• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.633-639
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• 2005

The composition of Hwoangbaec-tang has been traditionally used in Korea to treat cancer. Hwoangbaec-tang I is the water extracts prepared from Angelica dahurica, Fritillariae verticillata, Ailanthus altissima, Viscum coloratun, Scutellaria Radix, Ginseng Radix, Astragalus membranaceus, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. Hwoangbaec-tang II also is the water extracts prepared from Ginseng Radix, Astragalus membranaceus, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. The anti-leukemic effects of human promyelocytic leukaemia (HL-60 cells) by Hwoangbaec-tang I or II was accessed by propidium iodide staining flow cytometric analysis, and apoptosis-inducing activity was further confirmed by a nuclear morphological change, a ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation, and an activation of caspase-3 and 9. Hwoangbaec-tang I was found to induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells via caspase-3 and 9 pathway. In the other side, Hwoangbaec-tang II was found to inhibit the growth of HL-60 cells by inducing these cells to differentiate toward granulocytes. These results indicate that the different anti-leukemic effects of Hwoangbaec-tang in HL-60 cells can be induce the apoptosis or differnetiation of HL-60 cells in Hwoangbaec-tang composition dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.195-204
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• 2015

Objectives This study investigated the patterns of psychotropic medications prescribed to patients admitted to an open psychiatric ward. Methods We reviewed 4282 medical records of patients who were discharged from an open psychiatric ward from May 2003 through April 2014. Data were collected on each patient's age, sex, length of hospital stay, number of past admissions, discharge diagnosis, and kinds and dosages of psychotropic medications at discharge. Results Among the 1384 male and 2898 female patients, 3.56 psychotropic medications were prescribed on average, with the number increasing across years, from 3.30 in 2003-2008 to 3.76 in 2009-2014. Prescription rates of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics significantly increased in patients with depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, delirium, dementia, and amnestic and other cognitive disorders. Only lithium prescription rates decreased significantly. Prescriptions for two or more anxiolytics and antipsychotics increased during the survey years, while antidepressant polypharmacy rates decreased. Conclusions Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of psychotropic medications prescribed, including antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics. Caution should be exercised when prescribing medications to avoid cost increases and the risk of side effects, with uncertain gains in the quality of care.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2002

Objectives : To review the drug prescription pattern of antiulcerative agents for elderly inpatients, Methods : The study population comprised inpatients of community hospitals who were members of the Korean Elderly Pharmacoepidemiologic Cohort (KEPEC), aged 65 years or over, beneficiaries of the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation (KMIC) and residing in Busan city in 1993. The drug prescription information was collected from the claims data of hospitals where the cohort members received medical care between January 1993 and December 1594. The information included personal identification, age, gender, diagnosis, drug dosage, date of hospital admission and name of medical institutions where the study subjects received drug prescriptions. The data analysis produced outcomes in terms of distribution of antiulcerative agents by class and by medical institution and trend of relative prescription, Analysis was also performed in terms of combined prescriptions of antiulceratives and drugs that could induce risk from drug interaction with antiulceratives. Results : The number of patients prescribed antiulcerative agents was 1,059 (64,9%) male and 1,724 (65.5%) female among the total inpatients. An antacid and composite agent was the most frequently prescribed antiulcerative agent (70.8%), followed by $H_2$ antagonist (16.0%), Among the potential drugs that could induce risk from drug interaction with the antiulcerative agents, diazepam was the most frequently prescribed. The proportion of diazepam co-prescription was 22.5% of the total cimetidine prescriptions and 14.5% of the fetal omeprazole prescriptions. Conclusions : Antiulcerative drugs were frequently prescribed in the elderly inpatients. The adverse drug reaction could possibly be due to drug interaction. The study results could be used as fundamental data for further drug utilization review of antiulceratiye agents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2003

