• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the preventive effect of red ginseng (RG) on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced side effects focusing on myelosuppression. Methods: Rats (n = 50) were divided into five groups, nave, control (ip, 5-FU injection of 150 mg/kg), and RG pre-treatment (po, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg for 5 days before 5-FU injection). On the $7^{th}$ day after 5-FU injection, we evaluated the effects using peripheral hematological parameters, colony-forming assay, cytokine levels and histopathological finding. Results: The peripheral white blood cell and the differential count were dramatically suppressed by 5-FU, while RG (50 and 100 mg/kg) treatment significantly improved total white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts. Also, RG (100 mg/kg) pre-treatment significantly increased the number of CFU-GM colony compared with the control group. RG pre-treatment also ameliorated the histopathological damage in bone marrow, spleen, stomach and small intestine tissue. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that Korean RG has preventive effects against 5-FU-induced myelotoxicity and gastrointestinal damage.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.461-467
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• 1999

Recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis expressing ovalbumin was used to immunize C57BL/6(H-$2^b$) mice, and the humoral immunity against recombinant ovalbumin was analyzed. Antibodies were purified by denatured ovalbumin-conjugated affinity chromatography. The epitopes of the antibodies were screened with a random peptide library displayed on the tip of fUSE5 filamentous phage pIII minor coat proteins. Two peptides, IRLADR and SPGAEV, were selected predominantly by the recognition of purified antibodies using biopanning methods. The composition of the peptide sequence with the primary structure of OVA revealed that the peptide sequence analogizes to INEAGR, part of the $^{323}ISQAVHAAHAEINEAGR^{339}$ sequence previously reported as the antigenic determinant for murine Band also Th cell epitopes (I-$A^d$ binding). Also, the structures of these mimotopes obtained from restrained molecular dynamic computations resulted in the formation of a $\beta$-turn proven to be a secondary structure of the parent peptide within the ovalbumin molecule, enabling us to confirm the structural similarity. This study demonstrates that immunization with recombinant M. smegmatis can generate neutralizing antibodies identical with those induced by the administration of natural antigenic proteins and supports the potential use of mycobacteria as vaccine delivery vehicles.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 2002

In this paper, signed-rank based nonparametric detectors are used for direct sequence code division multiple access pseudo-noise code acquisition systems in frequency-selective Rician fading channels. We first derive the locally optimum rank detector, and then propose the locally suboptimum rank (LSR) and k-th order modified signed-rank (MSRk) detectors using approximate score functions. We compare the serial and hybrid parallel double-dwell schemes using the LSR and MSRk detectors with those using the conventional squared-sum (SS) using the cell averaging constant false alarm rate processor and modified sign detectors. From the simulation results, it is shown that the LSR and MSRk detectors perform better than the SS detector using the cell averaging constant false alarm rate processor.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.446-454
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• 2012

In order to evaluate the efficacy of SHT against atopic dermatitis (AD), various immune related cytokines as well as histological comparison were performed in animal models, and the results are described. Clinical skin index of the SHT treated group decreased significantly in weeks 11 and 13, compared to the control group. Also, CD4+ immune cell ratio in the dorsal skin was significantly decreased to 69%, and both epidermal and dermal skin thickness was decreased. Serum IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-${\alpha}$, which are all important markers of inflammation, were decreased to 64%, 44%, 87%, 48%, and 45%, respectively. The expression of histamine, a chemical transmitter increasingly released during the progression of inflammation, was significantly decreased to 47%. The production of IgE immunoglobulin was significantly decreased to 16% compared to the control group. In conclusion, SHT pacifies the activation of T cells, leading to suppression of both Th2 cytokine overexpression and infiltration of immune cells into skin. As a result, relative thinning of both epidermis and dermis were observed. With the results obtained from in vitro studies, the immune modulatory effect of SHT in AD animal models was experimentally demonstrated. This study should provide solid information to construct EBM and for clinical practice.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2008

Allergic asthma is a worldwide public health problem and a major socioeconomic burden disease. It is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by airway eosinophilia and goblet cell hyperplasia with mucus hypersecretion. Mouse models have proven as a valuable tool for studying human asthma. In the present report we describe a comparison of mouse asthma models. The experiments were designed as follows: Group I was injected with ovalbumin (OVA, i.p.) on day 1 and challenged with 1% OVA (aerosol exposure) on days $14{\sim}21$. Group II was injected on day 1, 14 and aerosol-immunized on days $14{\sim}21$. Group III was injected on day 1, 14 and immunized by 1% OVA aerosol on days $18{\sim}21$. We assessed asthma induction by determining the total number of white blood cells (WBC) and eosinophils as well as by measuring cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, we evaluated the histopathological changes of the lungs and determined the concentration of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum. Total WBC, eosinophils, Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13) and IgE were significantly increased in group I relative to the other groups. Moreover, histopathological studies show that group I mice show an increase in the infiltration of inflammatory cell-in peribronchial and perivascular areas as well as an overall increase in the number of mucus-containing goblet cells relative to other groups. These data suggest that group I can be a useful model for the study of human asthma pathobiology and the evaluation of existing and novel therapeutic agents.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1243-1250
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effect of oral administration of deer horn against the asthma. Deer horn improves body metabolism and strengthens overall health, especially in elderly persons and young children. Additionally, it stimulates sexual function in females and can stimulate wound healing. Asthma was induced to Balblc mouse by i.p. injection and aerosol immunization with ovalbumin. It was observed the change of the eosinophil number in the BALF. Concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 in BALF and splenocyte were assessed by ELISA, IgG and IgE from serum were calculated by same method. The number of eosinophil in BALF was not significantly changed in deer horn group compared with control group. Concentration of IL-4 in BALF was significantly decreased in deer horn group compared with control group. Levels of IL-5 from BALF and splenocyte were significantly decreased in deer horn group compared with control group, respectively. Concentrations of IgE and IgG in serum were significantly decreased in deer horn group compared with control group, separately. We found that the effect of deer horn extract in asthma was implicated in reductions of IL-4, IL-5 released from Th2 cell, and decreases of IgG, IgE from plasma cell. These findings suggest that deer horn extract can produce anti-asthmatic effect, which may play a role in allergen-induced asthma therapy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.282-289
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• 2008

We evaluated the effect of SHBCS on adhesion and invasion of colon L5-26 adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro in vitro and experimental liver metastasis in vivo. SHBCS showed little inhibitory effect on colon 26-L5 cell proliferation. At the concentration of up to 500 mg/ml of SHBCS 80% of cells were viable. SHBCS showed no inhibitory effect on adhesion and invasion of colon 26-L5 cells, which were placed on matrigel. In a dose dependent manner, oral administration of SHBCS showed a significantly inhibitory effect on liver metastasis from colon 26-L5 injected mice. When mice were depleted of NK cells or macrophages before tumor inoculation, SHBCS significantly decreased liver metastasis fromf the tumor injected mice. Compared with the control mice, SHBCS increased the populations of macrophages and NK cells by 30%, 18%(10 mg/mouse, 50 mg/mouse) and 5%, 1% (10 mg/mouse, 50 mg/mouse) respectively. Compared with the control mice, SHBCS increased the populations of CD4 cells by 5%, 18% (10 mg/mouse, 50 mg/mouse) respectively. Spelenocytes from mice administerd with SHBCS were stimulated with LPS plus ConA, proliferation of splenocytes from mice administerd with SHBCS was 140%, 146%(10 mg/mouse, 50 mg/mouse) compared with th control mice. In conclusion, the present study suggests that SHBCS may have an inhibitory effect on liver metastasis through immunopotentiating activity which is associated with macrophages and NK cells.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.839-844
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• 1989

There appears to be significant problems remained in the treatment of tuberculous empyema with BPF in spite of several surgical methods: decortication, thoracoplasty, and pleuropneumonectomy. We presented one case of tuberculous empyema with BPF. The patient was 42-year-old male and his chief complaint was hemoptysis. In past history, he was treated with left closed thoracostomy and antituberculous medication for two months, 16 years ago. Chest X-ray, tomogram and C. T, revealed a huge mass with central necrosis in the lower 2/3 of left thoracic cavity and shifting of the mediastinal structure to the right. Needle aspiration cytology was undifferentiated large cell carcinoma. Left thoracotomy was made under the impression of lung cancer and pleuropneumonectomy was done. Operative findings; thick walled empyema sac filled with hematoma and BPF, the mediastinum was fixated due to fibrosis and calcification of the pleura and the mediastinum. Postoperative biopsy was consistent with tuberculosis. In the postoperative course, there was massive hemorrhage and so reoperation was done. But there was no active bleeding focuses in the thoracic cavity at the time of reoperation. Massive transfusion, coagulant therapy and intermittent clamping and declamping of the chest tube were carried out. Especially, serum calcium level was chronically decreased and so large amount of calcium gluconate was infused for the calcium level to be normal. Total transfused blood; whole blood was 33 pints, packed cell was 63 pints and fresh frozen plasma was 70 pints. At the postoperative[reop] 45th day, intrathoracic hemorrhage was stopped and the chest tube was removed. In conclusion, this suggest that uncontrollable bleeding after pleuropneumonectomy of the tuberculous empyema with BPF could be treated without reoperation in case of the mediastinal fixation due to fibrosis and calcification of the pleura and the mediastinum.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the current state of quantitative literature evidence for the prescription of 56 herbal medicines covered by health insurance that have been studied in Korea for the past 30 years, to evaluate the reliability of the evidence, and to find out the research direction of herbal medicine prescription in the future. Methods: 56 kinds of herbal medicine prescriptions were searched in domestic literature search databases OASIS, DBpia, and overseas PubMed, classified into chemistry, toxicity, cells, animals, clinical cases, and clinical trial studies, and built into an EBM pyramid structure. Results: When classified according to research contents, there were 61 cases (7.5%) of physicochemical analysis to identify constituent substances, 80 cases (9.8%) of toxicity evaluation, and 672 cases (82.7%) of efficacy evaluation. The efficacy evidence was classified according to the evidence-based medical pyramid structure: 196 cell trials (29.1%), 372 animal trials (55.4%), 89 case and case reporting series (13.3%), 7 comparative case studies (1.1%), and 8 randomized control clinical trials (1.2%). In the pyramid composition, the basis for the validity of 56 kinds of herbal medicines prescribed was 568 cases (84.5%) in cell and animal units, which could not be said to be highly reliable. There was no relationship between the ranking of quantitative literature evidence for herbal medicine prescriptions and the ranking of salary administration. Conclusions: In an era that continues to require scientific evidence for herbal medicine, traditional herbal medicine should secure the basis for safety validity even for the 10th most frequent prescription among 56 herbal medicine prescriptions for consumers. In particular, traditional herbal medicine should increase the quantitative and qualitative level of case reports on related herbal medicine prescriptions, focusing on each clinical society, and move toward comparative case studies and randomized clinical trial so that traditional herbal medicine is positioned as Evidence-based medicine.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in vascular repair and predict cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between EPCs and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods and Results: Patients (age 67±9.41 years) suffering from AAAs (aortic diameters 58.09±11.24 mm) were prospectively enrolled in this study. All patients received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Blood samples were taken preoperatively and 14 days after surgery from patients with aortic aneurysms. Samples were also obtained from age-matched control subjects. Circulating EPCs were defined as those cells that were double positive for CD34 and CD309. Rat models of AAA formation were generated by the peri-adventitial elastase application of either saline solution (control; n=10), or porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE; n=14). The aortas were analyzed using an ultrasonic video system and immunohistochemistry. The levels of CD34⁺/CD309⁺ cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations were measured by flow cytometry. The baseline numbers of circulating EPCs (CD34⁺/CD309⁺) in the peripheral blood were significantly smaller in AAA patients compared with control subjects. The number of EPCs doubled by the 14th day after EVAR. A total of 78.57% of rats in the PPE group (11/14) formed AAAs (dilation ratio >150%). The numbers of EPCs from defined AAA rats were significantly decreased compared with the control group. Conclusions: EPC levels may be useful for monitoring abdominal aorta aneurysms and rise after EVAR in patients with aortic aneurysms, and might contribute to the rapid endothelialization of vessels.