• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2021

Objective: Chronic reflux esophagitis (CRE), characterized by esophageal mucosa ulcer, is caused by continuous backflow of gastric acid and consequent inflammation due to unstable gastroesophageal sphincter. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of an Arecae Semen and Coptidis Rhizoma mixture (AC-mix) on CRE. Methods: CRE was surgically induced in SD rats with three experimental groups used: normal; CRE control; and CRE treatment (200 mg/kg AC-mix). Blood and esophageal tissue were collected after two weeks of drug administration. The anti-oxidant activity of the AC-mix was measured by total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents as well as by radical scavenging activity with protein levels evaluated using western blotting. Results: CRE damage to the esophageal mucosa was significantly reduced in the AC-mix group as compared with the controls, and administration of the AC-mix was seen to inhibit NF-κBp65 activity. Consequently, the inactivation of NF-κBp65 significantly inhibited inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 and iNOS. Moreover, the anti-oxidant enzyme HO-1 significantly increased through activation of the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which can break down collagen from the basement membrane and extracellular matrix, was decreased following AC-mix treatment, and elevated levels of MMP-2 were regulated by its tissue inhibitor. Conclusions: These results show that AC-mix can alleviate esophageal mucosa ulcer though inhibition of the NF-κBp65 inflammatory pathway and enhancement of the anti-oxidant Nrf2-Keap1 pathway.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.72-75
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• 2004

Pemphigus vulgaris is a rin, chronic intraepidermal bullous disease with potentially fatal outcome. Oral lesions precede skin lesions in at least $70\%$ of cases, and in cutaneous disease, concomitant oral lesions are encountered in $90\%$ of patients. This disorder involve the skin and mucous membranes, especially the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, but may also involve the nasal, oropharyngeal, laryngeal and esophageal mucosa. Oral lesions are initially vesicobullous but rapidly rupture, leaving a painful erosion that shows little tendency to heal. Pemphigus vulgaris affecting the oral mucosa is still diagnosed only after considerable delay, because oral ulceration in common, and clinicians believed the lesions to be caused by more common conditions such as recurrent aphthous stomatitis rather than a rare disorder such as pemphigus vulgaris. The definitive diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris should be undertaken as early as possible, so that treatment can be started at an earl·y stage. Because of the presence of nonspecific oral ulcer, high degree of suspicion is often required to ultimately make the diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris and then we report a case of pemphigus vulgaris with a literature review.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.349-359
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• 2020

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease that stomach contents continually refluxing, and is currently on the rise worldwide. The purpose of this study is to find natural materials that can reduce side effects and effectively treat chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE), one of GERD. First, the antioxidant activity was confirmed by varying the mixing ratio of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus, which are effective against chronic reflux esophagitis. After, animal experiments were conducted using a 1:1 (CE) and 1:2 (CEE) combination ratio of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus, which had the best antioxidant efficacy. Gross lesion of esophageal mucosa after CE or CEE treatment showed a superior enhancement compared with that of CARE control rats. Additionally, its inhibited MAPK phosphorylation and led NF-κB inactivation through the suppression of IκBα phosporylation by regulating Nrf2/Keap-1, and NF-κB inactivation induced reduced protein expressions including inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Moreover, its improved esophageal barrier function through upregulating protein expressions of tight junction protein, whereas downregulating protein expressions of MMPs. Taken together, a mixture of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus can attenuate the esophageal mucosal ulcer by inhibiting MAPK and NF-κB pathway, and upregulating proteins associated with tight junction.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate effect of evodiae fructus on acute reflux esophigitis rat induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Methods : Twenty-four laboratory rats were divided four groups and each group had six rats ; normal intact group, acute reflux esophagitis (RE) control group, two experiment RE group treated extract of evodiae fructus 600 mg/kg (EEF600) and 300 mg/kg (EEF300). All rats was fasted for 18 hr but free water, we induced RE by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Intact group and RE control group rats were orally administered a distilled water and two experiment groups were orally administed with EEF 600 mg/5ml/kg and 300 mg/5ml/kg. One hour after, rats were anesthetized, intact group was cut the abdomen open and sutured with 2.0 silk thread. RE control group and EEF group were cut the abdomen open, ligated pyloric canal and forestomach with 2.0 silk thread and sutured. Six hour after the operation, rats were sacrified, collected bloods in the abdominal vein, disectted a esophagus and stomach. The stomach was washed a 1 ml PBS and the esophagus was cut longitudinally and pictured a innter mucosa area to research damages in esophagus. Results : The esophagic tissue damage percentage of reflux esophagitis rat was increased compared to that of normal intact group. But esophagic damage percentage of EEF 600 were significantly decreased compared to that of RE control group. But there was no difference on gastric juice pH between control RE, alpha-tocopherol administration rat group and EEF administration rat group. In esophagus of RE control rat, gastric damage occurred severely and injury percentage of mucosa were increased, but EEF 600 mucous inflammatory damage percentage was significantly compared to that of RE control group. Proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in serum on RE control group were markedly grew than those of intact rat, those of vechicle group treated with EEF 600 and EEF 300 were remarkably decreased compared to production of proinflammatory cytokine of RE control group. In microscopic observation, intact group rat had no hyperemia, mucous injury and exclusion, ulcer and edema. But it could showed mucosa damages, submucosa edema and ulcer in RE control. However, administration of EEF 600 and EEF 300 made esophagus have less inflammation and injury by gastric acid. Conclusions : The results suggest that antiinflammatory Effect of EEF could attenuate the severity of reflux esophagitis and prevent the esophageal mucosal damage, and validate its therapeutic use in esophageal reflux disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1998

