• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.734-741
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• 2022

Currently, around 40 million people worldwide are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection making HIV a critical global health risk. Present therapies for HIV infection consist of drug cocktails that target different steps of the HIV life cycle to prevent infection, replication, and release of the virus. Due to its mutating nature, drug resistance coupled with side-effects of long-term drug use, novel strategies, and pharmaceuticals to treat and manage HIV infection are constant needs and continuously being studied. Plants allocate a major repertoire of chemical diversity and are therefore regarded as an important source of new bioactive agents that can be utilized against HIV. Since the early 1990s, upon recommendations of the World Health Organization, numerous studies reported phytochemicals from different structural classes such as flavonoids, coumarins, tannins and terpenes with strong inhibitory effects against HIV infection. The present review gathered and presented recent research (2021-present) on plant extracts and phytochemicals that exhibit anti-HIV properties with the aim of providing insights into future studies where ethnomedical and underutilized plant sources may yield important natural products against HIV. Considering the relation and importance of HIV treatment with current viral infection risks such as SARS-CoV-2, screening plants for anti-HIV agents is an important step towards the discovery of novel antivirals.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2019

Purpose: To investigate the healing effect of 21 patients with chronic back pain, shoulder pain, and knee arthritis by a Qigong. Methods: The study performed by hand injection of a Soojung Qi-therapy. Results: Ten patients (47.6%) had low back pain, eight (38%) had frozen shoulders, and three (14.3%) had knee arthritis. Satisfaction after five times of the Qi-healing was 72% in those who returned to normal and 14% in those who improved. When the maximum pain level set at 5.0, the difference between before and after healing was 3.33 in arthritis subjects, 3.75 in fifty shoulder subjects, and 3.80 in low back pain. In general, the degree of pain decreased as the number of healings increased. In particular, even after the first healing, the pain reduction of the subjects was high in arthritis, frozen shoulders, and low back pain. That is, there was a possibility of controlling pain with only one Qi-healing. Conclusions: Soojung Qi-therapy is one of the natural healing treatments because it reduces fast pains and accessible to handling anytime and anywhere. Conclusions: With Qi-therapy, arthritis, frozen shoulder, and lumbago patients almost recovered to their original shape. Therefore, Qi-therapy regarded as one of the useful natural healing therapies.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.64-73
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study is to see the prevalence and the patterns of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children and adolescent patients with allergies. Methods We analyzed data on 547 children and adolescents (age from 0-18 years old) chosen from all regions throughout the country with allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic urticaria. We used multiple logistic regression modeling to predict CAM use based on predictor variables. Results The previous 12-months prevalence of CAM usage in overall was 70.7% (atopic dermatitis, 78.1%; allergic rhinitis, 52.9%; asthma, 70.3%; allergic urticaria, 86.3%). Central and southern regions displayed significantly lower rate of using CAM compare to the northern region, and CAM was less likely to be used for the allergic rhinitis patients than the atopic dermatitis patients. The most commonly used CAM type was natural products (62.2%). Top five of the most frequently used CAM modalities were softener water, vitamin, red ginseng, wood bathing and aloe oil. One of the main reasons for trying CAM was from the 'hope for a more effective outcomes in additional to the conventional medicine' (43.9%). The subjective effectiveness of CAM was found to be excellent in 74.0% of the patients, and 70.3% of the parents were willing to recommend CAM therapies to the others. Conclusions CAM is used widely to treat allergic diseases in children and adolescents in Korea. Korean medical doctors should actively discuss the use of CAM with the patients and provide information on the effectiveness and safety of CAM as guide in making choice for usage of CAM.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.992-998
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• 2018

Cancer cells grow in an environment composed of various components that supports tumor growth. Major cell types in the tumor microenvironment are fibroblast, endothelial cells and immune cells. All of these cells communicate with cancer cells. Among infiltrating immune cells as an abundant component of solid tumors, macrophages are a major component of the tumor microenvironment and orchestrates various aspects of immunity. The complex balance between pro-tumoral and anti-tumoral effects of immune cell infiltration can create a chronic inflammatory microenvironment essential for tumor growth and progression. Macrophages express different functional programs in response to microenvironmental signals, defined as M1 and M2 polarization. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) secret many cytokines, chemokines and proteases, which also promote tumor angiogenesis, growth, metastasis and immunosuppression. TAM have multifaceted roles in the development of many tumor types. TAM also interact with cancer stem cells. This interaction leads to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. TAM obtain various immunosuppressive functions to maintain the tumor microenvironment. TAM are characterized by their heterogeneity and plasticity, as they can be functionally reprogrammed to polarized phenotypes by exposure to cancer-related factors, stromal factors, infections, or even drug interventions. Because TAMs produce tumor-specific chemokines by the stimulation of stromal factors, chemokines might serve as biomarkers that reflect disease activity. The evidence has shown that cancer tissues with high infiltration of TAM are associated with poor patient prognosis and resistance to therapies. Targeting of TAM in tumors is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for anti-cancer treatment.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2014

To develop effective and safe acne vulgaris therapies with a continuing demand for new solutions, we investigated unique efficacy of an antibacterial agent from marine brown alga Eisenia bicyclis in treating acne vulgaris. The methanolic extract of E. bicyclis exhibited potential antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest antibacterial activity against the bacteria among solvent fractions. Six compounds (1-6), previously isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of E. bicyclis, were evaluated for antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria. Among them, compound 2 (fucofuroeckol-A [FF]) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 32 to $128{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$. Furthermore, FF clearly reversed the high-level erythromycin and lincomycin resistance of Propionibacterium acnes. The MIC values of erythromycin against P. acnes were dramatically reduced from 2,048 to $1.0{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ in combination with MIC of FF ($64{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$). The fractional inhibitory concentration indices of erythromycin and lincomycin were measured from 0.500 to 0.751 in combination with 32 or $64{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of FF against all tested P. acnes strains, suggesting that FF-erythromycin and FF-lincomycin combinations exert a weak synergistic effect against P. acnes. The results of this study suggest that the compounds derived from E. bicyclis can be a potential source of natural antibacterial agents and a pharmaceutical component against acnerelated bacteria.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.39 no.sup2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2009

Purpose: Synthetic bone products such as biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) are mixtures of hydroxyapatite (HA) and ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate (${\beta}$- TCP). In periodontal therapies and implant treatments, BCP provides to be a good bone reconstructive material since it has a similar chemical composition to biological bone apatites. The purpose of this study was to compare bone regeneration capacity of two commercially available BCP. Methods: Calvarial defects were prepared in sixteen 9-20 months old New Zealand White male rabbits. BCP with HA and ${\beta}$- TCP (70:30) and BCP with Silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite (Si-HA) and ${\beta}$-TCP (60:40) particles were filled in each defect. Control defects were filled with only blood clots. Animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 week postoperatively. Histomorphometric analysis was performed. Results: BCP with HAand ${\beta}$- TCP 8 weeks group and BCP with Si-HA and ${\beta}$- TCP 4 and 8 weeks groups showed statistically significant in crease (P <0.05) in augmented area than control group. Newly formed bone area after 4 and 8 weeks was similar among all the groups. Residual materials were slightly more evident in BCP with HA and ${\beta}$- TCP 8 weeks group. Conclusions: Based on histological results, BCP with HA and ${\beta}$- TCP and BCP with Si-HA and ${\beta}$- TCP appears to demonstrate acceptable space maintaining capacity and elicit significant new bone formation when compared to natural bone healing in 4 and 8 week periods.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6493-6499
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• 2013

Background: Non-epithelial malignant ovarian tumors and clear cell carcinomas, Brenner tumors, transitional cell tumors, and carcinoid tumors of the ovary are rare ovarian tumors (ROTs). In this study, our aim was to determine the clinicopathological features of ROT patients and prognostic factors associated with survival. Materials and Methods: A total of 167 patients with ROT who underwent initial surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Prognostic factors that may influence the survival of patients were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of 167 patients, 75 (44.9%) were diagnosed with germ-cell tumors (GCT) and 68 (40.7%) with sex cord-stromal tumors (SCST); the remaining 24 had other rare ovarian histologies. Significant differences were found between ROT groups with respect to age at diagnosis, tumor localization, initial surgery type, tumor size, tumor grade, and FIGO stage. Three-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates and median PFS intervals for patients with other ROT were worse than those of patients with GCT and SCST (41.8% vs 79.6% vs 77.1% and 30.2 vs 72 vs 150 months, respectively; p=0.01). Moreover, the 3-year overall survival (OS) rates and median OS times for patients with both GCT and SCST were better as compared to patients with other ROT, but these differences were not statistically significant (87.7% vs 88.8% vs 73.9% and 170 vs 122 vs 91 months, respectively; p=0.20). In the univariate analysis, tumor localization (p<0.001), FIGO stage (p<0.001), and tumor grade (p=0.04) were significant prognostic factors for PFS. For OS, the univariate analysis indicated that tumor localization (p=0.01), FIGO stage (p=0.001), and recurrence (p<0.001) were important prognostic indicators. Multivariate analysis showed that FIGO stage for PFS (p=0.001, HR: 0.11) and the presence of recurrence (p=0.02, HR: 0.54) for OS were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: ROTs should be evaluated separately from epithelial ovarian cancers because of their different biological features and natural history. Due to the rarity of these tumors, determination of relevant prognostic factors as a group may help as a guide for more appropriate adjuvant or recurrent therapies for ROTs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1350-1358
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• 2013

