• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.419-429
• /
• 2022

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) is a perennial herbaceous plant widely cultivated in China, Korea, the United States, and Japan due to its multifunctional properties. In northwest China, transplanting after 2-3 years has become the main mode of artificial cultivation of American ginseng. However, the effects of the cultivation process on the chemical properties of the soil and bacterial community remain poorly understood. Hence, in the present study, high-throughput sequencing and soil chemical analyses were applied to investigate the differences between bacterial communities and nutrition driver factors in the soil during the cultivation of American ginseng. The responses of soil nutrition in different ecological niches were also determined with the results indicating that the cultivation of American ginseng significantly increased the soluble nutrients in the soil. Moreover, the bacterial diversity fluctuated with cultivation years, and 4-year-old ginseng roots had low bacterial diversity and evenness. In the first two years of cultivation, the bacterial community was more sensitive to soil nutrition compared to the last two years. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes dominated the bacterial community regardless of the cultivation year and ecological niche. With the increase of cultivation years, the assembly of bacterial communities changed from stochastic to deterministic processes. The high abundance of Sphingobium, Novosphingobium, and Rhizorhabdus enriched in 4-years-old ginseng roots was mainly associated with variations in the available potassium (AK), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), and organic matter (OM).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.215-221
• /
• 2020

Background: Panax ginseng has been used for a variety of medical purposes in eastern countries for more than two thousand years. From the extensive experiences accumulated in its long medication use history and the substantial strong evidence in modern research studies, we know that ginseng has various pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and cardiovascular system-protective effects. The active chemical constituents of ginseng, ginsenosides, are rich in structural diversity and exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Methods: Ginsenoside constituents from P. ginseng flower buds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the reported data. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H- tetrazolium bromide method was used to test their cytotoxic effects on three human cancer cell lines. Results: Six ginsenosides, namely 6'-malonyl formyl ginsenoside F₁ (1), 3β-acetoxyl ginsenoside F₁ (2), ginsenoside Rh₂₄ (6), ginsenoside Rh₂₅ (7), 7β-hydroxyl ginsenoside Rd (8) and ginsenoside Rh₂₆ (10) were isolated and elucidated as new compounds, together with four known compounds (3-5 and 9). In addition, the cytotoxicity of these isolated compounds was shown as half inhibitory concentration values, a tentative structure-activity relationship was also discussed based on the results of our bioassay. Conclusion: The study of chemical constituents was useful for the quality control of P. ginseng flower buds. The study on antitumor activities showed that new Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against HL-60, MGC80-3 and Hep-G2 with half inhibitory concentration values of 16.74, 29.51 and 20.48 μM, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.80-90
• /
• 2008

Atopic dennatitis (AD) is one of the major public health problem. It has been reported that the prevalence of AD in children and adults are 10-20% and 1-3%, respectively. Westernization of food habits, urbanization, and environmental pollution are contributing factors toward the recent rise in prevalence. Excessive dietary restriction leads to chronic malnutrition in atopic dermatitis patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) on quality of diet and blood immune parameters in atopic dermatitis patients. The 19 atopic dermatitis patients (7 men and 12 women) admitted to K University Medical Center were studied. During the 12 weeks of intervention, the subjects were given MNT by a dietitian for 30-45 minutes every other week. MNT was comprised with general dietary therapy, intake of balanced meals, emphasis on n-3 fatty acid contents in foods, and food allergies. Anthropometric and dietary assessment and blood analysis were taken at baseline and after 12 weeks of MNT. After 12 weeks of MNT, the subjects' dietary qualities, including dietary diversity score (DDS), meal balance score (MBS) and dietary variety score (DVS) were significantly increased (p < 0.05). According to significantly increased intake of EPA and DHA, dietary n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio decreased to the recommended level for the atopic dermatitis patients (p < 0.05). These changes of dietary fatty acid consumption were reflected erythrocyte fatty acid composition. After 12 weeks of MNT, serum levels of IgE and IL-4 levels were significantly decreased, however, the levers of INF-$\{gamma}$, WBC, lymphocyte and TLC were not changed. As a conclusion, the individualized MNT improved the quality of diet in atopic dermatitis patients thereby influenced RBC fatty acid composition and IgE and IL-4 levels.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.1-30
• /
• 2001

