This study aims to evaluate the effects of the root bark of Morus alba (RMA) on the regulation of the Hippo-YAP pathway. Hippo-YAP signaling is a critical regulator in controlling organ size and tissue homeostasis. Hippo, the serine/threonine kinase phosphorylate the LATS. Phosphorylated LATS then phosphorylates and inactivates the YAP and TAZ, which are two closely related transcriptional co-activator. Here we report RMA activates the Hippo signaling, thereby inhibits the YAP/TAZ activity. First, we examine the cytotoxic effects of RMA by MTT assay. RMA was cytotoxic at concentrations higher than $50{\mu}g/ml$ in HEK293A cells. The reporter gene assay was performed to measure the activity of TEAD, a key transcription factor that controls cell growth and proliferation. RMA significantly suppressed the luciferase activity. By phos-taq gel shift assay, and western blotting, we showed that RMA enhanced the phosphorylation of YAP in wild type cells, but not in LATS1/2 knock out cells, which means RMA activates classical Hippo pathway. RMA induced the cytoplasmic sequestration of YAP. RMA also suppressed the mRNA expression of CTGF and CYR61; the two major YAP dependent genes. Taken together, RMA is considered to be a good candidate for proliferative disease such as cancer, by facilitating cell death through activating the Hippo signaling pathway.

This study was conducted to evaluate the vasorelaxant effect of DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery. To study the effect of DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, arterial strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for experiment using organ bath. The pre-contracted arterial strips with Phenylephrine(PE) was treated with various concentrations of DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract(0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and $1.0mg/m{\ell}$). To determine the mechanisms of DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang-induced vasorelaxant, DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract were infused into contracted arterial rings which had been pretreated by indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine ($_L-NNA$), methylene blue(MB). And calcium chloride(Ca) 1 mM was infused into precontracted arterial ring induced by PE after treatment of DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution. DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract revealed significant relaxation on PE-induced arterial contraction. DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract also had an effective relaxation to the intact endothelium arterial ring. SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery is related with NO-cGMP pathway. Pretreatment of DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract inhibited the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by NE. This study indicated that the relaxation effect of SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery is related with NO-cGMP pathway. Pretreatment of DangGuiSu-San and SamHwangSaSim-Tang extract inhibited the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by NE.

It is necessary to investigate the efficacy of commercial Korean herbal medicine for cognitive disorder. The purpose of this study is to select candidates among licensed herbal medicines that are expected to be effective in the treatment of cognitive disorders and can be used in future clinical trial. From laboratory experiments, we first found individual single herbal drugs that could be effective for cognitive disorder, and then through experts recommendation, selected five priorities of single herbal drug and obtained the information of the best herb as a combination of each herbal drug. To derive the final herbal prescriptions, we searched the KFDA drug information system for licensed herbal medicines containing each drug and its combination. As a result of laboratory experiments and experts recommendation, we found that the five effective single herbal drugs for cognitive disorders. They are Ginseng Radix, Acori Graminei Rhizoma, Cyperi Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Hoelen cum Pini Radix, and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata(Pinelliae Rhizoma, Hoelen cum Pini Radix, and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata were tied for $5^{th}$). And licensed herbal prescriptions derived from the planned search are Palbohoichoon-tang, Taehwa-hwan, Bosim-hwan, and so on. Among these, in consideration of the feasibility of research and possibility of success in development, Yukgunja-tang, Samhwangjichul-hwan can be selected as future study subjects. Through experimental studies and expert recommendations, we have derived herbal prescriptions that can be effective in treating cognitive disorders from licensed herbal medicines.

The objective of this study is to observe the effectiveness of complex Korean Medicine treatments on pain reduction of patients after meniscal surgery. We analyzed 16 patients who have been diagnosed as Meniscal injury on Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) scan and had admitted to Dunsan Korean Medical hospital from January 30, 2014 to April 30, 2019. The analysis was conducted as retrospective study which analyzes patient's medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS statistics 25 program. We used Numeric Rating Scale to evaluate pain reduction, Five-point likert scale to asses treatment satisfaction. The result showed that there were statistically significant pain reduction on the postoperative meniscal injury patients treated with complex Korean Medicine treatments. In conclusion, we found that the complex Korean Medicine treatments showed a positive effect on pain reduction of postoperative meniscal injury patients. Further research is required to confirm the effectiveness of Korean Medicine treatment.

