• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.139-147
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• 2016

Purpose : The acupuncture existed more than 2000 years and has flourished not only in Asia but also in medical field of modern world. In addition, empirical evidences from biomedicine have been expended in many ways in order to objectify the field of acupuncture. Thus, the effect and mechanism of the acupuncture has been revealed in human and other animals. In this article, I attempt to explain what doctors and patients subjectively experience through acupuncture treatment and its clinical significance based on mind-body medicine. Methods : The experience and clinical significance of the acupuncture was examined in the view of mind-body medicine, also reviewed research trends related to meditation understanding the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture. Results and Conclusions : Traditional Korean medical doctor perceive generally "jogi " and "chishin " meaning the regulation of the balance of the various functions in the human body and patient's consciousness and psychology state as mightily important concept concerning the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. Despite scientific approach to objective understanding of the acupuncture was performed in the meantime, practitioners put emphasis on experience based on sensate and interaction between doctor-patient. As it reflects the recent understanding of the psychological effects associated with the clinical efficacy of acupuncture, it has been presented one by one through neuroscience and cognitive science. Therefore it is important that interpreting the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture into Mind-body medicine can form a new awareness and attitudes toward traditional medicine.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.958-964
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• 2017

Autophagy plays an important role in cellular homeostasis and survival for cell recycling and various stresses within the cell. Recent studies have shown that autophagy activity modulates the expression of oncogene and tumor suppressor genes, leading to the development or suppression of cancer. Induction of autophagy is involved in preventing cancer development in normal cells and plays an important role in prompting a specific cell death mechanism in cancer cells with damaged cell death function. It is also known that autophagy inhibition increases the therapeutic efficacy by sensitizing cancer cells that are resistant to chemotherapy. However, the role of autophagy has not yet been fully understood in cancer treatment. Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for more than 90% of oral cancer and is the sixth most common cancer in the world. The incidence of oral cancer has increased by 50% over the last 20 years and the mortality rate is over 40% within 5 years after the onset. In oral cancers, the role of autophagy are described to look for tumor inhibitory in the early stages of tumor formation, like other cancers, indicating the dual functions involved in tumor cell survival include tumor progression stages. This review summarizes the various roles of autophagy in cancer cells and suggests the possibility of autophagy as a promising target for effective oral cancer therapy.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2018

The mechanism of the previously reported antidiabetic effect of Basella alba is unknown. This study investigated the role of B. alba aqueous leaf extract in the modulation of inflammatory cytokines and islet morphology in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty male Wistar rats, between 8 and 10 weeks old, were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10) and administered the following treatments: Healthy control (H-c) and Diabetic control (D-c) animals received normal saline 0.5 mL/100 g body weight daily, while Healthy Treatment (H-Ba) and Diabetic Treatment (D-Ba) rats received the plant extract 200 mg/kg body weight daily. All treatments were administered by oral gavage. Diabetes was induced in D-c and D-Ba rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body). The body weight and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were recorded every week for 4 weeks, after which the rats were euthanized and samples collected for further analysis. After the experiment, FBS level was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) in rats in the D-Ba group, but increased (p < 0.001) in rats in the D-c group. The absolute (H-c and H-Ba vs D-c, p < 0.05) and relative (D-Ba vs H-c, p < 0.05; D-Ba vs H-Ba, p < 0.005) weights of the pancreases were significantly higher after the experiment. The rats in the D-c group had significantly higher levels of serum interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (p < 0.001 vs H-c; p < 0.05 vs H-Ba and D-Ba) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (p < 0.0001), but lower levels of interleukin-10 (p < 0.05) in comparison with the other groups. Histopathological examination revealed severe interstitial congestion, reduced islet area (p < 0.0001), and increased islet cell density in the D-c group compared with those in the D-Ba group. From these findings, it was concluded that the aqueous extract of B. alba stimulates the recovery of beta-islet morphology in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats by modulating the peripheral production of inflammatory cytokines.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.355-364
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• 2009

