• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.220-228
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• 1997

Background The stenosis of the coronary artery may decrease myocardial oxygen supply and occur myocardial ischemia or infarction. Soojeomsan, one of analgesics is generally regarded to have the effect of vitalizing blood, expelling blood stasis and alleviation cardiac pain. Methods The purpose of this experimental study is to find the influence of Soojeomsan on cardiac enzyme (CPK, Na-K ATPase) of ischemic and reperfused rat hearts which are isolated under the Langendorff apparatus. Ischemia was induced In isolated hearts of Sprague-Dawley rats by ceasing the perfusion for 20 minutes. The experiments were divided into a normal saline orally administered group(control group), a Soojeomsan orally 20ml administered group(sample A) and a Soojeomsan orally 30ml administered group(sample B). The CPK (creatinine phosphokinase) and Na-K ATPase activity of this three group were measured and compared in order to assess the influence of Soojeomsan on protection of isolated rat hearts from ischemia. Results 1. CPK was significantly reduced in Sample A group and Sample B group in comparison with control group in reperfusion(P<0.01), and there were no significant difference between Sample A and B. 2. Na-K ATPase activity was significantly increased in Sample A group and Sample B group in comparison with control group in ischemia(P<0.001), and the activity was significantly higher in Sample B then in Sample A.(P<0.01) 3. There were no significant difference in Na-K ATPase activity of the three groups after reperfusion. Conclusion Soojeomsan has effects to decrease CPK activity and activate Na pump. This result in protection of the myocardium of isolated rat hearts from ischemia.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.482-492
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• 2000

Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi are known to increase plant growth as well as to enhance salt tolerance of plants where plant roots are colonized by VAM. In pot experiment, pepper was grown in soil containing 0, 200, 400, and $600P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ with and without mycorrhizal inoculum. Pots were irrigated with saline water containing 0.5, 2.0, and $6.0dS\;m^{-1}$. At 0, 200, and $400P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ of three EC treatments, plant hight in mycorrhizal treatments was significantly different compared to nonmycorrhizal treatments. However, plant hight at $600P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ was not different between mycorrhizal and nomycorrhizal treatments. Leaf area at $0P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ of three EC treatments, and $200P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ of $6.0dS\;m^{-1}$ in mycorrhizal treatments significantly increased compared to nonmycorrhizal treatments. However, these increase were not discovered in high salinity and P level. Level of EC affected dry weight, and especially, interection of P and EC, or P and VA inoculation highly affected root dry weight. R/S ratio generally decreased in mycorrhizal treatments. Significantly decreased R/S ratio was shown at 0, 400, and $600P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ of $6.0dS\;m^{-1}$. Chlorophyll content generally increased with decreased salinity and P level where mycorrhizal treatments showed higher chlorophyll content compared to nonmycorrhizal treatments. The benefits of VAM inoculation on fruit production was discovered at only low P level and salinity. Mycorrhizal dependency on dry weight basis was generally shown in $0P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ of three EC treatments and 0.5, $2.0dS\;m^{-1}$ of $200P\;kg\;ha^{-1}$ level. Colonization rate ranged 3.3 to 43.3% and number of spores was 47.7 to 198.3 $100g^{-1}$ soil. Colonization rate and number of spores increased with decreased P level and salinity where there was high correlation ($r=0.858^{**}$) between both. Also improved uptake of mineral nutrients was discovered at mycorrhizal treatments in decreased P level and salinity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.502-507
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• 2009

In modern oriental medicine, bee venom therapy is being used for aqua-acupuncture to relieve pain and to cure inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. Bee venom therapy has been processed and reported in many experimental studies, with regard to its effects on pain alleviation, anti-inflammation, removal of fever, anti-convulsion, suppression of tumor and immunity strengthening, etc., however, its mechanism of action, molecular targeting on prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production and telomere length regulation in human cancer remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of bee venom on the levels of cyclooxygenases (COXs) and telomere regulatory components of A549 human lung cancer cells. Bee venom-induced anti-proliferative effects of A549 cells were associated with the inhibition of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as well as human telomerase RNA (hTR), transcription factor c-myc and the activity of telomerase. In addition, bee venom treatment markedly decreased the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in $PGE_2$ synthesis. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of bee venom.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.4
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• pp.530-536
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• 2013

