• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the risk factors among patients with depression with Crohn's disease. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaire from 276 patients who were diagnosed with Crohn's disease at a tertiary hospital located in Seoul. Measurements included patients' demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, depression level, and health-related quality of life. Data were analyzed using t-test, $X^2$-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and logistic regression analyses. Results: The incidence rate of depression (BDI-II${\geq}$14scores) was 31.9% (n=88). Univariate analysis revealed that being a woman, school graduation status, economic status (low), BMI(<$18.5Kg/m^2$), disease duration (${\geq}3$ years), CDAI (${\geq}150$ scores), frequency of hospital admission (${\geq}2$), extra-intestinal manifestation (arthralgia, stomatitis), administration of 5-aminosalicylic acid, and disease related quality of life (SIBDQ<50 scores) were associated with depression. Multivariate analysis revealed that economic status (low), school graduation status, and quality of life (SIBDQ<50 scores) were more likely to report high level of depression. Conclusion: Future research should consider managing depression as an essential component of comprehensive care for patients with Crohn's disease. In addition, further research is needed to develop strategies to better improve quality of life among patients with Crohn's disease who are depressed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze research trends on Eastern-Western integrative medicine in Korea. Methods We searched the studies on Eastern-Western integrative medicine in 5 Korean web database (NDSL, KoreanTK, KISS, OASIS, DBPIA). 66 research papers we founded. Results 13 papers were published at 2010. The studies on Eastern-Western integrative medicine were mainly published in the Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine. 24 papers were case report, include 7 studies on neurology, 4 studies on each oncology and dermatology, 2 studies on each gastroenterology and ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, 1 study on each obstetrics and gynecology and endocrinology and nephrology. In 24 case reports, 7 kinds of Eastern medicine treatment method and 4 kinds of Western medicine treatment method were existed. In case reports, medication (100%), herbal medicine, acupuncture (95.8%), moxibustion (58.3%), cupping, infusion solution (25%), pharmacopuncture (20.8%), physical therapy (12.5%), laser, injection, rehabilitation (8.3%) were used. Conclusions In this study, we analyzed the trends of Eastern-Western integrative medicine in korea from 2010 to 2017. There were various studies about Eastern-Western integrative medicine. In case reports, Eastern-Western integrative medicine tend to concentrated on treatment not diagnosis. Not only treatment but also diagnosis is needed in Eastern-Western integrative medicine studies.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.84-89
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• 2011

The present study was undertaken to determine whether combined treatment with prokinetic trimebutine and mosapride has a synergic effect on gastrointestinal motility and visceral pain associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction. To develop effective gastroprokinetic agents with greater potencies than trimebutine or mosapride for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disease, a mixture of trimebutine and mosapride was designed and prepared. In the present study, treatment with trimebutine alone showed a dose-dependent effect on propelling movements of normal small and large intestine in mice, whereas mosapride effected only small intestine motility. Co-administration of trimebutine with mosapride, a well-established prokinetic drug, produced a synergistic influence on normal small intestine motility, but demonstrated an unclear effect on large intestine motility, with a slight tendency to reduce the propelling time. In a stress model, the small and large intestine motilities were significantly decreased. The reduction of intestine motility was restored to a normal level and the restoring effect was more pronounced in the combined treatment with trimebutine plus mosapride than treatment with trimebutine or mosapride alone. Furthermore, treatment with trimebutine plus mosapride significantly decreased acute visceral pain which was not controlled by trimebutine or mosapride alone. These data suggest that combination therapy with trimebutine plus mosapride has a synergic effect on small and large intestine motility and visceral pain control in gastrointestinal disorders.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 2015

