• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.191-202
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was aimed to survey the actual caregiving conditions of family caregivers who are caring patients with rare and incurable diseases using home ventilators at home, and to clarify any factors affecting their burdens and quality of life. Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed by the 159 subjects, and the questionnaires contained the actual conditions of caregiving activities, and caregiver's burdens and quality of life. The collected data was analyzed by ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise linear regressions. Results: The mean of burden scores was 3.55 out of 5, and influencing variables included the relationships with patient (spouse), respite (moderate), health status, and diagnosis (non ALS), with the explanatory power of 30.0%. The mean of the quality of life was 2.58 point, and the influencing variables included burdens, health status, and respite (enough), with the explanatory power of 39.0%. Conclusion: In order to improve the quality of life among family caregivers caring for patients with using a home ventilator, it is required to develop strategies for reducing caregiving burdens as well as to introduce family respite welfare systems to family caregivers.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.115-128
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• 2003

Bojungikgitang is the water extracts prepared from Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Angelicae gigantis Radix, Astractylodis Rhizoma alba, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Bupleuri Radix, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, which has been used for the treatment of indigestion, and immunological disease in oriental countries. In this study, the effects of Bojungikgitang on the productions of nitiric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were examined using RAW 264.7 macrophages activated with $interferon-{\gamma}\;(IFN-{\gamma})$ plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Bojungikgitang (10-400 ${\mu}$g/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in unstimulated macrophages, but this compound dose-dependently reduced the release of NO and $PGE_2$ caused by stimulation of $LPS/IFN-{\gamma}$. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein were markedly suppressed by the treatment with Bojungikgitang in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, Bojungikgitang also attenuated the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (1L)-1${\beta}$ and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results suggest that Bojungikgitang decreases the NO and $PGE_2$ production in macrophages by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression and these properties may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of Bojungikgitang.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.221-230
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• 2002

Some studies report that electroacupuncture(EA) boost natural killer cell(NK cell) activity. And also it is well known that hypothalamus is deeply related to effects of EA on analgesia. Some reports said that especially lateral hypothalamic area(LHA) is related to splenic NK cell activity. In order to investigate the relation between hypothalamus and effects of EA at ST36 point on NK cell activity of Spraque-Dawley rats. Lesions were made bilaterally at lateral hypothalamic area(LHA). And NK cytotoxities of normal and lesioned rats were measured with 51Cr release immunoassay after EA stimulation for 2 and 14 days. NK cell activity of EA group was significantly higher than sham group at 2nd, 14th day in normal rats. And LHA lesions abolished effects of EA on NK cell activity at 2nd day. But LHA lesions did not affect the effects of EA at 14th days. We also had an evidence that the decrease of NK cell activity was almost recoverd at 14th day. These results strongly suggest that LHA is deeply related to increase of NK cell activity induced by EA.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.665-678
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• 1999

Stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability. Because muscle weakness is one of the most prominent consequences of stroke, it was considered important to determine whether exercise in order to improve muscle strength and range of motion could have an effect in limiting the learned disuse of the affected side. The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of an 8 week rehabilitation program on physical and cognitive ability in stroke patients. A total of 18 patients who were admitted to the oriental medicine unit of a K medical center in Seoul were recruited : ten for the experimental group and eight for the control group. The rehabilitation program consisted of three level's of active and passive exercises for prevention of muscle contracture and at range of motion. Muscle strength, flexibility of the upper and lower extremity, perceived balance, functional independence, depression, and quality of life for the two groups were compared at the pretest and 4 and 8 weeks after the rehabilitation program. The results are as follows : 1) When measuring muscle strengths of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion, hip flexion and knee extensor, ankle dorsi-flexor and muscle strength of knee flexor. Muscle strength of knee flexor for the experimental group was significantly higher than the comparison group at the 4 weeks. 2) Muscle strength and flexibility of the ankle dorsi -flexor for the experimental group was significantly better than for the control group at 8 weeks. 3) Functional independence, perceived balance, and Tinetti balance for the experimental group as measured at 4 and 8 weeks were better than for the control group. Also, there were changes over time in physical balance and functional ability, but there was no significant differences between the groups. 4) The experimental group showed a higher quality of life and lower depression than the control group at 8 weeks. 5) Muscle strength and flexibility of ankle dorsi -flexor were significantly changed over time and an interaction between group and time. The findings suggested that the rehabilitation program would improve the physical and psychological status of the stroke patients. Thus, the gains in actual or perceived ability to perform physical activities was marked.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.41-54
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze various forms of musculoskeletal pain during different stages such as antenatal, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. The data for this study were collected through a self-administered survey with a structured questionnaire to 113 subjects. The survey was administered from May, 2003 to March, 2004 with subjects selected from postpartum centers in 3 different areas: Kangnam, Kangbook, and Bucheon. Analytical tools used for this study were frequency analysis, crosstabulation, percentage analysis, independent t-test, chi-square, and multiple response analysis. The findings of this study were as follows: 1. Comparison study of musculoskeletal pain according to variables including a pregnant woman's age, delivery techniques, different types of delivery such as primiparity, multiparity, dystocia, easy delivery, shows that these relationships are statistically not significant (p>0.05). 2. A total of 61.9% gave positive responses for the question about the relationship between musculoskeletal pain during postpartum and that in preparation of labor, but shows that this relationship was statistically not significant (p>0.05). 3. Relationships between forms of musculoskeletal pain in different phases are significant (p<0.05). The compared phases are: premarriage and pre-pregnancy, premarriage and antenatal, premarriage and postpartum, premarriage and lactiferous phase, pre-pregnancy and antenatal, pre-pregnancy and postpartum, and pre-pregnancy and lactiferous phase. However, results for the comparison between antenatal and postpartum, antenatal and lactiferous phase, and postpartum and lactiferous phase show that these relationships are statistically not significant (p>0.05). According to this study, musculoskeletal pain which occurred during antenatal is significantly related to the pain occurring during postpartum. Results produced from this study might be used as a helpful tool for developing educational programs aiming at teaching self pain-detection performable at home or at the workplace and body maintenance during the course of antenatal and postpartum.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.200-230
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• 2012

Objectives: Ginseng, Panax ginseng C. A., white ginseng, has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Korean Medicine. Red ginseng can be made by a steaming process of white ginseng changing a variety of ginsenosides and ingredients such as dencichine. This article reviews red ginseng for mechanisms for pharmacodynamics and toxicity based on the content of ginseng's active ingredients, ginsenoside changed by steaming. Methods: The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Science Direct and Chinese Scientific Journals full text database (CQVIP), and KSI (Korean Studies Information) from their respective inceptions to June 2012. Results: Compared with unsteamed ginseng, the content of ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh2 and Rk1 called red ginseng-specific ginsenosides increased after the steaming process. Different ginsenosides have shown a wide variety of effects such as lowering or raising blood sugar and blood pressure or stimulating or sedating the nervous system. Especially, the levels of Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh2 and Rk1 were increased by the steaming process, showing a variety of pharmacodynamics in biological systems. Also, various processing methods such as puffing and fermentation have been developed in processing crude ginseng or red ginseng, affecting the content of ginseng's ingredients. The safety issue could be the most critical, specifically, on changed ginseng's ingredients such as dencichine. The level of dencichine was significantly reduced in red ginseng by the steaming process. In addition, the possible toxicity for red ginseng was affected by cytochrome P450, a herbal-drug interaction. Conclusions: The variety of pharmacological and toxicological properties should be changed by steaming process of Panax ginseng C. A., white ginseng. Even if it is not sure whether the steaming process of white ginseng would be better pharmacologically, it is sure that steaming reduces the level of dencichine causing a lower toxicity to the nervous system.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.24-30
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) in assessing Korean patients with low back pain. We performed translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the questionnaire and enrolled 52 patients (18 males and 34 females) with low back pain. The subjects completed a standardized self-administered questionnaire that included the FABQ assessment along with evaluations for the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and Beck depression inventory-Korean version (K-BDI). The reliability of the obtained data was determined by evaluating the internal consistency on the basis of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Cronbach's alpha values, while the validity of the data was examined by correlating the FABQ scores to the VAS, ODI, SAS, and K-BDI scores. The translated versions of the FABQ showed good test-retest reliability: ICC (3, 1)=.90 (FABQ for physical activity) and .97 (FABQ for work) these values were statistically significant (p<.01). The Cronbach's alpha value for FABQ was .90 (p<.01). FABQ moderately correlated with pain, disability, anxiety, and depression (p<.01). The results of this study indicate that the Korean version of the FABQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring fear-avoidance beliefs in Korean patients with low back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.13-29
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this review is to investigate the use of conventional Western medicine (WM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on leg cramps. Leg cramps are the occurrence of muscular spasm in the leg muscles which occur frequently in the elderly and are frequently observed in the clinical field. Methods: Relevant clinical studies were searched from five medical databases including PubMed, KISS, RISS, OASIS, and J-STAGE. Systematic review, clinical studies, and clinical practice guideline were included in this review. Results: In total, 27 clinical studies, 9 systematic review and meta-analysis, and 1 clinical practice guideline met the inclusion criteria. Included studies were classified and analyzed according to the type of intervention. Studies on quinine and magnesium have been most studied in WM and CAM, respectively. Although quinine shows some clinical effects on leg cramps, however, the risk of side effects are suggested. In addition, magnesium failed to improve the clinically significant effects in most studies. Five case reports using Oriental herbal medicine (OHM) were included and OHMs were effective in improving leg cramps without side effects, however, the quality of evidence was low. Clinical studies on other interventions were lacking. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there is no definite treatment standard for leg cramps until now, and there are limitations such as low level of evidence and side effects for each treatment. OHM can be an effective alternative to conventional intervention on leg cramps, therefore, related clinical studies are needed.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.144-156
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• 2006

The effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the fruit, leaf and stem of Melia azedarach Linn. (Meliaceae) on the spontaneous movements of both the whole worm and the nerve-muscle (n.m.) preparation of Setaria (S.) cervi and on the survival of microfilariae in vitro was studied. Alcoholic extracts of fruit, leaf and stem caused inhibition of the spontaneous movements of the whole worm and the n.m. preparation of S. cervi, while only aqueous extract of fruit caused inhibition of the spontaneous movements of the whole worm and the n.m. preparation of S. cervi. The initial stimulatory effect was not observed by the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of fruit on n.m. preparation. The concentrations required to inhibit the movements of the whole worm and n.m. preparation for alcoholic extracts of fruit, leaf and stem were 250, $40\;{\mu}g/ml$; 280, $40\;{\mu}g/ml$ and 270, $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ respectively, whereas an aqueous extract of fruit caused inhibition of whole worm and n.m. preparation at $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $40\;{\mu}g/ml$ respectively. Alcoholic extracts of the fruit, leaf and stem and aqueous extract of the fruit of M. azedarach caused concentration related inhibition on the survival of microfilariae (m.f.) of S. cervi. The $LC_{50}$ and $LC_{90}$ as observed after 6 h were found to be 5, 15, 10, 20 ng/ml and 10, 25, 20 and 35 ng/ml, respectively. This work was conducted in view of the exploration of potential antifilarial herbal drug.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.581-587
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of Korean dandelion (Taraxacum coreanum). Water extracts, ethanol extracts and methanol extracts were used to examine the free radical scavenging activity, total flavonoid content, total polyphenol content and antimicrobial activity. The free radical scavenging activity, total flavonoid, total polyphenol and total antioxidant activity of the water extracts were higher than those of the other extraction solvents. The antimicrobial activties of Korean dandelion extracts were examined on several food borne illness microorganisms using the paper disc diffusion method. Inhibition zones were observed on Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli in ethanol extracts. Inhibition zones were also observed on Listeria monocytogenes in water extracts. The physico-chemical properties of Korean dandelion tea according to the roasting time and soaking amount of tea were studied. The pH of the dandelion tea significantly decreased while the soluble solid contents significantly increased with increased roasting time (p<0.01). The lightness of the dandelion tea decreased and the turbidity increased with increased roasting time. In sensory evaluation, the sensory scores for the color, flavor and total acceptability were highest in the 40 min roasted tea. These results suggest that the water extract of Korean dandelion could be used as an antioxidative and antimicrobial functional food source. The optimum roasting time for Korean dandelion tea was 40 min at $200^{\circ}C$.