• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.1231-1244
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to report the glucose-lowering effect and safety of herbal extracts in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: We investigated 21 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were administered Daeshiho-tang, Bojungikgi-tang, Jowiseunggi-tang, and Hoechunyanggyeok-san at Kyung-Hee University Korean Medical Hospital from 2014 to 2019. The hypoglycemic effect of the herbal extracts was assessed by comparing blood glucose levels, including fasting blood sugar (FBS) and 2-hour postprandial glucose (PP2) levels. For safety assessment, the effects of herbal extracts on liver and kidney function were analyzed by liver function tests, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and kidney function tests, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). Patients were stratified according to their glycated hemoglobin (<6.5 or >6.5) levels and the kind of herbal extract used for treatment. Results: After administration of herbal extracts, FBS and PP2 significantly decreased to 20.24 mg/dL and 35.0 mg/dL respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that, regardless of the glycated hemoglobin level, FBS and PP2 were significantly reduced in both groups. The safety profile showed no significant difference before and after taking herbal extracts. Conclusions: Daeshigo-tang, Bojungikgi-tang, Jowiseunggi-tang, and Hoechunyanggyeok-san may show the further glucose-lowering effects on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have already treated with anti-hyperglycemic agents.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.367-377
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• 2023

This study investigates the utility of the Triglyceride-glucose(TyG) index and Cardiometabolic Index(CMI) as predictors for diagnosing metabolic syndrome. The study involved 1970 males, 1459 females, totaling 3429 participants who underwent health checkups at P Hospital in Busan between January 2023 and June 2023. Metabolic syndrome diagnosis was based on the presence of 3 or more risk factors out of the 5 criteria outlined by the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute(AHA/NHLBI), and participants with 2 or fewer risk factors were categorized as normal. Statistical analyses included independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, Pearson's correlation analysis, Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC) curve analysis, and logistic regression analysis, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) program. Significance was established at p<0.05. The comparison revealed that the metabolic syndrome group exhibited attributes such as advanced age, male gender, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures, high blood sugar, elevated triglycerides, reduced LDL-C, elevated HDL-C, higher Cardiometabolic Index, Triglyceride-glucose index, and components linked to abdominal obesity. Pearson correlation analysis showed strong positive correlations between waist circumference/height ratio, waist circumference, Cardiometabolic Index, and triglycerides. Weak positive correlations were observed between LDL-C, body mass index, and Cardiometabolic index, while a strong negative correlation was found between Cardiometabolic Index and HDL-C. ROC analysis indicated that the Cardiometabolic Index(CMI), Triglyceride-glucose(TyG) index, and waist circumference demonstrated the highest Area Under the Curve(AUC) values, indicating their efficacy in diagnosing metabolic syndrome. Optimal cut-off values were determined as >1.34, >8.86, and >84.5 for the Cardiometabolic Index, Triglyceride-glucose index, and waist circumference, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant differences for age(p=0.037), waist circumference(p<0.001), systolic blood pressure(p<0.001), triglycerides(p<0.001), LDL-C(p=0.028), fasting blood sugar(p<0.001), Cardiometabolic Index(p<0.001), and Triglyceride-glucose index (p<0.001). The odds ratios for these variables were 1.015, 1.179, 1.090, 3.03, and 69.16, respectively. In conclusion, the Cardiometabolic Index and Triglyceride-glucose index are robust predictive indicators closely associated with metabolic syndrome diagnosis, and waist circumference is identified as an excellent predictor. Integrating these variables into clinical practice holds the potential for enhancing early diagnosis and prevention of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1579-1584
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• 2008

