• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.13-24
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Poncirus Trifoliata(PT) on improvement of fecal impaction in spinal cord injured(SCI) rats. Methods : Fifteen adult Sprague-Dawley female rats were used weighing 200~250 g. A complete spinal cord transection was performed surgically at the T10 cord level. Experimental groups were assigned into 3 groups: Control(n=5), SCI+vehicle(n=5) and SCI+PT(n=5). PT was administered 100mg/kg in 0.5ml every 24 hours from 1st operation day to 7th day. We measured the body weight and food intake as well as the number and the weight of fecal pellet every morning. After 1 week of operation, whole colon was divided into proximal and distal segments under anesthesia. Each segment of colon was mounted with longitudinal direction in a organ bath. We measured spontaneous contraction and compared the area under the curve in each segments. Enhanced responses were observed by acetylcholine($10^{-6}M$), 40 mM KCl solution, L-NAME($10^{-4}M$). Results : The fecal number and weights were significantly higher in the group of SCI+PT than SCI+vehicle group(p<0.05). In organ bath study, area under the curves of the spontaneous contraction in SCI+vehicle and SCI+PT groups were significantly increased compared to control group. Contractility of distal colon in response to acetylcholine or KCl in SCI+vehicle group was significantly decreased compared to other groups(p<0.05). Conclusions : These results suggest that PT might be useful to promote bowel emptying in spinal cord injured rats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2018

Objectives : Inflammation is one of the self-protective abilities against tissue injury, and it has clinical symptoms like redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function. The purpose of this study is to examine inhibitory effects of Naetakchunkeum-san (NTCKS) on nitric oxide (NO), Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), inducible NOS (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), which play a major role in inflammatory response. Methods : The experiment was performed using Raw 264.7 cells pretreated with NTCKS extracts. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of NTCKS, we examined NO and $PGE_2$ production in LPS-induced macrophages. We also investigated effects of NTCKS on iNOS, Cox-2, and ERK1/2 expression using western blot. Results : In MTT assay, no cytotoxicity of NTCKS (50, 100, 150, $200{\mu}g/ml$) on RAW 264.7 cell was found. LPS-induced NO production was decreased after treatment with NTCKS (150, $200{\mu}g/ml$)(p<0.05). $PGE_2$ was decreased after treatment with NTCKS (150, $200{\mu}g/ml$)(p<0.05). NTCKS inhibited LPS-induced expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 by LPS was decreased by NTCKS in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions : According to above experiments, NTCKS may be applied to inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2021

