• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.135-146
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy with oriental medication on the patient with regional rheumatoid arthritis. The patient had resistant to DMARDs so she was in the debilitating condition and suffered from edema, pain, stiffness of joint and purpura before live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy. Methods : The regional rheumatoid arthritis patient had edema, pain, stiffness of joint and purpura on right foot. We treated the patient with live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine. Results : The symptoms of regional rheumatoid arthritis was improved through live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine. The patient maintains her condition with oriental medicine treatment after stopped all DMARDs such as MTX(methotrexate) and NSAIDs. After this treatment the patient's walking difficulty has been improved. Conclusions : This study shows that live leech(hirudo medicinalis) therapy and oriental medicine can elevate the regional rheumatoid arthritis patient's quality of life with continuous health care and treatment for major problem. For more accurate studies, further studies would be needed with more cases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1233-1242
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• 2007

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which might be mediated by the altered activation of Immune system, ultimately leading to the destruction of cartilage and bone. To examine effects of GHS on rheumatoid arthritis DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen to induced arthritis and then treated with GHS once a day for 7 weeks. Oral administration of GHS (200 mg/Kg) significantly suppressed the progression of CIA, which extend is comparable to that of methotrexate (MTX, 0.3 mg/Kg), a positive control. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints, which was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation, was also lowered by GHS. The production of TNF-and IL-6 in serum was significantly suppressed. The levels of IFN-g in the culture supernatant of splenocytes stimulated with CD3/CD28 or collagen were dramatically decreased, while those of IL-4 was increased. The levels of IgG and IgM RA factor were also decreased in the serum. FACS analysis indicated that B cells (in DLN), CD3+ T cells (in spleen, and paw joint), CD11b+Gr-1+ cells (in paw joint), CD3+CD49b(DX5) (in PBMC) were decreased and there was increased proportion of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD25+ T cells in DLN. In conclusion, our results demonstrates that GHS significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and this action was characterized by the decreased production of TNF-a, IL-6, and rheumatoid factors, and modulations of immune cell populations.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2003

Rheumatic diseases can be categorized by pathology into several specific types of musculoskeletal problems, including synovitis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), enthesopathy (e.g. ankylosing spondylitis) and cartilage degeneration (e.g. osteoarthritis). Skeletal radiographs have contributed to the diagnosis of these articular diseases, and some disease entities need typical radiographic changes as a factor of the diagnostic criteria. However, they sometimes show normal radiographic findings in the early stage of disease, when there is demineralization of less than 30-50 %. Bone scans have also been used in arthritis, but not widely because the findings are nonspecific and it is thought that bone scans do not add significant information to routine radiography. Bone scans do however play a different role than simple radiography, and it is a complementary imaging method in the course of management of arthritis. The Image quality of bone scans can be improved by obtaining regional views and images under a pin-hole collimator, and through a variety of scintigraphic techniques including the three phase bone scan and bone SPECT. Therefore, bone scans could improve the diagnostic value, and answer multiple clinical questions, based on the pathophysiology of various forms of arthritis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.104-112
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• 2012

The fruit of Terminalia chebula Retzius has been used as a panacea in India and Southeast Asia but its biological activities have not been fully elucidated. Here we report anti-arthritic and analgesic effect of NDI10218, a standardized ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula, on collagen-induced arthritis and acetic acid-induced writhing model, respectively. Arthritis was induced in DBA/1J mice by immunizing bovine type II collagen and mice were treated with NDI10218 daily for 5 weeks after the onset of the disease. NDI10218 reduced the arthritis index and blocked the synovial hyperplasia in a dose-dependent manner. The serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$ were significantly reduced in mice treated with NDI10218. Production of the inflammatory IL-17, but not immunosuppressive IL-10, was also inhibited in splenocytes isolated from NDI10218-treated arthritis mice. Administration of NDI10218 markedly decreased the number of T cell subpopulations in the regional lymph nodes of the arthritis mice. Finally, NDI10218 reduced the number of abdominal contractions in acetic acid-induced writhing model, suggesting an analgesic effect of this extract. Taken together, these results suggest that NDI10218 can be a new therapeutic candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.13-26
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• 2003

Background and Objectives: Bee venom therapy is a new acupuncture theraphy using both acupuncture effect and a medical effect that the biochemical peculiar material affects body. The bee venom theraphy is efficacious of injecting region of disease and acupoint with extracting bee venom from bee and processing it. There have been more than 20 dissertations in Korea about bee venom and the bee venom research has actively been carrying done in other countries such as US, China, Russia, Northern Europe since 1980s. This paper is to understand the trend of arthritis and bee venom, and will be contributed to further bee venom study by analyzing local and international theses. Material and Method: This paper is reported by analyzing the dissertations regarding arthritis and bee venom of Korea and other countries and referencing PubMed. The reference terminology is as follows. bee venom, bee venom therapy, apitoxin, apitherapy, bee sting, bee sing therapy, arthritis, rheumatoid, rheumatic arthritis and so on. Results and Conclusions: The following result have been obtained. 1. Bee venom has an effect on both in vivio and in vitro of arthritisthis with suppressing inflammation, fever and pain. 2. Occasionally bee venom may induce either pain or inflammation. 3. Bee venom induces acute pain in healthy condition, while it suppresses inflammation and pain in regional inflammation state. 4. Bee venom may either induce or suppress pain and inflammation according to the used dosage.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2015

