• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2001

Recently, numerous studies have focused on the health effects of ambient particulate pollutants. Compared to earlier studios that focused on severe air pollution episodes, recent studies are more relevant to understanding the health effects of air pollution at levels common to contemporary cities. We reviewed recent epidemiologic studies that evaluated health effects of particulate air pollution and concluded that respirable particulate air pollution is an important contributing factor to acute mortality and morbidity. We observed increased respiratory and cardiovascular deaths, increased hospital admissions and visits, and decreased lung function. We also observed increased mortality and morbidity in a Korean population. Theses health effects were observed at levels below the current Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate air pollution.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, leading to substantial and increasing economic and social burden. Palliative care for COPD patients aims to reduce symptoms and exacerbations and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. It is difficult to make a prognosis for COPD patients due to the variable illness trajectory and advanced care of patients. However, severity of breathlessness, assessment of lung function impairment, and frequency of exacerbations can help to identify palliative care needs and determine effective methods to mitigate symptoms, which is discussed in this paper. In these patients, it is recommended to provide individualized palliative care along with curative/restorative care at the onset of COPD symptoms. Before launching a palliative care system in Korea, it is necessary to prepare pulmonary rehabilitation resources, patient-centered communication, timely palliative responsiveness, and a program for effective advanced care planning. A multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration with not only the respiratory and palliative care teams but also primary care offers a new model of care for these patients and should be considered with a priority.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.81-95
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• 2001

Though, these days there are increasing many patient of insomnia, there was not considered literatual study on insomnia. So, the result of consideration about cause and process of insomnia from thirty kinds of literatures, are as follows. 1. Early literature like Huangjaenankyung(黃帝內經), Sanghanron(傷寒論) reffered to insomnia as accompanying symptom. on the other hand, Myung(明), Chung(淸)'s literatures reffered to that as chief symptom or distinguished chief symptom from accompanying symptom. 2. There were tendency of deductive expanding of various masters and tendency of induction of simple theory that was based on Huangjaenankyung(黃帝內經). 3. Huangjaenankyung(黃帝內經) showed basic process of the sleep disorder that 'exhausting of Yin and excess of Yang (陰盡陽盛)', protecting energy does not invade Yin portion(陽氣不入於陰). And Huangjaenankyung(黃帝內經) showed cause of insomnia that deficiency of vital energy and blood, imbalanced of spleen and stomach, a fever as a invasion in the outside, lung system's disease. This became a basic cause and process of the sleep disorder in ancient period. 4. Sanghanron(傷寒論) occurred to insomnia as accompanying symptom in progress, remedy of a fever invaded outside, Kumkyeyoriak showed as origination in weakness, fatique, various diseases. Out of that, there is a significance in description of insomnia from some disease like histery or neurosis. 5. Jaebyungwonhuron(諸病源候論), Chunkumbang(千金方), Kukbangseo(局方書.) occured to a fire of heart(心慤) and a deficiency of heart and gall bladder(心膽虛) in defails. Insomnia is caused by agony of seven emotion, delivering of a child, are similar to insomnia is caused by psychologic disorders. Injaesanghanyusu(仁劑傷寒類書) occured to exhausting of Yin and excess of Yang (陰盡陽盛), imbalanced of stomach(胃不和) invasion of coldness(傷寒) are brought a conclusion of assumption of sap(津液耗損) brought about unreturn of yin energy. 6. Manbyunghuechum(萬病回春) in Myung period (明代) made much of portion of phlegm's influence about spiritual function. Kyungakjunsu(景岳全書) valued much of treatment divided according to excess and deficiency. Junginmaekchi(證因脈治) occurred to concept of pyorihesil(表裏虛實), Dongyibokam(東醫寶鑑) synthesised various theories. 7. Hyuljungron(血證論), Byunjungkimun(辨證奇聞), Suksilbirok(石室秘錄) made much of surprisemeni(驚恐) Consideration(思慮), liver's dryness(肝燥) is caused by liver's weakness(肝虛), imbalance of haert -kidney(心腎不交), seven emotion(七情). Especially, ftyujungchijae(類證治載) said that heart, liver, gall-bladder, kidney, surprisment, consideration baought to a conclusion of inbalance of Yang and Yin (陽不交陰). There is a tendency in literature mostly that literature showed separation of insomnia as a chief symptom. 8. These days there are increasing many patient of insomnia. So, it is needed to study about insomnia as a psychologic disease. Saying in conclusion, it is needed that we have to recognize in modern style based on ancient style of cause and process of insomnia. It is regarded to study about insomnia definitely and experimently.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.516-527
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• 2008

