• 셀메드
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.1.1-1.9
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• 2016

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the leading medical condition for which patients use alternative treatments including the natural remedies. The aim of this review is to describe the dietary supplements and herbal remedies most commonly used in patients with osteoarthritis with an emphasis on the efficacy and safety of these natural remedies. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, two of the molecular building blocks found in articular cartilage, are the most commonly used remedies in OA treatment. Most clinical researches suggest that glucosamine and chondroitin show efficacy in reducing or improving symptoms and their ability to arrest progression of the disease or regenerate damaged cartilage. Patented formulations of both remedies are recommended by several therapeutic guidelines for use as first line background OA treatment. Reliable evidence that the combination is more effective than either agent alone is however still lacking. Several other herbs or remedies are promoted for treating osteoarthritis such as S-adenosylmethionine, methylsulfonylmethane, Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw), Curcuma longa (turmeric), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and capsaicin but there is no reliable evidence on long-term efficacy or safety. The clinical usefulness of these remedies is therefore rather limited currently.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.70-77
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• 2002

Background : Asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the effects of Sochongryong-tang on Serum IL-4, IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in asthmatic patients. Material and Methods: The subjects consisted of 15 patients with asthma who had been treated with Sochongryong-tang for two weeks from February 2001 through June 2001. Sochongryong-tang is an herbal decoction which has traditionally been used as a therapeutic agent for asthma. Results : The serum IL-4 in asthmatic patients was increased significantly compared to the serum IL-4 in the normal control group. However, the serum IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in asthmatic patients showed no significant difference from the serum IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in the normal control group. The patients were treated with Sochongryong-tang for two weeks with no significant difference in the serum IL-4, IL-5, and $IFN-{\gamma}$. Conclusion : This study shows that the serum IL-4 may be a new therapeutic target of asthma. Further long-term studies must be made in a larger number of asthmatic patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.364-369
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• 2008

Anti-hyperlipidemic effect of red ginseng (RG; the steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and Crataegii fructus (CF, the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida BGE), which are used frequently in China and Korea as herbal medicines to treat arteriosclerosis, were investigated. Treatments of RG and CF significantly reduced blood triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice and serum TG levels in corn oil-induced hypertriglyceridemic mice. Ginsenoside Rg3 and ursolic acid, the main constituents of RG and CF, respectively, also reduced TG and TC levels in hyperlipidemic mice. RG and CF significantly lowered the high blood TG and TC levels and body and epididymal mass weights induced by long-term feeding of a high-fat diet and increased the high-fat diet-induced decrease in blood HDL cholesterol levels. RG and Rg3 reduced the blood TC levels more than CF and ursolic acid. However, blood TG level were reduced by CF and ursolic acid more than RG and Rg3. RG, CF, and their constituents also inhibited pancreatic lipase and HMG-CoA reductase activities. The most potent inhibitor was Rg3. These findings suggest that RG and CF may be suitable for the therapies of hypercholesterolemia and triglyceridemia, respectively.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.421-426
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• 2019

Background: Wolbachia are among the most prevalent endosymbiotic bacteria and induce reproductive anomalies in various invertebrate taxa. The bacterium has huge impacts on host reproductive biology, immunity, evolution, and molecular machinery. However, broad-scale surveys of Wolbachia infections at the order scale, including the order Coleoptera, are limited. In this study, we investigated the Wolbachia infection frequency in 201 Coleopteran insects collected in Korea. Results: A total of 26 species (12.8%) belonging to 11 families harbored Wolbachia. The phylogenetic trees of based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences and partial Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene sequences were largely incongruent to that of their hosts. This result confirms that Wolbachia evolved independently from their hosts, Conclusion: Phylogenetic trees suggest that complex horizontal gene transfer and recombination events occurred within and between divergent Wolbachia subgroups.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.454-461
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• 2019

Background: Ikonnikov's whiskered bat (Myotis ikonnikovi) is found throughout the Korean Peninsula, as well as in Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, China, and Japan. It is small-sized and primarily inhabits old-growth forests. The decrease and fragmentation of habitats due to increased human activity may influence the genetic structure of bat populations. This study was designed to elucidate the population genetic structure of M. ikonnikovi using mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b). Results: The results showed that M. ikonnikovi populations from Korea have high genetic diversity. Although genetic differentiation was not detected for the COI gene, strong genetic differentiation of the Cytb gene between Mt. Jeombong and Mt. Jiri populations was observed. Moreover, the results indicated that the gene flow of the maternal lineage may be limited. Conclusions: This study is the first to identify the genetic population structure of M. ikonnikovi. We suggest that conservation of local populations is important for sustaining the genetic diversity of the bat, and comprehensive studies on factors causing habitat fragmentation are required.

• 척추신경추나의학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.61-74
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chuna treatment(manipulation) on lumbar sprain caused by traffic accident in early stage, by analysis of the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Methods : This study carried out on 20 patients who have received hospital treatment in Daejeon Univ. cheonan Oriental Hospital. Non-chuna group got acupuncture-therapy, herbal medication, physical therapy and Chuna group got all the therapies and chuna treatment. We measured HRV and VAS on 2nd, 4th day. Results : After being treated by our methods, Chuna group showed the inclination to balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve. In chuna group as compared with non-chuna group, an autonomic nerve activity and stress resistance showed the inclination to increase(p<0.05). And chuna treatment reduced the rate of stress increase. Conclusions : The results suggest that chuna treatment help traffic accident patients in early stage to reduce pain. Refer to autonomic nerve system, chuna treatment seem to do positive effect but Further long term study in a large scale is needed.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.1186-1197
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• 2022

