• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2007

Korean red ginseng has broad efficacious effects against hypertension, diabetes, nociception, and cancer, and it counteracts weakness. It has been reported that Korean red ginseng is able to normalize blood pressure, improve cholesterol and lower blood glucose levels. We have recently reported that Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) significantly prevented rat carotid arterial thrombosis in vivo, and inhibited platelet aggregation ex vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of KRGE on blood circulation in human by measuring ex vivo platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation and serum lipid profiles in healthy volunteers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (placebo-group, KRGE-low dose group, KRGE-high dose group). Administration of KRGE to subjects significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $72.79{\pm}20.53$ to $62.00{\pm}23.06%$ (p=0.0009), and in KRGE-high dose group from $75.14{\pm}21.86$ to $64.52{\pm}24.72%$ (p=0.0039), respectively. Administration of KRGE to subjects also significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $85.52{\pm}12.57$ to $79.62{\pm}20.47%$ (p=0.0916), and in KRGE-high dose group from $80.24{\pm}18.11$ to $70.31{\pm}25.93%$ (p=0.0565), respectively. Whereas, KRGE has no significant effects on coagulation system, such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and serum lipid profiles, such as total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. KRGE also has no significant effects on hematological and serum biochemical profiles. These results suggest that KRGE has a potential to improve blood circulation through antiplatelet activity in human, and KRGE intake may be beneficial for the individuals with high risks of thrombotic and cardiovascular diseases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2011

배경: 골다공증은 골대사의 불균형으로 인해 골 흡수가 골 형성보다 많아져 골밀도가 감소함으로서 발생한다. 골다공증의 이상적인 치료목표는 골형성을 증가시키거나 골소실을 방지하여 골량을 현 상태로 유지하는 것이다. 따라서 향후 발생되는 골소실을 에방하는 것이 골다공증의 원칙적이고 효과적인 치료방법이 될 것이다. 본 연구에서는 흑효모 중 $Aureobasidium$ $pullulans$으로부터 유래한 폴리칸(베타-글루칸)이 중년여성의 골대사에 미치는 영향을 규명하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 골대사에 대한 폴리칸의 효과를 규명하기 위해 12주간의 무작위배정, 이중눈가림, 플라세보 대조 임상연구를 수행하였다. 총 60명(폴리칸 투여군30명, 플라세보 투여군 30명)의 중년 여성 피험자가 등록되어 이 중 총 58명의 피험자가 최종적으로 12주간의 임상연구를 종료하였다. 결 과: 폴리칸(150 mg/d) 투여 12주 후, 폴리칸 투여군은 요 중 Deoxypyridinoline (DPD) 농도가 유의적인 감소를 보였다($P$=0.014). 혈청 중 Osteocalcin(OSC) 농도는 두 군 모두에서 유의적으로 증가하였으며, bone-specific alkaline posphatase (bALP) 와 collagen type 1 cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTx)는 유의적 변화가 보이지 않았다. 폴리칸은 골밀도(BMD)와 혈청 부갑상선 호르몬(iPTH)에 대해 유의적인 변화를 보이지 않았으나, 24시간 요 중 Ca 배설량은 폴리칸 투여군에서 유의하게 감소되었다($P$=0.028). 또한 폴리칸 투여군에서 고밀도지단백 콜레스테롤(HDL-cholesterol) 농도의 증가 경향 및 중성지방(triglyceride)의 유의적인 감소가 보였다. 임상연구 기간 중에 발생한 이상반응은 두 군간에 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았다. 결 론: 본 연구에서는 폴리칸이 골대사 및 지질에 대해 일부 개선효과가 있음을 보여주었다. 그러나, 골다공증 예방 측면에서 보다 장기적인 임상연구와 피험자 수를 확대하여 골대사 및 지질대사에 대한 폴리칸의 예방적 효과를 규명할 필요가 있을것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.107-124
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• 2008

