Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized as the most common liver disease with an estimated prevalence of 20-30% in the Western world and 16-33% in Korea. NAFLD encompasses a broad spectrum of hepatic dysfunction ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD is particularly worrying because patients appear to have higher non-liver-related and liver-related death, as compared to the general population. Given its well-known association with metabolic comorbidities, NAFLD is commonly associated with obesity, type II diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. The natural history of NAFLD remains unclear due to its indolent clinical course and the lack of well-designed prospective studies. The prognosis of NAFLD depends on the histological subtype, while NASH may be associated with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and may progress to hepatocellular carcinoma. The overall and liver-related mortality are increased in patients with NASH, as compared to NAFL and the general population. NAFLD is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, so it should also be considered a metabolic liver disease. Further long-term studies of the natural course of NAFLD are warranted.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Comorbidity ; Dyslipidemias ; Epidemiology* ; Fatty Liver* ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Mortality ; Natural History ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Western World

Type 1 diabetes mellitus commonly occurs in childhood and adolescence, although the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in these age groups is now being increased in the western world and Korea. Diabetic nephropathy developing in 15-25% of subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in similar or higher percentage of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Although prepubertal diabetic duration may contribute less to the development of microvascular complications than pubertal and postpubertal duration, diabetic nephropathy in susceptible patients almost certainly begins soon after disease onset and may accelerate during adolescence, leading to microalbuminuria or incipient DN. Type 1 diabetes is commonly associated with a period of hyperfiltration followed by the development of persistent microalbuminuria after as little as 7-10 years of type 1 diabetes. Microalbuminuria is associated with pathologic lesions that are so advanced as to overlap with those seen in patients with overt proteinuria and declining kidney function, therefore, microalbuminuria currently considered the best clinical indicator of overt diabetic nephropathy risk. This review covers the natural history and renal manifestations of diabetic nephropathy in children and adolescents.
Adolescent ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Natural History ; Prevalence ; Proteinuria ; Western World

During its colonization of Korea, the Japanese Empire used the Western medicine as a tool for advertising its advanced culture. However, the medical orkforce available in Korea was insufficient. The Rule for Uisaeng(Oriental medicine practitioner) was an ordinance decreed in 1913 with a purpose of supplementing the medical workforce. As the Oriental medicine practitioners became official medical workforce, the Japanese Empire could mobilize them in a hygienic administration such as prevention of epidemics. The Uisaengs also tried to adapt themselves to the colonial environment by studying Western medicines. However, the distrust of the Japanese Empire in Oriental medicine continued until 1920s. Manchurian Incident in 1931 brought a change. As the relationship with China aggravated, the provision of medical herb became unstable and the Japanese Empire began to encourage using Oriental medical herb following the Movement for Improving Rural Region Economy. An attempt of the Japanese Empire to utilize the medical herb resulted in a plan to make the Oriental medical herb officinal. The goal was to organize and standardize the Oriental medical herb through a research by the Medical Herb Investigation Committee. However, the medical herb on the table was the one verified by the Western medicine. That is, it was not a traditional medical herb that uses the original theory of Oriental medicine. There was a minority opinion arguing that they should study the Oriental medicine itself. However, that argument was also based on the theory and principles of the Western medicine. Even though an attempt to make full use of Uisaengs expanded as the war continued, the major medical workforce that the Japanese Empire relied on was those trained in Western medicine. In other words, the Japanese Empire did not give a full credit to the Oriental medicine during the colonial era. During the colonization, Japanese Empire used Oriental medicine under the nominal reason of lack of medical workforces. In early 1930s, a policy supporting usage of Oriental medical herb was selected. However, it does not mean that the change in policy encouraged Oriental medicine since the medical herb that the Japanese Empire supported was those that were organized and categorized according to the principles in Western medicine.
Colonialism/*history ; Herbal Medicine/*history ; History, 20th Century ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional/*history ; Western World/history

