• Title/Summary/Keyword: Alternative therapies

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Systemic Review on Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Breast Cancer (유방암의 보완대체의학적 치료에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Young-Ae;Kim, Dong-Chul
    • The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.205-222
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    • 2009
  • Purpose: The aim of this study was to review systemically journals on the studies for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the treatment of breast cancer. Methods: Through medical websites, foreign clinical literatures about complementary and alternative medicines of breast cancer were searched. The cite used was http://www.Pubmed.gov. And then they were divided into three groups. Medication, Non-medication therapies and questionnaire reports. Results: 1. We researched 23 papers about herb medicines. Most of papers were about single herb and there were rarely about mixed composition. And there were papers about Ocimum gratissimum, elliptilimba, seeds of Livistona chinensis, golden feverfew which were not commonly used in Korea. 2. We researched 16 papers about acupuncture. Acupuncture had a possitive effect on such symptoms like flushing, nausea and vomitting and pain on upper limb caused by anticancer therapy or tamoxifen or surgery. 3. We researched 36 papers about questionnaire study. Most were about research for women who diagnosed as breast cancer or women after breast cancer surgery. Subjects were about proportion of using CAM, purpose of using it, most popular CAM therapy, satisfaction degree, and relation with age, aducation and social position. And most conclusion were that patient-doctor communication was needed. Conclusion: Afterwards we have to focus on realisitic clinical studies about breast cancer patients, especially postsurgery and people who takes anticancer therapy. And we have to be interest in acupuncture therapy on breast cancer patients.

Transplantation Immunology from the Historical Perspective (이식면역학의 역사적 고찰)

  • Park, Chung-Gyu
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 2004
  • Transplantation would be the only way to cure the end-stage organ failure involving heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. The replacement of the parts of the body damaged to lose its function or lost to trauma must be a dream of human-being. Human history is replete with chimeras, from sphinxes to mermaids, making one wonder if the ancients might actually have dreamed of what now is called 'xenotransplantation'. In the 20th century, the transplantation of organs and tissues to cure disease has become a clinical reality. The development in the fields of surgical techniques, physiology and immunology attributed to the successful transplantation in human. In the center of the successful transplantation lies the progress in understanding the cellular and molecular biology of immune system which led to the development of immunosuppressive drugs and the invention of the concept of immunological tolerance. The mandatory side effects of immunosuppressive drugs including infection and cancer forced us to search alternative approaches along with the development of new immunosuppressive agents. Among the alternative approaches, the induction of a state of immunologic tolerance would be the most promising and the most generic applicability as a future therapy. Recent reports documenting long-term graft survival without immunosuppression suggest that tolerance-based therapies may become a clinical reality. Last year, we saw the epoch making success of overcoming hyperacute rejection in porcine to primate xenotransplantation which will lead porcine to human xenotransplantation to clinical reality. In this review, I dare to summarize the development of transplantation immunology from the perspective of history.

The Process of Acceptance of Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CATs) among Nurses: Grounded Theory Approach (간호사의 보완대체요법 수용과정에 관한 연구: 근거이론 접근)

  • Kim, Ae-Kyung;Lee, Young-Shin;Kim, Hyun-Jung
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.43 no.5
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    • pp.669-680
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    • 2013
  • Purpose: This study was done to explore the process of accepting CATs among nurses who experienced CATs in Korea. Methods: Grounded theory methodology was utilized. Data were collected from 10 nurses during individual in-depth interviews. Theoretical sampling was used until the data reached saturation. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative analysis method. Results: The core category emerged as "resolving the doubt and integrating" explaining the process of accepting CATs. The nurses engaged in three stages: need awareness, look for solution and integration. Causal conditions were interest as a nursing intervention and orthodox medical limitations. Context was lack of basis for application and increase in social interest. Strategies were new knowledge acquisition, having a strong will, combined with existing knowledge, and individualized intervention. Intervening conditions were others' eye, exhaustion for nurses and physical environment. Consequences were expanding of the nursing role and improved nurse satisfaction. Conclusion: The results of the study should facilitate application of CATs in nursing practice. To help nurses who are interested in CATs, there is a need for education programs, and further research on CATs.

