• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.71-81
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• 2005

Objective : Dear antler (Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe) used for traditional immunosuppressive and immuno-activating action. The effect of deer antler herbal-acupuncture(DAH) solution, prepared by water extract method, on cathepsin activities in bone tissues (cartilage and synovial) cells from mouse rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model was studied. The cysteine endoprotease cathepsin mediates degradation of the MHC class II invariant chain (Ii) in human and mouse antigen-presenting cells. The studies described here examine the functional significance of cathepsin inhibition on autoantigen presentation and organ-specific autoimmune diseases in a murine model for RA. Methods : An animal model for RA in BALB/c mice thymectomized 3 days after birth (3d-Tx) was constructed All 3d-Tx BALB/c mice developed autoimmune lesions in the bone tissue cells, starting at 3 weeks of age, and the disease mediated by CD4+ T cells was chronic and progressive. Significant inhibitory effects of DAH solution on cathepsin S and L were observed in each organ in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we confirmed that cathepsin S and L activity in each organ were clearly inhibited by DAB solution. When we examined the inhibitory effects of DAH solution against autoantigen-specific T cell responses in vitro, in regional lymph node cells, but not in spleens, from model mice, a significant inhibitory effect of DAB solution was observed in a dose-dependent manner. DAH solution do not block T cell proliferation to Con A, indicated that the dose of DAB solution 10 to $20\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ was sufficient to inactivate the autoantigen-specific T cell responses in vitro. In vivo therapeutic effects of DAB solution were examined in a murine model for RA, autoantigen-specific (C-II-specific) T cell response were significantly inhibited in LNCs from DAH solution-treated mice. Results : Iinhibition of cathepsin S and L in vivo alters autoantigen presentation and development of organ-specific autoimmunity in RA model. Conclusion : These data identify selective inhibition of cysteine protease cathepsin S and L as a potential therapeutic strategy for autoimmune disease process such RA. Thus, DAH solution will served as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents for treatment of human RA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.61-72
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• 2006

Objectives : Human chondrocytes co-treated with Buthus martensi Karsch herbal acupuncture solution(BMK-HAS) extract produced significantly less NO compared with chondrocytes stimulated with $IL-1{\beta}$ alone Methods : Activation and translocation of and NF-kB DNA binding activity were determined by Western blotting and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The inhibition of NO production correlated with the suppression of induction and expression of nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) and activation protein-1 (AP-1)-dependent gene. BMK-HAS inhibited the activation and translocation of NF-kB to the nucleus, indicating that BMK-HAS inhibits the $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ production of NO in human chondrocytes by interfering with the activation of NF-kB through a novel mechanism. In addition, BMK-HAS reduced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)production in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, whereas no influence on the activity of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) or cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) was observed. My data, therefore, suggest that BMK-HAS may be a therapeutically effective inhibitor of $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ inflammatory effects that are dependent on NF-kB activation in human OA chondrocytes. Conclusion : The results indicate that BMK-HAS exerts anti-inflammatory effects related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions and of NO and PGE2 production, which could be due to a decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2 through the transcription factors NF-kB and AP-1.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.221-229
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• 2007

Oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, lipids and other molecules may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative disease. This study was designed to find out whether Ursi Fel ${\cdot}$ Bovis Calculus Herbal-Acupuncture Solution(UBHAS) can scavenge nitric oxide(NO) or not. NO concentration was estimated after treatment with Vit. C or 1, 10, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of UBHAS. There was no significant scavenging effect of UBHAS on NO in 1, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group. while significant scavenging in $l0{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group after 2hrs. UBHAS showed significant scavenging effects on NO in 1, 10, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group after 6hrs. There was a significant scavenging effect in 10, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group. even though no significant in $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group after 12, 24 hrs. This study showed that UBHAS might be used for aging related disease. These results suggest that UBHAS has scavenging effect on NO. however, further studies are required to investigate the antioxidative effects of it.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.71-86
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• 2008

