• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2009

The immunomodulatory activities of the ethanol extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, termed hereafter as GPE, were examined in immunosuppressed mice as well as in normal mice in the present study. Oral administration of GPE into mice prevented dexamethasone (DEX)-induced immunosuppression as determined by the mitogen-induced proliferation of the splenocytes and the the cytokine production (TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$) in the whole blood culture. In addition, oral administration of GPE increased antitumor host defense in mice implanted with sarcoma-180 tumor cells. The immunoaugmenting activity of orally administered GPE was also confirmed in mice immunized with ovalbumin (OVA). Mice that were orally administered with GPE generated much more potent OVA-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses upon intravenous OVA injection compared to the untreated controls. These results demonstrate that oral administration of the ethanol extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum could be useful to increase host defense in immunocompromised situations such as stress- or tumor-induced immunosuppression.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 1995

To verify the effect of immunosuppressants on the endotoxin-induced increase in iNOS activity, the action of immunosuppressants, dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg), azathioprine (5 mg/kg/day) and cyclosporine (10 mg/kg), were evaluated in mice pretreated with LPS. The intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg) increased the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the brain and liver to maximum at 1 and 3 hours, respectively. The increase in NOS activity was blocked by the treatment with NOS inhibitor, LNAME(300 mg/kg) and aminoguanidine(100 mg/kg); a protein inhibitor, cycloheximide (10 mg/kg); and a transcription inhibitor of inducible NOS(iNOS), dexamethasone(1.5 mg/kg). Immunosuppressants, azathioprine (5 mg/kg) and cyclosporine (10 mg/kg), effectively blocked the increase in NOS activity. These results suggest that iNOS expression plays an important role in LPS-induced the increase in NOS activity and that immunosuppressants can be used as candidate for therapeutic agents in endotoxemia.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2023

Macular degeneration and glaucoma are representative age-related retinal diseases that rank second and third in the prevalence of retinal diseases, and are a kind of degenerative neurological disease. Irreversible visual acuity and visual field damage may occur, and the number of patients is rapidly increasing as the population ages. Since this retinal disease is a chronic disease, continuous drug treatment is required. There are various drug delivery methods for treatment, but direct injection of the drug into the intravitreal is the most effective for continuous delivery of the drug over a long period of time. In order to solidify Dexamethasone, a retinal disease treatment, and insert it into the primary intravitreal, it is important to develop a technology to miniaturize the treatment and an applicator to deliver the treatment. In this study, a mold technology was developed to integrate the cannula and hub, which are one part of applicator. In addition, surface treatment was performed on the outside of the cannula to improve the bonding strength between the cannula and the hub, and the bonding strength according to each condition was analyzed through a tensile test.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2000

Backgrounds : The pathophysiology of chronic airflow obstruction, such as bronchial asthma, is characterized by mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell hyperplasia(GCH), smooth muscle hypertrophy, and inflammatory cells infiltration. In fatal asthma patients, one distinct findings is mucus hypersecretion due to GCH. However, the mechanisms of GCH in these hypersecretory diseases remain still unknown. In this study, a rat model was rapidly induced with GCH by instillation of $TiO_2$, intratracheally. We intend to confirm GCH and association of concomitant inflammatory cells infiltration and to observe the effect of potent antiinflammatory agent, that is dexamethasone, on GCH with inflammatory cells. Methods : Twenty-one 8-weeks-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Endotoxinfree water was instilled intratracheally in group 1(control) ; $TiO_2$, was instilled in the group 2 ; and dexamethasone was injected intraperitoneally to group 3 before $TiO_2$ instillation. After 120 hours, all rats were sacrificed, and trachea, bronchi, and lungs were resected respectively. These tissues were made as paraffin blocks and stained as PAS for goblet cells and Luna stain for eosinophils. We calculated the ratio of goblet cell to respiratory epithelium and number of infiltrated eosinophils from each tissue. Results : (1) Fraction of goblet cells was significantly increased in group 2 than in group 1 in the trachea and in the main bronchus. (10.19$\pm$11.33% vs 4.09$\pm$8.28%, p<0.01 and 34.09$\pm$23.91% vs 3.61$\pm$4.84%, p<0.01, respectively). (2) Eosinophils were significantly increased in the airway of group 2 than that of group 1. (5.43$\pm$3.84% vs 0.17$\pm$0.47 in trachea and 47.71$\pm$16.91 vs 2.71$\pm$1.96 in main bronchi). (3) There was a positive correlation between goblet cells and eosinophils(r=0.719, p=0.001). (4) There was significant difference in the decrease of goblet cells after dexamethasone injection between group 2 and group 3 (p<0.01). Also, infiltration of eosinophils was suppressed by dexamethasone. Conclusion : We made an animal model of $TiO_2$-induced goblet cell hyperplasia. GCH was observed mainly in the main bronchi with concomitant eosinophilic infiltration. Both goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophilic infiltration were suppressed by dexamethasone. This animal model may serve as a useful tool in understanding of the mechanism of GCH in chronic airway diseases.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.526-528
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• 2008

