• Journal of Digital Contents Society
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.1551-1560
• /
• 2017

The aim of this review is to analyze the trend of using Virtual Reality (VR) in addiction treatment by categorizing the types of addictions and methods of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) for substance use disorders. VR has been utilized as a new paradigm for treating various mental and psychological problems. In recent years, a number of researches have been done to demonstrate the effectiveness of VRT for addiction treatment, specifically substance use disorders. In order to comprehend the tendency of these researches, the current study performed a systematic review of published book and journal articles using the following bibliographical databases: ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, ProQuest, and Embase. Forty-five (45) articles were retrieved; out of these researches, nicotine/smoking has garnered the highest number of studies (73%, n=33); alcohol (18%, n=8); cannabis/marijuana (2%, n=1); and other drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine (7%, n=3). This paper analyzed the results of those studies, found some limitations as well as strengths, and made suggestions for further research on VRT for addiction treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.202-205
• /
• 2008

Background: Lumbar radicular pain is a frequent and often debilitating event. Although many treatment methods have been described in several studies, the available evidences regarding efficacy is not sufficient enough to draw definitive conclusions on an optimal therapy regime. Pulsed radiofrequency (RF) treatment was found to exert a beneficial effect on intractable radicular pain in individuals. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pulsed RF of the dorsal root ganglion for chronic lumbar radicular pain. Methods: Twenty five patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain that was refractory to selective nerve root blockage met the inclusion criteria of our study and received pulsed RF treatment. The average numeric rating scale (NRS) for leg pain during usual activities and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) were measured at 1 and 3 months after the procedure. Results: Of the 25 patients accepted for pulsed RF treatment, one dropped out due to a vertebral compression fracture during this study. ODI and NRS showed a positive trend in favor of the pulsed RF treatment. No significant complications were observed during the study period. Conclusions: It appears that pulsed RF treatment of the lumbar spinal dorsal root ganglion may be an effective treatment method for patients suffering from lumbar radicular pain, and who were not responsive to selective nerve root blockage.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.179-186
• /
• 2015

Objectives Adrenergic alpha 1 and 2 receptors work as pathways to control the serotonergic neuron moderation and mirtazapine acts as antagonist of these receptors. The adrenoreceptor alpha 1a (ADRA1A) gene, which encodes adrenergic alpha 1 receptor, has Arg-347Cys genetic polymorphism and the polymorphism has strong relationship with many neuro-psychiatric diseases. In this study, we explored the relationship between ADRA1A R347C polymorphism and mirtazapine treatment response in Koreans with major depression. Methods 352 patients enrolled in this study, and the symptoms were evaluated by 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD-17) scale. After 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of mirtazapine treatment, the association between ADRA1A R347C polymorphism and remission/response outcomes was evaluated. Results Treatment response to mirtazapine was significantly better in T allele carriers than C allele homozygotes after 12 weeks of mirtazapine monotherapy. The percentile decline of HAMD-17 score in T allele carriers was larger than that of C allele homozygotes. ADRA1A R347C genotypes were not significantly associated with remission. Conclusions The result showed that treatment response to mirtazapine was significantly associated with ADRA1A R347C genetic polymorphism. T allele carriers showed better treatment response than C allele homozygotes. It can be supposed that T allele carriers have a trend of better treatment response to mirtazapine monotherapy.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.214-221
• /
• 2019

BACKGROUNDS/OBJECTIVES: Cancer treatment may lead to significant body composition changes and affect growth and disease outcomes in pediatric cancer patients. This prospective study aimed to evaluate short- and long-term body compositions changes focused on body fat during the first year of cancer treatment in children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 30 pediatric cancer patients (19 hematologic malignancies and 11 solid tumors) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis using whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 month(s) of cancer treatment. Kruskal-Wallis tests, Wilcoxon paired t tests, and generalized estimation equation (GEE) were applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, no differences in weight, height, body mass index, abdominal circumferences, body fat, and fat-free mass were observed between 30 controls and 30 pediatric cancer patients. Total fat mass (P < 0.001) and body fat percentage (P = 0.002) increased significantly during the first month, but no changes were observed from 1 to 12 months; however, no changes in the total mass were observed during the first year of cancer treatment. Meanwhile, the total fat-free mass decreased during the first month (P = 0.008) and recovered between 6 and 12 months of follow-up (P < 0.001). According to GEE analysis, there was a significant upward trend in body fat percentage during the first year, especially the first month, of cancer treatment in children with hematologic malignancies, but not in those with solid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that cancer treatment is related to significant body composition changes and rapid body fat gain, particularly during the first month after initiating cancer treatment, in children with hematologic malignancies. Therefore, individualized dietary strategies to prevent excessive fat gain are needed in pediatric cancer patients for better outcomes.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.31-33
• /
• 1997

