How do classical texts, such as Hwangdi Neijing and Shanghanlun, continuously play significant roles in medical practices in the history of East Asian medicine? Although this is a significant question in interpreting the position of written texts in the medical history and even for understanding the structure of East Asian medical knowledge, it has been conspicuously underexamined in the studies of East Asian medicine. In order to explore this underrepresented question, this study focuses on currents of tradition in contemporary South Korea. Drawing on anthropological fieldwork at three Donguibogam (Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine) currents, it delves into the interaction of text and practice in East Asian medicine. Even though all three currents (Hyun-dong, Byeong-in, Hyung-sang) are based on Donguibogam, their ways of reading the text and organizing clinical practices are diverse. Each current sets up a keyword, such as pulse diagnosis, cause of disease, and appearance-image, and attempts to penetrate the entire Donguibogam through the keyword. This means that the classical medical text is open to plural approaches. This study found that there is a visible gap between a medical text and the reader of the text in East Asia. Masters and currents of tradition are the actors who fill up the gap, continuously interpreting and reinterpreting classical texts, and guiding medical practices of new readers. Adding the history of practice to the body of literature that have focused on the history of written texts, this study will contribute to the history of East Asian medicine.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diagnosis ; Far East ; Humans ; Korea ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between disk displacement of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and dentofacial asymmetry in orthodontic patients. The subjects consisted of 60 female orthodontic patients between the ages of 18 and 38 years (mean age 23.3 years) who had visited the Department of Orthodontics at Seoul National University Dental Hospital from January 2000 to April 2002. On the basis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their bilateral TMJs, the subjects were divided into four groups: bilateral normal group (twenty-one persons); disk displacement of right TMJ group (six persons); disk displacement of left TMJ group (nine persons); and disk displacement of both TMJs group (twenty-four persons). Postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms and diagnostic models which had been taken before orthodontic treatment were measured. In the linear measurements, a line connecting the right and left Latero-Orbitale (Lo) represented the horizontal reference line (H). The vertical reference line (V) was constructed as a line bisecting and running perpendicular to H. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test whether the mean values of measurements between groups were significantly different. In addition, Bonferroni's multiple comparison test was performed at a level of 0.05. The results were as follows : 1. In the diagnostic model analysis, the overjet, right molar relationship, and left molar relationship were significantly different among the four groups. 2. In the PA cephalometric analysis, differences in the right and left vertical position of the lower first molar and Ag were significantly dissimilar among the four groups. 3. If the disk displacement of TMJ was present on one side, the ipsilateral ramus was shorter, resulting in asymmetry in the vertical position of Ag. This study indicated that dentofacial asymmetry might be related to the disk displacement of TMJ.
Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Molar ; Orthodontics ; Running ; Seoul ; Temporomandibular Joint*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the post-retention stability of the lower incisor axis in Class II division 2 malocclusions. The dental casts and lateral cephalograms from before (T1) and after (T2) orthodontic treatment and long-term post-retention (T3) in 62 Class II division 2 malocclusion cases were included in this study. After several linear and angular measurements at each time were taken, the significance in the amount of change of the lower incisor axis for each gender and extraction versus non-extraction was evaluated. The results showed that the lower incisors that inclined labially during treatment were unstable and relapsed to the original lingual position in Class II division 2 malocclusions (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between extraction and non-extraction groups for the amount of lingual relapse of the lower incisors (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between male and female groups for the axial change of the lower incisors (p > 0.05). As a result of multiple regression analysis, the cephalometric measurement best predicting the lower incisor position to the A-Pog line post-retention was pre-treatment L1-Apog(mm) and pre-treatment SNGoMe(degrees ). Because of the instability of labially inclined lower incisors after orthodontic treatment, the treatment goal should be the pre-treatment incisor axial position.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor* ; Male ; Malocclusion* ; Recurrence

The purpose of this study was to measure maximum bite force and to investigate its relationship with anteroposterior, vertical, and transverse facial skeletal measurements. From among the dental students at the College of Dentistry, forty subjects (26 male and 14 female) were selected. With two sets of strain gauge, maximum bite force at the right and left first molars and anterior teeth was measured in the morning and afternoon. After taking lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms, fifty and nineteen variables were evaluated, respectively. Paired t-tests and an independent t-test were done and correlation coefficients were obtained. 1. The maximum bite force at the first molars was 68.0+/-13.9 kg in males and 55.6+/-10.5 kg in females (p<0.05) while the force at the anterior teeth was 8.4+/-4.9 kg and 5.1+/-3.4 kg respectively (p<0.05). 2. Some tendency for a greater value of maximum bite force at the preferred side was observed but not statistically significant (p>0.05). 3. Significant difference was observed between the strong bite force group and the weak bite force group in some cephalometric and other measurements (p<0.05). N-S-Ar, S-Ar-Go, FH-H1, MPA and MMO showed a significant difference in posterior maximum bite force (P). N-S-Ar and FH-H1 also showed a significant difference in anterior maximum bite force (A). 4. Several cephalometric variables showed some correlation with maximum bite force (p<0.05). N-S-Ar, S-Ar-Go, UGA, FH-H6, FH-H1, body weight and MMO were significantly correlated with posterior maximum bite force (P). Go-Me, P-1 and IMPA were significantly correlated with anterior maximum bite force (A).
Bite Force* ; Body Weight ; Dentistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molar ; Students, Dental ; Tooth

