• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.81 no.2
• /
• pp.116-122
• /
• 2018

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious chronic condition with a global impact. Symptoms of COPD include progressive dyspnea, breathlessness, cough, and sputum production, which have a considerable impact on the lives of patients. In addition to the human cost of living with COPD and the resulting death, COPD entails a huge economic burden on the Chinese population, with patients spending up to one-third of the average family income on COPD management in some regions is clinically beneficial to adopt preventable measures via prudent COPD care utilization, monetary costs, and hospitalizations. Methods: Toward this end, this study compared the relative effectiveness of six indices in predicting patient healthcare utilization, cost of care, and patient health outcome. The six assessment systems evaluated included the three multidimensional Body mass index, Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise capacity index, Dyspnea, Obstruction, Smoking, Exacerbation (DOSE) index, and COPD Assessment Test index, or the unidimensional measures that best predict the future of patient healthcare utilization, cost of care, and patient health outcome among Chinese COPD patients. Results: Multiple linear regression models were created for each healthcare utilization, cost, and outcome including a single COPD index and the same group of demographic variables for each of the outcomes. Conclusion: We conclude that the DOSE index facilitates the prediction of patient healthcare utilization, disease expenditure, and negative clinical outcomes. Our study indicates that the DOSE index has a potential role beyond clinical predictions.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.43-52
• /
• 2008

1. Objectives This study aims to find out the factors that affect to healthy level according to Sasang Constitutions by comparing THI health state with Sasang Health Index. 2. Methods One hundred twenty one healthy students from Korean oriental medical colleges participated in this study. We used the Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification II(QSCC II) and expert opinion to diagnose Sasang Constitution, and used Sasang Health Index and THI questionnaire to take health information about Sasang Constitution, from 121 people of Sasang Constitution Information Bank. 3. Results 1) The 'Good Sweat' in Taeumin health level was higher than others, especially in case of 'Refreshness after Sweat' and the 'Good Feces' also higher in case of 'Much Volume in Defecation' 'Regularity in Defecation' 'Refreshness after Evacuation'. 2) The 'Good Feces' in Soyangin health level was higher than others, especially in case of 'Thickness'. 3) The 'Good Digestion' in Soeumin health level was not significantly higher than others. 4) The better symptoms in 'Good Sweat', the better health in Taeumin. 4. Conclusions Sasang Constitution Health Level is significantly related with Sasang Health Index.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.212-217
• /
• 2006

Obstructive sleep apena syndrome (OSAS) is accompanied by the following symptoms: apnea caused by upper respiratory tract obstruction while sleeping, repetitive lowering of $SpO_2$, severely affected excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), suffocation/frequent awakeness while sleeping, daytime lethargy, and lack of concentration. OSAS was investigated with sex, age, body weight, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference and snoring sound as clinical characteristics and the anticipating factors of OSAS were studied in relation with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The subjects were 42 people (male 34/female 8) who visited the clinic due to snoring and had polysomnography evaluation. AHI was differenciated into normal (less than 0~5/hr), mild (5~15/hr), moderate (15~30/hr) and severe (more than 30/hr). As the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) gets higher, the snoring sound was louder (p<0.01), neck circumference was thicker (p<0.05) and also there were relative correlations with body weight (p<0.01), body mass index (p<0.05), snoring sound (p<0.01) and neck circumference (p<0.01). Since the snoring sound and neck circumference explained 32.8% of the AHI distribution, if the patient was severely snoring or had a thick neck circumference due to obesity, the apnea-hypopnea index showed a predisposition to the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.17-36
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of external preparation containing herbal extract(Sophorae Radix, Aurantii Immaturus Fructus, Schizonepetae Spica, Forsythia fructus and Portulacea Herba) on atopic dermatitis patients. Methods : A total of 33 patients who visited the Dept. of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology of Korean Medicine of Korean Medical hospital of Daejeon university from February 2012 to February 2013 were engaged in this study. Patients who corresponded the requirements were enrolled in the study. This study shows symptom comparisons before and after the use of this product. Effectiveness was evaluated through SCORAD(SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) Index, and the quality of life scale was conducted through Skindex-29. Results : 1. Comparison of the general changes through SCORAD Index indicated that the experimental group showed more statistically significant declines than the placebo group after the two-week use. 2. Comparison of changes in intensity criteria(Erythema, Edema, Oozing, Excoriation) through SCORAD Index indicated that the experimental group showed more statistically significant declines than the placebo group after the two-week use. 3. Comparison of changes in subjective symptoms through SCORAD Index indicated that the experimental group showed no statistically remarkable changes. 4. Comparison of changes in the body parts(Upperlimb) through SCORAD Index indicated the experimental group showed statistically significant changes after the two-week use. 5. Comparison of the general changes in quality of life through Skindex-29 indicated that the total score from experimental group showed statistically significant changes after the four-week use. Conclusions: This study, evaluated through SCORAD Index, indicated that the treatment with the external preparation containing herbal extract has a statistically marginal significance of efficacy on atopic dermatitis patients in the short term.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2019

