• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that occurs frequently among women of reproductive age and is a polygenic, multifactorial, endocrine, and metabolic disorder. PCOS is becoming more common as a result of risk factors such as current lifestyle, overnutrition, and stress. The use of traditional herbal medicine is higher among the global population. Hence, this review article focuses on the potential of Nigella sativa to manage women with PCOS. Methods: A literature search was carried out using databases including Medline, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Embase, and Science Direct, as well as reference lists, to identify relevant publications that support the use of N. sativa in the management of women with PCOS. Results: Several clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that the major bioactive constituent of black seed (N. sativa), thymoquinone, has potential for managing women with PCOS. Moreover, N. sativa may help to manage oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea in women with PCOS through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Conclusion: N. sativa has potential for use as a herbal medicine for managing women with PCOS as an integrative medicine along with traditional and modern medicine in conjunction with calorie restriction and regular exercise.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.122-125
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• 2021

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), also known as basal cell carcinoma nevus syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, and nevoid basal cell carcinoma, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder with a prevalence of approximately 1/60,000. A lower prevalence rate of 1/13,939,393 has also been reported in Korea. We report the case of a 40-year-old male patient with multiple black pigmented macules on the face that first appeared when he was a teenager. His clinical features of jaw cysts, bifid ribs, and calcification of the falx cerebri were fitting within the criteria for the diagnosis of BCNS. We excised all suspected macules and sent permanent biopsy. Most of the histological examinations of the biopsy samples taken during surgical excision of the face masses showed basal cell carcinomas. Ten months after the surgery, the patient has remained free from symptoms and is undergoing follow-up observation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.380-389
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• 2018

Black vinegar has been traditionally used for supplemental flavoring on food, and commercialized beverages. Here, to investigate the effects on in vivo anti-obesity complications of black vinegar produced with herbal extracts, we evaluated on the biochemical effects of high-fat diet (HFD) induced mice compared to control fed ones. After a 84-day experiment HFD mice had higher (P < 0.05) weight gains, relative abdominal-fat pads, blood glucose level, serum/liver lipids, and serum nephron indices. Continuous oral treatment of three different concentration of herbal black vinegar (HBV; stock, 2-fold, and 4-fold diluted solution) to HFD mice showed that HBV reduced marked obesity (fat depositions, adipocyte hypertrophy), hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia (serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol levels), enhanced liver function (AST/ALT), and kidney function (BUN, creatine levels), respectively. Thus, HBV is expected to serve as an efficient and functional supplemental ingredients or food for the alleviation of obesity syndrome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.384-388
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• 2023

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by multisystemic developmental defects caused by pathogenic variants such as patched-1 (PTCH1) gene variants and/or SUFU gene variants. The presence of either two main criteria or one major and two minor criteria are required for the diagnosis of Gorlin-Goltz syndrome. Recently, a major criterion for molecular confirmation has also been proposed. In this article, we report the case of an 80-year-old male who was admitted at our department for multiple brown-to-black papules and plaques on the entire body. He was diagnosed with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome with clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings. While the diagnosis was made based on the clinical findings in general, confirmation of the genetic variants makes an ideal diagnosis and suggests a new treatment method for target therapy. We requested a genetic test of PTCH1 to ideally identify the molecular confirmation in the hedgehog signaling pathway. However, no pathogenic variants were found in the coding region of PTCH1, and no molecular confirmation was achieved.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2002

A blood biochemical analysis was carried out for the serum of wintering sea bream (red sea bream Pagrus major, black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli, rock bream Oplegenathus fasciantuas) with green liver syndrome. GOT and GPT were significantaly elavated in the diseased sea bream. The value of $NH_{3}$ was slightly higher but those of TBIL. TP and UA were lower than the control. But there were no differences in albumin. Ca and glucose between the diseased and the control. These results suggent that a green liver syndrome in the sea bream might be related with nutritional defects and the stress of low water temperature during the winter.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.62-70
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• 2020

