• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-158
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• 2010

The purpose of this survey was to find out the actual condition and the problems of combined medications of patients who have general diseases, respiratory diseases. The objects of this survey were 1,769 outpatients who visited 8 Oriental hospitals and Seoul national university hospital respiratory clinics. SPSS program was used to analyze the survey data. The mean age of patients was lower in oriental hospital than in western hospital. The monthly family incomes were higher in oriental hospital patients than in western hospital patients. The condition of patients was better in oriental hospital than western hospital and self-assessed health status was more positive in oriental hospital patients than in western hospital patients. The percentage of having experienced of treated in oriental and western hospital at the same time was 21% in western hospital patients and 45% in oriental hospital patients. In patients with respiratory diseases, the percentage of having taken combined medications was 40.2% in oriental hospital and 13.7% in western hospital. In patients with non-respiratory diseases, the percentage of having taken combined medications was 27.4% in oriental hospital and 8.3% in western hospital. And in the patients with two different diseases, the percentage of having taken combined medications was 27.9% in oriental hospital and 6.3% in western hospital. The percentage of having experienced synergistic effects was 33.0% in western hospital and 56.3% in oriental hospital. The percentage of side effects was 12.6% in western hospital and 12.2% in oriental hospital. This survey was meaningful in that it reported the actual condition of combined medications of patients who have general diseases, respiratory diseases. For the deep study on synergistic and side effects of combined medications, it is necessary to collect many cases of synergistic and side effects by doctors in western and oriental hospitals.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.377-381
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• 2023

This study included a 42-year-old female farmer with a 2-year history of Graves' disease who visited the hospital for a total thyroidectomy for her grade III goiter based on World Health Organization classification. Besides Hegu (LI4) and Neiguan (PC6), extensively used for acupuncture analgesia in thyroid surgery in previous studies, three additional acupuncture points for acupuncture analgesia in thyroidectomy were evaluated in this study: Shuitu (ST10), Quepen (ST12), and Yifeng (SJ17). In this case, we used an electroacupuncture stimulator to stimulate the acupuncture points and combined acupuncture analgesia with diazepam and atropine sulfate administration as adjunct medications to calm the patient. The operation was completed without any complications. The findings revealed that stimulating the five acupuncture points, i.e., Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), Shuitu (ST10), Quepen (ST12), and Yifeng (SJ17), for acupuncture analgesia combined with adjunct medications is safe for maintaining an adequate level of analgesia and hemodynamic stability during thyroidectomy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.298-305
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• 2016

Background: This study is to investigate the prescription patterns and factors related to the number of medications treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients under 65 years old according to GOLD guidelines. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged 40-64 years with a diagnosis of COPD from January to March 2016. Patients were classified by combined assessment of COPD (grades A, B, C, D) using spirometry, exacerbation history, mMRC, and/or CAT results. We analyzed prescribed medications, treatment options and factors related to the numbers of COPD medications. Results: The total number of prescriptions were 251. About 35.5% of patients were classified as GOLD A, 34.2% as GOLD B, 17.1% as GOLD C and 13.2% as GOLD D. Inhaled bronchodilator was prescribed for 86.9% of patients and the most frequent COPD medication was long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) followed by inhaled corticosteroids/long acting beta agonist (ICS/LABA). The majority of low risk patients (GOLD A/B) were prescribed a monotherapy with LAMA or LABA. For high risk patients (GOLD C/D), combination treatment with ICS+LAMA+LABA was mostly prescribed. The 21.2% of patients in GOLD D received systemic corticosteroid. The average number of medications per prescription was 3.7, and this number increased with increasing COPD grade, COPD duration and lung function reduction ($FEV_1$, $FEV_1/FVC$). Conclusion: Generally high adherence to GOLD guideline recommendations was reported. Given the progressive nature of the disease, results suggest that closer attention to respiratory symptoms for early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of COPD is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2021

