In recent years, there were frequent exogenous contagious diseases in Eastasia like SARS(severe acute respiratory syndrome), Avian influenza, Swine influenza, MERS etc. But there are various interpretations about their pathological differentiations and lead to controversy to diagnosis and medicinal use. So there needs universal and consistent understanding methods. Several conclusions are obtained from the research on differentiation theories of various epidemic diseases. Essential elements of differential diagnostic system are pathogen, characters and matters of disease and loci, especially three yin and three yang has close affinity with constitutional features or body shape. Binding these 3 categories, an integrated differentiation 3 dimensional coordinates are made. Out of these, each elements of 3 pathogen-axial lines are related with names of exogenous disease, and those of 3 feature-axial lines are related with 8 principal patterns. And those of 3 locus-axial lines implicating therapeutic method are related with steps and location of exterior and interior, 3 yin 3 yang, Defense, Qi, Nutrient and Blood, five viscera and six bowels and tissues. Additionally, 3 lines of each axis consist of factors which have their own affinity each other, so classification of pathogen, feature, locus of disease has layered interconnectedness. This classification system is included in constitutional features of individual patient. Afterwards, these cognitive structure can be used as a general theory guiding method of therapy, prevention and aftercure healthcare.

In order to understand correctly about Shanhanlun, the intension of the author from the preface must be definitely understood. Compared the preface of Shanghanzubinlun with the prefaces of other commentaries, figuring out the contents. The preface of Shanghanlun describes the time period and the production background of Shanghanlun. The publish of Shanhanlun is related to outbreak of epidemic, which is related to the war, rebellions, and the secure of trade route from west to east. The episode of Pianque in the preface is the example of the diagnosis in general, and it has connection with the four ways of diagnosis (inspection, listening & smelling, inquiring and palpation) in the last part of the preface. Shanghanzubinglun is influenced by Taoism, which is the ideology behind Huangdineijing and Shennongbencaojing. Zhang Zhongjing had studied deeply about fangshu.

This study was designed to define the efficacy of prescriptions of Taeeumin in Sasang constitutional medicine. The twenty four prescriptions registered in Donguisusebowon Sinchuk edition written by Je-ma Lee in 1901 are the targets of this paper. We searched and analyzed original text such as Donguisusebowon Sinchuk edition written in 1901, Donguisusebowon Gabo edition written in 1894, Donguisusebowon Sansang Chobongwon, and posthumous manuscripts left by Je-ma Lee published by the Ministry of Health of North Korea. The pathology of the Taeeumin is classified into four mechanisms those are Esophagus-Cold (Wiwanhan), Cold Lung-Dry (HanpaeJo), Liver-Heat (Ganyeol), and Heat Lung-Dry (YeolpaeJo). The prescriptions of Taeeumin regulate four mechanisms. Twenty four prescriptions of Taeeumin regulate the mechanisms of Wiwanhan, HanpaeJo, Ganyeol, YeolpaeJo and correct the energy-fluid pathology of Taeeumin.

Prunellae Spica, the herbaceous plant in the genus Prunella, is a traditional herbal medicine and has been reported to have diuretic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of its action was not clearly identified. In the present study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of Prunellae Spica extract (PSE) against the damage of mitochondria and death in hepatocyte induced by oxidative stress. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron significantly induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hepatocytes. However, PSE protected cells and inhibited apoptosis by altering the protein levels such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and pro-caspase 3. Moreover, AA+iron induced reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction, and Both of them were inhibited by PSE treatment. PSE markedly activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important regulator in cell survival. Furthermore, this activation by PSE was mediated with liver kinase B1, a major upstream kinase that phosphorylates Thr 172 of AMPKα, and this activation was associated with its cell protection, as assessed by an experiment of a chemical inhibitor. In conclusion, this study demonstrate that PSE protects hepatocytes against oxidative stress as mediated with activation of LKB1-dependent AMPK pathway.