Treatment of esophageal perforation when diagnosed late remains controversial. Ten consecutive patients since 1990 were treated late(later than 24 hours) for esophageal perforation with primary repair. Four perforations were iatrogenic, 3 were spontaneous, 2 were foreign body aspiraton and 1 was trauma. The interval from perforation to operation was 116 hours in mean and 48 hours in median value. The principles of repair included (1) a local esophagomyotomy proximal and distal to the tear to expose the mucosal defect and intact mucosa beyond, (2) debridement of the mucosal defect and closure, (3) reapproximation of the muscle, and (4) adequate drainage. The repair was buttressed with parietal pleura or pericardial fat in 9 patients. Associated distal obstruction was treated with dilation and esophagomyotomy intraoperatively. There was one mortality and cause of death was massive gastric bleeding due to gastric ulcer on 33rd day after operation. Five patients had leak at the site of repair and these cases were treated completely with conservative treatment except a mortality case. In conclusion, in the absence of malignant or irreversible distal obstruction, meticulous repair of perforated esophagus and adequate drainage are preferred approach, regardless of the duration from the injury to the operation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2020

Objective : The aim of present study was to clarify the effect of Areca Semen and Toosendan Fructus Mixture (AT-mix) on chronic reflux esophagitis (CRE) in rats. Methods : The antioxidant activity of AT-mix was measured through DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities in vitro. CRE was induced in SD rats (5 weeks, male) by ligating the border forestomach and granular portion with 2-0 silk and the duodenum near the pyloric portion was covered with 2-mm wide piece of 18-Fr Nélaton catheter. And then rats were treated AT-mix 200 mg/kg one daily for 14 days. The anti-oxidant and inflammatory protein levels were evaluated using western blotting. Results : Gross lesion of esophageal mucosa after AT-mix treatment showed a superior enhancement compared with that of CRE control rats. AT-mix treatment strongly reduced both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities (DPPH, IC₅₀ 8.15±0.14 ㎍/mL; ABTS, IC₅₀ 24.69±0.03 ㎍/mL, repspectively). Levels of the NADPH oxidase subunit including NOX4 and p22^phox increased in CRE control rats. Otherwise, AT-mix treatment significantly reduced. The activation of Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) led to significantly the up-regulation of HO-1. The inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation led to NF-κB inactivation. Subsequently, NF-κB inactivation significantly induced the decrease of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6 protein expressions. Conclusion : Taken together, these results suggest that AT-mix treatment can attenuate the esophageal mucosal ulcer though inhibiting NF-κB pathway and enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Thus, the additional mechanism study about AT-mix would need for the development as a safe herbal therapy for CRE.