• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2003

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is well-known soluble tumor marker frequently detectable in peripheral blood of carcinoma patients and considered as good target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. In this study, we used a replication-deficient adenovirus containing CEA to study CTL induction in vitro after adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into DC. Methods: DC were obtained from mouse bone marrow and cultured with IL-4 and GM-CSF. For measuring CTL activity, splenocytes were harvested from the mice, which were immunized with DC that had been infected AdV-CEA or pulsed with CEA peptide. Untreated DC was used as a control. Splenocytes were re-stimulated in vitro with DC pulsed with CEA peptide for 7 days and CTL activity with CEA peptide-pulsed EL-4 cells were assessed in a standard $^{51}Cr$-release assay. The frequencies of antigen-specific cytokine-secreting T cell were determined with $mIFN-{\gamma}$ELISPOT. Results: DC infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing CEA induced CEA-specific CTL responses in vivo. Splenocyte induced from mice immunized with AdV-CEA-infected DC increase in the number of $IFN-{\gamma}$ secreting T cells compared with those from mice immunized with CEA peptide-pulsed DC. Conclusion: These results suggested that DC infected with recombinant adenovirus has advantages over other forms of vaccination and could provide an alternative approach vaccination therapies.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.221-235
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• 2009

This study is made for the survey of the effectiveness of the auricular reflexology, now accepted as a part of alternative medicine, applied to the patients of musculoskeltal disease patients, and data about its cognition and the success rate of the therapy. 106 patient was employed in this study who works in various part in a company in Jun-ju in Junrabukdo. From them, data such as, musculoskeletal symptoms by questionnaire examination, and data from ear inspections and interviews were collected and used for the basal data. Auricular reflexology therapies were applied to them at the areas that reflect the musculoskeletal system, for five times, each time with intervals of three or four days. The data about the effectiveness were collected by questionnaire examination, including descriptive answers. The results are as follows; cognition to the auricular reflexology was 62.3%, and acceptance rate of this method was 81.1%. From this results, I think that this therapy can be easily acceptable. The success rates of this therapy were 32.1% after 1 time application, and 84.9% after 5 times applications. This result shows that auricular reflexology therapy has therapeutic effect in musculoskeletal diseases, and the success rates increase according to the application times. Between sex, its success rate were 80% in male patients, and 88.5% in female patients, so this therapy is rather more effective in female patients. According to the body weight, the success rate were 85.8% in normal weight patients, and 71.5% in over- weight patients, so this therapy is more effective in normal weight patients. Comparisons according to other factors, such as age, marriage state etc. shows no definite differences. Conclusively, I think that auricular reflex therapy is easy and useful preventative and treatment method in our usual life. With more investigation, we can apply this method to other musculoskeletal diseases and to the diseases of other systems in the body, I hope so.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to grasp the subjectivity of the nursing students toward CAM and put the outcomes into use as basic facts and figures in developing and applying a curriculum associated with CAM. Methods: Q methodology was employed to explore the nursing students' subjectivity from their rank-order statements. For the Q population, individual in-depth interviews and literature research were conducted. Finally, 30 participants completed 40 Q statements. The data were analyzed using the QUANL software package. Results: The current survey that probed into the subjectivity of the nursing students relative to CAM abstracted four categories, namely, practical and convinced type, keep-under-control/wait-and-see type, merit acknowledging type and limitedly accepting type. Conclusion: It is recommended that various educational programs should be developed to shift the awareness of CAM on the part of the nursing students, based on the findings set forth in the current study.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.29-42
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• 2017

