• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.85-96
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the effects of acupuncture treatment and heart rate variability (HRV) in pre-menopausal obese women. Methods Thirty-seven obese women who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. To estimate the effects of acupuncture, obesity indices, such as body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and the waist-hip ratio (WHR), were measured before and after the treatment. The HRV test was conducted before treatment and analyzed using the frequency domain method. Results The lnLF/HF ratio (natural logarithm of low frequency power/high frequency power ratio of the HRV value) before treatments was negatively correlated with differences in WC, HC, and WHR during treatment. The correlation coefficients between the lnLF/HF ratio and the differences in WC, HC, and WHR were r=-0.459 (p<0.01), r=-0.327 (p<0.05), and r=-0.339 (p<0.05) respectively. Conclusions As the baseline ratio of sympathetic activity to parasympathetic activity decreases, WC, HC, and WHR reduction significantly increased during treatment. Further study is needed to uncover the relationship between obesity-related variables and the autonomic nervous system to predict the effect of acupuncture.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

"Yixuerumen" is a comprehensive medical text published in the Ming-dynasty by Li Chan(李梴). In this text, Sanghan(傷寒, cold damage) is categorized among external contraction(外感) with much emphasis. The subject of this study is the verse "The Principal and secondary aspects must first be decided." and its annotations in the in the Sanghan chapter of "Yixuerumen". The complex theoretical structure of this verse was firstly analyzed, together with the historical background of how and why Li Chan adopted this concept. The Pyo-Bon concept is the contrast between phenomena(標) and its underlying source of motivation(本). The methodology for this study was to compare and analyze this main verse with contents on Sanghan and Un-gi(運氣) within the text, while reviewing historical theories explaining the physiology and pathology of the human body in terms of the Pyo-bon(標本) concept. As a result, we discovered that the Pyo-bon(標本) concept used in the aforementioned verse of "Yixuerumen" matches the Three Eum Three Yang(三陰三陽)-標本中氣(pyo-bon-jung gi)-gi transformation(氣化) theory of Un-gi(運氣). Li Chan created the connecting link in understanding the Three Eum Three Yang diagnosis system through the viscera/bowels theory(臟腑論) by adopting the Three Eum Three Yang(三陰三陽)-標本中氣(pyo-bon-jung gi)-gi transformation(氣化) theory from Un-gi. Li's work lead to several changes in the field of Sanghan. First, Li understood the disease pattern of Sanghan by using the accumulated knowledge of the viscera/bowel theory during the Jin-Yuan dynasty, and developed a medical perspective that observes the disease pattern based on the body's essence gi(精氣). Second, he set the category of the Sanghan-Three Eum Three Yang disease pattern, establishing a separate guideline. Third, by adding knowledge of herbs to the accumulated knowledge of the viscera/bowel theory, the process of diagnosis and herbal application were made explicable. On the other hand, in the process of interpreting the 三陰三陽 diagnosis system with viscera/bowels theory, theoretical inconsistencies appeared, of which Li tried to mend by several means. The results of the research on "Yixuerumen(醫學入門) the Sanghan chapter(傷寒篇)" calls for further studies, as it has effected both "Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) the Sanghan part(寒門)" and "Dongeuisoosebowon(東醫壽世保元)" as well.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2012

Objectives: Hypertension is the highest ratio among chronic disease in Korea, and the western medical information about hypertension is provided by many web sites. Advanced researches about hypertension have been conducted in Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM) for decades, but the research results are not arranged. So the results have not been utilized in following research nor contributed to the expansion of public knowledge. Methods : We did this study to improve this situation. In this study, we built database about advanced research articles related hypertension in TKM and implemented TKM information system of hypertension. Results : First, we benchmarked hypertension information systems and designed the TKM information system based on the benchmarking results and comments from TKM doctors. And it was composed of introduce, treatment, and etc. Second, we built prescription, herb, acumoxa, qigong, prevention/management, and pill database which is about 600 data extracted from papers and books. Third, we implemented JAVA/JSP based web information system which provides the database. And we created links for the each papers and books to use more easily. Conclusions : If we provide the research results about TKM hypertension diagnosis and combinational medication of western and oriental medicine, this information system will be more useful. And if we add internal and external project report about hypertension, it will be more worthy.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.519-526
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• 2004

