• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2012

Objectives: This study evaluated clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods: Eight Korean databases and four international databases were searched for clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension up to June 2011. Study quality was assessed using the risk of bias (ROB) tool. Results: Twenty-four trials of acupuncture for hypertension were included. There were 14 randomized and 1 non-randomized controlled trials and 9 before-after studies. The most frequently used acupuncture points were zsnli (ST36), qch (LI11), fngch (GB20), snynjio (SP06), snjin (LI03) and hgu (LI04). In more than half of the studies, needle retention time was 20~30 minutes. Compared to baseline, change of blood pressure after treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect on blood pressure between acupuncture and control were not consistent. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hypertension. Further well-designed clinical trials will be required to evaluate the effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for hypertension.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.514-522
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• 2019

In accordance with Article 33(8) of the Korean Medical Law, it is stated that a medical person cannot open or operate a medical institution by borrowing the name of another medical person. However, the publicity of medical care is threatened by the recent illegal network dental clinics. The purpose of this study is to investigate the actual condition of illegal network dentistry and to analyze the cases and to find out the reason why the prohibition of double opening & operating of medical institution. As a result, the illegal network dental clinics treated less health care insurance treatment such as dental caries and periodontal treatment than general dental hospitals. In contrast, the rate of implementation of illegal network dentistry was high in endodontics treatment and extraction, which could lead to uninsured treatments such as crowns and implants. As a result of Supreme Court precedent analysis, it is concluded that illegal act is not only the opening of a medical institution by borrowing the name of other medical personnel, but also the duplicated operation which has the authority to make decision about management matters of medical institutions. The results of the patient's case survey also showed that excessive dental treatment due to such as dental staff incentive system. In conclusion, the illegal network dental clinics not only threatens the oral health of the public, but also causes leakage of health insurance premiums. In other words, the ban on opening and operating the multiple medical institution should be strictly applied as a strong protection device for protecting the patient in dental case.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.49-60
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to establish detailed spatial planning by identifying the needs for a seclusion module for emergency psychiatric patients. Methods: The necessity of medical space with seclusion function was analyzed from spatial, medical, and social perspectives. The needs for a space capable of performing three medical functions: protection, isolation, and treatment, was analyzed. Among various types of mobile medical facilities, seclusion space was considered suitable for utilizing modular construction methods, as it is the most rational method that can satisfy the environmental level of fixed healthcare facilities' space. Therefore, seclusion modules based on modular construction were planned, consisting of two protective units for stabilizing patients with psychiatric illness, one for treatment unit that can accommodate both internal and external treatment, and another one for an infectious disease isolation unit equipped with negative pressure equipment. Implications: This study analyzed the necessary medical functions of the interior space of the mobile stabilization module based on the spatial analysis of existing medical facilities, and proposed alternative spatial configurations according to treatment, seclusion, isolation functions.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.216-229
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• 2023

Background: The role of the sympathetic nervous system appears to be central in causing pain in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The stellate ganglion block (SGB) using additives with local anesthetics is an established treatment modality. However, literature is sparse in support of selective benefits of different additives for SGB. Hence, the authors aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of clonidine with methylprednisolone as additives to ropivacaine in the SGB for treatment of CRPS. Methods: A prospective randomized single blinded study (the investigator blinded to the study groups) was conducted among patients with CRPS-I of the upper limb, aged 18-70 years with American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I-III. Clonidine (15 ㎍) and methylprednisolone (40 mg) were compared as additives to 0.25% ropivacaine (5 mL) for SGB. After medical treatment for two weeks, patients in each of the two groups were given seven ultrasound guided SGBs on alternate days. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to visual analogue scale score, edema, or overall patient satisfaction. After 1.5 months follow-up, however, the group that received methylprednisolone had better improvement in range of motion. No significant side effects were seen with either drug. Conclusions: The use of additives, both methylprednisolone and clonidine, is safe and effective for the SGB in CRPS. The significantly better improvement in joint mobility with methylprednisolone suggests that it should be considered promising as an additive to local anaesthetics when joint mobility is the concern.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.29-39
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• 2013

