• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.4.1-4.18
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an inflammatory and infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus with a complex pathophysiology. While COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available, treatment of the disease is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Several research have suggested the potential of herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment for the disease. A popular herbal medicine approved in the Philippines for the treatment of acute respiratory disease is Vitex negundo L. In fact, the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines has funded a clinical trial to establish its potential as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19. Here, we utilized network pharmacology and molecular docking in determining pivotal targets of Vitex negundo compounds against COVID-19. The results showed that significant targets of Vitex negundo compounds in COVID-19 are CSB, SERPINE1, and PLG which code for cathepsin B, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and plasminogen, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that α-terpinyl acetate and geranyl acetate have good binding affinity in cathepsin B; 6,7,4-trimethoxyflavanone, 5,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone, artemetin, demethylnobiletin, gardenin A, geranyl acetate in plasminogen; and 7,8,4-trimethoxyflavanone in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. While the results are promising, these are bound to the limitations of computational methods and further experimentation are needed to completely establish the molecular mechanisms of Vitex negundo against COVID-19.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.575-586
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• 2005

FC(free choresterol) plays an important role in normal and pathophysiological cells including that of messenger molecule or dilator of blood vessels in such illnesses as artheriosclerosis, hypertension and myocardial infarction. Smooth muscle and endothelial cell functions in the arteria wall are unified by complex intercellular signalling processes. In arteria comprised of one layer of smooth muscle cells surrounding the endothelium, the close apposition of the two cell types enables a signal derived from one cell to rapidly diffuse to neighboring cells. Experimentation was conducted to investigate the potential contribution of Sohaphyangwon(SHHW) on levels of FC generated by goaded microphages, and mechanisms of protection against ACAT inhibitor. It was found that J774 macrophages, which normally do not express FC were expressed by oxLDL and ACAT inhibitor. SHHW protected cells were found to be resistant to oxLDL and delayed death following the FC. Inhibition of FC formation abolished the protective effect against ACAT inhibitor exposure. Cadiovascular diseases include abnormalities of blood vessels dysfunction of the renin-angiotension system. What relation herbal medicine may have with vessel endothelium necrosis was here studied. In Oriental Medicine, SHHW water extract used for diseases in relation to cardiovascular systems. The resistence to cardiovascular disease of ACAT inhibitor induced J774 macrophage cells were studied through analysis of cell morphological patterns and immunochemistry of SHHW. The results of this study suggest that SHHW has protective effects on the cardiovascular system, and that it is effective in both prevention and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, particularity against necrosis of blood.

• 한방비만학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.147-157
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to research domestic and foreign trend of pharmacopuncture treatment on obesity during recent 10 years. Methods: 5 Databases (Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Scopus, PubMed) were searched with keywords of ('pharmacopuncture', 'herbal acupuncture', 'aquapuncture', 'obesity') from 2012 to 2022. Results: 25 Articles were selected and analyzed. 15 articles (60%) were animal experimentations, 8 articles (32%) were case reports, 1 article (4%) was cell experimentation, and 1 article (4%) was clinical trial. In this study, 25 articles were analyzed by subject, acupoints, injections, metrics and results. Pharmacopuncture treatment for obesity is continuously being studied, and the anti-inflammatory effect as well as the effect of reducing obesity factors has been revealed. Conclusions: This study suggests the efficacy and future development of pharmacopuncture for obesity. The studies of the past decade have been concentrated on animal experiments, so many clinical trials and various studies on new complex pharmacopuncture for obesity are expected.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.433-444
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• 2023

Objectives: This case study aimed to provide evidence of the combined use of Korean Medicine treatments, including electroacupuncture (EA) on scalp acupoints, as a useful intervention for post-stroke delirium. Methods: The patient in this study was diagnosed with Cerebral Infarction in Right Corpus Callosum and post-stroke delirium. The patient received eight sessions of EA on scalp acupoints, rehabilitation medicine treatment, and other Korean Medicine treatments such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. Evaluation of treatment effectiveness was done mainly through the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale Korean (MDAS-K) and Mini-Mental State Examination Korean (MMSE-K). Results: MDAS-K score dropped from 20 to 9 and MMSE-K score increased from 15 to 21 during hospitalization, showing improvement in symptoms. Conclusions: Combined use of Korean medicine treatments including EA on scalp acupoints may be an effective treatment for post-stroke delirium.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.125-156
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• 2009

