• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2002

Objective:This study was to explore the relation of genetic polymorphisms of ALDH2 and CYP2E1 to clinical characteristics of alcoholic patients and alcohol induced liver damage. Methods:The genotype and allele frequencies of 128 male hospitalized patients who met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence were compared with 128 healthy male control subjects. The genetic informations of ALDH2 and CYP2E1 were identified with the technique of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The clinical characteristics of the alcoholic patients were assessed and analyzed in relation to the family history of alcoholism. For the relation of CYP2E1 genetic polymorphism to the liver damage, the blood levels of various liver function indicators such as ALT, AST, and protein were checked out. Results:1) The alcoholic patients with the family history of alcoholism had the earlier onset of age (p=0.001), the longer duration of illness(p=0.045), and higher NCA scores(p=0.018) than those without the family history of alcoholism. 2) Most alcoholic patients were homozygous for $ALDH2^*1$, compared to control subjects.(p=0.000) 3) There was no difference of CYP2E1 distribution between alcoholic patients and control subjects. However, alcoholic patients having mutant c2 allele showed higher alcoholism severity scores(p=0.004) and more hospitalizations(p=0.014) than those having c1 allele. 4) There was no relationship between CYP2E1 genotype and the functional abnormalities of the liver. Conclusion:This study suggests that $ALDH2^*1$ is highly related with alcohol dependence. Also mutant c2 allele of CYP2E1 is correlated with the severity of alcoholism and the number of hospitalization. But genetic polymorphim of CYP2E1 seems to have no relation to liver damages.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2012

Objectives : QT interval prolongation and dispersion known as indicators of an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death have been reported to be prolonged in patients with anorexia nervosa. The aims of this study were to compare conduction abnormalities in Korean patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and to examine its relation with clinical and laboratory factors. Methods : We retrospectively examined 45 women with anorexia nervosa and 75 women with bulimia nervosa who were assessed by 12-lead electrocardiogram at baseline. QT interval and corrected QT interval, QT dispersion of the difference between the longest and shortest QT intervals, and abnormal U wave were measured for conduction abnormalities. Results : QT interval was significantly longer in patients with anorexia nervosa compared with those with bulimia nervosa. There were no differences in QTc (Corrected QT), QTd (QT dispersion) and abnormal U wave between patients with anorexia nervosa and those with bulimia nervosa. QTd was significantly correlated with the lowest ever lifetime body mass index ($kg/m^2$) as well as the serum amylase level in patients with anorexia nervosa. Conclusions : These results suggest some conduction abnormalities reported in patients with anorexia nervosa are also found in patients with bulimia nervosa. It appears that severity of weight loss and purging behavior could affect the cardiac arrhythmia in patients with eating disorders. Appropriate attention should be paid to cardiac involvement in patients with eating disorders.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate repeated-dose toxicities of Clean natural, a new disinfectant, in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. In the 4-week repeated oral toxicity study, Clean Natural was orally administered once daily via gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight for 4-weeks. There were no deaths and clinical signs during the dosing period. In both sexes, there were no statistically significant differences between the administered and control groups in urinalysis indicators and hematological parameters. In serum biochemistry, aspartate aminotransferase(AST) was significantly decreased and sodium content was increased in the 2,000 mg/kg male group, while chlorine was significantly decreased in the 2,000 mg/kg female group. Also, albumin, total cholesterol and total bilirubin were significantly increased in the 2,000 mg/kg male and female group. In histopathological examinations, centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy in the liver was observed in the 2,000 mg/kg male and female groups. And pigmentation in the spleen was observed in the 2,000 mg/kg male group. In conclusion, four-week repeated oral dose of Clean Natural to rats did not cause apparent toxicological change at the dose less than 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Thus it is suggested that no-observed adverse-effect level(NOAEL) for Clean Natural in rats was considered to be 1,000 mg/kg/day.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2011