We developed a 2-D imaging system to detect ultra weak biophoton by using a high sensitive fast CCD camera. We installed an illumination apparatus to generate delayed luminescence from plant leaves. Shutters at the illumination system and detector were synchronized to each other. The lens system of the CCD camera was newly designed to accommodate the specific requirements to enhance the collection efficiency for biophoton. Based on the lens simulation, commercial lenses were chose for the lens system. All the equipment was installed in a multi-purpose dark box and the delayed luminescence of Euonymus japonica was successfully acquired.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.718-724
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• 2008

In order to classify diseases of oriental medicine in liaison with International Classification of Diseases, there should be intermediation and sharing concepts between the two in addition to proper classification. Classification units were settled for differentiation of diseases or syndromes first. And second, the standard forms of disease classification system were proposed. Third, this classification system was made of serial groupings of syndrome under the traditional disease name. Fourth, the location of disease and the interrelation between different syndromes were depicted with diagram in order to define more clearly. As the results and conclusion, The classification units were composed of 2 categories; topology, organ, meridian, somatic structure, body fluid units for description and various regulatory unit terms of western and traditional medicine for explanation. The mixed classification model of western diseases and traditional syndromes(證) was adopted as a fundamental classification system containing disease by exterior pathogen, systemic internal diseases, psychoneuronal diseases, metabolic diseases, diseases of sense organs, supportive structure diseases, obstetric-gynecology diseases, child diseases, 4-type constitutional diseases. And those were differentiated with generalized, localized, functional, oncogenic, environmental features in detail. The cause, site, condition, dispositions must be expressed in each disease name too. The types of diagnosis using classification system are principal and final diagnosis, principal procedure, main conditions, and these are applied to this Korean classification system equally. For more clarification of differentiation, a plane topological map and three dimensional coordinates were proposed to manifest the location, features and relation of disease itself or each other.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.63-71
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to develop the system and evaluate the optical analytical technique that reflects acupoint pigmentation and extravasated blood by cupping. Methods : We designed the system able to express XYZ coordinate on local skin color. To evaluate measurement-accuracy, we compared with 24 Color Checker Chart by standardized Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage. After confirming the performance of system, we experimented with cupping which was 80 kPa negative pressure for 1 minute on left/right BL13. The X, Y and Z values were converted to R, G and B, $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$, Erythema Index (E.I.), and Melanin Index (M.I). We compared and analyzed two cases on before/after cupping. Results : The R, G and B values which were converted by X, Y and Z values had high linearity as a high level of R-square (R: 0.969, G: 0.996, and B: 0.992). Moreover, we confirmed that it was possible to quantitatively analyzed the change in skin color by cupping using R, G, B, $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, E.I., and M.I. Conclusions : Therefore, we proposed the new analytical technique for objectifying the oriental medical diagnostic method using cupping and optical sensing technique.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Objective: Various controlled vocabulary such as thesaurus and classification make us to reuse and share effectively by defining different concept and linking terms each other. The UMLS(Unified Medical Language System) is one of the most universal medical terminology systems. It is needed various methods to share and reuse information of traditional Korean medicine. We will research on method that adopt SUI of the UMLS(that is de facto standard in medical terminology system) in traditional Korean medical terminology. Method: We described major problems and applying process when we tried to add traditional Korean medicine in the part of meridian into the UMLS metathesaurus. Comparing western medical terms and traditional Korean medical terms for applying UMLS metathesaurus, there is not only many consistency, but also differences. Result: We confirmed what is the differences and consistency between western medical terms and traditional Korean medical terms. And then reviewed methods that apply the CUI, LUI, SUI in traditional Korean medical terms. Traditional Korean medical terms are not discriminated by singular or plural string. In addition, traditional Korean medical terms have vary string by initial law: the law of initial sound of a syllable. Character is described with Korean, traditional Chinese, modern Chinese, etc. According to meaning, language, initial law, SUI has a distinct value respectively. Conclusion: There are many differences to apply the UMLS between western medical terms and traditional Korean medical terms. For the better implementation to traditional Korean medicine into the UMLS, further research is needed in standardization and classification of traditional Korean medical terms, medical information system, etc. We hope this study helps the implementation UMLS, EHR, knowledge based system in Oriental medicine in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.114-125
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• 2007

