• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 2011

Objectives : Kyungok-go(KOG), the first herbal formulation of donguibogam, has been used for treating of many symptoms of yin deficiency. In this study, we examined the effect of KOG on bone resorption. Methods : We determined the effects of water extract of KOG in RANKL(Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor ${\kappa}B$ Ligand)-induced osteoclast differentiation culture system and osteoblast proliferation. In addition, we determined the effects of water extract of ABR on LPS-induced bone-loss with mice. Results : Water extract of KOG showed proliferation effect on osteoblast without cytotoxicity and no effect on RANKL-treated osteoclast differentiation. KOG rescued bone erosion by LPS induction in vivo study. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that KOG can be a useful remedy for treating of bone-loss disease such as osteoporosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2008

Objectives: Overactive bladder(OAB), defined as 'urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia', is a major burden for patients and impairs quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of antimuscarinic agents for the treatment of overactive bladder including quality of life in societal perspective. Methods: A decision-analysis model was developed to compare the cost-effectiveness of solifenacin and tolterodine IR over 12 weeks. We used data from the published literature to develop the framework for the model. Resource utilization and costs were calculated with public institutional data and supplemented this information with clinical expert opinion, where necessary. Results: The expected costs per patient for solifenacin were 48,762 KRW less expensive than tolterodine IR over 12 weeks. Also, all outcomes including quality of life for solifenacin were more effective than tolterodine IR over 12 weeks. In conclusion, solifenacin dominates tolterodine IR and appears to be cost-effective options for the management of overactive bladder.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2023

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. Although diabetic kidney disease can be effectively controlled through strict blood glucose management and corresponding symptomatic treatment, these therapies cannot reduce its incidence in diabetic patients. The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the traditional Chinese herb "Gegen" have been widely used in diabetes-related therapy. However, it remains unclear whether the combined use of these two kinds of medicines contributes to an increased curative effect on diabetic kidney disease. In this study, we examined this issue by evaluating the efficacy of the combination of puerarin, an active ingredient of Gegen, and canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor for a 12-week intervention using a mouse model of diabetes. The results indicated that the combination of puerarin and canagliflozin was superior to canagliflozin alone in improving the metabolic and renal function parameters of diabetic mice. Our findings suggested that the renoprotective effect of combined puerarin and canagliflozin in diabetic mice was achieved by reducing renal lipid accumulation. This study provides a new strategy for the clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. The puerarin and SGLT2 inhibitor combination therapy at the initial stage of diabetes may effectively delay the occurrence of diabetic kidney injury, and significantly alleviate the burden of renal lipotoxicity.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.281-290
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• 2023

Zidovudine is an antiretroviral agent prescribed for the prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). It is typically recommended to be used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Zidovudine has the potential to generate N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in the presence of dimethylamine and nitrite salt under acidic reaction conditions during the drug manufacturing process. NDMA is a potent human carcinogen that may be detected in drug substances or drug products. An analytical method was developed to determine NDMA in pharmaceuticals including zidovudine using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The analysis involved reversed-phase chromatography on a Kinetex F5 column with a mobile phase comprising water-acetonitrile mixtures. The detection of positively charged ions was conducted using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). The calibration curve demonstrated excellent linearity (r = 0.9997) across the range of 1-50 ng/mL with a highly sensitive limit of detection (LOD) at 0.3 ng/mL. The developed method underwent thorough validation for specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, and system suitability. This sensitive and specific analytical method was applied for detecting NDMA in zidovudine drug substance and its formulation currently available in the market, indicating its suitability for drug quality management purposes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3605-3616
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• 2015

Cancer is basically a class of disorder marked by uncontrolled proliferation of cells which have the potential to interfere with different systems of body like digestive, central nervous and circulatory systems by releasing hormones. Tumors that reside only in a specified location and show restricted growth are commonly characterized as benign tumors. When tumor cells grow and effectively spread to other body parts and potentially invade and damage healthy tissues they show various degrees of malignancy. Cancer may be caused by different factors like gene mutations, carcinogens and some medical factors that harm the immune system of the body. Symptoms of cancer are relatively varied and classified according to location, progression pattern and size of tumors as well. Different diagnostic tests are used for evaluation that depends on the type of cancer. Cancer management and chemo protocols also depend on the progression and site where it develops. Cancers like breast, lung, liver, colorectal, prostate, head and neck carcinoma are most commonly diagnosed in Pakistan. This review briefly describes the three most common cancers prevailing in Pakistan and their management evaluation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5785-5790
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• 2012

The use of chemotherapeutics induces cardiotoxicity and affects immune functions, therefore development of combinatorial agents against cardiotoxicity and immunosuppression needs to be explored. Previous studies of the hexane insoluble fraction (HIF) of an ethanolic extract of Ficus septica leaves showed anticancer effects singly and in combination with doxorubicin on T47D breast cancer cells. In this present study, it was evaluated for its immunomodulatory activities in doxorubicin-treated rats. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups consisting of six rats each as follows: Group 1, receiving oral saline 10 ml/kg BW (control group); Group 2, receiving HIF dose 750 mg/kg BW orally, once daily; Group 3, receiving HIF dose 1.500 mg/kg BW orally, once daily; Group 4, given oral saline 10 ml/kg BW (normal group); Group 5, receiving HIF dose 1.500 mg/kg BW orally, once daily. The rats of group 1-3 were intramuscularly administered with doxorubicin at a dose of 4.67 mg/kg BW at the days 1 and 4 to suppress immune functions. Concomitantly, the rats were treated with saline or HIF for seven consecutive days (1 to 7). Treatment of HIF succeeded in reducing side effects of doxorubicin based on increasing lymphocyte density and phagocytosis activity and capacity of macrophages, as well as increasing the CD8+ blood level and decreasing spleen IL-10 expression. Hexane insoluble fraction of of ethanolic extract of Ficus septica leaves has potential as a protective agent combined with doxorubicin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2015

