• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 1994

To assess a polential relationship of Korean ginseng to allergic reactions, the effect of Korean ginseng on the total IgE in serum as an allergologic parameter was investigated in humans. Serum total IgE levels were measured in 8 subjects who have been taking ginseng for more than 5 years, 4 subjects of weak constitution, 10 newly hired workers in the ginseng processing industry and 7 normal subjects unexposed to Korean ginseng as control group. Blood samples were taken before and after the exposure to Korean ginseng. Total IgE levels after the exposure to Korean ginseng were not significantly different from those before the exposure within each group. And also, the IgE levels of control subjects were not significantly different compared with those of other groups. These results suggest that the exposure to Korean ginseng dose not affect significantly the IgE immune response of the subjects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.730-741
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• 2008

Objective : To examine the efficacy of CY, the improvement of atopy dermatitis(AD)-like lesions on the rostral back of the NC/Nga mice, which took CY orally and were treated with a chemical substance called DNFB, the inhibition of ear swelling, and the inhibition of inflammatory response of the ear tissue of the mice were observed and compared, and the inhibition of the serum IgE count and the IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ count produced by CD4+ T cells of the lymph node were observed and compared. Materials and Methods : For measurement of ear thicknesses, 0.15% DNFB $25{\mu}l$ mixed with acetone/olive oil(3:1) was applied to the right ear and dorsal skin of the NC/Nga mice 5 times at an interval of 7 days. Ear thickness was measured every day over a five-week period after the first application of DNFB. The total serum IgE count was measured with ELISA by taking blood samples 24 hours after the fifth application of DNFB. To measure the IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ count, the lymph node was cut off, and the CD4+ T cells were purified and stimulated to activate the T cells, and then the IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ count was measured with ELISA. Results : Continuous oral administration of CY improved the AD-like skin lesions on the rostral back and inhibited the ear swelling in NC/Nga mice treated with DNFB and inhibited the inflammatory response in the NC/Nga mice treated with DNFB NC/Nga mice. Continuous oral administration of CY did not significantly inhibit the serum IgE count and failed to significantly reduce the IL-4 count generated after TCR stimulation in the CD4+ T cells of the NC/Nga mice treated with DNFB. Continuous oral administration of CY significantly reduced the IFN-${\gamma}$ count generated after TCR stimulation in the CD4+ T cells of the NC/Nga mice treated with DNFB.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.323-333
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• 2011

Objectives : Zingberis Rhizoma (ZR) and Glycyrrihizae Radix (GR) have been widely used to prevent or treat allergic diseases. However, relatively little research has been conducted on the immune response to Senggang Gamcho-tang (SG) in a mixture of ZR and GR. The purpose of this study was to determine antiallergic effects of Senggang Gamcho-tang (SG) extracts ZR and GR on activity of murine splenocytes. Methods : This study was performed to investigate the effect of SG in mice, using in vitro experiments. Cells were treated with SG extract (1 ${\mu}g$/ml, 10 ${\mu}g$/ml and 100 ${\mu}g$/ml) plus Con A (2 ${\mu}g$/ml) and ZR (6.6 ${\mu}g$/ml and 66 ${\mu}g$/ml), GR (3.3 ${\mu}g$/ml and 33 ${\mu}g$/ml) respectively for 48 hrs. The production of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 were determined by ELISA. Results : No toxicity was found in splenocytes treated with SG extract for 48 hrs at the concentration of 0 ${\mu}g$/ml, 1 ${\mu}g$/ml, 10 ${\mu}g$/ml and 100 ${\mu}g$/ml, respectively. The production of IFN-${\gamma}$ increased to 23,968.7 pg/ml (p<0.001) while that of IL-4 significantly decreased to 14.1 pg/m l(p<0.05) only at the SG concentration of 100 ${\mu}g$/ml. With the GR concentration of 33 ${\mu}g$/ml in SG extract, the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ rose to 32,102.2 pg/ml (p<0.001) while that of IL-4 (p<0.05) declined to 34.2 pg/ml. However, there was no significant observation with regard to the effect of ZR on production of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4. Conclusions : This study suggests an antiallergic effect of Senggang Gamcho-tang, which leads to the implication that SG extract may be used to enhance human immune function.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2008

