• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1199-1210
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between patterns determined by pattern identification of functional dyspepsia (FD) and tongue features, including tongue coating and tooth marks, in FD patients. Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 68 FD patients who visited the Department of Digestive Diseases of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. The subjects were evaluated with a computerized tongue image acquisition system (CTIS) and by pattern identification of FD. Measurement included the percentage of tongue coating, tooth mark levels, and pattern scores. Results: Statistically significant negative correlations were noted between the scores of the pattern of 'spleen and stomach deficiency and cold' (SSDC) and the percentage of tongue coating in whole, center, and root of the tongue body. However, no other patterns were correlated with any parameter measured by CTIS. No significant difference was noted in the percentage of tongue coating and the tooth mark level between the patterns. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the pattern of SSDC was significantly associated with the percentage of tongue coating. We suggest that the percentage of tongue coating could be a useful indicator for identifying the degree of patterning of SSDC in patients with FD.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.645-660
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• 2023

Objectives: This study analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) who received Korean medicine treatment. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and prescribed treatments. The clinical records of 192 patients who visited Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital for FD from May 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023, were analyzed. In addition, the distribution of pattern identification and symptom type according to body mass index (BMI), as well as prescription history, were analyzed. Results: As the degree of obesity increased, the proportion of Spleen-Qi deficiency pattern patients decreased (p=0.012), and the proportion of damp-phlegm pattern patients increased (p=0.000). Additionally, as the degree of obesity increased, the proportion of patients with excess differentiation increased (p=0.002). The PDS (Postprandial distress syndrome) symptom type was significantly more frequent in the underweight and normal groups than in the overweight and obese groups, and the EPS (Epigastric pain syndrome) symptom type was more frequent in the overweight and obese groups. Regardless of the type of pattern identification, the most frequently used prescriptions were Naesowhajung-tang, Hanshin Naeso-san, and Sojeokgunbi-hwan granule. Conclusion: This study analyzed the medical records of patients with FD to elucidate the use of Korean medicine treatments. Our study is meaningful in that we found that the distribution of pattern identification and symptom patterns are linked to the degree of obesity in FD patients and identified the tendency for herbal medicine treatments to be prescribed in clinical practice.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2004

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a heterogeneous group of inherited muscle disorders caused by the mutations of different genes encoding muscle proteins. In the past, when the molecular diagnostic techniques were not available, the subtypes of muscular dystrophies were classified by the pattern of muscle weakness and the mode of inheritance, and LGMD had been considered as a 'waste basket' of muscular dystrophy because many unrelated heterogeneous cases with 'limb-girdle' weakness were put into the category of LGMD. With the advent of molecular genetics at the end of the last century, it has been known that there are many subtypes of LGMD caused by the mutation of different genes, and now, LGMD is classified according to the results of the linkage analysis and the genes or proteins affected. Only small proportion (probably less than 10%) of LGMD is dominantly inherited, and autosomal dominant LGMD (AD-LGMD) consists of six subtypes (LGMD1A to 1F) so far. In autosomal recessive LGMD (AR-LGMD), more than 10 subtypes (LGMD2A to 2J) have been linked and most of the causative genes have been identified. Among AR-LGMDs, LGMD2A (calpain 3 deficiency), 2B (dysferlin deficiency), and sarcoglycanopathy (LGMD2C-2F) are major subtypes. The defective proteins in LGMDs are components of nuclear envelope, cytosol, sarcomere, or sarcolemma, and seem to play a different role in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy. It is notable that many causative genes of LGMDs are also responsible for other categories of muscular dystrophy or diseases affecting other tissue. However, by which mechanism they produce such a broad phenotypic variability is still unknown. The identification of mutation in the relevant gene is confirmative for the diagnosis, and is essential for genetic counseling and antenatal diagnosis of LGMD. Because many different genes are responsible for LGMD, differentiation of subtypes using immunohistochemistry and western blotting is the essential step toward the detection of mutation. For the effective research and medical care of the patients with muscular dystrophy in Korea, a research center with a medical facility supported by the government seems to be needed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.311-317
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• 2002