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical use of Kupperman's Index, Menopausespecific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) by comparison with the Subjective measures of hot flush. Methods: The participants were 107 women (45-60 yr) who were not currently on hormone therapy, and had reached hot flash scores of 10 or higher. The evaluating indexes of this trial are hot flush score, hot flush VAS, Hot flush consistence time, sweating VAS, Kupperman`s Index, Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL), Menopause Rating Scale(MRS). Results: 1. The hot flush score, hot flush VAS, sweating VAS were significantly correlated with each other, but the Hot flush consistence time with no special relationship was found on Subjective measures of hot flush 2. The Kupperman's Index, Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) and Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) were significantly correlated with each other. 3. There was significant correlation between Subjective measures of hot flush and Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL), Thus Menopausespecific quality of life questionnaire(MENQOL) is considered the most suitable on hot flush related research. Conclusions: There was significant correlation between Subjective measures of hot flush and Menopausal scale, thus the use of various indicators are needed for the assessment of climacteric symptoms.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.6
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• pp.256-263
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• 2013

Background: Health status measure is not only important for clinical research studies but also for clinical practices of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the validity of the Korean Version of COPD Assessment Test (CAT) in primary care clinics as well as in referral hospitals. Methods: Smokers or ex-smokers, aged 40 years or older, with a smoking history of >10 pack-years; and a COPD diagnosis in the past 6 months or more, were recruited from 4 primary care clinics and 2 referral hospitals. Demographic, medical, and spirometry data was collected from patients who completed the CAT and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and had their dyspnea been assessed. The primary endpoint was the correlation between of the Korean version of CAT with SGRQ in patients with COPD. Results: A total 100 patients were enrolled. The mean age and smoking amounts were $69.2{\pm}8.4$ years and $40.6{\pm}22.3$ pack-years, respectively. Sixty-seven percent of the patients reported at least one exacerbation in the past year. The mean CAT score was $16.9{\pm}8.0$. The internal consistency assessed by Cronbach's alpha was 0.85. The CAT score was positively correlated with the SGRQ score (r=0.76, p<0.0001) and each component of SGRQ: symptoms, activity and impacts; r=0.68, r=0.61, and r=0.72, respectively (all p<0.0001). These positive correlations were preserved in the different groups (r=0.86, p<0.0001 in primary care clinic group; r=0.69, p<0.0001 in hospital group). The CAT score was also positively correlated to the Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (r=0.46, p<0.0001). Conclusion: The Korean version of CAT had good internal consistency and showed good correlations with SGRQ. It can be used for assessing the impacts of COPD on the patient's health including primary care setting.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.153-164
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• 2021

Objectives: Despite the low cost and high accessibility of manual acupuncture (MA) treatments for the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), this intervention has not been uniformly evaluated in systematic reviews (SR), and no SR has evaluated MA monotherapy for CTS. This review was conducted to summarize the findings and undertake a quality assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatment methods for mild-to-moderate CTS to identify clinical evidence for the use of MA in CTS. Methods: We searched five databases for articles on relevant RCTs that were published until June 2021 without imposing specific restrictions, such as age or sex, on CTS patients. RCTs that evaluated MA were included without any restriction on comparator interventions. Measurement tools for evaluating pain reduction and functional improvement or for evaluating efficacy using electrophysiological indicators were included as outcome measures. Results: We included seven RCTs, of which three studies reported both post-treatment improvement effects and statistical significance using p-values for all outcomes. Five studies reported statistically significant intergroup differences (p-values for all outcomes) in posttreatment improvement. None of the studies reported severe adverse effects of MA. In all of the RCTs, the reporting rates of the 2c, 2a, and 6a items of STRICTA 2010 were 14%, 29%, and 29%, respectively. PC7 (Daereung) was used to treat CTS in all of the included studies. Conclusion: MA can be used for CTS treatment without serious adverse effects. PC7 was the most commonly used acupoint. In order to ensure objective and reliable reporting, accurate standardization of acupuncture treatment methods acupoint terms should be undertaken in future RCTs.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.119-122
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• 2010

