• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.227-235
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• 2016

Objectives : The aims of this study were to know the frequency of cognitive dysfunction among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, and to reveal influencing factors on it, especially to clarify association with autoimmune thyroid antibodies. Methods : From sixty-five female patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, demographic data were obtained by structured interview. Their cognitive funtions were measured using the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K tests. Depression was evaluated by the K-HDRS. Results : 1) Among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, 7.69% of them were below 24 on the MMSE-K, while 10.77% were below 22 on the MoCA-K. The frequency of cognitive deficit was not significantly different according to having positivity to antimicrosomal antibodies or not. 2) The antimicrosomal antibody-positive patients had significantly higher antithyroglobulin antibody titers, antimicrosomal antibody titers, and TSH concentration, while had significantly lower free T4 levels(p<0.05, respectively). 3) The total scores of the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K had significant correlation with age, marital status, antithyroglobulin antibody titers and K-HDRS(p<0.05, respectively). 4) The regression analysis revealed that variables such as age, education, autoimmune thyroid antibodies, thyroid function and depression did not influence on cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders. Conclusions : Our results could not support that cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders had correlation with autoimmune thyroid antibodies.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.254-260
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Occupation-based Reminiscence training on cognitive function, depression, and quality of life of the normal elderly. Subjects were 19 normal elderly. The evaluation was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Korean Version, Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean Version, and the Geriatric Quality of Life. The Occupation-based Reminiscence training was conducted once a week for an hour for a total of 8 weeks. The collected data was confirmed using the Wilcoxon signed test. As a result of the training, significant positive changes in cognitive function, depression, and quality of life of the subjects were confirmed after application of Occupation-based Reminiscence training. From this result, it was confirmed that the Occupation-based Reminiscence training is a positive training method for improving cognitive function and preventing dementia of the normal elderly.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2021

Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is condition of cognitive decline shown in transition from normal aging to dementia. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture (HPP) is a treatment that combines effects of medication and acupuncture by injecting Hominis placenta into acupoints. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HPP for MCI. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-center clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to either the HPP group or the placebo group. HPP or saline as placebo was administered to participants for eight weeks. Changes in symptoms were observed. The primary outcome was difference in mean change of Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score between the HPP group and the placebo group. Cognitive function, overall status of mood and sleep, and quality of life (QoL) were also assessed. Safety assessment and economic analysis were then conducted. Results: Thirty participants were enrolled. One participant in the placebo group dropped out. The score of MoCA-K increased after treatment. Its mean change was smaller in the HPP group than in the control group. HPP ameliorated Global Deterioration Scale and Korean Dementia Rating Scale subtests for attention, organization, and memory compared to the placebo. However, none of them was significantly different between the two groups. Mood, sleep, and QoL all improved more in the HPP group than in the placebo group, although differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. There was no adverse event probably related to the drug. HPP treatment needed KRW 345,000 more than the placebo group in improving Geriatric Quality of Life scale-Dementia score by one point for one year. Conclusions: Although HPP treatment did not significantly improve cognition, it changed behavioral and psychological symptoms in MCI.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.47-58
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• 2019

Objectives: To conduct and report the results of a public health promotion program in Korean medicine (KM), namely the KM Visiting Care Service for Solitary Elderly, from November 2018 to April 2019. Methods: Six elderly people living in a rural area received the KM visiting care service, twice a week, for four months. This service consisted of acupuncture, auriculotherapy, and supportive counseling to manage their musculoskeletal pain, cognitive impairment, and/or depression. The changes of symptoms were assessed using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short form Korean (GDS-SF-K). Results: Through the 4-months KM visiting care service, the overall subjects' NRS-rated pain decreased slightly. Most showed improvement in MMSE-DS and/or MoCA-K, except one subject who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Depression assessed by GDS-SF-K showed improvement in a few subjects who were unable to walk independently. Satisfaction assessed through survey was generally high in all subjects. Conclusions: This KM Visiting Care Service for Solitary Elderly may help improve the pain and cognitive function of frail solitary elderly in rural areas. However, the protocol need to be improved to optimize the effect.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.255-266
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of Pattern Identifications Tool for Cognitive Disorders (PIT-C) and verify the correlation with other related scales. Methods: The study in this protocol is a single group, prospective, observational one. The subjects of the study were men and women between the ages of 45 and 85, diagnosed with neurocognitive disorders by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (fifth Edition) criteria (n=60, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)=0.5, Korean Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment $(MoCA-K){\leq}22$). The reliability of PIT-C was evaluated as test-retest and inter-rater reliability. And correlation between PIT-C and other related scales was also assessed. Results: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University and registered in the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), and was made public in advance to ensure transparency of the research process and conduct ethical clinical trials. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used to classify neurocognitive disorders as Korean medicine and PIT-C will be helpful tool for primary health care.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.189-196
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• 2020

