• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2019

There are no published data on Gyeongokgo (GOK) safety or efficacy despite being commonly use. The Gyeongokgo (GOK) is commonly used in traditional Korean medicine to promote a health qi and blood, but their objective data was not sufficient in clinical field. To investigate the safety and efficacy of GOK with hematologic and serologic testing and the change of the quality of life in healthy individuals. Randomized, subject-assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center pilot study Participants and Interventions 29 healthy volunteer subjects were randomly placed into the GOK group (n = 20) or placebo control group (n = 9) and instructed to take one treatment packet (GOK or placebo) twice daily for 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and underwent hematologic and serologic tests and body composition analysis. The FSS total score (p = 0.093) and SF-36 general health index (p = 0.002) were improved following treatment in the GOK group. Post-treatment thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were increased in the GOK group compared with pre-treatment levels (p = 0.0042). C-reactive protein levels decreased (p = 0.0256) in the GOK group compared with that the placebo group. In time-series tests, GOK did not affect post-prandial serum triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or C-peptide levels. Notably, elevations in serum fasting triglycerides at 2- (p = 0.0333) and 4-hours (p = 0.0414) post-prandial were lower than those in the placebo group. GOK reduced fatigue levels and did not significantly affect laboratory test results performed to measure safety, serum glucose, and lipid profiles. Post-meal triglyceride levels were effectively reduced with treatment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.36.1-36.8
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of the short-term application of insect-based diet in canine allergic dermatitis. Total 19 atopic dogs with concurrent cutaneous adverse food reactions were enrolled and classified into 3 groups. The treatment group (n = 7) was fed insect-based diet, the positive control group (n = 6) was fed salmon-based diet, and the negative control group (n = 6) was fed commercial or homemade diet for 12 weeks. The degree of skin lesions was evaluated based on canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI-4). Additionally, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and pruritus visual analog scale were evaluated. All indices were evaluated every 4 weeks after the initial administration of hypoallergenic diets. In the treatment group, significant decrease in the CADESI-4 score was observed at 8 weeks compared to the baseline score (p = 0.031). There were significant differences in the CADESI-4 score between the groups at 8 weeks (p = 0.008), 12 weeks (p = 0.012), and TEWL at 12 weeks (p = 0.022). This preliminary result demonstrates the potential hypoallergenicity of an insect-based diet through features that diminish cutaneous lesions and skin barrier dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Transplantation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2017

Background: Risk factors for bone avascular necrosis (AVN), a common late complication after kidney transplantation (KT), are not well known. Methods: Patients that underwent living-donor KT at Asan Medical Center between January 2009 and July 2016 were included in this retrospective study to determine the incidence and risk factors for AVN after KT. Results: Among 1,570 patients that underwent living-donor KT, 33 (2.1%) developed AVN during a mean follow-up of 49.8±25.0 months. Additionally, AVN was diagnosed at a mean of 13.9±6.6 months after KT. The mean cumulative corticosteroid dose during the last follow-up in patients without AVN (9,108±3,400 mg) was higher than that that in patients with AVN (4,483±1,114 mg) until AVN development (P<0.01). More patients among those with AVN (n=4, 12.1%) underwent steroid pulse treatment because of biopsy-proven rejections during the first 6 months after KT than patients without AVN (n=68, 4.4%; P=0.04). Female (hazard ratio [HR], 2.29; P=0.04) and steroid pulse treatment during the first 6 months (HR, 2.31; P=0.02) were significant AVN risk factors as revealed by the Cox proportional multivariate analysis. However, no significant differences in rejection-free graft survival rates were observed between the two groups (P=0.67). Conclusions: Steroid pulse treatment within 6 months of KT and being female were independent risk factors for AVN development.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.476-484
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• 2017

