• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.1059-1068
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study reports on the efficacy of treating patients with general weakness symptoms with Korean medicine. Methods: Two patients with general weakness symptoms were treated with Korean medical treatment modalities, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicines. Blood tests, the visual analogue scale (VAS), and patients' complaints were used to assess the treatment effects. Results and Conclusions: dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), DHEAS/cortisol index, VAS, and the patients' complaints improved after treatment. Korean medical treatment is effective in improving DHEAS and the DHEAS/cortisol index according to the improvements in the patients' conditions. However, more studies are required to validate its use with other patients.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.109-113
• /
• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of short-term thermal stress on the serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEAS in BALB / c male mice. Cortisol and DHEAS concentrations in serum were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). We found there were significantly increased in the cortisol levels in 30 min-stressed group(T30) compared with control group(p＜0.01), and then declined without significance in 120 min-stressed group (T120) compared with T30. By contrast, DHEAS levels were decreased without significance in both T30 and T120 compared with control group. Though short-term thermal stress, the continuous decline of DHEAS levels were observed. These results show that short-term thermal stress affects the serum levels of cortisol and DHEAS in mice. Furthermore, we found that DHEAS is a stress-related hormone and will be able to utilize as a stress marker.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.249-254
• /
• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate(DHEAS) as a stress hormone. Experiment 1) We evaluated the variation of DHEAS levels of long-term(30minutes a day fur 3 weeks) 37$^{\circ}C$ thermal stressed mice compared with that of cortisol. Serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEAS were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). Cortisol levels were not significantly altered both LW(Long-term stressed group, mice were killed without rest) and LR(Long-term stressed group, mice were killed after 4 days' rest) compared with control group, but DHEAS levels were decreased in LW compared with control group(p<0.05), and it kept a sustained difference after 4 days' rest(LR)(p<0.05). Experiment 2) We evaluated the changes of DHEAS levels on term of stress and rest. As stress term was longer, serum DHEAS levels were decreased and also kept a sustained difference after 10 days' rest compared with control group(p<0.05). These results suggest that cortisol has difficulty in taking an accurate measurement after extinction of stimuli, whereas DHEAS is more accurate and stable. Thus, this study implies that DHEAS is a stress-related hormone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.1329-1335
• /
• 2006

LP-BM5 murine leukemia retrovirus induces the excessive oxidative stress and immune dysfunction leading to B cell leukemia and murine AIDS with cytokine dysfunction. In the present study, the immune restoratory effect of antioxidant hormone dedydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) was investigated in the primary splenocytes from LP-BM5 retrovirus-infected C57BL/6 mice. DHEAS significantly increased T and B cell response to mitogen and normalized the unbalanced production of Th1/Th2 type cytokines. In particular, both protein and mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-6, and $TNF-\alpha$ were down-regulated by DHEAS treatment whereas IL-2 and $IFN-\gamma$ level were increased. This result suggests that DHEAS directly or indirectly regulates the gene expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokines in transcription level. In addition, DHEAS treatment decreased the hepatic lipid peroxidation and preserved vitamin E level in liver cells. These results suggested that DHEAS could effectively prevent immune dysfunction by regulating cytokine secretion and preventing the oxidative stress in murine AIDS.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2000

We have investigated the effect of short-term immobilization stress on the serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEAS in BALB/c male mice. Serum cortisol and DHEAS concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). We found there were significantly increased in the cortisol levels in 30 min-stressed group(Ⅰ-30N) compared with control(C) group (p＜0.01), and also increased with significance in 120 min-stressed group(I-120N) compared with C group(p＜0.01). Cortisol concentrations were significantly increased in both 30 min-stressed group(Ⅰ-30T), and 120 min-stressed group(Ⅰ-120T) compared with C group(p＜0.01). The sustained increase of cortisol levels were observed in both SG treated and SG non-treated group. Serum cortisol levels were lower in SG treated group than SG non-treated group with significance(p＜0.01). By contrast, DHEAS levels were slightly decreased without significance in Ⅰ-30N, but significantly decreased in Ⅰ-120N compared with C group(p＜0.01). There were slightly decreased in the DHEAS levels in Ⅰ-30T, but significantly decreased in Ⅰ-120T compared with C group(p＜0.01). However, SG treatment did not induce any significant changes of DHEAS levels in both 30 min and 120 min-stressed group. Though short-term immobilization stress, the continuous decline of DHEAS levels were observed. Therefore, these results show that short-term immobilization stress affects the serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEAS in mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.654-658
• /
• 2002

