• Journal of Convergence Korean Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.5-13
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Smoking had a long negative impact on public health. The ingredients of a cigarette are major risk factors for several diseases. Owing to the problems about economic and quality of life, we need to ensure smoking cessation (SC). There are several approaches for SC including pharmacological therapy, nicotine replacement therapy, education, and behavioral intervention. However, due to some limitations, other alternative approaches are gaining popularity. Acupuncture has been reported to have few side effects and be more effective than some conventional treatments in several articles. However, there are no systematic reviews on the comparison of acupuncture combination treatment with other conventional monotherapies. Methods: Randomized controlled trials that used acupuncture as an adjunct treatment for SC will be searched and data will be summarized according to the predefined criteria. The primary outcome will be the abstinence rate, and secondary outcomes will be adverse events and biochemical indicators. We will use Review Manager to perform a meta-analysis, Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool for the risk of bias assessment, and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to determine the quality of evidence. We will investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combination treatment for SC with this study. Ethics and dissemination: This study will provide reliable clinical evidence on additional effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation. We will publish our results in a peer-review journal.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.169-177
• /
• 2023

Background: The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has identified cases of people suspected of suffering lung disease potentially caused by chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) used in humidifier disinfectants (HDs). The Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) epidemiological investigation and toxicity test study found that HDs caused health damage such as asthma and lung disease. Objectives: The main purposes of this study were to classify the HD exposure rating and to analyze the exposure characteristics that affect exposure to CMIT/MIT HDs. Methods: The exposure characteristics and socio-demographic characteristics of victim participants using CMIT/MIT HDs were investigated through questionnaires. An inhalation no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for CMIT/MIT was produced based on inhalation toxicity values. Exposure ratings (class 1~class 2) were cross-tabulated with clinical ratings (acceptable~unacceptable). A correlation analysis was conducted with the main exposure characteristics that affect the exposure concentration of CMIT/MIT HDs. Results: The concentration in indoor air of CMIT/MIT was 8.75±25.40 ㎍/m³, and the exposure concentration was 2.30±6.29 ㎍/m³. The CMIT/MIT exposure rating of 67 participants with high exposures of not more than MOE 100 were evaluated as 14.5%, while the damage participants who matched the clinical rating made up 4.5%. The exposure concentration of CMIT/MIT showed a positive correlation with the daily usage amount and usage frequency, and a negative correlation with volume of the indoor environment. Conclusions: A new exposure rating could be suggested and calculated based on the MOE, and the factors affecting the exposure concentration could be identified.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate the quality properties of sausages added with the atmospheric pressure plasma treated extract of Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo (red perilla). The lyophilized powder of red perilla extract treated by atmospheric-pressure plasma contained 7.5 g kg^-1 nitrite. Sausage samples were manufactured with the addition of sodium nitrite (Control), celery powder (Celery), or plasma-treated extract of red perilla (PTP) to obtain nitrite concentration of 70 mg kg^-1. The residual nitrite content was the lowest in PTP during storage for 21 days at 4℃ (p<0.05). The total aerobic bacteria counts were higher in PTP than in Control and Celery during storage at 4℃ (p<0.05). Malondialdehyde content of sausages was significantly lower in PTP than in Control and Celery during storage (p<0.05). PTP showed the lowest L^* value and the highest b^* value among the tested sausage samples during storage (p<0.05). PTP received the low scores in all the sensory properties of sausages because of its inherent color and flavor. The results suggested that the plasma-treated extract of red perilla was an unsuitable natural nitrite source for cured meat products because of its adverse effect on sensory quality. However, natural nitrite source with increased nitrite content can be produced by the treatment of the natural plant extract with atmospheric-pressure plasma.

