• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.45-55
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• 2015

Objective : The aim of this study was to survey the present utilization of pattern identification(PI) in the clinical field among Korean Medicine Doctors. Method : This survey was conducted from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, 2014 by face-to-face interview using structured questionnaire. The subjects were 400 korean medicine doctors who worked in hospitals or clinics. The questionnaire consisted of two sections - a demographics section(i.e., sex, age, clinical experience, place of work, residence and so on) and the main research section(i.e., the PI utilization rate, the utilization of PI systems, the utilization of PI in the clinical domain and in the treatment domain, the correlation between utilization PI and so on). Results : This study revealed that subjects used the PI to 66.7% of their patients on average. The utilization rate of PI in patients was significantly higher for female physicians than for male physicians, for physicians worked in clinics than for physicians who worked in hospitals and for physicians with more than 10 years clinical experience than for physicians with less than 10 years clinical experience. In the utilization of PI systems, Visceral PI was most as 92.0%. There were significant difference on the PI utilization rate according to utilization of Meridian and Collateral PI, Triple Energizer PI, Defense, Qi, Nutrient and Blood PI, Six-Meridian PI and Six Excesses PI. As a result of analysing the PI utilization rate by clinical domain and in the treatment domain, the Treatment and the Drug Treatment showed the highest values. Among utilized PI systems, the correlation coefficients between Defense, Qi, Nutrient and Blood PI and Triple Energizer PI showed the highest value, but the correlation coefficients between Sasang Constitutional Medicine with the each PI showed substantially lower value. Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrate that usage of PI was higher than usage of U code(in KCD) usage in clinical field. we suggested that additional studies on using PI and developing more appropriate standardized tool should be conducted to widen scope of PI's utilization.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2020

The demand for drug-induced sedation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans have substantially increased in response to increases in MRI utilization and growing interest in anxiety in children. Understanding the pharmacologic options for deep sedation and general anesthesia in an MRI environment is essential to achieve immobility for the successful completion of the procedure and ensure rapid and safe discharge of children undergoing ambulatory MRI. For painless diagnostic MRI, a single sedative/anesthetic agent without analgesia is safer than a combination of multiple sedatives. The traditional drugs, such as chloral hydrate, pentobarbital, midazolam, and ketamine, are still used due to the ease of administration despite low sedation success rate, prolonged recovery, and significant adverse events. Currently, dexmedetomidine, with respiratory drive preservation, and propofol, with high effectiveness and rapid recovery, are preferred for children undergoing ambulatory MRI. General anesthesia using propofol or sevoflurane can also provide predictable rapid time to readiness and scan times in infants or children with comorbidities. The selection of appropriate drugs as well as sufficient monitoring equipment are vital for effective and safe sedation and anesthesia for ambulatory pediatric MRI.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 1993

We investigated the effects of CP-2 extracted from the mixture of Copis and Croton tiglium L, which showed very high cytotoxic effect to the various tumor cells, on the growth and steroidenesis of primary and transformed cell lines PA-GS6 and PO-GRS1 by cotransfectionwith SV40 and Ha ras oncogenes. CP-2 inhibited the growth of PA-GS6 and PO-GRS1 in a dose dependent manner when the growth of them was measured by cell number and by protein content, while CP-2 did not affect the growth of primary granulose cells. Productions of progesterone ofprimary and transformed granulosa cells were stimulated by forskolin, but this stimulatory effect was blocked by treatment of CP-2. Clinical application of CP-2 asa new anti-cancer drug and utilization of transformed granulosa cells as a model system for the screening of anti-cancer drug were also discussed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very common form of cancer worldwide and is often fatal. Although the histopathology of HCC is characterized by metabolic pathophysiology, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, the focus of treatment has been on eliminating HCC. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) multicellular hepatic spheroid (MCHS) models have provided a) new therapeutic strategies for progressive fibrotic liver diseases, such as antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory drugs, b) molecular targets, and c) treatments for metabolic dysregulation. MCHS models provide a potent anti-cancer tool because they can mimic a) tumor complexity and heterogeneity, b) the 3D context of tumor cells, and c) the gradients of physiological parameters that are characteristic of tumors in vivo. However, the information provided by an multicelluar tumor spheroid (MCTS) model must always be considered in the context of tumors in vivo. This mini-review summarizes what is known about tumor HCC heterogeneity and complexity and the advances provided by MCHS models for innovations in drug development to combat liver diseases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2013