Review of Clinical Acupuncture Research Protocols on Cancer in the USA (미국의 암 관련 침 임상 연구 프로토콜 분석)

  • Dobs, Adrian S;Lee, Sang-Hoon
    • The Journal of Korean Medicine
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    • v.28 no.3 s.71
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    • pp.116-125
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    • 2007
  • Objective : To overview the protocols of clinical acupuncture research on cancer in the USA. Methods : Using 'acupuncture' and 'cancer' as keyword search terms in Clinical Trials. gov, 28 clinical studies were found. Three studies by non-American institutions were excluded and 25 studies were analyzed. Analytic parameters were cancer condition, primary outcome, research institution, study design, and acupuncture intervention. Results : Breast cancer was the most frequent single condition in the searched protocols. Pain and quality of life were the primary outcomes in many studies. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centerin New York has performed the largest number of acupuncture cancer studies. The majority of studies were randomized controlled trials with active controls or placebo/sham controls. Total enrollment varied between the range of 10 and 700 subjects and ages of these subjects were at least above 18 years old (except one protocol). Most protocols had strict exclusion criteria for acupuncture needling such as bleeding disorders, infection, heart disorder, and central nervous system disorder. Conclusions : Clinical acupuncture studies for cancer patients have focused on pain, quality of life, and side effects induced by anti-cancer therapies. Re-evaluation and cautions for strict exclusion criteria in foreign countries are required to perform multi-national acupuncture trials.

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The use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with common neurologic diseases

  • Yeon, Gyu-Min;Nam, Sang Ook
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.59 no.8
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    • pp.313-318
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    • 2016
  • Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a phrase used to describe additional health care methods such as mind/body practices and natural products not regarded as treatments by conventional medicine. The use of CAM in children with common neurologic diseases is more frequent than its use in healthy children (24%-78% vs. 12%). However, less than half of patients report such use to their physicians. The preferred modalities of CAM vary in different countries due to their different cultures and traditions. The most common factor significantly associated with the use of CAM is parental CAM use in most studies. The frequency of the use of CAM in children and adults with neurologic diseases is similar, and both rates are higher than the rates in those without these conditions. The preferred modalities of CAM in adults are diverse, and megavitamins and mind/body therapy (prayer and chiropractic care) are included. The most common factor significantly associated with the use of CAM in adults with neurologic diseases is high educational level. Physicians need to be concerned with patients' use of CAM and provide correct information about CAM so that patients may make the right decisions. Further study is needed to determine the evidence-based efficacy of CAM use in children with common neurologic diseases.

Age-Related Male Osteoporosis, and Soy, Its Alternative Therapy - Review-

  • Soung, Do-Yu;Chung, Hae-Young;Rhee, Sook-Hee;Park, Kun-Young
    • Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.298-309
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    • 2005
  • As the population of the elderly grows, the prevalence of osteoporosis and its related fractures will increase in both men and women. The etiology, preventive and curative strategies of male osteoporosis are relatively unknown and understudied in comparison with those of female osteoporosis. Even currently approved therapies, e.g. bisphophonates, parathyroid hormone, and testosterone for male osteoporosis are in need of further investigation to test their safety and efficacy. Isoflavones which are found in soy have been shown to positively affect bone by stimulating bone formation while concurrently slowing down bone resorption. These observations mainly come from studies that have employed women or female animal models of osteoporosis. Therefore, there is a need to explore the role of soy and its isoflavones in preventing bone loss or rebuilding bone utilizing men or animal models of .male osteoporosis. From the review of existing literature it is too early to state the extent to which men with osteoporosis can benefit from consumption of soy or its isoflavones. In this review, the efficacy of soy and its isoflavones as alternative and/or adjunctive treatment for male osteoporosis will be discussed.

Eight Cases of Atopic Dermatitis treated with No-Hoe(蘆?: Aloe vera L.) Extract Dressing (蘆회 Dressing을 활용한 급성기 아토피피부염 환자 치험 8례)

  • Yoon, Hui-Sung;Lee, Gil-Young;Kim, Yoon-Bum
    • The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.153-166
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    • 2004
  • In addition to antiseptic/antibiotic regimens, current therapies such as topical and systemic corticosteroids, anti-histamine agents, immune suppressing agent are generally used in the western medicine to treat atopic dermatitis(AD). However, there is almost a complete lack of effective strategies to achieve long-term control of disease, oriental medical treatments are proposed an alternative measure. It has been proved by experimental and clinical study that Oriental medical atopic dermatitis(AD) treatments such as herb-medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, and steam therapy are effective in long-term treatment. Nevertheless, oriental medical therapy has some limitations to treat acute stage of the disease. Recently developed No-Hoe(蘆?: Aloe vera L.) extract dressings will be a supplementary methods to the oriental medical therapy. The dressing can subside pruritus, exudation, erythema and scaling in the acute stage of atopic dermatitis(AD). We applied the No-Hoe(蘆?: Aloe vera L.) extract dressings to eight atopic dermatitis patients and got some good effects. This reports will provide an alternative choice for the oriental and westernal medical therapy for long-term AD treatment.

