• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1150-1175
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the current status of traditional Korean medicine studies on chronic prostatitis in Korea, identify deficiencies, and suggest future medicine research methods to lay the foundation for traditional Korean medicine treatment. Methods: All domestic clinical research papers on the traditional Korean treatment of chronic prostatitis were selected from the literature published until October 2023 in three domestic databases. A total of 13 selected research data were classified into clinical research papers. Results: In clinical research papers, the basis for the diagnosis of cases was clinical symptoms through medical history listening and diagnosis through past visits to hospitals. The average treatment period was 7 weeks, and the duration of treatment was not significantly affected by the duration of the disease. The most widely used Korean medicine treatment intervention was herbal medicine. Conclusions: This study included all domestic clinical research papers on chronic prostatitis to identify research trends in the Korean oriental medicine community. Based on this, it is meaningful to confirm areas that need to be supplemented in future research plans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1295-1304
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• 2021

Modified Renshen Wumei decoction (MRWD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for treating persistent diarrhea. However, as the mechanism by which MRWD regulates diarrhea remains unknown, we examined the protective effects of MRWD on intestinal barrier integrity in a diarrhea model. In total, 48 male rats were randomly distributed to four treatment groups: the blank group (CK group), model group (MC group), Medilac-Vita group (MV group) and Chinese herb group (MRWD group). After a 21-day experiment, serum and colon samples were assessed. The diarrhea index, pathological examination findings and change in ᴅ-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) contents illustrated that the induction of diarrhea caused intestinal injury, which was ameliorated by MV and MRWD infusion. Metabolomics analysis identified several metabolites in the serum. Some critical metabolites, such as phosphoric acid, taurine, cortisone, leukotriene B4 and calcitriol, were found to be significantly elevated by MRWD infusion. Importantly, these differences correlated with mineral absorption and metabolism and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathways. Moreover, it significantly increased the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and p-NF-κB p65 proteins and the contents of IL-1 and TNF-α, while the expression levels of occludin, claudin-1 and ZO-1 proteins decreased. These deleterious effects were significantly alleviated by MV and MRWD infusion. Our findings indicate that MRWD infusion helps alleviate diarrhea, possibly by maintaining electrolyte homeostasis, improving the intestinal barrier integrity, and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB axis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.373-382
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• 2014

Objectives: This study is a report of the clinical application of traditional Korean medicine on ataxia with cerebellar atrophy. Methods: The ataxia in this case occurred 5 years ago. The symptoms had been getting worse until the patient came to hospital. The MRI of this patient showed atrophy of the cerebellum. We measured the state of this case with the Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS), before and after treatment and Numeric Rating Scale-11 (NRS-11) of the symptoms, every week. We treated the case with traditional Korean medicine such as acupuncture and Gamiyukmijihwang-tang. Results: After treatment, the score of K-BBS increased, while the score of NRS-11 decreased. Conclusions: According to this study, traditional Korean medicine is effective for controlling ataxia caused by cerebellar atrophy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.1109-1117
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the effects of traditional Korean medical treatment on a patient with asthma. Methods: The patient (female, 88) was treated with herbal medicine (Sojaganggi-tang), acupuncture, and moxibustion. The effects of these treatments were evaluated using the Modified Borg Scale (MBS) and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA). Results: Following treatment, the MBS score decreased from 7 to 4, and the QLQAKA score increased from 45 to 57. Conclusion: The results suggest that traditional Korean medicine can effectively treat patients with asthma.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.119-132
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• 2020

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical studies between 2015 and 2020 on the traditional Chinese medicine treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. Methods We searched clinical studies on the Chinese medicine treatment published in traditional Chinese medical journals on CTS through the CNKI search. Fifteen published studies between 2015 and 2020 were chosen and examined for the year of publication, sample size, study design type, diagnosis and evaluation of diverse criteria, treatment period, purpose of the study, and classification based on the treatment technique. Results Out of 73 studies, 15 had practiced various Chinese medical treatments, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, manipulation, herbal medicine application therapy, and external herbal treatment. Conclusions Various studies have investigated the Chinese medicine treatment for CTS in China. To envelope the treatment of CTS in Korean medicine, steady and valuable therapies for high-level clinical research are required. In the future, this study could be helpful in the development of the treatment of CTS with Korean medicine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.714-725
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• 2023