The study seeks to conduct an oral stereognosis assessment of the elderly, identify characteristics and confirm the association with cognition, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADL), Quality of Life(QOL). Oral stereognosis(OS) was evaluated on 20 senior citizens aged 75 or older living in Gyeonggi-do. Cognition was used as MoCA-K(Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean), IADL as K-IADL(Korean Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), and QOL as GQOL(Geriatric Quality of Life scale). OS decreases accuracy with age, unaffected by the level of education. Shapes with clear edges and broad sides were found to be easy to recognize. OS is related to cognition, IADL and QOL. Through this study, the OS of the elderly could predict the functional level and QOL, including cognition. Therefore, it can be used as a basic research for the physical and mental health management of the elderly through oral lectures, and the development of oral stereognosis tools for the elderly through large scale subjects should be made.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2018

Objectives : The aims of this study were to know the frequency and the nature of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics, and to reveal influencing variables on it. Methods : From eighty type 2 diabetics (42 males and 38 females), demographic and clinical data were obtained by structured interviews. Cognitive functions were measured using the MMSE-K (Korean Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination) and the Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) tests. Severity of depression was evaluated by the Korean Version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS). Results : 1) Among eighty type 2 diabetics, 13.75% were below 24 on the MMSE-K, while 38.8% were below 22 on the MoCA-K. 2) The total scores and subtest scores of the MoCA-K including visuospatial/ executive, attention, language, delayed recall and orientation were significantly lower in type 2 diabetics with cognitive dysfunction (N=31) than those without cognitive dysfunction (N=49) (p<0.001, respectively). 3) There were significant difference between type 2 diabetics with and those without cognitive dysfunction in age, education, economic status, body mass index, duration of diabetes, total scores of the K-HDRS, the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K (p<0.05, respectively). 4) The total scores of the MoCA-K had significant correlation with age, education, body mass index, family history of diabetes, duration of diabetes, total scores of the K-HDRS (p<0.05, respectively). 5) The risks of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics were significantly influenced by sex, education, fasting plasma glucose and depression. Conclusions : The cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics seemed to be related to multiple factors. Therefore, more comprehensive biopsychosocial approaches needed for diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.109-113
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fall experience and task complexity on gait performance in community-dwelling persons with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-three persons who had a history of stroke participated in this study. The participants included 18 persons (aged mean 54.0, mean score of 24.6 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) with fall experience (faller group) and 15 persons (aged mean 53.7, mean score of 24.7 points on the MoCA) without fall experience (non-faller group) in the previous six months. This study measured balance and gait performance at two different conditions (with/without 70% of water filled in a 200 cc cup). The participants were clinically assessed using the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Berg Balance scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test. Results: After analyzation, persons in the faller group performed significantly better on the 10MWT, 6MWT, BBS, DGI, and the TUG test in the no-cup-carrying condition than those in the cup-carrying condition (p<0.05). The persons in the non-faller group also performed significantly better in all outcome measures with the no-cup-carrying condition than those in the cup-carrying condition (p<0.05). However, there was no interaction between fall experience and task complexity in the two groups. Conclusions: Our results showed that balance and gait performance depended on fall experience and task complexity but fall experience did not interact with task complexity. Clinicians should consider fall prevention and task complexity during therapeutic approaches in persons with hemiparetic stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.438-446
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effects of modified Seogakjihwang-tang on a patient who had headache and memory disorder after traumatic brain injury, which were considered as the result of blood stasis. The patient had headache and memory disorder after traumatic brain injury and treated with modified Seogakjihwang-tang three times a day for 60days. As a result, the numerical rating scale and pain rating score of headache decreased and the scores of mini-mental state examination-Korea, the Korean version of Montreal cognitive assessment and the mini-memory test increased during treatment with modified Seogakjihwang-tang. Therefore, this case supports a possibility that modified Seogakjihwang-tang might be an effective treatment to patients with headache and memory disorder after traumatic brain injury.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

Background: Several previous studies have reported that quality of life (QoL) in hemodialysis patients affects mortality. However, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, which has been used mainly in previous studies, is complicated in terms of questionnaire composition and interpretation. This study aimed to identify the impact of QoL on mortality in hemodialysis patients using an easier and simpler diagnostic tool. Methods: This retrospective study included 160 hemodialysis patients. QoL was evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF). Psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We also evaluated medical factors, such as dialysis adequacy and laboratory results. Results: The mean hemodialysis vintage was 70.7±38.0 months. The proportion of patients who were elderly was higher in the mortality group than in the surviving group, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index score was also higher in the former group. Of the four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF, the physical health and psychological scores of the mortality group were significantly lower than those of the survival group. When the score in the physical health domain or psychological domain was ≤10, the 10-year mortality rate after hemodialysis initiation increased by approximately 2.3- and 2-fold, respectively. Conclusion: QoL may have a significant effect on mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The WHOQOL-BREF is an instrument that can measure QoL relatively easily and can be used to improve the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing hemodialysis.