• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2002

Objective : in order to be convinced of improvement in quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients, I observed clinically remedical effect of Quingbixiaoyanwan-Derivatives(淸鼻消炎丸) on allergic rhinitis with a questionnaire. Methods : We treated forty five allergic patients at the Nam Chun Oriental Medical Hospital from October, 2001 to January, 2002. They were treated with Quingbixiaoyanwan-Derivatives(淸鼻消炎丸), nasal cleansing solution and dietary treatment, and the health-related quality of life with a questionnaire. Results : 1. The gender proportion was twenty five males(55.6%) and twenty females(44.4%); seven teenagers (15.6%); ten patients in their 20s(22.2%); twenty patients in their 30S(44.4%); six patients in their 40s(13.3%); two patients in over 50s (4.4%) 2. The duration of the disease: 0 case within six months; three cases for six months to one year (6.6%); fourteen cases for one year to five years(31.1%); twenty six cases for over five years(62.2%) 3. Major symptoms; forty three cases for watery rhinorrhea (95.5%); thirty one caess for nasal itching(68.8%); 91.1 cases for sneezing(41.0%);thirty nine cases for nasal obstruction (86.6%); sixteen cases for difficulty in smelling(35.5%);seventeen postnasal drip(37.7%);three bloody rhinorrhea (6.6%);fourteen cases for headaches(31.1%); nine cases for eyelid itching (60.0%). 4. Seasonal Distribution: perennial allergic rhinitis occurred as follows: 55.6% in winter; 13.3% in fall; 11.1 % in spring;2.2% in summer. 5. Other combined allergic symptoms; sixteen cases for allergic conjunctives (37.8%); eight cases for sinus(17.8%);four cases for atopic dermatitis (8.9%); three cases for bronchial asthma(6.7%); sixteen cases for none(35.6%) 6. After a specific prescription of Quingbixiaoyanwan-Derivatives(淸鼻消炎丸), nasal cleansing solution and dietary therapy, the quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients was improved to 20.27%, which was significantly.(P<0.001) 7. The specific treatment did not affect GOT/GPT and BUN/Creatinine. 8. The specific treatment did not influence the level of total IgE serum significantly. Conclusions : Based on the above results, I have concluded that the specific treatment of Quingbixiaoyanwan-Derivatives(淸鼻消炎丸), nasal cleansing solution and dietary therapy can improve the quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.458-463
• /
• 2002

This present study was designed to screen medicinal plants for the treatment of brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. The inhibitory activity of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) was investigated in the water extracts of 56 species traditional medicines. Among the tested medicinal plants, E. lathyris, R. palmatum, F. rhynchonphylla, E. caryophyllata, E. pekinensis and H. syriacus were showed the strong inhibitory activity against MAO-B. Therefore, MAO-B inhibitory activity of 6 traditional medicine extracts in the different concentration (2.5, 6.5 and 12.5 ㎍/ml) was determined. The inhibitory effect of MAO-B was detected with dose dependently in 6 traditional plants extracts. E. caryophyllata and R. palmatum were showed the highest inhibitory activity, the MAO-B inhibitory activity at 2.5㎍ of herbal extract being 58% and 52%, respectively. The water extracts of 6 species were tested on antioxidant activity using radical scavenging effects against ABTS/sup +/. The water extracts of R. palmatum, E. caryphyllata, E. pekinensis and H. syriacus were showed strong antioxidant capacity at 20 ㎍ concentration. Among the 56 medicinal plants investigated, the water extracts of R. palmatum and E. caryphyllata were showed significant antioxidant capacity and MAO-B inhibiory activity. Therefore, R. palmatum and E. caryphyllata are expected to ameliorate the clinical symptoms in Parkinson's disease due to significant MAO-B inhibition and radical scavenging effect.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 2007

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the public's awareness of the importance of hand washing and to compare perceptions on the habit of hand washing with actual hand washing behavior. Methods : Data were collected by observing 2,800 participants washing their hands after using public restrooms in seven cities nationwide and by surveying 1,000 respondents (age > 14 years) through telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results : Although 94% of the survey respondents claimed to mostly or always wash their hands after using public restrooms, only 63.4% of the observed participants did wash their hands after using public restrooms. Significant factors related to increased adherence to hand washing were female gender, approximate ages of 20 to 39 years by their appearance, and the presence of other people from the observation. About 79% of the survey respondents always washed their hands after using bathrooms at home, 73% washed their hands before handling food, and 67% washed their hands upon returning to their home. However, 93.2% and 86.3% of the survey respondents did not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing and after handling money, respectively. Although most of the survey respondents (77.6%) were aware that hand washing is helpful in preventing communicable diseases, 39.6% of the survey respondents did not do so because they were 'not accustomed' to washing their hands and 30.2% thought that washing their hands is 'annoying'. Conclusions : This is the first comprehensive report on hand washing behavior and awareness of the general population in Korea. The result of this study in terms of individual behavior and awareness of hand washing are comparable with similar studies conducted in other countries. However adherence to hand washing is still low and needs to be increased. The results of this study can be used as a baseline in setting up strategies and activities to promote adherence to hand washing.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to monitor the prevalence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), nervous necrosis virus (NNV) and marine birnavirus (MABV) in cultured walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus by RT-PCR. All of the viruses tested were not detected by one-step PCR in 62 spleen sample sets, except for NNV in one brain sample set (1/55). By two-step PCR, VHSV was detected in 51.6%(32/62) and NNV was detected in 1.6%(1/62) spleen sample set, but MABV was not detected. In the brain sample sets, the detection rate of NNV was 3.6%(2/55). VHSV and NNV were detected for the first time in cultured walleye pollock in this study. However, the titers of viruses in these sample sets are thought to be very low, because most of the positive sample sets were detected by two-step PCR and none of the fish showed any clinical symptoms of each virus. Continuous monitoring, subsequent virus isolation and validation of carrier fish will be necessary.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.127-137
• /
• 2017

Objectives : In our previous study, single co-administration GMODT within 5 min significantly inhibited the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen through variable influences on the absorption and excretion of tamoxifen. Therefore, the object of this study was to elucidate the possible effects on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen after single oral co-administration of GMODT with 2.5 hr-intervals. Methods : After 50 mg/kg of tamoxifen treatment, GMODT 100 mg/kg was administered with 2.5 hr-intervals. The plasma were collected at 30 min before administration, 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hrs after end of GMODT treatment, and plasma concentrations of tamoxifen were analyzed using LC-MS/MS methods. PK parameters of tamoxifen (Tmax, Cmax, AUC, $t_{1/2}$ and $MRT_{inf}$) were analysis as compared with tamoxifen single administered rats. Results : Two-half hr-interval co-administration with GMODT induced variable changes on the plasma tamoxifen concentrations as compared with tamoxifen single treated rats, and especially significant (p<0.05) increases of plasma tamoxifen concentrations were demonstrated at 0.5 (199.61%) and 1 hr (101.06%) after end of co-administration with GMODT, and also related significant (p<0.05) decreases of $t_{1/2}$ (-39.54%) and $MRT_{inf}$ (-43.94%) as compared with tamoxifen single formula treated rats, at dosage levels of tamoxifen 50 mg/kg and GMODT 100 mg/kg with 2.5 hr-intervals, in this experiment. Conclusions : According to the results, GMODT critically decreased on the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen through variable influences on the absorption and excretion of tamoxifen. Hence, the co-administration of GMODT and tamoxifen should be avoided in the comprehensive and integrative medicine, combination therapy of tamoxifen with GMODT on the breast cancer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.305-310
• /
• 2014

Ascidian soft tunic syndrome (AsSTS) caused by Azumiobodo hoyamushi (A. hoyamushi) is a serious aquaculture problem that results in mass mortality of ascidians. Accordingly, the early and accurate detection of A. hoyamushi would contribute substantially to disease management and prevention of transmission. Recently, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was adopted for clinical diagnosis of a range of infectious diseases. Here, the authors describe a rapid and efficient LAMP-based method targeting the 18S rDNA gene for detection of A. hoyamushi using ascidian DNA for the diagnosis of AsSTS. A. hoyamushi LAMP assay amplified the DNA of 0.01 parasites per reaction and detected A. hoyamushi in 10 ng of ascidian DNA. To validate A. hoyamushi 18S rDNA LAMP assays, AsSTS-suspected and non-diseased ascidians were examined by microscopy, PCR, and by using the LAMP assay. When PCR was used as a gold standard, the LAMP assay showed good agreement in terms of sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). In the present study, a LAMP assay based on directly heat-treated samples was found to be as efficient as DNA extraction using a commercial kit for detecting A. hoyamushi. Taken together, this study shows the devised A. hoyamushi LAMP assay could be used to diagnose AsSTS in a straightforward, sensitive, and specific manner, that it could be used for forecasting, surveillance, and quarantine of AsSTS.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.717-726
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate health status and nutrient intakes among 5th grade elementary students at Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2010. This study was cross-sectional study on 1,384 children (687 boys, 697 girls) from nine elementary schools located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. The average height, weight and BMI were 145 cm, 40.6 kg $19.2\;kg/m^2$ for boys and 145.4 cm, 38.2 kg, $18.0\;kg/m^2$ for girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 11.3%, 5.2%, respectively. Serum AST, ALT, glucose, HDL-Cholesterol and RBC levels were significantly higher, while TG levels was significantly lower for boys than for girls. The average energy intake was 1772.4 kcal, which was 98.7% of Estimated Energy Requirement (EER). The boys consumed more energy intake (1800.4 kcal) than the girls (1744.7 kcal). Also, they took insufficient calcium and folate (69.1% and 83.3% of Recommended Intake (RI)) and excess sodium (297.6% of Adequate Intake (AI)) and 85.1% of the subjects had breakfast everyday. In general, the proportion of the children who consumed fruits and vegetables at least once or more a day was low. There was a higher proportion of children in boys who had ramyun and milk with sufficient physical activity than those in girls. As a result of this study, we can find risk factors on obesity and metabolic disorders, and the results can be used for an evidence of nutrition education program and the intervention program.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 2009