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of team system at university hospitals in Korea. Data were collected from administrative and medical support workers at 4 university hospitals through the self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using frequency analysis, t-test, and oneway ANOVA. The results of this study are as follows. First, teams with higher team management characteristics show higher level of quality of work life and performance effectiveness. Second, teams which consist of members with variety background and skills show higher level of quality of work life and performance effectiveness. Third, team which have the higher autonomy, technology variety, job significance, and feedback show higher team effectiveness. Fourth, team which have team leaders with higher leadership score show higher level of quality of work life and performance effectiveness. Fifth, there are differences in team effectiveness in terms of sicio- demographic variables such as average age, position, and tenure of team members, length of team system, and team size. Sixth, the job autonomy of team members and the leadership of team managers have significant effects on the quality of work life variables. Seventh, the leadership of team leaders, job autonomy of members, and individual contact between team managers and members have significant effects on the team performance variables. In conclusion, in order to increase the effectiveness of team system in university hospitals, it is required to consider the characteristics of team management, diversity of team members, the autonomy of team members, the leadership of team manager, and the socio-demographic factors of team members.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.79-102
• /
• 2003

It has been believed that the human body can be effected by color, sound, smell, and taste - each of them is based on the original character. Out of these elements, the color can be a mediation that absorbs energy into human body and adapts it to the creatures whose life are definitely based on the solar energy. This thesis makes a study of the possibility of applying the color to the oriental medical science by researching the color psychology and therapy which are studied in the west medical science, the recognition and application of color developed from orientalism, and the opinion of color in the oriental medical science. Color therapy is one of the psychological treatment techniques that are able to recover and maintain the health with the rays of the sun rays and the color. The light and the color have its energy that may relax, harmonize, encourage, or excite a human being. This is because the wavelength and the vibration of each color will take effects to human body. The core energy of absorbing and distributing the color vibration is made in the 7 "chakras" in the body, which are the pith and marrow of bio-energy directly connected with the center of the nervous system. There are several methods in the color therapy - the treatment of solar ray, the color-bath, the water-therapy using color energy, the inducement of the solar energy into the body, the acupuncture, the therapy of crystal and jewel, and the self-suggestion dependent upon the color. The color therapy can help us to keep our balance by changing the emotion into the positive energy that will cure the disease with color. As a result, this method not only must be useful to cure physical disease, or develop into good health but also will be used in conforming itself to the mental disease. The color therapy mainly uses the eight colors, which are made by mixing Red, Yellow and Blue basic colors in the field. They are never used in the treatment, but they will go along with complementary colors. This rule is closely connected with the theory of yin and yang which lies at the root of oriental philosophy, and with the treatment principle of oriental medical science whose field is focused on the balancing the body mentally as well as physically. In the East, it is the Obangsaek - the color of blue, red, yellow, white, and black in the theory of yin and yang and the five elements that have been used in helping people having trouble with their health for a long time. In the view of the oriental medical science, these five colors attached the theory of five-elements have been very useful to the physiology, the pathology, or the diagnosis, and been applied to the medical treatment, combining themselves with a five-taste in medicinal herbs. Since the study of color and human physiology has been made in some different interest and fields these days, it goes to prove that the different function of color we couldn't have got before becomes very useful to the medical science. The color must be worth researching the diversity for applying itself to the oriental medical science.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.4.1-4.13
• /
• 2012

When medicine is unable to cure, and the end becomes imminent, or when the patient is tired of the side effects associated with chronic use of drugs, the search for alternative and new ways of healing is begun. Coincidentally, sometimes the alternative is the origin, as is the case for traditional Arab medicine and traditional American Indian healing. Traditional healing is the first healing that all people have used for 200,000 years, since the beginning of Homo sapiens. The sources and elements of traditional Arab medicine have been examined in books and by consulting with traditional Arab healers. Arabic medicine is a career combining both elements of science and philosophy based on religion and traditions, and includes a diversity of healing approaches: spiritual, physical, and using natural products. These approaches are discussed with emphasis on wet cupping (Alhijamah), a practice that is undergoing a revival nowadays in Arab countries. American Indian healing is a career based on religion, tradition, an innate healing gift and extensive training, both in a medical school setting and as an apprentice. Arabic healing approaches are compared to American Indian healing approaches.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.380-388
• /
• 2014

Background: The volume of surgery has been examined as a major source of variation in outcome after surgery. This study investigated the direct effect of surgery volume to in hospitals mortality and the moderating effect of structural complexity-the level of diversity and sophistication of technology a hospital applied in patient care-to the volume outcome relationship. Methods: Discharge summary data of 11,827 cancer patients who underwent surgery and were discharged during a month period in 2010 and 2011 were analyzed. The analytic model included the independent variables such as surgery volume of a hospital, structural complexity measured by the number of diagnosis a hospital examined, and their interaction term. This study used a hierarchical logistic regression model to test for an association between hospital complexity and mortality rates and to test for the moderating effect in the volume outcome relationship. Results: As structural complexity increased the probability of in-hospital mortality after cancer surgery reduced. The interaction term between surgery volume and structural complexity was also statistically significant. The interaction effect was the strongest among the patients group who had surgery in low volume hospitals. Conclusion: The structural complexity and volume of surgery should be considered simultaneously in studying volume outcome relationship and in developing policies that aim to reduce mortality after cancer surgery.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2019

Purpose : Elastic taping is a therapeutic method, used for treatment of various musculoskeletal and neuromuscular deficits. However, there is limited evidence, of the effects of ankle elastic taping in neurologic patients. The purpose of this study, was to investigate the effect of elastic taping on gait, in the affected ankle area of chronic stroke patients. Methods : Subjects were randomized to receive 30 chronic stroke patients, who were 6 months old from the date of onset according to screening criteria. Group I showed ankle joint taping, and Group II had ankle muscle taping. Dynamic balance and temporal and spatial gait, were measured before taping application, and after 30 minutes of taping application. Results : Dynamic balance was measured using the Time up & Go test (TUG). There was statistically significant difference, between Group I and Group II (p<.05). There was no statistically significant difference, between Group I and Group II. Temporal and spatial gait were measured using GaitRite. In Group I, there was significant difference, before and after taping (p<.05). In Group II, there was no significant difference, before and after taping (p>.05). There was significant difference in Group I, between Group I and Group II (p<.05). Conclusion : Results suggest that intervention using elastic taping, may have a positive effect, on rehabilitation diversity and function in stroke patients. Based on this, it can be used for rehabilitation of stroke patients. Various studies on the application method, and effect of the application site as well as application time, should be continued with stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.480-494
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study sought to assess the effectiveness of community-based nutrition counseling on improving nutritional status, managing complex chronic diseases, and enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals with chronic conditions, particularly in older adults with high levels of food insecurity and multiple chronic illnesses. Methods: Thirty elderly subjects with diabetes and hypertension who were registered at local Senior Welfare Center received individualized nutrition counseling, based on their Nutrition Quotient for the Elderly (NQ-E) index. Over a 16-week period, they received tailored counseling and underwent various health and nutritional assessments. The final analysis included 28 participants after two dropped out. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS v28.0. Results: The subjects were over 70, with multiple chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension and predominantly female. After 16 weeks, significant improvements were observed in the subjects' grip strength, and HbA1c levels, as well as in their NQ-E scores, indicating improved dietary balance and diversity. There were no significant improvements in the 'Moderation' subdomain of the NQ-E index, suggesting that this aspect requires further attention in nutritional counseling. The subjects' nutritional risk scores (NSI) were also significantly decreased, indicating less nutritional risk. Lastly, as measured by the SF-36K, the subjects' quality of life showed significant improvement in several domains including physical role performance and social function. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that tailored nutrition counseling, based on the NQ-E index, can improve elderly health, manage chronic diseases, and enhance quality of life. This approach potentially broadens the scope of community nutritionists' roles within an aging society. However, additional research is necessary to evaluate these interventions' long-term effects and sustainability.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.47-79
• /
• 2019

The Korean Society of Law and Medicine has faithfully played the role of professional academic organizations last 20 years in terms of academic activities, accumulated achievements, diversity, professionalism, and influence on academic circles. The Korean Society of Law and Medicine and the Journal of Medical Law serve as a platform for academic information and exchange of opinions on medical law. Medical law began in the midst of increasing conflicts and disputes caused by medical malpractice and the enactment and legal coercion of medical care as pressure on medical workers. It tried to find a way to coexist with each other through the encounter and convergence of medicine and law. Medical criminal law extends from traditional crimes in the realm of life and body protection to bioethics violations caused by the development of biomedical technology, corruption and economic crime in the medical field. Medical law has evolved into a comprehensive legal area dealing with legal issues raised in medical treatment, healthcare, bioethics, and life sciences technology. On the legal side, medical law is not independent legal areas. It is overlapping with traditional law areas such as civil law, administrative law, criminal law, social law, civil and criminal procedure law. However, it is now established as a convergence study in medicine, bioethics, life science, as well as in various fields of law. It has become an area where collaboration is needed with the field of law, medicine, ethics, sociology and economics. Medical criminal law has undergone a dynamic development over the last two decades. The development of medicine and medical technology provides new and innovative methods of diagnosis and treatment. The achievements and risks of revolutionary developments in biotechnology, genetic engineering and medicine coexist. While there is a dazzling achievement that mankind has hoped for: combating disease and improving health, it also creates unwanted side effects and risks to humans. There is a need to reconsider ethical and legal principles. The discovery and development of patient identity and autonomy has changed the medical doctor-patient relationship. Furthermore, it was complicated by the triangle relationship of patients, medical doctors and insurance. Legal matters are also complicated. This is why the necessity of legislation is emerging. Criminal punishment provisions are also required. The Medical Law and Biomedical Law are systematically and coherently deformed as mosaic-based legislation that takes place whenever there are social issues, citizens' needs, and medical organizations' interests, rather than sufficient enactment and revision procedures. It needs a complete overhaul, and this is possible through interdisciplinary collaboration which is the strength of The Korean Society of Law and Medicine.