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Drynariae Rhizoma Herbal-acupuncture infusion solution at Umgok($KI_{10}$) on Osteoporotic Rats Induced by Ovariectomy. The author performed several experimental items to analyze cytotoxic, osteoporosis evaluation, change of ALP, osteocalcin, Ca and histological change of tibia. Results : 1. BMD were increased meaningly in DR-HA than control group. 2. ALP was not inhibited by DR-HA, osteocalcin was decreased meaningly in DR-HA. 3. Osteoclast like cell in tibia was increased meaningly in control group, decreased meaningly in DR-HA. 4. In the histological study in tibia, TBV and TBT were significantly increased, GPL was significantly decreased in the DR-HA than control group. Conclusions : From the result above, the results suggest that DR-HA at $KI_{10}$ has significant effect on osteoporosis, and to be put to practical use in the future osteoporosis clinic.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Objectives : For evaluation of preventive and anti-diabetic activities of Cinnamomi ramulus(CR) herbal acupuncture on pancreatic islet damage in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rat. Methods : CR herbal acupuncture was performed at Bisu($BL_{20}$) for 3 weeks subcutaneously starting1 week before STZ i.p. injection. SD rats were divided into four groups(n=10 for each group); 1) NC group, non-treated normal control group, 2) STZ group, STZ administered control group, 3) CR125 group, CR(125mg/kg) + STZ administered group, and 4) CR250 group, CR(250mg/kg) + STZ administered group. Results : Both of CR250 and CR125 groups showed increase in insulin secretion and decrease in the level of serum triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid in a dose-dependent manner compared to the STZ group. Only CR250 group showed decrease in the levels of glucose and total cholesterol compared to the STZ group. CR herbal acupuncture prevents $\beta$-cell damage of pancreatic islet, showing round figure on the sections of the pancreas. In the pancreatic cells, expressions of iNOS, JNK-2, P-JNK-1/2 and ERK-1/2 were decreased compared to the STZ group. CR herbal acupuncture solution did not show any cytotoxicity by MTS assay and inhibited expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. Conclusions : Therefore, we suggest that CR herbal acupuncture may act as a prophylactic as well as a therapeutic modality for diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.234-246
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• 2002

Objective : Ankylosing spondylitic is a chronic inflammatory disease which most frequently the sacro-iliac joints of young men and known as rare disease. There was no clinical report on functional assessment of ankylosing spondylitis. In order to evaluate the effect of clinical treatment, it was necessary to apply valuable and useful of assessment. Methods : We evaluate 1 cases of diagnosed patient with askylosing spondylitis by AIMS2, M-HAQ, K-HAQ, BASFI, and BASDAI after a series of herbal acupuncture treatment.(Solution of herbal acupuncture is made of vaporizing extraction method from the prescription Sineumheo 1.) Results : Herbal acupuncture had relieved pain and morning stiffness successfully and recovered ankylosing spondylitis functionally. Conclusion : 1. Herbal acupuncture had relieved pain and morning stiffness of ankylosing spondylitis. 2. AIMS2 was not useful to evaluate ankylosing spondylitis because of long evaluation time and low specificity. 3. Although there is no translation version of them, BASFI, and BASDAI are clinically useful of assessment, because of short evaluation time and high specificity. 4. K-HAQ with M-HAQ is useful to evaluate the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis because of snort evaluation time and high specificity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.151-163
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• 2007