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2). Currently, the management of patients with COVID-19 depends mainly on repurposed drugs which include chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, ribavirin, remdesivir, favipiravir, umifenovir, interferon-α, interferon-β and others. In this review, the potential of Nigella sativa (black cumin seeds) to treat the patients with COVID-19 analyzed, as it has shown to possess antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, bronchodilatory, antihistaminic, antitussive, antipyretic and analgesic activities. Medline/PubMed Central/PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Directory of open access journals (DOAJ) and reference lists were searched to identify articles associated with antiviral and other properties of N.sativa related to the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Various randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, case reports and in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that N.sativa has antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, bronchodilatory, antihistaminic, antitussive activities related to causative oraganism and signs and symptoms of COVID-19. N. sativa could be used as an adjuvant therapy along with repurposed conventional drugs to manage the patients with COVID-19.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2016

Soybean sprouts have been a considered a nutrient-rich vegetable for hundreds of years. To evaluate the seedlot quality of soybean sprouts grown, and to evaluate a method for reducing the presence of improper seeds in soybean seedlots, microbes associated with soybean sprout rot were isolated from samples collected. Morphological characteristics and gas chromatography profiles of the cultured fungal and bacterial strains were identified. Eight types of improper seeds were identified: purple stain(Ps), black rot(Br), seed coat black spot(Cb), wrinkled seed(Ws), brown hilum(Bh), seed coat fracture(Cf), unripe seed(Us), and brown seed coat(Bc). The improper seeds were also dipped into 15%, 20%, and 25% NaCl solutions, as well as a saturated solution of NaCl, for 1min. As the NaCl concentration increased, the number of floating improper seeds increased as well. The highest floating rates were observed for the Cf seeds.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2012

Hybrid of red seabream (Pagrus major) and Japanese red seabream (Pagrus major) grew rapidly from to August (WT $19.7^{\circ}C{\sim}24.0^{\circ}C$) while black seabream (Acanthopagrus major) did from September to October (WT $19.9{\sim}23.0^{\circ}C$). Survival rate of hybrids (85.5%) was a significantly higher than those of the other fish species (20%). Green liver syndrome were observed in black sea bream and Japanease red seabream but did not in hybrids. Microcotyle tai infected 0~90% in hybrid, 20~100% in red seabream, 10% in black sea bream and 20~100% in Japanese red seabream but no significant difference was found among each fish species.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.257-269
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the risk of metabolic factors in adults consuming 3-in-1 coffee from the 2012~2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: A total of 5,872 subjects (male = 2,253, female = 3,619) aged 19~64 yrs were presented with food frequency questionnaires, and they were classified according to coffee consumption level and types of coffee consumed (black coffee, ${\leq}1$ time/day of 3-in-1 coffee, > 1 and ${\leq}2$ times/day of 3-in-1 coffee, > 2 times/day of 3-in-1 coffee). Analysis was conducted by gender for age-stratified groups: 19~39 (male = 968 and female = 1,285) and 40~64 (male = 1,468, female = 2,151) yrs old. Results: Black coffee consumption was associated with a significantly higher education level and household income compared to 3-in-1 coffee consumption in both males and females. The > 2 times/day group had significantly more smokers compared to other patterns of coffee consumption in both males and females. In the 40~64 yrs age group, males and females in the > 2 times/day group had significantly lower density of micronutrients such as fiber, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium compared with black coffee consumption. In the 40~64 yrs age group, males (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.13~3.64) in the > 2 times/day group were at a higher risk of metabolic syndrome compared with black coffee consumption after multivariable adjustment. Conclusion: We found that frequency of 3-in-1 coffee consumption may be associated with prevalence of metabolic syndrome in males aged 40~64 yrs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8053-8058
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• 2016

Metformin is known as a hypoglycaemic agent that regulates glucose homeostasis by inhibiting liver glucose production and increasing muscle glucose uptake. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with about a million new cases diagnosed each year. The risk factors for CRC include advanced age, smoking, black race, obesity, low fibre diet, insulin resistance, and the metabolic syndrome. We have searched Medline for the metabolic syndrome and its relation to CRC, and metformin as a potential treatment of colorectal cancer. Administration of metformin alone or in combination with chemotherapy has been shown to suppress CRC. The mechanism that explains how insulin resistance is associated with CRC is complex and not fully understood. In this review we have summarised studies which showed an association with the metabolic syndrome as well as studies which tackled metformin as a potential treatment of CRC. In addition, we have also provided a summary of how metformin at the cellular level can induce changes that suppress the activity of cancer cells.