• CELLMED
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.10.1-10.6
• /
• 2024

Background and Objectives: As per the available data, 75% peri and postmenopausal women experience hot flashes having negative effect on their quality of life. Using herbal medicines are stepping forward to alleviate hot flashes as the available hormonal medications have been reported the presence of side effects. This study was planned with the intention to investigate the effect of Asparagus racemosus root in the treatment of postmenopausal hot flashes in comparison to the placebo. Methods: This prospective patient blinded clinical trial randomly assigned 40 postmenopausal women with symptoms of hot flashes to receive either test drug (n=20) comprising Asparagus racemosus tablet of 1g in the dosage of 2 tablet thrice in a day for the duration of 60 days continuously or to receive placebo tablet prepared from roasted wheat flour in the same dosage and duration as test drug. The efficacy was determined by reduction in the frequency and intensity of hot flashes assessed by daily diary along with the improvement in quality of life assessed through Hot Flash-Related Daily Interference Scale. Statistical analysis was accomplished by student t test and Chi-square/Fisher Exact test. Results: Test drug significantly (p <0.001) reduced the intensity and frequency of hot flashes as well as improved the quality of life without showing any side effect. Discussion & Conclusion: According to Unani scriptures, the treatment is to treat the underlying cause, such as aberrant temperament and psychological and environmental issues. Unani drugs have emmenagogue, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and neuroprotective qualities that can help alleviate premenstrual symptoms. Unani herbs such as C. sativus, Vitex, agnus castus, P. vulgare, N. Jatamansi, M. officinalis, and Z. officinalis have been clinically demonstrated to be effective in PMS. Thus, traditional knowledge authentication and conservation are vital for future research and appreciated for application in the modern day. Furthermore, randomised controlled trials, comprehensive reviews, and meta-analyses are suggested.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.103-129
• /
• 2004

This article examines the Korean adolescents and adults' social representation and trust of Korean society and people using indigenous psychological analysis. Respondents were asked to write in an open-ended questionnaire their perception of the following five aspects: Korean politics, economy, society, culture and people. They were then asked to report why they trust or distrust Korean society. A total of 1,064 respondents (218 middle school students, 200 university students, 218 fathers of the middle school students, 218 mothers of the middle school students, and 210 teachers) completed a questionnaire developed by the present researchers. The data were collected during April to June, 2003. The results indicate that 94.5% of Koreans view the existing political system and politicians as being corrupt, inept, factional, and lacking in integrity. A vast majority (84.9%) recognize the existence of systemic problems in the Korean economy. A total of 78.2% see problems in Korean society being dominated by selfishness, factionalism, conservatism, and social uncertainty. For Korean culture, a majority of respondents report being proud of its cultural tradition, accomplishment, and creativity. At the same time, 45.7% report loss of cultural identity and pride due to external influences. More than half of the respondents report negative aspects of Korean people (i.e., selfish, lack of morality, rushed, and overly focused on their social image), while nearly half of the respondents report positive aspects of Korean people as being compassionate, cooperative, good-natured and hard-working. As for reason for trusting Korean society, around a third report "because it is our country," followed by its future potential, and the good-nature and willingness of Korean people to work hard. The reasons for distrusting Korean society is the dishonesty politicians, corruption, institutional ineptness, and economic uncertainty. These results indicate a low level of collective efficacy in influencing and affecting change in Korean society.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.617-647
• /
• 2015

The purposes of this study was to develop a valid scale measuring organization-related anxiety and to use this scale to examine the relation of organizational anxiety to demographic variables, job satisfaction and organizational committment. A series of studies were conducted to develop a scale for organizational anxiety. Initially, the 97 items were adopted by expert ratings. A exploratory factor analysis with a sample of 435 workers yielded a preliminary version of organizational anxiety scale with 28 items. Subsequently, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with a sample of 566 workers, leaving 20 items. The final version of the organizational anxiety scale consisted of 4 sub-factors: perception of future uncertainty, perception of locus of control, interpersonal anxiety, and perception of alternatives. In this study, the examined demographic characteristics included sex, age, type of occupation, type of industry, occupational position, monthly income and educational level. Organizational effectiveness was composed of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. As mediators, organizational culture, life satisfaction, self efficacy, and social support were explored. The negative relationship was observed between organizational anxiety and organizational effectiveness. The results showed the significant differences in organizational anxiety by demographic characteristics. The mediators were explored for the relationship between organizational anxiety and job satisfaction and between organizational anxiety and organizational commitment. The negative relationship between organizational anxiety and job satisfaction was mediated by the group culture, the developmental culture, the rational culture, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and social support. Individuals with the higher level of these mediators reported greater job satisfaction even if they experienced organizational anxiety. The partial mediation effect of the group culture, the developmental culture, the rational culture, life satisfaction, and social support was observed on the negative relationship between organizational anxiety and organizational commitment. These results implies that job satisfaction and organizational commitment can be improved with the interventions on organizational cultures, self-efficacy, and social support despite the presence of organizational anxiety. Based on these results, the implication and limitations of this study and the directions for future research discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.291-318
• /
• 2006

There were many studies conducted on economical aspects of employment among the elderly in national level, however, very few studies examined social and psychological aspects of senior employment and employment preferences of the elderly persons. The purposes of this study were to examine major determinants of decision making in employment, and to explore some relationships among decision making of employment, socio-economic factors, health and psycho-social factors, and labor and economical factors among non-working elderly persons in the community. In all, two-hundred-twenty elderly persons were interviewed and one-hundred-ninety-four were analyzed in this study. The descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and logistic regression were used for the data analysis in this study. The study found that the respondent's sex, ages, education, numbers of children, physical health, ADL, self-efficacy, economical stress, numbers of years in labor, asset of real estate, family allowances, and the benefit levels of pension were major determinants of decision making in employment among non-working elderly persons. Finally, some implications were discussed for developing effective senior employment in national policy, job related services, and welfare programs of the elderly persons for the successful aging.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.63-79
• /
• 2015

This study explored the effect of mother's employment status on family environment and physical environment and psychological environment, the main concern of this which factors have effects on marital satisfactions of either employed or non-employed mothers. First, the result of analysis on family environment according to mothers' employment status shows non-employed mother's parental stress is higher than employed mother's. Besides, non-employed mother's self-esteem is lower than employed mother's, and non-employed mother's depression is significantly high. Concerning fathers' factors, the level of conflict between husband and wife is higher among husbands when their wives are employed. In the light of childrens' factors, non-employed mothers consider that their children display more negative emotion and more picky. Children's development of employed mothers is included in normal development range more than that of non-employed mothers. Second, conflict between husbands and wives have an significantly negative effect on marital satisfaction regardless wife's employment status. Husbands' cooperation in child-rearing and marital satisfaction have a positive effect on wives' marital satisfaction. The significant factor which influences on employed mother's marital satisfaction is education level of wives. This study would be meaningful in that infancy home environment was compared focusing on the mothers' employment status, and some factors which factors(variables) have impacts on marital satisfaction of infancy mothers were examined.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.361-370
• /
• 2017

Previous reports have suggested that physical and psychological stresses may trigger fibromyalgia (FM). Stress is an important risk factor in the development of depression and memory impairments. Antidepressants have been used to prevent stress-induced abnormal pain sensation. Among various antidepressants, tianeptine has been reported to be able to prevent neurodegeneration due to chronic stress and reverse decreases in hippocampal volume. To assess the possible effect of tianeptine on FM symptoms, we constructed a FM animal model induced by restraint stress with intermittent cold stress. All mice underwent nociceptive assays using electronic von Frey anesthesiometer and Hargreaves equipment. To assess the relationship between tianeptine and expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB), western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyses were performed. In behavioral analysis, nociception tests showed that pain threshold was significantly decreased in the FM group compared to that in the control group. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus showed downregulation of BDNF and p-CREB proteins in the FM group compared to the control group. However, tianeptine recovered these changes in behavioral tests and protein level. Therefore, this FM animal model might be useful for investigating mechanisms linking BDNF-CREB pathway and pain. Our results suggest that tianeptine might potentially have therapeutic efficacy for FM.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 2013

For people with disabilities, getting a job makes it possible to advocate their own human rights, to improve their self-esteem and self-efficacy, to narrow economic, psychological and social divide between them and those without disabilities and ultimately to attain social integration. According to recent statistical data, there was an increase in the weight of people with disabilities, but their economic activities were on the wane, and it's required to explore what curbs the employment of people with disabilities to find feasible solutions. The purpose of this study was to examine influential factors for the economic activities of people with disabilities. The subjects in this study were the selected people with disabilities in the metropolitan area, on whom a survey was conducted to make an empirical analysis. The findings of the study were as follows: The people with disabilities engaged in less economic activities when they were basic livelihood security recipients, when they were older, and when they were female. And those who underwent job training and who were certified technicians were more likely to participate in economic activities. Therefore differentiated policy setting is required to boost the economic activities of people with disabilities after their general characteristics, characteristics as human resources and characteristics related to vocational training are carefully analyzed. As for general characteristics, whether they are basic livelihood security recipients or not should be considered to assess the degree of their poverty, and their gender, age and presence or absence of spouses should all be taken into account. In terms of vocational training, their certificates and job training experience should be investigated.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 2016

Purpose : The acupuncture existed more than 2000 years and has flourished not only in Asia but also in medical field of modern world. In addition, empirical evidences from biomedicine have been expended in many ways in order to objectify the field of acupuncture. Thus, the effect and mechanism of the acupuncture has been revealed in human and other animals. In this article, I attempt to explain what doctors and patients subjectively experience through acupuncture treatment and its clinical significance based on mind-body medicine. Methods : The experience and clinical significance of the acupuncture was examined in the view of mind-body medicine, also reviewed research trends related to meditation understanding the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture. Results and Conclusions : Traditional Korean medical doctor perceive generally "jogi " and "chishin " meaning the regulation of the balance of the various functions in the human body and patient's consciousness and psychology state as mightily important concept concerning the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. Despite scientific approach to objective understanding of the acupuncture was performed in the meantime, practitioners put emphasis on experience based on sensate and interaction between doctor-patient. As it reflects the recent understanding of the psychological effects associated with the clinical efficacy of acupuncture, it has been presented one by one through neuroscience and cognitive science. Therefore it is important that interpreting the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture into Mind-body medicine can form a new awareness and attitudes toward traditional medicine.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.209-222
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to discuss the papers of social welfare field that were published in Korea, from a research methodology aspect in accordance with the meta-analysis reporting standard proposed by the United States Psychological Association. To this end, an analysis was conducted according to 5 types of conformity (title and abstract, introduction, methods, results and discussion) on the target subjects of 26 meta-analysis papers of social welfare field. The analysis results showed, first, the conformity in the title and abstract showed good results except for the suggested topics for meta-analysis methods. Second, in terms of the conformity of the introduction, the descriptions seemed to be good in a number of items. Third, for the conformity in the methods, the overall reporting standard was seen to be lacking and, in particular, the reporting standard for the coding procedure was seen as being very deficient. Fourth, the conformity in the results showed that the assessment of research quality and the magnitude of efficacy for each individual study, sample size, and the contents of the provided tables, summary of tables and graphs, including the study results, were not being properly reported. Fifth, the conformity in discussions was seen to be generally sound. Based on such results, by providing a reporting standard and perspective needed for ensuring feasibility that can be used to assess meta-analysis study materials, this study was aimed at presenting implications for the academic advancement of field of social welfare.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.93-114
• /
• 2012

Objective : This study aimed to review the performance of traditional herbal prescriptions for treating dementia and present a strategy for research on dementia therapy utilizing herbal medicine. Methods : A definition was made to clarify the technology regarding the development of herbal prescriptions for treating dementia. The queries were compounded based on the initial keywords provided by experts in the field, then applied to the Web of Science database search engines from January 1986 to September 2011 to search related scientific articles. Before performing the analysis, papers were extracted from the initial search reviewed by experts and 80 articles were selected. Then, the selected papers were analyzed in terms of publish year, country, and type of herbal prescriptions. Furthermore, the research performance evaluation for treating dementia by herbal prescriptions was also created in terms of country and organization based on forward citation analysis. In addition to, for the evaluation regarding research quality, we classified and reviewed papers into two types: clinical studies and experimental studies. Results : According to the quantitative information analysis of 80 articles, the number of papers has increased by 21.9% per the yearly mean from 1995, and Japan had the largest portion within this research field. There were 34 kinds of traditional herbal prescriptions, among them Ukgansan had the highest number of studies followed by Jodeungsan, Dangkisoosan and so on. In addition, quality index as calculated by cites per paper is higher than average in Switzerland, Turkey and Japan. In the view of the evaluation on quality there were 12 clinical studies, 8 RCT reported that herbal prescriptions had efficacy at cognition, behavioral & psychological symptoms (BPSD) and activity of daily life (ADL) in various type of dementia. In experimental studies most of the studies were performed using animal models. The studies using Ukgansan were aimed at improving BPSD. The papers studied with Jodeungsan and Dangkisoosan targeted vascular dementia. Conclusions : In this study, research to develop traditional herbal prescriptions for treating dementia has the potential to improve symptoms since herbal medicines work as both multi-function and multi-target in dementia with multiple pathological or neurotoxic pathways. Therefore, the results of the research should be used in order to establish strategies to develop technology for treating dementia with traditional herbal prescriptions in the future.