• 대한한의학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of Jaeumkanghwatang (JEKHT) on the plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen in combination therapy as a process of the comprehensive and integrative medicine against breast cancer. Methods: After 50 mg/kg of tamoxifen treatment, JEKHT 100 mg/kg was orally administered within 5 min. The plasma were collected at 30 min before administration, 30min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hrs after end of JEKHT treatment, and plasma concentrations of tamoxifen were analyzed using LC-MS/MS methods. PK parameters of tamoxifen ($T_{max}$, $C_{max}$, AUC, $t_{1/2}$ and $MRT_{inf}$) were analysis as compared with tamoxifen single administered rats. Results: JEKHT did not influenced on the plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen after single oral co-administration, within 5min except for some negligible effects on plasma concentration. The $T_{max}$, $C_{max}$, AUC, $t_{1/2}$ and $MRT_{inf}$ of tamoxifen in co-administered rats were quite similar to those of tamoxifen single treated rats. Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study, JEKHT did not influenced on the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen, when they were single co-administered within 5min. However, more detail pharmacokinetic studies should be tested to conclude the possibilities that can be used as comprehensive and integrative therapy with JEKHT and tamoxifen for breast cancers, when they were co-administered, like the effects on the pretreatment of JEKHT and after repeat co-administrations.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.223-230
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• 2019

Purpose : Wellness tourism is defined as travel for the purpose of promoting health and well-being through physical, psychological, or spiritual activities. The development and verification of a comprehensive wellness program for health care for workers is needed. The purpose of this study is to investigate the wellness and skin health effects of skin health programs in order to develop high-value health care services. Methods : The subjects were 15 middle-aged women who understood the research and volunteered and participated in the two-day skin health wellness program. Participants were measured to determine their wellness index and skin health twice: before and after participating in the program. Wellness index measures include comprehensive wellness, physical wellness, mental wellness, emotional wellness, social/cultural wellness, financial wellness, and environmental wellness. Skin health measurement items consisted of skin oil, skin water, skin pore, skin elasticity, skin wrinkle, and skin pigment. The skin wellness program included aerobic exercise, endurance exercise, functional food, cosmetics, herbal tea, massages, spa treatments, meditation, and marine leisure sports. The t-test analysis was used to compare the difference between wellness index and skin health measurement items before and after the program. Results : Among the wellness index items, the comprehensive wellness index (p<.05), mental wellness index (p<.05) and environmental wellness index (p<.05) showed statistically significant differences. Among skin health items, skin oil (p<.05), skin elasticity (p<.01) and skin wrinkle (p<.01) all showed statistically significant differences. There was no statistically significant difference in physical wellness, emotional wellness, social/cultural wellness, financial wellness, skin water, skin pore and skin pigment. Conclusion : This study confirmed that the two-day complex wellness program is an effective program for some items of wellness index and skin health.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.69-73
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• 2012

The explosive development of genomics technologies including microarrays and next generation sequencing (NGS) has provided comprehensive maps of cancer genomes, including the expression of mRNAs and microRNAs, DNA copy numbers, sequence variations, and epigenetic changes. These genome-wide profiles of the genetic aberrations could reveal the candidates for diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers as well as mechanistic insights into tumor development and progression. Recent efforts to establish the huge cancer genome compendium and integrative omics analyses, so-called "integromics", have extended our understanding on the cancer genome, showing its daunting complexity and heterogeneity. However, the challenges of the structured integration, sharing, and interpretation of the big omics data still remain to be resolved. Here, we review several issues raised in cancer omics data analysis, including NGS, focusing particularly on the study design and analysis strategies. This might be helpful to understand the current trends and strategies of the rapidly evolving cancer genomics research.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.515-521
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• 2013

