• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1239-1246
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of reflux esophagitis. Methods: A 62-year-old male patient had reflux esophagitis that occurred one year after a proximal gastrectomy for gastric ulcer in 2020. The patient underwent drug treatment in 2021 and inpatient treatment in 2022 at Mokpo Hankook Hospital, but he did not improve. We treated him with Korean medical treatments, including herbal medicines (Pyungjingunbi-tang-gami), acupuncture, and moxibustion. His symptom severity was assessed with a daily visual analog scale (VAS) for heartburn, upper abdomen pain, and acid reflux. Results: After treatment, the patient's symptoms were improved. The severity of heartburn and acid reflux was reduced from VAS 7 to VAS 1, and his upper abdomen pain was improved from VAS 6 to VAS 1. The symptom frequency was also reduced. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment could be an effective and quick treatment for reflux esophagitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3903-3907
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• 2013

Background: Patients with colorectal cancer are usually treated with chemotherapy, which reduces the number of blood cells, especially white blood cells, and consequently increases the risk of infections. Some research studies have reported that aromatherapy massage affects the immune system and improves immune function by, for example, increasing the numbers of natural killer cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, there has been no report of any study which provided good evidence as to whether aromatherapy with Thai massage could improve the immune system in patients with colorectal cancer. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the use of aromatherapy with light Thai massage in patients with colorectal cancer, who have received chemotherapy, can result in improvement of the cellular immunity and reduce the severity of the common symptoms of side effects. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients with colorectal cancer in Phichit Hospital, Thailand, were enrolled in a single-blind, randomised-controlled trial. The intervention consisted of three massage sessions with ginger and coconut oil over a 1-week period. The control group received standard supportive care only. Assessments were conducted at pre-assessment and at the end of one week of massage or standard care. Changes from pre-assessment to the end of treatment were measured in terms of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, CD4 and CD8 cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio and also the severity of self-rated symptom scores. Results: The main finding was that after adjusting for pre-assessment values the mean lymphocyte count at the post-assessment was significantly higher (P=0.04) in the treatment group than in the controls. The size of this difference suggested that aromatherapy with Thai massage could boost lymphocyte numbers by 11%. The secondary outcomes were that at the post assessment the symptom severity scores for fatigue, presenting symptom, pain and stress were significantly lower in the massage group than in the standard care controls. Conclusions: Aromatherapy with light Thai massage can be beneficial for the immune systems of cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy by increasing the number of lymphocytes and can help to reduce the severity of common symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2003

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference of cognitve function among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder according to severity of symptoms. Methods: The subjects were 90 psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with posttraumatic stress disorer(by DSM-IV criteria) after traffic accident. The severity of symptoms was assessed by MMPI subscales; depression, psychasthenia, schizophrenia. The impairment of cognitive function was assessed by Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS). Based on scores of the MMPI subscales, the patients were divided into high group(above 70 percentile) and low group(below 30 percentile). We estimated the difference of the K-WAIS score and subtest score in the low group and high group of the MMPI subscales by indedpendent t-test. Results: The scores of high group is significantly higher in the subtests of information, vocabulary, similarity, picture completion, and picture arrangement than the low group for psychasthenia subscale of MMPI. And the score of high group is significantly higher in full scale I.Q., verbal I.Q., performance I.Q., verbal subscales except digit span and simiarity, and performance subscales than low group for schiozphrenia subscale of MMPI. Conclusion: It was found cognitive function was more impaired in the group of PTSD with severe symptom compared to the group of PTSD with mild symptoms. We suggest that psychiatrist should consider various cognitive approaches as well as pharmacotherapy in the management of PTSD.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.184-188
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: White stain symptom caused by Acremonium acutatum and Trichothecium roseum, is one of the most important diseases on the grape. This disease occurs national-wide in Korea and causes irreversible damage on grape, at harvest season. This study was conducted to develop environment-friendly control method against white stain symptom. METHODS AND RESULTS: Environment-friendly materials were tested for control activity against A. acutatum and T. roseum in vitro and in vivo. The effect of environment-friendly materials against white stain symptom on grape in farmer's greenhouse was examined. The materials, NaDCC and sulphur, were sprayed three times on the leaves and fruit of grape at the two sites of farmer's field, Anseong and Hwaseong of Gyeounggi. To evaluate control effect of NaDCC and sulphur against white stain symptom, the disease severity was investigated after the two materials were sprayed from the disease onset three times at the 7-day intervals. NaDCC showed efficacy of 59.71% for Kyoho and 72.26% for Campbell-Early, and sulphur showed 78.31% for Koyho and 66.19% for Campbell-Early. CONCLUSION: We were selected sulphur and Sodium-Dichloroisocyannurate(NaDCC) based on the results of experiments in vitro. In field test, sulphur and NaDCC showed suppressive effect in the white stain symptom of grape. These results suggested that NaDCC and sulphur selected can be used as control agents for controlling white stain symptom on grape.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.172-180
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• 2000

