• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Objectives : The root bark of Morus alba L. (Mori Cortex Radidus; MCR) has been traditionally used to reduce heat from the lungs, soothe asthma, and edema and to promote urination. In this study, we investigated the effect of MCR ethanol extract on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized at day 0, 7 and 14 with 0.2% OVA and then airway challenged at day 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 to induce allergic asthma. MCR extracts at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) were orally administered during OVA challenge once per a day. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific IgE, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histopathological change of lung tissues was observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : MCR extract significantly decreased not only the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and IL-4 compared with those of OVA control group, but significantly increased the serum level of IFN-${\gamma}$. In H&E staining, MCR extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells and bronchiolar damage with epithelial thickening in lung tissues of OVA-induced asthma mice. Conclusions : These results indicate that MCR extract inhibits lung damage by asthma through regulating the allergic immune response, suggesting that MCR may be used as a useful agent for the treatment of allergic asthma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.188-203
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• 2008

Purpose : Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood disease. Education of asthmatic children and their families about asthma and its management may improve disease control, reduce symptoms, and improve school performance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of an intensive asthma education program in asthmatic children and their families on outcome measure of asthma management behavior scale, knowledge about asthma, self efficacy scale and quality of life. Methods : Fifteen asthmatic children and their families were invited the intensive asthma education program which including allergen avoidance, management of asthma, correct use of the inhalation devices and control of exercise-induced asthma (study group). Fifteen asthmatic children and their families those who did not participate this program were served as control group. Participants were asked to complete a written questionnaire before and 3-month after the program. Results : After completing the intensive education program, significant improvement of the childrens asthma management behavior scale (27.1 vs. 32.2, P=0.011), belief and knowledge about asthma (14.2 vs. 17.9, P<0.001), self efficacy (47.9 vs. 49.7, P=0.091) and quality of life (79.6 vs. 88.6, P<0.001) was noted in the study group by measuring questionnaires. There are increasing tendencies in parental asthma management behavior scale and knowledge about asthma. Conclusion : This intensive asthma education program is effective in improving asthma control, self efficacy and quality of life of asthmatic children. This should serve as a national model for family-based programs for asthmatic children and their families.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.548-554
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• 1999

Background : Asthma is the most common respiratory crisis encountered in clinical practice, occurring in up to 4% of all pregnancies. Pregnancy often appears to alter the course of asthma. But the mechanisms responsible for variable changes in the asthma course during pregnancy remain unknown. Poor control and exacerbations of asthma during pregnancy may result in serious maternal and fetal complications. To investigate the course of asthma during pregnancy in korean women, we did a retrograde study of 27 pregnant women who had been admitted to Korea University Hospital for asthma worsened. Method: Twenty seven pregnant women who had been visited to Korea University Hospital for asthma worsened were enrolled in our retrospective study. We reviewed medical recordings and interviewed patients with asthma. Results: Twenty seven pregnant women with asthma were evaluated, and 25 patients were enrolled to our study. Two patients experienced abortions at 6 weeks and 25 weeks gestation, respectively. The period of asthma worsened was commonly during weeks 20 to 28 of gestation. And all patients wosened were improved during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. Twenty(80%) of 25 women whose asthma worsened during pregnancy reverted toward their prepregnancy status after delivery(p<0.002). The causes of asthma worsened during pregnancy are reduction or even complete cessaton of medication due to fears about its safety(40%), worsening after upper respiratory infection (28%), and unknown(32%). There were no adverse perinatal outcomes in 25 pregnant asthma subjects. Conclusions: A major problem of therapy for asthma during pregnancy is reduction or even complete cessation of medication due to fears of fetal effects. Therefore, maternal education and optimal clinical and pharmacologic management is necessary to mitigate maternal and fetal complications.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.176-183
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this case study is to report the effect of oriental and western medicine combination therapy for the Asthma during the period of pregnancy. Methods: We treated the patient who had the Asthma during the period of pregnancy and visited Dongshin University oriental hospital. The patient in this case was admitted for 9days due to the Asthma on the twenty-third week period of pregnancy. In consideration of pregnancy, this patient was treated with oriental and western medicine combination treatments such as herb medicine, acupuncture, herbal acupuncture therapy, and so forth. Results: There was remarkable improvement in condition of the patient, treated by oriental and western medicine combination therapy. Conclusion: We confirmed that western medicine treatment is effective in curuing with an urgent symptoms, but there is a limit to complete recovery or prevention. On the other hand. it proves that oriental medicine treatment is proficient with continuous treatment effect, but further studies are needed.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.6
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• 2013