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The Effects of Horticultural Activity with Reminiscence Materials and Singing Time on the Ability to Recall Words and Depression in the Elderly with Mild Dementia

  • Kim, Jung Min;Yun, Suk Young;Choi, Byung Jin;Cho, Mun Su
    • Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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    • v.21 no.6
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    • pp.515-521
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of horticultural activities with reminiscence materials and singing songs on the ability to recall words and depression in the elderly with mild dementia. A total of 20 sessions of a horticultural therapy program was held once or twice a week from July 14, 2015 to November 3, 2015 for the elderly with mind dementia at the social welfare center in D city. The subjects of this study were 13 women and the mean age was 81.2 years. The ability to recall words significantly improved from $8.6{\pm}1.8$ before the program to $9.4{\pm}0.6$ after the program (p=.012). However, there was no significant difference in the score of depression after the program. Synergistic effects were generated by applying horticultural activities, singing and reminiscence therapy activities simultaneously, and it was effective in recalling memories. As emotional functions were associated with hormones in vivo, there were emotional ups and downs at each session and short-term alternative therapies were not sufficient to completely eliminate neurotoxic substances caused by dementia.

The therapeutic potential of immune cell-derived exosomes as an alternative to adoptive cell transfer

  • Hong, Yeonsun;Kim, In-San
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.55 no.1
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    • pp.39-47
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    • 2022
  • Adoptive cell transfer (ACT), a form of cell-based immunotherapy that eliminates cancer by restoring and strengthening the body's immune system, has revolutionized cancer treatment. ACT entails intravenous transfer of either tumor-resident or peripheral blood-modified immune cells into cancer patients to mediate anti-tumor response. Although these immune cells control and eradicate cancer via enhanced cytotoxicity against specific tumor antigens, several side effects have been frequently reported in clinical trials. Recently, exosomes, potential cell-free therapeutics, have emerged as an alternative to cell-based immunotherapies, due to their higher stability under same storage condition, lower risk of GvHD and CRS, and higher resistance to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Exosomes, which are nano-sized lipid vesicles, are secreted by living cells, including immune cells. Exosomes contain proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, and the functional role of each exosome is determined by the specific cargo derived from parental cells. Exosomes derived from cytotoxic effectors including T cells and NK cells exert anti-tumor effects via proteins such as granzyme B and FasL. In this mini-review, we describe the current understanding of the ACT and immune cell-derived exosomes and discuss the limitations of ACT and the opportunities for immune cell-derived exosomes as immune therapies.

Preoperative risk evaluation and perioperative management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a narrative review

  • Eunhye Bae
    • Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.179-192
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    • 2023
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-breathing disorder associated with significant comorbidities and perioperative complications. This narrative review is aimed at comprehensively overviewing preoperative risk evaluation and perioperative management strategies for patients with OSA. OSA is characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep leading to hypoxemia and arousal. Anatomical features, such as upper airway narrowing and obesity, contribute to the development of OSA. OSA can be diagnosed based on polysomnography findings, and positive airway pressure therapy is the mainstay of treatment. However, alternative therapies, such as oral appliances or upper airway surgery, can be considered for patients with intolerance. Patients with OSA face perioperative challenges due to difficult airway management, comorbidities, and effects of sedatives and analgesics. Anatomical changes, reduced upper airway muscle tone, and obesity increase the risks of airway obstruction, and difficulties in intubation and mask ventilation. OSA-related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, further increase perioperative risks. Sedatives and opioids can exacerbate respiratory depression and compromise airway patency. Therefore, careful consideration of alternative pain management options is necessary. Although the association between OSA and postoperative mortality remains controversial, concerns exist regarding adverse outcomes in patients with OSA. Understanding the pathophysiology of OSA, implementing appropriate preoperative evaluations, and tailoring perioperative management strategies are vital to ensure patient safety and optimize surgical outcomes.