• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.33-52
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with hyperhidrosis who visited a Korean medicine hospital, and provide information on treated hyperhidrosis, based on Sasang Constitutional medicine. Methods A retrospective review was made of the electronic medical record (EMR) charts for 157 Korean patients with hyperhidrosis (90 male, 67 female), who first visited hospital from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017. The following information was collected: sex, age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and clinical data (diagnosis, area of onset, duration of illness, aggravating factors, medication, healing process, et al). Results There were many patients with hyperhidrosis, in the other of So-Yang type (57.3%), Tae-Eum type (35.0%) and So-Eum type (7.6%). The proportion of male was higher than female. The most common area of hyperhidrosis was hands and feet (44.0%), followed by generalized whole body (27.4%) and head and face (25.5%). The cure rate of hyperhidrosis was 32.2%, and effectiveness rate of that was 72.7%. In individual patients, the better the usual health condition expressed by original symptoms, the higher the possibility of treatment success, with shortened duration of treatment and reduced total drug dose. The most frequent treatment modality in patients was that consistently improved, and this duration of treatment was statistically significantly shorter than that experienced worsening of excessive sweating during treatment period (p<0.001). Conclusions This study provides some original information on the Korean patients with hyperhidrosis, and suggests the suitability of Sasang Constitutional medicine as treatment methods for hyperhidrosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2019

Keloids are the most common pathological form of trauma healing, with features that seriously affect appearance and body function, are difficult to treat and have a high recurrence rate. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs are involved in a variety of pathological processes and play an important role in the process of fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the function and regulatory network of miR-152-5p in keloids. The miRNA miR-152-5p is frequently downregulated in keloid tissue and primary cells compared to normal skin tissue and fibroblasts. In addition, the downregulation of miR-152-5p is significantly associated with the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of keloid cells. Overexpression of miR-152-5p significantly inhibits the progression of fibrosis in keloids. Smad3 is a direct target of miR-152-5p, and knockdown of Smad3 also inhibits fibrosis progression, consistent with the overexpression of miR-152-5p. The interaction between miR-152-5p and Smad3 occurs through the Erk1/2 and Akt pathways and regulates collagen3 production. In summary, our study demonstrates that miR-152-5p/Smad3 regulatory pathways involved in fibrotic progression may be a potential therapeutic target of keloids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2021

Granuloma is an uncommon benign disease that develops in the process of wound healing. Pharyngeal or laryngeal granuloma can be associated with gastric reflux, mechanical injury or trauma including intubation, voice abuse, or foreign body. 50-year-old female was transferred to our institute with a huge mass occupying the upper aerodigestive tract causing dysphagia. The patient has been suffering from a brain hemorrhage for several months and was kept in bed due to the quadriplegia with stuporous mental status, and was tracheotomized. On examination, the whole oropharynx and hypopharynx was covered by a smooth-surfaced soft big diffuse granular mass, which extended down to the upper trachea through the larynx. The huge granuloma was successfully removed with surgery and was found to have a pedunculating stalk on the oropharyngeal posterior wall with a small mucosal defect, suggestive of the origin of the mass. The defect was closed primarily after the cauterization. The patient is now followed up regularly without any recurrence of the disease.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.183-192
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• 2021

Background: The purse-string suture (PSS) is a simple and rapid wound closure method that results in minimal scarring. It has been used to treat circular or oval skin defects caused by tumor excision or trauma. However, due to obscurity, it is not widely used, especially for the head and neck. This study aimed to modify the PSS to obtain predictable and acceptable results. Methods: A total of 45 sites in 39 patients with various types of skin and soft tissue defects in the head and neck were treated with PSS. We used PDS II (2-0 to 5-0), which is an absorbable suture. Minimal dissection of the subcutaneous layer was performed. The suture knot was hidden by placing it in the dissection layer. Depending on the characteristics of the skin and soft tissue defects, additional surgical interventions such as side-to-side advancement sutures, double PSS, or split-thickness skin graft were applied. Results: All wounds healed completely without any serious complications. Large defects up to 45 mm in diameter were successfully reconstructed using only PSS. Postoperative radiating folds were almost flattened after approximately 1-2 months. Conclusion: PSS is simple, rapid, and relatively free from surgical design. Owing to the circumferential advancement of the surrounding tissue, PSS always results in a smaller scar than the initial lesion and less distortion of the body structures around the wound in the completely healed defect. If the operator can predict the process of healing and immediate radiating folds, PSS could be a favorable option for round skin defects in the head and neck.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15.1-15.11
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• 2020

