• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.258-267
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• 2019

Purpose: Upper respiratory tract infections are major causes of the common cold throughout the world. Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) is a well-known functional food for its anti-fatigue and immunomodulating activities. On the other hand, there are no reports on the protective effect against upper respiratory tract infections (URI). This study was a 12 week randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial in healthy volunteers. Methods: A total of 100 subjects 20 ~ 70 years of age with a history of at least two colds in the year were enrolled in the study. The participants were required to record any adverse events and rate any cold-related incidents in a diary during the investigation period. The efficacy end point was the symptoms and incidence of URI, and changes in cytokines, IgA and natural killer (NK) cell activity. Results: The Cordyceps militaris group over 12 weeks showed no significant impact on the incidence and symptomatology of URI compared to the placebo group. On the other hand, the experimental group showed significantly higher NK cell activity (p = 0.047) and IgA level (p = 0.035) compared to the placebo group. The NK-cell activity and IgA level were increased significantly by Cordyceps militaris over 12 weeks. Conclusion: The results suggest the possible beneficial immunomodulating effects, but the protective effects on URI could not be demonstrated under these conditions. Additional research will be needed to determine the efficacy and mechanisms of Cordyceps militaris function.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of Sambok-go for upper respiratory tract infection. Methods: Sambok-go was performed to outpatients which had visited Daejeon university oriental medicine hospital. The number of participants who received Sambok-go at least once were 85, 21 patients did not receive Sambok-go three times were excluded first. Participants who received treatment three times were 64 patients. After the 2011 winter, 2012.05 we follow-up by telephone, except eight, 56 patients were analyzed. Sambok-go is composed of 8 kinds of medicinal herbs. Each Sambok-go weighs about 1.1g and attatchment surface diameter is about 1.5 cm. Sambok-go was attached to both side of 폐유(肺兪)(BL13), 심유(心兪)(BL15), 폐유(膈兪)(BL17), patients under the age of 15 were attached for an hour, patients over 15 years age were attatched for 3 hours. Results: Among the finally analyzed 56 participants, we compared the number of flu outbreak during winter before and after treatment. Before treatment measured $6.14{\pm}6.57$, after treatment measured $1.57{\pm}1.14$. In conclusion, the number of flu outbreak was significantly decreased(p<0.001). To investigate the effect of worsening factors on the pre-existing upper respiratory diseases, we checked whether the patients had pre-existing upper respiratory diseases. The patients who already had old upper respiratory diseases were 34. The increase in the frequency of deterioration in 5 patients, 4 patients no change, decreased in 24 cases, one patient was unresponsive. After evaluating the satisfaction of The patients who were treated with the Sambok-Go, the 29 cases were very satisfied, the 23 were satisfied, None of the paitents showed dissatisfaction or bad dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Sambok-go seems to be effective in the prevention of URI. Further studies are recommended to confirm this effect.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.58-75
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• 1998

Background : In Korea, the rational use of antibiotics are rarely controlled, and their patterns of utilization are not understood. In order to reduce the excessive use and to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics, it is necessary to accurately determine present uses of antibiotics in hospitals. Methods : Analysis of the use of prescription drugs was performed on NFMI(National Federation of Medical Insurance) 1994 medical expense claim data. A stratified sampling by types of hospitals, departments, and diseases was obtained from 1994 August data. Patients with secondary diseases were excluded. In this study, 2,697 adults with URI, 6,397 children with URI, 704 adults with bronchitis, and 1,838 children with bronchitis were included. Results : Most patients were prescribed medication (95.2-99.6%). Of the patients prescribed medication, more than 85% of URI patients and more than 91% of bronchitis patients were prescribed antibiotics. Antibiotics expenses accounted for 14% of total medical expenses in adults and 9% of total medical expenses in children. In adults with URI, antibiotics expenses accounted for 52% of drug expenses. Of the patients prescribed antibiotics, average number of antibiotics used was 1.6-1.7. For patients who are prescribed antibiotics, drug expenses were 62-97% greater than patients not prescribed antibiotics. When children were prescribed antibiotics, the highest price of drugs prescribed were 3.4-fold greater. In addition, the number of drugs prescribed also increased by more than one. Elderly patients, more than 60 years, were prescribed antibiotics less frequently. Children less than 10 years and elderly patients greater than 60 years old were prescribed fewer antibiotics than other patients. And they were prescribed medications for longer days than other patients. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that the average rate of prescribing antibiotics was higher in Korea than other countries. Measures to reduce overuse of antibiotics and to improve the appropriate prescription of antibiotics must be considered for cost effective treatment and overall health of people.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.131-151
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• 1992

