• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-192
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was aimed to identify the status of utilization of healthcare services and self-care behaviors, knowledge level and influencing choice factors of non-prescription drugs (OTCs) on consumers since sales of OTCs at the outside of pharmacy in Korea, and to confirm the changes in perception of consumers for OTCs policy through check of perception level for current OTCs policy. Methods: Data was collected from April 2014 to May 2014 from questionnaires by 418 adults who are in university located in Seoul or live in Seoul Metropolitan area but not health science major and healthcare providers. Results: The female gender was 56.6% and University students were 73.9%. The ratio by age was as follows: below 25 (60.9%), 26-30 (18.2%), 30-40s (14.9%) and 50-60s (6.0%). The knowledge level of OTCs for use of medicine, dose and side effects was generally low and especially they knew little how to deal with side effects after taking OTCs on sale at the outside of pharmacy, even though over one year has passed since the policy. The proportion of those who thought the current OTCs policy has problems regarding safety issues since the policy was very high and it was also high that the study group thought there are problems with the current way to sale OTCs and educate employees. Conclusion: After selling OTCs at the outside of pharmacy, the consumers still lacked knowledge of OTCs and did not get correct information properly. Especially, they had little information about the way to deal with side effects after taking OTCs. Public policy should be based on the health of the people and the public health is a national health priority. When all these things are taken into consideration, the government has to strengthen the OTCs policy and provide a safer environment with the accurate drug information for people than developing OTCs policy in the future.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

Objectives Previous literature on the prescription change among patients with schizophrenia mainly focused on antipsychotics. This study investigated chronological change in the patterns of discharge medication among inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric inpatient unit of a university-affiliated hospital. Methods All admission records at a psychiatric unit of Hanyang University Guri Hospital with discharge diagnosis of schizophrenia during two different five-year time frames (1996-2000 and 2006-2010) were reviewed including the demographic and clinical data and discharge medications. The data were gathered from a total of 207 patients (95 in 1990s and 112 in 2000s). Results The frequency in use of atypical antipsychotics (p < 0.01), antidepressants (p < 0.05), beta-blockers (p < 0.01), and benzodiazepine (p < 0.01) was significantly higher in 2000s. Anticholinergic drugs were less likely used in 2000s (p < 0.01). We did not find significant differences in the equivalent dose of antipsychotic drugs, the use of mood stabilizers and cholinergic drugs between two time frames. Conclusions Increased proportion of atypical antipsychotics and decreased use of anti-parkinsonian drugs are in line with literature. Our results show that more diverse classes of psychotic medications are used for schizophrenia in recent years. It is likely that psychiatrists are becoming more conscious of negative symptoms, anxiety, and depression in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia as well as positive symptoms of the illness.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.471-481
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• 2017

Objectives : Noemyeong-san (NMS) is a novel herbal prescription composed of five oriental medicinal herbs including Prunellae Spica, Betulae Cortex, Foeniculi Fructus, Asiasari Radix, and Clematidis Radix for treating Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of NMS on BV2 microglia to evaluate the potential action of this formula for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease. Methods : To determine the cytotoxicity of NMS on BV2 microglia, the MTT assay was performed. The effects of NMS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia were determined with a nitric oxide (NO) assay and western blots for inflammatory mediator-related proteins, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) pathway-related proteins, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Result : NMS inhibited induction of iNOS and COX-2 as well as NO production without affecting the cell viability in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. NMS also suppressed activation of ERK and p38 MAPK among main kinases of MAPKs as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ by LPS stimulation. Furthermore, NMS dose-dependently induced the expression of HO-1 and the inhibitory effect of NMS on the production of NO were blocked by pretreatment with an HO-1 inhibitor, Snpp. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that NMS has potent anti-neuroinflammatory effect on the LPS-stimulated microglia. These findings provide evidences for NMS to be considered as a new prescription for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.97-108
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• 2010

