• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.218-231
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• 2001

Background : The purpose of this study was to investigate the understanding and the attitude of Korean hospital CEOs toward the healthcare quality improvement. Methods : A mailed questionnaire survey to the CEOs of hospitals with 400 beds or more was conducted between September 15 and October 30, 2000. Of the 108 hospitals eligible for the study, 58 participated, yielding a response rate of 54 percent. Result : The hospital CEOs have expressed that their hospital management was arduous job, and they had been pressured by increasing competitions among healthcare providers. They indicated that the low fees of health insurance made their hospital management difficult. The results also indicated that there was general consensus that the improvement of service quality was important in encouraging their organizations, but the investment of manpower and equipment ranked higher than the improvement of service quality. The majority of the CEOs have good understanding about quality improvement activities. However the facts that in general QI must be focused at the process of services and customer satisfaction, meanwhile quality improvement activities are helpful for the organizational productivity embarrassed them. The hospital CEOs responded that there were successful changes in terms of quality of care, patient satisfaction, and process efficiency after QI activities, but no increase in patient number and profit. Lack of understanding to QI activities and limited budget seem to attribute unsatisfactory outcomes. Conclusion : The majority of Korean hospital CEOs have a good understanding and attitude about QI activities. As mentioned in the result, despite of several limitations, several facts regarding the CEOs of hospital in Korean can be elucidated. (1) The general cognition of the QI project is relatively high, and it is accepted with positive concern, (2) the priority of the QI project, however, is not set higher than other projects and (3) the specific concepts of the actual QI project such as customer (patient)-focused work driving, the recognition of the work accomplishment, and the importance of rewards have not sufficiently understood.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Pathology Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2000

We performed this study to determine the effect of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang, as a prescription of traditional Oriental medicine, and its major ingredients on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of mice irradiated with high and low dose of r-radiation. Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang administration before irradiation protected the jejunal crypts (p<0.0001), increased the formation of endogenous spleen colony (p<0.05) and reduced the frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis (p<0.05). (omitted)

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.821-825
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• 2012

Purpose: Centromere protein H (CENP-H) and Ki67 are overexpressed in some malignancies, but whether they are predictors of survival after primary resection for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) remains unknown. Methods: We assessed immunohistochemical expression of CENP-H and Ki67 in 112 HSCC specimens collected between March 2003 and March 2005 for analysis by clinical characteristics. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze relapse-free survival and logistic multivariate regression to determine risk factors of relapse-free survival. Cholecystokinin octapeptide assays and flow cytometry were used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis after siRNA inhibition of CENP-H in HSCC cells. Results: Overall, 50 (44.6%) HSCC specimens showed upregulated CENP-H expression and 69 (61.6%) upregulated Ki67. An increased CENP-H protein level was associated with advanced cancer stage and alcohol history (P=0.012 and P=0.048, respectively) but an increased Ki67 protein level only with advanced cancer stage (P=0.021). Increased CENP-H or Ki67 were associated with short relapse-free survival (P<0.001 or P=0.009, respectively) and were independent predictors of relapse-free survival (P=0.001 and P=0.018, respectively). siRNA knockdown of CENP-H mRNA inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cancer cell apoptosis in vitro. Conclusions: Upregulated CENP-H and Ki67 levels are significantly associated with short relapse-free survival in HSCC. These factors may be predictors of a relapsing phenotype in HSSC cases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.109-121
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• 2001

