• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.403-407
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• 2009

Objectives : The amount of medical utilization by Medical Aid recipients was 3.7 times that of patients with Korean Medical Insurance. This study aims to describe the surplus medicine and the medication-related utilization, and to determine factors contributing to surplus medicine. Methods : Among those who used copayment-free Class I Medical Aid in 2005, 146,880 subjects who were $\geq19$ year-old and received >365 days medical treatment per year were studied with their case managers by conducting face-to-face interviews. The analytic methods were description, chi-square, t-tests, ANCOVA and multiple logistic regressions. Results : Most subjects were female (68.6%), the elderly (62.5%), and the separated (61.6%), had an elementary graduation or less (74.8%), and had disabilities (33.2%). The percentage of subjects with surplus medicine was 18.5%. However, the percentage of females, the elderly, those with non-disabilities, the separated, the uneducated, those with a very poor perceived health status and those with an economical burden for medical treatment was 19.3%, 18.9%, 19.0%, 19.3%, 19.0%, 20.2% and 24.3%, respectively. For subjects with surplus medicine, averages for the number of used pharmacies, the pharmacy-visit days and the medication costs were 4.6 drugstores, 34.9 days and approximately 1,124 thousand Won(￦). These values were higher than those without surplus medicine (4.4 drugstores, 33.8 days, and ￦1,110 thousand, respectively). The odds ratios of the contributing factors to surplus medicine were female 1.11 (95% CI=1.07-1.14), the elderly 1.06 (95% CI=1.02-1.10), those with non-disabilities 1.08 (95% CI=1.05-1.12), the separated 1.14 (95% CI=1.10-1.18), the unmarried 1.12 (95% CI=1.07-1.18), the uneducated 1.03 (95% CI=1.01-1.08), those with a very poor perceived health status 1.04 (95% CI=1.01-1.08) and experiencing an economical burden for medical treatment 2.33 (95% CI=2.26-2.40). Conclusions : 18.5% of subjects had surplus medicine with a higher mean of medication cost. Therefore, health education and health promotion programs to prevent surplus medicine and to improve the appropriate usage of medication are necessary.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2022

Recently the telemedicine platform firms which have been temporarily permitted since COVID-19 outbreak have increasingly provided online prescription drugs delivery, causing concerns among incumbent providers of medicine, some of whom began to take aggressive actions again them. In this study, using game theoretic market entry - deterrence model, we show that although the incumbent medicine provider can effectively deter entry by the telemedicine platform firms by its preemptive action, accommodation could be a optimal action when telemedicine platform firms already have penetrated the market with their being permitted to do business due to the COVID-19. However, for the incumbent to cooperate for the successful change in the retail market for medicines, policies like placing a ceiling on the maximum number of taking prescriptions by the pharmacists a day in the telemedince platform network, providing favorable exposure of community pharmacists on the telemedicine platform user interface, and allowing community pharmacies to participate as shareholders of the telemedicine platform firms in its initial public opening of capital, are suggested.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.59-88
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• 2021

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea recently enacted laws to fortify sanctions about data manipulation of pharmaceutical companies. The medicine approval system is the result of legislative efforts to prevent accidents that caused damages to patients' life and health. The medicine approval system is based on the trust that the data submitted by pharmaceutical companies is not manipulated. The Supreme Court of Korea clarified that strict standard shoud be required to secure the medicine safety in Supreme Court Decision 2008Du8628 decided November 13, 2008. We agree. This paper suggest legislation to weaken the economic incentives for pharmaceutical companies to choose data manipulation by minimizing the expected profit. In addition to revoking the marketing authorization of the medicine, the 'unfair' profits the pharmaceutical company has earned must be recovered. In addition, in order to increase the possibility to discover data manipulation, it is necessary to strengthen the review capacity and to activate the whistle-blowing.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.559-566
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• 2022

Introduction: The aim of this systematic review is to provide evidence confirming the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used in the treatment of liver cancer. Methods: The review will include randomized clinical trials that compared herbal medicines used as treatments for liver cancer with other therapies, such as placebos and Western medicine. Only randomized controlled trials will be included in this review, and all types of herbal medicine will be evaluated. Eleven electronic databases will be searched from the inception date: the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL, one Chinese database (CNKI), and five Korean databases (OASIS, DBpia, RISS, KISS, and NDSL). The selection of studies, data extraction, and management will be performed independently by four researchers. Methodological quality, including the risk of bias, will be assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. Results: The review of current evidence for the effectiveness of herbal medicine for liver cancer will be summarized and quantitatively analyzed. Conclusions: Our systematic review will provide evidence of the efficacy of herbal medicines as treatments for liver cancer. This evidence will provide useful information for practitioners and patients in the fields of oncology and complementary medicine.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.368-377
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• 2021