Introduction : The aim of this study was to investigate menstrual pattern according to Mibyeong Index(MBI) and compare Mibyeong symptom score according to severity of menstrual pain. Mibyeong Index was designed to measure inconvenience and resilience of subject's complains including four physical symptoms(fatigue, pain, low sleep quality, indigestion) and mental distress including anxiety, anger, depression. Method : We used the clinical data of Korean medicine Date Center(KDC) for subjects who participated in the study of 'Clinical research for collecting of clinical cases based on the personal type of Mibyeng' conducted in Seoul, from June 26, 2015 to June 26, 2017. A total of 566 fertile women aged 30 to 50 who completed the questionnaires were included in this study. In this study, we used items of Mibyeong Index and the menstrual pattern by self-report questionnaires. The date were analyzed through Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson's chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA using SPSS statistics 19.0. Results : Mibyeong status was significantly associated with severity of menstrual pain(p<0.001), worst day of menstrual pain(p<0.05), and type of menstrual pain(low back pain, nausea, depression, and none (respectively, p<0.05)). In addition, The 7-subtype score (fatigue (p<0.001), pain(p<0.001), low sleep quality(p<0.001), indigestion(p<0.001), anxiety(p<0.05), anger(p<0.05) and depression(p<0.05)) of Mibyeong index and total score of Mibyeong Index (p<0.001) showed significant difference for severity of menstrual pain. Conclusion : This result indicates that a close relationship between Mibyeong status and severity of menstrual pain. Further studies are needed but, we hope that this results will be used as the basic data to improve mibyeong status through health care to alleviate dysmenorrhea.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.5-13
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Depression, sleep complaints and cognitive impairments are commonly observed in the elderly. Elderly subjects with depressive symptoms have been found to show both poor cognitive performances and sleep disturbances. However, the relationship between sleep complaints and cognitive dysfunction in elderly depression is not clear. The aim of this study is to identify the association between sleep disturbances and cognitive decline in late-life depression. Methods: A total of 282 elderly people who underwent nocturnal polysomnography in a sleep laboratory were enrolled in the study. The Korean version of the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery developed by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) was applied to evaluate cognitive function. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the geriatric depression scale (GDS) and subjective sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI). Results: The control group ($GDS{\leq}9$) when compared with mild ($10{\leq}GDS{\leq}16$) and severe ($17{\leq}GDS$) depression groups, had significantly different scores in the Trail making test part B (TMT-B), Benton visual retention test part A (BVRT-A), and Stroop color and word test (SCWT)(all tests p<0.05). The PSQI score, REM sleep duration, apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index were significantly different across the three groups (all indices, p<0.05). A stepwise multiple regression model showed that educational level, age and GDS score were predictive for both TMT-B time (adjusted $R^2$=35.6%, p<0.001) and BVRT-A score (adjusted $R^2$=28.3%, p<0.001). SCWT score was predicted by educational level, age, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and GDS score (adjusted $R^2$=20.6%, p<0.001). Poor sleep quality and sleep structure alterations observed in depression did not have any significant effects on cognitive deterioration. Conclusion: Older adults with depressive symptoms showed mild sleep alterations and poor cognitive performances. However, we found no association between sleep disturbances (except sleep apnea) and cognitive difficulties in elderly subjects with depressive symptoms. It is possible that the impact of sleep disruptions on cognitive abilities was hindered by the confounding effect of age, education and depressive symptoms.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.177-193
• /
• 2009

