• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.103-109
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study aimed to investigate that dieckol - isolated from Ecklonia cava - supplementation can improve cognitive ability in mice. Methods : 48-male mice(6 weeks old) were divided into four groups; High-Dieckol group(n=12), Low-Dieckol group(n=12), Placebo group(n=12), Control group(n=12) and they were administered orally 5 days per week for 4 weeks at the same time. We performed Morris water maze test, Passive avoidance test, Blood serotonin analysis. And there was examined on neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of hippocampus using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label proliferating cells. Results : The results are as follows; As a Morris water maze results, Trial duration was significantly decreased in high dieckol group comparing to placebo group and control group. Distance to target was significantly decreased in high dieckol group and low dieckol group comparing to placebo group and control group. Mean speed was significantly low in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. As a Passive avoidance test results, latency time was significantly long in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. BrdU cell count was significantly high in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. Conclusions : As a conclusion, it is considered that dieckol supplementation might improve learning and cognitive ability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.331-343
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of short-wave therapy (SWT) for treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) as compared to placebo and control, and to assess the question of whether the effects are related to the mode, dosage, and application method. Methods: We searched randomized, placebo-controlled trials using electronic databases. We also manually reviewed sources in order to identify additional relevant studies. Results: Eight studies (597 participants) with OA were included in the meta-analysis. Pulse SWT had a significant effect on pain relief compared with control treatment, while did not favour compared with the placebo group. Pulse SWT had a significant effect on functional improvement compared with control and placebo treatment. Continuous SWT had no effect on pain relief and functional improvement. Capacitive SWT a significant effect on pain relief, functional improvement, and muscle strength. Continuous and capacitive SWT had increased muscle strength significantly. We found no clinical significance of all outcomes except pain and functional improvement in pulsed SWT with low dose. There was no difference in adverse events. None of the participants experienced any serious adverse events. Conclusion: Low dose pulsed SWT provided a short-term clinical benefit for pain relief and functional improvement. Pulsed SWD with low and high dose had effects on pain and function. There seems to be a placebo effect. We found significant effects on pain and function in capacitive SWT. Despite some positive findings, this analysis lacked data on how effectiveness is affected by mode, dosage, and application method of SWT. Further well-designed clinical studies are required in order to confirm the effectiveness of SWT.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.464-471
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• 2020

Purpose: Some probiotic strains reduce the duration of acute diarrhea. Because of strain and product specificity, each product needs to be supported by clinical data. This study aimed to test the efficacy of the synbiotic food supplement Probiotical (Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis, fructo-oligosaccharides) in children with acute gastroenteritis of likely infectious origin. The primary endpoint was the number of children with normal stool consistency during the treatment duration. Methods: A total of 46 children (aged 3.6 months to 12 years) with acute gastroenteritis that started less than 48 hours prior to their visit at a hospital-based emergency department were included in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. All children were treated with oral rehydration solution and placebo (n=20) or the test product (n=26). Results: Significantly more children had a normal stool consistency on days 1 and 2 in the probiotic group: 5 children (20%) on day 1 in the probiotic group compared with none in the placebo group (p=0.046). On day 2, 11 children in the probiotic group (46%) and 3 (16%) in the placebo group (p=0.024) had a normal stool consistency. The mean duration of diarrhea was shorter in the probiotic group compared with that in the placebo group (3.04±1.36 vs. 4.20±1.34 days) (p=0.018). Conclusion: The test product was shown to normalize stool consistency significantly more rapidly than the placebo. These data confirm the findings from a previous study in a larger group of children performed in a primary healthcare setting.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.5
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• 2015