Objectives : Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases among elderly men. Though medicines such as 5${\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor (finasteride) have recently been developed for treating BPH, their adverse effects and low efficacy should not be overlooked. Curcuma longa has a long history of use in traditional medicines of Asian countries. Many reports conclude the component curcumin in Curcuma lonfa, has the potential to treat various diseases including prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Curcuma longa with a BPH rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were used with subcutaneous injection of testosterone after castration, which were histologically similar to human BPH. A total of 30 rats were equally divided into five groups: Group 1 served as control (sham-operated group): Group 2 was the model group: Group 3 and Group 4 animals were administered Curcuma longa at dose levels of 0.5g/kg and 1.0g/kg: Group 5 served as a positive control group and was treated with finasteride at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The drugs were administered orally once a day for 30 days consecutively. After 31 days, the prostates were removed, and analyzed for their prostatic weight and histological examination. Results : The oral Curcuma longa ingestion group showed statistically significant decreases in their prostatic weights compared with the BPH-induced group and the oral finasteride ingestion group (p<0.05). Curcuma longa is also very safe in liver and kidney up to a dose of lg/kg. Injected testosterone histologically led to prostatic hyperplasia in rats, but oral Curcuma longa ingestion decreased this change. Conclusions : These results suggest that Curcuma longa has a definite inhibitory effect on BPH and might be an alternative medicine for treatment and prevention of human BPH.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.184-194
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• 2020

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a novel class of anticancer agents, which can be used to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in several types of cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of MHY4381, a newly synthesized HDAC inhibitor, against human prostate cancer cell lines and compared its efficacy with that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a well-known HDAC inhibitor. We assessed cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and other biological effects in the prostate cancer cells. We also evaluated a possible mechanism of MHY4381 on the apoptotic cell death pathway. The IC₅₀ value of MHY4381 was lower in DU145 cells (IC₅₀=0.31 µM) than in LNCaP (IC₅₀=0.85 µM) and PC-3 cells (IC₅₀=5.23 µM). In addition, the IC₅₀ values of MHY4381 measured in this assay were significantly lower than those of SAHA against prostate cancer cell lines. MHY4381 increased the levels of acetylated histones H3 and H4 and reduced the expression of HDAC proteins in the prostate cancer cell lines. MHY4381 increased G2/M phase arrest in DU145 cells, and G1 arrest in LNCaP cells. It also activated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which induced apoptosis in the DU145 and LNCaP cells by increasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and releasing cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. Our results indicated that MHY4381 preferentially results in antitumor effects in DU145 and LNCaP cells via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and ROS-facilitated cell death pathway, and therefore can be used as a promising prostate cancer therapeutic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.305-311
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• 2013

This study involves an experiment using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) to delineate brain activation for execution functional performance. Participates to this experiment of the normal adult (man 4, woman 6) of 10 people, is not inserts the metal all closed phobia and 24.5 year-old average ages which the operating surgeon experience which are not they were. The subject for a functional MRI experiment word -color test prosecuting attorney subject rightly at magnetic pole presentation time of 30 first editions and after presenting, uses SPM 99 programs and the image realignment, after executing a standardization (nomalization), a difference which the signal burglar considers the timely order as lattice does, pixel each image will count there probably is, in order to examine rest and active crossroad dividing independence sample t-test (p<.05). Overlapped in this standard anatomic image and got a brain activation image from level of significance 95%. With functional MRI resultant execution function inside being relation, the prefrontal lobe, anterior cingulate gyrus, parietal lobe, orbitofrontal gyrus, temporal lobe, parietal lobe was activated. The execution function promotes a recovery major role from occupational therapy, understanding about the damage mechanism is important. When confirms the brain active area which accomplishes an execution function brain plasticity develops the cognitive therapeutic method which is effective increases usefully very, will be used.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.47-57
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• 2001

