• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.409-415
• /
• 2015

This study compared the heart rate variability tests of healthy college students and chronic fatigue patients for 2 years. Study subjects were idiopathic chronic fatigue patients who carried out the HRV tests and students conducted HRV test when health screening test. Study subjects were 250 people, 104 people and men (41.6%), women were 146 patients (58.4%). In patient group, the autonomic nervous system activity was decreased, the activity of the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve were significantly reduced compared to the control group(Patient:84.17±16.27, Control:98.33±17.28). Regardless of gender, patient group's autonomic nervous system activity was decreased, the activity of the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve were significantly reduced, compared to the control group(Patient Female:84.17±16.27, Patient Male:84.07±14.96/Control Female:98.33±17.28, Control Male:96.45±16.92). Even though same ages, patient group's autonomic nervous activity was reduced compared to control group(Patient:89.36±12.43, Control:97.39±16.91). Fatigue patients' activity of the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve were significantly reduced, regardless of the fact that activity of the sympathetic nerve is increased and the parasympathetic nerve is decreased in stress state like an impassioned injury(七情傷). Therefore HRV test is useful to diagnose Fatigue from this study.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2011

Gastric ulcer has multifactorial etiology, and the development of ulcer is known to be caused by gastric acidity, pepsin secretion, gastric motility and gastric mucosal blood flow. The ulcer results from the tissue necrosis and apoptotic cell death triggered by mucosal ischemia, free radical formation and cessation of nutrient delivery. The gastric mucosa is usually exposed to a wide range of aggressive insults, and has developed efficient mechanisms to repair tissue injury. The apoptotic process of gastric mucosa is triggered by the induction of such proapoptotic gene expression, such as BAX. The Bcl-2 family of proteins plays a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis. The maintenance of gastric mucosa integrity depends upon the ratio between cell proliferation and cell death. Stress-inducing factors may affect Bcl-2/BAX ratio and thus the rate of apoptosis through modulation of the expression of both proteins depends upon the experimental model. In addition to the regulation of apoptosis, new vessels have to be generated in order to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the healing gastric mucosa. This events are regulated by several factors. Among them, such polypeptide growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulates essential cell functions involved in tissue healing including cell proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was carried to investigate whether Rhei Rhizoma administration might protect apoptotic cell death and promote angiogenesis in gastric mucosa. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups; normal, saline, cimetidine and Rhei Rhizoma-treated group. The saline, cimetidine and Rhei Rhizoma extracts were orally administrated to each group and gastric ulcer was induced by HCl-EtOH solution. After 1 hour, the stomachs were collected for histological observation and immunohistochemistry. In results, Rhei Rhizoma proves to promote to heal wound in gastric ulcer in conclusion and the significant changes of BAX, Bcl-2 and VEGF quantity in gastric mucosa were observed. These results suggest that Rhei Rhizoma extract may promote incision wound healing and has protective effects on gastric ulcer in rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.37-47
• /
• 2011

This study was aimed to investigate the memory enhancing effect of Jeongjihwan against scopolamine-induced amnesia in C57BL/6 mice. To determine the effect of Jeongjihwan on the memory and cognitive function, we have injected scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) into C57BL/6 mice 30 min before beginning of behavior tests. We have conducted Y-maze, Morris water-maze, passive avoidance and fear conditioning tests to compare learning and memory functions. Scopolamine-induced behavior changes of memory impairment were significantly restored by oral administration of Jeongjihwan (100 or 200 mg/kg/day). To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the memory enhancing effect of Jeongjihwan, we have examined the antioxidant defense system and neurotrophic factors. Jeongjihwan treatment attenuated intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species and up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of antioxidant enzymes as assessed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Jeongjihwan also increased protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) compared with those in the scopolamine-treated group. Furthermore, as an upstream regulator, the activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) via phosphorylation was assessed by Western blot analysis. Jeongjihwan elevated the phosphorylation of CREB (p-CREB), which seemed to be mediated partly by extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B/Akt. These findings suggest that Jeongjihwan may have preventive and therapeutic potential in the management of amnesia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.126-133
• /
• 2018