For this study, in order to understand the perception level of foot reflex therapy and clarify its related factors among customers using foot care service centers, a survey was conducted based on structured self-administered questionnaire with 181 users of three foot care service centers located in Daejeon between September 1 and October 30, 2011. The results showed that the average score in perception level of the subjects regarding foot reflex therapy was $32.19{\pm}5.32$(Score scale of the 11 items 0-44) and people with higher level of education had a significantly higher perception level(p=0.020).The perception level based on attitude and practice of foot reflex therapy was significantly higher in the group who do it "to heal illness"(p=0.034); and who "had illness" at the time when they started the therapy (p=0.030); when they used the foot massage for a longer period (p=0.000); and those in the group who would "recommend it"(p=0.004). In multiple regression analysis, among the factors that affect perception level of foot reflex massage, reason for using foot reflex therapy, health state when starting foot reflex massage, period of using foot reflex massage, and experience of recommendation to other people were selected as significant variables, with the explanatory power of 26.1%. The results suggest that perception level of foot care service users regarding foot reflex therapy are more correlated to variables that explain their attitude and practice than general characteristic variables.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2021

Purposes: Stress is known as a factor inducing various diseases in the human body. The purpose was to conduct a study on the stress change of 62 subjects who performed the newly developed "Holistic Healing(HH)Program" through the Happy Healing Group Program. Methods: Six sessions of the HH program were performed once a week (90 minutes) at the Happy Healing Meeting, and were surveyed activities of each session in detail. The HH program was developed to be applied to the general public, and it was composed of three detailed introduction-development-finish phases for each session. Results: After performing the Happiness Healing Meeting with the HH program the stress factor significantly decreased to 26.371 points in the post-test average value than the pre-test average value (p<.000). Psychological and social stress was reduced considerably to 9.096 points in post-test than in the pre-test measurement. Stress-coping method was significantly higher in the post-test with 201.661 points compared to the pre-test. Mood state was 69.451 points in the pre-test and 123.983 points in the post-test, showing a significant difference (p<.000). Conclusions: In the subjects who have been applied the holistic therapy program to the happiness healing small group, was significantly decreased general or psychosocial stress, and the stress-coping style and mood state change tended to increase. When evaluating this result, the SERIP Holistic Healing Program has been determined to be one of the very new holistic and beneficial natural healing therapies for the happiness healing small group.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2017

Background: Recently, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with laparoscopic sentinel lymph node dissection, named ESN or endoscopic full-thickness gastric resection with laparoscopic sentinel lymph node dissection, named Hybrid-natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) was suggested the possibility of minimally invasive treatment for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) who were beyond the indication of ESD. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of ESN or Hybrid-NOTES. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients treated with these therapies from January 2009 to May 2013 in terms of short- and long-term outcomes. Each patient was diagnosed with EGC but was not included in ESD indications and had the high risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). Results: A total of 42 patients with EGC treated by ESN or Hybrid-NOTES. Of the 21 patients who underwent ESN, a total of 4 patients underwent additional gastrectomy, 1 with LNM, 1 with surgical complication, and 2 with noncurative resection. Of the 21 patients who underwent Hybrid-NOTES, a total of 5 patients underwent additional surgery, 1 with LNM, 2 with surgical complication, and 2 with noncurative resection. Overall survival was 100% over a mean follow-up of 75 months, but 3 patients underwent ESD or gastrectomy with metachronous lesion. And 1 patient who had received ESN was found to have a metastatic lymph node and undergo palliative chemotherapy. Conclusion: ESN or Hybrid-NOTES showed favorable short-and long-term outcomes. These methods may be utilized as a bridge between ESD and gastrectomy in the case of EGC which is more likely to have LNM beyond the ESD indications.