Background : Asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases in Korea. Although the guidelines of asthma management were reported in Korea, the present pattern of asthma management by primary physicians has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the pattern of asthma management by primary physicians. Methods : In November 2002, 710 primary physicians specializing in internal medicine in Seoul, Korea were provided with two scenarios of asthmatic patients, one mild and the other severe. By mail or interview, the physicians were asked several questions about their present pattern of asthma management for the patients in each scenario. Results : Among 710 primary physicians, we obtained the answers from 325 physicians (response rate 46%). The most preferred prescription was oral theophylline. 71% and 81% of the physicians answered that they would prescribe oral theophylline for the mild and severe asthmatics, respectively. The next prescription preferred were mucolytics and oral ${\beta}_2$-agonist, in that order. However, 36% and 56% of the physicians answered that they would prescribe inhaled steroids for the mild and severe asthmatics, respectively. Among diagnostic tests, physicians preferred pulmonary function test to the rank next to chest radiography. Conclusion : The primary physicians in Seoul prefer oral bronchodilators to inhaled steroids in asthma management. More efforts should be made to reduce the difference between the present pattern of asthma management by primary physicians and the asthma guidelines.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2006

Dyslipidemia is an important CHD risk factor in diabetic patients. We conducted this study to assess the pattern of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes patients, to examine the demographic and clinical factors associated with dyslipidemia and to evaluate attaining within the lipid target goals and treatment strategies. A retrospective analysis was conducted among patents diagnosed type 2 diabetes at outpatient clinic in endocrinology between January 2003 and December 2004. Clinical history and physical examination were reviewed and laboratory data including blood glucose, HbAlc, lipid levels were recorded sequentially at least 1 year. In 882 patients with type 2 diabetes, 437 patients (49.6%) have dyslipidemia and 73% of them (319 patients) received lipid-lowering agents. 244 patients (94 males, 150 females, mean age 60 years old) were susceptible to analyses. The most frequent pattern of dyslipidemia is high LDL level and high TG levels (28%). Metabolic syndrome and macrovascular complication were significant negative independent association with lipid levels within the target goals (p<0.05). Only 15.2% (19 males, 18 females) attained within the lipid tar- get goals. Patients with diabetic dyslipidemia need maximization of lipid-lowering agents, increasing the fibric acid derivatives prescription and the effort to correction of low HDL and/or high TG.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.84-96
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• 2022

Introduction Chronic idiopathic urticaria in patients diagnosed with an unfavorable pattern in Soyangin and Taeumin based on Sasang medicine showed a significant improvement after herbal medicine treatment. Methods The patients had treatment with both herbal medication and antihistamine. We checked the patients' cutaneous manifestation, original symptoms, and the number of antihistamine doses in each visit. We evaluated the medical records retrospectively. Results After one month of treatment, the patients showed cutaneous manifestation relief. Each patient reduced and withdrew antihistamine at four moths and eight months respectively, and the cutaneous manifestation did not recur. We maintained the herbal medicine prescription until the origin symptoms improved. Throughout the subsequent follow-up, the patients showed both urticaria and the original symptoms in good condition without treatment. Discussion Sasang medicine treatment can be an effective treatment for chronic idiopathic urticaria and long-term management is necessary for an unfavorable pattern which can take more than 6 months.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2021

Objectives: Despite the high discontinuation rate of clozapine in refractory schizophrenia, there is limited evidence regarding the suggested treatment after clozapine discontinuation. Methods: The medical records of 37 patients who discontinued clozapine were retrospectively reviewed. The prescription patterns of antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants were compared at three points before and after clozapine treatment and at the most recent visit. Results: After clozapine discontinuation, 75.6% of the subjects were receiving antipsychotic polypharmacy, and 32.4% were taking more than 3 antipsychotics. The frequently used antipsychotics were olanzapine (21.5%), quetiapine (21.5%), and paliperidone (12.7%). The rates of augmentation with mood stabilizers and antidepressants were 43.2% and 29.7%, respectively. Furthermore, valproate was the most commonly used mood stabilizer (87.5%). Conclusion: Antipsychotic polypharmacy and augmentation are inevitable in schizophrenia patients for whom clozapine has been discontinued. Further research is required to improve the outcomes of polypharmacy and augmentation in schizophrenia patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.324-329
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• 2016

