• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2014

Purpose: Anorexia is a common symptom in terminal cancer patients. Some data have suggested a role of visfatin in regulating feeding behavior. We studied the relationship of a serum visfatin level and anorexia in cancer patients provided with hospice care. Methods: After informed consent was obtained, 69 cancer patients over 20 years old at a hospice center were enrolled in the study from July 2009 to July 2010. We characterized patients by age, sex, body mass index, primary cancer site, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, etc. Also, blood tests were performed to measure the level of hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, albumin, lymphocyte count, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interukin-6, leptin and visfatin. Results: The mean age of subjects was 65.5 years old, According to univariate analysis, pulse, ECOG performance scale, opioid use and visfatin level were different between the anorexia and non-anorexic group (P<0.05). The median visfatin level was higher in the anorexia group than the good appetite group (P=0.0323). Serum visfatin concentrations were not related with either body mass index or serum leptin or total cholesterol levels, but it was negatively correlated with serum albumin levels (P=0.0198) and lymphocyte counts (P=0.0013). Conclusion: This study did not identify a novel link between visfatin levels and anorexia in cancer patients at a hospice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2022

Cancer cachexia-anorexia is a multi-organ metabolic syndrome characterized by anorexia and weight loss. Generally, such symptoms are a serious problem in cancer patients, adversely affecting chemotherapy success and survival rate. Cachexia has been reported to accompany up to 80% of gastrointestinal cancers, such as pancreatic, lung, and colon cancer, though it is relatively rare in lymphoma or breast cancer patients. It is also known that cancer-induced anorexia occurs independently of chemotherapy, although decreased appetite due to chemotherapy is well reported. In terms of pathoflammatory cytokines that are excessively increased by tumor tissues. Since the mechanism of cancer cachexia is not yet fully understood, there are currently no therapeutic agents or diagnostic markers to treat it. A recently published study identified a substance secreted from cancer cells that induces cancer anorexia, and the molecular mechanism causing the eating disorder was discovered. An increase in the expression of this substance has been shown to be statistically correlated with the symptoms of cachexia in cancer patients, and it is therefore expected to be applicable in the diagnosis and development of therapeutic agents for cancer cachexia. This review article aims to provide an overview of the key molecular mechanisms of the anorexia and tissue wasting caused by cancer cachexia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.542-558
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Yigong-san on anorexia in children by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: Eleven electronic databases were searched on May 30, 2022 to collect relevant studies. All studies published up to the search date were considered. RCTs reporting the effect of Yigong-san on the treatment of anorexia in children were included. The primary outcome was an improvement in clinical anorexia symptoms after treatment. In this meta-analysis, continuous and binary outcomes were assessed, and the data were presented as the mean difference and risk ratio with their 95% confidence intervals. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Results: A total of nine studies were included in this systematic review. The treatment group (Yigong-san only or Yigong-san plus conventional treatment) showed a statistically significant effect compared to the control group (conventional treatment only) in total effective rate (Yigong-san only: RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.17, 1.36, I²=0%; Yigong-san plus conventional treatment: RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18, 1.47, I²=0%), clinical symptoms, some of the anthropometric outcomes, and biological markers related to appetite and growth in children with anorexia. No serious adverse events related to Yigong-san were reported. Conclusions: Yigong-san showed statistically significant effects as a treatment for anorexia in children. However, the number of studies included in the meta-analysis was insufficient, and the herbs contained in the Yigong-san used in the included studies were not standardized. Future research should focus on the implementation of methodologically robust clinical research.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.361-369
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of anorexia and neuropathic pain induced by cisplatin on hindlimb muscles of rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups, a cisplatin-treated group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). In the cisplatin-treated group, cisplatin at a dose of 2 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally two times a week up to a cumulative dose of 20 mg/kg over 5 weeks, and in the control group saline (0.9% NaCl) was injected intraperitoneally at the same dose and duration as the cisplatin-treated group. At 34 days all rats were anesthetized, after which the soleus and plantaris muscles were dissected. Withdrawal threshold, body weight, food intake, activity, muscle weight, Type I and II fiber cross-sectional areas and myofibrillar protein content of the dissected muscles were determined. Results: Compared with the control group, the cisplatin-treated group showed significant decreases (p<.05) in withdrawal threshold, activity, food intake, body weight, Type I and II fiber cross-sectional areas, myofibrillar protein content and weight of the soleus and plantaris muscles. Conclusion: Muscular atrophy in hindlimb occurs due to anorexia and neuropathic pain induced by the cisplatin treatment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.433-445
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess changes in pain, fatigue, anorexia, anxiety and quality of life(QOL) in patients with cancer who were on chemotherapy. Methods: Symptoms and QOL were examined both before chemotherapy and after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. The participants were 76 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in one of 7 hospitals. Results: The patients experienced a mean of 2.22-2.23 symptoms out of 4 symptoms. Patients who were female, or suffered from breast or colorectal cancer experienced more symptoms. Fatigue at present, and most severe fatigue and anorexia in the previous 3 weeks increased significantly. Anxiety and QOL decreased significantly after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Number of symptoms, anorexia at present, most severe anorexia in past 3 weeks, and anxiety had negative correlations. QOL before chemotherapy showed a positive correlation with QOL after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. In a regression analysis, anxiety, QOL at baseline, income, and the most severe pain in the past 3 weeks were significant predictors of QOL. Conclusion: Physical and psychological factors were significant predictors of both QOL and each subscale, and these factors correlated with each other. These results demonstrate the needs for early assessment and intervention from the start of chemotherapy to decrease symptoms and improve QOL.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Objectives: This study is to report a treatment case of the Krabbe Disease with herbal medicine and acupuncture. The purpose of this study is to report clinical effects of an oriental medical treatment on the Krabbe Disease patient who also has stool problem, sleep disorder, and anorexia. Methods: Herbal medicine and acupuncture are performed on the patient with the general symptoms such as constipation, sleep disorder, anorexia, and coldness of feet. Results: Only treated by oriental medicine, the patient's constipation, sleep disorder, anorexia, and coldness of feet vanish, and the patient maintains her condition for a month. Conclusions: This study shows that oriental medical treatments are effective in treating the general symptoms that a Krabbe Disease patients has. To be more accurate, further studies are necessary.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.138-149
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to estimate genetic and environmental factors which can effect growth, and predict final height using this factors. Methods: Correlation analysis and regression analysis were conducted between measurements of height and Genetic & environmental factors through survey from 1352 child & adolescent patients. Results: Factors which have correlation with height percentile are MPH(Mid-Parental Height), NBW(Neonatal body weight), anorexia, dyspepsia, atopic dermatitis, frequency of breakfast and quality of sleeping time. MPH has moderate relation, NBW and anorexia have fair relation, and other factors have linear but poor relation. Regression equation from factors which have correlation and height percentile has 26.9% of predictive power. Regression equation considering only genetic factor has 20.4%. MPH has the most effect on height percentile. Anorexia has more effect than NBW. Other factors also have small and similar effect. Conclusions: Height of parents has the most effect on growth, anorexia, dyspepsia, atopic dermatitis, frequency of breakfast and quality of sleeping time also has effect.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.145-153
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• 2021

