• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1267-1272
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to survey the importance of items for the physiological and pathological symptoms for estimating a health condition according to Sasang constitution to establish the SHI(Sasangin Health Index) which will reflect the concept of inherent vitality. We surveyed expert opinion with questionnaires from 20 Sasang constitution specialists. The questionnaire was composed of 57 items on physiological and pathological symptoms and specialist opinions. Each item was marked from A to E according to importance in evaluating health state in each constitution, and if the mean score of an item was over 3.0, the item was regarded as important. Important indexes among physiological symptoms were diet, digestion condition, perspiration condition, frequency of defecation, heat and cold response, and temperature of drinking water in Soeumin, pathologic perspiration and defecation condition in Soyangin, repast, perspiration condition, and the amount of drinking water in Taeeumin, and urination frequency in Taeyangin. Important indexes among pathological symptoms were sighing, indigestion, and abdominal pain in Soeumin, oral condition, chest distress, brash, and amnesia in Soyangin, eye condition, palpitation, and edema in Taeeumin, and vomiting and incapacity of the lower limbs in Taeyangin. There are different health evaluating index and priority order in it according to Sasang constitution.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.426-438
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine bowel habits, dietary habits, and nutrient intake of constipated adults, and the effects of prune products on relieving constipation symptoms. Fifty one adults with self-reported constipation (mean age 23 years, range 19-41 years, 10 males and 41 females) participated in this study. After a baseline survey on bowel habits and dietuy habits, participants were asked to consume at least 50 g of prune and 200 ml of prune juice per day during a 4-week period in addition to usual diet. Nutrient intake was estimated by a 24 hour recall at the baseline and once every week by diet records during the intervention. Data were analyzed after classifying the subjects into mild constipation group and severe constipation group by the severity of the symptoms. During the intervention, the subjects with mild constipation consumed 56 g of prunes (about 5.6 fruits) and 200 ml of prune juice, and the subjects with severe constipation consumed 59 g of prunes (about 5.9 fruits) and 207 ml of prune juice. Average intakes of energy, dietary fiber and water of the subjects in the mild constipation and severe constipation group increased during the intervention compared to the baseline. Average dietary fiber intake of the mild constipation and severe constipation groups significantly increased from 12.5 g and 11.6 g at the baseline to 18.5 g and 16.8 g after consuming prune products, respectively. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the number of bowel movements, a decrease of defecation time, a change to a softer stool consistency, and a decrease of abdominal pain during defecation. Seventy two subjects answered that prune products were effective to improve their overall constipation symptoms. Our data show that supplementation of prune products is effective to provide energy, dietary fiber and water, and to relieve constipation symptoms for constipated adults.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2016

Purpose: Each ethnic group has a unique life style, including diets. Life style affects bowel movement. The aim of this study is to describe the results of colon transit time (CTT) tests in Korean children who had chronic functional constipation based on highly refined data. Methods: One hundred ninety (86 males) out of 415 children who performed a CTT test under the diagnosis of chronic constipation according to Rome III criteria at Konkuk University Medical Center from January 2006 through March 2015 were enrolled in this study. Two hundreds twenty-five children were excluded on the basis of CTT test result, defecation diary, and clinical setting. Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The median value and interquartile range (IQR) of CTT was 54 (37.5) hours in Encopresis group, and those in non-encopresis group was 40.2 (27.9) hours (p<0.001). The frequency of subtype between non-encopresis group and encopresis was statistically significant (p=0.002). The non-encopresis group (n=154, 81.1%) was divided into normal transit subgroup (n=84, 54.5%; median value and IQR of CTT=26.4 [9.6] hours), outlet obstruction subgroup (n=18, 11.7%; 62.4 [15.6] hours), and slow transit subgroup (n=52, 33.8%; 54.6 [21.0] hours]. The encopresis group (n=36, 18.9%) was divided into normal transit subgroup (n=8, 22.2%; median value and IQR of CTT=32.4 [9.9] hours), outlet obstruction subgroup (n=8, 22.2%; 67.8 [34.8] hours), and slow transit subgroup (n=20, 55.6%; 59.4 [62.7] hours). Conclusion: This study provided the basic pattern and value of the CTT test in Korean children with chronic constipation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.575-587
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• 2021

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of supplementation with a Bifidobacteria enhanced yogurt (BE0623 yogurt), which includes Bifidobacterium lactis BB12, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bifidobacterium lactis, in the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using animal models and clinical trials. In a rat study, a loperamide-treated group (LOP) showed reduced water content in fecal pellets but showed an increased number of fecal pellets in the distal colon. In addition, the BE0623 yogurt (L-BE0623Y) group had the fewest fecal pellets in the distal colon. Regarding the serum lipid parameters, the LOP group had a high-density lipoprotein (HDL)/total cholesterol ratio that was 43% lower than that of a normal water group (NOR), but the outcome for the L-BE0623Y group was 27% lower than the NOR group. In a human study, 116 adults with IBS were sampled as subjects and fed 300 mL of yogurt per day for an eight week period. There was an IBS improvement in the L-BE0623Y and commercial yogurt (L-CY) groups, though flatulence, stool consistency and frequency of defecation outcomes were also noted. Specifically, the L-BE0623Y treatment group showed significant effects with regard to defecation duration and urgency after the consumption of the yogurt used in this study. These results suggest that the Bifidobacteria-enhanced yogurt has superior effects with regard to relieving loperamide-induced constipation in rats and that regular consumption of L-BE0623Y is effective to improve IBS in humans.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2019

