• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.139-151
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of wall-squat with short-foot exercise on pain, dysfunction, and pelvic alignment in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: Thirty outpatients diagnosed with chronic low back pain and pronated foot were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into a wall-squat with short-foot exercise group (WS; n = 15) and a normal wall-squat exercise group (NW; n = 15). These groups performed their respective exercises 15 times, for three sets, three times a week over six weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the subjects' pain, and the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) was used to measure the subjects' dysfunction. A navicular drop test (NDT) was used to measure the subjects' arch height. To assess the patients' pelvic alignment, their lordosis, sacral tilt, lumbar width, sacral width, ilium length, and ilium width were measured by X-ray imaging. RESULTS: Both the WS and NW groups exhibited significant decreases in their VAS and RMDQ scores after exercise (p < .05). The WS group exhibited significant increases in their arch height (p < .05). Significant differences in the VAS, sacral tilt, sacral width, and ilium length were observed between the WS and NW groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wall-squat exercise is effective in decreasing the level of pain and dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients. In addition, the wall-squat with short-foot exercise is considered more effective in improving the pelvic alignment than without short-foot exercise. This can be an effective method for the non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of chronic low back pain

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2024

Background and purpose: The anti-aging standard forest healing program (ASFHP), which uses forest therapy, was reported to be effective in improving psychological, physical, and cognitive functions. However, there are several challenges to directly visiting the forest. This study aimed to investigate the impact of multi-session ASFHP with forest visit on the mental and physical health of the older people with visits to forest facilities and compared them with those of the same program conducted indoors. Methods: Individuals aged over 70 years with concerns about cognitive decline were recruited at dementia relief centers and divided into control and experimental groups. A total of 33 people were administered ASFHP under the supervision of a forest therapy instructor. The control group stayed indoors, while the experimental group visited a forest healing center and repeated the program 20 weeks. Results: The multiple-session ASFHP positively affected cognitive impairment screening test (CIST) total scores (p=0.002), memory (p=0.014), Korean version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status total scores (p<0.001), immediate recall (p=0.001), visuospatial/construction (p<0.001), language (p<0.001), forest healing standard questionnaire total scores (p=0.002), and cognitive function (p=0.019), regardless of location. The forest visits during the ASFHP showed positive effects on orientation (p=0.035), delayed recall (p=0.042), emotional stability (p=0.032), physical activity (p=0.005), and health (p=0.022). The CIST scores of the memory domain were the strongest indicator of the multiple-session ASFHP effects. Conclusions: The 20-week multi-session ASFHP with forest visit showed effects on cognitive improvement and physical and emotional stability compared to indoor education.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.270-284
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to understand the essential structure and meaning of self-management intervention for breast cancer survivors by using non-pharmacological approaches. The study participants were 10 breast cancer survivors who were completing cancer treatment that involved surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Data collected between August 2014 and February 2015 at E Hospital in S city were analyzed by using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Outcomes were classified into seven essential themes: 1) application of comfort measures to alleviate ongoing symptoms, 2) movement to change physical conditions, 3) special herbal intake to prevent recurrence, 4) a specially designed diet plan for health self-management, 5) constant awareness of complementary and alternative medicine, 6) unmet needs treated by one's own doctor's prescription, and 7) future life toward a nature-friendly environment. The study results contribute to a deeper understanding of self-management interventions in the daily lives of Korean breast cancer survivors. In addition, results provide an essential resource, based on actual self-management styles, that will help survivors to obtain guidance and participate in appropriate programs.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2006

Objectives : We implemented the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion Method in order to improve the conventional moxibustion therapy. This method is aimed to eliminate burning wounds and smoke, which are the defects of conventional moxibustion therapy. And we performed to verify the efficiency by comparing the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion Method with the conventional Indirect Moxibustion Method. We measured the body heat and the lasting time of blood circulation improveent using thermography. We implemented the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion Method in order to improve the conventional moxibustion therapy. This method is aimed to eliminate burning wounds and smoke, which are the defects of conventional moxibustion therapy. And we performed to verify the efficiency by comparing the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion Method with the conventional Indirect Moxibustion Method. We measured the body heat and the lasting time of blood circulation improvement using thermography. Methods : The moxibustion therapy has two kinds of effects: The formers are pharmacological effects of the Moxa's vasodilators and antioxidants. The latters are thermal effects which cause improvement of the blood circulation. To remove the demerits without omission of above therapeutic effects, we extracted the vasodilators and antioxidant compounds from the Moxa-CH2Cl2 fraction Moxa-EtOA and composed the moxibustion kit with (Ba0.8 Sr0.2)0.996 Y0.004 TiO2 + 0.5WT SiO2% positive Temperature Coefficients Thermistor. The experimental demonstrations have been made by the stimulating the spot which is CV4(Kwan-Won), CV8(Shin-Guel), CV12(Jung-Wan) acupuncture points of the conception vessel meridian(CV). And stimulating time was one hour. We divided the subjects into 5 groups such as no stimulation group, conventional Indirect Moxibustion group, only Moxa-Extract stimulation group, only heat stimulation group, and Moxa-Extract Moxibustion group. In the different cases, we have measured the body heat in pre-stimulation, just after stimulation, 2 hours after, and 4 hours after. Results : he body heats of the group who were stimulated by the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion method were increased by over the $2^{\circ}C$. And the body heats of the group who were stimulated by the Indirect Moxibustion Method were increased by average the $1^{\circ}C$. We have evaluated that the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion Method is improvement on the Indirect Moxibustion Method by the increasing rate is 200% and increasing time is 150% with the body heat of the abdominal region. Conclusion : We have implemented the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion Method and evaluated the efficiency of the Moxa-Extract Moxibustion Method comparing with the Indirect Moxibustion Method.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.291-303
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of laughter therapy on depression and sleep wake disorders among the elderly in residential facilities using a systemic review and meta-analysis. Twelve databases were searched. Two researchers independently performed the selection of the studies, data coding and assessment. The risk of bias was assessed using risk of bias (RoB) and risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studies (RoBANs). To estimate the effect size, meta-analysis of the studies was performed using R version 4.04. Out of the 1,122 retrieved articles, one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and eleven non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs) were selected for analysis. The overall effect size of eleven studies on depression was determined to be -1.04 (95% Cl: -1.53~-0.54, p<.001). There were statistically significant in the effect of below ten sessions and the effect of below 400 minutes'and 400 to 1000 minutes'interventions on depression. The overall effect size of five studies on sleep wake disorders was 0.83 (95% Cl: -0.26~1.93, p=.136), which was not statistically significant. There was statistically significant in the effect of below 300 minutes'interventions on sleep wake disorders. Laughter therapy was an effective non-pharmacological intervention to reduce depression among the elderly in residential facilities. The findings also suggest that guidelines for laughter therapy need to be developed considering the number of sessions and a duration of intervention to reduce depression and sleep wake disorders of the elderly in residential facilities.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2003

Objectives: It is known that sedative hypnotics would make cross tolerance with alcohol and deteriorate quality of sleep in alcoholics. Light therapy is effective non-pharmacological intervention for sleep disturbance in circadian phase disorders, jet-lag, shift-work and age-related sleep disorders. Authors would investigate the effects of morning light therapy on sleep of patients with alcohol dependence during recovery state without withdrawal symptoms. Methods: 13 patients with alcohol dependence who have not any alcohol withdrawal symptom were recruited. Light therapy during 1 hour in the morning had been administered by 2500 Lux light box through serial 3 days. Sleep state of subjects were assessed by sleep log and the subjective satisfaction at sleep was by 100 mm visual analogue scale. Sleepiness, depressive mood, anxiety were evaluated by 100mm visual analogue scale at 8 AM, 2 PM and 8 PM. For assessment of performance ability that would be associated with sleepiness and vigilance, trail making test A, B and digit symbol substitution test were performed by two times on base line and 4th day. Univariate repeated-measures ANOVAs were performed for each measures except performance tests which were analysed by paired t-test. Results: Sleep latency and sleep efficiency were significantly improved with light therapy and satisfaction at sleep was. There was no significant difference in sleepiness at 2 PM with light therapy but sleepiness at 8 AM significantly decreased and at 8 PM increased. The time to complete Trail making test and digit symbol substitution test were significantly shortened at 4th day compared with baseline. Fatigue at 8 AM were not significantly changed with light therapy but at 2 PM and 8 PM significantly decreased. Depressive mood and anxiety were not significantly changed with light therapy. Conclusion: Although this study had some limitations, it showed that light therapy would be effective modality on sleep disturbance of patients with alcohol dependence who have recovered from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It is proposed that short term light therapy could be used clinically for alcoholics with insomnia. In the future, long term controlled studies using more objective tools for sleep are required to further investigate the effect of light therapy in alcoholics.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2020

