• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.427-436
• /
• 2021

Background: Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies have been used to treat patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). However, the effect of therapies in cancer patients has yet to be investigated comprehensively. We hypothesized that cyclic thermal therapy would improve blood flow and microcirculation and improve the symptoms driven by CIPN. Methods: The criteria of assessment were blood volume in region of interest (ROI) in the images, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 questionnaire scores. The blood volume was quantified by using red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy. All patients were treated 10 times during 10 days. The thermal stimulations, between 15° and 41°, were repeatedly delivered to the patient's hands. Results: The total score of the questionnaires, the score of questions related to the upper limbs, the score of questions closely related to the upper limbs, and the score excluding the upper limbs questions was decreased. The blood volume was decreased, and the variance of blood volume was decreased. During cooling stimulation, the blood volume was decreased, and its variance was decreased. During warming stimulation, the blood volume was decreased, and its variance was decreased. Conclusions: We suggest that cyclic thermal therapy is useful to alleviate CIPN symptoms by blood circulation improvement. RBC scintigraphy can provide the quantitative information on blood volume under certain conditions such as stress, as well as rest, in peripheral tissue.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2020

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by the core symptom of chronic widespread pain, along with fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and cognitive difficulties. The etiology of fibromyalgia involves a combination of biological factors, such as genetic vulnerability, alterations in pain processing and stress response system ; psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, anger, and perceived stress ; environmental factors, such as infections, febrile diseases, and trauma. Central sensitization, which is amplified in the process of sensory stimulation, has been emphasized as a key etiological factor, as supported by enhanced wind-up, delayed aftersensation, decreased nociceptive flexion reflex threshold and functional imaging studies. Several guidelines recommend that a multimodal approach be used to treat fibromyalgia, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, tailored to each individual, and that clinicians should provide an intellectual framework through sufficient education and emphasis on the importance of self-management. The prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric problems is 7-9 times higher in patients with fibromyalgia than in the general population ; moreover, the association between fibromyalgia and certain psychopathologies or sleep problems has also been suggested. Since psychiatric problems, with shared vulnerabilities and risk factors, interact with fibromyalgia bidirectionally and also affect the disease course, an integrated management approach is needed to determine the risk of comorbidities.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.67 no.4
• /
• pp.305-318
• /
• 2022

To minimize the effects of aging-related comorbidities and to maintain a good quality of life and physical independence for a longer period, the improvement of lifestyle and dietary habits is essential, and healthy foods can be helpful. Among them, medicinal plant such as ginseng (Panax ginseng) and bellflower (Platycodon grandiflorum) contain natural functional substances and have been used for disease treatment and prevention since ancient times. This review summarizes the scientific of these treatments basis by investigating the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic effects of major functional substances on the aging-related health effects of Panax ginseng and Platycodon grandiflorum. The main functional substances of Panax ginseng and Platycodon grandiflorum are saponins, which have a similar molecular structure and confirmed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anticancer, and anti-metabolic syndrome effects (improvement of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and obesity). Both types of saponins in Panax ginseng (Ginseonside) and Platycodon grandiflorum (Platycoside) have very low absorption profiles in their purified state, but methods to increase absorption in the body through extraction or fermentation have been studied.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Selaginella bryopteris L. (family: Selaginaceae), is often used in traditional Indian systems of medicine for the prevention and cure of several disorders and for the treatment of patient with spermatorrhoea, venereal disease, constipation, colitis, urinary tract infections, fever, epilepsy, leucorrhoea, beri-beri and cancer. It is also used as a strength tonic. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of topically administered aqueous, polar and non-polar methanolic fractions ($10mg/20{\mu}L$) of Selaginella bryopteris. Methods: An acute oral toxicity study of Selaginella bryopteris at doses from 250 to 2,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) was performed. Aqueous, polar and non-polar methanolic extracts ($10mg/20{\mu}L$) applied topically for 5 days were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory effects against 12-tetra-O-decanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA)- induced inflammation by using the redness in the ear, the ear's weight (edema), oxidative stress parameters, such as lipid-peroxide (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO), and the pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in inflammation, such as tumour necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and IL-6. Indomethacine ($0.5mg/20{\mu}L$) was used for the positive control. Results: Selaginella bryopteris produced no mortalities when administered orally at doses from 250 to 2,000 mg/kg bw. Topical treatment with the non-polar methanolic fraction ($10mg/20{\mu}L$) significantly suppressed redness ($2.4{\pm}0.5$) and edema ($30.4{\pm}1$) and effectively reduced the LPO level ($32.3{\pm}3.3$). The NO level was ($8.07{\pm}0.55$), and the $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 levels were decreased to $69.6{\pm}15.5$, $7.7{\pm}4.8$ and $82.6{\pm}5.9$, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated for the first time the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of medicinal plants like Selaginella bryopteris and quantified the pharmacological interactions between them. The present study showed this herbal product to be a promising anti-inflammatory phytomedicine for the treatment of patients with inflammatory skin diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.507-516
• /
• 2004

