• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2014

A novel recombinant Bacille Calmette-Guerin (rBCG) vaccine co-expressed Eimeria tenella rhomboid and cytokine chicken IL-2 (chIL-2) was constructed, and its efficacy against E. tenella challenge was observed. The rhomboid gene of E. tenella and chIL-2 gene were subcloned into integrative expression vector pMV361, producing vaccines rBCG pMV361-rho and pMV361-rho-IL2. Animal experiment via intranasal and subcutaneous route in chickens was carried out to evaluate the immune efficacy of the vaccines. The results indicated that these rBCG vaccines could obviously alleviate cacal lesions and oocyst output. Intranasal immunization with pMV361-rho and pMV361-rho-IL2 elicited better protective immunity against E. tenella than subcutaneous immunization. Splenocytes from chickens immunized with either rBCG pMV361-rho and pMV361-rho-IL2 had increased $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ cell production. Our data indicate recombinant BCG is able to impart partial protection against E. tenella challenge and co-expression of cytokine with antigen was an effective strategy to improve vaccine immunity.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2017

Background: Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT) has long been used for the treatment of severe weakness caused by general fatigue, loss of appetite, or indigestion. The aim of this feasibility study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of BZYQT for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD) with spleen qi deficiency. Methods: This study will be conducted at a single center as a prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded, single-arm feasibility study. A total of 30 participants diagnosed with FD in accordance with the Rome III criteria will be enrolled. All patients will receive BZYQT for 4 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in the Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean version (NDI-K) scores between the baseline and 4-week images. The secondary outcomes include the tongue coating thickness, blood parameters, and BZYQT Questionnaire score. The NDI-K score will be acquired four times, at Weeks 0 (baseline), 2 (during treatment), 4 (after treatment), and 8 (after follow-up). Written informed consent will be obtained from all study participants prior to enrollment. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital. This study protocol is registered with the national clinical trial registry of the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Results will be published in a journal and will be disseminated both electronically and in print. Discussion: The results of this study may serve as a guide for researchers seeking to effectively evaluate the effects of BZYQT.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2014

Background: The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3)is constitutively activated in many human cancers. It promotes tumor cell proliferation,inhibits apoptosis, induces angiogenesis and metastasis, and suppresses antitumor hostimmune responses. Therefore, Stat3 has emerged as a promising molecular target for cancertherapies. In this study, we evaluated the Stat3-suppressive activity of 38 herbal medicinestraditionally used in Korea.Methods: Medicinal herb extracts in 70% ethanol were screened for their ability to suppressStat3 in the A549 human lung cancer cell line. A Stat3-responsive reporter assay system wasused to detect intracellular Stat3 activity in extract-treated cells, and Western blot analyseswere performed to measure the expression profiles of Stat3-regulated proteins.Results: Fifty percent of the 38 extracts possessed at least mild Stat3-suppressive activities(i.e., activity less than 75% of the vehicle control). Ethanol extracts of Bupleurum falcatumL., Taraxacum officinale Weber, Solanum nigrum L., Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, Euonymus alatusSieb., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., and Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill inhibited up to 75% of thevehicle control Stat3 activity level. A549 cells treated with these extracts also had reducedBcl-xL, Survivin, c-Myc, and Mcl-1 expression.Conclusion: Many medicinal herbs traditionally used in Korea contain Stat3 activity-suppressing substances. Because of the therapeutic impact of Stat3 inhibition, these resultscould be useful when developing novel cancer therapeutics from medicinal herbs.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.80-94
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the importance of questions of obesity syndrome differentiation (OSD) questionnaire based on real-world survey and to explore the possibility of simplifying OSD types. Methods: The OSD frequency was identified, and variance threshold feature selection was performed to filter the questions. Filtered questions were clustered by K-means clustering and hierarchical clustering. After principal component analysis (PCA), the distribution patterns of the subjects were identified and the differences in the syndrome distribution were compared. Results: The frequency of OSD in spleen deficiency, phlegm (PH), and blood stasis (BS) was lower than in food retention (FR), liver qi stagnation (LS), and yang deficiency. We excluded 13 questions with low variance, 7 of which were related to BS. Filtered questions were clustered into 3 groups by K-means clustering; Cluster 1 (17 questions) mainly related to PH, BS syndromes; Cluster 2 (11 questions) related to swelling, and indigestion; Cluster 3 (11 questions) related to overeating or emotional symptoms. After PCA, significant different patterns of subjects were observed in the FR, LS, and other obesity syndromes. The questions that mainly affect the FR distribution were digestive symptoms. And emotional symptoms mainly affect the distribution of LS subjects. And other obesity syndrome was partially affected by both digestive and emotional symptoms, and also affected by symptoms related to poor circulation. Conclusions: In-depth data mining analysis identified relatively low importance questions and the potential to simplify OSD types.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 2023