Background: Our previous investigation indicated that the preparation of Panax ginseng Meyer (P. ginseng) inhibited melanogenesis. It comprised salicylic acid (SA), protocatechuic acid (PA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA), vanillic acid (VA), and caffeic acid (CA). In this investigation, the regulatory effects of P. ginseng phenolic acid monomers on melanin production were assessed. Methods: In vitro and in vivo impact of phenolic acid monomers were assessed. Results: SA, PA, p-CA and VA inhibited tyrosinase (TYR) to reduce melanin production, whereas CA had the opposite effects. SA, PA, p-CA and VA significantly downregulated the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), cycle AMP (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), cycle AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) pathway, reducing mRNA and protein levels of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and TYRP2. Moreover, CA treatment enhanced the cAMP, PKA, and CREB pathways to promote MITF mRNA level and phosphorylation. It also alleviated MITF protein level in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells, comparable to untreated B16F10, increasing the expression of phosphorylation glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β), β-catenin, p-ERK/ERK, and p-p38/p38. Furthermore, the GSK3β inhibitor promoted p-GSK3β and p-MITF expression, as observed in CA-treated cells. Moreover, p38 and ERK inhibitors inhibited CA-stimulated p-p38/p38, p-ERK/ERK, and p-MITF increase, which had negative binding energies with MC1R, as depicted by molecular docking. Conclusion: P. ginseng roots' phenolic acid monomers can safely inhibit melanin production by bidirectionally regulating melanin synthase transcription. Furthermore, they reduced MITF expression via MC1R/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and enhanced MITF post-translational modification via Wnt/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2024

Cough is a common symptom of several respiratory diseases. However, frequent coughing from acute to chronic often causes great pain to patients. It may turn into cough variant asthma, which seriously affects people's quality of life. For cough treatment, it is dominated by over-the-counter antitussive drugs, such as asmeton, but most currently available antitussive drugs have serious side effects. Thus, there is a great need for the development of new drugs with potent cough suppressant. BALB/c mice were used to construct mice model with cough to investigate the pharmacological effects of pectolinarigenin (PEC). Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used to assess lung injury and airway remodeling, and ELISA was used to assess the level of inflammatory factor release. In addition, inflammatory cell counts were measured to assess airway inflammation. Airway hyperresponsiveness assay was used to assess respiratory resistance in mice. Finally, we used Western blotting to explore the potential mechanisms of PEC. We found that PEC could alleviate lung tissue injury and reduce the release of inflammatory factors, inhibit of cough frequency and airway wall collagen deposition in mice model with cough. Meanwhile, PEC inhibited the Ras/ERK/c-Fos pathway to exhibit antitussive effect. Therefore, PEC may be a potential drug for cough suppression.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2022

Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) is a common form of osteonecrosis of the knee and mainly affects the medial condyle due to localized vascular insufficiency. We report a case of SONK in a 65-year-old woman who had severe knee pain in her left knee whichimpeded her capacityto walk beyond 10 minutes. Bilateral knee X-rays revealed degenerative osteoarthritis of both knees and magnetic resonance imaging revealed R/O SONK in the lateral aspect of the medial femoral condyle, as well as a medial meniscal posterior horn root tear, and a Grade 1 medial collateral ligament injury. She was hospitalized at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine for 21 days and receivedcombination therapy includingacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. Patient-reported scales indicated that her pain and physical functional limitations were alleviated. Combination therapy consisting of Korean traditional medicine may bean alternative nonoperative treatment approach for patients with SONK.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.53-65
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report two cases of breast cancer patients whose side effects after Tamoxifen were treated with traditional Korean medicine. Methods: Two breast cancer patients underwent Tamoxifen after breast-conserving surgery, and both were treated with traditional Korean medicine. Subjective discomfort symptoms were evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale. Adverse events were assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 5.0. Results: After treatment with traditional Korean medicine, the discomfort symptoms that occurred after Tamoxifen, such as osteoarthritis, hot flushes, and cold sweat, all gradually improved. In addition, no hematologic, hepatic, or renal side effects were observed from the traditional Korean medicine treatment. Conclusion: This case study suggests that traditional Korean medicine may contribute to the improvement of side effects caused by Tamoxifen and enhance the quality of life of patients.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2014

Objectives Adverse reactions can becaused by contrast media used in computed tomography. The aim of this study was to report the improvement of allergic response caused by contrast media after treatment with Modified Hyeongbangpaedok-san, histamine antagonists and steroids. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records. The patient's subjective symptoms such as rash and pruritus were evaluated by the range of rash and numeric rating scale(NPS). Results All symptoms showed nearly complete remission with continued Korean traditional medical treatment. Conclusions A female patient had been injected with contrast media for Computed tomography(CT) evaluation of lung cancer. Rash and pruritus appeared 1 day after injection. We prescribed Modified Hyeongbangpaedok-san. Patients were treated with both Korean medicine and Western medicine. Consequently, the symtoms were improved significantly after combination treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine.