• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fluvastatin on the pharmacokinetics of repaglinide in rats. The effect of fluvastatin on P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4 activity was evaluated. The pharmacokinetic parameters and blood glucose concentrations were also determined after oral and intravenous administration of repaglinide to rats in the presence and absence of fluvastatin. Fluvastatin inhibited CYP3A4 activity in a concentration-dependent manner with a 50% inhibition concentration($IC_{50}$) of 4.1 ${\mu}M$ and P-gp activity. Compared to the oral control group, fluvastatin significantly increased the AUC and the peak plasma level of repaglinide by 45.9% and 22.7%, respectively. Fluvastatin significantly decreased the total body clearance (TBC) of repaglinide compared to the control. Fluvastatin also significantly increased the absolute bioavailability (BA) of repaglinide by 46.1% compared to the control group. Moreover, the relative BA of repaglinide was 1.14- to 1.46-fold greater than that of the control. Compared to the i.v. control, fluvastatin significantly increased the $AUC_{0-{\infty}}$ of i.v. administered repaglinide. The blood glucose concentrations showed significant differences compared to the oral controls. Fluvastatin enhanced the oral BA of repaglinide, which may be mainly attributable to the inhibition of the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of repaglinide in the small intestine and/or liver, to the inhibition of the P-gp efflux transporter in the small intestine and/or to the reduction of TBC of repaglinide by fluvastatin. The study has raised the awareness of potential interactions during concomitant use of repaglinide with fluvastatin. Therefore, the concurrent use of repaglinide and fluvastatin may require close monitoring for potential drug interactions.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.48-61
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the ordinary symptoms, special symptoms and Body Mass Index (BMI) according to Sasang constitution in female college students. Also, we aimed to analyze the factors affecting BMI. Methods Forty-four female college students participated in this study. Sasang Constitution was determined by Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification (QSCC) II. BMI was measured and ordinary symptoms were acqired through the questionnaire. Special symptoms was determined by Fatigue Severity Index (FSS), Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool (PSST), ROME III, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), respectively. For statistical analysis, t-test, analysis of variance and correlation test has been used. Results There existed significant differences in ordinary symptoms and special symptoms between sasang constitutions. Taeumin had higher urine frequency than soyangin, soeumin had higher gap of feces than taeumin. Taeumin had higher BMI and ROME III score than soyangin and soeumin. They showed significant differences in ordinary symptoms and special symptoms according to BMI. Overweight and obese group is higher in water intake than low and normal group. Low weight and normal group is higher in gap of feces than overweight and obese group. High score group in PSST and ROME III showed high BMI than low score group. We analyzed the factors that affect BMI. BMI are highly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Also, FSS, PSST, ROME III and OSDI showed high correlation with each other. Conclusion Urine frequency and gap of feces are different among sasang constitutional types. The obese group and normal group showed significant differences in water intake, gap of feces, PSST and ROME III score. It is found that factors that affecting BMI are systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These results may lead to identifying the causes and factors of obesity in female college students related to Sasang constitution.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1292-1298
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• 2009

Sipjeon-Daebo-Tang (SDT) is indicated for deficiency syndrome of both gi and blood, marked by pale or sallow complexion, dizziness, lassitude, shortness of breath, dislike for talking, poor appetite, pale tongue with thin whitish fur, thready and weak pulse. Gami-Sipjeon-Daebo-Tang(GSDT) is composed of 10 herbs within SDT and Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu (CPC). CPC can noursh kidney-yang, promote the production of the essence and blood, strengthen tendons and bones. Recently SDT is known as anti-cancer drug. Especially CPC is reported to have anti-oxidative action. For these reasons, we investigated the protective effects on cell death induced by chemicals such as paraquat, hydrogen peroxide and anti-oxidative effects in C6 glioma cells. In our results, GSDT accelerated proliferation rates of C6 cells in vitro. In addition, protective effects on cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide and rotenone. In addition, SOD activities were increased by treatment with both SDT and GSDT. In conclusion, these results suggest the possibility of GSDT to protect brain cell or neuronal cell from damage induced by oxidative stress. And also suggest that related mechanisms are involved in SOD activities.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1349-1357
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Shigyungbanha-tang(SGT) on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced acute lung injury(ALI) in mice. 1 and 24 h before LPS intratracheal instillation, control group was taken distilled water orally. Treated groups was taken each concentrate SGT(2.5 g/kg, 6.7 g/kg) by orally as same times. Normal group was not instilled with LPS and was taken distilled water. 24 h after LPS intratracheal instillation, lung histology was performed in inflated-fixed lungs in 3 mice of each groups. The other mice of each groups, bronchoalveolar lavege fluids(BALF) was obtained to measure proinflammatory cytokines(TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6) and blood sample was obtained to measure white blood cell(WBC). In vitro, the effect of SGT($100\;ug/m{\ell}$, $500\;ug/m{\ell}$, $1000\;ug/m{\ell}$) on the release of RANTES, TARC induced by TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-4 in human alveolar epithelial cell(A549) was examined. Histopathologically, SGT prevented LPS-induced lung injury. SGT decreased protein, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 according to concentrations. In vitro, $500\;ug/m{\ell}$, $1000\;ug/m{\ell}$ concentrate SGT suppressed the expression of RANTES and TARC on A549 cells. On the basis of these results, SGT had a markedly anti-inflammatory effect in a clinically relevant model of ALI. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to determine the potential clinical usefulness of SGT in the adjunctive therapy of ALI.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1670-1675
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• 2007

