• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.140-148
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the physical and psychological effects of an urban forest-walking program for office workers. For many workers, sedentary lifestyles can lead to low levels of physical activity causing various health problems despite an increased interest in health promotion. Methods: Fifty four office workers participated in this study. They were assigned to two groups (experimental group and control group) in random order and the experimental group performed 5 weeks of walking exercise based on Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills Model. The data were collected from October to November 2014. SPSS 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that the urban forest walking program had positive effects on the physical activity level (U=65.00, p <.001), health promotion behavior (t= - 2.20, p =.033), and quality of life (t= - 2.42, p =.020). However, there were no statistical differences in depression, waist size, body mass index, blood pressure, or bone density between the groups. Conclusion: The current findings of the study suggest the forest-walking program may have positive effects on improving physical activity, health promotion behavior, and quality of life. The program can be used as an effective and efficient strategy for physical and psychological health promotion for office workers.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2009

High blood pressure (BP) is the most frequent risk factor among metabolic syndrome components. The control of hypertension is very important to prevent the cardiovascular risk in metabolic syndrome. The dysfunction of calcium channel is responsible in the regulation of the vascular muscle contribution to hypertension. Calcium channel, voltage-dependent, P/Q type, alpha-1A subunit (CACNA1A) gene is located in brain and known to control the intracranial hypertension. In this study, we investigate whether the polymorphisms of CACNA1A gene is associated with hypertension. The 49 CACNA1A genotypes were determined using the Affymetrix Genotyping chip array in 92 hypertension and 279 control individuals from a Korean population. Logistic and multiple regression models were employed to analyze the genetic contributions of polymorphisms. Out of 49 polymorphisms, six SNPs (rs12611029, rs16035, rs7259944, rs10419472, rs17777900, and rs4926294) showed a significant association with hypertension in three alternative models (codominant, dominant, and recessive models; P<0.05 after adjusting for age and sex). Our results suggest that the CACNA1A gene may be associated with hypertension in the Korean population.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1476-1479
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• 1998

Effect of chitosan oligosaccharides on the ACE (angiotensin I converting enzyme) inhibition and antihypertension in SHR (Spontaneously hypertensive rat) was examined. The ACE inhibition activity was observed in all the chitosan oligosaccharides used in this study, and chitosan trimer exhibited the highest inhibitory activity $(IC_{50}=0.9{\mu}M)$ compared with other chitosan oligosaccharides $(IC_{50}\;:\;2.4{\sim}100\;{\mu}M)$. The results suggested that chitosan trimer was a good inhibitor of ACE in molecular level. When the single oral dose (2.14 mg/kg, similar to dose level of Captopril, known as strong ACE inhibitor) of chitosan trimer was given to 8 or 21 week aged SHR, the blood pressure reduction of both SHRs in 4hrs were $27{\pm}4.8\;mmHg\;and\;36{\pm}4.3\;mmHg$, respectively. Therefore, it was suggested that chitosan trimer could be applicable as natural ACE inhibitor related to antihypertension.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 1986

Radiation myelitis is a rather rare, but irreversible fatal complication. Etiology, pathologic change, clinical symptoms and the method of diagnosis have been studied with animal experiments and human necropsies. In spite of massive studies, pathogenesis of post-irradiation myelitis and the level of tolerance dose still remain controversial. Thoracolumbar spine of 110 hybrid mice were irradiated with orthovoltage x-ray machine. Mild capillary congestion and axonal swelling were observed in 1,000 rad irradiated specimens. Focal necrosis in 3,500 rad specimens, fragmentation of neural tissue in 4,000 rad specimens were also observed. These results suggest that 5,000 rad is not a completely safe tolerable dose which have been accepted and we cannot exclude direct radiation damage to news tissue as the causative pathology of radiation myelitis in addition to blood vessel damage.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.677-687
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• 2006