This article aimed to introduce 'risk sharing' schemes for pharmaceuticals between drug manufacturers and healthcare payer. Published literature review was undertaken to summarize risk sharing concepts and collect information on existing scheme examples in other countries focusing on new anticancer drugs. Risk sharing schemes could be categorized into health outcomes-based and non-outcomes (financial) based ones. Outcome-based schemes could be broken down into performance-linked reimbursement and conditional coverage. Performance-linked reimbursement can be further broken into outcomes guarantee and pattern or process of care and conditional coverage included coverage with evidence development and conditional treatment continuation schemes. Non-outcome based schemes included market share and price volume at population level, and utilization caps and manufacturer funded treatment initiation at patient level. We reviewed the fifteen examples for anticancer drugs that risk sharing agreements in response to the inherent uncertainties and increased costs of eleven anticancer drugs. Of them, eight cases were coverage with evidence development schemes. The anticancer drugs except bevacizumab and cetuximab were all listed on the national health insurance formulary in Korea, with reimbursement criteria defined on the basis of approved indications and administrations. Risk sharing approach may be a useful tool to ensure values for drug expenditure, but there are a number of concerns such as high administration costs, lack of transparency and conflicts of interest, especially for performance-based health outcomes reimbursement schemes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.2466-2472
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• 2013

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is a causative agent of Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which has affected a large population of the world. Viral envelope glycoprotein (gp120) is an intrinsic protein for HIV-1 to enter into human host cells. Molecular docking guided molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed to explore the interaction mechanism of heterobiaryl derivative with gp120. MD simulation result of inhibitor-gp120 complex demonstrated stability. Our MD simulation results are consistent with most of the previous mutational and modeling studies. Inhibitor has an interaction with the CD4 binding region. Van der Waals interaction between inhibitor and Val255, Thr257, Asn425, Met426 and Trp427 were important. This preliminary MD model could be useful in exploiting heterobiaryl-gp120 interaction in greater detail, and will likely to shed lights for further utilization in the development of more potent inhibitors.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.579-596
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• 2012

The purpose of the study is to examine the use of medication among adults by comparing the pattern of outpatient prescription drug use with the pattern of long term taking lifestyle drug use. Furthermore, the study investigates factors associated with the use of medication, particularity focusing on socioeconomic factors. Korea Health Panel data of 2008 was used to conduct the study analysis. By performing four different logistic regression models, the study noticed different patterns of the medication use between prescription drugs and lifestyle drugs. More specifically, the study showed that adults with lower education level tend to more frequently receive prescriptions while adults with higher education as well as income level tend to more use lifestyle drugs than their counterparts. Furthermore, other control factors such as age and gender were statistically significant for the use of both prescription and lifestyle drugs in different patterns. The study findings expect that reimbursement structure of drugs may be significantly associated with the different patterns and accordingly the accessability of medicine in particularly vulnerable population. Therefore, these policy factors should be considered in future study to more comprehensively understand about the diverse patterns in the medication use.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the current research trend of herbal medicine based on the published articles in pharmacoepidemiologic journals. Methods : A total of 3 electronic journals, Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety(PDS), Drug Safety and Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology and Risk Management(JPERM) from January 2013 to August 2018 were used for searching articles about herbal medicine. Selected articles were reviewed and classified under 5 categories-collection of adverse events in herbal medicine, statistical modeling and methodology, pharmaco-epidemiologic outcome study, drug utilization review(DUR), risk management system and regulation. Results : A total of 8 articles were finally included for analysis. 2 articles were categorized in collection of adverse events in herbal medicine, 1 was statistical modeling and methodology, 2 were pharmacoepidemiologic outcome study and 3 were risk management system and regulation. There was no article in DUR. And then pharmacoepidemiologic research trends of herbal medicine were summarized in classification of 5 categories. Conclusions : To sum up with these 8 articles of herbal medicine in pharmacoepidemiologic journals, herbal medicine was of interesting concern among researchers. The need for research on safety and risk management of herbal medicine is steadily increasing, pharmacoepidemiologic research about herbal medicine must be activated in Korea.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.58-69
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• 1976

