• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2011

This study aimed to investigate the prescription of antibiotics in clinics, and evaluate their usage appropriateness after the 2000 Korean separation of dispensary from medical practice. A retrospective study was performed on the antibiotic use for 4 years from August 2000 to July 2004 in three clinics (general, internal medicine and ear-nose-and-throat (ENT) clinics). Moreover, prescription of antibiotics for acute upper respiratory infection (AURI), concomitant drugs, duplicate antibiotics and patient adherence were assessed for 260 patients experienced AURI in a pharmacy. The prescription rates of antibiotics amongst the whole prescription decreased annually during the study period, but those in ENT clinic still constituted more than 90%. The usage of penicillins declined, but that of broad spectrum antibiotics such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and 1st/2nd generation cephalosporins increased. Moreover, the categories of antibiotics for the same indication were different among the clinics. For patients with AURI, the more antibiotics were prescribed as its missing days and days under its therapeutic dose increased. The drug interactions with concomitant drugs decreased annually, but the use of duplicate antibiotics was similar across the period. Potential inappropriate antibiotic use was common after the Korean policy, so the observation of pharmacists needs in addition to the patients and practitioners' attention.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.28-41
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic feasibility using pulse parameters as a way to establish safe dose guidelines for herbal prescription containing Ephedra herb (Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey) on weight loss, and to provide a foundation for developing evidence-based guidelines for clinical use. Methods: Forty-two volunteers were recruited to participate in a study examining the changes in pulse wave characteristics following the ingestion of Gambi-hwan, a herbal prescription containing ephedra, over a period of 4 weeks, and pulse wave measurements were taken before and after the administration. Pulse wave parameters were measured in this study using a 3-dimensional radial pulse tonometry device (DMP-Lifeplus). In addition, questionnaire, blood pressure, temperature, and body composition were also measured as secondary measures. Results: Fifteen minutes after administration of Gambi-hwan, the non-adverse event group (non-AE) exhibited a statistically significant increase in several power and pressure-related parameters, including h1, h5, systolic area, pulse area, and pulse width, while the AE group showed a trend of decreasing stroke volume and increasing Radial Augmentation Index (RAI), w, and w/t. After 4 weeks of administration, both groups exhibited significant changes in pulse rate, w/t, RAI, t3/t, stroke volume (SV), and stroke volume Index (SVI). Notably, there are significant differences between AE group and non-AE group in w/t, SV, and SVI. Conclusions: These findings suggest that pulse parameters may be a useful way to establish safe dosing guidelines for weight loss herbal prescription containing ephedra. Further research is needed to confirm these results and to develop evidence-based guidelines for clinical use.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.30 no.1_2
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• pp.117-128
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• 2018

Purpose : To evaluate the usability of plan transfer between TOMO HD and Radixact, we compared the differences of dose in transferred plans by evaluating the dose of normal organ and target. TOMO HDA and Radixact. The completed plans were transferred each other and we compared the differences of dose by evaluating the DVH of each plans. Materials and Methods : We planned 4 different plans assuming the treatment of 2 cases in Head and Neck Cancer and 2 cases Prostate cancer. Each plan was designed so that 95 % of the prescription dose was irradiated over 99 % of the target volume, and the normal organ constraints dose was based on the SMC tolerance dose protocol. Each plan was transferred to each equipment and DVH(dose volume histogram) analysis of the transferred plans was compared and evaluated. Results : The Mean dose of CTV and GTV was increased and decreased in the transferred plans, but there was no significant differences. The target coverage of CTV and GTV was decreased in all cases of transferred plans from TOMO HAD to Radixact, and the change of CI and HI in CTV was within 0.1. Normal organ dose was increased in most cases when transferring from HAD to Radixact in both treatment plans. Conclusion : According to the results of this experiment, the target coverage was above the standard and the normal organ dose was almost same or decreased when transferring the plans from Radixact to HDA equipment. However the target coverage was reduced when transferring the plans from HDA to Radixact and there was an increase in dose in normal organs that could cause sever side effects such as Optic Chiasm ($D_{max}$1.38 Gy), Bladder ($D_{max}$3.07 Gy), Penile Bulb ($D_{max}$1.14 Gy). Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the dose change when transferring the plan and one-time transfer due to equipment inspection will be useful for efficient radiation therapy, but if the transferred treatment plans continue for several consecutive days, the treatment plan should be resumed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2000

WooHwangChungSimWon is a traditional prescription for treating with hypertension, arteriosclerosis, coma, and stroke in China, Korea, and Japan. In the new presciption of WooHwangChungSimWon, the covet is substituted for the musk, the major component of WooHwangChungSimwon, because of the prohibition law about the musk. We have made a comparative study of the effects on the ischemic damage between the musk containing and civet containing WooHwangChungSimWon. In order to investigate the effects of WooHwangChungSimWon on the ischemic damage, each samples were administrated for 12 days, ischemia was induced for 10 minutes at 7th day, and immunohistochemistry was performed in the region of hippocampus of mongolian gerbils. According to the result of immunohistochemistry, the survival rates of neuroal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region are 37.8% in the high dose of musk containing WooHwangChungSimWon (HM-WHCSW) administrated group, 27.8% in low dose of civet containing WooHwangChungSimWon (LC-WHCSW), and 35.5% in high dose of civet containing WooHwangChungSimWon (HC-WHCSW) administrated group. These survial rates were significantly different from the survival rate of sham control group (14.4%). The results suggest that all the samples except the low dose of musk containing WooHwangChungSimWon (LM-WHCSW) have protective or preventive effects on cerebral ischemia.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to survey and test quality control of mammography system. The conclusion of this study is as follows ; First, The rate of pass for phantom image test shows that Film-Screen mammography system(F/S) and computed mammography system(CR) is 80%, Indirect digital mammography system(DR) is 100%. Second, The test of exposure dose shows that F/S is 921 mR. CR is 1,140 mR, DR is 474 mR. The grade of this testament is CR > F/S > DR. Third, The test of average glandular dose shows that F/S is 1,336 mGy, CR is 1,635 mGy, DR is 1,26 mGy. The grade of this testament is CR > F/S > DR. Fourth, The testament of resolution shows as follows F/S is 11~13 Lp/mm, CR is 4~5 Lp/mm, and DR is 5~7 Lp/mm(F/S > DR > CR) Fifth, The survey of projection, cassette, development and reading shows that user are indifference.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-33
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• 2019

