• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2017

Background: Workers laboring in steel industries in tropical settings with high ambient temperatures are subjected to thermally stressful environments that can create well-known risks of heat-related illnesses and limit workers' productivity. Methods: A cross-sectional study undertaken in a steel industry in a city nicknamed "Steel City" in Southern India assessed thermal stress by wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and level of dehydration from urine color and urine specific gravity. A structured questionnaire captured self-reported heat-related health symptoms of workers. Results: Some 90% WBGT measurements were higher than recommended threshold limit values ($27.2-41.7^{\circ}C$) for heavy and moderate workloads and radiational heat from processes were very high in blooming-mill/coke-oven ($67.6^{\circ}C$ globe temperature). Widespread heat-related health concerns were prevalent among workers, including excessive sweating, fatigue, and tiredness reported by 50% workers. Productivity loss was significantly reported high in workers with direct heat exposures compared to those with indirect heat exposures ($x^2=26.1258$, degrees of freedom = 1, p < 0.001). Change in urine color was 7.4 times higher among workers exposed to WBGTs above threshold limit values (TLVs). Conclusion: Preliminary evidence shows that high heat exposures and heavy workload adversely affect the workers' health and reduce their work capacities. Health and productivity risks in developing tropical country work settings can be further aggravated by the predicted temperature rise due to climate change, without appropriate interventions. Apart from industries enhancing welfare facilities and designing control interventions, further physiological studies with a seasonal approach and interventional studies are needed to strengthen evidence for developing comprehensive policies to protect workers employed in high heat industries.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.70-76
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• 1988

Since ancient times, records pertaining to chi-reinforecenent of ginseng have been documented in books of Chinese nedicine. We, therefore, assessed the therapeutic effects of ginseng on patients with chi-deficiency syndrome. Eigheen cases of chi-deficiency, screened at the outpatient service in the internal department of Chinse medicine at the China Medical College Hospital. were prescribed two grams of Korean red ginseng powder three times daily for a two week period. For evaluation, a questionnaire and diagnosis by sphygmography were conducted prior to and after administration of the prescription. For control purposes, fourteen volunteers fasted for more than five days (seven had access only to ginseng. and the other seven were given only mineral water) and were subsequently evaluated by the same criteria. Three results were obtained for the ginseng treated group: (1) improvements in symptoms of chi-deficiency such as fatigue and dizziness; (2) changes in pulse waves with time domains showing alternate P-waves, strengthened dicrotic waves, and some minute waves in the end-diastolic period; (3) frequency domains with enhanced amplitudes around 12Hz. These three findings, which are consistent with each other, suggest the reinforcement of the effect of ginseng on 'heart-spleen chi' in Chinese medicine.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.214-220
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• 2005

Effect of terrapin or snake extract on forced-swimming capacity and related biochemical parameters of SD rats was evaluated. Treatment groups were fed diet supplemented with 5% terrapin extract or 1% snake extract for 4 weeks. After adaptation for 1 week, each group was divided into two subgroups: one group swam for 90 min (90-min subgroups), and the other swam until exhaustion (all-out subgroups). No significant difference was observed in swimming time until exhaustion among the groups. After swimming for 90 min, contents of fatigue factors of serum such as lactate, inorganic phosphate, creatine kinase, and ammonia were not significantly different (p < 0.05) between control and treatment groups, including all-out subgroups, except for lactate concentration. These results indicated that terrapin or snake extract had little effect on forced-swimming capacity of rats.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2016

Kaempferia parviflora (Krachaidam, Zingiberaceae) is used as a traditional Thai medicine for treating various ailments, including allergy, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and ulcer. Moreover, it is also used to promote longevity and as a nerve tonic. The aim of this study was to develop functional yoghurt containing Kaempferia parviflora and to examine the physicochemical characteristics of yoghurt supplemented with different concentration of K. parviflora. To this end, we examined the pH and sensory evaluation of yoghurt containing K. parviflora. The pH of this yoghurt decreased whereas the TA increased with incubation time (up to 5 h) without altering the amounts of K. parviflora added. In the sensory evaluation, the taste, flavor, color, and overall acceptability decreased in proportion to the amount of K. parviflora added. Among the experimental group, high scores were achieved by yoghurt containing 1% K. parviflora compared with that by the control group. We conclude there is an urgent need for additional research on the production of this multi-functional yogurt (with properties including anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory), using an optimum concentration of K. Parviflora.

• 재활복지
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.113-130
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of guided imagery activities using music on both mood states and physiological responses of psychiatric inpatients. The experimental group was consisted of 27 psychiatric patients participating in the guided imagery activities using music for 11 minutes. Also, the control group was formed with 27 psychiatric patients with non-musical intervention. Mood states, blood pressure, pulse and skin temperature were checked before and after session. We could see the significant difference in the score of five areas-tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue-showed most differences in score. Also, the score of skin temperature of both experimental group and between two groups showed significant differences, too. Therefore, we can conclude that these results were showing that guided imagery activities using music was an effective nursing intervention method for altering mood state of psychiatric patients. Besides, it seemed to have physiological impact to make patients relax tension backed up by change of skin temperature.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.58-67
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources on the improvement of quality of sleep, mood symptoms, and cognitive function in Korean female emotional labor workers. Methods: Twelve female workers who experienced excess emotional labor participated at the training camp program for five days in Danghangpo-ocean park, Goseung-gun, Gyeongnam Province in South Korea. Participant sleep quality, mood symptoms, and cognitive functioning before, after, and 1.5 months later were evaluated and analyzed. Results: After participating in the marine resource program, participants reported significantly decreased sleep latency. Global sleep quality, cognitive functions (attention, flexibility, and inhibition control), and mood states, including depression, tension, anger, fatigue, were also improved. These effects were generally maintained after 1. 5 months (PSQI t = 2.63, p = 0.02 ; HAM-D t = 5.92, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources was effective in relaxing emotion-related tension and improving cognitive function. To advance this pilot study, it is necessary to carry out further research to investigate the use of marine resources in mental health interventions.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.709-722
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the effect of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in alleviating the side effects of lung cancer patient undergoing immunotherapy. Method: A 43-year-old man, who was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, received pembrolizumab treatments. The patient was treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine (Geoeoyangpye-tang) to control various uncomfortable symptoms. The degree of pain was measured by the numeric rating scale (NRS). The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the EORTC 13-item lung cancer-specific module (EORTC LC-13 questionnaire) were used to assess the change in the quality of life. Results: After the TKM treatment, the flank pain and arthralgia based on the NRS were significantly improved. Various uncomfortable symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, and loss of appetite were also significantly improved, based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-LC13. The size of the primary tumor was decreased during treatment. The disease status was stable radiologically after two months from discharge.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2020

Recently, a variety of electric anesthetics devices have been developed and used in clinical practice to reduce the fatigue of the operator during local anesthesia for dental procedures and to compensate for the disadvantages of manual anesthesia device. In this electric anesthesia injection device, the accurate and constant delivery of pressure for drug infusion is a very important performance factor. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the transfer pressure, a small pressure gauge using a load cell is often used, but since the elastic body inside the load cell may not be able to accommodate a sufficient displacement, an error may occur when evaluating pressure performance. For these reasons, in this study, we proposed and evaluated a silicon-chrome steel (Si-Cr steel) spring jig that can accommodate relatively large displacements that can be used when evaluating the performance of a pressure-controlled pressure application device using a load cell type pressure gauge. As a result of the pressure transmissibility test and repeated measurement results using a commercial dental anesthesia injection device, a more stable result was obtained when using a spring jig, and it was confirmed that the frequency of abnormally high measurement was reduced.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.45-55
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• 2019

Objective : Diabetic gastroparesis is a complication that is defined as delayed gastric emptying and upper gastrointestinal symptoms and often occurs in long-standing diabetic patients. Bojungikgi-tang (BJT) is a traditional oriental herbal formula that has long been used for the treatment of digestive disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of BJT on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic gastroparesis rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (250-270g) were divided into 13 groups including normal group, STZ-induced diabetic control group, BJT diet (7 various concentrations), and insulin-, glibenclamide-, metformin-treated group were used for the experiments for the comparison. Diabetic gastroparesis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. The water intake, food intake, body weights and fasting blood glucose levels were measured. After 4 weeks the animals were sacrificed and gastrin, leptin, insulin, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, creatinine, albumin and lipid levels were evaluated. Results : Intraperitoneal injection of BJT for 4 weeks resulted in increased levels of gastrin in blood and decreased leptin and lactate concentration in STZ-induced diabetic gastroparesis rat model. BJT did not affect insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid levels in STZ-induced diabetic gastroparesis rat model. Conclusion : These results indicated that BJT would have protect effect on diabetic gastroparesis through the improvement effect of gastric motility and fatigue syndrome in STZ-induced diabetic rats. This study shows that BJT might be effective for treatment of diabetes and its complications such as gastroparesis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.130-137
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• 2022

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, appropriate management of sequelae and treatment of infectious symptoms became increasingly important healthcare issues. Although the practice guidelines and treatment cases based on the East Asian traditional medicine have been reported, there are rare studies on the use of Korean medicine in Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to present the progress of non-contact Korean medical treatment for infected patients at a local public health center using retrospective chart review. A total of 18 patients were prescribed with 5 days of herbal decoction and medicine extract covered by the national health insurance. With the questionnaire form, the progression and improvement of symptoms before and after treatment were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS), and the treatment satisfaction and opinions were obtained. The symptoms such as cough (5.56±2.23 to 2.89±2.14), sputum (6.11±1,75 to 3.28±2.47), sore throat (6.06±2.70 to 1.47±1.62), anorexia (5.56±2.63 to 1.94±2.21), nausea (3.75±1.71 to 1.17±1.11), diarrhea (3.40±2.63 to 1.50±1.51), chest tightness (4.93±2.46 to 2.29±2.30) and fatigue (6.44±1.79 to 2.67±1.88) all improved according to the NRS, and the satisfaction with herbal medicine treatment on a 5-point Likert scale was 4.24±0.90. No side effects and adverse reactions were reported. Thereupon non-contact Korean medical treatment can be concluded that it effectively reduces the COVID-19 infection mild symptoms in restrictive extent. Since the retrospective data does not include a control group, the more confirmative data is needed by multicenter and large-scale controlled clinical study afterwards.