• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.161-165
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• 2012

Objective: To evaluate the effect of hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) on natural conception in the infertile patient. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study recruiting 180 patients admitted to Infertility Center of Ferrara University from January 2010 to February 2012. The essential inclusion criteria was the couple's desire to perform only diagnostic evaluation on infertility causes and to wait for natural conception before proceeding with further management. Couples were investigated with hormonal profile, semen analysis and HyCoSy. Expected time for spontaneous pregnancy was 180 days from HyCoSy. First datation sonography of pregnancy was used calculating time elapsed from HyCoSy at conception. Results: Forty patients (22.2%) obtained spontaneous pregnancy within 6 months after HyCoSy. The mean of "conception time" was 75 days. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the first 30 days (45%) compared to other the months of observation (p<0.0005). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that maternal age and sterility duration proved independent variables in detecting the "conception time" after HyCoSy (t=3.742, p=0.001, t=2.371, p=0.02, respectively). Conclusion: A possible beneficial effect of HyCoSy is feasible especially in the days following its execution. This temporal correlation supports its therapeutic use.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2003

Over 350 million people worldwide are chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chronic viral infections of the liver can progress to cirrhosis, which may ultimately lead to hepatic failure or the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. There are two antiviral drugs on the market approved for clinical management of chronic HBV infections; interferon-alpha and the nucleoside analog lamivudine. However, they showed adverse side-effects. In the rational drug design for such therapies we would like to utilize antiviral drugs that inhibit the HBV replication in the liver. Investigation of natural extracts of silkworm exhibiting antiviral potential was held in the functional HBV polymerase activity and the release of virion particle in the HepG2.2.15 cell lines. HBV-producing transgenic mouse fed with silkworm DNJ molecule was shown as an inhibitor of serum HBV particles. We could represent this DNJ molecule as an antiviral potential complementing conventional therapies after preclinical tests against WHBV-infected animal model, woodchuck.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.172-178
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• 2018

In this paper, I tried to pursue health and social welfare together through medical convergence based on the main subject of a culture of convergence. Artists' drug accidents are never ending. Now Korea is also out of the drug cleansing country. it is impossible to get rid of them with the national public power. It is time for a treatment plan for these. They need a certain period of time and regular periods of rest and control over sports. Our humanities are researching to understand the changing human images of today. In parallel, medical convergence will also have to be transformed in various ways for human healing. Recently, we can see the case of healing with the combination of oriental medicine, natural healing and western medicine. Furthermore, the structure of medical convergence for the fight against disease can be analyzed as an example. South Korea is also preparing for various convergence programs focusing on natural sciences such as engineering, medical care, and the environment. In order to prevent drug addiction it is important to determine the department responsible for handling the problem of substance abuse. we need to improve the environment that they can be combined with Ondol therapy and natural healing therapies. Furthermore, I expect that fusion medicine will contribute to improving the quality of life of drug addicts and become a successful model to revitalize local economies in particular.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

Objective : We designed this study to analyse the anti-cancer effects of materials of green vegetable juice by using the natural standard methodology and apply the results to new studying and evaluating methods. Methods : We investigated the main stream of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the methodology of natural standard, guideline in CAM, and concrete 15 green vegetable juice in cancer therapy. Results : There are 15 graded materials of green vegetable juice that associated with cancer in natural standard contents. Most of them get grade C, unclear or conflicting scientific evidence. Conclusion : Natural Standard aims to provide high-quality, reliable information about CAM therapies to clinicians, patients, and healthcare institutions. We have to acquire more reliable evidence in future.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.186-198
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• 2022

Objectives: This overview summarizes the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of complementary therapies for insomnia through systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs). Methods: A comprehensive literature search on SRs and MAs for complementary therapies for insomnia was conducted using six databases. Results: This overview included 30 SRs/MAs. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) analysis of insomnia included 383 randomized controlled trials and 31,748 participants. Twenty-four SRs/MAs (80%) out of 30 SRs/MAs reported a positive result, and six SRs/MAs reported a partially positive result. The most frequently used form of acupuncture reported a positive effect in 89.5% (17/19) of SRs/MAs and a superior effect to western medicine, sham/placebo, and no treatment. The lack of protocol registration and the excluded studies list resulted in generally poor methodological and reporting quality in SRs/MAs with AMSTAR 2. Conclusion: This overview confirmed that complementary therapies positively affected the PSQI scores in patients with insomnia. However, better-designed primary studies are needed to strengthen the relevant evidence in the future. A more stringent assessment of multiple systematic reviews 2 must be followed when performing SR and MA.