It is well established that dissolution is freruently the rate limiting step in the gastrointestinal absorpton of a drug from a solid dosage from. The relationship between the dissolution rate and absorption is particularly distinct when considering drugs of low solubility. Consequently, numerous attempts have been made to modify the dissolution characteristics of poorly water soluble drugs. Since dissolution rate is directly proportional to surface area, one may increase the rate by decreasing the particle size of the drug. Levy has considered a number of methods by which a drug may be presented to the GI fludids in finely divided from. The direct method is the utilization of microcrystalline or micronized particles. A second method involves the administration of solutions from which, upon dilution with gastric fluids, the dissolved drug will precipitate in the form of very fine particles. A more unique way of obtaining microcrystalline dispersions of a drug has been ercently suggested by Sekiguchi et al. They have first proposed the formation of a eutectic mixture of a poorly water soruble drug with a physiologically inert, easily soluble carrier. When such systems are exposed to water or GI fluids, the soluble carrier will dissolve rapidly and the finely dispersed drug particles will then be released. It has been suggested by Shefter and Higuchi that the formation of crystalline solvate could be a powerful tool in affecting rapid disslution of highly insoluble substances. Goldberg et al. have noted that the formation of solid solution could reduce the particle size to a minimum and increase the dissolution rate as well as the solubility of the durgs. It has also been shown that the rates of solution of drugs were appreciably increased by coprectipitating the drug with soluble polymers. The increase was found to be sensitive to the method of preparation, the molecular weight of polymer and the particular ratio of drugs to polymer. Although several investigations have demontrated that the solubility and/or dissolution rates of drugs can be increased in this manner, little information is available in the literature related to the in vivo absorption pattern of drugs orally administered as PVP coprecipitates. Recently, however, it was demonstrated that both the rate and extent of absorption of the insoluble drug could be markedly enhanced when orally administered to rats in the form of a coprecipitate with PVP. The purpose of the present investigation was to ascertain the general appility of soluble polymer coprectation technique as a method for enhancing the in vitro dissolution rate of hydrophobic indomethacin. To accomplish this aim, the dissolution characteristics of pure indomethacin, indomethcin-polymer physical mixtures and indomethacin-polymer coprecipitates were quantitatively studied by comparing their relative dissolution rates. The solubility and dissolution behavior of these systems were also examined.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.604-611
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• 2005

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000-based solid dispersions (SDs), by incorporating various pharmaceutical excipients or microemulsion systems, were prepared using a fusion method, t o compare the dissolution rates and bioavailabilities in rats. The amorphous structure of the drug in SDs was also characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The ketoconazole (KT), as an antifungal agent, was selected as a model drug. The dissolution rate of KT increased when solubilizing excipients were incorporated into the PEG-based SDs. When hydrophilic and lipophilic excipients were combined and incorporated into PEG-based SDs, a remarkable enhancement of the dissolution rate was observed. The PEG-based SDs, incorporating a self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) or microemulsion (ME), were also useful at improving the dissolution rate by forming a microemulsion or dispersible particles within the aqueous medium. However, due to the limited solubilization capacity, these PEG-based SDs showed dissolution rates, below 50% in this study, under sink conditions. The PEG-based SD, with no pharmaceutical excipients incorporated, increased the maximum plasma concentration (C$_{max}$) and area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC$_{0-6h}$) two-fold compared to the drug only. The bioavailability was more pronounced in the cases of solubilizing and microemulsifying PEG-based SDs. The thermograms of the PEG-based SDs showed the characteristic peak of the carrier matrix around 60$^{\circ}C$, without a drug peak, indicating that the drug had changed into an amorphous structure. The diffraction pattern of the pure drug showed the drug to be highly crystalline in nature, as indicated by numerous distinctive peaks. The lack of the numerous distinctive peaks of the drug in the PEG-based SDs demonstrated that a high concentration of the drug molecules was dissolved in the solid-state carrier matrix of the amorphous structure. The utilization of oils, fatty acid and surfactant, or their mixtures, in PEG-based SD could be a useful tool to enhance the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs by forming solubilizing and microemulsifying systems when exposed to gastrointestinal fluid.