• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate immune regulatory effects of the pharmacopuncture with MOK on hyperthyroid rats. Methods : The experimental hyperthyroidism was prepared by the intraperitoneal injection of L-thyroxine(LT4, 0.5 mg/kg) once daily for 2 weeks in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. The pharmacopuncture with MOK extract(MOK pharmacopuncture) at doses of 0.3 or 3 mg/kg was injected on acupuncture points in the thyroid glands of hyperthyroid rats once a day for 2 weeks. Propylthiouracil(PTU, 10 mg/kg) as a reference group was subcutaneously injected into the dorsal neck. We measured the levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 in the sera of rats using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay(ELISA) and determined the expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, IL-10, and Foxp3 in spleen tissues by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : The treatment of MOK pharmacopuncture in hyperthyroid rats significantly decreased the serum levels of Th1 cytokine, $IFN-{\gamma}$(p<0.01 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU) and significantly increased the levels of Th2 cytokine, IL-4(p<0.05 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.001 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU) compared to control group. Also, the MOK pharmacopuncture significantly increased IL-4 expression(p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU), IL-10(p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.01 for PTU), and Foxp3(p<0.01 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg and p<0.01 for PTU) in spleen tissues of hyperthyroid rats compared to control group. Conclusions : Our results suggest that MOK pharmacopuncture can help to ameliorate the pathological progression of hyperthyroidism by regulation of the Th1/Th2 imbalance.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2017

Sweet's syndrome, or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, occurs in association with autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis but is rare in Graves' disease, in which all cases are induced by propylthiouracil (PTU). We report a case of Sweet's syndrome in a patient with Graves' disease treated with methimazole (MMI) during three weeks. A 34-year-old man presented with the acute onset of high fever, skin rashes on the whole body, arthralgia, and acroparesthesia. Laboratory results showed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. MMI first stopped and antibiotics and antihistamine therapy started, but his symptoms dramatically improved after oral prednisolone. Graves' disease has again been treated by MMI because of his aggravated ophthalmopathy. After one year of retreatment with MMI, there has been no recurrence of Sweet's syndrome, supporting that Sweet's syndrome in this case was not related to MMI exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Sweet's syndrome associated with Graves' disease per se but not PTU or MMI use.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 1992

This experiment was carried out to elucidate the effects of the thyroid function on lactation in female rats. One hundred and five female rats, whose body weight was approximately 250g with normal parturition, were divided into 3.5 THY, 35 PTU, and 35 CON. The $30{\mu}g$ L-thyroxine per rat was administered subcutaneously for the THY group with 3-days intervals arid 0.03% propylthiouracil solution was drunk for the PTU group. After the treatments body weight, thyroid weights and prolactin levels in serum, and histological changes in thyroid and mammary gland were investigated for 3 weeks with 3-days interval. The results obtained were as follows 1. The body weights of PTU group were lower than those of CON arid THY groups. The changes in body weights were significant between 3 and 6 days and between 15 and 18 days. 2. Differences in thyroid weight among the groups were significant after 9 days, The thyroid weights of PTU group were much higher than those of CON and THY group. 3. The follicular epithelia of PTU group after 6 days showed cuboidal phenomena which were accompanied by hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and this phenomena continued until post weaning period. Those of THY group after 9 days showed a squamous degeneration together with pyknosis. 4. The prolactin concentrations of THY group were higher than the other groups after 12 days. and those of CON group were higher than the others after 18 days. However, those of PTU group were lower all through the period. 5. The secretary epithelial cells of THY and CON groups became cuboidal after 12 days, but after 15 days the differentiation of mammary tissue was progressing in THY group faster than CON group. The degeneration of mammary tissue were observed in PTU group as time lapses, so after 15 days the exfoliation of secretory epithelium and atrophy of alveolus were recognized. 6. The body weights of offspring for all experimental groups were increasing as time lapses, but the values for PTU group were markedly lower than the others.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.132-146
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• 2016

