• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1986

The purposes of this study were to investigate enzyme components and its physiological activities of Sarcodon aspratus (Berk.) S. Ito which grows wildly in Korea, belonging to the family Thelephoraceae. The carpophores of the fungus was extracted with cooling distilled water and salted out by ammonium sulfate. The precipitate was purified by dialysing through visking tube against distilled water and then dissolved with pH 7.8 ammonia aqua, and the extract was filterated. The fraction of filtrate was obtained as light brown powder after lyophilization and determined proteolytic activity. Protease activity of Sarcodon aspratus (Berk.) S. Ito was about two-third of that of pepsin on casein by cup method. The proteolytic potency of this enzyme was found to be 500 unit/mg. This proved the efficacy of the mushroom when it was used as a folk medicine for treating indigestion of beef.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2006

Osteoarthritis is thought to be induced by the ageing-related loss of homeostatic balance between degeneration and repair mechanism around cartilage tissue in which inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen species, cytokines and prostaglandins are prone to overproduction under undesirable physiological conditions. Phlorotannins are unique polyphenolic compounds bearing dibenzo-1,4-dioxin skeleton which are not found in terrestrial plants but found only in some brown algal species such as Ecklonia and Eisenia families. Phlorotanninrich extracts of Ecklonia cava including LAD103 showed significant antioxidant activities such as DPPH radical scavenging, ferric ion reduction, peroxynitrite scavenging, and inhibition of LDL oxidation, indicating their possible antioxidative interference both in onset and downstream consequences of osteoarthritis. LAD103 also showed significant down regulation of $PGE_2$ generation in LPS-treated RAW 246.7 cells, and significant inhibition of human recombinant interleukin-$1{\alpha}$-induced proteoglycan degradation, indicating its beneficial involvement in pathophysiological consequences of osteoarthritis, the mechanism of which needs further investigation. Since LAD103 showed strong therapeutic potentials in arthritic treatment through several in vitro experiments, it is highly encouraged to perform further mechanistic and efficacy studies.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1980.09a
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• pp.143-150
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• 1980

The purpose of this double-blind study was to study the standardized ginseng-extract (marketed form, GINSANA), in regard to its efficacy on the reaction time, pulmonary function and general health in subjects of various age-groups. The trial was conducted as a double-blind study in a total of 120 subjectsm allocated to different groups, according to age (30 to 39 and 40 to 60 year age-groups), sex and preparation administered (ginseng/placebo). The study lasted 12 weeks and the dosage was fixed at 2 capsules per day. The rusults regarding reaction time and pulmonary function showed significant differences in favour of the GINSANA group, over the placebo group, in the 40 to 60-year-old men and women. In the self-evaluation (performance, mood, concentration) we observed a clear improvement (p < 0.001) in the subjects treated with GINSANA, with the exception of the men age 30-39 years. The results botained, which are specially related to reaction, pulmonary function, self evaluation and tolerability, have shown that GINSANA, as standardized ginseng extract, has a favourable effect on the psychic and physical functions studied. 3. Performance test in top sportsmen before and after 9 weeks' treatment with GINSANA To what extent can GINSANA influence physical performance? It is precisely we the physicians whose task it is to find drugs which in physiological amounts do not have any special pharmacodynamic effects. We were therefore interested in the preparation, GINSANA which was made available to us, since it contains a qualitatively and quantitatively standardized GINSENG EXTRACT and is not doping agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.955-960
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• 2007

Efficacy of antioxidative activity and nitrite scavenging ability of methanol extract from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus was investigated. Electron-donating ability of extract at $RC_{50}$ was 29.93 ${\mu}g/mL$. After addition of 0.96 mg/mL extract, autooxidation of pyrogallol decreased to 22.85% by superoxide dismutase-like activity. In antioxidative activity of extract against linoleic acid during incubation times of 24, 48, 96 hours at $40^{\circ}C$, lipid peroxidation values significantly decreased by 48.89%, 45.0%, 46.34% with addition of 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. Total phenolic content was determined as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and values revealed $410.25{\pm}4.74$ GAE ${\mu}g/mg$ of extract. Nitrite scavenging ability showed the most remarkable effect at pH 1.2, exhibited to 88.3% by addition of 0.2 mg/mL. These results suggest that methanol extract from A. sessiliflorus can be used as bioactive and functional material.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.524-529
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• 2005

Socheongryong-tang(SCRT) is widely used to treat the common cold. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of SCRT on Punghan type(風寒型) and Pungyeol type(風熱型) common cold. 98 registered students with commom colds of recent onset were randomized to the double blind, placebo-controlled study. SCRT extract in capsule, $5.4g(1.8g{\times}3cap)$, orally dissolved 3 times a day. The severity of illness was assessed by the physician, using a 5-point scale on start and finish. In Pungyeol type common cold, no statistically significant differences were detected between the SCRT and placebo groups for any of the measured outcomes. In Punghan type common cold, SCRT significantly reduced rhinorrhea (p=0.034) and nasal stuffiness (p=0.048) compared with placebo. This study shows that SCRT is effective in treating cold symptoms in Punghan type common cold. If patients with cold are able to be administered SCRT according to common cold type, the benefit would be expected to increase.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.666-670
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• 2007