건강 관리에 있어서 서양의학과 한의학의 접근 방법의 차이는 자연과 인간의 이해에 대한 문화적인 차이에서 비롯된다. 서양의학에서는 자연과 인간을 분리하고 인간 또한 여러 하위 시스템으로 나누고, 질병을 외부의 자극에 대한 반응이 적절하지 못하여 초래되는 것으로 보고 질병이 발생되면 시스템 별로 진단하여 치료해 왔다. 반면, 한의학의 경우 자연과 인간을 하나로 보고 인간의 건강을 자연과의 조화로운 상태로 규명하고 질병이 발생하기 전에 건강의 균형을 유지하기 위한 면역 기능을 높이는 예방적 치료를 주로 해왔다. 이러한 인간에 대한 근본적인 접근방법의 차이는 의료 전달체계를 양분화 시키고 상호 의사소통의 어려움을 야기했으나 통합 의료 서비스는 두 가지 의학의 장점을 살리고 최상의 치료 효과를 지향하는 시도라고 할 수 있다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 특정 질환인 황달에 대해 한의학적 분류 (습증, 열증)에 따른 서양의학에서 사용하는 혈액학적 검사수치를 통계적 분석기법을 사용하여 살펴보고 차이가 있는 수치를 살펴봄으로써 통합의료적 환자 진단과 치료에 적용할 수 있는 접근 방법을 살펴보고자 한다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.419-421
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study was to introduce the concept of health inequalities, and to discuss the underlying assumptions and ethical backgrounds associated with the issue, as well as the theoretical and practical implications of health inequalities. Methods : Based on a review of the literature, we summarize the concepts of health inequalities and inequities and discuss the underlying assumptions and ethical backgrounds associated with these issues from the view of social justice theory. We then discuss the theoretical and practical implications of health inequalities. Results : Health inequality involves ethical considerations, such as judgments on fairness, and it could provide a sensitive barometer to reflect the fairness of social arrangements. Discussion on health inequalities could deepen our understanding of the social etiology of health and provide a basis for the development of comprehensive and integrative social policies. Conclusions : Health equity is not a social goal in and of itself, but should be considered as a part of a broader effort to seek social justice.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.79-85
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• 2015

Objectives: A vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is characterized by back pain and fracture of a vertebral body on spinal radiography. VCFs of the thoraco lumbar spine are common in the elderly. In general, appropriate analgesics should be prescribed to reduce pain and, thus, promote early mobilization. The ideal treatment approach for VCFs has not been determined. In Korea, acupuncture and herbal medication have been used to treat VCFs for many years. There is empirical evidence that acupuncture might benefit patients with a VCF. However, no randomized, controlled, clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and the safety of acupuncture for treating a VCF have been published. Therefore, we designed a randomized, controlled, pilot, clinical trial to obtain information for the design of a further full scale trial. Methods: A five week protocol for a randomized, controlled, pilot, clinical trial is presented. Fourteen patients will be recruited and randomly allocated to two groups: a control group receiving interlaminar epidural steroid injections once a week for three weeks, and an experimental group receiving interlaminar epidural steroid injections plus acupuncture treatment (three acupuncture sessions per week for three weeks, nine sessions in total). The primary outcomes will be the pain intensity (visual analogue scale and PainVision$^{TM}$ system). The secondary outcome measurements will be the answers on the short form McGill pain questionnaire and the oswestry disability index. Assessments will be made at baseline and at one, three, and five weeks. The last assessment (week five) will take place two weeks after treatment cessation. This study will provide both an indication of feasibility and a clinical foundation for a future large scale trial. The outcomes will provide additional resources for incorporating acupuncture into existing treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, narcotics and vertebral augmentation. This article describes the protocol.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.169-185
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the effect size for pulmonary function and gait capacity of treadmill exercise in stroke patients. In addition, we aimed to examine the current status of treadmill interventions and compare the effect sizes of treadmill training to provide evidence-based practice for future development and application. Methods : The meta-analysis study was conducted using research articles that applied treadmill exercise to stroke patients and were published between January 2005 and February 2020. For a systematic meta-analysis, we conducted a search using the PICOS framework and selected 25 domestic stroke- and treadmill-related studies. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis program was used to calculate the effect sizes for lung function and gait capacity (6-minute walk test and 10 m walk test). As Cohen's d has a tendency to overestimate the effect size, we used Hedge's g to increase the accuracy in computing the effect size. Results : Based on the results of the meta-analysis, the total effect size of treadmill exercise was 0.535, which was statistically significant, with a medium effect size (p<0.05). The effects of treadmill exercise in stroke patients were divided into dependent variables, namely pulmonary function (0.372) and gait capacity (0.584). In addition, for gait capacity, the effect sizes were evaluated for both the 6-minute walk test (0.756) and the 10 m walk test (0.514). Conclusion : This study provides objective evidence of the effectiveness of treadmill-based gait training programs. We hope that the results of this study will help support the development and implementation of treadmill-based gait training in stroke patients. Treadmill training is expected to improve not only pulmonary function, but also the gait capacity of stroke patients. Long-term investigations on the effects of treadmill training in stroke patients are necessary.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.151-159
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural relationships between fear of missing out, addictive tendencies toward social network services (SNSs), and depression in colleges. Methods : The target subjects were students in colleges across gyeongnam & busan, to whom the purpose of the study was explained and who spontaneously agreed to participate. A survey was conducted with 302 participants over 31 days from March 7, 2022, and data from 299 responses was analyzed. Results : 1. Women felt a higher fear of missing out than men. 2. Women showed greater inability to control their use of SNSs, more SNS-related disorders in daily life, and greater immersion in and tolerance of SNSs when compared to men. 3. Women were more depressed than men. 4. Positive correlations were observed between the fear of missing out and SNS-addictive tendencies, between the fear of missing out and depression, and between SNS-addictive tendencies and depression. Conclusion : A comprehensive review of these findings suggests that women had overall higher levels of isolation fear, SNS-addictive tendencies, and depression than men. Based on this, universities should provide gender-specific educational programs around these issues; this student cohort will ultimately work in healthcare, and this kind of awareness will be essential for treating patients. Considering that the current situation poses unusual challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study's results can serve as basic data for planning educational programs in the future. Over the coming years, comprehensive and continuous education and counselling relating to the fear of missing out, SNS addiction, and depression will be urgently required.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.79-111
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• 2022

