• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 1999

The effects of pharmacist's intervention for asthma patients using self-monitoring of peak expiratory flow rate in medication teaching model was evaluated for 3 months in improving clinical outcomes including emergency visits, hospitalizations, antibiotics use, symptoms and sleep disturbance. Twenty seven patients were enrolled in study and twenty three patients completed the follow-up schedules. The selected patients were given the pre-designed instruction for medication including appropriate use of medication, metered-dose inhaler(MDI) technique, identifying and controling asthma triggers and recognizing early signs of deterioration. There were significant improvements in clinical outcomes, in terms of emergency visits, hopitalizations, antibiotics use, symptoms and sleep disturbance. There were also significant improvements in the MDI use, environmental control, and medication knowledges. There was a progressive increase in peak expiratory flow rate during the three-month intervention. In conclusion, pharmacist's intervention using self-monitoring of peak expiratory flow rate has a significant impact on improving clinical outcomes in asthma patients.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.116-126
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of these cases is to report the effects of oriental medicine on two patients with premature ovarian failure. Methods: Two patients who had amenorrhea and hot flashes caused by premature ovarian failure were treated by oriental medicine such as herb medication. We estimated the effects of treatments by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level, menstrual cycle and symptoms. Besides, follicle and endometrium were checked by ultrasonography for academic research.Results After treatments, their symptoms of premature ovarian failure were improved and the menstrual cycle resumed. And the level of serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone decreased and the level of serum E₂ increased.Conclusions Two cases shows that oriental medicine has effects on patients with premature ovarian failure by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level, menstrual cycle and symptoms.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.255-265
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to identify the variation factors of hypertension medication rate between regions and to use them as a basic data for establishment of hypertension management business plan which is customized by region. The data were collected from community health survey, National Statistics Office and National Health Insurance Corporation, and were analyzed using the geographically weighted regression. As the result of analysis, the factors that influenced the hypertension medication rate between regions were subjective recognition rate of health level, the rate of medical aid client and the number of health facility per one hundred thousand of population. According to the geographically weighted regression, the total of 230 regional regression models composed of major variables which affected the hypertension medication rate were calculated. However, this study has several limitations that the explanatory power of model is not high and others. Therefore, a follow-up study which is based on the actual data of compliance with hypertension medication will be necessary.

• Urogenital Tract Infection
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.79-83
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• 2018

Purpose: The 5 alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) reduces the size of the prostate and alleviates lower urinary tract symptoms. After stopping 5ARI, the prostate quickly recovers to its pre-medication size. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the restoration of prostate size after 5ARI discontinuation. Materials and Methods: Between March 2009 and May 2017, patients who visited an outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia were selected and start 5ARI medication. After 6 months of medication, the patients stopped medication for 1 year. Meanwhile, we measured the prostate volumes of patients 3 times (before and after medication, after discontinuation) and divide the patients into 3 groups (maintained, intermediate, and restored) with recovered prostate volume ratio. After classification, we investigated the relationship between the variable factors (age, serum prostate-specific antigen, initial volume, reduced volume after medication) between groups. Results: Among the 147 selected patients, the mean age and plasma PSA level were $61.6{\pm}7.9$ and $0.8{\pm}0.6$, respectively. The mean initial prostate volume was $32.3{\pm}4.2ml$, which reduced to $23.2{\pm}3.2ml$ after medication. After one year of discontinuation, the mean volume was $31.4{\pm}6.4ml$, with restoration to 101.5% of the reduced size. We noticed a tendency that patients with faster prostate volume recovery were generally older than those with slower recovery; however, this was not statistically significant. Other factors showed no relationship with prostate recovery. Conclusions: When using 5ARI in elderly patients, continuous treatment seems better than intermittent treatment. If discontinuation is needed, short term follow-up is recommended.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.240-247
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• 2013

