• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.29-42
• /
• 2017

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis accompanies with severe pruritus and collapse of skin barrier, inflammation. Maifanite could be used as an ointment for skin disease. However, there have been few studies about maifanite uses for atopic dermatitis. We report the anti-inflammatory and promoting skin recovery effects of ionized maifanite on damaged skin barrier with experimentally elicited atopic dermatitis. Methods : Nc/Nga mice were divided into 3 groups: control group(CON), atopic dermatitis elicited group(AE group), ionized maifanite treated group after atopic dermatitis elicitation(MT group). After 5% SDS was applied D. pteronyssinus crude extract also applied for 3 weeks to elicit atopic dermatitis-like skin disease. MT group was treated for 3 weeks with ionized maifanite. Ionized maifanite was applied once a day and voluntarily administrated. AE group and control group were treated with normal saline in the same way. Results : In MT group, skin lesions like eczema were more improved than AE group. p-ERK1/2 positive reaction was reduced in MT group. MMP-9 and substance P positive reaction at dermal papillae was also reduced in MT group. With skin angiogram, capillary vessel decreased in MT group. Also, IL-4 positive reaction cell and STAT-6 positive reaction cell reduced more in MT group than in AE group. $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 positive reaction cell and iNOS positive reaction cell also declined more in MT group than in AE group. Conclusions : It is supposed that ionized maifanite has anti-inflammatory effects on NC/Nga mice's atopic dermatitis with suppressing IL-4 production and Th2 cell differentiation, and controlling $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2018

Objectives : This study was conducted to review the research trends in Korean Medicine of pompholyx based on publications in Korea. Methods : Literature published after 2000 were collected using OASIS, NDSL, KISS, and key words searched were "한포진" "발한이상" "pompholyx" "dyshidrotic eczema". Results : 10 case reports and 4 patient studies were selected for study. Conclusions : Korean medicine treatments included acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, venesection therapy, herbal medicine, ointments and carbon arc lamp therapy. The most commonly used diagnostic method for pompholyx was inspection along with pulse diagnosis, abdominal diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, culture test, and KOH smear screening. The most frequently used treatment evaluation method was Likert scale while VAS(Visual Analog Scale) and Visual&Subjective symptoms were each used in 4 studies. Among 29 patients in 14 papers who showed clinical manifestations of pompholyx, there were 15 male patients (52%), 14 female patients (48%), and the male to female ratio showed 1.07:1. Symptoms were improved using Korean Medicine treatments including acupuncture and herbal medicine. Concurrent treatment using special treatments such as pharmacopuncture, jiyang-go, bojungikgi-tang(ex), external applications showed higher treatment effects. Korean medical treatment of pompholyx was effective in all studies, but the lack of numbers of research on Korean medicine of pompholyx was witnessed compared to other diseases such as psoriasis. Also considering the number of patients suffering from pompholyx, further studies should be conducted.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2019

Trifolium pratense leaves (red clover) has been used in Oriental and European folk medicine for the treatment of whooping cough, asthma, and eczema, and is now being used to treat and alleviate the symptoms, such as hot flushes, cardiovascular health effects that occur in postmenopausal women. However, relatively little scientific data is available on the physiological activity of this plant. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of T. pratense leaves using methanol extract of T. pratense leaves (MeTP) on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeTP inhibited the viability of FaDu cells by inducing apoptosis through the cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, and -9 and poly (adenosine diphosphate ribose-ribose) polymerase (PARP), downregulation of Bcl-2, and upregulation of Bax, as determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, Live & dead assay, 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stain, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and Western blot analysis. In addition, colony formation was slightly inhibited when FaDu cells were treated with a non-cytotoxic concentration (0.125 mg/mL) of MeTP and almost completely inhibited when cells were treated with 0.25 mg/mL MeTP. Collectively, these results indicate that MeTP induced cell apoptosis via caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways, and inhibited colony formation of cancer cells in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. These findings suggest MeTP should be considered for clinical development as a chemotherapeutic option in oral cancer.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.3-20
• /
• 2019

This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers. The review shows that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers. Results show that exposures to chemical substances were associated with skin reactions, e.g., hand eczema. Heavy lifting and awkward postures were risk factors for low back pain, and high job demands were risk factors for mental health outcomes. The review identified young unskilled workers including school drop-out workers as particularly vulnerable groups when it comes to occupational accidents. In addition, apprentices and young skilled workers were found to be vulnerable to work-related illnesses. It is essential to avoid stereotyping young Nordic workers into one group using only age as a factor, as young workers are a heterogeneous group and their vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health risks are contextual. Politicians, researchers, and practitioners should account for this complexity in the education, training and organization of work, and workplace health and safety culture.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.27-31
• /
• 2021

Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) is a fat extracted from shea tree nuts and contains relatively high levels of non-glycerides. Triterpenes, the main non-glyceride component, exhibit a variety of biological activities such as antitumor, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Shea butter extract (SBE) has been used to treat various skin problems such as burns, eczema, and rash in human medicine, but little is known about the activity of SBE on canine skin. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effect of SBE in canine keratinocytes. Cytotoxicity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5-50 ng/mL) and SBE (50-200 ㎍/mL) was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of LPS and SBE were administered to canine cell cultures to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of SBE, the levels of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12, and TNF-α were measured using ELISA kits. The concentration of each cytokine was quantified in control, LPS-treated, LPS + SBE-treated groups. Increased levels of IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-12 were found in LPS-treated groups relative to control groups. LPS + SBE-treated groups showed a lower level of IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-12 than LPS-treated groups. These results suggest that SBE may have application as a topical agent for canine inflammatory skin diseases. However, further in vivo study is needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SBE in dogs.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 2020

