• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.189-199
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• 2009

Objectives : Despite the substantial amount of newspaper coverage related to complementary and alternative medicine on the internet in recent years, little is know about the quality of the health information. To evaluate health information of the newspaper articles on moxibustion available in Korea through Korean language search engines and Web sites. Methods : We searched 454 news stories about moxibustion between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2008. Among them, 34 internet news coverage related to health information on moxibustion were selected and rated against eight categories by two individuals. Results : The inter-rater reliability of the two reviewers was assessed as 0.69, indicating a moderately high level of agreement. The overall rating score for 34 articles was 35.7${\pm}$17.2 for the statement criteria and 12.9${\pm}$17.0 for the satisfaction criteria. Overall, although they might be improving recently, the scores remain generally low. There was a statistically significant difference in the score of the newspaper coverage according to the type of evidence sources, including anecdotes. Conclusions : There is substantial variability in news reporting practices about moxibustion. It is urgently needed to enhance the information related to CAM including moxibustion through the news media in Korea.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.32-41
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• 2015

Objectives: Condurango (Gonolobus condurango) extract is used by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners as a traditional medicine, including homeopathy, mainly for the treatment of syphilis. Condurango bark extract is also known to reduce tumor volume, but the underlying molecular mechanisms still remain unclear. Methods: Using a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) as our model, the molecular events behind condurango extract's (CE's) anticancer effect were investigated by using flow cytometry, immunoblotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Other included cell types were prostate cancer cells (PC3), transformed liver cells (WRL-68), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Results: Condurango extract (CE) was found to be cytotoxic against target cells, and this was significantly deactivated in the presence of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that its action could be mediated through ROS generation. CE caused an increase in the HeLa cell population containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage at the G zero/Growth 1 (G0/G1) stage. Further, CE increased the tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and the fas receptor (FasR) levels both at the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the protein levels, indicating that CE might have a cytotoxic mechanism of action. CE also triggered a sharp decrease in the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) both at the RNA and the protein levels, a possible route to attenuation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and caused an opening of the mitochondrial membrane's permeability transition (MPT) pores, thus enhancing caspase activities. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest possible pathways for CE mediated cytotoxicity in model cancer cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.74-85
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• 2007

Objective : In this study we wanted to confirm if proper stimulation and de-Qi of traditional Korean medical acupuncture could increase hot flash relief efficacy. Design : A randomized controlled, single blind study. We used two modalities of acupuncture, one with optimal stimulation [Study group; Korean medical acupuncture (TKMA)] and one with minimal stimulation [Control group; Minimal acupuncture (MA)]. Same acupoints [PC6(內關), HT8(少府), HT7(神門), LI4(合谷), ST36(足三里), SP6(三陰交), Ren4(關元)] were used in both groups. Fifty-two patients were treated twice a week for 8 weeks, and follow up was done after 4 weeks from the last treatment. Patients were checked hot flash VAS (visual analog scale), frequency and duration every time they visited. Results : Hot flash relief efficacy by 100mm hot flash VAS was obvious in both groups. Hot flash VAS scores of study group were smaller than the scores of control group at the early stage (3rd, $4^{th}$ and $8^{th}$ visit), but there wasn't a remarkable difference between study and control group at the end of the trial. Besides, diminution of hot flash VAS was faster and more even in the study group than control group by visualization using 'Box plot'. We compared frequency and duration of hot flash, 100mm sweating, palpitation, sleep disturbance VAS, and Kupperman Index, MENQOL, Patient's global assessment score. Both groups showed definite decrease from the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant. There wasn't any adverse event. Hot flash relief efficacy was kept in most patients after 4 weeks' follow-up. Conclusion : Acupoint combination by Traditional Korean medical theory is effective on hot flashes and hot flash relief efficacy was faster and more even in optimal stimulation than minimal stimulation.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.277-281
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• 2013

Silkworm powder, which contains 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), is a promising complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Korea. Silkworm powder was produced from Yeonnokjam pupae at d 3 of the 5th instar at the National Academy of Agricultural Science. The powder was derivatized with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl), and the DNJ-FMOC content was measured by HPLC. We investigated the content of 1-DNJ in the silkworm powder and its glucose-lowering effect when it was treated at different temperatures. The content of 1-DNJ was the lowest at $150^{\circ}C$, while it was constant at other temperatures. The silkworm extract powder was orally administered to diabetic mice (20 mg/kg/d) for 4 wk. Water intake did not significantly change when compared with the control group (T0). The blood glucose levels significantly decreased when mice where administered silkworm powder treated at $60^{\circ}C$ (T60) compared to the control group, but no difference was observed between the groups T100 and T150. Moreover, the blood levels of TG significantly decreased compared with the control group. Based on these results, we surmise that the properties of the silkworm extract powder were stable upon heating at $100^{\circ}C$ but not at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.37-51
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• 2012