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway controls intestinal epithelial barrier permeability by regulating tight junctions (TJs) and epithelial cells damage. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and carbon monoxide (CO) protect the intestinal epithelial barrier function, but the molecular mechanism is not yet clarified. MAPK activation and barrier permeability were studied using monolayers of Caco-2 cells treated with tissue necrosis factor α (TNF-α) transfected with FUGW-HO-1 or pLKO.1-sh-HO-1 plasmid. Intestinal mucosal barrier permeability and MAPK activation were also investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration with CoPP (a HO-1 inducer), ZnPP (a HO-1 inhibitor), CO releasing molecule 2 (CORM-2), or inactived-CORM-2-treated wild-type mice and mice with HO-1 deficiency in intestinal epithelial cells. TNF-α increased epithelial TJ disruption and cleaved caspase-3 expression, induced ERK, p38, and JNK phosphorylation. In addition, HO-1 blocked TNF-α-induced increase in epithelial TJs disruption, cleaved caspase-3 expression, as well as ERK, p38, and JNK phosphorylation in an HO-1-dependent manner. CoPP and CORM-2 directly ameliorated intestinal mucosal injury, attenuated TJ disruption and cleaved caspase-3 expression, and inhibited epithelial ERK, p38, and JNK phosphorylation after chronic CCl4 injection. Conversely, ZnPP completely reversed these effects. Furthermore, mice with intestinal epithelial HO-1 deficient exhibited a robust increase in mucosal TJs disruption, cleaved caspase-3 expression, and MAPKs activation as compared to the control group mice. These data demonstrated that HO-1-dependent MAPK signaling inhibition preserves the intestinal mucosal barrier integrity by abrogating TJ dysregulation and epithelial cell damage. The differential targeting of gut HO-1-MAPK axis leads to improved intestinal disease therapy.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.340-352
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Colonic volvulus (CV), a common cause of bowel obstruction, often requires intervention. We aimed to identify hospitalization trends and CV outcomes in the United States. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample to identify all adult CV hospitalizations in the United States from 2007 to 2017. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and inpatient outcomes were highlighted. Outcomes of endoscopic and surgical management were compared. Results: From 2007 to 2017, there were 220,666 CV hospitalizations. CV-related hospitalizations increased from 17,888 in 2007 to 21,715 in 2017 (p<0.001). However, inpatient mortality decreased from 7.6% in 2007 to 6.2% in 2017 (p<0.001). Of all CV-related hospitalizations, 13,745 underwent endoscopic intervention, and 77,157 underwent surgery. Although the endoscopic cohort had patients with a higher Charlson comorbidity index, we noted lower inpatient mortality (6.1% vs. 7.0%, p<0.001), mean length of stay (8.3 vs. 11.8 days, p<0.001), and mean total healthcare charge ($68,126 vs. $106,703, p<0.001) compared to the surgical cohort. Male sex, increased Charlson comorbidity index scores, acute kidney injury, and malnutrition were associated with higher odds of inpatient mortality in patients with CV who underwent endoscopic management. Conclusions: Endoscopic intervention has lower inpatient mortality and is an excellent alternative to surgery for appropriately selected CV hospitalizations.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2010

Purpose: A classic approach to abdominal stab wounds has been a routine laparotomy for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment. However, management protocols for abdominal stab wounds are still contentious in most trauma centers. We examined the relationship between the character of the stab wound and the injured intraabdominal organs by retrospectively analyzing the medical records of patients with abdominal stab wounds admitted to Gil hospital, and the findings for our patients are then confronted with a review of the literature. We aimed to propose proper management protocols to approach abdominal stab wounds. Methods: The medical records of all 80 patients sustaining abdominal stab wounds, admitted at the Department of Surgery, Gil Hospital, Gachon Medical School, from January 2004 to December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. All the abdominal stab wounds were collated based on the site and the character of the injury, investigations performed on admission, results of investigations, operations performed and findings at the time of the operation. Results: The most prevalent age group was patients in their forties and the average age of the patients was 41 years for both genders. The stab wounds were most commonly located at the periumbilical area (16.9%), followed by the epigastric area (15.6%), and 18.2% of the patients had multiple wounds. The most commonly eviscerated organ was the omentum (9 out of 16 cases); 61.7% of non-eviscerated patients underwent a therapeutic laparotomy while 81.3% of eviscerated patients underwent a therapeutic laparotomy. The small bowel was the most commonly injured organ (22.7%, 17 out of 75 injuries). The review revealed a relatively common diaphragmatic injury in abdominal stab wound patients (8 cases, 10.5%). The average hospital stay was 11 days. Conclusion: This review revealed commonly eviscerated and injured intraabdominal organs in abdominal stab wound patients and their relationship with a therapeutic laparotomy. Although the management is still controversial, the authors suggest indications for an immediate laparotomy and a protocol for managing abdominal stab wounds. Hemodynamic instability and peritoneal irritation signs are definite indicators for an immediate laparotomy, but the review revealed intraabdominal organ evisceration alone not to be a statistically significant factor. In addition, the authors suggest that abnormal CT findings can be valuable for making a decision on management of hemodynamically stable stab wound patients. Further study may clarify a role for a more selective approach to operative intervention and for a more extensive use of selective observation.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.71-91
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• 1996

