• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.347-353
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• 2018

There are some controversies about the safety of herbal medicine. In order to examine the safety of herbal medicine, this study investigated the level of liver function test(AST/ALT) in patients taking herbal medicine for more than 6 months We checked liver function in 121 patients who took herbal medicine for more than 6 months. AST/ALT were measured before treatment and every 3 months (from 3 month to 9 month). In 121 patients taking herbal medicine for more than 6 months, mean AST level after 6 months was lower than before treatment and mean ALT level after 6 months was lower than before treatment. In 20 patients with abnormal AST/ALT before herbal treatment, 18 patients's AST/ALT changed to normal after 6 month herbal treatment. 2 patients's AST/ALT was slightly higher than normal. One woman patient met the criteria for herb-induced liver injury(HILI) with RUCAM scores 4 after taking herbal medicine for 6 months. Although her RUCAM score decreased to zero after taking herbal medicine for 9 months. This study suggests that long-term herbal medicine for 6 months or longer is very unlikely to injury liver function. Individual-specific liver damage may occur, it can be recovered.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2018

Tenofovir nanoparticles are novel therapeutic intervention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reaching the virus in their sanctuary sites. However, there has been no systemic toxicity testing of this formulation despite global concerns on the safety of nano drugs. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the toxicity of Tenofovir nanoparticle (NTDF) on the liver and kidney using an animal model. Fifteen adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats maintained at the animal house of the biomedical resources unit of the University of KwaZulu-Natal were weighed and divided into three groups. Control animals (A) were administered with normal saline (NS). The therapeutic doses of Tenofovir (TDF) and nanoparticles of Tenofovir (NTDF) were administered to group B and C and observed for signs of stress for four weeks after which animals were weighed and sacrificed. Liver and kidney were removed and fixed in formal saline, processed and stained using H/E, PAS and MT stains for light microscopy. Serum was obtained for renal function test (RFT) and liver function test (LFT). Cellular measurements and capturing were done using ImageJ and Leica software 2.0. Data were analysed using graph pad 6, p values < 0.05 were significant. We observed no signs of behavioural toxicity and no mortality during this study, however, in the kidneys, we reported mild morphological perturbations widening of Bowman's space, and vacuolations in glomerulus and tubules of TDF and NTDF animals. Also, there was a significant elevation of glycogen deposition in NTDF and TDF animals when compared with control. In the liver, there were mild histological changes with widening of sinusoidal spaces, vacuolations in hepatocytes and elevation of glycogen deposition in TDF and NTDF administered animals. In addition to this, there were no significant differences in stereological measurements and cell count, LFT, RFT, weight changes and organo-somatic index between treatment groups and control. In conclusion, NTDF and TDF in therapeutic doses can lead to mild hepatic and renal histological damage. Further studies are needed to understand the precise genetic mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2006

Community acquired pneumonia(CAP) is the most prevalent disease among pneumonia patients and progressed to severe pneumonia. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate antibiotic regimens according to guidelines of Infectious Disease Society of America. From January to October 2005, chart review of 50 patients with CAP was peformed in terms of microbiology and laboratory data of each regimen. Temperature, WBC count, ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase of each patient were examined for liver toxicity. In three patients received levofloxacin appeared to have normalized temperature and improved cough. The patients who received cefmetazole -aminoglycoside appeared to have worsen LFT(Liver function test). Many patients in flomoxef-aminoglycoside group received mechanical ventilation because of the basis diseases like tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In conclusion, antibiotic therapy for the treatment of CAP should be selected according to tolerance, bacteria and severity of disease.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.135-142
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• 1985

For the past 10 years, the socioeconomic status of our country was markedly improved. Accordingly, our foodintake patterns and other alt parts are preparing to blance with developed countries. Especially, be westernizing or improving our foodintake patterns, we intake much fat diet(animal food) while our physical activities decrease and alcohol consumtion's population, smoking population gradually increase. For such reasons, the population of obese tendency and cardiovascular diseases are increased. According to recent reports, among all death causes in our country, cardiovascular diseases(hypertension, hypertensive cardiovascular diseases, ischemic heart diseases) occupyd top rank, we know. I(the author) studied the inter-relation between serum cholesterol level which is the important factor of the cardiovascular diseases and essential hypertension liver diseases, hyperglycemia, some cardiac problems which are main decline causes in life insurance's medical assessment, and body weight distribution. Studied samples were selected on 4,313 cases(male; 1,791, female; 2,522) who were tested liver function test from June, 11th, 1980 to Dec., 31st, 1983 on our medical department's laboratory. I selected two groups in those cases: one group was serum cholesterol level 180mg/dl over(11% of whole LFT examed cases: No=502 cases), the other group was serum cholesterol level 120-160mg/dl(No= 502 cases). For convenience, the group of serum cholesterol level 180mg/dl over was "A" the other group was "B", I described. All examed persons of LFT were resident m Tae-Jon city in that time. On the result, 1) Decline rate is 10.5% on the "A" group, 5.9% on the "B" group. "A" group reveals 1.8 times higher than "B" group. 2) On decline causes, Essential hypertension is 4.0 times higher on the "A" group than "B", liver function's abnormalities are 2.0 times higher on "A" group than "B" and other diseases are same on "A" and "B". On the "A" group, essential hypertension is considerably higher than "B" group. 3) On the body weight distribution, the cases of 70kg(B.W.) over is 19.7% on "A", 10.6% on "B" group. Obese tendency is 1.8 folds higher on "A" group than "B" group. Studing the result, we find high serum cholesterol concentration is closely related with essential hypertension, obese tendency and liver function's abnormalities on the life insurance's medical examination part, also. On the future, we will more carefully consider the serum cholesterol concentration on our medical examnination and assessment of life insurance, I think.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2009

