• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.136-145
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report a case of 43 year-old patient, diagnosed with missed abortion who previously failed to do spontaneous gestational sac expulsion in spite of 2 week-expectant-method, eventually succeeded with Traditional Korean Herb Medicine (TKHM) treatment only. Methods: In transabdominal sonography, gestational sac was not present at week 8. Due to the possibility of effect of medication on future pregnancy and post-surgery complications, D&C (Dilation & Curettage) as well as any other treatment was not done. Instead, she presented to our clinic. A combination of 2 main TKHMs was prescribed with 120-150 cc/dose (2 times per day for a week) : Gunggi-tang for helping expulsion of the dead fetus and placenta, and Wooseul-tang for treating retained placenta. Results: On day 6 of TKHM treatment, initiation of placenta expulsion was done. From day 8, hemorrhage started, lasting for 6 days. On day 10, placenta was expelled. On day 13, gestational sac and placenta were completely expelled. No infection, delayed bleeding, or pain was observed. After bleeding stopped, menorrhea started from week 7. Conclusions: This report implies a potential of TKHM as an optional and safe medication for the natural expulsion of conceptus in missed abortion.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 2012

Infections involving Echinostoma hortense (E. hortense) are considered to more severe than infections caused by other heterophyids. Although parasite expulsion by host immune responses attenuates the symptoms of infection, the detailed mechanisms of the host immune response need to be determined, especially in local immune responses involving cytokine and immunoglobulin expressions. We infected BALB/c mice with E. hortense and examined recovery rates together with expressions of multiple cytokines and immunoglobulins in the villi and crypts of the small intestine using immunohistochemistry. We observed a close correlation between worm expulsion rates and cytokine/immunoglobulin expressions in E. hortense infected mice. This study contributes to an understanding of the relationship between the immune response and parasite expulsion in hosts.