• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2017

The pharmacological rationale of Agastache rugosa (AR) or Pogostemon cablin (PC), which have been used in traditional Korean medicine to treat dampness pattern or syndrome in gastrointestinal tract, was investigated on the gastrointestinal disorders. In-vivo model studies that examined the effect on the gastrointestinal disorders of AR or PC were collected. They were classified into disease-induced in-vivo models or non-disease in vivo models. The target disease, animal species, induction method, administration, and outcomes (changes in morphological and histological parameter, or blood and fluid) of each study were analyzed. The therapeutic mechanism of AR or PC extract was evaluated by the induced diseases and the changes in outcomes. There were contradictory reports on gastrointestinal motility of AR or PC in disease non-disease in-vivo model. AR or PC inhibited gastrointestinal motility in disease model of increased gastrointestinal motility, while promoted motility in disease model of decreased gastrointestinal motility. AR or PC also inhibited inflammatory changes in gastrointestinal inflammation model. These results suggest that the bidirectional regulation of gastrointestinal motility and the improvement of gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders might underpin traditional therapeutic effect of AR or PC, that is effect to resolve dampness of gastrointestinal tract.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.5-16
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• 1985

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2006

In murine gastrointestinal myocytes muscarinic stimulation activates nonselective cation channels via a G-protein and $Ca^{2+}$-dependent pathway. We recorded inward cationic currents following application of carbachol ($I_{CCh}$) to murine gastric myocytes held at -60 mV, using the whole-cell patch-clamp method. The properties of the inward cationic currents were similar to those of the nonselective cation channels activated by muscarinic stimulation in other gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells. CCh-induced $I_{CCh}$ and spontaneous decay of $I_{CCh}$ (desensitization of $I_{CCh}$) occurred. Unlike the situation in guinea pig gastric myocytes, desensitization was not affected by varying $[EGTA]_i$. Pretreatment with the PLC inhibitor (U73122) blocked the activation of $I_{CCh}$, and desensitization of $I_{CCh}$ was attenuated in PLC ${\beta}_1$ knock-out mice. These results suggest that the desensitization of $I_{CCh}$ in murine gastric myocytes is not due to a pathway dependent on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ but to the PLC ${\beta}_1$ pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.137-141
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• 2012

Although dysphagia and globus is a common comlication in Functional gastrointestinal disorder, there are few studies or reports about its treatment in oriental medicine. This study was to report the effect of Bokryungyeum-tang in Functional gastrointestinal disorder patients with dysphagia. Functional gastrointestinal disorder patients with dysphagia hospitalized in our hospital were treated by Bokryungyeum-tang every day. three times a day for two weeks. The patient showed constant improvement during the two weeks. Not only their objective measure, but also their subjective symptoms such as chest discomfort, insomnia, and depression improved too. This suggests that Bokryungyeum-tang is quite effective when treating functional gastrointestinal disorder patients with dysphagia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2004

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells in gastrointestinal tract and generate electrical rhythmicity in gastrointestinal muscles. Therefore, ICC may be modulated by endogenous agents such as neurotransmitter, hormones, and prostaglandins (PGs). In the present study, we investigated the effects of prostaglandins, especially $PGE_2$, on pacemaker currents in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine by using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. ICCs generated spontaneous slow waves under voltage-clamp conditions and showed a mean amplitude of $-452{\pm}39\;pA$ and frequency of $18{\pm}2$ cycles/min (n=6). Treatments of the cells with $PGE_2$ $(1\;{\mu}M)$ decreased both the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents and increased the resting currents in the outward direction. $PGE_2$ had only inhibitory effects on pacemaker currents and this inhibitory effect was dose-dependent. For characterization of specific membrane EP receptor subtypes, involved in the effects of $PGE_2$ on pacemaker currents in ICCs, EP receptor agonists were used: Butaprost $(1\;{\mu}M)$, $EP_2$ receptor agonist, reduced the spontaneous inward current frequency and amplitude in cultured ICCs (n=5). However sulprostone $(1\;{\mu}M)$, a mixed $EP_1$ and $EP_3$ agonist, had no effects on the frequency, amplitude and resting currents of pacemaker currents (n=5). SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) and ODQ (an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) had no effects on $PGE_2$ actions of pacemaker currents. These observations indicate that $PGE_2$ alter directly the pacemaker currents in ICCs, and that the $PGE_2$ receptor subtypes involved are the $EP_2$ receptor, independent of cyclic AMP- and GMP-dependent pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1968

