• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.140-149
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report the effect of herbal medicine and acupuncture on a breastfeeding woman's postpartum urticaria which was unresponsive to a 1st generation antihistamine and a topical steroid. Methods : Wheals and pruritus occurred to a 36-year-old breastfeeding woman 2 days after the parturition. Symptoms were unresponsive to about a week of systemic antihistamine and topical steroid treatments. GamiSamul-tang herbal decoction was administered three times a day for the first 21 days and twice a day for the next 10 days of the treatment. Acupuncture treatment was applied to 12 acupoints (both sides of LI04, LR03, ST36, LI11, SP10, SP6) for 15 minutes once a week, 5 times in total. The patient's symptom was evaluated with Weekly Urticaria Activity Scale (UAS7) and Visual Analogue Scale for Worst Pruritus within 24 hours ($VAS_{Pruritus}$) each time the patient visited out-patient department. Results : The scores of UAS7 and $VAS_{Pruritus}$ at the baseline were 38 and 8.2 respectively. 10 days after the herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment began, both decreased to 0 and wheal, pruritus, erythema didn't appeared again for the rest of the follow up periods. Conclusions : This study shows the possibility of using GamiSamul-tang and acupuncture to treat postpartum urticaria.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.355-367
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• 2016

Soil salinization refers to the buildup of salts in soil to a level toxic to plants. The major factors that contribute to soil salinity are the quality, the amount and the type of irrigation water used. The presented review discusses the different sources and causes of soil salinity. The effect of soil salinity on biological processes of plants is also discussed in detail. This is followed by a debate on the influence of salt on the nutrient uptake and growth of plants. Salinity decreases the soil osmotic potential and hinders water uptake by the plants. Soil salinity affects the plants K uptake, which plays a critical role in plant metabolism due to the high concentration of soluble sodium ($Na^+$) ions. Visual symptoms that appear in the plants as a result of salinity include stunted plant growth, marginal leaf necrosis and fruit distortions. Different strategies to ameliorate salt stress globally include breeding of salt tolerant cultivars, irrigation to leach excessive salt to improve soil physical and chemical properties. As part of an ecofriendly means to alleviate salt stress and an increasing considerable attention on this area, the review then focuses on the different plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) mediated mechanisms with a special emphasis on ACC deaminase producing bacteria. The various strategies adopted by PGPB to alleviate various stresses in plants include the production of different osmolytes, stress related phytohormones and production of molecules related to stress signaling such as bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) derivatives. The use of PGPB with ACC deaminase producing trait could be effective in promoting plant growth in agricultural areas affected by different stresses including salt stress. Finally, the review ends with a discussion on the various PGPB activities and the potentiality of facultative halophilic/halotolerant PGPB in alleviating salt stress.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Postural Yinyang correction of the temporomandibular joint (functional cerebrospinal therapy) on temporomandibular disorder. Methods: Medical records of 21 outpatients were reviewed who were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified (K0769) and treated at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Dong-Eui University Korean Medicine Hospital from May $1^{st}$, 2017 to April $30^{th}$, 2018. Patients received more than 10 treatments of upper cervical manipulation and performed self-exercise therapy more than 3 times a day and wore an accurate balancing appliance in the oral cavity for more than 8 hours per day. To estimate the efficacy, visual analogue scale (VAS), numerical rating scale (NRS), maximum mouth opening (MMO), symptom intensity scale (SIS), max SIS (MSIS), symptom frequency scale (SFS), mandibular function impairment questionnaire (MFIQ) and 5-point Likert scale were used. Results: NRS and MSIS were significantly improved during each period. VAS, MMO, SIS, and SFS were significantly improved during each period, except the period from the $8^{th}$ to $10^{th}$ visit. MFIQ score was significantly improved during the period from the $1^{st}$ to $10^{th}$ visit. In the 5-point Likert scale, the results showed a high patient satisfaction with the treatment. Conclusion: These results showed that functional cerebrospinal therapy using an accurate balancing appliance, may be useful for reducing the symptoms of temporomandibular disorder.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9301-9305
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• 2014

Background: Pain is one of the most terrifying symptoms for cancer patients. Although most patients with cancer pain need opioids, complete relief of pain is hard to achieve. This study investigated the factors influencing persistent pain-free survival (PPFS) and opioid efficiency. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients with cancer pain, hospitalized at the medical oncology clinic of Akdeniz University. Patient records were collected including patient demographics, the disease, treatment characteristics, and details of opioid usage. Pain intensity was measured using a patient self-reported visual analogue scale (VAS). The area under the curve (AUC) reflecting the pain load was calculated from daily VAS tables. PPFS, the primary measure of opioid efficacy, was described as the duration for which a patient reported a greater than or equal to two-point decline in their VAS for pain. Predictors of opioid efficacy were analysed using a multivariate analysis. Results: In the multivariate analysis, PPFS was associated with the AUC for pain (Exp (B)=0.39 (0.23-0.67), P=0.001), the cumulative opioid dosage used during hospitalisation (Exp (B)=1.00(0.99-1.00), P=0.003) and changes in the opioid dosage (Exp (B)=1.01 (1.00-1.01), P=0.016). The change in VAS score over the standard dosage of opioids was strongly associated with current cancer treatment (chemotherapy vs. others) (${\beta}=-0.31$, T=-2.81, P=0.007) and the VAS for pain at the time of hospitalisation (${\beta}=-0.34$, T=-3.07, P= 0.003). Conclusions: The pain load, opioid dosage, concurrent usage of chemotherapy and initial pain intensity correlate with the benefit received from opioids in cancer patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.183-195
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• 2007

Objectives : To determine whether individualized acupuncture (IA) provides greater pain relief and improved function compared with standardized acupuncture (SA) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods: Design is a randomized single blind controlled trial with two intervention arms (IA vs SA) of 6 weeks' duration and 3 months follow up. An orthopedist diagnosed 50 patients' symptoms as knee osteoarthritis. Interventions were applied by 2 residents studying the acupuncture and moxibustion specially in Dongguk University International Hospital. Primary outcome measure is pain as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary measures of pain and disability include WOMAC, SF-36, LFI and KHAQ. Results : The 50 participants were well matched for age, sex, bad side, VAS, WOMAC, SF-36, LFI and KHAQ scores at the baseline. 3 participants dropped out. There have not been any adverse events in both groups. Participants in both groups experienced great improvement in all measures except SF-36at 3 and 6 weeks. At 18 weeks, the IA group experienced significantly greater improvement than the SA group in VAS but not in WOMAC, SF-36, LFI and KHAQ. Conclusions : Manipulation of IA seems to provide pain relief longer for osteoarthritis of the knee when compared with SA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.45-55
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• 2016

Objectives The aim of this review is to provide fundamental data for temporomandibular disorders diagnosis and evaluation criteria which can be used in clinical trial. Methods We investigated the clinical studies on temporomandibular disorders via PubMed. Also, we searched domestic articles through "OASIS", "NDSL", "KISS", "Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal (KTKP)". The articles we focused on were the recent decade from 2007 to 2016. A total of 139 studies were analyzed: 42 domestic articles and 97 overseas articles. This study focuses on the diagnosis and evaluation criteria on temporomandibular disorders. Results 1) In diagnosis criteria, Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) was used 14 times in domestic articles and 63 times in overseas articles. Clinical symptoms were used 13 times in domestic articles, 17 times in overseas articles. 2) In evaluation criteria, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used as a pain scale 12 times in domestic articles, 63 times in overseas articles. Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) was used 16 times in overseas articles. Whereas, no clinical trials used PPT in domestic articles. In psychological scale, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used 6 times. However, SCL-90-R was used 2 times in domestic articles. ROM(Maximum Mouth Opening (MMO), Maximum Comfortable Opening (MCO) were used 24 times in overseas. In domestic articles, MMO was counted 12 times, while MCO was counted 5 times. Conclusions This research reviewed the tendency of using diagnosis methods and evaluating outcomes of the clinical on TMD. It is expected that this investigation would develop further treatment for TMD in the Korean Medicine.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2007