The objectives of thes study were to identify the need for equipment development in nursing, and to determine the priorities for that development. The study was descriptive study done between March 2 and May 30, 1995, in which the subjects, including 421 patients, 223 family members, and 198 nurses from neurosurgery, orthopedic, rehabilitation medicine, internal medicine and intensive care units of nine general hospitals in Seoul, completed a questionnarie developed by the research team. The questionnaire consisted of 35 open and closed questions. Data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The results ware summarized as follows: 1) The average age of the nurses was 27.9 years, 48% of the patients were between 20 and 40 years of age, and 17% were over 60. The average lingth of experience for the nurse subjects was four years five months with 36.9%. having over five years experience. The most frequent diagnoses of patients were spinal disc(35.9%), internal medicine disease(26.0%), cerebral vascular accident(16.6%) and spinal cord injury(10%) 2) Many of the nurses(96.4%) reported deficiencies with existing equipment and 96.5% of the nurses, but only 79.8% of the patients, nurses' time. Further, 82.3% of the nurses and 75.8% of the patients felt that the development of new equipment would lead to a decrease in the cost of nursing care. 3) Nurses felt that the greatest areas of inconvenience were patient feeding(71.7%), hygiene(71.2%), caring for a patient confined to bed(70.7%), patient clothing(67.2%), mobility transfers(63.5%) and urinary elimination(52.0%). However, patients and family members listed the following as being the most inconvenient: urinary elimination(58.7%), Hygiene(50.5), feeding(48.4%), mobility transfers(47.1%) and bed care(45.2%). 4) Generally the nurses listed more inconveniences and patients and family members listed more demands for the development of equipment. These included utensils with large handles, and regulators for tube feedings; mattresses that provide for automatic position change and massage, which have patient controlled levers and a place for bed pan insertion; automatic lifts or transfer from bed to wheelchair; equipment to facilitate washing and oral hygiene as well as equipment that will allow patients with spinal cord injuries easy access to showers; a bed pan/urinal for women that is comfortable and effective from which urine can be measured and disposed of easily; disposable dressing sets and tracheostomy care sets and a convenient way of measuring changes in wound size; a safe delivery system for oxygen, a variety of mask sizes and better control of humidity, tracheal material than at present, as well as a communication system for patients with tracheostomies; clothing that will allow access to various parts of the body for treament or assessment without patients having to remove all of their clothing; and finally a system that will allow the patient to control lighting, telephones and pagers. Priority areas for equipment development reported by the nurses were, urinary elimination(58. 7%), hygiene(50.5%), feeding(48.4%), mobility transfers(47..1%), bowel elimination(40.8%). Those reported by the patients family members were feeding(71.7%), hygiene(70.0%), bedcare(70.7%), clothing(67.2%), mobility transfers(63.6%), urinary elimination(52.9%) and bowel elimination(50.5%) Altogether, nurses, patients and family members listed the following as priorities; clothing (178), bed care(144), urinary elimination(92), environment(81), hygiene(70). Further, a health professional forum listed urinary elimination, oxygen delivery, medication delivery, mobility transfers, bed care and hygiene in that order as priority areas. From this study it can be concluded that the first need is to develop equipment that will address the problems of urinary elimination. To do (l)This nurses who are interested in equipment development should organize an equipment development team to provide a forum for discussion and production of equipment for nursing.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1986

In order to clarify the effect of radiation on the mouse jejunal crypt cells by combined administration of administration and radiation and also to evaluate the enhancing effect of adriamycin, the authors performed this study by delivering single irradiation of 1,000 to 1,600 rad to the whole abdomen of mice by cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. In combination with adriyamycin treatment groups, the drug was administered as single dose of 10 mg/kg either 2 hours before or 4 hours after graded single dose,900 to 1,400 rad, of irradiation. The authors studied the quantitative changes of intestinal crypt cells by microcolony survival assay technique and the morphological changes of small intestinal villi by scanning electron microscope in mice following to combined therapy with adriamycin and irradiation, The average number of jejunal crypts per circumference was $130{\pm}16$ in control group. The mean lethal dose(Do) of each irradiation alone and combined therapy groups 2 hours before and 4 hours after irradiation, were 160, 170, and 170 rad in cell survival curves, respectively. The dose effect factor(DEF) of adriamycin in each groups of pre-irradiation and post-irradiation were 1.19 and 1.26, respectively. The conical shaped villi were noted on 1,200 rad in irradiation alone group and 1,000 rad in combined groups. For the proper clinical application we must be careful of the radiation injury to small bowel when the anticancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the abdomen and pelvic area are used as combined therapeutic modality.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2015