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of radiation mutant Perilla frutescens var. crispa and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi complex extract(Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract) on the mediators related to degenerative arthritis in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat model of degenerative arthritis. Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract was administered orally at doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks before direct injection of monosodium iodoacetate (3 mg/50 µl of 0.9% saline) into the intra-articular space of the rats' right knees. The rats subsequently received the same doses of oral Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract for another 4 weeks. It was evaluated that the treatment effects based on serum bio-markers, and morphological and histopathological analysis of the knee joints. Compared with those in negative control rats, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract treatments significantly reduced the serum levels of inflammation, bone metabolism markers (i.e., TNF-α, MMP-3, COX-2, PGE₂, COMP, and Aggrecan). Otherwise, it was significantly increased the production of CTX-2 in cartilage absorption mediators. In addition, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract treatments effectively preserved the knee cartilage and synovial membrane. As a result, it indicates that the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract improved degenerative arthritis symptoms. Thus, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex can be used in food material for the management of degenerative arthritis.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.80-104
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• 2024

Ginseng, a representative medicinal plant of South Korea, is also highly valued in North Korea. However, due to limited access to information about North Korea, the actual cultivation, research and development trends, and related industry status of ginseng in North Korea are not well known. In this study, we aimed to understand the current status and research trends of the ginseng industry in North Korea based on limited available literature. In the North Korean pharmacopoeia, ginseng is referred to as "Koryo ginseng" and is defined as the roots of 6-year-old ginseng cultivated in the Kaesong region. The pharmacopoeia includes 22 types of ginseng preparations. In addition, 10 ginseng preparations are included in North Korea's Essential Drug List, and various health supplements, cosmetics, and toothpastes containing ginseng have been developed, distributed, and sold. Since 2014, the ginseng industry and research in North Korea have become more active overall. During this period, the ginseng cultivation area in Kaesong has been significantly expanded, and the facilities have been renovated. The Kaesong Koryo Ginseng Processing Plant has been equipped with sterilized, modernized facilities since 2016 and has been in operation. Since 2017, there has been a growing interest in quality control research, leading to the introduction of quality management regulations and certification systems in 2019. In the 1990s, there was significant research on ginseng product development, and since the 2000s, studies on the pharmacological effects and clinical research of ginseng have been reported. Additionally, research on ginseng cultivation and ginseng processing industries to increase yield has been emphasized. Ginseng, as a representative medicinal crop of Korea, holds great importance for both South and North Korea. Given its significance and the potential for synergy through mutual cooperation, ginseng serves as an ideal subject for inter-Korean exchange and collaboration.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.474-480
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• 2024

Background: Recent years have witnessed increasing interest in the high amount of ocotillol-type saponin in Panax vietnamensis, particularly in relation to majonoside R2 (MR2). This unique 3%-5% MR2 content impart Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs with unique pharmacological activities. However, in the commercial domain, unauthentic species have infiltrated and significantly hindered access to the authentic, efficacious variety. Thus, suitable analytical techniques for distinguishing authentic Vietnamese ginseng species from others is becoming increasingly crucial. Therefore, MR2 is attracting considerable attention as a target requiring effective management measures. Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed by producing monoclonal antibodies against MR2 (mAb 16E11). The method was thoroughly validated, and the potential of the immunoassay was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet spectroscopy. Furthermore, ELISA was applied to the assessment of the MR2 concentrations of various Panax spp., including Korean, American, and Japanese ginsengs. Results and conclusions: An icELISA using mAb 16E11 exhibited linearity between 3.91 and 250 ng/mL of MR2, with detection and quantification limits of 1.53 and 2.50 - 46.6 ng/mL, respectively. Based on this study, the developed icELISA using mAb 16E11 could be a valuable tool for analyzing MR2 level to distinguish authentic Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs from unauthentic ones. Furthermore, the analysis of the samples demonstrated that Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs exhibit a notably higher MR2 value than all other Panax spp. Thus, MR2 might be their ideal marker compound, and various bioactivities of this species should be explored.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the internal changes and the countermeasure for performance improvement by Separation of Prescribing and Dispensing Practice (SPDP) in Health Center. Data were collected from two sources: Performance report before and after SPDP of 25 Health Centers in Kyongsangbuk-do and 6 Health Centers in Daegu-City and self-administerd questionnaire survey of 221 officials at health center. The results of this study were summarized as follows: Twenty-four health centers(77.4%) of 31 health centers took convenience measures for medical treatment of citizens and convenience measures were getting map of pharmacy, improvement of health center interior, introduction of order communication system in order. After the SPDP in health centers, 19.4% of health centers increased doctors and 25.8% decreased pharmacists. 58.1% of health centers showed that number of medical treatments were decreased. 96.4%, 80.6% 80.6% 96.7% of health centers showed that number of prescriptions, total medical treatment expenses, amounts paid by the insureds and the expenses to purchase drugs, respectively, were decreased. More than fifty percent(54.2%) of health centers responded that the relative importance of health works increased compared to medical treatments after the SPDP, and number of patients decreased compared to those in before the SPDP. And there was a drastic reduction in number of prescriptions, total medical treatment expenses, amounts paid by insureds, the expenses to purchase drugs after the SPDP. Above fifty percent(57.6%) of officers at health center responded that the function of medical treatment should be reduced after the SPDP. Fields requested improvement in health centers were 'development of heath works contents'(62.4%), 'rearrangement of health center personnel'(51.6%), 'priority setting for health works'(48.4%), 'restructuring the organization'(36.2%), 'quality impro­vement for medical services'(32.1%), 'replaning the budgets'(23.1%) in order. And to better the image of health centers, health center officers replied that 'health information management'(60.7%), 'public relations for health center'(15.8%), 'kindness of health center officers'(15.3%) were necessary in order. Health center officers suggested that 'vaccination program', 'health promotion', 'maternal and children health', 'communicable disease management', 'community health planning' were relatively important works, in order, performed by health center after SPDP. In the future, medical services in health centers should be cut down with a momentum of the SPDP so that health centers might reestablish their functions and roles as public health organizations, but quality of medical services must be improved. Also health centers should pay attention to residents for improving health through 'vaccination program', 'health promotion', 'mother-children health', 'acute and chronic communicable disease management', 'community health planning', 'oral health', 'chronic degenerative disease management', etc. And there should be a differentiation of relative importance between health promotion services and medical treatment services by character of areas(metropolitan, city, county).