Purpose: Regurgitation is known to peak at the age of 3-4 months, with a sharp decrease around the age of 6 months. Little is known about the natural evolution of infants who still regurgitate after the age of 6 months. Methods: Hundred thirty-one infants older than 6 months regurgitating more than once a day were followed for a period of 3 months. Results: According to our data, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is seldom at this age. Most of the infants regurgitated 3 or more times/day and spit up an estimated volume of more than 15 mL. Eighty-five parents were educated regarding frequency of feeding. There were only 6 infants that still had frequent regurgitation (>3 times/day) despite an appropriate feeding schedule. The Infant GER Questionnaire score reached a score of 0 in 50% of the infants after one month of follow-up and in 81.9% at the third month of follow-up. There was an increase of the "weight for age z-score" trends in infants that still regurgitated at the end of follow-up and a declining z-score in infants that no longer regurgitated. An explanation may be that infants that regurgitate drink larger volumes than infants who do not regurgitate. Conservative treatment (reassurance, dietary treatment, behavioral advice) resulted in a significant better outcome than natural evolution. Conclusion: Regurgitation that persisted after the age of 6 months, strongly decreased during a 3-month follow-up with conservative treatment. GERD is rare in this age group; therefore, anti-reflux medication is only seldom needed.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.89-102
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• 2015

■ Objectives This study aimed to investigate the domestic research trend about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) treated with Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). ■ Methods Searches of two major TKM databases were conducted for articles published up to July 2015. Searching keyword was "Lou Gehrig's disease" OR "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis". Studies dealt TKM for ALS were included. ■ Results 18 studies were met our inclusion criteria(two prospective studies, one retrospective study, one follow-up study, 14 case reports). Complex TKM intervention of herbal medication, acupuncture and pharmacopuncture was the most frequently used treatment. Individually, herbal medication was the most frequent followed by acupuncture. Short-term assessment showed improvement in ALS symptoms but long-term assessment showed progression of disease. Accessory symptoms including depression, anxiety and insomnia were improved in four studies. ■ Conclusion For more definite evidence, larger studies with long-term follow-up period are needed. Moreover, benefits that TKM can provide for ALS patients as a part of multi-disciplinary approach should be studied in depth.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.224-236
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• 2007

Background : Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine; previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, a major part in the progression of small vessel disease, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefor, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke recurrence in patients with small vessel disease. Methods : We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with small vessel disease, and monitored stroke recurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effect for 1 year. We then performed follow-up brain MRI to find new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. For the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results : There were 73 subjects treated with Chunghyul-dan for 1 year; new vascular events were found in 3. Of the 85 subjects lost to follow-up, fifty four could be contacted, and eight of them had stroke recurrence. One year of Chunghyul-dan medication reduced the odds ratio of stroke recurrence by 75% compared to the subjects lost to follow-up and the rate increased to 88%, when adjusted for other relevant risk factors for stroke recurrence. These reductions were much higher than those of aspirin and other kinds of conventional anti-platelets. There was no adverse effect in any of the study subjects. Conclusions : We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for inhibition of stroke recurrence. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.244-249
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• 1995

We experienced one case of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in 26-year-old female patient. She had taken antituberculous medication under the impression of miliary tuberculosis on simple chest X-ray at peripartum period. On outpatient follow-up she complained of progressive exertional dyspnea in spite of medication. Through careful history taking and physical examination, high resolutional CT, and open lung biopsy she was diagnosed as pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis combined with incomplete type of tuberous sclerosis. So, we presented the case with the brief review the literatures.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2008

We report the case of an 18-year-old woman with a 6-year history of widespread facial plane warts that had proved resistant to repeated treatments with laser therapy and imiquimod cream. The patient had recurrent lesions, which subsequently resolved with treatment. We diagnosed the case as heat and blood stasis and qi deficiency damp stagnation. Treatment with herb medication and herbal external wet dressing was initiated. During the 4-month treatment period, the warts resolved gradually. At 4 months follow up, there were no recurrent lesions and no other adverse effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.244-247
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• 1996

A 67 year old male with postherpetic neuralgia complained of right anterior chest throbbing pain and also allodynia. We performed thoracic epidural block with 0.25% bupivacaine and 1% lidocaine. Oral carbamazepine and imipramine were also administred concomitantly. One month later, patient complained of fatigue, anorexia, pruritis, jaundice, and dark urine. Liver function test values were significantly elevated then. Therefore we removed the epidural catheter and ceased all medication. Liver function test values decreased rapidly after discontinuation of medication. Hepatitis might have developed as result of drugs administered and could have been prevented if the patient had been monitored with regular clinical laboratory follow up. The purpose of this case report is emphasize the importance of early regular laboratory test to detect any possible side effect that may occur by administration of drugs during treatment of chronic pain.