• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.290-298
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• 2013

This study examined the effects of calcium (Ca) gluconate on collagen-induced DBA mouse rheumatoid arthritis (CIA). A single daily dose of 200, 100 or 50 mg/kg Ca gluconate was administered orally to male DBA/1J mice for 40 days after initial collagen immunization. To ascertain the effects administering the collagen booster, CIA-related features (including body weight, poly-arthritis, knee and paw thickness, and paw weight increase) were measured from histopathological changes in the spleen, left popliteal lymph node, third digit and the knee joint regions. CIA-related bone and cartilage damage improved significantly in the Ca gluconate-administered CIA mice. Additionally, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the paw were reduced in Ca gluconate-treated CIA mice compared to CIA control groups. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the Ca gluconate group. Finally, the production of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, involved in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, were suppressed by treatment with Ca gluconate. Taken together, these results suggest that Ca gluconate is a promising candidate anti-rheumatoid arthritis agent, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunomodulatory effects in CIA mice.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.156-172
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• 2010

Purpose: In Oriental medicine, menstruation is a significant index of women's health. Especially high school girls often have various menstrual problems. We think that students who have menstrual problem have some symptoms in relation to an etiological cause. So we had carried out this study to investigate association of DSOM scores and an abnormality of menstruation in oriental medicine. Methods: First we have 2137 high school girls answer to menstrual questionnaire that we made and DSOM, next investigated the pathogenic factor of DSOM which effect dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia using regression model. Logistic regression analysis indicate as follows. Results: 1. In comparison with dysmenorrhea, Qi depression(氣滯), blood stasis(血瘀), dampness (濕), phlegm(痰) is associated positively and liver(肝) negatively. The sensitivity is 64.3%, and the specificity is 75.1%. 2. In comparison with menorrhagia, Blood deficiency(血虛), Qi depression(氣滯), blood stasis(血瘀) is associated positively and liver(肝) negatively. The sensitivity is 53.9%, and the specificity is 76.1%. Conclusion: In this study, that has been carried out to organize the diagnosis of dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia in Oriental medicine, we can see that the disease factors of them were correlated with our Medical theory.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2016

Anterior knee pain is a major problem among adolescents and young adults especially those who participates in sports. The most common pathogenesis of anterior knee pain can arise from compression and shear forces in the patellofemoral joint. It is also caused by impingement of infrapatellar fat pad. Fat pad impingement can occur when the fat pad becomes swollen and inflamed due to a direct blow or chronic irritation. As a result, the bottom tip (or inferior pole) of the patella can pinch the fat pad. One of the many causes of swollen fat pad can be secondary to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The aim of this study was to compare the infrapatellar fat pad volume in patients with acute ACL injury and a group of age-, gender-, and activity- matched controls with intact ligament. Axial magnetic resonance (MR) images have been performed on 32 patients with torn ACL and 40 control patients. The volume of the fat pad was measured digitally from MR image by using a 3d Reconstruction software, ellipsoidal approximation, and a MATLAB code. The results were compared between patients with torn ACL and control group. Patients with a torn ACL had a significantly larger fat pad than the controls (P=0.01). There was no significant difference between the methods used to measure the infrapatellar fat pad volume (P=0.83-0.87). Thus, lesions of the infrapatellar fat pad is often associated with ACL injury.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation of the ICAM-l levels in serum and CSF with cerebral vasospasm in early aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] patients. Methods : A prospective analysis was performed in thirty consecutive patients who underwent early surgery for intracranial aneurysmal SAH. The serum and CSF were obtained daily through the indwelling arterial lines and intraoperative ventriculostomy, or cisternal drain for 4 consecutive days after surgery. The ICAM-1 levels in serum and CSF samples were measured via quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The mean concentration of serum in aneurysmal SAH patients was 207.89ng/ml compared with 132.25ng/ml in controls. The mean concentration of CSF in aneurysmal SAH patients was 76.39ng/ml compared with 3.96ng/ml in controls. There were no significant differences between serum and CSF ICAM-1 level with regards to clinical characteristics in patients with aneurysmal SAH [P>0.05]. However, CSF ICAM-1 levels increased significantly in patients with vasospasm compared with those without vasospasm [P<0.05]. Conclusion : The major result of this study shows that ICAM-1 is increased in CSF after early aneurysmal SAH and that this increase in ICAM-1 has correlation with cerebral vasospasm. Further study is needed to determine whether ICAM-1 levels may be indicator in the pathogenesis of important events leading to cerebral vasospasm.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.912-919
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• 2001

