• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2007

Background: While restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder, many patients are still remained undiagnosed and clinical data on Asian RLS patients is still limited in amount. Thus, we aimed to describe the clinical spectrum of Korean patients with RLS. Methods: We assessed the clinical characteristics of 77 consecutive RLS patients (43 men, mean age $59.1{\pm}14.9years$; 34 women, mean age $59.3{\pm}14.7years$) followed up by us for at least one and a half years. Results: The mean age at onset of symptoms was $56.4{\pm}14.1$. Two patients (2.6%) developed RLS before the age of 20 years (early-onset RLS). In 44 patients (57.1%), no underlying cause of RLS was found (idiopathic RLS). Family history for RLS was positive only in two (4.5%) of the 44 idiopathic RLS patients. The mean age of patients with idiopathic RLS was $56.8{\pm}13.1$ and that of patients with symptomatic RLS was $60.9{\pm}14.3$. However, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (p=0.196). All patients complained sensory and motor symptoms in legs, and additional patients (14.3%) also had symptoms in arms. Two significant complications of long-term treatment with dopaminergic agents, namely augmentation and rebound of symptoms, were only reported in two patients. No patient had been diagnosed as RLS before evaluated by us. Conclusions: Our study had some limitations because limited number of patients was enrolled during a fixed period of follow-up in single third referral hospital. However, our findings suggest there are differences in the clinical characteristics of RLS and long-term responses to dopaminergic agents between patients in Korea and western countries.

• Translational and Clinical Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.118-127
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• 2018

The safety and efficacy of fimasartan have been evaluated through post-marketing surveillance in real world clinical practice. The multi-center, prospective, open-label and non-interventional study. A total of 3,945 patients (3,729 patients for safety assessment and 3,473 patients for efficacy assessment) were screened in patients with essential hypertension in 89 study centers from 9 September 2010 through 8 September 2016. Among the total patients, 2,893 patients (77.6%) were administered fimasartan for 24 weeks or longer and were classified as 'patients with long-term follow-up', and the additional safety and efficacy analysis were performed. The improvement was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) controlled to ${\leq}140mmHg$ or decreased SBP differences ${\geq}20mmHg$ after treatment or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) controlled to ${\leq}90mmHg$ or decreased DBP differences ${\geq}10mmHg$ after treatment. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reported in 3.8% patients; dizziness, and hypotension were the most frequently reported ADRs in total patients. The results of patients with long-term follow-up were comparable with total patients. The overall improvement rate in all efficacy assessment at the last visit was 87.1% (3,025/3,473 patients). The overall improvement rate of the patients with long-term follow-up was 88.9%. Fimasartan was well tolerated, with no new safety concerns identified and an effective treatment in the real world clinical practice for Korean patients with hypertension.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.176-184
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• 2002

Objective; Antistress effect of Korean red ginseng (RG) on postmenopausal women with severe climacteric syndrome (CS) were evaluated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine and Western medicine. Methods; All patients with CS were treated with daily oral administration of 6g RG for 30 days. Nine patients with CS were evaluated with the use of diagnostic scores for KI-deficiency (deficiency of vital energy) and OKETSU (blood stagnation) syndrome from the viewpoint of KAMPa-medicine. In the same patients with CS, peripheral blood levels of $\beta$-endorphin and total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (t-PAI-1) were measured before and after treatment with RG. In another group, 12 patients with CS, psychological test using CMI, STAI and SDS were performed from the viewpoint of Western medicine. Stress related hormones, such as ACTH, cortisol and DHEA-S in those 12 patients with CS were also measured before and after treatment with RG. Results; KI-deficiency score and OKETSU score in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.001) higher than those in patients without CS. After treatment with RG, both scores were markedly (p<0.001) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. ${\beta}-endorphin$ levels in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. Total PAI-I levels in patients with CS were increased before treatment with RG. No significant difference, however, were observed between patients with and without CS. After treatment with RG, both levels of ${\beta}-endorphin$ and total PAI-l in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. CMI and STAI scores in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. SDS scores in patients with CS were also markedly (p<0.001) higher than in those without CS. After treatment with RG, all scores decreased within normal range. DHEA-S levels in patients with CS were about a half of those without CS. Consequently, cortisol/DHEA-S (C/D) ratio was significantly (p<0.001) higher in patients with CS than in those without CS. Although the decreased DHEA-S levels were not restored to the levels in patients without CS, the C/D ratio decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment with RG. Conclusion; Reinforcement of vital energy and improvement of stagnant blood circulations by oral administration of RG were elucidated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine. From the viewpoint of Western medicine, effect of RG on postmenopausal women with CS seemed to be brought about in part by not only an improvement of psychoneuroendocrine dysfunctions but also an amelioration of blood coagulation systems.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.300-311
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• 2022