C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) stimulates cancer metastasis. NF-${\kappa}B$ regulates CXCR4 expression in cancer cells, and O-GlcNAc modification of NF-${\kappa}B$ promotes its transcriptional activity. Here, we determined whether CXCR4 expression is affected by O-GlcNAcylation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in lung metastasis of cervical cancer. We found elevated levels of O-linked-N-actylglucosamine transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcylation in cervical cancer cells compared to those in non-malignant epithelial cells and detected increased expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 (p65) and CXCR4 in cervical cancer cells. Knockdown of OGT inhibited the O-GlcNAcylation of p65 and decreased CXCR4 expression levels in HeLa cells. Thiamet G treatment increased O-GlcNAcylated p65, which subsequently enhanced CXCR4 expression levels. Inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation by 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) treatment decreased p65 activation, eventually inhibiting CXCR4 expression in HeLa cells. Lung tissues from mice engrafted with OGT-knockdown HeLa cells (shOGT) exhibited lower expression of Ki-67 and HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes compared to lung tissues from mice engrafted with control HeLa cells (shCTL). In addition, lung tissues from mice engrafted with shOGT cells exhibited lower p65 and CXCR4 immunoreactivity compared to tissues from mice engrafted with shCTL cells. Taken together, our data suggest that p65 O-GlcNAcylation promotes lung metastasis of cervical cancer cells by activating CXCR4 expression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.745-750
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• 2008

Selenium, an essential trace element possessing anti-carcinogenic properties, can induce apoptosis in cancer cells. We have previously shown that sodium selenite can induce apoptosis by activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in NB4 cells. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. Presently, we demonstrate that p53 contributes to apoptosis by directing signaling at the mitochondria. Immunofluorescent and Western blot procedures revealed selenite-induced p53 translocation to mitochondria. Inhibition of p53 blocked accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that mitochondrial p53 acts as an upstream signal of ROS and activates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Selenite also disrupted cellular calcium ion homeostasis in a ROS-dependent manner and increased mitochondrial calcium ion concentration. p38 kinase mediated phosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation of p53. Taken together, these results indicate that p53 involves selenite-induced NB4 cell apoptosis by translocation to mitochondria and activation mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in a transcription-independent manner.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.71-89
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of Banhabaeckchulchunm a-tang(BBCT) for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV) Methods : We searched randomized controlled trials(RCTs) which assess the effect of BB CT for BPPV through 8 electronic databases from their inception to July 2021. RevMan 5.4 was used to evaluate the risk of bias. Results : 12 RCTs with 901 subjects were included. The BBCT treatment group had significantly higher total effetive rate(TER) than the western medicine treatment group(P=0.0001), and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory(DHI) score(P=0.003), traditional chinese medicine syndrome(TCM syn.) score(P<0.00001), and Visual analog scale(VAS)(P=0.0006) were significantly lower than the western medicine treatment group. The combined treatment of BBCT and canalith repositioning procedure(CRP) group had significantly higher TER than only CRP treatment group(P=0.02), and there was no significant difference in DHI score(P=0.12). TG(P=0.006) and TC(P=0.04) were significantly lower, and ApoA1 was significantly higher(P=0.0001). There was no significant difference in LDL(P=0.24). Conclusions : These results demonstrate that BBCT could be effective for BPPV especially after CRP. However, because of limits of included studies such as high heterogeneity between the literatures, unclear risk of bias, insufficient reports of adverse events(AEs), a well-designed RCTs with a low risk of bias in more diverse countries are needed in the future.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.892-902
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ethical values of senior students in nursing (N＝111) and in medicine(N＝82). The data were collected through self-reported questionnaires in April, 1999. Categories for classifying used in the content analysis of the responses were : (1) human life (2) patient relationship (3) task relationship and (4) co-worker relationship. The results of the study are as follows ; 1) The ethical values of students in nursing and medicine were in the direction of utilitarian in the area of human life. The ethical values of students in nursing and medicine were in the direction of a deontological position in the area of patient relationship. The mean score for students in nursing was significantly higher than for those in medicine(P＜0.01) The ethical values of students in nursing and medicine was in the direction of utilitarian in the area of task relationship. The mean score for students in medicine was significantly lower than that of students in nursing(P＜0.01). The ethical values of students in nursing and medicine was definitely in the direction of a deontological position in co-worker. The mean score for students in nursing was significantly higher than that of students medicine (P＜0.05). 2) A positive correlation was found between the area of human life and patient relationship(P＜0.05), patient and task relationship(P＜0.01), and task and co-worker relationship(P＜0.05) for students in nursing. On the other hand, the area of human life was positively correlated with patient, task and co-worker relationship area(P＜0.05) for students in medicine. The area of patient relationship was also positively correlated with co -worker relationship for the students in medicine(P＜0.01). 3) The ethical values of students in nursing were related to demographic characteristics ; degree of participation in religion(P＜0.01)and degree of recognition of an ethical codes(P＜0.05), on the other hand, the ethical values of students in medicine showed no significant differences according to demogrephic variables.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was investigation of quantitative analysis of marker substances in Paeonia lactiflora extracts by solid fermentation. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in P. lactiflora extracts by solid fermentation, the separation method was performed on C18 column ($250\;mm\;{\times}\;4.6\;mm$, $5\;{\mu}m$, RS tech) using gradient solvent mixtures of water-acetonitrile with photodiode array detector (230nm). The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. Retention time of albiflorin and paeoniflorin was about 28.88, 31.92 min and linearity of calibration was showed good result(r2 = 0.9998, 0.9996), respectively. Content of albiflorin was $0.090\;{\pm}\;0.03%$ in P. lactiflora extract(control), $0.102\;{\pm}\;0.00%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with Paecilomyces japonica, $0.056\;{\pm}\;0.01%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with Ganoderma lucidum, $0.093\;{\pm}\;0.00%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with honey and $0.046\;{\pm}\;0.00%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with Nuruk. Content of paeoniflorin was $4.506\;{\pm}\;0.13%$ in control, $2.599\;{\pm}\;0.04%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with Paecilomyces japonica, $1.222\;{\pm}\;0.03%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with Ganoderma lucidum, $2.750\;{\pm}\;0.05%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with honey and $0.847\;{\pm}\;0.00%$ in P. lactiflora extract fermented with Nuruk, respectively. Content of the marker substances did not increase in all fermentation experiment group.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.149-155
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• 2015

