• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2023

Objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease. Both tralokinumab and dupilumab have been recommended in the European Guideline for the treatment of adult patients with severe AD. In Korea, dupilumab has been approved for patients with moderate to severe AD, and reimbursed for those with severe AD. Since there is no clinical trial directly comparing tralokinumab and dupilumab, we conducted indirect comparison to assess the clinical usefulness in patients with AD. Methods: We selected clinical trials for indirect comparison through a systematic literature review. Individual patient data were available for the tralokinumab clinical trial, and aggregated data were available for the dupilumab clinical trial. Therefore, we employed the Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison (MAIC) method. The treatment efficacy was assessed based on whether patients achieved a 75% reduction on the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) after drug administration. Results: The difference in the proportion of patients achieving EASI 75 between tralokinumab and dupilumab was 4.7% (95% CI: -7.9 to 17.3). Considering the non-inferiority margin for the EASI 75 achievement rate is -10%, tralokinumab is deemed non-inferior to dupilumab as the lower bound of the CI for the difference in the EASI 75 achievement rate between tralokinumab and dupilumab was within -10%. Conclusion: We conducted a MAIC analysis comparing tralokinumab and dupilumab based on EASI 75 achievement. The findings of this study show that tralokinumab is non-inferior to dupilumab and can be implemented in Korean clinical settings with a therapeutic position comparable to dupilumab.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.855-869
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disease with an increasing incidence globally; therefore, there is a growing demand for natural compounds effective in treating dermatitis. In this study, the protective effects of Lycium barbarum leaves with and without chlorophyll (LLE and LLE[Ch-]) on AD were investigated in animal models of AD and HaCaT cells. Further, we investigated whether LLE and LLE(Ch-) show any differences in physiological activity. MATERIALS/METHODS: AD was induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) for three weeks, while NC/Nga mice were fed LLE or LLE(Ch-) extracts for 7 weeks. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and cytokine (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6, and IL-4) concentrations and the degree of DNA fragmentation in lymphocytes were examined. A histopathological examination (haematoxylin & eosin staining and blue spots of toluidine) of the dorsal skin of mice was performed. To elucidate the mechanism of action, the expression of the thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) were measured in HaCaT cells. RESULTS: Serum IgE and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) levels as well as DNA fragmentation of lymphocytes were significantly decreased in AD-induced mice treated with LLE or LLE(Ch-) compared to those of the control group. The epidermal thickness of the dorsal skin and mast cell infiltration in the LLE group significantly reduced compared to that in the control group. The LLE extracts showed no cytotoxicity up to 1,000 ㎍/mL in HaCaT cells. LLE or LLE(Ch-)-treated group showed a reduction of TARC and MDC in TNF-α-and IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that LLE potentially improves inflammation by reducing the expression of chemokines that inhibit T helper 2 cell migration. LLE(Ch-) showed similar effects to LLE on blood levels of IgE, TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expression in HaCat cells, but the ultimate effect of skin improvement was not statistically significant. Therefore, both LLE and LLE(Ch-) can be used as functional materials to alleviate AD, but LLE(Ch-) appears to require more research to improve inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory pruritic skin disease worldwide, characterized by the infiltration of multiple pathogenic T lymphocytes and histological symptoms such as epidermal and dermal thickening. This study aims to investigate the effect of vinpocetine (Vinp; a phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor) on a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like model. DNCB (1%) was administered on day 1 in the AD model. Subsequently, from day 14 onward, mice in each group (Vinp-treated groups: 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg and dexamethasone-treated group: 2 mg/kg) were administered 100 µl of a specific drug daily, whereas 0.2% DNCB was administered every other day for 30 min over 14 days. The Vinp-treated groups showed improved Eczema Area and Severity Index scores and trans-epidermal water loss, indicating the efficacy of Vinp in improving AD and enhancing skin barrier function. Histological analysis further confirmed the reduction in hyperplasia of the epidermis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells, with Vinp treatment. Moreover, Vinp reduced serum concentrations of IgE, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were reduced by Vinp treatment. Reduction of TGF-β protein by Vinp in skin tissue was also observed. Collectively, our results underscore the effectiveness of Vinp in mitigating DNCB-induced AD by modulating the expression of various biomarkers. Consequently, Vinp is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating AD.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2011

Purpose : Atopic findings may be associated with severity of pneumonia in 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection, which could suggest a possible association between atopic findings and the severity of viral infections. Thus, we studied association between atopic findings and severity of disease in children with H1N1 influenza infection. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in 74 children admitted in a single tertiary institute and confirmed as H1N1 patients by reverse transcriptase (RT) - polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They were divided into 2 groups according to the severity of pneumonia. We evaluated whether the atopic finding is risk factor between the two groups. Results : Children with severe pneumonia had higher percentages of serum eosinophilia (88% vs 40%, P <0.001), asthma (65% vs 35%, P =0.011), allergic rhinitis (71% vs 40%, P =0.009), and IgE level (P =0.007). We found positive correlations between aeroallergen sensitizations and severity of pneumonia (82% vs 53%, P =0.007). Conclusion : Among patients with H1N1 pneumonia, asthma and atopic findings are risk factors for severity of pneumonia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.159-166
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• 2005

