• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2012

Knowledge of the prevalence of human Toxoplasma gondii infection is required in the Republic of Korea. In this study, we surveyed the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and analyzed the risk factors associated with seropositivity among residents in 2 administrative districts; Seoul and the island of Jeju-do, which have contrasting epidemiologic characteristics. Sera and blood collected from 2,150 residents (1,114 in Seoul and 1,036 in Jeju-do) were checked for IgG antibody titers using ELISA and for the T. gondii B1 gene using PCR. In addition, participants completed a questionnaire that solicited information on gender, age, occupation, eating habits, history of contact with animals, and travel abroad. The T. gondii B1 gene was not detected in all residents examined. However, ELISA showed 8.0% (89 of 1,114 sera) positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii in Seoul and 11.3% (117 of 1,036 sera) in Jeju-do. In both districts, the positive rates were higher in males than in females, and those 40-79 years of age showed higher rates than other ages. In Seoul, residents older than 70 years of age showed the highest positive rate, 14.9%, whereas in Jeju-do the highest prevalence, 15.6%, was in those in their sixties. The higher seropositive rate in Jeju-do than in Seoul may be related to eating habits and occupations. The present results and a review of related literature are indicative of an increased seroprevalence of T. gondii in Korea in recent years.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-24
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• 2000

This study was conducted to examine utilization patterns and determinants of oriental medical services. Data were collected from 545 residents in Taegu city The results of this study are summarized as follows 1) 37.8% of subjects used oriental medical services in the past year. Especially, the female, the ages of 50 and 60 over, the single. low-educated. high-income class, white-collar class, medical insured tended to use more oriental medical services than another groups. 2) 46.7% of users of oriental medical services reported that number of visits in the past year was 2 - 5 times 37 1% of them was 1 times, and 4.5% over 10 times. 3) According to the reasons to choose the oriental medical facilities, most was 'on their own judgement'(48.8%) and 'by the advice of relatives and friends'(42.0%) Regarding to the objectives of using oriental medicine, 68.3% was 'treatment', 31.7% 'health counselling and promotion'. And among diseases of users, diseases of musculo-skeletal system was the highest(54.5%). 4) 57.9% of oriental medical services users had experience of utilizing western medicine on the same diseases. Among peoples with experiencing western medicine on the same diseases. 54.4% received oriental medical services 'in addition to western medicine', 45.6%'in place of western medicine 'And 41.2% of using both services reported that they had difficulty in deciding to choose the type of services -oriental medical services or western medicine-for their diseases. 37.3% of them answered that 'providing relevant information' was the most desirable measure to solve this problem, 27.3% 'establishment of effective referral system between oriental and western medical facilities '23.6% 'cooperative medical treatment systems in the same facilities', 11.8%'integration of oriental medicine into western medicine 5) According to the satisfaction level with each items of oriental medical services, the respondents had positive views on efficacy, kindness, and side-effects. They, however, had negative view on the cost of oriental medical services. 6) In regarding to the priority of improvement of oriental medical system,'expansion of insurance benefit package 'ranked first. 'expansion of insurance benefit Package 'ranked second, 'improvement of scientific methods and diagnostic technique 'third, and 'safety of herbal medicine' fourth in order. 7) The significant factors influencing the utilization of oriental medical services were kindness of oriental medical practitioners, efficacy , travel time, age To be brief, utilization rate of oriental medical services in urban area generally tends to be high. There, however, have been various barriers to limit oriental medical services, such as incomplete benefit package of oriental medical insurance and lack of coordination and referral system between oriental and western medical services, lack of scientific diagnostic procedures, high price etc . For the development of oriental medical services, Much attention to remove these limiting factors should be placed. In addition, kindness of oriental medical practitioners , which is expected to be more important factor in the consumer - focused health care environment than ever, should be kept high consistently. Since this study was conducted for specific residents of an urban city. further research including more sampling in different urban areas should be required to generalize the results of the study.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2019

