• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.8
• /
• pp.3651-3657
• /
• 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a relatively higher incidence in many countries of Asia. Globally, HCC has a high fatality rate and short survival. Epirubicin, a doxorubicin analogue, may be administered alone or in combination with other agents to treat primary liver cancer and metastatic diseases. However, the toxic effects of epirubicin to normal tissues and cells have been one of the major obstacles to successful cancer chemotherapy. Here, we investigated the effects of epirubicin in combination with kappa-selenocarrageenan on mice with H22 implanted tumors and HepG-2 cell proliferation, immune organ index, morphology, cell cycle and related protein expressions in vivo and in vitro with sequential drug exposure. The inhibitory rate of tumor growth in vivo was calculated. Drug sensitivity was measured by MTT assay, and the King's principle was used to evaluate the interaction of drug combination. Morphological changes were observed by fluorescent microscopy. Cell cycle changes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Expression of cyclin A, Cdc25A and Cdk2 were detected by Western blotting. In vivo results demonstrated that the inhibitory rate of EPI combined with KSC was higher than that of KSC or EPI alone, and the Q value indicated an additive effect. In addition, KSC could significantly raise the thymus and spleen indices of mice with H22 implanted tumors. In the drug sensitivity assay in vitro, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously was more effective than exposure sequentially in HepG-2 cells, while exposure to KSC prior to EPI was more effective than exposure to EPI prior to KSC. Q values showed an additive effect in the simultaneous group and antagonistic effects in the sequential groups. Morphological analysis showed similar results to the drug sensitivity assay. Cell cycle analysis revealed that exposure to KSC or EPI alone arrested the cells in S phase in HepG-2 cells, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously caused accumulation in the S phase, an effect caused by either KSC or EPI. Expression of cyclin A, Cdc25A and Cdk2 protein was down-regulated following exposure to KSC and EPI alone or in combination, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously resulting in the lowest values. Taken together, our findings suggest that KSC in combination with EPI might have potential as a new therapeutic regimen against HCC.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.52-112
• /
• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study is to understand trends of "Gi-Gong" related studies from 1950 to 2016 and to help guide the research direction of Gigong study. Methods : The computerized Korean database was searched from 1950 to 2016. The search terms used were only Korean language terms such as '기, '기공', '도인', '명상', '생체에너지', '수련', '양생'. Results : 1. A total of 310,184 (155,565(1950~2007) + 13,705(2016) + 140,914(2008~2016)) studies were searched in this study. A total of 6,240 studies were finally selected as Gigong related studies. 2. In the results according to the Main Subject Categories(KCI;Korea Citation Index), the 'Humanities' was the largest with 2,686 studies and the 'Marine Agriculture, Fishery' was the least with 10 studies. 3. In the results according to the Middle Subject Categories(KCI;Korea Citation Index), the 'Philosophy' was the largest with 1,014(16.26%) studies. 4. A result of the Gigong Categories showed that the 'Philosophy of Gi' was the highest with 2,151(33.82%) not including duplication. 5. As a result of Research Method, the most frequently used method was 'Analysis Research' with 4,199(67.33%) studies. 6. In the author search, 'Kim Nak Pil' was searched 112 times and was the most.. 7. The journal that published the most relevant studies with Gigong was 『Conference Proceedings OF The Korean Society OF Jungshin Science』 (189), and the university that had the largest number of studies related to Gigong was 'Wonkwang University'(212). Conclusions : 1. The number of Gigong related studies had increased rapidly from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, and reached to a peak in 2007 and has been gradually increasing since 2008. 2. The three major academic fields of Gigong related studies are Thought Field, Korean Medicine Field, and Kinesic Field. 3. In the Gigong related studies, the best authority is 'Kim Nak-pil' and the most active academy is the 'Korean Society OF Jungshin Science'. 4. Although most categories of Gigong have been generally studied evenly, studies on External Gi Therapy and Taoist Sexual Practices are very insufficient.