Purpose: Dysphagia, vomiting and feeding difficulties are common symptoms, with which children present. Esophageal function testing with high resolution manometry can help in diagnosing and treating these patients. We aim to access the clinical utility of high-resolution manometry of esophagus in symptomatic pediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review was done on all symptomatic patients who underwent esophageal high-resolution manometry between 2010 and 2019 at Sydney Children's Hospital, Australia. Manometry results were categorized based on Chicago classification. Demographic data, indication of procedure, manometric findings, and details of treatment changes were obtained and analyzed. Results: There were 62 patients with median age of 10 years (9 months-18 years). The main indication for the procedure was dysphagia (56%). Thirty-two percent of patients had a co-morbid condition, with esophageal atresia accounting for 16%. The majority (77%) of patients had abnormal manometry which included, ineffective esophageal motility in 45.2%. In esophageal atresia cohort, esophageal pressurization was seen in 50%, aperistalsis in 40% and 10% with prior fundoplication had esophago-gastric junction obstruction. Patients with esophago-gastric junction obstruction or achalasia were treated by either pneumatic dilation or Heller's myotomy. Patients with ineffective esophageal motility and rumination were treated with a trial of prokinetics/dietary texture modification and diaphragmatic breathing. Conclusion: Esophageal high-resolution manometry has a role in the evaluation of symptomatic pediatric patients. The majority of our patients had abnormal results which led to change in treatments, with either medication, surgery and/or feeding modification with resultant improvement in symptoms.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Reports
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2019

It is important to choose the appropriate treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), because it could affect the prognosis of patients. Chemotherapy is effective in prolonging survival and time to progression in patients with advanced CRC. Adjuvant chemotherapy have been reported to reduce the recurrence rate of colorectal cancer by 30% in patients with stage 3 or high risk of stage 2 CRC. Although palliative chemotherapy does not offer long-term benefits, as life expectancy remains below 12 months in most of those receiving treatment, recent developments in the treatment including target agents and immunotherapy have improved the median overall survival time in patients with metastatic CRC by up to 30 months. Chemotherapy for patients with CRC is classified into neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and palliative therapy according to the status of patients. In this review, I summarized the chemotherapy for patients with CRC, which applying in clinical practice.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.110-114
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• 2003

Objective; Antistress effect of Korean red ginseng (RG) on postmenopausal women with severe climacteric syndrome (CS) were evaluated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine and Western medicine. Methods; All patients with CS were treated with daily oral administration of 6g RG for 30 days. Nine patients with CS were evaluated with the use of diagnostic scores for KI-deficiency (deficiency of vital energy) and OKETSU (blood stagnation) syndrome from the viewpoint of KAMPO-medicine. In the same patients with CS, peripheral blood levels of ${\beta}$-endorphin and total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (t-PAI-1) were measured before and after treatment with RG. In another group, 12 patients with CS, psychological test using CMI, STAI and SDS were performed from the viewpoint of Western medicine. Stress related hormones, such as ACTH, cortisol and DHEA-S in those 12 patients with CS were also measured before and after treatment with RG. Results; KI-deficiency score and OKETSU score in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.001) higher than those in patients without CS. After treatment with RG, both scores were markedly (p<0.001) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. ${\beta}$-endorphin levels in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. Total PAI-levels in patients with CS were increased before treatment with RG. No significant difference, however, were observed between patients with and without CS. After treatment with RG, both levels of ${\beta}$-endorphin and total PAI-1 in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. CMI and STAI scores in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. SDS scores in patients with CS were also markedly (p<0.00l) higher than in those without CS. After treatment with RG, all scores decreased within normal range. DHEA-S levels in patients with CS were about a half of those without CS. Consequently, cortisol/DHEA-S (C/D) ratio was significantly(p<0.001) higher in patients with CS than in those without CS. Although the decreased DHEA-S levels were not restored to the levels in patients without CS, the C/D ratio decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment with RG. Conclusion; Reinforcement of vital energy and improvement of stagnant blood circulations by oral administration of RG were elucidated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine. From the viewpoint of Western medicine, effect of RG on postmenopsusal women with CS seemed to be brought about in part by not only an improvement of psychoneuroendocrine dysfunctions but also an amelioration of blood coagulation systems.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze chest-trauma patients and the old-aged patients with a traumatic hemopneumothorax. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 101 chest-trauma patients admitted to the department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery from June 1999 to November 2008. We evaluated the general characteristics of the chest-trauma patient, especially those of old-aged patients with a traumatic hemopneumothorax. Results: Rib fracture was observed in 99 of the cases, the location distribution was right: left =261: 255, with right being dominant. Rib fractures commonly involved the 4th and the 7th rib. The average number of rib fractures was 5.1, and the average number of rib fractures in the old-aged patients was significantly higher than that in the non-old-aged patients (p=0.04). There were 17 cases of a hemopnuemothorax in old-aged patients, 52 cases in non-old-aged patients. The blood loss through the chest tube for old-aged patients was significantly more than that for the non-old-aged patients, and the initial hemoglobin level was lower in the old-aged patients. Conclusion: Elderly trauma patients are more likely to die after trauma than other age groups. Even with relatively stable vital signs, invasive hemodynamic monitoring and intensive treatment are recommended.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2013

