• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nature of Medicine

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Asthma and the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Insight into the Heterogeneity and Phenotypes of Asthma

  • Rolfes, Mary Claire;Juhn, Young Jun;Wi, Chung-Il;Sheen, Youn Ho
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.80 no.2
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    • pp.113-135
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    • 2017
  • Asthma is traditionally regarded as a chronic airway disease, and recent literature proves its heterogeneity, based on distinctive clusters or phenotypes of asthma. In defining such asthma clusters, the nature of comorbidity among patients with asthma is poorly understood, by assuming no causal relationship between asthma and other comorbid conditions, including both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. However, emerging evidence suggests that the status of asthma significantly affects the increased susceptibility of the patient to both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Specifically, the impact of asthma on susceptibility to noncommunicable diseases such as chronic systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), may provide an important insight into asthma as a disease with systemic inflammatory features, a conceptual understanding between asthma and asthma-related comorbidity, and the potential implications on the therapeutic and preventive interventions for patients with asthma. This review discusses the currently under-recognized clinical and immunological phenotypes of asthma; specifically, a higher risk of developing a systemic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and their implications, on the conceptual understanding and management of asthma. Our discussion is divided into three parts: literature summary on the relationship between asthma and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis; potential mechanisms underlying the association; and implications on asthma management and research.

Evolutionary Concept Analysis of Spirituality (진화론적 방법을 활용한 영성 개념분석)

  • Ko, Il Sun;Choi, So Young;Kim, Jin Sook
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.47 no.2
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    • pp.242-256
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    • 2017
  • Purpose: This study was done to clarify attributes, antecedents, and consequences of spirituality. Methods: Rodgers's evolutionary concept analysis was used to analyze fifty seven studies from the literature related to spirituality as it appears in systematic literature reviews of theology, medicine, counseling & psychology, social welfare, and nursing. Results: Spirituality was found to consist of two dimensions and eight attributes: 1) vertical dimension: 'intimacy and connectedness with God' and 'holy life and belief', 2) horizontal dimension: 'self-transcendence', 'meaning and purpose in life', 'self-integration', and 'self-creativity' in relationship with self, 'connectedness' and 'trust' in relationship with others neighbors nature. Antecedents of spirituality were socio-demographic, religious, psychological, and health related characteristics. Consequences of spirituality were positive and negative. Being positive included 'life centered on God' in vertical dimension, and among horizontal dimension 'joy', 'hope', 'wellness', 'inner peace', and 'self-actualization' in relationship with self, 'doing in love' and 'extended life toward neighbors and the world' in relationship with others neighbors nature. Being negative was defined as having 'guilt', 'inner conflict', 'loneliness', and 'spiritual distress'. Facilitators of spirituality were stressful life events and experiences. Conclusion: Spirituality is a multidimensional concept. Unchangeable attributes of spirituality are 'connectedness with God', 'self-transcendence', 'meaning of life' and 'connectedness with others nature'. Unchangeable consequences of spirituality are 'joy' and 'hope'. The findings suggest that the dimensional framework of spirituality can be used to assess the current spiritual state of patients. Based on these results, the development of a Korean version of the scale measuring spirituality is recommended.

Right Gastroepiploic Artery Spasm during Pst-CABG Coronary Angiography (우위대동맥을 이용한 관상동맥 우회술을 시행받은 환자에서 관상동맥 조영술증 발생한 우위대망동맥의 경련)

  • Song, Hyun;Lim, Han-Jung;Lee, Cheol-Whan;Hong, Myeong-Ki
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.33 no.5
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    • pp.428-431
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    • 2000
  • In the mid 1980's, the ITA(internal thoracic artery) graft was clearly recognized to be superior to the sapheonous vein graft in respect to long term patency. Therefore, there has been growing interest in the arterial conduit with the possibility of improving the long term result. We have been performing CABG with GEA since 1998 with the same purpose. For mid-term and long-term follow up, we have been performing postoperative coronary angiography. In this paper, a case of GEA spasm, a purported drawback of this conduit, during postoperative coronary anigiography and relieved by direct infusion of 200$\mu\textrm{g}$ isoket into the GEA is reported. The current case which exemplifies the spastic nature of RGEA is accompanied with coronary angiography.

