• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.614-621
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• 2010

A indigenous freshwater bivalve Unio douglasiae was introduced to compare the differences in the efficacy of algal bloom control and the appearances of mussel-mediated adverse effects between two different reservoirs such as mesotrophic (Shingu r.) and hypertrophic (Seokmun r.). We constructed the study mesocosm in the shore of each reservoir, stocked the mussel at density of $30indiv./m^3$ for 7 days, and measured daily the phytoplankton density and water quality. In mesotrophic reservoir, even though approximately 38% of suspended solids and chlorophyll-a was reduced by stocked bivalves for the first 3 days, algal density, ammonia and soluble reactive phosphorus gradually increased with increasing mussel death. In hypertrophic reservoir, mussels strongly inhibited suspended solids and chlorophyll-a by the termination of study with no increase of mussel death and nutrient, especially ammonia concentration. In both reservoirs, a strong selectivity showed mussels preferred to diatom rather than cyanobacteria and green algae without algal density and nutrient level. Our results indicate that an introduction of freshwater bivalve U. douglasiae is more strategic to improve water quality of hypertrophic than mesotrophic reservoir, but many preliminary studies on the treatment method and the selection of target water system are required.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.47-62
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• 2009

Atopic dermatitis induced NC/Nga mice were used to investigate the efficacy of HYT on the recovery of dermatitic symptoms by how HYT influenced the immune related factors. The results are as below: 1. Compared to the control, HYT treated group showed recovery of atopic dermatitis by the naked eye observation, and significant reduction of dermatits index was observed after 14 weeks. 2. HYT treated group showed significant decrease of the ratio of CCR3+, B220+/IgE+, and Gr-1+/CD11b+ immune cells in dorsal skin by 40.5%, 34.2%, and 48.1%, respectively. 3. HYT treated group showed increase in the ratio of CD19+ immune cells within PBMC by 10.8%, as well as decrease in CD3+, CD3+/CD69+, NKT+ ratios by 5.3%, 35.2%, and 44.9%, respectively. 4. HYT treated group showed increase in the expression of IFN-$\gamma$ in serum by 589.3%, whereas the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-$\alpha$, MCP-1 and RANTES were decreased by 31.4%, 82.1%, 97.1%, 39.5%, 83.7%, 26.1%, 48.6%, respectively. A 47.2% decrease in IgE expression was also observed. The results above strongly supported the improvement of atopic dermatitis by HYT treatment through immune modulation. Further studies on the synergistic effect of each ingredients of HYT and therapeutic effects according to the dosage of each ingredient should be followed for clinical applications. This work was (partly) supported by the RIC program of MKE(Ministry of Knowledge Economy) in Daejeon University.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.63-79
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• 2009

Atopic dermatitis induced NC/Nga mice were used to investigate the efficacy of Hyunggaeyunkyotanggamibang(HYGB) on the recovery of dermatitic symptoms through its influence on the immune related factors. The results are as below: 1. HYGB treated group showed improvement of atopic dermatitis with naked eye observation, and significant decrease of dermatitis index was observed after 14 weeks. 2. HYGB treated group showed significant decrease of the ratio of CCR3+, B220+/IgE+, and CD11b+/Gr-1+ immune cells in dorsal skin by 41.7%, 21.5%, and 23.8%, respectively. 3. HYGB treated group showed an increase of CD19+ immune cells by 10.3% in PBMC, whereas CD3+, CD3+/CD69+, NKT+ immune cells were decreased by 4.3%, 42.9%, and 21.7%, respectively. 4. HYGB treated group showed an increase in the expression of IFN-$\gamma$ in the serum by 514.3%. However, the expressions of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-$\alpha$, MCP-1 and RANTES were decreased by 21.2%, 69.8%, 90.5%, 28.7%, 72.2%, 26.1%, and 19.9%, respectively. Also, the expression of IgE was decreased by 44.3%. 5. HYGB treated group showed a decrease of the expression of IL-4 and IL-5 by 43% and 44.3%. The results above indicated that HYGB clinically used for atopic dermatitis treatment has objective validity, and therefore can be provided as the basic data for EBM(Evidence based medicine) construction for anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory studies.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.43-47
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of treating low back pain patients with Wan-Gwa acupuncture. Methods : Clinical study was conducted to 42 patients who were treated in Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibusion, Woosuk University Hospital from March 1 to December 31, 2010. Subject were randomly divided into two groups. In one group(control group), patients were treated with acupuncture. And in the other group(test group), patients were treated with both acupuncture and Wan-Gwa acupuncture. To estimate the efficacy of treatments, visual analog scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were checked. 13 patients were excluded and we investigated 14 patients of control group and 15 patients of test group entirely. Results : 1. In both two groups, VAS and ODI of patients were decreased significantly in the statistics 2. In test group, ODI of patients were decreased more significantly in the statistics than ODI of patients in control group. Conclusions : We suggest that cotreatment of acupuncture and Wan-Gwa acupuncture on low back pain patients can be recommended as a useful therapy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.217-231
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Saengmaekcheongpye-eum (SCE) on a LPS-induced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) model. Materials and Methods : The extract of SCE was treated to A549 cells and and LPS-induced COPD mouse model. Then, various parameters such as cell-based cyto-protective activity and histopathological finding were analyzed. Results : SCE showed a protective effect on LPS-induced cytotoxicity in A549 cells. This effect was correlated with analysis for caspase 3 levels, elastin contents, protein levels of cyclin B1, Cdc2, and phospho-Erk1/2, and gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in A549 cells. SCE treatment also revealed a protective effect on LPS-induced lung injury in COPD mouse model. This effect was evidenced via histopathological findings including immunofluorescence stains against elastin and caspase 3, and protein levels of cyclin B1, Cdc2, and Erk1/2 in lung tissue. Conclusions : These data suggest that SCE has pharmaceutical properties on lung injury. This study thus provides scientific evidence for the efficacy of SCE for clinical application to patients with COPD.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.488-496
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• 2004

