• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1041-1054
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• 2004

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to increase pain threshold, and to enhance the NK cell activity by up-regulation of IFN-γ and endogenous β-endolphin. For the purpose of understanding the molecular mechanism of EA stimulation, we analyzed the gene expression profile of rat hypothalamus, treated on Zusanli (ST36) with EA, in comparison with control group by oligonucleotide chip microarray (Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array) and real-time RT-PCR. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) male rats were stimulated at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in restriction holder. Simultaneously the control group was given only holder stress without EA stimulation. In order to prove the appropriateness of EA treatment, we measured spleen NK cell activity with standard 51Cr release assay. NK cell activity of EA group was significantly increased comparing to control group. The microarray and PCR results show that EA treatment up-regulates expression of genes associated with 1) nerve growth such as NGF induced factor A and VGF, 2) signal transduction such as 5HT3 receptor subunit, AMPA receptor binding protein and Na-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, and 3) anti-oxidation such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase. In addition, the activity of the anti-oxidative enzyme, SOD of hypothalamus, liver and RBC was enhanced compared to that of control. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the mechanism of acupuncture effects.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2007

Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract and its hydrolyzed fraction. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract (SCE) and its hydrolyzed fraction (SCE-40) on depression and anxiety-related behaviors in mice. Actions of SCE and SCE-40 on serotonin, norepinephrine and GABAergic systems in the rat cerebral cortex membranes were also examined. SCE and SCE-40 significantly reduced the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension test in mice. Duration time of the open arms in the elevated plus maze test was significantly increased in the SCE and SCE-40-treated groups, compared with the saline-treated control group. SCE and its fraction SCE-40 significantly inhibited serotonin and norepinephrine transporter and GABA receptor binding, compared to the saline-treated group. In addition, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake were significantly suppressed by SCE and SCE-40. These results demonstrate that SCE and SCE-40 produce anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects through enhancing central serotonin, norepinephrine and GABAergic transmissions. These results suggest that SCE and SCE-40 as functional food might prove to be an effective antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.43-64
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Jowiseungcheongtang compared with St. John's wort in the chronic mild stress(CMS) animal model of depression. Wistar rats were used for this study. The subjects were divided into 4 groups (Naive group: without CMS procedure, CMS-vehicle: water was administered during CMS procedure, CMS-Jowiseungcheongtang: Jowiseungcheongtang was administered after 5 weeks of CMS procedure, CMS-St. John's wort: St. John's wort was administered after 5 weeks of CMS procedure) During 9 weeks of CMS procedure, The change of the consumption of sucrose and the changes of weights were measured. After CMS procedure, Morris water maze test, open field test, elevated plus maze test and Western blotting were measured. The results were as follows. 1. The consumption of sucrose solution was significantly reversed in Jowiseungcheongtang group and relatively reversed in St. John's Wort group at 7 week. 2. In open field test, Neither Jowiseungcheongtang nor St. John's wort group showed statistically significant change of exploratory activity. In EPM test, St. John's Wort group showed significant decrease of total arm entry in comparison with Naive group. And Jowiseungcheongtang group was showed no significant change. 3. In Morris water maze test, St. John's Wort group showed significant increase in escape latency of the last Morris water maze trial. And in water maze probe test, there was no significant change. 4. St. John's Wort group showed relative increase in LP1 division of 5HT1A receptor compared with Naive group. Both St. John's Wort and Jowiseungcheongtang group showed relative increase in P2 division of GluRl compared with Naive group. These results suggest that Jowiseungcheongtang is as effective as St. John's Wort in the treatment of depression.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2000

Ondansetron is a potent, highly selective 5-hydroxytryptamine3(5-HT3) receptor- antagonist, for the management of nausea and vomiting induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiography, and the treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two ondansetron tablets, $Zofran^{TM}$, (Glaxo Wellcome Korea Ltd.) and Hana ondansetron (Hana Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Eighteen normal male volunteers, $23.56{\pm}1.79$ year in age and $67.35{\pm}8.35\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After one tablet containing 8 mg of ondansetron was orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of ondansetron in serum were determined using HPLC with UV detector. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters. The results showed that the differences in $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between two tablets were 7.53%, -0.23% and -3.92%, respectively when calculated against the $Zofran^{TM}$, tablet. The powers $(1-{\beta})$ for $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were above 99.00%, above 99.00% and 84.99%, respectively. Minimum detectable differences $(\Delta)\;at\;{\alpha}=0.1\;and\;1-{\beta}=0.8$ were all less than 20% (e.g., 12.25%, 10.88% and 18.37% for $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals were all within ${\pm}20%$ (e.g., $-0.70{\sim}15.76,\;-7.53{\sim}7.08\;and\;-16.27{\sim}8.42\;for\;AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). All of the above parameters met the criteria of KFDA for bioequivalence, indicating that Hana ondansetron tablet is bioequivalent to $Zofran^{TM}$, tablet.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.107-118
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigated the effect of Yijin-tang on gastric motility and its mechanism of action in normal intact and partial pyloric obstructed rats. Methods : Gastric emptying was measured by the number of glass beads expelled from the stomach (containing one hundred of glass beads. ${\phi}1mm$) in 1 hour or 2 hours after glass beads and test drugs (normal saline. Yijin-tang 90mg/kg. Yijin-tang 270mg/kg) administration in normal intact and partial pyloric obstructed rats. In another series of experiments to evaluate the mechanism of Yijin-tang 270mg/kg under delayed conditions, normal intact rats were treated with atropine sulfate (1mg/kg,s.c.), cisplatin (10mg/kg,i.p.), quinpirole HCI (0.3mg/kg,i.p.) and NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. 75mg/ kg,s.c.), respectively. Partial pyloric obstructed rats were modified by wrapping the nonabsorbable rubber ring (D :6mm, W:4mm, T: 1mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum for 8 weeks. The myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle was recorded by a bipolar electrode placed at the abdominal surface in normal intact and partial pyloric obstructed rats. The gastric myoelectrical activity was measured for 30 minutes before and after orogastric administration of each solution (normal saline, Yijin-tang 270mg/kg) and expressed as dominant frequency, percent of normogastria and power ratio. Results : Yijin-tang improved gastric emptying more than normal saline in normal intact(p<0.001) and partial pyloric obstructed rats(p=0.002). Under the delayed gastric emptying induced by atropine sulfate, cisplatin, quinpirole HCI and NAME. Yijin-tang enhanced gastric emptying significantly in the cisplatin treated group(p<0.001). but didn't in other treated groups. Administration of Yijin-tang 270mg/kg has no significant effect on the myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle in both normal intact rats and partial pyloric obstructed rats. Conclusions : Yijin-tang seems to stimulate the gastric motility through suppressing the 5HT3 receptor and promoting the antroduodenal flow. We expect that Yijin-tang would be effective especially in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia with partial pyloric obstruction or the side effects of cisplatin such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and delay of gastric emptying.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 1999

Purpose : Granisetron is a potent, the most selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and is reported to b effective in treatment of radiation-induced emesis. The antiemetic efficacy and safety of oral granisteron was evaluated in patients with receiving highly emetogenic treatment by conventional fractionated irradiation. Materials and Methods : Patients with various cancers who were being treated with irradiation were accrued into the present study. The intensity of nausea was evaluated on first 24 hours and on day-7 by patients according to the degree of interference with normal daily life as followings; a) none; b) present but no interference with normal daily life (mild): c) interference with normal daily life (moderate): and d) bedridden because of nausea (severe). Non or mild state was considered to indicate successful treatment. The efficacy of antiemetic treatment was graded as follows; a) complete response; no vomiting, no worse than mild nausea and receive no rescue antiemetic therapy over the 24h period, b) major response; either one episode of vomiting or moderate/severe nausea or had received rescue medication over 24h period, or any combination of these, c) minor response; two to four episodes of vomiting over the 24h period, regardless of nausea and rescue medication, d) failure; more than four medication. The score of the most symptom was recorded and the total score over 24 hours was summarized. The complete or major response was considered to indicate successful treatment. Results : A total of 10 patients were enrolled into this study, and all were assessable for efficacy analysis. Total nausea control was achieved in 90$\%$ (9/10:none=60$\%$ plus mild=30$\%$) of total patients after 7 days. The control of vomiting by granisteron was noted in seven patients (70$\%$) of complete response and three (30$\%$) of major response with a hundred-percent successful treatment over 7 days. The minor response or treatment failure were not observed. No significant adverse events or toxicities from granisetron were recorded in patient receiving granisetron. Conclusion : We concluded that granisetron is a highly effective antiemetic agent in controlling radiotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting with a minimal toxicity profile.