• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2007

Purpose: Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract is one of the most widely used agents in alternative cancer therapeutic regimens in Europe. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mistletoe extract on immune function in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Ten patients that had undergone a curative gastrectomy were enrolled in the prospective study. ABNOBAviscum $Q^{(R)}$ was injected subcutaneously three times a week from postoperative-day 7 to week 16 with an increasing dose. All of the patients simultaneously received chemotheraphy with mitomycin, oral 5-FU and a cisplatin regimen. The WBC count, differential count, lymphocyte/WBC ratio and the level of cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$) were checked in the peripheral blood preoperatively, at postoperative week 8 and at postoperative week 16. Results: The WBC and neutrophil counts significantly decreased after treatment on week 8 and week 16 (P=0.001), but the total eosinophil count was slightly increased (P=0.15). The total lymphocyte count also decreased during treatment but the lymphocyte/WBC ratio was slightly increased without statistical significance (P=0.91). The cytokine levels did not significantly change during treatment. Conclusion: It is somewhat difficult to determine the direct effect of mistletoe therapy on immune function as the effect may be compromised by the concurrent chemotherapy. It can be assumed that the slightly increased lymphocyte/WBC ratio and eosinophil count may be a result of the immunomodulatory effect of the mistletoe extract.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate mistletoe extract-induced apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In vivo study, HN22 cells were xenografted in nude mice. After tumor was experimentally induced, mistletoe extract was directly injected on the tumor mass. The specimens were evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopes. In vitro study, HN22 cells were cultured and exposed to mistletoe extract. The cells were evaluated using transmissin electron microscope. To evaluate apoptotic cells, flow cytometric analysis was done. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Light microscopic view of tumor mass showed necrosis at 2-4 weeks. 2. Transmission electron micrographs of tumor mass showed apoptosis and necrosis. 3. In TEM view of cell lines, necrosis and apoptosis were shown with mistletoe extract at $300{\mu}g/ml$, apoptosis was shown with mistletoe extract at $100{\mu}g/ml$. 4. In flow cytometric analysis, early and late apoptosis was shown when using caspase-3Ab and annexin-V, but no significant change was noted when using mebstain and Apo2.7 Ab. In this study, mistletoe extract induced necrosis and apoptosis in the tumor mass was induced by HN22 cells, early and late apoptosis in vitro study. Mistletoe extract was likely to induce cell death in oral squamous cell carcinoma through apoptosis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.174-185
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the improvement of recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and chief complaint including dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome after Korean medicine treatment. Methods: The patient who diagnosed CIN even after undergoing two times of loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and complained dysmenorrhea with premenstrual syndrome was treated by acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine as Ojeok-san-gami-bang along with mistletoe extract injection (Abnobaviscum^®). The effect of treatment was evaluated by the results of liquid based cytology and HPV genotyping. Other symptoms were evaluated according to the patient's subjective complaint. Results: Before the treatment, the result of cytology was low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and a low-risk group for HPV was detected. At the first examination after treatment, cytology showed negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy and the HPV genotyping was negative. The result showed negative findings in 3 consecutive follow-up tests. In addition, the chief complaint and general conditions were improved. Conclusion: This study shows that the recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was improved after the Korean traditional treatment and it can be effective medical alternatives or options for patients receiving mistletoe injection during follow-up.