• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3903-3907
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• 2013

Background: Patients with colorectal cancer are usually treated with chemotherapy, which reduces the number of blood cells, especially white blood cells, and consequently increases the risk of infections. Some research studies have reported that aromatherapy massage affects the immune system and improves immune function by, for example, increasing the numbers of natural killer cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, there has been no report of any study which provided good evidence as to whether aromatherapy with Thai massage could improve the immune system in patients with colorectal cancer. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the use of aromatherapy with light Thai massage in patients with colorectal cancer, who have received chemotherapy, can result in improvement of the cellular immunity and reduce the severity of the common symptoms of side effects. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients with colorectal cancer in Phichit Hospital, Thailand, were enrolled in a single-blind, randomised-controlled trial. The intervention consisted of three massage sessions with ginger and coconut oil over a 1-week period. The control group received standard supportive care only. Assessments were conducted at pre-assessment and at the end of one week of massage or standard care. Changes from pre-assessment to the end of treatment were measured in terms of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, CD4 and CD8 cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio and also the severity of self-rated symptom scores. Results: The main finding was that after adjusting for pre-assessment values the mean lymphocyte count at the post-assessment was significantly higher (P=0.04) in the treatment group than in the controls. The size of this difference suggested that aromatherapy with Thai massage could boost lymphocyte numbers by 11%. The secondary outcomes were that at the post assessment the symptom severity scores for fatigue, presenting symptom, pain and stress were significantly lower in the massage group than in the standard care controls. Conclusions: Aromatherapy with light Thai massage can be beneficial for the immune systems of cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy by increasing the number of lymphocytes and can help to reduce the severity of common symptoms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1172-1177
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• 2009

This study is to determine the effects of BUDDEUMI(moxibustion and cupping a boli) therapy on the relief of shoulder pain among middle aged women. methods : A total of 39 middle aged women with shoulder pain are selected : 20 in the experimental group and 19 in the control group. The data was collected by using questionnaires. The BUDDEUMI(moxibustion and cupping a boli) therapy on the should and back was administered to the experimental group, and no treatment was given to the control group. All of the subjects were examined on a subjective symptom scale and on the grade of discomfort and pain in everyday life as developed by Japan's Industrial Fatigue Research Committee of the Industrial Hygienics Society(1988), Sohn, Mong Ho(1999), Visual Analogue Scale as developed by Cline (1992). SPSS/win 12.0 was used for Date analysis, General features demonstrated by frequency number and percentage. The effects of the BUDDEUMI(moxibustion and cupping a boli) therapy was analyzed by a t-test. The homogeneity testing revealed that all study variables are equally distributed between experimental and control groups. The hypothesis, 'the experimental group who received BUDDEUMI(moxibustion and cupping a boli) therapy will decrease in the grade of discomfort of shoulder', is supported. The hypothesis, 'the experimental group who received BUDDEUMI(moxibustion and cupping a boli) therapy will decrease in the Visual Analogue Scale is supported. Conclusion : As a result of this study, BUDDEUMI(moxibustion and cupping a boli) therapy will be able to be used as the self care therapy to improve the symptoms of middle aged women who has the shoulder pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.544-554
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• 2023

Background: Postural hypotension refers to a drop in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg or more within three minutes after standing up from lying down. Symptoms of postural hypotension not only include dizziness and blurred vision but also fatigue, cognitive decline, leg weakness, headache, and, in severe cases, fainting. Postural hypotension is a phenomenon that occurs in about 6% of the total population, and in Korea, the number of patients with postural hypotension is continuously increasing. Both pharmacological and non-drug therapies, which are treatment methods for this disease, do not show a satisfactory symptom improvement effect. Case summary: A 65-year-old male patient who visited the hospital complaining of dizziness and paresthesia due to postural hypotension was treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. For symptom evaluation, the numeric rating scale (NRS) of each symptom was used, and blood pressure change according to posture was measured. After treatment, the NRSs of dizziness and dysesthesia were decreased, and blood pressure changes according to posture was improved. Conclusion: This case report suggests that Korean medicine treatment, including acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine, can be an effective treatment for dizziness with postural hypotension.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2016

