• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.392-396
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• 2018

Purpose: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) that causes upper airway obstruction might lead to chronic hypoxemic pulmonary vasoconstriction and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate whether adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to severe ATH could improve RV function. Methods: Thirty-seven children (boy:girl=21:16; mean age, $9.52{\pm}2.20years$), who underwent T&A forsleep apnea due to ATH, were included. We analyzedthe mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), the presence and the maximal velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and the right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) by transthoracic echocardiography pre- and post-T&A. The follow-up period was $1.78{\pm}0.27years$. Results: Only the RVMPI using TDE improved after T&A ($42.18{\pm}2.03$ vs. $40{\pm}1.86$, P=0.001). The absolute value of TAPSE increased ($21.45{\pm}0.90mm$ vs. $22.30{\pm}1.10mm$, P=0.001) but there was no change in the z score of TAPSE pre- and post-T&A ($1.19{\pm}0.34$ vs. $1.24{\pm}0.30$, P=0.194). The mPAP was within normal range in children with ATH, and there was no significant difference between pre- and post-T&A ($19.6{\pm}3.40$ vs. $18.7{\pm}2.68$, P=0.052). There was no difference in the presence and the maximal velocity of TR (P=0.058). Conclusion: RVMPI using TDE could be an early parameter of RV function in children with OSA due to ATH.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2023

Objective: Sleep deprivation (SD) is a common problem in today's stressful lifestyle and have physiological consequences, including reproductive dysfunction and infertility. As an antioxidant, olive oil may be effective in reducing testicular and spermatological damage by decreasing the production of free radicals. Methods: This study investigated the effects of olive oil on sperm quality and testicular structure using stereological methods to assess rats with SD. Results: When comparing SD group to grid floor+distilled water (GR) group, we found that the sperm count and motility, as well as the percentage of slow progressive sperm was significantly lower in SD group (p<0.05), but the percentage of immotile sperm was higher (p<0.01). However, no improvement was observed in sperm count or motility after concomitant treatment of SD group with olive oil. Stereological examinations revealed no significant change in the total volumes of the seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissue, and germinal epithelium in the study groups. Conversely, the total number of testicular cell types was significantly lower in SD group than in GR group. Although the total number of Sertoli and Leydig cells was significantly higher in the S +olive oil group than in the untreated SD group, no significant difference in the total number of other testicular cell types was observed between the two groups. Conclusion: SD potentially induced structural changes in testis that affected sperm count and motility. However, olive oil only improved the total number of Sertoli and Leydig cells in the animals with SD and did not improve sperm count and motility.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.929-940
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• 2023

Objectives: This study reports on the efficacy of Korean medicine treatments for peripheral facial nerve palsy and sleep disorders that occur after microvascular decompression. Methods: A 57-year-old female patient with right facial palsy was treated with herbal medicines and acupuncture for 36 days. The treatment effect was evaluated using the House Brackmann Grading System (HBGS), Yanagihara's Unweighed Grading System (Yanagihara's score), and the Korean Modified Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (KMLSEQ). Results: Following treatment, the patient showed a decrease in HBGS and an improvement in Yanagihara's score and KMLSEQ score. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatments appeared to be effective in reducing facial nerve palsy. Further clinical research on patients with facial nerve palsy is needed.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Although there have been several attempts to use virtual reality (VR) in the treatment of depression, the results have been inconsistent and existing studies have mostly relied on subjective measures to assess the effectiveness of VR in improving depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nature experience-based VR intervention on depressive symptoms in a young population using both subjective and objective measurements. The study population included 15 participants who had more than 14 identifiers of the Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI)-II. Participants received three weeks (four times per week) of VR intervention. The effectiveness of VR was assessed through changes in K-BDI-II scores and depression-related blood biomarkers. Nature experience-based VR intervention led to an approximately 50% reduction of K-BDI-II score (before 25.7±7.7 vs. after 12.5±8.3 (P<0.001)). Of these, loss of pleasure and fatigue showed the largest amount of improvement. However, levels of cortisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and interleukin-6 did not differ from those at baseline. The findings of our pilot study suggest that nature experience-based VR can be a useful adjunctive treatment method for improving depressive symptoms in individuals who have difficulty accessing the real outside natural environment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.486-493
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• 2024

Lighting has been used for a long time as a medium to convey brightness from darkness, and through incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps, LED light sources have now become the standard in the lighting industry. Recently, the lighting equipment industry has been undergoing rapid digital transformation, starting with smart lighting, and is evolving into smart lighting customized for individuals and spaces through the development of IoT technology, cloud-based services, and data analysis. However, the blue light emitted from digital devices (computers, smartphones, tablets, etc.) or LED lights stimulates the melanopsin in the optic ganglion cells in the retina of the eye, which in turn stimulates the secretion of melatonin through the pineal gland, which regulates the secretion of melatonin. This can reduce sleep quality or disrupt biological rhythms. This interaction between blue light and melatonin has such a significant impact on human sleep patterns and overall health that it is essential to reduce exposure to blue light, especially in the evening. Human-centered lighting refers to lighting that takes into account the effects of light on the physical and mental areas, such as human activity and awakening, improvement of sleep quality, and health management. Many research institutes study the effects in the visible area and the non-visible area. By studying the impact, it is expected to improve the quality of human life. In this study, we plan to study ways to implement human-centered lighting by collecting sunrise and sunset data and linking commercialized LED packages and control devices with open-source hardware.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.93-98
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• 2007

