• The Korean Nurse
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.69-84
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to identify caregivers of the elderly, the pattern of the caregivers' caring behaviors, and the cultural principles of patterns of caring behaviors practiced in a Korean minority community, Yanbian. To clarify these, an ethnographic approach was used. The fieldwork for this study was conducted from Aug. 24, 1993 to May 20, 1994. The informants were 16 natives, age 60 or more, who were members of a large family of three generations. The results of the study are as follows. The caregivers for the elderly were family, kinship and community groups. Family caregivers for the elderly were spouses, sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, sons of former wives, sons of former husbands, adopted sons. daughters and sons-in-law. The elderly had caregivers who were part of the kinship group. Three community groups provided care for the elderly. The three community groups were Dokbozo. a formal large organization for the elderly. the same age group as an informal small meeting for the elderly, and other community younger groups. The findings of this study indicated that family caregivers, especially spouses and sons, are the significant others of the elderly, and comminuty groups are better caring groups than kinship relatives. This study identified forty-three different kind of caring behaviors. They were divided into fifteen behavior patterns. These patterns integrated into five categories : soo-bal(¼?¹ß), protecting, respect, support, jung(?×). For physical comfort, soo-bal and protecting were conducted. For the comfort of mind, respect. support, and jung were conducted. The comfort of mind are better than physical comfort for the elderly. Cultural principles of caring behaviors were group membership, reciprocity, and harmony. But there was no hierarchy priciple. And these three principles provide best caring together at the same time. This study provides significant data for nursing research, theory and practice.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2005

Phytoestrogens, especially Yak-kong or soybean-derived isoflavones have been traditionally used as a supplement of estrogen for preventing postmemopausal osteoporosis in oriental folk medicine. In our previous study, the treatment of Yak-kong and soybean increased estrogen receptor-a (ERa) expression and proliferation of MG-63 osteoblastic cells. In contrast, the increase of estrogen receptor-$\beta$ (ER$\beta$) expression in proliferating MG-63 cells with Yak-kong and soybean treatment was less pronounced, which suggested that ER$\beta$ may play a role rather in the regulation of bone cell differentiation To determine the role of ER$\beta$ in Yak-kong or soybean mediated regulation of bone cell differentiation, we established MG-63 cell lines stably expressing either ER$\beta$ or antisense ER$\beta$ RNAs. Increased expression of ER$\beta$ did not affect ERa expression and proliferation of MG-63 cells. However, increased expression of ER$\beta$ in MG-63 cells (ER$\beta$-MG63 cells) selectively enhanced Yak-kong or soybean induced expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), a novel soluble glycoprotein which is secreted from osteoblasts and mediates the signal for osteoclast differentiation. Inhibition of ER$\beta$ expression by antisense ER$\beta$ RNAs (As-ER$\beta$-MG63) caused these cells to insensitize Yak-kong or soybean induced expression of OPG but increased MG-63 cell proliferation. Furthermore, the comparable effects between Yak-kong and the combined treatment of genistein and daidzein at $0.5{\times}l0^{-8}$ M, which is a concentration of these two isoflavones similar to Yak-kong at 0.001 mg/mL, on OPG expression in ER$\beta$-MG63 cell demonstrate that the enhanced expression of OPG with Yak-kong treatment is mediated by the synergistic effect of low leveled isoflavones in the extracts. Together, coupled with low level of ER expression in osteoclasts, our data demonstrate that ER$\beta$ in osteoblasts plays an important role in Yak-kong and soybean mediated inhibition of osteoclast differentiation indirectly by enhancing the expression of OPG.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 1972

Korean rheum (Rheum undulatum Linne) as one of the botanical crude drugs which belong to polygonaceae family has been extensively applied in Chinese medicine during the last decades. It has been particularly used in cathartic and gastric tonic among the folk remedies. There are, however, a few reports with regard to the pharmacological effects on the motility of intestines of several animals. The authors hereby paid attention to this point of view and made experiment to examine the relationship between the alcohol extract of Korean rhei rhizoma and the motility of the isolated rabbit intestine, making the use of several drugs related to the motility of intestine such as acetylcholine, pilocarpine, atropine, papaverine, serotonin, and barium chloride. The movement of the isolated rabbit intestine in Tyrode's solution was recorded with the electric kymograph according to the Magnus method. The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. The motility of the isolated rabbit intestine represents the tendency of gradual dilatation in proportion to the concentration of R-A $10^{-4}$, $5{\times}10^{-4}$, and $10^{-3}$. 2. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ does not seem to have the significant effect with acetylcholine, pilocarpine and atropine on motility of the isolated rabbit intestine strip. 3. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ significantly blocks the contractile effect caused by serotonin $10^{-6}$ on motility of the isolated rabbit intestine strip. 4. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ significantly blocks the contractile effect caused by barium chloride $10^{-4}$ on motility of the isolated rabbit intestine strip. 5. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ significantly synergizes the dilatative effect caused by papaverine $10^{-6}$.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 1972