Purpose: Because of the anatomical characteristics, it is difficult to perform radical operation in spinal tumor. Numerous operations on primary and metastatic spinal tumor have been performed and among those total en bloc spondylectomy has produced decent clinical result. Clinical and radiological results have been analyzed based on five total en bloc spondylectomy on primary and metastatic spinal tumor. Materials and Methods: Patients included in this study were one with primary and four with metastatic spinal tumors, from June 1997 to January 2006. Two of the four were originated form kidney. One was from breast and the other one was not identified. McAfee's 4 point scale, VAS and Frankel's classification have been used as clinical assessment of pain and neurological symptoms. Clinical assessment have been conducted for every 3 months after operation including local recurrence, bone union and complications. Results: Assessment of pain decreased from average of 3 before operation to 1.6 after operation in McAfee's scale and VAS decreased from average of 9.2 to 1.6. Neurological deficit after operation improved from C to D in Frankel's category. Local recurrence has been detected on metastatic adenocarcinoma of L4 during follow up. Conclusion: Total en bloc spondylectomy is evidently useful operational method for primary and metastatic spinal tumor since it completely decompresses spinal nerves, decreases axial pain immediately and improves the quality of remaining life.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.244-251
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pharmacological treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on motor coordination, using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ). Methods: The participants were recruited from April 2015 to November 2016 from the Department of Psychiatry of Asan Medical Center and were treated for 3 months with methylphenidate or atomoxetine. The illness severity at baseline and 3 months were scored using the ADHD Rating Scale (ARS), Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) and/or Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGI-I). A total of 39 children with ADHD (age $8.0{\pm}1.4years$, 36 boys) completed the Advanced Test of Attention (ATA) and their parents completed the DCDQ at baseline and 3 months. The paired t-test, mixed between-within analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used. Results: The CGI-S (p<0.001), ARS (p<0.001), and fine motor/hand writing (p=0.005) on the DCDQ were significantly changed between pre-treatment and post-treatment. When the participants were divided into those who were suspected of having developmental coordination disorder (DCD) (n=23) and those who probably did not (n=16), the control during movement, fine motor/hand writing and general coordination scores on the DCDQ showed the main effects for group (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The fine motor/hand writing on the DCDQ has a significant main effect for time [F(1,37)=7.31, p=0.010, ${\eta}^2=0.405$] and the interaction effect between group and time was also significant [F(1,37)=4.63, p=0.038, ${\eta}^2=0.111$]. The baseline visual commission error on the ATA is significantly correlated with the changes in the DCDQ total scores (r=0.330, p=0.040). Conclusion: Our results provide preliminary evidence that pharmacological treatment for ADHD improves not only the core symptoms of ADHD, but also the motor coordination. Further studies are needed to confirm the effect of the pharmacological treatment for ADHD on the motor coordination.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 2014

Objective : Despite high prevalence and effective treatments of panic disorder, lots of patients are not properly treated due to lack of awareness of the disorder. This study summarizes and presents the results from Public Awareness Survey of Panic Disorder during the Mental Health Exposition held in Seoul in April, 2014. Methods : A total of 401 participants who visited the booth of the Korean Academy of Anxiety Disorder agreed and completed the survey. The questionnaires comprised of three sections; first, after given a case of patient with panic disorder, participants were asked to choose a diagnosis and treatment options. Second, participants were asked to differentiate the symptoms of panic disorder from those of other mental disorders and answer where they acquired the knowledge of the disorder. Third, visual analogue scales were used to get more detailed information for several issues about panic disorder. The incidence and ratio for each question were provided and compared. Results : Among the participants, 78% reported a patient within the case need treatment, and 30% accurately recognized it was panic disorder. As for treatment needed, 40% selected psychotherapy by psychiatrists, 28% chose counseling by psychologist, 23% said that they can overcome it by self-care. Only 2% of participants selected the pharmacotherapy as treatment needed. Approximately 40% of participants have encountered information about the disorder from gossips of celebrities, 32% from mass-media, and merely 6% from medical professionals. About 80% of participants could discriminate the symptom of panic disorder from those of depression, schizophrenia, or generalized anxiety disorder. Conclusion : Our results suggest that substantial proportions of participants have the awareness of panic disorder, while as for treatment they were strongly biased against pharmacologic treatments. Most of their source of the awareness was not relied upon professional information. Efforts for giving correct information and increasing public awareness of panic disorder are needed to bridge a gap between professionals and general public.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.4523-4530
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• 2011

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of stretching management on musculoskeletal joint pain in community indwelling elderly farmers. The study included 28 residents who lived in a rural community. All participants were assigned randomly to either the stretching group (n=13, $59.67{\pm}4.77$ year-old) or the control group (n=15, $61.44{\pm}10.41$ year-old). Respondents were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. Pain severity of 6 body areas caused by symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and pain severity on day time variations were measured by the visual analogue scale on a self-assessed questionnaire. The stretching group was administered stretching therapy (45 min, 2 sets, warming up and cool down, main exercise; total 19 stretching kinds of subset 5 fields) for 12 times for 4 weeks. There were no significant difference between the two groups in general social and pain characteristics. After 4 weeks of stretching, the stretching group showed significant improvements at almost all joint pain scores except arm/elbow, and day time variation scores of pain compared to both baseline scores, and with control group scores. These results showed that stretching therapy is one of the most useful modalities to manage musculoskeletal pain in community-based elderly farmers.