Trichomonas vaginalis induces proinflammation in cervicovaginal mucosal epithelium. To investigate the signaling pathways in $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in cervical mucosal epithelium after T. vaginalis infection, the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways were evaluated in T. vaginalis-infected SiHa cells in the presence and absence of specific inhibitors. T. vaginalis increased $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in SiHa cells, in a parasite burden-dependent and incubation time-dependent manner. In T. vaginalis-infected SiHa cells, AKT, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK were phosphorylated from 1 hr after infection; however, the phosphorylation patterns were different from each other. After pretreatment with inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways, $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was significantly decreased compared to the control; however, $TNF-{\alpha}$ reduction patterns were different depending on the type of PI3K/MAPK inhibitors. $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with wortmannin and PD98059, whereas it was increased by SP600125. These data suggested that PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways are important in regulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in cervical mucosal epithelial SiHa cells. However, activation patterns of each pathway were different from the types of PI3K/MAPK pathways.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.271-277
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• 2015

The genetic diversity of Schistosoma haematobium remains largely unstudied in comparison to that of Schistosoma mansoni. To characterize the extent of genetic diversity in S. haematobium among its definitive host (humans), we collected S. haematobium eggs from the urine of 73 infected schoolchildren at 5 primary schools in White Nile State, Sudan, and then performed a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA marker ITS2 by PCR-RFLP analysis. Among 73 S. haematobium egg-positive cases, 13 were selected based on the presence of the S. haematobium satellite markers A4 and B2 in their genomic DNA, and used for RFLP analysis. The 13 samples were subjected to an RFLP analysis of the S. haematobium ITS2 region; however, there was no variation in size among the fragments. Compared to the ITS2 sequences obtained for S. haematobium from Kenya, the nucleotide sequences of the ITS2 regions of S. haematobium from 4 areas in Sudan were consistent with those from Kenya (> 99%). In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that most of the S. haematobium population in Sudan consists of a pan-African S. haematobium genotype; however, we also report the discovery of Kenyan strain inflow into White Nile, Sudan.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2014

Hydatid cyst caused by Echinococcus granulosus is one of the most important parasitic diseases around the world and many countries in Asia, including Iran, are involved with this infection. This disease can cause high mortality in humans as well as economic losses in livestock. To date, several molecular methods have been used to determine the genetic diversity of E. granulosus. So far, identification of E. granulosus using real-time PCR fluorescence-based quantitative assays has not been studied worldwide, also in Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of E. granulosus from center of Iran using real-time PCR method. A total of 71 hydatid cysts were collected from infected sheep, goat, and cattle slaughtered in Isfahan, Iran during 2013. DNA was extracted from protoscolices and/or germinal layers from each individual cyst and used as template to amplify the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) (420 bp). Five cattle isolates out of 71 isolates were sterile and excluded from further investigation. Overall, of 66 isolates, partial sequences of the cox1 gene of E. granulosus indicated the presence of genotypes G1 in 49 isolates (74.2%), G3 in 15 isolates (22.7%), and G6 in 2 isolates (3.0%) in infected intermediate hosts. Sixteen sequences of G1 genotype had microgenetic variants, and they were compared to the original sequence of cox1. However, isolates identified as G3 and G6 genotypes were completely consistent with original sequences. G1 genotype in livestock was the dominant genotype in Isfahan region, Iran.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1094-1098
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• 2010

With the high prevalence of functional dyspepsia in the world, it was difficult to get objective diagnosis, treatment and assessment for the reason that there were many different symptoms and signs. The purpose of this study is to develop a standard instrument of pattern identification for functional dyspepsia which will be applied to clinical research. The items and structure of the instrument were based on review of published literature. The advisor committee on this study was organized by 11 oriental division of gastroenterology professors of oriental medical colleges nationwide. The experts discussed developing the instrument, and we also took professional advices by e-mail. We divided the symptoms and signs of functional dyspepsia into 6 pattern identification, such as disharmony of liver and stomach, retention of undigested food, damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndromes, deficiency and cold of the spleen and the stomach, and insufficiency of stomach eum. We got the mean weights to each symptom of six pattern identification which had been scored on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 to 5 by the 11 experts. We made out the Korean instrument of the pattern identification composed of 45 questions for functional dyspepsia. Although there are some limitations in our study, the instrument is meaningful and certain worth of its own. We hope to improve the instrument through the further clinical studies and discussions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2012

