• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2018

Objective: An automated process for medication preparation and dispensing is essential to improve the quality of work. To reduce night pharmacy workload, a new automated dispensing cabinet system was implemented in a hospital emergency medical center. The purpose of this study is to verify that implementation of an automated dispensing cabinet system will influence the efficiency of night pharmacy work. Methods: To evaluate the new system implementation, a retrospective study and survey was performed in the Ewha Womans University medical center. We compared the dispensing and near-miss error rates between the automated dispensing cabinet system and a night pharmacy. The degree of satisfaction of night shift workers with the new system was surveyed. Results: This study showed significantly reduced dispensing rates of night medications (56.1% and 37.3%; p < 0.01) and near-miss night medications (0.27% and 0.17%; p<0.01). Thirty-two persons responded to the survey, and the satisfaction score for the new system was 4.0 (${\pm}0.8$). The scores were high in order of efficiency, management, and convenience. Time requirement was also reduced because of the simple step of only reviewing in the pharmacy with the new system. Conclusion: Due to system implementation, workload was reduced and time was saved for not only night shift workers but also patients receiving emergency discharge medicine. It was suggested that this will have a positive effect on pharmacist medical service and patient safety.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

Objectives : There are many causes that may affect efficacy of a drug but the time of administration for the Herbal Medicine is among the most important factors. Traditionally, administration of medicine was prohibited during the meal time along with food and the time of administration has been highly regarded in medical practitioners. The rules of administration time are stated in a book titled, "Materia Medica" but it lacked the details and index. Thus, the systemized administration rules for Herbal Medicine were prepared. Methods : The rules were drawn from both ancient teachings and the experiences from modern clinics. Ancient teachings about the administration are focused on treatment of a disease by utilizing biorhythm of the body in accordance of changes in Yin and Yang and Day and Night. Results : It means the medicine should be prepared and administered at the appropriate time of the day and this type of administration method is thought to be superior to the western method such as "once a day" or "twice a day in the morning and evening" that does not take consideration of cold, hot, warm and cool properties of the medicine. If the prescription is assigning appropriate medicine, administration time is an important method of maximizing drug efficacy. Conclusion : With the ancient teaching in mind, it was concluded that, the drug administration time must be determined with regard to properties of the drug and the condition of the patient.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Emperor Minh Mang (明命), the second ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam, reigned from 1820 to 1841. He is widely regarded by contemporary historians as the most distinguished monarch of his dynasty, despite some controversial policies. One aspect of his extraordinary legacy is the remarkable 142 offspring he sired - 78 princes and 64 princesses - earning him the unprecedented distinction of having the most progeny among kings in world history. Vietnamese people suppose Minh Mang's prolific reproductive success to the consumption of a specially prescribed medicine known as Minh Mang Thang (明命湯, MMT). This medicine, often associated with sexual potency and fertility, is characterized by intriguing names such as "One night Five sexes," "One night Six sexes born Five babies," or "Six sexes Three pregnancies." Vietnamese folklore vividly recounts Minh Mang's exceptional sexual prowess, attributing it to the use of MMT. MMT formulations, which include various herbs, notably Korean ginseng, may incorporate additional botanical ingredients depending on their intended purpose. This paper aims to explore the origins, history, ingredients, and applications of MMT, unraveling the mystery behind this mystical prescription that has inspired several oriental medicinal researchers. Through this investigation, we seek to shed light on the cultural and historical contexts surrounding Minh Mang's use of MMT and its enduring impact on traditional Vietnamese medicine and folklore.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.151-155
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• 2008

Circadian variations of acebutolol and its main metabolite, diacetolol pharmacokinetics were studied after a single oral administration of acebutolol (10 mg/kg) to eight rabbits at 10 : 00 AM (in the morning) and 10 : 00 PM (at night). The plasma concentration profiles of acebutolol were significantly different (P<0.05) between 10 : 00 AM and 22 : 00 PM, suggesting circadian variations of pharmacokinetic behaviors. A significant circadian rhythm of pharmacokinetic parameters was noted in rabbits, showing higher total body clearance (CL/F), and lower the area under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) of acebutolol than that at night. The half-life ($t_{1/2}$) of acebutolol and diacetolol were also significantly shorter in the morning than at night (P<0.05). Metabolite-parent AUC ratio at night significantly decreased compared to in the morning, implying that night time could inhibit acebutolol metabolism than in the morning. From this study there was an administration-time difference of acebutolol pharmacokinetics in the rabbits. The optimized dosing regimen of acebutolol can be decided by considering circadian rhythm so that the effective therapies are established for patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to examine the current turnover status of hospital pharmacists and to analyze the factors which affected the turnover of them after the separation of prescribing and dispensing practice. We surveyed 19 managers of hospital pharmacies and 154 hospital pharmacists. Results are as follows. Pharmacist manpower of hospital pharmacies was only $63.99\%$ in tertiary hospitals and $76.78\%$ in general hospitals respectively of the number of pharmacists before the separation of prescription and dispensing practice. The ratio of those who left hospital pharmacies during the period of January 2000 and October 2001 was $80.23\%$ for tertiary hospitals, and $100.84\%$ for general hospitals. Decrease in the number of pharmacists brought the increase of work load and night duty. Major factors which affected the turnover of hospital pharmacists were found as following: income gap between hospital pharmacists and community pharmacists, increasing workload especially at night and on holidays, infrequent chance for the promotion, and low chance to provide clinical pharmacy services after the separation of prescribing and dispensing practice. Adequate manpower is the basic factor for providing hospital pharmacy services and improving clinical pharmacy services. The study suggested that proper number of hospital pharmacists is to be ensured through strengthening the legal requirement for the hospital pharmacists and improving health insurance reimbursement rate for the pharmaceutical services at hospital.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.206-208
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• 2020

An 80-year-old Korean woman who previously experienced penicillin allergy presented to a dental hospital for treatment of a fractured tooth. A dentist extracted the tooth and prescribed her A-cillin (amoxicillin hydrate) 250 mg orally 3 times a day for 3 days and Carol-F^® (ibuprofen arginine) orally 3 times a day for 3 days. She received the prescriptions, returned home, and took one dose of each drug. One hour later, she experienced hypertension, itching, shortness of breath, and was unable to move her tongue to pronounce words. Approximately 6 hours after drug administration, the symptoms persisted, and the patient was admitted to an emergency medical center (EMC). The patient was discharged from the EMC after a one-night stay in the hospital for symptomatic treatment.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2009

Longanae Arillus (the rind of fruits of Dimocarpus longan) has been consumed for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety in Asia. To provide further scientific basis to traditional uses of this fruit on insomnia, we evaluated the effects of methanol extract of Longanae Arillus (MELA) on the alteration of sleep architecture and electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra in acutely and chronically restraint-stressed rats. Following postsurgical recovery, Polygraphic signs of sleep-wake activities were recorded for 24 h after MELA administration in rats. Rats in the acute stress and chronic stress were administered with MELA for 10 days. On the $8^{th},\;9^{th}\;and\;10^{th}$ day of MELA administration, the rats were stressed for 3 h once per day. On the $10^{th}$ day and 1 h after MELA administration, the rats were stressed once for 22 h in the chronic stress group. Acute and chronic stress induced alternations in cortex EEG recordings during non-rapid eye movement (NREM), rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and wakefulness. MELA shortened the total and REM sleep and increased the wakefulness in night time recording without changing daytime recordings. Chronic stress increased wakefulness and REM sleep, decreased total and NREM sleep in the daytime recording, and increased REM and decreased NREM sleep without changing total sleep and wakefulness in night time recording. These findings suggest that MELA ameliorated the alterations in REM and NREM sleep of acutely and chronically stressed rats via modulation of cortical ${\alpha}-$, ${\theta}-$ and ${\delta}-$ wave activity.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.64-66
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• 1997

Zinc is employed in body cell growth and immune function. Zinc deficiency causes growth retardation, night blindness, delay of wound healing, skin disorders, alopecia, et al. Pharmacokinetic study of zinc in Korean has not yet been proceeded to apply to patient. In this study, we investigated to adjust zinc dosage for maintaining constant zinc optimum serum level. Five NPO inpatients (3 males, 2 females) in Seoul National University of Hospital were evaluated, retrospectively. Zinc was mixed with parenteral nutrition solution and administrated intravenously in 24 hour-continuous infusion, and zinc dosage range was 0.17-0.45 mg/kg/day. AUC to zinc dose (AUC/Dose) was $2.421\pm1.007\;kg{\cdot}min/ml.$ 0.5 mg/kg/day zinc administration may achieve the plasma zinc concentration of $120\;{\mu}g/dl.$(Kor. J. Clin. Pharm. 1997; 7: 64-66)

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2010

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the regulation of sleep architecture by the red ginseng water extract (RGE) in acutely and chronically restraint stressed rats. Adult rats were fitted with sleep.wake recording electrodes. Following post-surgical recovery, rats were extensively habituated for freely moving polygraphic recording conditions. Polygraphic signs of sleep-wake activities were recorded for 24 h after RGE administration and induction of stress and were analyzed to understand the regulation of sleep architecture. Acute stress decreased wakefulness and increased total sleep, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in both the daytime and nighttime recording. RGE shortened the daytime NREM and REM sleep, without changing the wakefulness and total sleep. RGE increased nighttime wakefulness, and decreased total, NREM and REM sleep. Chronic stress increased wakefulness and decreased total sleep in the daytime recording, and increased REM and decreased NREM sleep in both the day and night time recording. RGE ameliorated chronic stress and induced alterations of REM and NREM sleep in the day and night time sleep architecture. Acute and chronic stress could also induce alternations in cortex electroencephalogram (EEG) recording during NREM, REM sleep and wakefulness. These findings suggest that RGE may modulate the sleep behavior in acutely and chronically stressed rats and the ameliorating effect of RGE on the sleep architecture may involve in modulation of $\alpha$-, $\theta$- and $\delta$- wave activities of the cortical EEG.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2005

This study was designed to establish a strategy for the bioequivalence study of doxifluridine, an anticancer drug, in dogs instead of cancer patients. Although the results from animals may not occur in the same manner from human, those would be worth enough in terns of the bioequivalence. As for critically ill population such as cancer patients, bioequivalence studies in animals bring many advantages. Six healthy Beagle dogs were selected on the basis of hematology and blood chemistry test. After an over night fast, 200 mg of doxifluridine was orally administered, and blood was serially taken up to 12 hours. Plasma concentration of doxifluridine was measured using a newly validated bioanalytical method by a HPLC coupled tandem mass spectrometry. Time course of plasma doxifluridine concentration was analyzed with non-compartmental and compartmental approaches. Consequently, we represented hematology and blood chemistry database for the selection of healthy Beagle dogs, and suggested a sensitive and validated analytical method of doxifluridine, as well as a study design for the bioequivalence of doxifluridine in dogs.