Sounds and music have been used in various ways in the East and the West, as it is well known that they influence the human mind and health a lot. Recently, there have been many studies regarding the remedy through sounds and music in the West and they have made good effects in the actual therapy. In the East, people knew that sounds and music would make great effects on human mind long time ago and they placed importance on sounds and music. Although there is a Sound Therapy in Oriental Medicine, it is not studied sufficiently in modern Oriental Medicine. It does not have clear standards for the clinical application and has not been frequently used. Accordingly, Yukjagyeol which has long been used in Korean Medicine and Younggamudo which was made by Kim Il-bu in late Chosun were compared from the perspective of acoustics and demonstrative treatment theory of Korean Medicine. Younggamudo by Kim il-bu allot the five sounds such as 'Eum, Ah, Eo, Ih and Uh' to 'spleen, lung, liver, heart and kidney' respectively. As the five sounds are all vowels and vibrate the vocal band as much as possible, they vibrate and resonant the respective organs to help them to function and promote circulation. In oriental medicine, there is 'Singing and Dancing Treatment'. They say songs and dances nurtures personality, supplement blood stream and comfort the mind. As the five sounds of Younggamudo take the melody while vibrating the vocal band sufficiently, when it passes from Youngto Ga(Songs) we may dance moving our bodies according to the rhythm. Therefore Gongbeop of Younggamudo helps the functionality of human organs and promotes blood circulation. As Yukjagyeol is Sabeop(discharging method), it should be used for those who have surplus Sagi and should not use for Heojeung. As Younggamudo is Bobeop(supplementing method), it is not for Shiljeung but for Heojeung which lacks of Jeonggi. It is considered that healthy people without specific disease can use it as a preventive method of 'Chimijeong' to maintain their physical and mental health. It is considered that we can have useful effects if we apply Yukjagyeol and Younggamudo dialectically with the concept of Bosa. It is considered that concrete application to Sound Gigong can be possible by searching for the methodology for empirical further study and clinical experiments and clinical application in the future.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.390-400
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• 2010

This study is aimed to test physiological and hematological actions of Rheum palmatum through clinical pilot study optimized for usual oriental medicine prescription. Thirty-one cases were finally collected and the sample extract 100 $m{\ell}$ of Rheum palmatum (ERP) was administered two times in a day during 3 days and checked with blood CBC test, urinalysis, liver function test, abdominal X-ray as well as general diagnostic process of oriental medicine; pattern identification, assessment of shapes and constitution. The total toxic effective rate of ERP was 9.68% in 3 cases of the whole in case of consistent uneasy state in the subjective symptomatic assessment and aggravation of blood and urine examination. The relevant diagnostic factors were so-eum constitution and essence type subject, carapaces species, lung type in the aspect of Jisan shape theory. On the other hand, the positive effective rate of ERP was 29.03% manifesting improvement of vital signs or present illness and no abnormal changes of blood chemistry and urinalysis and simple abdomen radiology. The relevant diagnostic factors were tae-eum constitution, energy type subject, aves species, heart and liver type in Jisan's shape theory. And the other cases were manifesting no specific change through the administration of ERP. The ratio of the numbers of decrease and increase was 44:5 in the tenderness and hardness of abdominal palpation. But if the pattern identification doesn't comply with the aim of rhubarb application despite of constipation and abdominal pain, the tendeness and biochemical report was shown in abnormal change. The mean number of diarrhea by ERP was $16.77{\pm}6.95$ during 3 days after administration, and the frequent areas of abdominal pain were lower>middle>upper in order, and it meant the target site of ERP too. Besides, the toxic reaction against ERP was expressed highly in case of decrease in blood cell count and hemoglobin, hematocrit having blood deficiency syndrome. Likewise, the toxicity of ERP was influenced by pattern identification manifesting present disease condition and diagnostic factors of four constitutions, Jisan's shape theory collaterally. In conclusion, evaluation of herbal toxicity in order for using as a clinical guideline, various diagnostic pattern information and shape features like the above should be studied together with other pharmacologic toxicology test for the future.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.134-139
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• 2010

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the most successful pathogens to infect one third of world population. Th1-mediated immunity against Mtb infection is known as critical to express mycobacteriostatic function but it is not sufficient to resolve the infection. In this study, to verify the possibility Mtb itself change the gene expression to survive against host immune response, expression pattern of selected H37Rv genes, 16S rRNA, acr, fbpA, aceA, and ahpC, during the course of infection was measured with absolute quantitation method using real-time RT-PCR. The total number of transcripts of 16S rRNA increased during the course of infection, which was coincide with the increasing CFU. The total number of fbpA transcripts per CFU, which encode typical secreted Mtb antigen, Ag85A, increased for 10 days of infection before decreasing. The number of transcripts of acr per CFU, which encode heat shock protein, ${\alpha}$-crystallin, increased during the infection, and ahpC and aceA, they both are enzymes produced in oxidative stressful condition, increased for 20 days and then slightly decreased on day 30. These findings are one of survival strategy of pathogen evading host immune response lead to persistent infection inside host cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.879-885
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• 2013

