• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.478-490
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• 2019

Purpose: This work is a retrospective clinical case study evaluating the efficacy of Injinoryung-san granule administration to patients who showed an abnormal hepatic function test level. Methods: We analyzed the chart records of seven patients with elevated levels of the hepatic function test treated with Injinoryung-san granules. Results: The patients who were treated with Injinoryung-san showed a significant improvement in their elevated hepatic function test levels. Conclusion: In patients with elevated hepatic function test levels, Injinoryung-san granules can improve the hepatic level without adverse effects or changes in existing drugs.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.60-73
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• 2019

Objectives This study reviewed the effects of a combined treatment with Kampo and Western medicine for Developmental disability in Japan, and the provision of education programs in clinical care. Methods The search database includes J-STAGE. To narrow the search, the following key words were used: 'pervasive developmental disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disorders or Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disability, and Kampo'. The search was limited to the publication date from 2001 to 2019. Results 1. Japan analyzed five sections: The usage of the Kampo medicine ranges from 25.2% to 71.6%, and the Kampo medicine was highly used in large cities. 2. In Japan, the educational programs were provided for the caregiver and special educational programs were available for children with disabilities. 3. In Japan, there were 9 studies regarding developmental disability treating with herbal remedies. There were seven clinical trial reports, and two were published in a review or report form. 4. The results showed benefits of using Kampo for patients with lack of Yin in blood in treatment of developmental disorder. It is also important to control the liver qi and Yin in blood. 5. Seven papers reported no side effects or abnormal findings. They have reduced the use of antipsychotics. Conclusions These review studies in regards to the combined treatment of Kampo and Western medicines can be helpful to improve long term side effects of the antipsychotics used in developmental disorders.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of herbal medicine on the clinical symptoms and abnormal blood tests of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome. Methods: A 64-year-old woman diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2020 was prescribed Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang from January 6, 2022 to June 22, 2022 to reduce bleeding tendency and frequent defecation and to improve laboratory findings, such as platelet count. We observed changes in the symptoms and improvement of laboratory findings after six months of treatment. Results: In this study, approximately six months of treatment with Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang showed considerable improvement in laboratory findings and clinical symptoms, especially frequent defecation, petechiae, and gum bleeding, compared to the baseline parameters of the first visit. Also, no adverse effects, such as liver injury or decreased kidney function, were observed during herbal medicine treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests the availability of herbal medicine as a therapeutic option for managing patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.547-555
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• 1998

The subchronic toxicity of a combined preparation of ticlopidine and ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) mixed in a ratio of 10: 4 was examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were treated with the test substance at a dose of 52 mg/kg, 156 mg/kg, or 467 mg/kg intragastrically for 30 consecutive days. Control rats were treated with vehicle only. Each group consisted of 10 rats. No death or abnormal clinical signs were observed throughout the administration period. A transient decrease in body weight gain and food intake was observed in the rats treated with the high dose (467 mg/kg), which was recovered to normal in a week. There were no drug-related differences in urinalysis and hematological results. A significant increase in serum total cholesterol and total protein was observed in both sexes of the rats treated with a dose of 467 mg/kg daily, but all the other values obtained in serum chemistry appeared to be within normal range. A dose dependent increase in liver weight was observed in both male and female rats. Relative kidney weight was also increased in the high dose groups. There was no gross pathological finding at terminal sacrifice. Microscopic histopathological examination did not show any lesion in terms of correlation with administration of the test substance. The results suggest that under the conditions employed in this study no observable effect level (NOEL) of the test substance be 52 mg/kg/day.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 2000

Toxicity of a combined preparation of ticlopidine and ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) in a ratio of 10: 4 was examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were treated with the test substance intragastrically at a dose of 0 mg/kg, 17 mg/kg, 52 mg/kg or 156 mg/kg for 91 consecutive days. No death or abnormal clinical sign was observed throughout the administration period. There was no difference in body weight gain, food intake or water consumption among different dose groups. Test sub-stance-related differences were not observed in urinalysis. In hematological results mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) of low and high dose male group was increased. Prothrombin time of medium and high dose female group was decreased. A significant increase in serum total cholesterol was observed in both sexes of rats treated with a daily dose of 156 mg/kg, but all the other values obtained in serum chemistry appeared to be within normal ranges. A dose dependent increase in the relative liver and kidney weights was observed in both male and female rats. There were no gross pathological findings at terminal sacrifice. Microscopic histopathological examination did not show any lesion associated with administration of the test substance. The results suggest that under the conditions employed in this study no observable effect level (NOEL) of the test substance be greater than 17 mg/kg/day, but less than 52 mg/kg/day.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2023

Hepatic arterioportal fistulae are abnormal communications between the hepatic artery and portal vein. They are reported to be congenital or acquired secondary to trauma, iatrogenic procedures, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, but less likely to occur spontaneously. Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) can lead to pre-hepatic portal hypertension. A spontaneous superimposed hepatic arterioportal fistula can lead to pre-sinusoidal portal hypertension, further exacerbating its physiology. This report describes a young woman with long-standing EHPVO presenting with repeated upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding and symptomatic hypersplenism. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a cavernous transformation of the portal vein and a macroscopic hepatic arterioportal fistula between the left hepatic artery and portal vein collateral in the central liver. The hepatic arterioportal fistula was associated with a flow-related left hepatic artery aneurysm and a portal venous collateral aneurysm proximal and distal to the fistula, respectively. Endovascular coiling was performed for the hepatic arterioportal fistula, followed by proximal splenorenal shunt procedure. This case illustrates an uncommon association of a spontaneous hepatic arterioportal fistula with EHPVO and the utility of a combined endovascular and surgical approach for managing multifactorial non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in such patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.8-14
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• 2023