We observed the efficacy of natural herbs and mixture in treating atopic dermatitis using anti-human IgE treated Human HMC-I cell and NCNga mice model. First, we selected three herbs, Cynonchum witfordii, Diospyros kaki, Ilite which were used to treat skin disease in Traditional Korea Medicine. Using Human HMC-I cell treated with anti-human IgE, we investigate in vitro whether each herb effects on IL-4, IL-13, $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression and $TNF-{\alpha}$, Histamine secretion value. Finally, we conducted study whether the mixture of the selected herbs is more effective than each herb which consist the mixture and control group. The results show that the mixture is better in improving atopic dermatitis condition.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current level of sleep quality among Korean middle-school students using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and to analyze the factors influencing sleep quality. Methods: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design and a self-report questionnaire. The participants were 744 middle-school students. The questionnaire included the PSQI and health-related questions, such as the types of diseases they had been diagnosed with and the frequency of hospital admissions. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and linear multiple regression. Results: The global PSQI score was 4.21, which indicated good sleep quality. The major factors that were associated with the sleep quality of middle-school students were the number of diseases they had been diagnosed with (β=.54, p=.001) and atopic dermatitis (β=.32, p=.001). In addition, asthma and the frequency of hospital admissions were significant factors influencing each component of the PSQI. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that sleep quality was associated with several health-related factors. Thus, nurses, school nurses, and nursing researchers may need to assess the health-related factors associated with adolescents' sleep quality as part of efforts to improve their sleep quality.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2013

Atopic dermatitis is a recurrent or chronic eczematous skin disease with severe pruritus and has annually increased in Korea. In this study, we investigated whether Duchesnea chrysantha (Dc) extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in human monocytic THP-1 cells and human eosinophilic EoL-1 cells. The dried and powdered whole plants of Dc were extracted with 80% EtOH (Dc-1). The residue was diluted with water, and then successively partitioned with n-hexane, EtOAc, and BuOH to produce the n-hexane (Dc-2), EtOAc (Dc-3), BuOH (Dc-4), and the water-soluble fractions (Dc-5), respectively. The mite extract and LPS increased the production of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in THP-1 cells and the increase was strongly suppressed by Dc-3 extract, as compare with other extracts. Dc-3 also inhibited the release of IL-6 increased by mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. However, Dc-3 extract increased IL-8 production induced by the mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. These results suggest that Dc extract may be used as anti-inflammatory agents in treating allergic disorders such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.53-72
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• 2001

Dry skin is caused mainly by the perturbation of stratum corneum lipids which affected by ageing, change of season, excess use of surfactant and the effect of disease like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Intercellular lipid structures in stratum corneum are responsible for the barrier function of mammalian skin. The major lipd classes that can be extracted from stratum corneum are ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acid, which make up approximately 50, 25, 10 percent of the stratum corneum lipid mass, respectively. Small amount of cholesterol sulfate, phospholipids, glycosylceramide and cholesterol esters are also present. Recent studies have shown that application of one or two these lipids to the perturbed skin delays barrier recovery; only equimolar mixtures allow normal recovery. We observed that barrier recovery rate was improved in hairless mouse by topical application of single neutral lipids (ceramide, free fatty acid, cholesterol) and lipid mixtures. Whereas the application of single lipid didn’t allows a significant enhancement comparing with normal barrier repair, the equimolar mixtures of 3 components(including synthetic pseudoceramide PC104) improved barrier repair, as assessed by the transepidermal water loss. At clinical study to the volunteers aged over sixty, skin dryness recuperated by the increase of moisture(capacitance) and the reduction of scaling. Utilization of physiologic lipid mixture containing natural ceramides or synthetic pseudoceramide could lead to new forms of topical therapy for the dryness and dermatoses(e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and irritant dermatitis).

• Journal of Convergence Korean Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2021

Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an easily recurrent inflammatory skin disease. Since AD has complex pathology, people have been investigating it on different aspects with various experimental models. One of them is in vivo model which has spontaneously developed AD-like skin lesions by various inducers. Methods: In this study, two kinds of mouse species were applied in the experiment; BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. We compared features among the animal species making AD mouse model with protein allergen, ovalbumin. AD-like skin lesions were induced by ovalbumin on two kinds of scheme and were evaluated with the histological results and size of spleen which is a critical immunological organ. Also, we measured the level of immunoglobulin E in serum. In addition, we investigated the results of ovalbumin induced-AD-like skin lesions along with obesity. Results and Conclusion: We evaluated weight of organs and thickness of epidermis. These results suggest the possibility of the appropriate in vivo experimental model for AD or the comorbidity with obesity.