Background: The treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) for intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction is recommended to proceed with the use of the compound. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of brinzolamide combination therapy on POAG and OHT following the subgroup analysis among types of brinzolamide combined medications. Methods: By June 2019, PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched to find a study that met our inclusion criteria. Based on randomized control trials (RCTs), we collected studies that tested the brinzolamide combination therapy in POAG and OHT patients, and analyzed the literature identified by the results of the study on IOP reduction and adverse reactions. Results: A total of 13 literature was collected to conduct an analysis including 2,197 patients. The intervention included brinzolamide combination therapies, combined with timolol, brimonidine, PGA or combined with both brimonidine and PGA. The analysis showed significant decreasing tendency for values at morning and end treatment per day in the use of brinzolamide combination therapy in the absolute IOP change (mean difference (MD) -1.41; 95% CI -1.92, -0.90; p<0.001 vs. MD -1.46; 95% CI -2.03, -0.89; p<0.00001, respectively). We could see higher adverse reactions in the brinzolamide combination group using intervention (odds ratio 1.43; 95% CI 1.20, 1.71; p<0.0001). Conclusion: Regarding IOP reduction in POAG and OHT patients, brinzolamide combination therapy is more effective but less safe than control treatment, which diverse among types of combined medications. Thus, more individualized therapy should be applied in real-world practice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2024

Worldwide, cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death, which accordingly increased by hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia therapy can include lifestyle changes and medications to control cholesterol levels. Statins are the medications of the first choice for dealing with lipid abnormalities. Rosuvastatin founds to control high lipid levels by hindering liver production of cholesterol and to achieve the targeted levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, another lipid lowering agents named ezetimibe may be used as an added therapy. Both rosuvastatin and ezetimibe have low bioavailability which will stand as barrier to decrease cholesterol levels, because of such depictions, formulations of this combined therapy in nanotechnology will be of a great assistance. Our study demonstrated preparations of nanoparticles of this combined therapy, showing their physical characterizations, and examined their behavior in laboratory conditions and vivo habitation. The mean particle size was uniform, polydispersity index and zeta potential of formulations were found to be in the ranges of (0.181-0.72) and (-13.4 to -6.24), respectively. Acceptable limits of entrapment efficiency were affirmed with appearance of spherical and uniform nanoparticles. In vitro testing showed a sustained release of drug exceeded 90% over 24 h. In vivo study revealed an enhanced dissolution and bioavailability from loaded nanoparticles, which was evidenced by calculated pharmacokinetic parameters using triton for hyperlipidemia induction. Stability studies were performed and assured that the formulations are kept the same up to one month. Therefore, nano formulations is a suitable transporter for combined therapy of rosuvastatin and ezetimibe with improvement in their dissolution and bioavailability.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.215-219
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• 2015

Cardiopulmonary depression of long-term constant rate infusion (CRI) administration of multiple analgesic drugs is important, especially in critically ill dogs. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lidocaine, ketamine or combined lidocaine-ketamine combination CRI treatment on vital signs and left ventricular (LV) function in healthy dogs. Six adult Beagle dogs were administered either ketamine (initial loading dose of 0.5 mg/kg followed by $10{\mu}g/kg/min$ CRI), lidocaine (initial loading dose of 2 mg/kg followed by 0.025 mg/kg/min CRI), or combined lidocaine-ketamine intravenously. Arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), body temperature (BT) and echocardiographic LV dimensions were measured before administration of medications, immediately after administration of drugs, and then every 10 min for 2 h. There were no significant changes in HR, RR, BT and BP after the administration of either lidocaine CRI, ketamine CRI, or combined lidocaine and ketamine CRI. There were also no significant changes in LV dimensions and stroke volume. The results revealed that treatment with either lidocaine, ketamine or combined lidocaine-ketamine may not cause cardiopulmonary suppression in healthy dogs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ondansetron combined with dexamethasone on Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) and pain with ondansetron alone in patients with laparoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy under general anesthesia. Methods: Data were collected from April 1 through September 30, 2005 using a double blind method. Ondansetron 4 mg and dexamethasone 10 mg were administered to the experimental group (25 patients), and ondansetron 4 mg only to the control group (25 patients). The medications were administered through an intravenous line at the beginning peritoneum suture. PONV by Index of Nausea Vomiting and Retching (INVR), nausea by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and pain (VAS) were assessed at postoperative 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni methods. Results: The experimental group that received ondansetron combined with dexamethasone had less PONV (p=.048), and nausea (p=.012) than control group that received ondansetron alone. However, there was no difference in pain (p=.557) between the patients in the two groups. Conclusion: We conclude that the administration of ondansetron combined with dexamethasone is more effective than the administration of ondansetron alone to reduce PONV in patients with laparoscopic hysterectomy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.82-94
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of east-west medical combined treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) through cooperation in a hospital. Methods : We treated three patients diagnosed as SSNHL by combination of herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmoacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, laser therapy and conventional medications. We evaluated the results of this treatment with pure tone audiometry, word recognition score(WRS), the changes in distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) and visual analogue scale. Results : One of them showed a meaningful improvement in the hearing level of the low frequency region. The others showed 'Complete recovery' in pure tone audiometry and WRS. The subjective symptoms including tinnitus and ear fullness improved in three patients. Conclusion : This study suggests that east-west medical combined treatment is effective on SSNHL patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.50-57
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• 2021

Objectives Clozapine is the most effective atypical antipsychotic agent for the treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), however, only 40%-70% of TRS patients respond to clozapine. Moreover, TRS encompasses various symptom dimensions. Therefore, augmentation with other medications for clozapine is frequently applied. However, the prescription pattern of clozapine and combined medications in Korea is yet to be examined. This study aims to investigate the maintenance treatment pattern of clozapine and augmentation agents in one Korean tertiary hospital. Methods The patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders under clozapine maintenance, defined as one-year clozapine continuation, were subjected for analysis. Medication data at one-year time-point after clozapine initiation was extracted and analyzed. Results Among total 2897 patients having clozapine prescription experience from January 2000 to December 2018, 1011 patients were on clozapine maintenance. The mean age of clozapine initiation was 30.2 ± 11.3 years, and the maintenance dose of clozapine was 217.8 ± 124.3 mg/day. Combination rate of antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants were 43.5%, 25.3%, 38.6%, respectively. Most frequently prescribed drugs in each category were aripiprazole, valproate, and sertraline. Olanzapine equivalent dose of combined antipsychotics was 10.4 ± 7.7 mg/day. Male patients were prescribed higher dose of combined antipsychotics and higher rate of antidepressants. Female patients had later onset of clozapine prescription. Patients with two or more combined antipsychotics were prescribed higher dose of clozapine and higher rate of antidepressants compared to patients with one combined antipsychotic. Conclusions Taken together, among the patients taking clozapine, a substantial rate of patients were under polypharmacy. The present findings based on the real-world prescription pattern could provide the valuable clinical information on the treatment of TRS-related conditions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 2001

Nummular eczema is well-shaped, coin-like lesion. Usually it is surrounded by the papules and vesicles, and is likely to be the impetigo. It's said that nummular eczema is combined with atopic dermititis, contact dermatitis, bacterial infection and so on. Recently, we experienced a nummular eczema with impetigo and that was successfully treated by the herb-medication and the ceramic resonance therapy. The medications taken by the patient were yunwhasagnatang and gamisopungsan which is used to treat allergic disease and make immune system be strong. The former effects the liver to be cool down and healthy and it also has anti-imflamatory reactions like the corticosteroid hormone. Ceramic resonance therapy utilises irradiation within the frequency range of the radiation emitted by the human body. So we report this case with a brief review of the oriental medical and medical literatures.