• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.450-455
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• 2017

Chronic liver disease, one of the most common diseases, typically arises from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, there is a pressing need for improved treatment strategies. Korean Red Ginseng has been known to have positive effects on liver disease and liver function. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the beneficial effects of Korean Red Ginseng on chronic liver disease, a condition encompassing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, as supported by experimental evaluation and clinical investigation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

This article is for understanding characteristics of febrile disease through analysing usage of representative prescriptions in "Wenbingtiaobian", composition of their related prescriptions and their coverage of modern diseases. Analysis of prescriptions was based on "Translation of Wenbingtiaobian", "Modern Shanhanlun" and "Herbal Formula Science" and clinical papers were searched in China Academic Journals(CAJ) of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). Conclusions are as follows. First, principles of modifying or formulating prescriptions for febrile diseases are clearing heat, nourishing yin or dispelling dampness. Second, Zengyechengqitang, Xinjiahuanglongtang and Huweichengqitang are applied to pattern of bowel excess such as constipation or ileus. Third, Jiajianfumaitang is applied to heart diseases, Sanjiafumaitang to liver and heart, Dadingfengzhu to liver diseases. Fourth, Jiajianzhengqisan related prescriptions are applied to spleen diseases like conspitation, diarrhea or gastritis. Fifth, Baihujiarenshentang is applied to diabetes or fever and Baihujiaguizhitang to gout or arthritis. Sixth, Xuanbaichengqitang is applied to lung diseases and Taorenchengqitang to gynecology diseases. Seventh, Sanrentang is applied lung diseases like cough or pneumonia, spleen diseases like diarrhea or enteritis and kidney diseases like edema, arthritis or leucorrhea. Eighth, Yinqiaosan and Sangjuyin tend to be applied to exogenous diseases and diseases of five organs of sense, Jiajianfumaitang and Sanjiafumaitang to heart diseases, Angongniuhuangwan to encephalopathy, Qingyingtang and Huabantang to skin diseases, Zengyetang to gastrointestinal disorders, Shashenmaidongtang to lung or spleen diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.653-657
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• 2012

While it is known that sulfur containing amino acids (SCAA) are very important in regulating hepatocyte growth and preventing liver-diseases, the fundamental molecular mechanisms of how they exert their hepatoprotective functions are not well known. Since it is widely understood that the hepatic concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) in chronic liver disease patients are severely decreased, the pathophysiological importance of SAMe and its downstream antioxidant, glutathione should be discussed in order to see a big picture of relationship between SCAA and liver diseases. Chronic SAMe deficient mice have shown spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma development due to impaired mitochondria functions with low levels of prohibitin1 protein, and through deficiency in many genes which are known to ameliorate genetic instability, such as APEX1 and DUSP1, the functions of which are recovered by SAMe treatment. In this review, current knowledge of the basic concepts of the mechanisms through which SCAAs protect the liver will be discussed in detail. Also, a possible tumor suppressor in livers, prohibitin1, and its functional relationship with SAMe will be discussed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.367-370
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• 2012

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide In Iran, it ranks first among cancers diagnosed in women and is the fifth most common cause of death. The aim of this study was to present the mortality trends from breast cancer for Iranian women during a period of almost a decade, in order to provide update information regarding the likely future. Methods: We analyzed National death Statistic reported by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education from 1995 to 2004 to generate annual mortality rates/100,000, overall, by age group (<15, 15-49 and ${\geq}50$ years of age) and age standardized rate (ASR). Results: The age standardized mortality rate of breast cancer increased dramatically during these years from 1.40 to 3.52 per 100,000 and its mortality was increasing 151.4% for Iranian women, although it seemed that the rate leveled off from 2002 to 2004. Moreover the increasing rate was higher for those aged between 15-49 compared to age >50 years old. Conclusion: There is an increasing trend for breast cancer mortality in Iran. Thus, health education programs to rectify the lack of women awareness about breast cancer signs and effective screening are urgently needed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of gluten-free diet (GFD) on hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) concentrations among previously immunized pediatric celiac disease (CD) subjects. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated pediatric CD subjects in serological remission who were previously immunized for hepatitis B virus as infants. The temporal relationship between HBsAb concentration, the amount of time on a GFD, and age were evaluated. Results: Overall, 373 CD subjects were analyzed: 156 with HBsAb sampled prior to GFD initiation and 217 after initiation of a GFD and in serological remission. Median age at HBsAb concentration measurement for those before and after GFD initiation was 5.3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 3.1-9.2 years) and 7.6 years (IQR, 5.4-10.9 years), respectively (p<0.001). There was no sex difference between the groups. The median time of HBsAb measurement was 2 months (IQR, 0-5.7 months) before and 12.8 months (IQR, 5.3-30.3 months) after initiation of GFD. The HBsAb concentration was low in 79 (50.6%) and 121 (55.7%) subjects before and after GFD initiation, respectively (p=0.350). Age was inversely associated with low HBsAb concentrations. Neither being on a GFD nor sex was associated with low HBsAb concentrations. Conclusion: Adherence to a GFD does not affect HBsAb concentration in children with CD. Age is inversely associated with HBsAb concentration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5049-5052
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of oncological death for women, in both developed and developing countries. In Iran, breast cancer ranks first among cancers diagnosed in women. The aim of this study was to present the burden of this cancer including incidence, mortality and years life lost (YLL) due to breast cancer in Iranian women. Materials and Methods: National incidence data from the Iranian annual National Cancer Registration reports from 2003 to 2009 and national death statistics reported by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education from 1995 to 2010, stratified by age group, were included in this analysis. Also calculated YLLs provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 were employed to express the years lost due to BC for Iranian women. Results: The general mortality rate of breast cancer increased during these years from 0.96 to 4.33 per 100,000 and incidence increased from 16.0 to 28.3 per 100,000 for the years under study. YLLs calculated by IHME showed both increasing and decreasing patterns, with a tendency for stabilization. Conclusions: The burden of breast cancer for Iranian women is still increasing. Thus, health education programs to inform women regarding the signs and risk factors, and national screening to facilitate early diagnosis are needed for the female community in Iran.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1571-1574
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• 2015

