• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.62-72
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate QOL and the factors related to family caregivers who care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods: The subjects were 83 family caregivers caring for ALS patients who visited the neurology outpatient section of a tertiary hospital located in Seoul between January and July of 2008. Their demographic characteristics were assessed and data were collected using the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS), the caregiver burden inventory (CBI), HADS, and SF-36. Results: The mean score of the physical health component (PHC) of the family caregiver's QOL was $62.6{\pm}24.4$, and the mean score of the mental health component (MHC) of their QOL was $57.7{\pm}22.4$. The mean score of caregiver burden was $76.5{\pm}30.7$. Anxious family caregivers amounted to 55.4% and depressed family caregivers accounted for 63.9% overall. In a multivariate analysis, the PHC of QOL was explained by caregiver burden (41.1%), depression (9.4%), caregiver gender (3.8%), and caregiver age (3.1%). Anxiety (39.8%), caregiver burden (10.9%), patient gender (5.4%) and depression (1.7%) were predictive factors of the MHC of QOL. Conclusion: Caregiver burden and depression affected both the PHC and the MHC. Caregiver burden affected the PHC more than it did the MHC of QOL, but anxiety affected the MHC more than it did the PHC of QOL.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.1210-1222
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the effect of acupuncture on the splenius muscle and the effect of combined Korean medicine treatment on acute dizziness in patients due to whiplash injury. Methods: Three patients with acute dizziness were treated with acupuncture of the splenius muscle and combined Korean medicine. A numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Korean dizziness handicap inventory (K-DHI) were checked every day from admission to discharge to confirm symptom improvements. Results: In the acute stage of dizziness caused by whiplash injury, acupuncture of the splenius muscle and combined Korean medicine improved the NRS and K-DHI scores. Conclusions: For patients with acute dizziness caused by whiplash injury, a combination of acupuncture on the splenius muscle and Korean medicine treatment may be a solution.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.1265-1273
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• 2020

Objectives: Patients with polycythemia vera can experience many symptoms, including dizziness, headache, and fatigue, caused by a high red blood cell mass and blood viscosity. Some symptoms persist even after appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Korean medicine on dizziness following polycythemia vera treatment. Methods: A patient diagnosed with polycythemia vera was treated with Korean medicine, including pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. We used a numeral rating scale (NRS) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) to observe the effects of the treatment. Results: After treatment, the hematocrit and hemoglobin increased to within normal range, and the NRS scores for dizziness and fatigue, subjective discomfort, and DHI scores decreased compared with the preadmission values. Conclusions: This report shows that Korean medicine helped to relieve dizziness in a patient with polycythemia vera. However, we need further studies to establish treatment regimens for polycythemia vera symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of inhaled clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) oil or linalyl acetate on patients' anxiety and stress levels before undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Forty-five eligible participants were randomly assigned to inhale clary sage oil, or linalyl acetate, each at concentrations of 5% vol/vol in almond oil or pure almond oil (control). State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), Stress rating scale, anxiety-visual analog scale (Anxiety-VAS), stress-visual analog scale (Stress-VAS), blood pressure, and heart rate were measured before and after the inhalation prior to undergoing chemotherapy. Results: Anxiety-VAS and Stress-VAS were significantly lower after than before inhalation of clary sage oil (p< .01 and p< .05, respectively) and linalyl acetate (p< .05 and p< .05, respectively), despite having no significant difference in the three groups compared with control group. Systolic (p< .05) and diastolic (p< .01) blood pressure before undergoing chemotherapy were significantly lower after than before inhalation of linalyl acetate, while there was no significant difference in after than before inhalation of clary sage oil, despite both reducing levels of anxiety and stress. Conclusion: These findings suggest that linalyl acetate inhalation may be inappropriate in lowering anxiety and stress in patients undergoing chemotherapy, despite its anxiolytic and antistress effects, while clary sage oil inhalation may be useful in reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing chemotherapy, which has a risk of hypotensive side effects.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-59
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was conducted to confirm the reproducibility of the diagnosis of greater yin disease (太陰病) and the efficacy of herbal treatment using Gyejigajakyak-tang or Gyejigadaehwang-tang in somatic symptom disorder (SSD). We also further refined the characteristics of greater yin disease in SSD. Methods: We analyzed the demographic and treatment data of seven patients with SSD from four Korean medical clinics. The reliability of diagnosis and the efficacy of the treatments were evaluated by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), a numerical rating scale (NRS), and the patients' statements. Finally, we analyzed patients according to the diagnostic points of Shanghanlun provision 273. Results: Seven SSD patients took Gyejigajakyak-tang or Gyejigadaehwang-tang. The mean age of the patients was 52.1±15.8 years old, and the herbal medication period was 82.2±38.2 days. At the first visit, the patients showed hypochondriasis, obvious stress, and a severe BAI score (40.4±10.9). The NRS significantly decreased from 8.9±1.6 to 0.7±0.7 after the treatments. There were no side effects reported. As a result of analyzing these 7 cases, hypochondriasis, obvious stress, and anxiety were identified, which had been previously suggested as 自痛, 因爾, and 結硬. Conclusions: We confirmed the reproducibility of greater yin disease in 7 SSD cases from 4 medical institutions. These results imply that there could be a considerable relation between SSD and greater yin disease as defined by the Shanghanlun provisions.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: Non-linear frequency compression (NLFC) technology compresses and shifts higher frequencies into a lower frequency area that has better residual hearing. Because consonants are uttered in the high-frequency area, NLFC could provide better speech understanding. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of NLFC technology on the perception of speech and music in patients with high-frequency hearing loss. Subjects and Methods: Twelve participants with high-frequency hearing loss were tested in a counter-balanced order, and had two weeks of daily experience with NLFC set on/off prior to testing. Performance was repeatedly evaluated with consonant tests in quiet and noise environments, speech perception in noise, music perception and acceptableness of sound quality rating tasks. Additionally, two questionnaires (the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and the Korean version of the International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aids) were administered. Results: Consonant and speech perception improved with hearing aids (NLFC on/off conditions), but there was no significant difference between NLFC on and off states. Music perception performances revealed no notable difference among unaided and NLFC on and off states. The benefits and satisfaction ratings between NLFC on and off conditions were also not significantly different, based on questionnaires, however great individual variability preferences were noted. Conclusions: Speech perception as well as music perception both in quiet and noise environments was similar between NLFC on and off states, indicating that real world benefits from NLFC technology may be limited in Korean adult hearing aid users.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 2020