Streptococcus mutans plays a virtal role in trigering dental caries establishment due to its ability to synthesize two significant factors. The two factors are organic acids and glucans. The former demineralized dental enamel and the latter mediates the attachment of bacteria to tooth surface. It is believed that demineralization of dental enamel and attachment of bacteria are the crucial events that indicate and develop dental caries. For this reason, we studied the effect of the ethanol extracts of Radix Pulsatillae on the growth and acid production of S. mutans. Ethanol extracts of the Radix Pulsatillae showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition compared to the control groups (p<0.05). The extracts inhibited S. mutans adherence to hydroxyapatite treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by Radix Pulsatillae. the ethanol extract of Radix Pulsatillae showed remarkable inhibition of glucosyltransferase, which synthesizes water insoluble glucan form sucrose. Phytochemical analysis showed Radix Pulsatillae contained major components such as phenolic compounds, glycosides, steroids, terpenoid, and saponin. These results suggest that Radix Pulsatillae may have anti-cariogenic properties, which may be related with major components such as phenolic compounds, glycosides, steroids, terpenoid, and saponin.

Alzheimer's disease(AD), one of the most common forms of dementia, is characterized pathologically by the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and deposition of β-amyloid(Aβ) peptides of 40-42 residues. Aβ has been believed to be neurotoxic and now is also considered to have a role on the mechanism of memory dysfunction. Only a few acetylcholinesterase(AChE) inhibitors have been developed for treatment of AD, although the numbers of patients are rapidly increasing within aging society. Here, we show that ethanol extract of Rosae Rugosae Flos(RR) or its butanol fraction reduce the enzyme activity of AChE and BACE1(β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1). Furthermore, We found that RR inhibits Aβ aggregation and removes Aβ aggregates by Transmission electron microscopy(TEM). In addition, RR reduces the free radical of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH). We suggest that Rosae Rugosae Flos may be useful as a herbal medicine to treat AD.

Many medicinal plants have been used for the treatment of edema, jaundice, and gonorrhea in traditional Oriental medicine. This screening study was designed to search the positive inotropic effects of herbal extracts in beating rabbit atria. Aquarius extracts of twenty six herbs were examined in atrial mechanical dynamics such as pulse pressure and stroke volume and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), one of the main hormones involved in the regulation of the body fluid and blood pressure homeostasis in perfused beating rabbit atria. Sophora flavescens Ait., Rheum officinale Baill., Acorus gramineus Sol., Chelidonium majus L., Pulsatilla koreana Nakai., Reynoutria japonica Houtt., Euphorbia lathyris L., Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farwell, Poncirus trifoliata Rafin., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Kochia scoparia Schrad. significantly increased stroke volume and pulse pressure. However, those herbal extracts were not induced ANP secretion. We clarified the eleven herbal extracts for the positive inotropic effect independent of ANP secretion in beating rabbit atria. Thus these results provide a beneficial data for the treatment of the impairment of body fluid and blood pressure in traditional Oriental medicine.

Kaempferia galanga L. is one of the plants in Zingiberaceae family. It is used by people in many regions of Asia and Africa for relieving toothache, abdominal pain, muscular swelling and rheumatism. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme for melanogenesis, and hyperpigmentation is associated with abnomal accumulation of melanin pigment. This study aimed to investigate the inhibition of melanogenesis by hexane extract of Kaempferia galanga L. (HKG) in B16F10 melanoma cells. Cell-free tyrosinase, melanin contents, intracellular tyrosinase activity and western blot analysis were performed to elucidate the effects on anti-melanogenesis. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and determined the concentration of 12.5, 25 μg/ml. HKG significantly inhibited to activities of intracellular tyrosinase and melanin synthesis in the absence or presence of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) with dose-dependent manner. And HKG inhibited the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2), regardless of the presence or absence of α-MSH. HKG also down-regulated phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, and up-regulated phosphorylation of Akt. These effects were not related to its cytotoxicity action. These results indicate that HKG has the potential to be a useful therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation disorders and as a beneficial additive in whitening agents in cosmetics industry.

Amomum cadamomum Linne (ACL) has long been utilized against the inhibited qi movement related diseases such as dyspepsia, acute gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea in Korean medicine. We speculated that ACL could improve the metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes through removing the phlegm-dampness and promoting the qi movement or stagnation. This study was designed to investigate effects and molecular mechanisms of ACL extract on the improvement of adipocyte dysfunction induced by TNF-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Potential roles of ACL extract in the lipogenesis, inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance, were investigated in this study. Also, we examined the adipose genes and signaling molecules related to insulin resistance and glucose uptake to elucidate its mechanism. Our data demonstrated that TNF-α significantly incresed the release of lipid droplets and the production of MCP-1 and IL-6 from adipocytes. In gene expression, TNF-α reduced the expression of aP2, PPARγ, C/EBPα, GLUT4, and IRS-1 related to lipogenesis and insulin sesitivity, while TNF-α increased the expression of MCP-1 related to inflammation. In addition, TNF-α down-regulated the PPARγ and IRS-1 protein and up-regulated the IRS-1 Ser307 phosphorylation. These alterations induced by TNF-α were prevented by the treatment of ACL extract. Thus, our results indicate that ACL extract can be used to prevent from the TNF-α-induced adipocyte dysfunction through insulin and PPARγ pathways.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator(MBTI) personality type and academic achievement of Korean medical students. A total of 97 (57 men, 40 women; ages 24 to 36) fourth-year Korean medical students participated in this study. The MBTI questionnaire was administered to all the students for identification of their personality type and academic performance. The results are as follows. First, the proportions of Personality type of Korean medical students were Extroversion (E) 33.0% - Introversion (I) 67.0%, Sensing (S) 70.1%- Intuition (N) 29.9%, Thinking (T) 58.8%- Feeling (F) 41.2%, and Judging (J) 54.6% - Perceiving (P) 45.3%. Second, the most common personality type was ISTJ (22.7%), followed by ISTP (13.4%), ISFJ (12.3%). Third, according to the analysis of this study, academic achievement was significantly related with their personality type in the preference : Sensing (S) - Intuition (N) and Judging (J)-Perceiving (P). In analysis of Sensing (S) - Intuition (N) and Judging (J)-Perceiving (P) index, Sensing (S) and Judging (J) type students had higher academic achievement than Intuition (N) and Perceiving (P) type students. This is the study to identify the characteristics of MBTI in Korean Medical students. The findings indicate that academic achievement was significantly related to their personality type in the preference. Using the results of MBTI in Korean medical students, is helpful in selection of appropriate teaching and learning strategies to provide better education.

This retrospective observational study was aimed to assess that Shinchubogun-tang (Shenzhuibujian-tang ; SBT) improves the symptoms related to lumbar disc herniation. We analyzed the medical records of 36 patients, who were satisfied with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation and prescribed with SBT in addition to Korean medical common treatments at Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University from January 1st, 2013 to November 30th, 2015. The effects of SBT was evaluated by comparing before and after taking SBT through 0-10 visual analogue scale(VAS) of the symptoms including lower back pain, radiating pain, and lower extremity numbness. The average period of common Korean medicine treatment before SBT prescription was 9.78 days and then the patients received SBT along with common Korean medicine treatment for 13.17 days on average. SBT plus common korean medicine treatment group significantly decreased VAS score of lower back pain from 5.40±1.62 to 3.28±1.70 (p<0.01), radiating pain from 5.60±1.42 to 2.35±1.79 (p<0.01), lower extremity numbness from 5.77±1.52 to 2.55±1.85(p<0.01). These results demonstrated that SBT might have a potential on improvement of lumbar disc herniation by reducing the symptoms of lower back pain, radiating pain, and lower extremity numbness.

It was aimed to report a case of both anterior cerebral artery territory infarction patient improved by korean medical treatment. The patient was diagnosed by brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography(MRA). The symptoms were quadriplegia, urinary frequency, urinary incontinence and abulia. I applied herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, cupping and physical exercise therapy. As a result of them, the symptoms of the patient were improved considerably. Status of the patient was evaluated by manaul muscle test(MMT), modified barthel index(MBI) and functional independence measure(FIM) and medical interview. MBI score was changed from 35 to 95 and FIM score was changed from 66 to 115. Therefore this report suggests that korean medical treatment could be effective to the anterior cerebral artery territory infarction.