Purpose: As emergency medical service fund is further expanded due to amendment of the law on emergency medical services in 2008, Korean government has prepared to intervene in a comprehensive manner to strengthen a trauma treatment system. As a result, it announced a master plan to establish a serious trauma treatment center in 16 areas across the nation. Therefore, this study has attempted to investigate the current status of the serious trauma treatment centers and suggest the goal and improvement plan of future serious trauma treatment centers. Methods: As of 2011, Korea operates 23 emergency cerebrovascular service centers, 23 emergency heart disease centers and 35 severe trauma treatment centers across the country. 12 emergency medical service centers have been chosen among the serious trauma treatment centers. Then, top six (6) centers chosen at Emergency Medical Institute Assessment 2011 by Ministry of Health and Welfare have been selected, and floor layout and spatial allocation by usage have been reviewed and analyzed. Results: Consequently, this study has investigated the spatial components, circulation layout and spatial allocation of a serious trauma treatment. For construction planning in consideration of the fundamental objectives and goal of emergency medical services, it is essential to allot spaces and select exact spatial components. It appears that it is necessary to design spaces for emergency medical services and come up with construction planning through appropriate spatial allocation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2023

Liver fibrosis is caused by chronic liver damage and results in the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix during disease progression. Despite the identification of the HAT enzyme p300 as a major factor for liver fibrosis, the development of therapeutic agents targeting the regulation of p300 has not been reported. We validated a novel p300 inhibitor (A6) on the improvement of liver fibrosis using two mouse models, mice on a choline-deficient high-fat diet and thioacetamide-treated mice. We demonstrated that pathological hall-marks of liver fibrosis were significantly diminished by A6 treatment through Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining on liver tissue and found that A6 treatment reduced the expression of matricellular protein genes. We further showed that A6 treatment improved liver fibrosis by reducing the stability of p300 protein via disruption of p300 binding to AKT. Our findings suggest that targeting p300 through the specific inhibitor A6 has potential as a major therapeutic avenue for treating liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2019

Phlegmonous esophagitis must be treated aggressively; therefore, appropriate antibiotic therapy and drainage are critical. Although a conventional surgical approach has been used previously, internal drainage could be another treatment option in light of advances in endoscopic techniques. We report 2 cases in which patients suffering from phlegmonous esophagitis were successfully treated with endoscopic intraluminal drainage and antibiotics.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.16-29
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• 1989

The general objective of this study is to grasp the treatment expenses of common diseases by character of medical care institutions. The specific objective is to find out the treatment expenses for selected common diseases by type of medical care institutions and also by level of symptom. A record review method was employed to obtain required information for the analysis of expenses. A total of 40,000 cases treated by 85 medical care institutions were selected by the study team during the period 22 June to 14 July 1988. The 85 medical care institutions were sampled by stratified proportionate random sampling method. The major findings obtained from the information collected by the study team are as follows ; 1) Treatment expenses were composed of physical examination, medication, injection anesthesia, rehabilitation surgical intervention, lab test, X-ray and diagnosis. The highest expenses was for medication, accounted for 36.7% of the total: 13.9%, injection; Lab, tests respectively: 10.5%, physical examination : 8.6% surgical intervention; 7.9% admission : 6.3%, X-ray and diagnosis: 1.5%, rehabilitation. 2) Treatment expenses per case of common diseases were quite different from not only type of medical care institutions, such as university hospital, general hospital, hospital and clinic, but also from level of symptom. 3) Treatment expenses per case for the aged were higher than that of the young. The treatment cases for over 60 years of age accounted for 19.4% of the total, however the proportion of treatment expenses accounted for 23.8% of the total. 4) Duration of treatment and visits for same diseases varied from type of medical cara institutions. Based on these study findings, the following further research should be conducted: (1) Establishment of health care delivery system. (2) Feasibility of the development of health care programme for the aged. (3) Strengthening for primary health care approach.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Behaviour management and dental procedures performed in very young, pre-cooperative, highly anxious, or medically disabled children are challenging tasks. Various drugs and methods have, however, been introduced to facilitate treatment for this patient population. Midazolam is a benzodiazepine used as an adjunct to behavior management techniques in the dental treatment of pediatric patients. Midazolam can be used as a safe and effective drug for conscious sedation, general anesthetic premedication, and treatment of seizures during dental procedures. Nevertheless, further research involving pediatric patients would be beneficial.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2013

Objectives This study aimed to analyze and summarize the satisfaction with oriental medical services in korea. Methods From 3 Korean databases (National Assembly Library, Korea Education Research Information Sharing Service, and National Discovery for Science Leaders), published between 2001 and 2011, we were obtained 13 studies that involved the satisfaction of oriental medical services. Results We found that the kindness of doctors and other staffs was significant determinant of satisfaction with oriental medical services. The positive recognition about treatment effect and the preference to combined medical system were also influenced to satisfaction with oriental medical services. Generally it was necessary for evaluation of satisfaction to improve facilities and environments of hospitals. Conclusions The satisfaction with oriental medical services would be related with the kindness of doctors and other staffs, the recognition about treatment effect, the preference to combined medical system and environments of hospitals. Also to confirm the reasons for the satisfaction with oriental medical services, further studies should be conducted using the highest methodological standards.