Objectives Psychological resilience plays a significant role in many aspects of mental health. The aim of this study was to find an association between childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) features and adulthood psychological resilience in patients with mood disorders. Methods A total of 213 patients with mood disorders including major depressive disorder or bipolar I, II disorder and 909 healthy controls were included. We assessed childhood ADHD features using the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), adulthood psychological resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and current depressive mood using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Pearson's correlation, multiple linear regression and a mediation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between three WURS factor (impulsivity, inattention, and mood instability) scores, the BDI score, and the CD-RISC score. Results The CD-RISC score was negatively correlated with the WURS childhood inattention factor score and current BDI score in patients with mood disorders. BDI score mediated the influence of the inattention factor score on CD-RISC score among patients with mood disorders. The CD-RISC score was significantly lower in patients with mood disorders than in controls even after controlling for age, WURS scores, and the BDI score. Conclusions An evaluation of psychological resilience is important for enhancing recovery and quality of life in patients with mood disorders. When assessing psychological resilience, current depression and ADHD features in childhood, particularly inattention, should be considered.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.99-113
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• 2022

This study examined the effect of maternal cognitive empathy on children's executive function focusing on mediating effects of preschooler's caring behavior and happiness. The subject of this study was 460 five-year-old preschooler-their mother dyads in Korea. Data were collected by Korean Version of Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy(K-QCAE), Caring Behaviors Scale for Young Children, Happiness Scale for Young Children and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version(BRIEF-P). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, structural equation model and bootstrapping test with SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0 program. The major results were as follows. 1) Maternal cognitive empathy had a positive influence on preschooler's caring behavior. 2) Preschooler's caring behavior had a positive influence on happiness and executive function. 3) Preschooler's happiness had a positive influence on executive function. 4) The effect of maternal cognitive empathy on preschooler's executive function was mediated by preschooler's caring behavior. 5) The effect of maternal cognitive empathy on preschooler's executive function was sequentially mediated by preschooler's caring behavior and happiness. This study revealed that maternal cognitive empathy, preschooler's caring behavior, and happiness have an important role in preschooler's executive function. Most of all, we suggest that maternal cognitive empathy should be improved to promote preschooler's executive function. The findings of this study will contribute to designing intervention programs to improve preschooler's executive function as well as maternal empathy.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: Non-linear frequency compression (NLFC) technology compresses and shifts higher frequencies into a lower frequency area that has better residual hearing. Because consonants are uttered in the high-frequency area, NLFC could provide better speech understanding. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of NLFC technology on the perception of speech and music in patients with high-frequency hearing loss. Subjects and Methods: Twelve participants with high-frequency hearing loss were tested in a counter-balanced order, and had two weeks of daily experience with NLFC set on/off prior to testing. Performance was repeatedly evaluated with consonant tests in quiet and noise environments, speech perception in noise, music perception and acceptableness of sound quality rating tasks. Additionally, two questionnaires (the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and the Korean version of the International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aids) were administered. Results: Consonant and speech perception improved with hearing aids (NLFC on/off conditions), but there was no significant difference between NLFC on and off states. Music perception performances revealed no notable difference among unaided and NLFC on and off states. The benefits and satisfaction ratings between NLFC on and off conditions were also not significantly different, based on questionnaires, however great individual variability preferences were noted. Conclusions: Speech perception as well as music perception both in quiet and noise environments was similar between NLFC on and off states, indicating that real world benefits from NLFC technology may be limited in Korean adult hearing aid users.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.980-988
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• 2022

The most common definition of postherpetic neuralgia is the presence of pain more than a month after the onset of the eruption of zoster. This case report suggests the effect of Korean medicine on postherpetic neuralgia. An 85-year-old male patient with postherpetic neuralgia was treated with a combination of Korean medical remedies. Kyung Hee Gongjin-dan and Hyangbujapalmul-tang-gagam were applied for 23 days. The Numerical Rating Scale was used to measure pain intensity. The Barthel Index and Beck Depression Inventory were used for the functional assessment and depression evaluation, respectively. After treatment, the patient's pain intensity decreased. Additionally, the patient's independence increased during activity, and the severity of their depression decreased. Thus, this case suggests that a combination of Korean medicine treatments might be effective for postherpetic neuralgia. In particular, it shows that Kyung Hee Gongjin-dan and Hyangbujapalmul-tang-gagam can be therapeutic options in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.