• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-depressant effects of pharmacopuncture using sumsu (Bufonis venenum). Methods: Animals were divided into three groups (control, sham, and experimental), with eight mice per group. The sham and the experimental groups were exposed to 2 hours of immobilization stress daily for 14 days. They were also injected with normal saline (sham) or subjected to pharmacopuncture with sumsu at the acupoints HT7, SP6, and GV20 (experimental). The depression or anxiety-like behaviors of the mice in each group were evaluated 1 day after treatment. Results: There was no difference in locomotor activity between the groups during the open-field test; i.e., all groups had normal motor function. However, the open-field and the forced-swimming tests revealed that depression and anxiety-like behaviors were decreased significantly in the group treated with sumsu pharmacopuncture. Conclusion: Sumsu pharmacopuncture attenuated depressive or anxiety-like behavior in mice stressed with chronic immobilization. These results suggest that sumsu pharmacopuncture has therapeutic potential for treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression disorder.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.624-637
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to identify variables influencing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adults with epilepsy in order to establish a structural model and design an intervention strategy to improve patients' HRQoL. Methods: The selected subjects were 212 patients with epilepsy aged between 18 and 70 years who were currently receiving treatment from hospital, general hospital, and clinic. They were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Results: The goodness of fit measures of the final hypothetical model were as follows: ${\chi}^2/df=2.51$, GFI=.91, AGFI=.90, CFI=.96, SRMR=.04, NFI=.93, and RMSEA=.08. The major variables influencing the HRQoL of adults with epilepsy were epilepsy self-efficacy, depression, social support, and side effects of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), which were significant in the mentioned order, whereas the duration of AEDs use and perceived stigma did not show any effects. Six variables accounted for 75.6% of HRQoL. Variables having a direct and total effect on the HRQoL of adults with epilepsy were the side effects of AEDs, social support, epilepsy self-efficacy, and depression, and those with an indirect effect were the side effects of AEDs and social support. Conclusion: It is necessary to accurately identify the side effects of AEDs in adults with epilepsy and accurately observe the physical changes caused by depression. In addition, it is imperative to establish an active and effective nursing intervention program to strengthen the self-efficacy of the patients and to improve their quality of life through social support provided by family members and medical professionals.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.108-120
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• 2020

From the perspective of the definition of pain, pain can be divided into emotional and sensory components, which originate from potential and actual tissue damage, respectively. The pharmacologic treatment of the emotional pain component includes antianxiety drugs, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. The anti-anxiety drugs have anti-anxious, sedative, and somnolent effects. The antipsychotics are effective in patients with positive symptoms of psychosis. On the other hand, the sensory pain component can be divided into nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids are usually applied for somatic and visceral nociceptive pain, respectively; anticonvulsants and antidepressants are administered for the treatment of neuropathic pain with positive and negative symptoms, respectively. The NSAIDs, which inhibit the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, exhibit anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects; however, they have a therapeutic ceiling. The adverse reactions (ADRs) of the NSAIDs include gastrointestinal problems, generalized edema, and increased bleeding tendency. The opioids, which bind to the opioid receptors, present an analgesic effect only, without anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, or ceiling effects. The ADRs of the opioids start from itching and nausea/vomiting to cardiovascular and respiratory depression, as well as constipation. The anticonvulsants include carbamazepine, related to sodium channel blockade, and gabapentin and pregabalin, related to calcium blockade. The antidepressants show their analgesic actions mainly through inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin or norepinephrine. Most drugs, except NSAIDs, need an updose titration period. The principle of polypharmacy for analgesia in case of mixed components of pain is increasing therapeutic effects while reducing ADRs, based on the origin of the pain.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.509-518
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• 2021

This study was conducted to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on quality of sleep and depression. Adults who had insomnia for over 1 month were recruited. Participants were distributed randomly to the experimental group(n=22) and the control group(n=22). The experimental group received auricular acupressure on Shen men(TF2), insomnia 1(SF4), insomnia 2(SF1), and anti-depression(LO8) for 1 week. The contrast group received sleep hygiene education. The mean differences of the quality of sleep were 4.05±2.52 in the experimental group and 1.45±3.77 in the control group. Auricular acupressure significantly decreased insomnia in the experimental group compared to the control group(t=3.07, p=.004). Depression scores after acupressure were not different between the experimental group and the control group. After controlling the religion as a covariate, the mean difference of depression in the experimental group was higher than the control group(F=4.22, p=.046). In conclusion, auricular acupressure decreased insomnia and depression. Therefore, further studies on different acupressure points such as shen men, jiao gan, heart, pi zhi xia, and endocrine are recommended.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 1969

Anti-ulcer activity of licorice alkaloid fraction, separated from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. by fractionation according to general alkaloid purification procedure, were studied with various experimental gastric ulcers. In Shay ulcer, licorice alkaloid fraction inhibit significantly response rate and severity of ulcer. But there was no significant changes in volume and pH of gastric contents. A male rat was fixed on a board and immersed up to breast in water of $25^{\circ}C$ for 20 hrs. Hemorrhage and erosion develop in all the animals on the mucosa of the glandular portion of stomach. Licorice alkaloid fraction (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) inhibit significantly in the severity of stress ulcer but there was no changes in the response rate. Chlorpromazine produce marked inhibition in the severity and response rate of ulcer It was suggested that at least the anti-ulcer activity of licorice alkaloid fraction was not mediated by central depression.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2008

