• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

This study analyzes the physiological healing effects on users according to forest types. Forest types are classified into Chamaecyparis obtusa, Quercus serrata and Pinus densiflora and the subjects of this study, 64 hypertensives, 59 diabetics and 59 ordinary people, were tested to observe their physiological effects. The index of physiological reaction comprises electroencephalogram(EEG), heart rate variability(HRV), blood pressure and cortisol level. An analysis of the stress-buffering effect from the physiological reactions of the overall subjects indicates that Quercus serrata forests have a higher stress-buffering effect than others in terms of central nervous, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Chamaecyparis obtusa forests are contributory to soothing stress in the central nervous and endocrine systems. Pinus densiflora forests contribute in some indexes of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. In contrast, Pinus densiflora forests are less influential on a stress-buffering effect than the other two. In the level of the effect for lowering blood pressure, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Quercus serrata forests are more effective than Pinus densiflora forests. Therefore, staying in the first two forests can heighten the healing effect of the lowering of blood pressure for hypertensive patients. Every forest is efficacious to lowering diabetic blood glucose levels. Spending time in Quercus serrata forests is more effective for hypoglycemic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.345-351
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• 2010

Objective : In this study, the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was applied to patients presenting with depression and anxiety after surgery from spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the effects were assessed. Methods : The subjects were patients admitted for cerebral aneurysm rupture and treated by means of surgery from March to December, 2007. More than 6 months had passed after surgery, without any special lesions showing up on computed tomography (CT), and the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) was 5 points. Among patients with anxiety and depression symptoms, 11 patients completed the program. The MBSR program was conducted once a week, 2.5 hours each, for 8 weeks. The evaluation criteria were : 1) the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): it measures the type and level of depression, 2) the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory : the anxiety state of normal adults without mental disorder, and 3) Heart Rate Variability (HRV) : the influence of the autonomous nervous system on the sinoarterial node varies continuously in response to the change of the internal/external environment. Results : The BDI value was decreased from 18.5 ${\pm}$ 10.9 to 9.5 ${\pm}$ 7.1 (p = 0.013) : it was statistically significant, and the depression level of patients was lowered. The state anxiety was decreased from 51.3 ${\pm}$ 13.9 to 42.3 ${\pm}$ 15.2; the trait anxiety was reduced from 50.9 ${\pm}$ 12.3 to 41.3 ${\pm}$ 12.8, and a borderline significant difference was shown (p = 0.091, p = 0.056). In other words, after the treatment, although it was not statistically significant, a decreased tendency in anxiety was shown. In the HRV measurement, standard deviation normal to normal (SDNN), square root of the square root of the mean sum of squared differences between adjacent normal to normal intervals (RMSSD), and total power (TP) showed significant increase, Physical Stress Index (PSI) showed a significant reduction, and thus an improvement in the homeostatic control mechanism of the autonomic nervous system was ween. Conclusion : The MBSR program was applied to the patients showing anxiety and depression reaction after SAH treatment, and a reduction in depression symptoms and physiological reactions were observed. The application of the MBSR program may be considered as a new tool in improving the quality of life for patients after surgery.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.169-188
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of Bunsimgi-eum on the chest discomfort of Hwa-byung's major symptom. Methods : In this randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled study, we planned to give Bunsimgi-eum or controlled medication for major symptoms of Hwa-byung. As preparatory research, 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) for chest discomfort, the Hwa-byung' major symptom was measured as the 1st evaluative instrument, and Likert scale for major symptom of Hwa-byung, Korean State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory(STAXI-K), Korean State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI-K), Korean Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI-K) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) were also measured as the 2nd evaluative instrument at the before treatment. Results : Clinical characteristics-vital signs & demographic characteristics showed no significant difference between both groups. The characteristics of disease-chief complaint, pattern Identification, period, etiological factor, etc, also showed no significant difference between both groups. There were almost no Coincidence between pattern identification & weight of Hwa-byung's major symptoms. The results of Chest PA, EKG and clinicopathologic examination showed no significant difference between both groups. There were no significant difference between both groups in all valuation scales; 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale for chest discomfort, the Hwa-byung' major symptom was measured as the 1st evaluative instrument, and Likert scale for major symptom of Hwa-byung, STAXI-K, STAI-K, BDI-K and HRV. Conclusions : We considered that establishment of experimental group and controlled group was objective and worth conducting this research. And this methodology is expected to be applied to the subsequent research. And also, we hope to make up for this study through various study and discussion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.4
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• pp.530-536
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• 2013