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a geriatric dementia that is widespread in old age. In the near future AD will be the commom disease in public health service. Although a variety of oriental presciptions in study POD(Polygala tenuifolia extracted from dichlorometan) have been traditionally utilized for the treatment of AD, their pharmacological effects and action mechanisms have not yet fully elucidated. It has been widely believed that AP peptide divided from APP causes apoptotic neurotoxicity in AD brain. However, recent evidence suggests that CT105, carboxy terminal 105 aminoacids peptide fragment of APP, may be an important factor causing neurotoxicity in AD. SK-N-SH cells expressed with CT105 exhibited remarkable apoptotic cell damage. Based on morphological observations by phase contrast microscope and NO formation in the culture media, the CT105-induced cell death was significantly inhibited by POD. In addition, AD is one of brain degeneration disease. So We studied on herbal medicine that have a relation of brain degeneration. From old times, In Oriental Medicine, PO water extract has been used for disease in relation to brain degeneration. We were examined by ROS formation, neurite outgrowth assay and DPPH scravage assay. Additionally, we investigated the association between the CT105 and neurite degeneration caused by CT105-induced apoptotic response in neurone cells. We studied on the regeneratory and inhibitory effects of anti-Alzheimer disease in pCT105-induced neuroblastoma cell lines by POD. Findings from our experiments have shown that POD inhibits the synthesis or activities of CT105, which has neurotoxityies and apoptotic activities in cell line. In addition, treatment of POD(>50 ㎍/㎖ for 12 hours) partially prevented CT(105)-induced cytotoxicity in SK-N-SH cell lines, and were inhibited by the treatment with its. POD(>50 ㎍/㎖ for 12 hours) repaired CT105-induced neurite outgrowth when SK-N-SH cell lines was transfected with CT105. As the result of this study, In POD group, the apoptosis in the nervous system is inhibited, the repair against the degerneration of Neuroblastoma cells by CT105 expression is promoted. Decrease of memory induced by injection of scopolamin into rat was also attenuted by POD, based on passive avoidance test. Taken together, POD exhibited inhibition of CT105-induced apoptotic cell death. POD was found to reduce the activity of AchE and induced about the CA1 in rat hippocampus. Base on these findings, POD may be beneficial for the treatment of AD.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2004

Green tea catechin (GTC) is known to have a wide variety of pharmacological activites. In the present study, the effects of GTC on acute hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) and galactosamine were examined in rats. Two doses (50 or 100 mg/kg) of GTC were administered to rats orally for 3 days befor or after the induction of hepatotoxicity. A hepatotoxicity was induced by the inpraperitoneal injection of the $CCl_4$ (0.5 ml/kg) or galactosamine (400 mg/kg). GTC(50 mg/kg) reduced the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level of the $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats in the pre-treatment group (from 262${\pm}$11, 80${\pm}$19 to 153${\pm}$22, 55${\pm}$25), and also in the post-treatment group (from 156${\pm}$40, 105${\pm}$3 to 106${\pm}$22, 55${\pm}$9), respectively. And GTC (50 mg/kg) also reduced the levels of AST and ALT in both pre-treatment (from 576${\pm}$24, 276${\pm}$68 to 236${\pm}$13, 115${\pm}$13) and post-treatment (from 233${\pm}$54, 137${\pm}$11 to 119${\pm}$23, 44${\pm}$17) when induced by galactosamine. GTC also showed the inhibition of pathogenesis of hepatocyte of $CCl_{4^-}$ and galatosamine-intoxicated rat. These results suggest that green tea catechin (GTC) may be useful fur the prevention and therapy of hepatotoxic pathogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.224-231
• /
• 2002