We investigated the effects of distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture on autonomic nervous system with the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in adult man. as well as we tried to observe how distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : We investigated on 61 healthy volunteers consisted of 31 subjects in experiment(distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture) group and 30 subjects in control(Normal Saline) group. Study form was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. 31 subjects in experiment group were injected distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture at GB21(Kyonjong) and 30 subjects in control group were injected Normal Saline at GB21(Kyonjong). except of 2 subjects(in control group) who can't be measured and 10 subjects(6 in experiment group and 4 in control group) who move or make unforceable error during measuring. Finally 25 subject in experiment group and 24 subject in control group are studied. We measured HRV by PolyG-I on 7 times : before and after injection per 5 minutes during 30 minutes. The SPSS 10.0 for windows was used to analyze the data and the paired t test(in group) and Student t test(between two groups) were used to verify the result. Results : I. After distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture injection, SDNN is significantly high from 5 minute to 10 minute and from 15 minute to 30 minute, Complexity is significantly low from 20 minute to 30minute. HRV index is significantly mgb for first 20 minute and from 25 minute to 30 minute, RMSSD is significantly high only from 15 minute to 20 minute. 2. HRV index of distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly increased from 25 minute to 30 minute, pNN50 of distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly decreased from 25 minute to 30 minute and RMSSD of distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly increased from 25 minute to 30 minute compared with those of Normal Saline group. 3. After distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture injection, Ln(TP) is significantly high from 5 minute to 10 minute and from 15 minute to 30 minute. Ln(VLF) is significantly high after 5 minute, Ln(LF) is significantly high after 15 minute and Ln(HF) is significantly high from 5 minute to 10 minute and 25 minute to 30 minute, but significantly low for first 5 minute and from 10 minute to 20 minute. Normalized LF is significantly high after 20 minute and Normalized LF is significantly low after 20 minute. Conclusions : The results suggest that distilled Astragali Radix Herbal Acupuncture in healthy adult man tend to activate the autonomic nervous system within normal range. This result is derived from that parasympathetic nervous system was continuously activated and sympathetic nervous system was activated a little later.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.580-588
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 has been shown to clear senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) in cultured cells. It remains unknown whether Rg1 can influence SA-${\beta}$-gal in exercising human skeletal muscle. Methods: To examine SA-${\beta}$-gal change, 12 young men (age $21{\pm}0.2years$) were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled crossover study, under two occasions: placebo (PLA) and Rg1 (5 mg) supplementations 1 h prior to a high-intensity cycling (70% $VO_{2max}$). Muscle samples were collected by multiple biopsies before and after cycling exercise (0 h and 3 h). To avoid potential effect of muscle biopsy on performance assessment, cycling time to exhaustion test (80% $VO_{2max}$) was conducted on another 12 participants (age $23{\pm}0.5years$) with the same experimental design. Results: No changes of SA-${\beta}$-gal were observed after cycling in the PLA trial. On the contrary, nine of the 12 participants showed complete elimination of SA-${\beta}$-gal in exercised muscle after cycling in the Rg1 trial (p < 0.05). Increases in apoptotic DNA fragmentation (PLA: +87% vs. Rg1: +133%, p < 0.05) and $CD68^+$ (PLA:+78% vs. Rg1:+121%, p = 0.17) occurred immediately after cycling in both trials. During the 3-h recovery, reverses in apoptotic nuclei content (PLA:+5% vs. Rg1 -32%, p < 0.01) and increases in inducible nitrate oxide synthase and interleukin 6 mRNA levels of exercised muscle were observed only in the Rg1 trial (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Rg1 supplementation effectively eliminates senescent cells in exercising human skeletal muscle and improves high-intensity endurance performance.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.104-120
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture and bee venom acupuncture (BVA) in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) using positron emission tomography (PET) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). Methods: Patients with IPD who received a stable dose of anti-parkinsonian medication for at least 4 weeks were recruited and randomly divided into one of two groups: treatment and control. The treatment group (11 subjects) received acupuncture and BVA at acupoints, and the control group (9 subjects) received sham acupuncture and normal saline injections at non-acupoints, twice per week for 12 weeks. The patients were examined using PET and ASL at baseline and after the 12-week treatment. In addition, age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without neurological symptoms and history were recruited to compare ASL data of patients with IPD. Results: PET results revealed that striatal dopamine transporter binding increased in each group after 12 weeks. Although the change was larger in the treatment group, the difference was not statistically significant. In ASL results, the treatment group exhibited hyperperfusion in specific regions compared with the healthy control group. After 12 weeks' intervention, hyperperfusion regions were recovered only in the treatment group. In contrast, significant changes were not found in hyperperfusion regions in the control group after 12 weeks. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture and BVA in IPD are different from placebo and operate by altering dopamine availability and recovering hyperactivity in cerebral blood flow.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1391-1398
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• 2007

We performed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine whether Laminaria japonica extract (LJE) supplement modulates blood glucose, serum lipids and antioxidant systems in type II diabetic patients. We also measured critical parameters assessing safety in liver and kidney functions after LJE supplement. A total of 37 patients (18 males and 19 females) were randomized to either LJE group or placebo group. The treatment group received four 350 mg of LJE capsules (1.4 g, total) per day for 12 weeks. The placebo group received the same dose of cellulose capsules. Baseline characteristics regarding general life style and dietary intake pattern were similar between the two groups. There were no significant influences of LJE supplement except for waist circumference on anthropometric parameters. As the whole, 12 weeks of LJE supplement resulted in a little decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), but a significant decrease was not observed. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lowered in LJE group. The antioxidant enzymes, glutathion peroxidase (GSH-px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were elevated in the LJE group (p<0.05) compared to the placebo. The increase of these enzymes was associated significantly with the decrease of MDA concentration (p<0.05). Furthermore, LJE supplement showed no adverse effects on the functions of liver and kidney. Findings from this study suggest that LJE supplement can help improve serum lipid status in type II diabetic subjects without adverse effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-126
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• 2009