Background: QiShen YiQi pills (QSYQ) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, which has a significant effect on the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in clinical practice. However, the molecular mechanism of QSYQ regulation pyroptosis after MI is still not fully known. Hence, this study was designed to reveal the mechanism of the active ingredient in QSYQ. Methods: Integrated approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking, were conducted to screen active components and corresponding common target genes of QSYQ in intervening pyroptosis after MI. Subsequently, STRING and Cytoscape were applied to construct a PPI network, and obtain candidate active compounds. Molecular docking was performed to verify the binding ability of candidate components to pyroptosis proteins and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced cardiomyocytes injuries were applied to explore the protective effect and mechanism of the candidate drug. Results: Two drug-likeness compounds were preliminarily selected, and the binding capacity between Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) and key target High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1)was validated in the form of hydrogen bonding. 2 μM Rh2 prevented OGD-induced H9c2 death and reduced IL-18 and IL-1β levels, possibly by decreasing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, inhibiting the expression of p12-caspase1, and attenuating the level of pyroptosis executive protein GSDMD-N. Conclusions: We propose that Rh2 of QSYQ can protect myocardial cells partially by ameliorating pyroptosis, which seems to have a new insight regarding the therapeutic potential for MI.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1061-1074
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• 2008

Objectives : Recently, the number of cancer patients who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including oriental medicine, are increasing. Also, evidence for efficacy and safety of cancer CAM is reported continuously. This study was designed to evaluate the quality of the published papers for clinical studies about oriental medical cancer treatment in Korea. Methods : We searched for clinical research papers on the websites of the Korean oriental medical society and subsidiary academies, Korean traditional knowledge portal. Koreanstudies information service system (KISS), etc. We used the reference words 'cancer', 'malignant tumor', 'leukemia', 'lymphoma', 'multiple myeloma', 'melanoma', etc, We then chose studies that had been presented between 1991 and 2008 and analyzed them by publication year, design, cancer type, intervention, subject and journal. Results : There were 86 clinical research papers that were published between 1991 and 2008. The number of clinical studies has increased in a time-dependent manner. Case reports and case series studies account for 78% of total clinical research. Studies of lung cancer account for 17%. Studies of cancer-related symptoms of cancer patients account for 38%. Studies of Hang-Am-Dan account for 33%. Studies published in the journal of the Korean Society of Oriental Internal Medicine account for 35%. Conclusion : The clinical research papers about oriental medicine are increasing over time, but most of the studies are retrospective case reports or case series. Well-designed and prospective clinical trials would be recommended to provide more reliable evidence.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report and observe effects of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) on stage IV metastatic breast cancer patient. Method : A right breast cancer patient diagnosed with metastatic lesions on liver, lung, spleen, multiple bones and skin on right breast April 2013. The patient received Herceptin + Docetaxel + Zometa from May 2013 and started to receive TKM since July 2013 to decrease side effects of chemotherapy. From December 2013 to November 2014, she had received Herceptin 18 times more. The clinical outcomes were measured by computed tomography, laboratory findings including tumor markers (CEA, CA15-3), liver function test (AST, ALT), and numeric rating scales (NRS). Results : After 6 years of TKM treatment combined with standard chemotherapy, tumor size was partially decreased in lung, liver, right pleura and spleen. Levels of tumor markers also showed decrease. There were no severe adverse events induced by TKM based on National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.0. Conclusion : This case suggests that TKM combined with standard chemotherapy could be a promising method for treating metastatic stage IV breast cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease burden of cancer, to investigate how many cancer patients use CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies with or without conventional medicine, to know reasons for use of cancer CAM therapies, and finally to discuss viewpoints on treating cancer with traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Method: In order to know the disease burden of cancer, the prevalence and mortality of cancer patients of Korean, American, and WHO reports were investigated, and the usage of cancer CAM therapies was investigated in several reports. The viewpoints about cancer treatment with TKM were suggested with the characteristics of TKM. Results: One hundred thousand Korean people were diagnosed [in time period] as new cancer patients, and cancer patients are gradually increasing every year. Cancer is a leading cause of deaths in Korea and worldwide. From 21% to 63% of Korean cancer patients, 80% of American cancer patients, and 35.9% of European cancer patients used CAM therapies, and the most common therapy was an herbal therapy. Conclusions: TKM has been used to treat cancer since initial use of acupuncture and herbs with basic viewpoints on human health and disease. First, TKM regards occurrence of cancer as an environmental problem of the whole human being. Second, the pathologic concept centered on antipathogenic Qi (Zheong Qi) can reinforce the functioning of the patient's own natural vitality to overcome cancer. Third, TKM deals with cancer patients through mind, body, and spirit based on the monoism of mind and body.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 2014