Background : Efforts towards increasing insurance coverage for traditional Korean medicine (TKM) are being continued. However, various difficulties are faced in generating evidence for TKM due to limited financial support and the low quality of research methodology. Objectives : The objectives of this study were to review the Swiss evaluation program for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and assess the expansion in public health insurance coverage of complementary medicine as approved by referendum in Switzerland. Methods : The regulations of CAM in the European Union were assessed. Research articles, reports, government publications and websites which deal with the 'Programm Evaluation $Komplement{\ddot{a}}rmedizin$ (PEK)' and the referendum in Switzerland were searched for and analyzed. Results : The PEK was conducted from 1998 to 2005. The PEK evaluated the efficacy, utilization and cost-effectiveness of anthroposophical medicine, homeopathy, neural therapy, phytotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine. However, clear conclusions could not be drawn from the evaluation according to the PEK Report. Later, a referendum was implemented in which 5 therapies would be added to the Switzerland Constitution with the support of the public. The coverage of CAM was approved by Swiss a plebiscite with an approval rate of 67.0%. Conclusions : The reason for the successful referendum is suggested to be public support and the solidarity with CAM experts and politicians. It may be surmised that recognition of the political efforts and scientific aspects required to expand insurance coverage of TKM, and towards obtaining public support, is necessary.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.28.1-28.7
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• 2016

Background: Significant increases in the bacterial resistance to various antibiotics have been found in fish farms. Non-antibiotic therapies for infectious diseases in aquaculture are needed. In recent years, light-emitting diode technology has been applied to the inactivation of pathogens, especially those affecting humans. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of blue light (wavelengths 405 and 465 nm) on seven major bacterial pathogens that affect fish and shellfish important in aquaculture. Results: We successfully demonstrate inactivation activity of a 405/465-nm LED on selected bacterial pathogens. Although some bacteria were not fully inactivated by the 465-nm light, the 405-nm light had a bactericidal effect against all seven pathogens, indicating that blue light can be effective without the addition of a photosensitizer. Photobacterium damselae, Vibrio anguillarum, and Edwardsiella tarda were the most susceptible to the 405-nm light (36.1, 41.2, and $68.4J\;cm^{-2}$, respectively, produced one log reduction in the bacterial populations), whereas Streptococcus parauberis was the least susceptible ($153.8J\;cm^{-2}$ per one log reduction). In general, optical density (OD) values indicated that higher bacterial densities were associated with lower inactivating efficacy, with the exception of P. damselae and Vibrio harveyi. In conclusion, growth of the bacterial fish and shellfish pathogens evaluated in this study was inactivated by exposure to either the 405- or 465-nm light. In addition, inactivation was dependent on exposure time. Conclusions: This study presents that blue LED has potentially alternative therapy for treating fish and shellfish bacterial pathogens. It has great advantages in aspect of eco-friendly treating methods differed from antimicrobial methods.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2001

Back pain has plagued humans for many thousands of years. The treatment of back pain is divided into operative treatment and conservative treatment. It is reported that cure rate of conservative treatment is 80~90 percent. Generally, the treatment of oriental medicine is mostly conservative treatment. But, surgery should not be used as a last resort in treatment; it is just one of many treatment options for various spinal conditions. In some instance, it can be to preferred choice; in other situations, alternative therapies may be superior. Selections of the operation in HIVD 1. Acute disc herniations with a protracted significant component af back pain. 2. Chronic disc degeneration with significant back pain and degeneration limited to one or two disc levels. 3. Sugical instability created during decompression. 4. The presence of neural arch defects coincident with disc disease. 5. Symptamatic and radiographically demonstrable segmental instability. Selections of the operation in stenosis 1. If it does not slowly progress in physical therapy and other nonoperative measures, many of these patients may ultimately need surgical decompression. 2. Absolute stenosis in an impression of CT, MRI.(under 10mm) 3. In patients with established symptoms of .neurogenic claudication. 4. In patients with bad influence of neurogenic derangement.(strength, sensory) Selections of the operation in spondylolisthesis 1. Persistence or recurrence of major symptoms for at least one year despite activity modification and physical therapy. 2. Tight hamstrings, persistently abnormal gait, or postural deformities unrelieved by physical therapy. 3. Sciatic scoliosis. 4. Progressive neurologic deficit. 5. Progressive slipping beyond 25 or 50 percent, even when asymptomatic. 6. A high slip angle (40 to 50 degrees) in a growing child, since it is likely to be associated with further progression and deformity. 7. Psychologic problems attributed to shortness of trunk, abnormal gait, and postural deformities characteristic of more severe slips.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.665-675
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Korea. The specific aim was to identify major problems that people with CHB face and strategies that they are dealing with. Methods: A grounded theory method was utilized. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from 12 CHB patients from one of the major hospitals in Korea. Results: After constant comparative analysis, a core category emerged as "illness management with self-reliance and will." Seven major strategies that were identified in dealing with the illness were maintaining receptive and positive attitudes; restraining excessive work and greed; searching for information; controlling illness information; adhering to practices for not spreading the viral disease; abstaining from alcohol and smoking and maintaining healthy eating habits; nd using alternative therapies. The outcomes that result from employing these strategies were identified as burden, depression and helplessness, stress for maintaining compliance, and dispirited interpersonal relationships. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that most people with CHB in Korea have problems in psychosocial area. Thus health professionals need to provide not only informational support but also emotional one to improve quality of life of the people with CHB.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.291-298
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• 2020