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs, characterized by increased sensitivity to bronchoconstriction associated with infiltration of immune cells and mucus hyper secretion. In South Africa, the indigenous plant Siphonochilus aethiopicus, is used by traditional health practitioners to treat colds and flu, wheezing of the chest, coughs, influenza, sinus problems and mild asthma. In this study we aimed to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties of S. aethiopicus in vitro. The dried and powdered S. aethiopicus plant material was extracted with organic solvents. The dried extracts were screened in vitro in the transcription response, NF-${\kappa}B$ and a cytokine assay. Significant activity was observed for organic extracts of the plant in these assays. This study provides evidence that S. aethiopicus has anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing properties in vitro. These findings may support anecdotal accounts of its effectiveness against allergic asthma.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate oriental medical treatment of pediatric bronchial asthma. Method : Chinese medical journals which is about pediatric bronchial asthma were analyzed for a reference. Result : Oriental medical treatment can be classified into three ways; internal treatment, external treatment, and combination treatment which means combining with Chinese and Western ways of treatments. Conclusion : Oriental medical treatment of pediatric bronchial asthma is more effective therapy than Western's.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.177-177
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• 2002

In order to investigate the association of genetic factor with asthma and contribution of the genetic interactions to the incidence of asthma in Korean population, the genetic polymorphisms of Epoxide Hydrolase(EH), CD14 and ${\beta}$2-adrenergic receptor genese(${\beta}$2AR) among 33 asthma patients and 66 controls were examined.(omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.466-471
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• 2011

Allergic asthma is complex inflammatory airway disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors. Sulfamethoxazole, a sulfonamide, is the cause of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome. Parasites infection also related with eosinophilia and allergic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the modulating effects of parasitic derivative and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on allergic airway inflammation in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model. Histopathological changes, cytokine secretion, and total and allergen-specific IgE were investigated. BALB/c mice were treated with Ascaris suum extract or SMX for 4 weeks before sensitized and challenged to ovalbumin. Pre-treatment of Ascaris suum extract decreased allergic inflammation in lung tissue and IL-4, total IgE, and OVA-specific IgE levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. However, pre-treatment of SMX did not show any effects on allergic airway inflammation. These results indicate that parasitic infection has protective effects on allergic asthma, but the sulfamamides may not relate with allergic asthma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.36-51
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• 2008

Objective : This study investigated the effects of PR(Pinelliae Rhizoma) on gene expression of lung tissue resected from asthma induced mice using intra-nasal instillation. Methods : Gene expression levels were measured using a microarray technique, and a functional analysis on these genes was conducted. Results : A total of 3270 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated, 860 genes which were lowered by induction of asthma were restored to those of naive animals, Furthermore hand, 1235 genes were lowered to normal levels, which were elevated by induction of asthma. Most of changed genes were involved in signalling pathways. Genes in which expression levels were restored by oral administration of PR were involved in MAPK pathway, focal adhesion, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton etc. Genes of which expression levels were lowered by oral administration of PR were involved in rhodopsin-like receptor activity, zinc ion binding and ATP binding. These genes were also involved in neuroactive ligand receptor interaction, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and also the T-cell receptor signaling pathway. Conclusion : These results demonstrate the strong possibility that the mechanisms of PR on asthma are involved in neuroactive ligand receptor interaction pathway or related molecules.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2005

To find out the effectiveness of clinical examination for detection of dermatophagoides farinae allergen asthma disease, 50 patients (control group) and 50 healthy persons matched by sex and age to the control group, were tested for allergen asthma. The results of the study follow. The ESR there was significantly different from the comparisons of the patients' normal reference values, 95.3 % in ESR, patient groups allergen asthma and heamatology values with control group. The ESR level of allergen asthma patients, $62.23{\pm}35.09$ mm/hr, was higher than that of the controls, $9.47{\pm}5.36$ mm/hr (p<0.001). The eosinophil count level of the patients, $370.65{\pm}365.45mm^3$, was higher than that of the controls with $171.99{\pm}131.80mm^3$ (p<0.001). The IgE level of the patients, $1137.79{\pm}784.69IU/ml$, was higher than that of the controls with $71.29{\pm}14.28 IU/ml$ (p<0.001).