• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2017

Objective: The study purpose was to develop a drug information leaflet for the elderly and to evaluate it with performance-based user-testing. Methods: We performed a stratified randomized controlled trial. We recruited 62 elderly patients with age of 65 or above who were taking antidiabetic medications at the point of participating and excluded those who suffered illiteracy. We randomly allocated them into the intervention group with a leaflet for the elderly and the control group with a leaflet for the general public. Main outcome measures were to 'be able to find information' and to 'be able to understand information.' We measured outcome variables by employing performance-based user-testing and analyzed data to find any differences between two groups with t-tests, chi-squared tests or Fisher's exact tests accordingly. Results: More participants in the intervention group understood how to store their medications than those in the control group (intervention group 93% vs. control group 70%; p=0.02). There were no significant differences in other information items between two groups. Mostly 'being able to understand information' was lower than 'being able to find information.' The gaps between two outcome variables were about 10% in the intervention group and about 18% in the control group. The lowest understanding was observed in information relating to drug names and their potential adverse events. Conclusion: Without providing personalized drug information, it might be hard for the elderly to improve their drug knowledge even with leaflets that were developed specifically for the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.364-367
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• 2004

Cordyceps militaris (CM) has been used as antidiabetics, anticancer, endocrine and sexual functions enhancement in the traditional medicine. Water soluble fractions of CM showed cytotoxic activities on the three kinds of human cancer cell lines, stomachic adenocarcinoma(SNU-1), colorectal adenocarcinoma (SNU-C4), and hepatocellular carcinoma(SNH-354). Cytotoxic activity guided isolation and identification of active fractions afforded cordycepin as an active component.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.72-74
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• 1997

Antidiabetic activity of several herbal drugs, which are used as antidiabetics in folkmedicine, was evaluated. Among tested herbal drugs, extract of Astragali Radix significantly lowered blood glucose level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic model rat.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.180-189
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent living condition improvements, changes in dietary habits, and reductions in physical activity are contributing to an increase in metabolic syndrome symptoms including diabetes and obesity. Through such societal developments, humankind is continuously exposed to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and the number of the victims is increasing. This study investigated Cordyceps militaris water extract (CMW)-induced glucose uptake in HepG2 cells and the effect of CMW treatment on glucose metabolism. MATERIALS/METHODS: Colorimetric assay kits were used to determine the glucokinase (GK) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activities, glucose uptake, and glycogen content. Either RT-PCR or western blot analysis was performed for quantitation of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha ($HNF-1{\alpha}$), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3k), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, GK, PDH, and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta ($GSK-3{\beta}$) expression levels. The ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities of acarbose and CMW were evaluated by absorbance measurement. RESULTS: CMW induced glucose uptake in HepG2 cells by increasing GLUT2 through $HNF-1{\alpha}$ expression stimulation. Glucose in the cells increased the CMW-induced phosphorylation of AMPK. In turn, glycolysis was stimulated, and glyconeogenesis was inhibited. Furthermore, by studying the mechanism of action of PI3k, Akt, and $GSK-3{\beta}$, and measuring glycogen content, the study confirmed that the glucose was stored in the liver as glycogen. Finally, CMW resulted in a higher level of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activity than that from acarbose. CONCLUSION: CMW induced the uptake of glucose into HepG2 cells, as well, it induced metabolism of the absorbed glucose. It is concluded that CMW is a candidate or potential use in diabetes prevention and treatment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.428-435
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• 2006

Cortex Mori radicis has been used as a components of antidiabetics, antiasthma and diuresis in Oriental Medicine. This experiment examined the effect of an extracts, obtained from the acetone(CM-A) and aqueous(CM-W) extracts of Cortex Mori radicis, on hair growing activity of the C57BL/6N mice after topical application to skin. We investigated the number of hair follicle and mast cells, and changes of subpopulation of splenocytes and thymocytes in skin for 16 day. The results were as follows : The Hair growing effect in experimental groups was more increased in 85%(CM-A) and 90%(CM-W) than control group(10%) in hair depilated area. The number of hair follicle in experimental groups(CM-A and CM-W) was more increased than control group. Splenic B/T lymphocytes of CM-A group were decreased compare to control group. CD4/CD8 positive TH cells in splenic T lymphocytes of CM-W group were increased compare to control group. These results suggest that CM-A and CM-W may be used in treatment of alopecia areata.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was aimed to examine the financial effect of 2-tiered copayment system on annual expenditure of pharmacy benefit in the National Health Insurance (NHI) of Korea, focusing on oral antidiabetic medications. Methods: 284 oral antidiabetic products with 14 different active single ingredients listed in the National Formulary of NHI (August 2009) were assigned to tier 1 or tier 2 according to the selected criteria. 10 different combinations of coinsurance rates were selected to estimate the changes in drug expenditure cost of NHI. Results: The annual drug cost was estimated based on the drug price per unit listed in the National Formulary and the used amount of products in 2009 from the IMS Health data of Korea. In the combinations of coinsurance rate of 20% for tier 1 and 40% for tier 2, the total annual drug cost was estimated to be reduced by 1.3% in the case of no change of generic and original drug consumptions, and to be reduced by 4.3% in the case of 10% increased generic drug consumptions. Conclusion: The tiered copayment system with optimal coinsurance rates appears to be a potential strategy to reduce the financial burden of NHI in Korea by promoting the use of generic products.