• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2008

Purpose: This Study aims to explore the Wormwood smoke(Ssukjahun) experiences of women and to provide the data to develop Korean traditional nursing intervention for women. Methods: A sample of 15 women aged between 20 to 60 years with Ssukjahun experiences was interviewed and content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Six categories and Thirty attributes were derived for Ssukjahun experiences in women. The reason of Ssukjahun is related to illness included vaginitis, insomnia, mental depression, circulation down of hand and feet, repeat abortion, dysmenorrhea, hemorrhoids, disc, rheumatism, and asthma. The place of Ssukjahun was home, oriental hospital and Ssukjahun room. Also method of Ssukjahun included steam methods and burn the wormwood. The time-consuming of Ssukjahun was about 30 minutes. The response and effect in Ssukjahunincluded relax, decreasing rhinitis, weight reduction, feel better, increasing circulation, sleep well, reducing constipation, insomnia, hemorrhoid, back pain, asthma, and dysmenorrhea. The negative effect of Ssukjahun included vesicle, headache, itching sense, generalache, acne, and edema. However, women who did Ssukjahun believed that is the belligerent reaction because it is gone after several times. The preference of Ssukjahun than hospital treatment is related to side effect of medication, temporary method for reducing symptom. Recommends: It is recommended for nurses to understand experience of Ssukjahun in women. If Ssukjahun is to be own nursing intervention, it has to find solutions to encourage positive experiences and overcome negative experiences. Also it recommended research for experience of men.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2005

Melittin,cationic 26-amino acid, is the principal component of the bee venom (BV) which has been used for treatment of inflammatory disease such as arthritis rheumatism NF-kB is activated by subsequent release of inhibitory IkB via activation of a multisubunit IkB kinase (IKK). We previously found that melittin bind to the sulfhydryl group of p50, a subunit of NF-kB. Since sulfhydryl group is present in kinase domain of IKKa and IKKb, melittin could modify IKK activity by protein-protein interaction. We therefore examined effect of melittin on IKK activities in sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-stimulated synoviocyte obtained from RA patients. Melittin suppressed the SNP-induced release of IkB resulted in inhibition of DNA binding activity of NF-kB and NF-kB-dependent luciferase activity. Consistent with the inhibitory effect on NF-kB activation, IKKa and IKKb activities were also suppressed by melittin. Surface plasmon resonance analysis realized that melitin binds to IKKa $(Kd\;=\;1.34{\times}10-9M)$ and IKKb$(Kd\;=\;1.0{\times}10-9M)$. Inhibition of IKKa and IKKb resulted in reduction of the SNP-induced production of inflammatory mediators NO and PGE2 generation. The inhibitory effect of melittin on the IKKs activities, binding affinity of melittin to IKKs, and NO and PGE2 generation were blocked by addition of reducing agents dithiothreitol and glutathione. In addition, melittin did not show inhibitory effect in the transfected Synoviocytes with plasmid carrying dominant negative mutant IKKa (C178A) and IKKb (C179A). These results demonstrate that melittin directly binds to sulfhydryl group of IKKs resulting in IkBrelease, thereby inhibits activation of NF-kB and expression of genes involving in the inflammatory responses.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.74-86
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• 1997

This investigation has been conducted based on the medical chart of 344 patients who have been diagnosed of fibromyalgia syndrome during Oct. 9, 1996 through Nov. 20 at the Rheumatism Hospital of H. University located in Seoul. 280 which have been included in the analysis. 1. Only one patient was male in 280 patients, age distribution was from 28 to 76, in which the average age was 52.4. 2. Percentage of treatment duration was 6 months in 46.1%, 3 years in 22.1% and 2 years in 12.5%. Considering these results, it can be predicted that the number of patients might be increased and accumulated in the future. 3. Percentage of patients having primary fibromyalgia syndrome was 39.3%, having combination with osteoarthritis was 36.7% and the rest case have combination with rheumatoid arthritis at the same time. 4. The percentage of cases having patients 10-12 tender points was 37.1%, while the most of cases have pain at 12-19 tender points. The common locations of the tender point were at lateral epicondyle of elbow in 92.0%, at midpoint of upper border Trapezius in 84.8%, at upper part of scapula Supraspinatus in 82.9%, at medial fat pad proximal to the joint line knee in 81.85%, at intertransverse of $C_{5-7}$ Low cervical in 73.4% and at 2nd distal costochondral Junction 2nd rib in 72.0%. And most of the patients had joint functional disability at all in 47.1% with average 2.41 joint functional disability. 5. Age was not a variable influencing the number of tender points and the number of joint functional disability.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-25
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• 2000

