• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-85
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• 2016

Objectives: In this paper, two cases which showed the meaningful results on the patients' chief complaints were analyzed. The patients were treated with the Mahwang-Haengin-Gamcho-seokgo-tang herbal medication based on Shanghanlun disease pattern identification diagnostic system. Methods: The patients were diagnosed based on Shanghanlun, disease pattern identification diagnostic system. In case 1, the change of menstruation cycle was noted and pre-menstrual discomforts were measured with Menstrual Distress Questionnaire(MDQ). In case 2, Quality of life questionnaire for adult Korean asthmatics (QLQAKA) was used to estimate the quality of the patient's life. Results: All the symptoms were improved after the Mahwang-Haengin-Gamcho-seokgotang treatment. In case 1, the menstruation cycle decreased to 30 days average. MDQ score decreased 143 to 103. In case 2, the change of the QLQAKA score as 1.647 average point is considered as a meaningful improvement. Conclusion: With great difference to a 'Symptom-Medicine' diagnostic system, the disease pattern identification diagnostic system seeks the pathologic pattern through the patient's whole life. More studies and multiple cases based on the diagnostic system are needed to prove this possibility later.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.131-141
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• 2001

Objectives : Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder in which the airway smooth muscle undergoes exaggerated constriction and is abnormally responsive to external stimuli and clinically manifests dyspnea, cough, and wheezing. Recently in Korea, the number of asthma patients has tended to increase as air pollution increases and new allergens appear. This study aimed to identify the therapeutic effects of Sochongryong-tang, which has been used on asthmatic patients in Oriental Medicine for a long time. Methods : We studied 10 asthmatic patients who had visited the Division of Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine of Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from February 1, 2001 to June 30, 2001, which examined the patients by the pulmonary function test (PFT) and Quality of Life Questionnaire for adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA) before and after taking Sochongryong-tang for two weeks. The data was analyzed using paired t-test. Results : After treatment with Sochongryong-tang for two weeks, FEV 1.0 showed a significant increase of 14.2%, FVC a significant increase of 9.3% and PEFR a significant increase of 16.2% in results of patients examined asthmatic by PFT. In the results of QLQAKA, the mean of scores increased significantly over 0.5 points in total score, symptom domain, emotion domain, and environmental domain. Conclusions : This study shows that Sochongryong-tang has the effect of improvements of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.151-160
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• 2002

Background: Nowadays asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribution to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objectives: We aimed to identify the clinical effects of Chuongsangboha-tang and the effects of Chuongsangboha-tang on serum cytokines in asthmatic patients. Materials and Methods: The subjects consisted of 36 patients with asthma who had been treated with Chuongsangboha-tang for four weeks. Chuongsangboha-tang is an herbal decoction which has been used of the traditional therapeutic agent of asthma. PFT, Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), blood eosinophil, serum IgE, Serum IL-4, IL-5, IFN- were checked before and 4 weeks after treatments. Results: Treatment with Chuongsangboha-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in FEV1.0%, PEFR%, QLQAKA. The blood eosinophil, serum IgE, IL-4 and IL-5 in asthmatic patients increased significantly compared to the normal control group, while the serum IFN-decreased significantly. Conclusions: This study shows that Chuongsangboha-tang has effects on improvement of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients. Obviously, further research concerning this is still necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2003

Objective : Recently questionnaires that reflect the quality of life (QOL) in asthma patients were developed. We aimed to identify the clinical effects of Gamipaima-tang and the side effects of Gamipaimo-tang in asthmatic patients. Materials and Methods : The subjects are consisted of 34 patients with asthma who had been treated with Gamipaimo-tang for four weeks. Gamipaima-tang is an herbal decoction which has been used as a traditional therapeutic agent for asthma. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was checked before and after 4-week treatments. Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA) was checked before and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment. Results : Treatment with Gamipaima-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in FVC%, $FEV_{1.0}%$, PEFR%, and QLQAKA. The total efficacy rate in the patient group was 52.9% after 4 weeks. The total efficacy rate of the step 4 group (n=18, 55.6%) classified by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) was higher than that of the step 3 group (n=13, 46.2%) classified by GINA. Conclusion : This study shows that Gamipaima-tang has the effects of improvement of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients. Obviously further research concerning this is still necessary.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.64-71
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• 2020

Objectives To report an improved case with Taeeumin Mahwangjeongcheon-tang on the patient with chronic bronchitis caused by an inhalation injury. Methods The patient had been suffered from cough, sputum, dyspnea, and chest discomfort for 15 years. He was diagnosed as Taeeumin Esophageal Cold Pattern and was given Mahwangjeongcheon-tang according to Sasang constitutional medical theory. The clinical asthma measurement scale in oriental medicine(CAMSOM-V), quality of life questionnaire for adult Korean asthmatics(QLQAKA), and Spirometry were performed to evaluate the improvement of his symptoms. Results The clinical asthma measurement scale in oriental medicine(CAMSOM-V) improved from 16 to 14 points and the quality of life questionnaire for adult Korean asthmatics(QLQAKA) improved from 55 to 67 points. In spirometry, forced vital capacity improved from 3.07 to 3.59, and forced expiratory volume in 1sec improved from 2.59 to 2.84 after 4 weeks. Conclusion This report suggests that Mahwangjeongcheon-tang is effective for chronic bronchitis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.1109-1117
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the effects of traditional Korean medical treatment on a patient with asthma. Methods: The patient (female, 88) was treated with herbal medicine (Sojaganggi-tang), acupuncture, and moxibustion. The effects of these treatments were evaluated using the Modified Borg Scale (MBS) and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA). Results: Following treatment, the MBS score decreased from 7 to 4, and the QLQAKA score increased from 45 to 57. Conclusion: The results suggest that traditional Korean medicine can effectively treat patients with asthma.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.583-598
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• 2020

