• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.324-329
• /
• 2000

Objective : Psychological factors may have a major influence on the outcome of treatment for back pain. We investigated the relationship between the outcome and some psychological factors, such as self-reported pain intensity, disability, sleep disturbance and fatigue. Method : The study was conducted as a survey using a questionnaire and telephone interviews. The survey included consecutive 294 patients who visited the neurosurgical out-patient department complaining of low back pain and contacted by telephone on average seven months after the first visit. Pain intensity was measured by visual analog scale, and disability was assessed by Waddell's chronic disability index. Results : The outcome of treatment for back pain was recovered in 36.7%, improved in 30.6%, almost same in 28.6%, and aggravated in 4.1%. Overall rate of improvement was 67.3%. The rate of improvement was related to the duration, patterns and intensity of the symptom, and Waddell index. It was not influenced by the doctors, special studies, and methods of treatment. When the duration was more than 6 months, there were the symptoms of both back and legs, and the self-reported Waddell index was 1-3, the rate of improvement was relatively low. Although the intensity of the pain and disability was closely related to the degree of sleep disturbance, fatigue, appetite, or indigestion, the outcome of treatment for back pain was not always bad in patients with high psychological stress. Actually the outcome of the patients who complained severe pain and disability was better than the outcome of the others. Conclusion : The outcome of the back pain can be predicted by the duration, patterns and intensity of the symptom, and Waddell index. The multidisciplinary treatment will be necessary for the patients whose expected outcome is not good to reduce not only the physical symptoms but also the psychological stress.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.316-324
• /
• 2021

Background: Korea Red Ginseng (KRG) has been used as remedies with hepato-protective effects in liver-related condition. Microbiota related gut-liver axis plays key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. We evaluated the effect of KRG on gut-liver axis in patients with nonalcoholic statohepatitis by the modulation of gut-microbiota. Methods: A total of 94 patients (KRG: 45 and placebo: 49) were prospectively randomized to receive KRG (2,000 mg/day, ginsenoside Rg1+Rb1+Rg3 4.5mg/g) or placebo during 30 days. Liver function test, cytokeraton 18, and fatigue score were measured. Gut microbiota was analyzed by MiSeq systems based on 16S rRNA genes. Results: In KRG group, the mean levels (before vs. after) of aspartate aminotransferase (53 ± 19 vs. 45 ± 23 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (75 ± 40 vs. 64 ± 39 IU/L) and fatigue score (33 ± 13 vs. 26 ± 13) were improved (p < 0.05). In placebo group, only fatigue score (34 ± 13 vs. 31 ± 15) was ameliorated (p < 0.05). The changes of phyla were not statistically significant on both groups. In KRG group, increased abundance of Lactobacillus was related with improved alanine aminotransferase level and increased abundance of Clostridium and Intestinibacter was associated with no improvement after KRG supplementation. In placebo group, increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae could be related with aggravation of liver enzyme (p < 0.05). Conclusion: KRG effectively improved liver enzymes and fatigue score by modulating gut-microbiota in patients with fatty liver disease. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of improvement of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. ClnicalTrials.gov: NCT03945123 (www.ClinicalTrials.gov).

