• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.13-26
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in allergic reactions by type of Sasang constitution using multiple allergen simultaneous test(MAST). Methods This study was conducted using the big data of Korean medical health checkups. Subjects with a history of allergic disease, Sasang constitution type information, and MAST results were included. Subjects who had taken drugs before MAST that affected allergic reactions were excluded. We compared total immunoglobulin E(IgE) concentrations, and the number of positive antigens by Sasang constitution using analysis of variance. The presence or absence of a positive reaction and specific IgE concentration classes of 92 antigens in MAST were analyzed by Fisher's exact test or Chi-squared test. Results The distribution of Sasang constitutional types of Tae-Yang, Tae-Eum, So-Yang, and So-Eum among 147 subjects was 2.7%, 42.9%, 38.1%, and 16.3%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the total IgE concentration, the number of positive antigens, and specific IgE concentration classes for each antigen. There was a statistically significant difference in MAST-positive reaction for alder and pine antigens by type of Sasang constitution, and Tae-Eum had the most. Conclusions Tae-Eum showed a relatively strong positive reaction to a large number of antigens compared to the other types, but no statistically significant difference was observed. It is necessary to continuously investigate allergic reactions to provide evidence for the treatment of allergic diseases by Sasang constitution.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 1998

Background: Bronchial asthma is a complex disease, which is characterized by spontaneous exacerbations of airway obstruction and persistent bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Animal models have fallen short of reproducing the human disease, particularly in mimicking the spontaneous and persistent airflow obstruction that characterized in asthma. In animals, airflow obstruction is usually assessed by measuring airflow resistance during tidal breathing under such invasive technique as tracheostomy and anesthesia. A noninvasive technique for measuring pulmonary function in small animals is needed to evaluate long-term changes in lung function during the course of experimentally produced disease without sacrificing the animal. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate early bronchoconstrcition after allergen challenge and airway responsiveness (AR) to inhaled methacholine in nonanethetized, unrestrained guinea pigs. Method: Guinea pig model of asthma was sensitized by subcutaneous injection with ovalbumin and challenged by inhalation of aerosolized ovalbumin(1% wt/vol ovlabumin). Airflow obstruction of conscious guinea pig was measured as specific airway resistance (airway resistance $\times$ thoracic gas volume). Airway resistance and thoracic gas volume of conscious guinea pig were assessed by body plethysmography before challenge and at regular intervals for as long as 30 minutes after challenge. AR to aerosolized methacholine of asthma group was compared with that of control group in body plethysmography. Result: Asthma model<> developed in 13 (65%) among 20 guinea pigs, in which early responses occurred in the airways after the exposure to inhalation with ovalbumin. Airway challenge with ovalbumin caused increase in specific airway resistance, which peaked at 6 minutes and amounted to a $231.5{\pm}30.4%$ increase from baseline. AR to aerosolized methacholine of asthma model increased significantly compared with control group. Conclusion: These results have showed a useful animal model to evaluate early bronchoconstrcition after allergen challenge and airway responsiveness in nonanethetized, unrestrained guinea pigs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.503-510
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• 2010

Most allergens have protease activities, suggesting that proteases may be a key link between Th2-type immune reactions in allergic responses. Protease activated receptor (PAR) 2 is activated via the proteolytic cleavage of its N-terminal domain by proteinases. To know the role of PAR2 in Aspergillus protease allergen activated Th2 immune responses in airway epithelial cells, we investigated and compared immune cell recruitment and level of chemokines and cytokines between PAR2 knock out (KO) mice and wild type (WT) mice. There were evident immune cell infiltrations into the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of WT mice, but the infiltrations in PAR2 KO mice were significantly lowered than those of WT mice. The IL-25, TSLP, and eotaxin gene expressions were profoundly increased after Aspergillus protease, but their expression was significantly lowered in PAR2 KO mice in this study. Compared to PAR2 KO mice, OVA specific IgE concentrations in serum of WT mice were quite increased; moreover, the IgE level of PAR2 KO mice was lower than in WT mice. The IL-25 expression by Aspergillus protease stimulation was significantly reduced by p38 specific inhibitor treatment. In this study, we determined that Th2 response was initiated with IL-25 and TSLP mRNA up-regulation in lung epithelial cells via PAR2 after Aspergillus protease allergen treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 1999