The aim of this survey is to investigate the current state of pattern identification, treatment and management on chronic fatigue in the Korean medicine. From May 25, 2017 to June 7, we distributed contents of questionnaires to 17,992 Korean medical doctors via e-mail, and then received answers from 329 people. The surveys were conducted by a specialized research organizations. Researchers were blinded to the participant's personally identifiable information or whether they participated in the investigation. In Korea, almost Korean medicine doctors (94.5%) used pattern identification in the treatment of chronic fatigue patients. The main diagnostic methods were visceral (38.5%), qi-blood-fluid-humor (32.3%), and sasang constitutional pattern identification (14.3%). The high-frequent therapy were herbal medicine (37.0%), acupuncture (27.9%), moxibustion (11.7%), and cupping (8.6%). The primary goals of treatment were Improvement and relaxation of stress condition (18.1%), improvement of quality of life (13.1%), increase of functional vitality (34.0%), and fatigue management (23.3%). The key factors affecting treatment outcomes were the patient's aggressiveness in treatment (23.5%) and his/her lifestyle and environment(22.7%). This study was a pioneering research for chronic fatigue on the aspect of medical service provider in the Korean medicine. We hope that this study can be used as a basis for developing a more appropriate and reasonable practice guidelines for chronic fatigue.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.182-187
• /
• 2017

The purpose of the present study is a comparison of the antioxidant effects of Angelica gigas Korea (AG), Angelica sinensis of China (AS), and Angelica acutiloba of Japan (AA), and comparison of the effects of AG, AS and AA on tight-junction related genes in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. All species showed a strong antioxidant effect, and AA was higher than AG and AS in antioxidant effects. The cytotoxicity was confirmed to be higher in AS than AG and AA at a concentration of $1,600{\mu}g/ml$ using the MTS assay in HaCaT cells. We analyzed the effects of AG, AS, and AA on mRNA expression levels of various tight-junction related genes in HaCaT cells. We found that no obvious changes in expression of Claudin 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, Occludin, JAM-A, ZO-1, ZO-2, and tricellulin by treatment of all species, suggesting that there is less possibility of side effects and skin moisturizing effects due to changes in tight-junction gene expression. Our results suggest that AG, AS, and AA are thought to be effective in reducing the oxidative stress of the skin and preventing the aging of the skin.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.238-247
• /
• 2018

This study investigated survival rates and physiological responses in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) to 18 days of containment in live fish containers ($8^{\circ}C$, 34 psu). The investigation was divided into three periods: before, during, and recovery after transportation. The overall survival rate was greater than 99%. Glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rose immediately on the first day of containment, but then gradually returned to normal levels. $NH_3$ continued to rise after the first day, but during the recovery period it decreased to a level not significantly different from that of the control group. $Na^+$ and osmolality did not show any abnormal changes. After recovery, superoxide dismutase (SOD) was not significantly different from control. Abalone in the experimental group had lower glutathione reductase (GR) than control. The hyalinocyte ratio fell immediately after confinement, but then gradually increased until it reached a normal level. The ratios of apoptotic and necrotic cells indicated no specific variations in hemocyte viability. Histological changes in the epidermal layer and muscle layer of the foot were not significantly different from those seen in the control group. The experimental data obtained in this study suggest that live fish containers may be used for transport of Pacific abalone without significantly impacting their physiology or survival rates.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.45 no.7
• /
• pp.419-424
• /
• 2012

