• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.241-248
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• 2009

Object : Liver cirrhosis is a disease of the liver in which normal cells are replaced by scar tissue. The purpose of this case is to report the improvement of liver cirrhosis after herb-med, acupuncture & moxibustion complex therapy. Methods : We provided herb-med, acupuncture & moxibustion complex therapy to a patient who suffered from ascites and fatigue. We examined LFT & Child-Pugh class to evaluate the effectiveness of oriental treatment. Result and Conclusion : We observed that herb-mod. acupuncture & moxibustion complex therapy decreased symptoms of liver cirrhosis and improved general condition of a patient who suffered from ascites and fatigue. In the LFT result, Child-Pugh class was improved.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2016

Background: Liver cirrhosis causes substantial socio-economic burden and is one of the major severe liver diseases in Korea. Nonetheless, there is only a few studies that analyzes disease burden of liver cirrhosis in Korea. Such study must be carried out due to its increasing need from the invention of new drugs for chronic hepatitis and demand for cost-effectiveness analyses. Methods: Patient sample data with ensured representativeness was analyzed retrospectively to compare the medical costs and uses for patients with compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis. Patient claims data that include K74 and K703 from the year of 2014 were selected. Within the selected data, decompensated cirrhosis patient was identified if complications such as ascites (R18), encephalopathy (B190), hepatic failure (K72), peritonitis (K65), or esophageal varices (I85) were included, and they were compared to compensated cirrhosis patients. Results: 6,565 patients were included in the analysis. The average cost per patient was 6,471,020 (SD 8,848,899) KRW and 2,173,203 (4,220,942) KRW for decompensated cirrhosis and compensated cirrhosis, respectively. For inpatients, the average hospitalized days was 38.0 (56.4) days and 27.2 (57.2) days for decompensated cirrhosis and compensated cirrhosis, respectively. For outpatients, the average number of visits was 8.7 (9.1) days and 5.3 (7.5) days for compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis, respectively. Conclusion: Compared to compensated cirrhosis patients, decompensated cirrhosis patients had higher costs, especially for hospitalization, injection, examination, and drugs administrated within medical institutions.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.1014-1026
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• 2006

Liver cirrhosis is a liverdisease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules. Liver cirrhosis is regarded as a serious health problem with high prevalence in the world as well as in Korea. Liver cirrhosis is an irreversible disease. However, in cases of liver cirrhosis induced by chronic hepatitis B, we should treat the chronic hepatitis B, because it frequently progresses to cirrhosis and hepatoma. We observedimprovements of symptoms and laboratory tests with herb medicine Injinchunggan-tang (茵蔯淸肝湯) in five cases ofliver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B. The serum aminotransferase was preserved within normal value levels for a long time, 3 years to 7 years. However, further study is necessary to determine the effect of herb medicine on liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.380-385
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• 2012

Background: Manganese (Mn) has been found to increase the signal intensity of the globus pallidus (GP) on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI). We performed this study in order to determine the features of liver disease that correlate with pallidal signal intensities. Methods: We assessed blood Mn levels and pallidal signals in T1-weighted MRI in 49 patients with liver cirrhosis and 23 healthy controls. Results: Increased signal intensity in the GP was observed in 30 of 49 (61.2%) patients with liver cirrhosis, with the pallidal index (PI) in patients with Child-Pugh classes B and C differing significantly from the PI in controls. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that blood Mn concentrations and Child-Pugh scores in cirrhotics were significantly associated with increased PI after controlling for other confounders (p<0.05 each). Conclusions: Pallidal signals on T1-weighted MRI are mainly observed in advanced liver cirrhosis. The present study suggests that advanced liver cirrhosis may be a human model for manganism.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-43
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• 1985

Liver cirrhosis is the common cause of death in Korea today. But, if liver cirrhosis Patients were treated in the early stage of the disease Process, they can have a chance to carry their daily lives with prescribed medical and nursing regimens. Each patient has different health beliefs that there is a different Sick Role Behavior in the process of treatment. In order to increase and control the desired patient's Sick Role Behavior, it is important for nurses to understand the health beliefs influencing Sick Role Behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing Sick Role Behavior and provide objective and scientific data to health education, treatment and nursing care. The subjects for this study were 80 Liver Cirrhosis patients selected from in and out patients of the medical department of four University Hospitals in Seoul, Won Joo and Mok Po city. Data was collected from Sep. 18, to Oct. 15, 1984. The measurement tool was the questionaire that developed by the investigator from the literature review based on Health Belief Model. The data Collection was done by interview. Analysis of data was done by use Mean, S.D., ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Stepwise Multiple Regression. The result of study were as follows: 1. The significant influencing variables on the Liver Cirrhosis Patient's Sick Role Behavior in general characteristics were Sex, Marital Status, Educational levels, Family's income and Duration after diagnosis. 2. Between the Sick Role Behavior and Health Belief Model, a) The first hypothesis that the stronger degree of Health Motivation, the higher degree of Liver Cirrhosis Patient's Sick Hole Behavior was supported (r=0.7892, p=0.0000). b) The second hypothesis that the higher degree of perceived susceptibility, the higher degree of Liver Cirrhosis Patients' Sick Role Behavior was supported (r=0.6383, p=0.0000) c) The third hypothesis that the higher degree of perceived severity, the higher degree of Liver Cirrhosis Patients' Sick Role Behavior was supported (r=0.5869, p=0.0000). d) The fourth hypothesis that the higher degree of perceived benefit, the higher degree of Liver Cirrhosis patient's Sick Role Behavior was supported (r=0.7535, p=0.0000). e) The fifth hypothesis that the lower degree of perceived barrier, the higher degree of Liver Cirrhosis Patient's Sick Role Behavior was supported(r=-9.7709, p=0.0000) f) The sixth hypothesis that the higher degree of knowledge in Disease, the higher degree of Liver Cirrhosis patients'lck Role Behavior was supported (r=0.7538, p=0.0000), g) In the correlation among variables, it was found positive correlation except that perceived barrier was negatively correlated. In the Stepwise Multiple Regression and Independent Variables, the factor“Health Motivation”could account for Sick Role Behavior in 62.28% of the Sample (F=128. 786, p<0.01). When the factor“perceived barrier”is added to this, it account for 70.38% of Sick Role Behavior (F=93.479, p <0.01) and the factor“knowledge in disease”is also included, it account for 74.78% of Sick Role Behavior (F=75.131, p <0.01). Finally, when the factor“perceived susceptibility”is included, it account for 75.03% of Sick Role Behavior (F=56.329, p <0.01).