This study aimed to analyze and compare results from psychological relaxations by using profile of mood state (POMS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) level as a scale of oxidative damage before and after walking in the forest and on the street. 29 participations (15 men and 14 women) walked in the forest and on the street for 30 minutes of each for two days. The participations filled a questionnaire for POMS and conducted an heart rate variability test, oxidative damage test (MDA as biological marker through a urine test) before and after walking. To compare the psychological states after walking in the two difference places, walking in the forest showed statistically more meaningful results in the section of tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confuse and total mood disturbance (p<0.01) than walking on the street. According to the MDA results, a concentration of MDA showed significant increase after walking on the street (p=0.014). On the contrary to this, a concentration of MDA tended to decrease after walking in the forest (p=0.076). The study showed that the psychological states were more stable and oxidative damages were more decreasing after walking in the forest than walking on the street. In the conclusion, MDA would be biological indicator for assessing the effect of alleviation on the oxidative stress after walking in the forest.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.583-598
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• 2020

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze deficiency-excess pattern identification and to compare the blood cytokines in patients with asthma. Methods: A total of 112 patients with asthma who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided into deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome groups. Blood was examined for eotaxin, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and heart rate variability (HRV) tests were administered to both groups. Results: Pattern identification divided the 112 patients into two categories: a deficiency syndrome group (N=52) and an excess syndrome group (N=60). Analysis of blood cytokines showed higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the deficient pattern than in the excess pattern group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the HRV revealed a significantly higher mean value for the very-low-frequency (VLF) and high-frequency (HF) bands in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group. The morbidity duration was longer in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the QLQAKA and VAS scores showed a negative correlation, whereas BMI and VAS showed a positive correlation. Conclusions: Levels of blood cytokines, including eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α, did not differ statistically between the deficiency and excess syndrome groups. The development of a more accurate asthma-specific pattern identification tool would be useful in asthma control.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.91-107
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the propensity and find out the Syndrome Differentiation of teeth-mark tongue by taking survey and body examinations with 178 male patients. 164 patients out of 178 were checked up on Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Accelerated Photoplethysmograpy (APG), Body Composition. This study was also planned to find out the distinctive characteristics of teeth-mark tongue diagnosis and compare differences between Qi-Deficiency and Accumulation of Dampness and Phlegm patients group. Methods : The questionnaire was carried out targeting 178 male with teeth-mark tongue respondents among who had Oriental Health Examination and patients from the 3rd oriental-internal medicine department in Dongeui Hospital from $1^{st}$, March 2005 to $30^{th}$, April 2010. Only 164 patients were checked on HRV, APG and Body composition examinations. Results : It showed that 86 patients had Qi-Deficiency and 78 had Dampness and Phlegm but 14 couldn't be categorized. The major symptoms of Qi-Deficiency compared to Dampness and Phlegm were 'Frequent running nose', 'Soft stool', 'Chronic fatigue', and 'Eyestrain'. On the contrary, Dampness and Phlegm's dominant symptoms were 'Chest discomfort', 'Feeling bloated', 'Back pain', 'Feeling sluggish', and 'Itchy skin'. However, all symptoms were not matched with the Syndrome Differentiation of Qi-Deficiency or Dampness and Phlegm. It also showed that teeth-mark tongue patients' frequent symptoms were 'Stuffy nose', 'Feeling bloated', 'Oliguria', 'Shoulder pain', 'Chronic fatigue' 'Eyestrain' and these symptoms were matched with the Syndrome Differentiation of Qi-Deficiency and Dampness and Phlegm. In the results from this study, there were no significant differences between Qi-Deficiency and Dampness and Phlegm. Conclusions : It is hard to conclude that teeth-mark tongue could be only one to diagnose Qi-Deficiency or Dampness and Phlegm with 3 examinations.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.97-109
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• 2010

Objective : To examine whether any correlation between tendency towards depression and tenderness at special acupuncture points exists, thus to explore the potential diagnostic property of acupuncture points. Methods : A total 31 subjects were included in this study. They filled out questionnaires about their mental [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Stress Response Inventory (SRI), Profile of Mood States (POMS)] and physical (fatigue due to overexertion, and food accumulation) symptoms. Identical weight around Alarm points (CV17, CV12, ST25, CV5, CV4, and LR13) and transport points (BL14, BL20, BL21, BL22, BL25, and BL27) was given using an algometer and the subjects rated their pain on an 11-point numerical rating scale. Heart rate variability (HRV) was also measured. Results : The subjects were divided into two groups, normal and depressive tendency groups with a cut-off point of nine on BDI. The depressive tendency group reported significantly higher values in SRI, POMS, and questionnaire for fatigue due to overexertion. In the pressure pain measurement, depressive tendency group had more pressure pain at CV12, left side of BL20, BL14, BL22 and both sides of BL21, BL25, BL27, significantly (each p<0.05). The data of HRV did not show significant differences between groups. Conclusions : People with a tendency towards depression may be prone to stress, negative mood, and fatigue due to overexertion. In addition, they may be more likely to develop tenderness at alarm points and transport points compared with healthy people. Further research is needed to confirm this finding.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2017