House dust mite allergens have been well established as sensitizing agents that are important in the induction of allergic diseases. In order to analyze epitopes of the allergen and to develop a quantitative method of the allergen exposure, monoclonal antibodies against a recombinant Der p 2 (rDer p 2), one of the major allergens of Dermatophogoides pteronyssinus, were produce. Four monoclonal antibodies produced wee species-specific and did not cross-react to the D. farinae crude extract. Two of the monoclonal antibodies were found to be IgG1 and the others were IgM. For the analysis of epitopes, a Der p 2 cDNA encoding 126 amino acids (aa) was dissected into three fragments with several overlapping peptides, A (aa residues 1-49), B (44-93), and C fragment (84-126). Three monoclonal antibodies showed reactivities to the recombinant B fragment and to the full-length rDer p 2, but one monoclonal antibody reacted only with the full-length rDer p 2. Two-site capture ELISA was developed using two different monoclonal antibodies for quantitating Der p2 in house dust. The sensitivity limit was 4ng/ml with rDer p2 and $8{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ with the d. pteronyssinus crude extract. The result suggested that the assay using monoclonal antibodies against rDer p2 could be useful for the environmental studies and for the standardization of mite allergen extracts.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.98-103
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• 2014

Objectives: Advanced malignant melanoma (MM) has a poor prognosis, with an expected 2-year survival rate of 10 to 20%. It has long been recognized as an immunogenic tumor, and is worse for elderly patients. Many studies have suggested that herbal treatments improve immune functions, but few clinical studies have reported on this topic. Patients and History: We present two cases of female patients (72 and 77 years old, respectively) with advanced MM. The 72-year-old female patient was, at first, diagnosed with MM with multiple bone metastases. She received resection of the primary lesion, but refused further chemotherapy. The 77-year-old female patient was diagnosed with cutaneous MM of the left heel, with suspicion of sentinel node lymphadenopathy; however, she also refused any conventional treatment due to old age. Course of Therapy and Results: Both patients were exclusively treated with standardized allergen-removed Rhus verniciflua stokes (aRVS) extract combined with Bojungikki-tang (BT, Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang in Chinese or Hochu-ekki-to in Japanese). Both patients are still alive and doing well (Feb. 2014), demonstrating that the 72-year-old patient has lived for 27 months and the 77-year-old patient has lived for 31 months without disease progression since the aRVS and BT administration. Conclusion: We suggest that the combination of aRVS extract and BT could be a candidate for overcoming the cancer's immunoediting process especially for elderly MM patients intolerant of conventional treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.534-549
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• 2009

Objectives : To study trends in complementary medical therapy for the allergic rhinitis. This study analyzed research on allergic rhinitis in PubMed. Methods : We searched PubMed related to complementary medical therapy for allergic rhinitis. We analyzed 25 research papers and examined published journals, years countries, and their methods, objectives, results, interventions, participants, periods and instruments of assessment. Results : The method of studies was mostly randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. There were research papers concerning treatment and prevention with herbal medicine, acupuncture, diet, etc. There were more positive results compared to negative results for treatment and prevention. Most studies were carried out during the winter/spring period. The median for number of participants was 90.54 persons. Diagnostic criteria for enrolment were nasal symptoms, allergic skin test, serum, nasal discharge allergen specific IgE eosinophil, etc. Assessment for outcomes were nasal symptoms, serum, nasal discharge allergen specific IgE eosinophil and Quality of Life Questionnaire. Conclusions : It is necessary to study effects of acupuncture and herb medicines for allergic rhinitis and more in-depth research about trends in complementary medical therapy for allergic rhinitis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.2 s.33
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• pp.199-212
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this clinical research was to investigate the effects of Seunggaltang on patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods : Thirteen patients were treated with Seunggaltang and ten patients were treated with placebo for 8 weeks. We observed skin humidity, skin sebum,, transepidermal water loss, skin melanin, skin erythema, total IgE class and number of allergen. And Clinic Index of Atopic Dermatitis(Extent, Intensity, Subjective symptoms, Total score) was used to evaluate the effects of Seunggaltang. Statistical analysis was performed by using paired sample T-test. Statistical significance was achieved if the probability was less than 5%(P<0.05). The result were as follows : 1. Statistically, Seunggaltang didn't showed significant effect on skin humidity, skin sebum, skin transepidermal water loss, skin melanin and skin erythema. 2. Statistically, Seunggaltang showed significant effect on Clinic Index of atopic dermatitis. 3. Statistically, Seunggaltang didn't showed significant effect on total IgE class and number of allergen. 4. Before and after treatment, the results of blood test and urinalysis were normal. Conclusion : We speculate that Seunggaltang has some therapeutic effects in mitigating the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.573-578
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• 2008

