• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.396-412
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the efficacy and safety of Korean medicine treatment. Methods: This study was conducted on 15 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome who visited the outpatient Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 10, 2021 to April 10, 2022. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 15 patients and collected clinical characteristics, Korean medicine treatments, outcome variables (Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (QOL-VAS), The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS)), adverse events, etc. Results: Of the 15 patients, seven (46.7%) were men, and the average age of all patients was 49.7±13 years. The most common symptom was cough (n=9, 60%), and it was followed by dyspnea or increased respiratory effort, fatigue, insomnia, anosmia, etc. The herbal medicine was prescribed for all 15 patients, and Saengmaek-san (n=8, 53.5%) was the most prescribed. Additionally, acupuncture and cupping were performed in four patients (26.7%) each, and electroacupuncture was applied to one patient (6.7%). As a result of Korean medicine treatment, NRS, mMRC, LCQ, QOL-VAS, and PCFS showed improvement, and adverse events were mild. Conclusions: This study presented the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and suggested that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in alleviating related symptoms and enhancing quality of life.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.166-182
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• 2022

Deer antler velvet is widely used in traditional medicine for its anti-aging, antioxidant, and immunity-enhancing effects. However, few studies have reported on the discovery of probiotic strains for deer antler fermentation to increase functional ingredient absorption. This study evaluated the ability of probiotic lactic acid bacteria to enhance the concentrations of bioactive molecules (e.g., sialic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) in extracts of deer antler velvet. Seventeen strains of Lactobacillus spp. that were isolated from kimchi and infant feces, including L. sakei, L. rhamnosus, L. brevis, and L. plantarum, and those that improved the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans were selected for evaluation. Of the 17 strains, 2 (L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007) were selected based on data showing that these strains increased both the sialic acid and GABA contents of deer antler extract after fermentation for 2 d and significantly improved the life span of C. elegans. Co-fermentation with both strains further increased the concentrations of sialic acid, GABA, and metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. We evaluated the biological effects of the fermented antler velvet (FAV) on the antibacterial immune response in C. elegans by assessing worm survival after pathogen infection. The survival of the C. elegans conditioned with FAV for 24h was significantly higher compared with that of the control worm group fed only normal feed (non-pathogenic E. coli OP50) exposed to E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhi, and Listeria monocytogenes. To evaluate the protective effects of FAV on immune response, cyclophosphamide (Cy), an immune-suppressing agent was treated to in vitro and in vivo. We found that FAV significantly restored viability of mice splenocytes and immune promoting-related cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], interferon [IFN]-γ, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) were activated compared to non-fermented deer antlers. This finding indicated the protective effect of FAV against Cy-induced cell death and immunosuppressed mice. Taken together, our study suggests that immune-promoting antler velvet can be produced through fermentation using L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.447-454
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• 2022

In this study, we confirmed the effect of HK shiitake mushroom mycelium (HKSMM) on immune enhancement in Balb/c mice. Experimental animals were divided into five groups: negative control (NC), positive control (PC; 1,000 mg/100 g; AHCC), T1 (500 mg/100 g; HKSMM), T2 (1,000 mg/100 g; HKSMM), and T3 (2,000 mg/100 g; HKSMM), and dissection was performed at four and six weeks. COX-2 and iNOS concentrations were significantly lower in the six-week experimental group than in the control group, and the NO results were also similar. Results of the confirmation of the factors related to the NF-κB (p-p65 and p-IκBα) and MAPK (pERK, pJNK, and p38) signaling pathways revealed that the HKSMM-fed experimental group significantly decreased compared with the control group. A comparative analysis of the number and size of white pulp in the spleen tissue showed that those of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that HKSMM has both immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects in Balb/c mice, indicating that it can be used as a health functional food ingredient.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.953-958
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• 2008

The object of this study was to investigate the immune-enhancing effects of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on a deteriorated immune function by a protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diet. Unicellular algae, CV were used as a biological response modifier. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 15 days with standard diet or a PEM diet, which is associated with decreased host immune defense. After 8 days, mice in the PEM diet group were orally administered by 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 g/kg body weight of CV or distilled water. Nutritional parameters, and interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ levels were significantly increased in the blood serum of the CV (0.15 g/kg)-treated group (29.6$\pm$2.8 pg/mL) compared to the non-treated PEM group (4.1$\pm$0.4 pg/mL, p<0.05). In addition, cell proliferation and production of cytokines were investigated via a CV (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL) treatment using a human T cell line MOLT-4 cell. The CV treatment (1 mg/mL) significantly increased the production of both IFN-$\gamma$ and interleukin (IL)-2 (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 285.9$\pm$18.8 pg/mL, respectively) compared to the control (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 442.6$\pm$14.3 pg/mL, respectively), but did not affect the production of IL-4. These results suggest that CV may be useful in improving the immune function.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1294-1317
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• 2023