Objectives: As a general emotion, everyone can temporarily experience depression, but depressive disorder is a disease that excessively affects daily life. Among the various causes of depression, the deficiency of monoamine-based neurotransmitters such as serotonin and epinephrine are considered significant. Thus, antidepressants that target monoamines are used frequently. However, side effects such as nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction are observed. Thus, it is necessary to develop a new therapeutic agent with fewer side effects. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant effect of JG02, used to treat depression by normalizing the flow of qi (氣) in Korean medicine. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were selected and randomly divided into six groups: normal, control, amitriptyline, and JG02 (50, 125, 250 mg/kg), respectively. Except for normal, depression was induced by applying restraint stress at the same time for six hours daily for 14 consecutive days. Saline, amitriptyline or JG02 samples were orally administered two hours before applying the stress. After that, a forced swimming test and an open field test were performed. Additionally, serum corticosterone, serotonin mRNA, BDNF mRNA, and protein in the hippocampal region were measured and compared. Results: JG02 decreased immobility time rate in the FST and increased the zone transition number and travel distance in the OFT. Also, JG02 inhibited the release of serum corticosterone, and increased serotonin, BDNF gene expression, and BDNF protein in the hippocampus. Conclusions: In this study, JG02 showed significant antidepressant effects on the chronic restraint stress mice model. When further research is performed based on JG02, the development of a new antidepressant is considered highly possible.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.179-197
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• 2008

Objectives and Methods : The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (EA) at PC6 on intestinal motility in rats. We made over-activated state of intestinal motility with carbachol and suppressed state of intestinal motility with loperamide in rat, and carried out acupuncture with needle retained (NR), low frequency (2 Hz) EA and high frequency (100 Hz) EA at PC6 before or after the administration of carbachol or loperamide. The charcoal travel rate was measured to evaluate the intestinal motility. Results : 1. NR showed no significant influences on intestinal motility of rat in normal state. While, 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA at PC6 significantly increased the intestinal motility of rat in normal state. 2. All of the pre-treatment and post-treatment of NR, 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA at PC6 showed no significant effects on intestinal motility of rat which was over-activated with carbachol. 3. Both pre-treatment and post-treatment of NR significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which was suppressed with loperamide. 4. Pre-treatment of 2 Hz EA and post-treatment of 100 Hz EA significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which was suppressed with loperamide. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture (NR) and EA on PC6 have preventive and therapeutic effect on suppressed intestinal motility, and NR may be more effective than EA in that condition.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.117-126
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of needle retention(NR) and electro-acupuncture of low(EA(L)) and high(EA(H)) frequencies at Haegye($ST_{41}$) on intestinal hypermotility induced with carbachol in rats Methods : We made over-activated state of intestinal motility with carbachol in rats and caried out needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture at Haegye($ST_{41}$) or sham point in rat devided into pre-treatment group and post-treatment group. And we resulted as followings from measuring charcoal travel rate with observation of intestinal motility. Results : 1. None of acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture at $ST_{41}$ had significant influences on intestinal motility of rat in normal state. 2. Pre-treated with acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture and post-treated with acupuncture and low frequency electro-acupuncture at $ST_{41}$ didn't significantly influences intestinal motility in rat which over-activated with carbachol. 3. Post-treated with high frequency electro-acupuncture at $ST_{41}$ suppressed intestinal motility in rat which over-activated with carbachol. Conclusions : These results suggest that treatment high frequency electro-acupuncture at ST41 may be effective on gastric disorders such as intestinal hypermotility and its effect had more cure than prevention.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2018