Objective : The purpose of This study is to analyze influence of functional and clinical improvement effect on temporomandibular disorders of Dong-Qi acupuncture treatment that often be used to temporomandibular disorder patients. Methods : We investigated to focus temporomandibular disorders in Jaseng oriental medicine hospital from September 8, 2000 to March 22, 2001. We compared to before and after treatment situation using temporomandibular disease & facial ache dolor pain and malignant function disorders & activation inhibition analysis from one cured Dong-Qi acupuncture treatment of outpatients-40 examples. Results : These results appeared that Sex distinction occurrence ratio was much more female than male of 1: 7. Age distinction occupied the most ratio in 20-30 generation. Jobs was mainly ranked students and companion. In cases treated before visiting our hospital, was mainly ranked our hospital first dignosis. the distribution interval of solider was mainly followed above 3 years. the distribution interval of treatment was mainly gone within 1 month and above 3 month, frequency of treatment was examined below 5 times, into 6 to 10 times, more than 11 times, respectively. Everything showed a very valuable effect except chewing and dentalgia in decrease of ache dolor pain and linkage pain related to mal-function. There are meaningful effect in Every part on Mal-function improvement. Every contents showed a very excellent effect except activation such as motivation ingestion and recreation in influence of activation. Conclusion : The above results showed a very valuable treatment effect of temporomandibular disorders on Dong-Qi acupuncture treatment. Therefore we are considered the necessity of continuous study and observation applying to other disease as well as temporomandibular disorders.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2005

In Oriental medicine the primordial Qi and the defensive Qi are considered as important for immunity. Therefore it is anticipated that the improvement of the primordial Qi and the defensive Qi can enhance the ability of immune cells. This experiment was conducted to investigate how Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Glycyrrhizae Radix, representative of Qi tonifying herbs, affect the immune system in terms of controlling and balancing immune cells. Using the MTS assay, increased proliferations were observed from herbal treated cells, among which Gins-eng showed the highest proliferation. When splenocytes were activated with anti-CD3 plus herbal extracts, levels of IFN-g and IL-4 were increased but those of IL-2 showed little change compared with the control cells. Levels of IL-2, IFN-g and IL-4 were increased in purified CD4 T cells when activated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 but at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ of Astragali and Atractylodis, levels of IL-2 were decreased by 11% and 42%, respectively and those of IFN-g were decreased by 55% and 12%, respectively. Under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions, levels of IFN-g in Th1 cells treated with herbal extracts were all decreased but when it comes to IL-4, its levels were increased in Ginseng and Glycyrrhizae treated cells but decreased in Astragali and Atractylodis treated cells. Taken together, the data show that compared with other qi tonifying herbs, Ginseng and Glycyrrhizae have a tendency to favor Th2 cell differentiation in vitro.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 2005

Acute Transverse Myelitis is a syndrome, not a disease, in which acute inflammation affects gray and white matter in one or more adjacent thoracic segments. Almost all patients will develope ascending weakness and numbness of feet and leg, difficulty voiding, urinary retention, and loss of bowel control. We concluded this case to MAMOK( 마목) due to Qi ascent, Qi deficiency, Qi stoppage(상기, 기허, 기체). So we used herbal medication, acupuncture, and homeopuncture according to oriental medical theory. Weakness and numbness of feet and leg, difficulty voiding, urinary retention, and loss of bowel control are reduced. Herbal medication, acupuncture, and homeopuncture helped the care of this syndrome and further study will be investigated in oriental medicine for this syndrome.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.230-239
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• 2015

This study was performed to find a relationship between each pattern identification and vascular status using the second derivative of photoplethysmogram waveform(SDPTG) indices. We analyzed 200 subjects who participated in stroke preventive examination. We classified the subjects into four groups of pattern identifications; Fire-Heat pattern(火熱證; FH), Yin Deficiency pattern(陰虛證; YD), Qi Deficiency pattern(氣虛證; QD) and Dampness-Phlegm pattern(濕痰證; DP) that based on Korean Standard Pattern Identifications for Stroke-Ⅲ. We studied a relationship between each pattern identification and the SDPTG. The total number of the subject group was 200, whereas the groups were divided into four groups; Fire-Heat pattern group(n=49), Yin Deficiency pattern(n=57), Qi Deficiency pattern(n=45), and Dampness-Phlegm pattern(n=49). b/a ratio was related with age and systolic blood pressure, c/a ratio was associated with age, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and Total cholesterol, d/a ratio was affected with age, diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension, e/a ratio was related with age and sex and SDPTG AI was associated with age. c/a ratio and d/a ratio were significantly higher in the Fire-Heat group than in the Qi Deficiency group. SDPTG AI was significantly higher in the Qi Deficiency group than in the Fire-Heat group. The Qi Deficiency group was significantly older than the Fire-Heat group and the number of hypertension patients was significantly more in the Fire-Heat group than in the Qi Deficiency group. Through this study, we found out some significant relationships between each pattern identification group and the SDPTG indices.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1057-1064
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• 2007

