• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.45-50
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• 2003

Background and Purpose : Chunghyul-dan has been widely used in the Department of Cardiovascular ＆ Neurologic Diseases, Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Center to prevent stroke by lowering serum cholesterol level. Previous experimental and clinical studies revealed that Chunghyul-dan had therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase and pancreatic lipase. It was also reported that Chunghyul-dan showed an anti-oxidation effect by scavenging free radicals and inhibiting nitric oxide synthesis. Therefore, we examined the safety of Chunghyul-dan on all subjects who had been treated with it. Methods : We performed a retrospective study by reviewing the medical records of those who had been administrated Chunghyul-dan at Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Center from February 8,2001 to December 31,2002. The subjects' general characteristics (gender, age, medical history, and present illness), recorded adverse effects, and the results of laboratory findings were obtained and analyzed to assess the clinical safety of Chunghyul-dan. Results : Six hundred fifty six subjects were treated with Chunghyul-dan. Clinical adverse effects appeared in 13 subjects, the major symptom being indigestion (8 subjects). The apparent frequency of adverse effects was much lower than that in previous reports on the safety of certain medications. On investigation of laboratory findings, we could not find any hepatic or renal toxicity. Conclusion : We suggest that our results contribute towards confirming the safety of Chunghyul-dan by offering clinical evidence.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Radiotherapy (RT) has been used for decades as one of the main treatment modalities for cancer patients. The therapeutic effect of RT has been primarily ascribed to DNA damage leading to tumor cell death. Besides direct tumoricidal effect, RT affects antitumor responses through immune-mediated mechanism, which provides a rationale for combining RT and immunotherapy for cancer treatment. Thus far, for the combined treatment with RT, numerous studies have focused on the immune checkpoint inhibitors and have shown promising results. However, treatment resistance is still common, and one of the main resistance mechanisms is thought to be due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment where myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a crucial role. MDSCs are immature myeloid cells with a strong immunosuppressive activity. MDSC frequency is correlated with tumor progression, recurrence, negative clinical outcome, and reduced efficacy of immunotherapy. Therefore, increasing efforts to target MDSCs have been made to overcome the resistance in cancer treatments. In this review, we focus on the role of MDSCs in RT and highlight growing evidence for targeting MDSCs in combination with RT to improve cancer treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2015

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of energy metabolism. Previous studies have shown that activation of AMPK results in suppression of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy via inhibition of the p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) and eukaryotic elongation factor-2 (eEF2) signaling pathways. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol found in green tea, possesses multiple protective effects on the cardiovascular system including cardiac hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms has not been well investigated. In this study, we found that EGCG could significantly reduce natriuretic peptides type A (Nppa), brain natriuretic polypeptide (BNP) mRNA expression and decrease cell surface area in H9C2 cardiomyocytes stimulated with phenylephrine (PE). Moreover, we showed that AMPK is activated in H9C2 cardiomyocytes by EGCG, and AMPK-dependent pathway participates in the inhibitory effects of EGCG on cardiac hypertrophy. Taken together, our findings provide the first evidence that the effect of EGCG against cardiac hypertrophy may be attributed to its activation on AMPK-dependent signaling pathway, suggesting the therapeutic potential of EGCG on the prevention of cardiac remodeling in patients with pressure overload hypertrophy.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.89-89
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• 2018

Abeliophyllum distichum is a medicinal plant used in regional traditional medicine to relieve pain in inflammatory processes. In this study, anti-inflammatory effects of Abeliophyllum distichum stem (ADS) ethyl acetate extract were examined. Furthermore, possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects were dissected. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in murine macrophage-like cell line Raw264.7 cells and human microglial cell line BV2 cells. The measurement of the induced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were carried out by ELISA. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and MAPK, and the nuclear expression of nuclear factor $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 were investigated by Western blot analysis. The extract of ADS significantly decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the extract suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 in activated cells. Our findings provide evidence for the popular use of Abeliophylli distichum in inflammation around Goesan region and also suggest that the stem extract has potential therapeutic benefits against several inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2020