Objectives : We investigated the characteristics of perceived stress response and relationship between some variables of gastrointestinal symptoms(esp., dyspepsia) and subscales of perceived stress response inventory(PSRI) in patients with upper gastointestinal disorder when they perceived stress. Methods : 84 patients with upper gastrointestinal disorder(gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer etc.) and 94 normal controls completed the PSRI developed by Korean psychiatrists. The patient group performed the questionnaire including some variables of gastrointestinal symptoms. Results : Internal consistency was statistically significant in all subscales of PSRI. The patient group was significantly higher at total score of PSRI, general somatic symptom subscale score, specific somatic symptom score than control group. As the result of stepwise regression analysis for relationship between some variables of gastrointestinal symptoms ans subscales of PSRI, specific somatic symptom subsclae closely related with illness duration, past illness history and severity of symptom, and the lowered cognitive function & general negative thinking subscale related with the existence of emotional distress. Conclusion : Patients with upper gastrointestinal disorder showed stronger perceived stress response than control group and they experiences somatic symptoms related to autonomic nervous system and/or gastrointestinal symtoms rather than emotional, cognitive, behavioral symtoms when they perceived stress. They also responded to stress as they expeirenced specific somatic symtom when they had long illness duration, past illness history, and high severity of symptom and the existence of emotional distress could develop lowered congnitive function and general negative thinking.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2007