Korean aconitum (Aconitum koreanum R. Raymond) as one of the botanical crude drugs which pertain to helleboraceae has been extensively applied in Chinese medicine during the past decades. It has been particularly used in immortal tonic among the folk remedies in China, however, its general uses comprehend diuresis, cardiotonic, analgesia, neuralgia, gout and, furthermore, even neoplastic effect. The components of aconitum have been acknowledged as aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, aconine and so on. The main ingredient, aconitine has the advantage of causing the atrial fibrillation, but, its pharmacological research has not been fully elucidated. Although there are many reports with regard to the pharmacological effects on the motility of several animal hearts, their conclusions have not been regretfully coincided yet. The authors hereby paid attention to this point of view and made experiment to examine the relationship between the alcohol extract of Korean aconitum and the motility of the isolated clam heart, making the use of several drugs related to the heart such as serotonin, acetylcholine, pilocarpine, physostigmine, barium chloride, procaine and quinidine. The cardiac movement of the isolated clam (Meretrix lusoria) heart in the standard sea water solution was recorded with the electric kymograph according to the Magnus method. The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. The motility of the isolated clam heart represents the tendency of gradual inhibition in proportion to the concentration of AK-A $10^{-4}$, $5{\times}10^{-4}$, and $10^{-3}$. 2. The cardiac inhibitory effect of AK-A $10^{-3}$ antagonizes the motility of the isolated clam heart pretreated with serotonin $10^{-6}$. 3. The cardiac inhibitory effect of AK-A $10^{-3}$ antagonizes the systolic state appealed by barium chloride $10^{-3}$. 4. The systolic state caused by quinidine $10^{-4}$ is not inhibited by AK-A $10^{-3}$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2005

Semisulospira libertine (SL) has been used as a folk medicine for quenching a thirst, hepatic fever and inflammation in oriental countries. Although SL has been anecdotally ascertained to ameliorate the hepatic diseases, there are no sufficient experimental evidences. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Bitam-S, in which SL is a main component, on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease manifested in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. At 6 week old, the ob/ob mice were randomly divided into four groups; control and three treatment groups. The control mice was to receive a regular diet, and the treatment groups were fed a regular diet with either 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg of Bitam-S (BS250 and BS500) or 300mg/kg of metformin (MT300) for a 8-week period. Bitam-S exerted beneficial effects on lipid homeostasis in ob/ob mice that are not necessarily due to its ability to decrease food intake but its specific effects on hepatic lipogenesis related genes (SREBP1a, FAS and SCD-1). The combined effects of Bitam-S to reduce body weight and lipogenic gene expressions, and reduce the deposition of triglyceride in the liver are indicative of a marked improvement in obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Taken together, Bitam-S has potential as a treatment agent for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and deserves clinical trial in the near future.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2014

Yam (Dioscorea batatas Decne.) has long been used as a health food and oriental folk medicine because of its nutritional fortification, tonic, anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and expectorant effects. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to be implicated in a range of diseases, may be important progenitors of carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the modulatory effect of yam on antioxidant status and inflammatory conditions during azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. We measured the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), hemolysate antioxidant enzyme activities, colonic mucosal antioxidant enzyme gene expression, and colonic mucosal inflammatory mediator gene expression. The feeding of yam prior to carcinogenesis significantly inhibited AOM-induced colonic ACF formation. In yam-administered rats, erythrocyte levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase were increased and colonic mucosal gene expression of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), Mn-SOD, and GPx were up-regulated compared to the AOM group. Colonic mucosal gene expression of inflammatory mediators (i.e., nuclear factor kappaB, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-1beta) was suppressed by the yam-supplemented diet. These results suggest that yam could be very useful for the prevention of colon cancer, as they enhance the antioxidant defense system and modulate inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 2011