It has been shown that the extracts including eupatilin and quercetin-3-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside had mucoprotective effects on the esophagus and stomach through their antioxidant activities. This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of these flavonoid compounds in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Experimental colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Extracts including eupatilin or quercetin-3-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside were orally administered to animals 48, 24, and 1 h prior to the induction of colitis and then again 24 h later. The animals were sacrificed 48 h after by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid treatment and the macroscopic appearance of the colonic lesions was scored in a blinded manner on a scale of 1 to 10. The inflammatory response to colitis induction was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase activity, nitric oxide production, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ expression, total glutathione levels, and malondialdehyde concentrations in the colon. The results indicated that extracts including eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside dose-dependently improved the morphology of the lesions induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and reduced the ulcer index accordingly. In addition, rats receiving extracts including eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside showed significantly decreased levels of mucosal myeloperoxidase activity, nitric oxide production, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ expression, and malondialdehyde levels, and increased total glutathione levels. Extracts including eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside ameliorated the inflammatory response and colonic injury in acute colitis by decreasing oxidative stress and neutrophil activation. Extracts including eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside may inhibit acute colitis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.221-228
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• 2021

Recently, there has been an increased awareness on the use of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as a non-surgical treatment option for leiomyomas. This study aimed to assess gynecologists' perception of HIFU therapy for uterine leiomyomas in Korea. We analyzed questionnaires from 162 Korean gynecologists who provided data on 1) demographics, 2) pattern of practice with respect to leiomyomas, and 3) opinion regarding HIFU therapy for leiomyomas. Of the 162 gynecologists, 2.8 % regarded HIFU as a first-line treatment for leiomyomas. HIFU was only available at the workplace of 19 % of respondents; of these, 58 % had requested the use of HIFU. When asked about their perception of HIFU for treating leiomyomas, only 19 % of the respondents thought that it was effective. The commonest perceived complication was a delay in the adequate treatment of sarcoma (59 %), followed by bowel injury (52 %). The respondents considered HIFU to be suitable in the following circumstances: age between 40 and 49 years, those patients who no longer desired pregnancy, medium-sized (5-6 cm) leiomyomas, and up to 2 leiomyomas. The Korean gynecologists' perception of HIFU as a treatment for leiomyomas is still not favorable. Gynecologists working at hospitals where HIFU is available tended to have a higher positive perception of this treatment. In addition to research involving a large number of gynecologists from multiple countries, a study on the long-term outcomes of HIFU is needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1287-1298
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• 2024

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is currently difficult to treat effectively. Both Bacillus natto (BN) and ginseng-soluble dietary fiber (GSDF) are anti-inflammatory and helps sustain the intestinal barrier. In this study, the protective effects and mechanism of the combination of B. natto JLCC513 and ginseng-soluble dietary fiber (BG) in DSS-induced UC mice were investigated. Intervention with BG worked better than taking BN or GSDF separately, as evidenced by improved disease activity index, colon length, and colon injury and significantly reduced the levels of oxidative and inflammatory factors (LPS, ILs, and TNF-α) in UC mice. Further mechanistic study revealed that BG protected the intestinal barrier integrity by maintaining the tight junction proteins (Occludin and Claudin1) and inhibited the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway in UC mice. In addition, BG increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides and Turicibacter and reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Allobaculum in the gut microbiota of UC mice. BG also significantly upregulated genes related to linoleic acid metabolism in the gut microbiota. These BG-induced changes in the gut microbiota of mice with UC were significantly correlated with changes in pathological indices. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that BG exerts protective effect against UC by regulating the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway and the structure and metabolic function of gut microbiota. Thus, BG can be potentially used in intestinal health foods to treat UC.