The increased oxidative stress may play an important role on the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic complications, and the blood level of vitamin C and lipid peroxidation in NIDDM patients may be used as an indicator for oxidative stress. However there is only scanty evidence on the blood level of vitamin C in NIDDM patients with or without diabetic complications. The study population consisted of 90 NIDDM patients(diabetes without complication, 48, and diabetes with complications, 42) and 41 normal subjects. The 42 diabetic complications were divided into 3 groups : 15 diabetic nephropathy, 18 diabetic neuropathy, 9 diabetic retinopathy. The anthropometric data and blood biochemical data were studied. The dietary intake was determined by 24 hour recall methods and food frequency questionnaire. The plasma concentrations of MDA and vitamin C were determined by fluorophotometer and HPLC respectively. 1) In blood lipoprotein study, diabetes with complication had higher level of TG than diabetes without complications, while no significant differences in total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL were shown. Diabetic neuropathy had the highest TG level among diabetic complication groups. 2) The intakes of vitamin B complexes(vitamin B$_2$, vitamin B$_{6}$, not vitamin B$_1$) and antioxidant vitamins(vitamin A and vitamin E, not vitamin C) and certain minerals such as iron and calcium in diabetes were not sufficient but the intakes of energy, protein, niacin, and phosphorus in diabetes were sufficient. The dietary intakes between diabetes with-and without complications were not significantly different. Among diabetic complications, the diabetic retinopathy had the lowest intake of vitamin B$_2$ and B$_{6}$(p < 0.05). the diabetic neuropathy or nephropathy consumed extremely low amount of vitamin A. 3) The MDA concentrations of NIDDM was significantly higher than that in controls(p < 0. 05) while no significant difference in the MDA concentration between with and without complications was shown. Although there were no statistical differences, the diabetic nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy showed the higher concentration of MDA than the diabetes without complications or diabetic retinopathy. 4) The plasma concentration of vitamin C in controls was higher than that in diabetes(p < 0.05) while the plasma vitamin C in diabetes with and without complications were similar. In diabetic complications, no differences in plasma vitamin C concentration of three groups were shown. This study showed that the oxidative stress in NIDDM patients was highly increased and the vitamin C reserve was significantly depleted, as compared with normals, although their intakes of vitamin C met korean RDA, which means that diabetes need more vitamin C intake to decrease oxidative stress in NIDDM patients.nts.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6447-6453
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• 2012

Background: The mucin components of the gastric gel layer function as a protective and lubricating factor against luminal acid and proteolytic enzymes. Alteration of mucin expression in gastric preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions has suggested potential roles in neoplastic processes. This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of MUC-2, MUC-4 and MUC-5AC in Japanese gastric cancer. Methods: Expression of MUC-2, -4 and -5AC was evaluated on tissue microarrays of gastric carcinomas and adjacent non-cancerous mucosa specimens by immunohistochemistry and compared with clinicopathological parameters and survival time of the patients. Results: The three mucins were found to be expressed to a lesser extent in gastric carcinomas in comparison with non-cancerous mucosa (p<0.05). MUC-2 expression was negatively correlated with tumor size, depth of invasion, and TNM staging of gastric cancer (p<0.05), while that of MUC-5AC was negatively associated with the depth of invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (p<0.05), but positively with MUC-4 and MUC-2 expression (p<0.05). There was higher MUC-2 expression in intestinal- than diffuse-type carcinomas (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated no relationship between expression of the three mucins and the cumulative survival rate of patients, even stratified according to the depth of invasion (p>0.05). Conclusion: Down-regulated expression of MUC-2, -4 and -5AC may be involved in pathogenesis, invasion, metastasis or differentiation of gastric carcinoma. Their altered expression might therefore be employed as an indicator of pathobiological behavior.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.354-360
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• 1999

