• BMB Reports
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• 제55권9호
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• pp.417-428
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• 2022

Herbal medicine, a multi-component treatment, has been extensively practiced for treating various symptoms and diseases. However, its molecular mechanism of action on the human body is unknown, which impedes the development and application of herbal medicine. To address this, recent studies are increasingly adopting systems pharmacology, which interprets pharmacological effects of drugs from consequences of the interaction networks that drugs might have. Most conventional network-based approaches collect associations of herb-compound, compound-target, and target-disease from individual databases, respectively, and construct an integrated network of herb-compound-target-disease to study the complex mechanisms underlying herbal treatment. More recently, rapid advances in high-throughput omics technology have led numerous studies to exploring gene expression profiles induced by herbal treatments to elicit information on direct associations between herbs and genes at the genome-wide scale. In this review, we summarize key databases and computational methods utilized in systems pharmacology for studying herbal medicine. We also highlight recent studies that identify modes of action or novel indications of herbal medicine by harnessing drug-induced transcriptome data.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.571-581
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• 2009

Background : Early in November 2002, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began to spread throughout thirty-two countries around the world. A total of 5,327 cases were reported in China, including 1,755 cases in Hong Kong and 655 in Taiwan. The total number of cases reported from Canada and Singapore was more than 200. The total number of SARS cases world-wide reached 8,437 with incidences. Mortality from SARS is estimated at around 11%. Under the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO), clinical studies on the use of integrated herbal medicine and western medicine for treating SARS were carried out in China and Hong Kong. The official report suggested that integrated treatment was more effective than western medicine alone in clinical symptoms, lung inflammation, blood oxygen saturation, immunological functions and others. Objective : To overview the treatment principle and the prescriptions according to the regimens and the stages for SARS of the reports, and further to broaden our knowledge of treatment of acute infectious diseases using natural herbal medicine. Methods : We reviewed nine of WHO SARS reports that comprehensively described the principles and methods of treatment and summarized them into eight treatment methods. We analyzed the herbal formulae on the basis of their treatment principles, evaluated them in accordance with warm disease study, listed frequently used herbs, and assessed patent prescriptions and herbal injections that were mentioned in the reports. Results and Conclusion : The reports divided the course of SARS into 3 to 6 stages such as high fever stage, fastigium stage, and convalescent stage. Frequently used herbs were Radix Scutellariae, Radix Paeoniae, Radix Astragali, Semen Armeniacae, Radix Pseudostellariae, Radix Ophiopogonis, and Fructus Schizandrae. Herbal decoctions were the primary method of treatment, while extracts or injections were secondary. Prescriptions were mainly based on the warm disease study. SARS is a viral disease caused by corona virus, and herbal medicine is proven to be effective against it. We believe that evidences and experiences from SARS cases can be a good reference to further researches on acute infectious diseases.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2013

Objectives: This case report was conducted to introduce the effectiveness of herbal decoction on patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Methods: We closely observed two patients who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine 1 of Kyung-Hee Korean Medical Hospital due to ITP. We gave a herbal decoction to these patients and then analyzed the changes in their general conditions as well as blood test results. Results and Conclusions: The treatment with herbal decoctions was helpful for ITP patients.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.60-75
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• 2023

Objectives : A bibliometric approach using network analysis was applied to explore the global trends of research on herbal medicine for atopic treatment. Methods : Articles related to herbal medicine on atopic treatment from 2003 to 2022 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection. Extracted records were analyzed according to the publication year, research area, journal title, country, organization, author and keyword. The VOSviewer program was used to visualize the trends and the research hotspots in herbal medicine for atopy. Results : Analysis of 406 articles indicated the consistent increase of using herbal medicine for atopic treatment over the last 20 years. The most productive country and research organization in issuing articles were South Korea and Kyunghee university. Many articles have been published in research areas such as 'integrative complementary medicine' and 'pharmacology pharmacy'. By evaluating the total link strength, the average publication year and the average citations of countries and authors, the influential countries and authors were identified. A network analysis based on the co-occurrence and the publication year of keywords revealed the relevant characteristics and trends of herbal medicine for atopy. The most up-to-date keywords were 'topical application', 'skin barrier' and 'care'. Conclusions : This bibliometric study examined the overall trends and the time-based development of herbal medicine for atopic treatment. The current study would be useful not only for grasping the global network hub of research on herbal medicine for atopic treatment, but also to explore the new directions for future research.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.20-32
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of fumigation treatment, provide a clinical basis for fumigation therapy, and develop treatment protocols through consideration of treatment methods and herbal medicines. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled clinical trials using fumigation treatment on mycotic vaginitis in 8 electronic databases such as EMBASE, Pubmed, and CNKI. The results of the studies were analyzed and the risk of bias was assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias tool. A meta-analysis was performed to reveal the effectiveness of fumigation compared to control treatments. Results: We finally selected 5 studies among 54 articles according to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. In all selected studies, herbal fumigation was more effective than any control treatment and all the studies were statistically significant. Conclusions: The study provides a basis for applying fumigation treatment to patients with mycotic vaginitis and helps developing a treatment protocol of caring patients of mycotic vaginitis. But the limitation of this study is that the number of studies included is small and quantitative synthesis of all results has not been achieved.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.312-330
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• 2019

Objectives: The present study aimed to provide clinical evidence on the effect of herbal medicine on the treatment of hepatitis C using a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: This study included RCTs that verified the effects of herbal medicine for the treatment of hepatitis C. A literature search of English, Chinese, and Korean databases was performed, and the selected literature was assessed to investigate the risk of bias. Results: The analysis included 14 RCTs. The total effective rate was the most commonly used outcome measure. The meta-analysis revealed that the total effective rate and total bilirubin difference were higher and that the recurrent rate was lower in the herbal medicine group than in the western medicine group (RR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06-1.35, p=0.003, I2=52; MD: 0.52, 95% CI: -0.62 to 1.66, p=0.37, I2=0; RR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.11-1.09, p=0.07, I2=0). The included RCTs had relatively poor quality and a small sample size. Conclusion: Treatment with herbal medicine was found to be partially effective in treating hepatitis C. The included RCTs had relatively poor quality and a small sample size. This study can serve as a foundation for further clinical studies on the development of treatment methods for hepatitis C based on herbal medicine.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.329-336
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• 2020

Objectives: This case report intended to examine how herbal medicine treatment for breathingrelated sleep disorders applied with polysomnography affected the structure of sleep. Methods: From January to November 2019, we retrospectively reviewed the progress records and polysomnography reports of patients who visited Korean medical hospitals in Daejeon and Cheonan. Results: In case 1, the patient complained of daytime sleepiness and snoring and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea disorder and treated with Ukgan-san-gami. There were significant changes in the polysomnographic parameters, such as sleep efficiency, waking after sleep onset, sleep latency, the total arousal index, and the apnea-hypopnea index after herbal treatment. In case 2, the patient complained of frequent waking after sleep onset, daytime sleepiness, and snoring, and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea disorder and treated with Yeoldahanso-tang-gami. There were significant changes in the polysomnographic parameters, such as the total arousal index and the apnea-hypopnea index after herbal treatment. In case 3, the patient complained of daytime sleepiness and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea disorder and treated with Bangpungtongsung-san. There was no significant change in the polysomnographic parameters after herbal treatment. Conclusions: It is meaningful to note that objectively identifying the outcome of treatment for breathing-related sleep disorders is necessary in the clinical practice of Korean medicine.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.43-56
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review the trend of chinese clinical studies of herbal treatment for infertility caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Methods: We searched the clinical studies published from 1979 to 2013 through CAJ (Chinese Academic Journal) with keywords of "PCOS and 不孕" or "多囊卵 巢綜合證 and 不孕". We analyzed the intervention type of clinical studies. In addition, We researched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2009 to 2013, assessed the quality of RCTs using the Jadad Scale and reanalyzed the intervention type of RCTs. Results: One hundred and seventeen clinical studies were finally selected. Clinical studies of herbal treatment for infertility caused by PCOS increased remarkably after the 2000s in China. Combined herbal medicine and western medicine was used the most frequently. RCTs published from 2009 to 2013 were fifty. Average of Jadad score of RCTs was 1.2. Combined herbal medicine and western medicine was also the most frequently used as intervention in RCTs. Conclusions: Clinical studies on effect of combined herbal medicine and western medicine for infertility caused by PCOS were mostly published in China. But Quality of studies was generally low. Further research on effect of herbal treatment for infertility caused by PCOS is needed.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.147-153
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• 2021

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with unknown etiopathogenesis. This case report details remission of UC induced by Korean herbal medicine treatment. A 31-year-old male patient diagnosed as UC after a series of examinations including endoscopy and fecal calprotectin (FC) test. He had severe bloody diarrhea over 10-20 times a day despite taking 5-aminosalicylic acid and steroid. He was given individualized Korean herbal medicine Dowha-tang according to pattern identification. After taking Dowha-tang for 7 months, clinical remission was achieved. The symptoms disappeared and FC level went down to normal level. No adverse events were reported. This case report shows that Korean herbal medicine treatment may have the potential for clinical remission of UC. Further investigation is warranted.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.25-40
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to assess whether herbal medicine and acupuncture before in vitro fertilizationembryo transfer (IVF-ET) is effective on clinical pregnancy. Methods: From May 2010 to January 2011, a prospective analysis study was performed in 38 patients planning to undergo IVF-ET after taking herb medicine and acupuncture treatment. This study investigated the pregnancy rate and analyzed the change of dysmenorrhea by visual analog scale (VAS), body heat and condition of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), vaginal discharge and menstruation status. Results: 1. During herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment, five patients (13.16%) naturally became pregnant and six patients (15.79%) withdrew. After treatment, 15 patients (39.47%) received IVF-ET, 12 patients (31.58%) did not. 2. The biochemical pregnancy rate was 26.67%, the clinical pregnancy rate 26.67%, miscarriage rate 25% and ectopic pregnancy rate was 0%. 3. After treatment, PMS, dysmenorrhea and dysmenorrhea VAS was significantly decreased and the overall menstrual status improved. 4. After treatment, temperature difference of CV17-CV12 and CV4-CV12 increased, but it was not a statistically significant difference. 5. After treatment, decrease of hemoglobin and protein and increase of total bilirubin and creatinine were statistically significant. All the blood test results were within normal levels which proves safety of treatment. Conclusions: This study suggests that herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment before IVF-ET shows similar pregnancy rates with existing rates, but contributes to increasing the possibility of natural pregnancy.