We were trying to study the validity of Puffer fish's poison(Tetrodotoxin- TTX) to make a traditional Korean Medical treatment. The following conclusions were made after literary studies. 1. The first record of the puffer fish dates back 2000 years ago in the Chinese text Book of Mountain and Sea and other texts from the similar period. 2. Puffer fish's poison IS known as tetrodotoxin which is an amino perhydroquinazoline compound. It has a chemical formula of $C_{11}H_{17}N_3O_8$ in the hemiacetal structure and has the molecular weight of 319. 3. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) plays a role as potent neurotransmitter blocker by blocking the $Na^+$ -gate channel which hinders the influx of $Na^+$ ion into the cell. 4. Symptoms of the puffer fish poisoning ranges from blunted sense in the lips and tongue, occasional vomiting in the first degree to sudden descending of the blood pressure, apnea, and other critical conditions in the fourth degree. Intoxication of the puffer fish poison progresses at a rapid pace as death may occur after an hour and half up to eight hours in maximum. Typical death occurs after four to six hours. 5. Ways to treat the puffer fish poisoning include gastric irrigation, induce vomiting, purgation, intravenous fluid injection, and correcting electrolytic imbalance and acidosis. In cases of dyspnea, apply oxygen inhalation and conduct artificial respiration. 6. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) may be applied in treating brain disorders, ocular pain, excess pain in the large intestine and ileum, and relieving tension of the skeletal museles, neuralgia, rheumatism, arthritis, and etc. 7. In terms of Oriental medicine, the puffer fish poison has characteristics of sweet, warm, and poisonous. It's known efficacies are to tonify weakness, dispel damp, benefit the lower back, relieve hemorrhoid, kills parasites, remove edema, and so forth. And the puffer fish eggs processed with ginger are said to be effective against tuberculosis and lung cancer, thus, it's validity must be investigated and further research should be followed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

Chronic joint pain due to loss of cartilage function, degradation of subchondral bone, and related conditions are common plights of an arthritis patient. Antioxidant compounds could solve the problems in arthritic condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of D-carvone against complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. D-carvone was orally administered for 25 days at the doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg against CFA-induced arthritic rats. Changes in body weight, paw swelling, organ index, hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and histopathology were recorded. Oral treatment of D-carvone significantly improved the body weight, reduced the paw swelling, edema formation, and organ index in arthritic rats. The levels of white blood cells were reduced, red blood cells and hemoglobin levels were improved in D-carvone treated arthritic rats. Lipid peroxidation levels were lowered whereas enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were significantly elevated by D-carvone administration against arthritic rats. D-carvone significantly modulated inflammatory cytokine levels and improved the ankle joint pathology against CFA-induced arthritic inflammation. In conclusion, D-carvone proved significant anti-arthritic activity against CFA-induced arthritis in rats.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and long-term clinical effects of hypertension in Korean childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients. Methods: The medical records of SLE patients, diagnosed by 2019 SLE European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria, who visited Samsung Medical Center from January 2009 to May 2019 were reviewed. Disease activity and long-term damage were evaluated using the Modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and the Pediatric Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index (Ped-SDI), respectively. The sex-, age- and height-blood pressure standards recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2017 guideline was used to define hypertension. Results: A total of 32 patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up duration was 7.3 years and females were predominant. The median ages at SLE and hypertension diagnoses were 14.2 and 14.3 years, respectively. The biopsy-proven lupus nephritis was detected in 90.6% and 37.5% were class IV. During the follow-up, 12 patients (37.5%) had hypertension. Among them, 2 patients had 3 episodes of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and 5 patients had left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Univariate analysis showed baseline hypertension was significantly correlated with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher body mass index and SLEDAI at baseline. The development of hypertension during the follow-up was significantly correlated with obesity, LVH, and higher Ped-SDI. Conclusion: Our study revealed that hypertension in pediatric SLE is associated with obesity and renal function at SLE diagnosis and could affect long-term damage.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 1996