From the 18th century traditional medicine began to be criticised by some of Korean intellectuals who attained the knowledge of Western medicine through the imported books on Western science. In the early 20th century, Western medical doctors in Korea generally had critical attitude toward traditional medicine. Their critical opinions on traditional medicine are typically recognizable in the debate between two camps that occurred in 1930s. However, some exceptional doctors such as Chang Ki-moo and Bang Hap-shin had special interest in traditional medicine despite their education in Western medicine. It was their clinical experience of the limitation of Western medicine which led them to study traditional medicine. Both of them were particularly attracted by the School of Old Prescriptions, which was a school of Japanese traditional medicine. The medical theory of the school was characterized by the simplification of vague and complicated theory of traditional medicine. The school held the theory that all diseases are caused by one poison. Consequently, treatment of all diseases consists in eliminating the poison. He also put forward a theory of one prescription for one disease, and therefore the same remedy should be applied to a disease with the same cause even though it might manifest various symptoms. Given the fact that their theory of diseases is very similar to that of Western medicine, it is understandable that they were attracted to the School of Old Prescriptions. As the doctors trained in Western medicine, they were possibly more familiar with the doctrine of the School of Old Prescriptions than the traditional medicine based on Yin Yang and Five-Phase theory.
History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional/*history ; Western World/history

The socioeconomic inequalities in health have recently become an important public health concern in South Korea, and the issue has gained increasing attention from many South Korean researchers due to the increasing income inequality and widening social polarization following its economic crisis in the late 1990s. However, despite the mounting literature on health inequalities published in recent years, the history of research on health inequality in South Korea is premature in comparison to the long histories in several Western countries. Understanding the historical background underlying the issue of health inequality research may aid in establishing and accumulating scientifically solid evidence in South Korea. It may also direct the South Korean research community to develop research agendas that are more politically and academically appropriate for South Korean society. This paper describes the historical development of health inequality research in the West and introduces several important issues contributing to the advancement of health inequality research. Specifically, the major studies conducted before and after the UK Black Report are presented. In addition, the history and current status of health inequality research in South Korea are documented and evaluated. Finally, several research agendas for the quantitative and qualitative improvement of health inequality research in South Korea are proposed.
*Health Status Disparities ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Korea ; Public Health ; Research/*history ; Social Class ; Western World

During Colonial Period, Western Medicine was introduced, and due to the lean-to-one-side policy by the Japanese, Western Medicine became the mainstream medical science while Oriental Medicine was pushed to the outskirts. The general public in colonial period got help from medical profession after they tried something they could do at home when they got sick or injured. There were differences to get help from western or traditional medicine according to their economic status, living area, and educational status, the character of disease or injury, etc. In general, public made more use of traditional medicine than western medicine. Although the traditional medicine had better regional and economic approach, there was another important factor that made the general public prefer traditional medicine to western medicine. The general public had strong belief in the treatment of traditional medicine. There was no strong belief that western medicine was better in scientific ground and modern than oriental medicine. In spite of their general preference for traditional medicine, the general public had some conflict in everyday choice on medicine. The belief of relatives, personal experience, economic status, the character of the disease made the conflict possible. Sometime the general public chose both traditional and western medicine altogether.
Western World/history ; Medicine, Oriental Traditional/*history ; Korea ; Japan ; Humans ; History, 20th Century ; Colonialism/history ; *Attitude to Health

