• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

Background: Naringenin (NRG) is a common dietary polyphenolic constituent of fruits. NRG has diverse pharmacological activities, and is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells of the GI tract. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of NRG on ICCs and on GI motility in vitro and in vivo. Methods: ICCs were dissociated from mouse small intestines by enzymatic digestion. The whole-cell patch clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in cultured ICC clusters. The effects of NRG on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR) using Evans blue in normal mice. Results: NRG inhibited ICC pacemaker potentials in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride or iberiotoxin, NRG had no effect on pacemaker potentials, but it continued to block pacemaker potentials in the presence of glibenclamide. Preincubation with SQ-22536 had no effect on pacemaker potentials or on their inhibition by NRG. However, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. In addition, L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. Furthermore, NRG significantly suppressed murine ITR enhancement by neostigmine in vivo. Conclusion: This study shows NRG dose-dependently inhibits ICC pacemaker potentials via a cyclic guanosine monophosphate/nitric oxide-dependent pathway and $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels in vitro. In addition, NRG suppressed neostigmine enhancement of ITR in vivo.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.1 s.53
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• pp.21-37
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• 1999

For the purpose of wide application of Korea Ginseng Radix (KGR) as a tonic and medicinal drug, bibliographical study on Ginseng Radix (GR) was done about its herbal and pharmacological effects known so far. Herbal effect of GR was studied in 28 classical books including Shennongbencaojing(신농본초경), the oldest herbal book in oriental medicine and also its pharmacological effects was compared with its herbal effect. In bibliographical study 38 kinds of efficacies of GR were referred in those books, for example, in fields of gastrointestinal tract, heart, psychology, body fluid, hormone and respiratory tract in order from statistical analysis. GR was chiefly used for supplementing Qi, vital energy in oriental medicine. However, experimental study on respiratory diseases was not reported except lung cancer yet, while GR was used for the treatment of asthma mostly mixed with other herb in oriental medicine. So far research with GR was performed chiefly for isolation of constituents as saponins and evaluation of its efficacy experimentally by KGTR (Korea Ginseng Tobacco Research Institute). From the above studies, to make KGR used widely than before, I suggest study with KGR should be done according to oriental principles such as Qi and tasters and combination theory between herbs excepting typical analytical research with saponins.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.537-545
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• 2023

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by impaired lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and peristalsis of the esophageal body. With the increasing prevalence of achalasia, interest in the role of endoscopy in its diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring is also growing. The major diagnostic modalities for achalasia include high-resolution manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and barium esophagography. Endoscopic assessment is important for early diagnosis to rule out diseases that mimic achalasia symptoms, such as pseudo-achalasia, esophageal cancer, esophageal webs, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The major endoscopic characteristics suggestive of achalasia include a widened esophageal lumen and food residue in the esophagus. Once diagnosed, achalasia can be treated either endoscopically or surgically. The preference for endoscopic treatment is increasing owing to its minimal invasiveness. Botulinum toxins, pneumatic balloon dilation, and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are important endoscopic treatments. Previous studies have demonstrated excellent treatment outcomes for POEM, with >95% improvement in dysphagia, making POEM the mainstay treatment option for achalasia. Several studies have reported an increased risk of esophageal cancer in patients with achalasia. However, routine endoscopic surveillance remains controversial owing to the lack of sufficient data. Further studies on surveillance methods and duration are warranted to establish concordant guidelines for the endoscopic surveillance of achalasia.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2016

Severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection involving multiorgan is very rare except in very low-birth weight infants, or in immunocompromised pediatric patients. We report an unusual case of severe CMV infection involving multiple organs including the central nervous system, liver, lung, and gastrointestinal tract in a late-preterm infant at 2 months of age.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2007

Ginseng is a widely-used alternative medicine for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Active components of P. ginseng, absorbed through gastrointestinal tract are the fermented ginsenosides by intestinal microorganisms. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of fermented ginseng with bifidobacterium (FGb) on the angiogenesis by analyzing in vitro tube formation and invasion assay using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and in vivo angiogenesis using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Treatment with FGb inhibited tube-like structure formation in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, FGb significantly suppressed HUVEC invasion through Matrigel. Moreover, FGb dosedependently inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenesis in a CAM assay. These results suggest that FGb is a valuable anti-angiogenic remedy.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

