• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.386-393
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• 2015

Bian-zheng(辨證) of Korean Medicine(KM) is based on four examinations(四診) of Korean medical doctor. The interrogation or questioning(問診) provides the most information of four examinations. The symptom obtained from the interrogation or questioning is the main basis of the Bian-zheng. KM is understood in the whole state of the body of a specified time without seeing the disease exist. So the observable symptom is disease itself. Symptom in KM is used as an important basis for the diagnosis. But if the interview when memories are not sure of the correct answer does not get much easier to find exactly the symptoms. So when recording original symptom(素證) and daily subjective symptom can be helpful for care. In this paper, we propose daily living symptom record system as a method that can be applied to the health care according to the importance of collecting the symptom in the KM. Daily living symptom record system can record the symptom in the individual to awaken daily. The system stores the symptom in structure and provides an open shared services. So it can be used as a symptom of other systems, such as PHR, EMR, CDSS. In addition, Doctor may be able to help in the treatment determined by reference to shared symptom.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.151-172
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• 2015

Objectives : Though a socially constructed disease, the burden of infertility has been cast upon the individual in recent times, leading to aggressive medical technologies to achieve pregnancy without consideration of the complex relationships between individual and society that is involved in this life phenomenon. This study aims to restore the many aspects of infertility, first through its meaning in the medical classics. Methods : Texts were chosen from before and after the Song period, when the study and practice on women's health took a launch into becoming a specialized field. Huangdineijing, Jinguiyaolue, and Zhubingyuanhoulun listed basic theories considering the physiology and pathology of woman, while Jiaozhufurenlangfang, Donguibogam, and Fuqingzhuyixue dealt with specialized contents regarding women. Results : The findings were categorized into three major aspects of infertility; natural, medical and non-medical. The three aspects of infertility would not be easy to distinguish in real life, as they are inter-connected through the body as a site of embodiment. Conclusions : The discussion of the many aspects of infertility outside of the immediate medical definition implies the complexity of infertility as a life phenomenon, bringing attention to the importance of the experience in the life context.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.347-353
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• 2018

There are some controversies about the safety of herbal medicine. In order to examine the safety of herbal medicine, this study investigated the level of liver function test(AST/ALT) in patients taking herbal medicine for more than 6 months We checked liver function in 121 patients who took herbal medicine for more than 6 months. AST/ALT were measured before treatment and every 3 months (from 3 month to 9 month). In 121 patients taking herbal medicine for more than 6 months, mean AST level after 6 months was lower than before treatment and mean ALT level after 6 months was lower than before treatment. In 20 patients with abnormal AST/ALT before herbal treatment, 18 patients's AST/ALT changed to normal after 6 month herbal treatment. 2 patients's AST/ALT was slightly higher than normal. One woman patient met the criteria for herb-induced liver injury(HILI) with RUCAM scores 4 after taking herbal medicine for 6 months. Although her RUCAM score decreased to zero after taking herbal medicine for 9 months. This study suggests that long-term herbal medicine for 6 months or longer is very unlikely to injury liver function. Individual-specific liver damage may occur, it can be recovered.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.766-783
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• 2006

This study describes philosophical background regarding '虛' in oriental medicine in an effort to understand the relationships among some of the Eastern philosophy in accordance with differentiated meanings in several resources by analyzing examples of '虛' in Huang Di Nei Jing. The various usages of '虛' used in Huang Di Nei Jing are as follows: naming; condition of pulse; emptiness; '太虛' which was referred universal space by Chinese ; insufficiency, lack or scarcity, deficiency ; and the description of vitality, mental faculties. 外丹修煉(training by external substances) had the attitude do that withdraw the death by taking external materials. The meaning of '虛'in 外丹修煉 is similar to that in oriental medicine in terms of deficiency. That is, both 外丹修煉 and the oriental medicine consider that the death and disease are caused by the deficiency of something. However, there also exists difference between 外丹修煉 and the oriental medicine. 外丹修煉 supplements through withdrawal prohibition due to the characteristic of unchangeability and stern or immortal while oriental medicine provides concrete object of deficiency. 精(essence of life), 氣(ki, functional activity), and fe(vitality) not only have been considered as basic component of human body, but they also have been an important subject of health preservation for longevity with health in Taoism and oriental medicine. In oriental medicine, 精 and 氣 have been perceived as physical basis of human body and 神 as controller. 內丹修煉(Training of internal active substances) 掠nds to return to '虛', the early state of life through individual training, and attempts to withdraw death through continuous recurrence. The oriental medicine and 內丹修煉 held great value of 神 among health preservation of 精, 氣, and 神. They seek theoretical basis from philosophical Taoism. However, '虛' in Taoism is different from that in training by internal substances and oriental medicine: '虛' in philosophical Taoism has metaphysical concept which refers overcome of life and death, but '虛' in 內丹修煉 and oriental medicine have empirical concept. '太虛' is considered as formless space where it is emp Dut filled with 氣. It is conceptualized with the premise of the relevant adaptation of human body to natural environment theory referring that the interaction between the heaven and the earth makes changes; all creation is originated , and human is affected by the interaction of the heaven and the earth. Furthermore, in $\ulcorner$運氣七篇$\lrcorner$ (Seven chapters described about the five circuit phases and the six atmospheric influences), the expression that the earth is in the center of '太虛' and huge amount of 氣 supports it proves that $\ulcorner$運氣七篇$\lrcorner$ adapts '渾天設'(Chaotic universe thee). In Taoism, '虛' is the grounds where all creation is generated in the optimal condition of Tao. As regards the aspect of mentality, it is the condition in which one can free from the dualistic concepts such as right and wrong, beauty and ugliness, life and death, and so on. Although the ultimate goal of oriental medicine, the achievement of longevity without sickness, might contrast with the Taoist belief that perceives life and death as the natural phenomena or the flowing of the 氣, and eliminates all international, the idea of Taoism that one should live substantial life with naivety, and make Harmony with the nature might be influential to the oriental medicine.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1995.07a
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• pp.57-86
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• 1995

