• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.396-412
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the efficacy and safety of Korean medicine treatment. Methods: This study was conducted on 15 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome who visited the outpatient Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 10, 2021 to April 10, 2022. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 15 patients and collected clinical characteristics, Korean medicine treatments, outcome variables (Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (QOL-VAS), The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS)), adverse events, etc. Results: Of the 15 patients, seven (46.7%) were men, and the average age of all patients was 49.7±13 years. The most common symptom was cough (n=9, 60%), and it was followed by dyspnea or increased respiratory effort, fatigue, insomnia, anosmia, etc. The herbal medicine was prescribed for all 15 patients, and Saengmaek-san (n=8, 53.5%) was the most prescribed. Additionally, acupuncture and cupping were performed in four patients (26.7%) each, and electroacupuncture was applied to one patient (6.7%). As a result of Korean medicine treatment, NRS, mMRC, LCQ, QOL-VAS, and PCFS showed improvement, and adverse events were mild. Conclusions: This study presented the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and suggested that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in alleviating related symptoms and enhancing quality of life.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2023

Since facial skin pigmentation is one of the visual characteristics of skin aging, it is important to evaluate skin pigmentation in the cosmetics and aesthetic fields. Several groups have investigated and developed the image analysis methods for skin pigmentation and some of the groups reported the age-related changes of the number and size of facial pigmented spots. However, they didn't show the changes of the number and size of pigment spots by defined size, and there is no report for Korean female regarding pigmentation. A total of 194 Korean females aged 20 ~ 79 (48.97 ± 17.11 years) were analyzed for the number, size, and intensity of pigmented spots using various filters such as large high-pass filter and median filter in their digital facial images. There were significant correlations between age and total pigmented spot number (No.), size, and intensity (I) (pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.688, r = 0.645, r = -0.563), and significant correlations were also observed between the number and intensity of pigmented spots of different sizes. According to the ANOVA results, there were significant differences in the percentage of spot size of 2 ~ 4 mm² and > 20 mm² between 20's and 70's. In other words, with aging, pigmentation increases in the facial skin, and the large increase in pigmentation is particularly noticeable in Korean women.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.519-531
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• 2024

Objectives: This case study reports the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment in a patient with cyclic vomiting syndrome. Methods: A 29-year-old female Korean patient with cyclic vomiting syndrome received acupuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion for 2 weeks in hospital. Changes in symptoms were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Index for Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), Nausea Severity Scale (NSS), Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean version (NDI-K), quality of life using the Functional Dyspepsia Related Quality of Life questionnaire (FD-QoL), and gastric motility using electrogastrography (EGG). Results: Post-treatment, the patient showed high satisfaction and improvement in symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The following changes were observed in scores: GSRS: 23 to 19; VAS of nausea: 88 to 95; VAS of dyspepsia: 95 to 12; INVR: 13 to 1; NSS: 17 to 5; NDI-K: 107 to 78; and FD-QoL 84 to 27. We also found positive results in Channel 3 of EGG parameters, implying the improvement of gastric motility disorder. Conclusion: Korean medical treatment can be a therapeutic option for cyclic vomiting syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2020

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) for mood symptoms, pain, and somatic symptoms in elderly depression patients with pain and somatic symptoms. Methods : This study is a prospective open-label study conducted by a single institution. A total of 43 subjects diagnosed with major depressive disorder under the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria participated in this study (average age: 72.53, 58.1% women). The subjects were classified as SSRI and SNRI groups. Depressive symptoms, pain, and somatic symptoms were evaluated by Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS), visual analogue scale (VAS) and Patient Health Questionnare-15 (PHQ-15) respectively at baseline and six weeks later. Two-way repeated-measure ANOVA was performed to analyze changes in the KHDRS, VAS, and PHQ-15 scores. Results : In the SSRI and SNRI groups, K-HDRS, VAS, and PHQ-15 all showed significant improvement after 6 weeks compared to each baseline values. There were no differences in therapeutic effect between the two groups. Conclusions : We found that SSRI and SNRI both improved somatic symptoms and pain in elderly depression patients. The results of this study are thought to help select antidepressants when administering medication to elderly depression patients who complain pain and somatic symptoms. Further research is needed on the longterm effects of the SSRI and SNRI.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 1997

