• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.23-37
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• 2004

Fibromyalgia syndrome(FMS) is a chronic pain disorder of unknown etiology characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches and pains, stiffness, and general fatigue, disturbed sleep and sleepiness. Frequently misdiagnosed, FMS is often confused with myofascial pain syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, hypothyroidism, metastatic carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus, any of which may occur concomitantly with FMS. The management of FMS often begins with a thorough examination and a diagnosis from a physician who is formally trained in tender-point/trigger-point recognition. An initial diagnosis provides reassurance to the patient and often reduces the anxiety and depression patterns associated with FMS. The most common goals in the management of FMS are (1) to break the pain cycle, (2) to restore sleep patterns, and (3) to increase functional activity levels. Because FMS is a multifactorial syndrome, it is likely that the best treatment will encompass multiple strategies. Medication with analgesics and antidepressants and also physiotherapy, are often prescribed and give some relief. The other most effective intervention for long-term management of FS to date is physical exercise. Physical therapists can instruct patients in the use of heat at home (moist hot packs, heating pads, whirlpools, warm showers or baths, and hot pads) to increase local blood flow and to decrease muscle spasm and tension. Also instruct patients in the proper use of cold modalities (ice packs, ice massage, and cool baths) to anesthetize localized areas of pain (tender points) and break the pain cycle. Massage and tender-point massage also may promote muscle relaxation. To date, the two most important interventions for the long-term management of FS are patient education and physical exercise. Lately, is handling FMS and Chronic Fatigue syndrome(CFS) together, becuase FMS and CFS are poorly understood disorders that share similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Because of the clinical similarities between both disorders it was suggested that they share a common pathophysiological mechanism, namely, central nervous system dysfunction.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 1995

This study was designed to identify the severity of anorexia and the diet patterns in receiving chemotherapy. The identification of anorexia would provide useful and basic information to oncology nursing care. The subjects of this study were 102 hospitalized chemotherapy patients in a September 10, 1994. The subjects were 20 years old or above and who agreed to participate in this study and could understand the questionnaire. Three-days diet history were collected and analysed. The study subjects change, food aversions, the severity of anorexia. Data related to demographic and other mecdical characteristics such as age, diagnosis, and medication were collected by review of patient medical record. The results of this study were summarized as follows : 1) The score of anorexia was 73.7 in Anorexia Visual Analogue Scales and mean amount of fool intake per a day was 823cc. The larger the anorexia VAS score, the more severe of anorexia. 2) The food preferences of subjects were identified. Those were aversions, or dislikes the meat such as beef, pork, and chicken, and greesy or fried foods. The Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea were disgusted, also. The patients preferred vegetables and Korean traditional food especially kimchee and soy bean soap. 3) Those who were administered analgesics and cisplatin suffered more severe in anorexia than those who analgesics and cisplatin was not administarted. The patients with gastrointestinal cancer has more severe anorexia than those who have the other site cancer ; head and neck, genirourinary etc. The result of this study in turn provide valuable nursing practice guidelines for nutritional counseling in cancer chemotherapy patient. Nurses working with chemotherapy ward should identify the severity of anorexia and diet patterns. In conclusion, the severity of anorexia in cancer chemotherapy patients is very important problems. Health care personnels recognize the potential problems of anorexia and encourage the nutritional counseling in cancer chemotherapy patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2011

Misinformation and inappropriate use of medication has become one of the most pressing concerns in drug safety. The purpose of this study was to survey public perception on drug safety as well as the channels most relied upon providing such information. The survey was performed for patients or their families visiting pharmacies in a local city in Korea. Analysis was performed from 367 respondents to the survey. The contents of this survey revealed that consumers were aware of the fact that medications should not be taken at any higher dosage or more often than directed by their prescriptions. The survey revealed a general awareness that symptoms might not be relieved immediately by their medications. However, the perception that there could be adverse drug reaction (ADR) at therapeutic dose was low except among the young or highly educated members. Respondents recognized that skin rashes were the most whereas drowsiness was the least common ADR symptom. There was a high awareness of drug-food or drug-drug interactions except in the case of certain nutraceuticals. Doctors and pharmacists were ranked as the most reliable resources to the consumer for providing drug related information. However, public relations or education programs were in need since there were still not negligible numbers of consumers depending on personal experience rather than health professionals.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2018