Salt is a vital inorganic substance to human body and is seasoning in food. It is an absolute alternating factor on fermented food. What's more, in the oriental medicine, it is widely used to raise the pharmacological effect as a component of a prescription when processing a medicine, and when taking the medicine. Though, Importance of salt is often unaware and it is not used in the right way. focusing on "東醫寶鑑 內景篇 Donguibogam-Naegyeong" I categorized the methods of salt's prescription, dose, processing, seasoning, etc. The contents were compared and studied as well. When salt is used as a medicine, It is used as a main medicine, complimentary(aid) medicine, Jjim-Jil(hot towel or bath etc), vomiting medicine and gargling water. when taking the salt water with other medicine, depending on the type of the medicine, boiled salt water, warm alcohol or salt water, mixing powder medicine with salt water etc The methods are diverse. The reason to process medicine with salt or salt water is to bring the pharmacological Qi(energy) down to increase remedial value. When processing a medicine, kneading dough with salt water and the case using food ingredient as medicine salt was used as seasoning. Kneaded mud with salt were used to cover medicine or on the outer surface. This proves that it prevents the dryness and helps the medicine cooked even. Like this, salt is vital and highly-valued medicine in the oriental medicine. learning the right method of using salt and if it were used properly It is considered that it would increase the Pharmacological effect.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2017

Objectives: A significant concern has been raised about the emerging resistance that is largely caused by the excessive or inappropriate use of antibacterial agents for viral respiratory infections. This study investigated the trend of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and the use of antibiotics. Methods: Utilizing the national level health insurance claims data from 2005 to 2008, we examined encounter days, antibiotic use, and the prescription rate for respiratory tract infections including upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), and otitis media in outpatient settings. The antibiotic use was measured as defined daily dose per 1,000 patients per day (DDD/1,000 patients/day). Results: The visit for URTI increased from 141,693,465 in 2005 to 120,717,966 in 2008 and the visit for LRTI decreased from 61,778,718 to 66,930,122. For RTIs, prescription rates of antibiotics decreased from 65.2% to 58.5% for URTIs and 76.9% to 68.3% for LRTIs from 2005 to 2008. The antibiotic use decreased to 20.85 DDD/1,000 patients/day after a significant increase of 22.01 DDD/1,000 patients/day in 2006. Among antibiotics, J01CR had the highest use- 7.93 DDD/1,000 patients/day followed by J01DC of 3.71 DDD/1,000 patients/day and J01FA of 3.2 DDD/1,000 patients/day. One notable trend is that J01FA presented a continuous increase in antibiotic use from 2.3 in 2005 to 3.26 DDD/1,000 patients/day in 2008. Conclusion: The use of antibiotics had poor compliance to guidelines for RTIs. Despite decrease in the use of antibiotics, prescription rates for URTIs were still about 50% indicating that the delayed prescribing antibiotics (or wait-and-see) were not observed.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the single oral toxicity of HBX-6 in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods : Twenty SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 5 rats each and were administrated singly to female and male SD rats, as an oral dose of 2000 mg/kg. HBX-6 is a newly combined Korean herbal medicine formula 30 % Ethanol extract derived from The Dongui Bogam. Now we are developing the prescription for the aim of improving benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) without undesirable side effects. HBX-6 is composed of nine medicinal herbs: Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata, Corni Fructus, Cistanchis Herba, Psoraleae Semen, Dendrobii Herba, Morindae Radix, Cuscutae Semen, Trigonellae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs, gross observation and necropsy findings for the 14 days according to "Standard for Toxicity Study of Pharmaceuticals" of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) guideline and "Acute Oral Toxicity - Fixed Dose Procedure" of OECD Test Guideline. Results : We could not find any mortality. Compared with the control group, significant weight change was not observed in the experimental group. After administration, the more common symptoms were not observed. There were no gross abnormalities in all cases. Conclusions : Taken together, these results suggest that the approximate lethal dose of HBX-6 in both female and male SD rats were considered as over 2000 mg/kg.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.17-22
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• 2017

Objectives : Daily Dose of Apricot Kernel in Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases is usually written in the number, sometimes in the volume. The seed coat and acute end of Apricot Kernel must be removed, so author want to know its daily dose and proportion of seed coat and acute end. Methods : Assuming dosage by editions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases. And comparing it with measured weight of Apricot Kernel distributed in market. Results : The number of prescriptions including Apricot Kernel is ten, and eight of that are made to decoction, two of that are made to pill prescription. And two of decoction are made by reducing and uniting prescriptions. The daily dose of six decoction are 70, 47 or 35 in numbers. The 70 Apricot Kernel except seed coat and acute end are 1/2 Sheong ($33m{\ell}$) in volume, 3 Ryang (19.5 g) in weight. Weight of Apricot Kernel the most common in market is 0.28 ~ 0.38 g. 70 Apricot Kernel are 23.10 g, seed coats of that are 1.15 g, acute ends of that are 2.43 g, 70 Apricot Kernel except seed coat and acute end is 19.5 g. So, seed coat is 5%, acute end is 10% by proportion, which is the same with it assumed based on writings. Conclusions : 70 Apricot Kernel except seed coat and acute end are 1/2 Sheong, 3 Ryang, and it is 33 mL and 19.5 g respectively. It also correspond with current market goods.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2019