Molecular mapping of plant genomes has progressed rapidly since Bostein et al.(1980) introduced the idea of constructing linkage maps of human genome based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. In recent years, the development of protein and DNA markers has stimulated interest for the new approaches to plant improvement. While classical maps based on morphological mutant markers have provided important insights into the plant genetics and cytology, the molecular maps based on molecular markers have a number of inherent advatages over classical genetic maps for the applications in genetic studies and/or breeding schemes. Isozymes and DNA markers are numerous, discrete, non-deleterious, codominant, and almost entirely free of environmental and epistatic interactions. For these reasons, they are widely used in constructing detailed linkage maps in a number of plant species. Plant breeders improve crops by selecting plants with desirable phenotypes. However a plant's phenotyes is often under genetic control, positioning at different "quantitative trait loci" (QTLs) together with environmental effects. Molecular maps provide a possible way to determine the effect of the individual gene that combines to produce a quantitative trait because the segregation of a large number of markers can be followed in a single genetic cross. Using market-assisted selection, plants that contain several favorable genes for the trait and do not contain unfavourable segments can be obtained during early breeding processes. Providing molecular maps are available, valuable data relevant to the taxonomic relationships and chromosome evolution can be accumulated by comparative mapping and also the structural relationships between linkage map and physical map can be identified by cDNA sequencing. After constructing high density maps, it will be possible to clone genes, whose products are unknown, such as semidwarf and disease resistance genes. However, much attention has to be paid to level-up the basic knowledge of genetics, physiology, biochemistry, plant pathology, entomology, microbiology, and so on. It must also be kept in mind that scientists in various fields will have to make another take off by intensive cooperation together for early integration and utilization of these newly emerging high-techs in practical breeding. breeding.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.336-346
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• 2013

Intrathecal drug delivery is an effective and safe option for the treatment of chronic pathology refractory to conventional pain therapies. Typical intrathecal administered drugs are opioids, baclofen, local anesthetics and adjuvant medications. Although knowledge about mechanisms of action of intrathecal drugs are every day more clear many doubt remain respect the correct location of intrathecal catheter in order to achieve the best therapeutic result. We analyze the factors that can affect drug distribution within the cerebrospinal fluid. Three categories of variables were identified: drug features, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and patients features. First category includes physicochemical properties and pharmacological features of intrathecal administered drugs with special attention to drug lipophilicity. In the second category, the variables in CSF flow, are considered that can modify the drug distribution within the CSF with special attention to the new theories of liquoral circulation. Last category try to explain inter-individual difference in baclofen response with difference that are specific for each patients such as the anatomical area to treat, patient posture or reaction to inflammatory stimulus. We conclude that a comprehensive evaluation of the patients, including imaging techniques to study the anatomy and physiology of intrathecal environment and CSF dynamics, could become essential in the future to the purpose of optimize the clinical outcome of intrathecal therapy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.504-511
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• 2010

Diabetes is a disease that contains a high concentration of glucose in blood and due to defects in either insulin secretion or insulin action. Although the distinctive causes and factors of diabetes have not been clarified, the genetic factors are suggested as a main susceptibility until now. SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism), as the most common genetic variation, has an influence on personal susceptibility for diseases. A nonsynonymous SNP, which changes the amino acid of the protein and its function, is especially important. Therefore, this study hypothesized that there are associations between specific SNPs of the targeted genes. Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) and fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) genes were selected as target genes from the results of genome-wide association and other related research studies. Second, four nonsynonymous SNPs (three in TCF7L2 and one in FTO gene) were selected as target SNPs by using public database of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). The recruited personnel was classified into three subgroups of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and normal groups. The individual genotypes of each group were analyzed by resequencing. None of genetic variations at four targeted SNP sites was revealed in all samples of this study. However, this study found two new SNPs that were not reported in TCF7L2 gene. One is synonymous SNP, which is heterozygous of C/T and no amino acid change of asparagine/asparagines, was located at c1641 and found in one normal person. Another is nonsynonymous SNP, which is heterozygous of G/A, was located at c1501 and found in two samples. This new discovered nonsynonymous SNP induce the amino acid change from alanine to threonine. Moreover, this new nonsynonymous SNP was found among two persons, one of whom was a diabetes patient and the other one was a person at boundary between IFG and normal, suggesting that this variant might be associated with IFG or diabetes. Even if there is a limitation of sample number for statistical power, this study has an importance due to the discovery of new SNPs. In the future study, a large sample number of diabetes cohort will be needed to investigate the frequency and association with new discovered SNP.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.207-218
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• 2019