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can affect many organs of the body but usually affects the lungs. The prevalence of TB in Korea is considerably higher than that in other countries with similar economic levels, and is much higher in elderly people. Pharmacotherapy is important in the treatment of TB and requires relatively high compliance for a prolonged duration. Methods: We analyzed sample data of elderly patients obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We used logistic regression analysis and frequency analysis to identify factors that could affect prevalence of TB in elderly patients, compliance with prescribed medication regimes in these patients, and use of medical institutions. Korean Standard Classification of Diseases, version 7 (KCD-7) was used to diagnose pulmonary TB, and medications were analyzed using Korean standardized drug classification codes. Results: 1,276,331 patients were analyzed in the sample of the elderly population, and 16,658 TB patients were included in the study. The mean age of the TB patients was 76.19 years (SD 6.899). A total of 699 patients were prescribed isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, or pyrazinamide at least once. Of these, 352 (50.4%) were prescribed all four medications and 101 (14.4%) were prescribed only isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol. The mean duration of prescription was 28.75 days (SD 36.13). Conclusion: In the elderly population, old age and poor socioeconomic conditions correlated with TB prevalence. Most patients did not meet the criteria for effective pharmacotherapy of TB.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.230-234
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• 2015

This paper includes a review of 555 drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases analyzed at the National Forensic Service (NFS), South Korea, between 2006 and 2012. The results of toxicological analyses of blood and urine samples were also reported, and furthermore the results were interpreted with respect to the number of drugs detected. The number of DFSA cases was highest during warmer summer months and the mean age of the victims was 25 years, with 48% being between 20 and 29 years. Accommodations or entertainment places were the most frequent place of the sexual assault (57%); and the assailant was a stranger in 72% of the DFSA cases. Drugs were identified in the blood or urine samples in 145 cases (26%) and sedative-hypnotics, such as benzodiazepines and zolpidem, were the most commonly detected, along with sedative antihistamines such as doxylamine and diphenhydramine. The frequent presence of sedative drugs in biological samples tends to implicate their use in chemical submission. However, interpreting the analytical results in terms of voluntary vs. surreptitious administration of drugs requires further detailed investigation and knowledge of the victim's health status and medication used at the time of event.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.34-55
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is to survey the experimental studies for Herbal Medicines of Anti-allergic Effects by reviewing oriental medicine journals. Methods : We collected 48 research papers on Oriental herbal medicines (prescriptions, herbs and aqua-acupunctures) of Anti-allergic effects in the internet site OASIS using the keyword 'Antiallergy'. Then we analyzed them according to published journals, years, and research methods, etc. Results : 48 papers in relation to Oriental herbal medicines of anti-allergic effects have been published in many kinds of journals and shows a tendency to increase every year. There are 23 cases of using herb simplexes, 21 cases of herb-combined prescription, and 4 cases of aqua-acupuncture. Conclusions : This result will provide useful information of field of Oriental herbal medicine for the development of anti-allergic related herb simplexes and herb combined prescriptions. In the future, we have to perform more studies such as clinical trial and research papers on combined medication of the oriental and the western medicines for anti-allergic effects.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2013