This study is designed as a non-equivalent controlled before-and-after quasi-experimental study by having a control group for the effect of the interpersonal caring music activity program in children of single-parent families. Data collection was carried out in 22 children of single-parent families as the study group and in 23 children as the control group recruited from 22 community centers for children located in N city from July to September, 2014. As the study tool, the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was used to measure loneliness, self-esteem scale and the stress response. With the collected data and using SPSS 18.0 for Window program, the Homogeneity test between the study group and the control group was conducted by using t-test and ${\chi}^2$-test while the study hypotheses were verified by analyzing with the independent t-test. The results of the study are as follows. Loneliness and self-esteem of the subjects did not show significant difference in the study groups. The sympathetic nervous system activity (normalized LF) has been lowered and the parasympathetic nervous system activity (normalized HF) has been increased as the stress response, while the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system activity ratio (LF/ HF) score was lowered with significant difference, which had supported the hypotheses. Based on these results of this study, the interpersonal caring music activity program can be utilized as a stress management program for the children of single-parent families during a short period of time.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.87-101
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this experiment was to investigate the influences of Autonomic Nervous System and EEG by conducting Reinforcement-Reduction(補瀉) acupuncture stimulation to compare the changes in acupoints on the body before and after treatment of acupuncture at Xingjian(LR2) being referred as Fire-point(火穴) and Ququan(LR8) being referred as Water-point(水穴) of Yin Liver Meridian(足厥陰肝經). Methods : This study was carried out on 30 healthy female volunteers in their 20's. There were four tests conducted throughout and the period for each test was between 2 to 5days. HRV and EEG were measured for 5 minutes before acupuncture stimulation was conducted on LR2-Reinforcement, LR2-Reduction, LR8-Reinforcement and LR8-Reduction at random. During the 20 minutes of acupuncture treatment, same subjects were measured simultaneously to observe any significant changes in acupoints. Again, the same subjects were measured for 5 minutes after removing the acupuncture in order to perform a comparative analysis. Results : The measurement of HRV showed that LF, LFnorm and LF/HF ratio increased significantly(p<0.05) while HF, HF norm decreased significantly in case of LR2-Reinforcement & LR8-Reduction. Both LR2-Reduction and LR8-Reinforcement induced a significant increase in HFnorm. EEG measurement indicated low $\alpha$ wave decreased and high $\beta$ wave increased significantly at LR2-Reinforcement during post-acupuncture period compared with acupuncture stimulation period. Both LR2-Reduction and LR8-Reinforcement developed significantly low $\alpha$ wave and high $\alpha$ wave. High $\beta$ wave increased significantly at LR8-Reduction during the acupuncture stimulation in comparison with pre-acupuncture period. Conclusions : The manipulation of acupuncture stimulation at LR2-Reinforcement and LR8-Reduction enhanced the activity of sympathetic nerves and the state of arousal while that of para sympathetic nerves declined. On the other hand, LR2-Reduction and LR8-Reinforcement developed the levels of para sympathetic nerves and relaxation.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2009

Objective : SCP-20, a yeast hydrolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has exhibited anti-stress, anti-anxiety, and antidepressant effects in animal studies. The objective of this study was to test the effects of SCP-20 on healthy controls and to assess its effects on stress response, depression and, anxiety. Methods : Sixty-one healthy volunteers (30 male, 31 female) were recruited and screened for significant psychiatric and medical conditions. Baseline measures of stress, anxiety, and depression were taken using questionnaires such as the Stress Response Inventory (SRI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and the physiological measure of heart rate variability (HRV). Each subject was assigned randomly to a group taking capsules containing either 70% SCP-20 (i.e. the SCP70 group), 99.5% SCP-20 (i.e. the SCP99.5 group), or a placebo. Follow up measures were taken at week 4. Results : Subjects taking SCP-20 showed significant improvement in SRI and BAI scores compared to those taking placebo. For BDI scores, there was no significant difference between groups. No significant adverse effects were reported. Conclusions : This study suggests that SCP-20 is effective in alleviating stress and anxiety symptoms in healthy individuals, and has little or no side effects. However, the role of of SCP-20 in alleviating depression needs further clarification. Studiess examining its effects in psychiatric populations are needed to establish its role in alternative medicine.