• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.403-410
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• 2018

Background Radiation-induced skin injury is a dose-limiting complication of radiotherapy. To investigate this problem and to develop a framework for making decisions on treatment and dose prescription, a murine model of radiation-induced skin injury was developed. Methods The dorsal skin of the mice was isolated, and irradiation was applied at single doses of 15, 30, and 50 Gy. The mice were followed for 12 weeks with serial photography and laser Doppler analysis. Sequential skin biopsy samples were obtained and subjected to a histological analysis, immunostaining against transforming growth factor beta (TGF-${\beta}$), and Western blotting with Wnt-3 and ${\beta}$-catenin. Increases in the levels of TGF-${\beta}$, Wnt, and ${\beta}$-catenin were detected after irradiation. Results All tested radiation doses caused progressive dermal thickening and fibrosis. The cause of this process, however, may not be radiation alone, as the natural course of wound healing may elicit a similar response. The latent appearance of molecular and histological markers that induce fibrosis in the 15 Gy group without causing apparent gross skin injuries indicates that 15 Gy is an appropriate dose for characterizing the effects of chronic irradiation alone. Thus, this model best mimics the patterns of injury that occur in human subjects. Conclusions This animal model can be used to elucidate the gross and molecular changes that occur in radiation-induced skin injury and provides an effective platform for studying this adverse effect without complicating the process of wound healing.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.271-289
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• 2008

In the Oriental Medicine field the great three reference books are Hwantienaekyung(黃帝內徑, HJNK), Sihnnongbonchokyung(神農本草經, BCK) and Shanghanlun(SHR). HJNK has been a theory book regarded as a bible of the Oriental Medicine, BCK, a herbal book with 365 species of red letters noticed from Bonchokyungjipjoo(本草經集註) and SHR, very important clinical book with concrete prescriptions for the therapy of patients. Though these books were written by Chinese people ca. 2000 years ago, yet they are no doubt very important and effective ones in these days. Unfortunately they are handed down to all transmitted books for a long times because original ones were destroyed by fire and another troubles. In this study we have tried to extract three common terminological words and common theories from the prescription law by theoretical principles(理法方藥, clinical therapeutic mechanism) acquired through the comparative analysis of these three books. They are qi(氣), cold or heat(寒熱) and yin & yang(陰陽), and their practical basic theories have been evidenced through exterior & interior of body(表裏) and deficiency or exessiveness(虛實) by the heat of Sun. Also we would have realized that Oriental Medicine should be analyzed through various scientific techniques and clinical experiences, and necessarily unified to yin & yang monism from qi theory of the Sun in all human's life cycle(生老病死).

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.287-296
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• 2014

Objectives: Alzheimer's Dementia is somewhat common in clinical stages, and there are many reports and papers regarding this subject. We explain the present state of Alzheimer's Dementia in JON (The Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry) for the benefits of clinical practice. Methods: We searched for articles in JON from 1990 to 2014 and selected ones that were related to Alzheimer's Dementia; then, we analyzed the data and placed it in four categories, like experimental study, case study, Clinical Data-Analysis study, and clinical trial. Results: 1) We found 47 articles relating to Alzheimer's Dementia in JON from 1997 to 2014: 41 experimental studies, 1 case study, 1 Clinical Data-Analysis study, and 4 Clinical trials. 2) There were Chung-kyung Acupuncture Method, Auricular acupuncture, and Cha-rak Acupuncture Method to treat Alzheimer's Dementia. 3) There were many additional treatments, like aroma therapy. 4) In the experimental study, they reported on several herbs, including herbal prescriptions that affected the suppression of related mRNAs and genes. 5) There were 4 clinical trials regarding herbal prescription that was effective for treating Alzheimer's Dementia. Conclusions: In JON, regarding Alzheimer's Dementia, the majority dealt with experimental studies. Therefore, we also have to expand our sight into other fields of study. We need more clinical trials and case studies for the treatment of Alzheimer's Dementia in Oriental Neuropsychiatry.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2017