Objective: Final goal of nerve advancement therapy is to provide maximum ability to function independently in life to patients. This paper appraises and describes basic concepts of the virtual reality (VR) based exercise program to improve functional movement for neurologically impaired patients. Design: Review article. Methods: Stroke patients from the physical therapy department while wearing comfortable clothing receive therapy and also VR based motion therapy administered by the therapist in charge. After evaluation of stroke patients, therapy includes an exercise program that is suitable for use with stroke patients; stroke patients wear head-mounted display while in front of the computer, where the camera is located; they follow the action on the screen and the computer perceives the operation of the stroke patients according to subject accomplishment. Results: According to obstacle condition of stroke patients using the method, which is various environments after setting, in stroke patients, there is a possibility of presenting suitable therapeutic environments. The display presentation of the method, which is identical, causes difficulty for all stroke patients. According to subject accomplishment; stroke patients result in execution of repetition training and deepening study, which leads to mobility. Conclusions: The VR based rehabilitation training programs is a difference of the existing video training program, is immediate feedback and compensation method. It will provide rehabilitation training services for the family of the patient whose condition could be improved with rehabilitative therapy where it is a continuous circumstance as a matter of the social welfare facility therapy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2015

Purpose: To compare the clinicopathological data and long-term survival of gastric cancer patients in China and Korea. Materials and Methods: Patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1998 and 2009 in 2 high-volume institutions in both China (n=1,637) and Korea (n=2,231) were retrospectively evaluated. Clinicopathological variables, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and surgery-related complications were assessed for all patients and compared between the 2 institutions. Results: Chinese patients included in the study were significantly older and had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than the Korean patients. Esophagogastric junction tumors were more frequent in Chinese patients. However, the number of patients with stage I gastric cancer, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and the number of total gastrectomies were significantly higher in the Korean population. Korean patients also presented with fewer undifferentiated tumors than Chinese patients. Furthermore, Korean patients had prolonged OS and PFS for stage III cancers only. BMI, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor invasion, number of positive lymph nodes, and distant metastases were all independent factors affecting OS and PFS. Conclusions: Although China and Korea are neighboring Asian countries, the clinicopathological characteristics of Chinese patients are significantly different from those of Korean patients. Korean gastric cancer patients had longer OS and PFS than Chinese patients. Influencing factors included TNM stage, tumor invasion, and lymph node metastasis.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.662-674
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• 2018

Purpose: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic disease. However, the effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) on ILCs remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of ILC subsets in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients in response to house dust mite (HDM)-specific immunotherapy. Methods: We enrolled 37 AR patients undergoing AIT (16 responders and 11 non-responders) for 2 years, 35 HDM AR patients and 28 healthy subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry to identify ILC subsets. Stimulation of ILC2s with recombinant allergen-specific protein was used to determine ILC2's activation (CD69 expression). Results: Responder AIT patients and healthy subjects had a decreased frequency of circulating ILC2s compared to non-responder AIT and AR patients. Conversely, ILC1s from responder AIT patients and healthy subjects showed increased frequency compared to non-responder AIT and AR patients. The frequency of ILC3s natural cytotoxicity receptor $(NCR)^+$ and $NCR^-$ in responder AIT patients was significantly lower compared to AR patients and healthy subjects. The ILC1: ILC2 proportion in responder AIT patients was similar to that of healthy subjects. PBMCs from patients who were responders to AIT had a significantly lower expression of the activation marker CD69 on ILC2s in response to allergen re-stimulation compared to AR patients, but no difference compared to non-responder AIT patients and healthy subjects. Conclusions: We propose that AIT might affect ILC responses. The activation of ILC2s was reduced in AR patients treated with AIT. Our results indicate that a relative ILC1/ILC2 skewed response is a possible key to successful AIT.