Objectives : To research the trend of studies related to rheumatoid arthritis and to indicate the hereafter direction for its study in oriental medicine and its treatment. Methods : I reviewed 75 domestic oriental medical journals, and 50 medical journals about rheumatoid arthritis published after 2004, and comparative analysis was made. And these theses were classified by college, year, field of study, subject. Results : The following are the results of this study. 1. Classified by oriental medical college, Dae-jeon college published the most theses, followed by Dong-guk, Kyung-hee, Se-myung and Dong-shin college. Han-yang college published the most theses among college of medicine. 2. Classified by type of thesis, experimental theses(70 pieces, 94%) showed higher rate than that of clinical theses(4 pieces, 5%) in oriental medical studies. However, in medical studies, clinical theses(34 pieces, 68%) showed higher rate than that of experimental theses(15 pieces, 30%). 3. Analyzed by subject, the most dealt subject in oriental medicine was herb medication, followed by herbal acupuncture, single herb, electroacupuncture, sasang & gene, acupuncture & moxibustion, complex accordingly. The most dealt subject in medical clinical journals was standards of diagnosis & prognosis, followed by medication, gene analysis, pathogenesis, clinical pattern, operative treatment and complication accordingly. 4. In theses related to herb medication, most of the subject was to evaluate anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects of herb medication with geopungseup, jibitong, hwalhyeolgeoer function. The tendency of experimental methods was focusing on understanding anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory mechanisms through molecular biologic methods by analyzing cytokine and gene. 5. Most of theses related to herbal acupuncture were experimental studies verifying ant-inflammatory and immnoregulatory effects through methods observing change of cytokine and immunoregulatory factors. Regarding remedies for herbal acupuncture, Ulmus davidiana Planch was most preferred, followed by bee venom. 6. In theses related to single herb, Boik-yak was most prefered, followed by Geopungseup-yak and Hwalhyeolgeoer-yak. Regarding methods of research, there were tendency of shifting from methods verifying travail, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects through a test of behavior, morphometry, serology and temperature measurement of the rectum and the skin into verifying anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects through observing inflammatory cytokine in the joint and cells of spleen. 7. In theses related to electroacupuncture, ST36 and adjuvant were most preferred as acupoints and induced factor. The tendency of experimental methods was turning from verifying mechanism of travail effect to analyzing inflammation and pain inducing factors. 8. Diverse medical clinical studies were published. Subjects such as diagnosis and prognosis, medication, gene analysis, clinical pattern, operational treatment, complication and pathogenesis were published. Especially, studies about standards of early diagnosis, and research on possible parallel medications with methotrexate were actively inquired. 9. Most of theses related to medical experimental studies was about mediators and receptors related to inflammatory induction and osteoclasia mechanism. Also, it was presented blockage of them can be effective on rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusions : The oriental medicine studies have merit in its diversity of treatment, but it clinical studies is lacking compared to experimental studies. Also, more diversity of subjects is necessary. Therefore, complementary measures are needed. Hereafter, oriental medicine research about rheumatoid arthritis needs more clinical research verifying the effectiveness and safety in clinical field. Also, we require oriental medical standard of diagnosis and researches on pathological generation which would make early checkup and prognosis possible.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.1559-1562
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• 2013

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.54-64
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• 2023

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer (P. ginseng) is a traditional natural/herbal medicine. The amelioration on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity rely mainly on its main active ingredients that are referred to as ginsenosides. However, the current literature on gut microbiota, gut microbiota-host co-metabolites, and systems pharmacology has no studies investigating the effects of ginsenoside on IBD. Methods: The present study was aimed to investigate the role of ginsenosides and the possible underlying mechanisms in the treatment of IBD in an acetic acid-induced rat model by integrating metagenomics, metabolomics, and complex biological networks analysis. In the study ten ginsenosides in the ginsenoside fraction (GS) were identified using Q-Orbitrap LC-MS. Results: The results demonstrated the improvement effect of GS on IBD and the regulation effect of ginsenosides on gut microbiota and its co-metabolites. It was revealed that 7 endogenous metabolites, including acetic acid, butyric acid, citric acid, tryptophan, histidine, alanine, and glutathione, could be utilized as significant biomarkers of GS in the treatment of IBD. Furthermore, the biological network studies revealed EGFR, STAT3, and AKT1, which belong mainly to the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways, as the potential targets for GS for intervening in IBD. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the combination of genomics, metabolomics, and biological network analysis could assist in elucidating the possible mechanism underlying the role of ginsenosides in alleviating inflammatory bowel disease and thereby reveal the pathological process of ginsenosides in IBD treatment through the regulation of the disordered host-flora co-metabolism pathway.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.107-114
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• 2002