■ Objectives The purpose of this case is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. ■ Methods The patient was diagnosed as a Soeumin, one of the 4 constitution types in Korean medicine, and treated with herbal medicine, Osuyubujaijung-tang and acupuncture treatment. The severity of symptom was assessed using daily defecation frequency, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of abdominal pain, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) score and Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) score. ■ Results After treatment, the defecation frequency was reduced from 6 to 2 times a day, and the severity of abdominal pain was reduced from NRS 6 to NRS 2. Also, GSRS score was decreased from 18 to 4 and IBS-QOL score was improved from 70.59 to 81.18. ■ Conclusion This study suggested that Korean medical treatment could be an effective option for treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of herbal medicine on the clinical symptoms and abnormal blood tests of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome. Methods: A 64-year-old woman diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2020 was prescribed Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang from January 6, 2022 to June 22, 2022 to reduce bleeding tendency and frequent defecation and to improve laboratory findings, such as platelet count. We observed changes in the symptoms and improvement of laboratory findings after six months of treatment. Results: In this study, approximately six months of treatment with Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang showed considerable improvement in laboratory findings and clinical symptoms, especially frequent defecation, petechiae, and gum bleeding, compared to the baseline parameters of the first visit. Also, no adverse effects, such as liver injury or decreased kidney function, were observed during herbal medicine treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests the availability of herbal medicine as a therapeutic option for managing patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2023

Prebiotics are known as components of intestinal microbiota that can improve and maintain human health status by stimulating the growth and activity of the intestinal tract as a method of controlling the intestinal environment. In this study, we examined whether 2'-fucosyllactose (FL) could affect intestinal microbial population and bowel activity. Water content and frequency of mouse feces were increased in the 2'-FL treated group at a high concentration (1,000 mg/kg), with brightness of the color enhanced and physical properties diluted. In addition, intestinal microbial analysis showed that harmful bacteria Clostridium and Staphylococcus strains were decreased and beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus strains were markedly increased in the group treated with a high concentration of 2'-FL compared to those in the control group. These findings suggest that administration of 2'-FL can maintain healthy bowel activity by reducing harmful bacteria population and improving diluted physical properties.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.390-405
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• 2020

Purpose: The effect of prebiotics intake after administration of a synbiotics mixture (a probiotic, Bifidobacterium longum, and a prebiotic, xylooligosaccharide containing sugar [XOS]) on human intestinal microflora and defecation characteristics was investigated in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-five healthy young volunteers (11 males and 14 females) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (BL2XO2 and BL2XO6). The synbiotics mixture was orally administered to both groups for 2 weeks, and the prebiotics were subsequently administered to the BL2XO6 group for 4 additional weeks. The daily dose of the synbiotics mixture comprised 10¹⁰ colony-forming unit of Bifidobacterium longum and 10 g of XOS, and during the prebiotics period, the daily dose of prebiotics comprised only 10 g of XOS. The fecal pH, microflora, and defecation characteristics were analyzed at baseline and at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. Results: The counts of B. longum and Bifidobacterium spp. in the BL2XO6 group exhibited a steady, increasing trend during the synbiotics and prebiotics periods, whereas those of the BL2XO2 group exhibited considerable variation in each week of the study period. Although there was no significant difference, the counts of fecal Bifidobacterium in the BL2XO6 group tended to be higher than those of the BL2XO2 group at week 6. The growth of Lactobacillus spp. exhibited a time-dependent variation, peaking at week 6 in both groups. Low counts of Clostridium spp. were observed after treatment with the synbiotics and prebiotics in the BL2XO6 group (p < 0.05) throughout the study, whereas the inhibitory effect on Clostridium spp. was maintained only during the synbiotics period in the BL2XO2 group. The defecation characteristics did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: Administration of XOS after a synbiotics mixture containing B. longum and XOS can exert a prebiotic effect in healthy young volunteers by stimulating Bifidobacteriun spp. growth and inhibiting growth of Clostridium spp.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.270-274
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• 2000

A seven-year-old female Jindo-dog was presented with a history of progressive abdominal distension. Except for severe bilateral abdominal swelling, other abnormal signs were not detected. The patient showed normal appetite and defecation. In the radiographic examination, the abdomen was filled with large masses. Suspected a certain neoplastic disease, laparotomy was taken through the cranial abdominal midline. Large pale-yellow masses were proliferated to fill the abdomen. In the masses, grey-brown or black portion presumed hemorrhagic or necrotic spots were found. Even though neoplastic tissues were not detected in the right kidney, they were infiltrated in the left kidney except for a part of the cortex. Obtaining the owner's consent, the patient was euthanized and samples were collecte for further study. In microscopic examination, the parenchyma of the medulla was substituted with tumor cells and the cortex was impressed by the expansive proliferation of the neoplastic tissues. This neoplasm was estimated as renal carcinoma originated from tubular epithelium, being based upon that tumor cells were largely cuboidal cells and they had obscure tubular forms.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2007

The irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in clinical practice and is characterized by abdominal pain associated with a chronic disturbance of defecation. The subject is a-69-year-old man who has abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea. anorexia. general weakness and has been diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. We diagnosed this patient as the Gastrointestinal Phlegm(食痰) and prescribed Jengjengamiyijin-tang (Zhengchuanjiaweierchen-tang). In the result, we had improvement of his symptoms.