The pulse diagnosis studies reported to date has mainly been performed to clinically reveal the pulse wave characteristics according to the specific diseases, whereas no attempts have been made to study the effects on the pulse wave characteristics of the daily activities such as taking meals, exercise, and sleep, etc. This work reports the effect of feeding stimulus on the healthy subjects on the pulse wave pattern which has quantitatively been analyzed using the objective model for the pulse diagnosis in oriental medicine. The pulse waves right before/after the meal and 30 minutes after the meal were measured using the pulse analyzing equipment (3D-Mac, Daeyo Medi, Korea) and at the same time oriental medicine doctors' diagnoses were given. The pulse parameters obtained from the equipment and clinical records on the subjects were statistically processed and the variables showing statistically significant differences were analyzed. The results indicate that the pulse pressure, the pulse rate, and the respiratory rate increase while the blood pressure decreases after the meal. For the floating/sinking and the deficient/excess coefficients characterizing the pulse states described in the oriental medicine, the floating/sinking coefficients were observed to decrease whereas the deficiency/excess coefficients increase after the meal. The results indicates that besides the standard bio-indicators like blood pressure and respiratory rate, etc., the pulse wave characterization in terms of the pulse classifications in the oriental medicine using the floating/sinking, deficient/excess pulse states provide an important piece of biomedical information.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.287-295
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• 1998

Diazepam is known to have cardiovascular depressive effects through a combined action on benzodiazepinergic receptor and the GABA receptor-chloride ion channel complex. Moreover, it is known that barbiturates also have some cardiovascular regulatory effects mediated by the central GABAergic system. Therefore, this study was undertaken to delineate the regulatory actions and interactions of these systems by measuring the responses of the cardiovascular system and renal nerve activity to muscimol, diazepam and pentobarbital, administered intracerebroventricularly in rabbits. When muscimol $(0.03{\sim}0.3\;{\mu}\;g/kg)$, diazepam $(10{\sim}100\;{\mu}\;g/kg)$ and pentobarbital $(1{\sim}10\;{\mu}\;g/kg)$ were injected into the lateral ventricle of the rabbit brain, there were similar dose-dependent decreases in blood pressure (BP) and renal nerve activity (RNA). The relative potency of the three drugs in decreasing BP and RNA was muscimol ＞ pentobarbital ＞ diazepam. Muscimol and pentobarbital also decreased the heart rate in a dose-dependent manner; however, diazepam produced a trivial, dose-independent decrease in heart rate. Diazepam $(30\;{\mu}g/kg)$ augmented the effect of muscimol $(0.1\;{\mu}g/kg)$ in decreasing blood pressure and renal nerve activity, but pentobarbital $(3\;{\mu}g/kg)$ did not. Bicuculline $(0.5\;{\mu}g/kg)$, a GABAergic receptor blocker, significantly attenuated the effect of muscimol in decreasing BP and RNA, either alone or with diazepam, and that of pentobarbital in decreasing BP and RNA, either alone or with muscimol. We inferred that the central benzodiazepinergic and barbiturate systems help regulate peripheral cardiovascular function by modulating the GABAergic system, which adjusts the output of the vasomotor center and hence controls peripheral sympathetic tone. Benzodiazepines more readily modulate the GABAergic system than barbiturates.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2006