The contents of prescription service were comparatively analysed between health centers(HC) and private clinics(PC). Medical chart review was done for 330 otu-patients diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infection(UR) of 120 adults and 90 children, and gastritis or duodenitis of 120 adults. Emphasis on comparison was the prime cost of medication which used in prescription service. The results were as follows; 1. The prime costs fro the medication per visit of HC group were significantly higher than PC group in all three diseases, and the out of pocket payments of patients per visit were significantly lower in the HC group than PC group. 2. The reason for high prime costs of medication per visit of HC in adult case of URI were due to the idverse use of medication and long prescription period per visit. And high medication costs in children cases of URI in HC group were due to the longer prescription day. In cases of gastritis, the prime cost of medication was also higher because of longer prescription period and the higher prime cost of medication. The proportions of medications for injection in the HC and PC groups showed similar features. 3. In depth analysis of the prescription services showed the differences of the contents of medication. In adults cases of URI, the averaged cost of oral medication was significantly lower in HC group, but that of medication for injection was higher in HC group. In children cases of URI, the averaged cost of oral medication and medication for injection was lower in HC group than in PC group. But in the cases of gastritis it was was higher in HC group than in PC group. The prescription periods were longer in HC group than in PC group in all three diseases. As a conclusion prime medication cost and quality of prescription services of HC group were higher than PC group. In terms of health care the cost containment and quality assurance in physician visit for common disease, public sector utilization is good option for those perspectives. But it should not be generalized unless future study about structure and outcome research for quality assurance.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.156-164
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• 2018

Purpose: We aimed to identify the epidemiology and the clinical characteristics of human parainfluenza virus type 4 (HPIV-4) infection compared to HPIVs 1-3 infections in Korean children. Methods: We reviewed medical records of children with HPIV infection who visited Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 2015 to 2017. Detection of respiratory viruses was performed using real time-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR), which could differentiate HPIVs 1-4. Diagnosis was classified as a febrile illness, upper respiratory tract infection (URI), croup, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia. The epidemiology, demographic features, and clinical characteristics among HPIV types were compared. The clinical data were analyzed only for the previously healthy children. Results: Of the 472 children diagnosed with HPIV infection, 108 (22.9%) were previously healthy: 24 (22.2%), 19 (17.6%), 39 (36.1%), and 26 (24.1%) in HPIV types 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The median age of children with HPIV-4 infection was 11 (0-195) months: the proportion of children aged < 2 years and 2 to < 5 years were 65.4% and 19.2%, respectively. Clinical diagnoses of HPIV-4 infection were bronchiolitis (38.5%), pneumonia (30.8%), and URI (30.8%). Croup was the most prevalent in HPIV-2 (21.1%) and none in HPIV-4 infection (P=0.026). Hospital admission rates among HPIV types were not significantly different (P>0.05). Conclusions: We observed seasonal peak of HPIV-4 infection in 2015 and 2017. HPIV-4 was a common respiratory pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infection in hospitalized children.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.570-585
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• 2007

A clinical study of 106 cases of $Henoch-Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ purpura was made. The author analyzed the result of Korean traditional medical therapy. It was observed more frequently in female at the sex ratio of 1:1.3. The most prevalent age group was $4{\sim}9$ years(56.6%). In seasonal incidence, the cases were frequent during spring(50%), and the main specific history was upper respiratory tract infection(48.1%). The duration of contraction was $420.9{\pm}1079.3$ days. The adults were more chronic than children (p<0.05), The clinical manifestation showed in the skin (100%), the gastrointestinal tract(62.3%), the joints(64.2%), the kidney(25.3%), genitourinary system(11.3%), headache(6.6%), and scalp edema(4.7%) respectively. The first outbreak of symptoms was showing of skin purpura in 77 cases(72.6%) the highest frequency. and the gastrointestinal tract and joints were 16(15.1%) and 12 cases(11.3%) respectively. Of all patients, 22 cases(20.8%) experienced recurrences and 47 patients(44.3%) experienced hospitalization treatment. In the patients group which were recurrence experiences, the recurrence rate was high with patients(63.2%) who usually enjoyed meats and convenience foods and in patients(84%) who treated URI with chemical drugs(p<0.05). The patients group(68.9%) that took steroids also experienced a relatively high recurrence rate. Out of the patients(68.9%) who took treatment with steroids, 46.6% experienced side effects, in orders moon face(100%), weight gain(47.1%), appetite increase(52.9%), and acne. alopecia(11.8%), etc. There was a statistically significant relationship between the period of taking the steroid and the side effects(p<0.05), As the result of the herbal medicine treatment(treatment period: $6.7{\pm}6.2$ weeks, a follow-up survey during $15{\sim}24$ months), 67 patients(91.8%) among the 73 patients(68.9%) under 18 years old recovered completely but 3 cases(4.5%) recurred. 23 patients(69.7%) among the 33 patients(31.3%) above 19 years recovered completely but 5 cases(21.7%) recurred.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.211-214
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• 1991

SJ-200 is an oral liquid preparation of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Dl-methyleph edrine HCl, caffeine, chlorpheniramine maleate, guaifenesin and dextromethorphan HBr, which is indicated when there is a need to improve various cold symptoms such as headache, sore throat, fever, or cough etc. Thirty patients was enroled for this study fro June to July, 1991. They were given one bottle (30 ml) of SJ-200 t.i.d dy P.O for an average of one to seven days. 1) Twenty-eight patients (84.8%) were relieved from the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. 2) Side effects with this preparation occured in 8 patients924.2%) but in four patients, they were mild, which wee transienty by the discontinuation f the medication.