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been one of the most common parasitic diseases in Saudi Arabia. This study exhibits the clinical features, diagnosis, cytokine profile and treatment of CL patients in Al-Taif province. Ninety CL suspects at a tertiary care general hospital were enrolled in one-year study. Patients were interviewed, clinically-examined, and subjected to laboratory tests: skin scraping smear microscopy, OligoC-TesT commercial PCR (Coris BioConcept) and kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) PCR for Leishmania diagnosis. Interferon-gamma (RayBio; Human $IFN-{\gamma}$ ) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients' sera were evaluated before treatment with sodium stibogluconate (pentostam) with 20-day intramuscular drug regimen. Positive rates of microscopy, commercial PCR and kDNA PCR were 74.4%, 95.5% and 100%, respectively. Patients came to hospital mostly in winter (45.0%). CL was frequently exhibited in Saudi patients (78.8%), male gender (70.7%), age <20 years (50.0%), rural-dwellers (75.5%) and patients with travel history (86.6%). Lesion was mostly single ulcer (93.3%), occurred in the face (67.7%). Upon pentostam treatment, 85.1% of ulcers showed rapid healing signs. Levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and NO were significantly higher in the healing than the non-healing cases (P<0.001). The kDNA PCR proved more sensitive than microscopy and OligoC-TesT commercial PCR. Our results open perspectives for $IFN-{\gamma}$ use as a biomarker predicting treatment response.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.59-69
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture(EA) at $LI_{11}$ on intestinal motility in rats. Methods : We made over-activated and suppressed state of intestinal motility with carbachol and loperamide in rat and carried out acupuncture with needle retained(NR), low frequency(2 Hz) EA and high frequency(100Hz) EA at $LI_{11}$ before or after the administration of carbachol or loperamide. The charcoal travel rate was measured to evaluate the intestinal motility. Results : 1. NR, 2Hz EA and 100Hz EA at $LI_{11}$ showed no significant influences on intestinal motility of rat in normal state. 2. All of the pre-treatment and post-treatment of NR, 2Hz EA and 100Hz EA at $LI_{11}$ showed no significant effects than control group on intestinal motility of rat which was over-activated with carbachol. 3. The pre-treatment of 2Hz EA and 100Hz EA at $LI_{11}$ on intestinal motility of rat which was suppressed with loperamide showed no significant influences but in the L-$LI_{11}$-EA(L) and L-$LI_{11}$-EA(H) groups, intestinal motility was significantly increased than L-control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture and EA on $LI_{11}$ have preventive effect and therapeutic effect on suppressed intestinal motility, and EA is more effective than NR.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.11-29
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture at $LI_4$ on intestinal motility in rat. Methods : We made over-activated state of intestinal motility with carbachol and suppressed state of intestinal motility with loperamide in rat and carried out needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture at $LI_4$ or sham point in rat devided into pre-treatment group and post-treatment group. and we resulted as follow for measuring charcoal travel rate to observe intestinal motility. Results : 1. Any of needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture at $LI_4$ have no significant influences on intestinal motility of rat in normal state. 2. All of the pre-treatment and post-treatment of needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture didn't significantly decrease intestinal motility in rat which over-activated with carbachol. 3. Pre-treatment of needle retention acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which suppressed with loperamide. 4. Post-treatment of needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which suppressed with loperamide. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture on $LI_4$ have preventive effect and therapeutic effect on suppressed intestinal motility, and especially high frequency electro-acupuncture is more effective.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.185-208
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• 2002

Information service for the aged is a new challenge for public libraries in Korea. To develop an internet-based information service at public library perspectives, information sources, information need, and information seeking and using behavior are investigated. Interview survey is performed to 1060 adults aged 60 and over. Finding revealed that the respondents led to few channels to information except for mass media and informal oral communication. It ascertain ways in which 23% of the respondents currently use internet, and identify barriers of nonusers. The information need of the elderly are diverse, but health/medicine, news, hobbies, religion, leisure/travel are most identified need in descending order. Based on data analysis and previous research results, a cooperative service model consisting of information contents, online reference, interface design, and education is developed. Finally problems and suggestions for future improvement are discussed.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.7-16
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• 2018

Purpose - The effect of regional culture has been acknowledged for decades. However, very little research takes it as an important issue in the medical tourism service decision process. This study focuses on regional culture to identify customers' preference for medical tourism in the international environment. It is proposed that regional culture may work as an critical moderator in the international medical tourism destination choice process. Especially, the destination attributes may vary according to regional culture. Research design, data, and methodology - By the questionnaire survey, the sample is collected from 2,041 potential Chinese residents in different regions of China. Regression analysis is constructed to test the effect of regional culture on Chinese customers' destination preference. Results - Results imply that regional culture plays a critical moderating role in the destination choice process. Results also indicate that destination attributes including medicine and travel characteristics are the important predictors of destination preference. Conclusions - This study provides the fundamental base to use regional culture as a descriptive variable for segmentation when establishing an effective marketing strategy. Furthermore, this research suggests that different strategies relied on destination attributes should be made to attract more Chinese customers for the development of medical tourism industry.