Invasive Candida infections (ICI) have become the third most common cause of late-onset infection among premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Risk factors include birth weight less than 1,000 g, exposure to more than two antimicrobials, third generation cephalosporin exposure, parenteral nutrition including lipid emulsion, central venous catheter, and abdominal surgery. Candida colonization of the skin and gastrointestinal tract is an important first step in the pathogenesis of invasive disease. Strict infection control measures against the infection should be done in the NICU. The following practices are likely to contribute to reducing the rate of ICI: (1) restriction of broad-spectrum antibiotics, antacids and steroid; (2) introduction of early feeding and promoting breast milk. Fluconazole prophylaxis may be an effective control measure to prevent Candida colonization and infections in individual units with high incidence of fungal infection. In addition, there is a need of further data including the development of resistant strains and the effect on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants exposed to drugs before the initiation of routine application of antifungal prophylaxis in the NICU.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

From the Herbal Prescriptional Study of Bangpungtongsungsan(防風通聖散, BPTS). It can be concluded as follows. 1. The origin of BPTS is the book of sunmyungronbang(宣明論方) in 1172. BPTS' hebal compositons are not changed in history, but it's doses had been changed. When BPTS are written to dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) in 1610, that's doses are added 0.75g to each herbs dose according to the korean people's constitution. 2. BPTS are composed of five elemental prescriptions. that are yugilsan(六一散), bakhotang(白虎湯), hoechunyanggyeoksan(回春凉膈散), jowiseunggitang(調胃承氣湯) and saengryosamultang(生料四物湯), and three subsidiary prescriptions and some herbs have collateral effects in BPTS. 3. BPTS can cure some diseases that are cause by fever with wind, heat in gastrointestinal tract, anemia after childbirth, heat that is caused by kidney's disease, hemorrhoids, alcoholic poisoning, contusion and constipation that are caused by intestinal heat. 4. BPTS can cure hypertension, hyperlipidemia and Obesity also.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2012

For human including newborn baby, the intestinal microbiota can play an important role in the development of the intestinal mucosa and in maintaining the balance of the immune cells. Important functions of the intestinal microbiota include the inhibition of the colonization of the intestine by potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, the research of probiotics have been focused on the prevention and treatment of disorders associated with the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), including pathogen infection, traveler's diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and constipation. Probiotics have also been suggested as therapeutic agents against irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases. An increasing amount of evidence from clinical studies suggests that they are effective in the prevention of atopic allergies and may have potential anti-carcinogenic effects. Until recent years many scientific research for this use has been based on empirical observations. Therefore, probiotics in the form of fermented milk products have been long part of attempts to maintain good health in world wide.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2018

Bile acids are major constituents of bile and known to help absorb dietary fat and fat-soluble vitamins in the gastrointestinal tract. In the past few decades, many studies have shown that bile acids not only play a role in fat digestion but also function as broad range of signal transduction hormones by binding to various receptors present in cell membranes or nuclei. Bile acid receptors are distributed in a wide range of organs and tissues in the human body. They perform multitudes of physiological functions with complex mechanisms. When bile acids bind to their receptors, they regulate fat and glucose metabolism in a tissue-specific way. In addition, bile acids are shown to inhibit inflammation and fibrosis in the liver. Considering the roles of bile acids as metabolic regulators, bile acids and their receptors can be very attractive targets in treating metabolic disorders. In the future, if roles of bile acids and their receptors are further clarified, they will be the novel target of drugs in the treatment of various metabolic diseases.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2022

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Although progressive lymphadenopathy is a typical feature, extranodal involvement may also occur, including the gastrointestinal tract, skin, bone, thyroid, and testes. Central nervous system invasion is rare, so differentiating it from diseases such as inflammatory demyelinating disorder or infection is essential. DLBCL is therefore a challenge to diagnose, especially when the first findings are neurological symptoms. We report an unusual case of DLBCL that presented as transverse myelitis.