• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.133-145
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• 2008

Objectives: The aim of present study was to investigate recovery effects of Hirudo, which has been used clinically in diabetes therapy. Methods: We established three groups: normal, control, Hirudo, and assigned 6 rats to each group. The normal group was not treated by any process and fed by normal saline. The control & Hirudo groups were administered streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes. Hirudo extract was orally administered to the Hirudo group for 10 days. After 8 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and their body weight, 24hrs urinary protein excretion, glucose, albumin, BUN, creatinine, total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride in blood, and level of glycation end-product (AGE) and transforming growth factor (TGF-${\beta}1$) in serum were measured. Morphological profiles and morphometric studies of the kidney cortex, renal transforming growth factor (TGF-${\beta}1$) expression, and renal receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) expression were studied. Results: The following results were obtained. The protein amount in urine per 24hrs of the Hirudo-treated group as compared to the control group was significantly reduced. The BUN and creatinine level in serum of the Hirudo-treated group as compared to the control group was significantly inhibited. The construction change in kidney of the Hirudo-treated group as compared to the control group was significantly inhibited. The factor of the Hirudo-treated group as compared to the control group was significantly inhibited, which induced the construction change in kidney. Conclusions: The above results suggest that Hirudo partially improved the function of the kidney.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2023

Today, environmental pollution has been found to be one of the causes of various diseases, including brain and nervous system diseases. In particular, neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be caused by hyperactivation of immune system cells such as microglia. Preventive and therapeutic measures are needed to suppress them. Hirudo is known as a traditional herbal medicine, based on its multiple biological activities such as anti-eczema and anti-coagulation. In the present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of hirudo extract was investigated in lipopolysccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and in mice. Hirudo extract significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine (IL-1Ra, KC, MCP-5, and RANTES) expression in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with hirudo extract suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Moreover, hirudo extract reduced LPS-stimulated microglial acitivation and improved memory impairments. The results demonstrated that hirudo extract exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that hirudo extract might have therapeutic potential with respect to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.135-146
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy with oriental medication on the patient with regional rheumatoid arthritis. The patient had resistant to DMARDs so she was in the debilitating condition and suffered from edema, pain, stiffness of joint and purpura before live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy. Methods : The regional rheumatoid arthritis patient had edema, pain, stiffness of joint and purpura on right foot. We treated the patient with live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine. Results : The symptoms of regional rheumatoid arthritis was improved through live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine. The patient maintains her condition with oriental medicine treatment after stopped all DMARDs such as MTX(methotrexate) and NSAIDs. After this treatment the patient's walking difficulty has been improved. Conclusions : This study shows that live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine can elevate the regional rheumatoid arthritis patient's quality of life with continuous health care and treatment for major problem. For more accurate studies, further studies would be needed with more cases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.260-273
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• 2004

Backgrounds : In recent years, asthma has become recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease associated pathologically with airway epithelial inflammation and airway remodeling. Objectives : To evaluate the different effects of Hirudo depending upon pharmaceutical manufactures on the expression and the activities of IL-6 and GM-CSF in airway epithelial cells, samples of Hirudo(水蛭), Hirudo toasted with Talcum(水蛭滑石炒) and Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) were tested. Methods : After inducing enhanced messenger RNA(mRNA) expression and secretion of each cytokine by tumor necrosis factor-alpha(10 ng/ml) treatment, cultured human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was added to each sample$(l,\;10,\;100\;&\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Subsequently, DNA activities were analyzed. Specifically mRNA expression and culture supernatants(protein levels) of IL-6 and GM-CSF from BEAS-2B cells, were analyzed using luciferase reporter gene assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) and Hirudo(水蛭) inhibited IL-6 activities in BEAS-2B cells remarkably, and inhibited mRNA expression levels and protein levels in supernatant of IL-6 and GM-CSF at various concentrations, significantly(p<0.05). However, Hirudo toasted with Talcum(水蛭滑石炒) had no effect on mRNA expression levels and showed a slight inhibitory effect on GM-CSF protein levels in supernatant of culture medium. Conclusions : These results strongly suggest that Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) and Hirudo(水蛭) would be serve as effective medicaments in the treatment of airway inflammation and remodeling of asthmatic patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.136-138
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• 2003

