• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.81-98
• /
• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze the trends in research and development projects related to herbal medicine and natural products in the field of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) over the past 20 years. Methods : Research projects were identified using "Korean medicine" as the subject heading in the National Science and Technology Information Service. The included projects investigated Korean medicine, natural products, or were related to the TKM industry. Data pre-processing and network analysis were performed using Python and Networkx package, and the network was visualized using the ForceAtlas2 visualization algorithm. Results : 1. Over the study period, 4,020 projects were conducted with a research budget of KRW 835.2 billion. Seven institutions performed over 100 projects each, accounting for 2.4% of all participating institutions, and the top 10 institutions accounted for 58.9% of total projects. 2. Obesity was the most frequently mentioned disease-related keyword. Chronic or age-related diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, parkinson's disease, cancer, inflammation, and asthma were also frequent research topics. Clinical research, safety, and standardization were also frequently mentioned. 3. Centrality analysis found that obesity was the only disease-related keyword identified, alongside TKM-related keywords. Standardization, safety, and clinical trials were identified as central keywords. Conclusions : The study found that research projects in TKM have focused on standardizing and ensuring the safety of herbal medicine, as well as on chronic and age-related diseases. Clinical studies aimed at verifying the effectiveness of herbal medicine were also frequent. These findings can guide future research and development in herbal medicine.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2019

Elicitor treatment was performed to increase the anti-inflammatory activity of useful biological sources. The result showed that elicitor-treated Saururus chinensis leaf extracts positively affected nitric oxide (NO) production, and the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 compared to extracts not exposed to elicitor treatment. This finding identified elicitor treatment as a suitable strategy for increasing the biological activity of S. chinensis. Therefore, elicitor-treated S. chinensis is useful both as health functional and medicinal materials.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2016

Objectives : This is a study for technological forecasting, aiming to find out the promising future technologies in KM(Korean Medicine) and deduce implications for the research and development of KM. Methods : The first pool of 145 technological tasks related to KM were composed by reviewing the existing data related to technological forecasting. The steering committee for the research set 99 final technological tasks. With the deduced technological tasks, mini-Delphi(2-round) method was conducted and 6 research items were used-the importance, realization time, urgency, technological competitiveness, the main agent that will push forward the task, and obstacles. Results : As a result on the time when the technology will be realized, 58 out of 99 technologies(59%) were predicted to be realized in the same year domestically and globally. The average of the importance of the 99 technological tasks was 72.9. Among them. As for the main agent to push forward the research and development of future technologies, 'industry-academic cooperation' took the highest portion at 58.7%, and regarding the obstacles to realize technological tasks, the lack of infrastructure(research funds) was the highest at 33.6%. Conclusions : This study shows that the development of basic technologies in the technologies of Korean medicine is insufficient and it is believed that the development of basic technologies is urgent to promote the development of application technologies.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2015

Objectives : This Study aims to search for the actual prescriptions worth being Insured Herbal Mixture Extracts(IHME), which frequently used frequently in the clinical settings by comparing clinical prescriptions with the list of prescriptions covered under the national health insurance system. Methods : By making comparisons of the herb weight ratios of IHME with those recorded in EMR, the frequency is measured on the basis of the IHME and the frequency indication is computed for the clinical prescriptions with lower level of differences. Results & Conclusions : On the basis of the details of the clinical prescriptions used at the EMR, we have found out that many clinical prescriptions of EMR are similar for banhasasim-tang, banhabaekchulcheonmatang, bojungikgi-tang and jaeumganghwa-tang in the national health insurance system. And we could analyze indications of those prescriptions. So, if we can make a similarity criteria of prescriptions and this methods are used at nationwide research, we will be able to obtain a satisfactory result in study, medical industry and clinics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.290-298
• /
• 2013

This study examined the effects of calcium (Ca) gluconate on collagen-induced DBA mouse rheumatoid arthritis (CIA). A single daily dose of 200, 100 or 50 mg/kg Ca gluconate was administered orally to male DBA/1J mice for 40 days after initial collagen immunization. To ascertain the effects administering the collagen booster, CIA-related features (including body weight, poly-arthritis, knee and paw thickness, and paw weight increase) were measured from histopathological changes in the spleen, left popliteal lymph node, third digit and the knee joint regions. CIA-related bone and cartilage damage improved significantly in the Ca gluconate-administered CIA mice. Additionally, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the paw were reduced in Ca gluconate-treated CIA mice compared to CIA control groups. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the Ca gluconate group. Finally, the production of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, involved in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, were suppressed by treatment with Ca gluconate. Taken together, these results suggest that Ca gluconate is a promising candidate anti-rheumatoid arthritis agent, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunomodulatory effects in CIA mice.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.79-89
• /
• 2011

호장근(Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb et Zucc.)은 관절통, 만성 기관지염, 황달, 월경분순, 고협압 등의 치료제로 사용되고 있는 약물로서, 본 연구에서는 흰쥐의 류마티스 관절염 병태모델에서 호장근 약침이 류마티스 관절염에 미치는 영향에 대해 관찰하였다. 방법 : 본 연구에서는 bovine type II collagen으로 유발된 흰쥐의 류마티스 관절염 병태모델에서 인체의 족삼리(ST36)에 상응하는 부위에 호장근 약침액을 주입한 후, 체중변화, 족부종의 변화, 족근관절폭의 변화, cytokine의 변화, NOS 발현 양상 등을 관찰하였다. 결과 : 족부종 감소율은 고농도 호장근 약침군에서 높았고, 족근관절폭 감소율은 고농도 및 저농도 호장근 약침군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 높게 관찰되었다. 족부 삼출물 내의 TNF-${\alpha}$ 함량은 고농도 호장근 약침군에서 높았고, IL-$1{\beta}$ 함량은 고농도 및 저농도 호장근 약침군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 높게 관찰되었다. 대뇌 피질에서 NOS 양성 신경세포수는 고농도 및 저농도 호장근 약침군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 낮게 관찰되었다. 결론 : 이상의 결과에서 호장근 약침은 type II collagen으로 유발된 흰쥐의 류마티스 관절염 병태모델에서 염증 반응을 억제하는 효과가 있는 것으로 사려된다.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2017

It is suggested that the dose limit recommended in the Enforcement Decree of Korea's Nuclear Safety Act should not exceed 150 mSv per year for radiation workers. Recently, however, ICRP 118 report has suggested that the threshold dose of the lens should be reduced to 0.2~0.5 Gy and the mean dose should not exceed 50 mSv per year for an average of 20 mSv over 5 years. Based on these contents, $^{123}I$, $^{99m}Tc$, and $^{18}F-FDG$, which are radioisotope drugs that are used directly by radiation workers in the nuclear medicine department in Korea are expected to receive a large dose of radiation in the lens in distribution and injection jobs to administer them to patients. The ED3 Active Extremity Dosimeter was used to measure the dose of the lens in the nuclear medicine and radiation workers and how much of the dose was received per 1 mCi.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.203-210
• /
• 2011

To evaluate the ability of Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf) leaf extract (BL) to protect the skin from photodamage, the gross and microscopic changes in the skin of hairless mice and BL-treated mice exposed chronically to ultraviolet (UV) were examined. The skin of the UV-irradiated mice showed characteristic signs of photoaging, such as deep wrinkles across the back, increased epidermal thickeness, numerous cell infiltration, and many enlarged keratinizing cysts. BL-treated mice showed a significantly decreased wrinkling score and lack of proliferation of cysts. By the 22nd week, 88.9% (i.p. with saline) or 60.0% (topical administration with cream base) of the UV-irradiated mice developed at least one tumor. BL delayed tumor onset significantly. BL (i.p.) was also effective in reducing the occurrence of UV radiation-induced skin tumors and reduced the number of tumors per mouse. After 22 weeks of treatment, 37.5% (i.p.) of the mice treated with BL were tumor-free. Tumor multiplicity was reduced by 81.2% (i.p.) in the BL treated groups. It is noted that skin that is chronically exposed to UV is subject to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis and regular use of BL would prevent these photodamaging effects of UV.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.361-376
• /
• 2022

Objectives: To understand experiences of daily life and Korean medicine treatment process and perspectives of caregivers caring for children with tic disorder. Methods: A semi-structured interview was conducted with caregivers of patients under 13 years who were experiencing Korean medicine treatment for tic disorder. A total of five participants were interviewed. The analysis was performed according to a four-step phenomenological method. Results: The following four components were derived from the experience of caring for children with tic disorder: general perception of tics, negative emotions caused by tics, social deprivation, and living with a child with tics. The following four components were derived from Korean medicine treatment experience for tic disorders: criteria for selecting treatment, awareness of Korean medicine, treatment experience in Korean medicine, and what needs to be improved. Conclusions: According to results of this study, caregivers caring for children with tic disorder experienced negative emotions such as frustration, guilt, and anxiety. They also experienced social deprivation such as stigma and prejudice. Korean medicine treatment can be an effective alternative for improving symptoms of tic disorders. The application of insurance benefits to Korean medicine is needed for patients and caregivers to autonomously choose treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.145-158
• /
• 2022

Objectives: To identify changes in the subjects and methods of Herbal Medicine Consumption Survey, and analyze trend of the key results Methods: The population, methods, and items of the basic reports of all Surveys on Consumption of Herbal Medicine(HM) were organized in a time-series manner. The analysis items were trend in the purchase of standardized HM; consumption value share, and price of prepared HM; type of herbal dispensary; and awareness of HM policy in Koran Medicine(KM) institutions. Results: The price of HM preparations showed an upward trend in 2011, 2014, and 2017 surveys, and decreased in the 2020 survey. However, despite this recent decrease, the 2021 survey also saw the highest proportion of HM users reporting that price of herbal decoction is expensive. Furthermore, the demand for expanded coverage of herbal decoction was the greatest for the expansion of health insurance benefits. Efforts such as adjusting the number of covered diseases and the cost of health insurance coverage would be necessary. Regarding decoction dispensaries the proportion of HM hospitals using only extramural herbal dispensaries increased. Finally, the consumption of HM and the size of the HM industry has continued to expand due to the large-scale branding of KM institutions and the expansion of health insurance coverage. Conclusion: Future surveys must standardize and unify the items for the time-series continuity and compare the results with government statistics reports on HM to increase reliability. Moreover, specialized survey items may be developed for KM, to establish a better and efficient distribution system for domestic HMs.