• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2020

Background: This study aims to statistically analyze and compare the curative effect and satisfaction level between typical traditional Korean medicine treatment and nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment. Methods: Of the patients who were diagnosed with the cervical or lumbar herniated intervertebral disc at the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine at the Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital from April 14^th to August 25^th, 2019, this study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 31 patients who underwent nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment and traditional Korean medicine (assigned to Group A) and another 31 patients who received typical traditional Korean medicine alone (assigned to Group B). The clinical data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23.0. Results: No statistically significant differences appeared in terms of sociodemographic, condition, and therapeutic characteristics, except whether the patient received Western medicine treatment, before or after a treatment with traditional Korean medicine. Group A exhibited higher variations in numeric rating scale, EuroQol- 5 dimension and EuroQol visual analogue scale scores compared to Group B as determined by independent sample t test and analysis of covariance. In addition, the satisfaction score of Group A was higher than that of Group B The result of cross analysis revealed that desire for continued treatment in Group A was higher than that of Group B. Conclusion: This retrospective observational study showed that the patients with nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment reported a greater reduction in pain, improved quality of life and satisfaction than patients receiving typical traditional Korean medicine.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.935-942
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• 2009

For the economical use of the medicinal effects and functionality of Chrysanthemum indicum L (gamkug) this study analyzed the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of juak (tradition Korean rice cakes such as backed rice cakes) prepared with different levels of Chrysanthemum indicum L. powder (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5%). The diameter of the juak increased with increasing levels of the added gamkug powder, whereas the height decreased with increasing amount of the powder. The Hunter colorimeteric L-values of the dough and gamkug-juak decreased as the amount of gamkug powder increased. Hunter a and b-values both increased with increasing levels of the gamkug powder. Textural characteristics results for the gamkug juak dough indicated increasing hardness and, chewiness values as the amount of gamkug powder increased. After cooking, there were decrease in hardness and chewiness as the amount of gamkug powder increased. Springiness, cohesiveness, brittleness were not significantly different as the level of gamkug powder increased. According to sensory evaluation results, appearance, color, and flavor showed significantlyn (p<0.001) higher scores as the addition level of gamkug powder increased. The 2~4% addition of gamkug powder presented significantly (p<0.001) higher scores for non-oily and herb taste. There were no significant differences in the sensory texture results among all treatments of the juak. After taste was deemed best for the containing 3% gamkug powder. Overall, the optimum addition level of gamkug powder was proposed as 3% in glutinous flour for attributes of appearance, taste, flavor, texture, and the overall acceptability of the product.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.943-953
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of selection attributes of restaurants specialized in Yaksun food on purchase intentions and satisfaction level of consumers as well as mediating effects of value awareness of Yaksun food on relationships among the variables. The subjects in this study were 200 female adults in Seoul and Busan. The findings of the study were as follows: First, purchase intentions for Yaksun food were positively influenced by food quality, human service, and health effect among selection attributes for restaurants specialized in Yaksun food. Second, customer satisfaction with Yaksun food was positively affected by food quality and human service among selection attributes. Third, purchase intention for Yaksun food and customer satisfaction were positively influenced awareness of functional value, emotional value and economic value of Yaksun food. Fourth, awareness of emotional and economic value of Yaksun food had mediating effects on relationships between selection attributes for restaurants specialized in Yaksun food and purchase intentions, and awareness of functional value of Yaksun food had mediating effects on relationships between the selection attributes of restaurants specialized in Yaksun food and customer satisfaction. The findings of the study illustrate that selection attributes for restaurants specialized in Yaksun food and value awareness have an impact on purchase intentions and customer satisfaction, and value awareness of Yaksun foods has mediating effects on the relationship of selection attributes with purchase intentions and customer satisfaction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.411-417
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• 2018

Last year, the elderly population aged 65 years and over exceeded 14.2 percent of the total population, and Korea has entered the ageing society. At the same time, social interest in improving the health level and quality of life in the elderly has also increased. In particular, pain is one of the most common diseases experienced by middle-aged and elderly people and is one of the factors that closely affect the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the pain level and pain region of Korean medicine users and the use of Korean medicine in the Korean middle aged and elderly using the 6th Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) panel. As a result, the main influencing factors of Korean medical care were subjective factors such as gender, subjective health status, and education level. In particular, half of the middle-aged and elderly who used Korean medicine experienced back and knee pain, and generally complained of low level of pain. This study suggests the need for research and development of Korean medicine that can control and relieve the pain of the middle-aged and elderly.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-123
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• 2018