• Smart Media Journal
• /
• v.12 no.10
• /
• pp.102-109
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the growth parameters and antioxidant activity of Cnidium officinale under controlled temperature and carbon dioxide levels during the cultivation period. The plants were cultivated for four months, each group being set at the average temperature of the cultivation area +1.8℃/445ppm(SSP1), +3.6℃/872ppm(SSP3), and +4.4℃/1,142ppm(SSP5), respectively. During the cultivation period, the growth, Top/Root ratio, and leaf weight ratio(LWR) of C. officinale slightly decreased in SSP3 and SSP5 compared to SSP1, while the root weight ratio(RWR) increased. The antioxidant activity and related phenolic compound content in the aerial parts of C. officinale increased proportionally with temperature and CO₂ concentration. However, an adverse effect was observed in the high-concentration SSP5 group. Conversely, in the roots, the SSP5 group exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. This study suggests that it can be utilized as fundamental data necessary for understanding the correlation between environmental conditions and the growth as well as physiological activities of medicinal plants.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.11
• /
• pp.876-886
• /
• 2023

In some cases of head and neck cancers (HNC), surgical interventions may result in the loss of organs and/or changes to their functions, thereby significantly affecting the patient's quality of life. As a result, the surgical treatment of HNC patients is often limited to specific cases, and alternative treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, are considered. However, serious adverse effects caused by chemotherapy, such as severe nausea and vomiting, necessitate the need for the development of adjunctive methods to minimize patient suffering. Chuanxiong, Ligusticum chuanxiong (L. chuanxiong), is a natural herb used in Eastern medicine to treat cerebrovascular disorders and headaches. This study aimed to predict the effect and potential of L. chuanxiong as an auxiliary anticancer drug through network-based pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. The study results showed that 40 out of 41 genes of L. chuanxiong shared common targets of HNC and their proteins could be used to target HNC cells to prevent cancer progression. The results of the functional enrichment analysis confirmed that L. chuanxiong is associated with the neuroactive-ligand metabolism and neurotransmitter pathways, indicating its potential medicinal value as an adjuvant in HNC treatment. Lastly, our findings demonstrated that the active ingredient of L. chuanxiong, (Z)-Ligustilide, has the ATP binding site of heat shock protein 90, a protein known to promote the activation of cancer cells. These results suggest that L. chuanxiong is a promising candidate for developing auxiliary anticancer drugs, and further research could potentially lead to the discovery of newer and safer anti-cancer agents.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.10 no.spc
• /
• pp.87-115
• /
• 2004

This paper examines the influence of interpersonal relationship on delinquent behavior among adolescents. The role that parent-child relationship, teacher-student relationship, and relationship with friends play on delinquent behavior is reviewed. Review of empirical studies reveal the following results. First, adolescents who perceive their parents as being hostile and rejecting are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Second, those adolescents with parents, who have low expectations and who are less likely pressure them to succeed academically, are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Third, adolescents who feel that they have been abandoned by their parents are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Fourth, those adolescents with low social support from parents and teachers and high social support from their friends are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Fifth, those students who feel hostility from their teachers, have negative relationship with teachers, and experience greater punishment are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. The results indicate that punishment can have adverse effect on some adolescents, further damaging the teacher-student relationship. Punishment can further reinforce the existing negative cycle that can increase the likelihood of adolescents engaging in delinquent behavior. The results indicate that a lack of support from parents and teacher leads to low academic and self-regulatory efficacy, which leads to low academic performance, which can results in punishments that could further damage their relationship with their parents and teachers and bring them closer to their friends. Adolescents caught up in this negative cycle are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. These results indicate the need to reform the relational, social, and cultural environment of adolescents who are engaged in delinquent behavior.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.333-340
• /
• 2024

Background: Korean red ginseng (KRG) is a product from ginseng roots, which is enriched with ginsenosides and has been utilized for a long time as an adaptogen to alleviate various physiological or disease conditions. While KRG is generally considered safe, conducting a thorough toxicological assessment of the spray-dried powder G1899 during the juvenile period is essential to establish its safety profile. This study aimed to assess the safety of G1899 during the juvenile period using Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Two studies were conducted separately: a juvenile toxicity study and a uterotrophic bioassay. To assess the potential toxicity at systemic, postnatal developmental, and reproductive levels, G1899 was orally gavaged once a day in post-weaning juvenile Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 0, 1250, 2500, or 5000 mg/kg/day. Estrogenicity was assessed by orally gavaging G1899 in immature female SD rats at 0, 2500, or 5000 mg/kg/day on postnatal days (PND) 19-21, followed by a uterotrophic bioassay. These studies were conducted in accordance with the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations and regulatory test guidelines. Results: Regarding juvenile toxicity, no abnormalities related to the G1899 treatment were observed in any group during the experiment. Moreover, no uterotrophic responses were observed in the dosed female group. Based on these results, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of G1899 was determined to be at least 5000 mg/kg/day for general systemic function, developmental/reproductive function, and estrogenic activity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that G1899 is not toxic to juveniles at doses of up to 5000 mg/kg/day.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.131-141
• /
• 2024

