• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-59
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to identify the factors that affect the utilization of Korean Medicine within the past year. Methods : I analyzed micro-data from the Korean Medicine Utilization Survey (2020), which surveyed the general public. "User (in last 1 year)" were defined as those who had used Korean Medicine within the past year, while "Non-user (in last 1 year)" were defined as those who had used it in their lifetime but not within the past year. I examined several factors, including general characteristics, perceptions of Korean Medicine, satisfaction with Korean Medicine, and intention for future utilization. I conducted the Rao-Scott chi-squared test and complex sample logistic regression analysis. Results : I analyzed a total of 3,762 respondents, of which 1,442 (36.3%) were User (in last 1 year) and 2,320 (63.7%) were Non-user (in last 1 year). User (in last 1 year) and Non-user (in last 1 year) differed significantly in terms of demographic characteristics, perceptions, and satisfaction with Korean Medicine. Women, the elderly, those with low education levels, non-married individuals, those with low-income, chronic diseases, and poor subjective health conditions were significant factors. Those who used Korean Medicine within the past year were more knowledgeable about Korean Medicine than those who had not used it recently, and recognized herbal medicine as safer. In terms of satisfaction, User (in last 1 year) were more satisfied than Non-user (in last 1 year). The more women, the older, the more aware of Korean Medicine, the safer they perceived herbal medicine, the more satisfied they were with its use, the better their subjective health condition, and the absence of chronic diseases, the less they experienced Korean Medicine. Conclusions : The study showed that positive experiences and perceptions of Korean Medicine increase the likelihood of its utilization. Individuals with better subjective health conditions and without chronic diseases have a lower possibility of using Korean Medicine.

• 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.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.18
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an inflammatory and infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus with a complex pathophysiology. While COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available, treatment of the disease is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Several research have suggested the potential of herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment for the disease. A popular herbal medicine approved in the Philippines for the treatment of acute respiratory disease is Vitex negundo L. In fact, the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines has funded a clinical trial to establish its potential as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19. Here, we utilized network pharmacology and molecular docking in determining pivotal targets of Vitex negundo compounds against COVID-19. The results showed that significant targets of Vitex negundo compounds in COVID-19 are CSB, SERPINE1, and PLG which code for cathepsin B, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and plasminogen, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that α-terpinyl acetate and geranyl acetate have good binding affinity in cathepsin B; 6,7,4-trimethoxyflavanone, 5,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone, artemetin, demethylnobiletin, gardenin A, geranyl acetate in plasminogen; and 7,8,4-trimethoxyflavanone in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. While the results are promising, these are bound to the limitations of computational methods and further experimentation are needed to completely establish the molecular mechanisms of Vitex negundo against COVID-19.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1092-1100
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• 2023

Introduction: We present a case of multiple myeloma with amyloidosis, which has features of peripheral neuropathy after induction chemotherapy before autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, in a 56-year-old woman with Korean medicine. Case Presentation: For 17 days of hospitalization, the patient with complaints of numbness and a tingling sensation in the hands and feet was treated with acupuncture, herbal medicine. To reduce the symptoms, we provided Korean medicine treatments, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the results of the treatment. Until discharge, the VAS scores decreased for both hands and the foot tingling sensation. Conclusion: According to these results, Korean medicine treatment may be considered an effective treatment for tingling sensations in a patient with multiple myeloma with amyloidosis. Prospective studies are needed in the future to confirm and expand these findings.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.55-74
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• 2024

Objectives: This study reviewed the status of adverse event (AE) reporting in VigiAccess using anti-obesity agents as examples and explored the possibility of its use and future challenges. Methods: AE reports related to some representative drugs among herbal medicines (HMs), complex HM prescriptions, ingredients of supplements, and over-the-counter and prescription medicines were investigated using VigiAccess on February 1, 2024. Results: AE reports on prescription drugs were overwhelmingly higher than those on HMs or supplements. Although most reports were submitted from North America, reports on Ephedra sinica and green tea extract (GTE) were more from Asia and Europe, respectively. The female population reported more, and the difference in the sex ratio was the smallest for Ephedra spp. The age group was concentrated on young adults, but many older patients reported GLP-1 receptor agonist-related AEs. Symptoms related to the gastrointestinal and nervous systems were most commonly reported, but mental and cardiac disorders were common in Ephedra-type HMs. Hepatobiliary disorders are also commonly found in GTE-related reports. Conclusions: VigiAccess was useful for easily checking the global status of AE reporting for prescription drugs. However, several limitations were observed in using VigiAccess for HMs because of the few reports. Thus, it is necessary to increase the number of reports by education and to promote AE reporting among HM prescribers and users. The full range of HMs should be included in the pharmacovigilance system, and the coding and classification of HMs should be revised.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.314-322
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• 2024

Objectives: We describe the clinical course in a 53-year-old female patient admitted to a Korean Medicine Hospital with insomnia disorder accompanied by a herniated intervertebral disc and managed with Korean medical treatments. Methods: The patient was treated with herbal medicines, including Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and Chuna manual therapy for 33 days. The therapeutic effect was evaluated based on the Insomnia Severity Index, Numerical Rating Scale score, Oswestry Disability Index, and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions Scale. Results: Post-treatment, the Insomnia Severity Index decreased from 21 to 6, the Numerical Rating Scale score decreased from 7 to 3, the Oswestry Disability Index decreased from 60 to 18, and the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions Scale increased from 0.35 to 0.85. Conclusions: Korean medical treatments improved the symptoms of this patient with insomnia disorder accompanied by a herniated intervertebral disc. Further clinical research on patients with insomnia disorder is needed.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2021

This case study reports the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon, on Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) accompanied by chronic constipation and abdominal pain as the main symptoms. A 39-year-old woman diagnosed with LEMS with major symptoms, including chronic constipation and acute abdominal pain, received Western treatment. The treatment efficacy was weak and symptoms recurred, so the patient received outpatient treatment and 13 days of hospitalization for active Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon. During outpatient treatment and hospitalization, defecation frequency and the numeric rating scale (NRS) for abdominal pain and abdominal cold feeling were measured. The NRS for abdominal pain and cold decreased from 8 at admission to 3 and 0, respectively, at discharge. Defecation frequency increased significantly from once or twice a month to once every 2-3 days during hospitalization. This study results that complex Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon may be useful for treating patients who mainly complain of autonomic neurological symptoms, among patients diagnosed with LEMS. In addition, it is believed that it could be basic data applicable to more LEMS patient treatment cases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.458-477
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the trend in the research on alcoholic liver disease (ALD) using Korean traditional medicine. Methods: This review was conducted using six electronic databases (NDSL, KMBASE, Koreantk, KISS, KISTI, and KoreaMed) with no restrictions in year. The search terms were "alcoholic liver disease", "alcoholic fatty liver", "alcoholic hepatitis", "alcoholic cirrhosis", "herbal medicine", "acupuncture" and "traditional medicine". The searched studies were analyzed according to the type of research. Results: After screening, 37 studies were selected among 552. The types of studies were as follows: 8 in vivo studies, 17 case reports, 7 case series, 1 assessment scale study, 1 randomized controlled trial, and 3 research reviews. The in vivo studies reported the efficacy and its mechanism in the animal phase of single or complex herbal medicine. In the clinical research, interventions such as herbal medicine and acupuncture were most commonly used for ALD treatment. Conclusions: We analyzed the trends in ALD treatment using Korean traditional medicine through this review. The results showed that Korean traditional medicine could be an effective method for ALD treatment. Conducting related in-depth studies, such as well-designed randomized controlled trial based on the results of experimental research, is necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.210-227
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the Korean medicine treatment on whole-body nummular eczema. Methods : This case study was conducted with a 66-year-old female patient who has whole-body nummular eczema treated by Korean medicine. She was treated from 2021.3.30 to 2021.6.28. During the treatment, the two herbal medicines were changed depending on the patient's condition. We treated her with herbal medicine, herbal external preparations and acupuncture treatment. For the evaluation of the results, we used photo comparison, VAS, and DLQI. Results : After the treatment, the nummular eczema lesions of patient was remarkably improved. Also, the VAS grade of other symptoms such as pruritus, burning sense, oozing, crusting and erythema were decreased and DLQI score changed from 27 to 2. Conculsions : This study suggests that Korean medicine treatments are effective for patient with recurrent nummular eczema.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.987-992
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• 2008

This study was carried out to understand the macroscopic aspects of the digestive system symptoms occurring after taking oriental herb complex decoction as observing morphological changes in esophagus, stomach and duodenal bulb by endoscopy of upper gastrointestinal tract when these symptoms developed. The subjects of this study were 46 patients (male 22, female 24, mean age : $54.72{\pm}14.26$ years) who were chosen among ones who took oriental herb complex decoction for medical care and developed symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract while taking an oriental herb decoction, which were assumed that the digestive symptoms were newly developed because of administration. The subjects were given morphological examination by endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. As a result of the endoscopy operated due to the digestive symptoms developed during the administration of oriental herb decoction, there were 2 cases of esophagitis, 5 cases of acute gastritis, 1 case of chronic gastritis A type, 15 cases of chronic gastritis B type, 1 case of duodenitis, 1 case of gastric ulcer, 1 case of gastric polyp, 2 cases of intestinal metaplasia, 1 case of gastric ptosis and 17 cases of normal findings which didn't have any abnormality macroscopically with endoscopy. With regards to the patients who complained of the digestive symptoms after taking oriental herb decoction, it has been found that the symptoms occurred as the oriental herbal medicine taken by the patients who had the digestive symptoms at ordinary times influenced on the gastrointestinal tract. Especially, many of them were had chronic gastritis and functional dyspepsia in the past. The disease accompanying macroscopic lesions at endoscopy which occurred due to the oriental herb decoction as direct cause, was acute gastritis, and it was the prescription to cure the pains and inflammations of skeletomuscular disease.