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze deficiency-excess pattern identification and to compare the blood cytokines in patients with asthma. Methods: A total of 112 patients with asthma who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided into deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome groups. Blood was examined for eotaxin, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and heart rate variability (HRV) tests were administered to both groups. Results: Pattern identification divided the 112 patients into two categories: a deficiency syndrome group (N=52) and an excess syndrome group (N=60). Analysis of blood cytokines showed higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the deficient pattern than in the excess pattern group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the HRV revealed a significantly higher mean value for the very-low-frequency (VLF) and high-frequency (HF) bands in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group. The morbidity duration was longer in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the QLQAKA and VAS scores showed a negative correlation, whereas BMI and VAS showed a positive correlation. Conclusions: Levels of blood cytokines, including eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α, did not differ statistically between the deficiency and excess syndrome groups. The development of a more accurate asthma-specific pattern identification tool would be useful in asthma control.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.582-596
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• 2019

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze the deficiency-excess pattern identification (虛實辨證) and compare it to the sputum cytokines of asthma patients. Method: 50 asthma patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: deficiency and excess syndrome groups. Sputum examinations were performed including $TNF-{\alpha}$, Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13. The Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), the Visual Analog Scale(VAS), and heart rate variability (HRV) were also measured. We also conducted laboratory tests, including the hematological indexes. Results: Based on the pattern identification, 50 asthma patients can be divided into two categories of groups: the deficiency syndrome group (N=24) and the excess syndrome group (N=26). In the analysis of sputum cytokines, although the $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-13 were at a higher level in the deficient pattern group than in the excess pattern group, it was insignificantly different. There was a negative correlation in the analysis of QLQAKA and VAS. In the analysis of HRV, although the mean value of VLF, LF, and HF in the deficiency syndrome group was higher than in the excess syndrome group, it was insignificantly different. There was no significant difference in the hematological tests between the deficiency and the excess syndrome group. The mean value of the IgE in the blood tests was five times greater than the reference value. Conclusion: The cytokines of sputum including $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 were indifferent statistically. Reinforcing the healthy and eliminating the pathogenic factors should be considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2022

Background: Only a few studies directly compared the therapeutic efficacy and safety of two pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) in asthma. We analyzed the asthma treatment outcomes, safety, and patient preferences using formoterol/beclomethasone (FORM/BDP), a pMDI with extra-fine particles, compared with formoterol/budesonide (FORM/BUD), another pMDI with non-extra-fine particles. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, double-dummy parallel group study, 40 adult asthmatics were randomized to FORM/BDP group (n=18; active FORM/BDP and placebo FORM/BUD) or FORM/BUD group (n=22; active FORM/BUD and placebo FORM/BDP). During the two visits (baseline and end of 8-week treatment), subjects were asked to answer questionnaires including asthma control test (ACT), asthma control questionnaires (ACQ), and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA). Lung function, compliance with inhaler, and inhaler-handling skills were also assessed. Results: Ten subjects in the FORM/BDP group and 14 in the FORM/BUD group completed follow-up visits. ACT, ACQ, QLQAKA (a primary outcome), and adverse events did not differ between two groups. We found that the increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity and forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of the pulmonary volume in the FORM/BDP group was higher than in the FORM/BUD group. Regarding preference, subjects responded that the flume velocity of FORM/BDP was higher, but more adequate than that of FORM/BUD. They also answered that FORM/BDP reached the trachea and bronchus and irritated them significantly more than FORM/BUD. Conclusion: The use of pMDI with extra-fine particles may relieve small airway obstruction more than the one with non-extra-fine particles despite no significant differences in overall treatment outcomes. Some asthmatics have a misconception about the adequacy of high flume velocity of pMDIs.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.955-970
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to identify and analyze the patterns to compare the characteristics of asthma patients. Methods: The subjects were 40 asthma patients who had satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided into deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome groups, and cold syndrome and heat syndrome groups. Their quality of life was measured by the quality of life questionnaire for adult Korean asthmatics (QLQAKA) and VAS. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured, and the degree of obesity was evaluated by body mass index (BMI). Hematological, biochemical, and immunoglobulin (Ig) E laboratory tests were included. Results: Based on pattern identification, the 40 asthma patients could be divided into two categories of groups: 1) the deficiency syndrome (N=18) and the excess syndrome (N=22) groups: 2) the cold syndrome (N=35) and the heat syndrome (N=5) groups. The mean value of HF differed significantly between the deficiency and excess syndrome groups. The mean value of IgE in blood tests of asthmatics was greater than four times the reference value. For BMI, the subjects were classified into three groups: normal weight (N=12), overweight (N=12), and obese (N=16). Conclusions: Development of a more accurate asthma-specific pattern identification tool could play a crucial role in asthma control. In addition, good control of asthma can improve the quality of life. Obesity is one of the factors associated with asthma exacerbation.