• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2012

Object : The aim of this study was to assess the clinical indicators related to Pattern-Identification(PI) in acute cerebral infarction patients. Methods : We studied hospitalized patients within 30days after ictus, who admitted at Korean Medicine Center of Kyung-Hee University from January 2010 to October 2012.(n=290) Two Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM) physicians evaluated the patients independently and diagnosed PI. Inter-rater reliability was measured using simple percentage agreement and the Cohen's kappa(κ) coefficient. To assess the clinical indicators closely related to each PI, we analysed average score of each indicator in each group. Results : Simple percentage agreement of PI between raters was 64.83% and Cohen's kappa(κ) coefficient was 0.526(95% CI: 0.451-0.600). Inter-rater reliability level was fair to good. We analysed the clinical indicators in each group. Significant indicators for Fire-Heat Pattern(FHP) were reddened complexion and strong pulse power, and meaningful indicators for FHP were halitosis and thick tongue fur. Significant indicator for Dampness-Phlegm Pattern(DPP) was overweight and there was no meaningful indicator. Significant indicator for Yin-Deficiency Pattern(YDP) was dry tongue fur and meaningful indicator for YDP was thirst. There was no significant indicator for Qi-Deficiency Pattern(QDP) and pale complexion and faint low voice were meaningful indicators for QDP. Conclusions : This study reveals the significant and meaningful clinical indicators related to each Pattern-Identification in acute cerebral infarction patients. It will contribute to standardization of Korean Medical Diagnosis and Treatment in acute cerebral infarction patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.425-436
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• 2010

Objectives : Hypothyroidism is a relatively common endocrinologic disease, especially among older women. Western medical doctors treat hypothyroidism with levothyroxine, however there are several side effects, including thyrotoxicosis, atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis, etc. Therefore, traditional Korean medicine(TKM) offers an appealing alternative therapy for hypothyroidism. In this study, Cuscuta Semen was used to analyze its possible effect on a hypothyroidism rat model induced by propylthiouracil(PTU). Methods : 24 two-month-old Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were divided into 4 groups: normal (n=6), PTU-induced hypothyroidism control(n=6), hypothyroidism rat treated with Cuscuta Semen (n=6), and hypothyroidism rat treated with levothyroxine(n=6). PTU was administered for 4 weeks, Cuscuta Semen and levothyroxine was administered 2 weeks after PTU was initiated for a total duration of 2 weeks. Blood samples from all the rats were taken from their hearts and analyzed. Results : When compared to the normal group, the PTU-induced control group showed significantly lower $T_4$, $T_3$ levels and significantly higher TSH level, which is indicative of hypothyroidism. The Cuscuta Semen group had significantly higher $T_4$ and significantly lower TSH than the control group(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in biochemical labs and weight between the Cuscuta Semen and control groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that Cuscuta Semen could be effective in increasing thyroid hormone production, and be powerful enough to affect the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis. Also, no adverse effects related with Cuscuta Semen were found, suggesting that it is relatively safe to administer. In conclusion, it seems that Cuscuta Semen is a safe alternative medicine for hypothyroidism.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2010

Guibi-tang, a traditional herbal medicine, is used for anti-oxidant, anti-osteoporosis, hemostasis and gastroprotection. To develop an analysis method of simultaneous determination of six compounds, swertisin, decursinol, glycyrrhizin, 6-gingerol, costunolide and decursin in Guibi-tang, a high performance liquid chromatography was used with diode array detector. Six bioactive components were separated on a SHISEIDO $C_{18}$ column ($5\;{\mu}m$, 4.6 mm I.D.${\times}$250 mm) with column temperature $30^{\circ}C$. The gradient elution was composed of water with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and acetonitrile. UV wavelength was set at 230 nm, 254 nm and 330 nm, respectively. Calibration curve showed good linear regression ($R^2$ > 0.9999). The limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged in 0.03 - 0.23 ${\mu}g/ml$ and 0.08 - $0.70\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The RSD values of intra- and inter-day test were in the range of 0.03 ~ 0.96% and 0.01 ~ 1.46%, respectively. The evaluated results of accuracy test were varied from 92.28% ~ 105.14% with RSD < 1.60%. In conclusion, this developed simultaneous determination method was accuracy and sensitive to the quality evaluation of Guibi-tang.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.527-532
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• 2013

Gangliosides are complex glycosphingolipids that are the major component of cytoplasmic cell membranes, and play a role in the control of biological processes. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have received considerable attention as alternative sources of adult stem cells because of their potential to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. In this study, we focus on various functional roles of gangliosides in the differentiation of hMSCs into osteoblasts or neuronal cells. A relationship between gangliosides and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation during osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs was observed, and the gangliosides may play a major role in the regulation of the differentiation. The roles of gangliosides in osteoblast differentiation are dependent on the origin of hMSCs. The reduction of ganglioside biosynthesis inhibited the neuronal differentiation of hMSCs during an early stage of the differentiation process, and the ganglioside expression can be used as a marker for the identification of neuronal differentiation from hMSCs.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2024