Objectives : The number of people in Mibyeong state that complain of physical and mental discomfort but without a clear medical diagnosis has rapidly increased, but the conventional medical system is insufficient to care for these people. By establishing an evaluation instrument for Mibyeong state, it will be possible to provide a research base for Mibyeong management system and expand the clinical area of integrative medicine. Methods : Mibyeong Index was designed to measure inconvenience and resilience of subject's complains including four physical symptoms (fatigue, pain, low sleep quality, indigestion) and mental distress include anxiety, anger, depression. A 21-item quality of healthy measure was developed and tested. We used results of a nation-wide stratified sampled adult data in Korea. Results and Conclusions : Mibyeong index had adequate internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha was 0.88 in general population(N=1,110). The correlation between establised quality of life questionnaires (including SF-12 and EQ-D5 VAS) and the Mibyeong index were from 0.468 to 0.493. The national promotion of advanced health for an aging society and original Mibyeong care technology based on traditional Korean medicine can be developed by a self-care system that enhancing health before suffering illness. We expect that this instrument could be contribute to health management of people in Mibyeong state.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.400-411
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify the physical exercise and the effects of exercise on health. Data were collected from Oct. to Dec. 1998. The subjects were 241 middle aged women living in Seoul and near Seoul. The following instruments were used in the study: The questionniare for physical exercise and health status was combined with simple CMI and climacteric symptom. Analysis of the data was done by chi-test. t-test. and ANOVA with SAS program. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The rate of physical exercise was 59.3% of subjects. The mean number of exercise per week was 3.1. Duration at one time exercise was 25.6 minutes. The period of exercise was 18.6 months. And main objective of exercise was health promotion. 2. The physical exercise had differences according to the age. job. monthly income. period of marriage. type of family. and perceived body image. 3. Musculoskeletal and mental complaints were lower in no-exercise group than exercise group(respectively P=0.04. 0.02). According to the duration of exercise. autonomous nervous symptoms was the lowest in 20 minutes group(P=0.04) and psychologic complaints was the lowest in below 60 minutes group(P=0.03). According to the period of exercise. cardiovascular and fatigue complaints was the lowest in 7-12 months maintenance group and autonomous nervous complaint was the lowest in below 3 months maintenance group(P=0.04). This study is only a preliminary effort. so I recommend that the repeated studies be carried out including detailed. comprehensive exercise practice and developing systematic exercise program.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.44-53
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• 2023

Objectives : This study was conducted to reveal the relationship between multiple factors of traditional Korean Medicine diagnosis and consider the further probabilities of treating people with physical and mental problems not defined as diseases, which is called 'Mibyeong' in traditional Korean Medicine. Methods : 40 healthy participants were included in the observational clinical trial. The participants were asked to complete health questionnaires (e.g. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Stress Response Inventory) and they went through a traditional diagnosis process, including four stages of diagnosis (looking, listening/smelling, inquiring, and pulse taking), by a Korean Medicine doctor. Both the Korean Medicine doctor and an artery tonometry device performed the pulse diagnosis. Results : Although all participants were healthy people with no history of disease, more than half of participants had a problem related with severe level of fatigue (n=19), sleep disturbance (n=26) and stress (n=27) status according to the related questionnaires. Participants diagnosed with phlegm syndrome by the Korean Medicine doctor showed significantly greater score in phlegm pattern questionnaires than participants who were not. However, there was little agreement between the doctor's pulse diagnosis and radial artery tonometry results. Conclusions : We conducted a pulse diagnosis and measured health-related information along with the traditional Korean Medicine diagnose procedure, including four stages of diagnosis, and we found a linkage between diagnosis of phlegm and the phlegm pattern questionnaire score. The results suggest that a number of healthy participants, with no disease diagnosed, have Mibyoung symptoms which need further clinical management. Thus, we suggest that Mibyoung management programs based on qualified diagnosis tools and traditional Korean medicine diagnosis procedures be developed, and that future research using various diagnostic tools be carried out on a large population.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2006.06b
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• pp.29-38
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to find out morbidity rate and pattern of occupational disease and affect of variables related disease of Fishing sailors' The subjects this study were 624 fisheries sailors' who took education course in Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology. This questionnaire was focused on finding the basic data for prevention of occupational disease and promotion health on the fishing sailors' The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, cross tab by SPSS package. The result of this study are as follow. 1)The morbidity rate within recent 12 months was 70.2%. there were significant differences of occurred disease in age, rank, perceived health status, fatigue symptoms, rest time, workload, overtime duration 2) the more aging(p<0.01), perceived fatigue(p<0.01), workload(p<0.01), overtime(p<0.05) and the less perceived health status(p<0.01), rest time(p<0.01), the higher morbidity rate 3) Considering disease unable to work more tlnn 4 hour, the number of those who had musculoskeletal disease were 20.9%, which revealed the highest rate, digestive disease 14.3%, traumatic disease 13.5%.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.30 no.5 s.111
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• pp.405-414
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to find out morbidity rate and pattern of occupational disease and affect of variables related disease of Fishing crew The subjects this study were 624 Fishing crew who took education course in Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology. This questionnaire was focused on finding the basic data for prevention of occupational disease and promotion health on the Fishing crew The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, cross tab by SPSS package. The result of this study are as follow. 1)The morbidity rate within recent 12 months was 70.2%. there were significant differences of occurred disease in age, rank, perceived health status, fatigue symptoms, rest time, workload, overtime duration 2) the more aging(p<0.01), perceived fatigue(p<0.01), workload(p<0.01), overtime(p<0.05) and the less perceived health status(p<0.01), rest time(p<0.01), the higher morbidity rate 3) Considering disease unable to work more than 4 hour, the number of those who had musculoskeletal disease were 20.9%, which revealed the highest rate, digestive disease 14.3%, traumatic disease 13.5%.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.13-33
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• 1999