Objectives : Juglandis Semen herbal acupuncture solution(JSS) has a broad array of clinical applications in oriental medicine, including treatment of chronic musculoskeletal diseases such as arthritis. This study was performed to investigate the global gene expression profiles using microarray assay in RAW 264.7 cell line treated with JSS and to advance our understanding of the pharmacologic effect of JSS. Methods : Change of the gene expression profile in RAW cell line following treatment with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) alone, or with LPS plus JSS was investigated with a cut-off level of 2 fold change in the expression. Especially, Change of the gene expression by treatment with LPS alone was compared with that by treatment with LPS plus JSS with a cut-off level of 1/2 fold change in the expression. Results: Of the 8170 genes profiled in this study, 51 were upragulated and 21 downregulated following LPS treatment, and 88 were upregulated and 69 downregulated following costimulation of JSS and LPS. Of the 51 genes upregulated following LPS treatment, 10 were downregulated following costimulation of JSS and LPS. Of the 21 genes downregulated following LPS treatment, 3 were upregulated following costimulation of JSS and LPS. Conclusion : JSS treatment induced upregulation of some genes including IL-10 and downregulation of that including MMP13 with its possible implication in an antiinflammatory action of JSS. However, further research on expression profile changes induced by JSS treatment is expected.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.61-76
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• 2006

To study the effects of anti-cancer, anti-metastasis and immune response improvement effects of herbal-accupunture with Orostachys japhonicus A.Berger, infusion solution put into Kansu(BL18) of mouse induced by Colon26-L5 human colon cancer cells, which are corresponding to humanbody. We observed the change of body weight, surviving number, median surviving time, increase of life span, changes in amount of leukocyte, erythrocyte, platelet, total protein, creatinine, glucose and LDH, weight of spleen and kidney, histological analysis on tissue metastasis of liver, splenic cell proliferation, the expression of cytokine gene, the number of CD4+, CD8+, CD9+ and NK cell, and concluded like this. The results were obtained as follows ; 1. In acute and sub-acute cytotoxicity experiment, significantly signs were not appeared in all groups. 2. Antimetastatic experiment in vitro and in vivo showed that Orostachys Japhonicus A.Berger Herbal-acupuncture at Kansu(BL18) has antimetastatic effects. 3. The spleen cells proliferation of the experimental groups treated with Orostachys Japhonicus A.Berger infusion solution extract has increased significantly compared with that of the control group. 4. As compared with control, the population of total T cell, helper T cell, cytotoxic T cell and macrophage were increased. 5. The production of Th 1 type cytokines from splenocyte and cytokines which is associated with anti-tumor activity form macrophage were increased significantly. Above the results revealed that herbal-accupunture with Orostachys Japhonicus A.Berger infusion solution has effects of anti-cancer, anti-metastasis and immune response improvement.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.69-83
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• 2001

This experiment was carried out to study on the safety assessment of Bas tures . Ursus thibetanus extract solution(BU) for Herbal acupuncture. SD rats and ICR mice were used for acute toxicity test the results were summerized as follows; 1. In rats and mice, LD50 value could not be measured. 2. There were no abnormal finding in acute toxicity test treated BU for Herbal-acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.79-93
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• 2004

Objectives and methods : To study on the anti-cancer, anti-metastasis and immune response improvement effects of Herbal-acupuncture with Sinomenii acuti Lignum infusion solution(SAL-HAS), we injected Sinomenii acuti Lignum infusion solution into Joksamni$(ST_{36})$ of C57BL/6 mouse which is corresponding to human Joksamni(ST36). We observed its effect on the number of $CD25^+/CD4^+,\;CD8^+/CD3e^+,\;CD69^+/B220^+,\;NK1.1^+/CD3e^+$ cells in mouse PBMCs(peripheral blood mononuclear cells), the number of the pulmonary colony, and the effect on MST(mean survival time) and ILS(increase in MST over control) of C57BL/6 mice implanted intravenously with B16-F10 melanoma. Results and Conclusions : 1. The spleen cells proliferation of the sample groups treated with SAL-HAS extract has increased significantly compared with that of the control group. 2. The percentage of the $CD25^+/CD4^+,\;CD8^+/CD3e^+,\;CD69^+/B220^+,\;NK1.1^+/CD3e^+$ cells in C57BL/6 mouse PBMCs of the sample groups treated with SAL-HAS has increased compared with that of the control group. 3. The pulmonary colony number of the sample groups SAL-HAS has decreased significantly compared with that of the control group. 4. MST and ILS of the sample groups SAL-HAS have increased significantly compared with those of the control group.