• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.356-365
• /
• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine significant improvement of motor and non-motor symptoms after treatment with Sasang constitutional medicine treatment on a Soyangin patient with Parkinson disease having depression. Methods The patient was treated with Soyangin's constitutional medications treatment(herb and acupuncture) and scalp acupuncture. The progress was evaluated using the Global Assessment Scale (GAS scale), Hoehn and Yahr scale (H&Y scale) and Unified Parkinson disease rating scale (UPDRS) before and after treatment. These scales were used to assess the overall function of patient. Result We observed a significant improvement in patient's motor and non-motor symptoms using GAS scale, H&Y scale and UPDRS. The UPDRS scores decreased in Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV. Conclusion This study shows that Sasang constitutional medicine treatment can be effective for Soyangin patient with Parkinson disease having depression.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.346-355
• /
• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to report significant improvement of paresthesia and weakness in the limbs of unknown cause after treatment with Mangeummoonmu-tang and Cheongeummoonmu-tang in a Taeeumin patient. Methods The patient was diagnosed as Taeeumin Dry-Heat (Joyeol) pattern and treated with Mangeummoonmu-tang, Cheongeummoonmu-tang and acupuncture. The patient's subjective symptoms of paresthesia and weakness were observed using Global Assessment Scale (GAS) during the treatment period. Results and Conclusion The symptoms of paresthesia and weakness decreased from GAS 100 to GAS 0 for two weeks. Furthermore, the patient's symptoms of fatigue and xeroderma were reported to be improved after treatment. In conclusion, this study shows that Sasang constitutional medicine can be effective treatment for Taeeumin patient with paresthesia and weakness in the limbs of unknown cause.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.276-285
• /
• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this case was to report significant improvement of abdominal pain, constipation and a slight improvement of tremor after treatment by Sasang Constitutional Medicine to the patient with Parkinson's disease.Methods The patient was diagnosed as Soyangin according to the result of Sasang constitutional diagnosis, and treated by Sasang constitutional medications and acupuncture. The progress was evaluated with the Global Assessment Scale (GAS).Results The abdominal pain was reduced from Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)9 to NRS1 and headache was reduced from NRS5 to NRS3. The tremor was reduced to GAS 10. Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) was reduced from 40 to 27. The difference of heat distribution between left and right side was reduced and the abdomen was more warmer on Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI).Conclusions Sasang constitutional medicine can be a solution for the non motor symptoms caused by Parkinson's disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.1082-1093
• /
• 2021

Objective: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive, irreversible brain damage and cognitive decline. Although the diagnosis and treatment of the prodromal symptoms of dementia are important, no treatment for mild cognitive impairment has been currently established. Herein, we report the case of an 80-year-old female patient with memory complaints treated with Gugijihwang-tang, a traditional Korean medicine herbal formula, as an add-on medication. Case Presentation: The patient was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment based on clinical examinations using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale, Global Deterioration (GDR) Scale, and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale. She was treated with Gugijihwang-tang bis in die for 12 months while continuing her original medications, including 5-mg donepezil and 590-mg acetyl-l-carnitine. The MMSE score in the Korean Version of the CERAD Assessment Packet increased from 21 to 27 during the 12-month treatment period, and the CERAD 2 score increased from 33 to 62. The instrumental ADL scale score improved from 11 to 5. Other clinical examination results also showed improvement. The patient was satisfied and experienced no significant adverse events related to the Gugijihwang-tang treatment. Conclusion: This case suggests that Gugijihwang-tang could be considered as a treatment method for patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.205-222
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the characteristics of patients according to nutritional status assessed by five nutritional screening tools: Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), NUTRISCORE, Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) and to compare the agreement, sensitivity, and specificity of these tools. Methods: A total of 952 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy and chemotherapy from January 2009 to December 2012 were included. The patients were categorized into malnutrition and normal status according to five nutritional screening tools one month after surgery. The Spearman partial correlation, Cohen's Kappa coefficient, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of each two screening tools were calculated. Results: Malnutrition was observed in 86.24% of patients based on the PG-SGA and 85.82% based on the NUTRISCORE. When NRI or CONUT were applied, the proportions of malnutrition were < 30%. Patients with malnutrition had lower intakes of energy and protein than normal patients when assessed using the PG-SGA, NUTRISCORE, or NRI. Lower levels of albumin, hemoglobin, total lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol and longer postoperative hospital stays were observed among patients with malnutrition compared to normal patients when NRI, PNI, or CONUT were applied. Relatively high agreement for NUTRISCORE relative to PG-SGA was found; the sensitivity was 90.86%, and the AUC was 0.78. When NRI, PNI, and CONUT were compared, the sensitivities were 23.72% for PNI relative to NRI, 44.53% for CONUT relative to NRI, and 90.91% for CONUT relative to PNI. The AUCs were 0.95 for NRI relative to PNI and 0.91 for CONUT relative to PNI. Conclusions: NUTRISCORE had a high sensitivity compared to PG-SGA, and CONUT had a high sensitivity compared to PNI. NRI had a high specificity compared to PNI. This relatively high sensitivity and specificity resulted in 77.00% agreement between PNI and CONUT and 77.94% agreement between NRI and PNI. Further cohort studies will be needed to determine if the nutritional status assessed by PG-SGA, NUTRISCORE, NRI, PNI, and CONUT predicts the gastric cancer prognosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.188-196
• /
• 2006

Background: Ma-huang (Ephedra sinica) has been widely used to treat respiratory disease in oriental medicine for over a hundred years. Ma-huang preparations contain approximately 1.25% ephedrine alkaloids. Recently, the ephedra alkaloids have received much press lately due to adverse effects in those using whole extracts as 'dietary supplements' for weight loss or athletic performance enhancement, and these reports are troubling given the increasing use of Ma-huang by the general public. The purpose of this report is to determine the proper dosage to minimize adverse effects and maximize the potential curative value. Objectives : The object of this study was to find an effective yet low risk dosage of Ma-huang. Methods : The study was designed as a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. The subjects of this study were 26 adults between 20 to 40 of age who agreed to participate in this study. They were allocated through randomization into three groups. Each group took three opaque capsules three times a day. A group (N=9) took one Ma-huang capsule and two placebo capsules, B group (N=8) took two Ma-huang capsules and one placebo capsule, C group (N=9) took three Ma-huang capsules. The total trial periods was two days. To compare the adverse effects of Ma-huang according to dosage, blood pressure and pulse were checked, and other adverse effects were assessed using a morning questionnaire, patient's global assessment scale and Wong-Baker faces pain rating. Results : The following result were obtained: 1. After taking 18 g of Ma-huang per day, pulse rate had a significant increase. 2. After taking more than 6 g of Ma-huang per day, palpitation would be increased significantly. 3. After taking more than 18 g of Ma-huang per day, tiredness would be increased significantly. Conclusion: According to the results, 12 g of Ma-huang per day will minimize adverse effects and maximize the potential curative value.