High-fat diets (HFD) and high-carbohydrate diets (HCD)-induced obesity through different pathways, but the metabolic differences between these diets are not fully understood. Therefore, we applied proton nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H$ NMR)-based metabolomics to compare the metabolic patterns between C57BL/6 mice fed HCD and those fed HFD. Principal component analysis derived from $^1H$ NMR spectra of urine showed a clear separation between the HCD and HFD groups. Based on the changes in urinary metabolites, the slow rate of weight gain in mice fed the HCD related to activation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (resulting in increased levels of citrate and succinate in HCD mice), while the HFD affected nicotinamide metabolism (increased levels of 1-methylnicotineamide, nicotinamide-N-oxide in HFD mice), which leads to systemic oxidative stress. In addition, perturbation of gut microflora metabolism was also related to different metabolic patterns of those two diets. These findings demonstrate that $^1H$ NMR-based metabolomics can identify diet-dependent perturbations in biological pathways.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.123-132
• /
• 2009

Acetaminophen (AP) is widely used as an over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drug. AP-induced hepatotoxicity is a common consequence of AP overdose and may lead to acute liver failure. In this study, we investigated the liver damage in mice using single dose (300 mg/kg) of AP and the possible protective effects of administration (50-200 mg/kg body weight) of Joo-Juk on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were determined in the plasma of mice. The effect of Joo-Juk on lipid peroxidation product thiobarbituric reacting substances (TBARS) and some antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, d-aminolevulinate dehydratase ($\sigma$-ALA-D) activities, and gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), were also evaluated in the mouse liver homogenate. AP caused liver damage as evident by statistically significant increased in plasma activities of AST and ALT. There were statistically significant losses in the activities of SOD, catalase, $\sigma$-ALA-D, and GPx and an increase in TBARS in the liver of AP-treated group compared with the control group. However, Joo-Juk was able to counteract these effects. These results suggest that Joo-juk can act as hepato-protectant against AP toxicity and is a good candidate for further evaluation as an effective chemotherapeutic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.129-134
• /
• 2014

It has been suggested that transition metal ions such as iron can produce an oxidative injuries to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, like Parkinson's disease (PD) and subsequent compensative increase of tetrahydrobiopterin ($BH_4$) during the disease progression induces the aggravation of dopaminergic neurodegeneration in striatum. It had been established that the direct administration of $BH_4$ into neuron would induce the neuronal toxicity in vitro. To elucidate a role of $BH_4$ in pathogenesis in the PD in vivo, we assessed the changes of dopamine (DA) and $BH_4$ at striatum in unilateral intranigral iron infused PD rat model. The ipsistriatal DA and $BH_4$ levels were significantly increased at 0.5 to 1 d and were continually depleting during 2 to 7 d after intranigral iron infusion. The turnover rate of $BH_4$ was higher than that of DA in early phase. However, the expression level of GTP-cyclohydrolase I mRNA in striatum was steadily increased after iron administration. These results suggest that the accumulation of intranigral iron leads to generation of oxidative stress which damage to dopaminergic neurons and causes increased release of $BH_4$ in the dopaminergic neuron. The degenerating dopaminergic neurons decrease the synthesis and release of both $BH_4$ and DA in vivo that are relevance to the progression of PD. Based on these data, we propose that the increase of $BH_4$ can deteriorate the disease progression in early phase of PD, and the inhibition of $BH_4$ increase could be a strategy for PD treatment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.503-509
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study is to examine the toxic effects caused by xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine (XO/HX) and the effects of herbal extracts such as Mangeum-tang (萬金湯: MGT) and Gamimangeum-tang (加味萬金湯: GMGT) on the treatment of the toxic effects. The results of these experiments were XO/HX, an oxygen radical-generating system, decreased the survival rates of the cultured cells on XTT assay, the amount of DNA syntheses, and the amount of neurofilaments, and increased c-fos positive cells, MGT and GMGT have the efficacy of increasing the survival rates of the cultured cells by increasing the amount of neurofilaments and DNA synthesis and decreasing the c-fos positive cells damaged by XO/HX, From the above results, it is suggested that MGT and GMGT have marked efficacy as a treatment for the damages caused by the XO/HX-mediated oxidative stress. And MGT and GMGT are thought to have certain pharmacological effects.