A total of 1,235 studies were retrieved on June 23, 2019, from 3 databases. Selected 59 studies were evaluated by year of publication, study type, subject condition/disease, acupoint, standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of moxibustion (STRICTOM), Cochrane risk of bias (RoB), and risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study (RoBANS). Most studies were conducted in 2011, after which the number of studies decreased. The most common study type was 25 case reports (CR), 16 uncontrolled clinical trials (UCT), 11 randomized controlled trials (RCT), and 7 controlled clinical trials (CCT). Moxibustion treatment was mainly used for musculoskeletal and circulatory diseases/conditions. A total of 83 acupoints were used, A-shi points being the most used. As for STRICTOM, an average of 7.4 items were satisfactory for UCT and CR without a control group, and an average of 9.4 items were satisfactory for RCT and CCT. RCT was assessed using the RoB, and many items were rated as uncertain. In this study, the need for RCT of moxibustion treatment in Korea was identified. The detailed description of study methods and results will provide evidence for the efficacy of moxibustion treatment in preventive and therapeutic aspects of Korean traditional medicine.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and increased mortality. However, it was controversial whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome could cause pulmonary hypertension. The controversy was resolved by several studies that have shown pulmonary hypertension in 20% to 40% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome without underlying other cardiopulmonary diseases and reductions in pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after treatment with nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure. Recent studies provide strong evidence for endothelial dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. Endothelin-1 is a 21 amino acid peptide with diverse biologic activity such as highly potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen regulator that may play a key role in obstructive sleep ap-nea syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy is moderately effective in reducing pulmonary arterial pressure. Further researches are needed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of pharmacologic therapy with agents that inhibit the action of endothelin-1 in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients with pulmonary hypertension.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2018

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and diarrhea. Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) has been used for the treatment of various diseases including neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory disease. However, there has been no information on whether GE regulates intestinal inflammation. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether GE can protect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model. The colitis mice were induced by drinking water containing 5% DSS for 7 days. Body weight, colon length and clinical score were assessed to determine the effects on colitis. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6 in colitis tissue were also measured. The results showed that mice administrated with DSS showed clinical signs including weight loss and reduced colon length. GE inhibited the DSS-induced loss of body weight and shortening of colon and increased Disease activity index score. Additionally, we observed that GE suppressed the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in DSS-treated colon tissues. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence that GE might be a useful therapeutic agent for patients with UC.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Methods: The researcher conducted search across the 3 electronic databases (Pubmed, Wanfang data(included CAJ) and Oasis) to find all of randomized controlled clinical trials(RCTs) that used Chuna manual therapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Results: Eight RCTs met inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of Chuna manual therapy in terms of the therapeutic effects or symptom score compared to west medication, herbal medication, acupucture and moxa treatment alone. Conclusions: The review found encouraging but limited evidence of Chuna manual therapy for irritable bowel syndrome. More highquality clinical trials research is needed on Chuna, manipulative therapy of irritable bowel syndrome.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2018

In recent years, several therapeutic drugs have been rationally designed and synthesized based on the novel knowledge gained from investigating the actions of biologically active chemicals derived from foods, plants, and medicinal herbs. One of the major advantages of these naturalistic chemicals is their ability to interact with multiple targets in the body resulting in a combined beneficial effect. Ginseng is a perennial herb (Araliaceae family), a species within the genus Panax, and a highly valued and popular medicinal plant. Evidence for the medicinal and health benefits of Panax ginseng and its components in preventing neurodegeneration has increased significantly in the past decade. The beneficial effects of P. ginseng on neurodegenerative diseases have been attributed primarily to the antioxidative and immunomodulatory activities of its ginsenoside components. Mechanistic studies on the neuroprotective effects of ginsenosides revealed that they act not only as antioxidants but also as modulators of intracellular neuronal signaling and metabolism, cell survival/death genes, and mitochondrial function. The goal of the present paper is to provide a brief review of recent knowledge and developments concerning the beneficial effects as well as the mechanism of action of P. ginseng and its components in the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.902-908
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• 2005

An oriental herbal combination (BDX-1) was isolated from Achyranthes bidentata and Atractylodes japonica. We previously tested the clinical effectiveness of BDX-1 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and found that it has a beneficial therapeutic effect. Here, we provide experimental evidence for the effectiveness of BDX-1 on RA in murine models. The oral administration of BDX-1 was found to markedly inhibit collagen-induced arthritis, adjuvant-induced arthritis, and zymosan-induced inflammation. It also inhibited carrageenan-induced acute edema and acetic acid-induced writhing response. In addition, the biological activity of BDX-1 was found to be strongly increased by fermentation. Our results suggest that BDX-1 could be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.