• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.85-95
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• 2024

Objectives : We proposed the hypothesis that administering Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract (TSE) could alleviate menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis resulting from estrogen deficiency. Methods : Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were administered TSE at doses of 300 or 600 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks, followed by measurement of serum lipid profile and serum bone markers using ELISA kits. Additionally, analysis of related genes in the femur and uterus was performed using Western blot and real-time PCR. Additionally, micro-CT analysis was performed to investigate the protective effect of TSE against bone loss due to oophorectomy. Results : The administration of TSE led to significant reductions in triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and glucose levels in the serum of OVX rats. Furthermore, TSE increased estradiol levels in the serum and notably improved the levels of biochemical markers associated with bone metabolism. Additionally, TSE exerted significant regulatory effects on the mRNA levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-genes closely associated with bone metabolism in the femur. TSE also demonstrated pronounced effects on uterine tissue, with improvements observed in gene expression related to estrogen receptors. Conclusion : Our findings confirm the efficacy of TSE in ameliorating menopause symptoms by modulating elements associated with both bone and lipid metabolism in the serum, uterine tissue, and femur of OVX rats. The present findings suggest that TSE may offer potential therapeutic effects for symptoms related to menopause and osteoporosis in females.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.127-145
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of oriental-western medicine integrative care after gynecology surgery by DSOM((Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine) and improvement of major symptoms. Methods: 66 patients belonged to the experimental group and 47 patients belonged to the control group out of 113 patients taken gynecology surgery. We studied general characteristics and difference on DSOM results between the two groups. And we had patients answer questionnaires about major symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, headache, fatigue, urinary discomfort, constipation, lumbago, edema, tingling, digestive disorder, cough, pruritus, arthralgia, cold feeling by VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) in order to analyze improvement and difference between two groups. Results: Experimental group had significantly high score on deficiency of blood, blood stasis, dryness, spleen, kidney, phlegm and high frequency on deficiency of blood, dampness, kidney, phlegm pathogenesis in DSOM. It had significantly high intensity in symptoms of abdominal discomfort, headache, fatigue, urinary discomfort, constipation, lumbago at the first time, and headache at 1 month after western hospital discharge out of symptoms associated with surgery. And it had significantly high improvement in symptoms of abdominal discomfort, headache, urinary discomfort, constipation at oriental-western integrative hospital discharge, and headache, fatigue, urinary discomfort, constipation, lumbago at 1 month after western hospital discharge out of symptoms associated with surgery. Conclusion: We recognized that oriental-western medicine integrative care after gynecology surgery has significant effect.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4373-4377
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• 2013

Background: The majority of cervical cancers, the most prevalent cancer among Nepali women, are diagnosed in advanced stage leading to high mortality in Nepal. The present study explored factors associated with late diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two specialized cancer hospitals of Nepal from August 12 to October 12, 2012. Randomly selected 110 cervical cancer patients were interviewed and their medical records were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to predict associations. Results: Mean age of patients was 52.7years (SD=10.6), 66% were illiterate and 77% were rural inhabitants. Medical shops (33.6%) and private hospitals (31%) were major first contact points of patients with health care providers (HCP). There was no cervical/per-speculum examination (78.2%) and symptoms misinterpretation (90%) of patients occurred in initial consultation with HCP. Four in every five cases (80.9%) of cervical cancer had late diagnosis. Literate women (adjusted OR=0.121, CI: 0.030-0.482) and women having abnormal vaginal bleeding as early symptom (adjusted OR=0.160, CI: 0.035-0.741) were less likely to suffer late diagnosis. Women who shared their symptoms late (adjusted OR=4.272, CI: 1.110-16.440) and did so with people other than their husband (adjusted OR=12.701, CI: 1.132-142.55) were more likely for late diagnosis. Conclusions: High level of illiteracy among women and their problematic health seeking behavior for gynecological symptoms are responsible for late diagnosis of cervical cancer in Nepal. In the absence of a routine screening program, prevention interventions should be focused on raising awareness of gynecological symptoms and improving health seeking behavior of women for such symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2009

Ovjectives: As the attention devoted to children's mental health increases, medical costs and burdens mount as well. In the present study, we evaluated the association between socioeconomic status(SES) and major child psychiatric symptoms. Methods: The subjects of this study were children of recruited from a mental health screening program in the Seoul Sungbuk mental health center over the course of 3 months. To establish the SES of each child, we collected data about each child's medical insurance, years of parental education, household income, family structure and housing. 149 children & parents completed questionnaires including the Childhood Depression Inventory(CDI) and the Korean Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale(K-ARS). Results: The mean K-ARS-P score was $12.1{\pm}11.1$ and the suspected prevalence of ADHD was 20.8%(n=31). The mean cm score was $12.9{\pm}7.9$, and the prevalence of suspected depression was 16.8%(25). Depressive symptoms and ADHD symptoms were both more severe than those observed in a previous epidemiologic study in Korea. Depressive symptoms were more closely associated with family SES status. Conclusion: SES status is one of the most important risk factors in the development of major child psychiatric symptoms. In our study we found that depressive symptoms in particular were most tightly associated with psychosocial factors. Evaluation of the risk factors, early screening and intervention for low SES children would be valuable mental health management tactics to implement in a community mental health system.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2015

Objective : Police officers are exposed to job-related traumatic events and have a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the relationship between PTSD symptoms and dimensions of temperament and character in police officers. Method : Thirty-six police officers participating in a psychological support program were enrolled. All subjects were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and other self-reported symptoms scales. Results : Among all participants (age $40.8{\pm}10.2$, men 94.4%), the rate of 'post-traumatic stress symptoms group' was 47.2%. After controlling for confounding factors, lower self-directedness scores were significantly associated with higher PTSD symptoms (${\beta}=0.6$, p=0.03) in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion : Character traits, especially self-directedness, were associated with the severity of PTSD symptoms severity. These findings may provide useful information regarding personality factors related to PTSD in police officers.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between LLFDI and quality of sleep in older men with prostatic hypertrophic symptoms. Methods: The secondary analysis of data collected for the 2nd stage BK(Brain Korea)21 project was performed. The original data were collected using a cross-sectional, face-to-face, and private interview method. The questionnaires consisted of prostatic hypertrophic symptoms, late-life function and disability, quality of sleep, and demographic profiles. Results: A total of 112 older men included in this study. The major findings of this study were as follow; 1) 29.5% of participants had more than moderate symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy. 2) There were a significant positive correlation of prostatic hypertrophic symptoms with subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction found, whereas there was a negative relationship with frequency dimension. 3) The LLFDI is significantly associated with urgency, weak stream, and intermittency. The quality of sleep is significantly associated with weak stream which explained 11.2% of variance. Conclusion: These results may contribute to a better understanding late-life function and disability, quality of sleep in older men with prostatic hypertrophic symptoms. Therefore, health programs for prompting older men's health should be planned based on results of the study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2017

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is common in laryngologic practice. In Korea, up to 1 out of every 5 patients who visit otorhinolaryngology clinic is supposed to have LPRD with symptoms and physical findings. Major symptoms of LPRD include hoarseness, cough, reflux symptom and mild dysphagia. Even though LPRD is common, its diagnosis may be difficult, because its symptoms are nonspecific and the laryngeal findings are not always associated with symptom severity. In Recent study, 66.4% of Patient who has LPRD also associated with esophageal motility disorders. Esophageal achalasia is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by an absence of peristalsis in the body of esophagus and nonrelaxing hypertension of the lower esophageal sphincter. Common cause is loss of ganglion cells in Auerbachs plexus. The classic triad of symptoms in achalasia includes dysphagia, regurgitation and weight loss. LPRD and esophageal achalasia have similar symptoms but have different treatment of choice. The Differentiation diagnosis of theses disease is important and should be established by history, radiologic examination and endoscopic examination. We recently assessed a 59-year-old female patient who complained of an epigastric pain, dysphagia and chronic cough. LPRD was initially diagnosed on Laryngoscopic examination and Reflux Symptom Index, but patient was not relieved of any symptoms after treatment of Proton Pump Inhibitor for 3 months. After high resolution manometry, esophageal achalasia was finally diagnosed. We report this case regarding the diagnosis and treatment with review of literatures because we have to think about esophageal motility disorders as a differential diagnosis in laryngology.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2020

Background: Indoor air dampness microbiota (DM) is a big health hazard. Sufficient evidence exists that exposure to DM causes new asthma or exacerbation, dyspnea, infections of upper airways and allergic alveolitis. Less convincing evidence has yet been published for extrapulmonary manifestations of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome). Methods: We investigated the prevalence of extrapulmonary in addition to respiratory symptoms with a questionnaire in a cohort of nurses and midwives (n = 90) exposed to DM in a Helsinki Obstetric Hospital. The corresponding prevalence was compared with an unexposed cohort (n = 45). Particular interest was put on neurological symptoms and multiple chemical sensitivity. Results: The results show that respiratory symptoms were more common among participants of the study vs. control cohort, that is, 80 vs 29%, respectively (risk ratio [RR]: 2.56, p < 0.001). Symptoms of the central or peripheral nervous system were also more common in study vs. control cohort: 81 vs 11% (RR: 6.63, p < 0.001). Fatigue was reported in 77 vs. 24%, (RR: 3.05, p < 0.001) and multiple chemical sensitivity in 40 vs. 9%, (RR: 3.44, p = 0.01), the so-called "brain fog", was prevalent in 62 vs 11% (RR: 4.94, p < 0.001), arrhythmias were reported in 57 vs. 2.4% (RR: 19.75, p < 0.001) and musculoskeletal pain in 51 vs 22% (RR: 2.02, p = 0.02) among participants of the study vs. control cohort, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that the exposure to DM is associated with a plethora of extrapulmonary symptoms. Presented data corroborate our recent reports on the health effects of moist and mold exposure in a workplace.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2009

Purpose: Antivenin is a standard therapy in snakebite victims. While the required antivenin dose can be easily estimated, based on the initial symptoms, this strategy may be unsuccessful if the initial symptoms progressively worsen. The purpose of this study was to identify the progression rate of the initial symptoms following snakebite and its associated factors. Methods: The medical records of 44 patients treated for snakebite from give the actual dates of the study period were retrospectively examined. Thirty-two of these patients were enrolled. Demographic data, local wound grade and local effect score at initial presentation (G-0 and LES-0, respectively) and 12 hours after admission (G-12 and LES-12, respectively) were reviewed, along with laboratory data. Results: The 32 patients had an average age of $54.0{\pm}14.5$ years and were predominantly male (n=26) and presented mainly during summer. Compared to G-0 and LES-0, re-evaluated G-12 and LES-12 were significantly increased despite initial administration of proper antivenin dosage (p=0.001 and p=0.000, respectively). Total amounts of antivenin correlated with LES-12 (correlation co-efficiency 0.558, p<0.05). However, factors associated with symptom progression were not revealed. Conclusion: Initial snakebite symptoms might progressively worsen within hours despite acceptable initial antivenin therapy. Therefore, re-evaluation within several hours must be considered if when the initial snakebite symptoms are minimal or mild.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2017

Objective : Several recent studies determined the associations of job stress with depression and suicidal idea, but the association between the number of job stress components and depression remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the associations of the number of components of job stress with depression and suicidal idea. Methods : We studied 194,226 participants who attended employee health screenings from January to December, 2014, and completely answered all the questionnaires, including the short form of Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), the Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D) and suicidal idea. The presence of clinical depressive symptoms was defined as a CES-D score of ${\geq}21$. The subjects in the highest quartile of each subscale of KOSS were considered as suffering from each component of job stress. Chisquare tests, t-tests and logistic regressions were performed to compare study outcomes between groups. Results : When we included all seven components of job stress, there was no significant association of the number of the components with depressive symptoms, or suicidal idea. However, the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal idea was increased only in three occupational stress subscales including job demand, job insecurity and occupational climate. When we analyzed only these 3 components of job stress, the number of job stress subscales was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal idea, even after adjustment for sex and age. Conclusion : The number of components of occupational stress was associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal idea, only in the related components.