• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2014

This study examined the knowledge and understanding of integrative medicine in Korea, specifically conflicts between western and oriental medicine within Parallel (Dual) health care systems. Qualitative methodology using grounded theory guided semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Western Medical Doctors (W.M.D., n = 6), Oriental Medical Doctors (O.M.D., n = 5) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (T.C.M.P., n = 4). Thematic analysis was used to determine broad themes from the interviews. 15 professionals (W.M.D. (40%), O.M.D. (33%), T.C.M.P. (27%), 10 males (67%) and 5 females (33%), mean age 45) were interviewed, recorded, and transcribed. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: systematic conflicts, integration and future directions. Subthemes of systematic conflicts included: credibility of Oriental Medicine, commercial imperatives, maintaining social standing of O.M.D., professional qualifications and lack structures supporting collaborative practice. Integration subthemes included lack of academic linkage and clarity for appropriate triage, opposing medical paradigms and limited social imperative. Future directions should include: social justification, guarantee of oriental medicine legitimacy, role of government and understanding of scientific evidence. To successfully integrate dual medical systems there is a need to address differences in social-environmental factors and perceptions of scientific understanding, as well as developing strong academic links in clinical practice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.340-345
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• 2008

Extract of Acanthopanax senticosus has recently been demonstrated to possess significant antidiabetic potential, in accordance with the traditional use of this plant as an antidiabetic natural health product. The present study evaluated the effects of fermented extract (FE) of this plant on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose uptake, and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model. A 3 h pretreatment with FE prevented $IL-1{\beta}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ toxicity in isolated rat islets. However, it did not affect insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. In addition, pretreatment of mice with FE blocked the destruction of streptozotocin-induced islets and the development of type 1 diabetes. FE reduced blood glucose level, increased insulin secretion, and improved glucose tolerance in streptozotocin-treated mice, whereas nonfermented extract (NFE) had moderate effects. Immunohistochemical staining for insulin clearly showed that pretreatment with FE blocked the STZ-induced islets destruction and restored the number of islet cells that secreted insulin to the level of the control. Although the active principles and their mechanisms of action remain to be identified, FE may nevertheless represent a novel complementary therapy and a source of novel therapeutic agents against type 1 diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to build the diagnosis criteria of Qi deficiency using distribution of sum of 11 items for Qi deficiency in stroke patients. Between September 2006 and December 2010, 2,994 patients from 11 Korean medical hospitals were asked to complete the Korean Standard Pattern Identification for Stroke (K-SPI-Stroke) questionnaire as a part of project 'Fundamental study for the standardization and objectification of pattern identification in traditional Korean medicine for stroke (SOPI-Stroke). Each patient was independently diagnosed by two experts (traditional Korean medicine physicians) from the same site according to one of five patterns. 2,994 patients were divided modeling and testing in 70:30 ratio by stratification of pattern identification. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and odds ratio (OR) using distribution of sum of 11 items (signs and symptoms) for Qi deficiency. More than four from 11 items of Qi deficiency in modeling dataset, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and OR was 70.07%, 74.94%, 73.92% and 7.00, respectively. In testing dataset, 78.31%, 73.45%, 74.47% and 9.98, respectively. Although this values are not high, after values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and OR should be more than current value, and then we should be able to suggest as objective diagnosing criteria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1356-1363
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• 2007