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of red ginseng on women's health-related quality of life (QOL) and sexual function. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical study was performed. The main efficacy was measured using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFl) and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Twenty-four healthy, married women aged 30-45 years with FSFl scores below 25 were randomly divided into two groups: the red-ginseng group (N=12) and the placebo group (N=12). During the first six-week period (Study 1), each group was given red ginseng or placebo twice a day. Before the start of the second six-week period (Study 2), a crossover design was chosen with a two-week break (washout period). Interchanging the two groups after the washout period, red ginseng and placebo were given to each group. The outcomes were measured before and after each six-week period. Overall, 23 participants completed the study. In Study 1, the changes relative to the baseline in the FSFl total score were 22.50% and 22.99% for red ginseng and placebo, respectively. In Study 2, the relative changes were 8.14% for red ginseng and 6.29% for placebo. The results showed a greater improving trend in Study 1 with respect to all of the participants' sexual functions, but no significant difference was found between the groups (P=0.9567). After taking red ginseng, all the participants exhibited an improving trend in the desire domain of FSFl, but no significant difference was shown. In the measurement of SF-36, no significant difference was likewise shown. After taking red ginseng, though, all the participants exhibited an improving trend in the physical functioning (PF) domain of SF-36, with no significant difference. Moreover, there was no significant adverse event related to red ginseng. The QOL and sexual function of the study participants in the red-ginseng group were mostly improved, but no statistically significant effect of red ginseng was shown. It is supposed that this result was partly due to the affirmative impression of red ginseng in Korea. Thus, it is anticipated that a long-term clinical trial will show a significant effect of red ginseng on the QOL and sexual function.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.243-253
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the effects of DCI on glucose control, quality of life(SF-36 Version 2.0, Korean) and SDSCA(Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed on 46 patients with HbA1c 7.0% taking triple anti-diabetic drug regimen who visited the department of Endocrinology and Metabolism in Chungnam National University Hospital between March 2015 and May 2016. As a result, DCI treatment in the intervention group resulted in significantly reduced HbA1c levels $8.75{\pm}0.79%$(baseline), $8.36{\pm}1.03%$(after 12weeks), and $8.65{\pm}0.81%$(after 24weeks). However, patients in the control group did not show any significant change. Interestingly, both DCI treatment group and the control group significantly showed improvements in SDSCA. Participants in the intervention group showed a small yet significant improvement in their only fasting blood glucose test in SDSCA and revealed significant increase in the quantitative levels of quality of life, from $73.05{\pm}16.85$ to $82.74{\pm}10.68$. By using pathway analysis, improvement of SDSCA scores(${\beta}=-0.505$, t=-2.743) was the most influential factor to the fasting blood glucose. The quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was affected by changes of SDSCA scores(${\beta}=0.411$, t=2.024) and fasting c-peptide(${\beta}=-0.445$, t=-2.668) in DCI treatment group. In conclusion, treatment of DCI effectively improved glucose control in patients with type 2 DM(HbA1c level>7.0%) after 12 weeks of treatment, although it had no impact on glucose control after 24 weeks of treatment. Improved glucose control may encourage diabetic patients to conduct self-care activities and improve the quality of life. Based on the present study, we suggest that diabetes self-management, as well as consideration of comprehensive laboratory findings, may be important factor in regulating the quality of life in type 2 DM patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.320-328
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• 2004

Background : Pulmonary vascular changes which occur early in the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prevalent manifestation and later cause pulmonary hypertension, which is a bad prognostic factor in COPD. Beraprost sodium (BPS), an orally active prostacyclin analogue, has been shown to improve survival in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. This study investigated the effect of BPS in the patients with COPD. Methods : This is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled, two center clinical trial. Twenty one consecutive patients with COPD were enrolled from June 2003 to June 2004 (patients treated with BPS for 3 months, BPS group, n=11; those with placebo, placebo group, n=10). The baseline demographic, pulmonary function and hemodynamic data were not significantly different between two groups. Results : On echocardiographic examination, trans tricuspid valve pressure gradient has decreased significantly after 3 months with beraprost in the BPS group [17.7(${\pm}11.4$) to 8.2(${\pm}8.9$) mm Hg, p-value<0.05], while there was no significant change in the control group. Six-minute walking distance has decreased in the control group and increased in the BPS group, but there was no statistical significance. Conclusion : In patients with COPD oral administration of BPS reduced the pulmonary arterial pressure. The clinical significance of this finding, that is improving symptoms and natural course of the disease, needs further study.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.712-718
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• 2002

Purpose : Infantile colic is one of the most commonly encountered problems, characterized by excessive crying in apparently healthy young infants within the first 3 months of life. It is commonly assumed that the infant with colic has distress and possible pain. In recent investigations, it has been found that sucrose has an analgesic effect in newborn infants. The purpose of this study is to examine if sugar solution as sucrose also has an analgesic effect on infant colic. Methods : This prospective randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study examined healthy term infants aged 4 to 12 weeks with colic. A total of 40 infants were randomly assigned into two groups who visited Daedong Hospital from June 1999 to June 2001. Each group received sugar solution or sterile water. All data from parental diaries and interviews were recorded and analysed blindly. Results : The daily crying time and the colic improvement score were significantly better in sugar solution group as compared with the control(P=0.019, 0.045). No significant differences were noted between groups regarding the number of night wakenings(P=0.173). Conclusion : We conclude that sugar solution has an analgesic effect on infantile colic.