Stem diameter and shoot fresh weight of tomato grown in greenhouse were measured non-destructively at 10 minutes interval from 1 to 16 July, 1996 with displacement detector using strain gauges and with suspension-type load cell, respectively, and simultaneously were measured soil water potential, transpiration and solar radiation. Ample water was irrigated before experiment, and thereafter, irrigations were made on the next morning when visual symptoms of wilting appeared. Shoot fresh weight and stem diameter showed very similar patterns in diurnal changes which are characterized by predawn maximum and afternoon minimum and in long- term evolutions, suggesting that stem diameter shrinkage and expansion are closely related to plant water content and growth, respectively, Shoot weight and stem diameter reached minimum values a little later than the time on which transpiration showed maximum. The daily net gains of fresh weight(DG) and stem diameter(DI) showed significantly Positive correlations with solar radiation in those days on which plants were not water-stressed. However, Dl and DG on those days of water stress showed much lower values than expected from the relationships between solar radiation and them. Transpiration was much lower than the expected potential transpiration on 10 July, implying that plants were water-stressed. In this case water stress was not detected from visual symptom of wilting and/or soil water potential, but was able to be identified by the lower DI and DG than the expected. The maximum contraction of stem diameter(MC) and the maximum loss of fresh weight(ML) during daytime showed significantly positive correlations with solar radiation in those days on which plants were not water-stressed and were observed greater than expected from the relationships on severely water-stressed days. But mild water stress could not be discernable by ML and MC. It would be concluded that the daily net gains of fresh weight and/or stem diameter could be used as criteria for diagnosing the water status of tomato and for triggoring the onset of irrigation in automatic system.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2005

Binocular vision had a short history in Korea. As there were many near works in these days, the needs about comparative study have been increased. There was related to both refractive error and binocular anomalies, but it is difficult to applying for binocular vision expected findings in itself due to the fact that Korean differ from foreigner. Objects were 100 adults in 18-36 years old ages, The test was Von Gaefe method and used aparatus was phoropter(Shinnippon VT10)and visual chart(Shinnippon CT30). According to interview results was that symptom in near works were headaches 28.0%, blinking 27.3%, red eye 25.1%, eyepain 15.6%, watering 15.3%, itch 12.2%, photophobia 8.5% and eye strain 7.4%. A people who have above ${\pm}0.50$ D refractive error in total objectives (100-male 45/female 55) were classified into ametropia. There was a results such as emmetropia (12.0%), ametropia(88.0%), exophoria(32.0%), esophoria(12.0%). Far negative relative convergence were that in case of high 43.0%, in case of low 7.0%. Far positive relative convergence were that in case of high 15.0%, in case of low 38.0%. Near phoria was exophoria(32.0%), esophoria(12.0%). Near negative relative convergence were that in case of high 23.0%, in case of low 38.0%. Far positive relative convergence were that in case of high 29.0%, in case of low 23.0%. Near negative relative accommodation were that in case of high 10.0%, in case of low 14,0%, Far positive relative convergence were that in case of high 69.0%, in case of low 12.0%. Results were different from expected findings, and especially positive relative accommodation was very high, However, We suggest that the expected findings in Korea for several subjects must study in binocular function.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.379-385
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to present basic data that is needed in comprehension of dysesthesia after mandibular nerve injury and grasp meaning. We analyzed medical records of 59 patients who were diagnosed as dysesthesia after mandibular nerve injury from January 2007 to July 2009. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The most frequent cause was implant surgery (59%) and the most frequent injured branch of mandibular nerve was inferior alveolar nerve(81%). 2. The period passed after nerve injury showed significant interrelationship with level of pain. Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) increased from 4.82 to 6.91 after 6 month. 3. The period passed after nerve injury did not show significant interrelationship with recovery of dysesthesia. But, when conservative treatment was offered at earlier stage, ratio of patients who showed recovery of symptom tended to increase. 4. In computed tomography, level of invasion into inferior alveolar nerve canal did not show significant interrelationship with level of pain and recovery of dysesthesia. Conclusively, in the patients with dysesthesia of mandibular nerve, inferior alveolar nerve injury by dental implant surgery dominated most significant problem. Although level of invasion into inferior alveolar nerve is the most important factor to initiation of dysesthesia, there are other various factors exert more influence on the level of pain or recovery of dysesthesia. Therefore, begining conservative therapy at earlier stage is encouraged. Also, because nerve injuries can occur without direct invasion into nerve canal, so leaving enough safe space from nerve canal is needed for prevention of indirect nerve injury.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.481-488
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• 2005