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, and its pathology is characterized by the presence of numerous numbers of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Several genetic and transgenic studies have indicated that excess amount of $\beta$-amyloid protein (A$\beta$) is produced by mutations of $\beta$TEX>$\beta$-amyloid precursor protein and causes learning impairment. Moreover, $A\beta$ has a toxic effect on cultured nerve cells. To prepare AD model animals, we have examined continuous (2 weeks) infusion of $A\beta$ into the cerebral ventricle of rats. Continuous infusion of $A\beta$ induces learning impairment in water maze and passive avoidance tasks, and decreases choline acetyltransferase activity in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed diffuse depositions of $A\beta$ in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus around the ventricle. Furthermore, the nicotine-evoked release of acetylcholine and dopamine in the frontal cortex/hippocampus and striatum, respectively, is decreased in the $A\beta$-infused group. Perfusion of nicotine (50 $\mu\textrm{M}$) reduced the amplitude of electrically evoked population spikes in the CA1 pyramidal cells of the control group, but not in those of the $A\beta$-infused group, suggesting the impairment of nicotinic signaling in the $A\beta$-infused group. In fact, Kd, but not Bmax, values for ［$^3H$］ cytisine binding in the hippocampus significantly increased in the $A\beta$-infused rats. suggesting the decrease in affinity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by tetanic stimulations in CA1 pyramidal cells, which is thought to be an essential mechanism underlying learning and memory, was readily observed in the control group, whereas it was impaired in the $A\beta$-infused group. Taken together, these results suggest that $A\beta$ infusion impairs the signal transduction mechanisms via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This dysfunction may be responsible, at least in part, for the impairment of LTP induction and may lead to learning and memory impairment. We also found the reduction of glutathione- and Mn-superoxide dismutase-like immunoreactivity in the brains of $A\beta$-infused rats. Administration of antioxidants or nootropics alleviated learning and memory impairment induced by $A\beta$ infusion. We believe that investigation of currently available transgenic and non-transgenic animal models for AD will help to clarify the pathogenic mechanisms and allow assessment of new therapeutic strategies.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2018

Helicobacter pylori is a causative organism of various gastrointestinal diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, or gastric adenocarcinoma. Pathogenic factors, such as cytotoxin-associated protein A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxic protein A (VacA), play a role. This study analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively the effects of zerumbone on the changes in the protein expression levels of various H. pylori proteins, including CagA and VacA. Approximately 200 significant proteins were screened for the H. pylori 60190 (VacA positive / CagA positive; Eastern type) strain, and proteomic analysis was performed on 13 protein molecules that were clinically significant. After two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), $ImageMaster^{TM}$ 2-DE Platinum software was used for quantitative measurements of protein spots. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used for protein identification. After intensive analysis of the proteins that showed significant changes, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed as required to verify the results. In this study, the significance of zerumbone as a therapeutic agent for H. pylori infection was examined by screening a new pharmacological activity mechanism of zerumbone.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.18.1-18.7
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• 2013

Inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by immune cell infiltration and cytokine secretion. In particular, mast cells and their cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Korean medicine, BaekJeol-Tang (BT) was designed by traditional Korean medicine theory. We already reported therapeutic effect of BT in rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we report the specific underlying mechanism of BT in activated human mast cells, HMC-1 cells. In addition, we report for the first time that BT significantly inhibited the production and mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines including thymic stromal lymphopoietin, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in activated HMC-1 cells. BT also decreased the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$, and caspapase-1. Taken together, these results indicate that BT has potential as a regulator of inflammatory reactions for the treatment of arthritis such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1345-1351
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• 2011

Vancomycin therapy failure due to the emergence of tolerance in pneumococci is increasing. The molecular mechanism of tolerance is not clear, but lytA and $pep^{27}$ are known to be involved. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of both genes in vancomycin-tolerant Streptococcus pneumoniae (VTSP) strains. Eleven VTSP strains from a total of 309 clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae from 1997 to 2006 were classified according to the criteria of Liu and Tomasz. All VTSP strains were evaluated for susceptibility according to CLSI criteria, serotype by the Quellung test, and clonality by PFGE. The expressions of lytA and $pep^{27}$ were analyzed in different growth phases by RT-PCR with and without vancomycin. Eighty-two percent of VTSP strains showed resistance to penicillin, and 100% were sensitive to vancomycin and cefotaxime. The most frequent serotypes of VTSP strains were 23F (4/11) and 6B (3/11). Clonal relationship was observed in only two strains. No significant changes were observed in $pep^{27}$ expression in the three phases of growth in VTSP strains with and without vancomycin. Interestingly, $pep^{27}$ expression in the stationary phase in the non-tolerant reference strain R6 was significantly higher. However, no significant differences in lytA expression were observed between VTSP and R6 strains during the phases of growth analyzed. The absence of changes in $pep^{27}$ expression in VTSP strains in the stationary phase may be related to their ability to tolerate high antibiotic concentrations, and thus, they survive and remain in the host under the antibiotic selective pressure reflected in therapeutic failure.