• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.71-78
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• 2016

Objectives : Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal failure in the world. Mesangial cell proliferation is known as the major pathologic features such as glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis. Wiryeongtang (WRT) is a well-known traditional herbal formula as therapeutic agents for chronic edema and dysuresia of renal homeostasis. In the present study, we investigated whether WRT inhibits high glucose (HG)-induced renal dysfunction by TGF-β/Smads signal regulation in cultured mesangial cells.Methods : Inhibitory effect of WRT (10-50 ㎍/ml) on HG-stimulated mesangial cells proliferation and dysfunction were evaluated by [³H]-thymidine incorporation, Western blot, and RT-qPCR.Results : WRT significantly decreased HG-accelerated thymidine incorporation in human renal mesangial cell in a dose-dependent levels. WRT induced down-regulation of cyclins/CDKs and up-regulation of CDK inhibitor, p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 expression. In addition, HG enhanced expression of dysfunction biomarker such as collagen IV and CTGF, which was markedly attenuated by WRT. WRT decreased TGF-β1 and Smad-2/Smad-4 expression, whereas increased Smad-7 expression under HG. Furthermore, WRT inhibited HG-induced inflammatory factors level such as ICAM-1 and MCP-1 as well as NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and intracellular ROS production.Conclusions : These results suggested that WRT may alleviate mesangial proliferation and inflammation possibly involved in renal fibrotic process, further diabetic nephropathy through disturbing TGF-β1/Smad signaling and NF-κB/ROS pathway. Thus, WRT might prove to be effective in the treatment of renal dysfunction leading to diabetic nephropathy.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2006

The effects of fermented chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) powder on the lipid concentrations and the activities of liver marker enzymes of serum in genetically diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats were investigated. Rats were fed a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 50 g/kg chaga mushroom powder (CM) or 50 g/kg fermented chaga mushroom powder (FCM) for 8 weeks (26 to 34 weeks of age). Nondiabetic Long-Evans Toknshima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as age-matched nondiabetic control animals. Water consumption was significantly higher in the OLETF control than the LETO rats. Water consumption in the FCM-fed OLETF rats tended to be less than in both the OLETF control and CM-fed OLETF rats. Serum concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly higher in the OLETF control rats than in the LETO rats while within the OLETF rat groups, the consumption of FCM resulted in a significantly lower serum triglyceride concentration and slightly lowered serum total cholesterol concentration when compared to the OLETF control and CM-fed rats. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly higher in the OLETF control than in the LETO rats, but this difference was significantly reduced compared to the CM-fed rats and essentially no difference in the ALT levels was observed between the LETO and OLETF-FCM rats. This observation suggests an adaptive effect of the fermented chaga mushroom in liver function. Livers of the LETO rats showed no histopathological changes, whereas those of the OLETF control rats were characterized by many fat depositions in the central zone of the hepatocytes. The livers of the OLETF CM-fed rats showed less fatty changes compared to the OLETF control rats and fat deposition in the hepatocytes was nearly absent. These results suggest that orally ingested fermented chaga mushroom has a potential beneficial effect on the complications known to occur in the obesity-related non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NlDDM) OLETF rat.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2010

Cheonggukjang is one of the traditional fermented soy-based foods in Korean diets. Studies in cell cultures, humans have revealed anti-hypertension, anti-stress, anticancer, antioxidant, immune enhancing effects. Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix, and Red ginseng are popular medicinal plants and widely used for oriental medicine. In this study a strategy had been developed to mobilize beneficial phenolics from Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix, and Red ginseng combined with fermented soy by Cheonggukjang fermentation for antioxidant and Type II diabetes management. The quality and functional characteristics of Chenggukjang fermented with Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix and Red ginseng. Cheonggukjang (CKJ), Angelica gigas Cheonggukjang (CKJ-DD), Rehmanniae radix Cheonggukjang (CKJ-RG), Angelica gigas and Rehmanniae radix Cheonggukjang (CKJ-DD+RG) and Red ginseng Cheonggukjang (CKJ-RED) were evaluated. The mobilized phenolic profile was evaluated for antioxidant activity and the potential to inhibit ${\alpha}$-amylase linked to hyperglycaemia. This research has important implications for the development of functional soy-based-fermented foods enriched with Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix and Red ginseng phenolics for oxidative stress - induced diabetic complications. Furthermore, Hunter's color values of 5 types cheonggukjang, lightness (L-values), redness (a-values) and yellowness (b-values) were evaluated. Free amino acid content of CKJ-RED (0.993 mg/gd. w.) showed higher than that of CKJ (0.205 mg/g-d.w.).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2008