This study aimed to analyze and compare results from psychological relaxations by using profile of mood state (POMS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) level as a scale of oxidative damage before and after walking in the forest and on the street. 29 participations (15 men and 14 women) walked in the forest and on the street for 30 minutes of each for two days. The participations filled a questionnaire for POMS and conducted an heart rate variability test, oxidative damage test (MDA as biological marker through a urine test) before and after walking. To compare the psychological states after walking in the two difference places, walking in the forest showed statistically more meaningful results in the section of tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confuse and total mood disturbance (p<0.01) than walking on the street. According to the MDA results, a concentration of MDA showed significant increase after walking on the street (p=0.014). On the contrary to this, a concentration of MDA tended to decrease after walking in the forest (p=0.076). The study showed that the psychological states were more stable and oxidative damages were more decreasing after walking in the forest than walking on the street. In the conclusion, MDA would be biological indicator for assessing the effect of alleviation on the oxidative stress after walking in the forest.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.393-403
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• 2013

Baicalein (BA), a plant-derived active flavonoid present in the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has been widely used for the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders including depression. Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated restraint stress disrupts the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in depression. The behavioral and neurochemical basis of the BA effect on depression remain unclear. The present study used the forced swimming test (FST) and changes in brain neurotransmitter levels to confirm the impact of BA on repeated restraint stress-induced behavioral and neurochemical changes in rats. Male rats received 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg BA (i.p.) 30 min prior to daily exposure to repeated restraint stress (2 h/day) for 14 days. Activation of the HPA axis in response to repeated restraint stress was confirmed by measuring serum corticosterone levels and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor in the hypothalamus. Daily BA administration significantly decreased the duration of immobility in the FST, increased sucrose consumption, and restored the stress-related decreases in dopamine concentrations in the hippocampus to near normal levels. BA significantly inhibited the stress-induced decrease in neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the ventral tegmental area and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the hippocampus. Taken together, these findings indicate that administration of BA prior to the repeated restraint stress significantly improves helpless behaviors and depressive symptoms, possibly by preventing the decrease in dopamine and BDNF expression. Thus, BA may be a useful agent for the treatment or alleviation of the complex symptoms associated with depression.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 2008

Objectives : The objective of this study was to observe the positive effects of acupuncture and bee-venom acupuncture treatment on lumbar hypolordosis. Methods : Acupuncture and bee-venom acupuncture were performed twice a week for 30 days to treat patients with low back pain patients showing a Cobb's angle [L1-S1] of less than $35^{\circ}$(treatment group=20, control group=13). Lumbar lordosis(Cobb's angle [L1-S1], Centroid angle [L1-S1]) was measured using an L-spine Lat. X-ray before and after treatment. Pain scales(VAS scale, ODI) were also was measured before and after treatment. SPSS 12K for Windows was used for statistical analysis of the results. Results : 1. VAS and ODI decreased significantly in the treatment group. 2. Lumbar lordosis, presented by Cobb's angle, increased significantly from $25.00{\pm}7.06^{\circ}$ to $30.95{\pm}10.02^{\circ}$ (p = 0.006). The increase of Cobb's angle in the treatment group $5.95{\pm}8.60^{\circ}$, and that of the control group was $-3.08{\pm}8.41^{\circ}$(p = 0.006). The increase of the Centroid angle of the treatment group was $3.85{\pm}8.83^{\circ}$, and that of the control group was $-2.92{\pm}7.63^{\circ}$(p=0.031). 3. Cobb's angle and Vas scale showed a significant correlation coefficient of -0.250(p=0.043). Increase of Cobb's angle and decrease of Vas scale showed a significant correlation coefficient of 0.420(p=0.015). Conclusions : Acupuncture and bee-venom acupuncture were verified to have a positive effect on pain alleviation of lumbar lordosis decreased patients while also affecting lumbar lordosis to be increased as a result of structural changes. It was also shown that lumbar hypolordosis has significant correlation with pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to identify the inhibitory effect of hepatic toxicity and liver lipid metabolism after the administration of Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica. SD rats were divided into $CCI_4$ treated group with subgroups of 6% Artemisia capillaries (6A), 4% Artemisia capillaris＋2% Paecilomyces japonica (4A2P), 3% Artemisia capillaris＋3% Paecilomyces japonica (3A3P), 2% Artemisia capillaris＋4% Paecilomyces japonica (2A4P) and 6% Paecilomyces japonica (6P). In this study we also intended to verify the optimum ratio of Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica which can reduce hepatotoxicity. Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels which were increased by the treatment of $CCI_4$. HDL-cholesterol level was the most enhanced in the group of 4A2P. On the other hand, athrogenic index (AI) was reduced statistically (p<0.05). When the ratio of Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica was 2:1, the improvement of rat serum and liver lipid metabolism and the alleviation of hepatic damage induced by $CCI_4$ were shown to be the most effective in this study. It is considered that the symptoms of severe chemically induced hepatotoxicity could be lessened by Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica administration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.298-305
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• 2018

