• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the clinical effect of Red Ginseng in the treatment of postmenopausal hot flushes. Methods: We studied 49 women from 45 to 55 years old who complained hot flushes. We randomly divided women into two groups, We treated one group with red ginseng capsule, and treated another group with placebo for 2 months. patients recorded the frequency of the hot flush on an everyday basis. And we measured temperature of patient's face by DITI. Results: Red ginseng and Placebo treated group significantly decreased the frequency of the hot flush. After treatment, the temperature on the cheekbones who treated by red ginseng get lower than before treatment. But there is no statistically difference between red ginseng and placebo. Conclusion: This study shows that both red ginseng and placebo have remarkable effects on patients, but red ginseng is not better than placebo.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2013

The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of ginseng as a treatment option for managing menopause symptoms. We searched the literature using ll databases from their inception to 26 September 2012 and included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that compared any type of ginseng to a placebo controls in postmenopausal women. The methodological quality of all studies was assessed using a Cochrane risk of bias tool. Four RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Most RCTs had high risk of bias. One RCT showed that Korean red ginseng (KRG) significantly improved sexual arousal and global health compared with placebo. Another RCT reported the superiority of KRG over placebo for treating menopause symptoms on Kupperman's index and menopausal rating score. The third RCT failed to show a significant effect of KRG on hot flash frequency compared to placebo. The fourth RCT found beneficial effects of ginseng compared to placebo on depression and well-being. In conclusion, the evidence on ginseng as an effective treatment for managing menopause symptoms is limited. Most of the RCTs are burdened with a high risk of bias. Thus firm conclusions cannot be drawn. Rigorous studies seem warranted.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of interferential current therapy (ICT) on spasticity, ROM, and the balance function in patients with stroke. Methods: 30 inpatients with stroke were randomly divided into 2 groups: the ICT group (n=15) and the placebo-ICT group (n=15). Two groups have got the traditional rehabilitation for 30 minutes before applying either ICT or placebo-ICT stimulation. The stimulus of ICT has been applied to gastrocnemius at the level of 100 Hz, two times of sensation threshold, while the placebo-ICT group has put on the electrode without electrical stimulus. To assess spasticity in ankle, the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) was used, and goniometer was applied to measure the passive range of motion (PROM). Also, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed-up and go (TUG), and the Functional Reach Test (FRT) were carried out to examine the balance ability. Results: The ICT group showed a significant reduction of spasticity and significantly increased PROM than the placebo-ICT group (p<0.05). The placebo-ICT group did not show significant changes in the BBS, the TUG, and the FRT, while the ICT group significantly improved the BBS, the TUG, and the FRT (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that ICT applied to gastrocnemius effectively decreased spasticity and improved range of motion and balance function in patients with stroke.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.234-245
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• 2008

Yeonkyopaedok-san(YPS) extract is widely used to treat the common cold. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of YPS on the common cold. Two hundred Patients with common colds of recent onset were randomized to the double blind, placebo-controlled study. They received 800 mg YPS extract or placebo in capsules, orally dissolved 3 times a day for 7 days. The total symptom score was assessed by the physician, using a 5-point scale on start and finish. Resolution of cold symptoms based on subjective daily symptoms. Total symptom score was significantly decreased in YPS groups in comparison to that in placebo group (p=0.027). Headache (p=0.012), loss of appetite (p=0.037), eyeball discomfort (p=0.002) were more affected. Time to resolution of cold symptoms did not show significant effect (p=0.592). Adverse effects were less in the YPS group than placebo group (2% vs 3%). In this community-based, randomized controlled trial, YPS were effective in treating cold symptoms in college students.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2011

This systematic review was conducted to assess the clinical effect of ocular fluoroquinolones used for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. A literature search for randomized controlled clinical trials registered up to January 2010 based on PubMed database, using the following search terms: conjunctivitis and fluoroquinolones (besifloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin) were performed. Pooled data on the clinical resolution and bacterial eradication rates derived from selected 16 studies were reported as the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) compared with placebo. Early clinical resolution and microbiological eradication rates in placebo were 28% and 62% respectively. Fluoroquinolones were significantly effective comparing to placebo: early RR 1.94 (95% CI 1.60~2.34) and late RR 1.30 (1.19~1.43) in clinical resolution rates, and early RR 1.75 (1.58~1.94) and late RR 1.28 (1.18~1.39) in microbiological eradication rates. Besifloxacin, ciprofloaxain and moxifloxacin in clinical resolution, and besifloxacin and levofloxacin in microbiological eradication showed higher RRs than pooled overall fluoroquinolones' RRs. New quinolones had higher antibacterial potencies for all pathogens isolated from bacterial conjunctivitis and resistant isolates than old generation quinolones. In conclusion, ocular 7 fluoroquinolones were all effective than placebo for bacterial conjunctivitis and there were differences between quinolones in early and late clinical resolutions and microbiological eradications, and no differences in safety comparing to placebo.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.289-298
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• 2009

