• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.574-581
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• 2011

A Gram-positive bacterium was isolated from the saline soils of Jangpura (U.P.), India, and showed high-level of radiation-resistant property and survived upto 12.5 kGy dose of gamma radiation. The 16S rDNA sequence of this strain was examined, identified as Bacillus sp. strain HKG 112, and was submitted to the NCBI GenBank (Accession No. GQ925432). The mechanism of radiation resistance and gene level expression were examined by proteomic analysis of whole-cell extract. Two proteins, 38 kDa and 86.5 kDa excised from SDS-PAGE, which showed more significant changes after radiation exposure, were identified by MALDI-TOF as being flagellin and S-layer protein, respectively. Twenty selected 2-DE protein spots from the crude extracts of Bacillus sp. HKG 112, excised from 2- DE, were identified by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) out of which 16 spots showed significant changes after radiation exposure and might be responsible for the radiation resistance property. Our results suggest that the different responses of some genes under radiation for the expression of radiation-dependent proteins could contribute to a physiological advantage and would be a significant initial step towards a fullsystem understanding of the radiation stress protection mechanisms of bacteria in different environments.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.209-230
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• 2020

Objectives : Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs), collaborations of practitioners and academic researchers, have provided platforms for conducting research to address clinical questions generated from daily routine care. This review aimed to critically analyse articles from PBRNs that are related to complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) and to suggest future directions for a PBRN which is appropriate for Korean Medicine (KM). Methods : PubMed, PBRN registries in Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and relevant PBRN websites were searched up to November 2019 for research articles from PBRNs that focused on CIM regardless of study design. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. The included studies were read in full, classified and summarised according to their topics. Results : A total of 51 articles published from 1998 through 2020 were included in this review. They were categorised into three principal themes based on research questions and findings: health services research (embracing researches examining characteristics of patients and CIM practitioners/practices, and communication between patients and practitioners); effectiveness and safety of CIM practices/interventions; and feasibility studies of instruments and interventions in PBRN settings. The study designs varied including surveys (n=30), prospective observational studies (n=6), 2ndary analyses of existing studies (n=7), protocols (n=7), retrospective chart review (n=1) and qualitative study (n=1). Quality of the included studies greatly varied. Conclusions : PBRNs can serve as a feasible platform for conducting practice-relevant research on KM and CIM. Considering growing demands on evidence-base for routine practice of KM amid various stakeholders, a PBRN in KM community and further researches nested within PBRN designs are warranted.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.328-332
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• 2010

Acupuncture has been used for the treatment and prevention of stress-related disorders. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture on the behavioral and biochemical responses to restraint stress was evaluated in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats underwent to immobilization stress for 21 days (6 hours/day). Electroacupuncture (2 Hz, 2 mA, and 10 minutes) was applied either to the acupuncture point HT7 (Shenmen) or the nonacupuncture point in the tail for the last 7 days. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: the normal group (n=10, without the restraint stress), the stress group (n=10, with restraint stress), the HT7 group (n=10, with restraint stress and electroacupuncture to HT7), and the NA group (n=10, with restraint stress and electroacupuncture to the nonacupuncture point). The anxiety-related behavior was tested using the elevated plus maze and the Vogel test on day 22. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the locus coeruleus was measured by immunohistochemistry. R maze and the Vogecreased the response of the anxiety-related behavior. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells were also increased. The HT7 group showed a significant decrease of anxiety-related behavioral response, compared to the stress group. The tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive expression was also decreased in the HT7 group. These findings suggestthat electroacupuncture to HT7 might play a role in reducing the stress-related responses, which may be helpful for the treatment of stress-related disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Objectives: A critical pathway defines the optimal care process, sequencing and timing of intervention by multi-disciplinary health care teams for a particular diagnosis and procedure. It plays an important role as a cost-effective health care delivery system and a tool for quality control of medical and dental services by means of standardizing medical practices. The aim of this study is to investigate the satisfaction of patients and medical staff after implementation of a critical pathway for Korean medical treatment of lumbar disc herniation in integrative medical. Methods and Results: The pre-critical pathway group included 3 patients who underwent the implementation procedure from October 2020. All three patients have successfully been applied critical pathways during inpatient and outpatient treatment. Additionally, medical staff members were satisfied with the usefulness of the critical pathway. Conclusions: The implementation of critical pathway for the Korean medical treatment with lumbar disc herniation in integrative medical hospital can appraise possible applicability in actual clinical field.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.333-337
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• 2010

Combining cell- and gene-based therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy in regenerative medicine. The aim of this study was to develop genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) aggregates using a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel micro-well array technique. Stable PEG hydrogel micro-well arrays with diameters of 200 to $500\;{\mu}m$ were fabricated and used to generate genetically engineered MSC aggregates. Rat bone marrow-derived MSCs were transfected with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid as a reporter gene, and aggregated by culturing in the PEG hydrogel micro-well arrays. The resultant cell aggregates had a mean diameter of less than $200\;{\mu}m$, and maintained the mesenchymal phenotype even after genetic modification and cell aggregation. Transplantation of MSC aggregates that are genetically modified to express therapeutic or cell-survival genes may be a potential therapeutic approach for regenerative medicine.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.49-55
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• 2017