Objectives : The objective of this study is to determine the present state of patients with breast cancer use of Korean medicine(KM) and predictive factors for the use. Through this, the present study is intended to present reasonable treatment approaches for patients with breast cancer as well as communicating correct information on KM to healthcare providers and presenting objective alternatives for patients with breast cancer management based on the subjects' experience in health benefits obtained from their use of KM. Methods : To collect data for the present study, questionnaire surveys were conducted on outpatients who visited four hospitals located in Seoul, Korea during around three weeks from May 31, 2012. Although the total number of the questionnaire sheet distributed in the form of directly asking questionnaire questions was 300, 12 incomplete questionnaire sheets were excluded. Therefore, the number of questionnaire sheets actually used in analyses was 288 and thus the collect rate was 96%. Results : Major results of this study are as follows. First, the number of subjects who responded to the questionnaire was 288 in total. Forty-six percent of the patients reported KM usage and the most commonly used ginseng and qigong/exercise. KM use was found to be associated with age, experiencing side effects of cancer treamnent. Factors that affect the use of KM were analyzed by Linear Logistic Regression and the results showed that age, experiencing side effects of cancer treatment, effectiveness of cancer treatment, and satisfaction of the treatment were factors that were related with relatively more frequent use of KM. Conclusions : Comparing the previous studies, it could be seen that patients with breast cancer were highly interested in and used KM in which conventional medicine and KM are used simultaneously. Knowledge on the integrative use of KM and conventional therapies is necessary for cancer physicians and traditional Korean medical doctors to help patients make informed choices. KM use may play a role in the positive benefits associated with process of breast center treatment. Healthcare providers should communicate correct information on the KM use that has been scientifically verified and talk with each other openly. The fact that the significant correlation between predictive factors for the use of KM was identified trough the present study is quite meaningful.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1042-1053
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of Neurofeedback(NF), Cranio-Sacral Therapy(CST) and Combine Therapy(CT) in middle aged women through their experiences after participating these therapies. The participants were 53 middle aged women who lived in S city, 17 in the NF group, 17 in the CST and 19 in the CT, for 10 weeks from October to December, 2007. The NF group had 30 sessions, the CST group had 10 sessions and the CT group had 30 sessions of NF training after 10 sessions of CST. The data was collected from daily chart by self reporting their experiences during sessions. Collected data was analyzed by content analysis. From raw data, 37 items of NF, 91 items of CST and 110 items of CT were extracted in the content analysis. Similar items were gathered to 22 attributes of NF, 63 of CST and 68 of CT. These attributes were categorized into 9 higher attributes. The dominant attributes of NF were doziness during the training, mental comfort, lightening of physical and mental condition. Mental and physical comfort, improvement of sleep, healthy condition, crying were the dominant of CST. Also mental and physical comfort, lightening of physical condition, improvement of sleep, tear were the dominant of CT. According to the results of this study NF, CST and CT were very effective on physical and psychological relaxation. Therefore it is recommended that these NF, CST and CT be used as a complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) in middle aged women.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.228-236
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• 2008

Purpose: The purposes of this study is to provide basic informations on oriental medical research and treatment through analysis of breast cancer patients, who visited M $\mu$ integrative cancer center, O O university East-West neo medical center. Methods: Electronic medical records of 106 breast cancer patients who visited oriental medical center from June 2, 2006 to February 28, 2008 were selected to collect clinical data of those patients. Clinical data were analyzed for types of clinical characteristics, and received therapies. For analysis of survival and recurrence, Kaplan-Meier method was used. All the data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. Results: Average age of breast cancer patients, who visited oriental medical center was 48.72 ($\pm$10.13). The stage distribution record indicated stage I (5.8%), stage II (7.0%), stage III (5.8%), and stage IV (81.4%). Original purposes of patients were analyzed to be supplementary treatment for western therapy (68.9%), treatment for recurrence prevention (18.9%), and oriental medical treatment (12.2%) in order. While receiving oriental medical treatment, 60.4% of patients received conventional medical treatment simultaneously. Conclusion: Majority of patients who visited oriental medical hospital were stage IV at terminal stage and mainly visited for the purpose of supportive care. Further clinical study of breast cancer patients is needed to validate the effectiveness of oriental medical treatment based on this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1295-1301
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• 2015

Background: Cancer imposes a significant economic burden on individuals, families and society. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic burden of cancer using the healthcare claims and cancer registry data in Korea in 2009. Materials and Methods: The economic burden of cancer was estimated using the prevalence data where patients were identified in the Korean Central Cancer Registry. We estimated the medical, non-medical, morbidity and mortality cost due to lost productivity. Medical costs were calculated using the healthcare claims data obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance (KNHI) Corporation. Non-medical costs included the cost of transportation to visit health providers, costs associated with caregiving for cancer patients, and costs for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Data acquired from the Korean National Statistics Office and Ministry of Labor were used to calculate the life expectancy at the time of death, age- and gender-specific wages on average, adjusted for unemployment and labor force participation rate. Sensitivity analysis was performed to derive the current value of foregone future earnings due to premature death, discounted at 3% and 5%. Results: In 2009, estimated total economic cost of cancer amounted to $17.3 billion at a 3% discount rate. Medical care accounted for 28.3% of total costs, followed by non-medical (17.2%), morbidity (24.2%) and mortality (30.3%) costs. Conclusions: Given that the direct medical cost sharply increased over the last decade, we must strive to construct a sustainable health care system that provides better care while lowering the cost. In addition, a comprehensive cancer survivorship policy aimed at lower caregiving cost and higher rate of return to work has become more important than previously considered.