Objective: This experiment aimed to explore the protective action of dietary supplementation with isoquinoline alkaloids (IA) from Macleaya cordata on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in broilers. Methods: Total 216 healthy broilers were selected in a 21-d trial and assigned randomly to the following 3 treatments: control (CON) group, LPS group, and LPS+IA group. The CON and LPS groups were provided with a basal diet, whereas the LPS+IA group received the basal diet supplemented with 0.6 mg/kg Macleaya cordata IA. Broilers in LPS and LPS+IA groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg body weight) at 17, 19, and 21 days of age, while those in CON group were injected with equivalent amount of saline solution. Results: Results showed LPS injection caused systemic and liver inflammation in broilers, inhibited immune function, and ultimately lead to liver injury. By contrast, supplementation of IA ameliorated LPS-induced adverse change in serum parameters, boosted immunity in LPS+IA group. Furthermore, IA suppressed the elevation of hepatic inflammatory cytokines and caspases levels induced by LPS, as well as the expressions of genes related to the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Conclusion: Dietary inclusion of 0.6 mg/kg Macleaya cordata IA could enhance immune function of body and inhibit liver damage via inactivating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in broilers.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2024

Objective : Cicadae Periostracum (CP), which is the discarded shell of the Cryptotympana atrata (Fabricius, 1775), is a recognized component of oriental medicine for treatment sore throat, itching, shock, sedation, edema. However, the safety and toxicity of CP have not yet been established. It has been reported that symptoms of addiction or side effects may occur in patients who take high doses of CP or who are hypersensitive to it. Therefore, we investigated the acute toxicity of an CP extracts in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods : To study acute toxicity, five SD rats of each sex per group were treated with CP extracts at single doses of 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg administrated by oral gavage, and body weight, clinical signs, and mortality were observed after dosing. At the end of 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed and complete hematological and macroscopic examinations were performed. Results : There were no dead animal and test article-related effects on body weight change or the gross finding. No toxicologically significant results were observed between control and treated groups in hematology. Although salivation related to stress at the highest dose was observed in clinical signs immediately after administration, it is considered to have no toxicological significance. Conclusion : As the results, we did not find any adverse effect at the dose levels of 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg in rats. The minimal lethal dose was considered to be over 2000 mg/kg body weight in rats.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 2024

Objective: Alveolar bone loss is a common adverse effect of intrusion treatment. Mandibular incisors are prone to dehiscence and fenestrations as they suffer from thinner alveolar bone thickness. Methods: Thirty skeletal class II patients treated with mandibular intrusion arch therapy were included in this study. Lateral cephalograms and cone-beam computed tomography images were taken before treatment (T1) and immediately after intrusion arch removal (T2) to evaluate the tooth displacement and the alveolar bone changes. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation was used to identify risk factors of alveolar bone loss during the intrusion treatment. Results: Deep overbite was successfully corrected (P < 0.05), accompanied by mandibular incisor proclination (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant change in the true incisor intrusion (P > 0.05). The labial and lingual vertical alveolar bone levels showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05). The alveolar bone is thinning in the labial crestal area and lingual apical area (P < 0.05); accompanied by thickening in the labial apical area (P < 0.05). Proclined incisors, non-extraction treatment, and increased A point-nasion-B point (ANB) degree were positively correlated with alveolar bone loss. Conclusions: While the mandibular intrusion arch effectively corrected the deep overbite, it did cause some unwanted incisor labial tipping/flaring. During the intrusion treatment, the alveolar bone underwent corresponding changes, which was thinning in the labial crestal area and thickening in the labial apical area vice versa. And increased axis change of incisors, non-extraction treatment, and increased ANB were identified as risk factors for alveolar bone loss in patients with mandibular intrusion therapy.