Background: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) decreases the prevalence of gastric cancer, and may inhibit gastric precancerous lesions progression into gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of treatment on subsequent gastric precancerous lesion development. Materials and Methods: We prospectively studied 27 patients who had low grade dysplasia at the time of enrollment, in addition to dysplasia atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia observed in all patients. All were prescribed quadruple therapy to treat H. Pylori infection for 10 days. Patients underwent endoscopy with biopsy at enrollment and then at follow up two years later. Biopsy samples included five biopsies from the antrum of lesser curvature, antrum of greater curvature, angularis, body of stomach and fundus. Results of these biopsies were compared before and after treatment. Results: Overall, the successful eradication rate after two years was 15/27 (55.6%). After antibiotic therapy, the number of patients with low grade dysplasia decreased significantly (p=0.03), also with reduction of the atrophic lesions (p=0.01), but not metaplasia. Conclusions: Treatment of H. pylori likely is an effective therapy in preventing the development of subsequent gastric premalignant lesions.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.214-220
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• 2023

Background/Aims: This study aimed to determine whether vitamin C in addition to indomethacin decreases the occurrence and severity of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) occurrence and severity. Methods: This randomized clinical trial included patients undergoing ERCP. The participants were administered either rectal indomethacin (100 mg) plus an injection of vitamin C (500 mg) or rectal indomethacin (100 mg) alone just before ERCP. The primary outcomes were PEP occurrence and severity. The secondary amylase and lipase levels were determined after 24 hours. Results: A total of 344 patients completed the study. Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the PEP rates were 9.9% for indomethacin plus vitamin C plus indomethacin and 15.7% for indomethacin alone. Regarding the per-protocol analysis, the PEP rates were 9.7% and 15.7% in the combination and indomethacin arms, respectively. There was a remarkable difference between the two arms in PEP occurrence and severity on intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses (p=0.034 and p=0.031, respectively). The post-ERCP lipase and amylase concentrations were lower in the combination arm than in the indomethacin alone arm (p=0.034 and p=0.029, respectively). Conclusions: Vitamin C injection in addition to rectal indomethacin reduced PEP occurrence and severity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2017

Insulin signaling is coordinated by insulin receptor substrates (IRSs). Many insulin responses, especially for blood glucose metabolism, are mediated primarily through Irs-1 and Irs-2. Irs-1 knockout mice show growth retardation and insulin signaling defects, which can be compensated by other IRSs in vivo; however, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Here, we presented an Irs-1 truncated mutated mouse ($Irs-1^{-/-}$) with growth retardation and subcutaneous adipocyte atrophy. $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice exhibited mild insulin resistance, as demonstrated by the insulin tolerance test. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity and phosphorylated Protein Kinase B (PKB/AKT) expression were elevated in liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipocytes in Irs-1 deficiency. In addition, the expression of IRS-2 and its phosphorylated version were clearly elevated in liver and skeletal muscle. With miRNA microarray analysis, we found miR-33 was down-regulated in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) of $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice, while its target gene Irs-2 was up-regulated in vitro studies. In addition, miR-33 was down-regulated in the presence of Irs-1 and which was up-regulated in fasting status. What's more, miR-33 restored its expression in re-feeding status. Meanwhile, miR-33 levels decreased and Irs-2 levels increased in liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipocytes of $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice. In primary cultured liver cells transfected with an miR-33 inhibitor, the expression of IRS-2, PI3K, and phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT) increased while the opposite results were observed in the presence of an miR-33 mimic. Therefore, decreased miR-33 levels can up-regulate IRS-2 expression, which appears to compensate for the defects of the insulin signaling pathway in Irs-1 deficient mice.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.17-21
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• 2008

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been developed for the diagnosis of various gastrointestinal diseases or extra-gastrointestinal diseases, and extended to interventional approach. In fields of mediastinal diseases, EUS is an effective diagnostic method for the staging of esophageal cancer, lung cancer and other mediastinal diseases. Recently, EUS guided fine needle aspiration or biopsy makes the histologic diagnosis possible in various mediastinal diseases, and would reserve many avoidable surgical cases.