• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2012

Objectives : Yukmijihwang-tang(Wan), a well-known formula for invigorating yin-particular kidney yin, was first recorded in "Xiao er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue", consisting of Radix Rehmanniae Preparata, Fructus Macrocarpii, Rhizoma Dioscoreae Oppositae, Poria, Rhizoma Alismatis and Cortex Moutan Radicis with dose proportion of 8:4:4:3:3:3. Although clinical trials have been lacking, various pharmacological actions for Yukmijihwang-tang has been identified newly using animal models. In addition, it was reported that Yukmijihwang-tang increases structural chromosome aberrations significantly in Chinese hamster lung cells. In this article, it is purposed that new studies for pharmacology and toxicology of Yukmijihwang-tang are reviewed. Insight into new studies of Yukmijihwang-tang at the cellular and animal levels will enhance our understanding of Yukmijihwang-tang against various diseases will provide new tools to diagnose and treat patients. Methods : Recent researches for Yukmijihwang-tang were reviewed and summarized in terms of pharmacological action and toxicity. All sources for review were based on recent studies loaded on data base of web sites such as Science Direct and National Center for Biotechnology Information. Results and Conclusions : Recently, reports showed that YMJ had antiaging effects, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, anti-renal hypertension and prevented tumors, and diabetes mellitus. However, there is little information on its safety except general toxicity, acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity, or genotoxicity. In addition, clinical trial for Yukmijihwang-tang was limited even though Yukmijihwang-tang has been used extensively in Korean traditional medicine. Thus, further studies are necessary to focus on safety evaluation and clinical trial for Yukmijihwang-tang.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of low-dose ketamine versus ketorolac in pain control in patients with acute renal colic presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial. The initial pain severity was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS). Then, ketamine or ketorolac was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg and 30 mg respectively. The pain severity and adverse drug reactions were recorded 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min thereafter. Results: The data of 62 subjects in the ketamine group and 64 patients in the ketorolac group were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was $34.2{\pm}9.9$ and $37.9{\pm}10.6\;years$ in the ketamine and ketorolac group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean NRS scores at each time point, except for the 5 min, between the two groups. Despite a marked decrease in pain severity in the ketamine group from drug administration at the 5 min, a slight increase in pain was observed from the 5 min to the 15 min. The rate of adverse drug reactions, including dizziness (P = 0.001), agitation (P = 0.002), increased systolic blood pressure (> 140 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (> 90 mmHg) was higher in the ketamine group. Conclusions: Low dose ketamine is as effective as ketorolac in pain management in patients with renal colic presenting to the ED. However, it is associated with a higher rate of adverse drug reactions.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of Ojeok-san extract powder and soft extract in healthy male volunteers. Methods Randomized controlled, cross over study was carried out in healthy male volunteers. Total 27 of 31 subjects meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled and three subjects for waiting were included. To each group 12 subjects were randomly allocated by random number table. Group A took the extract powder in the first period and then took the soft extract in the second period. Group B took the medicine in the opposite order. Trial was conducted through two times of hospitalizations and all subjects had a seven-days of wash out period. Vital sign and laboratory test were checked before and after the medication. The mean difference of safety evaluation variables were analyzed by paired t-test (p<0.001) or wilcoxon signed rank test (p<0.05). The mean difference between two groups were analyzed by independent t-test (p<0.05) or Mann whitney test (p<0.05). Results As a result of all data related to vital sign and laboratory test in both group, There were no significant differences associated with the clinical trial drug between before and after the medication. And there was no adverse event associated with the clinical trial drug. Conclusions Both Ojeok-san extract powder and soft extract were found to be safe for healthy male volunteers.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2005

Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug that is structurally similar to ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA), but does not interact with the GABA receptor. It does not bind significantly to plasma proteins, and is excreted to unchanged form in the urine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two gabapentin capsules, $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg (Pfizer Pharm. Co., Ltd.) and Kuhnil $Gabapentin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg (Kuhnil Pharm. Co., Ltd), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of gabapentin from the two gabapentin formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media (pH 1.2, 4.0, 6.8 buffer solution and water). Twenty six healthy male subjects, $22.46{\pm}1.86$ years in age and $67.64{\pm}7.24$ kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After a single capsule containing 300 mg as gabapentin was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of gabapentin in serum were determined using HPLC with fluorescence detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar at all dissolution media. In addition, the 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 using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg, were -2.03, -0.43 and 4.29% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.8 to log 1.25 $(e.g.,\;log\;0.89{\sim}log\;1.09\;and\;log\;0.91{\sim}log\;1.09$ for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Kuhnil $Gabapentin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg was bioequivalent to $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2005