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Effects of Ukgan-san on the L-thyroxine-induced Rat Hyperthyroidism (억간산이 갑상선기능항진 유발 백서에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Seung Mo
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.26 no.5
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    • pp.679-686
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    • 2012
  • This study was to elucidate the effects of Ukgan-san on the hyperthyroidism induced by sodium levothyroxine. Hyperthyroidisms were induced by continuous subcutaneous treatment of LT4, 0.3 mg/kg, once a day for 27days, and 1,500, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg of Ulkansan extracts were orally administered, once a day for 15 days from 12th LT4 treatment, and the changes on the body, thyroid gland, liver and epididymal fat pad weights, serum triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine(T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH), asparte aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations, hepatic lipid peroxidation(LPO), glutathione(GSH), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) activities were investigated with throid gland, liver and epididymal fat pad histopathological changes. The effects of Ukan-san extracts were compared with that of propyl thiouracil(PTU), a standard antithyroidic drug 10 mg/kg(intraperitoneally). 1,500 and 1,000 mg/kg of Ukan-san extracts reversed all LT4-induced hyperthyroidisms and these effects indicating their potential in the regulation of hyperthyroidism. Further, the Ukan-san extract normalized LT4-induced liver oxidative stresses, and also reduced liver damages and epididymal fat pad reducements suggesting its antioxidative and relative organ protective nature. However, nor favorable effects on LT4-induced hyperthyroidisms were detected in Ulkansan 500 mg/kg treated rats as compared with LT4 control rats in the present study. These effects of Ukan-san may help improvement of hyperthyroidisms and accompanied various organ damages.

A Case of Pulmonary Sequestration with Pleural Effusion (산전 진찰에서 발견된 흉막액을 동반한 폐격리증 1례)

  • Ku, Hye Jin;Park, Ji Ae;Park, Su Eun;Kim, Young Dae
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.221-223
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    • 2005
  • Congenital pleural effusions are uncommon. The majority of cases are due to chylothorax, hydrops fetalis, and infection. Effusions of this nature are, for the most part, self-limited. We experienced a rare case of a congenital unilateral pleural effusion due to an extralobar sequestraion with pulmonary lymphangiectasia. Pleural effusion was found by antenatal ultrasonography and confirmed by CT scans and CT angiography of the chest in the neonatal period. The patient underwent an open thoracotomy where extralobar sequestraion located between the diaphragm and the left lower lobe was removed. His postoperative course was uncomplicated and there was complete resolution of the pleural effusion.

Clinical Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells in Gastric Cancer (위암에서 순환종양세포의 임상적 의의)

  • Jeon, Hye Kyung;Kim, Gwang Ha
    • The Korean journal of helicobacter and upper gastrointestinal research
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.162-167
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    • 2018
  • Cancer specimens obtained via surgical resection or biopsy are generally used to understand tumor-associated alterations; however, those approaches cannot always be performed because of their invasive nature, and they may fail to reflect current tumor dynamics and drug sensitivity, which may change during the therapeutic process. Therefore, many research groups have focused on developing a non-invasive biomarker with the ability to monitor tumor dynamics. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are metastatic cells released from the primary tumor into the bloodstream. Hematogenous spreading of CTCs is a crucial step in the metastatic cascade, which leads to the formation of overt metastases. CTCs have attracted considerable attention because of their easy accessibility and their superiority over conventional tumor markers. Detecting CTCs is considered a valuable modality to determine prognosis and monitor response to systemic therapies in patients with gastric cancer. Moreover, molecular analyses of CTCs may provide important biological information for individual patients with cancer, which may lead to the development of personalized cancer treatment. In this article, we review potential roles and clinical applications of CTCs in patients with gastric cancer.

