• Anxiety and mood
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2009

In this article, we review the efficacy of early interventions after traumatic incidents and during acute stress disorder (ASD). There are some evidences that psychopharmacological medications such as propronolol, morphine, and hydrocortisone are effective in the prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Considering the role of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in hippocampal neurogenesis and an animal model of PTSD, early administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is also fairly promising. Other pharmacological treatments including benzodiazepines did not treat ASD nor prevent PTSD. There are good evidences that cognitive behavioral therapy including cognitive therapy and prolonged exposure is a valuable intervention for ASD and the most effective prevention for PTSD. No contolled researches on eye movement desensitization&reprocessing, psychodynamic psychotherapy and hypnotherapy have performed. Recent randomized controlled studies using psychological debriefing did not prove as a useful intervention for the prevention of PTSD until now, although the efficacy of debriefing has been at the centre of controversy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.388-392
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• 2014

Berberine, a type of isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs, has been reported to have various pharmacological activities. Studies have demonstrated that berberine has beneficial effects on vascular remodeling and alleviates restenosis after vascular injury. However, its mechanism of action on vascular smooth muscle cell migration is not fully understood. We therefore investigated the effect of berberine on human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) migration. Boyden chamber assay was performed to show that berberine inhibited HASMC migration dose-dependently. Real-time PCR and Western blotting analyses showed that levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) were reduced by berberine at both the mRNA and protein levels. Western blotting assay further confirmed that activities of c-Fos, c-Jun, and NF-${\kappa}B$ were significantly attenuated. These results suggest that berberine effectively inhibited HASMC migration, possibly by down-regulating MMP-2, MMP-9, and u-PA; and interrupting AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ mediated signaling pathways.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 2005

There have been many trials of clinical efficacy of multi component and single component treatments for irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). We reviewed effects of non phamacological treatments in the IBS. Though the efficacy of multi-component approaches was unclear, several results suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in improving gastrointestinal symptoms of IBS. As a single component, cognitive therapy and relaxation with or without biofeedback could improve the symptoms and psychological health of IBS patients. Yoga, meditation, self-help information and hypnotherapy could be applicable to IBS.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.35-37
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• 2016

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) often develops type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) related to severe obesity. The prevalence of T2DM in adults with PWS (7-20%) exceeds greatly the prevalence in the general population (5-7%). It is uncommon for pre-pubertal children with PWS to develop overt diabetes or glucose intolerance. GH therapy and genotype did not influence the development of altered glucose metabolism. It has been assumed that T2DM in PWS develops as a consequence of morbid obesity and concomitant insulin resistance. However recent studies suggest the relationship between morbid obesity and T2DM development is more complex and appears to differ in PWS subjects compared to non-PWS subjects. PWS patients had relatively lower fasting insulin levels and increased adiponectin levels compared with BMI-matched obese control despite of similar levels of leptin. So PWS children may be protected to some extent form of obesity-associated insulin resistance. Although there's no data, it seems logical to approach diabetes management including weight loss and increased exercise, using similar pharmacological agents as with non-PWS obesity-related diabetes such as metformin or thiazolidinedione, with the introduction of insulin as required. On the other hand, several recent T2DM in PWS case reports suggest favorable outcomes using Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analog with regard to ghrelin reduction, control of glucose and appetite, weight loss and pre-prandial insulin secretion. The role of GLP-1 agonist therapy is promising, but has not yet been fully elucidated.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.295-303
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• 2019

A heart simulator, UT-Heart, is a finite element model of the human heart that can reproduce all the fundamental activities of the working heart, including propagation of excitation, contraction, and relaxation and generation of blood pressure and blood flow, based on the molecular aspects of the cardiac electrophysiology and excitation-contraction coupling. In this paper, we present a brief review of the practical use of UT-Heart. As an example, we focus on its application for predicting the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and evaluating the proarrhythmic risk of drugs. Patient-specific, multiscale heart simulation successfully predicted the response to CRT by reproducing the complex pathophysiology of the heart. A proarrhythmic risk assessment system combining in vitro channel assays and in silico simulation of cardiac electrophysiology using UT-Heart successfully predicted drug-induced arrhythmogenic risk. The assessment system was found to be reliable and efficient. We also developed a comprehensive hazard map on the various combinations of ion channel inhibitors. This in silico electrocardiogram database (now freely available at http://ut-heart.com/) can facilitate proarrhythmic risk assessment without the need to perform computationally expensive heart simulation. Based on these results, we conclude that the heart simulator, UT-Heart, could be a useful tool in clinical medicine and drug discovery.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-139
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• 2024

Liver diseases are a significant global health burden and are among the most common diseases. Ginssennoside Rg3 (Rg3), which is one of the most abundant ginsenosides, has been found to have significant preventive and therapeutic effects against various types of diseases with minimal side effects. Numerous studies have demonstrated the significant preventive and therapeutic effects of Rg3 on various liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, acute liver injury, nonalcoholic liver diseases (NAFLD), liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The underlying molecular mechanism behind these effects is attributed to apoptosis, autophagy, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, and the regulation of multiple signaling pathways. This review provides a comprehensive description of the potential molecular mechanisms of Rg3 in the development of liver diseases. The article focuses on the regulation of apoptosis, oxidative stress, autophagy, inflammation, and other related factors. Additionally, the review discusses combination therapy and liver targeting strategy, which can accelerate the translation of Rg3 from bench to bedside. Overall, this article serves as a valuable reference for researchers and clinicians alike.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1999

Objectives: Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder(or PMDD) have impairments of the social, occupational or academic function due to psychological or somatic symptoms, which have the characteristic pattern of symptom exacerbation in the week before menses begin and remission shortly after the onset of menses. In the chronobiological view, many researchers have assumed that the etiology of PMDD is the advanced circadian rhythm. It has been suggested that light has a therapeutic effect on PMDD, because evening light results in phase delay of circadian rhythm through the biochemical changes including melatonin. Methods: The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of light therapy on four patients with prospectively diagnosed PMDD by DSM-IV criteria using clinical psychiatric interview, Premenstrual Assessment Form(PAF) and Daily Rating Form(or DRF). In the evening(6:30pm-8:00pm), the 2,500 lux light administered for seven consecutive days during the symptomatic late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. Beck Depression Inventory(or BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(or HAM-D), Spielberg State Anxiety Inventory(or SA), and DRF were evaluated before and after seven days of light therapy. Results: Premenstrual symptoms of PMDD could be effectively treated with the evening bright light therapy, especially in PMDD patients with atypical symptoms. In addition, the light therapy seemed to more effective on the psychologic symptoms than the somatic symptoms of PMDD. There was no significant side-effect of light therapy, except the transient and mild eye-strain in one case. Conclusions: In spite of the results of limited data from our clinical trial, the authors suggest that the potential use of light therapy as an alternative to the pharmacological management of patients with PMDD.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.699-702
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• 2011

Purpose: Venous stasis ulcer is the most severe form of chronic venous insufficiency and this commonly appears in the lower limb. Pharmacological therapy, reconstruction of the venous system, surgical management, cellular therapy and compression therapy are known as the treatments of venous stasis ulcer, but relapses are common, which make it a typical chronic wound. We report here on a case of recurrent venous stasis ulcer that healed with compression therapy without any other treatment. Methods: A 35-year-old man with a 13 years history of venous stasis had developed an ulcer on the distal third portion of the lower left limb which was developed 12-year before enrollment in this study. He had been treated with vacuum assist closure, 2 times of cell therapy and 3 times of skin graft for 8 years, but the lesion recurred. From November, 2008 compression therapy was done with the 3M $Coban^{TM}$ 2 Layer Compression System (3M, St. Paul, USA). The ulcer at that time was oval shaped and $3{\times}4$ cm in size. A comfort layer bandage was applied from the proximal phalanx of the great toe to the knee. A compression layer bandage was applied on the previous layer with it being overlapped one half the width of the comfort layer bandage. The dressing was changed every 4 days and the change was recorded with photography. Results: A total of 12 $Coban^{TM}$ 2 Layer Compression Systems were used. The size of the ulcer decreased to $2.5{\times}2.5$ cm in one month, to $2{\times}2$ cm in 2 months, it was $1{\times}1.8$ cm in size at 3 months and it completely healed in 4 months. Conclusion: The venous stasis ulcer was completely healed using the 3M $Coban^{TM}$ 2 Layer Compression System. This method was easy to apply, made the patient comfortable and it provided an excellent compression effect. As in the previous studies, this compression therapy has been proven to play an important role for the treatment and prevention of venous stasis ulcer.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2019

A lucid dream is defined as a dream during which a dreamer is aware that she/he is dreaming. The existence of lucid dream has long been known in the literature, but it hasn't been long before it has received attention in sleep medicine. Although many studies have been conducted since validation of the lucid dream in polysomnography by Steven LaBerge in the 1980s, the neuroscience of lucid dreams is still not fully understood. Here the neuroscientific literature on lucid dreaming, including electroencephalographic, neuroimaging, pharmacological and brain stimulation studies, are reviewed. Also this review gives an overview on how lucid dreams are used in clinical and nonclinical areas, ranging from nightmare therapy to research on consciousness and creative problem solving.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.87-91
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• 1997

The range of disorders of old age that are thought potentially amenable to drug therapy is increasing. However, factors such as the growing costs of drug development and prescription, the novel pharmacological profile and enhanced potency of many new compounds, and the concerns that the elderly may have enhanced susceptibility to toxicity all make drug usage in the elderly patient an increasingly specialized topic. This is compounded by the high incidence of multiple disorders in frail elderly patients, and consequently the possibility of the long term use of several drugs, thus, adding the risk of drug interactions. Thus, clinical pharmacology in the elderly requires understanding of pharmacologic characteristic determinants of the physiological changes (Table 1) associated with aging in terms of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.