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is considered a coronary heart disease risk factor and its prevalence rate is increasing in Korea. Because obesity is relevant to metabolic syndrome, we investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire in middle-aged health check-up examinees. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 125 patients who visited a health promotion center of university hospital from October 2012 to January 2013. We analyzed the association of Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire and the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. Results: Pi deficiency (脾虛), phlegm (痰飮), liver stasis (肝鬱) and food accumulation (食積) pattern showed significantly highs score in the group with hypertriglyceridemia. Also, females demonstrated significantly high scores of liver stasis (肝鬱) and food accumulation (食積) in the group with hypertriglyceridemia. The questions of Pattern Identification that showed especially significant high score in the group of hypertriglyceridemia are as follows: 'Easily get annoyed', 'Usually worried', 'Frequently overeating or bingeing', and 'Having more after getting full'. There are positive correlations between triglyceride and the score of Pi deficiency (脾虛), phlegm (痰飮) and food accumulation (食積) pattern. Conclusions: Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire can be used for the management of hypertriglyceridemia in an effort to prevent metabolic syndrome.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.501-508
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• 2008

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Clematidis Radix (CR)-distillates were investigated in three different pain animal models. Highly purified distillate of CR was injected to Zusanli (ST36) acupoint, called CR herb-acupuncture in the Korean traditional medicine. In tail flick latency test, the CR herb-acupuncture treatment did not show a significant effect of relieving acute phasic pain. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of CR herb-acupuncture, inflammatory pain was induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin to the plantar tissue or intra-articular injection of carrageenan to the tibio-tarsal joint in the rats. And the medicinal effect of CR herb-acupuncture was evaluated by analyzing pain behavior such as licking or biting behavior, or by measuring weight distribution ratio between two foot and ankle circumference. In the rat formalin test, the analgesic effect of CR herb-acupuncture was more pronounced in the late phase (for 20 min after the early phase) than in the early phase (for the first 10 min post formalin injection). It also significantly alleviated the carrageenan-induced monoarthritis, in terms of weight distribution ratio and ankle edema. These results revealed that CR herb-acupuncture was effective to treat the inflammatory pain and could be used as an analgesic treatment with an antiinflammatory effect.