• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2021

Purpose : Keratinocytes are the main cellular components involved in wound healing during re-epithelization and inflammation. Dysfunction of tight junction (TJ) adhesions is a major feature in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The purpose of this study was to identify the various effects of a Sparassis crispa water extract (SC) on HaCaT cells and to investigate whether these effects might be applicable to human skin. Methods : We investigated the effectiveness of SC on cell HaCaT viability using MTS. The antioxidant effect of SC was analyzed by comparing the effectiveness of ABTS to that of the well-known antioxidant resveratrol. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is the most widely applied method Quantitative RT-PCR analysis has shown that SC in HaCaT cells affects mRNA expression of tight-junction genes associated with skin moisturization. In addition, Wound healing is one of the most complex processes in the human body. It involves the spatial and temporal synchronization of a variety of cell types with distinct roles in the phases of hemostasis, inflammation, growth, re-epithelialization, and remodeling. wound healing analysis demonstrated altered cell migration in SC-treated HaCaT cells. Results : MTS analysis in HaCaT cells was found to be more cytotoxic in SC at a concentration of 0.5 mg/㎖. Compared to 100 µM resveratrol, 4 mg/㎖ SC exhibited similar or superior antioxidant effects. SC treatment in HaCaT cells reduced levels of claudin 1, claudin 3, claudin 4, claudin 6, claudin 7, claudin 8, ZO-1, ZO-2, JAM-A, occludin, and Tricellulin mRNA expression by about 1.13 times. Wound healing analysis demonstrated altered cell migration in SC-treated HaCaT cells and HaCaT cell migration was also reduced to 73.2 % by SC treatment. Conclusion : SC, which acts as an antioxidant, reduces oxidative stress and prevents aging of the skin. Further research is needed to address the effects of SC on human skin given the observed alteration of mRNA expression of tight-junction genes and the decreased the cell migration of HaCaT cells.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-18
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• 2013

Objectives: Korea has a dual medical system where traditional Korean Medicine (KM) and Western Medicine (WM) exist au equal terms with exclusive practice boundaries. The aim of this study was to identify complementary and substitute relationships between KM and WM in Korea. Methods: The data of 19,413 respondents were collected from the 2009 Korea Health Panel dataset. General characteristics and the medical utilization of respondents were analyzed descriptively. the Univariable Analysis was used to compare the factors that affected KM and WM utilization, and the Multivariable Analysis was applied to identify complementary or substitute relationships between the respondents' choices for KM and WM. The data were analyzed by the seven disease groups; diseases of nervous system, circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, skin and subcutaneous tissue, musculoskeletal system, and connective tissue, injury, poisoning and others. Results: 13.6% and 76.9% of respondents used KM and WM respectively last 12 mouths. 12.7% used both, and 0.9% used KM only. In overall, respondents who visited KM institutions used also WM. However, according to the analysis of choices of medical institutions, non-pharmacological KM treatment and WM has been used as a substitute for another in the diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and connective tissue, injury, poisoning and others. Conclusions: Despite some exceptional disease areas, Korean people use KM complementarily to WM, and this result can rationalize the recent Korean government policies encouraging the cooperation of KM and WM. This study can he used for the future policies development for KM service delivery.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.71-77
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• 2017

Objectives This study aims to build the baseline data for school health care program by analyzing the questionnaires about satisfaction regarding Oriental Medical Doctor's (Korean Medicine) student health and wellness program. Methods The association of Korean medicine doctor in Sung-nam city conducted Oriental Medical Doctor's student health and wellness program for 12 middle schools and 8 high schools in Sung-nam from August to December, 2015. The participating Oriental Medical Doctor visited each school for 8 times during 5 months period, and conducted health consultations, health education classes and Korean medicine treatment for the school students and school employees. Teachers and administrators from the participating schools answered the self-reported satisfaction questionnaires and the satisfaction questionnaires results were analyzed. Results 85 people responded the program satisfaction questionnaires; 69% responders were very satisfied and 28% were satisfied about the program specifically about the student's health check-ups, informatory brochures for the parents, good participation enrollment process. Responders were pleased about doctor's consultations regarding 'Advising students about their general health', 'Ways to cure sick students fast', 'Providing students with useful information about health', and 'Teaching students how to manage their health in a good shape'. 92.94% of participants agreed to the needs of the school health and wellness program. Conclusions One of the fundamental national health policies is to provide students opportunities to maintain their good health. We have developed a successful pilot program called, "Oriental Medical Doctor's student health and wellness program". We got positive feedback from the participating school teachers regarding our program. Further studies based on this study are needed to show the benefit of the program to broaden its use.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2018