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality and overall treatment outcomes for lung cancer are still to be considered disappointing despite of development of new medical therapeutics on cancer. Cytostatic agents are considered as novel medication in the treatment of cancer though its benefit is most appropriately assessed through survival end points rather than the objective-response end points. We present a case of a lung adenocarcinoma patient who showed tumor lesion in patient's two different lung sites. From the day of diagnosis, the tumor lesion stayed with the almost same size with more than 1 year of Allergen-Removed Rhus Verniciflua Stokes (A-RVS) based Traditional Korean Medicine treatment without any western conventional treatment. No significant side effect was noted and the patient maintained good performance status throughout the treatment period. We assume A-RVS may have cytostatic effect on NSCLC patient and our observation justifies further investigation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2003

The use of skin whitening agents has been recently increased in various kinds of cosmetic products, although there were some reports that whitening agents might cause allergic contact dermatitis. A murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed as an alternative to guinea pigs for contact sensitization potential. This study was carried out to investigate the skin sensitization potential of three whitening agents, arbutin, azelaic acid, and kojic acid, by LLNA using a non-radiois-topic endpoint. Female Balb/c mice were exposed topically to a weak allergen, $\alpha$-hexylcinnamalde-hyde (HCA), and three whitening agents following LLNA protocol. Lymph node (LN) weight and cell proliferation in ears and auricular lymph node using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry were evaluated. LN weights were significantly increased at the HCA group compared to the vehicle control. A weak allergen, HCA elicited 3-fold or greater increase in cell proliferation of lymph nodes as well as increase in cell proliferation of ear as measured by BrdU immunohistochemistry. However, in the case of skin whitening agent groups, there were no significant changes in LN weight and cell proliferation in the ear and lymph node of mice treated with 5, 10 and 20% of three whitening agents compared to the vehicle control. These results show that these three skin whitening agents may not have contact sensitization potentials at tested concentrations in Balb/c mice by LLNA.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.117-120
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• 2014

Several studies have reported that the citrus red mites Panonychus citri were an important allergen of citrus-cultivating farmers in Jeju Island. The aim of the present study was to purify and assess properties of a cysteine protease from the mites acting as a potentially pathogenic factor to citrus-cultivating farmers. A cysteine protease was purified using column chromatography of Mono Q anion exchanger and Superdex 200 HR gel filtration. It was estimated to be 46 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography and consisted of 2 polypeptides, at least. Cysteine protease inhibitors, such as trans poxy-succinyl-L-leucyl-amido (4-guanidino) butane (E-64) and iodoacetic acid (IAA) totally inhibited the enzyme activities, whereas serine or metalloprotease inhibitors did not affect the activities. In addition, the purified enzyme degraded human IgG, collagen, and fibronectin, but not egg albumin. From these results, the cysteine protease of the mites might be involved in the pathogenesis such as tissue destruction and penetration instead of nutrient digestion.