• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.536-544
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• 2009

Background: A combination of salmeterol and fluticasone propionate (SFC) and tiotropium bromide (TIO) is commonly prescribed for COPD patients but there is little data on their effectiveness, particularly in COPD patients with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This study compared the spirometric improvement based on the change in $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, and IC as well as the clinical outcomes of the therapeutic strategies with SFC and TIO versus the individual components in patients with severe COPD and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Methods: This study examined the spirometric data and clinical outcomes of 214 patients with COPD and hyperresponsiveness, who were divided into three groups according to the therapeutic regimen (TIO only, SFC only, and a triple therapy regimen). Results: All regimen groups showed early improvement in the $FEV_1$ and IC (at 3- and 6 months after treatment). However, long-term beneficial effects were observed only in the SFC group (at 24 months after treatment). However, these beneficial effects decreased after a 36-month follow up. In all spirometric results, the 12-, 24-, and 36-months data showed a similar degree of improvement in the three groups. The triple therapy group showed higher St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores and lower acute exacerbations and hospitalization. Conclusion: SFC can be a more important component in the pharmacological treatment of severe COPD patients with hyperresponsiveness than TIO, particularly in the spirometric and clinical outcomes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2018

Anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin and doxorubicin are effectively used more than radiotherapy. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug, used for treatment of various forms of cancer. However, it has side effects such as ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity increases tubular damage and renal dysfunction. Consequently, we investigated the beneficial effect of cynaroside on cisplatin-induced kidney injury using HK-2 cell (human proximal tubule cell line) and an animal model. Results indicated that $10{\mu}M$ cynaroside diminished cisplatin-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase-3 activation, cisplatin-induced upregulation of caspase-3/MST-1 pathway decreased by treatment of cynaroside in HK-2 cells. To confirm the effect of cynaroside on cisplatin-induced kidney injury in vivo, we used cisplatin exposure animal model (20 mg/kg, balb/c mice, i.p., once a day for 3 days). Renal dysfunction, tubular damage and neutrophilia induced by cisplatin injection were decreased by cynaroside (10 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 3 days). Results indicated that cynaroside decreased cisplatin-induced kidney injury in vitro and in vivo, and it could be used for improving cisplatin-induced side effects. However, further experiments are required regarding toxicity by high dose cynaroside and caspase-3/MST-1-linked signal transduction in the animal model.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.425-436
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• 2003

The present study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of common Korean legumes as a high-fiber supplement in therapeutic diets for diabetic patients. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were used as animal models and four kinds of legumes, black soybean (BS), yellow soybean (YS), green pea (GP) and soybean curd residue (SCR) were tested as high-fiber supplements. Seven groups of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were fed isocaloric experimental diets containing 8％ dietary fiber from one of four legumes or purified cellulose and pectin for 6 weeks. The effects of the legumes on the glucose and lipid metabolism of diabetic rats was examined and compared with the effects of cellulose and pectin. The legume supplementation did not show any beneficial effect on glucose tolerance, however, it exhibited a plasma cholesterol-lowering effect in diabetic rats. The cholesterol-lowering action was especially strong in BS and the degree of the effect was comparable to that of pectin. The levels of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglyceride in the hepatic tissues of rats fed legume diets were similar to those of the pectin group. All legume supplements induced an increase in fecal steroid excretion. The fecal cholesterol contents were significantly high following the supplementations of YS and SCR (p < 0.05). The excretion of fecal bile acids in the BS and YS groups was significantly higher than it was in the pectin group (p < 0.05). Concentration of lipid peroxidation products in the blood and urine of diabetic animals was lower in the legume groups than in the cellulose group. The levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation products were significantly lower in the BS and YS groups than in the pectin group (p < 0.05). From the results of this study, the plasma cholesterol-lowering effect of BS is possibly due to the significant (p < 0.05) in-crease in fecal steroid excretion, which suggests that BS could be beneficial in improving abnormal lipid metabolism in diabetic rats. (Korean J Nutrition 36(5): 425∼436, 2003)

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2012

Hyperglycemia or high glucose (HG), is the hallmark of diabetes, known to induce oxidative stress, release of chemokines, and cytokines, which confer endothelial cell damage. On the other hand, microbial transformation of organic materials often leads to certain changes in their product structures which could enhance their biological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of fermented Gastrodia elata (FGE) in HG induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) dysfunction. GE, fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has an extensive history of safe use, exhibited higher phenolic compounds content than those of Gastrodia elata (GE). The HG-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were significantly attenuated by FGE pretreatment to the cells, in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, FGE showed marked activity in free radical scavenging. These results suggest that FGE possesses beneficial effects in protecting against the oxidative stress, and inflammatory conditions in endothelial cells, caused by HG.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.711-716
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• 2019

Red Chinese cabbage is rich in anthocyanins, with beneficial effects on anti-obesity and lipid profiles. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-obesity effects of red Chinese cabbage. Four-weeks old Spague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups for six weeks as follow: Normal Diet (ND), High Fat Diet (HFD), HFD + Red Chinese Cabbage Diet (RCD), HFD + Red Chinese Cabbage Juice (RCJD). After six weeks, the liver weight was significantly higher in the HFD group than in the other groups, and the RCD and RCJD groups showed similar values to the ND group. The epididymal fats were significantly higher in all high fat diets (HFD, RCD, RCJD) than in the ND group and there was statistical significance in the post-tests when comparing the RCD and RCJD groups with the HFD group. Triglycerides significantly decreased in the RCD group. In conclusion, red Chinese cabbage is rich in anthocyanins, with beneficial effects on organ weight and lipid profiles.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.54-59
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• 2015

Purpose: Growth hormone (GH) therapy substantially improves several cognitive functions in PWS. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of GH on cognition remain unclear in PWS. In this study, we investigated the effects of recombinant human GH on the gene expression of GABAB receptor subunits and GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis genes in the brain regions of PWS-mimicking mice (Snord116del). Methods: Snord116del mice were injected subcutaneously with 1.0 mg/kg GH or saline, once daily for 7 days. The collected brain tissues were analyzed for mRNA content using quantitative PCR (qPCR) in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. Results: GH increased the mRNA expression level of the $GABA_{B1}$ receptor subunit ($GABA_{BR1}$) and IGF-1R in the cerebellum. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between the level of $GABA_{BR1}$ mRNA and the expression of the IGF-1R transcript. GH also induced an increase in the mRNA expression of IGF-2 and IGF-2R in the cerebellum. Conclusion: These data indicate that GH may provide beneficial effects on cognitive function through its influences on the expression of $GABA_{BR1}$ and GH/IGF-1 axis genes in PWS patients.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.279-287
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• 2010

In this study we examined the effects of water extract of garlic on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury, and demonstrated increased beneficial enzyme and anti-oxidant activity as well as histopathological changes (by Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining, Trichrome staining, and TEM examination), and showed that the treatment was dose-dependent and safe. A total of 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally (n=7) into six groups. To induce hepatotoxicity in these subjects, carbon tetrachloride diluted in an equal volume of olive oil was intraperitoneally administrated at 0.5 ml/kg (0.20 g/kg/day) once a day for five days. Water extract of Korean-grown garlic was administered via a stomach sonde once a day, 5 days a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Groups received 0.35 g/kg (E1), 0.70 g/kg (E2), or 1.40 g/kg (E3), with the dose adjusted for body weight. Administration of garlic extract resulted in positive physiological effects in terms of reduced oxidative stress and toxicity, and induced functional changes in the liver. Comparing the subject groups (E1, E2, E3) administered different doses of garlic extract, the importance of morphological analysis in further studies is emphasized, because morphological changes indicating hepatotoxicity could occur, even though beneficial enzyme activities were found to be elevated.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2020

Hypertension has been approved to cause disharmony between the heart and kidney such as cardiac hypertrophy and kidney dysfunction. In traditional oriental medicine Paeo-tang (PET) has been shown to have effects on blood circulation improvement. However, the beneficial effect of PET on hypertension remains unknown. In this study, we investigated that PET attenuates blood pressure and improves cardiovascular and renal function in NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) rat model. Hypertensive rat models were induced by the administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) and then PET (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) or Olmetec was treated for 2 weeks. PET treatment significantly suppressed the systolic blood pressure and decreased intima-media thickness in the thoracic aorta. PET ameliorated endothelium-dependent and independent vascular relaxation in the L-NAME-induced vascular dysfunction. PET ameliorated the functional decline in the kidney such as albumin and blood urea nitrogen in plasma. These results demonstrated that PET possesses protective effects against L-NAME-induced hypertension.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.421-429
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intestinal bacteria on the growth of enteric bacteria, especially infectious harmful bacteria such as food poisoning, gastritis and enteritis, and the growth of beneficial bacteria. By dividing the rat into three test groups; normal control group, Loperamide-treated group, and supercritical heat-treated radish complex extracts(HRE)-treated group, animal experiments were performed to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria without affecting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine. It was found that it can be usefully used as an effective and safe health food composition for improving intestinal function and bacterial intestinal disease. In particular, it can be concluded that supercritical heat-treated radish complex extract is a safe food that does not show any side effects even when taken for a long time.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2019

The study is to investigate effects of andrographolide on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Lewis rats were immunized on day 0 with porcine cardiac myosin to establish EAM. The EAM rats were treated with either andrographolide (25, 50, 100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 21 days. An antigen-specific splenocytes proliferation assay was performed by using the cells from control rats immunized with cardiac myosin. Survival rates, myocardial pathology and myocardial functional parameters (left ventricle end-diastolic pressure, ${\pm}dP/dt$ and left ventricular internal dimension) of EAM rats received andrographolide were significantly improved. Andrographolide treatment caused an decrease in the infiltration of $CD3^+$ and $CD14^+$ positive cells in myocardial tissue. Moreover, andrographolide treatment caused a reduction in the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-17 (IL-17) and myosin-antibody, and an increase in the level of IL-10 in EAM rats. Oral administration of andrographolide resulted in the decreased expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt without any change of PI3K and Akt. Further results indicate andrographolide significantly inhibited myosin-induced proliferation in splenocytes, and this effect was inhibited by co-treatment of SC79 (Akt activator). Our data indicate andrographolide inhibits development of EAM, and this beneficial effect may be due to powerful anti-inflammatory activity and inhibitory effect on PI3K/Akt pathway.