A 4-year-old male Maltese dog was referred with chief complaint of facial nerve paralysis and hyperthermia. These clinical signs were occurred after tooth extraction. Leukocytosis and swelling of left side of gums were detected. He was medicated with antibiotics for 9 days, however, inability of blinking in left eye, lacrimation and hyperthermia were not improved. The patient was administrated with Oyaksungisan (50 mg/kg, PO, BID) for 14 days and was treated by injection-acupuncture (AP) with bee venom ($200\;{\mu}g/head$, two times/week, total three times). The patient was treated by injection-AP with dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, two times/week, total two times). As a result, Left blepharon was slightly blinked at session 4. Blinking of left blepharon became normal after session 5. The present patient was a case with canine facial nerve paralysis which showed favorable therapeutic response by alternative treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.214-217
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• 2007

A about 2-month- old, mixed female cat was referred to Yeon Chang Veterinaly Clinic in Taiwan. Because this patient was wandering cat, precise history was not blown. At first admission, miosis, ptosis and protrusion of the nictitating membrane was observed in the right sided eye, and also slight miosis was found in the left sided eye. The patient was diagnosed into feline HS. Oculo-AP and injection-AP with dexamethasone were applied to this patient. Oculo-AP at Shang Jiao regions of both eyes was done for 10 minutes. In addition, injection-AP with dexamethasone (0.2 ml/acupoint) at BL01-Jing Ming, BL02-Zan Zhu and ST01-Cheng Qi. After AP treatment, prolapse of the nictitating membrane was amazingly disappeared and pupil was dilatated at session 1. Ocular findings at session 2 (one day after session 1) were maintained with nearly normal state. Accordingly, the present patient was a case with feline HS that showed favorable therapeutic effect by AP treatment.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-149
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• 1994

Histopathological studies on the two lymphomyeloid organs of spleen and head kidney in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, were carried out to clarify the significance on the morphological characteristics of melano - macrophage centers (MMCs) which are varied in different physiological and pathological conditions of teleosts. To examine the histological changes by the artificial modification of the immunological states, tilapia were treated intraperitoneally with FKC and LPS of Edwardsiella tarda, and orally with dexamethasone, and then followed by the intraperitoneal injection of colloidal carbon for chasing the macrophages. There were marked differences in phagocytic avidity of macrophages, and accumulating patterns of carbon - ladening macrophages into the MMCs among the test groups. In the non - pretreated control group, carbon - ladening macrophages were densely accumulated at 12th and 20th day within the MMCs of head kidney and spleen, respectively. And, in the groups treated with bacterial antigens (FKC & LPS), the macrophages were more rapidly and densely aggregated within MMCs. But in the group with dexamethasone, only a few carbon particles were detected in both organs. Any compactly isolated form of particles was not found in this group. From the present results, it was strongly suggested that certain changes in immunological states of tilapia influence on the morphology of MMCs including the frequency of appearance, sizes, aggregating patterns or outlines. Therefore, morphology of MMCs would be very important in the interpretation for histopathological findings seen in the teleost's lymphomyeloid organs.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.59-62
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• 2015