Purpose: This study empirically investigates the utilization and expenditure of health care and long-term care at the last year of life for long-term care beneficiaries in Korea. Methods: This study used National Health Insurance and Long-term Care Insurance claims data of 271,474 LTCI beneficiaries, who died from July 2008 to December 2012. Their cause of death, place of death, health care costs, and the provision of aggressive care were analyzed. Results: Cardio-vascular disease(29.8%) and cancer(15.3%) were reported as their major cause of death, and hospital(64.4%), home(22.0%), social care facility(9.2%) were analyzed as the place of death. 99.3% of subjects used both health care and long-term care during the last 1 year of life. The average survival period were 516.2 days after they were LTCI beneficiaries. The health care expenditure gradually increased near the death, and the last month were three times more rather than the first month. Furthermore, 31.8% experienced some aggressive cares(CPR, blood transfusion, hemo-dialysis, etc.) at the last month of life. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is important to develop the end of life care policies(for example, hospice, advanced care directives) for the LTCI beneficiaries. They might contribute to the improvement of quality of life and the reduction of health care expenditure of the elderly at the end-of-life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.735-742
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy 20 items (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. Methods: A convenience sample of 249 Korean cancer patients, previously or currently, being treated with peripheral neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0. Construct validity, known-group validity, concurrent validity, and internal consistency reliability of the Korean version of the QLQ-CIPN20 were evaluated. Results: Factor analysis confirmed 3 dimensions of CIPN: sensory, motor, and autonomic. The factor loadings of the 20 items on the 3 subscales ranged from .38 to .85. The 3 subscale-model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (GFI=.90, AGFI=.86, RMSR=.05, NFI=.87, and CFI=.94), and concurrent validity was demonstrated with the EORTC QLQ-C30. Furthermore, the QLQ-CIPN20 established known-group validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for internal consistency of the subscales ranged from .73 to .89. Conclusion: The Korean version of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 showed satisfactory construct, concurrent, and known-group validity, as well as internal reliability.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1029-1040
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• 2015

Effects of punching and drying process on quality of Yukwa were determined. Lightness (L) of Yukwa dough with punching was higher than that with no punching. Air cell distribution of Yukwa dough was fine with higher punching. Microstructure of Yukwa dough showed a broken surface structure with increasing punching. Hardness and adhesiveness of Yukwa dough decreased after 5 min of punching and then increased with higher punching. Expansion ratio of Yukwa base with punching at 155 rpm for 5 min was highest among the samples. Appearance of Yukwa base with no punching showed a poor shape and cross section, whereas Yukwa base with punching at 95 rpm for 10 min showed the best appearance and cross section and Yukwa base with punching at 155 rpm for 5 min also showed good appearance. The moisture content of Yukwa Bandegi after 24 hr of drying was 14.93%. Microstructure of Yukwa Bandegi showed a broken surface structure and empty spaces with increased drying time. Expansion ratio of Yukwa base with 24 hr of drying at $40^{\circ}C$ was highest among the samples. Overall, optimum punching conditions were 10 min of punching at 95 rpm or 5 min of punching at 155 rpm and optimum drying condition was 24 hr of drying at $40^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 2001

Various types of the seeding of bottle gourd widely used as a rootstock of watermelon has been required to satisfy the farmers need. The study was done to determine the effect of light quality of blue, red and far-red lights treated with light emitting diodes on growth and morphology of bottle goured seeding and chlorophyll content of its cotyledons. The lights were treated in the growth chamber for 7 days to the seeding elapsed 8 days after sowing under natural condition, and 64 hole trays with commercial bedsoil. Plant height, length and diameter of hypocotyl, leaf area of cotyledon and first true leaf, its leaf length, number of true leaves, fraction and total dry weight were measured. Red light shortened and slenderized the hypocotyl, which lengthened by far-red light and thickened by blue light. Plant height was declined in order of far-red light treatment, blue and red lights mainly due to difference of hypocotyl length, Area and length of the first true leaf became smaller and shorter under far-red light than under the other lights. However, blue light increased leaf area of cotyledons. Two cultivars cv. Yongjadaemok and cv. Kunghap had different response to the light treatments in total seedling dry weight(dw); far-red and red light treatments showed the greatest and the least dw of hypocotyl, respectively, while blue and red lights did the greatest dw of the other organs. Among the ratio of each organ dw to total dw, those of hypocotyl and true leaves were different between the light treatments; the highest ratio of hypocotyl dw to total dw was observed in far-red light treatment but the lowest was in red light treatment. Those of the true leaves were the lowest in far-red light and similar response in blue or red light treatment. Chlorophyll content of cotyledons was decreased in order of red light treatment, blue and far-red lights, meaning that short period light treatment may influence photosynthesis of seeding and afterward its growth.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.938-947
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to report the changes in symptoms and radiological consequences of a patient diagnosed with spinal neurofibroma and complaining of lower back pain. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with a spinal neurofibroma after MRI examination and was treated with traditional Korean medicine, including traditional Korean medication and acupuncture. We measured the change in symptom severity using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We also used the EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5D) scale to assess the patient's quality of life. In addition, we examined the change in the size of the cyst by MRI twice after discharge: at about 3 months after discharge and at about 8 months after discharge. Results: After about 6 weeks of treatment, most pathological symptoms had decreased. The patient showed a decline in NRS and ODI scores and showed an increase in quality of life. The two MRI examinations after the discharge revealed a decrease in the size of the cyst. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with spinal neurofibroma causing neurological pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2022

Changes in symptoms and dysfunction related to meniscus tears following the use of Korean medicine for ≥ 4 days were studied. The medical charts of 53 cases of diagnosed meniscus tears (magnetic resonance imaging) with an admission Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥ 4, between 2017 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Treatments included acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal treatment, Chuna therapy, and physiotherapy. The NRS, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions were performed at admission and discharge. There were 42 females and 11 males in this study. Patients were more likely to be in their 60s (38.18%), have an unknown etiology (81.13%), and have complex tears (50.94%). After receiving a combination of alternative Korean medicine during hospitalization, the mean NRS score improved from 6.82 ± 1.19 to 3.66 ± 1.83 (p < 0.001), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score improved from 46.47 ± 20.99 to 37.98 ± 19.23 (p < 0.001), and the mean European Quality of Life Five Dimensions score improved from 0.61 ± 0.18 to 0.68 ± 0.14 (p < 0.001) after treatment. These results suggest that Korean medicine treatment of meniscus tears alleviated pain and improved physical function.