Purpose: Functional imaging of dopamine transporter (DAT) defines integrity of the dopaminergic system, and DAT is the target site of drugs of abuse such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Functional imaging the DAT may be a sensitive and selective indicator of neurotoxic change by the drug. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical implications of qualitative/quantitative analyses of dopamine transporter imaging in methamphetamine abusers. Materials and Methods: Six detoxified methamphetamine abusers (abuser group) and 4 volunteers (control group) were enrolled in this study. Brain MRI was performed in all of abuser group. Abuser group underwent psychiatric and depression assessment using brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD), respectively. All of the subjects underwent I-123 IPT SPECT (IPT SPECT). IPT SPECT image was analysed with visual qualitative method and quantitative method using basal ganglia dopamine transporter (DAT) specific/non-specific binding ratio (SBR). Comparison of DAT SBR between abuser and control groups was performed. We also performed correlation tests between psychiatric and depression assessment results and DAT SBR in abuser group. Results: All of abuser group showed normal MRI finding, but had residual psychiatric and depressive symptoms, and psychiatric and depressive symptom scores were exactly correlated (r=1.0, p=0.005) each other. Five of them showed abnormal finding on qualitative visual I-123 IPT SPECT Abuser group had lower basal ganglia DAT SBR than that of control ($2.38{\pm}0.20\;vs\;3.04{\pm}0.27$, p=0.000). Psychiatric and depressive symptoms were negatively well correlated with basal ganglia DAT SBR (r=-0.908, p=0.012, r=-0.924, p=0.009). Conclusion: These results suggest that dopamine transporter imaging using I-123 IPT SPECT may be used to evaluate dopaminergic system of the basal ganglia and the clinical status in methamphetamine abusers.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.433-446
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sociopsychological factors which might influence the course of the temporomandibular disorders and to develop models for prediction of treatment outcome related to pain, dysfunction and sound. For this study, 268 patients with temporomandibular disorders were selected from the patients presented to department of Oral Medicine, Wonkwang university dental hospital. Chief complaints of these subjects were largely grouped into three categories such as pain, dysfunction and sound, and 10 cm visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to record the state of the three complaints every visit and Treatment Index(VAS TI) was calculated from VAS. All the forty-two items obtained from clinical examination or questionnaire were statistically processed with $SPSS^{(R)}$ windows. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The items showed a difference between male and female subjects were maximum mouth opening, palpation score, jaw jerk during mandibular movement, and sleep disturbance. Among questionnaires such as SRRS, HAD scale and PSQI, the HAD scales showed the most highly significant correlation with the each scale item of the SCL-90R. 2. Among the groups classified by VAS TI, the group with the lowest VAS TI showed the highest VAS score in the start of treatment but showed the lowest score in the end of treatment, without respect to the type of chief complaint. From these results, it is assumed that the active treatment duration for the subjects with lower VAS score in the first visit would be longer than the subjects with higher score with the somewhat poor treatment outcome. 3. With regard to all the three complaints, the items showing significant effect in the model for prediction of treatment outcome were from questionnaire, except one item, maximum mouth opening, which suggest that the sociopsychological factors would be strongly related to development and progress of the symptoms.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.119-135
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• 1999

The object of this study is 196 patients who had been treated in the Oriental Medical Hospital at Dong Eui Medical Center during 33 months from January 1996,3 to June 1998,11. We proceeded the judgment of Sasang Constitution by 'Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Classification(I)' and 'Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Classification II(QSCCII)'. The following conclusion were made in comparison with Sasang Constitution and Questionnaire about disease and style of symptoms. 1. The subject of "increase of the weight of a body(gain weight), sweatier, the body swelled out, a lame pain, more like fat food, more like salty food", has significant differences in sasang constitution classification. The frequency of Taeeum group is more than that of Soeum group and Soyang group. 2. The subject of "the complextion is bas, uncomfortable feeling in the throat, insomnia, loss of appetite, apt to be fatigued easily, gastralgia what is not connected with food, diarrhea, headache, menorrhalgia, less like fat food, more like fresh food", has significant differences in sasang constitution classification. The frequency of Soeum group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soyang group. 3. It has not significant differences, but the frequency of Soyang group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soeum group in the subject of "the cough in the disease of the respiratory organs, hypomotility of the joint in the disease of the musculo-skeletal systems, menoxenia like menorrhagia and menostaxia and itching sensation of genitals in the disease of the gynecological organs, itching or boil in the dermatological disease", and fewer in the cardio-vascular disease, urinary disease and hematic disease. The frequency of Soeum group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soyang group in the subject of "the general disease of the digestive organs, uncomfortable feeling or pain of the throat in the disease of the respiratory organs, the general hematic disease, numbness or pain of the musculo-skeletal disease, psychical disease in the psychoneurotical disease, menorrhalgia, a lump of the breasts, leukorrhea in the gynecological disease, eruption or urticaria in the dermatological disease, the general visual and auditory disease". The frequency of Taeeum group is more than that of Soyang group and Soeum group in the subject of "a hoarseness in the disease of the respiratory organs, A lame pain of the musculo-skeletal disease, neurotical disease in the psychoneurotical disease, eruption or urticaria in the dermatological disease", and fewer in the the gynecological disease.