Baby powder is an astringent powder used to prevent diaper rash. It also has other cosmetic uses. In general, it is composed of talc powder (talcum powder). Talc powder is harmful if inhaled because it can cause significant lung damage. With the aim of developing a new rice-based baby powder, three kinds of rice varieties were selected and pulverized. To determine the cost-effectiveness of the different states of rice powder, several milling processes were tried, and the powder characteristics of the resulting rice powder, such as particle size, biological activities, digitalized color value, and moisture content before and after coating treatment with essential oil and silicon oil, were examined. "Goami" showed good flour characteristics with respect to lightness (92.0, $L^*$[D65] value) and particle size ($8.9{\mu}m$). SEM analysis showed that the rice powder particles coated in the essential oil and silicon oil showed a smoother and rounder appearance than those of the talc powder. In addition, the average particle size was decreased by the essential oil and silicon oil coating. The silicon oil coating solved the problem of moisture absorption in rice flour. Rice flour properly coated with essential oil and silicon oil shows great potential as a new material source of powder.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2014

The study was conducted to investigate the role of vitamin E in the high altitude hypoxia-induced damage to the intestinal barrier in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (Control), high altitude hypoxia (HH), and high altitude hypoxia + vitamin E (250 mg/kg $BW^*d$) (HV) groups. After the third day, the HH and HV groups were placed in a hypobaric chamber at a stimulated elevation of 7000 m for 5 days. The rats in the HV group were given vitamin E by gavage daily for 8 days. The other rats were given equal volume saline. The results showed that high altitude hypoxia caused the enlargement of heart, liver, lung and kidney, and intestinal villi damage. Supplementation with vitamin E significantly alleviated hypoxia-caused damage to the main organs including intestine, increased the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p< 0.05), diamino oxidase (DAO) (p< 0.01) levels, and decreased the serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) (p< 0.01), interleukin-4 (IL-4) (p<0.001), interferon-gamma ($IFN-{\gamma}$) (p<0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.001), and decreased the serum erythropoietin (EPO) activity (p<0.05). Administration of vitamin E significantly increased the S-IgA (p<0.001) in ileum and significantly improved the expression levels of occludin and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and decreased the expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and 2 alpha ($HIF-1{\alpha}$ and $HIF-2{\alpha}$), Toll-like receptors (TLR4), P-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ p65(NF-${\kappa}B$ P65) in ileum compared to the HH group. This study suggested that vitamin E protectis from intestinal injury caused by high altitude hypoxia environment. These effects may be related to the HIF and TLR4/NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.295-300
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• 2013

Der f 2 is the group 2 major allergen of a house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) and its function has been recently suggested. To determine the optimal condition of sensitization to recombinant Der f 2 (rDer f 2) in murine model of asthma, we compared the effectiveness with different adjuvants in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Mice from both strains sensitized with rDer f 2 by intraperitoneal injection or subcutaneous injection on days 1 and 14. The dosage was $20{\mu}g$. Freund's adjuvants with pertussis toxin (FP) or alum alone were used as adjuvants. On days 28, 29, and 30, mice were challenged intranasally with 0.1% rDer f 2. We evaluated airway hyperresponsivenss, eosinophil proportion in lung lavage, airway inflammation, and serum allergen specific antibody responses. Naive mice were used as controls. Airway hyperresponsiveness was increased in C57BL/6 with FP, and BALB/c with alum (PC200: $13.5{\pm}6.3$, $13.2{\pm}6.7$ vs. >50 mg/ml, p<0.05). The eosinophil proportion was increased in all groups; C57BL/6 with FP, BALB/c with FP, C57BL/6 with alum, BALB/c with alum ($24.8{\pm}3.6$, $20.3{\pm}10.3$, $11.0{\pm}6.9$, $5.7{\pm}2.8$, vs. $0.0{\pm}0.0$%, p<0.05). The serum allergen specific IgE levels were increased in C57BL/6 with FP or alum (OD: $0.8{\pm}1.4$, $1.1{\pm}0.8$, vs. $0.0{\pm}0.0$). C57BL/6 mice were better responders to rDer f 2 and as for adjuvants, Freund's adjuvant with pertussis toxin was better.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2018

Background: Osteoporosis is a common disease that occurs comorbidly in patients with chronic inflammatory airway diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). However, the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with ACOS has not widely been evaluated. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of osteoporosis and its relationship with the clinical parameters of patients with asthma, COPD, and ACOS. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Bone mineral density (BMD), lung function tests, and disease status evaluations were conducted. Results: A total of 321 patients were enrolled: 138 with asthma, 46 with ACOS, and 137 with COPD. One hundred and ninety-three patients (60.1%) were diagnosed with osteoporosis (53.6% of asthma, 65.2% of ACOS, and 65.0% of COPD). Patients with ACOS showed a significantly lower BMD and T-score than did those with asthma. In addition to age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), which were previously reported to be associated with BMD, BMD also had a negative correlation with the diagnosis of ACOS, as compared to a diagnosis of asthma, after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, and inhaled corticosteroid use (p=0.001). Among those patients with COPD and ACOS, BMD was negatively associated with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) after adjustment (p<0.001). Inhaled corticosteroid was not associated with the prevalence of osteoporosis and BMD. Conclusion: Patients with ACOS, particularly aged and lean women, should be more carefully monitored for osteoporosis as compared to patients with asthma.