• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2020

Background: Despite the increased use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants, warfarin is still recommended as first-line therapy in patients with mechanical valves or moderate to severe mitral stenosis. Anticoagulation management services (AMSs) are warranted for patients receiving warfarin therapy due to the complexity of warfarin dosing and large interpatient variability. To overcome limited health care resources, we developed a messenger app-based chatbot that provides information to patients taking warfarin. Methods: We developed "WafarinTalk" as an add-on to the open-source messenger app KakaoTalk. We developed the prototype chatbot after building a database containing seven categories: 1) dosage and indications, 2) drug-drug interactions, 3) drug-food interactions, 4) drug-diet supplement interactions, 5) monitoring, 6) adverse events, and 7) precautions. We then surveyed 30 pharmacists and 10 patients on chatbot reliability and on participant satisfaction. Results: We found that 80% of the pharmacists agreed on the consistency of chatbot responses and 44% agreed on the appropriateness of chatbot. Furthermore, 47% of pharmacists said that they were willing to recommend the chatbot to patients. Of the seven categories, information on drug-food interaction was the most useful; 90% of patients said they were satisfied with the chatbot and 100% of patients said they were willing to use it when they were unable to see a pharmacist. We updated the prototype chatbot with feedback from the survey. Conclusion: This study showed that warfarin-related information could be provided to patients through a messenger application-based chatbot.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2023

Clerodendrum trichotomum has been widely used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of numerous diseases, including pain management. However, there have been extremely limited pharmacological and phytochemical studies on Clerodendrum trichotomum up to now. In this study, we investigated the effects of the methanolic extract of Clerodendrum trichotomum (MCT) on nociceptive pain in mice. Our finding demonstrate that MCT treatment significantly extended the latency time in both the tail-immersion test and hot-plate test. Additionally, MCT treatment reduced acetic acid-induced writhing motions. These results suggest that MCT possesses strong anti-nociceptive activities against thermal and chemical nociception. In the formalin test, mice fed with MCT exhibited reduced licking time during both the early and late phases, thereby confirming the therapeutic potential of MCT in central and peripheral nociception. Furthermore, in combination tests using naloxone, the MCT-mediated anti-nociception was slightly reduced, indicating that MCT might act as a partial opioid receptor agonist. Based on these results, MCT may be a valuable candidate for the development of anti-nociceptive agents.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 2024

Background: Medication's benefits and harms require careful management. Laws mandate pharmacists to provide essential medication details since inadequate counseling may pose risks. This study explores public expectations for pharmacist-provided side effect information to enhance safety. Methods: A self-developed questionnaire was created for participant to self-report, refined through pilot surveys with experts and laypersons. Nineteen items were categorized into four sections, using closed-ended questions. Adults over 20, having obtained prescription medications within the past year, were surveyed via convenience sampling. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and T-tests using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 and Microsoft Excel. Results: The study involved 189 participants, with a slightly higher proportion of females (59.3%) than males (40.7%), predominantly in their 20s (45.0%) and college graduates (57.1%). Health professionals represented 76.2% of respondents. Over half visited pharmacies at least 5 times yearly for prescriptions. Indirect experience with side effects was more common (30.2%) than direct experience (17.5%). Most (82.0%) showed interest in media-reported side effect events. Satisfaction with pharmacist-provided side effect explanations was low (59.7%), but importance was high (98.9%). Preferences favored combined verbal and written explanations (65.1%), with a majority desiring explanations for common but less serious side effects (82.5%). Healthcare professionals found explanations significantly more sufficient than non-professionals did. Older individuals, those living with elderly, and frequent pharmacy visitors attributed greater importance to pharmacist-provided explanations. Conclusion: Koreans view pharmacist-provided medication side effect explanations as vital but find current services lacking. Enhancements in content and delivery methods are needed in pharmacy counseling to meet public expectations.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.268-276
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• 2014

Background: World Health Organization considers opioid analgesic use as an important measure in the treatment of pain relief. However, there are limited data about the pattern of opioid analgesic use in tertiary care hospitals in Korea. The aim of this study was to describe the trends in the prescribed amount of the opioid for 13 years from 2000 to 2012 in a single tertiary care hospital. Methods: The data from the prescribed amount of opioid use in patients aged over 18 years were retrieved from medical charts and longitudinal pharmacy records of Seoul National University Hospital. Yearly prescribed amount of opioids were calculated using defined daily dose adjusted by hospital stay (DDD/1000${\bullet}$HS). Results: Over the 13 years of the study period, overall use of opioid has increased by 64.1%. Although, the opioid use by hospitalized patients comprised 98%~99% of total amount of opioid use, the proportions of opioid use by outpatient and by cancer patient increased from 1.1% to 2.2% and from 60.5% to 69.3%, respectively. The use of non-injectable opioids has increased by 47% and that of injectables has increased by 70%. While the amount of codeine and morphine use has decreased, the use of both transdermal and injection formulation of fentanyl has increased dramatically. Also, the use of oxycodone has increased, especially in outpatient setting. Conclusion: This longitudinal study showed that opioid analgesic use in tertiary hospital, especially in outpatient is continuously increasing. Improvement in pain management in tertiary care hospital can be cautiously inferred based on this results.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2009

Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacon, Asteraceae) was originally cultivated in South America and used in food and traditional medicine by Andean inhabitants. Yacon is potentially beneficial for the management of diabetes and is composed of fructooligosaccharides, proteins, minerals and phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Yacon tuber extract (YTE) and its constituent, chlorogenic acid (CGA), in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In this study, a HPLC method was developed for simultaneous determination of major active phenolic components, CGA and caffeic acid in YTE. We investigated the hypoglycemic effect of YTE and CGA in STZ-induced diabetic rats and studied glucose tolerance test (GTT). The effect of orally administered multiple doses of YTE and CGA on plasma biochemical parameters was examined using diabetic rats. We also measured free radical scavenging activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Oral administration of YTE (200 mg/kg) and CGA (10 mg/kg) for 6 weeks produced a significant hypoglycemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats. YTE and CGA-treated groups exhibited significantly decreased plasma glucose surge during the GTT. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were significantly decreased by 33% and 49%, respectively, in YTE-treated rats. TC and TG concentrations were also significantly decreased by 26 % and 41%, respectively, in CGA-treated rats. In the DPPH assay, free radical scavenging activity of CGA was similar to that of vitamin E, a positive control. This study suggests that YTE and its constituent, CGA, may be a useful option for management of hyperglycemia and diabetic nephropathy.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.265-290
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• 2023

Rare but serious thrombotic incidents in relation to thrombocytopenia, termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), have been observed since the vaccine rollout, particularly among replication-defective adenoviral vector-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine recipients. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed and summarized reported studies of VITT following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to determine its prevalence, clinical characteristics, as well as its management. A literature search up to October 1, 2021 using PubMed and SCOPUS identified a combined total of 720 articles. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline, after screening the titles and abstracts based on the eligibility criteria, the remaining 47 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 29 studies were included. Findings revealed that VITT cases are strongly related to viral vector-based vaccines, which are the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (95%) and the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (4%), with much rarer reports involving messenger RNA-based vaccines such as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%) and the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%). The most severe manifestation of VITT is cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with 317 cases (70.4%) and the earliest primary symptom in the majority of cases is headache. Intravenous immunoglobulin and non-heparin anticoagulant are the main therapeutic options for managing immune responses and thrombosis, respectively. As there is emerging knowledge on and refinement of the published guidelines regarding VITT, this review may assist the medical communities in early VITT recognition, understanding the clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria as well as its management, offering a window of opportunity to VITT patients. Further larger sample size trials could further elucidate the link and safety profile.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.245.2-245.2
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.163.1-163.1
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• 2001

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.188-192
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• 2013

Acer tegmentosum which is belongs to Aceraceae has been widely used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of lots of diseases including pain management. In this study, we evaluated the anti-nocicepitve effects of methanolic extract of A. tegmentosum (MAT) in mice using various pain models. MAT presented strong and dose-dependent anti-nociceptive activities on thermal nociception models such as tail-immersion test and hot plate test. Moreover, acetic acid-induced chemical nociception was signigicantly reduced by MAT treatment. We could confirm MAT's central and peripheral analgesic properties by formalin test. We also found that the pre-treatment of opioid receptor antagonist did not alter the MAT's anti-nociception, suggesting opioid receptor is not involved in analgesic activity of MAT. Based on our results, we could conclude that MAT may be possibly used as an anti-nociceptive agent for the treatment of various nociceptive pains.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.335-343
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin condition accompanied by symptoms such as edema and hemorrhage. Kimchi is a traditional fermented Korean dish consisting of various probiotics. In this study, the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55 isolated from Kimchi was studied in AD-induced mice. Orally administered Lactobacillus strain, CJLP55, suppressed AD symptoms and high serum IgE levels. CJLP55 administration reduced the thickness of the epidermis, infiltration of mast cells and eosinophils into the skin lesion, enlargement of axillary lymph nodes, and increase in cell population in axillary lymph nodes. CJLP55 treatment decreased the production of type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, and IL-6,which were stimulated by house dust mite extracts, in the axillary lymph node cells. Orally administered CJLP55 exhibited a therapeutic effect on house dust mite-induced AD in NC/Nga mice after onset of the disease by altering immune cell activation. The Lactobacillus strain, CJLP55, isolated from Kimchi, suppressed AD. Our results suggest its possible use as a potential candidate for management of AD.