• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue. Methods : A randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted. Twenty-four participants were randomized into one of the two groups: an acupuncture group(n=12) and wait-list group(n=12). The treatment group received 12 sessions of acupuncture over 4 weeks. Eight points($GV_{20}$; bilateral GB20, $BL_{11}$, $BL_{13}$, $BL_{15}$, $BL_{18}$, $BL_{20}$, and $BL_{23}$) were selected for needling. The control group did not receive acupuncture treatment during study period and follow-up were done in the $5^{th}$ and $9^{th}$ weeks after randomization in both groups. The primary outcome was fatigue severity scale(FSS) and the secondary outcomes included a short form of stress response inventory(SRI-short form), beck depression inventory(BDI), and insomnia severity index(ISI). Safety was assessed at every visit. Results : There were statistically significant differences in the between group values of FSS at $5^{th}$ weeks after randomization(p=0.0002), SRI-short form, BDI, and ISI at $5^{th}$, $9^{th}$ weeks after randomization(p<0.01). There were no adverse events. Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture is associated with benefits on the short-term outcomes in chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study was aimed at comparing clinical effectiveness among pharmacopuncture treatment, Chuna treatment, pharmacopuncture-Chuna cooperative treatment for neck pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods : This study was carried out on the 87 patients with neck pain caused by traffic accidents. The patients were divided into 3 groups ; group A was treated with pharmacopuncture. group B was treated with Chuna treatment. group C was treated with pharmacopuncture and Chuna cooperative treatment one at a time. Also all groups were treated with general acupuncture and herb-medicine treatment. We measured visual analog scale(VAS) and neck disability index(NDI) before the treatment and 2, 4 weeks later. Results : In result each group had significant decrease in VAS and NDI after 4 weeks later. group C showed significant difference as compared to group A and B in NDI and VAS scores. In the first period(from pre to 2 weeks treatment) group C showed significant difference as compared to group A and B in VAS scores. Conclusions : According to the results of this study, it was suggested that chuna treatment and pharmacopuncture are effective in reducing neck pain caused by traffic accidents. Pharmacopuncture and Chuna cooperative treatment was more effective in reducing neck pain caused by traffic accidents. Especially in the first period(from pre to 2 weeks treatment) pharmacopuncture-Chuna cooperative treatment was more effective than pharmacopuncture treatment, Chuna treatment for neck pain caused by traffic accidents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.511-514
• /
• 2013

Background: A small but significant proportion of cases with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) may harbour CIN 2-3, or even invasive carcinoma. Although immediate colposcopy, HPV-DNA testing or expectant management are three recommended options in ASCUS triage, a consensus does not currently exist on which one of these approaches is the most efficient. In this study, we aimed to compare the performance and cost of immediate colposcopy and colposcopy based on the human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for detecting histologically confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women with ASCUS. Materials and Methods: Records of 594 women with an index Papanicolaou smear showing ASCUS were retrospectively analyzed. Women in the immediate colposcopy arm were referred directly to colposcopy (immediate colposcopy group, n=255) and those in the HPV triage arm were proceeded to colposcopy if the high-risk HPV (hrHPV) test was positive (HPV triage group, n=339). High grade CIN (CIN2+) detection rate and treatment costs were compared between the groups. Results: The detected rate of CIN2+ was higher in the HPV triage group compared to immediate colposcopy group (8% vs. 1.6%, p=0.011). In the HPV triage group, the total cost, cost per patient, and the cost for detecting one case of high grade CIN were higher than the immediate colposcopy group (p<0.001). Conclusions: In women with ASCUS cytology, HPV DNA testing followed by colposcopy is more costly than immediate colposcopy, but this approach is associated with a higher rate of CIN2+ detection. This findings suggest that HPV DNA testing combined with cervical cytology could reduce the referral rate to colposcopy.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.103-108
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of treatment with osmotic-release oral system methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) on quality of life (QOL) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Another aim is to assess the relationship between change in QOL and other factors including children's symptoms and academic performance or parents' depression and parenting stress. Methods : A total of 111 medication-naive children with ADHD in a multicenter, open-label, 12-week trial of OROS-MPH completed an evaluation using diverse rating scales at two time points; at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Scales for investigation of children included the Parent Report Form-Children's Health and Illness Profile-Children's Edition (PRF-CHIP-CE) on QOL, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV on symptoms, and the Academic Performance Rating Scale (APRS). The Beck Depression Inventory and Parenting Stress Index were used for assessment of their parents. Results : Total scores for mean PRF-CHIP-CE increased from $207.9{\pm}26.7$ at baseline to $226.3{\pm}25.9$ after 12 weeks of treatment (p<.001). The change of APRS showed the strongest correlation with the increment of PRF-CHIP-CE scores (Pearson coefficient=0.561, p<.001), even after controlling for other factors (partial correlation coefficient=0.420, p<.001). Conclusion : Treatment with MPH-OROS results in improvement of QOL in children with ADHD in Korea. The advance in academic performance plays a key role in this change of QOL.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.485-503
• /
• 2015