Major depressive disorder (MDD) causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It can lead to emotional and physical problems. Treatments such as antidepressant and cognitive behavioral therapy for MDD have many limitations. Traditional East Asian Herbal Medicine (TEAM) is a representative modality of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) which can be used for MDD. However, no study has systematically reviewed the efficacy or safety of TEAM for MDD so far. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate effectiveness and safety of TEAM as a monotherapy for MDD. We only included TEAM that could be used in context of clinical setting in Korean Medicine. Outcomes were the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and total effective rate (TER). After comprehensive electronic search of 11 databases, we included 28 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared HM as monotherapy with antidepressant for MDD. Meta-analysis showed that TEAM had significant benefits in reducing HAMD (MD=-0.40, 95% CI: -0.67 to -0.13, p=0.003, I²=85%) and improving TER (RR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.10, p=0.003, I²=0%). It also appeared to be safer than antidepressant in terms of adverse effects. Methods used for RCTs were poor and the quality of evidence was graded 'low' or 'moderate'. These findings indicate that the use of HM as a monotherapy might have potential benefits in MDD treatment as an alternative to antidepressant. However, considering the methodological quality of included RCTs, the clinical evidence is uncertain. Further well-designed RCTs are required to confirm these findings.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.286-297
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• 2024

Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to modify its structure, accompanied by its functional changes. It is influenced by learning, experiences, and dietary factors, even in later life. Accumulated researches have indicated that ginseng may protect the brain and enhance its function in pathological conditions. There is a compelling need for a more comprehensive understanding of ginseng's role in the physiological condition because many individuals without specific diseases seek to improve their health by incorporating ginseng into their routines. This review aims to deepen our understanding of how ginseng affects brain plasticity of people undergoing normal aging process. We provided a summary of studies that reported the impact of ginseng on brain plasticity and related factors in human clinical studies. Furthermore, we explored researches focused on the molecular mechanisms underpinning the influence of ginseng on brain plasticity and factors contributing to brain plasticity. Evidences indicate that ginseng has the potential to enhance brain plasticity in the context of normal aging by mediating both central and peripheral systems, thereby expecting to improve age-related declines in brain function. Moreover, given modern western diet can damage neuroplasticity in the long term, ginseng can be a beneficial supplement for better brain health.