Hypercalcemia is often seen in patients, but most of them showed mild to moderate hypercalcemia. The severe hypercalcemia with a blood calcium level of 14.0 mg/dL or more is known to be associated mainly with malignant tumors. Because this is emergency status, most clinicians tried to decrease serum calcium level to near normal range to improve symptoms related to hypercalcemia. A 71-year-old female patient visited the emergency room with dizziness and general weakness. Her serum calcium level was very high (15.6 mg/dL), but serum PTH, 25-OH vitamin D, and PTH related peptide were normal. We can exclude hyperparathyroidism, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, other connective tissue diseases, and hypercalcemia due to malignant tumors as a cause of severe hypercalcemia. Conclusively, we diagnosed as severe hypercalcemia due to high-dose vitamin D injections treated one week ago. High dose vitamin D injections have recently been shown to increase the frequency of prescription as the various causes and the clinicians needed to carefully monitor the serum calcium levels in the patients after treating with high dose vitamin D.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2014

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the adherence, clinical and economical utility of fixed-dose combination tablets of sitagliptin/metformin with concomitant administration of sitagliptin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Adherence was measured as the medication possession ratio (MPR) of ${\geq}80%$, and MPR was calculated as the number of total prescription days divided by the total treatment period. Hemoglobin $A_{1C}$ ($HbA_{1c}$) differences between baseline and predetermined periods were analyzed. Proportions of patients who achieved $HbA_{1c}$ less than 6.5% for three or more consecutive times were compared. To evaluate cost-effectiveness, prices of sitagliptin, metformin and sitagliptin/metformin tablets were investigated. Results: More than 90% of patients showed adherence in both groups (92.0% in fixed-dose combination group vs 95.9% in concomitant administration group), and there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.113). Proportion of patients with HbA1c less than 6.5% for three or more consecutive times tended to be somewhat higher in fixed dose combination group than in concomitant administration group without a statistically significant difference (32.6% vs. 28.0%, P = 0.344). Total price of metformin and sitagliptin was cheaper up to 222 KRW in the case of fixed-dose combination tablets compared to the case of concomitant administration. Conclusion: The sitagliptin/metformin fixed-dose combination tablet had a similar patient adherence and was not significantly different in efficacy to the concomitant administration of each component. In terms of drug prices, fixed-dose combination tablets were cheaper than concomitant administration of each tablet.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.263.2-264
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• 2002

SPH-l is a herbal medicine composing oriental prescription. We have studied the antidiabetic effect and mechanism of SPH-l in insulin-resistant diabetic db/db mice. Mice were grouped and treated for 3 weeks as follows: control group was administrated with tap water orally: treated group was administrated with SPH-l orally at dose of 500 mg/kg. SPH-l lowered plasma glucose level by 67% as compared to the diabetic control (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.260.2-260.2
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• 2002

SPH-2 is a herbal medicine composing oriental prescription. We have studied the antidiabetic effect and mechanism of SPH-2 in insulin-resistant diabetic db/db mice. Mice were grouped and treated for 3 weeks as follows: control group was administrated with tap water orally: treated group was administrated with SPH-2 orally at dose of 500 mg/kg. SPH-2 lowered plasma glucose level by 43% as compared to the diabetic control. Total cholesterol. triglyceride and free fatty acid were all reduced in SPH-2 treated group. (omitted)

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 2010

Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica have been used as oriental medicine for removal of fever, alleviation of pain, an anti-phlogistic effect and removal of extravasated blood. However, it has been never shown the effects of these herbal medicines on anti-inflammatory processes. This experiment was performed to show how these herbs could act as anti-inflammatory medicines at cellular level. Anti-inflammation effects of water extracts from Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica as well as their mixture have been investigated, and the results were follows; 1) each extract slightly suppressed the expression and production of inflammatory mediators and enzymes such as NO, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-$\alpha$ in lipopolysaccharid(LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and mouse primary peritoneal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. These suppressive effects, however, were synergistically increased by their mixture. 2) Each extract of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica insignificantly suppressed the activation and activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, which controls the expression of inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-$\alpha$. However, extract mixture of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica suppressed effectively the activation and activity of NF-${\kappa}B$. 3) Each of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica induced translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ to the nucleus from the cytosol and DNA-binding activity of nuclear NF-${\kappa}B$ in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. The extract mixture of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica showed more significant suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$ translocation and its DNA-binding activity, as compared to those of the each extract. These results suggest that the extract mixture of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica may affect different control mechanisms for NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the expression and production of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory mediators, indicating that this extract mixture may be useful for treatment of inflammatory diseases.