In the second report in our series on the historical investigation on the introduction of western psychiatry into Korea, authors deal with the status of psychiatric education during the Japanese forced annexation of Korea. The first lecture on psychiatry in Korea under the title "Mental Diseases" was held in Dae-han-eui-won around 1910. In 1913, the Department of Psychiatry branched off from the Department of Internal Medicine of Chosen-sotoku-fu-iing, the Colonial Governmental Clinic, the successor of Dae-han-eui-won. The chairman, Professor Suiju Sinji; and the Korean assistant Sim Ho-seop administered the psychiatric ward with 35 beds. Since 1913, an Australian missionary psychiatrist, Dr. McLaren began to teach neurology and psychiatry at Severance Union Medical College and established a Department of Psychiatry in 1923. Dr. McLaren was a faithful Christian and open minded toward Oriental religious thought such as in Buddhism and Taoism. He devoted himself to the humanitarian care of mentally ill patients and served there until 1937 when he had to leave the land due to Japanese persecution. His disciple, Dr. Lee Jung Cheol succeeded the chair of the Psychiatric Department of Severance Medical College and served until 1939. In 1916, Keijo(Seoul) Medical College was established and in 1928, Keijo Teikoku Daigaku(Imperial University). From 1929 to 1941, the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry of Keijo Imperial University grew under the chairmanship of Professor Kubo Kioji followed by Professor Watanabe until 1945. Many assistants including a few Koreans were gathered to the Department for training and research. The main textbook used for the psychiatric education for medical students in Korea was on Kraepelinian German Psychiatry translated and edited by Japanese psychiatrists. Lectures and clerkships for Neurology and Psychiatry were allocated generally in the curriculum for senior students for weekly 1-3 hours. Postgraduate professional training for the psychiatrists was carried out according to the tutorial system under the supervision of professors and staff. In regard to a wide range of references discovered in the library of the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Keijo Imperial University the trainees seem to have had opportunity to contact with diverse subspecialties of psychiatry and also to exercise specific laboratory examinations in the setting of the German "Klinik". Comparisons of psychiatry in Korea and Japan during Japanese occupation suggest the following conclusions: 1. Extreme discrimination against Korean trainees in their academic careersprobably due to colonial policy. After 35 years of Japanese occupation of Korea only ten Korean neuro-psychiatrists and neurologists were left; 2. Somewhat narrow academic interests of psychiatrists in Korea in research fields focusing on neuropathology and opium addiction etc and the lackness of the interest in social psychiatric issues: for example, the rights of the mentally ill patient or non-restraining care systems as seen in Japanese psychiatry in Japan. 3. Extremely limited number of psychiatry teaching staffs in Korea. For a long time Keijo Imperial University's Department of Neurology and Psychiatry was the only center for training psychiatrists in Korea.
Western World/history ; Schools, Medical/history ; Psychiatry/education/*history ; Korea ; Japan ; Humans ; History, 20th Century ; Colonialism/*history

This thesis examines the academical trend of Oriental Medicine in the Japanese colonial period observed through medical books published during the Japanese colonial period. This is a period in which Western Medicine was introduced, and due to the lean-to-one-side policy by the Japanese, Western Medicine became the mainstream medical science while Oriental Medicine was pushed to the outskirts. Even after all this, the academic activity was flourishing during this period compared to any other periods. This article is divide into various chapters each with its own theme in order to understand the academic trend of Oriental Medicine during the Japanese colonial period. Focusing on the publication of medical books, this article is divided and observed according to various themes such as the study of Dong-Eui-Bo-Gam, the study of Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyeun, the study of Sang-Han-Ron, the study of Sa-sang constitutional medicine, the study of Eui-Hak-Ip-Mun, the study about Bu-Yang-Ron, On-Bo-Ron, and pediatrics, compromise between Western and Oriental Medicine, the study of experience medicine, the study of acupuncture and moxibustion, and etc.
Western World/history ; Medicine, Oriental Traditional/*history ; Japan ; Humans ; History, 20th Century ; Colonialism/*history ; Books/history

It is generally known that the Western medical missionaries played an important role in introducing Western medicine into Korea. However, little is known about their role in introducing traditional medicine of Korea to the Western world. The present paper aims at showing various efforts of the Western medical missionaries to understand the Korean traditional medicine and to introduce it to the Western world. Allen payed attention to the clinical effect and commercial value of the Ginseng; Busteed gave anthropological descriptions of the traditional medical practice; Landis translated a part of the most cherished medical textbook of Korean traditional medicine Dong-Eui-Bo-Gam into English; Mills, along with his colleagues in Severance Union Medical College, tried more scientific approaches toward the traditional medicine. All these various efforts proves that the attitudes of the Western medical missionaries cannot be summarized as one simplistic view, that is, the orientalism, a term which is quite en vogue today. Of course, we cannot deny that there may be such elements, but to simplify the whole history as such does not only reflect the fact, but also miss a lot of things to be reflected in history.
Western World/history ; Missions and Missionaries/*history/psychology ; Medicine, Oriental Traditional/*history ; Korea ; Humans ; History, 20th Century ; History, 19th Century ; Attitude of Health Personnel

Integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine (integrative medicine) is the advanced scientific thinking system in order to settle the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, which is advocated based on the convergence of traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the scientifization of traditional Chinese medicine. The establishment of the guideline of integrative medicine and the unceasing acquirement of researches are one of the light spots of Chinese medical history in the 20th century. The medical pattern of integrative medicine founded gradually in uneven pathway in the past half century reveals its tremendous advantages increasingly and should give an important impact on the progress of the Chinese medicine and even that of the world medicine.
China ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Phytotherapy ; Western World