Efficacy of antioxidative activity and nitrite scavenging ability of methanol extract from Ricinus communis. was investigated. Electron-donating ability of extract at RC$_{50}$ was 114.02 ${\mu}g$/mL. After addition of 0.46 mg/mL extract, autoxidation of pyrogallol decreased to 32.99% by superoxide dismutase-like activity. In antioxidative activity of extract against linoleic acid during incubation times of 24, 48, 96 hours at 40$^{\circ}C$, lipid peroxidation values significantly decreased by 85.50%, 87.77%, 90.95% with addition of 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. Total phenolic content was determined as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and values revealed 83.98 ${\pm}$ 5.66 GAE ${\mu}g$/mg of extract. Nitrite scavenging ability showed the most remarkable effect at pH 1.2, decreasing to 47.24% by addition of 0.2 mg/mL. These results suggest that methanol extract from Ricinus communis. can be used as bioactive and functional material.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.741-747
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• 2007

This study evaluated neuroprotective effects of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (YST), which have been known to be efficacy in the treatment of the stroke and diabetes. on focal cerebral ischemia of diabetic rats. On primary experiment, diabetic condition in rats was induced by streptozotocin injection, then, focal cerebral ischemia was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) under the diabetic condition. Then neuroprotective effect of YST was observed with changes of infarct size and volume, expressions of c-Fos, Bax, and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1${\alpha}$ in the brain tissues by using 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and immunohistochemistry. YST treatment showed a significant decrease of infarct size and volume induced by MCAO in diabetic rats. YST treatment showed a significant decrease of c-Fos and Bax positive neurons in cortex penumbra. YST treatment showed a decrease of HIF-l${\alpha}$ positive neurons in cortex penumbra, but it was not significant statistically. These results suggest that YST has effects on neuroprotection against cerebral infarct under diabetic condition. And it is supposed that neuroprotective effect of YST reveals by anti-apoptosis mechanism.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.58-73
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• 2020

Sleep is an essential physiological process, especially for proper brain function through the formation of new pathways and processing information and cognition. Therefore, when sleep is insufficient, this can result in pathophysiologic conditions. Sleep deficiency is a risk factor for various conditions, including dementia, diabetes, and obesity. Recent studies have shown that there are differences in the prevalence of sleep disorders between genders. Insomnia, the most common type of sleep disorder, has been reported to have a higher incidence in females than in males. However, sex/gender differences in other sleep disorder subtypes are not thoroughly understood. Currently, increasing evidence suggests that gender issues should be considered important when prescribing medicine. Therefore, an investigation of the gender-dependent differences in sleep disorders is required. In this review, we first describe sex/gender differences not only in the prevalence of sleep disorders by category but in the efficacy of sleep medications. In addition, we summarize sex/gender differences in the impact of sleep disorders on incident dementia. This may help understand gender-dependent pathogenesis of sleep disorders and develop therapeutic strategies in men and women.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2018

Objectives: Clinical improvements can be observed following placebo administrations in clinical trials. Randomized controlled trials have been conducted to disentangle the specific effects of therapeutic interventions over the past decade. In acupuncture trials, non-penetrating placebo needles offer the opportunity to determine the specific effects of needling. Methods: The present review provides an overview of the concept of the placebo effect and the characteristics of the placebo needles. Results: Placebo control can contribute to minimize for bias and the contextual and psychological components of therapeutic interventions. Placebo control should meet two criteria: blinding efficacy (indistinguishable from active treatment) and physiological inertness. In the case of acupuncture, however, it is difficult to meet both criteria simultaneously. The dilemma of placebo needles suggests that placebo needles do not constitute proper control in acupuncture research. Considering the characteristics of placebo needles, patients are more likely to perceive placebo needles as active treatment in acupuncture trials compared to placebo pills in pharmaceutical trials. Placebo response might be observed more frequently to placebo needles than to placebo pills. When acupuncture treatments are utilized in clinical use, placebo effects can be enhanced by exploiting patients' expectations in the contextual or environmental cues that surround medical intervention. Conclusions: We have to consider these unique characteristics of placebo needles in order to avoid drawing premature conclusions that acupuncture itself is just a placebo.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2018

Objectives: People often fail to reduce or maintain their weight despite trying to lose weight. The purpose of this study was to review previously published study results of the predictive factors associated with weight loss in obesity treatment. Methods: Authors searched for the articles related to weight loss, published from 2007 to 2017 found on PubMed, Scopus, Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), and Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS). A total of 43 articles were finally selected. From the study results, unchangeable and changeable predictors were extracted, and these predictors were examined according to detailed categories. Results: Predictors of weight loss in obesity treatment included genetic and physiological factors, demographic factors, history of treatment on obesity related factors, behavioral factors, psychological factors and treatment process related factors. The main factors of weight loss were unchangeable predictors such as high initial degree of obesity and younger age, and changeable predictors such as dietary restraint, regular exercise, self-efficacy, initial weight loss and attendance. Especially dietary restraint, regular exercise, successful initial weight loss and high attendance were considered to be dominant factors for weight loss treatments. Conclusions: Our review results suggest that unchangeable and changeable predictors of weight loss should be carefully examined during treatments of obesity.