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum progesterone (P4) levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and the pregnancy rate among women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) using a flexible antagonist protocol. Methods: This prospective study included 200 IVF and ICSI-ET cycles in which a flexible antagonist protocol was used. The patients were divided into five distinct groups according to their serum P4 levels at the time of hCG administration (0.80, 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, and 1.00 ng/mL). The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) was calculated for each P4 interval. Statistically significant differences were observed at a serum P4 level of 0.9 ng/mL. These data suggest that a serum P4 concentration of 0.9 ng/mL may represent the optimal threshold level for defining premature luteinization (PL) based on the presence of a significant negative impact on the CPR. Results: The CPR for each round of ET was significantly lower in the PL group defined using this threshold (25.8% vs. 41.8%; p=0.019), and the number of oocytes retrieved was significantly higher than in the non-PL group ($17.3{\pm}7.2$ vs. $11.0{\pm}7.2$; p=0.001). Elevated serum P4 levels on the day of hCG administration were associated with a reduced CPR, despite the retrieval of many oocytes. Conclusion: Measuring serum P4 values at the time of hCG administration is necessary in order to determine the optimal strategy for embryo transfer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng is known to have antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated a possible role of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in suppressing dopaminergic neuronal cell death and the cleavage of p35 to p25 in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (ST) using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease mouse model. Methods: Ten-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with 30 mg/kg of MPTP at 24-h intervals for 5 d, and then administered KRG (1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg) once a day for 12 consecutive days from the first injection. Pole tests were performed to assess the motor function of the mice, dopaminergic neuronal survival in the SN and ST was evaluated using tyrosine hydroxylase-immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), p35, and p25 in the SN and ST were measured using Western blotting. Results: MPTP administration caused behavioral impairment, dopaminergic neuronal death, increased Cdk5 and p25 expression, and decreased p35 expression in the nigrostriatal system of mice, whereas KRG dose-dependently alleviated these MPTP-induced changes. Conclusion: These results indicate that KRG can inhibit MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal death and suppress the cleavage of p35 to p25 in the SN and the ST, suggesting a possible role for KRG in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.