This study was performed to investigate the pancreatic exocrine dysfunction in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Changes in pancreatic enzymes secretion and in pancreatic enzymes content were observed. The output and the tissue content of amylase were significantly reduced in diabetic rats, while the output and the content of lipase were increased. Plasma secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations of diabetic rats were significantly increased compared to those of normal rats. The altered pancreatic exocrine function was abolished by the exogenous insulin administration. The exogenous insulin also restored the increased plasma secretin and CCK concentrations. From the above results, it is suggested that, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, anticoordinated changes in pancreatic enzymes secretion as well as pancreatic enzymes content are attributable to insulin deficiency and that the insulin deficiency is responsible for the increased plasma concentrations of both secretin and CCK. However, it is not clear whether the elevated plasma secretin and CCK concentrations played a direct role in changes of pancreatic exocrine function.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2001

To investigate C and N metabolisms in response to potassium-deficient stress during regrowth of Italian ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum L.), C and N metabolites were analyzed at day 0 (cutting date), 6, 12 and 24 days after defoliation. K-sufficient (control, +K) and K-absent (-K) nutrition solutions were applied from 7 days before defoliation, and continued for one cycle of 24 days-regrowth period. During 24 days of regrowth dry matter of regrowing shoots and remaining tissues were not significantly different between +K and -K treatment. In remaining stubble, all C compounds in both +K and -K treatment largely decreased (69% to 84% of the initial level) during the first 6 days of regrowth, and then rapidly recovered. The decline of soluble sugars and fructan in roots for the first 6 days much less in the -K medium. Amino acids, soluble and insoluble proteins in stubble also feel down during the first 6 days, thereafter actively replenished in both +K and -K treatment. The decline of nitrate in stubble prolonged to 12 days of regrowth. Initial amounts of all N compounds in roots were significantly lower in the -K medium. Higher accumulation of amino acids and soluble protein in roots in the -K medium was observed after 12 days of regrowth. In regrowing shoots, 3 all carbohydrates increased with a very similar pattern for both treatments. Nitrate was not significantly different between two treatments. Depress of soluble protein accumulation in -K medium was noteworthy after 12 days of regrowth. These results indicated that an active utilization of organic reserves occurred to support regrowth even under K deficient condition with a similar extent with K sufficient condition.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.525-540
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• 1997

The present study tested the hypothesis that maturation of the prefrontal lobes is a crucial factor determining the performance of scientific reasoning tasks, Functions of the prefrontal lobes, such as activating relevant information, sequential planning and monitoring, and inhibiting irrelevant information, are related thinking patterns with scientific reasoning. Therefore, we inferred the idea that the prefrontal lobes play an important role in scientific reasoning. To test the hypothesis. the present study investigated a prefrontal lobe patient's task solving procedures in scientific reasoning tasks and the correlation and regression analysis between a test of prefrontal lobe function and two scientific reasoning tasks, The perseverative errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) was used as a measure of the prefrontal lobe function, The Melinark Type Task and the Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning were used as measures of scientific reasoning abilities. Ages and Group Embedded Figure Test were also used as measures of two alternative hypotheses, general maturation and field independency respectively. The prefrontal lobe patient showed a crucial deficiency in solving scientific reasoning tasks. In the tasks, the patient could not used the reasoning of If... and... then... therefore pattern. In correlation study, the perseveration errors of the WCST showed a significantly negative correlation with two scientific reasoning tasks. Multiple regression study also showed that the perseveration errors measured as a function of the prefrontal lobes have more contribution to scientific reasoning ability than contributions of alternative hypotheses. Therefore, the present study supported the hypothesis that prefrontal lobes play a crucial role in scientific reasoning ability, What function of the prefrontal lobes do play crucial role in scientific reasoning? The present study provided an explanation for the question, which inhibiting ability of the prefrontal lobes is responsible for the scientific reasoning ability, in a part at least. That is, perseverative tendency in task-solving procedures causes a deficiency of an ability to inhibit the wrong information to solve a task. The present study provided a possibility of neuropsychological approach in science education research. The present study also showed an importance of the prefrontal lobe development in the performance of scientific reasoning task.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.845-851
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• 2003