Objectives : Uterine myoma is the most common pelvic benign tumor and may cause abnormal menstrual pattern. The growth of uterine myoma depends on hormones. The 7-zone-diagnostic system (CP-6000A) is a measuring system using skin resistance variability (SRV). The machine shows organic energy and was reported by the gynecologic department to detect functional abnormality of hypothalamus-hypophysis-ovarian axis (H-P-O). Our study was to investigate the SRV of women with uterine myoma by the 7-zone diagnostic system. Methods: Two groups were selected from those who took the CP-6000A test in the College of Korean Medicine Hospital of Sangji University from March 2003 to September 2006. They were divided into normal control (n=40) and uterine myoma groups (n=40). Electrodermal activity of the two groups was compared. Results : The mean value of electrodermal activity of the uterine myoma group was lower than that of thenormal group in all areas on first and second measurement. Especially, the mean value of the patient group was significantly lower than that of the normal group and fell below normal range in the 1, 2, and 3 areas on first and second measurement. Conclusions : The results suggest that women with uterine myoma may have organic energy deficiency and functional abnormality of the H-P-O axis. Further studies to determine the feasibility of this 7 -zone diagnostic system as a reliable diagnostic tool are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.74-82
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• 2014

Objectives: Quantification, objectification, and standardization of lifting-thrusting manipulation are important issues in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The purpose of this study was to quantitatively investigate the difference in the amount of stimulation according to range and frequency among parameters of lifting-thrusting manipulation with the use of a needle insertion-measurement system. Methods: For quantification of lifting-thrusting manipulation, an acupuncture needle insertion-measurement system was used in phantom tissue. The motor and force sensors of the needle insertion device were connected to the control software. This enabled operation of the lifting-thrusting manipulation and measurement of the acupuncture needle force. The measurement of the acupuncture needle force according to various frequencies (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1 Hz) and ranges of movement (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm) was repeated 10 times. Results: At a constant frequency of movement, acupuncture needle force according to range of movement (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm) increased with increasing range of movement (p < 0.05). At a constant range of movement, acupuncture needle force according to frequency of movement (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 Hz) increased with increasing frequency of movement (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, we conducted a quantitative comparison of the amount of stimulation according to range and frequency, the main parameters of lifting-thrusting manipulation, by using an acupuncture needle insertion-measurement system. Future studies on various manipulations and parameters are warranted to quantify and objectify the amounts of stimulation by acupuncture manipulation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate any clinical research regarding asthma published by the Korean Oriental Medical Society and its sub-societies for future rigorous clinical research. Methods: Every article relevant to asthma was initially obtained from journals in the Korean Oriental Medical Society and its sub-societies by electronic search at journal web sites or manual search. Journals were limited to those registered by the Korea Research Foundation. From initial findings, two independent reviewers selected clinical articles and these articles were further analyzed separately into predefined criteria according to prospective and retrospective studies. For prospective studies, quality assessment was also conducted. Results: From 99 articles initially obtained, 19 were finally analyzed. 14 were prospective whereas 5 were retrospective. Among the prospective articles, there were no randomized controlled trials and the non-randomized studies had no control groups, with several problems of quality regarding pre-calculated study size and unbiased assessment. None of the retrospective studies described asthma diagnosis objectively and outcome measures were either non-relevant to asthma or non-validated. Conclusions: Well-designed randomized controlled studies for asthma are needed and more rigorous non-randomized controlled studies should be conducted.