"G protein-coupled receptor 40" (GPR40), a receptor for long-chain fatty acids, mediates the stimulation of glucose-induced insulin secretion. We examined the profiles of differential gene expression in GPR40-activated cells treated with linoleic acid, and finally predicted the integral pathways of the cellular mechanism of GPR40-mediated insulinotropic effects. After constructing a GPR40-overexpressing stable cell line (RIN-40) from the rat pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell line RIN-5f, we determined the gene expression profiles of RIN-5f and RIN-40. In total, 1004 genes, the expression of which was altered at least twofold, were selected in RIN-5f versus RIN-40. Moreover, the differential genetic profiles were investigated in RIN-40 cells treated with $30{\mu}M$ linoleic acid, which resulted in selection of 93 genes in RIN-40 versus RIN-40 treated with linoleic acid. Based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway (KEGG, http://www.genome.jp/kegg/), sets of genes induced differentially by treatment with linoleic acid in RIN-40 cells were found to be related to mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase- and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways. A gene ontology (GO) study revealed that more than 30% of the genes were associated with signal transduction and cell proliferation. Thus, this study elucidated a gene expression pattern relevant to the signal pathways that are regulated by GPR40 activation during the acute period. Together, these findings increase our mechanistic understanding of endogenous molecules associated with GPR40 function, and provide information useful for identification of a target for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2016

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate payer-driven medication adherence intervention program from the patient's and counselor's perspectives. Methods: Target patients for intervention were selected by retrospective adherence measures based on national health insurance claims data for hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. As a serial intervention for higher risk groups of medication non-adherence, initial direct mailing, the first direct telephone call and the second direct call or a home visit were followed. Interview approach to qualitative inquiry was used to evaluate intervention results. Results: Participants including 4 patients received telephone calls, and 4 National Health Insurance Service staff and 4 pharmacists participated as counselors were interviewed regarding their impression of the intervention program. Three major themes arose: overall perception; necessities; and suggestions for success, of the intervention. Despite short period of intervention, educational intervention by telephone counseling involving pharmacists shows potential to improve self-management of chronic disease, and pharmacist-involvement. But more sophisticated selection of target patients requiring the intervention and complementation of electronic database system would be necessary. In addition, personal disposition of counselor was revealed to be an important factor for achieving successful outcome of intervention. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the individualized counseling intervention would be an efficient option for improved medication adherence. Further researches should include longer periods of interventions, a quantitative analysis using adherence measures based on claims data and consideration of clinical benefits associated with the intervention.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.130-137
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• 2009

In this study, isolation of antioxidative compounds was performed for development of anti-oxidizing agent. $CHCl_3$, $H_2O$, 30%, 60% MeOH, MeOH fractions were examined antioxidative activity by DPPH, test of inhibition on NO production. It was revealed that 30%, 60% MeOH and $CHCl_3$ fractions had significant antioxidative activity. In 30% MeOH and 60% MeOH, $CHCl_3$ fraction, six compounds were isolated and elucidated as adenosine(I), guanosine(II), peucedanol 7-O-$\beta$-D-apiofuranosyl(1$\rightarrow$6)-$\beta$-glucopyranoside(III), peucedanol 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside(IV), peucedanol(V) and scopoletin(VI) by physicochemical data and spectroscopic methods. (Negative FAB-MS, $^{1}H-NMR$, $^{13}C-NMR$). The results from antioxidative activity screening for the each compound showed that compound IV was relatively superior antioxidant ability. In anti-inflammatory activation assay, compound III, IV, VI had concentration-dependent-activity and compound IV had superior anti-inflammatory ability. These results suggest that Peucedani Radix might be developed as a potent anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory agents and ingredients for related functional foods.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.449-458
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• 2005

There have been rapid changes in the pharmaceutical environment after the separation of Dispensing and Prescribing practice. In the early stage of this system, outpatients had few options to choose their pharmacies due to various obstacles. Under these circumstances, this study on the defection tendency of long-term care patients was performed through the analysis of outpatients who quit visiting a pharmacy nearby general hospital. PowerBuilder ver 9.0 program was used to extract significant data, and SPSS package was employed for statistic analysis. 3,308 outpatients who visited a pharmacy nearby hospital for a month (in January, 2004) were studied. Patients' sex, age and location of residence, the class of medical insurance, the characteristic type of medication (powder, split form, medication for external use/injection), waiting time, disease (department) were considered as variable factors. It turned out that the patient revisit ratio was 80.8$\%$ and the patient defection ratio was 32.4$\%$. As was expected, those factors mentioned above influenced on the revisit and defection ratio considerably. In terms of patient factors, it proved that there was no relationship among sex, location of residence, the class of medical insurance and revisit (defection) ratio. Only age factor influenced the ratio; the older, the higher revisit ratio and the less defection ratio. In respect of dispensing factors, there were obvious relationships among the factors and the ratio: bill (money they had to pay individually), waiting time, number of medications, splitting of tablets, unit price of drug and revisit (defection) ratio showed significant relationship. The result of this study revealed an aspect of outpatients' behavior and it could be used as a reference for better patient service and customer relationship management.