The objective is to establish the standard of criteria for differential diagnosis of signs and symptoms. This study selected signs and symptoms related to heart which stands for Fire(火) as a kind of five phase(五行). Eleven experts was asked to evaluate the adequateness of criteria which was developed by Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine(KIOM) and to suggest the amendment of them. To implement the study, we used the questionnaire which asks about the diagnosis criteria for an insufficiency of the heart-qi(心氣虛證), deficiency of the heart blood(心血氣證), deficiency of the heart-yin(心陰虛證), insufficiency of the heart-yang(心陽虛證), exuberant fire due to hyperactivity of the heart(心火亢盛證), stagnation of the heart blood(心血瘀阻證), heart disturbed by phlegm-fire(痰火擾心證), attack of the heart by retainedfluid(水氣凌心證). Every criteria consists of primary symptoms, secondary symptoms, tongue findings. and pulse findings. In perspectives of the classification of patterns for signs and symptoms and criteria for diagnosis, the result shows that the previous standard doesn't have so many problem. So many of experts were agree with the criteria which was suggested but the trend is that they use, in their actual practice, less than the criteria. Additionally, they pointed that every element in a criterion should have the different weight value, criteria for the overlapped pattern should be added, and, in future, criteria which are based on clinical investigation should be established.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.80-94
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the importance of questions of obesity syndrome differentiation (OSD) questionnaire based on real-world survey and to explore the possibility of simplifying OSD types. Methods: The OSD frequency was identified, and variance threshold feature selection was performed to filter the questions. Filtered questions were clustered by K-means clustering and hierarchical clustering. After principal component analysis (PCA), the distribution patterns of the subjects were identified and the differences in the syndrome distribution were compared. Results: The frequency of OSD in spleen deficiency, phlegm (PH), and blood stasis (BS) was lower than in food retention (FR), liver qi stagnation (LS), and yang deficiency. We excluded 13 questions with low variance, 7 of which were related to BS. Filtered questions were clustered into 3 groups by K-means clustering; Cluster 1 (17 questions) mainly related to PH, BS syndromes; Cluster 2 (11 questions) related to swelling, and indigestion; Cluster 3 (11 questions) related to overeating or emotional symptoms. After PCA, significant different patterns of subjects were observed in the FR, LS, and other obesity syndromes. The questions that mainly affect the FR distribution were digestive symptoms. And emotional symptoms mainly affect the distribution of LS subjects. And other obesity syndrome was partially affected by both digestive and emotional symptoms, and also affected by symptoms related to poor circulation. Conclusions: In-depth data mining analysis identified relatively low importance questions and the potential to simplify OSD types.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.407-415
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status of hospitalized North Korean refugees in a department of Korean internal medicine. Methods: From March 1st, 2011 to June 30th, 2014, 57 North Korean refugee patients were hospitalized 96 times in a department of Korean internal medicine. Their demographic and medical information was approached retrospectively. Results: Among the 57 North Korean refugees, 46 (80.7%) were women, 11 (19.3%) were men and their average age was 49.7. Except for 3 people, the other 54 (94.7%) have been to an outpatient hospital of Department of Western Medicine, National Medical Center. Orthopedics, Neurology and Gastroenterology were most frequently visited and hospitalized. Among the total 96 times of hospitalization in a Department of Korean internal medicine, low back pain was the majority chief complaint. Among the 96, 78 (80.4%) took herbal medicine and tonifying and replenishing formula (補益劑) was most frequently prescribed. As western medication, 32 (33.0%) took ones related to the musculo-skeletal system and 30 (31.0%) took ones related to the nervous system. Qi stasis was highest among 8 types of pattern identification and Deficiency pattern (虛症) was more frequent than Excess pattern (實證). Conclusions: There are several factors that have aggravated the health status of North Korean refugees, and Korean medicine can perform a proper role to improve their health.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 2015

Objectives : We performed a clinical study to investigate characteristics of pattern identifications using nasal endoscopy for allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods : We assessed 32 patients with allergic rhinitis using nasal endoscopy, classifications of allergic rhinitis and it's impact on asthma (ARIA) and total nasal symptom score (TNSS). Results : The watery rhinorrhea score of nasal endoscopy was significantly high in 'persistent and moderate/severe' group (P<0.05). Patients were classified as rhinorrhea group and nasal obstruction group according to nasal endoscopy. TNSS and rhinorrhea score was significantly high in rhinorrhea group (P<0.05). Conclusions : The result may provide that the watery rhinorrhea of nasal endoscopy is useful as 'Cold' and 'Deficiency' pattern identification diagnostic tool.