Prevention of postprandial hyperglycemia is important, as it is implicated in the development of macro- and microvascular complications associated with diabetes. An inhibitor of ${\alpha}$-amylase which acts in the first step of carbohydrate digestion, is expected to be a suppressor of postprandial hyperglycemia. This study investigated the porcine pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity of the extracts from buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) flower, leaf, stem and grain. Flower, leaf, stem and grain of buckwheat were extracted by water and ethanol (40%, 70%, 100%), respectively. Flower and leaf extracts were more effective ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitors than stem and grain extracts in all tested solutions. Ethanol extracts were more effective than water extracts or powders on the ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activities. At concentrations of $0.5%{\sim}10%$ (w/w, starch basis), the flower extracts of 40%, 70% and 100% ethanol lowered the enzyme activity by about 90% and the results were similar to the values of acarbose. At the same concentrations, the leaf extracts of 100% ethanol lowered the enzyme activity by about 90%. These results suggest that buckwheat flower and leaf ethanol extracts may delay carbohydrate digestion and lower postprandial hyperglycemia.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 1994

The aim of this study was to assess the people's need for visiting health services in a rural area. In recent years, the great concern for the visiting health services has aroused in Korea. Stratified cluster sample for a household survey was used to select 1,255(8.4%) Households from Yonchon county. This study was undertaken from July 26 to August 7 in 1993. Medically defined need, usually expressed by the prevalencies or rates of specific disease, was evaluated with the use of criteria established by medical and nursing professors and expressed by the percent of specific objects for the visiting health services. Perceived need represented by the acceptability for the visiting services and willingness to paying for it, also, evaluated. The major results were as follows : 1. Of the 348 patients with hypertension, 201 were the non-compliant patients, the rate of the non-compliant hypertension patients in 4,577 study population was 7.4%. 2. Of the 141 diabetic patients, 73 were the non-compliant patients, the rate of the non-compliant hypertension patients in 4,577 sample population was 2.7%. 3. The number of patients with severe musculo-skeletal disease was 24, the rate was 0.9% above the age 30. 4. Of the 514 elderly, 33 were the elderly without any family member, the rate was 8.4%. Those with severely decreased activity of daily living were 13. 5. Infants with high risks were 12, pregnant women and neonates were 5, patients discharged within 1 week and with special equipments such as peritoneal dialysis, stoma, TPN etc. were 17, and patients with cancer were 5. Total number of the objects needed visiting health services was 752(18.43%) of the 4,577 study population. Perceived need evaluated were as follows; The acceptance rate of visiting health services was 74.9%, The kinds of visiting health services such as family health protection and promotion, early detection of hypertension, physiotherapy, health education and counseling were needed in the order of high rate The price willing to pay for visiting health services per visit was about 3,000-5,000Won. In conclusion, Visiting health services programme to be developed should have priority to the prevention of complications of chronic disease such as hypertension, diabetes milletus, elderly disease and health promotion.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.429-433
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• 2009

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as burning pain in the tongue or other oral mucous membrane associated with normal sign and laboratory findings at least 4 to 6 months. There are many factors that affect this condition and the pain characters are various among the sufferers, so it is difficult to diagnose exactly and treat properly. The cause of BMS is currently unknown. The etiology is presumed to be that it is related with local, systemic and psychogenic factor. The BMS is related with local factor such as allergic reaction, oral fungal infection(candidiasis), parafunctional oral habits and systemic factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nutritional deficiencies(vitamin $B_{12}$, folic acid), hyposalivation and psychogenic factor such as depression, anxiety, cancerphobia. So clinicians must be aware of these factors and can give proper treatment options to patients. The management of BMS are pharmacologic management, cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy treatment. Clonazepam, gabapentin, amitriptyline, alpha-lipoic acid and capsaicin are used to manage the BMS. Among these, topical clonazepam is reported that the effect is higher than systemic medication and the complications are rare. This case report is about some cases of the effect of topical clonazepam on BMS.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2010

Pancreatic tumors in children are relatively rare, and their prognosis differs from that in adults. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis for children with pancreatic tumors. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children under 15 years of age with pancreatic tumors who were treated surgically at Asan Medical Center between January 1992 and November 2009. There were 16 patients, fourteen of whom were pathologically diagnosed with solid pseudopapillary tumor. The other two patients were diagnosed with pancreatoblastoma and acinar cell carcinoma, respectively. Six patients of the 16 patients (38 %) were male, and there was a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.6. The initial presentations were upper abdominal pain in eight patients (50 %), palpable abdominal mass in three, and vomiting in one. Four patients were diagnosed incidentally. Six patients' tumors were located in the pancreatic head, six in the pancreatic body, and four in the pancreatic tail, respectively. The surgical procedures performed included distal pancreatectomy (n=7, 44 %), median segmentectomy (n=3), enucleation (n=3), pancreaticoduodenectomy (n=2), and pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (n=1). Three patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. The median tumor size was 6.5 cm (1.8~20 cm). Early surgical complications included pancreatic fistula (n=4), bile leakage (n=1), and delayed gastric emptying (n=1). A late complication in one patient was diabetes. The median follow-up period was five years and four months, and all patients survived without recurrence. While pancreatic tumors in adults have a poor prognosis, pancreatic tumors of childhood are usually curative with complete resection and thus have a favorable prognosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2011

Diabetes mellitus is associated with vascular complications. Diabetic patients exhibit high levels of glycated adducts in serum compared to non-diabetic individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether extracellular glycated albumin (GA) predisposes vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to pro-inflammatory phenotype. Exposure of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMCs) to GA not only enhanced interleukin-6 (IL-6) release but also activated promoter activity of the IL-6 gene. GA-induced IL-6 promoter activation was suppressed by dominant-negative forms of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), but not by dominant-negative-forms of TLR-2 and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-$\beta$ (TRIF). Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibition and diphenyleneiodium (DPI) also attenuated IL-6 induction by GA. Mutation at the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$)-binding site in the IL-6 promoter region suppressed promoter activation in response to GA. The present study proposes that GA would contribute to inflammatory reaction in the stressed vasculature by inducing IL-6 in VSMCs, and that TLR-4, EKR, and NF-${\kappa}B$ play active roles in the process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.825-832
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of extract of Fomes fomentarius (FF) on blood glucose, lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes and immune cells in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, STZ-induced diabetic group (DM), STZ plus FF water extract treated group (DM-FW 200) and STZ plus FF methanol extract treated group (DM-FM 200). FW (200 mg/kg BW) and FM (200 mg/kg BW) were orally administered once a day for 14 days. Admdinistering FW and FM to STZ-induced diabetic rats lowered the blood glucose level. The supplementation of FW and FM suppressed the increase in the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the serum and liver of the diabetic rats. The high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level and glutathione peroxidase activity were higher in the FF-sup-plemented group compared to the diabetic group. Administering FW and FM increased the suppress in the serum complement component C3, whole blood B-cell, T-cell, helper T cell and suppressor T cell of the diabetic rats. Therefore, it could be suggested that FW and FM are alleviated the diabetic complication through enhancing the hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.382-393
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• 2019

Wound care is a health industry concern affecting millions worldwide. Recent increase in metabolic disorders such as diabetes comes with elevated risk of wound-based complications. Treatment and management of wounds are difficult practices due to complexity of the wound healing process. Conventional wound dressings and treatment applications only provide limited benefits which are mainly aimed to keep wound protected from external factors. To improve wound care, recent developments make biopolymers to be of high interest and importance to researchers and medical practitioners. Biopolymers are polymers or natural origin produced by living organisms. They are credited to be highly biocompatible and biodegradable. Currently, studies reported biopolymers to exhibit various health beneficial properties such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, cell proliferative and angiogenic activities which are crucial for effective wound management. Several biopolymers, namely chitosan, cellulose, collagen, hyaluronic acid and alginic acid have been already investigated and applied as wound dressing agents. Different derivatives of biopolymers have also been developed by cross-linking with other molecules, grafting with other polymers, and loading with bioactive agents or drugs which showed promising results towards wound healing without any undesired outcome such as scarring and physiological abnormalities. In this review, current applications of common biopolymers in wound treatment industry are highlighted to be a guide for further applications and studies.