To determine the usefulness of MR axial images for diagnosis ACL tears, we reviewed MRIs of 67 patients with ACL tear confirmed by arthroscopic examination, retrospectively. There were 53 acute and 14 chronic tears. The axial MR images had a 97% sensitivity(acute: 96%, chronic: 100%). Findings of acute ACL tears on sequential axial imaging could be categorized as 1) diffuse swelling with abnormal substance signal in 14 cases(27.5%), 2) focal bulging or irregularity of medial border in 11 cases(21.6%) or 3) combination of the two in 26 cases(50.9%). Findings of chronic ACL tears also could be categorized as abnormally irregular thin fibers in 6 cases(42.9%) or nonvisualization(empty lateral wall) in 8 cases(57.1%). We concluded that MR axial images could provide additional useful information in the diagnosis of ACL tear.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

This study explores the history of research in Medical Anthropology by examining key concepts in the field with a focus on their relevance with findings from the field of History of Medicine. The concepts discussed in this paper are Medical Pluralism, Social Suffering, Biopolitics, and Care. Since concepts internalize the ethnographic gaze, what this paper aims is to trace the development of the gaze on a historical axis. Although concepts come from a specific historical period, they are by no means exclusive to it, as they are revisited again and again through various discourses. In other words, the insight that the previous meaning of a concept has grasped is instilled into the revisited concept. In this way, concepts engage in historical communication, create intersections with the interests of History of Medicine. By discussing these intersections with each concept, this paper suggests the complementary roles of the two fields and their approach to historical events and phenomena.

This study explores the history of research in Medical Anthropology by examining key concepts in the field with a focus on their relevance with findings from the field of History of Medicine. The concepts discussed in this paper are Medical Pluralism, Social Suffering, Biopolitics, and Care. Since concepts internalize the ethnographic gaze, what this paper aims is to trace the development of the gaze on a historical axis. Although concepts come from a specific historical period, they are by no means exclusive to it, as they are revisited again and again through various discourses. In other words, the insight that the previous meaning of a concept has grasped is instilled into the revisited concept. In this way, concepts engage in historical communication, create intersections with the interests of History of Medicine. By discussing these intersections with each concept, this paper suggests the complementary roles of the two fields and their approach to historical events and phenomena.

In 1946, the U.S. Army established the 406th Medical General Laboratory as the central medical research institute for their new Asia-Pacific-occupied area. The primary mission of the 406th medical laboratory was to supplement the epidemiologic, sanitary, and diagnostic services available in other medical facilities and hospitals, and to investigate outbreaks of disease and conditions which affect or may affect the health of the people in the occupied area. At the time of its establishment, the 406th laboratory had considerable difficulties securing researchers, but it solved the related problems by actively cooperating with Japanese medical researchers and research institutes. According to the statistics in 1947, the 406th laboratory consisted of 46% of its total research personnel, Japanese researchers. The 406th medical laboratory’s professional research departments included the department of Pathology, Serology, Bacteriology, Medical Zoology, Chemistry, Virus and Ricketts, Entomology (established in 1949), and Epidemiology (established in 1951). All research departments played a central role in the Asia-Pacific region in their professional fields. For example, the department of Pathology functioned as the “histopathology center of all hospitals in Japan, Korea, and the Mariana-Bonin Command” under the provision of “Army Regulation 40-410,” and the department of Chemistry was called an “analytical chemistry laboratory for the Far East Command” because it performed various chemical experiments for many medical facilities in the area with insufficient research facilities.

This paper analyzes the motivations of the British biochemist Joseph Needham for participating in ‘the International Scientific Commission for the Investigation of the Facts Concerning Bacterial Warfare in Korea and China (ISC)’ and his major roles within it during the Korean War. Needham stayed in China for four years starting in 1942 as a scientific counselor and director of the British Scientific Mission in China, which enabled him to interact with many Chinese scientists and politicians. Surprisingly, during this period (1944), Needham conducted an investigation into the Japanese military’s use of bacterial warfare. Through his personal records, Needham repeatedly stated that his experience with bacterial warfare research in 1944 was one of the most important reasons for his participation in ISC activities. In addition, Needham secretly but very actively sought to recruit other investigators within Britain. Needham repeatedly tried to persuade fellow professors at Cambridge University, William Thorpe and Vincent Wigglesworth, to be included in the investigation team. Although Needham had doubts about his own expertise in investigative activities, he actively expressed his desire to become a member of the investigative team through various channels. Primary documents show that he actively and voluntarily led the investigation activities after joining the team in professional discussions, document analysis, and witness interrogations. Needham’s passion and sincerity demonstrated in internal meeting minutes dispel some misunderstandings that the investigation team’s activities were limited to passively approving Chinese data.

The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted as published.