• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.513-520
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• 2023

Cornuside is a secoiridoid glucoside compound extracted from the fruits of Cornus officinalis. Cornuside has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its potential therapeutic effects on diabetic nephropathy (DN) have not been completely explored. In this study, we established an in vitro model of DN through treating mesangial cells (MMCs) with glucose. MMCs were then treated with different concentrations of cornuside (0, 5, 10, and 30 μM). Cell viability was determined using cell counting kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-1β were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of AKT and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-associated genes. We found that cornuside treatment significantly reduced glucose-induced increase in MMC viability and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, cornuside inhibited glucose-induced phosphorylation of AKT and NF-κB inhibitor alpha, decreased the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1, and increased the expression of p21. Our study indicates that the anti-inflammatory properties of cornuside in DN are due to AKT and NF-κB inactivation in MMCs.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2021년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.52-52
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• 2021

Persicaria amphibia as an England native plant, is a rhizomatous perennial, one of the rather amphibious plants. Its aquatic form contains water-soluble sugars, starch, and protein. P. amphibia have up to 18% tannins in stems and rhizomes. Previous studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of live bacteria roots, but no studies on bioactivity are known. DNA damage responses (DDRs) pathways are considered a crucial factor affecting the alleviation of cellular damage. The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATM) and checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) pathways are the main pathways of DNA damage response. Also, p53 is a key integrator of cellular response to oxidative DNA damage, contributing repair, or leading transcription including apoptosis. In the present study, we conducted an investigation into the inhibitory effects of P. amphibia on oxidative DNA damage for confirming potential to complementary medicine and therapies. In conclusion, P. amphibia can provide protective effects against double-stranded DNA break (DSB) caused by oxidative DNA damage.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.408-413
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• 2023

The incidence of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), a prominent geriatric disease, is increasing because of the extended lifespan of companion animals. Various complementary therapies have been proposed for the management of CCDS. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of the Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ in dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Fifteen dogs with CDS were included, and four to five drops of Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ, composed of herbal extracts, were applied around the dorsal neck of all dogs twice daily for 1-3 months. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the CCDS scale, and serum β-amyloid oligomer concentrations were measured before and after administration of the extract. The CCDS scale score significantly decreased after administration in dogs with CDS (p = 0.0313), compared to pre-administration levels. Although the serum β-amyloid oligomer concentration decreased after administration, the change was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A notable decrease was observed between pre- and post-administration in dogs with β-amyloid levels >300 pg/mL (p = 0.0313). The laboratory results showed no remarkable adverse effects of the extract. This study suggests that Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ extract could be an adjunctive treatment for dogs with CDS.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.64-73
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study is to see the prevalence and the patterns of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children and adolescent patients with allergies. Methods We analyzed data on 547 children and adolescents (age from 0-18 years old) chosen from all regions throughout the country with allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic urticaria. We used multiple logistic regression modeling to predict CAM use based on predictor variables. Results The previous 12-months prevalence of CAM usage in overall was 70.7% (atopic dermatitis, 78.1%; allergic rhinitis, 52.9%; asthma, 70.3%; allergic urticaria, 86.3%). Central and southern regions displayed significantly lower rate of using CAM compare to the northern region, and CAM was less likely to be used for the allergic rhinitis patients than the atopic dermatitis patients. The most commonly used CAM type was natural products (62.2%). Top five of the most frequently used CAM modalities were softener water, vitamin, red ginseng, wood bathing and aloe oil. One of the main reasons for trying CAM was from the 'hope for a more effective outcomes in additional to the conventional medicine' (43.9%). The subjective effectiveness of CAM was found to be excellent in 74.0% of the patients, and 70.3% of the parents were willing to recommend CAM therapies to the others. Conclusions CAM is used widely to treat allergic diseases in children and adolescents in Korea. Korean medical doctors should actively discuss the use of CAM with the patients and provide information on the effectiveness and safety of CAM as guide in making choice for usage of CAM.

• 의료법학
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.113-145
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• 2010

Nowadays, it is surely the quack which stands as one of the most controversial, problematic. the quack has been a consistent target of contested public protection strategies in the past few centuries in many countries. Recently, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly utilized and accepted by patients and providers throughout the health care system in the world, most accounts attribute this growing acceptability to the shortcomings of conventional medicine, the appeal of CAM's core beliefs, and the growing body of research indicating that CAM actually works. However, the governments of western countries have called for measures to ensure that the public are protected from incompetent and dangerous practitioners. Common to these controversies has been a suggestion to ban, exclude or limit the medical practice of those deemed to be damaging rather than improving the health of individuals as a measure of public protection. This article describes the experiences of western counties' health care system which is moving in a more pluralistic direction. By examining the ways in which regulatory efforts in the countries have come to address what is invariably described as a growing interest in CAM, this study show how the problem of CAM/quackery today is increasingly located in an ethical field of practitioner competency, qualifications, conduct, responsibility and personal professional development, regardless of the form of therapy in question. Many countries developed a series of measures and strategies to contain the acceptance of CAM groups, such as insisting on scientific evidence of safety and efficacy, resisting integration of CAM with conventional medicine and opposing government support for research and education. In a sense, those countries' movements serve to protect not only patients, but the dominant position of medicine and its allied professions, and to maintain existing jurisdictional boundaries within the healthcare system. The popular support for CAM will require that health professional stakeholders continue to address the challenges this poses, and at the same time protect their position at healthcare system. To cope with the quack, professional body, public sector and health authorities should consider the safety of consumers of healthcare and responding to the demands of the community for CAM therapies as well as the claims of the established healthcare professions. Finally, some implications for future health care were suggested.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제84권2호
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• pp.105-114
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• 2021

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used frequently, and its use continues to increase in lung cancer patients, despite insufficient scientific of its efficacy. To investigate this situation, we analyzed the current awareness and use of CAM in Korean lung-cancer patients. Methods: This prospective survey-based study was performed at seven medical centers in South Korea between August and October 2019. The survey assessed general patient characteristics and the awareness and use of CAM. We analyzed differences in the clinical parameters of patients aware and not aware of CAM and of CAM non-users and users. Results: Of the 434 patients included in this study, 68.8% responded that they were aware of CAM and 30.9% said they had experienced it. In univariate analysis, the patients aware of CAM were younger with poor performance status, had advanced-stage lung cancer, received more systemic therapy, and received concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). By multiple logistic regression, younger age, poor performance status, advanced stage, and prior CCRT were identified as independent risk factors for CAM awareness. There were no significant differences in the general characteristics and cancer-associated clinical parameters of CAM non-users and users. Conclusion: Specific clinical parameters were associated with patients' awareness of CAM, although there were no significantly different characteristics between CAM users and non-users.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.163-173
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• 2013

이 연구에서는 절명상 프로그램이 가진 보완대체의학으로서의 가능성을 알아보기 위하여 성인 여성을 대상으로 8주 간의 절명상 프로그램을 시행하고 스트레스, 우울 및 심혈관계 위험 인자에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 일개 요양병원에 근무하는 성인여성 60명 중 탈락기준을 통과한 57명을 대상으로 무작위대조군 실험을 진행하였다. 연구대상자들은 실험 전후에 자기기입식 설문을 통해 스트레스, 우울을 단축형 사회심리적 건강 측정도구(PWI-SF), Beck 우울척도(BDI)로 각각 조사하였고, 체질량지수, 허리둘레, 혈압, 당화혈색소, 항상성 모델 평가(homeostasis model assessment, HOMA), 저밀도지단백 콜레스테롤, 고밀도지단백 콜레스테롤, 중성지방을 측정하였다. 실험군에게 스트레칭, 절명상, 정좌명상으로 구성된 절명상 프로그램을 8주간 시행하였으며, 대조군에는 아무런 중재를 하지 않았다. 제외기준을 통과한 57명 중, 실험군 26명, 대조군 27명이 실험을 완주하였고, 실험군은 일주일에 평균 5.16회 절명상 프로그램을 시행하였다. 8주간의 실험 후, 실험군은 스트레스(t=5.102, p<0.01), 우울(t=5.259, p<0.01), 체질량지수(t=2.942, p=007)와 허리둘레(t=2.582, p=0.016)가 유의미하게 감소하였으나, 대조군은 유의한 변화가 없었다. 그 외의 변수에서는 실험군과 대조군 사이에 유의미한 차이가 없었다. 8주 간의 절명상 프로그램 시행 후, 시행 전에 비하여 실험군에서 스트레스, 우울 및 체질량지수, 허리둘레가 유의하게 감소되었고, 변화량의 차이는 대조군과의 비교에서도 유의하였다. 이는 절명상이 심신의학의 한 방법이 될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제11권8호
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• pp.227-234
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• 2013