It is necessary to investigate the efficacy of commercial Korean herbal medicine for cognitive disorder. The purpose of this study is to select candidates among licensed herbal medicines that are expected to be effective in the treatment of cognitive disorders and can be used in future clinical trial. From laboratory experiments, we first found individual single herbal drugs that could be effective for cognitive disorder, and then through experts recommendation, selected five priorities of single herbal drug and obtained the information of the best herb as a combination of each herbal drug. To derive the final herbal prescriptions, we searched the KFDA drug information system for licensed herbal medicines containing each drug and its combination. As a result of laboratory experiments and experts recommendation, we found that the five effective single herbal drugs for cognitive disorders. They are Ginseng Radix, Acori Graminei Rhizoma, Cyperi Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Hoelen cum Pini Radix, and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata(Pinelliae Rhizoma, Hoelen cum Pini Radix, and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata were tied for $5^{th}$). And licensed herbal prescriptions derived from the planned search are Palbohoichoon-tang, Taehwa-hwan, Bosim-hwan, and so on. Among these, in consideration of the feasibility of research and possibility of success in development, Yukgunja-tang, Samhwangjichul-hwan can be selected as future study subjects. Through experimental studies and expert recommendations, we have derived herbal prescriptions that can be effective in treating cognitive disorders from licensed herbal medicines.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1359-1367
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• 2008

DSOM(Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine) was made as a computerized assistant program for oriental medicine doctors to be able to diagnose with statistical basis. Then DSOM uses questionnaires filled out by subjects without enough explanatory guide. If the subject misunderstand the meaning of the passages, we might not rely on that result. So I designed this study to investigate the diagnostic correspondent rates between DSOM and practitioners. First, let the respondents answer to DSOM(DSOM-Ⅰ for the rest). After that, three doctors diagnosed the respondents and marked how much they had symptoms about 16 pathogenic factors in the score range 0${\sim}$5('0' means they didn't have that symptom, '1' means they had that symptom but mild, '3' means they had that symptom moderately, '5' means they had that symptom severely. And let the respondents answer to DSOM(DSOM-Ⅱ for the rest) again. Finally, we investigated the correspondent rates of diagnosis between DSOM-Ⅰ,Ⅱ and doctors'. We obtained conclusions as following. In the comparison of output frequency rate of the pathogenic factors, the difference between DSOM-Ⅰ and Ⅱ was 1%. In the correspondent rates of diagnosis between DSOM-Ⅰ,Ⅱ and doctors', In DSOM-Ⅰ and Ⅱ answered by subjects two times respectively, the correspondent rate was highest in insufficiency of Yang(陽虛) and liver(肝) as 93.2%, lowest in damp(濕) as 69.5% and showed 81.9% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean. In DSOM-Ⅰ and Ⅱ, and Doctors' diagnose, they showed the complete correspondent rates of 15.3${\sim}$61.0%, 15.3${\sim}$59.3% in individual pathogenic factor, 36.5%, 37.3% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean each, and within ${\pm}$1 errorrange, they showed the correspondent rates of 32.2${\sim}$93.2%, 35.6${\sim}$89.8% in individual pathogenic factor, 67.6%, 67.3% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean each, and within ${\pm}$2 error range, they showed the correspondent rates of 62.7${\sim}$98.3%, 71.2${\sim}$100% in individual pathogenic factor, 85.1 87.6%% in all 16 pathogenic factors mean each. In the correspondent rates of the severe case, In the cases that the Doctors' diagnostic score mean was over 3(the severity of disease is middle), there were deficiency of qi(氣虛), stagnation of qi(氣滯), blood stasis(血瘀), damp(濕), liver(肝), heart(心), spleen(脾) and they all showed the correspondent rates of over 60 except blood stasis(血瘀). In the cases that the weighed pathogenic factor was above 9, the correspondent rates were 50${\sim}$100%. deficiency of qi(氣虛), blood-deficiency(血虛), stagnation of qi(氣滯), blood stasis(血瘀), insufficiency of Yin(陽虛), insufficiency of Yang(陽虛), coldness(寒), heat (熱), damp(濕), dryness(燥), liver(肝), heart(心), spleen(脾), kidney(腎), phlegm(痰).