The purpose of the study was to identify the general status of Kigong organizations introduced on Internet. We have used www.naver.com, the biggest portal site in Korea and www.nice114.co.kr, which has the longest list of the telephone numbers to look up the organizations with the index of "Kigong and Danhak" and "Mediation". Among them we screened the organizations to have the list of organizations which have been established for more than 5 years, with more than 100 trainees and whether they published books or booklets regarding Kigong by the means of telephone conversation or home page access. The number of organizations identified by telephone and Internet with the indexes of Kigongdanhak and mediation was 852. The number of organizations that passed the primary criterion was 22, and that passed the secondary criterion was 8. Among the primarily screened organization, there are 5 focusing on mediation, 5 focusing on breathing, 3 focusing on Haenggong, 4 focusing on mediation and Haenggong, 4 focusing on breathing and Haenggong and 1 focusing on mediation and breathing. In secondarily screened organizations, they called their training method as Seondo, Shinseondo or Seonhak and origin of the training method as Dangun and Hwangwung. As Sambeop training of Jigam, Josik and Geumchok provide training methods which are a little different each other, the utilization rate was low although there are some organizations that have special training using Three Bibles. It was identified that there were many texts and writings that they took as training methods other than Three Bibles. Kigong training organizations based on Korean traditional ideologies are grounded on the Three Textbooks such as , , and and the concept of Hongikingan. This ideological ground is the study of Completion of Human Beings through physical and mental training and goes with Seondo, Pungryudo and Hyunmyojido.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2015

Attenuated functional exercise capacity in elderly and diseased populations is a common problem, and stems primarily from physical inactivity. Decreased function and exercise capacity can be restored by maintaining muscular strength and mass, which are key factors in an independent and healthy life. Resistance exercise has been used to prevent muscle loss and improve muscular strength and mass. However, the intensities necessary for traditional resistance training to increase muscular strength and mass may be contraindicated for some at risk populations, such as diseased populations and the elderly. Therefore, an alternative exercise modality is required. Recently, blood flow restriction (BFR) with low intensity resistance exercise (LIRE) has been used for such special populations to improve their function and exercise capacity. Although BFR+LIRE has been intensively studied for a decade, a comprehensive review detailing the effects of BFR+LIRE on both skeletal muscle and vascular function is not available. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss previous studies documenting the effects of BFR+LIRE on hormonal and transcriptional factors in muscle hypertrophy and vascular function, including changes in hemodynamics, and endothelial function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.764-770
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• 2013

Stevia rebaudiana is a traditional herb used as a sweetener in Brazil and Paraguay as well as Korea and China. This study investigated the efficacy of Stevia rebaudiana methanol extract (SRE) to protect cells against the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in hepatocyte. To determine the effects of SRE on oxidative stress, we used the human derived hepatocyte cell line, HepG2 cell. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron in HepG2 cells synergistically amplified cytotoxicity, as indicated by the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial permeability transition by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and immunoblot analysis. Treatment with SRE protected hepatocytes from AA+iron-induced cellular toxicity, as shown by alterations in the protein levels related with cell viability such as procaspase-3. SRE also prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA+iron, and showed anti-oxidant effects as inhibition of $H_2O_2$ production and GSH depletion. Moreover, we measured the effects of SRE on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator in determining cell survival or death. Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC), a direct downstream target of AMPK. SRE increased phosphorylation of ACC, and prevented the inhibition of ACC phosphorylation by AA+iron. These results indicated that SRE has the ability to protect cells against AA+iron-induced $H_2O_2$ production and mitochondrial impairment, which may be mediated with AMPK-ACC pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2012

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used frequently in traditional oriental medicine and is popular globally. Ginsenosides, which are the saponins in ginseng, are the major components having pharmacological and biological activities, including anti-diabetic and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of total saponin from Korean red ginseng(TSKRG) on thrombin-produced thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$), an aggregating thrombogenic molecule, and its associated microsomal enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and $TXA_2$ synthase (TXAS). Thrombin (0.5 U/mL) increased $TXA_2$ production up to 169 ng/$10^8$ platelets as compared with control (0.2 ng/$10^8$ platelets). However, TSKRG inhibited potently $TXA_2$ production to the control level in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the strong inhibition of COX-1 and TXAS activities in platelet microsomes having cytochrome c reductase activity. The results demonstrate TSKRG is a beneficial traditional oriental medicine in platelet-mediated thrombotic diseases via suppression of COX-1 and TXAS to inhibit production of $TXA_2$.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1575-1579
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• 2004

