• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5317-5323
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• 2013

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and one of the leading causes of death among women in the world. Plants and herbs may play an important role in complementary or alternative treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-proliferative potential of Urtica dioica. The anti oxidant activity of an aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaf was measured by MTT assay and the FRAP method while its anti-proliferative activity on the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and fibroblasts isolated from foreskin tissue was evaluated using MTT assay. Mechanisms leading to apoptosis were also investigated at the molecular level by measuring the amount of anti and pro-apoptotic proteins and at the cellular level by studying DNA fragmentation and annexin V staining by flow cytometry. The aqueous extract of Urtica dioica showed antioxidant effects with a correlation coefficient of $r^2$=0.997. Dose-dependent and anti-proliferative effects of the extract were observed only on MCF-7 cells after 72 hrs with an $IC_{50}$ value of 2 mg/ml. This anti proliferative activity was associated with an increase of apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, the appearance of apoptotic cells in flow cytometry analysis and an increase of the amount of calpain 1, calpastatin, caspase 3, caspase 9, Bax and Bcl-2, all proteins involved in the apoptotic pathway. This is the first time such in vitro antiproliferative effect of aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaf has been described for a breast cancer cell line. Our findings warrant further research on Urtica dioica as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.305-320
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• 2020

Background and objective: The problem that follows the increase of dementia patients is the burden of caregivers caring for dementia patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of horticultural therapy programs improving the quality of life and reducing the depression and burden of caregivers of the elderly with dementia. Methods: In this study, 19 caregivers of the elderly with dementia were selected, and the experiment was conducted by dividing the control group (n=9) and the experimental group (n=10) by random distribution. The experimental group was given eight horticultural therapy programs twice a week for a total of 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the depression(CES-D), quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), and care burden scales. The evaluation results were verified at a 95% significance level using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: In the case of depression, the control group's score tended to increase, and the experimental group's score appeared to decrease, but it was not a statistically significant change. In the quality of life, the control group was not statistically significant, but scores decreased overall. On the other hand, in the experimental group, the general quality of life increased significantly from 11.60 to 14.20 points (p = .02), and the total quality of life increased to a marginally significant level from 61.59 points to 68.85 points (p = .059). In the post-test of the total care burden score, a marginally significant difference was found between the control group (94.44 points) and the experimental group (82.50 points; p = .079). Conclusion: This study confirmed the applicability to reduce the burden of caregiving and improve the deterioration of quality of life of the caregivers. In particular, the results will serve as an opportunity to confirm accessibility in a new way to support the caregiver of dementia patients by demonstrating the applicability of horticultural therapy at a time when problems such as the burden of supporting the caregiver are emerging as social problems.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.74-85
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• 2007

Objective : In this study we wanted to confirm if proper stimulation and de-Qi of traditional Korean medical acupuncture could increase hot flash relief efficacy. Design : A randomized controlled, single blind study. We used two modalities of acupuncture, one with optimal stimulation [Study group; Korean medical acupuncture (TKMA)] and one with minimal stimulation [Control group; Minimal acupuncture (MA)]. Same acupoints [PC6(內關), HT8(少府), HT7(神門), LI4(合谷), ST36(足三里), SP6(三陰交), Ren4(關元)] were used in both groups. Fifty-two patients were treated twice a week for 8 weeks, and follow up was done after 4 weeks from the last treatment. Patients were checked hot flash VAS (visual analog scale), frequency and duration every time they visited. Results : Hot flash relief efficacy by 100mm hot flash VAS was obvious in both groups. Hot flash VAS scores of study group were smaller than the scores of control group at the early stage (3rd, $4^{th}$ and $8^{th}$ visit), but there wasn't a remarkable difference between study and control group at the end of the trial. Besides, diminution of hot flash VAS was faster and more even in the study group than control group by visualization using 'Box plot'. We compared frequency and duration of hot flash, 100mm sweating, palpitation, sleep disturbance VAS, and Kupperman Index, MENQOL, Patient's global assessment score. Both groups showed definite decrease from the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant. There wasn't any adverse event. Hot flash relief efficacy was kept in most patients after 4 weeks' follow-up. Conclusion : Acupoint combination by Traditional Korean medical theory is effective on hot flashes and hot flash relief efficacy was faster and more even in optimal stimulation than minimal stimulation.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.261-274
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• 2016

Objectives: To determine the general characteristics of clinical studies about Hwabyung and assess their limitations and alternatives. Methods: Clinical studies that examined the effects of traditional Korean medicine intervention on Hwabyung were included in this study. A systematic search of English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean databases was performed. The characteristics of included articles were described and those articles were assessed by Risk of Bias (RoB) tool or Risk of Bias for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) tool. Results: Sixteen articles were selected from 1,826 articles. Most clinical studies about Hwabyung were published in Korea. The number of conducted trials was insufficient. The prevailing study design was randomized controlled trial. Traditional Korean medicine intervention used in the trials were acupuncture, herbal medicine, counselling, meditation, emotional freedom technique (EFT), music therapy, art therapy, and multi intervention program. Herbal medicine study used placebo as control while non-pharmacological intervention study mostly used no treatment as control. Most of the trials were supported by the government. Therefore, financial conflict of interest might not exist for results. We judged that some studies had a high risk of bias. In general, most of the studies with a high risk of bias were non-pharmacological intervention studies, and the risk of bias was mainly due to lack of blinding. Conclusions: More clinical studies of Hwabyung are needed. There are some issues about a suitable comparison and effective blinding strategy for non-pharmacological study. Improving methodological quality is required.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2010

A neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) has been widely used to create animal model for Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study was undertaken to examine whether depletion of brain dopamine (DA) stores with 6-OHDA can make alteration in the activities of the testicular steroidogenesis in adult rats. Young adult male rats (3 months old) were received a single dose of 6-OHDA (200 ${\mu}g$ in 10 ${\mu}{\ell}$/animal) by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection, and sacrificed after two weeks. The mRNA levels of steroidogenesis-related enzymes were measured by qRT-PCRs. Serum testosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Single icv infusion of 6-OHDA significantly decreased the mRNA levels of CYP11A1 (control:6-OHDA group=$1:0.68{\pm}0.14$ AU, p<0.05), CYP17 (control:6-OHDA group=$1:0.72{\pm}0.13$ AU, p<0.05). There were no changes in the mRNA levels of $3{\beta}$-HSD (control:6-OHDA group=$1:0.84{\pm}0.08$ AU) and $17{\beta}$-HSD (control: 6-OHDA group=$1:0.63{\pm}0.20$ AU), though the levels tended to be decreased in the 6-OHDA treated group. Administration of 6-OHDA decreased significantly the mRNA level of StAR when compared to the level of saline-injected control animals (control:6-OHDA group=$1:0.72{\pm}0.08$ AU, p<0.05). Treatment with single dose of 6-OHDA remarkably lowered serum testosterone levels compared to the levels of control group (control:6-OHDA group=$0.72{\pm}0.24:0.13{\pm}0.03ng/m{\ell}$, p<0.05). Taken together with our previous study, the present study demonstrated that the activities of hypothalamus-pituitary-testis hormonal axis could be negatively affected by blockade of brain DA biosynthesis, and suggested the reduced reproductive potential might be resulted in the animals. More precise information on the testicular steroidogenic activities in PD patients and PD-like animals should be required prior to the generalization of the sex steroid hormone therapy to meet the highest standards for safety and efficacy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.270-284
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to understand the essential structure and meaning of self-management intervention for breast cancer survivors by using non-pharmacological approaches. The study participants were 10 breast cancer survivors who were completing cancer treatment that involved surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Data collected between August 2014 and February 2015 at E Hospital in S city were analyzed by using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Outcomes were classified into seven essential themes: 1) application of comfort measures to alleviate ongoing symptoms, 2) movement to change physical conditions, 3) special herbal intake to prevent recurrence, 4) a specially designed diet plan for health self-management, 5) constant awareness of complementary and alternative medicine, 6) unmet needs treated by one's own doctor's prescription, and 7) future life toward a nature-friendly environment. The study results contribute to a deeper understanding of self-management interventions in the daily lives of Korean breast cancer survivors. In addition, results provide an essential resource, based on actual self-management styles, that will help survivors to obtain guidance and participate in appropriate programs.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.123-158
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• 2009

An attempt was made to stimulate future research by providing exemplary information, which would integrate published knowledge to solve specific pest problem caused by resistance. This review was directed to find a way for delaying resistance development with consideration of chemical(s) nature, of mixture, rotation, or mosaics, and of insecticide(s) compatible with the biological agents in integrated pest management (IPM). The application frequency, related to the resistance development, was influenced by insecticide activity from potentiation, residual period, and the vulnerability to resistance development of chemical, with secondary pest. Chemical affected feeding, locomotion, flight, mating, and predator avoidance. Insecticides with negative cross-resistance by the difference of target sites and mode of action would be adapted to mixture, rotation and mosaic. Mixtures for delaying resistance depend on each component killing very high percentage of the insects, considering allele dominance, cross-resistance, and immigration and fitness disadvantage. Potential disadvantages associated with mixtures include disruption of biological control, resistance in secondary pests, selecting very resistant population, and extending cross-resistance range. The rotation would use insecticides in high and low doses, or with different metabolic mechanisms. Mosaic apply insecticides to the different sectors of a grid for highly mobile insects, spray unrelated insecticides to sedentary aphids in different areas, or mix plots of insecticide-treated and untreated rows. On the evolution of pest resistance, selectivity and resistance of parasitoids and predator decreased the number of generations in which pesticide treatment is required and they could be complementary to refuges from pesticides To enhance the viability of parasitoids, the terms on the insecticides selectivity and factors affecting to the selectivity in field were examined. For establishment of resistant parasitoid, migration, survivorship, refuge, alternative pesticides were considered. To use parasitoids under the pressure of pesticides, resistant or tolerant parasitoids were tested, collected, and/or selected. A parasitoid parasitized more successfully in the susceptible host than the resistant. Factors affecting to selective toxicity of predator are mixing mineral oil, application method, insecticide contaminated prey, trait of individual insecticide, sub-lethal doses, and the developmental stage of predators. To improve the predator/prey ratio in field, application time, method, and formulation of pesticide, reducing dose rate, using mulches and weeds, multicropping and managing of surroundings are suggested. Plant resistance, predator activity, selective insect growth regulator, and alternative prey positively contributed to the increase of the ratio. Using selective insecticides or insecticide resistant predator controlled its phytophagous prey mites, kept them below an economic level, increased yield, and reduced the spray number and fruits damaged.