Oral & Maxillofacial surgery can lead to complications that result in abnormal sensation or movement. Inferior alveolar nerve(IAN) injury can result in dysesthesia, paresthsia of the lower lip and chin, so patients presenting with IAN damage suffer from sensory loss. But diagnosis of the nerve injury is largely limited to the subjective statements made by the patient. Distribution of sympathetic nerves parallels the distribution of the somatosensory nerves. Loss of sensory tone causes a concomitant loss of sympathetic activity, resulting in vasodilation of the cutaneous blood vessels that demonstrates greater heat loss. Digital infrared thermographic imaging(DITI) detects infra-red radiation given off by body. DITI can detect minute difference in temperature from different parts of the body and translates the amount of heat into quantitative data. The area of different temperature correlated with pain or disease can be visualized by corresponding color. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of DITI in objectively assessing IAN injury. The 19 normal subjects and the 14 patients underwent DITI scan. The normal subjects received unilateral IAN block anesthesia with 2 ml of 2% lidocaine (IAN bolck group) to evaluate temporary alteration in nerve function. Patient group were patients with unilateral IAN damage (dysesthesia or paresthesia) after surgical treatment(Mn. 3rd molar Extraction, etc.). The surgical procedure performed within 6 months of test. The results were as follows. 1. No significant differences in temperature were found between left and right sides of the lower lip and chin in the control group. 2. Significant temperature differences were found between the anesthetized and non-anesthetized sides of the lower lip and chin in the IAN block group. 3. Significant temperature differences were found between the involved and uninvolved sides of the lower lip and chin areas of the experimental group. The results of the study show that DITI can be an useful and effective means of objectively assessing and visualizing IAN damage.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2010

Objectives The clinical trial was designed to investigate the safety and effects of Bofu-tsusho-san extracts on the change of the weight, body compositions, serum in obese patients. Methods This study was a 4-weeks, double blind, comparative clinical trial. Eligible subjects had a body mass index(BMI) greater than $25\;kg/m^2$ and waist circumference(WC) longer than 85 cm in woman or 90 cm in man. Among 38 subjects, 36 subjects were randomized either to Bofu-tsusho-san or placebo. After 4 weeks of treatment, we measured anthropometric factors(weight, height, WC, BMI etc.), abdominal fat area by CT scanning, serum lipid(total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol), blood level of variety(glucose, adiponectine, leptin, C-reactive protein(CRP) etc.), blood pressure(BP). Adverse events also evaluated. Results BMI, BP, TG, CRP were reduced and weight, WC, score of KOQOL(Korean version of obesity-related QOL scale), SRI(Stress response inventory) were significant changed in Bofu-tsusho-san. But there were no considerable difference between Bofu-tsusho-san and placebo. there were no serious adverse events in either group. Conclusion There were limitations in this study that it conducted within a short period of 4 weeks. but its weight and WC loss effect was significant and it had few adverse events.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2009

Bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt and Foot rot caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Phytophthora capsici respectively, continue to be severe problems to tomato, potato and black pepper growers in Vietnam. Three bio-products, Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 (EXTN-1), Bacillus sp. and Paenibacillus sp. (ESSC) and Bacillus substilis (MFMF) were examined in greenhouse bioassay for the ability to reduce bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt and foot rot disease severity. While these bio-products significantly reduced disease severities, EXTN-1 was the most effective, providing a mean level of disease reduction 80.0 to 90.0% against bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt and foot rot diseases under greenhouse conditions. ESSC and MFMF also significantly reduced fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt and foot rot severity under greenhouse conditions. Bio-product, EXTN-1 with the greatest efficacy under greenhouse condition was tested for the ability to reduce bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt and foot rot under field condition at Song Phuong and Thuong Tin locations in Ha Tay province, Vietnam. Under field condition, EXTN-1 provided a mean level of disease reduction more than 45.0% against all three diseases compared to water treated control. Besides, EXTN-1 treatment increased the yield in tomato fruits 17.3% than water treated control plants.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2004

Heptaplatin is a new platinum derivative with antitumor activity against gastric cancer. Preclinical studies showed that it is less toxic than other platinum analogues. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination therapy of heptaplatin and 5-fluorouracil in Korean advanced gastric cancer patients. This study was investigated retrospectively. The patients group consisted of 65 advanced gastric cancer patients with no prior radiotherapy. All patients received heptaplatin $400\;mg/m^2$ by 2-3 hour infusion on Day 1 and 5-FU $1000\;mg/m^2by 12-24 hour continuous infusion for 5 days. After the first cycle, subsequent doses were adjusted according to the toxicity. Courses were repeated every 28 days. As results, objective response occurred in 16 patients $(24.6\%)$. Two were complete and 14 were partial response. Median progression free survival was 32 weeks with $29\%$ of patients progression free at 1 year. The most common hematologic toxicity was anemia. Grade 3 or 4 anemia was seen at $2.7\%$ of treatment cycles. Grade 3 or higher leucopenia was seen at $1.2\%$ of cycles. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred at $6.1\%\;and\;1.5\%$ of cycles, respectively. The most common nonhematologic toxicity was proteinuria. Though no patients experienced grade 3 or 4 proteinuria, proteinuria was a considerable factor for this chemotherapy. Grade 3 or higher gastrointestinal toxicities were nausea and vomiting ($4.6\%$ of patients) and diarrhea ($1.5\%$ of patients). Grade 2 renal toxicity with elevation of serum creatinine was seen in $0.3\%$ of cycles, which is less than that of other platinum analogues. This study showed that combination therapy of heptaplatin and 5-FU have modest antitumor activity against advanced gastric cancer without severe renal toxicity.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.146-149
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• 2009

Purpose: Foot infections are common complications in patients with diabetes. The patients are usually immune-compromised; therefore the pathogens could be resistant to narrow spectrum antibiotics. Those drugs, however, are categorized as specially managed antibiotics, and access are difficult without confirming of the pathogens. Our aim was to analyze the common pathogens in diabetic foot infection and figure out the proper antibiotics. Materials and Methods: We studied 68 patients treated with diabetic foot infection. The pathogens which caused the infection and their sensitivity to initial antibiotics were analyzed. We also investigated the change of the antibiotics after the confirming of the culture result and average time to get the result. Results: Among the 68 patients, 56 (82%) received cephalosporin and beta-lactam antibiotics. Only 12 (18%) who were confirmed the drug resistant pathogens from previous culture, were treated with broad spectrum antibiotics such as vancomycin and tazoperan. Average culture study time was 6 days. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was cultured in 19 patients (28%), Methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococcus (MRCNS) in 11 patietns (17%), pseudomonas in 11 patients (17%). Total 44 (65%) including 3 of other antibiotics resistant pathogen needed broad spectrum antibiotics. Thirty two patients (47%) were resistant to initial antibiotics.irt follow up culture, 2 MRSA and 2 MRCNS were found. The antibiotics resistant pathogens were confirmed in 48 (71%) patients at last. Conclusion: Diabetic patients with foot infection need proper antibiotics from initial treatment. The proper broad spectrum antibiotics should assigned to the patients from the first time without the confirming of the culture results.