Anemia are often detected among many patients who are treated in oriental traditional medicine hospitals in Korea through blood tests which are taken to diagnose the patients' general state, and most of them are diagnosed to have iron deficiency anemia. This study amis the effect of herbal medicine on the RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrits and indices of red blood cells such as mean corpuscular volume(MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC), serum iron, and total iron binding capacity(TIBC) among patients who were treated in oriental medical hospital and diagnosed to have anemia through blood tests other than main symptoms. The subjects of this study were 29 patients(male 7, female 22, mean age: 56.24${\pm}$19.11years) who were chosen ones, they has below hemoglobin 12 gm/dL, serum iron 70 IU/L, MCV 80 fL on laboratory screening test when they first visits our hospital. As a result, the volume of red blood cell(RBC), hematocrit(HCT), and hemoglobin(Hb) in peripheral blood increased from $348.27{\pm}8.95{\times}10^5$ /UL, 28.82${\pm}$0.56%, 9.24${\pm}$0.22 g/dL to $375.62{\pm}9.11{\times}10^5$ /UL, 31.36${\pm}$0.68%, 10.31${\pm}$0.25 g/dL comparing before and after oriental medicine treatment. After the treatment, MCH, MCHC, and MCV also increased from 26.98${\pm}$0.84 Pg, 32.62${\pm}$0.45 g/dl, 79.26${\pm}$0.17 fL to 27.74${\pm}$0.74 Pg, 32.84${\pm}$0.33 g/dl, 84.15${\pm}$1.67 fL. There was statistically significant increase in MCH, MCV(P<0.05); however, there was no significant change in MCHC(P>0.05). The amount of iron in blood increased from 32.96${\pm}$4.20 ug/dL to 67.22${\pm}$7.18 ug/dL, which showed a statistically significant increase(P<0.05). On the other hand, TIBC decreased from 325.08${\pm}$13.97 ug/dL to 315.61${\pm}$18.79 ug/dL, which was not a statistically significant change(P>0.05). Like this, all the patients showed favorable results in anemia based on the measurements of indices of red blood cells except MCHC. According to the classification of herbal medicines, in strengthening energy group(補氣), replenishing blood group(補血), and replenishing both energy and blood group(補氣血), the volume of RBC, HCT, and hemoglobin showed significant increases. Furthermore, in herbal medicines strengthening blood(補血) and replenishing both energy and blood group(補氣血), serum iron also relatively increased compare to strengthening energy group(補氣).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was conducted to integrate the results of studies assessing the association between chronic noise exposure and blood pressure. Methods : Using a MEDLINE search with noise exposure, blood pressure and hypertension as key words, we retrieved articles from the literature that were published from 1980 to December 1999. The criteria for quality evaluation were as follows: 1) the study subjects must have been workers employed at a high noise level area 2) The paper should use average and cumulative noise exposure as method for exposure evaluation. 3) Blood pressure in each article should be reported in a continuous scale Among the 77 retrieved articles, six studies were selected for quantitative meta-analysis. Before the integration of the regression coefficients for the association between blood pressure and noise level, homogeneity tests were conducted. Results : All studies were a cross-sectional design and the study subjects were industrial workers. Five papers used a time-weighted average for noise exposure and only one paper calculated the cumulative noise exposure level. The measurement of blood pressure in the majority of studios were accomplished in a resting stale, and used an average of two or more readings. The homogeneity of studies was rejected in a fixed effect model, so we used the results in a random effect model. The results of the quantitative meta-analysis, the weighted regression coefficient of noise associated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were 0.05 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.03, 0.13) and 0.06 (95% CI: -0.01, 0.13), respectively. Conclusions : Our results suggested that chronic exposure to industrial noise does not cause elevated blood pressure.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.30-38
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• 2022

Purpose: The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) in South Korea initiated a quality assessment (QA) program for blood transfusion healthcare services in 2020 to ensure patient safety and appropriate blood use. This study examines the quality of blood transfusion services since the first national QA program for blood transfusion services in Korea. Methods: We analyzed HIRA claims and QA investigation data based on inpatient medical records from all tertiary, general, and primary hospitals between October 2020 and March 2021. The target population was patients aged 18 years and older who received either total knee arthroplasty or red blood cell transfusion. The QA indicators for transfusion healthcare service consisted of four quality indicators and four monitoring indicators. Results: We analyzed the results of QA indicators for transfusion service from the medical records of 189,668 patients from 1,171hospitals and expressed indicators as proportions. The average results for evaluation indicators were as follows: transfusion checklist presence, 64.8%; irregular antibody tests, 61.8%; transfusions in which the hemoglobin levels before transfusion met the transfusion guidelines for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, 20.6%, and transfusions in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, 59.3%. The average results for monitoring indicators were as follows: transfusion management implementation in medical institutions, 56.9%; preoperative anemia management in anemia patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, 43.9%; one-unit transfusions, 82.5%; and the transfusion index. Conclusion: The quality of blood transfusion healthcare varied and the assessment revealed that there is scope for improvement. Hospitals require more effective blood transfusion management and this can be facilitated by providing feedback on the QA results about blood transfusion healthcare services to medical institutions, and by disclosing the results to the public.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.12-19
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was done out to evaluate the effects of Sida rhombifolia methanol extract (SRM) on diabetes in moderately diabetic (MD) and severely diabetic (SD) Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: SRM was prepared by soaking the powdered plant material in 70% methanol and rota evaporating the methanol from the extract. Effective hypoglycemic doses were established by performing oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) in normal rats. Hourly effects of SRM on glucose were observed in the MD and the SD rats. Rats were grouped, five rats to a group, into normal control 1 (NC1), MD control 1 (MDC1), MD experimental 1 (MDE1), SD control 1 (SDC1), and SD experimental 1 (SDE1) groups. All rats in the control groups were administered 1 mL of distilled water (DW). The rats in the MDE1 and the SDE1 groups were administered SRM orally at 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively, dissolved in 1 mL of DW. Blood was collected initially and at intervals of 1 hour for 6 hours to measure blood glucose. A similar experimental design was followed for the 30-day long-term trial. Finally, rats were sacrificed, and blood was collected to measure blood glucose, lipid profiles, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Results: OGTTs indicated that two doses (200 and 300 mg/kg BW) were effective hypoglycemic doses in normal rats. Both doses reduced glucose levels after 1 hour in the MDE1 and the SDE1 groups. A long-term trial of SRM in the MD group showed a reduced glucose level, a normal lipid profile, and normal GSH and TBARS levels. In SD rats, SRM had no statistically significant effects on these parameters. Normal weight was achieved in the MD rats, but the SD rats showed reduced BW. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that SRM has potential to alleviate the conditions of moderate diabetic, but not severe diabetes.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2011

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) is an autoimmune disease invading the skin, joint, kidney, intestinal membrane, neurosystem and other organs. SLE is an autoimmune disease characterized by immune dysregulation resulting in the production of antinuclear antibodies(ANA), generation of circulating immune complexes, and activation of the complement system. In Korean medicine, lupus can be classified as acute arthritis, reddish butterfly erythema, asthenic disease, edema and so on. The cause and procedure of the diseases are flourishing noxious heat, excessive fire due to deficiency of yin, blood stasis due to stagnation of qi, internal movement of the liver-wind, congenital deficiency, exhausted vital-qi, which are treated by clearing away heat and cooling the blood, nourshing yin and extinguishing fire, treating flatulence and activating blood circulation, nourishing the blood to expel wind, invigorating the liver and kidney, invigorating qi and replenishing the blood. To experimentally examine the influence of Insam-Buja-Tang (Ginseng & Aconiti Extract, IBT) on the outbreak and development of lupus, lupus induce MRL/MpJ-Faslpr lupus-prone mice model was used. As IBT was orally administrated to a lupus model mouse, various tests such as the weight, urine protein, renal function, Lymph cell test of the spleen, Cytokine expression, histopathological analysis of kideny were performed to see the influence on the kidney and whether it work effectively on the immune function. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of IBT on MRL/MpJ-Faslpr lupus-prone mice model. The effect of IBT on MRL/MpJ-Faslpr lupus-prone mice that can have autoimmune disease similar to SLE in human was evaluated after IBT per oral in the present study.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.837-846
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• 2020

In present study, we investigated the antidiabetic effect of Momordica charantia(as well known "bitter melon"). This study was conducted to determine antidiabetic mechanism of Bitter Melon Extract (BME). We measured blood glucose, insulin, glucagon level in a Sprague-Dawley rat model of high-fat diet/streptozotocin(HFD/STZ)-induced diabetes. Five experimental groups were used: normal, HFD/STZ, BME 62.5 mg/kg HFD/STZ, BME 125 mg/kg HFD/STZ and BME 250 mg/kg HFD/STZ. BME was orally administered to the rats every other day for 9 weeks. Results showed that fasting blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the BME 125 mg/kg(150.17 ± 20.22 mg/dL) and 250 mg/kg(124.17 ± 22.17 mg/dL) groups than in the vehicle group(188.83 ± 26.63 mg/dL)(p<0.05). In addition, glucagon levels were lower in the three BME treatment groups than in the vehicle group(p<0.05). Oral glucose tolerance tests revealed that the BME 250 mg/kg group had significantly(p<0.05) reduced 120-minute blood glucose levels and areas under the curve. Our results suggest that BME induces antidiabetic effects via the reduction of glucagon and blood glucose levels.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 1989

A new motor-driven blood pump for artificial heart was developed. In this blood pump, a small size, high torque brushless DC motor was used as an energy converter and the motor rolls back and forth on a circular track. This movement of the "rolling-cyliner" causes blood ejection by alternately pushing left or right polyurethane blood sacs. This moving-actuator mechanism could be eliminate two potential problems of other motor-driven artificial hearts such as large size and poor anastomosis for the implantation. Theoretical analyses on the pump efficiency, the temperature rise, and the inflow mechanism were also performed. In a series of mock circulation tests, the theoretical analyses were compared to the measured hemodynamic and mechanical values. The pump system was shown to have sufficient cardiac output (upto 9 L/min), sensitivity to preload, and mechanical stability to be tested as an implantable total artificial heart.ial heart.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study evaluated the effects of sa-am acupuncture (SAA) simpo-jeongkyeok (SPJK) treatment on the blood pressure (BP), pulse rate (PR), and body temperature (BT) of patients with hwa byung (HB). Methods: This patient assessor blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial included 50 volunteers, divided randomly into two groups. The treatment group underwent SPJK (PC9, LR1, PC3, KI10) while the control (sham) group received minimal needle insertion at non acupoints. The BP in both arms, PR, and BT at several acupoints were measured before and after treatment at the $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$, and $4^{th}$ visits and before treatment at the follow-up visit. We analyzed data by using the repeated measured analysis of variance (RM ANOVA), Mann-Whitney U, and wilcoxon signed rank tests; differences at P < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: No significant differences in the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and PR between the treatment and control group were observed at each visit. However, the decrease in the SBP for the treatment group before and after each visit was significantly higher than it was in the control group. The SBP in both arms in the treatment group was decreased between visits 1 and 2, 1 and 3, 1 and 4, and 1 and follow-up. The DBP in both arms and in the right arm between visits 1 and 3 in the treatment group showed decreases. A minimal BT increase for treatment at CV06 and CV12 and a minimal BT decrease for treatment at CV17 and (Ex) Yintang were found. Patients in the treatment group who visited more frequently experienced a greater decrease in the PR, but that effect was not maintained. Conclusion: The results suggest that SAA SPJK treatment has instant positive effects on the BP, PR, and BT in patients with HB, but the effects on the BP and PR are not maintained.