• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3443-3447
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• 2013

Aim: Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer associated death worldwide. The 5 year survival rate for esophageal cancer patients is very poor and accounts for only 12.3%. Besides environmental risk factors, genetic factors might play an important role in the esophageal cancer carcinogenesis. Methods: We conducted a hospital based case-control study to evaluate the genetic effects of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): interleukin 9 (IL9) rs31563 C>T, IL9 rs31564 G>T, IL10 rs1800872 T>G, IL12A rs2243115 T>G, IL12B rs3212227 T>G and IL13 rs1800925 C>T on the development of esophageal cancer. A total of 380 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases and 380 controls were recruited for this study. The genotypes were determined using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNPscan$^{TM}$ Kit. Results: The IL10 rs1800872 T>G polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of ESCC. However, there were no significant links with the other five SNPs. Stratified analyses indicated no significant risk of ESCC associated with the IL10 rs1800872 T>G polymorphism evident among any subgroups. Conclusion: These findings indicated that functional polymorphism IL10 rs1800872 T>G might contribute to ESCC susceptibility. However, our results were obtained with a limited sample size, so that the power of our analysis was low. Future larger studies with more rigorous study designs of other ethnic populations are required to confirm the current findings.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2017

The anti-cancer effects of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Adenophora triphylla var. japonica (AT) have been described. Each of their effects mainly focused on the immunopotentiating and apoptosis inducing-ability in several cancer cell lines. Although the combination of AM and AT is occasionally used in Chinese medicine to treat lung cancers, their synergistic effect has not been proved yet. This study was designed to verify whether AM combined with AT exhibits a synergistic anti-cancer effect in H1299 human lung carcinoma cells. The ethanol extracts of AM (EAM) and AT (EAT) showed only slight cytotoxicity in H1299 cells when treated alone. However, the combination of EAM and EAT markedly suppressed the cell growth measured by MTT assay and trypan blue counting assay. In addition, co-treatment of EAM with EAT significantly reduced the colony-forming ability compared with single treatment of EAM or EAT in H1299 cells. We demonstrated that the synergistic effect of AM and AT was related with apoptosis induction proved by an accumulation of chromatin condensation, annexin V-positive cells, sub-G1 phase population, and cleaved-PARP expression, which were not observed by single treatment of EAM or EAT. In conclusion, the combination of EAM and EAT exhibited superior anti-cancer activity in H1299 cells than single treatment of EAM or EAT. We suggest that EAM combined with EAT might be a novel therapeutic option for lung cancer patients, and provide a reference for the development of more effective combination of Chinese herbs to treat lung cancer.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.100-118
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze some of the TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) clinical research literatures about pediatric night crying in order to learn clinical application of Korean medicine treatment for pediatric night crying. Methods We searched clinical trial literatures about TCM treatment of pediatric night crying from the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) (January 2000 to June 2018). We analyzed the literature in regards to the treatment methods and the results. Results Among the 459 searched studies, 13 randomized controlled trials and 41 case studies were selected and analyzed. In most of the studies, the effectiveness of TCM in treating patients was significantly high, so we confirmed the effectiveness of TCM on pediatric night crying. The most commonly used pattern differentiations (辨證) were Spirit damage due to fright and fear (驚恐傷神), Spleen deficiency and cold (脾虛寒) and Heart fire heat (心火熱). Methods of treatment include herbal medicines (internal medicine and external application), massage therapy (Tuina methods), acupuncture and other treatments (bloodletting). The most commonly used herb medicines were Cicadidae Periostracum (蟬?), Poria Cocos (茯?), Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus (釣鉤藤), Junci Medulla (燈心草), Fossilia Ossis Mastodi (龍骨), Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba (白朮), Cinnabaris (朱砂), and Coptidis Rhizoma (黃連). The most commonly used massage methods were Clearing Liver Channel (淸肝經), Clearing Heart Channel (淸心經), Kneading $Xi{\check{a}}oti{\bar{a}}nx{\bar{i}}n$ (?小天心), Supplementing Spleen Channel (補脾經), Clearing $Ti{\bar{a}}nh{\acute{e}}shu{\check{i}}$ (淸天河水), and Rubbing Abdomen (摩腹). Conclusions Based on the results of clinical studies from China, the use of Korean medicine for the treatment of pediatric night crying has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms. Based on the results of this study, it is possible to widen the scope of Korean medicine by additionally reviewing clinical and experimental studies on pediatric night crying.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.319-332
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• 2017

Objectives: The present study aimed to provide clinical evidence on the effect of herbal medicine, Hyeolbuchukeo-tang or Xuefu Zhuyu decoction for the treatment of primary insomnia using a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: This study included RCTs that verified the effects of Hyeolbuchukeo-tang or Xuefu Zhuyu decoction for the treatment of primary insomnia. Literature searches of English, Chinese and Korean databases were performed, and the selected literature was assessed for investigating the risk of bias. Results: The analysis included 10 RCTs. The Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders-3 was most frequently used to define the diagnostic criteria for Hyeolbuchukeo-tang or Xuefu Zhuyu decoction intervention in patients with primary insomnia. The effective rate was the most commonly used outcome measure. A meta-analysis revealed that the effective rate, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Athens Insomnia Scale in the Modified Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (MXZD) group were higher compared to Western Medicine (WM) group (RR: 1.17, 95% Cl: 1.08 to 1.26, p<0.0001, $I^2$=0/MD: -1.29, 95% Cl: -2.09 to -0.49, p=0.002, $I^2$=0%/MD: -0.99, 95% Cl: -1.81 to -0.18, p=0.02, $I^2$=15%). The effective rate of the MXZD+WM group was significantly different compared to the WM group (RR: 1.28, 95% Cl: 1.11 to 1.47, p=0.0006, $I^2$=2%). The included RCTs were of relatively poor quality and had small sample sizes. Conclusions: Treatment with Hyeolbuchukeo-tang or Xuefu Zhuyu decoction was found to be effective in treating primary insomnia. However, the included RCTs were of relatively poor quality and had small sample sizes. It is hypothesized that this study could serve as a foundation for further clinical studies on the development of diagnosis and treatment methods for primary insomnia based on Korean medicine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9417-9421
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• 2014

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most frequently occurring malignancies and the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. The esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common histological type of esophageal cancer worldwide. Materials and Methods: Our goal in this study was to detect phospholipase A2 Group IIA (PLA2G2A) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) immuno-expression in ESCC in a high-risk population in China. Results: Positive expression of PLA2G2A protein was observed in 57.2% (166/290) of the cases, while COX-2 was found in 257 of 290 samples (88.6%), both PLA2G2A and COX-2 being expressed in 153 cases (52.8%), with a significant agreement (Kappa=0.091, p=0.031).Overexpression of PLA2G2A was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion (p=0.001). Co-expression of PLA2G2A and COX-2 not only significantly correlated with the depth of invasion (p=0.004) but also with TNM stage (p=0.04). Conclusions: Our results showed that in patients with ESCC, PLA2G2A overexpression and PLA2G2A co-expression with COX-2 is significantly correlated with advanced stage. The biological role and pathophysiologic regulation of PLA2G2A and COX-2 overexpression in ESCC deserve further investigation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3117-3120
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• 2015

Objective: Interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) each play an important role in carcinogenesis associated with viral infection. Cervical cancer is almost invariably associated with infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), and previous studies suggested that dysregulation of the signal pathway involved in IFN-${\gamma}$ and STATs is associated. Our objective was to evaluate the association of SNPs in STAT2, STAT3, and IFN-${\gamma}$ with cervical cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han women in Hunan province. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of 234 cervical cancer patients and 216 healthy female controls. STAT2 and STAT3 genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme (PCR-RE) analysis. IFN-${\gamma}$ genotyping was detected by PCR-amplification of specific allele (PASA). Results: For STAT2 rs2066807 polymorphisms, there was no significant difference of genotype distribution (P=0.827) and allele frequencies (P=0.830, OR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.51-2.31) between cases and controls. For STAT3 rs957970 polymorphisms, there was no significant difference of genotype distribution (P=0.455) and allele frequencies (P=0.560, OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.71-1.20) between cases and controls. For IFN-${\gamma}$ +874A/T polymorphisms, there was no significant difference of genotype distribution (P=0.652) and allele frequencies (P=0.527, OR=1.12, 95% CI: 0.79-1.59) between cases and controls. Conclusion: These results suggest that polymorphisms in STAT2, STAT3 and IFN-${\gamma}$ genes are not likely to be strong predictors of cervical cancer in Han women in southern China.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3067-3074
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• 2013

Background: Faced with highly prevalent and recalcitrant cancer-related fatigue (CRF), together with the absence of any official guidelines on management, numerous groups have been striving to seek and test alternative therapies including acupuncture and moxibustion. However, different patients have various feedbacks, and the many clinical trials have given rise to varied conclusions. In terms of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion, there exist vast inconsistencies. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the auxiliary effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of CRF, and to provide more reliable evidence to guide clinical practice. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before December 2012 were all aggregated, focusing on evaluation of acupuncture or moxibustion for CRF. The quality of the included studies was assessed basing on Cochrane handbook 5.1.0, and the available data were analyzed with RevMan software (version 5.2.0). Descriptive techniques were performed when no available data could be used. Results: A total of 7 studies involving 804 participants were eligible. With real acupuncture versus sham acupuncture, subjects receiving true acupuncture benefited more in the reduction of fatigue. With real acupuncture versus acupressure or sham acupressure, fatigue level appeared 36% improved in the acupuncture group, but 19% in the acupressure group and only 0.6% with sham acupressure. When real acupuncture plus enhanced routine care was compared with enhanced routine care, the combination group improved mean scores for general fatigue, together with physical and mental fatigue. With real acupuncture versus sham acupuncture or wait list controls, the real acupuncture group displayed significant advantages over the wait list controls at 2 weeks for fatigue improvement and better well-being effects at 6 weeks. When moxibustion plus routine care was compared with routine care alone, the meta-analyses demonstrated the combination had a relatively significant benefit in improving severe fatigue and QLQ-C30. Conclusion: Up to the search date, there exist few high quality RCTs to evaluate the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion, especially moxibustion in English. Yet acupuncture and moxibustion still appeared to be efficacious auxiliary therapeutic methods for CRF, in spite of several inherent defects of the included studies. Much more high-quality studies are urgently needed.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.70-76
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• 1988

Since ancient times, records pertaining to chi-reinforecenent of ginseng have been documented in books of Chinese nedicine. We, therefore, assessed the therapeutic effects of ginseng on patients with chi-deficiency syndrome. Eigheen cases of chi-deficiency, screened at the outpatient service in the internal department of Chinse medicine at the China Medical College Hospital. were prescribed two grams of Korean red ginseng powder three times daily for a two week period. For evaluation, a questionnaire and diagnosis by sphygmography were conducted prior to and after administration of the prescription. For control purposes, fourteen volunteers fasted for more than five days (seven had access only to ginseng. and the other seven were given only mineral water) and were subsequently evaluated by the same criteria. Three results were obtained for the ginseng treated group: (1) improvements in symptoms of chi-deficiency such as fatigue and dizziness; (2) changes in pulse waves with time domains showing alternate P-waves, strengthened dicrotic waves, and some minute waves in the end-diastolic period; (3) frequency domains with enhanced amplitudes around 12Hz. These three findings, which are consistent with each other, suggest the reinforcement of the effect of ginseng on 'heart-spleen chi' in Chinese medicine.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.239-251
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• 2021

Traditional Chinese medicine has treated diseases and improved health in nature-based experience. Advanced nations began to be interested in naturopathic therapy in the late 19th century and it led China to research aromatherapy. This study searched previous researches related with aromatherapy and generally analyzed aroma oil, applied body parts, methods of use, and period of use. For research contents, scientific and society journals from 2000 to 2019 related with aromatherapy were searched in CNKI(www.cnki.com) and WANFANG DATE(www.wanfang.com). Finally, 30 papers were selected through 5-step qualitative evaluation and expert review and analyzed. Frequency and percentage(%) were calculated by means of the Excel 2013 Program and represented by a chart. The results of analyzing aromatherapy trends are as follows. All 30 papers were researched in the medical society. The most common symptom was irritation and anxiety that appeared in 13 papers. Lavender oil and bergamot oil were commonly used aroma oil. Commonly applied part and method were nose and nasal inhalation. For aroma oil associated with symptoms, lavender oil was the best in irritative, anxious, and negative emotion, depression, labor pain, sleep disorder, migraine, tension, and vomiting, pain, and fatigue after operation. Lemon, ginger, and peppermint oil was good for nausea. Based on the findings, this study derived applied body parts, methods of use, and period of use in aromatherapy. However, most aromatherapy was used for patients in the nursing and medical fields in the simple form of inhalation and local massage. This study will suggest a standard ground that aromatherapy is good for pain, colic pain, and tension in a short period but needs a long period for the efficacy of psychological and neurological symptoms.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.559-566
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• 2022

Introduction: The aim of this systematic review is to provide evidence confirming the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used in the treatment of liver cancer. Methods: The review will include randomized clinical trials that compared herbal medicines used as treatments for liver cancer with other therapies, such as placebos and Western medicine. Only randomized controlled trials will be included in this review, and all types of herbal medicine will be evaluated. Eleven electronic databases will be searched from the inception date: the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL, one Chinese database (CNKI), and five Korean databases (OASIS, DBpia, RISS, KISS, and NDSL). The selection of studies, data extraction, and management will be performed independently by four researchers. Methodological quality, including the risk of bias, will be assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. Results: The review of current evidence for the effectiveness of herbal medicine for liver cancer will be summarized and quantitatively analyzed. Conclusions: Our systematic review will provide evidence of the efficacy of herbal medicines as treatments for liver cancer. This evidence will provide useful information for practitioners and patients in the fields of oncology and complementary medicine.