Cynanchi wilfordii Radix roots have been utilized as traditional medicine for variety of diseases including diabetes mellitus, aging progression and scavenging free radicals, enhancing immunity, reducing high serum cholesterol, and anti-tumor activity. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly understood. The principal objective of this study was to determine the effect of cynandione A on osteoclast cells. Thus, we was isolated cynandione A from Cynanchi wilfordii Radix roots and evaluated the effect of cynandione A on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. We found that cynandione A significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation stimulated-RANKL in RAW 264.7 cells. Cynandione A conspicuously inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in cynandione A treated with RANKL. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis leads to fracture of bone and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2023

Purpose: This descriptive survey compared health literacy and health behaviors between Korean women with and without breast cancer. Methods: In total, 95 women with and 97 women without breast cancer (age range: 40-69 years) completed the survey. Health literacy and health behavior were analyzed in women with and without breast cancer, using the Newest Vital Sign. Results: Women with breast cancer were less frequently alcohol drinkers (14.7% vs. 47.4%, p < .001) and more frequently exercised (65.3% vs. 49.5%, p = .027), obtained health information (17.9% vs. 8.2%, p = .047), and attended health education programs (10.5% vs. 1.0%, p = .005) than women without cancer. In both groups, women with higher literacy levels outnumbered those with limited literacy. Conclusion: The results indicated that women with breast cancer were more likely to engage in health-promotion activities than women without cancer, and this increased their health literacy levels. The findings could inform interventions involving breast cancer prevention methods.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.140-147
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• 2014

Background Epidermal cysts are commonly occurring masses usually less than 5 cm in diameter, but in predisposed patients, epidermal cysts can grow relatively large due to chronic infection. Methods From June 2002 to July 2010, 17 patients received 19 regional perforator-based island flaps to cover defects due to the excision of large epidermal cysts (diameter >5 cm) in the buttocks. Eight patients had diabetes, and seven had rheumatoid arthritis. The pedicles were not fully isolated to prevent spasms or twisting. Results All the flaps survived completely, except for one case with partial necrosis of the flap, which necessitated another perforator-based island flap for coverage. There were two cases of wound dehiscence, which were reclosed after meticulous debridement. There were no recurrences of the masses during follow-up periods of 8.1 months (range, 6-12 months). Conclusions In patients with large epidermal cysts and underlying medical disorders, regional perforator-based island flaps can be the solution to coverage of the defects after excision.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.424-430
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• 2006

Purpose : Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis(JRA) is one of the most common rheumatic diseases of childhood and is an important cause of short- and long-term disability. The purpose of this study was to determine the disease course and outcome in childhood patients with JRA. Methods : Fifty nine patients with JRA who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center from August 1990 to November 2004 were enrolled in this study. Sex, age, type, affected joints, extra-articular manifestations, laboratory and radiologic findings, treatments, and outcomes of JRA patients were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among JRA patients, 32.2 percent had pauciarticular type, 30.5 percent had polyarticular type and 37.3 percent had systemic type. The ratio of boys to girls was 1.7 : 1 and the mean age at onset was $9.3{\pm}3.7$(1.3-15.9) years. The most commonly affected joints were knee, ankle and wrist. The extra-articular manifestations observed were fever, rash, myalgia and lymph node enlargement, etc. The main laboratory findings observed were leukocytosis, anemia, thrombocytosis, elevated ESR, and elevated CRP. Rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody(ANA) were positive in 5.3 percent and 18.0 percent. Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAID) were used most frequently and methotrexate with or without steroids was added in 27.1 percent of patients unresponsive to NSAID. 88.1 percent of patients were cured without functional disability and only one patient was in functional status IV. One patient, who had pulmonary involvement, died. Conclusion : Our results showed an even distribution in type of onset, male predominance, older age of onset, low incidence of iridocyclitis, and low positivity of ANA in JRA patients; this differs from occidental data. This study may suggest regional differences and variability in disease groups of JRA among different racies, but further multi-center trials and large scale epidemiological studies are needed to confirm our conclusion.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.212-217
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• 2023

We report a case of transient osteoporosis of the hip with a femoral neck fracture found during follow-up. A 53-year-old man presented with left hip pain without trauma. The pain did not improve after 2 weeks and he was brought to our hospital by ambulance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the left hip joint showed diffuse edema in the bone marrow, which was identified by low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and increased signal intensity on short tau inversion recovery. This edema extended from the femoral head and neck to the intertrochanteric area. He was diagnosed with transient osteoporosis of the left hip. Rest gradually improved his pain; however, 3 weeks later, his left hip pain worsened without trauma. X-ray, computed tomography, and MRI results of the hip joint demonstrated a left femoral neck fracture, and osteosynthesis was performed. Differential diagnoses included avascular necrosis of the femoral head, infection, complex regional pain syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, and other cancers. Transient osteoporosis of the hip generally has a good prognosis with spontaneous remission within a few months to 1 year. However, a sufficient length of follow-up from condition onset to full recovery is necessary to avoid all probable complications such as fractures.