Background: With the development of information and communication technology, there is a growing number of people looking for health information on the internet. This pilot study was performed to analyze the pattern of pharmacist consultation on the internet portal site. Methods: Questions and answers posted on the portal site "Naver Jisik-iN" from March 1st to 31th in 2016 were collected. Medications asked were categorized into prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, sanitary aids, emergency drugs, functional health foods, and others. Medications were subcategorized into 14 according to the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification system. Questions were divided into 10 categories based on Hepler's drug-related problems. Results: Of the 955 cases, females accounted for 59.5% and inquirers from 11 to 40 years old, 89.4%. The number of prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, sanitary aids, emergency drugs, functional health foods, and others were 428 (44.8%), 328 (34.3%), 31 (3.3%), 2 (0.2%), 122 (12.8%), and 44 (4.6%), respectively. Questions for drugs acting on alimentary tract and metabolism took up 27.4% followed by those on nervous system, 13.6% and anti-infectives for systemic use, 12.2%. Pharmacist consultation regarding drug information, drug interaction, and adverse reaction occupied 47.9%, 15.2%, and 12.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Health counseling through online is predicted to increase steadily, so pharmacists should broaden their boundaries beyond off-line pharmacies to meet social needs.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.141-150
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was accomplished in order to find out how Korean medical doctors take acupuncture prescription for knee osteoarthritis in clinical practice Methods : The survey questions were developed by the consensus from 4 professors and 10 residents who major in acupuncture & moxibustion for developing clinical trial protocol on individualized acupuncture treatment for knee osteoarthritis. 206 persons having more than 10 years experience were randomly selected from a list of Korean medical doctors. Telephone interviews with them were conducted by the well-trained interviewers between May 21 and May 27 in 2005. Results : 139 of 206 Korean medical doctors made an acupuncture prescription prior to treatment of knee osteoarthritis. 103 of 139 Korean medical doctors used both local and remote points, and 26 of them used remote points only, and 10 of them used local points only. In case of doctors who use remote points, the five element (45 of 129) or Saam (28 of 129) acupoints were used dominantly, and its was based on the pattern identification of the Jangbu organs related with the pain (56 of 129) or of the pain location (35 of 129). Conclusion : This study showed that Koran medical doctors prefer to use remote points such as five element or Saam acupoints based on the pattern identification of the Jangbu organs related with the pain or the pain location. These result may be useful for developing protocols for clinical trial on acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.88-102
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• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review domestic clinical studies about dizziness in Korean medicine. Methods : Population key words "현훈(Hyeonhoon), 현기증(Hyeongijeung), 어지럼(Eojireom), 어지러움(Eojireoum), 실신(Silsin), 眩暈(Hyeonhoon), 眩氣症(Hyeongijeung), 失神(Silsin)" were searched on five database systems(DBpia, KISS, KMbase, NDSL, RISS) from September, 13th to September, 15th, 2016. 60 clinical studies were collected and classified by published journal, year, etiologic disease, study design, dizziness assessment tools of studies, study results, evaluation of disease pattern and process, interventions(herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment points), and number of studies which chose that prescription. Results & Conclusions : Dizziness was researched constantly since 1998 and 7 clinical stuides were issued 2007, the most. The journal which the most studies were presented was Journal of korean oriental internal medicine(12 studies over 60, 20%). Original article were 12(20.0%) and case reports were 48(80.0%) among 60 studies. BPPV was reported as a etiologic disease on 9 studies(20.45%) among 44 studies. VAS was used mainly as dizziness assessment tools of studies(26 studies over 38, 68.42%). 9 studies(15.0%) got evaluation of disease pattern and process among 60. Banhabaekchulcheonma-tang was reported as a herbal medicine prescription on 9 over 44 studies(20.45%) and ST36 was chosen acupuncture point most(24 over 45 studies, 53.33%). It doesn't have enough representativenes but has meaning to apprehend present tendency to treat dizziness in Korean medicine clinical studies.