The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of horse oil in 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-treated BALB/c mice. After the application of DNCB, the mice showed atopic dermatitis symptoms, including severe erythema, hemorrhage, and erosion, whereas those symptoms were alleviated by treatment with horse oil. To explain the anti-dermatitis effect of horse oil, the gene expression levels in the healing process in dorsal skin were observed using a cDNA microarray. The cDNA microarray analysis revealed that the expression levels of 30 genes related to the inflammation, including Ccr1, Ccr2, Ccl20, Anxa1, and Hc genes, were up-regulated (higher than 2.0-fold) in the DNCB group compared to the levels in the control group, whereas the levels were restored to the control level in the DNCB + horse oil-treated group. In contrast, the gene expression levels of 28 genes related to inflammation, including chemokine genes Ccl5, Ccl7, Ccl8, Cxcl10, and Cxcl13 genes, were down-regulated (lower than 0.5-fold) in the DNCB group compared to the levels in the control group, whereas the levels were restored to the control level in the DNCB + horse oil-treated group. Overall, the results show that horse oil restores the expression levels of genes related to inflammation that were perturbed by DNCB treatment.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2022

Purpose: In dental avulsion, delayed replantation usually has an uncertain prognosis. After tooth replantation, complex inflammatory responses promote a return to periodontal tissue homeostasis. Various types of cytokines are produced in the inflammatory microenvironment, and these cytokines determine the periodontal tissue response. This study aimed to identify the gene expression profiles of replanted teeth and evaluate the functional differences between immediate and delayed replantation. Methods: Maxillary molars from Sprague-Dawley rats were extracted, exposed to a dry environment, and then replanted. The animals were divided into 2 groups according to the extra-oral time: immediate replantation (dry for 5 minutes) and delayed replantation (dry for 60 minutes). Either 3 or 7 days after replantation, the animals were sacrificed. Periodontal soft tissues were harvested for mRNA sequencing. Hallmark gene set enrichment analysis was performed to predict the function of gene-gene interactions. The normalized enrichment score (NES) was calculated to determine functional differences. Results: The hallmark gene sets enriched in delayed replantation at 3 days were oxidative phosphorylation (NES=2.82, Q<0.001) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling via the nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway (NES=1.52, Q=0.034). At 7 days after delayed replantation, TNF-α signaling via the NF-κB pathway (NES=-1.82, Q=0.002), angiogenesis (NES=-1.66, Q=0.01), and the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway (NES=-1.46, Q=0.051) were negatively highlighted. Conclusions: Differentially expressed gene profiles were significantly different between immediate and delayed replantation. TNF-α signaling via the NF-κB pathway was marked during the healing process. However, the enrichment score of this pathway changed in a time-dependent manner between immediate and delayed replantation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigates the alterations in A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells exposed to Citrus junos extract (CJE). We further examine the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of CJE on NSCLC cells. Methods: Inhibition of proliferation was examined by applying the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay on CJE-treated A549 NSCLC cells. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was performed to measure the degree of toxicity of CJE on NSCLC cells. The effect on migratory proliferation was confirmed using the scratch wound healing assay. The antiproliferative effect of the CJE on human lung cancer cells was verified through morphological observation, fluorescence microscopy, and caspase-3 colorimetry. Results: Exposure of NSCLC cells to CJE resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell activity and increased toxicity to the cells. In addition, microscopic observation revealed a reduced ability of the cancer cells to migrate and proliferate after exposure to the CJE, with simultaneous morphological apoptotic changes. Fluorescence staining and microscopic examination revealed that this death was a process of self-programmed cell death of NSCLC cells. Compared to unexposed NSCLC cells, the expression of caspase-3 was significantly increased in cells exposed to CJE. Conclusion: Exposure of A549 human NSCLC cells to CJE inhibits the proliferation, increases the cytotoxicity, and decreases the ability of cells to migrate and grow. Moreover, the expression of caspase-3 increases after CJE treatment, suggesting that the apoptosis of NSCLC cells is induced by a chain reaction initiated by caspase-3. These results indicate that Citrus junos is a potential therapeutic agent for human non-small-cell lung cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.126-136
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• 2022