This study was aimed to reveal that the usual cold or heat state was associated with hypertension and could be a risk. We emailed educational personnel in D university to join this study and 182 subjects participated in from March to December in 2016. The usual cold or heat diagnosis was conducted by two experts who had over 10 years expertise. The blood pressure was measured from the subjected after 10 minute rest with Jawon medical device. The hypertension was diagnosed by the guide of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. The frequency analysis was used in general characteristics, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient analysis was conducted in among continuous variables, and chi-square test was also used between hypertension and cold or heat group. Logistic regression was analyzed to generate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hypertension. The cold score was suggested to have negative association with Body mass Index (BMI, -.374, p<.001), systolic blood pressure (-.333, p<.001), and diastolic pressure (-.261, p<.001). The heat score was analyzed to have positive association with Body mass Index (.413, p<.001), systolic blood pressure (.249, p<.001), and diastolic pressure (.156, p<.001). The distribution of the cold group (35.1%) and non-cold group (64.9%) in hypertension was significantly different (p=0.18). The distribution of the heat group (62.2%) and non-heat group (37.8%) was significantly different (p=0.27). The usual cold was associated with decreased ORs (ORs 0.405, 95% CI=0.191-0.857), and usual heat was associated with increased ORs (ORs 2.327, 95% CI=1.108-4.888). However, after adjusting body mass index, sex, and smoking, the association was not significantly different. It is possible that usual cold or heat associate with hypertension. Further study is needed to show that usual heat may be a independent risk factor for hypertension through follow up design.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Korean medicine treatments on pain reduction and functional improvement of patients after rotator cuff surgery. We studied 10 patients who had admitted to Dunsan Korean Medical hospital after have being diagnosed as rotator cuff tear and got a surgery at other hospital from April 30, 2014 to April 30, 2019. This study was conducted as retrospective study which analyzes patient's medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS statistics 24 program. We used Numeric Rating Scale to evaluate pain reduction, Range of Motion to evaluate shoulder functional improvement and Five-point likert scale to evaluate the patient's satisfaction. The result showed that Korean medicine treatments statistically significantly reduced pain on the patients after rotator cuff surgery. Although there were improvement of Range of Motion, it wasn't statistically significant. In conclusion, we found that the Korean medicine treatments showed a positive effect on pain reduction of patients after rotator cuff surgery and got a high satisfaction.

There are no published data on Gyeongokgo (GOK) safety or efficacy despite being commonly use. The Gyeongokgo (GOK) is commonly used in traditional Korean medicine to promote a health qi and blood, but their objective data was not sufficient in clinical field. To investigate the safety and efficacy of GOK with hematologic and serologic testing and the change of the quality of life in healthy individuals. Randomized, subject-assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center pilot study Participants and Interventions 29 healthy volunteer subjects were randomly placed into the GOK group (n = 20) or placebo control group (n = 9) and instructed to take one treatment packet (GOK or placebo) twice daily for 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and underwent hematologic and serologic tests and body composition analysis. The FSS total score (p = 0.093) and SF-36 general health index (p = 0.002) were improved following treatment in the GOK group. Post-treatment thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were increased in the GOK group compared with pre-treatment levels (p = 0.0042). C-reactive protein levels decreased (p = 0.0256) in the GOK group compared with that the placebo group. In time-series tests, GOK did not affect post-prandial serum triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or C-peptide levels. Notably, elevations in serum fasting triglycerides at 2- (p = 0.0333) and 4-hours (p = 0.0414) post-prandial were lower than those in the placebo group. GOK reduced fatigue levels and did not significantly affect laboratory test results performed to measure safety, serum glucose, and lipid profiles. Post-meal triglyceride levels were effectively reduced with treatment.