A splanchic artery occlusion for 90 min followed by reperfusion of the mesenteric circulation resulted in a severe form of circulatory shock, characterized by endothelial dysfunction, severe hypotension, marked intestinal tissue injury, and a high mortality rate. The effect of defibrotide, a complex of single-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotides having antithrombotic effect, was investigated in a model of splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) shock in urethane anesthetized rats. Occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 90 min produced a severe shock state, resulting in a fatal outcome within 120 min of reperfusion in many rats. Defibrotide (10 mg/kg body weight) 10 min prior to reperfusion significantly improved mean arterial blood pressure in comparison to vehicle treated rats (p＜0.05). Defibrotide treatment also significantly attenuated in the increase of plasma amino nitrogen concentration, intestinal myeloperoxidase activity, intestinal lipid peroxidation, infiltration of neutrophils in intestine and thrombin induced adherence of neutrophils to superior mesentric artery segments. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in $1{\mu}M$ formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP)-activated PMNs was inhibited by defibrotide in a dose-dependent fashion. Defibrotide effectively scavenged hydrogen peroxide, but not hydroxyl radical. Treatment of SAO rats with defibrotide inhibited tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and interleukin-1${\beta}$ productions in blood in comparison with untreated rats. These results suggest that defibrotide partly provides beneficial effects by preserving endothelial function, attenuating neutrophil accumulation, and antioxidant in the ischemic reperfused splanchnic circulation

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.533-538
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• 2016

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in embryo development, tissue repair, inflammatory diseases, and tumor growth. In the present study, we showed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) regulates retinal angiogenesis. Mice that lack eNOS showed growth retardation, and retinal vessel development was significantly delayed. In addition, the number of tip cells and filopodia length were significantly reduced in mice lacking eNOS. Retinal endothelial cell proliferation was significantly blocked in mice lacking eNOS, and EMG-2-induced endothelial cell sprouting was significantly reduced in aortic vessels isolated from eNOS-deficient mice. Finally, pericyte recruitment to endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cell coverage to blood vessels were attenuated in mice lacking eNOS. Taken together, we suggest that the endothelial cell function and blood vessel maturation are regulated by eNOS during retinal angiogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.423-431
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• 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin on brain hypoxic-ischemic (HI) damage in neonatal rats and whether the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway is involved. Brain HI damage models were established in neonatal rats, which received the following treatments: curcumin by intraperitoneal injection before injury, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) by subcutaneous injection after injury, and VEGF by intracerebroventricular injection after injury. This was followed by neurological evaluation, hemodynamic measurements, histopathological assessment, TUNEL assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting to assess the expression of p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, Akt, and VEGF. Compared with rats that underwent sham operation, rats with brain HI damage showed remarkably increased neurological deficits, reduced right blood flow volume, elevated blood viscosity and haematocrit, and aggravated cell damage and apoptosis; these injuries were significantly improved by curcumin pretreatment. Meanwhile, brain HI damage induced the overexpression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and VEGF, while curcumin pretreatment inhibited the expression of these proteins. In addition, IGF-1 treatment rescued the curcumin-induced down-regulated expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and VEGF, and VEGF overexpression counteracted the inhibitory effect of curcumin on brain HI damage. Overall, pretreatment with curcumin protected against brain HI damage by targeting VEGF via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in neonatal rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

Chronic joint pain due to loss of cartilage function, degradation of subchondral bone, and related conditions are common plights of an arthritis patient. Antioxidant compounds could solve the problems in arthritic condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of D-carvone against complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. D-carvone was orally administered for 25 days at the doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg against CFA-induced arthritic rats. Changes in body weight, paw swelling, organ index, hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and histopathology were recorded. Oral treatment of D-carvone significantly improved the body weight, reduced the paw swelling, edema formation, and organ index in arthritic rats. The levels of white blood cells were reduced, red blood cells and hemoglobin levels were improved in D-carvone treated arthritic rats. Lipid peroxidation levels were lowered whereas enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were significantly elevated by D-carvone administration against arthritic rats. D-carvone significantly modulated inflammatory cytokine levels and improved the ankle joint pathology against CFA-induced arthritic inflammation. In conclusion, D-carvone proved significant anti-arthritic activity against CFA-induced arthritis in rats.