Background: There are a plethora of literatures showing that high-intensity intensive care unit (ICU) physician staffing is associated with reduced ICU mortality. However, it is not widely used in ICUs because of limited budgets and resources. We created a critical care team (CCT) to improve outcomes in an open general ICU and evaluated its effectiveness based on patients' outcomes. Methods: We conducted this prospective, observational study in an open, general ICU setting, during a period ranging from March of 2009 to February of 2010. The CCT consisted of five teaching staffs. It provided rapid medical services within three hours after calls or consultation. Results: We analyzed the data of 830 patients (157 patients of the CCT group and 673 patients of the non-CCT one). Patients of the CCT group presented more serious conditions than those of the non-CCT group (acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation II [APACHE II] 20.2 vs. 15.8, p<0.001; sequential organ failure assessment [SOFA] 5.5 vs. 4.6, p=0.003). The CCT group also had significantly more patients on mechanical ventilation than those in the non-CCT group (45.9% vs. 23.9%, p<0.001). Success rate of weaning was significantly higher in the CCT group than that of the non-CCT group (61.1% vs. 44.7%, p=0.021). On a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the increased ICU mortality was associated with the older age, non-CCT, higher APACHE II score, higher SOFA score and mechanical ventilation (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although the CCT did not provide full-time services in an open general ICU setting, it might be associated with a reduced ICU mortality. This is particularly the case with patients on mechanical ventilation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2016

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive brain disease, for which there is no effective drug therapy at present. Ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1) and G-Rg2 have been reported to alleviate memory deterioration. However, the mechanism of their anti-AD effect has not yet been clearly elucidated. Methods: Ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem MS (UPLC/MS)-based metabolomics was used to identify metabolites that are differentially expressed in the brains of AD mice with or without ginsenoside treatment. The cognitive function of mice and pathological changes in the brain were also assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results: The impaired cognitive function and increased hippocampal $A{\beta}$ deposition in AD mice were ameliorated by G-Rg1 and G-Rg2. In addition, a total of 11 potential biomarkers that are associated with the metabolism of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), hypoxanthine, and sphingolipids were identified in the brains of AD mice and their levels were partly restored after treatment with G-Rg1 and G-Rg2. G-Rg1 and G-Rg2 treatment influenced the levels of hypoxanthine, dihydrosphingosine, hexadecasphinganine, LPC C 16:0, and LPC C 18:0 in AD mice. Additionally, G-Rg1 treatment also influenced the levels of phytosphingosine, LPC C 13:0, LPC C 15:0, LPC C 18:1, and LPC C 18:3 in AD mice. Conclusion: These results indicate that the improvements in cognitive function and morphological changes produced by G-Rg1 and G-Rg2 treatment are caused by regulation of related brain metabolic pathways. This will extend our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the effects of G-Rg1 and G-Rg2 on AD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.317-322
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• 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases. NAFLD can further progress to irreversible liver failure such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, specific regulator of NASH-fibrosis has yet to be established. Here, we found that glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPx7) was markedly expressed in NASH fibrosis. Although GPx7 is an antioxidant enzyme protecting other organs, whether GPx7 plays a role in NASH fibrosis has yet to be studied. We found that knockdown of GPx7 in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and free fatty acids (FFA)-treated LX-2 cells elevated the expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes and collagen synthesis. Consistently, GPx7 overexpression in LX-2 cells led to the suppression of ROS production and reduced the expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes. Further, NASH fibrosis induced by choline-deficient amino acid defined, high fat diet (CDAHFD) feeding was significantly accelerated by knockdown of GPx7, as evidenced by up-regulated liver fibrosis and inflammation compared with CDAHFD control mice. Collectively, these results suggest that GPx7 might be a novel therapeutic target to prevent the progression and development of NAFLD.