• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.105-123
• /
• 2016

This study analyzes the spectrum of recommended books for adults included in the bibliotherapy book lists commonly used in libraries and organizations in the UK, US, and Korea. While the recommended book lists in the UK and US retain a diverse range of books relevant to the practitioners' needs, the Korean bibliotherapy book lists are mostly made up of non-fiction self-help books regardless of where the bibliotherapy service is provided. In the subcategory of the bibliotherapy book lists in the UK and US, aside from fictions, books on "health, fitness, dieting" including medical books rank higher than any other kind, which shows that bibliotherapy claims to have therapeutic effects in those organizations. In Korean bibliotherapy book lists, on the other hand, so-called "psychology books impregnated with self-help ideology" take up more than 60%. With the prospect of bibliotherapy as an interdisciplinary practice in mind, I suggest that bibliotherapy should draw upon the insights from humanities in order to help participants have time for deep introspection and attain inner maturity rather than just try to restore their normal conditions before the crisis.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.957-963
• /
• 2015

Objective To compare the pain-reducing effect of forest bathing alone versus forest bathing in combination with stretching and strengthening exercises in patients with chronic posterior neck pain. Methods Sixty-four subjects with posterior neck pain that had lasted more than 3 months were enrolled. They were randomly divided into a forest bathing alone (FBA) group and a forest bathing with exercise (FBE) group; each group included 32 subjects. All subjects from both groups walked every morning in the forest for about 2 hours for 5 days. In the afternoon, the FBE group did a stretching and strengthening exercise for about 4 hours; the FBA group had free time in the woods. Visual analog scale (VAS) on one day, VAS over the previous week, neck disability index (NDI), EuroQol 5D-3L VAS (EQ VAS) and index (EQ index), McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ), the number of trigger points in the posterior neck region (TRPs), and the range of motion of the cervical spine were evaluated on the first and last day of the program and compared between the two groups. Results The number of TRPs were significantly reduced in the FBE group compared with the FBA group (p=0.013). However, the other scales showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion When patients with chronic posterior neck pain underwent a short-term forest bathing (less than 7 days) program, FBE was more effective in the reduction of the number of TRPs than FBA. However, all other pain measurement scales we evaluated showed no statistically significant difference between the two protocols.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.223-229
• /
• 2002

Metformin is an oral antihyperglycemic agent used in the therapy of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and does not cause hypoglycemia at the therapeutic dose. Its mechanism of action may involve an increased binding of insulin to its receptors and glucose uptake at the post-receptor level. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two metformin tablets, Glucophage (Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and Glycomin (Ilsung Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The metformin release from the two metformin tablets in vitro was tested using KP VII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media (pH 1.2, 4.0, 6.8 buffer solution and water). Twenty four normal male volunteers, $23.75{\pm}1.96$ years in age and $68.77{\pm}10.41\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups with a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study. After one tablet containing 500 mg as metformin was orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of metformin in serum were determined using HPLC with UV detector. Besides, the dissolution profiles of two metformin tablets were very similar at 떠1 dissolution media. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AVC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated. The ANOVA test was performed for the statistical analysis of the logarithmically transformed $AVC_t\;and\;C_{max}$, untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences in $AVC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between two tablets based on the Glucophage were 0.09%, 6.09% and -8.22%, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two tablets in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log(0.8) to log(1.25) $(e.g.,\;log(0.94){\sim}log(1.09)\;and \;log(1.01){\sim}log(1.15)$\;for\;AVC_t\;and\;C_{max},\;respectively)$, indicating that Glycomin tablet is bioequivalent to Glucophage tablet.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.117-122
• /
• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the developed countries. Despite advances in screening, improved local therapies and adjuvant systemic treatments, median survival of metastatic breast cancer patients (MBC) is in the range of 2-3 years at most. We aimed to investigate whether the prognostic factors and therapeutic responses of our Turkish patients are similar to those in the literature. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of MBC patients who had been treated in our institution between 1999-2009 and analyzed their clinicopathological features and survival outcomes retrospectively Results: A hundred and sixty patients were included. Median age was 47 (23-82), median follow up was 24 (2-186) months. At the time of diagnosis 59% of patients were under the age of 50 and 46% were postmenopausal. The majority (37%) had multiple sites of metastases. Forty percent received endocrine therapy and 40% chemotherapy as first line metastatic treatment. Thirty (20%) patients were treated with molecular targeting agents like trastuzumab, lapatinib and sunitinib, frequently combined with a chemotherapy agent. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 32% and median OS was 38 months for the whole group. Five year progression free survival (PFS) was 10% and median PFS was 10 months. Menopausal status, hormone receptor expression and disease free status had a significant impact on overall survival in the multivariate analysis (p 0.018, p 0.018 and p:0.003, respectively). Conclusions: All our patients were treated with the modern oncologic therapies recommended by the international guidelines. From our data, MBC patients live up to 3-4 years, indicating that further improvement beyond that requires development of new treatment modalities. The survival outcomes of our patients were consistent with the data reported in the literature.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.188-194
• /
• 2008

Fexofenadine, ($\pm$)-4-1-hydroxy-4-{4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl}-butyl-a,a-dimethyl benzeneacetic acid, is a selective histamine $H_1$ receptor antagonist, and is clinically effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria as a first-line therapeutic agent. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets, $Allegra^{(R)}$ (Handok Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.) and Alecort (Samchundang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of fexofenadine from the two fexofenadine hydrochloride formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media. Twenty six healthy male subjects, 25.62$\pm$3.35 years in age and 70.05$\pm$11.71 kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized 2$\times$2 cross-over study was employed. After a single tablet containing 120 mg as fexofenadine hydrochloride was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of fexofenadine in serum were determined using HPLC with fluorescence detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar in all tested dissolution media. The harmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were calculated, and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, $Allegra^{(R)}$, were -1.37, 5.22 and 16.50% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.8 to log 1.25 (e.g., log 0.83$\sim$log 1.08 and log 0.81$\sim$log 1.03 for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Alecort tablet was bioequivalent to $Allegra^{(R)}$ tablet.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.131-136
• /
• 2001

