• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2013

Purpose: With the rapid development of technology and individual life styles, Korea faces ever-increasing mental diseases caused by divorce, suicide, alcohol, drug addiction, and internet addiction. To reflect this, the quantitative expansion of mental health centers that make up is time. The purpose of this study is to understand the current situation of standard mental health centers by analysing Seoul's cases of mental health. First, this study presents the direction of mental health policy through specific examples about the function of public and private sectors. Second, advantages and disadvantages of the facilities will be delineated through in-depth comparisons and analyses, ultimately providing architectural quidelines for establishing future standard mental health center. Methods: Data were collected through literature research, field surveys, and expert interviews to standard mental health centers in Seoul. In the field investigation, we collected various data(architectural plan, dimension, photos) by visiting standard mental health centers. Data were analysed by content analysis. Results: The result of this study can be summarized into three points. The first one is that Mental health environment changing role of the mental health center is derived the spatial variations. The second one is that Standard Mental Health Center is divided into four sectors. Implications: It is necessary to give and architectural suggestion of mental health center in response to the proposal of the system.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of internet use time and health risk behaviors among adolescents and provide data to set up a strategy for preventing internet addiction. Methods: The data of the 2011 Youth Health Risk Behavior web-based Survey Collected by Korean Center for Disease Control was analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test for this study. Results: There were significant differences between boys and girls in internet use time. Boy's internet use time was different according to city size(F=13.20, p<.001), grade(F=35.85, p<.001), school record(F=298.95, p<.001), economic state(F=326.75, p<.001), living with parents(t=11.60, p<.001), father's education level(F=147.92, p<.001), and mother's education level(F=110.93, p<.001). Girls' internet use time was also different according to school grade(t=-8.68, p<.001), grade(F=61.03, p<.001), school record(F=233.32, p<.001), economic state(F=185.78, p<.001), living with parents(t=10.81, p<.001), father's education level(F=86.54, p<.001), and mother's education level(F=92.64, p<.001). Regarding the health risk behaviors, present smoking, present alcohol drink, drug use skipping breakfast, eating fast food, drinking soda, sexual behavior, suicidal attempt, engagement time in physical education classes, severe exercise, and sleeping satisfaction made differences in the internet use time. Conclusions: The results suggest that health risk behaviors are influenced by internet use time of adolescents. Thus, these results may be contribute to development of programs to prevent internet addiction.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aims to identify temperament and characteristics of cannabis and methamphetamine abusers for elucidating psycho-biological variables related to certain substance abuse. Methods : A total of 320 patients who registered in the 'Hepatitis C cohorts study of intravenous drug users' between March 2006 and March 2010 participated in this study. Data on demographic variables were obtained and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and measures for nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, depression and anxiety were assessed. After comparing TCI between cannabis, methamphetamine, and co-abusers, correlations between TCI and other clinical variables were examined. Results : The methamphetamine abuser group showed significantly higher scores in Novelty Seeking (NS2) and Harm Avoidance (HA3) in temperament than the cannabis abuser and co-abuser groups, whereas the cannabis abuser group had higher scores in purposefulness (SD2), congruent second nature (SD5), and self-directedness (SD) in character than the methamphetamine abuser group. In addition, temperaments and characters correlated with various psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions : We found the differences in temperament and characters among cannabis abusers, methamphetamine abusers. These findings might contribute to further understanding of mechanisms of cannabis and methamphetamine abuse.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2024

Background: Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a chronic condition that is characterized by persistent back pain following one or more spinal surgeries. Pharmacological interventions, such as the use of opioids and gabapentinoids, are frequently used in the treatment of FBSS. However, prolonged and excessive use of these medications can lead to dependence and adverse effects. This study investigates trends in opioid and gabapentinoid prescriptions among patients with FBSS in Korea from 2016 to 2020. Methods: Data from the Health Insurance and Review Agency were analyzed, and claims listing FBSS were selected for the study. Prescription patterns of opioids and gabapentinoids were classified based on the number of days prescribed per year. Results: Of the 390,095 patients diagnosed with FBSS, 41.6% of the patients were prescribed gabapentinoids, and 42.0% of them were prescribed opioids, while 10.6% of the patients were classified as long-term gabapentinoid users, 11.4% as long-term opioid users, and 7.4% of the patients were found to have long-term prescriptions for both drugs. The proportion of patients who received both gabapentinoid and opioid prescriptions increased annually. The doses of opioids prescribed have also increased along with the increase in the number of patients receiving opioid prescriptions. Conclusions: The prescription rates of opioids and gabapentinoids among patients with FBSS in Korea continue to increase steadily, posing potential risks of addiction and adverse effects. Further research is needed to better understand the actual status of addiction in patients with FBSS.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 2012

Objectives : Since acupuncture was accepted as an useful therapy for the drug addiction, a lot of studies about acupuncture have been carried out. This study was performed to review the articles about morphine addiction which used acupuncture as a treatment and to interpret the use of acupoints from the viewpoint of Six-meridian (Yuk Gyeong, three yin and three yang) theory. Methods : The authors searched 255 articles in PubMed with the key word of "morphine, acupuncture" and 629 articles in KISS (Koreanstudies Information Service System) with the key word of "morphine". The articles written in English only were included. The articles related with morphine (abuse, dependence, sensitization, addiction, intake, withdrawal sign, withdrawal syndrome, reinstatement, craving) only were included. The articles which used manual- or electro-acupuncture only were included and auricular acupuncture was excluded. Both of clinical and experimental study were reivewed. Results : The most frequently used acupoint was ST36-SP6 (electroacupuncture), and the second was HT7. LI4 was the third, and BL23 and PC6 were also used. Conclusions : The acupoints used in the morphine study seem to influence the brain through diverse mechanisms and it is thought that control of the reaction against stress appears to be related with these mechanisms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4983-4988
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• 2014

Background: In Muslim majority countries (MMC) opioid use for pain management is extremely low. The underlying factors contributing to this are not well defined. Aim: The aim of this study was to survey the attitudes of cancer patients towards morphine use for pain management in a MMC and identify the factors that influence patient decisions to accept or refuse morphine as treatment for cancer pain. Settings/participants: Patients were questioned whether they had pain or not, the severity and the medications for pain management. Questions included what type of medication they thought morphine was, whether or not they would be willing to take morphine if recommended for pain management and the basis for their decision if they were against morphine use. Results: Four hundred and eighty-eight patients participated in the study. Some 50% of the patients who refused morphine use and 36.8% of the patients who would prefer another drug, if possible, identified fear of addiction as the basis for their decision. Reservation of morphine for later in their disease was the case for 22.4% of the patients who refused morphine use. Only 13.7 % of the patients refusing morphine and 9.7% of the patients who preferred another drug, if possible, cited religious reasons as the basis for this decision. Conclusions: Identifying the underlying factors contributing to low opioid use for pain management in MMC is important. Once the underlying factors were identified, all efforts should be taken to overcome them as they are barriers to improving patient pain management.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2023

Among 14 subtypes of serotonin receptors (5-HTRs), 5-HT_2AR plays important roles in drug addiction and various psychiatric disorders. Agonists for 5-HT_2AR have been classified into three structural groups: phenethylamines, tryptamines, and ergolines. In this study, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives for binding 5-HT_2AR was determined. In addition, functional and regulatory evaluation of selected compounds was conducted for extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and receptor endocytosis. SAR studies showed that phenethylamines possessed higher affinity to 5-HT_2AR than tryptamines. In phenethylamines, two phenyl groups were attached to the carbon and nitrogen (R³ ) atoms of ethylamine, the backbone of phenethylamines. Alkyl or halogen groups on the phenyl ring attached to the β carbon exerted positive effects on the binding affinity when they were at para positions. Oxygen-containing groups attached to R³ exerted mixed influences depending on the position of their attachment. In tryptamine derivatives, tryptamine group was attached to the β carbon of ethylamine, and ally groups were attached to the nitrogen atom. Oxygen-containing substituents on large ring and alkyl substituents on the small ring of tryptamine groups exerted positive and negative influence on the affinity for 5-HT_2AR, respectively. Ally groups attached to the nitrogen atom of ethylamine exerted negative influences. Functional and regulatory activities of the tested compounds correlated with their affinity for 5-HT_2AR, suggesting their agonistic nature. In conclusion, this study provides information for designing novel ligands for 5-HT_2AR, which can be used to control psychiatric disorders and drug abuse.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.271-296
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• 2010

Objective: Poisonous Medicinal herbs can be considered as a risk factor to public health unless they are prescribed by Doctor of traditional Korean medicine. The proper method to manage them should be prepared to prevent risk factors caused by misuse and abuse of the poisonous medicinal herbs and enhance public health. Methods: In this dissertation (paper), the definition, scope, management status, data about pharmacology and toxicity and media release regarding adverse reaction were understood after organizing documents, laws and regulations concerning poisonous medicinal herbs. Also, management methods are suggested by analyzing related examples and regulations in China, Japan and Hong Kong, where the use of herbal medicine is general. Results: Methods for items for poisonous medicinal herbs, safety information management, management based on standardization of traditional processing methodology and reorganization and revision of related laws and regulations are established. Conclusion: Proper laws and regulations are not yet established to manage poisonous medicinal herbs in Korea. In this regard, it is urgent to establish laws and regulations which can apply independently. The purpose of the laws and regulations should be to enhance management of poisonous medicinal herbs and prevent incidence of addiction and death, improving the public health.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.245-249
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• 2011

Amphetamine, a synthetic psychostimulant, is transported by the dopamine transporter (DAT) to the cytosol and increases the exchange of extracellular amphetamine by intracellular dopamine. Recently, we reported that the phosphorylation levels of ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are regulated by psychostimulant drugs in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area important for drug addiction. However, the significance of ERM proteins phosphorylation in response to drugs of abuse has not been fully investigated. In this study, using PC12 cells as an in vitro cell model, we showed that amphetamine increases ERM proteins phosphorylation and protein kinase C (PKC) ${\beta}$ inhibitor, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) inhibitors, abolished this effect. Further, we observed that DAT inhibitor suppressed amphetamine-induced ERM proteins phosphorylation in PC12 cells. These results suggest that $PKC{\beta}$-induced DAT regulation may be involved in amphetmaine-induced ERM proteins phosphorylation.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.643-650
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to obtain information regarding to agricultural accidents in farm workers in the Kyungpook area. Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out for 528 workers from the 1st to 31st of March, 2007. Frequency, percentage, mean and chi-square test with the SPSS program were used to analyze the data. Results: The causes of agricultural accidents include falling(29.0%), overseeing(18.9%), traffic accident(17.4%), putting between machinery(11.7%), crashing(5.3%), fire (0.6%) in the order of frequency. Injuries from agricultural accidents include fracture(44.7%) cerebral bleeding (10.4%), amputation(7.0%), airway obstruction (2.3%) burn(1.9%), drug addiction(1.9%) in the order of frequency. The largest proportion of the subjects of hospital treatment were in their 50s and belonged to the group of high-level economic state. Agricultural machinery collision was the most frequent cause among the subjects of hospital treatment. Conclusion: These results suggest that carelessness can be a potential risk factor for agricultural accidents in farm workers. These findings may give useful information for developing agricultural accident prevention programs for farm workers.