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of patients diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment who are treated by means of a blend between Western and Korean medicine. Methods: We searched for outpatients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment by means of a collaboration between Western and Korean medicine from August 1, 2015, to July 31, 2017, through electronic medical records in Wonkwang Hospital. The records were retrospectively analyzed according to the patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, pathway of medical care, diagnostic tests, treatment, and medical expenses. Results: Thirteen patients were included in the analysis. Among them, six patients were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, five with dementia, Alzheimer's type, one patient with frontotemporal dementia, and one patient with unspecified dementia. Twelve of the thirteen patients were over 60 years of age. The number of pathways from the Dept. of Neurology to the Dept. of Neuropsychiatry of Korean Medicine was almost the same as the opposite pathway. The most used diagnostic test in Korean medicine was a neuropsychological test such as SNSB, MMSE and GDS. In Western medicine, hematology and neuroimaging were frequently used for patients. Acupuncture in Korean medicine and medication in Western medicine were the most frequently used. In Korean medicine, uncovered service costs were much higher than covered service costs,. whereas, in Western medicine, covered service costs were higher than uncovered service costs. Conclusions: This study describes the basic characteristics of dementia and mild cognitive impairment patients treated by a collaboration between Western and Korean medicine. Based on these results, a clinical pathway of the collaborative practice system between Western and Korean medicine for dementia patients needs to be developed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.75-85
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• 2020

PURPOSE: Cerebral palsy is a common cause of disability in children, requiring constant rehabilitation. Improving balance in children with cerebral palsy helps to alleviate daily movement and the quality of life. This study examines a program that combines Resistance Exercise and Group Exercise, and investigates the effect on trunk control ability, balance ability, maximum grip strength, and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Totally, 9 children with cerebral palsy participated in this study. Resistance exercise was performed for 8 weeks, 40 minutes every day. Group Exercise was conducted for 8 weeks, 40 minutes each Sunday. All participants were evaluated by the Korean version of the trunk control measurement scale, pediatric reach test, grip strength test, and KIDSCREEN-52. RESULTS: The trunk control ability was significantly improved in all subcategories (p < .05). In the pediatric reach test, the left and right directions were significantly improved (p < .05). Maximum grip strength was significantly improved in both hands (p < .05). The quality of life significantly improved in total score, physical well-being, general moods, self-perception, autonomy, relationship with parents, and home life (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Considering the encouraging results, we propose to use Resistance Exercise and Group Exercise as programs other than rehabilitation treatment in hospitals, to improve motor function and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 2020

Purpose : This integrative review aimed to synthesize studies on intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' attitude, perceptions, and experiences toward end-of-life care decision-making. Methods : Using Whittermore and Knafl (2005)'s methods, we identified and synthesized research articles published in domestic journals between the years 2003 and 2019 and evaluated the quality of selected articles using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results : In the 13 studies reviewed, 12 were published prior to enactment of the "The Act for Hospice and Palliative Care and Decision-Making about Life-Sustaining Treatment (2018)." All nine quantitative studies identified were based on cross-sectional descriptive survey. In four qualitative studies, content analysis (n=2) and phenomenology (n=2) were used. Overall, ICU nurses were well-aware of the necessity of communicating and limiting life-sustaining treatments. Many ICU nurses had positive attitude towards limiting life-sustaining treatments to promote patients' comfort and dignity. Although nurses were willing to take active roles, they also reported having experienced high stress in the process of decision-making and implementation. Conclusions : It is important to prepare ICU nurses with proper knowledge and attitude regarding the topic area. It is also equally important to develop systems to support nurses' emotional stress and moral distress during communication, decision-making, and implementation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2018