One of the most extensively studied populations of multipotent adult stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs derived from the human umbilical cord vein (HUC-MSCs) are morphologically and immunophenotypically similar to MSCs isolated from bone marrow. HUC-MSCs are multipotent stem cells, differ from hematopoietic stem cells and can be differentiated into neural cells. Since neural tissue has limited intrinsic capacity of repair after injury, the identification of alternate sources of neural stem cells has broad clinical potential. We isolated mesenchymal-like stem cells from the human umbilical cord vein, and studied transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells. Dopaminergic neuronal differentiation of HUC-MSCs was also studied. Neural differentiation was induced by adding bFGF, EGF, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in N2 medium and N2 supplement. The immunoreactive cells for $\beta$-tubulin III, a neuron-specific marker, GFAP, an astrocyte marker, or Gal-C, an oligodendrocyte marker, were found. HUC-MSCs treated with bFGF, SHH and FGF8 were differentiated into dopaminergic neurons that were immunopositive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody. HUC-MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly showed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including NeuroD1, $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and nestin was markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. While the stem cell markers such as SCF, C-kit, and Stat-3 were not expressed after neural differentiation, we confirmed the differentiation of dopaminergic neurons by TH/$\beta$-tubulin III positive cells. In conclusion, HUC-MSCs can be differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and these findings suggest that HUC-MSCs are alternative cell source of therapeutic treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.331-341
• /
• 1999

Examination of the morphology of red blood cells in the urine has been shown to be a promising adjunct in determining whether hematuria represents glomerular or nonglomerular bleeding. This is due to distortion of RBCs as they Pass across the basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries. It is concluded that is method can greatly help the clinician in distinguishing between glomerular and nonglomerular bleeding in patients with hematuria and channeling such patients toward the most appropriate investigations. We have experimented dysmorphic red blood cells that 5 patients of the hematuria are distorted with irregular outlines and often have small blobs extruding from the red cell membrane. Tried urinary sediments were seen with phase contrast microscope and confirmed scanning electron microscope. There are seen acanthocytes, anulocytes, ghost cells and sphero-echinocytes in dysmorphic erythrocytes. Clinical diagnosis was referred from the result of the biopsy-proven. Scanning electron microscopic findings of the hematuria are good diagnostic tool that disclose in distorted red blood cells from patients with glomerular disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.1376-1380
• /
• 2017

This study examined how the daily administration of dried CP roots affects body-weight gains of mice. An aqueous CP extract (1 g/kg of CP-W) was orally administered to mice on a daily basis for ten weeks, and the mice's body weights and food intakes were measured throughout the period. At the end of the ten-week treatment, murine blood samples were taken and hematological and serum biochemical parameters were examined. The mice's intra-abdominal organs were weighed at necropsy. The treatment of CP-W significantly suppressed the mice's body-weight gain by about 10%. There were no changes to the food intakes of and no observable abnormal clinical signs in any of the animals throughout the experimental period. There were no significant differences between the control and CP-W mice in regards to the hematological and serum biochemical parameters and the organ weights at necropsy. The results demonstrated that the daily administration of CP-W for ten weeks suppresses body-weight gain in mice and does not change mice's food intake or cause any noticeable toxic effects.