Objective : Hypothyroidism is a common disease of the endocrinal system. characterized by fatigue, cold intolerance, bradycardia, and so on. Clinically, Levothyroxine(L-T4) has been usually used for replacement therapy, but it often has side effects. so many hypothyroidism patients wants oriental medical therapy. Zingiberis rhizoma, traditionally has been used in treatment of coldness, fatigue, and bradycardia. In this study. I investigated the therapeutic effects of Zingiberis rhizoma on PTU induced hypothyroidism in rats. Methods : I used two-month-old rats administered PTU and induced with hypothyroidism. After 2 weeks. Zingiberis rhizoma and thyroxine were daily administered, respectively. Body weights was measured every weeks. After 4 weeks, blood samples were taken and analyzed biochemically and T4 and TSH were measured by ELISA kits. Results : In comparison with normal groups, control groups showed hypothyroidism with low T4 and high TSH level. In Zingibris rhizoma administration groups were observed T4 level elevation, this elevation was dependent on the dose of Zingibris rhizoma. Between experimental groups and control groups, there was no difference in TSH level, statistically. Changes of biochemistry were not observed in any experimental groups. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Zingiberis rhizoma makes thyroid cells producing thyroid hormones. There is also a non-toxic effect on the cardiovascular system, liver and kidney function. So, Zingiberis rhizoma should be an effective agents for treating hypothyroidism.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.735-741
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate if the supplement formula may improve alcohol metabolism in healthy adult men. In a double-blinded, randomized, crossover study, subjects were administrated yeast extract mixtures (YEM, n=15), Hovenia dulcis mixtures (HDM, n=15), placebo (PLA, n=15), and control (CON, n=15) in an oral dose followed by one week washout periods. At each visit (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 week), subjects drank 450 mL, 20.1 percent alcohol after administered mixtures. Blood was drawn periodically (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 15 hours). Fifteen subjects completed the protocol and were included in the analysis. Plasma ethanol concentration was lower in YEM (10 percent) and the HDM (5 percent) groups. The area under the curves (AUC) and $C_{max}$ for plasma ethanol were significantly decreased only in the YEM group, when compared with the CON group. The AUC and $C_{max}$ for plasma acetaldehyde concentration were significantly decreased in the YEM (45 and 54 percent) and the HDM (35 and 53 percent) groups respectively, when compared with PLA (p<0.01). Together, these findings validate that YEM or HDM improved alcohol metabolism and hangover syndromes, leading to reduce alcohol concentration and acetaldehyde concentration without adverse effects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.605-621
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of Hwangryunhaedok-tang for type 2 diabetes without complications by systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: We searched the following up to March 31. 2021: PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CiNii, KISS, KMBASE, OASIS, ScienceON. Data extraction and assessment of Cochrane's risk of bias (RoB) tool were performed by two independent authors, and if there was disagreement between two researchers, it was resolved through the intervention of a third researcher. Results: A total of seven trials are included in this systemic review. The treatment group (Hwangryunhaedok-tang plus conventional treatment) showed more statistically significant effects than did the control group (conventional treatment only) in fasting plasma glucose level, 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose level, glycated hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin level, and HOMA-IR. There was no significant difference between the treatment group (Hwangryunhaedok-tang alone) and the control group (metformin alone). Conclusion: Hwangryunhaedok-tang might have efficacy and safety in controlling blood sugar level and improving insulin-resistance. However, the number of studies included in the meta-analysis was insufficient, and the Hwangryunhaedok-tang used in the included studies was not standardized. Also, the quality of the involved studies was generally low. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of Hwangryunhaedok-tang treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.239-246
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• 2021

Background: The consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 on mother and fetus remain unknown due to a lack of robust evidence from prospective studies. Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on neonatal outcomes and the scope of vertical transmission. Methods: This ambispective observational study enrolled pregnant women with COVID-19 in North India from April 1 to August 31, 2020 to evaluate neonatal outcomes and the risk of vertical transmission. Results: A total of 44 neonates born to 41 COVID-19-positive mothers were evaluated. Among them, 28 patients (68.3%) (2 sets of twins) were delivered within 7 days of testing positive for COVID-19, 23 patients (56%) (2 sets of twins) were delivered by cesarean section; 13 newborns (29.5%) had low birth weight; 7 (15.9%) were preterm; and 6 (13.6%) required neonatal intensive care unit admission, reflecting an increased incidence of cesarean delivery and low birth weight but zero neonatal mortality. Samples of cord blood, placental membrane, vaginal fluid, amniotic fluid, peritoneal fluid (in case of cesarean section), and breast milk for COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tested negative in 22 prospective delivery cases. Nasopharyngeal swabs of 2 newborns tested positive for COVID-19: one at 24 hours and the other on day 4 of life. In the former case, biological samples were not collected as the mother was asymptomatic and her COVID-19 report was available postdelivery; hence, the source of infection remained inconclusive. In the latter case, all samples tested negative, ruling out the possibility of vertical transmission. All neonates remained asymptomatic on follow-up. Conclusion: COVID-19 does not have direct adverse effects on the fetus per se. The possibility of vertical transmission is almost negligible, although results from larger trials are required to confirm our findings.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2019

Albizzia julibrissin (AJ) is an herbal medicine that shows low toxicity, promotes promoting blood circulation and mitigates the inflammation and has mild side effects. Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases that occurs in older males and often results in lower urinary tract symptoms. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of AJ against BPH using LNCaP cells and Sprague Dawley rats treated with testosterone. Treatment with AJ extract reduced the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in vitro. In vivo, rats were divided into 6 groups: 1 (Normal Control); 2 (Testosterone propionate (TP) alone); 3 (TP + finasteride); 4 (TP + AJ 10 mg/kg); 5 (TP + AJ 50 mg/kg); 6 (TP + AJ 300 mg/kg). The groups treated with AJ showed reduced the relative prostate weights and BPH-related proteins were altered, with decreased AR, PSA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) observed by western blot. Histopathological analysis revealed the therapeutic effect of AJ, with a decreased thickness of epithelial cells and reduced level of PCNA and $5{\alpha}$-reductase type 2. These results suggest that AJ extract could ameliorate testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1296-1305
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• 2018

A patient with an epigastralgia was treated with Korean medicine for the short-term period of five days under admission care. In this case report, we discuss the efficacy and safety of short-term treatment using Korean medicine methods on a patient with an epigastralgia by evaluating a numerical rating scale, agastrointestinal symptom questionnaire, clinical features, and blood tests. The complex methods comprise purgation therapy using Crotonis Fructus, Korean herbal medication, acupuncture and moxibustion. Throughout the purgation therapy with Crotonis Fructus, the patient reported improvement in both her pain score and dyspepsia index. This case showed that Korean medicine acted not only fast, but also effective for treating epigastralgia patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia.