• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.67-73
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• 2011

Objectives: To examine the overview of fatigue-related health conditions in the Korean general population. Methods: Data were collected from 2,203 adults (1,126 men and 1,077 women) via a self-reporting questionnaire and their sleeping, exercise, stress, physical problems, use of functional food, and fatigue status were analyzed. Results: The average sleeping hours was about $6.6{\pm}2.0$ hrs per day, and 24.3% of subjects didn't exercise (over 30 min) in a week. Around 16.5% of subjects were under severe stress, and 46.1% (36.9% male vs. 55.6% female) had had trouble with at least one form of physical distress including dyspepsia, headache or muscular pain. 45.4% (37.2% male vs. 53.9% female) of subjects used functional supplements. 46.3% (42.8% male vs. 50.0% female) of subjects complained of chronic fatigue, and they were significantly different compared with no-fatigue subjects regarding severe stress status (8.6% vs. 24.0%), frequency of physical distress (33.2% vs. 69.9%), and use of functional supplements (41.6% vs. 49.8%). Conclusion: This result first reports the features of fatigue-related health conditions including prevalence of chronic fatigue in the Korean population. This data could be helpful to develop fatigue-focused traditional Korean medicine in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.12
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• pp.485-490
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• 2020

Background: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is one of the frequent complaints in general practice, particularly in pediatrics and is among the common cause of referral to gastroenterology clinics. Purpose: This study is designed to investigate the effects of probiotics for the treatment of RAP and desired therapeutic outcomes. Methods: One hundred twenty-five children with the diagnosis of RAP according to Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain (FAP), functional dyspepsia (FD), and abdominal migraine (AM), were enrolled in this double-blind randomized controlled trial. Results: Sixty-five subjects received probiotics, and others received placebo treatment for 4 weeks. Lactobacillus reuteri was therapeutically effective in 32 patients compared to 8 patients, responding to the placebo treatment. Compared to baseline, all pain-related variables showed a significant reduction for the IBS and FD at the end of the 4th week. However, it did not respond well in FAP and AM groups. Pain-related outcomes such as, frequency of the pain, severity, and duration of the pain were decreased following the probiotic treatment. No therapeutic response was seen in AM group after the administration of probiotics. L. reuteri significantly led to pain relief in the overall population, and also in FAP, FD, and IBS subgroups. Conclusion: L. reuteri probiotics are likely to lead to RAP relief and can be recommended for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.67-88
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on traditional Chinese medicine to summarize its efficacy and safety for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children. Methods We searched literatures published up to March 19, 2021 using two Chinese electronic databases. Data regarding patients, interventions, results, and adverse events were extracted from RCTs of herbal medicine for children with FGIDs. Results A total of 34 RCTs were included: 16 trials on functional dyspepsia, 7 trials on functional constipation, 6 trials on functional abdominal pain, 4 trials on irritable bowel syndrome, and 1 trial on functional diarrhea. 26 of 29 trials that reported total effective rate, the treatment group showed a significant improvement compared to the control group. Most of other evaluation indicators, such as symptom score, symptom disappearance time, and recurrence rate also demonstrated statistically significant improvement. Of the 16 studies which reported safety, 5 studies reported no adverse reactions in either group, and 4 studies reported no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between two groups. Also, reported adverse events were mostly mild. Conclusions Herbal medicine may help improve symptoms of FGIDs in children. However, due to limited types of studies on sub-diseases of FGIDs and small sample sizes in each study, additional large scale clinical studies on various other FGIDs are necessary.

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.512-527
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• 2018

This review provides a comprehensive overview of brain imaging studies of the brain-gut interaction in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Functional neuroimaging studies during gut stimulation have shown enhanced brain responses in regions related to sensory processing of the homeostatic condition of the gut (homeostatic afferent) and responses to salience stimuli (salience network), as well as increased and decreased brain activity in the emotional response areas and reduced activation in areas associated with the top-down modulation of visceral afferent signals. Altered central regulation of the endocrine and autonomic nervous responses, the key mediators of the brain-gut axis, has been demonstrated. Studies using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging reported abnormal local and global connectivity in the areas related to pain processing and the default mode network (a physiological baseline of brain activity at rest associated with self-awareness and memory) in FGIDs. Structural imaging with brain morphometry and diffusion imaging demonstrated altered gray- and white-matter structures in areas that also showed changes in functional imaging studies, although this requires replication. Molecular imaging by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography in FGIDs remains relatively sparse. Progress using analytical methods such as machine learning algorithms may shift neuroimaging studies from brain mapping to predicting clinical outcomes. Because several factors contribute to the pathophysiology of FGIDs and because its population is quite heterogeneous, a new model is needed in future studies to assess the importance of the factors and brain functions that are responsible for an optimal homeostatic state.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.857-869
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate whether rats with non-obstructive antral dilation could be a useful tool resembling functional dyspeptic patients. We also investigated the effect of Bojoongikki-tang (BJ), and Youngkaechulgam-tang (YK) in antral dilated rats. Methods : Non-obstructive antral dilation was performed by first wrapping a non-absorbable rubber ring (D:6mm, W:4mm, T:1mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum causing pyloric obstruction (PO). After 12 weeks, except for some PO group rats used for the control, the rubber ring was removed by performing another operation. The antral dilated rats (AD) were then divided into three groups, a non-treatment group (AD-NT), and two herbal medicine groups each given an extract solution containing 125 mg/kg of Youngkaechulgam-tang (AD-YK) or Bojoongikki-tang (AD-BJ) for 4 weeks. Then gastric contractility was evaluated by bowel sound measurement, and afterwards the changes of the weight, and morphologic changes of the stomach were evaluated for each group including the normal intact group (NI). Results : Loss of weight and enlargement of the stomach surface area was seen in the PO group. Decrease of gastric motility index was observed in the AD-NT group, while the increased surface area of the stomach was not significantly different from the PO group. Youngkaechulgam-tang seemed to increase gastric contraction, whereas Bojoongikki-tang showed no effect. Weight gain of rats was observed in both the AD-YK and AD-BJ groups, but there seemed to be no change of the dilated stomach surface area. Conclusions : The non-obstructive antral dilated rat seems to be an experimental pathologic model that reflects the gastric dysmotility similar to functional dyspeptic patients with antral dilation. Therefore patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia with antral function disorders should be treated efficiently. As Youngkaechulgam-tang is shown to increase both gastric contraction and weight in antral dilated rats, it may be used for treating functional dyspepsia. However, Bojoongikki-tang should be used with caution in patients with gastric dysmotility.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2015

Objectives: The stomach is a sensitive digestive organ that is susceptible to exogenous pathogens from the diet. In response to such pathogens, the stomach induces oxidative stress, which might be related to the development of both gastric organic disorders such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer, and functional disorders such as functional dyspepsia. This study was accomplished to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum pharmacopuncture (GLP) on chronic gastric ulcers in rats. Methods: The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each: the normal, the control, the normal saline (NP) and the GLP groups. In this study, the modified ethanol gastritis model was used. The rats were administrated 56% ethanol orally every other day. The dose of ethanol was 8 g/kg body weight. The normal group received the same amount of normal saline instead of ethanol. The NP and the GLP groups were treated with injection of saline and GLP respectively. The control group received no treatment. Two local acupoints CV12 (中脘) and ST36 (足三里) were used. All laboratory rats underwent treatment for 15 days. On last day, the rats were sacrificed and their stomachs were immediately excised. Results: Ulcers of the gastric mucosa appeared as elongated bands of hemorrhagic lesions parallel to the long axis of the stomach. In the NP and GLP groups, the injuries to the gastric mucosal injuries were not as severe as they were in the control group. Wound healings of the chronic gastric ulcers was promoted by using GLP and significant alterations of the indices in the gastric mucosa were observed. Such protection was demonstrated by gross appearance, histology and immunehistochemistry staining for Bcl-2-associated X (BAX), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-${\beta}1$). Conclusion: These results suggest that GLP at CV12 and ST36 can provide significant protection to the gastric mucosa against an ethanol induced chronic gastric ulcer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.806-810
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Korean medicine treatment on a patient suffering from nausea, vomiting, and headache. Methods: We applied herbal medicine (Oryeong-san, Wiryeong-tang) and acupuncture to the patient. Clinical symptoms were assessed with a numeral rating scale (NRS). Results: After treatment, the nausea, vomiting and headache symptoms were improved, and the NRS score showed improvement. Conclusion: This case shows that Korean medicine treatments are effective in alleviating the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and headache.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.16-20
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• 2010

Objective: This study aimed to produce a description of features of chronic fatigue patients visiting an Oriental Hospital. Methods: 121 patients (75 male and 46 female) who visited a fatigue-care center were enrolled in this study, and the main complaints besides fatigue feeling, symptom differentiation, and health-related factors were analyzed. Results: On a visual analogue scale (VAS), average severity of fatigue was 7.0 (male 6.77 and female 7.4; 0 indicates no fatigue vs. 10 indicates intolerable fatigue), and the main complaints included headache (male and female) and dyspepsia (female). Patients generally slept about 7 hrs and caught a cold 2.4 times per year (same in both male and female). 54.6 % of patients used functional supplements, and red ginseng, vitamin and herbal medicine were chosen in that order. Conclusions: Chronic fatigue is a main target of traditional Korean medicine (TKM). This study can be helpful to design TKM-based treatment for chronic fatigue-related symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 1993

A case of a 38 year-old woman with histrionic personality who had chronic epigastric pain, dyspepsia and alternating bowel habit for more than 10 years was presented in detail on its course of two times of admission and follow-up. The diagnosis was thought as psychophy-siological disorder or gastrointestinal motility disorder of undefined etiology rather than hypo-chondriasis or Briquet's syndrome. She was characterized by sustained illness behavior and combined several physical illnesses. i.e. tuberculosis. anemia and hepatic stone. These physical diseases led to a blurring of psychological and physical boundaries regarding symptom formation. The points on consultation from medical part to psychiatric department were discussed and the supposed causal mechanisms in non-organic functional gastrointestinal disturbances were also reviewed. Physical and psychological modalities for the treatment and the abnormal illness behavior were mainly emphasized in this case.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.159-172
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• 2004

Objective : There are many treatments for Headache. We suggested the clinical effect and utilization of Rainbow Theraphy on functional headache. Methods : 1. Setting up of Groups : A Group is 29 people being used Herb remedy, acupuncture and Rainbow Theraphy, B Group is 23 people being used only Rainbow Theraphy. 2. Operation of Rainbow Theraphy : By using RP-UM103(Umax Medical, Korea), we regulated ki and stimulated important acupuncture’s spots of headache. 3. We examined improvement of headache by giving marks about symptoms - occipital pain, Pressure, dyspepsia, anxiety, fatigue, attention deficiency - through interviewing before treatment and after 3 weeks' treatments. Results and Conclusions : 1. There was a significantly effect of Rainbow Theraphy on functional headache in both A Group and B Group. 2. In subjective appraisee of groups, A group$(17.28{\pm}2.15)$ is more effective than B group$(14.74{\pm}2.38)$. 3. In doctor's last appraisee of groups, A group$(3.83{\pm}0.71)$ is more significantly improvement than B group$(2.70{\pm}0.47)$.