Study on Application of Lindera Radix Main Blended Prescription in Donguibogam (오약(烏藥)이 주약(主藥)으로 배오(配伍)된 방제(方齊)의 활용(活用)에 대한 고찰(考察) (동의보감을 중심으로))

  • Kim, Chang-Min;Lee, Jang-Cheon
    • Herbal Formula Science
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.153-168
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    • 2005
  • This study was investigated to make sure the range of Lindera Radix' treatment, the nature of disease, the chief virtue of medicine, the pathology and the usage quantity of it in Donguibogam The results were as follows; 1. The Lindera Radix is used in 15 fields which contain the Cerebrovascular Accident chapter. 2. The Lindera Radix is used in 31 pathologies of the cerebral infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, etc. 3. The Lindera Radix is used in a range of the pathology of the C.V.A, eliminating phlegm, stagnated blood, etc. 4. The Lindera Radix is used in a range of $2.4g{\sim}40g$ in herbal-prescription. The main using dosage is 4g. 5. The Lindera Radix is used with various crude herbs in accordance with the pathogeny. The Lindera Radix has been used to reduce the C.V.A, eliminate phlegm and any blocking substances with dampness, to promote sober by sending qi and reduce pain, etc. According to the results, I suggest to use the Lindera Radix in a various pathogenic fields. The Lindera Radix is able to remove not only pathogenic cerebral infarction or intracranial hemorrhage, but also pathogenic phlegm and sputm, etc.

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A Study on the Genetic Inheritance of Ankyloglossia Based on Pedigree Analysis

  • Han, Soo-Hyung;Kim, Min-Cheol;Choi, Yun-Seok;Lim, Jin-Soo;Han, Ki-Taik
    • Archives of Plastic Surgery
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    • v.39 no.4
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    • pp.329-332
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    • 2012
  • Background Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is a congenital anomaly characterized by an abnormally short lingual frenum. Its prevalence in the newborn population is approximately 4%. Its mode of inheritance has been studied in some articles, but no conclusion has been established. Also, no relevant report has been published in Korea. This study was conducted to elucidate the genetic inheritance of ankyloglossia via pedigree analysis. Methods In this study, 149 patients with no other congenital anomaly who underwent frenuloplasty between March 2001 and March 2010 were studied. Pedigrees were made via pre- or post-operative history taking, and patients with uncertain histories were excluded. In the patient group that showed a hereditary nature, the male-to-female ratio, inheritance rate, and pattern of inheritance were investigated. Results One hundred (67.11%) of the patients were male and 49 (32.89%) were female (male-female ratio=2.04:1). Ninety-one (61.07%) patients reported no other relative with ankyloglossia, and 58 (38.93%) patients had a relative with this disease. The inheritance rate was 20.69% in the 58 cases with a hereditary nature. In the group with no family history of ankyloglossia, the male-female ratio was 3.79:1, which significantly differed from that of the group with a family history of ankyloglossia. X-chromosome mediated inheritance and variation in the gene expression was revealed in the pedigree drawn for the groups with hereditary ankyloglossia. Conclusions Ankyloglossia has a significant hereditary nature. Our data suggest X-linked inheritance. This study with 149 patients, the first in Korea, showed X-linked inheritance in patients with a sole anomaly.

Necrotizing Fasciitis in a 7-day-old Term Healthy Neonate

  • Koo, Soo-Hyun;Chung, Mi-Lim;Park, Kun-Bo
    • Neonatal Medicine
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.148-152
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    • 2011
  • Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, but life-threatening infection. Prompt diagnosis and early aggressive intervention is required for survival. However, there has been frequently occurred in delays of diagnosis and treatment due to its non-specific nature. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is needed to ensure timely intervention. We report a case of necrotizing fasciitis in a 7-day-old term healthy neonate.

Antioxidant Activity of Momordica charantia L. Extracts (여주 추출물의 항산화 활성)

  • Park, Yeol;Boo, Hee-Ock;Park, Young-Lan;Cho, Dong-Ha;Lee, Hyun-Hwa
    • Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.56-61
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    • 2007
  • This study was carried out to determine the antioxidant activity and vitamin C contents in plant extracts of the Momordica charantia L. The vitamin C was detected as the highest content in immature fruit (92.2 mg/100 g), while the content in stem (2.5 mg/100 g) was lower 40 times than that of immature fruit. Antioxidant activity for the dried sample was investigated by TBA method. The lowest TBARS values were obtained from extracts of dried leaf and followed by ascorbic acid and BHT, showing that the extracts from dried leaf possess the strongest antioxidant activity. Compared with fresh tissues, SOD activity, ATX activity and CAT activity were high level in the dried tissue. These results suggest that the Momordica charantia L. would be a promising antioxidant source as an alternative antioxidant, based on natural plant resources.