Rhomboid family member 2 gene (Rhbdf2) is an inactive homologue lacking essential catalytic residues of rhomboid intramembrane serine proteases. The protein is necessary for maturation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) converting enzyme, which is the molecule responsible for the release of $TNF-{\alpha}$. In this study, Rhbdf2 knockout (KO) mice were produced by CRISPR/CAS9. To see the effects of the failure of $TNF-{\alpha}$ release induced by Rhbdf2 gene KO, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), which is the representative $TNF-{\alpha}$ related disease, was induced in the Rhbdf2 mutant mouse using chicken collagen type II. The severity of the CIA was measured by traditional clinical scores and histopathological analysis of hind limb joints. A rota-rod test and grip strength test were employed to evaluate the severity of CIA based on losses of physical functions. The results indicated that Rhbdf2 mutant mice showed clear alleviation of the clinical severity of CIA as demonstrated by the significantly lower severity indexes. Moreover, a grip strength test was shown to be useful for the evaluation of physical functional losses by CIA. Overall, the results showed that the Rhbdf2 gene has a significant effect on the induction of CIA, which is related to $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.421-428
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• 2014

In general, Reucedani Radix (Peucedanum japonicum Thunbergis: PJ) is the Korean traditional herbal medicine used to remove dampness, to relieve pain, and spasm. So, PJ folium is believed to have the same effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the alleviation of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced ulcerative colitis in mice by PJ folium. 25 mice were divided into 5 groups: normal, DSS, DSS + 100 mg/kg PJ folium (PJ100), DSS + 500 mg/kg PJ folium (PJ500), and DSS + 150 mg/kg 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) groups. Body weights, colon lengths, histological changes in colon tissue, and spleen weights were observed. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ level in plasma were measured by ELISA. IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-a mRNA expression in colon tissue were detected by RT-PCR. In the results, body weight lose was inhibited in PJ100, PJ500, and 5-ASA groups, but it was not different compared with DSS group, significantly. PJ500 group showed the preventive effects of colon length shorten and histological changes in colon tissues as good as 5-ASA group. The weight of spleen was increased in DSS group but it reduced in PJ100, PJ500, and 5-ASA groups. Moreover, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine levels in plasma were reduced in PJ500 and 5-ASA groups. IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-a mRNA expression in colon tissue were inhibited in PJ100, PJ500, and 5-ASA groups and it was significantly different compared with DSS group. In conclusion, PJ folium showed the alleviative effect on DSS induced ulcerative colitis in mice.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: The data were collected from 21 terminal cancer patients and families through the in-depth interview. Data analysis were performed by the Colaizzi's phenomenological method (1976). Results: The reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminal cancer patients and families was then categorized with 4 elements; Awareness of limitations in contemporary medical treatments, Belief in effectiveness of the CAM, Satisfaction with emotional needs of family members, and Disbelief due to negative attitudes of physicians. The result indicated the following 9 themes expectation for a complete cure, uncertainty in hospital treatments, complementary method for management of side effect of chemotherapy, alleviation of symptoms and life-sustaining, fear for side effects of cancer treatments, belief in earned information, referrals by other, responsibility of family, and dissatisfaction with negatine attitudes of physicians. Conclusion: Physicians should provide a sufficient explanation and try to effectively communicate with clients about hospice and palliative service and the CAM. We strongly realized that concerns about patients' best care and satisfactions with family's needs should be understood.