• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.226-232
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• 2001

The pharmacotherapy of depression has reduced morbidity and improved outcome for many depressive patients. A wide range of classical and new antidepressants are available for their treatment. However, 30-40% of all patients do not respond sufficiently to the initial treatment and present adverse effects. Pharmacogenetics studies the genetic basis of an individual's ability to respond to pharmacotherapy. Recently, some reports on serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and their influence on the response to antidepressive therapy provide an interesting diagnostic tool in assessing the chances of response to antidepressants. We also investigated the relationship between serotonin transprter polymorphisms(5-HTTLPR) and the long-term effect of the antidepressant treatment. 128 depressive patients were enrolled into 2nd year study. The therapeutic response of each subset was not different at 8th, 16th week, but the subset with homozygote(l/l) of long variant showed a better therapeutic response to antidepressant than the heterozygote(l/s) of long and short variant, which showed a better therapeutic response than the subset with homozygote (s/s) of short variant at 1st year and 2nd year after the antidepressant treatment. This result shows that the serotonin transporter polymorphisms may be related to the long-term effect of antidepressant treatment. The potential for pharmacogenomics, the use of genetic information to guide pharmacotherapy and improve outcome by providing individualized treatment decisions, has gained increasing attention. pharmacogenomics will contribute to individualize drug choice by using genotype to predict positive clinical outcomes, adverse reactions, and levels of drug metabolism. Personalized medicine, the use of marker-assisted diagnosis and targeted therapies derived from an individual molecular profile, will impact the antidepressant therapy and this approach will replace the traditional trial-and-error practice of medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.4-10
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• 2015

Etifoxine (etafenoxine, $Stresam^{(R)}$) is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic with an anticonvulsant effect. It was developed in the 1960s for anxiety disorders and is currently being studied for its ability to promote peripheral nerve healing and to treat chemotherapy-induced pain. In addition to being mediated by $GABA_A{\alpha}2$ receptors like benzodiazepines, etifoxine appears to produce anxiolytic effects directly by binding to ${\beta}2$ or ${\beta}3$ subunits of the $GABA_A$ receptor complex. It also modulates $GABA_A$ receptors indirectly via stimulation of neurosteroid production after etifoxine binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) of the outer mitochondrial membrane in the central and peripheral nervous systems, previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR). Therefore, the effects of etifoxine are not completely reversed by the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil. Etifoxine is used for various emotional and bodily reactions followed by anxiety. It is contraindicated in situations such as shock, severely impaired liver or kidney function, and severe respiratory failure. The average dosage is 150 mg per day for no more than 12 weeks. The most common adverse effect is drowsiness at the initial stage. It does not usually cause any withdrawal syndromes. In conclusion, etifoxine shows less adverse effects of anterograde amnesia, sedation, impaired psychomotor performance, and withdrawal syndromes than those of benzodiazepines. It potentiates $GABA_A$ receptor-function by a direct allosteric effect and by an indirect mechanism involving the activation of TSPO. It seems promising that non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics including etifoxine will replenish shortcomings of benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors according to animated studies related to TSPO.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.474-481
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• 2001

Mesalazine(5-Aminosalicylic acid,5-ASA), a component of Sulfasalazine (sulfapyridine bound to 5-ASA), is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease. Most adverse pulmonary effects caused by sulfasalazine have been attributed to sulfapyridine. However, lung toxicity associated with mesalazine(5-ASA) is rare. Here we report a case of eosinophilic pneumonia in a 44-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis, who was treated with mesalazine. She developed symptoms of a dry cough, mild night fever, and exertional dyspnea. Bilateral peripheral pulmonary infiltrates, peripheral blood eosinophilia, and histologic features were consistent with eosinophilic pneumonia. The symptoms improved quite rapidly after the discontinuation of mesalazine and initiation of steroid therapy. Therefore, adverse pulmonary reactions to mesalazine must be considered in a differential diagnosis of pulmonary involvement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease who are receiving with mesalazine therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.86-95
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this clinical research was to investigate the effects of herbal cosmetics containing Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an ingredient compound of various herbs including Vespae Nidus, on the Whitening Effects. Methods: A total of 20 subjects who visited Pusan National University Hospital from March 2nd, 2017 to April 11th, 2017 were included. In this study, we evaluated the visual evaluation, the melanin index (M) and erythema index (E) through skin analysis equipment, the subjective whitening improvement analysis, and the adverse reaction according to product use. Statistical analysis was performed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney's U test. Statistical significance was achieved if the probability was less than 5% (p<0.05) Results: As a result of the visual evaluation, it was effective in improving skin whitening. The subjective whitening improvement analysis also showed positive results. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the test and control cosmetics in the melanin index (M) and erythema index (E) through skin analysis equipment. In the safety evaluation, some adverse reactions were reported, but no significant were observed directly from cosmetics. Conclusions: Considering the above results, we have confirmed the possibility of herbal cosmetics containing containing CAPE of Vespae Nidus Extracts.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.181-190
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• 2009