Background: Post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF) is a common complication in severe COVID-19 cases, often associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome or mechanical ventilation. Patients with PCPF frequently experience a decline in their quality of life due to persistent COVID-19 sequelae, including cough and chest pain. However, there is currently no established standard treatment, and the efficacy of existing medications remains uncertain. Case Report: A 65-year-old female patient presenting with cough, dyspnea, chest pain, and fatigue due to PCPF received Korean medicine treatment for 25 days. Symptom evaluation utilized the modified Medical Research Council scale, the Leicester Cough Questionnaire, and the Numeral Rating Scale. Quality of life and functional status were assessed using the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status and the EuroQol 5-Dimensional 5-Level. The extent of pulmonary fibrosis was assessed by comparing chest computed tomography (chest CT) scans before and after hospitalization. Following treatment, the patient demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in clinical symptoms, enhanced quality of life, and decreased fibrotic lesions on CT scans. Conclusion: This case report suggests that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in improving clinical symptoms, such as cough and dyspnea caused by PCPF, while also enhancing post-COVID-19 quality of life and ameliorating pulmonary fibrotic lesions.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.282-288
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• 2003

It is known that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection, which causes AIDS after some latent period, is a dynamic process that can be modeled mathematically. Effects of available anti-viral drugs, which prevent HIV from infecting healthy cells, can also be included in the model. In this paper we illustrate control theory can be applied to a model of HIV infection. In particular, the drug dose is regarded as control input and the goal is to excite an immune response so that the symptom of infected patient should not be developed into AIDS. Finite horizon optimal control is employed to obtain the optimal schedule of drug dose since the model is highly nonlinear and we want maximum performance for enhancing the immune response. From the simulation studies, we found that gradual reduction of drug dose is important for the optimality. We also demonstrate the obtained open-loop optimal control is vulnerable to parameter variation of the model and measurement noise. To overcome this difficulty, we finally present nonlinear receding horizon control to incorporate feedback in the drug treatment.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1951-1956
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• 2003

It is known that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection, which causes AIDS after some latent period, is a dynamic process that can be modeled mathematically. Effects of available anti-viral drugs, which prevent HIV from infecting healthy cells, can also be included in the model. In this paper we illustrate control theory can be applied to a model of HIV infection. In particular, the drug dose is regarded as control input and the goal is to excite an immune response so that the symptom of infected patient should not be developed into AIDS. Finite horizon optimal control is employed to obtain the optimal schedule of drug dose since the model is highly nonlinear and we want maximum performance for enhancing the immune response. From the simulation studies, we find that gradual reduction of drug dose is important for the optimality. We also demonstrate the obtained open-loop optimal control is vulnerable to parameter variation of the model and measurement noise. To overcome this difficulty, we finally present nonlinear receding horizon control to incorporate feedback in the drug treatment.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2006

Polysaccharides extracted from mushroom have been most commonly used to enhance the immune system. Also polysaccharides maintaining the moisture extent on epidermal tissue have an effect on the removal of necrotic tissue and the restoration of epidermal tissue through enhancing the immune system at skin layers. In this work, polysaccharides were from Schizophyllum commune studied about the burn and wound healing activity in the epidermal tissue on rats through in vivo experiment and hematological values. And antibacterial activities were examined using pathogenic microorganisms causing the secondary inflammation.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.244-249
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• 2005

To investigate the effect of Holstein colostrum peptide fraction on proliferation of immune cell, polypeptide fractions were separated from acid whey into 3 fractions depending on molecular weight by ultrafiltration: Fraction I, which contains the polypeptide larger than 10,000 Da, Fraction n, which contains the polypeptide ranging from 1,000 Da to 10,000 Da and Fraction III, which contains the polypeptide smaller than 1,000 Da. EL-4 cell (murine T lymphoma cell) was used to evaluate immune enhancing effect of each fraction from Holstein colostrum. Fraction n showed the highest proliferative effect of the colostrum whey fractions on EL-4 cell at 1mg/mL compared with whole whey and other fractions and this proliferative activity was shown in dose dependent manner. Fraction n showed the highest proliferative effect on PMA (Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) stimulated EL-4 cell. Heated Fraction n showed similar effect to native one on proliferation of both EL-4 cell and PMA stimulated EL-4 cell.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2012

To examine the potentiation of Macrolepiota procera extracts (MPE-4) to act as adjuvant enhancing the tumor specific anti-tumor immune response, tumor vaccine prepared by boiling (HK vaccine) admixed with MPE-4 and immunized in mice. Vaccination of mice with HK vaccine in combination with MPE-4 resulted in higher inhibition in tumor metastasis compared with the mice of HK vaccine alone treatment against live syngeneic tumor cell challenge. The splenocytes from mice immunized HK vaccine mixed with MPE-4 was able to elicit a stronger cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response as compared with HK vaccine alone. In addition, the splenocytes from MPE-4 admixed HK vaccine immunized mice secreted a higher concentration of Th1 type cytokine such as IFN-${\gamma}$, and GM-CSF. Furthermore, the adoptive transfer of splenocytes from mice immunized HK vaccine and MPE-4 led to a more robust anti-tumour response than the HK vaccine alone. Overall, these results indicate that MPE-4 is a good candidate adjuvant of anti-tumor immune response.