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 2002

Objectives : The object of this study was to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and perceived stress or pain discomfort in patients with chronic low back pain. 80 patients with chronic low back pain and 100 normal controls participated in this study. Methods: Global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale and Stress Response Inventory (SRI) were used to measure perception for stressors and stress responses. Coping scale and pain discomfort scale were used to measure coping strategies and pain perception. Results : Scores of perceived stress related to work or job, interpersonal relationship, changes in relationship, sickness or illness and the total scores on the GARS scale were significantly higher in those with chronic low back pain than normal controls. Scores of the SRI fatigue subscale scored significantly higher in those with chronic low back pain than normal controls. No significant difference was found on total scores of the pain discomfort scale between those with chronic low back pain and normal controls. The patients with chronic low back pain scored significantly higher on planful problem solving and positive reappraisal than normal controls. In the patient group, pain perception had significant positive correlations with total scores of the SRI and scores of stress perception related to illness or injury. The extent of escape-avoidance showed significant negative correlations with age, whereas the extent of distancing or escape-avoidance had significant negative correlations with the level of education. Significant difference was also found in accepting responsibilities between male subjects and females. However, no significant correlations were found between coping strategies and perceived stressors, stress responses or pain perception. Conclusion : The results suggest that patients with chronic low back pain were more likely to use more active coping strategies than normal controls, though the former had more perception for stressors than the latter. It was also found that coping strategies used by the patients were associated with sociodemographic factors, but that they were not associated with perceived stressors, stress responses or pain perception.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.91-107
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the propensity and find out the Syndrome Differentiation of teeth-mark tongue by taking survey and body examinations with 178 male patients. 164 patients out of 178 were checked up on Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Accelerated Photoplethysmograpy (APG), Body Composition. This study was also planned to find out the distinctive characteristics of teeth-mark tongue diagnosis and compare differences between Qi-Deficiency and Accumulation of Dampness and Phlegm patients group. Methods : The questionnaire was carried out targeting 178 male with teeth-mark tongue respondents among who had Oriental Health Examination and patients from the 3rd oriental-internal medicine department in Dongeui Hospital from $1^{st}$, March 2005 to $30^{th}$, April 2010. Only 164 patients were checked on HRV, APG and Body composition examinations. Results : It showed that 86 patients had Qi-Deficiency and 78 had Dampness and Phlegm but 14 couldn't be categorized. The major symptoms of Qi-Deficiency compared to Dampness and Phlegm were 'Frequent running nose', 'Soft stool', 'Chronic fatigue', and 'Eyestrain'. On the contrary, Dampness and Phlegm's dominant symptoms were 'Chest discomfort', 'Feeling bloated', 'Back pain', 'Feeling sluggish', and 'Itchy skin'. However, all symptoms were not matched with the Syndrome Differentiation of Qi-Deficiency or Dampness and Phlegm. It also showed that teeth-mark tongue patients' frequent symptoms were 'Stuffy nose', 'Feeling bloated', 'Oliguria', 'Shoulder pain', 'Chronic fatigue' 'Eyestrain' and these symptoms were matched with the Syndrome Differentiation of Qi-Deficiency and Dampness and Phlegm. In the results from this study, there were no significant differences between Qi-Deficiency and Dampness and Phlegm. Conclusions : It is hard to conclude that teeth-mark tongue could be only one to diagnose Qi-Deficiency or Dampness and Phlegm with 3 examinations.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.223-251
• /
• 2017

Objectives : A lot of experiment results of Yugmijihwangtang(YM) are reported in various kinds of journals. Many of them report on the new effects that are not recorded in the traditional medical texts. So it is necessary to take it into consideration that newly reported effects could be of help to clinical practice, because this process of comparison of Donguibogam and scientific experiment results will have basis to lead into the evidence based medicine. Methods : We compared the effects of in Donguibogam and the experiment results of YM. Results : The effects of YM in Donguibogam are to replenish essence and marrow, and to treat red wen, fatigue, treat hypouresis, urinary sediment, urinary urgency, hematuria, hydrocephalus, speech and movement retardation, yin-deficiency, diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver, melanoma, disability to see near and far sight, tinnitus, hearing loss, alopecia, angiogenesis, cough, cough at night, trachyphonia, and, infantile convulsion. The experiment results of YM since 2000 in both Korea and China are to inhibit atopic dermatitis, renal interstitial fibrosis, anti-oxidant, emphysema, stress, glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, hemorrhage, plantar sweating, dermal aging, kidney aging, bone loss, breast cancer, pathological myocardial cell, primary liver cancer, thrombosis, osteoporosis, intrauterine growth retardation, chronic renal failure, IgA nepropathy, slow cerebral development, and hippocampal tissue lesions on the one hand, and to help bone formation, renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system, cerebral recovery, cognitive function and expression, osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, learning and memory, cold-tolerance and oxygen deficit-tolerance and anti-fatigue, endometrial formation, humoral and cell-mediated immunity, immune regulation effect, Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary Axis, and spermatogenesis, on the other hand. Conclusion : When we compared the effects of YM with the experiment results of YM, there existed a considerable gap between them. So, from now on, it is expected that a great effort and consideration are needed to solve these gaps from an academic and clinical point of view.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.265-275
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of Yang Eui Gongjin-dan (YEGJD), a traditional Korean medicine, on severe pain or numbness, including acute and chronic non-cancer pain. Methods: Records of patients visiting the Department of Traditional Korean Internal Medicine, Stroke and Neurological Disorders Center, from March 2011 to January 2015, were searched. Their chief complaint was severe numbness or pain (NRS≥7). We compared the NRS of pain pre- and post-YEGJD treatment in 34 patients; and analyzed changes in pain severity pre- and post-YEGJD treatment in 17 chronic non-cancer pain patients. We also investigated other accompanying symptoms, such as insomnia, anorexia, dyspepsia, fatigue, coldness, and excessive sweating, related to the deficiency state (虛症) in traditional Korean medicine. Results: The average pain NRS for the 34 patients significantly decreased from 8.04±1.08 to 3.75±2.54 after YEGJD treatment. The average pain NRS score in chronic non-cancer pain patients also significantly declined from 7.91±0.97 to 3.29±2.29. Conclusions: The traditional Korean medicine Yang Eui Gongjin-dan has an analgesic effect and is useful for treating severe pain or numbness. We recommend a randomized controlled trial using objective assessment scales and a large patient sample to further test the effects of Yang Eui Gongjin-dan.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2012

Many risk factors exist for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This study utilized a multivariate projection technique to identify which risk factors were predictive of CINV in clinical practice. A single-centre, prospective, observational study was conducted from January 2007~July 2010 in Singapore. Patients were on highly (HECs) and moderately emetogenic chemotherapies with/without radiotherapy. Patient demographics and CINV risk factors were documented. Daily recording of CINV events was done using a standardized diary. Principal component (PC) analysis was performed to identify which risk factors could differentiate patients with and without CINV. A total of 710 patients were recruited. Majority were females (67%) and Chinese (84%). Five risk factors were potential CINV predictors: histories of alcohol drinking, chemotherapy-induced nausea, chemotherapy-induced vomiting, fatigue and gender. Period (ex-/current drinkers) and frequency of drinking (social/chronic drinkers) differentiated the CINV endpoints in patients on HECs and anthracycline-based, and XELOX regimens, respectively. Fatigue interference and severity were predictive of CINV in anthracycline-based populations, while the former was predictive in HEC and XELOX populations. PC analysis is a potential technique in analyzing clinical population data, and can provide clinicians with an insight as to what predictors to look out for in the clinical assessment of CINV. We hope that our results will increase the awareness among clinician-scientists regarding the usefulness of this technique in the analysis of clinical data, so that appropriate preventive measures can be taken to improve patients' quality of life.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2018

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection can be presented with various clinical manifestations and different levels of severity when infected. Infectious mononucleosis, which is most commonly caused by EBV infection in children and adolescents, is a clinical syndrome characterized by fatigue, malaise, fever, sore throat, and generalized lymphadenopathy. But rarely, patients with infectious mononucleosis may present with gastrointestinal symptoms and complicated by gastritis, splenic infarction, and splenic rupture. We encountered a 16-year-old girl who presented with fever, fatigue, and epigastric pain. Splenic infarction and EBV-associated gastritis were diagnosed by using esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal computed tomography. Endoscopy revealed a generalized hyperemic nodular lesion in the stomach, and the biopsy findings were chronic gastritis with erosion and positive in situ hybridization for EBV. As splenic infarction and acute gastritis are rare in infectious mononucleosis and are prone to be overlooked, we must consider these complications when an infectious mononucleosis patient presents with gastrointestinal symptom.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.701-707
• /
• 2016

This study surveyed 150 men aged 30 to 50, a demographic which seborrheic dermatitis is common. The time of day one shampoos and recurrent fatigue were found to have a statistically significant impact on symptoms contributing to the main causes of seborrhea, including itchiness, excessive oil, acne, and redness on the scalp (p<0.01). Study results confirm lifestyle and shampoo habits, such as the frequent sense of fatigue, a routine work schedule, susceptibility to stress, the time of day one uses shampoo, and whether hair styling products are used, affects seborrheic scalp disease. This study found seborrheic scalp disease for office workers primarily resulted from shampoo habits, rashes were predominantly caused by a failure to rinse shampoo and dry hair completely, while secondary aggravating factors included irregular work schedules, recurrent tiredness, and chronic stress.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.338-343
• /
• 2001

Physical activity is one of important factors of the chronic disease. It was reported that Most of Korean workers didn't take exercise regularly. The purpose of this study is testing effects of exercise program, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. 30 subjects participating in this study are workers in small enterprises and have not taken exercise regularly. Exercise program, which includes education, support, monitoring, and counseling, was conducted for 6 weeks. Effects of this program was evaluated by the change of exercise, attitude, subjective norm, perceived control. intention of exercise, perceived health states, and fatigue. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1. There was the significant difference between pre and post-test in the subjective norm, perceived control. and intention of exercise, but not the significant difference in the attitude of exercise. 2. 53.3% of the subject of this study had taken exercise regulary in the post-test. 3. There was not the significant difference in the perceived health states and fatigue, From the results, it can be concluded that the exercise program is effective, leading to the change of intention and exercise rate. On the other hand, it was not effective in Physiological aspects. It seems that these result was due to short term program. Thus, it can be recommended that studies are needed with longer term program and larger sample.