Introduction : This review aims to introduce an intention-to-treat analysis(ITT) method and demonstrate the importance of rigorous utilization of this method to researchers in Korea. Discussion : ITT analysis includes all data as results in randomized control trials (RCT). Thereby the result of RCT is high validated to adapt in the real-world so that the result should be expected at clinical practice. Therefore, many RCT quality assessment tools include the question of the utilization of ITT analysis in individual trials. However, many researchers omit to report ITT, not utilize ITT or use ITT incorrectly. Conclusion : Through this review, more Korean researchers may understand and utilize ITT which is expected to enhance the quality of RCT papers.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.685-690
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• 2009

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in this process. Conversely, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a biologically active sphingolipid known to play a key role in cancer progression by regulating endothelial cell proliferation and migration. In this study, the authors found that S1P increases the level of VEGF mRNA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and immortalized HUVECs (iHUVECs). Additionally, S1P was found to increase VEGF promoter activity in MS-1 mouse pancreatic islet endothelial cells. Furthermore, a pharmacological inhibitory study revealed that $G_{\alpha i/o}$-mediated phospholipase C, Akt, Erk, and p38 MAPK signaling are involved in this S1P-induced expression of VEGF. A component of AP1 transcription factor is important for S1P-induced VEGF expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that S1P enhances endothelial cell proliferation and migrat ion by upregulating the expression of VEGF mRNA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3 s.71
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• pp.86-99
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• 2007

Objectives : Cancer patients who are afraid of unpleasant therapy and doubt a perfect cure often seek out traditional Korean medicine or many other kinds of complementary and alterative medicine (CAM) instead. This study was carried out in order to learn the prevalence and kinds of the traditional Korean medicine and CAM to evaluate awareness of and attitude toward it. Methods : 213 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone surgery in the department of gastrointestinal surgery and visited for routine follow-up from November to December of 2004 were included. A questionnaire survey was done by trained interviewers for CAM and demographic information. Results : 96.7% of patients had experience with CAM. The kinds and frequencies of CAM were diet and nutrition 21.0%, folk remedy 21.0%, pharmacological treatment 13.5%, oriental medicine 5.3% and mind-body intervention 1.4%. 56.8% of patients had experienced 2-6 kinds of CAM, 37.4% more than 7. Among diet and nutrition, ginseng (62.9%) was highest, followed by ox leg bone soup (50.8%) and pumpkin (31.5%). Among the folk remedies, elm tree was highest at 46.5%, followed by phellinus linteus (Sang-Whang) at 26.8% and ganoderma lucidum (Young-Gee) 20.7%.satisfaction with CAM was relatively low (43.2%), many patients (78.2%) replied that they would use it continuously. Conclusion : Most patients had experience with many kinds of CAM, but didn't discuss it with medical doctors. If scientific study proves whether or not each kind of CAM is actually effective ondisease, it will help to improve the health of patients and prevent the inappropriate usage and cost.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2020

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) has the advantage of selectively removing cancer cells ingesting boron compounds. In this study, the benefits for treatment time and boron compound injection dose were compared between current neutron sources and a high current neutron sources to be developed in near future. The time-activity curve (TAC) of GBM (Glioblastoma) for one bolus injection was obtained by applying modified 3 compartment model. The treatment time was determined for an accelerator-based neutron sources at the present time and a high current accelerator based neutron source to be developed in the near future. In the case of the double amount of IAEA-recommended neutron flux, the treatment time was shortened to 15 minutes. In the case of high current accelerators, which are five times the amount of IAEA-recommended neutron flux, the irradiation time is within 5 minutes. The use of a high current accelerator based neutron source in BNCT is advantageous in terms of treatment time. In addition, it can increase the efficiency of use of neutrons and reduce the boron compound injection dose to patients, thus reducing pharmacological toxicity.