• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.133-150
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• 2008

Objective: This study was performed to examine Danggui (DG, Angelica gigas Nakai)'s potential activity for promoting axonal regeneration in the injured peripheral nerve. Methods: Using the sciatic nerve in the rats, DG extract 5 ${\mu}l$(10 mg/ml in 0.5% saline) was dripped into the injury site of the nerve. Results: DG treatment facilitated axonal elongation responses in the distal portion to the injury site. GAP-43 protein levels were upregulated by DG treatment in the injured nerve and also in the DRG, suggesting the induction of GAP-43 expression at gene expression level after nerve injury. Phospho-Erk1/2 protein levels were upregulated in the injured nerve area and also in the DRG, suggesting retrograde transport of phospho-Erk1/2 protein from the injury area to the cell body. Cdc2 protein levels were slightly upregulated by DG treatment. DG treatment increased the number of non-neuronal cells in the distal portion to the injury site. Conclusions: The present data suggest that DG is effective for enhanced axonal regrowth after sciatic nerve injury.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.145-159
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim was to investigate the characteristics of low dose effect and non monotonic dose responses(NMDRs) and to predict the influence it might have on the health and medicine, traditional Korean medicine. Methods : By investigating recently published major literatures related to low dose effect and NMDRs, the definition, mechanism, major related fields, and the influence on public health and medicine has been categorized and summarized. Results : Although there are still heated debates about the definition of low dose, it implies the biological responses in environmental exposure level and the NDMDRs means the nonlinear relationship between the dose-response in the slope sign change. Also, it implies the new form of the curve showing a U, reverse U shape, and the slop sign constantly changing showing various forms. This mechanism is because the two acceptor shows opposing effects to toxic materials and the affinity is different along with the numerical value that increase and decrease being different. These characteristics generally appear in endocrine disrupters such as bisphenol A, agricultural pesticides, metal, and radiation. The research field in the public health and medical treatment is obesity, problems in metabolism, growth hormone treatment, climacteric treatment, breast cancer, intake of Korean traditional medicine for pregnancy, menopause and phytoestrogen. Conclusions : As a result of discussing implications, NMDRs is a particular effect in low dose and heated debates surround this response, research is being conducted surrounding the field of obesity, problems in metabolism, growth hormone treatment, climacteric treatment, breast cancer, intake of Korean traditional medicine for pregnancy, menopause, and phytoestrogen. More research and interest in needed as it can have a massive influence in the public health and medicine.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.19
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• 2024

The key role of T cells in cancer immunotherapy is well established and is highlighted by the remarkable capacity of Ab-mediated checkpoint blockade to overcome T-cell exhaustion and amplify anti-tumor responses. However, total or partial tumor remission following checkpoint blockade is still limited to only a few types of tumors. Hence, concerted attempts are being made to devise new methods for improving tumor immunity. Currently, much attention is being focused on therapy with IL-2. This cytokine is a powerful growth factor for T cells and optimises their effector functions. When used at therapeutic doses for cancer treatment, however, IL-2 is highly toxic. Nevertheless, recent work has shown that modifying the structure or presentation of IL-2 can reduce toxicity and lead to effective anti-tumor responses in synergy with checkpoint blockade. Here, we review the complex interaction of IL-2 with T cells: first during normal homeostasis, then during responses to pathogens, and finally in anti-tumor responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

To evaluate whether metformin restores leptin sensitivity in aged rats with leptin resistance, we measured leptin sensitivity in aged (2 year old) and adult (5 month old) rats after 4 weeks of treatment with metformin (300 mg/kg/D, mixing in drinking water), by measuring food intake, body weight and visceral fat losing effects. Leptin ($15{\mu}g/D$) was administered by intracerobroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion through osmotic minipump for 1 week. Metformin treatment decreased body weight and daily food intake in both adult and aged rats compared with their control rats, however, these effects were more prominent in aged rats than in adult rats. Anorexic and fat losing responses following i.c.v. leptin were attenuated in aged rats compared to adult rats. However, these responses of aged rats to leptin were restored by metformin treatment. Moreover, serum concentration of leptin in aged rats was significantly decreased by combined treatment with metformin and leptin. These results suggest that metformin enhances leptin sensitivity in aged rat model, and that combination therapy with metformin and leptin would be helpful for treatment of aging-associated obesity.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.525-535
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects of music therapy on anxiety, sedation, and stress responses of patients during surgery with spinal anesthesia. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group pre-post test was used. There were 55 adults over 19 years of age scheduled for a lower leg surgery with spinal anesthesia: 27 in the treatment group and 28 in the comparison group. Each subject in the treatment group identified their music preference which was used during the period of surgery which usually lasted, 61 minutes. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test and repeated measured ANOVA. Results: There were significant reported differences in levels of anxiety, sedation, and stress responses which were measured by plasma cortisol levels, heart rate, and respiratory rate. The findings of all the variables were effectively decreased among those in the treatment group than the comparison group. Conclusion: The preference based music therapy may be useful as a non-pharmacological intervention.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.368-373
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• 2013

Background: Bertolotti's syndrome (BS), a form of lumbago in lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is an important cause of low back pain in young patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the etiology of low back pain and the efficacy of treatment offered to patients with BS. Methods: All patients of BS Castellvi type1a during a period of 6 months were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent interventional pain procedures for diagnosis and pain relief. Response to the therapy was assessed based on VAS and ODI scores. A 50% decrease in VAS score or a VAS score less than 3 would be considered adequate pain relief. Results: All 20 patients diagnosed with BS during the 6-month observation period had scoliosis. Common causes of back pain were the ipsilateral L5-S1 facet joint, neoarticulation, the SI joint, and disc degeneration. Responses to various interventions for pain relief were different and inconsistent from patient to patient. In particular, responses to interventions for neoarticular pain were generally poor. Conclusions: Pain in patients with BS does not usually respond to interventional pain treatment. A very dynamic treatment approach must be pursued while managing BS patients, and the treatment plan must be individualized at various stages in order to obtain satisfactory pain relief.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4723-4726
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• 2015

Background: The survival of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer is low amongst head and neck cancer cases. The incidence rates of hypopharyngeal cancers in our population are amongst the highest in the world and there are limited data available on the literature on varied responses to first course of treatment with radiotherapy (RT) and concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) in our population. Materials and Methods: Clinical characteristics and initial responses to treatment in patients who had received radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy in a regional cancer center from January 2010 to December 2013 were evaluated. The data were obtained from the hospital cancer registry, and analysis was carried using descriptive statistics. Pearson's chi-square was used to test for differences in the variables and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 554 patients were included in the analysis, 411 (74.2%) receiving RT and 143 (25.8%) being given CRT. There was significantly lower number of patients above 70 years with a higher proportion of patients below 50 years who had received CRT (p<0.05). Some 79.3% and 84.6% of patients in the RT and CRT groups respectively presented with a favorable performance status, and in the RT group 240 (58.4%) showed complete response (CR), and in the CRT group 103 (72.0%) showed CR at the first follow-up (p<0.05). Conclusions: Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy gives better short term response to treatment in locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancers.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2021

Background: Management of pain from open wounds is a growing unmet healthcare need. However, the models available to study pain from wounds or to develop analgesics for the patients suffering from them have primarily relied on incisional models. Here, we present the first characterized and validated model of open wound pain. Methods: Unilateral full-skin excisional punch biopsy wounds on rat hind paws were evaluated for evoked pain using withdrawal responses to mechanical and thermal stimulation, and spontaneous pain was measured using hind paw weight distribution and guarding behavior. Evaluations were done before wounding (baseline) and 2-96 hours post-wounding. The model was validated by testing the effects of buprenorphine and carprofen. Results: Pain responses to all tests increased within 2 hours post-wounding and were sustained for at least 4 days. Buprenorphine caused a reversal of all four pain responses at 1 and 4 hours post-treatment compared to 0.9% saline (P < 0.001). Carprofen decreased the pain response to thermal stimulation at 1 (P ≤ 0.049) and 4 hours (P < 0.011) post-treatment compared to 0.9% saline, but not to mechanical stimulation. Conclusions: This is the first well-characterized and validated model of pain from open wounds and will allow study of the pathophysiology of pain in open wounds and the development of wound-specific analgesics.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

To obtain global gene expression profiles of Arabidopsis thaliana by acid stress, seedlings were subjected to low pH stress. Using Affymetrix AH1 chips covering 24,000 genes, we analyzed gene expression patterns. Fifty-four genes were up-regulated, and 38 were down-regulated more than 3-fold after 2 h of acid stress (pH 3.0). Several defense and abiotic stress-related genes were recognized among the up-regulated genes and peroxidase and extensin genes were identified among the down-regulated genes. After 12 h treatment, relatively fewer genes showed changed expression, indicating that plants seem to adjust themselves to this abiotic stress. Most of the up-regulated genes are already known to be involved in abiotic stress responses and pathogen attacks, especially wounding. However, down-regulated genes for the members of extensins and peroxidases are specific to the acid treatment. These results suggest that acid treatment turns on genes involved in stress responses, especially in wounding and turns off genes very specific for the acid stress.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.597-603
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• 2018

Inhibitory effect of colchicine on growth and gravitropic responses in Arabidopsis root was explored to find whether there was an involvement of ethylene production. It has been known that cytoskeleton components are implicated in sedimentation of statoliths to respond to gravitropism and growth. The root growth was inhibited by 25% and 40% over control for 8 hr treatment of colchicine at a concentration of $10^{-5}M$ and $10^{-7}M$, respectively. The roots treated with colchicine at the concentration of $10^{-7}M$ showed the same pattern as control in 3 hr, however, gravitropic response was decreased in the next 5 hr. The colchicine treatment at the concentration of $10^{-5}M$ inhibited the gravitropic response resulting in $60^{\circ}$ of curvature. In order to better understand the role of colchicine, the production of ethylene was measured with and without the treatment of colchicine. Colchicine increased the ethylene production by 20% when compared to control via the activation of ACC oxidase and ACC synthase activity. These results suggest that the inhibition of the growth and gravitropic responses of Arabidopsis roots by the treatment of colchicine could be attributed to the rearrangement of microtubule, and increase of ethylene production.