Background: Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed neuropsychiatric diseases, but the underlying mechanism and medicine are not well-known. Although Panax ginseng has been reported to exert protective effects in various neurological studies, little information is available regarding its antidepressant effects. Methods: Here, we examined the antidepressant effect and underlying mechanism of P. ginseng extract (PGE) in a chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depression model in mice. Results: Oral administration of PGE for 14 d decreased immobility (depression-like behaviors) time in forced swim and tail suspended tests after CRS induction, which corresponded with attenuation of the levels of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone, as well as attenuated c-Fos expression in the amygdala. PGE enhanced messenger RNA expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor but ameliorated microglial activation and neuroinflammation (the level of messenger RNA and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase) in the amygdala of mice after CRS induction. Interestingly, 14-d treatment with celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and $N_{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated depression-like behaviors after CRS induction. Additionally, PGE inhibited the upregulation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 pathways. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that PGE exerts antidepressant-like effect of CRS-induced depression by antineuroinflammatory and antioxidant (nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 activation) activities by inhibiting the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis mechanism. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of components of P. ginseng as an alternative treatment of depression, including clinical trial evaluation.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2011

Recent advances in techniques and strategies use to detect cancer in its early stages and to treat it effectively has the survival rate of cancer patients and the number of long-term cancer survivors continually increasing. Unfortunately, many cancer survivors are at risk for various late and long-term effects of cancer treatments including the radiotherapy. Long-term cancer survivors can be also seen for a hospice and palliative care because of cancer recurrence and they are at risk of delayed reactions to radiotherapy. So, the understanding and knowledge of radiation reactions is required for the proper medical diagnosis, management, and coordination of the potential reactions that may occur in these care setting. In effort to increase the survival rate in cancer patients and to decrease the adverse effects of cancer treatment, many clinical studies have been and continue to be conducted. The efforts of these studies have thus resulted in the advancement of cancer treatments. Regrettably, the overall interest in how to manage adverse effects of cancer treatment such as radiotherapy appears seemingly low in clinical practice and its advanced studies as a whole are delayed and deficient. It is imperative that the medical community show an enthusiastic interest in the aftercare of cancer patients and cancer survivors in order to create a complementary integrative approach that will eliminate radiotherapy related pain/discomfort or illness in hospice and palliative care settings.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1641-1647
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• 2008

Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside plant compound found in the seeds of rosaceous stone fruits. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of amygdalin, using an in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell line and a rat model with carrageenan-induced ankle arthritis. One mM amygdalin significantly inhibited the expression of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-l$\beta$ mRNAs in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Amygdalin (0.005, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg) was intramuscularly injected immediately after the induction of carrageenan-induced arthritic pain in rats, and the anti-arthritic effect of amygdalin was assessed by measuring the weight distribution ratio of the bearing forces of both feet and the ankle circumference, and by analyzing the expression levels of three molecular markers of pain and inflammation (c-Fos, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-l$\beta$) in the spinal cord. The hyperalgesia of the arthritic ankle was alleviated most significantly by the injection of 0.005 mg/kg amygdalin. At this dosage, the expressions of c-Fos, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-l$\beta$ in the spinal cord were significantly inhibited. However, at dosage greater than 0.005 mg/kg, the pain-relieving effect of amygdalin was not observed. Thus, amygdalin treatment effectively alleviated responses to LPS-treatment in RAW 264.7 cells and carrageenan-induced arthritis in rats, and may serve as an analgesic for relieving inflammatory pain.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 2013

Objective: Evaluations of the in-vitro anti-bacterial activities of aqueous extracts of Acacia catechu (L.F.)Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and Shilajita mumiyo against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are reasonable since these ethnomedicinal plants have been used in Persian folk medicine for treating skin diseases, venereal diseases, respiratory problems and nervous disorders for ages. Methods: The well diffusion method (KB testing) with a concentration of $250{\mu}g/disc$ was used for evaluating the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Maximum synergistic effects of different combinations of components were also observed. Results: A particular combination of Acacia catechu (L.F.) Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and shilajita mumiyo extracts possesses an outstanding anti-bacterial activity. It's inhibiting effect on microorganisms is significant when compared to the control group (P<0.05). Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive microorganism. The highest anti-bacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) or gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was exerted by formula number 2 (table 1). Conclusion: The results reveal the presence of anti-bacterial activities of Acacia catechu, Castanea sativa husk, Ephedra sp. and Mumiyo against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Synergistic effects in a combined formula, especially in formula number 2 (ASLAN$^{(R)}$) can lead to potential sources of new antiseptic agents for treatment of acute or chronic skin ulcers. These results considering the significant anti-bacterial effect of the present formulation, support ethnopharmacological uses against diarrheal and venereal diseases and demonstrate use of these plants to treat infectious diseases.