The aim of this study was to investigate fatigue scores, physical complaints, farmer's syndrome and to find out its risk factors among farmers. The questionnaire survey was conducted to 177 vinyl house workers and 213 farmers who lived in Chongyang gun of Chungnam province from February 24 to March 15, 1998. The obtained main results were followings; 1. The fatigue scores were not significantly different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The fatigue scores were higher in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker, nondrinker group than otherwise groups. There was not statistically significant difference between the mean fatigue scores and age, eating habit and body mass index. Duration of farming years in vinyl house and farming area and number of farming workers in farmers family showed a slight relationship with the fatigue score. 2. Health scores were not different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The health states was poorer in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker group, and nondrinker group than otherwise groups by health scores. Health scores were not related with age, eating habit and body mass index. 3. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was 49.1% in vinyl house workers and 52.1% in farmers. That was higher in female than in male and the higher proportion was found in the lower education group of vinyl house workers and farmers. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was higher in the group of smoker, alcohol drinkers and over or under weight in vinyl house workers, but did not differ in those of farmers. 4. By multiple logistic regression, sex and sleep hours were risk factors affecting to farmer's syndrome. Odds ration for female group was 2.53 (reference group was male) and that for over 8 sleep hours group was 0.74 (reference group was under 8 sleep hours group). 5. The chief complaints by CMI were "I am difficult to work due to aching the back and the limbs", "I feel prickle pain in the limbs", "I sometimes have a twinge in the limbs", "I am not quite well as having a pain in the limbs", "I feel weaker grasping power than before" in both of vinyl house workers and farmers. Vinyl house workers more frequently pointed out skin darkening, skin disease and hemorrhoids than farmers. 6. According to correspondence analysis, skin disease of vinyl house workers was related to vinyl house farmers and digestive and general symptom was associated with male and endocrinological and muscular symptom was associated with female in vinyl house workers. And it revealed that farmer's syndrome was highly related with female and farmers relatively. By the above results, the fatigue scores, perceive health and farmer's syndrome did not much differ in two groups, but aged female farmers should be considered as female farmers represented higher fatigue score, farmers syndrome and poorer perceive health than male farmers in addition to farmer's syndrome was increased with ageing process. Also feeble but distinguished symptoms which might be due to working environment were observed especially in vinyl house workers and that should be considered and investigated continuously.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.112-127
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• 1987

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission function disorder characterized by fatigue and weakness of voluntary muscles. This muscular weakness is intensified by activity and stress, and improved by the use of anticholinesterase compounds. It was initially described by Erb in 1879 and later named myasthenia gravis by Jolly in 1895. Although the pathogenesis is Known to be an autoimmune related reduction in the number of available acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions, the role of thymus in myasthenia gravis is still unclear and under investigation. Thymectomy in the management of myasthenia gravis has become increasingly important since Dr. Blalock observed in 1939 that some patients with thymic tumors and myasthenia gravis improved following thymectomy. A clinical study of 102 cases of myasthenia gravis was performed at Yonsei University College of Medicine. Seoul, Korea from Jan. 1976 to Jun. 1986. In order to determine which factors are of prognostic significance, attention is focused upon pre-operative patient evaluation, problems in operative and post-operative care, and long-term follow-up observations. The results were as follows: 1. The sex distribution was 67 females and 35 males, the mean age of onset was 28.95*1.69 years, and the maximal incidence occurred between 21 and 40 years of age [56 cases: 54.9%]. 2. Clinical manifestations of ocular symptoms were seen to 70 patients [68.6%] extremities weakness in 33 [32.3%], bulbar weakness in 29 [28.4%], and dyspnea in 13 [12.7%]. 3. Study cases more than two thirds were classified as mild types [MG 1 and MG 11A] and 6 cases as grave [MG 1V] based on the modified Osserman`s classification system, 4. Thymectomy was performed in 19 cases which presented in severe myasthenia symptoms and showed no improvement with cholinergic drugs. Histologic examination of the excised thymus glands revealed no abnormalities in 4 cases, thymic hyperplasia in 5, benign thymoma in 5, and malignant thymoma in 5. 5. Immediate post-operative complications included 2 cases of pneumothorax which were treated by tube thoracostomies, there was no operative mortality. 6. The response to cholinergic drugs in 36 cases younger than 20 years old and in 27 cases older than 40 years was relatively poor, while that in 35 cases between the ages of 21 and 40 years old was good. 7. Thirty of 39 cases in groups IIB, III & IV improved markedly with medical or surgical management while only 16 of 59 cases in the mild groups [I and IIA] improved, almost all surgical cases improved in all categories. 8. There were 5 deaths. occurring between 7 months and 3 years 3 months of treatment of myasthenia gravis. The causes of death were myasthenic crisis in 2 cases, respiratory failure due to candidiasis & radiation pneumonitis in one case, cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure in two case.