• Quantitative Bio-Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2018

Pim kinases are important targets for cancer therapies because they are mainly responsible for cancer metastasis and overall therapeutic treatment responses. Because of their unusual structural feature in the hinge region of the ATP-binding site, new binding motifs have been discovered and used for the development of Pim kinases inhibitors. The results of a screening of 5-membered heteroaromatic compounds and the effects of structural modifications on the inhibition of Pim kinases' activities showed the potential scaffold for Pim inhibitors. 1,3,4-Oxadiazole-2(3H)-thione was found as a new scaffold for Pim kinase inhibitors.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease burden of cancer, to investigate how many cancer patients use CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies with or without conventional medicine, to know reasons for use of cancer CAM therapies, and finally to discuss viewpoints on treating cancer with traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Method: In order to know the disease burden of cancer, the prevalence and mortality of cancer patients of Korean, American, and WHO reports were investigated, and the usage of cancer CAM therapies was investigated in several reports. The viewpoints about cancer treatment with TKM were suggested with the characteristics of TKM. Results: One hundred thousand Korean people were diagnosed [in time period] as new cancer patients, and cancer patients are gradually increasing every year. Cancer is a leading cause of deaths in Korea and worldwide. From 21% to 63% of Korean cancer patients, 80% of American cancer patients, and 35.9% of European cancer patients used CAM therapies, and the most common therapy was an herbal therapy. Conclusions: TKM has been used to treat cancer since initial use of acupuncture and herbs with basic viewpoints on human health and disease. First, TKM regards occurrence of cancer as an environmental problem of the whole human being. Second, the pathologic concept centered on antipathogenic Qi (Zheong Qi) can reinforce the functioning of the patient's own natural vitality to overcome cancer. Third, TKM deals with cancer patients through mind, body, and spirit based on the monoism of mind and body.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8007-8018
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• 2014

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide and development of new therapeutic strategies and anticancer agents is an urgent priority. Plants have remained an important source in the search for novel cytotoxic compounds and several polyphenolic flavonoids possess antitumor properties. In this review article, data about potential anticarcinogenic activity of common natural flavonoids on various human cervical cancer cell lines are compiled and analyzed showing perspectives for the use of these secondary metabolites in the treatment of cervical carcinoma as well as in the development of novel chemotherapeutic drugs. Such anticancer effects of flavonoids seem to differentially depend on the cellular type and origin of cervical carcinoma creating possibilities for specific targeting in the future. Besides the cytotoxic activity per se, several flavonoids can also contribute to the increase in efficacy of conventional therapies rendering tumor cells more sensitive to standard chemotherapeutics and irradiation. Although the current knowledge is still rather scarce and further studies are certainly needed, it is clear that natural flavonoids may have a great potential to benefit cervical cancer patients.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.355-360
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• 2017

Mutations in Ras GTPase are among the most common genetic alterations in human cancers. Despite extensive research investigating Ras proteins, their functions still remain a challenge over a long period of time. The currently available data suggests that solving the outstanding issues regarding Ras could lead to development of effective drugs that could have a significant impact on cancer treatment. Developing a better understanding of their biochemical properties or modes of action, along with improvements in their pharmacologic profiles, clinical design and scheduling will enable the development of more effective therapies.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.541-548
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• 2021

The discovery of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) at the turn of the century opened the door to a new generation of regenerative medicine research. Among PSCs, the donors available for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are greatest, providing a potentially universal cell source for all types of cell therapies including cancer immunotherapies using natural killer (NK cells). Unlike primary NK cells, those prepared from iPSCs can be prepared with a homogeneous quality and are easily modified to exert a desired response to tumor cells. There already exist several protocols to genetically modify and differentiate iPSCs into NK cells, and each has its own advantages with regards to immunotherapies. In this short review, we detail the benefits of using iPSCs in NK cell immunotherapies and discuss the challenges that must be overcome before this approach becomes mainstream in the clinic.