Nitrate contamination in surface water and ground water have increased in Korea. This trend has raised concern because nitrates caused methemoglobinemia in infants. To remove nitrates from waters, various purification processes including ion-exchange, biological denitrification, and chemical denitrification are currently in use for the treatment of water. However, little economically advantageous process exists for the industrial scale treatment of effluents highly polluted with nitrates. A new process has been developed for nitrate and other salts removal from polluted waters. Alumina cement and lime served as precipitating agents to remove nitrate with stirring at basic pH. Decreasing alumina content in alumina cement result in a increasing in nitrate removal yield. Stable removal of nitrate(1000mg/L) was readily achieved by two-stage removal process.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.12 no.7
• /
• pp.825-833
• /
• 2003

The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from painting and coating processes is a worldwide problem as contributing factors to the development of photochemical smog and other environmental problems. Common methods of reducing VOC emissions are adsorption on activated carbon, membrane separation, absorption, incineration, or catalytic oxidation. In this article, the environmental issues caused by VOC emissions and the trend of legislation against such emissions will be surveyed first. Several conventional control technologies will then be summarized and the characteristics of each process will be introduced. Lastly, some examples will be described to show the hybrid processes which have been industrially applied for the recovery of VOC.

• Journal of Institute of Convergence Technology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.5-12
• /
• 2012

Recently, peoples are suffering from various psychological disorders such as addiction, phobia, depression, and bipolar disorder. Moreover, children with ADD/ADHD and autism are increasing. Korean tends to regard the psychological disorders as taboo. Therefore, it is unusual case that the mental patient gets the psychological therapy. Virtual reality has come to the spotlight as a useful tool for the therapy due to its anonymity and easy accessibility. The therapy in the virtual reality is called cyber-therapy. Emotion of the patient is important for the treating process. The objective of this paper is to review the researches on the treatment of psychological disorders using the virtual reality and prospect the affective interaction technology for the cyber-therapy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.54-58
• /
• 1994

BALB/C mice were intraperitoneally injected with methamphetamine (5 mg/kg) to observe the effect of methamphetamine on the immune system. Body weights were decreased in both acutely treated group (twice for 2 weeks with 7 days interval) and subchronically treated group (daily injection for 14 days). The relative spleen weights and the numbers of splenocytes were unexpectedly increased (p<0.05) in acutely treated group, but subchronically treated group showed the trend of decrease without significance. But there was no significant effect on antibody formation to hen egg Iysozyme which was immunized during the treatment of methamphetamine and on plaque forming cell number. The relative thymus weights of both groups were significantly decreased by the treatment of methamphetamine (acutely treated group, p<0.05; subchronically treated group, p<0.01). These results suggest that the effect of methamphetamine on the immune system may be caused by thymic dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2008

With the booming complementary medicine as a social trend of well-being, treatment by the sound waves of six kinds of syllables is believed to restore that healthy balance to the body. Sound therapy refers to a range of therapies in which sound is used to treat physical and mental conditions. Healing is done by transmitting beneficial sound to the affected area related to five viscera and six bowels. The healing sound may be produced by a voice. sound wave vibrations are to treat physical and mental conditions. In general, this therapy is based on the theory that all of life vibrates, including people's bodies. When a person's healthy resonant frequency is out of balance, physical and emotional health is affected. When a person's healthy resonant frequency is out of balance, physical and emotional health is affected. This paper focuses on the sound therapy by six syllables of 'hyu', 'huo', 'ho', 'sa', 'chi' and 'hui'.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.548-553
• /
• 2009

In this study, after we analyzed 44 recent research paper written about obesity treatement, we tried to understand the acupuncture on the obesity treatment of the recent trend. We searched the recent papers with the key word of obesity, obese, and Acupuncture and are limited since 2004 in the search site KISS, KSI. Recently, acupuncture application for obesity treatment were 6 type. Traditional Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture, Electro Acupuncture, Herbal Acupuncture, Chi Acupuncture, and Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy. Although acupuncture application were effective method to decrease weight and localized fat, they were critical to evaluate to their effectiveness through strict and scientific clinical trials.