Changes in gastrointestinal tissue blood volume induced by variations of venous pressure between 6 and 40 mmHg were studied in 32 rabbits. Venous pressure lowering was produced by withdrawal of appropriate volume of blood and venous pressure elevation was obtained by partial occlusion of intra-thoracic vena cava inferior. Estimation of regional tissue blood volume was performed by means of regional distribution of injected $Cr^{51}-labeled$ red blood cells. The following results were obtained. 1. At the normal control venous pressure value of 18 mmHg, spleen showed the highest value of tissue blood volume expressed on weight basis, namely, $111{\mu}l/gm$, Liver tissue blood volume was $95\;{\mu}l/gm$, small intestine 24 and stomach $21\;{\mu}l/gm$, respectively. 2. Linear relationships were observed between venous pressure change and gastrointestinal tissue blood volume. The coefficients of correlation were: in spleen r=0.723; in liver r=0.791; in stomach r=0.704, respectively. In small intestine the relationship was less clear and r=0.358. Tissue blood volume of extrabdominal tissue, such as M. gastrocnemius was not influenced by venous pressure change. 3. The highest change in tissue blood volume expressed on weight basis was observed in spleen. The liver tissue showed the next highest change. Change in total tissue blood volume, however, was greatest in liver and next greatest in small intestine. This was interpreted by the fact that total weight of these two organs was much greater than that of spleen. 4. The mechanism that the change in tissue blood volume lies in the venous system which has a great compliance was discussed.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1184-1194
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• 2022

Objective: High concentrate diets are widely used to satisfy high-yielding dairy cows; however, long-term feeding of high concentrate diets can cause subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). The endocrine disturbance is one of the important reasons for metabolic disorders caused by SARA. However, there is no current report about thyroid hormones involved in liver metabolic disorders induced by a high concentrate diet. Methods: In this study, 12 mid-lactating dairy cows were randomly assigned to HC (high concentrate) group (60% concentrate of dry matter, n = 6) and LC (low concentrate) group (40% concentrate of dry matter, n = 6). All cows were slaughtered on the 21st day, and the samples of blood and liver were collected to analyze the blood biochemistry, histological changes, thyroid hormones, and the expression of genes and proteins. Results: Compared with LC group, HC group showed decreased serum triglyceride, free fatty acid, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased hepatic glycogen, and glucose. For glucose metabolism, the gene and protein expression of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 in the liver were significantly up-regulated in HC group. For lipid metabolism, the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 1, and fatty acid synthase in the liver was decreased in HC group, whereas carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1α and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α were increased. Serum triiodothyronine, thyroxin, free triiodothyronine (FT3), and hepatic FT3 increased in HC group, accompanied by increased expression of thyroid hormone receptor (THR) in the liver. Conclusion: Taken together, thyroid hormones may increase hepatic gluconeogenesis, β-oxidation and reduce fatty acid synthesis through the THR pathway to participate in the metabolic disorders caused by a high concentrate diet.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.675-681
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• 2001

Objectives : It was designed for making theoretical base about the relation of the Spleen, Stomach and the liver which could be used in clinic. Methods : Including Huang Di Nei Jing(黃帝內經), the 22 kinds of books written about the relation of the Spleen, Stomach and the Liver, and 2 kinds of papers were referenced. They were divided and studied according to physiology, pathology, meridian system and treatment. This study is focused on internal organ theory. Conclusion 1. In physiology, the Liver has the function of smoothing and regulating the flow of vital energy(Ki), while the Spleen is in charge of digestion and transportation. 2. In pathology, there can be informed disharmony of the Spleen, Stomach and the Liver, blood deficiency in the Liver and Spleen, jaundice, and bleeding etc. 3. In meridian system, the junction points of Spleen Meridian and Liver Meridian are Liv14, SP6, SP12, SP13. 4. In treatment, 1) If there is disharmony of the Liver and Spleen, the Liver must be soothed and the function of Spleen invigorated. 2) If there is disharmony of the Liver and Stomach, the Liver must be soothed and the function of Stomach invigorated.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.570-577
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• 2013

To research the trends of study about gastrointestinal (GI) disease in Korean medicine, we reviewed and analysed articles published in Korea from 2009 to 2012. From ancient to modern history, traditional plant-based medicines have played an important role in health care, especially GI tract. In spite of the great advances of moderm scientific medicine, traditional medicine is still the primary form of healing methods readily available to the majority of the people in the many countries. In fact many of today's popular drugs have their origins in traditional medicine. Therefore, we suggest that the development and improvement of Korean medicine in GI tract will make good the quality of life in our lifetime.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.21-28
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• 2007

Recently, the field of microbiology has been transformed by huge increasing number of publicly available whole-genome sequences. This sequence information has significantly enhanced our understanding of the physiology, genetics, and evolutionary development of bacteria. Among the gastrointestinal microorganisms, bifidobacteria represent the most important human commensals because of their contribution to maintaining a balanced gastrointestinal tract microbiota. In recent years bifidobacteria have drawn much scientific attention due to their use as live bacteria in numerous food products with various health-related claims. For this reason, these bacteria constitute a growing area of interest with respect to genomics, molecular biology, and genetics. Recent genome sequencing of a number of bifidobacterial species has allowed access to the complete genetic make-up of these bacteria. This review will focus how genomic data has allowed us to understand bifidobacterial evolution, while also revealing genetic functions that explains their presence in the particular ecological environment of the gastrointestinal tract.