• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2012

Purpose: In Korea, few studies have examined the acute toxicity of anti-obesity drugs. The purpose of this study is to analyze the general characteristics and clinical aspect of acute anti-obesity drug intoxication. Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients admitted to the emergency department after anti-obesity drug intoxication between March, 2004 and February, 2012. The medical records of these patients were reviewed for demographic data, toxicologic history, time elapsed to presentation, clinical symptoms and signs, treatment, and outcome. Results: There were a total of 18 anti-obesity intoxication cases during the study period; of 16 which were included in our study. The purchasing route of the anti-obesity drug was mainly through a doctor's prescription (68.8%), however, some were obtained through the internet and the pharmacies. The mean time to The most commonly ingested antiobesity drug was sibutramine (31.3%) and many of the cases (62.5%) were multi-drug ingestions. The most common clinical manifestations were gastrointestinal symptoms (94%), but, CNS symptoms (75%) and cardiovascular symptoms (75%) were almost equally present. 13 patients (81%) were discharged after clearance of toxic symptoms and signs with a mean observational period of 7.0 hours. 3 patients were admitted for observation and treatment; of which 1 patient died due to fatal complications. Conclusion: Most anti-obesity intoxications show mild toxicity and a nonfatal clinical course. However, the recent trend toward prescribing psychostimulant anti-obesity medication, which can be fatal after an acute overdose, calls physicians' attention to treating of anti-obesity intoxications.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.93 no.6
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• pp.501-508
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• 2018

Obesity is a chronic disorder that is a significant risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, malignancy, and other chronic diseases. Lifestyle modifications form the basis of most treatments for obesity, but it has become clear that such modifications alone are not enough for many obese patients. When a behavioral approach is insufficient, pharmacological treatment may be recommended. In recent years, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has withdrawn several therapeutic options for obesity due to their side effects, but has approved four novel anti-obesity agents. Until recently, orlistat was the only drug approved for the management of long-term obesity, but the US FDA approved the novel anti-obesity drugs lorcaserin and phentermine/topiramate in 2012, and naltrexone/bupropion and liraglutide in 2014. The present review discusses the different pharmacotherapeutic options for the treatment of obesity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2005

Obesity is increasing worldwide and has become a major health burden in Western societies affecting every third American and every fifth European. Obesity makes a major contribution to morbidity and mortality, predisposing individuals to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Many new substances are currently being investigated for their usefulness in the pharmacotherapy of obesity. Most anti-obesity drugs can be divided into four groups: those that reduce food intake; those that alter metabolism; those that increase thermogenesis; and those that regulate hormone involved in feeding behavior. In this article we review these and other agents available in various countries for the treatment of obesity. Perhaps more importantly, we have focussed on areas of potential productivity in the future. Over the last 5 or so years, this impetus in obesity research has provided us with exciting new drugs targets involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and cellular mechanism involved in energy expenditure. Recent development in the quest for control of human obesity include the discovery of hormones, neuropeptides, receptors and transcription factors involved in feeding behavior, metabolic rate and adipocyte development. For developing new, perhaps even more specific pharmacological agents, further research is needed to understand the individual different genetic and physiological basis of obesity. It remains the hope of research scientists that in the not too distant future we shall see a new class of anti-obesity drugs arising logically from the molecular biology revolutions.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.43-45
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• 2022

Intensive lifestyle modifications and anti-obesity medications are essential for obesity treatment. Antiobesity medications should be selected according to the patient's comorbidities, symptoms, and preferences. This case report describes the treatment of a morbidly obese patient with a history of depression, who complained of tingling and numbness after total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer. Very low-dose controlled-release phentermine/topiramate was prescribed and intensive lifestyle modifications were encouraged. As a result, the patient effectively lost weight and reached a near-normal weight without adverse drug effects. This implies that even an off-label anti-obesity medication low dose may be better for some patients, and the most important factor in obesity treatment is patient-tailored treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze anti-obesity effects of the main single medicinal herbs which have effects on obesity or metabolic syndrome. Methods: We selected the 8 main single medicinal herbs, and then 3 databases were searched using search words "obesity", and "each scientific name of selected 8 main herbs". Results and Conclusions: Only Ephedra sinica and Panax ginseng were analyzed through 3 methods, in vitro, animal studies and randomized controlled trial (RCT)s, Ephedra sinica was shown weight loss effects in RCTs, but Panax ginseng couldn't. Other 6 selected medicinal herbs were not verified in RCTs, all had anti-obesity effects in high fat fed mice (or rats) and the others except for Radix notoginseng and Radix puerariae had inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.23.1-23.1
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• 2007

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• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.61-66
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• 2016

The frequency of obesity has risen dramatically in recent years but only few safe and effective drugs are currently available. In addition, obesity can induce type 2 diabetes (T2DM), hyperlipidemia and fatty liver disease. Recently, protective effect of purslane extract (PE) on obesity has been reported, but little is known about the role and mechanism of PE in obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PE on obesity and diabetes in obese mice. In addition, the effect of PE was compared with anti-obesity and diabetes drugs. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice were treated for 8 weeks with drugs as follows: PE, orlistat, metformin, voglibose or pioglitazone. While PE mixed with normal diet did not have any effects on BW in non-obese mice, PE mixed with HFD significantly reduced BW gain, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance, without affecting food intake and appetite in obese mice. The effect was comparable to the effects of anti-obesity and diabetes drugs. Furthermore, PE significantly increased the activity of hepatocellular anti-oxidant enzymes, leading to protection of liver from oxidative stress in obese mice. These results suggest that PE treatment may be a useful tool for preventing obesity and complication of obesity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.81-81
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• 2018

The present study was investigated on in vitro anti-obesity effect of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol from Cudrania tricuspidata. We isolated various compounds from Cudrania tricuspidata. Among these compounds, anti-obesity effects of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was examined by lipase activity assay, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE4) activity assay, and citrate synthase activity assay. 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata extracts inhibited the enzymatic activities of lipase, PDE4, and citrate synthase. Lipase is known to mediate the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol in adipose tissue and cholesterol esters in other tissue or cells. Also, PDE4 hydrolyses cAMP, a crucial secondary messenger for in metabolic pathways including glucose and lipid metabolism, lipolysis, and thermogenic function. 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata extracts induced the inhibitory effect against each enzymatic activity on several specific substrates as observed by detection at 405 or 412 nm. These findings might be attributable to the inhibition of adipogenesis, and partial prevention of obesity. In conclusion, these results show that 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata may be a critical candidate as a natural anti-obesity source.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.117-128
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• 2014

Objective : It is known that Pueriaria lobata has an anti-osteoporetic effect, anti-cancer effect, anti-pyretic effect, and anti-diabetic effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-obesity effect of Pueriaria lobata extract (PLE), and elucidate the effect of it on gene expression related to lipid metabolism. Method : The experiments were performed with the use of ovariectomized rats as estrogen-deficient obesity model. They were grouped NC (normal control), OC (estrogen-deficient control), PLH (100mg/kg of PLE), PLL (20mg/kg). PLE was orally administered for 6 weeks. Body weights and serum lipid level were estimated, and real-time PCR was performed to investigate the effect of PLE on gene expression in liver. Results : PLE decreased the body weight and serum cholesterol and triglyceride, but increased HDL-cholesterol. And PLE increased leptin, CYP27, CPT1, CYP8B1, ACAT2, LDLR, and SCD1, but reduced $PPAR{\gamma}$, PGC1A, HMG-CoA-R, ACAT1, SCD1, and APoB gene expression in liver tissue of rat with estrogen-deficient obesity. Conclusion : It is concluded that Pueriaria lobata reduced body weight, and its effect was expressed by regulation of gene expression related to lipid metabolism in rats with estrogen-deficient obesity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2004

Obesity is one of causes of the all adult diseases. We investigated the body weight decrease effect of the selected plants by digestive enzyme activity inhibition test. In a preliminary test, Inonotus obliquus and Rubus coreanus Miq. were found to be effective. Based on this result & previous result, we manufactured the mixture of plant extracts named as Misol$^{TM}$. Misol is applied anti-obesity beverage and rice. When we administered Miso/ sub TM/ to rats, it was found to be effective in body weight decrease. Result that is experimented during 20 weeks, is effective body weight and total cholesterol, triglyceride decrease. In case of human, anti-obesity beverage administered group showed 5.65% body weight decrease, 4% waist length decrease and 6% abdomen length decrease respectively. And anti-obesity rice administered group showed 2.3 kg body weight decrease, 2.9 cm waist length decrease and 3.74 cm abdomen length decrease respectively. This body control effect was supported by plant extracts in the Misol, anti-obesity beverage and rice - administered group. From these results, we suggest that this functional food could be helpful for body weight controlling obesity.