This study aims at evaluating geomorphological classification systems to predict the occurrence of landslides in mountainous region in Korea. Geomorphological classification systems used in this study are Catena, TPI, and Geomorphons. Study sites are Gapyeong-gun, Hoengseong-gun, Gimcheon-si, Yeoju-si/Yicheon-si in which landslide occurrence data were collected by local governments from 2001-2014. Catena method has objective classification standard to compare among regions objectively and understand the result intuitively. However, its procedure is complicated and hard to be automated for the general public to use it. Both TPI and Geomorphons have simple procedure and GIS-extension, therefore it has high accessibility. However, the results of both systems are highly dependent on the scale, and have low relevance to geomorphological formation process because focusing on shape of terrain. Three systems have low compatibility, therefore unified concept are required for broad use of landform classification. To assess the effectiveness of prediction on landslide by each geomorphological classification system, 50% of geomorphological classes with higher landslide occurrence are selected and the total landslide occurrence in selected classes are calculated and defined as 'predictive ability'. The ratio of terrain categorized by 'predictive ability' to whole region is defined as 'vulnerable area ratio'. An indicator to compare three systems which is predictive ability divided by vulnerable area ratio was developed to make a comprehensive judgment. As a result, Catena ranked the highest in suitability.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.261-289
• /
• 2011

This study has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of the elderly employment programs through change of social capital by understanding how the elderly employment programs in the elderly employment policy of Korea has effected the change of social capital. The method of research was to design the research in the nonequivalent control groups design from the quasi-experimental design for the 500 elderly who participated and 250 who have not participated in the elderly employment programs through distributing structured questionnaire by classifying into before and after the project during 7 months from March 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010 to those above 65 living in Changwon. The social capital which is an important variable among the measurement index of the study has been set as trust, network, and social participation fields based on the aforementioned theoretic background. When the fact that there is a partial difference in the change of social capital of the elderly according to the participation in the elderly employment programs and the timing (before/after) is looked at in terms of change of social capital after controlling the general character of the elderly and the pre-score, there are differences per timing according to the participation in the elderly employment programs. Thus, the participation in the elderly employment programs had a significant difference in the change of social capital. It is possible to see that the trust, network, and social participation of the social capital all increased in the elderly with difficulties in their living status. It can be seen that the participation in the elderly employment programs brings forth increase of social capital for the elderly with difficulties in their living status. Among the social capitals, the elderly who participated in the elderly employment programs showed that the trust increased the most. Consequently, in order to increase the comprehensive social capital, the programs must be carried out focused on the vulnerable class in parallel to the elderly employment programs for the general elderly of other classes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.101 no.2
• /
• pp.266-278
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was developing dynamic stand growth model to predict diameter at breast height (DBH) growth by thinning intensity and cycle for major tree species of South Korea. The yield table, one of static stand growth models, constructed by Korea Forest Service was employed to prepare dynamic stand growth models for 8 tree species. In the process of model development, the thinning type was designated to thinning from below and equations for predicting the DBH change after thinning by different intensities was generated. In addition, stand density (N/ha), age and site index were adopted as explanatory variables for DBH prediction model. Thereafter, using the model, DBH growth under various silvicuture through integrating such equations considering thinning intensities, and cycles. The dynamic stand growth model of DBH developed in this study can provide understanding of effectiveness in forest growth and growing stock when thinning practice is performed in forest. Furthermore, results of this study is also applicable to quantitatively assess the carbon storage sequestration capability.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.187-197
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop an emotional self-regulation program for obese children and to examine the program's effectiveness on depression, eating habits, and body mass index. Methods: The emotional self-regulation program was developed from theory-based strategies and a pre-post pilot study was conducted with 46 children (19: intervention, 27: control). The program included 6 weekly group sessions over 2 months. The embedded experimental model of concurrent mixed methods was used to better understand research outcomes by converging both quantitative and qualitative data. Anthropometric measurements and surveys were performed before and after the intervention. Three focus group interviews were conducted with all participants after intervention to explore their experiences. Results: The intervention group displayed decreased depression levels in the quantitative outcomes. The participants also expressed positive outcomes such as improvements in confidence, impulse management, intimacy, happiness, and losing weight. Conclusion: These findings suggest that emotional self-regulation skills are crucial factors for obese children not only to manage their emotional problems but also to control their weight. Further research is needed with a larger sample size and randomized controlled trials.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.91-102
• /
• 2007