Famciclovir is an oral prodrug of the antiherpesvirus nucleoside analogue, penciclovir. In human, famciclovir is orally well absorbed and then undergoes extensive first pass metabolism to penciclovir and essentially no parent compound is recovered from plasma or urine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two famciclovir tablets, $Famvir^{TM}$ tablet 250 mg (Novartis Korea Ltd.) and Famcivir (Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of famciclovir from the two famciclovir formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with water. Twenty six healthy male subjects, $24.19{\pm}2.08$ years in age and $71.55{\pm}6.89$ kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After a single tablet containing 250 mg as famciclovir was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of penciclovir in serum were determined using HPLC with UV detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar at water. In addition, the 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 using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, $Famvir^{TM}$ tablet 250 mg, were -2.93, -8.02 and 10.47% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log0.8 to log1.25 (e.g., $log0.92{\sim}log1.01$ and $log0.85{\sim}log1.00$ for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Famcivir was bioequivalent to $Famvir^{TM}$ tablet 250 mg.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2006

A selective and sensitive reversed-phase HPLC method for the determination of pentoxifylline in human serum was developed, validated, and applied to the pharmacokinetic study of pentoxifylline. Pentoxifylline and internal standard, chloramphenicol, were extracted from the serum by liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane and analyzed on a Luna CI8(2) column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.034 M phosphoric acid (25:75, v/v, adjusted to pH 4.0 with 10 M NaOH). Detection wavelength of 273 nm and flow rate of 0.8 mL/min were used. This method showed linear response over the concentration range of 10-500 ng/mL with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The lower limit of quantification using 0.5 mL of the serum was 10 ng/mL, which was sensitive enough for pharmacokinetic studies of pentoxifylline. The overall accuracy of the quality control samples ranged from 89.3 to 92.7% for pentoxifylline with overall precision (% C.V.) being 4.1-9.2%. The relative mean recovery of pentoxifylline for human serum was 105.8%. Stability (stock solution, short and long-term) studies showed that pentoxifylline was not stable during storage. But three freeze-thaw cycles and extracted serum samples were stable. This method showed good ruggedness (within 15% C.V.) and was successfully applied for the analysis of pentoxifylline in human serum samples for the pharmacokinetic studies of orally administered $Trental^{\circledR}$ tablet (400 mg pentoxifylline), demonstrating the suitability of the method.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.372-378
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• 2007

A well known Ayurvedic formulation Ashokarista, used for menstrual disorders has been studied in a single blind randomised placebo controlled clinical trial for the treatment of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia patients who were taking Ashokarista (20 ml twice daily) for 10 menstrual cycles had an increase in haemoglobin level. Menorrhagia treated group has shown to reduce the erythrocyte sedimentation rate level that has been increased in the menorrhagia control group. The platelet count, total count and differential count were observed unchanged in the study. The Ashokarista did not affect the SGPT and SGOT level, which signify its lack of toxicity in hepatic function. The treated menorrhagic patients showed an increase in serum albumin content and decrease in blood clotting time, whereas the serum protein content was observed unchanged. There was a significant increase in both serum cholesterol and triglyceride level, which usually associated with the use of oral contraceptives. No major side effects were observed by the clinicians during the study.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2014

Recently, interest in detoxification therapies is increasing. Coffee enema has been most frequently used as one of detoxification therapies. However, there is lack of scientific basis for coffee enema, regarding its clinical efficacy and safety respectively. This study aimed to produce the general features of coffee enema such as definition, protocols, clinical applications and efficacies, and side effects. Total 37 articles coffee enema were collected from 7 databases including PubMed, and reviewed thoroughly. The majority of papers were review studies or case reports for effects/side-effects of coffee enema. The quality of papers was generally poor, and no randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) was exist. This study shows the current status of coffee enema-related study, and suggests the demand for RCT study to develop the evidence-based detoxification therapy using coffee enema.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.361-367
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• 2019

Panax ginseng, known as Koran ginseng, one of the most commonly used traditional plants, has been demonstrated to show a wide range of pharmacological applications. Ginsenosides are the major active ingredients found in ginseng and are responsible for the biological and pharmacological activities, such as antioxidation, antiinflammation, vasorelaxation, and anticancer actions. Existing studies have mostly focused on identifying and purifying single ginsenosides and investigating pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms in cells and animal models. However, ginsenoside studies based on clinical trials have been very limited. Therefore, this review aimed to discuss the currently available clinical trials on ginsenosides and provide insights and future directions for developing ginsenosides as efficacious and safe drugs for human disease.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.136-144
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• 2019

Early identification and intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were reported to be important for outcomes or clinical courses. However, there have been a few robust evidences for effectiveness of early intervention until now. This review aims to identify the effectiveness of early intervention by investigating the randomized controlled trial (RCT) of early intervention for autism. There are some RCT studies using behavioral program. Although there are some significant findings, the outcome measurements and small sample size are the limitations. Further studies are needed.