In this first double-blind-placebo-controlled investigation of the Aeon Patch, electrocardiographic data were acquired from 50 well-hydrated volunteers [21 females and 29 males, age: 19-79, weight: 117-334 lbs, height: 5'-6',3"], under 3 different conditions for a total duration of 15 min (5 min/condition). Condition1: Control (C) - while wearing no Patch, Condition 2: Placebo (P) or Active (A) - after wearing either the Placebo or the Aeon Patch for 20 min, and Condition 3: Active (A) or Placebo (P) - after wearing either the Aeon or the Placebo Patch for 20 min. There was a washout period of 15 min between Conditions 2 and 3. All involved in the investigation were blind to the (A) and (P) Patches as they looked exactly the same and were assigned in a random fashion. The hypothesis to be tested was: Wearing the Aeon Patch for 20 min reduces stress. Data were first quality assured and those subjects who showed a parasympathetic response after wearing the Patch within 20 min were identified as early responders. Thirty subjects (60%) achieved a relaxed state after wearing the Aeon Patch as early as 20 min. Statistical analysis (one-sample inference) was used to compare the spectral features of the responders. The normalized LF/HF decreased significantly ($24%{\pm}9%$ after 20 min) in condition (A) compared to condition (P) with a p-value < 0.047 (n = 30) in responders. Therefore, the hypothesis that wearing the Aeon Patch for 20 min reduces stress was accepted as true.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.540-547
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• 2011

High consumption of fruits and vegetables has been suggested to provide some protection to smokers who are exposed to an increased risk of numerous cancers and other degenerative diseases. Carrot is the most important source of dietary ${\beta}$-carotene. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether carrot juice supplementation to smokers can protect against lymphocyte DNA damage and to compare the effect of supplementationof capsules containing purified ${\beta}$-carotene or a placebo (simple lactose). The study was conducted in a randomized and placebo-controlled design. After a depletion period of 14 days, 48 smokers were supplemented with either carrot juice (n = 18), purified ${\beta}$-carotene (n = 16) or placebo (n = 14). Each group was supplemented for 8 weeks with approximately 20.49 mg of ${\beta}$-carotene/day and 1.2 mg of vitamin C/day, as carrot juice (300 ml/day) or purified ${\beta}$-carotene (20.49 mg of ${\beta}$-carotene, 1 capsule/day). Lymphocyte DNA damage was determined using the COMET assay under alkaline conditions and damage was quantified by measuring tail moment (TM), tail length (TL), and% DNA in the tail. Lymphocyte DNA damage was significantly decreased in the carrot juice group in all three measurements. The group that received purified ${\beta}$-carotene also showed a significant decrease in lymphocyte DNA damage in all three measurements. However, no significant changes in DNA damage was observed for the placebo group except TM (P = 0.016). Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme was not significantly changed after supplementation. Similarly plasma lipid profiles were not different after carrot juice, ${\beta}$-carotene and placebo supplementation. These results suggest that while the placebo group failed to show any protective effect, carrot juice containing beta-carotene or purified ${\beta}$-carotene itself had great antioxidative potential in preventing damage to lymphocyte DNA in smokers.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2010

Objective: Functional dyspepsia is a prevalent disease. It impedes subjective quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine the equivalent effect of herb medicine treatment (DA-9701) for functional dyspepsia. Methods: In this randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled study, we compared a herb medicine (DA-9701) with standard treatment (mosapride) and placebo for the treatment of functional dyspepsia. 42 volunteers who satisfied the requirements were enrolled in study. Severity of dyspepsia was measured by Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) and Functional Dyspepsia Quality of Life (FD-QOL) before and after treatments. Results: 1. In the DA-9701 group, total key symptoms score was significantly lower and improve rate of key symptoms was higher than in the mosapride and placebo groups, but there were no statistically significant differences between three groups. 2. In the DA-9701 and mosapride groups, "nausea" and "bad breath" were significantly lower compared with the placebo group. 3. In the DA-9701 group, NDI Quality of Life scores were significantly higher, but there were no [other] statistically significant differences between the three groups. 4. In the DA-9701 and mosapride groups, FD-QOL scores were higher compared with the placebo group, but there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups. Conclusion: Herb medicine treatment (DA-9701) is effective to improve the symptoms and quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.135-147
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• 2020

Objectives: Hwa-byung is a mental illness. It is also known as a Korean culture-related syndrome. In traditional Korean medicine, Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang is used to treat Hwa-byung related neuropsychiatric symptoms. The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang on Hwa-byung. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was performed for 160 patients with Hwa-byung. Patients were divided into a Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang group and a placebo group. Treatment period was 8 weeks. Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), Likert scale for major symptoms of Hwa-byung, Hwa-byung Scale (HBS), Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), Korean State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (K-STAI), Korean State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (K-STAXI), and Korean WHO Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to evaluate the effect of Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang on Hwa-byung. We also used an Instrument of Pattern Identification for Hwa-Byung to evaluate different responses for six patterns of patients. Results: Scores of all the measurements improved significantly for each group, showing no significant differences between the two groups. In the case of deficiency of both Qi and blood pattern, the Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang group showed a significant decrease in the HAM-A score compared to the placebo group. Conclusions: The effect of Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang on Hwa-byung did not exceed that of the placebo. Further studies involving more elaborate pattern identification are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2007

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of a novel formulation of low-dose calcium and vitamin $D_3$ blended with Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and Eleutherococcus senticosus Max (RE+), in postmenopausal women. The controls were given either a placebo or high dose calcium and vitamin $D_3$ (Ca + D). Bone mineral density (BMD) in the L2-3 lumber spines and femur regions was assessed, and serum osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) were used as markers of osteoblast and osteoclast activity. Furthermore, all variables were measured before and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. The osteocalcin level was higher in the RE+ group, and BALP was almost the same in all groups. Serum NTx was significantly decreased in the RE+ group after 12 months (p<0.05). The NTx in the Ca + D and placebo groups showed no significant change. The decrease of femur BMD was further demonstrated in the placebo group, but significantly increased in the RE+ group after 6 and 12 months of treatment (p<0.05). There were significant differences in the percent changes of femur BMD between the placebo and RE+ groups (p<0.01) and Ca+D and RE+ groups (p<0.05). The decrease of spine BMD in the placebo group was inhibited both in the Ca + D and RE+ groups, however, there was significant difference only between the placebo and RE+ groups (p<0.05). These findings suggest that continuous oral therapy of the RE+ formulation reduces rapidly decreasing bone mineral density in postmenopausal women more effectively than high doses of calcium and vitamin $D_3$ alone by inhibiting osteoclastic activity. Therefore, it seems that the RE+ has its own antiosteoporotic effects. We suggest larger clinical studies to determine the most efficacious dosage and benefits of this novel treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 1996

To investigate the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on male sexual function and serum lipid level, the results of KRG treatments were compared to placebo group. A total of 35 patients with psychogenic impotence were assigned to medication group with KRG (n=28) and placebo (n=7). KRG and placebo were given to each group for 2 months. Changes in symptoms such as frequency of coitus, morning erection, penile rigidity and tumescence were significantly higher in the group receiving KRG than placebo group. The overall therapeutic efficacies on erectile function were 67% for KRG group and 28% for placebo group (p <0.05). In the group treated with 9 tablets of KRG, there was tendency of better efficacy as compared to the group treated with 6 tablets of KRG. The level of serum high density lipid- cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) was significantly elevated (p < 0.05) while the other serum lipid such as total cholesterol, tiglyceride and low density lipid-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) , were not changed after administration of KRG. This effect was observed significantly in the group in which KRG exerted its effect on sexual function(p < 0.05). From the above results, the administration of Korean red ginseng has shown to have superior of facts as compared to the placebo. The tendency of good effect was increased when a large amount of KRG was administered. The mechanism of KRG in improving sexual function would be the result of elevating the level of geum HDL-cholesterol in impotent patients. The effect of KRG was produced when the level of cholesterol was high before starting KRG medication. Therefore, the effect of KRG could be observed more intensively when the patients have high serum cholesterol level.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of patellar taping on balance and gait abilities in chronic stroke patients. Design: Randomized placebo-controlled trial. Methods: Thirty chronic stroke patients who have been diagnosed at least six months or before were recruited from R hospital. These study subjects were randomized to the experimental group (n=15) or placebo group (n=15). In the experimental group, patellar taping was applied while for the placebo group, placebo taping was applied. The Balance System SD was used for measuring dynamic standing balance in these two groups. In addition, the GAITRite (CIR System Inc.) system was utilized for calculating gait performance in these patients. Results: After application of taping, the patellar taping group showed a significant decrease in dynamic standing balance in their sway area (p<0.05). However, in the placebo group, there was no significant difference in dynamic standing balance ability and gait ability before and after application of taping. Comparison of the patellar taping group and placebo group showed significant differences in dynamic standing balance ability and gait performance (p<0.05). Conclusions: From the results of this study, it appears that application of patellar taping in chronic stroke patients significantly improved dynamic standing balance ability and gait ability in these patients. Based on these results, patellar taping is thought to be useful in real clinical settings where there are many chronic patients who are in need of improvement in their balance and gait ability.