• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2013

Purpose: Atorvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is widely prescribed in hyperlipidemic patients and telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker is frequently used in the treatment of hypertension. Both drugs are substrates of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) expressed in basolateral membrane in the liver, and undergo high first pass metabolism. Therefore, OATP-mediated hepatic uptake is important for disposition and metabolism of these drugs. The present study was designed to investigate the pharmacokinetic interactions between atorvastatin and telmisartan in rats. Method: Young adult SD rats were divided into three groups (n=6, each) and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) and telmisartan (4 mg/kg) were orally given alone and together. Heparinized blood was serially taken and plasma concentrations of both drugs were measured using HPLC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters of two drugs were calculated. Results: No significant pharmacokinetic change was found except a delay of time to peak of telmisartan when administered with atorvastatin. Each drug at the present dosage seemed to be insufficient to alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of its counterpart drug. Conclusion: Conclusively, co-administration of atorvastatin and telmisartan may lead to negligible clinical consequences.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2009

Background: To investigate the differences of locomotor dynamics between Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with tremor dominant symptom and patients with postural instability dominant symptom. Methods: 66 subjects with PD were classified into two subgroups, tremor-dominant group and postural instability and gait disorder group by Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS). The spatial, temporal and electrodynamic gait parameters were recorded automatically using computerized 3-D motion analysis system with electrogoniometer. Results: There was no significant difference in cadence, pelvic tilt range, hip flexion range, knee flexion range and ankle dorsiflexion range. Postural instability and gait disorder group showed decreased gait velocity, short stride length, decreased range of motion in pelvic obliquity, pelvic rotation and ankle plantar flexion. Conclusions: There was meaningful difference in locomotor dynamics between Parkinson's disease(PD) patients with tremor dominant symptom and patients with postural instability dominant symptom.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study is reviewing the literature to extract the key parameter, study design, perspective, cost-effectiveness index and find the calibration parameter for the clinical study with economical evaluation protocol on facial palsy. Methods: Literature search is performed using PUBMED for literature published from January 2000 to December 2016. We included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) and modelling study with economic assessment in which human participated. Results: As a result of literature search, the 198 articles were found. After reviewing the title, abstract and full text, the 5 articles were selected. Selected articles are classified into 4 RCT studies dealing with quality of life and 1 CEA(cost-effectiveness analysis) study. Conclusions: We found reliable key parameters, calibration parameters and elements of economical assessment study, which might be necessary factors for developing research protocol of clinical trial with economic evaluation about facial palsy patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1349-1354
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG WE) on clinical chemical parameters in male guinea pigs acutely exposed to 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo p dioxin(TCDD). Forty male guinea pigs(200 $\pm$20g) were divided into 4 groups. Normal controls(group 1) received vehicle and saline; group 2(single TCDD treated) received TCDD(5 g/kg, single dose) intraperitoneally; group 3 received KRG WE(200mg/kg, i.p.) for 2 weeks from 1 week before TCDD exposure; group 4 received KRG WE for 1 week since the day of TCDD exposure. Increase in body weight was retarded greatly by TCDD exposure. Body weight of animals in group 2 was significantly decreased starting 2 days after TCDD exposure. However, body weight of animals in group 3 increased throughout the experimental period, although the increasing rate was slower than that of group 1. Decrease in body weight was not observed during the experimental period in group 4. Increases in blood glucose, amylase, lipase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, GOT, GPT, and LDH levels by TCDD intoxication were significantly attenuated by the KRG WE treatment(p<0.05). These results provide a strong evidence that Korean red ginseng might be a useful protective agent against TCDD, an endocrine disruptor.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2014

A number of medical schools in Korea have been using computer-based testing (CBT) for evaluating their students' scientific and/or clinical performance since the early 1990s. Introducing CBT to medical education would have several advantages: first, presenting figures and audio-video files of clinical content is simple with CBT, making it possible to evaluate medical students' competency with navigating more realistic clinical situations at minimum cost; second, CBT enables automatic item analysis and score reporting. To establish CBT, constructing an item bank with item parameters such as difficulty or discriminating parameters will be needed. To select more psychometrically sound items, analysis of the items according to item response theory is necessary. CBT has already been introduced in high stakes tests like the United States Medical Licensing Examination and the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination. The National Health Personnel Examination Board in Korea is also planning to introduce a CBT-based version of the National Medical Examination soon. Thus all medical schools in Korea will need to introduce CBT and construct item banks to prepare their students for their licensing examinations and to measure the students' competency more accurately.

• CELLMED
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.7
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• 2020

Aim:'Itrifal-e-Sagheer', a compound Unani formulation has been indicated in disease conditions simulating dyslipidemia. The present study was done to substantiate the efficacy of 'Itrifal-e-Sagheer' in dyslipidemia on scientific parameters. Materials and methods: A randomized, single blind, controlled, clinical trial was carried out on 30 patients of dyslipidemia who were randomly allocated into test (n = 15) or control (n = 15) groups. The test drug, Itrifal-e-Sagheer and control drug, Abana® were given to respective group for 45 days along with lifestyle modification. Results: The test drug significantly alleviated the symptoms of subjective parameters (palpitation, breathlessness and weight gain) (p<0.05). There was statistically significant reduction in lipid profile of the patients in test group (p<0.05) than control drug treatment. Conclusion: The study evidenced that Itrifal-e-Sagheer is potentially effective and safe in the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, a multicentric study with robust study design is required to generalize the results.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study is reviewing the literature to extracting the key parameter and finding the calibration parameter for the clinical study with economical assessment protocol on atopic dermatitis. Methods : Literature search is performed using PUBMED for literature published from Janurary 2000 to December 2016. We included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) with economic assessment in which human participants. Results : Among the articles published from January 2000 to December 2016, The 1464 articles were found. After reviewing the title, abstract and full text, the five articles were selected. Selected articles are classified 3 CEA(cost effective analysis)study, 1 CMA(cost minimizing analysis)study and 1 cost analysis study. Conclusions : We found highly reliable key parameters and calibration parameters, which might be necessary factors for developing research protocol of economic evaluation alongside clinical trial about atopic dermatitis patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2019

Objective: It is widely accepted that aging decreases women's fertility capacity. The aim of this study was to assess correlations between maternal age and the morphokinetic parameters and cleavage pattern of embryos. Methods: The morphokinetics of embryos derived from women < 30, 30-35, 36-40, and > 40 years of age were compared retrospectively in terms of time of second polar body extrusion, time of pronuclei appearance, time of pronuclei fading, and time of two to eight discrete cells (t2-t8). Furthermore, abnormal cleavage patterns such as uneven blastomeres at the two-cell stage, cell fusion (Fu), and trichotomous mitoses (TM) were assessed. Results: Only t5 occurred later in women aged 36-40 and > 40 years when compared with those aged < 30 and 30-35 years (p< 0.001). Other morphokinetic timing parameters, as well the presence of uneven blastomeres, were comparable between the groups (p> 0.05). However, Fu and TM were more common in women aged > 40 years than in younger women (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Maternal age was correlated with the cleavage pattern of embryos. Therefore, evaluating embryo morphokinetics may contribute to optimal embryo selection, thereby increasing fertility in patients with advanced maternal age.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) evaluation is a useful tool for monitoring disease activity in various inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions. ESR is known to be influenced by a multitude of confounding factors. The present study aimed to assess the possible determinants of the ESR and its relationship with various risk factors involved in ischemic stroke. ESR and other hematological and biochemical parameters were investigated in 163 ischemic stroke patients (107 males and 56 females) selected based on imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 16.0 software. Linear regression analysis showed a significant inverse relationship of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV) (P<0.001 for females; P<0.01 for males) with the ESR. It was observed that the red blood cell (RBC) count was not strongly correlated with the ESR (P<0.05 for both males and females). It was also observed that sex significantly affected the variables determining the ESR levels, whereas age had no effect. Gender differences were also observed with respect to Hb, RBC, PCV, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and ESR. The possible determinants of higher ESR levels in ischemic stroke may be sex, Hb, hematocrit, and RBC count, but the role of other clinical and laboratory parameters cannot be underestimated.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.279-288
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• 2011

The Dexamethasone (DEX) loaded chitosan microspheres were prepared by thermal denaturation and chemical cross-linking method using a dierent concentration of glutaraldehyde as chemical cross-linking agent. The prepared microspheres were evaluated for the percentage of Drug Loading (DL), Encapsulation Efficiency (EE) and surface morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). DL and EE were found to be maximum range of 10.0 to 10.79 % and 58.19 to 64.73 % respectively. The SEM Photographs of the resultant microspheres exhibited fairly smooth surfaces and predominantly spherical in appearance. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) shown that there was no interaction between the drug and polymer. In vitro and in vivo release studies revealed that the release of dexamethasone was sustained and extended up to 63 days and effectively controlled by the extent of cross-linking agent. Non-clinical parameters such as paw volume, hematological parameters like Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Paced Cell Volume (PCV), Total Leucocytes Count (TLC), Hemoglobin (Hb), Differential Cell Count (DCC) were investigated in Fruend's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritic rats. Radiology and histopathological studies were also performed in order to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the DEX-loaded microspheres in extenuating the rat arthritic model.