Liver fibrosis is part of the wound healing process to help the liver recover from the injuries caused by various liver-damaging insults. However, liver fibrosis often progresses to life-threatening cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To overcome the limitations of current in vivo liver fibrosis models for studying the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis and establishing effective treatment strategies, we developed a new mouse model of liver fibrosis using polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), a humidifier sterilizer known to induce lung fibrosis in humans. Male C57/BL6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with PHMG-p (0.03% and 0.1%) twice a week for 5 weeks. Subsequently, liver tissues were examined histologically and RNA-sequencing was performed to evaluate the expression of key genes and pathways affected by PHMG-p. PHMG-p injection resulted in body weight loss of ~15% and worsening of physical condition. Necropsy revealed diffuse fibrotic lesions in the liver with no effect on the lungs. Histology, collagen staining, immunohistochemistry for smooth muscle actin and collagen, and polymerase chain reaction analysis of fibrotic genes revealed that PHMG-p induced liver fibrosis in the peri-central, peri-portal, and capsule regions. RNA-sequencing revealed that PHMG-p affected several pathways associated with human liver fibrosis, especially with upregulation of lumican and IRAK3, and downregulation of GSTp1 and GSTp2, which are closely involved in liver fibrosis pathogenesis. Collectively we demonstrated that the PHMG-p-induced liver fibrosis model can be employed to study human liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2024

Purpose: Mucogingival defects (MGDs), such as dental root recessions, decreased vestibular depth, and absence of keratinized tissues, are commonly seen in dental clinics. MGDs may result in functional, aesthetic, and hygienic concerns. In these situations, autogenous soft tissue grafts are considered the gold-standard treatment. This study compares the healing process of free gingival grafts (FGGs) to bacterial cellulose matrix (BCM) and human acellular dermal matrix (ADM) seeded with fibroblasts from culture supplemented with platelet-rich plasma in a rat model. Methods: Surgical defects were made in rats, which received the following treatments in a randomized manner: group I, negative control (defect creation only); group II, positive control (FGG); group III, BCM; group IV, BCM + fibroblasts; group V, ADM; and group VI, ADM + fibroblasts. Clinical, histological, and immunological analyses were performed 15 days after grafting. Clinical examinations recorded epithelium regularity and the presence of ulcers, erythema, and/or edema. Results: The histological analysis revealed the degree of reepithelization, width, regularity, and presence of keratin. The Fisher exact statistical test was applied to the results (P<0.05). No groups showed ulcers except for group I. All groups had regular epithelium without erythema and without edema. Histologically, all groups exhibited regular epithelium with keratinization, and myofibroblasts were present in the connective tissue. The groups that received engineered grafts showed similar clinical and histological results to the FGG group. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that BCM and ADM can be used as cell scaffolds, with ADM yielding the best results. This study supports the use of this technical protocol in humans.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 2017

Objectives : In this study I made investigations how 'strange hunger' and 'compulsive overeating' threatening the ego could be resolved and healed. And I aim to present a healing model of psychotherapy and analysis as one of methods of treatment for 'eating disorder'. Methods : The analysands of this study were outpatients who visited the department of psychiatry of Yong-In Mental Hospital from March 2008 to February 2017 with 'hunger' and 'compulsive overeating' as their chief complaints. This study is based on the detailed records of the process of analysis including dreams and visions. Results : 1) Throughout the process of analysis that explore both consciousness and unconsciousness(dream, vision), hunger and compulsive overeating is improved and healed in all analysands. 2) The Imago of 'Snake' appeared in dreams and visions of all analysands. 3) By suffering impulse rather than acting it out, impulse transformes itself into 'Imago'. As impulse transforms into 'Imago' and reveals the 'meaning' of it, ego-threatening power of impulse weakens and mood is calmed. And as a result, synthesis of consciousness and unconsciousness and creative transformation of personality can be possible. Conclusions : In some people, 'hunger' and 'compulsive overeating' are 'creative impulses' that aim 'Self-realization' which can be fruited as creative transformation of personality and as creative transformation in the relation with the world. 'Creative impulses', which often can be experienced as instinctive impulse or emotional suffering unless ego realizes the meaning, reveal the meaning in dreams or visions through 'Imago' and 'Symbol'.