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 1969

Correlation between the blood clearance half time and findings of liver scan using the colloidal radiogold in patients of liver cirrhosis is observed through the scoring system, in which the more changes in size, shape and density in the liver scan, the more points are given (table 1). Results: 1) Within the increase in severity of hepatocellular dysfunction in liver cirrhosis, the degree and frequency of following changes in liver scan (done with colloidal radiogold) were increased in order. a) generalized hepatomegaly b) enlargement of the left lobe & reduction of the right lobe c) relatively increased radiodensity in the left lobe and 4) visualization of spleen. 2) Frequency of the normal scan in liver cirrhosis was $12{\pm}3.56%$, frequency of normal value in blood clearance half time of the radiogold was $5.0{\pm}2.34%$ and frequency of normal scan & normal blood clearance rate in liver cirrhosis was $3.6{\pm}2.06%$.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.358-366
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• 2012

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules leading to loss of liver function. Liver Cirrhosis is most commonly caused by alcoholism, hepatitis B and C, and fatty liver disease, but has many other possible causes. Some cases are idiopathic disease from unknown cause. Abdomen of liver Computed tomography(CT) is one of the primary imaging procedures for evaluating liver disease such as liver cirrhosis, Alcoholic liver disease(ALD), cancer, and interval changes because it is economical and easy to use. The purpose of this study is to detect technique for computer-aided diagnosis(CAD) to identify liver cirrhosis in abdomen CT. We experimented on the principal components analysis(PCA) algorithm in the other method and suggested texture information analysis(TIA). Forty clinical cases involving a total of 634 CT sectional images were used in this study. Liver cirrhosis was detected by PCA method(detection rate of 35%), and by TIA methods(detection rate of 100%-AGI, TM, MU, EN). Our present results show that our method can be regarded as a technique for CAD systems to detect liver cirrhosis in CT liver images.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.41-53
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• 1970

Although the radioisotope liver scan has primarily been of use in the detection of the intra-hepatic space occupying lesions, there has been an increasing awareness of its use in evaluation of liver function. In this study, the degree of hepatomegaly, changes in shape and mottling radiodensity on each lobe and splenic visualization in the liver scans done with colloidal radiogold were numerically expressed as scores under the arbitrary standard in 210 patients with liver cirrhosis. The clinical value of this scoring system was studied with special regards to the correlation between the radiogold hepatic uptake half time and conventional liver function tests. Following were the results; 1) The normal scan appeared in 6.7% of 210 patients with liver cirrhosis. 2) The colloidal radiogold hepatic uptake half time was abnormally and progressively prolonged in parallel to severity of hepatocellular dysfunction. The mean hepatic uptake half time in cirrhosis showing normal scan was $2.76{\pm}0.73$ minutes. 3) The scoring system was well correlated with the serum albumin and globulin levels, A/G ratio and BSP retention. There was some correlative tendency in alkaline phosphatase activity. 4) There was no correlation with the thymol turbidity test, cholesterol levels, transaminase activities and bilirubin levels. 5) The spleen was visualized in 38.6% of total patients with liver cirrhosis. Excluding normal scans in liver cirrhosis, the spleen was visualized in 41.3%. 6) The scoring system appears to confirm the clinical diagnosis and to give a reliable estimate of the degree of hepatocellular dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.295-304
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to investigate the level of family support, alcohol consumption and drinking motives in patients with liver cirrhosis and to examine the relationships among those variables. Methods: The subjects consisted of 60 patients with liver cirrhosis. Family support scale, Q-F methods and Drinking Motives Questionnaire were used to measure the level of family support, alcohol consumption and drinking motives. Results: The level of family support was 43.62. Prevalence of drinking was 90% and 43.3% were currently heavy drinkers. Alcohol consumption was related to sex and education. There were positive low relationships between the level of enhancement motive, coping motive, social motive, and Q-F Index. Conclusion: Alcohol drinking is a serious health problem in patients with liver cirrhosis. It is necessary to have an educational approach for controlling drinking and family support.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.778-783
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• 2012

We report a rare case of non-traumatic spontaneous intramuscular mass of blood stasis, especially gastrocnemius muscle, associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. A 53-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis was admitted to our hospital for ICH. It was improved by Korean Medicine treatments, however, he was complaint of severe pain in left calf. Ultrasound revealed intramuscular hypoechoic mass at the left gastrocnemius muscle and we diagnose it as mass of blood stasis, which is similarly called 'hematoma' in Western medicine. Herbal extracts, acupuncture and indirect moxibustion reduced it, but the effects could not be compared as there were no reports of these kinds. It seems important to consider intramuscular mass of blood stasis as a complication of alcoholic liver cirrhosis and Ultrasound seems to be very useful in diagnosis and observation of intramuscular mass of blood stasis.