Purpose: One of the main contributors to proximal fifth metatarsal fracture is ankle inversion and the incidence of recurrence may increase in patients with ankle instability. So, the authors confirmed the patients of proximal fifth metatarsal fracture with ankle instability by checking the history and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assessed the value of MRI as therapeutic prognosis and clinical indicators for prevention of recurrence. Materials and Methods: Patients with proximal fifth metatarsal fractures visited our hospital during recent five years were reviewed. 35 patients with suspected damage by ankle inversion had been identified a history of ankle instability and checked the hindfoot malalignment through hindfoot alignment view and MRI was performed prospectively. The patients was devided to three groups on the location of fracture site and the groups were compared each other. Results: The mean time from injury to checking MRI was 10.7 days. There was no structural abnormality and was no significant difference according to the location of fracture. The patients with history of ankle inversion were 31(88.6%) and the patients with history of chronic or recurrent injury were 22 patients (62.9%). The lesion of MRI related to lateral ankle instability were identified in all patients. Conclusion: This study noted a high incidence of lateral ankle instability that was identified by MRI in the patients of proximal fifth metatarsal fracture. Aggressive treatment for lateral ankle instability should be needed for complications as proximal fifth metatarsal fracture to reduce the recurrence and occurrence.

• Journal of Convergence Korean Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2022

Objectives: Smoking had a long negative impact on public health. The ingredients of a cigarette are major risk factors for several diseases. Owing to the problems about economic and quality of life, we need to ensure smoking cessation (SC). There are several approaches for SC including pharmacological therapy, nicotine replacement therapy, education, and behavioral intervention. However, due to some limitations, other alternative approaches are gaining popularity. Acupuncture has been reported to have few side effects and be more effective than some conventional treatments in several articles. However, there are no systematic reviews on the comparison of acupuncture combination treatment with other conventional monotherapies. Methods: Randomized controlled trials that used acupuncture as an adjunct treatment for SC will be searched and data will be summarized according to the predefined criteria. The primary outcome will be the abstinence rate, and secondary outcomes will be adverse events and biochemical indicators. We will use Review Manager to perform a meta-analysis, Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool for the risk of bias assessment, and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to determine the quality of evidence. We will investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combination treatment for SC with this study. Ethics and dissemination: This study will provide reliable clinical evidence on additional effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation. We will publish our results in a peer-review journal.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.172-177
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• 2023

In order to deduce the pathogenic factor(PF) diagnosis logic of underlying in pattern identification of Korean medicine, 2,072 cases of DSOM(Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine) data from May 2005 to April 2022 were collected and analyzed by means of decision tree model(DTM). The entire data were divided into training data and validation data at a ratio of 7:3. The CHAID algorithm was used for analysis of DTM, and then validity was tested by applying the validation data. The decision rules of items and pathways determined from the diagnosis data of Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Yin Deficiency and Yang Deficiency Pathogenic Factor of DSOM were as follows. Qi Deficiency PF had 7 decision rules and used 5 questions: Q124, Q116a, Q119, Q119a, Q55. The primary indicators(PI) were 'lack of energy' and 'weary of talking'. Blood deficiency PF had 7 decision rules and used 6 questions: Q113, Q84, Q85, Q114, Q129, Q130. The PI were 'numbness in the limbs', 'dizziness when standing up', and 'frequent cramps'. Yin deficiency PF had 3 decision rules and used 2 questions: Q144 and Q56. The PI were 'subjective heat sensation from the afternoon to night' and 'heat sensation in the limbs'. Yang deficiency PF had 3 decision rules and used 3 questions: Q55, Q10, and Q102. The PI were 'sweating even with small movements' and 'lack of energy'. Conclusively, these rules and symptom information to decide the Qi·Blood·Yin·Yang Deficiency PF would be helpful for Korean medicine diagnostics.