• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.36-42
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to analyze the single dose toxicity of Mecasin(Gami-Jakyak Gamcho buja Decoction) pharmacopuncture in muscle of Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: All experiments were performed at the Medvill, an institution acknowledged to conduct non-clinical studies, under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen in this pilot study. The reason Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen is that they have been widely used in safety test in the field of medicine, so the results can be easily compared with many other databases. Doses of Mecasin pharmacopuncture, 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000mg/kg, were registered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 10 ml/kg, was registered to the control group. Mecasin pharmacopuncture and normal saline were injected into the thigh of the rats by disposable syringes at intervals of six hours twice a day. This study was performed under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethic Committee. Results: There is no death or abnormality in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weight, hematological parameters or clinical chemistry between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To inspect abnormalities in organs and tissues, we used microscopy to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs or tissues. Conclusion: The above outcomes suggest that treatment with Mecasin pharmacopuncture is relatively safe. Further evaluations and studies on this subject are needed to prove more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2011

We studied the acute oral toxicity of black ginseng (BG) produced by heat process in rats. Single acute BG extract doses of 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/kg dissolved in saline were administered by oral gavage and the animals were kept under observation for 14 days. The single administration of BG extract up to 15 g/kg did not produce mortality, behavioral change or abnormal clinical signs in the rats. These results indicated that the oral $LD_{50}$ of the BG extract in the rats is higher than 15 g/kg. Compared to the control group, no treatment-related biologically significant effects of BG extract were noted in the measurements of the body weight or food intake. At the end of the period, the biochemical parameters and hematological parameters were analyzed in the plasma and blood. A histopathological examination of the liver and kidney was also conducted. Only the blood nitrogen urea and potassium levels in the biochemical indices showed significant differences at 10 and 15 g/kg doses of BG extract compared to the control group. These changes were not considered to be due to the toxicity. None of the other clinical chemistry parameters were affected. Therefore, these results indicate that the BG by heat processing is virtually nontoxic.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to analyze the single-dose toxicity of ShinYangHur (SYH) herbal acupuncture injected into the muscles of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: The SYH herbal acupuncture was made in a clean room at the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute (KPI, Korea-Good Manufacturing Practice, K-GMP). After the mixing process with sterile distilled water, the pH was controlled to between 7.0 and 7.5. Then, NaCl was added to make a 0.9% isotonic solution by using sterilized equipment. All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech, an institution authorized to perform non clinical studies under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). SD rats were chosen for the pilot study. Doses of SYH herbal acupuncture, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mL, were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 1.0 mL, was administered to the control group. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weight, hematological parameters or clinical chemistry between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To check for abnormalities in organs and tissues, we used microscopy was used to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs or tissues. Conclusion: The above outcomes suggest that treatment with SYH herbal acupuncture is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed to yield more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.255-259
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• 2007

A 6-year-old, intact male, mongrel dog with yellowish urine, anorexia, depression was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the Chungnam National university. Immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) was diagnosed by clinical signs, physical examination, laboratory tests (CBC, serum chemistry, Coombs' test, autoagglutination test and urinalysis) and diagnostic imaging (X-ray and ultrasonography). Clinical signs were improved after combined immune-suppressive therapy (prednisolone and cyclosporine) and prophylactic heparin therapy. A thrombus ($4cm{\times}1cm$) was observed in the right ventricle by autopsy. Combined therapy and supportive care (antithrombolytic agent and acupuncture) were effective in a dog with IMHA.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.87-106
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• 2010

Objective & Methods: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-oxidative and immuneregulative effects of electro-acupouncture(EA) at SP6(Sameumgyo) in aged rats. The author performed several experimental items including blood cell counts, blood chemistry, measurement of various oxidants and antioxidants in liver and spleen, analysis of various cytokines in spleen. The results are as follows. Results: 1. EA at SP6 significantly reduced the number of platelets in blood. 2. EA at SP6 significantly reduced NO concentration and significantly increased catalase activity in liver. 3. EA at SP6 significantly reduced NO concentration and significantly increased SOD activity, catalase activity and glutathione concentration in spleen. 4. EA at SP6 restored the increase of IL-4, IL-6 and the decrease of IFN-$\gamma$ in aged rat spleen. Conclusion: According to these results, it is postulated that EA at SP6 has an antioxidative effect through increasing the activities of antioxidative enzymes and inhibiting production of oxidized substances, as well as an immune regulative effect in aging process. In consequence, it is presumed that EA at SP6 may have an anti-aging effect.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.143-153
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• 2006

The purpose of this work was to assess and quantify the beneficial effects of gas exchange, while testingto the various frequencies of the sinusoidal wave that was excited by the PZT actuator, for patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or chronic respiratory problems. Also, this paper considered a simulator to design a hollow type artificial lung, and a mathematical model was used to predict a behavior of blood. This simulation was carried out according to the Montecarno's simulation method, anda fourth order Runge-Kutta method was used to solve the equation. The experimental design and procedure are then applied to the construction of a new device to assess the effectiveness of the membrane vibrations. As a result, the vibration method is very effective in the increase of gas transport. The gas exchange efficiency for the vibrating intravascular lung assist device can be increased by emphasizing the following design features: consistent and reproducible fiber geometry, and most importantly, an active means of enhancing convective mixing of water around the hollow fiber membranes. The experimental results showed the effective performance of the vibrating intravascular lung assist device. Also, we concluded that important design parameters were blood flow rates, fiber outer diameter and oxygen pressure drop. Based on the present results, it was believed that the optimal level of blood flow rates was 200$cm^3$/min.

• Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.130-139
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• 2018

This study aimed to analyze a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation using a pentafluorophenyl column of parent drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its active metabolite, desethylhydroxchloroquine (DHCQ) applying to determine bioequivalence of two different formulations administered to patients. A rapid, simple, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for bioanalysis of HCQ and its metabolite DHCQ in human whole blood using deuterium derivative $hydroxychloroquine-D_4$ as an internal standard (IS). A triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated using electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Sample preparation involves a two-step precipitation of protein techniques. The removed protein blood samples were chromatographed on a pentafluorophenyl (PFP) column ($50mm{\times}4.6mm$, $2.6{\mu}m$) with a mobile phase (ammonium formate solution containing dilute formic acid) in an isocratic mode at a flow rate of 0.45 mL/min. The standard curves were found to be linear in the range of 2 - 500 ng/mL for HCQ; 2 - 2,000 ng/mL for DHCQ in spite of lacking a highly sensitive MS spectrometry system. Results of intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were within acceptable limits. A run time of 2.2 min for HCQ and 2.03 min for DHCQ in blood sample facilitated the analysis of more than 300 human whole blood samples per day. Taken together, we concluded that the assay developed herein represents a highly qualified technology for the quantification of HCQ in human whole blood for a parallel design bioequivalence study in a healthy male.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2019

Purpose: The prevalence of supernumerary teeth has been reported to be between 0.1% and 3.8%. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, clinical significance, and associated pathologies of fourth molars based on a retrospective study and a literature review. Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective prevalence study was conducted at the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Dentomaxillofacial Radiology of Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan. The study involved extracting data from the digital records of patients from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2017. The sampling frame included all patients who had panoramic radiographs, cone-beam computed tomography (CT), and multislice CT images during the period under review. Results: A total of 26,721 cases were reviewed and 87 fourth molars were identified. The prevalence of fourth molars in the 5-year study at Okayama was calculated as 0.32%. The mean age of patients with a fourth molar was 30.43 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:0.98. The vast majority of cases were in the maxilla (92%) and had normal shapes(89.7%); furthermore, 82.8% of cases were unerupted. Conclusion: The prevalence of fourth molars in the study population was found to be 0.32%, and fourth molars occurred with approximately equal frequency in males and females. Fourth molars were more common in the maxilla and were predominantly unerupted and small.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.191-198
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• 2021

Background: Most clinical studies of immune responses activated by Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) have been conducted exclusively in patients. However, there is still a lack of clinical research on immune-boosting benefits of KRG for healthy persons. This study aims to confirm how KRG boosts the immune system of healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 100 healthy adult subjects were randomly divided into two groups that took either a 2 g KRG tablet or a placebo per day for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy evaluation variables included changes in T cells, B cells, and white blood cells (WBCs) before and after eight weeks of KRG ingestion. Cytokines (TNF-α, INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-4), WBC differential count, and incidence of colds were measured in the secondary efficacy evaluation variables. Safety evaluation variables were used to identify changes in laboratory test results that incorporated adverse reactions, vital signs, hematological tests, blood chemistry tests, and urinalysis. Results: Compared to the placebo group, the KRG intake group showed a significant increase in the number of T cells (CD3) and its subtypes (CD4 and CD8), B cells, and the WBC count before and after eight weeks of the intake. There were no clinically significant adverse reactions or other notable results in the safety evaluation factors observed. Conclusion: This study has proven through its eight-week intake test and subsequent analysis that KRG boosts the immune system through an increase in T cells, B cells, and WBCs, and that it is safe according to the study's safety evaluation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.299-304
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• 2021

A 3-year-old female Connemara pony was referred to Jeju National University Equine Hospital because of weight loss and prolonged anorexia. On admission, heart and respiratory rates were slightly elevated while body temperature was within the normal range. The color of the conjunctival and oral mucosa was yellowish pink. The blood chemistry results showed that total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were remarkably elevated while blood urea nitrogen was within the reference range. Transcutaneous abdominal ultrasound revealed an enlarged right lobe of the liver with prominently increased parenchymal echogenicity, reduced hepatic vessels, and rounded caudal border. The pony was tentatively diagnosed with chronic hepatitis and icterus; rest and supportive treatments were provided. Clinical signs aggravated on day 2 with hind quarter paresis and cranial nerve signs such as circling, drooping, jerking, and head pressing against walls. Recumbency and generalized ataxia (grade 5/5) were shown on day 3. Plasma ammonia concentration on day 3 was as high as 656 µmol/L. Necropsy and histopathologic examinations strongly supported a diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy. This case of hepatic encephalopathy exhibited rapid progress from low to terminal grade within 4 days in a Connemara pony. The results provide well-established clinical and pathological data for future application.