Background: Current therapy for the treatment of neuropathic pain is often unsatisfactory. Considerable variation in treatment pattern still exists in spite of availability of sufficient literature from various guidelines. Recent Indian market data suggested that the utilization (sale) of drugs such as amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin was more for low-dose unit packs than that of the high-dose unit packs, raising the belief that these drugs are prescribed at a lower dose than is actually recommended in the guidelines. To test this hypothesis, a survey was conducted across speciality throughout the country to observe the prescription pattern of these drugs amongst the health care providers in India. Methods: Three hundred fifty survey forms were distributed of which 281 forms were included for analysis. Results: It was observed that the commonly used initiation and maintenance dose for amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin was 5-10 mg/day, 50-75 mg/day, and 100-300 mg/day, respectively. The reason to select the lower dosages was to have a balancing effect to achieve good efficacy with minimum side effects. Care-givers reported no side effects/not many side effects as a reason in 22.2%, 16.88%, and 23.86% patients with amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin, respectively. Sedation and giddiness were commonly reported with all three drugs. Conclusions: Commonly prescribed drugs for management of neuropathic pain, such as amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin are preferred at lower doses in Indian clinical settings. Acceptable efficacy and low tolerance to the standard dosage is believed to be the reason behind the prescribed dose.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2013

Bojungikgi-tang has been widely used for enhancement of physical fitness in Korea. The convenient, simple, and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was established for simultaneous determination of four marker compounds, liquiritin, nodakenin, hesperidin, and glycyrrhizin in Bojungikgi-tang (Buzhongyiqi-tang in Chinese, Hochuekkito in Japanese), a traditional Korean herbal prescription. The column for optimizing HPLC separation was used a Gemini $C_{18}$ column at column oven temperature of $40^{\circ}C$ with 1.0% (v/v) aqueous acetic acid (A) and 1.0% (v/v) acetic acid in acetonitirle (B) by gradient flow. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min and the detector was a photodiode array (PDA) set at 254 nm, 280 nm, and 335 nm. Calibration curves of four components were acquired with $r^2$ values ${\geq}0.9999$. The recoveries were found to range 92.11~105.68% with relative standard deviations (RSDs, %) value less than 2.50%. The RSD values of intraand inter-day precision were 0.07~2.50% and 0.16~1.99%, respectively. The contents of liquiritin, nodakenin, hesperidin and glycyrrhizin in Bojungikgi-tang were 3.85~3.92 mg/g, 2.27~2.32 mg/g, 4.14~4.19 mg/g, and 3.39~3.45 mg/g, respectively. The established simultaneous analysis method will be effective for quality control of Bojungikgi-tang.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.302-308
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• 2004

Sixty-six dogs diagnosed with cystolithiasis at animal clinics in the Busan area between April 2002, and April 2003, were reviewed. The chemical analysis of cystoliths from 66 dogs indicated that the predominant mineral component was struvite (45 dogs), calcium oxalate (14 dogs), or urate (6 dogs). Animals affected with struvite were grouped into four (s-1; struvite only, s-2; struvite mixed with lesser quantities of calcium oxalate or ammonium urate, s-3; nuclei and lamination, s-4; struvite nucleus surrounded by other minerals), with calcium oxalate into six(o-1; calcium oxalate monohydrate only, o-2; calcium oxalate dihydrate only, o-3; combination of calcium oxalate monohydrate and dihydrate, o-4; calcium oxalate nucleus surrounded by other minerals, o-5; 100% calcium oxalate monohydrate nucleus surrounded by 100% calcium oxalate dihydrate, o-6; mixed calcium oxalate monohydrate nucleus surrounded by mixed calcium oxalate dihydrate), and with urate into two(u-1; ammonium acid urate only, u-2; ammonium acid urate mixed with lesser quantities of other minerals). In this study, the numbers of 4 groups of struvite were (s-1; 10, s-2; 9, s-3; 21, s-4; 5), 6 groups of calcium oxalate were (o-1; 0, o-2; 1, o-3; 2, o-4; 3, o-5; 2, o-6; 6), and 2 groups of urate were (u-1; 6, u-2; 0). The data from each group was analyzed and compared. Shih Tzu(14 cases), Yorkshire terrier(10 cases), mixed-breed(10 cases) and Miniature schnauzer(7 cases) were more frequently affected than the other breeds. Females(40 cases) were affected more than males(26 cases). Twenty-nine dogs had cystoliths associated with a bacterial urinary tract infection, and uroliths tended to recur. We conclude eradication of urinary infection along with appropriate food (e.g. prescription diet) with client compliance should help in reducing the incidence or severity of the disease.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2009

