• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2014

Purpose: Our goals were to evaluate the effect of high dose radioiodine treatment for thyroid cancer by taking in laxatives. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients(M:F=13:7, age $46.3{\pm}8.1\;yrs$) who underwent high dose radioiodine treatment were seperated into Group 1 taking $^{131}I$ 5,500 MBq and Group 2 with the use of laxatives after taking $^{131}I$ 5,500 MBq. The whole body was scanned 16 hours and 40 hours after taking radioactive iodines by using gamma camera, the ROIs were drawn on the gastro-intestinal tract and thigh for calculation of reduction ratio. At particular time during hospitalization, the radioactivity remaining in the body was measured in 1 meter from patient by using survey meter (RadEye-G10, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). Schematic presentation of an Origin 8.5.1 software was used for spatial dose rate. Statistical comparison between groups were done using independent samples t-test. P value less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: The reduction ratio in gastro-intestinal 16 hours and 40 hours after taking laxatives is $42.1{\pm}6.3%$ in Group 1 and $72.1{\pm}6.4%$ in Group 2. The spatial dose rate measured when discharging from hospital was $23.8{\pm}6.7{\mu}Sv/h$ in Group 1 and $8.2{\pm}2.4{\mu}Sv/h$ in Group 2. The radioactivity remaining in the body is much decreased at the patient with laxatives(P<0.05). Conclusion: The use in combination with laxatives is helpful for decreasing radioactivity remaining in the body. The radioactive contamination could be decreased at marginal individuals from patients.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2005

Functional constipation is regarded as a long-standing symptomatic manifestation of abnormal defecation expressed by either a reduced frequency of bowel movements and /or an altered act of evacuation. Patients with constipation can be treated with laxatives, diets and regular habits. Thorough evaluation of functional constipation is considered in those in whom conservative treatment with dietary advice and use of laxatives fails. Patients with normal colonic transit and normal anorectal function may only need reassurance, education and dietary advice with fiber supplementation. For constipated patients in whom such treatment modalities fail, laxatives including bulk-forming and osmotic agents may be used Although most laxatives, if used intermittently, are relatively safe, they must be chosen bearing in mind possible side effects, patient compliance and their action mechanisms. A subgroup of patients with slow transit through the colon ay be unresponsive to conventional laxatives, and, in these subjects, a trial with enteroprokinetics and sometimes stimulant laxatives should be attempted. This article presents our view of the assessment and pharmacologic treatment of functional constipation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1052-1060
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• 2018

Objectives: This study reports the effect of herbal medicine to replace laxatives for patients with chronic constipation. Methods: The patients who took laxatives due to long-term constipation were prescribed herbal medicine instead. We assessed whether they could defecate without laxatives and if their bowel habits improved using only herbal medicine. Results: The use of herbal medicine instead of laxatives improved patients' defecation and reduced symptoms such as hard stool, difficulty during defecation, and sensation of incomplete evacuation. Conclusions: Through two cases, we found that herbal medicine is effective for patients who are dissatisfied with laxatives.