Tumor angiogenesis is an essential process for growth and metastasis of cancer cells as it supplies tumors with oxygen and nutrients. During tumor angiogenesis, many pro-angiogenic factors are secreted by tumor cells to induce their own vascularization via activation of pre-existing host endothelium. However, accumulating evidence suggests that vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a key alternative mechanism for tumor vascularization when tumors are faced with insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. VM is a tumor vascularization mechanism in which tumors create a blood supply system, in contrast to tumor angiogenesis mechanisms that depend on pre-existing host endothelium. VM is closely associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in many cancers. Therefore, inhibition of VM may be a promising therapeutic strategy and may overcome the limitations of anti-angiogenesis therapy for cancer patients. In this review, we provide an overview of the current anti-angiogenic therapies for ovarian cancer and the current state of knowledge regarding the links between microRNAs and the VM process, with a focus on the mechanism that regulates associated signaling pathways in ovarian cancer. Moreover, we discuss the potential for VM as a therapeutic strategy against ovarian cancer.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2016

Recently, increased attention has been directed toward medicinal extracts and their active ingredients as potential new drug candidates for androgenic alopecia. Resina Pini (RP), a resinous exudation obtained from Pinus sp. (Pinaceae), has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of infection, pain related to dental caries, and periodontal disease. Previously, we suggested that RP and its main constituent, abietic acid (abieta-7,13-dien-18-oic acid; AA), may play important roles against androgenic alopecia as $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitors. However, to date, there is no evidence that AA has hair growth-promoting effects in vivo. In this study, we found that 10 ~ 300 mg/kg RP and 3 ~ 30 mg/kg AA significantly promoted hair growth in a C3H/HeN mouse model of alopecia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the hair growth-promoting effects of RP and AA in vivo. From these results, RP and its main constituent AA can promote hair growth in mouse by inhibiting $5{\alpha}$-reductase activity and may be effective alternative therapies for androgenic alopecia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 2020

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed as an alternative therapy to be applied into several pathologies of the nervous system. These cells can be obtained from adipose tissue, umbilical cord blood and bone marrow, among other tissues, and have remarkable therapeutic properties. MSCs can be isolated with high yield, which adds to their ability to differentiate into non-mesodermal cell types including neuronal lineage both in vivo and in vitro. They are able to restore damaged neural tissue, thus being suitable for the treatment of neural injuries, and possess immunosuppressive activity, which may be useful for the treatment of neurological disorders of inflammatory etiology. Although the long-term safety of MSC-based therapies remains unclear, a large amount of both pre-clinical and clinical trials have shown functional improvements in animal models of nervous system diseases following transplantation of MSCs. In fact, there are several ongoing clinical trials evaluating the possible benefits this cell-based therapy could provide to patients with neurological damage, as well as their clinical limitations. In this review we focus on the potential of MSCs as a therapeutic tool to treat neurological disorders, summarizing the state of the art of this topic and the most recent clinical studies.