The long term success of periodontal treatment is dependent upon the effectiveness of the main-tenance care program after active treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether nutraceutical containing PRF-K2 as natural product from plant and seaweed has beneficial effects on clinical parameters, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume and GCF cytokine levels during main- tenance phase after periodontal treatment. Among the generally healthy and non-smoking. moderate to severe chronic periodontitis patients during maintenance phase in Department of Periodontics, Chonnam National University Hospital, twenty eight patients took nutraceutical containing PRF-K2 (Oscotec Inc. Cheonan, Korea) for 3 months as experimental group and sixteen patients received only maintenance care as control group. Clinical examination and GCF collection were performed at baseline, 1, 2 and 3 months of experiment. Total amounts and concentrations of GCF IL-1{\beta}, IL-1ra and $PGE_2$ were evaluated using ELISA kit. In probing pocket depth, experimental group showed the tendency of more reduction than control group after 3 months of experiment. Sulcus bleeding index (SBI) and GCF volume were significantly decreased in experimental group(p<0.05), whereas they were increased in control group. GCF IL-1{\beta} level tended to decrease in both experimental and control group and IL-1ra concentration tended to increase in experimental group and to decrease in control group. IL-1ra/IL-1{\beta} ratio tended to increase in experimental group and to decrease in control group during experimental period. GCF $PGE_2$ amount did not show any change in experimental group and tended to increase in control group. These results suggest that nutraceutical supplement which contain PRF-K2 could improve perio-dontal condition during maintenance phase after periodontal therapy.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2000

The present study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of the gamihyangsayukgunjatang on radioprotection and apoptosis in small intestines of mice after whole body irradiation. Two hundred forty mice were divided into 40 groups according to the radiation dose and the gamihyangsayukgunjatang treatment. The extracts of the herbal medicines were orally administered to each group differently before and/or after irradiation. The gamihyangsayukgunjatang treated groups were divided into 3 groups. Sample Ⅰ was the group treated with the gamihyangsayukgunjatang for 3 days before the radiation, sample Ⅱ was the group treated with the gamihyangsayukgunjatang for 3 days after the radiation. Sample Ⅲ was the group treated with the gamihyangsayukgunjatang for both 3 days before and after the radiation. To analyze the crypt survival, the micradony survival assay was used according to the Withers and Elind's method. To analyze the apptosis, the TUNEL assay was done. The results obtained are a follows : 1. From the microcolony survival assay, the gamihyangsayukgunjatang treated groups showed the radioprotective effect with a statistical significance(p<0.05), as compared to the control group. Comparing the radioprotective effect among the 3 groups, sample III was statistically more significant than sample I and II (p<0.05). Sample I showed no effect. In accordance with the research mentioned above, it is suggested that the radioprotective effect of the gamihyangsayukgunjatang is more useful for the treatment of the radiation injury rather that the prevention. 2. The results of the TUNEL assay showed that the apoptotic index in the gamihyangsayukgunjatang treated group was slightly decreased with no effectiveness, as compared to the control group. According to the above results, it could be suggested that the gamihyangsayukgujatang has a prominent protective effect in mice intestines against the radiation damage. However, the radioprotective effect does not seem to be related to inhibition of the apoptosis.