Objectives This study's object was to observe the comparative effects of Yangkyuksanhwa-tang, Palmulgunja-tang and Cheongpyesagan-tang on the chronic LT4(levothyroxine) induced hyperthyroidism in rats.Methods Six groups, each of 8 rats in group, were used in this study. Saline and distilled water treated rats are intact control group. Hyperthyroidism was induced by daily subcutaneous LT4 300 μg/kg treatment for 27 days(LT4 control). Since 12th LT4 treatment PTU(propylthiouracil) 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneal injected(PTU group) and aqueous extracts of Yangkyuksanhwa-tang, Palmulgunja-tang and Cheongpyesagan-tang(YS, PG and CS) 500 mg/kg were orally administrated(YS, PG, CS group), once a day for 15 days. The differences in the body, thyroid gland and epididymal fat pad weights, serum T3(tri-iodothyronine), T4(thyroxine), TSH(thyroid-stimulating hormone), thyroid gland and epididymal fat pad histopathology, liver weight, AST(asparte aminotransferase), ALT(alanine aminotransferase) concentrations, hepatic lipid peroxidation, GSH(glutathione), SOD(superoxide dismutase), CAT(catalase) activities, liver histopathology were observed to evaluate effects on hyperthyroidism, liver damages and antioxidant effects.Results As results of LT4 treatment, hyperthyroidism and related liver damages such as lower body, thyroid weights, higher serum T3, T4, AST, ALT levels, thinner follicular lining epithelium in thyroid glands were observed. However, these symptoms were inhibited by oral treatment of YS, PG and CS. As compared with PTU treatment, these herbal prescriptions showed lower overall efficacy on the hyperthyroidism, but YS showed more favorable effects on the hepatic antioxidant defense systems.Conclusions This results suggest that YS, PG and CS favorably control the LT4 induced hyperthyroidism and related liver damages in rats through modulation of the hepatic antioxidative defense systems.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.404-409
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• 2017

This study was to determine whether blue honeysuckle lyophilized concentrated powder (BH) has positive effects on hypothyroidism and related liver damage in propylthiouracil-induced Hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine (LT4)-treated group was administrated by intraperitoneal injection with LT4, while BH or Flos Lonicerae lyophilized aqueous extract (LF)-treated groups were orally administrated for 42 days which two weeks pri or to PTU injection. The changes in organ weight, serum AST & ALT, serum lipid level, liver defense system were measured and the histopathology of the liver was observed. The oral administrations of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of BH showed favorable effects compared to LF on hypothyroidism-related liver damages through the enhance antioxidant defense system.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.585-591
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• 2010

Purpose : Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents. In this study, we investigated the natural course and the prognostic factors of Graves' disease in Korean children and adolescents. Methods : One-hundred thirteen (88 girls and 25 boys) patients were included in this study. A retrospective analysis was made of all patients who were diagnosed with Graves' disease. The following parameters were recorded and analyzed: patient's sex, age at diagnosis, duration of disease, laboratory findings, symptoms and signs, and family history of autoimmune thyroid disease. Results : All patients were initially treated with antithyroid drugs, either methimazole (93.8%) or propylthiouracil (6.2%). Antithyroid drugs had been discontinued in 75 (66.4%) of 113 patients. Of these 75 patients, 23 (20.4%) relapsed after $25.5{\pm}33.7$ months. Thirteen (11.5%) of 23 patients, who experienced the first relapse, showed a second remission. However, 2 (1.8%) of 13 patients relapsed again. Euthyroid state could not be achieved by antithyroid drugs in 1 patient, and radioactive iodine therapy was performed. The older the patient at diagnosis, the greater the likelihood of remission ($P$=0.034). Conclusion : Age at diagnosis seems to be a prognostic factor in Korean children and adolescents with Graves' disease, and should be taken into account in treatment plan determination.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.77-85
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• 2018

Objective : This study was intended to examine the effects of water extract of Prunellae Spica (PS), which is a herb with 'cold' nature based on hot and cold theory of traditional Korean medicine. Methods : Hyperthyroidism was induced in SD rats by LT4 (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for four weeks. After 2 weeks of LT4 injection, rats were divided randomly into four groups; normal, LT4-induced hyperthyroid control, PS extract (500 mg/kg, p.o.)-treated group, and propylthiouracil (PTU, 10 mg/kg, s.c.)-treated positive group. After 2 weeks of drug treatment, all rats were sacrificed and harvested blood samples and thyroid tissues. The changes of body weight, food and water intake, and body temperature were measured weekly. Serological markers were analyzed in sera using an enzyme-based assay, and thyroid tissues were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E). Brain and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) tissues were isolated and analyzed the expression of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels by Western blot. Results : PS extract administration attenuated the loss of body weight and the increase of body temperature in LT4-induced hyperthyroidism rats. PS extract increased the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and decreased tiiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4). In action mechanism, PS extract regulated the expression of transient receptor potential channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) and transient Receptor Potential channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8), the thermoregulators. Conclusion : To conclude, PS extract can improve the symptoms of hyperthyroidism through regulation of the thyroid hormones imbalance and thermoregulation via TRP channels.