Objectives: Frozen shoulder (FS) is one of the most challenging shoulder disorders for patients and clinicians. Its symptoms mainly include any combination of stiffness, nocturnal pain, and limitation of active and passive glenohumeral joint movement. Conventional treatment options for FS are physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injection therapy, and arthroscopic capsular release, but adverse and limited effects continue to present problems. As a result, pharmacoacupuncture (PA) is getting attention as an alternative therapy for patients with FS. PA is a new form of acupuncture treatment in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) that is mainly used for musculoskeletal diseases. It has similarity and specificity compared to corticosteroid injection and hydrodilatation, making it a potential alternative injection therapy for FS. However, no systematic reviews investigating the utilization of PA for FS have been published. Therefore, this review aims to standardize the clinical use of PA for FS and validate its therapeutic effect. Methods: The protocol was registered in Prospero (CRD42023445708) on 18 July 2023. Until Aug. 31, 2023, seven electronic databases will be searched for randomized controlled trials of PA for FS. Authors will be contacted, and manual searches will also be performed. Two reviewers will independently screen and collect data from retrieved articles according to predefined criteria. The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and secondary outcomes will be effective rate, Constant-Murley Score, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, range of motion, quality of life, and adverse events. Bias and quality of the included trials will be assessed using the Cochrane handbook's risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Meta analyses will be conducted using Review Manager V.5.3 software. GRADE will be used to evaluate the level of evidence for each outcome. Results: This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted following PRISMA statement. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Conclusion: This review will provide scientific evidence to support health insurance policy as well as the standardization of PA in clinical practice.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.125-137
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate clinical factors of SQD syndrome by tracking plasma gut hormone (active ghrelin, active Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), pancreatic polypeptide(PP), total peptide YY(PYY)) profiling of pre-post prandial standard meal between SQD group and normal group. Methods A total of 24 adult participants were consecutively recruited on April 2014. They were diagnosed as either by SQD syndrome or normal by Spleen Qi Deficiency Questionnaire (SQDQ). On the experimental day, blood samplings of 2 ml were repeatedly collected at 6 points from 2 groups for measuring plasma levels of gut hormones. At every point, subjective appetite sensations were self-registered. Results & Conclusions 1. There were significantly lower subjective 'Appetite' (p=0.012) and higher 'Satiety' (p=0.012) in SQD group. At each time point, subjective 'Appetite' was significantly lower at 60 min after breakfast (p=0.034) and 'Satiety' were significantly higher at 15 min (p=0.020) and 120 min (p=0.044) after breakfast in SQD group. 2. There were no significant differences in plasma levels of gut hormones (active ghrelin, active GLP-1, PP, total PYY) between SQD and normal group. Also at each time point, there were no significant differences of plasma levels of gut hormones between SQD and normal group. 3. Changes in plasma levels of gut hormones compared to baseline were not significantly different at each time point between SQD and normal group. Plasma PYY levels compared to baseline increased in SQD group following 15 min and 30 min after breakfast but decreased in normal group. 4. Further investigation is needed to construct gut hormone profiling and in this perspective, we can approach evaluation tool on variable appetite in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) syndrome in the future.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.252-263
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• 2013

Objectives : Skin color deformation by cupping has been widely used as a diagnostic parameter in Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). Skin color deformation such as ecchymoses and purpura is induced by local vacuum in a suction cup. Since existing studies have relied on a visual diagnostic method, there is a need to use the quantitative measurement method. Methods : We conducted an analysis of cross-polarization photographic images to assess the changes in skin color deformation. The skin color variation was analyzed using $L^*a^*b^*$ space and the skin erythema index(E.I.). The meridian theory in TKM indicates that the condition of primary internal organs is closely related to the skin color deformation at special acupoints. Before conducting these studies, it is necessary to evaluate whether or not skin color deformation is influenced by muscle condition. Hence, we applied cupping at BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20 and BL23 at Bladder Meridian(BL) and measured blood lactate at every acupoint. Results : We confirmed the high system measurement accuracy, and observed the diverse skin color deformations. Moreover, we confirmed that the $L^*$, $a^*$ and E.I. had not changed after 40 minutes(p>0.05). The distribution of blood lactate levels at each part was observed differently. Blood lactate level and skin color deformation at each part was independent of each other. Conclusions : The negative pressure produced by the suction cup induces a reduction in the volumetric fraction of melanosomes and subsequent reduction in epidermal thickness. The relationship between variations of tissue and skin properties and skin color deformation degree must be investigated prior to considering the relationship between internal organ dysfunction and skin color deformation.