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disorder with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. DA-6034,$ 7-carboxymethyloxy-3^{l}, 4^{l},$ 5-trimethoxy flavone, is a synthetic flavonoid known to possess anti-inflammatory activity. This study was performed to evaluate the oral therapeutic effect of DA-6034 in three experimental animal models of IBD : two chemical-induced IBD models of rats and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 transgenic rat model known to develop spontaneous colitis without the use of exogenous agents. Acute chemical colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of 1.2 ml of 4% acetic acid solution. Prednisolone (1 mg/kg), sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg) and DA-6034 (0.3~3 mg/kg) were orally administered twice daily for 6 days in these rats. In addition, chronic chemical colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) 30 mg in 50% ethanol and agents were orally administered for 6 or 20 days. In chemical-induced IBD models, all of these agents reduced the severity of colitis and specially, DA-6034 (3 mg/kg) showed more potent effect than other drugs in macroscopic lesion score. In HLA-B27 transgenic rats, DA-6034 (3 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.5 gm/kg) were treated orally twice daily for 6 weeks. The HLA-B27 transgenic rats showed only mild colitis, compared with the chemical-induced colitis models. DA-6034 ameliorated the loose stool and decreased microscopic damage, which is the important indicator of this model. In conclusion, oral therapy of DA-6034 attenuated the macroscopic and histologic damages of the colon in all three experimental models of IBD, which suggest that DA-6034 could be a promising drug in the treatment of IBD.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.347-359
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• 2018

Purpose: Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) share a similar inflammatory pathogenesis. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) can induce anticyclic-citrullinated peptide autoantibodies (anti-CCP antibodies), a key factor in the development of RA. This study aimed at evaluating the relationships between the 2 diseases and identifying the clinical implications thereof, with a focus on periodontal pathogens in Korean adults. Methods: A total of 260 RA patients and 86 age- and sex-matched control patients without arthritis were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. Periodontal indices and the prevalence and amount of periodontal pathogens were compared between the groups. Correlations between periodontal and RA indices were examined, as were correlations between 9 periodontal pathogens and RA indices. Results: The RA group had significantly higher values than the control group for all investigated periodontal indices (P<0.05) except the number of teeth. The gingival index (GI) was correlated with the disease activity score 28 (DAS28) (r=0.125, P=0.049), RA disease duration (r=0.253, P<0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=0.162, P=0.010), and anti-CCP antibody titer (r=0.205, P=0.004). Probing pocket depth (PPD) was correlated with ESR (r=0.139, P=0.027) and anti-Pg antibody titer (r=0.203, P=0.001). Bleeding on probing (BOP) was correlated with DAS28 (r=0.137, P=0.030), RA disease duration (r=0.202, P=0.001), ESR (r=0.136, P=0.030), anti-Pg antibody titer (r=0.177, P=0.005), and anti-CCP antibody titer (r=0.188, P=0.007). Clinical attachment level (CAL) and periodontitis severity were correlated with anti-Pg antibody titer (the former r=0.201, P=0.002; the latter r=0.175, P=0.006). The quantity of Pg was positively correlated with the serum anti-Pg antibody titer (r=0.148, P=0.020). Conclusions: The GI, BOP, and PPD showed positive relationships with several RA indices. The anti-Pg antibody titer had positive relationships with PPD, BOP, CAL, and periodontitis severity. Thus, increasing values of periodontal indices could be used as a risk indicator of disease development in RA patients, and an increasing anti-Pg antibody titer could be considered as a warning sign in RA patients suffering with periodontitis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.152-159
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• 2005

Background : Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are thought to be associated with increased airway inflammation, and the $NF-{\kappa}B$ is known to be an indicator of cellular activation and of inflammatory mediator production. This study was undertaken to investigate the change of cytokine characteristics and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in induced sputum of COPD patients during exacerbation and recovery of the disease. Methods : Sputum induction was performed in 37 patients with COPD during exacerbation and during recovery and in 15 healthy subjects. Cell counts, levels of IL-6, IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in induced sputum and NF-kB activity in macrophage of induced sputum were measured. Results : Patients with COPD showed significantly increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$(p<0.01) and increased $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in induced sputum(p<0.05) as compared with control subjects. Level of IL-8 during exacerbation of COPD decreased significantly during recovery(p<0.05). $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity and levels of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ tended to be decreased during recovery, but not siginificantly. Conclusion : Activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were thought to be associated with pathogenesis and exacerbations of COPD.