Objective : This study aimed to report the improvement of a patient with anorexia by treatment with Jinmu-tang (Hyunmu-tang) based on the disease pattern identification diagnostic system (DPIDS) of the Shanghanlun provisions. Methods : We evaluated the progress of symptoms, patient compliance, and presence of side effects after the patient was administered Jinmu-tang. The clinical response was estimated according to the number of meals a day, the size of meals, the number of complaints of abdominal pain in a week, and a Likert scale. Results : According to the DPIDS, the patient was diagnosed according to provision 316 with soyinbing. After administration of Jinmu-tang for 45 days, the number of meals a day and the size of meals increased, the number of complaints of abdominal pain in a week decreased, and the Likert scale score decreased from 3 to 0. Conclusions : This case report suggests that the word "腹痛" (abdominal pain) in the 316th Shanghanlun provision indicates anxiety about abdominal pain, which affected anorexia in this case.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2023

Objectives The purpose of this case study was to report a case of anorexia and fatigue after getting vaccinated COVID-19 treated based on Sasang Constitutional Medicine. Methods The patient was hospitalized for 4 days and treated with herbal medicine and moxibustion. The patient was asked to score for daily energy level out of 100 on his own and we used Karnofsky Performance Score(Karnofsky PS) on daily health status to evaluate the clinical effects. We also checked daily amount of meal and evaluated original symptoms such as insomnia, gastric discomfort, bowel movement and dysuria in four stages. Results At initial, the patient could only eat one spoon of a meal and was unable to carry on herself without any assistance, so she used a wheelchair on the day of admission. When discharged, the patient can eat half of a meal at each mealtime and perform normal activities by herself. Discussion This case demonstrates that Sasang constitutional approach to anorexia and fatigue caused by COVID-19 vaccination can be an useful treatment.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was performed to review the research trends in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Methods: Studies were searched through The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. The search term for the subject were 'Eating Disorder', and 'Anorexia Nervosa'. Clinical research that conducted TCM treatment for AN patients were included. Studies were analyze according to study design, therapy method, diagnostic criteria, population and intervention. Results: 23 articles were selected. According to study design, studies were classified into two randomized controlled trial (RCT), three single group before-and-after studies, and 18 case reports. According to therapy method, they included 19 herbal medicine studies, two acupuncture treatment studies, and two complex treatment studies. The most common pattern identification was 'liver depression with spleen deficiency' (肝鬱脾虛), and the most used herb was 'Root of Bupleurum falcatum' (柴胡). Most of the studies showed effective results in increasing appetite and weight. Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrate that TCM treatments for AN has been effective in alleviating chief symptoms. However, in terms of evidence-based medicine, lack of RCT on TCM treatments for AN and absence of objective diagnostic criteria in case reports are limitations. Therefore well-designed further clinical studies should be performed based on the results of this study are recommended.