Effort has been performed for latest 20 years to improve resident's comfort and indoor environment in building. And interest and effort to improve indoor air environment among various indoor environment elements have continuously increased since 1990s, because it is examined scientifically that various contaminants generated indoor affect human body. Specially, indoor air contaminants generated from apartments are those exhausted from resident's indoor environment, closing materials and household. Indoor air environment in buildings is different according to pollution degree, existence availability of pollution source, ventilation amount, and meteorology. It is known that other contaminants more than about 900 kinds generate according to a kind of work or action in a room. Specially, nowadays buildings are well insulated and confidentiality-centered for environment protection and economical side. So indoor air contaminants are generated from indoor air pollution sauces of unprepared ventilation, human body carbon dioxide emissions, and various building materials. when these are accumulated in long term human body, it is harmful to resident's health, but awareness for this is very insufficient. Because bedroom is space that people inhabit for a long time by unconscious state and indoor environment occupies important part for resident's health and quality of life at sleep, the actual condition of air quality is investigated, improvement countermeasure is considered, and ventilation amount is analyzed. In this study, putting case that the most longest stayed time is sleeping time when people inhabit in the apartment, the air quality according to volume of bedroom space at sleep was measured and analyzed, and the data acquired will be the basis for improvement on this.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to show that patients taking antidepressants significantly respond to Korean medical treatments and M&L psychotherapy. Methods: We treated two patients with Korean medical treatments (acupuncture, moxibustion and Herbal Medicine) and psychotherapy including M&L psychotherapy and Li-Gyeung-Byun-Qi therapy. The patients were diagnosed based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for MDD. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the patients. Results: The following observations were made after treatments: Case 1: the patient showed significant improvement in Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Case 2: the patient showed significant improvement in Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Conclusions: These results suggest that Korean medical treatments and M&L psychotherapy might be effective for treating patients suffering from MDD.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.442-453
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• 2013

Objectives This case study was about a Taeeumin patient with advanced Parkinson's disease diagnosed as Dry-heat symptomatic pattern. In this study, we reported significant improvement of motor and non-motor symptoms of this patient after Sasang constitutional medicine treatment. Methods The patient was diagnosed with Taeeumin Dry-heat symptomatic pattern and treated with Taeeumin's constitutional medications and acupuncture. The primary outcome measure for this study is Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS) to assess the overall function of patient. Secondary outcome assessments include Global Assessment Scale(GAS), change of patient's sleep, stool and urine. Results and Conclusions The patient treated with Taeeumin's constitutional medications and acupuncture had reduction in UPDRS (specifically Part II, Part III and Part IV) and GAS of motor symptoms. Furthermore, patient's sleep, stool and urine were reported to be normal after treatment. In conclusion, this study shows that Sasang constitutional medicine can be effective treatment for Taeeumin patient with Advanced Parkinson's disease diagnosed as Dry-heat symptomatic pattern.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this case is to report the effects of oriental medicine on one patient with primary amenorrhea for endometrial preparation and implantation. Methods: A patient with primary amenorrhea had symptoms of sleep disorder, diarrhea, colpoxerosis. For preparing endometrium and implantation in oocyte donation after one previous failure, she was treated by twice a day herb medication for 75 days. And we observed the effects of treatments by improvement of symptoms and following up endometrial proliferation ultrasonography. After implantation, for maintaining pregnancy and live birth, she was also treated by twice a day herb medication for 45 days. Results: After treatments, Symptoms of sleep disorder, diarrhea, colpoxerosis were improved and the thickness of endometrium was prepared for implantation in oocyte donation. So she was pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby 36 weeks later. Conclusions: This case shows that oriental medicine has its effective implementation for the implantational surroundings on patients with primary amenorrhea in oocyte donation programs.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.68-77
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• 2016

Objectives: This paper is to report a spontaneous pregnancy with low AMH level and thin endometrium infertility after Korean medical treatments.Methods: A 38-year old patient who had low AMH level, thin endometrium, sleep disturbance and anxiety happened after anorectal cancer surgery was treated by korean medicine such as herb medications per day for 6 months. And we observed the effects of treatments by improvement of symptoms checking endometrium ultrasonography.Results: After treatments, Symptoms of anxiety and sleep disturbance were improved. The number of ovarian follicle and endometrium thickness were upgraded during artificial pregnancy trials. Finally the patient was a spontaneous pregnancy after failures of one intrauterine insemination and one in vitro fertilization trial.Conclusions: This case shows that the korean medicine has effective option for a patient with low AMH level and thin endometrium infertility. Further ultrasonography would be valid measurements to check the effectiveness of oriental treatments as well as symptoms.