The medicinal herb Oldenlandia diffusa is known as a folk medicine for the treatment of hepatitis, sore throat, appendicitis, malignant tumors and urethral infection in Southern China and Korea. Another species O. corymbosa, is also used for the therapy of the similar conditions, however, only O. diffusa is referred to the medicinal herb by Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Due to their similar morphology, O. diffusa and O. corymbosa are often misidentified. To easily identify O. diffusa from O. corymbosa, the phylogenetic utility of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) were investigated among different O. diffusa and O. corymbosa populations in Korea. The nrDNA ITS sequence of O. diffusa contained 791 bp, with GenBank accession number of JF837601-JF837602. The nrDNA ITS sequence of O. corymbosa was 785-786 bp, with GenBank accession number of JF837603-JF837611. The results showed that there are some certain divergences in the ITS region sequence between both species, even among different populations of the same species. Particularly, O. corymbosa ST-4 population showed the highest dissimilarity of the ITS region sequence with other nine populations of O. corymbosa and two populations of O. diffusa. This consequence makes us further understand the molecular diversification between O. corymbosa and O. diffusa, and help to promote the correct use and safety.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

Dendropanax morbifera (Araliaceae) is an endemic species in Korea and distributed in the southern part of Korea. The roots and stems of this plant have been used for folk medicine for the treatment of migraine headache, dysmenorrheal, and remove wind dampness and for Vanishes production. Production of adventitious roots in D. morbifera by in vitro cultures could be used as alternatives materials. Leaf, stem, and root segments from D. morbifera seedling were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/L IBA and 30 g/L sucrose. After 4 weeks of culture, the highest induction of adventitious roots was obtained from the leaf segment. Frequency of adventitious root formation on medium with various kinds of auxins (IAA, NAA, 2,4-D, and IBA) and various concentrations of IBA (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mg/L) was tested. The maximum induction of adventitious root was obtained on medium with 1.0 mg/L IBA. In liquid culture, growth of root was best 1/2MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA and 30 g/L sucrose. Adventitious roots were cultured in 5 L bioreactor containing 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA and 30 g/L sucrose and mass-production of adventitious roots was successfully achieved. This study demonstrated for the first time to produce adventitious roots in D. morbifera.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.78-86
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• 2004

Panax ginseng occupies an important role in the folk medicine of China, Korea and Japan. The present study was undertaken to determine the radioprotective efficacy of ginseng root extract in the liver of Swiss albino mice. The animals were divided into 4 groups. Group I-Only vehicle was administered. Group II-The animals received 10 mg/kg body weight ginseng root extract i.p. for 4 consecutive days. Group III-Animals were irradiated with 8Gy gamma radiation at the dose rate of 1.69 Gy/min at the distance of 80 ems. Group IV-Animals were given by ginseng root extract (10 mg/kg body weight) continuously for 4 days and on 4th day they were irradiated with 8 Gy gamma radiation after 30 min. The animals from above groups were autopsied on 1,3,7,14 and 30 days. Biochemical estimations of phosphatases (acid ＆ alkaline), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), LPO (lipid peroxidation) and GSH (reduced glutathione) in liver and SGOT (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase), SGPT (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase) and alkaline phosphatase in serum were done. In ginseng treated group acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), LPO and LDH in liver and SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase in serum did not show any significant alteration. However, a significant increase in GSH content in liver was recorded. In irradiated group there was a significant increase in ACP, ALP and LPO content in liver and SGOT ＆ SGPT in serum was noted. Whereas, a significant decrease was recorded in GSH and LDH activity in liver and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum. Pretreatment of ginseng with radiation significantly alters the biochemical parameters in liver and serum. A significant decline in ACP, ALP activity and LPO content in liver and SGOT and SGPT activity in serum was observed. However, a significant increase in GSH content and LDH activity in liver and ALP activity in serum was estimated. The present study suggests that pretreatment of ginseng before irradiation significantly protects the liver and maintains the enzyme activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6437-6441
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• 2014

Background: Oridonin isolated from Rabdosia rubescens, a plant used to treat cancer in Chinese folk medicine, is one of the most important antitumor active ingredients. Previous studies have shown that oridonin has antitumor activities in vivo and in vitro, but little is known about cell cycle effects of oridonin in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: MTT assay was adopted to detect the proliferation inhibition of SGC-7901 cells, the cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry and protein expression by Western blotting. Results: Oridonin could inhibit SGC-7901 cell proliferation, the $IC_{50}$ being $15.6{\mu}M$, and blocked SGC-7901 cell cycling in the $G_2/M$ phase. The agent also decreased the protein expression of cyclinB1 and CDK1. Conclusions: Oridonin may inhibit SGC-7901 growth and block the cells in the $G_2/M$ phase by decreasing Cdk1 and cyclinB1 proteins.