Medication compliance is essential to improve person's health status through pharmacotherapy. Since separation of dispensing and prescription has been implemented, the importance of pharmacist's role on medication counseling have been emphasized, especially among outpatients. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of patient's satisfaction with pharmacist's medication counseling on medication compliance among outpatients. We used the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey data to examine medication compliance of persons who visited pharmacy. Ordered logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess whether patient's satisfaction with pharmacist's medication counseling was associated with medication compliance. Overall, 86.17% of study subjects(5,494) reported to take the prescribed medicines correctly and 80.54% of respondents were satisfied with pharmacist's medication counseling. Logistic regression analysis presents patient's satisfaction with pharmacist's counseling is significantly associated with medication compliance after controlling patient's characteristics(proxy-measured by age, family income, educational attainments, comorbid conditions). Interestingly, even patients who are dissatisfied with pharmacist's counseling have slightly higher odds of better compliance to medication therapy than those without pharmacist's counseling. In addition, higher educational attainments and older age groups are associated with better medication compliance. In conclusion, pharmacist's medication counseling appears to be effective in improving medication compliance. Further research that assess medication counseling in detail needs to develop strategies to improve medication adherence.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.220-229
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• 2016

Background: The treatment goal for patients with chronic hepatitis B infection is to prevent progression of the disease to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current therapies include standard and pegylated interferon-alfa and nucleoside/nucleotide analogues: lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, telbivudine, clevudine, and tenofovir. This study aims to analyze changes in the prescribing patterns of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) medications in South Korea between 2013 and 2014. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using National Patients Sample data compiled by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2013 and 2014. Patients with CHB were identified with Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code-6 (B18.0 and B18.1) and those who were maintaining active prescriptions with CHB medications covering the index date (December $1^{st}$, each year) were included. The utilization of antiviral therapy was investigated during 2013 and 2014. Results: A total of 4,204 and 4,552 patients in 2013 and 2014 respectively, were included in the analysis. The proportion of male patients was two of third and the patients 41-60 years old accounted for 60% of all analyzed patients. The most utilized drug was entecavir (55.1% in 2013 and 44.8% in 2014) and the second most utilized drug was tenofovir in both years (18.8% in 2013 and 29.0% in 2014). The percentage of combination therapy was 13.6% and 13.1% in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The proportion of tenofovir prescriptions was increased in 2014 compared with 2013. Conclusion: With the development of new drugs and the changes in clinical practice guidelines, the prescription pattern of the antiviral agents for patients with CHB has changed. The rate of utilization of tenofovir has increased.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 1991

To investigate the structure and the conservation of Abies koreana forest at Banyabong area in Chirisan, 38 plots(100$m^2$) set up with random sampling method. Dead individuals of Abies koreana were 12.81%. were observed mainly upper-layer trees. A few seedlings of Abies koreana were observed. Three groups were classified by cluster analysis. High positive correlations was proved between Abies koreana and Rhododendron mucrolunulatum var. ciliatum, and High negative correlations was proved between Abies koreana and Fraxinus sieboliana, Carpinus cordata, Sasa purpurascens and Cornus controversa. Species diversity(H') of investigated area was calculated 1.9796-2.7509. To conserve Abies koreana forest at Banyabong area in Chirisan. Research and prescription on the declining of Abies koreana was needed and Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Fraxinus sieboliana, Carpinus cordata, Sasa purpurascens and Cornus controversa in the Abies koreana forest should be cleared out.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.899-905
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the regional difference of chronic periodontal care services in Korea by the analysis of 2010 raw data from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: The subjects were the chronic periodontitis patients over 35 years old from dental care facilities in Korea. The study population was 278,319 including 264,994 claims made by dental clinics, 8,084 by dental hospitals, 3,509 by general hospitals, and 1,732 by tertiary hospitals. Results: There was a significant difference in medical care cost benefit between the provinces(p<0.0001). The age groups showed a clear difference in the patient charge, cost of insurance, and medical care cost benefit(p<0.0001). In consideration of the first visit or revisit, there were differences in the rate of prescription, dental examination, and surgical procedures of the chronic periodontal patients from dental facilities. The radiographic use rate in the tertiary hospitals was 2.6 times higher than that of the dental clinic in the treatment of the new chronic periodontal patients. Conclusions: The use of dental services in the periodontitis is influenced by the types of medical services facility, cost of medical insurance, and patient charge. In consideration of cost benefit analysis, prevention is the most important care for the periodontitis. Regional difference in peridontitis is cause by the use of medical services and quality of treatment.