Background and Objective : Chungsangboha-tang (CSBHT) has analgesic, sedative, anti-convulsive and anti-histamine effects, so it alleviates the symptoms of asthma. For the comparison of anti-inflammatory effect(s) on CSBHT, PD098059 was used as a negative control. Materials and Methods : This study emphasized THP-1 cells, which had been well characterized as a human monocytic leukemic cell line. The cells resemble monocytes with respect to several criteria and can be differentiated into macrophage-like cells by treatment with PMA. By using the MTS assay, it was possible to prove the safety of CSBHT. Results : Results shows that the CSBHT did not affected cell survival within $10^{1}$ ng/ml to $10^{5}$ ng/ml. Especially, $10^{5}$ ng/ml CSBHT treated cells show 70% deduction of $TNF-{\alpha}$ gene expression against that of LPS treated group. Furthermore, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels are down-regulated when treated with CSBHT with concentrations up to 100 ug/ml on monocyte-derived macrophages. Interestingly, CSBHT-treated samples showed that overall transcriptional activities were down-regulated to 20% of that of PD098059 ($TNF-{\alpha}$ inhibitor). At protein level, the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed similar results as that of transcriptional activity. Results show that the protein level decreased more in the CSBHT-treated group (487 ${\pm}$ 87 pg/ml) than in the LPS-treated group (703 ${\pm}$ 103 pg/ml). In addition, the protein level of IL-8 in the CSBHT treated-group (9.84 ${\pm}$ 3.28 ng/ml) decreased similar as the expression of the control and PD098059-treated groups. Conclusion : CSBHT affects immune response, especially allergic responses and suppression of inflammatory reaction. The results provide us an alternative way to care for clinical inflammatory diseases, not only asthma but also the other possible general inflammatory and allergic diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.184-202
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigates the necessary educational materials from the perspective of caregivers managing food allergies of preschoolers. Methods: An online survey enrolled 400 caregivers of preschoolers with food allergies. The study was conducted in July 2022, and data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Results: The caregivers of preschoolers with food allergies showed low food allergy knowledge. The highest percentage of incorrect answers were for items related to the cause (74.2%) and response (65.2%) to food allergies. Moreover, categorizing the levels of knowledge as high, medium, and low, we found that caregivers with younger children exhibited a better understanding of food allergies. Approximately 56.9% of subjects in the high class were caregivers with preschoolers under three years, whereas caregivers with preschoolers over four years comprised 43.2% of the high-class subjects. Regarding food allergy treatment, four questions measured how well the caregivers tended to the children. With higher levels of knowledge, caregivers were more likely to read nutrient information and check for food allergens. The caregivers of preschoolers who were clinically diagnosed with food allergies demonstrated a higher percentage of using separate ingredients and cooking utensils. Conclusion: This study shows how the caregivers' knowledge levels are critical in managing and treating food allergies among preschoolers. With caregivers' lower knowledge of food allergies and preschoolers younger than four years, self-diagnosis of food allergies and existing food allergies were not managed efficiently. Hence, customized education for caregivers is essential to improve their knowledge level regarding limiting foods that may cause allergies, reading food labels, and using ingredients and cooking utensils separately.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2019

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis can result in anatomical sequelae, and cause airflow limitation. However, there are no treatment guidelines for patients with a tuberculosis-destroyed lung. Recently, indacaterol effectiveness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with Tuberculosis history (INFINITY) study revealed indacaterol provided bronchodilation and symptom improvement in COPD patients with a tuberculosis-destroyed lung. Methods: We conducted a post-hoc subgroup analysis of the randomized controlled trial, the INFINITY study, to determine factors associated with indacaterol response in a tuberculosis-destroyed lung with airflow limitation. Data from 68 patients treated with inhaled indacaterol, were extracted and analyzed. Factors associated with the response of forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) to indacaterol treatment, were determined using linear regression analysis. Results: Of 62 patients included, 68% were male, and 52% had history of cigarette smoking. Patients revealed mean $FEV_1$ of 50.5% of predicted value with mean improvement of 81.3 mL in $FEV_1$ after indacaterol treatment for 8 weeks. Linear regression analysis revealed factors associated with response of $FEV_1$ to indacaterol included a short duration of smoking history, and high short-acting bronchodilator response. When patients with history of smoking were excluded, factors associated with response of $FEV_1$ to indacaterol included high short-acting bronchodilator response, and poor health-related quality of life score as measured by St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD. Conclusion: In a tuberculosis-destroyed lung with airflow limitation, short-acting bronchodilator response and smoking history can play a critical role in predicting outcomes of indacaterol treatment.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2019

