• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.318-322
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• 2008

Obesity is an increasing worldwide health problem that is strongly related to the imbalance of food intake and energy metabolism. It was well-known that several substances in the hypothalamus regulate food intake and energy metabolism. We planned an integrative study to elucidate the mechanism of the development of obesity. Firstly, to find candidate genes with the marvelous effect, the different expression in the hypothalamus between ob/ob and 48-h fasting mice was investigated by using DNA microarray technology. As a result, we found 3 genes [peroxisome proliferator activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha (Ppargc1a), calmodulin 1 (Calm1), and complexin 2 (Cplx2)] showing the different hypothalamic expression between ob/ob and 48-h fasting mice. Secondly, a genetic approach on PPARGC1A gene was performed, because PPARGC1A acts as a transcriptional coactivator and a metabolic regulator. Two hundred forty three obese female patients with body mass index (BMI)${\geq}$25 and 285 control female subjects with BMI 18 to<23 were recruited according to the Classification of Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. Among the coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs) of PPARGC1A, 2 missense SNPs (rs8192678, Gly482Ser; rs3736265, Thr612Met) and 1 synonymous SNP (rs3755863, Thr528Thr) were selected, and analyzed by PCR-RFLP and pyrosequencing. For the analysis of genetic data, chi-square ($X^2$) test and EH program were used. The rs8192678 was significantly associated with obese women (P<0.0006; odds ratio, 1.5327; 95% confidence interval, 1.2006-1.9568). Haplotypes also showed significant association with obese women ($X^2$=33.28, P<0.0008). These results suggest that PPARGC1A might be related to the development of obesity.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.72-84
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate prevalence and the frequency of using Korean medicine, Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), and other parallel treatments in children and young adolescence with neurological diseases. Methods From April to July 2011, parents of the children and adolescents patients suffering from neurological disease completed questionnaires. Results 578 parents answered the questionnaires. 310 cases (53.5%) were using Parallel Treatments. Types of the Parallel Treatments being used are as follows. Rehabilitation 166 cases (27.4%), Speech Therapy 169 cases (27.9%), Education (Art, Music, Play) 109 cases (18.0%), Health supplement 72 cases (11.9%), Counselling, Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy 45 cases (7.4%), Herbal Medicine 24 cases (4.0%), Acupuncture, Moxibustion 13 cases (2.1%), Neurofeedback Therapy 1 case (0.2%), Etc 7 cases (1.2%). 257 cases (44.5%) have used Parallel Treatment before. Parallel Treatments being used in the past are as follows. Herbal Medicine 146 cases (35.4%), Acupuncture, Moxibustion 64 cases (15.5%), Education (Art, Music, Play) 54 cases (13.1%), Rehabilitation 47 cases (11.4%), Speech Therapy 46 cases (11.1%), Health supplement 30 cases (7.3%), Counselling? Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy 15 cases (3.6%), Neurofeedback Therapy 4 case (1.0%), Chuna, Manual Massage 2 case (0.5%), Etc 5 cases (1.2%). Conclusions Although patients were on both western medicine and Korean medicine, CAM, and other parallel treatment, the ratio of Korean medicine treatment was not as high as expected. Further studies are required to develop the model of integrative medicine.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2019

Objectives : This study analyzed domestic case reports of syndrome differentiation and herbal medicine treatment for tic disorder published from 2000 to 2018 and aimed to seize the latest trend of Korean herbal medicine treatment according to syndrome differentiation. Methods : We searched herbal medicine treatment of tic disorder through five major Korean academic literature databases; NDSL, KTKP, KISS, RISS, DBPIA. Results : 12 articles were included in this study from 49 articles. These studies were analyzed by year, evaluation criteria, Korean treatments, treatment effects, syndrome differentiation, herbal medication, duration of medication, and type of herbal medicine. Treatment results were assessed by YGTSS. Most cases accompanied Korean integrative treatments and only one case report used herbal medicine alone. Most common type of syndrome differentiation for patients was spleen. Duration of medication varied according to each case and decoction was the most used type of herbal medication. Conclusions : It has been reported that herbal medicine treatment according to the syndrome differentiation could be effective in treating tic disorder. This study suggests that additional studies will be required to justify classification of syndrome differentiation and the sole effectiveness of herbal medicine on tic disorder.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.129-139
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate present status of cooperation through Korean medicine and Western medicine collaboration process. Methods We have established Korean medicine and Western medicine collaboration process to examine the status of cooperation. The medical records were investigated retrospectively, the general characteristics of gender, age of cooperative patients, classification of disease, frequency of medical treatment and type of insurance were analyzed. Results The Korean medicine and Western medicine collaboration process conducted in 4 stages, the convenience of patient movements is considered. A total of 245 people received cooperative medical treatment, 156 were out-patient department (OPD) patients and 89 were hospitalized patients, both group have more women than men. When classified as disease, OPD patients were most diagnosed with Sprain and strain of lumbar spine, while hospitalized patients were most diagnosed with lumbar and other intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy. A total of 72.7% patients were received cooperative medical treatment at once. In a survey of cooperative satisfaction, 68.5% of all medical staff responded positively to the treatment effect, and 68.6% said the need for cooperation was necessary. Conclusions As a result of this study, we were able to see the present status of cooperation, and through this, we found an improvement in the continuation of the cooperation. Based on the present study, It is hoped that a cooperative process will emerge that can improve the problems shown in this study.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.658-667
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze trends in Korean-Western Collaborative Medicine studies by disease group. Methods: Articles published until May 2020 were searched in domestic databases (NDSL, RISS, KISS, DBPIA, and KoreanTK) using the keywords '한양방', '양한방', '협진', '협의진료', '의한의', '의·한의', and '통합의학'. The articles were analyzed according to the publication year, journal type, research methodology, and disease group using the major and intermediate classifications of the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD-7). Results: In total, 112 articles were selected. The most frequent major disease groups were disease codes G, C (D), I, and M, in that order. The medium disease groups numbered 41 and most commonly involved collaborative studies on cerebrovascular diseases. Among the three top KCD-7 major group diseases, publications on Group C (D) were increasing significantly, publications on Group G were slightly increasing, but, publications on Group I decreased in the 2010s compared to the 2000s. Conclusions: In this study, we analyzed the frequent disease groups treated with domestic Korean-Western medicine in collaborative studies using the major and medium classifications of KCD-7. Well-designed clinical trials and economic evaluation research are needed, and this study can provide directions for future collaborative studies using Korean-Western medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.94-105
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• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated public opinion on the use of modern diagnostic medical devices by Korean Medicine doctors. Methods: A questionnaire looking into perceptions on the use of modern medical devices was developed. It was distributed by a third party and data was collected. Results were analyzed through frequency analysis, chi-square analysis (χ²-test), frequency and cross analysis using R program. The measurement variable in the study was the respondent's perspectives and expectations on the use of modern diagnostic medical devices by Korean Medicine doctors. The maximum significance level was 0.05. Results: There were a total of 3,000 responses and 80.8% of the respondents replied that there is a need for government-level discussion on endowing rights to Korean Medicine doctors as supervisors for safety management of radiation generating devices. Also, 83.3% of the respondents agreed the use of ultrasound imaging equipment in Korean Medicine clinics should be legalized. Conclusions: According to this study, respondents strongly support the use of modern diagnostic medical devices by Korean Medicine doctors. This is the first study to investigate public opinion in this area and it provides a significant insight into the public needs and desires for a wider scope of practice for Korean Medicine in the healthcare system.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.22-32
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• 2020