Traditionlly Radix Ginseng has been known to Qi-tonic medicine. Practically Radix Ginseng is listed in Shinnongbonchokyeong as the medicine for replenishing the Primordial-Qi, tranquilizing the mind and improving mental power. However, when we consider the text of prescriptions that contained Radix Ginseng in Jangjoongkyeong's Sanghanlon, Radix Ginseng had not been conjugated to replenish the Primordial-Qi. On the other hand, Yoshimasu todo had been taken up the position that Radix Ginseng in Sanghanlon was conjugated to treat Shimhabikyeong. Accordingly, author studied about practical use of Radix Ginseng in Sanghanlon based on Yakjing and Yoochuibang that Yoshimasu todo's writing. The result of study are summurized as follows. Jangjoongkyeong conjugated ginseng to treat Shimhabikyeong in Sanghanlon. The prescription that Shimhabikyeong was not mentioned is thought as it was omitted from the text. Jangjoongkyeong conjugated the bitter taste ginseng to treat Shimhabikyeong. Shimhabikyeong is abdominal diagnosis that the patient feel a subjectively blocked sensation and below the Kumi becomes hard as solid.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.911-920
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• 2010

The basic principles in the "Spleen-stomach theory(脾胃論)" sets up the phases and roles of spleen-stomach (脾胃) by establishing Earth(地 坤 土) and exposing the reality of spleen-stomach(脾胃) of human body which has its own shape and form with Heaven's reality exhibited. The meaning of Earth is based on the constant meaning of Earth in 'Earth Original-Earth as extended and stable ground(坤元一正之土)' giving form and shape, and Earth's movement with circulation, then exposes itself as 'Earth as plowing land(耕種之土)' concerning both the application of Five Phases and the physical characteristics of Earth. The Yin-Yang recognition on Earth is revealed as Yin Earth(陰土)-Yang Earth(陽土). Spleen(脾) was established as Yin Earth(陰土) and Stomach(胃) as Yang Earth(陽土). The seasonal assignment of Earth is Indian Summer(長夏), which is divided from Summer, and becomes Heat(熱), and the Yin-Yang recognition of Earth comes to be the meaning of the center and border. According to the Five Phasic recognition, it becomes Earth(土) and gets to be Dampness(濕) in accordance with Six Qi(六氣). 'Extreme Yin(至陰)' indicates Qi's status exposing the fundamental meaning regarding the role of creating, changing, and propelling Spleen-Stomach(脾胃) as a characteristic Yin Earth. Earth comprehends 'Four Courses(四維)' meaning, recognizes them as four parts of the 12 Earth's Branches(辰戌丑未) and the terminals of four seasons(四季之末), and has the meaning of the president of the change in four seasons. The theory of principle in the "Spleen-stomach theory(脾胃論)" stands on the basis of the 'Form Qi theory(形氣論)' and that of 'Upbearing, Downbearing, Floating, and Sinking theory(升降浮沈論)'. It manifests the theory of movement in the interaction between Form(形) and Qi(氣), and 'Qi Interior Form Exterior(氣裏形表)' indicates that Qi(氣) moves interiorly and Form(形) exteriorly.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.490-494
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• 2013

The phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor-suppressing lipid phosphatase that is frequently absent in breast tumors. Thus, the stability of PTEN is essential for tumor prevention and therapy. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has an important role in regulating the functions of PTEN. Specifically, carboxyl terminus Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP), the E3 ubiquitin ligase of PTEN, can regulate PTEN levels. In this study, we report that BCL-2-associated athanogene 5 (BAG5), a known inhibitor of CHIP activity, reduces the degradation of PTEN and maintains its levels via an ubiquitylation-dependent pathway. BAG5 is identified as an antagonist of cell tumorigenicity.