Objectives: A case study about the effectiveness of integrative Korean medicine treatment in a psychogenic tremor patient. Case presentation: A 36-year-old male diagnosed with psychogenic tremor with low back pain underwent 29 days of inpatient treatment and 4 weeks of outpatient treatment. His pattern identification was a psychogenic tremor of the weakness of the heart and gall bladder (SimDamHeoGup) type. The treatments were herbal medicine and acupuncture. He took Cheongshimondam-tang for 29 days and Chunwangbosim-dan for 6 weeks when he had symptoms. He also received acupuncture for 20 minutes twice a day at GB20 (Pungji), L14 (Hapgok), HT4 (Yeongdo), PC6 (Naegwan), HT7 (Sinmun), GB34 (Yangleungcheon), ST36 (Joksamni), SP6 (Sameumgyo), and LR3 (Taechung). After 8 weeks of treatment, the Fahn Tolosa Marin rating (FTM) scale of his tremor, at rest, dropped from Grade 4 on both upper extremities, trunk, and both lower extremities at the time of admission to Grade 2 in both upper extremities and trunk, and Grade 0 in both lower extremities at the time of discharge. His Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score decreased from 38 to 7, and his numerical rating scale (NRS) decreased from 8 to 1 for low back pain and from 9 to 2 for tremor. A follow-up visit to the hospital 2 months after the end of treatment confirmed continued symptom improvements and no significant side effects. Conclusions: This study suggests the possibility of treating psychogenic tremor using only Korean medicine treatments. Further studies with control groups and long-term follow-up are needed.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

Backgrounds : Gamichungsangboha-tang extract has been known to improve pulmonary functions and quality of life within four weeks of treatment. Cessation of treatment causes recurrence of symptoms and regression of pulmonary function and poorer quality of life. Long-term herbal therapy is difficult to maintain due to economic burden and other reasons. AF-365 is made with reduced dosage of Gamichungsangboha-tang extract. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of AF-365 for maintenance therapy. Materials and Methods : The subjects consisted of 27 patients with asthma who had beed treated with AF-365 for four weeks. First, patients were treated with Gamichungsangboha-tang extract for four weeks. Second patients stopped herbal medicine for four weeks and after that they took AF-365. Pulmonary function test(PFT) was checked before and after four weeks of treatment. Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics(QLQAKA) was checked every two weeks from the beginning. The effects of AF-365 were analysed throughout the last four weeks. Results : Treatment of AF-365 for four weeks resulted in significant increase in PEFR%, QLQAKA. The QLQAKA of the step3, step4 group classified by Global initiative for asthma(GINA) showed significant improvement, and the QLQAKA of the step2 group showed no significant difference. In step3 group, PEFR% increased significantly. Conclusions : This study supports a role for AF-365 in maintenance of pulmonary function and quality of life, especially in persistent symptomatic asthmatics.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2015

Objectives : Clerodendron trichotomumThunberg grows wild fields and mountains in South Korea and China. They have been used for anti-hypertension disease. This study was performed in order to observe the effects ofClerodendron trichotomumThunberg tea on anti-hypertension.Methods : For the study ofClerodendron trichotomumThunberg tea, we had divided male SHR (Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat) to ten groups. Control group is SHR. The treatment group is SHR which is administered tea extract at dose of 200 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day orally for 8 weeks. We measured systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, number of pulse, body weight, total cholesterol and triglyceride from blood serum.Results : The level of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased by 12.5% and 44.9% inClerodendron trichotomumThunberg tea groups than control group. Heart rate ofClerodendron trichotomumThunberg tea groups, 24.5%, was significantly lower than control group. We found that treatment with the water extract fromClerodendron trichotomumThunberg leave and flower significantly decreased weight of body, total cholesterol and triglyceride to 20.4% and 27.7% compared to untreated control group, significantly (P< 0.05).Conclusions : These results suggest that leaf and flower tea ofClerodendron trichotomumThunberg tea is effective in prevention and treatment of hypertension and decreasing cholesterol. Long term consumption ofClerodendron trichotomumThunberg leaf and flower tea can be help in lowering high systolic and blood diastolic pressure, heart rate and blood serum in SHR.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.184-191
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• 2003

Background : Nowadays asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribution to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. Chungsangboha-tang is the herbal treatment of choice in persistent asthma patients. It has been recognized that cessation of treatment with Chungsangboha-tang evokes a recurrence of symptoms in patients with controlled asthma. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effect of Chungsangboha-tang. Materials and Methods : The subjects consisted of 24 patients with asthma who had been treated with Chungsangboha-tang for four weeks. Chungsangboha-tang is an herbal decoction which has been used as the traditional therapeutic agent for asthma. PFT, QLQAKA, blood eosinophils, serum IgE, Serum IL-4, IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$ were checked before treatment, before withdrawal and 3 months after cessation of treatment with Chungsangboha-tang. Results : Treatment with Chungsangboha-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in FEV1.0%, PEFR%, and QLQAKA. The patients were treated with Chungsangboha-tang for four weeks with no significant difference in the blood eosinophils, serum IgE, IL-4 and IL-5. The serum $IFN-{\gamma}$ in asthmatic patients decreased significantly after 4 weeks of treatment. Discontinuation of treatment with Chungsangboha-tang resulted in significant drops in QLQAKA. Others measures in asthmatic patients 3 months after discontinuation of treatment with Chungsangboha-tang showed no significant difference. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that asthma can be exacerbated by discontinuation of treatment with Chungsangboha-tang in patients with asthma. Obviously further research concerning this is still necessary.