Purpose : A clinical case of diabetic foot-wound repair using Hirudo medicinalis therapy and its application is reported and discussed. Methods : The subject was a sixty-six-year-old woman diagnosed with a non-healing wound indicating the amputation of her right diabetic foot. Instead, Hirudo medicinalis therapy was performed twelve times over forty days, twice a week. The transition of wound closure was observed with the naked eye, and the plethysmogram was measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period. Results : The wound contracted with decreased exudate, collagen-like connective tissue sprouted, and then the wound gradually closed. The initial value (-0.08) of the dicrotic elastic index rose to -0.03. Conclusion : Hirudo medicinalis therapy had a positive effect on the wound repair, without a negative effect on the circulation, allowing the foot to be saved. It is necessary to investigate its wound repair mechanism for the further development of the Sahyul method.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.114-124
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• 2007

Purpose : The pharmacological effects of medicinal remedies traditionally used in Asian countries for improving the blood circulation were examined on isolated rat thoracic aorta strips in organ baths. Methods and results : Each experimental medicine was consecutively extracted under reflux with water. Of three medicinal remedies . Hirudo(HI) having the strongest acute relaxant activity in endothelium-intact arteries, Tabanus(TA), Empoly ohaga(EO) were showing dose-dependent relaxant activity. Long-term relaxant effects were showed in Hirudo(HI) and Empoly ohaga(EO). In endothelium-injury test using carbachol, Hirudo(HI), Tabanus(TA) and Empoly of ohaga(EO) were not damaged to endothelium. Conclusion: As a result of this study, the possibility that a part of medicinal remedy may contribute to the beneficial effects in blood circulation was proposed, but inter-individual variation has been observed. Also, further studies on the vasorelaxant effects of these remedies are still required.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-163
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• 2002

Traditionally, the Leech (Hirudo) has been used for the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, women's diseases, etc. In Chinese medicine, usually Chinese medical doctors use Whitmania pigra Whitman among several species in their clinics. Because it was considered as toxic animal medicine according to related books, they used it in a parched form with Talcum powder, and this is the most general type for medication. Nowadays, however, many clinical doctors regard it as secure, so they tend to use it naturally in a capsule, in large quantities, and more frequently. We have no doubt that it is useful for diseases connected with blood stasis, especially including pulmonary diseases and allergic diseases, so we urge that many Korean oriental medical doctors use it practically in their clinics.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.80.2-80
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• 1997

No Abstract, See Full Text

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.248-252
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• 1996

The epidermal organ of the leech contains a complex glycoprotein molecule of mucus. The mucus excreted from annelids plays Significant role in protection against desiccation and parasites. Mucus from the Korean native leech, H. nipponia, was investigated for biochemical characteristics for possible development of biomaterials of cosmetic and pharmaceutical agents. The leech skin mucus was heavily glycosylated mucin-like protein with a high molecular weight comprised 80% carbohydrate and 20% protein. Threonine, serine, and glycine were the major components of the isolated protein and these accounted for 50% of total amino acids. The carbohydrate portion contained glucosamine, galactosamine. galactose, glucose. mannose and sialic acid in oligosaccharide form linked with threonine and serine residues of the glycoprotein.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2000

The medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, has been used for salvage of the venous-congested flap following reconstructive surgery, with increasing frequency during the last two decades. Medicinal leech therapy is a safe, efficacious, economical, and well-tolerated intervention. The flap salvage with leeching occurs in approximately 70% of cases, and leeches need to be used as early as possible. At the time of the bite, evacuation of blood and injection of the leech saliva products, including anticoagulants and inhibitors of platelet aggregation, maintain capillary circulation of the flap, and then venous capillary return is established across the wound by angiogenesis. One of the salivary products, hirudin, represents the first parenteral anticoagulant introduced since the discovery of heparin. We analyzed two cases in which flap salvage with leeching was attempted, and reviewed medicinal leech therapy on the basis of our experiences and literature review. This has not been documented in the head and neck surgery literature in our country.