According to 2004 health statistics yearbook, cancer ocupies second death reason next to disease of blood circulation system and 1/4 was died because of cancer. There are very many factors to onset cancer, for example the exposure to varius kinds of pollution materials by development of industry, excess intake of harmful food to one's health, spritual stress, as become old age society, increase of attack-rate of geriatric diseases etc, attack-rate of cancer comes to be high gradually. The author had study about to treatment cancer by TCM(traditional chinese medicine) and combining TCM & western medicine, in Guang An Men hospital in Beijing of China from February 2003 to January 2004. TCM papers are 105 and combining TCM & western medicine papers are 280 of total 385 papers. Clinical reserch papers are 166, review articles are 194, animal experimental papers are 25. The papers used development herbal medicine are 42(10.9%), the papers used undevelopment herbal medicineare are 228(59.2%), the papers used senior TCM doctor's therapeutic experience and theory are 17(4.4%), the papers used theory of TCM or theory of combining TCM & western medicine are 71 (18.4%), the papers used acupuncture, qigong, thermotherapy, etc, other methods are 5, the papers used TCM patient's care or dietary treatment are 12 and ststistical papers are 10. Cancer is complicated hard case disease in pathological process. Combining TCM & western medicine treatment system is more efficient than one of TCM or western medicine in diagnosis, treatment, reserch of cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.361-365
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• 2009

Effects of quercetin, a kind of flavonoids, on the vasodilating actions were investigated. Among the mechanisms for quercetin-induced vasodilatation in rat aorta, the involvement with the $Ca^{2+}$ activated $K^+$ ($K_{Ca}$) channel was examined. Pretreatment with NE ($5\;{\mu}M$) or KCl (60 mM) was carried out and then, the modulation by quercetin of the constriction was examined using rat aorta ring strips (3 mm) at $36.5^{\circ}C$. Quercetin (0.1 to $100\;{\mu}M$) relaxed the NE-induced vasoconstrictions in a concentrationdependent manner. NO synthesis (NOS) inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA), at $100\;{\mu}M$ reduced the quercetin ($100\;{\mu}M$)-induced vasodilatation from $97.8{\pm}3.7%$ (n=10) to $78.0{\pm}11.6%$ (n=5, p<0.05). Another NOS inhibitor, L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), at $10\;{\mu}M$ also had the similar effect. In the presence of both $100\;{\mu}M$ L-NMMA and $10\;{\mu}M$ indomethacin, the quercetin-induced vasodilatation was further attenuated by $100\;{\mu}M$ tetraethylammonium (TEA, a $K_{Ca}$ channel inhibitor). Also TEA decreased the quercetin-induced vasodilatation in endothelium-denuded rat aorta. Used other $K_{Ca}$ channel inhibitors, the quercetin-induced vasodilatation was attenuated by $0.3\;{\mu}M$ apamin (a SK channel inhibitor), but not by 30 nM charybdotoxin (a BK and IK channel inhibitor). Quercetin caused a concentration-dependent vasodilatation, due to the endotheliumdependent and -independent actions. Also quercetin contributes to the vasodilatation selectively with SK channel on smooth muscle.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.684-692
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• 2002

Cordyceps militaris has been known as a Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis, asthma, kidney disease, debility and fatigue etc. This study was attempted to investigate the therapeutic effect of C. militaris extract on the cytotoxic activity of HepG2, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in SD rats. C. militaris extracts inhibited significantly the proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro. Carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄) caused a significant an increase in liver weight, serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activity, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), microsomal TBARS, and decrease in microsomal detoxification enzymes (cytochrome P-450, P-450 reductase, cytochrome b5, b5 reductase). TBARS and ALP in serum pretreated with C. militaris extracts (300mg/kg/day, 600mg/kg/day) was significantly reduced compared to control group(CCl₄). Cytochrome b5 and b5 reductase activities were significantly increased in CM300 (300 mg/kg/day) and CM600 group(600 mg/kg/day), and cytochrome P-450 reductase was significantly increased in CM300 group. Pretreatment (100, 300, and 600 mg/kg/day for 7 days) of C. militaris with CCl₄ was significantly inhibited the accumulation microsomal TBARS and the significantly increased in the cytochrome P-450 activity. These results suggested that C. militaris (300mg/kg/day for 7 days) has appreciable therapeutic effect on CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity.