• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.382-386
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• 2023

A 2-year-old, 12.5 kg, castrated male, mixed-breed dog was presented with a 1-year history of pruritus and progressive alopecia. On physical examination, no remarkable findings were detected including body condition score (5/9). A dermatological examination of the dog revealed generalized erythema, papules or plaques, especially on the face, auricle, dorsum, and shoulder. A fine-needle aspiration of the dorsum and face lesions revealed various numbers of macrophages with foamy cytoplasm and multinucleated giant cells. A bacterial culture test showed the growth of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. A complete blood cell count was unremarkable and biochemical abnormalities included hyperglobulinemia (4.8 g/dL, reference interval 2.5-4.5 g/dL), mild hypertriglyceridemia (277 mg/dL, reference interval 10-100 mg/dL) and mild hypercholesterolemia (383 mg/dL, reference interval 110-320 mg/dL). Additional diagnostic tests were performed to identify the underlying cause of hyperlipidemia. Canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (<50 ng/mL, reference interval 0-200 ng/mL) and total T4 (1.4 ㎍/dL, reference interval 1.1-5.6 ㎍/dL) were within the reference intervals. For a definitive diagnosis, skin biopsy specimen was collected from the papular lesions on the dorsum by using a 4 mm biopsy punch. A histopathological examination revealed numerous large macrophages with abundant foamy cytoplasm in the dermis. The foamy macrophages were located diffusely between the collagen fibers. Extracellular amorphous lipid deposits were also presented in the dermal tissue. A definitive diagnosis of cutaneous xanthoma was made based on clinical signs and cytological and histopathological results.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2024

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare genetic disorder in dogs and cats and has been mostly reported in purebred cats. In this study, we report a case of a 1-year-old castrated male Korean shorthair cat, who presented with multiple small skin tears and bruises distributed over the entire trunk area. The cat's skin was hyperextensible and easily torn with gentle touch. The skin extensibility index of the cat was 25%, indicating the possibility of EDS. The cat exhibited no signs of pruritus or inflammation, and no underlying disease was found. However, radiography revealed hip joint subluxation and arthritis. Following this, biopsy of the lacerated skin was performed. Histopathological examination of the skin revealed that in the dermis adjacent to the lesions, the collagen fibers were irregular in size and width, with a slightly thinner epidermis, and increased interfibrillar spaces containing low numbers of scattered well-differentiated fibroblasts and mast cells. Histopathological examination of the skin confirmed EDS. The symptoms observed in the cat, including skin hyperextensibility, multiple bruising, hip joint subluxation, and arthritis, corresponded to the classical subtype of EDS in humans. Thus, this study is a rare report of a classical EDS case in a Korean shorthair cat. This study suggests that skin extensibility index and biopsy are useful diagnostic procedures for confirming EDS in animals until a more definitive genetic test is established.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.9
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• 2022

Despite the high prevalence of chronic dermatitis and the accompanied intractable itch, therapeutics that specifically target itching have low efficacy. Increasing evidence suggests that TLRs contribute to immune activation and neural sensitization; however, their roles in chronic itch remain elusive. Here, we show that the RBL-2H3 mast cell line expresses TLR4 and that treatment with a TLR4 antagonist opposes the LPS dependent increase in mRNA levels of Th2 and innate cytokines. The pathological role of TLR4 activation in itching was studied in neonate rats that developed chronic itch due to neuronal damage after receiving subcutaneous capsaicin injections. Treatment with a TLR4 antagonist protected these rats with chronic itch against scratching behavior and chronic dermatitis. TLR4 antagonist treatment also restored the density of cutaneous nerve fibers and inhibited the histopathological changes that are associated with mast cell activation after capsaicin injection. Additionally, the expression of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 mRNA in the lesional skin decreased after TLR4 antagonist treatment. Based on these data, we propose that inhibiting TLR4 alleviated itch in a rat model of chronic relapsing itch, and the reduction in the itch was associated with TLR4 signaling in mast cells and nerve fibers.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 1998

To study the incidence and epidemiological factors of uterine cervical cancer in medical underserved area females, the questionnaire survey and Pap. smear for uterine cervical cancer was done on total 330 women who lived in Ullungdo from 5th to 12th August, 1998. The results were summarized as follows： The age distribution of subjects was 50s (24.5%), 60s (24.5%) and their educational level was “no schooling” (14.2%) and “elementary school” (42.7%). The first coital age of subjects was 19∼21yrs (30.0%), 16∼18yrs (13.9%) and the first pregnancy age was 22∼24yrs (36.7%) and 19∼21yrs (30.0%). The frequency of total pregnancy of subjects was over 5 times (52.1%). The frequency of total delivery was “3∼4 times” (35.5％) and “5∼6 times” (15.2％). 68.8% of subjects had experience of abortion and 80.0% of their husband were on the phimosis. 172 (52.1%) subjects had gynecological symptoms, their symptoms were leukorrhea (48.3%), pruritus (21.5%) and leukorrhea with pruritus (20.3%). 63.9% of total subjects have been received Pap. smear and the frequency of their Pap. smear was “only 1 time” (44.1 ％), “irregularly” (30.3%) and the reason of respondents who have not been received Pap. smea. was “no specific symptom” (51.3%). Among the 330 women screened there were negative (45.8%), inflammation (47.3%), trichomoniasis and candidiasis (1.8%), atypical cells (4.5%) and dysplasia (0.6%).

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1999

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate 1) the incidence of insomnia, 2) the clinical characteristics of the insomniacs, 3) the correlation of severity of insomnia with somatic complaints and psychological distresses, and 4) the beliefs and attitudes about sleep in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Methods: The author evaluated 153 patients, receiving hemodialysis therapy at the four outpatients hemodialysis units in Pusan, Korea. The patients had completed a self-administered questionnaire package, which consisted of basic demographic findings, questions characterizing insomnia, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielburger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and visual analogue scales measuring quantitatively the severity of the self-perceived psychological and somatic symptoms. And several laboratory data were collected. Diagnosis of insomnia was made in the base of insomnia criteria of DSM-IV and international classification of sleep disorders. Subjects were dichotomized into those who reported any characteristics of insomnia or those who had no insomnia during the preceding two weeks. Results: Insomnia was found in 100(65.4%) of 153 patients. No statistical differences were found between the patients with and without insomnia in terms of age, gender, education, marital status, mean duration of hemodialysis and all considered laboratory findings except serum albumin. The patients with insomnia had significantly higher BDI score and predialysis systolic blood pressure, and lower serum albumin as compared to non-insomnia group. Significant differences were found between two groups in terms of self-perceived distress such as sadness, anxiety, worry, pruritus, and dysfunction of daily life. The data showed statistically significant correlation between insomnia severity and some variables such as physical dysfunction, pruritus, bone pain, sadness, anxiety, worry, dysfunction of daily life and excessive daytime sleepiness. The patients with insomnia had significantly several dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep than those without insomnia. Conclusion: These results indicate that insomnia is very common in hemodialysis patients and likely contribute to the impaired quality of life experienced by many these patients. The author suggests that physical and psychological distresses would be reduced and the quality of life could be improved if their sleep disturbances are properly ameliorated in patients on hemodialysis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.241-249
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• 2005

Herein, two patients of acute toxic hepatitis occurred to persons had eaten Aplysia kurodai and their eggs. The authors report 2 patients of acute toxic hepatitis with reviews of the clinical features. One patient had gathered Aplysia kurodai and it's eggs from Ulleungdo sea shore on May 17, 2003. He ate with boiling the eggs. This patient developed acute toxic hepatitis and symptoms of aplysianin poisoning, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhea about 10 and half hours after ingestion. The other patient had gathered Aplysia kurodai and its egg from Ulleungdo sea shore on 16 May 2004, which were consumed without boiling the eggs. This patient developed acute toxic hepatitis and symptoms of aplysianin poisoning, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhea, about 10 and half hours after ingestion. This patient complained of jaundice and pruritus, about 10 days after ingestion. The 2 patients all improved within 15~25 days with conservative treatment. This is the first significant report of acute toxic hepatitis caused by aplysianin poisoning following the consumption of Aplysia kurodai and their eggs in Korea. The clinical features, management and preventive counterplan of acute toxic hepatitis caused by aplysianin poisoning are also presented.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.185-205
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the clinical activity of patients with atopic dermatitis(AD) correlate with their serum cytokine levels. 86 patients with AD were treated with KHS, YMH and GHT. On each visit to the clinic, their skin status was evaluated using the SCORAD index and serum IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-12, IL-13, IL-2 and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. After oral administration of herbal medicine, patients' skin status and subjective parameters such as pruritus and sleeplessness were significantly improved according to regression analysis. In particular, patients aged 0-9 showed stronger responses to treatment, which implies that the younger patients aged, the easier the treatment by herbal formula became. In analysis of the type of chosen herbal medicines, YMH treated group showed a stronger response in reduction of affected lesion, intensity of a lesion and subjective symptoms, while KHS treated group showed the least reduction. The levels of serum IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-2 correlated with disease activity. Moreover, in patients under 0-9, the IL-4 level had a corrleation with disease activity; patients under 10-19 showed a correlation between the levels of IL-4 and IL-2 and disease activity; patients under 20-29 showed a correlation between the levels of IL-2, IL-12 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ and disease activity. In comparison with chosen herbal medicines, the groups treated with YMH or GHT treated group showed a correlation between the levels of IL-4, IL-12 and IL-2 and disease activity while KHS treated group did not. Our data suggest that serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 are good indicators of clinical improvement in treating AD.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.150-160
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is characterized by eczematous lesions, skin dryness, and pruritus. The existing treatment drugs for AD have side effects, especially if the drugs are taken for extended periods. Therefore, new alternative therapies are necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of curcumin administration and LED irradiation on AD. AD-like lesions were induced in BALB/c mice by repeated application of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) to the shaved skin of the ear and neck. Thirty male BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: vehicle, DNCB, curcumin, LED, and curcumin+LED groups. Curcumin (0.1 g/kg/day) was administrated repeatedly during a period of 14 days (experimental period) and 630 nm LED irradiation ($5J/cm^2/day$) was performed in the acryl box once a day for 10 days, after inducing AD-like lesions via DNCB application. The severity of AD-like lesions was evaluated during the experimental period, using a modified SCORAD index. Both ear and neck skin tissues were examined histologically for epidermal thickness, mast cell, eosinophil counting, and dermal collagen density. Epidermal cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected using immunohistochemistry and TUNEL, respectively. These were all reduced in SCORAD index, epidermal thickness, collagen density, number of mast cell and eosinophil in dermis, and number of proliferating cell and apoptotic cell in epidermis by curcumin administration and 630 nm LED irradiation. Moreover, all parameters were significantly lower in the curcumin+LED group compared with the curcumin group and LED group. These results suggest that the combined therapy of curcumin and LED is more effective than a single treatment. We recommend that this can be a feasible alternative therapy to manage AD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1635-1641
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• 2014

Diospyros lotus has been cultivated for its edible fruits, which are considered to have medicinal importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antipruritic activities of water-soluble, methanol extract, and ethyl acetate (EA) fractions from D. lotus leaves. The EA fraction showed the lowest $IC_{50}$ vale (DPPH: $5.3{\mu}g/mL$, ABTS: $53.8{\mu}g/mL$). Therefore, we further investigated anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects of the EA fraction. TNF-${\alpha}$ production increased by PMA plus A23187 treatment was significantly inhibited by the EA fraction in a dose-dependent manner. The EA fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. Furthermore, EA fraction had inhibitory effects on scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 in Balb/c mice. These results suggest that the EA fraction from D. lotus leaves has potential as ameliorative agent against oxidative stress and pruritus-related disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.397-402
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• 2002

Clinical studies were done treated with aroma therapy in 22cases of patients for suffering allergic rhinitis. who were treated at Dept of Oriental respiratory internal medicine in the Hospital of Taejeon University from January 2001 to May 2001. The results were as follows. 1. In distribution of sex & age. 45.5% of them were man, and 54.5% of them were woman. Of those who were attached, 2. In distribution of occupation, 59% of them were student, 18% of them were housewife, 18% of them were white color, 9% Of them were blue color. 3. In distribution of the period of the clinical history, under six months was 32%, under 1 year was 9%, under 3 years was 27%, over 3 years was 32%. 4. In distribution of the seasonal contributing factor, most of them were perenial allergic rhinitis, others generally started in spring or winter. 5. In distribution of past history, 59% of them are none, 18% of them are asthma, 18% of them are atopic dermatitis, 5% of them are allergic dermatitis. 6. In distribution of family history, 46% of them are none, 27% of them are sibling line, 18% of them are paternal line, 9% of them are maternal line. 7. In distribution of symptom, the ratio of sneezing was 90%, nasal discharge was 81 %, nasal obstruction was 46%, pruritus was 41 %, headache was 31%, asthma was 22%, digestion disorder was 18%, tears was 9%, nosebreeding was 5%. 8. In distribution of diagnosis in descending order, wind-cold evil was 5%, spleen-lung energy asthnia was 31 %, lung-kidney asthnia was 64%. 9. In distribution of Herb medicine treatment, Tonggyu-tang was the most, the second was hyunggaiyunyo-tang. 10 In emotional change of patients aroma-therapy, only 14% of them felt good. 11. The total remedial value of the 22 patients was revealed 32.9%. 12. In proportion to grow older, the remedial value were decreased. 13. In proportion to the period of the clinical history was longer, the remedial value were decreased.