Purpose : Endocrine and immune systems are connected and interdependent. Adrenal glands play an important role in this network and control the balance between serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEAS) and cortisol. These steroids have an antagonistic effect on the T cell progression into Th1 and Th2 cells and on the induction of correlated interleukins. Therefore we evaluated the role of adrenal androgen and cortisol as immune modulators in Kawasaki disease( KD) with changes of T cell immunity. Methods : From April to August in 2001, we examined serum DHEAS and 24 hour urine free cortisol(F) before administration of immunoglobulin and steroids by radioimmunoassay in 14 KD patients. It's clinical severity was determined by Harada score and coronary lesion. Results : The age of the patient group ranged from 4 months to 4 years; its average age was 2.3 years. Three patients(21.4%) were below 1 year, 2(14.3%) between 1 and 2 years, 5(35.7%) between 2 and 3 years, 4(28.6%) between 3 and 4 years of age. Male to female ratio was 1:1.3. DHEAS was significantly decreased in patients($11.1{\pm}6.0{\mu}g/dL$) more than controls($81.6{\pm}13.3{\mu}g/dL$)(P<0.05). Twenty-four hour urine free cortisol was significantly increased in patients($36.9{\pm}21.9{\mu}g/dL$) more than controls($13.6{\pm}5.5{\mu}g/dL$)(P<0.05). Ratio of DHEAS/F was decreased remarkably in patients($0.33{\pm}0.20$) more than controls($6.65{\pm}2.56$)(P=0.016). There was no difference between ratio of DHEAS/F and Harada score, but its ratio was very low in patients with coronary aneurysm. Conclusion : These data demonstrate that there are changes of DHEAS and cortisol in acute stage of KD and the dis-equilibrium between two steroids may be relevant in the T cell immune response induction of Kawasaki disease. These changes support the use of DHEAS/F ratio as one of the predictive factors of coronary arteries complication.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Fatigue, energy loss, feeling of helplessness, poor appetite, pain besides general weakness are major symptoms presented to terminally ill cancer patients. These symptoms are similar to those that appeared with adrenal insufficiency. Also, for terminally ill cancer patients who are hospitalized for palliative care, opioid agents are prescribed to control moderate to severe pain. We studied the relationship of opioid agents and adrenal insufficiency. Methods: From November 2013 through June 2014, we monitored the serum level of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS, serum) in 55 cancer patients who were over 18 years old and were treated at a hospice center. We also checked the treatment period and dosage of opioid agents. Results: The DHEAS level, treatment period and dosage of opioid agents did not have significant correlation. Correlation between the serum cortisol level and the opioid agent treatment period was not significant either, but the serum cortisol level was positively correlated with the dosage of opioid agents (P value 0.0322). Conclusion: This study did not identify a novel link between treatment period, dosage of opioid agents and adrenal insufficiency. But, the DHEAS level was mostly below the normal level in patients who were treated with opioid agents.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.261-268
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of serum immunoblobulin and DHEAs when 8 weeks of combined exercise and peony intake have been held to women in their 40s and 50s. 15 participants were chosen, divided into three groups, and they had undergone combined exercise with the level of 1RM 60~70%, HRmax 60~70%, three times a week for 60 minutes each. For the proper intake, 6g of peony were warmed in a double boiler with water 107ml, and the crude liquid was ingested 100ml each by the participants, everyday before breakfast, for 8 weeks. The following conclusions were obtained through these objectives and procedures. First, the amount of immunoglobulin has increased in two groups, the 8-week combined exercise group and the group which undergone both the peony intake and the combined exercise, but did not show the significant difference(p>.05). Second, the results of DHEAs showed an increas in two groups, the 8-week combined exercise group and the group which undergone both the peony intake and the combined exercise, but did not show the significant difference(p>.05). Therefore, the consumption of peony and complex exercise in this study did not positively affect the immune function and dementia prevention.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.424-434
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a physical activity program on body composition, depression and risk factors of dementia in elderly women. Subjects were 40 women aged 65~75 years, classified into two groups (experiment group 20, control group 20). The factors measured in this study were body composition (weight, percent body fat, body mass index, body fluid), depression (BDI score) and risk factors of dementia (K-MMSE, LDL-C, HDL-C, insulin, ${\beta}$-amyloid, DHEAs) at 12 and 24 weeks before and after the program. Subjects of experiment group participated in a 24 week physical activity program (45~60 min, 3~4 day per weeks). Data were analyzed by repeated ANOVA method of SPSS, with accepting levels for all significances above ${\alpha}$=0.05. The results of this study were as follows. In body composition, the experiment group showed significant differences in the weight, percent body fat and body mass index compared to the control group. In depression score, the experiment group showed no significant differences regarding BDI score level compared to the control group. In risk factors for dementia, the experiment group showed significant differences in levels of K-MMSE, LDL-C, HDL-C, insulin, ${\beta}$-amyloid, and DHEAs compared to the control group. This study showed that a 24 week physical activity program had positive effects on almost all of the factors evaluated in elderly women, and that elderly women who did not participate in the program experiences no such positive effects. Therefore, regular participation in a physical activity program could be advocated as one strategy to enhance body fat, depression, and risk factors of dementia and may result in improving risk for diseases of age in elderly women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.142-162
• /
• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the critical environmental factors on healthy-aging of Korean people, we investigated the significant factors influencing health status of septuagenarians living in rural area of Jeonla province, known to be one of the representative longevity regions in Korea. Methods: We divided subjects into healthy group (36M/25F) or poor-health group (26M/73F) based on self-reported health status, body mass index, a number of prescription, and blood test data. General characteristics, physical measurements, lifestyle, dietary behavior and nutrient intake, physical health and mental health data were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: Average age was not different between healthy group and poor-health group in men and women, respectively. In men, significantly favorable factors to health were observed to be higher education, regular exercise, higher grip strength and walking function, body mass index (${\geq}18.5kg/m^2$), moderate frequency of drinking and eating-out, non-smoking, normal red blood cell (RBC) count, higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) level, good digestive function and appetite, normal hearing function, regular meals, adequate vegetable and fruit intake, diverse food intake, adequate energy and nutrients (protein, vitamin $B_1$, $B_6$, C and E, folate, niacin, P, Zn and K) intake, higher mini-nutrient status assessment (MNA) score and low level of depression. On the other hand, in women, those were literacy, living arrangement, moderate frequency of drinking, healthy teeth, higher grip strength and walking function, bone mineral density, normal RBC and white blood cell (WBC) count, higher DHEAS concentration, higher MNA score, normal cognition and memory function, having snack and adequate fruit intake. Conclusions: These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase health-life expectancy of Korean old people living in rural areas.