Objective: 'GyoGam-Dan' is known as a medicine to cure depression in Donguibogam (traditional Korean oriental medicine book). GyoGam-dan which is composed of Cyperi Rhizoma L. and Poria cum Radix pini has been used by basic prescription of asymptom related to all kinds of Qi(氣) disease. Although it has been clinically used for a long time, its safety have never been proved till now. Methods: We had collected data of 610 cases of patients taking 'GyoGam-Dan' at Wonkwang univ. oriental medical center for a period of three years (2005.3.09-2008.04.30). On the patients' blood, the levels of LFT and RFT were examined and the residual levels of heavy metals and pesticides were measured. Results: There were 610 patients who had taken GyoGam-Dan for about three years. In the patients, the most common diseases is depression, followed by palpitation, and then insomnia. Among the patients' estimations on its effectiveness, there were many of positive ones. The blood analyses of patients who had taken GyoGam-Dan did not show any problems and moreover there was not any problems in the levels of residual heavy metals and agricultural pesticides. Taken together, GyoGam-Dan was proved to be a safe medicine for health. Conclusions: Our clinical and chemical studies show that GyoGam-dan has the anti-stress effect and is a safe medicine of which side effect does not exist. Hereafter, Nigorous clinical trial on GyoGam-dan is required.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.68 no.4
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• pp.75-96
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• 2016

This study analyzed the mediator effect of fear and helping responses on relationship between familiarity and discrimination based on the contact theory. We presented typical vignettes of schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism to 922 adults randomly. All respondents were asked for direct and indirect contact experiences with mental illness, fear and helping responses and discrimination against persons with mental illness. Our findings suggest that contact theory was not supported in every types of mental disorders. In schizophrenia, fear and help were the full mediator between familiarity and discrimination. In depression, only helping response was the mediator between familiarity and discrimination. But in alcoholism, familiarity did not predict discrimination. Based on theses findings, we suggest various anti-stigma strategies depending on the types of mental disorders.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2020

Objective : This study is accomplished in order to investigate the effect of banggibongnyeongtang on the immunohistological change in LPS-induced depression rats to confirm the histological result of the previous behavioral and biochemical effect. Methods : LPS 5 ㎍ was injected to lateral ventricle and experimental groups were administered BBT intraperitoneally. The concentration of 5-HT in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Striatum, Hippocampus, Amygdala was measured by ELISA. IL-1β, TNF-α mRNA and BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus was examined by RT-PCR. Result : BBT enhanced 5-HT concentration at all part of brain but no significantly difference at medial prefrontal cortex and striatum. LPS+BBT400 group increased 5-HT concentration significantly than LPS group at hippocampus and amygdala (p<0.05). BBT decreased IL-1β mRNA expression dose dependently but only with significantly decrease in LPS+BBT400 group than LPS group's in Hippocampus (p<0.05). But BBT did not decrease TNF-α mRNA expression significantly in Hippocampus. BBT increased the expression of BDNF mRNA at hippocampus and LPS+BBT400 group significantly increased comparing with LPS group does (p<0.05). Conclusion : It is postulated that the anti-depressant effect of BBT can be validated through the anti-inflammatory effect, 5-HT concentration increase, and the neuro-protective effect mediated by BDNF by combining the results of the previous report about the behavioral and biochemical effect.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.137-149
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• 2019

Objective : This study is conducted in order to investigate the effect of Banggibongnyeongtang(BBT) on Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression. Method : LPS $5{\mu}g$ was injected to lateral ventricle. Experimental groups were administered BBT intraperitoneally. Depressive behavior was confirmed by weight change, sucrose preference, open field test(OFT), and forced swimming test(FST). The plasma concentration of $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$, Corticotropin-Releasing Factor(CRF), Adrenocorticotropin Hormone(ACTH) and Corticosterone(CORT) were measured by ELISA. Result : BBT did not change the body weight significantly than LPS group, but on sucrose preference, BBT increased significantly in LPS+BBT400 group compared to LPS group (P<0.05). In the OFT, BBT increased spending time in the central zone and decreased grooming number. LPS+BBT400 group increased central zone-spending time, and decreased grooming number than LPS group significantly (P<0.05). In the FST, LPS+BBT400 group decreased immobility time than LPS group significantly (P<0.05). BBT decreased $IL-1{\beta}$ concentration does-dependently, but only with significant decrease in LPS+BBT400 group than LPS group in plasma (P<0.05). But BBT did not decrease $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration significantly in plasma. BBT decreased plasma CRF, ACTH, and CORT. And CRH and CORT of LPS+BBT400 group were shown significant decrease comparing with LPS group (P<0.05). Conclusion : It is postulated that the anti-depressant effect of BBT can be validated through inhibition of HPA axis abnormal activity by the anti-inflammatory effect.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2023

Objectives : Sihosogan-tang (SST) is one of the traditional herbal formula and also one of the Korean medical insurance medicines. It commonly used in the treatment of hepatitis, chronic gastritis, intercostal neuralgia, pleurisy, and depression in East Asia. In the present study, we have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of SST in macrophage cell line. Methods : To investigate mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of SST, we examined the productions of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-κ B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) on RAW 264.7 cells activated by LPS. Results : SST significantly inhibited the expression of iNOS increased by LPS, and also significantly inhibited the production of NO. In addition, SST significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF- α and interleukines. SST inhibited the expression of NF-κB and MAPK activation. Conclusions : These results suggest that SST ameliorates inflammatory response in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells through the inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPK pathway. Therefore, this study supplies objective evidence for the anti-inflammatory effect of SST.