Objectives: A previous study showed that bee venom (BV) could cause anaphylaxis or other hypersensitivity reactions. Although hypersensitivity reactions due to sweet bee venom (SBV) have been reported, SBV has been reported to be associated with significantly reduced sensitization compared to BV. Although no systemic immediate hypersensitive response accompanied by abnormal vital signs has been reported with respect to SBV, we report a systemic immediate hypersensitive response that we experienced while trying to use SBV clinically. Methods: The patient had undergone BV treatment several times at other Oriental medicine clinics and had experienced no adverse reactions. She came to acupuncture & moxibustion department at Semyung university hospital of Oriental medicine (Je-cheon, Korea) complaining of facial hypoesthesia and was treated using SBV injections, her first SBV treatment. SBV, 0.05 cc, was injected at each of 8 acupoints, for a total of 0.40 cc: Jichang (ST4), Daeyeong (ST5), Hyeopgeo (ST6), Hagwan (ST7), Yepung (TE17), Imun (TE21), Cheonghoe (GB2), and Gwallyeo (SI18). Results: The patient showed systemic immediate hypersensitive reactions. The main symptoms were abdominal pain, nausea and perspiration, but common symptoms associated with hypersensitivity, such as edema, were mild. Abdominal pain was the most long-lasting symptom and was accompanied by nausea. Her body temperature decreased due to sweating. Her diastolic blood pressure could not be measured on three occasions. She remained alert, though the symptoms persisted. The following treatments were conducted in sequence; intramuscular epinephrine, 1 mg/mL, injection, intramuscular dexamethasone, 5 mg/mL, injection, intramuscular buscopan, 20 mg/mL, injection, oxygen ($O_2$) inhalation therapy, 1 L/minutes, via a nasal prong, and intravascular injection of normal saline, 1 L. After 12 hours of treatment, the symptoms had completely disappeared. Conclusion: This case shows that the use of SBV does not completely eliminate the possibility of hypersensitivity and that patients who received BV treatment before may also be sensitized to SBV. Thus, a skin test should be given prior to using SBV.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2018

Objectives: Pharmacopuncture is a treatment that medicinal fluid including herbal extract is injected in body under qi/flavor theory and meridian theories. There are a number of studies investigating the efficacy of pharmacopuncture for cervicogenic dizziness but its usage differs in each study. This study aimed to review previous studies of pharmacopuncture treatment for cervicogenic dizziness to navigate the direction of improvement. Methods: Literature review was conducted on studies aimed at pharmacopuncture for cervicogenic dizziness. The randomized controlled studies which assessed the efficacy of pharmacopuncture on cervicogenic dizziness were selected. The studies were searched in Pubmed, RISS, OASIS and CNKI. After selecting eligible studies, the authors read the articles and summarized the points those are necessary in pharmacopuncture treatment for cervicogenic dizziness. Results: Twenty seven studies and 2,709 participants were included. The diverse solutions were used and the most popular were Salvia miltiorrhiza, Angelica gigas, a compound in Gastrodia elata, Panax notoginseng saponins. Some studies investigated the efficacy of conventional medical compounds (lidocaine, vitamin B, dexamethasone) injected in acupoints. Adopting acupoints and combining with body acupuncture have shown the tendency to enhance the cure rate. Pharmacopuncture could improve the efficacy of conventional treatment for cervicogenic dizziness. Conclusion: As the solution and injection method varies, principles of pharmacopuncture for dizziness should be investigated.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

Objectives The object of this study was to observe the favorable anti-arthritic effects of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) on Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritic Wistar rats. Methods Rheumatoid arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of FCA, and 300, 150 or 750 mg/kg of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) were orally administered once a day for 14 days from 14 days after FCA treatments, and 15 mg/kg of dexamethasone was intraperitoneally administered as reference drug in this experiment. All rats were sacrificed at 14 days after continuous oral treatment of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) or intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone, and changes on the body weight, knee circumferences, gross arthritis score, inflammatory tissue prostaglandin (PG) $E_2$ levels were monitored with cartilage collagen components and glucosaminoglycans compositions - chondroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate and hyaluronic acid in the present study. Results As results of FCA treatment, classic rheumatoid arthritis featuring dramatical decreases on the body weights, cartilage collagen contents and bone glucosaminoglycans-chondroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate and hyaluronic acid contents, with increases on the knee circumferences, gross arthritis scores and inflammatory tissue $PGE_2$ levels. However, these changes from FCA-induced rheumatoid arthritis were clearly reduced by treatment of dexamethasone and both two different dosages of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 and 150 mg/kg in the present study. Although FCA-induced arthritis were more favorably inhibited by treatment of dexamethasone 15 mg/kg as compared with Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg, marked decreases of body weights were detected in dexamethasone 15 mg/kg treated rats, and Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg showed similar preserve effects on the cartilage glucosaminoglycan compositions in this study. Conclusions The results obtained in this study suggest that over 300 and 150 mg/kg of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) showed favorable anti-arthritic effects on the FCA-induced arthritis mediated by suppression of $PGE_2$, a inflammatory mediator. However, detail mechanism studies should be conduced in future with the screening of the biological active compounds in this herb. Although overall anti-inflammatory effects Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg were lowered than those of dexamethasone 15 mg/kg treated rats, Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg treated rats showed similar preserve effects on the cartilage glucosaminoglycan compositions in this experiment.