Rumex crispus is known to have anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, and bone loss inhibitory activities. Mast cells are critical immune cells that induce a type 1 IgE-mediated allergic reaction. However, there are no reports of inhibitory effects of Rumex crispus on mast cells and allergic reactions. In this study, we performed some experiments to investigate whether Rumex crispus ethanol extract(RCE) has any inhibitory effect on antigen-induced type I allergic response in vitro and in vivo. RCE inhibited degranulation of IgE-mediated mast cells(IC₅₀, ~57 ㎍/ml) and cytokine production such as TNF-α and IL-4 in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, RCE significantly inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis(PCA)(ED₅₀, ~198 mg/kg) in mice. Furthermore, RCE inhibited degranulation of MCs in ear tissue of mice with PCA. Mechanism studies showed that RCE inhibited the activation of Syk and Syk-dependent pathway such as LAT, PLC-γ, Akt, and MAP Kinase. Our results demonstrate for the first time that RCE inhibits type I hypersensitive response by suppressing the activity of Syk in mast cells, thereby reducing degranulation and cytokine production. Taken together, RCE could be used as a novel therapeutic material to suppress allergic diseases.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.356-362
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• 2014

Allergic diseases have increased rapidly over the past decades, affecting an estimated 20~30% of the population in developed countries. In this study, we investigated whether or not a typical costal sand dune plant Carex pumila (CPE) suppresses the activation of mast cells and IgE-mediated allergic response in vitro and in vivo. As the results, the extract of Carex pumila inhibited antigen-stimulated degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells and Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), and IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in mice. CPE also suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-4, in antigen-stimulated mast cells. As its mechanism of action, CPE inhibited the activation of Syk in $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated signalling pathway, and that of LAT, a downstream adaptor molecule of Syk, in a dose-dependent manner. CPE also suppressed the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, p38, ERK1/2, JNK, and Akt. Altogether, CPE inhibited mast cell activation and IgE-mediated allergic response by antigen through suppressing the activation of Syk. These results suggest that CPE may be useful for the treatment of allergic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2008

Purpose : Asthma is defined as chronic inflammation of the lower small airways, and bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a pathophysiologic feature of asthma. It has been proposed that although there is no direct variable capable of assessing the small airways, a forced expiratory flow of between 25 and 75 percent ($FEF_{25-75}$) might be considered a more sensitive early marker of small airway obstruction than the forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$). Thus, we proposed that the presence and degree of positive responses to bronchial methacholine testing were related to the difference (DFF) and ratio (RFF) between $FEV_1$ and $FEF_{25-75}$ in asthmatic children. Methods : The subjects were 583 symptomatic children, including 324 children with BHR and 259 controls. Pulmonary function tests, methacholine challenge tests, and skin prick tests were performed, and the total eosinophil count, total serum IgE, and serum eosinophil cationic protein level were measured in all subjects. From a concentration-response curve, the methacholine concentration required to produce a decrease of 20% from post-saline $FEV_1$ was calculated ($PC_{20}$). Results : The median DFF and RFF values decreased in controls compared to subjects with bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and this trend was found in groups ranked by its severity. $PC_{20}$ had a negative correlation with DFF and RFF. Cutoff values of 0.5 for DFF and 1.042 for RFF were identified, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Conclusion : This study revealed that DFF and RFF might be predictive of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the context of normal $FEV_1$ in children.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2004

Beevenom immunotherapy(BVIT) in allergic patients is a well-established treatment modality for the prevention of systemic anaphylactic reactions caused by insect stings. BVIT is accompanied by increases in allergen-specific IgG, particularly the IgG4 isotype, which blocks not only IgE-dependent histamine release from basophils but also IgE-mediated antigen presentation to T cells. Inhibition of T cells after BVIT also involves decreased induction of the costimulatory molecule ICOS, which, in turn, seems to be dependent on the presence of IL-10, also associated with the inhibited status of T cells after BVIT. Suppression of T cells by IL-10 is an active process, which depends on the expression and participation of CD28. Immune tolerance in specific allergen immunotherapy might be a consequence of decreased Th2 or increased Th1 response of allergen specific T lymphocytes. BVIT shifted cytokine responses to allergen from a TH-2 to a TH-1 dominant pattern, suggesting direct effects on T cells. Many studies showed that severe side effects due to venom immunotherapy are rare. These results suggest that immunological changes after BVIT may be applied to be therapeutic alternative of general allergic diseases including beevenom allergy.