Purpose: For the health of pet dogs and to reduce harm to humans, we investigated the preference of pet dogs on cushions made from functional ocher textile, which is known to be beneficial to human health. Methods: The preference of 12 small dogs between cushions made using functional ocher textile and normal yellow colored fabrics was observed. Results: The observation study showed 83.3% preference on cushions made from functional ocher textile where dogs rested or slept mostly. The biting behavior was improved by 83.3%. After using the functional cushions, four dogs with eye disease, one with eczema, and two with allergy showed improvements while others showed no improvement. After the experience, 50% of dogs became quieter. 87.5% of dogs showed more mild temperament. Conclusions: The functional ocher cushions showed preferences by dogs as well as brought positive improvements with the temperament and health conditions. This study proves to be a valuable fundamental research in this field of functional ocher cushions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.95-105
• /
• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to retrospectively analyze 3 years of inpatient dermatologic and surgical consultation to Korean medicine ophthalmology, otolaryngology & dermatology department in Korean medicine hospital. Methods : We classified dermatological and surgical inpatient consultations between September 1st, 2019 and August 31st, 2022, based on electronic medical record by gender, age, hospitalized department, categories of diseases. Results : Total number of consultations were 336. The proportion of female and male were 2.5:1, and the average of age was 65.6 and 60, respectively. The most frequently referred skin disease category was infectious skin disease(39.9%), followed by eczema(20.2%), dermatoses due to physical forces(10.1%), pigment anomalies(7.1%), nevi and tumors(4.8%), diseases of the skin appendages(4.2%), urticaria(3.9%), and others(4.9%). Consultations from department of Korean rehabilitation medicine, and Korean internal medicine were most common, because they have a comparatively large number of inpatients and long hospitalization period. In case of infectious disease and skin ulcer, patients from Korean internal medicine were frequently consulted due to characteristics of stroke and internal diseases. Conclusions : This study identified the frequency of consultation and the disease group with many requests for each department. Identifying the characteristics of diseases with a high frequency of consultation will prevent various dermatological problems that may occur by department. In addition, it was found that a prompt consultation was needed for accurate diagnosis and treatment in dermatological problem.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.259-266
• /
• 2023

Today, environmental pollution has been found to be one of the causes of various diseases, including brain and nervous system diseases. In particular, neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be caused by hyperactivation of immune system cells such as microglia. Preventive and therapeutic measures are needed to suppress them. Hirudo is known as a traditional herbal medicine, based on its multiple biological activities such as anti-eczema and anti-coagulation. In the present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of hirudo extract was investigated in lipopolysccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and in mice. Hirudo extract significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine (IL-1Ra, KC, MCP-5, and RANTES) expression in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with hirudo extract suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Moreover, hirudo extract reduced LPS-stimulated microglial acitivation and improved memory impairments. The results demonstrated that hirudo extract exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that hirudo extract might have therapeutic potential with respect to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.135-145
• /
• 2023

Antibiotics are frequently administered during pregnancy. Although necessary to address acute infections, their use facilitates antibiotic resistance. Other associations have also been found with the use of antibiotics, such as perturbations of gut bacteria, delays in microbial maturation, and increased risks of allergic and inflammatory diseases. Little is known about how the prenatal and perinatal administration of antibiotics to mothers affects the clinical outcomes of their offspring. A literature search was conducted of the Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed engines. The retrieved articles were reviewed by two authors and verified for relevance. The primary outcome was the effect of pre- and perinatal maternal antibiotic use on clinical outcomes. Thirty-one relevant studies were included in the meta-analysis. Various aspects are discussed, including infections, allergies, obesity, and psychosocial factors. In animal studies, antibiotic intake during pregnancy has been suggested to cause long-term alterations in immune regulation. In humans, associations have been found between antibiotic intake during pregnancy and different types of infections and an increased risk of pediatric infection-related hospitalization. A dose-dependent positive association between pre- and perinatal antibiotic use and asthma severity has been reported in animal and human studies, while positive associations with atopic dermatitis and eczema were reported by human studies. Multiple associations were identified between antibiotic intake and psychological problems in animal studies; however, relevant data from human studies are limited. However, one study reported a positive association with autism spectrum disorders. Multiple animal and human studies reported a positive association between pre- and perinatal antibiotic use by mothers and diseases in their offspring. Our findings have potentially significant clinical relevance, particularly considering the implications for health during infancy and later in life as well as the related economic burden.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.303-312
• /
• 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory pruritic skin disease worldwide, characterized by the infiltration of multiple pathogenic T lymphocytes and histological symptoms such as epidermal and dermal thickening. This study aims to investigate the effect of vinpocetine (Vinp; a phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor) on a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like model. DNCB (1%) was administered on day 1 in the AD model. Subsequently, from day 14 onward, mice in each group (Vinp-treated groups: 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg and dexamethasone-treated group: 2 mg/kg) were administered 100 µl of a specific drug daily, whereas 0.2% DNCB was administered every other day for 30 min over 14 days. The Vinp-treated groups showed improved Eczema Area and Severity Index scores and trans-epidermal water loss, indicating the efficacy of Vinp in improving AD and enhancing skin barrier function. Histological analysis further confirmed the reduction in hyperplasia of the epidermis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells, with Vinp treatment. Moreover, Vinp reduced serum concentrations of IgE, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were reduced by Vinp treatment. Reduction of TGF-β protein by Vinp in skin tissue was also observed. Collectively, our results underscore the effectiveness of Vinp in mitigating DNCB-induced AD by modulating the expression of various biomarkers. Consequently, Vinp is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating AD.