Purpose : In this study we tested the hypothesis that eucommia ulmoides (EU) extract would improve disuse-induced muscle atrophy following hindlimb immobilization. Method : The hindlimb immobilization was performed with casting tape to keep the left ankle joint in a fully extended position. The rats in EU treated group were orally administrated with eucommia ulmoides water extract. After 2 weeks of immobilization, all animals were sacrificed, and the whole gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from both legs. The morphology of right and left gastrocnemius muscles in both EU and control groups were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results : Eucommia ulmoides extract represented the significant protective effects against the reductions of the gastrocnemius muscles weight and average cross section area to compared with Control group. Conclusion : Eucommia ulmoides has protective effects against immobilization induced muscle atrophy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2009

Puerariae flos (PF) is a traditional oriental medicinal plant and has clinically been prescribed for a long time. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of PF on repeated stress-induced alterations of learning and memory on a Morris water maze (MWM) test in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. The changes in the reactivity of the cholinergic system were assessed by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the hippocampus after behavioral testing. The female rats were randomly divided into four groups: the nonoperated and nonstressed group (normal), the sham-operated and stressed group (control), the ovariectomized and stressed group (OS), and the ovariectomized, stressed and PF treated group (OSF). Rats were exposed to immobilization stress (IMO) for 14 d (2 h/d), and PF (400 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before IMO stress. Results showed that treatments with PF caused significant reversals of the stress-induced deficits in learning and memory on a spatial memory task, and also increased the ChA T immunoreactivities. In conclusion, administration of PF improved spatial learning and memory in OVX rats, and PF may be useful for the treatment of postmenopausal-related dementia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.171-176
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• 2018

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tends to grow more rapidly and spread much faster than non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A concurrent combination of chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy is suggested as the standard conventional treatment, but it is more challenging for elderly patients having pulmonary and cardiovascular comorbidities. Case presentation: Here we present a case of an 80-year-old male, current smoker diagnosed with SCLC in limited stage T3N0M0 (36mm right upper lobe, satellite nodule) in Dec, 2015. The standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy was not available for his comorbidities, which included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and angina pectoris. Furthermore, he and his family refused the recommended chemotherapy or radiotherapy exclusively. Alternatively, he received various non-conventional treatments including local radiofrequency hyperthermia, mistletoe, and Traditional Korean medicine including acupuncture, moxibustion and herbs since Jan. 2016. Despite the progression in primary tumor size, there have been no other distant relapse so far, and the patient has been in stable condition ever since. Conclusion: We suggest that a combination of various alternative treatments could be a candidate for elderly patients intolerable to conventional cytotoxic treatments.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the status of dual medical license holders who have both the medical doctor (MD) and the Korean medicine doctor (KMD) license in Korea, and provide basic data for developing the cooperational strategy between conventional western medicine and traditional Korean medicine. Methods : The questionnaires on the general characteristics and working status were developed and administered for both dual license holders and medical students with MD or KMD license. The data of 187 persons were collected and analyzed. Results : Mean age of dual medical license holders is $42.28{\pm}6.54$ and most of them are male(86.0%). 75.2% of them obtained MD license first. However among the students who had MD or KMD license, 73.7% had KMD license. The mean time for obtaining the additional license was $10.11{\pm}4.905$ year. Forty nine dual license holders are opening both medical clinic and Korean medicine clinic. Conclusions : To promote the role of dual license holders for collaborating traditional Korean medicine and western medicine, developing an integrative medical curriculum should be enhanced, and the studies investigating the practice characteristics, and self-consciousness of dual license holders are required.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1289-1300
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the improvement of a patient with one-and-a-half syndrome, vertigo, and paresthesia caused by acute primary pontine hemorrhage (PPH) after a combination treatment of traditional Korean and Western medicine. Case report: A 51-year-old female with one-and-a-half syndrome, vertigo, and paresthesia after PPH was treated with Korean medicine, including herbal medication, acupuncture, and moxibustion, and Western medicine, including medication and rehabilitation therapy during hospitalization. Her progress was evaluated by checking for changes in symptoms with the extraocular muscle (EOM) function test, numeral rating scale (NRS), and follow-up brain computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After 41 days of treatment, the EOM movement was improved, leaving limited abduction of the left eye. The NRS scores for vertigo and paresthesia decreased from 10 to 5 and from 10 to 3, respectively. Improvement was noted in hematoma in MRI, but a new ischemic lesion was also discovered. Conclusion: This case reports the clinical course of one-and-a-half syndrome and suggests that a combined therapy of traditional Korean and Western medicine can be useful for PPH patients with one-and-a-half syndrome, vertigo, and paresthesia. However, studies of larger populations are required.