• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.605-611
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report a 118-case series demonstrating the treatment of hypertension in a Korean medicine clinic and to evaluate the effect of Korean medicine. Materials & Methods: From 2006 to 2018, patients who visited a Korean medicine clinic for hypertension were investigated by studying changes in blood pressure before and after treatment with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Uwhangchungsim-won. The average treatment period was 81.6 days. Results: After treatment with Korean medicine, the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of all patients decreased significantly (p<0.001). The SBP decreased from $148.9{\pm}10.3$ to $133.8{\pm}13.9$, and the DBP decreased from $91.3{\pm}7.5$ to $82.5{\pm}9.0$. After treatment with acupuncture or Uwhangchungsim-won, the patient showed decreased blood pressure but the differences were not statistically significant when compared with the non-treated group. Conclusions: This study shows the real situation of hypertension treatment in Korean medicine and indicates that Korean medicine could be one of the primary treatment for hypertension. However, this study had limitations, such as variations in the treatment periods, the frequency of acupuncture treatments, and the type of antihypertensive drugs. For further evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment for hypertension using Korean medicine, a well-designed study should be undertaken.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.497-502
• /
• 2014

Extracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) cleaving activity of a particular cell type determines the rate of the degradation of extracellular NAD with formation of metabolites in the vicinity of the plasma membrane, which has important physiological consequences. It is yet to be elucidated whether intact human neutrophils have any extracellular NAD cleaving activity. In this study, with a simple fluorometric assay utilizing $1,N^6$-ethenoadenine dinucleotide (etheno-NAD) as the substrate, we have shown that intact peripheral human neutrophils have scant extracellular etheno-NAD cleaving activity, which is much less than that of mouse bone marrow neutrophils, mouse peripheral neutrophils, human monocytes and lymphocytes. With high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we have identified that ADP-ribose (ADPR) is the major extracellular metabolite of NAD degradation by intact human neutrophils. The scant extracellular etheno-NAD cleaving activity is decreased further by N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP), a chemoattractant for neutrophils. The fMLP-mediated decrease in the extracellular etheno-NAD cleaving activity is reversed by WRW4, a potent FPRL1 antagonist. These findings show that a much less extracellular etheno-NAD cleaving activity of intact human neutrophils compared to other immune cell types is down-regulated by fMLP via a low affinity fMLP receptor FPRL1.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.149-154
• /
• 2013

Liver enzyme elevations, as an indicator of liver function, are widely associated with metabolic diseases. Genome-wide population-based association studies have identified a genetic susceptibility to liver enzyme elevations and their related traits; however, the genetic architecture in childhood remains largely unknown. We performed a genome-wide association study to identify new genetic loci for liver enzyme levels in a Korean childhood cohort (n = 484). We observed three novel loci (rs4949718, rs80311637, and rs596406) that were multiply associated with elevated levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. Although there are some limitations, including genetic power, additional replication and functional characterization will support the clarity on the genetic contribution that the ST6GALNAC3, ADAMTS9, and CELF2 genes have in childhood liver function.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.443-454
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study assessed the application of Oryung-san (Wuling-san or Gorei-san), a common diuretic in traditional medicine, as an antihypertensive agent. Methods: Experimental studies of the pharmacological properties of Oryung-san, including diuretic action and lowering effects on blood pressure, and toxicology and clinical trials were reviewed. Results: In pharmacology, various, relatively safe diuretics are used to lower blood pressure and are the oldest and most studied antihypertensive agents. Despite many new drug approvals, antihypertensive diuretics are frequently used in Korea and Japan where high levels of sodium uptake are common. Oryung-san has been demonstrated to have diuretic, antihypertensive, and nephroprotective effects. Conclusions: Oryung-san might be effective for lowering blood pressure based on the results of this literature review. Further evaluations and large-scale clinical trials of Oryung-san to treat primary hypertension are warranted.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.1022-1029
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study surveyed doctors of Korean medicine on how they treat hypertension in their Korean clinical practices. Methods: An invitation to take an Internet-based questionnaire was sent to doctors who were registered in the Association of Korean Medicine in September 2016. Participants were first asked general profile questions, which included age, gender, work experience as a practitioner, and specialties. Second, they were asked whether they had experience with hypertension treatment and additional questions related to hypertension. Results: A total of 991 replies were received to the questionnaire. Most of the Korean medical doctors (95%) had blood pressure units and had monitored blood pressure. A majority of the Korean medicine doctors (55%) had provided hypertension treatment. Acupuncture and herbal medicine were commonly used for the treatment of hypertensive patients. In addition, bloodletting, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, cupping, Chuna, Qigong exercise, meditation, and Tai Chi were used. Many doctors also recommended lifestyle modification. The respondents said that Korean medicine improves general health conditions (42.6%) and has low adverse effects (29.9%). One of the most common opinions about the revitalization measures of Korean medicine was expanding health insurance benefits (20.8%). Conclusions: Through this survey, we found out information about the present situation of hypertension treatment in Korean medicine. In the future, it is possible that hypertension treatment using Korean medicine will be demanded and used by practitioners if it is covered by public health insurance.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.401-409
• /
• 2017

The primary cilium is a non-motile microtubule-based organelle that protrudes from the surface of most human cells and works as a cellular antenna to accept extracellular signals. Primary cilia assemble from the basal body during the resting stage ($G_0$ phase) and simultaneously disassemble with cell cycle re-entry. Defective control of assembly or disassembly causes diverse human diseases including ciliopathy and cancer. To identify the effective compounds for studying primary cilium disassembly, we have screened 297 natural compounds and identified 18 and 17 primary cilium assembly and disassembly inhibitors, respectively. Among them, the application of KY-0120, identified as Brefeldin A, disturbed Dvl2-Plk1-mediated cilium disassembly via repression of the interaction of $CK1{\varepsilon}-Dvl2$ and the expression of Plk1 mRNA. Therefore, our study may suggest useful compounds for studying the cellular mechanism of primary cilium disassembly to prevent ciliopathy and cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.43 no.8 s.210
• /
• pp.123-139
• /
• 2005

The Healthy Family Act was announced in February 2004 and has been in effect since January 2005. The purpose of this study was to determine some of the proper directions in the management of Healthy Family Centers based on the results of a six-month demonstration project. Family welfare services whose primary goal is to offer a system which support properly functining families and promoting their health, should be planned and provided from the perspective of the families involved, since they are the recipients of welfare services. furthermore, it's needed to stay abreast with rapid social changes that necessarily contribute to altering people's values. Healthy Family Centers will be placed in local communities and offer efficient education, counseling and family culture programs tailored to diverse family needs. In order to make, this work properly, all specialists and organizations associated with the project should make concerted efforts on a long-term basis.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.323-333
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of situational, clinical and psychsoical factors on treatment-seeking behavior among those with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). This study used a retrospective, descriptive design. The sample consisted of 72 patients aged over 30 and who were diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction at two large university-affiliated medical centers from July 1, 1998 to March 30, 2000. But of 72, patients 5 who were an outlier in treatment-seeking time were deleted. Data were collected by using questionnaires, which included demographic data, situational, clinical and psychosocial data. Also patient interviews and chart review were used to obtain information related to treatment-seeking time. The results of this study were summarized as follows ; 1. Mean time from the onset of AMI symptoms to arrival at the hospital was $12.09{\pm}11.44$ hours; 2. Treatment-seeking time was not significantly different by age, gender, or education; 3. Most(44 or 65.78%) patients were at home when they began having AMI symptoms. The remaining patients were either in a public area, workplace or in a car. Patients at home delayed longer than those who had their first symptoms elsewhere, but not significantly different. Also, most patients were with another person when they began to experience AMI symptoms: a spouse(25 or 37.3%), other family member(31 or 46.3%); the remaining 11 were alone. There were no significant differences in treatment-seeking time based on whether alone or with others. Most patients(46 or 68.7%) used an ambulance rather than taking private transportation, and patients who used an ambulance were delayed longer than those who used private transportation, but there were no significant differences; 4. Time to treatment-seeking was not significantly different by blood pressure, heart rate on admission and the peak CK-MB, CPK and Cholesterol level, Killips class; 5. There were no significant statistical differences in treament-seeking times by anxiety level, mood status or control ability.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.116-122
• /
• 2008

Fungal floras were investigated for the lysimeter soil treated with municipal sewage sludge (MSS), pig manure compost (PMC), industrial sewage sludge (ISS), leather processing sludge (LS), and alcohol fermentation processing sludge (FS). Fungal populations were higher in the FS, ISS, LS, or MSS-treated soil than in the chemical fertilizer-treated soil. Isolated fungi from the sewage sludge were identified as Penicillium spp., Gliocladium spp., Acremonium spp., Trichoderma spp., Aspergillus spp., Blastomyces spp., and Phoma spp.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.414-420
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, turbidity and pH on the growth of pathogenic Vibrios. In this study, we was obtained the samples from 2 different sites of the Incheon coastal area between January 2012 and December 2012. The water temperature in August and September was the high. the Incheon port changes the width of a small, wherease in the case of Hanjin harbor of changes of larger width. Salinity and turbidity showed significant differences, whereas temperature and hydrogen ion concentration was not significant. Pathogenic vibrios was determined using the real-time PCR method. Pathogenic vibrios in the Incheon port and Hanjin harbor were detected in 11 samples (91.67%) and 9 samples (75.0%) of Vibrio cholerae, 7 samples (58.3%) and 6 samples (50.0%) of V. vulnificus, 10 samples (83.3%) and 12 samples (100.0%) of V. parahaemolyticus, respectively. Pathogenic Vibrio bacteria were the highest at $26.8^{\circ}C$ of seawater in August. Quantitative results were the following: 102 $cell/m{\ell}$ in Vibrio cholerae, 7.876 $cell/m{\ell}$ in V. vulnificus, and 503.4 $cell/m{\ell}$ in V. parahaemolyticus, respectively. The enumeration of pathogenic vibrios showed a positive correlation with temperature and pH, but was negatively correlated with salinity and turbidity.