The hepatic glycogen storage disease type 0 (GSD type 0) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of hepatic glycogen synthase encoded by the glycogen synthase 2 (GYS2) gene, leading to abnormal synthesis glycogen. The clinical findings of GSD type 0 are hyperketotic hypoglycemia at fasting state and accompanying postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperlactatemia. GSD type 0 has only been reported in a very small number so far, and the diagnosis is likely to be missed because symptoms are mild, severe hypoglycemia is rare or asymptomatic, or symptoms gradually disappear with age. Essential management strategies include feeding high-protein meals to stimulate gluconeogenesis, frequent meals to prevent hypoglycemia during the day and feeding complex carbohydrates such as uncooked cornstarch to slowly release glucose during nignt. GSD type 0 has a good prognosis, with appropriate treatment, normal growth can be achieved and no complications occur. Significant hypoglycemia occurs less common in adulthood, but ongoing dietary management may be necessary.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.498-510
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity, characterized by abnormal fat accumulation and metabolic disturbances, presents a significant health challenge. Opuntia humifusa Raf., commonly known as Korean Cheonnyuncho, is rich in various beneficial compounds and has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its potential impact on glucose and lipid metabolism, particularly in obese rats, remains unexplored. We aimed to investigate whether O. humifusa stems and fruits could beneficially alter glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in a rat model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-two rats were allocated into 4 groups: normal diet (NF), HFD control (HF), HFD treated with 2% O. humifusa stems (HF-OS), and HFD treated with 2% O. humifusa fruits (HF-OF). Experimental diets were administered for 6 weeks. At the end of the treatment, liver and fat tissues were isolated, and serum was collected for biochemical analysis. The major flavonoid from O. humifusa stems and fruits was identified and quantified. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, the serum fasting glucose concentration in the HF-OS group was significantly lower than that in the HF group. Serum fasting insulin concentrations in both HF-OS and HF-OF groups tended to be lower than those in the HF group, indicating a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity in the HF-OS group. Additionally, the HF-OS group exhibited a tendency towards the restoration of adiponectin levels to that of the NF group. CONCLUSION: The 2% O. humifusa stems contain abundant quercetin and isorhamnetin, which alter fasting blood glucose levels in rats fed a HFD, leading to a favorable improvement in insulin resistance.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is warranted when cross-sectional imaging demonstrates common bile duct (CBD) dilatation without identifiable causes. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of EUS in CBD dilatation of unknown etiology. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with dilated CBD without definite causes undergoing EUS between 2012 and 2017. Results: A total of 131 patients were recruited. The mean age was 63.2±14.1 years. The most common manifestation was abnormal liver chemistry (85.5%). The mean CBD diameter was 12.2±4.1 mm. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of EUS-identified pathologies, including malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and benign biliary stricture (BBS), was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.00). The AUROC of EUS for detecting malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and BBS was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97), 1.00 (95% CI, 1.00-1.00), and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87-0.99), respectively. Male sex, alanine aminotransferase ≥3× the upper limit of normal (ULN), alkaline phosphatase ≥3× the ULN, and intrahepatic duct dilatation were predictors for pathological obstruction, with odds ratios of 5.46 (95%CI, 1.74-17.1), 5.02 (95% CI, 1.48-17.0), 4.63 (95% CI, 1.1-19.6), and 4.03 (95% CI, 1.37-11.8), respectively. Conclusions: EUS provides excellent diagnostic value in identifying the etiology of CBD dilatation detected by cross-sectional imaging.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1007-1015
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• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study is to find a method to diagnose and treat children who showed benign hemophagocytic histiocytes in bone marrow examination. Methods : We analyzed the clinical data of thirty patients retrospectively who showed benign hemophagocytic histiocytes in bone marrow examination from January 1995 to November 2001 at Keimyung University Dong-san Hospital. Bone marrow histiocytes were classified into a few, some, and many according to the number of histiocytes comparing with the white cells. Results : The age of thirty patients ranged from two months to 15 years. The median age was 5.6 years with male predominance(2.3 : 1). The most frequent clinical manifestation was fever; others were respiratory symptom, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and skin rash(in order of frequency). Common laboratory findings were leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia and abnormal liver function test. Infection was present in 30 patients; causative organisms were documented in 15 patients, and bacterial infection was more common. Epstein Barr virus was the cause of infection in four patients. Bone marrow examination showed a few(20.0%), some(75.0%) and many(30.0%) hemophagocytic histiocytes. Combination immunochemotherapy including immunoglobulin, steroids and cyclosporine were helpful in 22 out of 30 patients. The mortality rate was high in young patients who showed some to many hemophagocytic histiocytes. Conclusion : Bone marrow examinations and early detection of histiocytes will be helpful in children who have fever, hepatosplenomegaly and abnormal liver function test. Immunochemotherapy were helpful and further investigation will be needed for the detection of the relationship between the bone marrow findings and prognosis.