The assessment of patient status in palliative medicine is essential for determining treatments and for clinical outcomes. The objective of assessment tools is to raise the quality of care for individual patients and their families. There are a number of tools available to assess pain, non-pain symptoms and quality of life. The tools are either uni-dimensional or multi-dimensional measures. Unfortunately, however, no single tool is recommended to be a superior to others in symptoms or quality of life assessment. Therefore, to select an appropriate assessment tool, one should consider the time frame and unique characteristics of tools depending on purpose and setting. The combination of prognostic index is highly recommended in prognostication, and web-based prognostic tools are available. Recently, a new objective prognostic score has been constructed through multicenter study in Korea. It does not include clinicalestimates of survival, but includes new objective prognostic factors, therefore, anyone can easily use it. For beginners in palliative medicine, relatively easy-to-use tools would be convenient. We recommend Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status to assess functional status, numeric rating scale for pain assessment and the Korean version of brief pain inventory for initial pain assessment. Asking directly with numeric rating scale or the Korean version of MD Anderson Symptom Inventory would be desirable to assess various symptoms together. We think that European Organization Research and Treatment Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 for Palliative Care is good to assess the quality of life, while Objective Prognostic Score is convenient as prognostic index for beginners.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.54-60
• /
• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find the influential clinical and physical characteristics which affect apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Methods We evaluated the comprehensive factors including sleep related symptoms, clinical scales, medical history, substance use, and anthropometric data of the 119 participants who complained of the symptoms of OSA. All the participants underwent attended-full night laboratory polysomnography. The correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted to find the influential and predictive factors of AHI. Results A multiple linear regression model 1 showed that higher AHI was associated with higher body mass index (BMI)(p < 0.001) and higher frequency of observed apnea (p = 0.002). In multiple linear regression model 2, AHI was associated with higher BMI (p < 0.001) and loudness of snoring (p = 0.018). Conclusions The present preliminary results suggest that BMI and observed apnea are most influential factors that affect AHI in suspected OSA patients. In the future study we will design the prediction formula for the OSA and AHI, which is useful in the clinical medical field.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.428-437
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine if there is a significant correlation between the changes of Fire- and Heat- related symptoms and motor function recovery in acute cerebral infarction patients. Methods : We studied inpatients within a month after the onset of cerebral infarction who were admitted at Kyunghee University Medical Center from May 2011 to January 2013. We executed correlation analysis between Fire-heat pattern score and motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and checked if there was a significant correlation between the changes of Fire-heat pattern score and changes of motricity index score. Also, we compared the changes of both scores in patients taking Fire-heat and non Fire-heat pattern prescriptions. Results : There was a significant correlation between the Fire-heat pattern score and Motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and changes of Fire-heat pattern score showed significant correlation with changes of motricity index score. Patients taking Fire-heat pattern prescriptions showed significant change in Fire-heat pattern score after herb-medication treatment while patients taking non-Fire-heat prescriptions showed insignificant change in Fire-heat pattern score. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that taking a Fire-heat pattern prescription could be considered as a first line herb-medication treatment in acute cerebral infarction patients.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.85-99
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and dietary inflammatory index(DII) in Korean postmenopausal women. The subjects consisted of 3,947 Korean postmenopausal women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016~2020. Subjects were classified into quartiles of dietary inflammatory index score. Individuals with high DII scores had poor health habits such as drinking, smoking, lack of physical activity, and skipping meals. The higher the score of the DII, the higher the PHQ-9 score and the depression odds ratio, which are depressive screening tools(p for trend <0.01). Among the anti-inflammatory items, DII, MUFA, PUFA, n-3 fatty acids, and n-6 fatty acids increased the risk of depression as the DII item score increased(p for trend <0.05). As a result of this study, it was found that the dietary inflammatory index was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. The promotion of a healthy diet with anti-inflammatory properties may help to prevent depression in postmenopausal women.