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.173-181
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• 2021

Chinese people have increasingly high interests in skin care and trust and prefer medical institution products and equipment to treat skin problems. The purpose of this study is to examine skin types and skin care situations, skin care recognition, and skin care satisfaction by gender in medical skin care center patients from in their 10s to 50s in Hainan Province, China. The questionnaire survey consisted of general characteristics(n=8), skin care situations(n=6), skin care recognition(n=11), and skin care satisfaction(n=21). A total of 328 questionnaires were researched from December 21, 2020 to January 9, 2021 using WeChat and Wenjuanxing program. Data were analyzed by SPSSWIN 21.0. Frequency analysis was applied for general characteristics, skin care situations, skin care recognition, and skin care satisfaction and Cronbach's α was used for the reliability of skin care recognition and satisfaction. The relationship among skin care situations, skin care recognition, and skin care satisfaction was analyzed by χ² test and t-test. As a result, the common skin types by gender was dry skin in females and oily skin in males. The highest skin trouble was melasma and pigments in females and pimple in males. The most common way to manage troubled skin was homecare in both females and males, followed by the dermatology department in females and pharmacy in males, suggesting a significant difference. The common period of skin trouble was from one year to three years and the most effective way to improve skin was good life habit, followed by laser treatment in both females and males. The most important consideration to choose a hospital was a famous franchise hospital and the most important matters in management was doctor or skin care professionalism. Skin care and treatment recognition was high in external effects for females and internal effects for males. Skin care satisfaction was high in service for females and effect for males. Skin care satisfaction was significantly higher in males than in females. In conclusion, there was a difference in skin types, skin troubles, skin problems, skin care ways, and skin care satisfaction by gender in Chinese medical skin care center patients. Therefore, this study suggests the development of various products and the need of systematic management programs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1753-1759
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• 2009

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of components obtained from Zanthoxylum schinifolium and Zanthoxylum piperitum on rancidity and quality of Kwamegi (semi-dried Pacific saury, Coloabis saira). Ethanol extract (ZS) of Zanthoxylum schinifolium leaves or the essential oil (ZP) obtained from pericarp of Zanthoxylum piperitum in 1 or 20% ethanol solution was sprayed to the Pacific saury before Kwamegi preparation at its final concentrations of 0.125~2 ppm in the Kwamegi. The prepared Kwamegi was vacuum packed with multi-layered film (polyethylene/polyamide/EVOH/polyethylene, thickness 80 μm) and kept at -20${^{\circ}C}$ until use. After opening the package Kwamegi was stored at 4${^{\circ}C}$ for 1, 3 and 7 days during which rancidity tests and sensory evaluation were carried out. Acid, peroxide, and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values increased with storage time but reduced significantly by the addition of ZS at the concentrations of ≥G0.125 ppm and ZP≥F0.25 ppm. The effects of ZS and ZP were dose-dependent and more pronounced as storage time prolonged. The ZS and ZP also reduced dimethyamine and trimethyamine (TMA) contents which were increased with time, while they prevented the decrease of trimethyamine oxide. The ZS at the concentration of ≥G0.25 ppm and the ZP at >0.5 ppm were needed to maintain TMA less than 4.5 mg/100 g for 3 day storage at 4${^{\circ}C}$. Sensory evaluation of the Kwamegi exhibited a slightly higher preference with the ZS and ZP treated ones at the level of 0.25~0.5 ppm. It is concluded that very low amounts of ZS and ZP are effective in suppression of rancidity of Kwamegi and could be utilized for its quality management.