Tofisopam is a new type of tranquilizer valuable for the relief of anxiety and tension in a wide range of emotional disorders. Tofisopam has the therapeutic characteristics of a minor tranquilzer and a mild stimulatory effect. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two tofisopam tablets, $Grandaxin^{TM}$ (Hwan In Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and $Tofim^{TM}$ (Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Eighteen normal male volunteers, $23.11\;{\pm}\;2.83$ years in age and $65.43\;{\pm}\;7.64\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After one tablet containing 50 mg of tofisopam was orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of tofisopam in serum were determined using HPLC method with UV detector. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters. The results showed that the differences in $AUC_t$, C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between two tablets based on the $Grandaxin^{TM}$ were -5.59%, 2.22% and -13.18%, respectively. Minimum detectable differences $({\Delta})$ at ${\alpha}=0.10$ and $1-{\beta}=0.8$ were less than 20% (e.g., 14.95% and 19.34% for $AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$, respectively). The powers $(1-{\beta})$ at ${\alpha}=0.10$, ${\Delta}=0.2$ for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$ were 95.21% and 81.93%, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals were within {\pm}20%$ (e.g., $-15.64{\sim}4.45$ and $-10.77{\sim}15.21$ for $AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$, respectively). Two parameters met the criteria of KFDA for bioequivalence, indicating that $Tofim^{TM}$ tablet is bioequivalent to $Grandaxin^{TM}$ tablet.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.7 s.87
• /
• pp.1019-1022
• /
• 2007

Thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can improve the clinical outcome of ischemic stroke patients. However, its clinical application is limited by narrow therapeutic time windows and elevated risks of cerebral hemorrhage and brain injury. In part, these effects of tPA has been related to matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) dysregulation. Here, we investigate that the effects of alteplase (tPA with short half-life) and pamiteplase (a modified tPA with long half-life) on the MMP-9 regulation in neurovascualr unit. The total levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in neuronal cells are lower than astrocytes. Alteplase (1-10 ${\mu}g/ml$) induced upregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in rat cortical neurons and astrocytes, respectively. Whereas pamiteplase in a wide range of dose did not affect the MMP-2 and MMP-9 responses in both of cells. These results suggest that pamiteplase with long half-life can be provided as a agent that overcome the side effects of alteplase.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.432-437
• /
• 2004

Background : Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTP) is one of rare neoplasms that originated from submesothelial mesenchyme. Clinical course or extent of surgical resection is not well known. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed all the clinical records of the patients who had undergone surgical resection of benign and malignant SFTP, Result: Twenty two (male female 14 : 8) patients were enrolled and mean age was 50.2(range 25∼83). Number of symptomatic patients at the time of diagnosis was 13 (59%) and the most common symptom was dyspnea. Operative approach was carried out through thoracotomy (n=14) or video-assisted thoracic surgery (n=8). Mass excision was performed in 12 cases and en bloc resection including adjacent structure in 10 cases. In all cases complete resection was performed. There was no operative mortality. Malignant SFTP were 11 cases and benign SFTP 11 cases. Local recurrences (n=2) or distant metastasis (n=6) occurred only in malignant SFTP. Conclusion: Number of symptomatic patients, on bloc resection, and recurrence was more in malignant SFTP. Although complete surgical resection is known as treatment of choice for SFTP, further study should be performed about systemic therapeutic modalities pre- or postoperatively to control recurrence and metastasis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.37 no.9
• /
• pp.807-814
• /
• 2013

A fundamental study on laser-tissue interaction was conducted with the aim of developing a therapeutic medical device that can remove lesions on the intestinal wall by irradiating a high-power 808-nm infrared laser light incorporated in an endoscopic system. The perforation depth was linearly increased in the range of 1~4 mm in proportional to laser output (3~12 W) and irradiation time (5~20 s). We demonstrated that the perforation depth during laser irradiation was varied according to the tissue property of each extracted porcine organ. The measurement of the temperature distribution suggests that the energy is localized in the irradiation spot and transferred to deep tissue, which protects the surrounding tissue from thermal injury. These results can be used to set the driving parameters for a laser incision technique as an alternative to conventional surgical interventions.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate whether spontaneous apoptosis has prognostic value among patients with squamous cell carcinoma of lung. Materials and Methods : Material from 19 patients who received thoracic irradiation between 1990 and 1994 was analyzed. Their stages were II (1), IIIa (8), IIIb (5), and IV (5). Patients were observed from 5 to 67 months (median : 17 months). The spontaneous apoptosis index (AI) and p53 mutation were measured by immunohistochemical stains. Results : AI was found to range from 0 to $1\%$ (median $0.4\%$). Patients with low AI ($AI{\leq}$median) had a much higher distant metastasis rate at diagnosis than patients with high AI. By analysis of prognostic factors for survival, M stage was significant in univariate analysis. AI, chemotherapy, M stage, T stage, and stage were significant in multivariate analysis. The correlation between the AI and p53 mutation was not seen. Conclusion : AI was related with distant metastasis at diagnosis and not with p53 mutation. Also low AI group tended to have shorter survival time than high AI group.