• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2011

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic eczema and mechanical injury to the skin, caused by scratching. Korean red ginseng (RG) has diverse biological activities, but the molecular effects of RG on allergic diseases, like AD, are unclear. The present study was designed to investigate whether RG inhibits 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD in a mouse model. DNCB was applied topically on the dorsal surface of Balb/c mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. We observed the scratching behavior and examined the serum IgE level and interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in splenocytes compared with dexamethasone. We also evaluated the DNCB-induced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), NF-${\kappa}B$, and Ikaros activities after RG treatment using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and ELISA. Our data showed that the topical application of RG significantly improved the AD-like skin lesions and scratching behavior. RG decreased not only the mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-10, but also the secretion of IL-4 protein and serum IgE in mice. Additionally, RG treatment decreased the DNCB-induced MAPKs activity and subsequent Ikaros translocation irrespective of NF-${\kappa}B$. We suggest that RG may be useful as a therapeutic nutrition for the treatment of AD.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.438-444
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• 2014

Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold. (B. kazinoki) has long been used in the manufacture of paper in Asian countries. Although B. kazinoki leaves (BK) have been employed in dermatological therapy, use of BK has not been tested in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Using Nc/Nga mice, which are genetically predisposed to develop AD-like skin lesions, we confirmed the efficacy of BK in AD treatment. BK extract was applied topically to Dermatophagoides farinae-induced AD-like lesions in Nc/Nga mice, and the effects were assessed both clinically and by measuring skin thickness on the back and ears. We measured the effects of BK extract on plasma levels of IgE and IL-4. We also measured the ability of BK extract to inhibit the secretion of hTARC in HaCaT cells after stimulation by TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$. We found that BK extract significantly reduced ear and dorsal skin thickness and the clinical signs of AD, as well as significantly down-regulating the plasma levels of IgE and IL-4 (p<0.01 for each comparison). Moreover, $500{\mu}g/mL$ of BK extract inhibited hTARC secretion in HaCaT cells by activated TNF-${\alpha}$/IFN-${\gamma}$ by about 87%. These findings suggest that topical application of BK extract has excellent potential in the treatment of AD.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has become a serious epidemic in Korean children. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin C, E and other nutrients, and serum total IgE/specific IgE levels in children with AD. A total of 119 children (0-24 mo) diagnosed with AD were recruited for this cross-sectional study from a medical center in Seoul. A 24 h recall was used to assess dietary intakes. Serum total and six food-allergen specific IgE levels were measured by CAP-FEIA. Serum vitamin E was also measured but only in 25 out of the total 119 participants. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the coefficients between serum IgE levels and dietary intake as well as serum vitamin E. Serum vitamin E levels showed a significantly inverse association with serum total IgE and all specific IgE levels (P < 0.05). Fat intake was inversely related with specific-IgEs for egg whites, milk, buck wheat, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Positive associations were found between carbohydrate (CHO) intake and total IgE and specific IgEs to egg whites, milk, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Vitamin C, E and n-3/n-6 fatty acids were not related with serum total IgE and specific IgE levels except for the association between buck wheat and vitamin E. In addition, there were no significant differences between males and females in dietary intake and serum IgE levels by student's t-test. Although dietary vitamin E showed no association with serum IgE levels, serum vitamin E drew a significant inverse relationship with serum IgE levels. The evidence seems to suggest that vitamin E may possibly lower total and specific-IgEs in children with AD, and that it is important to maintain a relatively high serum vitamin E level in children with AD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.200-204
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• 2018

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in children. Patients with AD experience a high rate of colonization of the skin surface by Staphylococcus aureus. Because of a skin barrier defect, there is a potential risk of staphylococcal invasive infection in patients with AD. Here, we present 2 cases of breast abscess caused by S. aureus in 2 adolescent girls with severe AD. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus was identified from the breast abscess material. They were treated with appropriate antibiotics, however surgical drainage of the abscess was needed in case 1. Identical strains were found from the breast abscess material as well as the lesional and the nonlesional skin of the patients through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis. We characterized the differential abundance of Firmicutes phylum in patients' skin in microbiota analysis. In particular, S. aureus, a member of Firmicutes, differed significantly between the lesional and the normal-appearing skin. Our cases demonstrate the potential severity of bacterial deep tissue infection in AD and the dysbiosis of skin microbiota may be involved in inflammation in AD.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.2 s.57
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• pp.93-97
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• 2006

Staphylococcus aureus is found on the skin of $78{\sim}100%$ of children and adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) but only on the skin of $2{\sim}25%$ of healthy subjects. It is known that S. aureus and their endotoxins as superantigen have important roles in the exacerbation and prolongation of AD. This study was carried out for the detection of S. aureus in the skin of AD, age, sex, outbreak age of AD, treatment duration, aggravation season, and the relation of ooze and S. aureus. Most patients (84%) with AD show colonization of the skin with S. aureus and there is a correlation between the degree of colonization and the serous exudate. It seems likely that the inhibition of S. aureus is associated with improvement in the skin of AD patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.87-105
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• 2017

Objectives : Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is chronic skin disease characterized by allergic hypersensitivity reactions. Saeng-ryo-Samul-tang (SRSM) can treat skin disease by cooling down blood heat, cealering away congenital fever and detoxicating. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of SRSM on AD induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in mice Methods : In this study, the effects of SRSM on changes in body weights, thicknesses of dorsum skin, thicknesses and weights of ear, changes of symptoms on the dorsum skin, histopathological degree of ear and dorsum skin, IL-10 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in serum were observed. And the effects on the proliferation rates of splenocytes were also investigated in vivo and in vitro study. Results : In SRSM topical application (Topical) group, SRSM oral application (Oral) group and SRSM Combination (Combi) group thickness of dorsum skin decreased significantly. But in TPC, ORL and CBN group, weight of ear didn't show any changes, but thickness of ear decreased significantly. And TPC, ORL and CBN group showed meaningful effectiveness symptoms like desquamation and erythema on AD's clinical espect. In histopathological observation, spongiosis, edema and inflammatory cell infiltration of epidermal were remarkably diminished in TPC, ORL and CBN group. And SRSM diminished the proliferation rates of splenocytes in vivo and vitro study. Conclusions : The present study suggests that SRSM can significantly reduced symptoms of AD, therefore SRSM is effective to treatment of AD.

• Korean journal of dermatology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.581-593
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• 2018

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease that affects both children and adults. AD is the cause of considerable morbidity including severe pruritus and impaired quality of life. Treatments for active disease include avoidance of triggering factors, barrier repair, topical medications including topical corticosteroids (TCs) and topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), phototherapy, antibacterial agents, and systemic immunosuppressants including cyclosporine. Until recently, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved systemic treatment options for patients with moderate-to-severe AD were steroids and cyclosporine. Systemic steroids are not recommended by current guidelines and are commonly associated with disease rebound. Instead, clinicians choose from several off-label immunosuppressants. In 2018, the Korean FDA approved dupilumab for adults with moderate-to-severe AD whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical therapies. The implementation of treatment guidelines for AD is challenging. Herein, we review the several treatment modalities for AD and recommend a treatment algorithm.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.827-837
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• 2019

The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the ameliorative effects of a new soybean product (cheonggukjang) fermented with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SCGB1 (SFBA) in atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model. Visual evaluation of AD induction in the mice indicated the remarkable control of SFBA in reducing the pathological severity of AD-like skin lesions reported as the SCORAD score of AD clinical symptoms. The results revealed that SFBA reduced dorsal skin and epidermal thickness to a similar extent with prednisolone. Further analysis revealed the dominance of SFBA in restraining mast cell infiltration in the dermis; immunoglobulin-E expression in serum; and TH2 IL-4 cytokine and itch-related IL-31 cytokine in the mice skin and serum. SFBA also suppressed scratching behaviours in mice induced by compound 48/80. Further histological findings also revealed the alleviation of collagen fiber deposition in dermal skin of the AD mice model. These actions of SFBA were examined to be mediated by its suppression of the phosphorylation activation of key signalling molecules such as $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK responsible for the induction of cytokine production. Thus, SFBA can be considered as a promising functional food for managing clinical, histological and immunological spectra associated with AD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory pruritic skin disease worldwide, characterized by the infiltration of multiple pathogenic T lymphocytes and histological symptoms such as epidermal and dermal thickening. This study aims to investigate the effect of vinpocetine (Vinp; a phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor) on a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like model. DNCB (1%) was administered on day 1 in the AD model. Subsequently, from day 14 onward, mice in each group (Vinp-treated groups: 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg and dexamethasone-treated group: 2 mg/kg) were administered 100 µl of a specific drug daily, whereas 0.2% DNCB was administered every other day for 30 min over 14 days. The Vinp-treated groups showed improved Eczema Area and Severity Index scores and trans-epidermal water loss, indicating the efficacy of Vinp in improving AD and enhancing skin barrier function. Histological analysis further confirmed the reduction in hyperplasia of the epidermis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells, with Vinp treatment. Moreover, Vinp reduced serum concentrations of IgE, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were reduced by Vinp treatment. Reduction of TGF-β protein by Vinp in skin tissue was also observed. Collectively, our results underscore the effectiveness of Vinp in mitigating DNCB-induced AD by modulating the expression of various biomarkers. Consequently, Vinp is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating AD.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.394-400
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the anti-atopic effect of hot water (PPWE) and supercritical-carbon dioxide fluid extract of persimmon peels (SPPE) on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in hairless mice. Histological analyses demonstrated that SPPE treatment more strongly inhibited the dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells in AD-like skin lesions than that by PPWE. Compared to PPWE, SPPE significantly decreased the dermatitis clinical score and the epidermal thickness and potently suppressed serum IgE and interleukin (IL)-4 production in hairless mice with AD. Furthermore, compared to PPWE, SPPE potently inhibited the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin $E_2$, and proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. These results suggested that SPPE exhibited anti-atopic dermatitis activity via the regulation of inflammatory responses.