Objective : This study was designed to find the most effective and safest way to overcome Lumbago due to blood stasis and sprain involved in a few Meridian Tendino-musculatures by evaluating the effect of two kinds of Dong-gi(Dong-qi) Acupuncture(DGA) and by reporting their side effects. Material : 97 patients of out and admission patients were selected, who were diagnosed with lumbar sprain caused by repetitive bending, heavy weight lifting, unsuitable posture, concussion and falling down and whose Lumbago due to blood stasis and sprain in the concept of oriental medicine. Methods : 97 patients were divided into three groups. One is exclusive DGA group to which DGA and the method retaining needles on the acupoints for about 20 minutes were applied, the other is DGA combined active exercise group in which patients stretched their Meridian Tendino-muscuIatures with their hips moving up and downward repeatedly during DGA, the third is DGA combined passive exercise group in which patients were made to flex or extend their bodies on the auto flexion-distraction table in a prone position, from 10 to 20 degree, during DGA. In each group, bed rest, physical therapy and herbal medicine were used according to symptoms, in addition to DGA. In DGA method, "Su(Shu)" points of the meridian related to the involved Meridian Tendino-musculature were mainly chosen, that is, Sokkol(Shugu, B65), Hugye(Houxi, SI3), ChungJo(Zhongzhu, TE3) were used, for most LBP belonged to Bladder and Gallbladder Meridian Tendino-musculature disorders. Pyong-Bo-Pyong-Sa(Ping-Bu-Ping-Xie) such as Dong-Gi and Yeom-Jeon(Nian-Zhuan) was applied as Bo-Sa method. For evaluation of effectiveness, new score system was devised by severity of pain and range of movement. the score was given twice at patients' first and last visit and the difference between first and last score was regarded as a evaluation scale, the effectiveness was classified into four grade by evaluation scale.(scale : 12-15; excellent, 8-11; good, 4-7; fair, 0-3; bad) Results : 1. Exclusive DGA, DGA combined active exercise and DGA combined passive exercise group showed 97, 87 and 89% in effectiveness. 2. Exclusive DGA, DGA combined active exercise and DGA combined passive exercise group showed no aggravation of pain, range of movement. 3. In blood test of 34 patients, only one patient showed abnormal rise of sGOT, sGPT and $\gamma$-GTP at his first visit and the others didn't show any detrimental change. DGA had no bad influence upon BUN and creatinine of patients. Conclusion : For complex theraphy combining DGA, exercise, physical therapy and Herbal medicine proved to be highly effective on treating lumbago due to blood stasis and sprain, this is expected to be available for clinical use.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.177-183
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• 2020

The Hippo-YAP signaling pathway is critical for cell proliferation, survival, and self-renewal in both Drosophila and mammals. Disorder of Hippo-YAP pathway leads to tumor development, progression and poor prognosis in various cancers. YAP/TAZ are the key downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway and they can be inhibited through LATS1/2, core kinases in the Hippo pathway, mediated phosphorylation. In this study, we investigated the effect of Angelica gigas Nakai extract (AGNE) on Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway. First, ANGE induced YAP/TAZ phosphorylation and dissociation of the YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcription complex. By qRT-PCR, we found that ANGE inhibits the expression of YAP/TAZ-TEAD target gene, CTGF and CYR61. In addition, the transcriptional activity of YAP/TAZ was not suppressed significantly in LATS1/2 double-knockout (DKO) cells by ANGE compared to LATS1/2 wild-type (WT) cells, which means AGNE inhibits YAP/TAZ signaling through direct action on LATS1/2. Further, it was confirmed that AGNE-induced activation of LATS1/2 inhibited the migration potential of the vector-expressing cells by suppressing YAP/TAZ activity. The reduced migration potential was restored in active YAP-TEAD expressing cells. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that ANGE downregulates YAP/TAZ signaling in cells through the activation of LATS1/2.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.36-49
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• 2013

Objectives The goal of this review is to investigate clinical and experimental studies on external application treatment for atopic dermatitis in Korean literature and to propose for the better method of clinical studies in order to seek more effective treatment. Methods Electronic researches were performed with KTKP, OASIS, National Assembly Library, Korean Medicine Database, KISS, DBpia, and KISTI. Results and Conclusions In Twenty six studies, the numbers of clinical and experimental studies are respectively 10 (38.46%) and 16 (61.54%). The numbers of studies that used herbal complex were 20 (76.92%), and out of that, 6 studies had used a single herbal medicine (23.08%). The external application with oriental medicine for the atopic dermatitis used with Phellodendri Cortex (7), Sophorae Radix (6), Scutellariae Radix (6), Lonicerae Flos (5), Coptidis Rhizoma (5) and so on. Among the clinical studies, the 5 studies were double-blind and randomized-controlled study (50%). The numbers of studies that used Hanifin and Rajka Diagnostic Criteria (1980) were 6 (60%), and that used the Diagnostic Criteria in Korean Atopic Dermatitis (2005) were 4 (40%). Among the clinical studies, categories to evaluate of atopic dermatitis are respectively SCORAD Index (80%), Total IgE (80%), Eosinophil count (70%) and so on. All of the clinical studies (100%) showed a statistically significant decline in atopic dermatitis according to the SCORAD Index, Modified SCORAD Index, the Clinic index score. Among the experimental studies, the numbers of studies that used NC/Nga mice were 9 (56.25%), and out of that 5 studies used BALB/c mice (31.25%). Most of the studies (68.75%) used DNCB as allergy inducing materials. The scales for evaluation of atopic dermatitis were Clinical skin severity score, Histopathologic examination, Immunohematologic examination, safety test and so on. In 12 cases (75%) of experimental studies, the IgE level of experimental group showed a statistically significant decline after using external application. In 8 study cases (50%), Clinical skin severity score of experimental group showed a statistically significant decline after using external application.