical fee a high expensive. 3) The 77.9% of respondents recognize oriental traditional medical doctors as a profession and others think them only abundant workers; therefore it is rather low to think oriental traditional doctors a profession. 4) Most respondents ink that oriental traditional medicine should improved in the inside; such as the expensive fee, scientific reinforcement of theory, lack of univerality, improvement and enlargement of insurance, unkindness, shortage of publicity, dropped equipment, system of medical specialist, lack of integration with western medicine, exact diagnosis and confidence of remedy and low efficacy, etc. 5) The struggle against the government (1995-1996 about herbal prescription right by western pharmacy) has taken the change of affirmative recognition. 6) The degree that acknowleges of oriental traditional medicine through these basic contents is average 61.65 mark. To be brief, although the step of recognition and attitude of oriental me야cine is very affirmative aspect, actually considerable difficult factors is in the last chosen step.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2012

Objectives : Pulse diagnosis by Expert is the only way to classify 8 Constitutions so the study to supplement classifying method by the questionnaire has developed and modified and ECM-32 System has designed in 2010. But analyzing with Decision tree had many nodes and 32 important questions omitted while processing the data. So this study was to classify the 8 constitution patients into 2 groups first and analyze its characters in consecutive order. Methods : The participants of this study were 1027 patients who classified into one of the 8 constitutions according to pulse diagnosis and answered 251 questionnaires in 2010. They were divided into sympathetic nerve acceleration constitution and parasympathetic nerve acceleration constitution and analyzed with decision tree. Results : The reponses of the questionnaire were analyzed with 4 methods of 5 scales interval method from 0 to 5, Na, Low(1,2), Medium(3), High(4,5), average value, Y/N dichotomy. Average Value had no significance. 1. From the 5 scale interval method 6 questionnaires with 7 nodes (F5e, B1d, F7f, F2a, F1b, C4L) were significant. The accuracy was 92.5%. 2. From L, M, H method 7 questionnaires with 7 nodes(F5e, B1d, F7f, F1a, B1c, C4L, P3d) were significant. The accuracy was 92.5%. 3. From Y/N dichotomy 9 questionnaires with 9 nodes( F5e, B1d, F7f, F1a, B1c, C4L, B1b, P1i, B2a) were significant. The accuracy was 93.18%. Conclusions : Based on this study, Yes or No dichotomy method was most significant and categorized among the 4 methods. Unlike previous studies which used interval scale method only, Y/N dichotomy method was more statistically significant with the questionnaire to supplement the method of pulse diagnosis. For further study by analyzing decision tree method in consecutive order, the patients can be divided into 8 Constitutions with higher significance with less questionnaires.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.42-49
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• 2012

Objectives This study aimed to assessing the performance of Sasang constitutional analysis Tool (SCAT) for Chinese as one of method to diagnose Sasang Constitution and evaluating the possibility of applying SCAT to foreign people. Methods This cross-sectional study was approved by IRB (Independent Review Board) at J Hospital in Yanbian. Informed consent to take part in the study was obtained from each of the participants. The performance of SCAT was assessed through Kappa coefficient and the concordance rate between SCAT and expert diagnosis. Results The concordance rate between SCAT and expert was 61.1% in total and the Kappa was 0.408. When the constitutional probability increased, the concordance rate and Kappa showed a increasing tendency. The concordance rate of Chosun race was 62.1% and others 60.7%. Conclusions SCAT, as Sasang constitutional diagnostic supporting system, may help the expert to diagnose Sasang constitution in Yanbian region.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.162-173
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• 2010

Objectives: In order to confirm a remedial effect and related influence of the clinic treatment by prescribing herb medicines to hypertensives experiencing angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor dosage and suffering from common side effect generally known as dry cough. Methods: 1. We selected the 19 patients who visited National Oriental Medical Center, from August 21, 2007 to August 16, 2008 and suffering from dry cough caused by taking ACE inhibitor, with no other possible diseases causing dry cough. 2. We separated the 19 patients into two groups (Type 1: Bi-Qi hie (脾氣虛) group prescribed Samchuljojung-tang & Type 2: Qi-hie dam-wul (氣虛痰鬱) group prescribed Samsoumgamibang). 3. We then observed the symptom level and post-treatment effect, and recorded changes of dry cough intensity level for each group. Results: 1. Type 1: In the survey of 12 patients, initial level recorded 16.33 at entry diagnosis, and next level meant changing of symptoms, recorded as 2.75 at Stage 1 and reaching 3.33 at Stage 2. 2. Type 2: 7 patients, with initial level recorded as 18.71 at entry diagnosis, and 1.86 at Stage 1 and reaching to 3.29 at Stage 2. 3. No additional prescriptions were issued at Stage 2 or afterwards, and final result indicates that the mean value ended at 3.95 in the total group. Conclusions: It is concluded that there is a significant remedial effect and related influence of the clinic treatment between the Oriental medicine treatment and one of the common side effects of ACE inhibitor, dry cough.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.112-120
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether quantitative evaluation of the color of the tongue substance using $L^*a^*b^*$ color coordinates system could minimize the problems arising from the different illuminating conditions or not. In controlled 4 different illuminating conditions (by natural light, flashlight, f-number, shutter speed),12 healthy subjects were photographed of their tongue substance through a digital camera (C-2100uz, Olympus Co.), both on the top surface and on the bottom surface of the tongue substance by two examiners, twice at 3 day intervals. Clinician evaluation was also performed grading the redness of the tongue substance in the form of 5-points scale by 6 clinicians. As a result, there was no significant difference in color differences between the color of the tongue substance and the reference red card in the 4 different illuminating conditions. Intra-rater reliability was satisfied and even though limitedly, inter-rater reliability was satisfied. Color differences were significantly correlated with the results by the clinicians, although they were applicable limitedly to specific illuminating conditions. Our results indicate that the application of the color differences in tongue diagnosis could not only evaluate the color information quantitatively, but also minimize the problems arising from the different illuminating conditions and that there was the significant difference in the visual evaluation of the red color of the tongue substance, both between the clinicians and between the illuminating conditions.