Effects of Nattokinase fibrinol (NKF), defined as a fibrinolytic product, on fibrinolytic and atherogenetic markers were studied for healthy adults (20-31 years old), who is smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. Subjects were divided into 29 for NKF group and 10 for placebo group in a short term study. They were given 2 tablets of NKF (4,000 unit) or placebo tablet and thereafter blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4 hr prerid. For a 4-week long term study, 15 subjects for NFK group and 10 subjects for placebo group were supplemented one tablet of each NKF (2,000 unit) and placebo per day, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4 weeks later. The short-term experimental trial showed that NKF remarkably increased fibrinolytic activity at 2hr after consumption, which was maintained up to 4 hr, relative to that of placebo, while NKF reduced the euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) and retarded the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), as compared to placebo group. NKF supplementation for 4 weeks elevated fibrinolytic activity, shortened ECLT and retarded aPTT. Furthermore, NKF supplementation increased anti-atherogenic index by decreasing triglyceride (TG) and elevating high-density lipiprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. These results indicate that NKF supplementation for short term or long term might have beneficial effects on preventing and treating cardiovascular disease by increasing fibrinolytic activity and improving atherogenic markers such as hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.153-161
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was designed to find out whether normal saline(NS) acupuncture is able to be constituted as an appropriate control group for Cervi Cornu Parvum herbal acupuncture(CC). Methods : NS and CC were injected into Quchi($LI_{11}$) of the subjects. The subjects completed a questionnaire rating the intensity of 21 kinds of acupuncture sensation(hurting, penetrating, sharp, aching, intense, spreading, radiating, tingling, pricking, stinging, pulling, heavy, dull, numb, electric, shocking, hot, burning, cool, pulsing, and throbbing) and side effects. We compared subjective evaluations of acupuncture sensation and side effects between two groups. Results : As for CC most of the acupuncture sensation items were not significantly different from NS especially in less acupuncture-experienced subjects(average 2, below 10 time experiences) rather than more acupuncture-experienced subjects(above 10 time experiences). Conclusions : We found that NS might be an appropriate placebo herbal acupuncture for CC in small amount of acupuncture-experienced subjects. Further study is needed for new placebo herbal acupuncture for CC in more acupuncture-experienced subjects.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the weight reduction effect of yeast hydrolysate-SR101. Thirty female college students participated in a 6 week weight control program. All subjects were randomly assigned to either the placebo group, YH-SR101 (yeast hydrolysate-SR101) group, or eX diet (product of yeast hydrolysate-SR101) group. The mean energy intake of the placebo group was 1445.2${\pm}$364.0 kcal (carbohydrate: 60.1%, protein: 25.6%, fat: 14.3%), while those of the YH-SR101 and the eX diet group were 1505.6${\pm}$296.2 kcal (carbohydrate: 60.5%, protein: 22.2%, fat: 14.8%) and 1353.8${\pm}$326.3 kcal (carbohydrate: 63.2%, protein: 20.9%, fat: 15.9%), respectively. The placebo group lost 0.19${\pm}$1.14 kg of body weight, while the treatment groups (YH-SR101 and eX diet) lost 1.13${\pm}$0.83 and 1.54${\pm}$0.74 kg of body weight, respectively. There were significant differences in the decrease in body weight between the placebo and the treatment group (p<0.05). There were also significant differences in the decrease in fat mass between the placebo and treatment group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the BMI of the YH-SR101 and the eX diet groups also differed significantly before and after the diet program (p<0.05). Additionally, the BMI and waist size reduction of the treatment groups (YH-SR101 and eX diet group) differed significantly when compared to the placebo (p<0.05). The reduction of the resting metabolic rate (RMR) blood glucose, total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride did not differ significantly among groups. Taken together, these findings indicate that consumption of yeast hydrolysate-SR101 and eX Diet may lead to decreased body weight and fat.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.511-519
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• 2012

Objectives : This study investigated the effect of Sinseonbulchuidan (SBD-1) on hangover syndrome. We undertook this study to test whether SBD-1 is effective in preventing the signs and symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover. Methods : Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in this double-blind randomized crossover study. All participants received either SBD-1 or indistinguishable placebo capsules before alcohol consumption. The primary outcome measure was the difference in hangover severity scores between SBD-1 and placebo intervention. Secondary outcome measure was the difference in profile of mood states (POMS) between SBD-1 and placebo intervention. Results : After alcohol exposure, the overall symptom scores were significantly decreased in the SBD-1 group compared with those given a placebo. The mean scores for the hangover symptoms were high in the placebo group, and statistical significance was observed in 4 symptom scores (loss of appetite, stomachache, nausea, and total score). There were no differences in the POMS and cognitive performance test results between SBD-1 and placebo intervention. Conclusions : We conclude that the SBD-1 is effective in preventing the signs and symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.103-109
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study aimed to investigate that dieckol - isolated from Ecklonia cava - supplementation can improve cognitive ability in mice. Methods : 48-male mice(6 weeks old) were divided into four groups; High-Dieckol group(n=12), Low-Dieckol group(n=12), Placebo group(n=12), Control group(n=12) and they were administered orally 5 days per week for 4 weeks at the same time. We performed Morris water maze test, Passive avoidance test, Blood serotonin analysis. And there was examined on neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of hippocampus using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label proliferating cells. Results : The results are as follows; As a Morris water maze results, Trial duration was significantly decreased in high dieckol group comparing to placebo group and control group. Distance to target was significantly decreased in high dieckol group and low dieckol group comparing to placebo group and control group. Mean speed was significantly low in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. As a Passive avoidance test results, latency time was significantly long in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. BrdU cell count was significantly high in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. Conclusions : As a conclusion, it is considered that dieckol supplementation might improve learning and cognitive ability.