1. Objectives: This case study described a process of the patient diagnosed as acute hepatitis A treated by medication based on the Sasang Constitutional Medicine and acupuctural theraphy and obtained improved effects about several symptoms. 2. Methods: We diagnosed the male patient with acute hepatitis A as Tae-Eumin Exterior-Cold-Disease by the Cold in the Esophagus, and administered Mahwangbalpyo-tang and Handayeolso-tang according to clinical progress. And we evaluated the results by liver function test(LFT; AST, ALT, $\gamma$-GTP ), total bilirubin level and the visual analog scale(VAS) of symptoms. 3. Results and Conclusion: Almost symptoms (except for jaundice) at the time of admission were disappeared, and also jaundice (estimated by color of scleras and color of urine) was alleviated. Also level of AST, ALT, $\gamma$-GTP and total bilirubin decreased in laboratory test. We obtained positive effects to the therapy but we considered necessities of further comparative studies with control group.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.75-83
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• 2018

Purpose: To provide effective palliative care, it is important to predict not only patients' life expectancy but their discharge status at a time of inpatient admission to a hospice care facility. This study was aimed to identify meaningful life expectancy indicators that can be used to predict patients' discharge status on admission to the facility. Methods: Among 568 patients who were admitted to the hospice ward of P hospital from April 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, 377 terminal cancer patients were selected. This retrospective cohort study was performed by using performance status, symptoms and signs, socioeconomic status, laboratory findings on admission. Results: Alive discharge was associated with a good performance status that was measured with the Karnofsky and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scales and the Global health and Mental status. Less anorexia, dyspnea, dysphagia and fatigue were also associated with symptoms and signs. Associated laboratory findings were close to normal Complete Blood Cell (CBC) count, Liver Function Test (LFT) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), ECOG, Global health, Mental status, anorexia, dyspnea, dysphagia, fatigue, CBC, LFT, BUN are meaningful indicators when predicting discharge status for inpatients. Further investigation is warranted.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.383-397
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• 2000

Background/Aims: Dong-Moo Lee Jae-Ma(1837-1900) confirmed the sasangchaejil theory based on the sasang-medicine. This theory has been the main-stem of oriental medicine during 100 years in Korea. But rarely anyone has tried to prove this theory systemicaly. So we have a trial to clarify any relationship between the sasangchaejil and the laboratory and clinical results of mass screening tests. Methods: We evaluated the laboratory values of 280 people who had taken many clinical and laboratory tests. The laboratory examinations were complete blood count, liver and kidney function test, ultrasonogram of the abdomen and breasts, gastrofiberscope, many tumor markers body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, and electrocardiogram, etc. Results: 1) Among the 280 subjects, 187/66.8% were sowumin, 58/20.7% were taewumin and 35/12.5% were soyangin. 2) Those who reacted positive to HBsAb were 22 subjects(62.8%) in soyangin, 57.2% in sowumin and 55.1% in raewumin. But there were no significant correlations. 3) 45 subjects(72.4%) in taewumin had obesity, fatty liver and hyperlipidemia.(P<0.05) 4) 20.6% in taewumin had abnormal LFT suggesting hepatic disease. It was statistically sigificant.(P<0.05) 5) An anemic state was present in women of soyangin and sowumin mostly. Since an iron deficiency anemia is common in women, there were no significant corelations among sasangchaejil. Also urinary tract infectons were common in women. 6) 6 subjects in taewumin(10.3%) had cardiac problems, while only one case(2.8%) occured in soyangin and 7 cases(3.7%) in sowumin. Taewumin was significantly high.(P<0.05) 7) In the case of gastric disease, there was no distinguishable difference among sasangchaejil.(taewumin 37.9%, soyangin 31.4% and sowumin 35.2% rrespectively) 8) There was no significant difference beteen subjects with different blood types using sasangchaejil. Conclusions: There were some significant relationship between sasangchaejil and diseases prevalent to them by the theory of sasang-medicine. But Lee didn't considered the differences of gender, the change of body status according to the development of culture, and circumstances of their lives. Also he didn't consider the existence of infectious agents. Now more systemic study with larger populations are requied.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 1994

Clinical study was carried out on the 64 hemodialysis patients(HD) with chronic renal failure who had been treated from December 1992 to July 1993 in Yeungnam University Hospital. The following results were obitained. In hematologic parameters, MCH was $28.8{\pm}2.0pg$, and MCV was $92.4{\pm}4.7fl$. Result revealed normochromic and normocytic anemia. Mean values of serum ferritin were $657.4{\pm}292.0ng/ml$ in men and $511.5{\pm}370g$ in women. Mean valuses of serum iron were $145.5{\pm}63.7{\mu}g/dl$. Mean values of transferrin saturation was $61.6{\pm}28.4%$. Serum frerritin, serum iron and transferrin saturation were higher in HD group than normal reference. In erythropoeitin treatment group, Hb and Hct were significantly higher than non-erythropoietin treatment group. Amount of transfusion was significantly higher in non-erythropoietin treatment group than erythropoeitin treatment group(p<0.05). Values of iron, transferrin saturation were significantly higher in abnormal liver function test(LFT) hemodialysis group than normal LFT group(p<0.05). Transfusion amounts revealed positive correlation with ferritin(r=0.4675), transferrin satruation (r=0.3823) and iron(r=0.3386)(p<0.05). In conclusion, erythropoietin treatment cna reduce requirement of blood transfusion and transfusion related side effects such as iron overload, hemosiderosis and hemochromatosis.