• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.513-520
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cheonggukjang pills with aronia and blueberries on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. There have been several reports that Cheonggukjang is effective for intestinal health, but the efficacy of Cheonggukjang containing fruits has not yet been reported. In this study, we showed the effect of cheonggukjang pills with blueberries and aronia (CPBA) on DSS-induced colitis in BALB/c mice. CPBA was obtained from Soonchang Moonokae foods and orally administered once a day for 2 weeks before DSS treatment. Colitis was induced in mice by feeding 5% (w/v) DSS drinking water for 7 days. The results showed that CPBA treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced disease activity index associated with a decrease in colon length. CPBA improved DSS-induced histological changes and intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in mice colon. In addition, CPBA administration significantly reduced the levels of DSS-mediated interferon-γ and interleukin-6 in serum and tumor necrosis factor-α in colon tissue. Moreover, the gene expression of COX-2 and iNOS, which are factors involved in inflammatory signaling, was significantly reduced by CPBA treatment. These results suggest that CPBA have a protective effect against DSS-induced mice colitis and may be a candidate for colitis treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.455-465
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• 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is defined as a chronic inflammatory-mediated disease that causes ulceration and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Among most patients, the course of chronic inflammation repeatedly shows intermittent exacerbations and alternating remissions. However, despite the various therapeutic options to relieve symptoms, such as corticosteroids, TNF-α inhibitors, and antibiotic drugs, there is no known cure for IBD. Nonetheless, previous research has revealed that the autonomic nervous system is involved in the pathophysiology of IBD. In this study, we reviewed clinical trials confirming the therapeutic effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on IBD in vivo. We searched in vivo and human studies on Pubmed using keywords combined with "vagus nerve stimulation", "VNS", and "inflammatory bowel disease". All studies included in this review reported that direct VNS is effective in relieving symptoms of IBD and has no severe adverse effects. The most frequently stimulated site was the unilateral cervical vagus nerve area, and parameters for stimulation were set as 5-20 Hz. Based on the results, we aim to summarize the evidence for the efficacy of VNS on IBD and suggest the possibility of auricular electroacupuncture treatment as a therapeutic option for IBD.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1383-1392
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• 2021

It has been reported that emodin, a major pharmacologically active ingredient of herbal medicines such as Polygonum cuspidatum, Polygonum multiflorum, Rheum palmatum, and Aloe vera, is effective in antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and liver protection. In this study, to investigate the potential of emodin to be used as a skin disease and functional material, the activity related to the improvement of inflammation and skin barrier function was confirmed. To observe the anti-inflammatory effect on HaCaT cells, which are human keratinocytes, cytokine inhibition was confirmed by ELISA kit and protein expression by western blot. In HaCaT cells activated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL)/IFN-γ (10 ng/mL), emodin was treated with each concentration (5, 10, 20, 40) µM. As a result, It was confirmed that the production amount of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 decreased as the concentration of emodin increased. In the experimental results on the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins iNOS and COX-2, it was confirmed that 48% of iNOS and 29% of COX-2 were inhibited compared to control at a concentration of 20 µM of emodin. As an indicator of skin barrier function improvement, the mRNA expression level of filaggrin, involucrin, and loricirn and the production amount of filaggrin, involucrin, and loricirn were confirmed. and excellent results were obtained with an emodin concentration-dependent increase. In particular, filaggrin, which was produced twice as much as the control at a concentration of 20 µM, is a protein involved in the formation of NMF, a natural moisturizing factor, and is known to play an important role in moisturizing the stratum corneum. In conclusion, it was confirmed that emodin can be used as a material for improving inflammation and improving skin barrier function, which is part of the potential for use as a skin disease and functional material. It is believed that if additional research is performed in the future, the scope of its application can be further expanded.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.124-135
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• 1997

Background : Diffuse panbronchiolitis(DPB) is a disease characterized clinically by chronic cough, expectoration and dyspnea; and histologically by chronic inflammation localized mainly in the region of the respiratory bronchiole. It is prevalent in Japanese, but is known to be rare in Americans and Europians. Only a few cases in Chinese, Italians, North Americans and Koreans have been reported. It is diagnosed by characteristic clinical, radiological and pathologic features. High-resolution CT(HRCT) is known to be valuable in the study of the disease process and response to therapy in DPB. To our knowledge, there has been no correlation of its appearance on HRCT with the severity of the disease process, and radioaerosol scan(RAS) of the lung has not previously been used for the diagnosis of DPB. Method : During recent two years we have found 12 cases of DPB in Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. We analysed the clinical characteristics, compared HRCT classifications with clinical stages of DPB, and determined characteristic RAS manifestations of DPB. Results : 1. The ages ranged from 31 to 83 years old(mean 54.5 years old), and male female ratio was 4:8. 75%(9/12) of patients had paranasal sinusitis, and only one patient was a smoker. 2. The patients were assigned to one of three clinical stages of DPB on the basis of clinical findings, sputum bacterology and arterial blood gas analysis. of 12 cases, 5 were in the first stage, 4 were in the second stage, and 3 were in the third stage. In most of the patients, pulmonary function tests showed marked obstructive and slight restrictive impairments. Sputum culture yielded P.aeruginosa in 3 cases of our 12 cases, K.pneumoniae in 2 cases, H.influenzae in 2 cases, and S.aureus in 2 cases. 3. Of 12 patients, none had stage I characteristics as classified on HRCT scans, 4 had slage II findings, 5 had stage III findings, and 3 had stage IV characteristics. 4. We peformed RAS in 7 of 12 patients With DPB. In 71.4% (5/7) of the patients, RAS showed mottled aerosol deposits characteristically in the transitional and intermediary airways with peripheral airspace defects, which contrasted sharply with central aerosol deposition of COPD. 5. There were significant correlations between HRCT stages and clinical stages(r= 0.614, P < 0.05), between HRCT types and Pa02(r= -0.614, P < 0.05), and between HRCT types and ESR(r= 0.618, P < 0.01). Conclusion : The HRCT classifications correspond well to the clinical stage. Therfore in the examination of patients with DPB, HRCT is useful in the evaluation of both the location and severity of the lesions. Also, RAS apears to be a convenient, noninvasive and useful diagnostic method of DPB.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2020

Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a marker used for the differential diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). FC is also used to determine the effects of treatment and recurrence prediction because of its non-decomposition by bacteria, relative week stability at room temperature, and its uniform distribution within feces. Healthy male and female adults between the age of 30 and 80 living in Jeju were selected for this study. The FC concentration in the healthy control group (N=45) was distributed widely as 0~545.9 ㎍/g and showed a significant difference with age in healthy adults. The FC concentration in adults over 70 years old (80.6 years on average) was 160.3 ㎍/g. The result is approximately 10 times higher than in adults below 50 years (44 years on average), with FC concentrations at 15.88 ㎍/g. Moreover, adults over 50 years, with an average age of 59.6, had FC concentrations of 35.46 ㎍/g, which were two times higher than the below 50-year-old group, confirming the significant correlation between age and FC concentration. As the FC test is a non-invasive and cost-effective objective marker in IBD tests, a suitable cut-off value is required for different ages. This study provides the baseline data for differential diagnoses.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 2010

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) is a traditional Korean medicine that is commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as edema, arthritis, and hepatitis. The present study investigated the antimicrobial activity of methanol (MeOH) extract of S. miltiorrhiza roots against oral bacteria using broth the microdilution method and the checkerboard and time-kill methods evaluated the synergistic effects of treatment with antibiotics. The MeOH extract was demonstrated as a higher antibacterial activity (MICs, 8 to $64\;{\mu}g/mL$; MBCs, 16 to $64\;{\mu}g/mL$) against all tested oral bacteria. Additionally, the extract was observed to have a synergistic effect with ampicillin or gentamicin. A time-kill study evaluating the effects of the extract indicated that the extract treatment in combination with ampicillin or gentamicin showed rapid bactericidal activity. The results suggest that MeOH extract of S. miltiorrhiza could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent against dental caries.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.431-439
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• 2004

Scutellariae Radix (Scu.), one of the immune-regulatory substances, is recognized to play the role in the metabolic process of inflammation, allergy and immunity. It has been traditionally used in the Oriental medicine to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of Scutellariae Radix on the spleen lymphocyte immune function in the Balb/c female mice treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to induce colitis. Water extract of Scutellariae Radix (100 mg/kg) and sulfasalazine (50 mg/kg) were administrated orally for 2 weeks of experimental period. Mice were divided into three experimental groups randomly: DSS group (5％ DSS was ad libitum for 5 days) as control group, DSS ＋ Scu. (water extracts of Scutellariae Radix for 2 weeks after 5％ DSS was ad libitum for 5 days) as experimental group, and DSS ＋ Sulfasalazine group (Sulfasalazine for 2 weeks after 5％ DSS was ad libitum for 5 days) as positive control group. Levels of Ig A, Ig E, CD4$^{＋}$, CD8$^{＋}$, TNF-$\alpha$ and other cytokines were measured. Treatment of DSS for 5 days induced bowel inflammation and the treatment with Scu. water exteract and sulfasalazine significantly recovered the damage. The length of intestine of DSS group was significantly shorter than that of other groups. The serum and fecal concentration of Ig A of SS ＋ Scu group was higher than those of DSS group. The contents of CD4$^{＋}$ T cells was higher in the DSS ＋ Scu. group than the other groups and CD8$^{＋}$ T cells was the lowest in DSS ＋ Sulfasalazine group. The Ig A level of cultured supernatant of spleen lymphocyte was the highest, while the Ig E level was the lowest in SS ＋ Scu group. The concentration of TNF-$\alpha$, cytokine secreted from the Th1 cell in the supernatant spleen lymphocyte, was the highest in the DSS group and the lowest in the DSS ＋ Scu. group. The concentration of IFN-${\gamma}$ and ll...-12 was lower in the DSS ＋ Scu. group than those of the other groups. The concentration of IL-4 in the supernatant of spleen lymphocyte was the lowest in the DSS ＋ Scu. group but IL-10 was not significantly different. Based on these findings, water extract of Scutellariae Radix exhibited the inhibitory effect via IL-4 production thereby inhibited the production of Ig E and strengthened immune system, and alleviated injury in DSS- induced colitis mice model.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.224-241
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of Sargassum (Sargassum pallidum (TURN.) C. AG.; SP) on the experimental colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in mice. Methods : ICR mice were divided into 7 groups (NOR, CON, $SS50\times5$, $SP20\times3$, $SP50\times3$, $SP20\times5$, $SP50\times5$). TNBS processing was intrarectally applied to all experimental groups on the 3rd experiment day, except the normal group (NOR). For investigating the prophylactic effect, SP at doses of 20 mg/kg ($SP20\times5$) and 50 mg/kg ($SP50\times5$) were orally administered for 5 days. The SP at doses of 20 mg/kg ($SP20\times3$) and 50 mg/kg ($SP50\times3$) were orally administered for 3 days after the colitis induction in order to check the effect of treatment. As a positive control group, sulfasalazine 50 mg/kg ($SS50\times5$) was administrated. Macroscopic findings of epithelial tissue on mice were measured by colon length and macroscopic score. Histologic findings were also checked by crypt cell, epithelial cell, inflammatory cell and edema of submucosa. We measured the ability of SP to inhibit lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity. We also measured levels of the inflammatory markers, interleukin (IL)-$1\beta$ and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), its transcription factor activation, phospho-NF-${\kappa}B$ (pp65), in the colon by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analysis. We measured activation of fecal bacterial enzyme, $\beta$-glucuronidase and degradation activation of fecal glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and hyaluronic acid. Results : Oral administration of SP on mice inhibited TNBS-induced colon shortening and myeloperoxidase activity in the colon of mice as well as IL-$1\beta$ and COX-2 expression. SP also inhibited TNBS-induced lipid peroxidation and pp65 activation in the colon of mice. SP inhibited $\beta$-glucuronidase activation and fecal hyaluronic acid degradation activation as well. Conclusions : SP could be a possible herbal candidate and preventive prebiotic agent for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Further experiments to differentiate effects of SP on IBD, such as other solutions and extracting times, might be promising.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2003

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with use of low-dose aspirin in children. Methods: Among about 250 children who received low-dose aspirin (5 mg/kg/day) under the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease, from March 1995 to May 2001, at Eul-Ji general hospital, 100 children were enrolled in this study. We reviewed the medical records and interviewed the children's parents over the phone to confirm the existence of gross gastrointestinal bleeding. Results: The age of the children at the beginning of medication ranged 4~118 months. About 75% of them was younger than 3 years old. The duration of medication ranged 0.5~17 months. About 70% of the children took the medicine for 2~3 months. Only 1 child (1%) had hematochezia during medication without any accompanying gastrointestinal symptom, and cimetidine for 1 week had cleared up the bleeding. The total duration of medication of 100 children was 341.5 months, and only 1 child had gastrointestinal bleeding. This translates into a rate of clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding of 3.5 episodes/100 children/year. Conclusion: The long-term use of low-dose aspirin is safe, but, is associated with the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Careful follow-up and efforts to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding are necessary during long-term low-dose aspirin therapy in children.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.378-386
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• 2016

Anti-atherogenic effects in tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are involved in the suppression of oxidative stress, cell adhesion molecules, and pro-inflammatory factors. This study investigated the vascular inflammation inhibitory activity of traditional Doenjang plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis. The protective effects of Korean Deonjang was investigated on the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-induced human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Deonjang extracts (20, 50, $100{\mu}g/mL$) decreased the expression of 20 ng/mL TNF-${\alpha}$-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 proteins, and their corresponding mRNA levels. Nitric oxides (NO) produced by endothlial nitric oxides synthase (eNOS) dilated blood vessels, which had protective effects against platelet and leukocyte adhesion. While TNF-${\alpha}$-induced suppressed the production of nitric oxide in HUVECs, Doenjang restored NO production in HUVECs. In addition, Deonjang reduced the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA levels. These results suggested that Doenjang can inhibited the production of cell adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators, which could be a potential candidate for preventing atherosclerosis.