Objectives : The research is designed in order to know how much Traumatic Symptom Checklist fur Children(TSCC) is effective in the case of child abuses, especially in the estimation of the psychopathology of child sexual abuse. Methods : A sample includes a group of thirty children of 4th, 5th and 6th grade whose sexual abuse have confirmed and also a group of thirty four normal kids who have no abuse. Along with TSCC, Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) were used to children and child behavior checklist (K-CBCL), sexual behaviors (CSBI), and Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) record sheets were used to kids' parents. Results : In case of the sexual abuse group, the most meaningful difference from the analyzed result is shown at sexual concerns scale which is one of the clinical scale in TSCC (p<.01). Also, the sexual abuse group has the meaningful higher score than the general group's one in the stress scale after the other anxiety, depression, anger and dissociation (p<.01). Conclusion : The scale of TSCC has relatively shown the characteristic symptom and severity which were gained from the children who have experienced trauma, especially sexual abuse.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.162-170
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to differentiate between women with three perimenstrual symptom severity patterns : premenstrual syndrome(PMS), premenstrual magnification(PMM), and low symptom(LS), and to explore the related dietary factors to premenstrual symptoms. Method: Women were asked to keep a diary record of perimenstrual symptoms and food intake for 50 days. Result: Symptom patterns were defined for 26 among 38 women ; Eight(21.1%) demonstrated a PMS pattern, three(7.9%) demonstrated a PMM pattern, and fifteen(39.5%) exhibited a LS pattern. There were significant differences in symptom scores during the premenstrual phase($x^2=19.30$, p=.000), menstrual phase($x^2=13.32$, p=.001), and post menstrual phase($x^2=9.93$, p=.007) for three groups. Protein, vit E, vit C, niacin, folic acid, and phosphorus in the premenstrual phase, and energy, and vit B6 in the menstrual period were significantly different between the three groups. Among dietary compositions, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, natrium, vit B6, niacin, and vit E were negatively related to PMS symptoms. Conclusion: Pattern of perimenstrual symptoms should be differentiated for individualized PMS management. As a more efficient diet assessment for PMS women, randomized nutritional analysis during the 3 phases of the menstrual cycle should be done and a replication study is necessary with a larger sample.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.247-256
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationships between the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels with the sociodemographic and clinical factors, self-care behaviors, and the physical symptom experiences in patients with heart failure. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a convenience sample of adult outpatients and inpatients who attended a cardiology department in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The data from 154 patients with heart failure were collected using a questionnaire, and their clinical data were extracted from their electronic medical records. Results: Compared with the patients with high NT-proBNP levels, those with low NT-proBNP levels had significantly lower physical symptom experiences scores. Patients with low- and mid-NT-proBNP levels were more likely to be employed compared with those with high NT-proBNP levels. Patients with low NT-proBNP levels had higher left ventricular ejection fractions, and were less likely to have arrhythmias and comorbidities. Conclusion: The results from this study showed that patients with more severe heart failure had higher physical symptom experiences scores; hence, individualizing treatment approaches based on heart failure severity is necessary.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.63-76
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the value and efficacy of BDI, STAI, STAXI, ISI, and SCL-90-R in correlation with depression, anxiety, and insomnia patients. Methods : A total of 39 patients, who were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and insomnia were evaluated using BDI, STAI, STAXI, ISI, and SCL-90-R. They were then statistically analyzed. Results : 1. BDI scores of depression patients were significantly different from other patients. 2. BDI scores of depression patients had strong positive correlation with STAI-S, and STAI-T scores. 3. STAI-S scores of anxiety patients had positive correlation with BDI, and ISI scores. 4. SCL-90-R depression subscale scores of depression patients had strong positive correlation with somatization, obsessive compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, global severity index, and positive symptom total subscale scores. 5. SCL-90-R anxiety subscale scores of anxiety patients had strong positive correlation with somatization, obsessive compulsive, depression, phobic anxiety, and global severity index subscale scores. Phobic anxiety subscale scores had strong positive correlation with anxiety, global severity index, and positive symptom total subscale scores. Conclusions : The result findings are expected to serve as a useful resource in future stress-related depression, anxiety, and insomnia case reports and clinical research in oriental neuropsychiatry.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2013

Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin, is known to be an inhibitor of cholinergic neuromuscular transmission. Recently, it was reported that the administration of botulinum toxin is effective for the treatment of focal neurological motor disorders such as cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, spasmodic dysphonia, and writer's cramp. Several case studies reported that the botulinum toxin was administered for the treatment of motor tic or vocal tic. It was found that this toxin reduces the frequency and severity of the tic as well as the premonitory urge and symptoms. In our case study, a noticeable decrease of motor tic symptom was observed after an intramuscular injection of 300mg of botulinum toxin in an 18-year-old patient with Tourette's disorder who showed only a little improvement of motor tic and vocal tic symptoms after treatment with antipsychotic drugs for several years. This case is reported in our study and literature survey was undertaken for reviewing similar cases. In our study, an 18-year-old boy diagnosed with Tourette's disorder based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition presented with the following scores : the Clinical Global Impression scale, Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (motor/vocal/severity), Premonitory Urge Score, Korean Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating scale, and Kovac Depression scale which were performed prior to the treatment were 5, 21/5/50, 100, 17, and 18 points, respectively. Two weeks after the injection of botulinum toxin, the scores were 4, 17/5/40, 50, 16, and 19 points, respectively. Eight weeks after the injection of botulinum toxin, they had become 3, 15/5/30, 25, 16, and 20 points, respectively, which clearly indicates a noticeable decrease of motor tic symptom.