• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2021

Towards the end of 2019, an atypical acute respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in Wuhan, China and subsequently named Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The rapid dissemination of COVID-19 has provoked a global crisis in public health. COVID-19 has been reported to cause sepsis, severe infections in the respiratory tract, multiple organ failure, and pulmonary fibrosis, all of which might induce mortality. Although several vaccines for COVID-19 are currently being administered worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet effectively under control. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents to eradicate the cause of the disease and/or manage the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 should be developed to effectively regulate the current pandemic. In this review, we discuss the possibility of managing the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 using natural products derived from medicinal plants used for controlling pulmonary inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. Diverse natural products have been reported to exert potential antiviral effects in vitro by affecting viral replication, entry into host cells, assembly in host cells, and release. However, the in vivo antiviral effects and clinical antiviral efficacies of these natural products against SARS-CoV-2 have not been successfully proven to date. Thus, these properties need to be elucidated through further investigations, including randomized clinical trials, in order to develop optimal and ideal therapeutic candidates for COVID-19.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.242-254
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• 2023

Although upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common diseases, there have been no studies of their relationship with the indices obtained from tongue image analyses. The purpose of this study was to identify a tongue index through an analysis of tongue images (TIs) showing significant changes before and after treatment in patients with URTIs. A computerized tongue image acquisition system was developed to acquire TIs from subjects in the same environment. An image was taken from each of 39 URTI patients and 39 healthy controls. For the patients, images were acquired before and after treatment to identify changes. The tongue area was classified into a tongue body and a tongue coating, and the coating ratio between the two areas, the average value of the colour of each area, and teeth marks were calculated. No significant difference was observed in age or sex between the URTI patients and control participants. Heart rates were slightly different. The analysis of TIs showed that the luminance of the tongue coating and the coating area ratio were decreased, while the reddish value of the tongue body at the centre area increased as the treatment progressed. Tongue coating and body in URTIs had different colour and shape from those in the normal. It is expected that this result will contribute not only to the objectification of traditional Chinese medicine but also to diagnostic methods that do not involve face-to-face physician visit during the pandemic.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1041-1050
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• 2009

Equine respiratory disease is a common cause of poor performance and training interruptions. The higher incidence rate of infectious upper respiratory disease (IURD) in thoroughbred racehorses at the Seoul Race Park coincided with the frequent stabling season, shorter stabling periods, and younger ages in this study. Incidence rates were also correlated with significantly lower proportions of cells expressing MHC class II-, CD2 antigen-, $CD4^+$- or $CD8^+$-T lymphocyte-, and B lymphocyte in IURD patients compared with healthy control groups in the summer and fall and in 2-and-3-year-old groups. The data suggested that movement and new environments may have resulted in immunosuppression and inappropriate responses to respiratory pathogens in IURD patients. The IURD incidence decreased with age, perhaps by the acquisition of immunity, and study results suggested that immunologic protection was associated with IURD, particularly in young thoroughbred racehorses. Streptococci isolates were identified in 11 of 72 IURD horses, and 3 of these isolates were identified as Streptococcus. equi subsp. equi. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated from 2 of 23 IURD horses in the spring (8.7%), 5 of 23 in the summer (21.7%), and 1 of 6 in winter (16.7%). S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (5%) was also identified in 3 of 61 isolates from clinically normal horses. Racetracks should implement anti-IURD protective measures by assessing the capacity of equine immunologic protection at the Park and by limiting the introduction of specific respiratory pathogens (such as S. equi subsp. equi) by preventing the access of infected but subclinical horses with a specified respiratory pathogen-free certification system prior to Park entry.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate any clinical studies regarding rhinitis published by the Korean Oriental Medical Society and its sub-societies for future rigorous clinical research. Methods: Every article relevant to rhinitis was initially obtained from journals of the Korean Oriental Medical Society and its sub-societies by electronic search at journal web sites or manual searches. Journals were limited to those registered with the Korea Research Foundation. From initial findings, two independent reviewers selected clinical articles and these articles were further analyzed separately by predefined criteria according to prospective and retrospective studies. For prospective studies, quality assessment was also conducted. Results: From 36 initially obtained articles, 17 were finally analyzed. 2 articles were randomized controlled studies, 6 articles were prospective whereas 9 were retrospective. In the prospective articles, there were no randomized controlled trials and the other non-randomized studies had no control group with several problems of quality regarding pre-calculated study size and unbiased assessment. None of the retrospective studies described rhinitis diagnosis objectively and outcome measures were either non-relevant to rhinitis or non-validated. Conclusions: Further well-designed randomized controlled studies for rhinitis are mandatory and more rigorous non-randomized controlled studies should be conducted.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1137-1152
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• 2016

Cells sense, respond, and adapt to a low oxygen environment called hypoxia, which is widely involved in a variety of human diseases. Adaptation to low oxygen concentrations includes gene expression changes by inducing hypoxic genes and reducing aerobic genes. Recently, the mitochondrial respiratory chain has been implicated in the control of these oxygen-regulated genes when cells experience hypoxia. In order to obtain an insight into an effect of the mitochondrial respiratory chain on cellular response to hyxpoxia, we here examined whole genome transcript signatures of respiration-proficient and respiration-deficient budding yeasts exposed to hypoxia using DNA microarrays. By comparing whole transcriptomes to hypoxia in respiration-proficient and respiration-deficient yeasts, we found that there are several classes of oxygen-regulated genes. Some of them require the mitochondrial respiratory chain for their expression under hypoxia while others do not. We found that the majority of hypoxic genes and aerobic genes need the mitochondrial respiratory chain for their expression under hypoxia. However, we also found that there are some hypoxic and aerobic genes whose expression under hypoxia is independent of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. These results indicate a key involvement of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in oxygen-regulated gene expression and multiple mechanisms for controlling oxygen-regulated gene expression. In addition, we provided gene ontology analyses and computational promoter analyses for hypoxic genes identified in the study. Together with differentially regulated genes under hypoxia, these post-analysis data will be useful resources for understanding the biology of response to hypoxia.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.109-117
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• 2018

Purpose: Minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) is currently used as a method of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 30 weeks. However, few studies have been conducted on MIST in neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more. In this study, we compared MIST with endotracheal intubation as a rescue SRT for spontaneously breathing neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more who were diagnosed with RDS. Methods: We investigated the clinical characteristics of spontaneously breathing neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016. These neonates were born at a gestational age of 30 weeks or more and were diagnosed with RDS. The neonates who were administered surfactant by MIST were categorized into the MIST group (n=16) and those who underwent endotracheal intubation were categorized into the control group (n=45). Thereafter, the clinical characteristics between the groups were compared. Results: Compared to the control group, the MIST group was less likely to require mechanical ventilation within 72 hours (P<0.001). The frequency of bradycardia during SRT was also low in the MIST group (P=0.033). Conclusion: MIST is considered relatively feasible and safe for treating RDS for reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and decreasing the occurrence of bradycardia during surfactant administration in neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to suggest an intervention method for clinical use in the future by analyzing the effect of breathing exercise on activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle, which are respiratory synergist muscles, and pulmonary functions in patients with forward head posture. Methods: Prior to the experiment, 12 patients (experimental group) performed feedback exhalation exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise, and 11 subjects (control group) performed feedback deep neck exercise along with conventional deep neck exercise. The intervention programs were performed for 40 minutes once a day (three times a week for four weeks). Results: Before intervention, %RMS was measured for surface electromyography (sEMG), and FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were measured using a spirometer. After four weeks, these items were re-measured under the same condition and analyzed. In within-group comparison of the experimental group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05)(p<0.001), and forced vital capacity (FVC) showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In within-group comparison of the control group, activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and scalenus anterior muscle showed a significant decrease (p<0.05), and in between-group comparison, there were significant differences in activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and FVC (p<0.05). Conclusion: Long-term forward head posture restrains exercise performance of the neck and leads to exercise avoidance of the neck during daily activities, thus restraint factors might be created even while breathing. To cut off this link, a constant effort is required and diversified research on the correlation between neck functions and breathing should be conducted.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 1999

This study aimed to find out Oyo-Tang's effects on allergic asthma using the Egg-White Implant(EWI) method model recommended by Siqueira et al. Oyo-Tang has widely been prescribed and used in Oriental Medicine for controlling and curing of cough, nasal obstruction, pharyngeal pain and hoarseness. Previous studies have demonstrated that Oyo-Tang has analgesic, sedative, anticonvulsive, antitussive and antihistamine effects. But it was uncertain whether Oyo-Tang could inhibit the allergic reactions, to alleviate the symptoms of allergic asthma. With such aim. the respiratory patterns and eosinophil infiltration in the tracheal mucosa of rats with experimentally induced allergic asthma (using EWI method) were mainly observed. The results are as follows: 1. Oyo-Tang decreased the number of poor respiration with respect to control group (P<0.05) 2. Oyo-Tang decreased the number of eosinophils infiltrated in tracheal mucosa with respect control group (P<0.05). The above results demonstrate that Oyo-Tang has the inhibitory effects on the process allergic asthma and suggest that it could be used in relieving patients of the symptoms caused allergic asthma.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1217-1222
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• 2002

This study was aimed to find out Kami-Chungsangboha-tang's effects on allergic asthma using Egg-White Implant(EWI) method model recommended by Siqueira et al. Kami-Chungsangboha-tang has widely been prescribed and used in Oriental Medicine for controlling and curing of the symptoms of Asthma(dyspnea, wheezing, cough, sputum, chest discomfort). The Previous studies have demonstrated that Kami-Chungsangboha-tang had analgesic, sedative, anticonvulsive and antihistamine effects. But it was uncertain whether Kami-Chungsangboha-tang could inhibit the allergic reaction, so alleviate the symptoms of allergic asthma. With such aim, the respiratory patterns and eosinophil infiltration in the tracheal mucosa of rats with experimentally induced allergic asthma (using EWI method) were mainly observed. The results are as follows ; 1. Kami-Chungsangboha-tang decreased the number of malformed respiration with respect to control group (p<0.02). 2. Kami-Chungsangboha-tang decreased the number of eosinophils infiltrated in tracheal mucosa with respect to control group (p<0.05). Depending upon above results, it is considered that Kami-Chungsangboha-tang has the inhibitory effects on the process of allergic asthma and suggested that it could be used in relieving patients of the symptoms caused by allergic asthma.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2016

In this study, the virucidal efficacy of a fumigant containing 20% ortho-phenylphenol against classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was examined. After each carrier deposited with CSFV and PRRSV suspensions was exposed to the fumigant in a $25-m^3$ test room for 15 h, all carriers were neutralized and diluted, and each diluted suspension was inoculated into each proper cell line. After incubation, CSFV and PRRSV viability in each cell line was examined and 50% tissue culture infectious dose $(TCID_{50})/mL$ was calculated. In the results, the concentration of viable virus in all of pathogen control-carriers was more than $2{\times}10^5TCID_{50}/mL$, and there were no cytotoxicity in all of toxicity control-carriers. In addition, the fumigant inactivated ${\geq}4.8{\log}_{10}(TCID_{50}/mL)$ of both CSFV and PRRSV. These findings will be useful for preventing the spread of CSFV and PRRSV infection.