Objectives The aim of this study was to review the current Sasang Constitutions studies on children and adolescents and to provide basic data for developing in a better direction of research. Methods Research articles on children and adolescents of the Sasang Constitutions studies were extracted from six databases. Published year, published journals, types of studies were classified. Subjects of research and clinical methods for the Sasang type classification were summarized, especially in clinical studies. Results A total of 26 selected research articles were published from 1990 to 2013 and 14 articles (54%) have been published in Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine and Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine. 96% of the total researches were based on clinical studies. Psychological and physical characteristics by Sasang Constitutional type accounted for most of the clinical research studies subjects. But these studies were not performed with diagnostic tools only for children and adolescents. Discussion In this study, the necessity of developing methods of Sasang constitutional type classification for children and adolescents was confirmed. If accompanied by additional research based on this study, it is expected to be used in diverse fields with active collaboration or education.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2021

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and it results in a high rate of death worldwide, with an increased prevalence with age despite advances in lifestyle management and drug therapy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory process, and it mainly presents with lipid accumulation, foam cell proliferation, inflammatory response, atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture, thrombosis, and vascular calcification. Therefore, there is a great need for reliable therapeutic drugs or remedies to cure or alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce the societal burden. Ginsenosides are natural steroid glycosides and triterpene saponins obtained mainly from the plant ginseng. Several recent studies have reported that ginsenosides have a variety of pharmacological activities against several diseases including inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on describing the different pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of various active ginsenosides (Rb1,-Rd, -F, -Rg1, -Rg2, and -Rg3, and compound K) for atherosclerosis, which could provide useful insights for developing novel and effective anti-cardiovascular drugs.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.67-82
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• 2014

Objective : To find a treatment strategy, this study aimed to review and compare the clinical studies of Korea, China, and Japan on traditional medicine treatment for Behcet's disease. Method : Literature searches were performed on six databases in each country and English databases, such as OASIS, KoreanTK, CNKI, J-STAGE, PubMed, and Cochrane CENTRAL. In addition, using the limited keywords, the area was restricted to traditional medicine treatment, but the period was not limited. Studies were categorized according to the study design and we analyzed the difference of treatment among three countries. Results : One hundred and forty-one clinical studies met our inclusion criteria: 11 studies in Korea, 15 in Japan, 115 in China. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) have increased in China, however, no RCT was reported in Korea and Japan. The method of treatment was mainly traditional herbal medicine in all the three countries, but there were significant differences in the field of syndrome identification and prescription among countries. The studies in China made use of most various treatment modalities and reported the highest effectiveness. Conclusion : Traditional medicine treatment showed a considerable effect for improving various symptoms of Behcet's disease. However, more research for answering the safety and well-designed studies considering characteristics of Behcet's disease should be performed to evaluate the effectiveness of traditional medicine treatment objectively in the future.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2015

Objective : This study aims to figure out what the medical students' attitudes toward traditional Korean medicine (TKM) are and how TKM education affects them. Method : We performed content analysis on 283 assignments submitted by senior students who took a 'TKM and complementary alternative medicine (CAM)' course in a medical school in 2010 and 2011. The assignment was to write an report after reviewing a research article about 'TKM or CAM' or interviewing a person engaging in a related field. Results : 193(68.2%) students chose a article review and 90(31.8%) students chose an interview. Significantly more students chose TKM topic in interview group than in article review group(p=0.021). Most frequent questions in interview are as follows; 'comparison of TKM and western medicine'(15.7%), 'education in TKM school'(8.8%), and 'TKM and evidence based medicine'(8.8%). Among students who expressed their attitudes toward TKM, 52.4% of them showed positive attitudes before entering medical school, however, 54.6% of them showed negative attitudes in medical school years. Among students who indicated attitude change before and after the TKM course, 35.9% of them changed positively. Conclusion : TKM education might have positive effects on medical students' attitude toward TKM. It is necessary to expand TKM education and introduce effective education stategy in order to alleviate medical students' misunderstanding and prejudice against TKM.