Purpose: This pilot study was performed to understand the pharmacological effect of olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic agent, on dopamine transporter in schizophrenic patients. Materials and Methods: Six patients (3 male, 3 female) with schizophrenia, who had not taken any psychotropic drugs for at least four weeks, were studied. Nuclear imaging using $[^{123}I]-{\beta}-CIT$ SPECT was obtained before and after 4-week treatment with olanzapine. Analysis of ROI on the striatum, caudate nucleus, and putamen was performed. Results: Post-treatment uptake was significantly increased in all the ROIs compared with pre-treatment uptake. Conclusion: This preliminary study with the small number of schizophrenic patients suggested an increase in uptake of dopamine transporter in the striatum, caudate nucleus, and putamen after 4-week treatment with olanzapine, which warrants a large-scaled controlled study to confirm the current findings.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.617-630
• /
• 2021

Chemotherapy-induced side effects affect the quality of life and efficacy of treatment of cancer patients. Current approaches for treating the side effects of chemotherapy are poorly effective and may cause numerous harmful side effects. Therefore, developing new and effective drugs derived from natural nontoxic compounds for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects is necessary. Experiments in vivo and in vitro indicate that Panax ginseng (PG) and its ginsenosides are undoubtedly non-toxic and effective options for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects, such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and hematopoietic inhibition. The mechanism focus on anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis, as well as the modulation of signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), P62/keap1/Nrf2, c-jun Nterminal kinase (JNK)/P53/caspase 3, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4)/JNK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT. Since a systemic review of the effect and mechanism of PG and its ginsenosides on chemotherapy-induced side effects has not yet been published, we provide a comprehensive summarization with this aim and shed light on the future research of PG.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Considering the impact of depressive illness on physical and mental health of both mother and fetus, specification of a treatment algorithm for depressive disorder during pregnancy is legitimated. This article provides a systemic review of treatments for depressive disorder during pregnancy and lactation. Methods : According to the search strategy of the Clinical Research Center for Depression of Korean Health 21 R & D Project, PubMed and EMBASE were searched using terms with regard to the treatment of depressive disorders during pregnancy and lactation. Reference lists of related reviews and studies were searched. In addition, relevant practice guidelines were searched using the PubMed. All identified clinical literatures were reviewed and summarized in a narrative manner. Results : Pharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation requires a comprehensive assessment of the risks and benefits of treatment for both mother and fetus or neonate. Recently, there is growing evidence that the use of tricyclic and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy and lactation does not result in increased risks of teratogenicity. Treatment strategies are described according to the point of time of pregnancy or lactation. FDA categories for antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation are described. In addition, issues regarding to the electroconvulsive therapy and psychosocial treatment are discussed. Conclusion : The treatment option for depressive disorders during pregnancy and lactation depends on the severity of depressive illnesses of the individual patient. For mild to moderate depression, the non-pharmacological treatment should be considered first. For moderate to severe depression, pharmacotherapy should be administered in addition to the psychosocial treatment. ECT is recommended for depressive disorder of severe intensity. As the research knowledge is limited, the recommendations should based on the best judgement of psychiatrists.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.10-14
• /
• 2012

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) has been defined as the deliberate destruction or alteration of body tissue without conscious suicidal intent. It occurs in conjunction with a variety of psychiatric disorders as well as various developmental disabilities and some syndromes. The behavior is destructive and causes concern and distress to all involved in the care and treatment of the affected individual. A 13-year-old girl with autism, mental retardation and delayed development was reffered from her pediatrician because of severe and painful lower lip biting. An intraoral examination revealed a diffuse swelling of lower lip. It was covered with necrotic slough and the ulcer and scarring of the lower lip was observed. We chose to use an oral removable prosthesis for Conservative treatment. It was decided to use a soft silicone mouthguard in the maxillary arch. Initially, she could not tolerate the appliance inside her mouth but soon adapted with the appliance. After one month, she lost the mouth guard and started lip biting. So we made mouth guard again. There are no standard methods for preventing self-injurious behavior in a patient who is developmentally disabled. Appropriate preventive methods must be developed for each individual patient based on close observation and clinical findings. Behavior modification techniques, pharmacological treatment, extraction of teeth, orthognathic surgery and intra/extra oral appliances can be performed for adjust self-injurious behavior. A suitable oral guard could be tried initially before employing more invasive approaches.