본 연구는 '치유의 숲'이라고 하는 공간 내에서 통합 의학적 헬스 케어, 산림치유 프로그램의 진행과 보완대체요법을 적용한 치유활동을 실현하고 발전시키는 데 있다. 이에 핵심적 역할을 담당할 가칭 '산림치유 지도사' 전문 인력을 양성하기 위해서 다양한 항목의 치유프로그램을 개발하여 보급해야 한다. 이를 위해 치유활동을 담당할 산림치유 지도사가 양성되어야 할 것이다. 이에 산림학 분야의 관련 깊은 교수 및 전문가들과 보건의료 및 보완대체요법 관련 전문가 20명을 대상으로 델파이 검사방법을 통해 교육과정에 대한 의견을 수렴하였다. 전문적인 산림학 및 의학 기초지식과 치유능력을 갖춘 산림치유 지도사를 양성하기 위한 교육대상, 이수범위, 자격취득과정, 교육목표와 교육과정 및 운영안을 만들었으며, 이를 바탕으로 교육방법과 평가방법을 만들었다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.82-95
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• 2003

Our health is intimately connected to the health of our environment. The contemporary world view which sees a radical distinction between humans as subjects and world as object can obscure our recognition of how much we rely on nature for health and survival. Indigenous traditions and contemporary scholars remind us that we live in a universe in which all things are connected, and in which nature continues to offer its gifts in co-creative partnership for the health and wellbeing of all. Living in awareness of our relationship with nature enables us to open more to the experience of nature's nurturing. Many complementary therapies derive from ancient practices that involve nature in healing partnership. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years. Hippocrates claimed that the way to health was through aromatic baths and massages. Much anecdotal evidence exists regarding aromatherapeutic positive effects on recipients. Aromatherapy is a branch of complementary or alternative therapy which is increasing in popularity, yet has scant scientific credibility. Aromatherapy should be defined as treatment using odors and practised as such. However, essential oils are usually used in conjunction with therapeutic massage and often combined with counselling of some kind. Aromatherapy complements and enhances the therapeutic powers of massage. Massage is one of the most wonderful ways to relax and is throughly beneficial to health. Massage can help unknot tense and aching muscles and other minor symptoms of stress, leaving patients fresh and energized. As the use of aromatherapy within a health care setting has grown so rapidly in recent years, and will continue to do so, the need for suitable training has become apparent. No health service can afford the risk of having staff who are inadequately trained in the practice of aromatherapy using essential oils incorrectly on those in a state of ill-health, especially if the essential oils used are not to a standard suitable for therapeutic use. Training to an acceptable level in aromatic therapy is essential for safety and effectiveness. Knowledge of the nature and make-up of essential oils, their effect on the body and the emotions, and how, when, and where to apply them is imperative in order for them to be beneficial to a patient's health. In order to achieve best practice, further research is necessary to explore the use of aromatherapy in the management of multiple disorder.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.245-251
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• 2023

Background: The incidence of facial palsy has been increasing. Many patients consult both Korean and Western physicians; however, no critical pathway (CP) for facial palsy has been established based on integrated medicine including Korean medicine, Western medicine, and complementary and alternative medicine. Thus, we developed and implemented an integrated CP for patients with acute facial palsy and investigated the satisfaction with CP. Methods: Overall, 20 patients who received treatment following the CP and 20 medical staff members involved in their care responded to a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was developed based on a review of previous studies and focused on the satisfaction with the CP. Results: Patients' satisfaction score with the integrated CP was ≥ 4.4 for all items using a 5-point Likert-type scale. Smooth and cooperative treatment procedures, time-saving practices, and a clear explanation of the integrated treatment plan were satisfactory factors. Additionally, they preferred incorporating specialized facial massage and receiving education on self-exercise or massage techniques as complementary therapies. The medical staff members expressed a high level of satisfaction with the CP; however, the work division and treatment guidelines must be improved. Conclusion: An integrated CP program for acute facial palsy was implemented, and the satisfaction levels of patients and medical staff members were assessed. The results revealed high levels of satisfaction, and several improvements identified will be incorporated into clinical practice going forward.