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of long-term(6 Month) aquatic exercise through home nursing care demonstration on body weight, body fat, pain, muscle strength, self-efficacy and quality of life. Twenty-one women with rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled in the study. The sample was restricted to women in order to increase homogeneity. All patients were stable medication regimens in rheumatism center. The data was collected from October, 1994 to November, 1995. The data were analyzed Mean, Standard Deviation, $x^2$ Test, Mann-Whitney U-Wilcoxon Rank Sum W Test, Wilcoxon Matched-pairs signed-ranks test using SPSS $pc^+$ program. The results of this study were as follows : 1. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on body weight. 2. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on body fat. 3. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on pain(RAI). 4. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on muscle strength. 5. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on quality of life. But in the experimental group, finding from additional analysis showed significant difference in the score of quality of life between pre and post experiment. 6. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on self-efficacy. The findings in this study were not support the positive effect of long-term aquatic exercise in women with rheumatoid arthritis. A further study is necessary to determine the pure effect of aquatic exercise except the effect of home nursing care.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.656-662
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• 2005

Ginger (Zingiber of oficinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) is one of the most frequently and heavily consumed dietary condiments throughout the world. Besides its extensive use as a spice, the rhizome of ginger has also been used in traditional oriental herbal medicine for the management of symptoms such as common cold, digestive disorders, rheumatism, neurologia, colic, and motion-sickness. The oleoresin from rhizomes of ginger contains [6] -gingerol (1- [4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone) and its homologs as pungent ingredients that have been found to possess many interesting pharmacological and physiological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiheatotoxic, and cardiotonic effects. However, the effect of [6]-gingerol on cell proliferation in breast cancer cell are not currently well known. Therefore, in this study, we examined effect of [6]-gingerol on protein and mRNA expression associated with cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 human breast. cancer cell lines. We cultured MDA-MB-231 cells in presence of 0, 2.5, 5 and $10{\mu}M$ of [6] -gingerol. [6]-Gingerol inhibited breast cancer cell growth in a dose-depenent manner as determined by MTT assay. ErbB2 and ErbB3 protein and mRNA expression were decreased dose-dependently in cells treated with [6]-gingerol (p<0.05). In addition, phosphorylated Akt levels and total hぉ levels were markedly decreased in cells treated with $2.5{\mu}M$ [6]-gingerol (p<0.05). In conclusion, we have shown that [6]-gingerol inhibits cell proliferation through ErbB2 and ErbB3, reduction in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.705-709
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• 2021

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a major bacterial pathogen that causes periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of tissues around the teeth. Periodontitis is known to be related to other diseases, such as oral cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and rheumatism. Thus, a precise and sensitive test to detect P. gingivalis is necessary for the early diagnosis of periodontitis. The objective of this study was to optimize a rapid visual detection system for P. gingivalis. First, we performed a visual membrane immunoassay using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB; blue) and coating and detection antibodies that could bind to the host laboratory strain, ATCC 33277. Antibodies against the P. gingivalis surface adhesion molecules RgpB (arginine proteinase) and Kgp (lysine proteinase) were determined to be the most specific coating and detection antibodies, respectively. Using these two selected antibodies, the streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reaction was performed using a nitrocellulose membrane and visualized with a detection range of 10³-10⁵ bacterial cells/ml following incubation for 15 min. These selected conditions were applied to test other oral bacteria, and the results showed that P. gingivalis could be detected without cross-reactivity to other bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans and Escherichia fergusonii. Furthermore, three clinical strains of P. gingivalis, KCOM 2880, KCOM 2803, and KCOM 3190, were also recognized using this optimized enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system. To conclude, we established optimized conditions for P. gingivalis detection with specificity, accuracy, and sensitivity. These results could be utilized to manufacture economical and rapid detection kits for P. gingivalis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is a widely used herbal medicine for pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, leprosy, and venomous wounds in Asia, particularly in China. Although HJ has certain physiological activities, such as longitudinal bone growth, antioxidation and alleviation of rheumatism, its anticancer activities, other than in colorectal and ovarian cancer, are yet to be studied. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and mechanism of methanol extracts of HJ (MeHJ) against human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeHJ suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), which was demonstrated using the MTT and Live & Dead assays. Furthermore, MeHJ effectively inhibited colony formation of FaDu cells, even at non-cytotoxic concentrations, and significantly induced apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-9, -3, -7, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and through the downregulation of BCL-2 and upregulation of BAX in FaDu cells, as determined by DAPI staining, flow cytometry, and western blot analyses. Collectively, these findings suggest that the inhibitory effects of MeHJ on the growth and colony formation of oral cancer cells may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, MeHJ has the potential to be used as a natural chemotherapeutic drug against human oral cancer.