It is important to establish the safety of herbal medicine because of its frequent and widespread use in Korea. Several studies on the safety of herbal medicine have been performed and there have been rare serious adverse drug reactions from those reports in Korea. However, the results are not strongly supported because of not adopting appropriate enough research methodology as to make the safety issue clear. For improving the quality of the safety research on herbal medicine. including investigations of drug induced liver injury (DILl). the aim of this study was to suggest herbal medicine-induced liver injury investigation forms for performing reasonable safety research. After a systematic review of the preceding studies regarding herbal safety in Korea was performed in 2008, we assessed the quality and the limitations of the primary studies. Two investigation forms for herbal safety research were made as a following step. one a basic investigation form for herbal safety research and the other an advanced investigation form for suspected DILl cases, Those forms include the essential informations and data needed to make an appropriate assessment of whether DILl occurred during or after the use of herbal medicine. Guidelines for using those forms and other recommendations were also suggested. More rigorous studies are required for answering the safety issue of herbal medicine as well as the efficacy issue. We hope for wide use and improvement of those investigation forms in the study of herbal safety by many researchers for establishing better evidences in Korea.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.201-211
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• 2008

All pharmacists must provide the drug consultation whenever dispense drugs to patients by the Korean Pharmacy Law. Drug consultation is very important procedure for increasing pharmacotherapy. Because it maximizes the therapeutic effects or/and minimizes adverse drug reaction during the drug therapy. However, it is not easy to do because of the dynamic and hectic pharmacy environment. Especially, if someone has a disabling body function, they required more time and efforts to perform consultation by pharmacist. Currently several auxiliary labels for helping drug consultation are using in pharmacy practice but not for disabling patients. Therefore we developed the total 53 auxiliary labels with size of 0.7 cm (width) and 1 cm (length) by Braillewriter letters for blind patients. This research has been performed for total 12 months (Mar. 15ts, 2007$\sim$Feb. 25th, 2008) and the developing methods are consisted of 4 steps: 1) selection of essential informations, 2) simplification of information, 3) changing for Braillewriter letters, 4) application and revising by blindness patients. Also the labels are consisted of 12 for adverse reactions and precautions, 8 for directions, 2 for storages, 9 for duration, 9 for dosage forms, and 12 for common names. After developed those labels, we revised those labels by discussion with 2 blind people. In conclusion, the new auxiliary labels for blind patients can increase therapeutic effects and decrease risks from pharmacotherapy besides decreasing of pharmacist's work load in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.217-225
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• 2021

In this paper, we designed and implemented the integrated system to prevent adverse drug reactions of polypharmacy components in medicine by supporting component-component information and disease-component information, through data queuing algorithm and vast amounts of pharmaceutical big data. In addition, by providing information for drugs, drug components, prohibited drugs, as well as suppliers and distributors, it could help ease anxiety about taking drugs not only for health-care professionals but also for general users. The representative information provided were side effects between two drugs, main components and effectiveness of particular drugs, drugs manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company, and drug component information for patients with chronic diseases. The future work is to update the database by collecting information on rare & new diseases and new drugs.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2018

Objective: To compare the analgesic effects and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of fentanyl intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (ivPCA) with nefopam, a centrally acting analgesic agent with demonstrated opioid sparing activity, as compared to ketorolac in a tertiary teaching hospital. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of electronic medical records was conducted on patient records including either nefopam or ketorolac with opioid ivPCA for post-operative pain management in general surgery department from January to December 2014. The status of pain control and ADRs were collected. Results: Out of 6,330 general surgery cases, nefopam was given in 153 prescriptions (6.9%) and ketorolac in 81 prescriptions (3.6%). The level of pain control was not different between two groups (70.9% vs. 75.3%; p = 0.51), but ADRs were more frequently reported in nefopam group (9.8% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.05). New ADRs of hot flushes (n = 1) and paresthesia in hands (n = 1) were reported in nefopam group and they were unlisted in the approved package insert. No serious ADRs were reported in both groups. Conclusion: Our findings presented that nefopam showed a similar analgesic effect and higher ADR rates compared to ketorolac as an adjuvant to fentanyl iv PCA for post-operative pain management in general surgery patients in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.36.1-36.8
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of the short-term application of insect-based diet in canine allergic dermatitis. Total 19 atopic dogs with concurrent cutaneous adverse food reactions were enrolled and classified into 3 groups. The treatment group (n = 7) was fed insect-based diet, the positive control group (n = 6) was fed salmon-based diet, and the negative control group (n = 6) was fed commercial or homemade diet for 12 weeks. The degree of skin lesions was evaluated based on canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI-4). Additionally, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and pruritus visual analog scale were evaluated. All indices were evaluated every 4 weeks after the initial administration of hypoallergenic diets. In the treatment group, significant decrease in the CADESI-4 score was observed at 8 weeks compared to the baseline score (p = 0.031). There were significant differences in the CADESI-4 score between the groups at 8 weeks (p = 0.008), 12 weeks (p = 0.012), and TEWL at 12 weeks (p = 0.022). This preliminary result demonstrates the potential hypoallergenicity of an insect-based diet through features that diminish cutaneous lesions and skin barrier dysfunction.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.38-56
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used herbal medicine for the treatment of tic disorders in China and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatment. Methods RCTs published from January 2017 to December 2021 were searched for using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). These were then analyzed using herbal medicine treatment methods and their results. Results A total of 35 randomized controlled trials were selected and analyzed. In most studies, evaluation indicators such as the Yale tic symptom scale and total effective rate were significantly improved in the herbal medicine treatment group compared to the control group. The most commonly used herb for tic disorder was Uncaria Rhynchophylla (釣鉤藤), followed by Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), Gastrodiae Rhizoma (天麻), Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥), Batryticatus (白殭蠶), Poria (茯笭), and Bupleuri Radix (柴胡). In all studies that reported adverse events, herbal medicine was identified as a relatively safe treatment with fewer adverse reactions or no significant difference compared with the control group. Conclusions Based on the results of RCTs, herbal medicine has been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of intellectual disability. However, additional well-designed large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.