• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.551-555
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• 2014

Trichomonas vaginalis, a causative agent of trichomoniasis, may trigger symptomatic or asymptomatic non-gonococcal urethritis and chronic prostatitis in men. Despite the availability of highly sensitive diagnostic tests, such as nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR, few prospective studies present data on male T. vaginalis infection in South Korea. In the present study, the prevalence of T. vaginalis and associated clinical conditions were evaluated in 201 male patients from a primary care urology clinic in South Korea. The prevalence of T. vaginalis infection in our cohort was 4% (8/201) by PCR. T. vaginalis infection was common in men older than 40 years (median age, 52 years). Among the 8 Trichomonas-positive patients, 87.5% (7/8) had prostatic diseases, such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 25.0% (2/8) and 12.5% (1/8) were coinfected with Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium, respectively. Our results suggest that T. vaginalis infection is not rare in men attending primary care urology clinics in South Korea, especially in those older than 40 years, in whom it may explain the presence of prostatic disease. The possibility of T. vaginalis infection should be routinely considered in older male patients with prostatic diseases in South Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2016

Trichomonas vaginalis causes the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Trichomonads have been detected in prostatic tissues from prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. Chronic prostatic inflammation is known as a risk factor for prostate enlargement, benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms, and acute urinary retention. Our aim was to investigate whether T. vaginalis could induce inflammatory responses in cells of a benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cell line (BPH-1). When BPH-1 cells were infected with T. vaginalis, the protein and mRNA of inflammatory cytokines, such as CXCL8, CCL2, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6, were increased. The activities of TLR4, ROS, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, and NF-${\kappa}B$ were also increased, whereas inhibitors of ROS, MAPK, PI3K, NF-${\kappa}B$, and anti-TLR4 antibody decreased the production of the 4 cytokines although the extent of inhibition differed. However, a JAK2 inhibitor inhibited only IL-6 production. Culture supernatants of the BPH-1 cells that had been incubated with live T. vaginalis (trichomonad-conditioned medium, TCM) contained the 4 cytokines and induced the migration of human monocytes (THP-1 cells) and mast cells (HMC-1 cells). TCM conditioned by BPH-1 cells pretreated with NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor showed decreased levels of cytokines and induced less migration. Therefore, it is suggested that these cytokines are involved in migration of inflammatory cells. These results suggest that T. vaginalis infection of BPH patients may cause inflammation, which may induce lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

Objectives : The Levator Ani Muscles Training(LAMT) is one of the well known very effective prevention and treatment method of some specific diseases in the anal organs, digestion system, urinary organs and genital organs, which means LAMT could be considered as an independent exercise. Methods : Chinese databases were searched and found one good source named CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure) where there were downloaded 154 articles, out of which were finally selected 82 used for the introduction of the historical background, health-effectiveness, working mechanism, training methods, etc. Results : LAMT as an independent exercise, is considered very effective for the prevention of diseases in the anal organs, e.g. hemorrhoids, anal fissure, rectal prolapse; urinary organs, e.g. urinary incontinence, frequent micturition; digestion system, e.g. visceroptosis, diarrhea, chronic enteritis; genital organs, e.g. prostatitis, impotence, premature ejaculation, feminine vaginal relaxation, sexual indifference, etc. It is also told LAMT is effective for coronary heart disease, hyperyension and varicose veins of lower extremity to a certain degree. LAMT is also very similar to the Kegel exercise in couple of aspects. They are equally effective for the urinary incontinence and impotence. Conclusions : LAMT as an independent exercise has developed and become more and more health-effective, especially through the combination with the Qigong exercise, and thus many training methods have been introduced. There are not many scientific research and development with very limited accomplishments even in China. It is strongly required to strengthen the research and development activities so that LAMT will become one of the very effective natural healing soonest possible.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.153-166
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• 2013

Yang deficiency pattern is a representative syndrome differentiation. This article is a study on to which categories of modern diseases yang deficiency is assigned by reference to modern clinical papers and the meaning of yang deficiency interpreted with a perspective of Korean Medicine and a modern perspective. Yang deficiency, yang qi deficiency, lack of yang qi and yang qi debilitation are the words found in "Nei Ching" and yang qi can be interpreted as something to warm, drive and arouse. Zhangzhongjing considered recovery or loss of Yang as the key to life in "Shanghanlun". Danxi proposed "Yang being liable to hyperactivity, Yin being insufficient" and emphasized pathological ministerial fire of Yang exuberance rather than physiological ministerial fire of Yang deficiency. Zhangjingyue proposed "Yang not being in excess, Yin being often deficient" and understood growth and decline of yin qi are all led by yang qi and put emphasis on true yin in addition to yang qi. Diseases of yang deficiency pattern are related with decline of metabolic level, hypofunction of internal secretion, disorder of immune function, disorder of automatic nerve system, sympathetic nerve inhibition, metabolic disorder of microelements, increase of cGMP, change of microcirculation, low speed of blood stream, kidney malfunction. Diseases related with kidney are sterility, polycystic ovary syndrome, spinal stenosis, edema, renal failure, IgA nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, nephritis, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, decrease of adrenal cortical hormone by nephrotic syndrome, myelodysplastic syndrome. Disease related with heart are heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, pulmonary heart disease. Diseases related with spleen are irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis. Diseases related with liver are hypothyroidism, liver cirrhosis ascites, hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis, hepatic diabetes. Diseases related with lung are allergic rhinitis, cough variant asthma, bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema. And diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, aplastic anemia, headache, encephalatrophy, Alzheimer's disease are also related with yang deficiency.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.329-336
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• 2003

Objective : We evaluated the therapeutic effect of Banwhasasimtang dry extract powder on gastrointestinal symptoms and its side effects in patients with functional dyspepsia. Methods : Patients with functional dyspepsia, defined as discomfort in the epigastrium. A total 45 patients participated in this study. Dyspeptic symptoms ratio was obtained by patients, total point of symptom score/total 21 points x 100(%). On each of symptom after 4 weeks administration of Banwhasashim-tang was made by variation of symptom score: If symptoms score of posttreatment is lower than that of pretreatment, it is improved ; Otherwise aggravated, and if there is no change between them, unchangeable. When a full health condition of normal control is assumed 100%, relative health condition of dyspeptic patient could be calculated from 'full health condition-dyspeptic symptoms ratio'. Therefore a whole satisfaction rate on symptom improvement was presented with variation of a relative health condition to dyspepsia between pretreatment and post. Results : Banwhasashimtang significantly improved symptoms in patients. The significance was shown in both all seven items(p<0.01, respectively) and 19.2% (p<0.01) of increase of a whole satisfaction rate on symptom improvement. There is no remarkable side-effect in all laboratory test, excepting 1 case of abdominal pain and another one case of recurred pain of chronic prostatitis. Conclusion : Banwhasashimtang extract provides symptomatic relief in functional dyspepsia and is no remarkable side-effect drug.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.458-467
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• 2022

Background: Few studies have investigated unspecified or idiopathic pain associated with COIVD-19. This study aimed to provide the incidence rates of unspecified pain and idiopathic pain in patients with COVID-19 for 90 days after COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods: A propensity score matched cohort was used, including all patients with COVID-19 in South Korea, and analyzed their electronic medical records. The control group consisted of those who had not had tests for COVID-19 at all. Unspecified pain diagnoses consisted of diagnoses related to pain included in the ICD-10 Chapter XVIII. Idiopathic pain disorders included fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint disorders, headaches, chronic prostatitis, complex regional pain syndrome, atypical facial pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. Results: After matching, the number of participants in each group was 7,911. For most unspecified pain, the incidences were higher in the COVID-19 group (11.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0-12.5) than in the control group (6.5%; 95% CI, 6.0-7.1). For idiopathic pain, only the headaches had a significantly higher incidence in the COVID-19 group (6.6%; 95% CI, 6.1-7.2) than in the control group (3.7%; 95% CI, 3.3-4.1). However, using a different control group that included only patients who visited a hospital at least once for any reasons, the incidences of most unspecified and idiopathic pain were higher in the control group than in the COVID-19 group. Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 might be at a higher risk of experiencing unspecified pain in the acute phase or after recovery compared with individuals who had not had tests for COVID-19.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.318-346
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• 1994

A Bibliographical study was done about lumbago in oriental internal Medicine. The results are as follows. 1. Shenxu,sexual active, senile, Feng, Han, Shi, shiji, Tanyin and Qi lumbago are applicable to internal medical lumbago in oriental medicine, and Shenxu is essential pathogenesis. 2. Shenxu lumbago is characterized by continous pain, improved after chiropsia, deep pulse in Chi pulse, and used QingeWan, LiuweiDihuangWan and AnshenWan in herb-medicine. and Cortex Eucommiae, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata and Fructus Psoraleae in drugs for the purpose of ZishenYijing, and related to lumbago caused by chronic prostatitis, calculus or tumor in kidney and diabetes mellitus. 3. Sexual active lumbago is dim-aching and weak pain in or after sexual life at low back and knee joint, and classified to Shenyang Buzu, ShenjingKuisun. GanshenYinxu and XinshenBujiao ; Liuwei Dihuang Wan, ZuoguiWan In herb-medicine. Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, Fructus Lycii and Fructus Corni in drug were used for treatment. 4. Senile Lumbago is a kind of consumptive disease due to exhaused essential energy and caused by lack of Shenjing, Yangqi ; and described as repeated mild dim pain and ErzhiWan, QingeWan and MoyaoGao were used frequently, supposed to connected with osteoporosis, osteomalacia and osteoarthropathy deformons caused by aging. 5. Feng lumbago is attacked by Liuyin, and characterized by chilling and fever. stabbing pain from thoracic and lumbar vertebrae to pedes, and used WujiXan, XiaoxumingTang for treatment. Han lumbago is caused by cold's attacking Shenjing, distinguished for chilling,icing sense improved by heat on low back, and used WujiXan, JiangfuTang. Shi lumbago is caused by damp's inflowing Shenjing, described as stone-like lumbago which was subsided low back pain growing worse by gloomy rain, and used ShenshiTang. ShenzhuTang for the purpose of ZaoshiXingqi. And it is supposed that lumbago occured in the initial of urinary track infection was belong to those of Feng,Han and Sill's. 6. Sillji lumbago is caused by pathogen being in the spleen and the stomach, and used ChenxiangJiangqiTang, PingweiSan for treatment. And it is supposed that it belong to lumbago caused by gastrointerstinal disease such as peptic ulcer. gastroduodenal tumor and colonic inflammatory disease. 7. Tanyin lumbago is caused by Tanyin's flowing meridian, characterized by thoracolumbar verterber's heaviness, covered sense with something on low back and painless massage. Kuaiqi-drug are added to ErchenTang, DaotanTang for treatment, and it supposed that Tanyin lumbago's belong to that accompanied with metabolic disease such as obesity and gout. 8. Qi lumbago is caused by excessive stress such as melancholy and fury, described as multiple stabbing pain, an unexpected on and improvement, ranging back pain until flank and abdomine. Tiaoqi-drugs were added to RenshenShunqiSan, WuyaoShunqiSan for treatment, and it supposed to connecting with emotional lumbago such as hysteria, feigned illness and anxiety psychosis.