Purpose: To explore the role of salvage radiotherapy (RT) for recurrent thymoma as an alternative to surgery. Materials and Methods: Between 2007 and 2015, 47 patients who received salvage RT for recurrent thymoma at Yonsei Cancer Center were included in this study. Recurrent sites included initial tumor bed (n = 4), pleura (n = 19), lung parenchyma (n = 10), distant (n = 9), and multiple regions (n = 5). Three-dimensional conformal and intensity-modulated RT were used in 29 and 18 patients, respectively. Median prescribed dose to gross tumor was 52 Gy (range, 30 to 70 Gy), with equivalent doses in 2-Gy fractions (EQD₂). We investigated overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and patterns of failure. Local failure after salvage RT was defined as recurrence at the target volume receiving >50% of the prescription dose. Results: Median follow-up time was 83 months (range, 8 to 299 months). Five-year OS and PFS were 70% and 22%, respectively. The overall response rate was 97.9%; complete response, 34%; partial response, 44.7%; and stable disease, 19.1%. In multivariate analysis, histologic type and salvage RT dose (≥52 Gy, EQD₂) were significantly associated with OS. The high dose group (≥52 Gy, EQD₂) had significantly better outcomes than the low dose group (5-year OS: 80% vs. 59%, p = 0.046; 5-year PFS: 30% vs. 14%, p=0.002). Treatment failure occurred in 34 patients; out-of-field failure was dominant (intra-thoracic recurrence 35.3%; extrathoracic recurrence 11.8%), while local failure rate was 5.8%. Conclusion: Salvage RT for recurrent thymoma using high doses and advanced precision techniques produced favorable outcomes, providing evidence that recurrent thymoma is radiosensitive.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2018

Purpose: We compared how doses delivered via two-dimensional (2D) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) and three-dimensional (3D) ICBT varied anatomically. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients who received 30 Gy of 3D ICBT after external radiotherapy (RT) were enrolled. We compared the doses of the actual 3D and 2D ICBT plans among patients grouped according to six anatomical variations: differences in a small-bowel V_2Gy, small bowel circumference, the direction of bladder distension, bladder volume, sigmoid V_3.5Gy, and sigmoid circumference. Seven dose parameters were measured in line with the EMBRACE recommendations. Results: In terms of bladder volume, the bladder and small-bowel D_2cc values were lower in the 150-250 mL bladder volume subgroup; and the rectum, sigmoid, and bladder D_2mL values were all lower in the >250 mL subgroup, for 3D vs. 2D ICBT. In the sigmoid V_3.5Gy >2 _mL subgroup, the sigmoid and bladder D_2mL values were significantly lower for 3D than 2D ICBT. The bladder D_2mL value was also significantly lower for 3D ICBT, as reflected by the sigmoid circumference. In patients with a small bowel V_2.0Gy >10 mL or small bowel circumference >15%, most dose parameters were significantly lower for 3D than 2D ICBT. The bladder distension direction did not significantly affect the doses. Conclusion: Compared to 2D ICBT, a greater bladder volume can reduce the internal 3D ICBT organ dose without affecting the target dose.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2017

Background: Current therapy for the treatment of neuropathic pain is often unsatisfactory. Considerable variation in treatment pattern still exists in spite of availability of sufficient literature from various guidelines. Recent Indian market data suggested that the utilization (sale) of drugs such as amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin was more for low-dose unit packs than that of the high-dose unit packs, raising the belief that these drugs are prescribed at a lower dose than is actually recommended in the guidelines. To test this hypothesis, a survey was conducted across speciality throughout the country to observe the prescription pattern of these drugs amongst the health care providers in India. Methods: Three hundred fifty survey forms were distributed of which 281 forms were included for analysis. Results: It was observed that the commonly used initiation and maintenance dose for amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin was 5-10 mg/day, 50-75 mg/day, and 100-300 mg/day, respectively. The reason to select the lower dosages was to have a balancing effect to achieve good efficacy with minimum side effects. Care-givers reported no side effects/not many side effects as a reason in 22.2%, 16.88%, and 23.86% patients with amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin, respectively. Sedation and giddiness were commonly reported with all three drugs. Conclusions: Commonly prescribed drugs for management of neuropathic pain, such as amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin are preferred at lower doses in Indian clinical settings. Acceptable efficacy and low tolerance to the standard dosage is believed to be the reason behind the prescribed dose.