Depressive disorders are the most common psychiatric problem in the elderly. Most depression treatment guidelines emphasize treatment with antidepressant medication and recommend that benzodiazepine use be minimized for limited period, particularly to elderly patients. In order to evaluate appropriate use of antidepressants and benzodiazepine, retrospective review of prescriptions was performed. The study population are older than 65 years who had been newly diagnosed with major depressive disorder in specialty mental health at a community general hospital from January $1^{st}$, 2007 to October $31^{th}$, 2012 (N=373). Initial antidepressant accounted for 89.5% with SSRI, and escitalopram accounted for 60.9% of SSRI group. 79% or more of the patients were prescribed the recommended dosage. The maintenance rate for 4 weeks of initial antidepressant was 48% and 6 weeks was 39%. Treatment-discontinuation rate was 68% at 3 month. Alprazolam (short acting benzodiazepine) was prescribed the most, followed by clonazepam (long acting benzodiazepine) and then diazepam. 55% of patients received a duplicated prescription for short acting plus long acting benzodiazepine. 61% of patients used long acting benzodiazepines. Prescribed dosages of benzodiazepines were commonly within a recommended range, while no one was prescribed a appropriate period (up to 2 weeks) except for the early discontinued patients. Appropriate use of zolpidem was only 16.2%. The depressed elderly treated in specialty mental health mostly received long-term treatment with benzodiazepines in combination with antidepressants, guideline recommendations was not followed. Multidisciplinary interventions like audit and feedback of benzodiazepine use are needed and education for the elderly is needed to properly maintain antidepressant treatment.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.705-715
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• 2001

This study examined 19 papers published from 1977 to 2000 based on the objective frame evaluation. This purpose of this study was to examine the trend of Hwabyung research and to serve as a guide for the future 'Hwabyung' study. The results of studies were as follow. In the design of research, clinical studies are definitely dominant. As for the fields of research, the concept of Hwabyung was studied more frequently than the others. As for the authorship. psychiatrists prevailed but nursing professionals are on the increase. Research subject in clinical and survey study, patient was definitely dominant and the place of study was almost always a hospital (75%), data collection was higher on interview (58.3%). Hwabyung was considered unique culture bounded syndrome related to Korean culture. Frequent etiologic factor of Hwabyung were a husband's extra-marital affair, conflicts between houses wives and mothers-in-laws, and financial loss and suffering. From the incidence of Hwabyung, a greater number of patients with Hwabyung were middle aged women in the low economic and educational classes, and these were connected with the culture and the family system. The symptoms of Hwabyung included psychological and physical symptom, neurological disorder and disease behavior. Defense mechanisms and coping strategies for Hwabyung were somatization, suppression, orality, withdrawal, isolation, regression, help-seeking, complaining, and wreaking anger. Treatment of Hwabyung were medication, effort by herself, communication with families, consultation with psychologist, acupuncture, negative therapy, moxa, and Qi-kong. Psychiatric therapy, behavior therapy, nursing intervention on multi-interdisciplinary approach and psychiatric nursing approach were recommended for the nursing care of a Hwabyung patient.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.247-260
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• 2014

The impact of folate on health and disease, particularly pregnancy complications and congenital malformations, has been extensively studied. Mandatory folic acid fortification therefore has been implemented in multiple countries, resulting in a reduction in the occurrence of neural tube defects. However, emerging evidence suggests increased folate intake may also be associated with unexpected adverse effects. This literature review focuses on contemporary issues of concern, and possible underlying mechanisms as well as giving consideration the future direction of mandatory folic acid fortification. Folate fortification has been associated with the presence of unmetabolized folic acid (PteGlu) in blood, masking of vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency, increased dosage for anti-cancer medication, photo-catalysis of PteGlu leading to potential genotoxicity, and a role in the pathoaetiology of colorectal cancer. Increased folate intake has also been associated with twin birth and insulin resistance in offspring, and altered epigenetic mechanisms of inheritance. Although limited data exists to elucidate potential mechanisms underlying these issues, elevated blood folate level due to the excess use of PteGlu without consideration of an individual's specific phenotypic traits (e.g. genetic background and undiagnosed disease) may be relevant. Additionally, the accumulation of unmetabolized PteGlu may lead to inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase and other enzymes. Concerns notwithstanding, folic acid fortification has achieved enormous advances in public health. It therefore seems prudent to target and carefully monitor high risk groups, and to conduct well focused further research to better understand and to minimize any risk of mandatory folic acid fortification.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.629-632
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• 2007

Most myocardial bridgings are found incidentally without symptoms, but myocardial bridging may induce symptoms such as angina, myocardial infarction, and ventricular arrythmia. In a patient who has symptoms despite of proper medication, stent insertion, supra-arterial myotomy or coronary artery bypass grafting have been applied without a definite guideline of treatment. We report two surgical cases of myocardial bridging with a review of the literature.