• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.345-349
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• 2015

Betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba Mill), has been known for a wide range of biological and medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antihelmintic, antinociceptive, and anticancer activities. In the study, we investigated the antiviral activity on influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line and C57BL/6 mice. Betulinic acid showed the anti-influenza viral activity at a concentration of $50{\mu}M$ without a significant cytotoxicity in influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 cells. Also, betulinic acid significantly attenuated pulmonary pathology including increased necrosis, numbers of inflammatory cells and pulmonary edema induced by influenza A/PR/8 virus infection compared with vehicle- or oseltamivir-treated mice in vivo model. The down-regulation of IFN-${\gamma}$ level, which is critical for innate and adaptive immunity in viral infection, after treating of betulinic acid in mouse lung. Based on the obtained results, it is suggested that betulinic acid can be the potential therapeutic agent for virus infection via anti-inflammatory activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.396-402
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• 2018

Hataedock (HTD) treatment is a traditional preventive therapy for the fetal toxicosis- the acute allergic disease after childbirth, mainly manifested by a variety of skin allergies such as scab, phlegm. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of HTD treatments for the alleviation of inflammation in Dermatophagoides farinae-induced obese NC/Nga mice. 20 mg/kg of Coptidis Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix (CRGR) extracts as a remedy of HTD treatments were orally administered to NC/Nga mice. We induced obesity in the mice by high-fat diet. To induce skin allergies, the extracts of Dermatophagoides farinae were topically applied on the NC/Nga mice at 4th-6th and 8th-10th weeks. Structural and molecular changes in the skin tissues were measured by immunohistochemical staining. HTD treatment decreased the atopic dermatitis (AD)-like symptoms including hemorrhage, erythema, erosion, edema, and dryness. HTD treatment suppressed the mast cell activation confirmed by reduction of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, substance P, and serotonin. The expression of several inflammatory mediators including nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) was also decreased by HTD treatment. HTD treatment suppressed the allergic, inflammatory responses in the skin tissues of the NC/Nga mice by reducing mast cells and down-regulating several inflammatory mediators.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2019

Background: Taraxacum platycarpum has been used in traditional medicine in Korea to treat intoxication and edema and as a diuretic. According to previous reports, it has anti-cancer, anti-gastritis, and anti-inflammation effects. However, the improvement effect of T. platycarpum on rheumatoid arthritis has not been investigated. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation effects of the aerial parts of T. platycarpum are different from those of its subterranean parts. Thus, we evaluated the effect of the water extracts of Taraxaci radix (WTR) on type II collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA) in animal models. Methods and Results: Rheumatoid arthritis was induced by type II collagen. WTR (100 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) was administered to the animal models. Methotrexate was used as the positive control. The levels of interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and type II collagen IgG in the animals were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Treatment with 500 mg/kg WTR decreased the serum levels of interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and collagen IgG in the CIA models. Moreover, treatment with WTR diminished the arthritisinduced swelling of the hind legs and monocyte infiltration in the bloodvessels of the animal models. Conclusions: These results indicate that WTR has the potential to improve rheumatoid arthritis by reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha. However, further experiments are required to elucidate the influence of WTR on signal transduction in vitro and in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2021

Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae is the etiological agent of a porcine pleuropneumonia and have great economic importance to the global swine industry. For recent 5 years, a total of 50 pleuropneumonia cases of 24 pig farms were selected from pig lungs submitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Collected lungs were fixed in 10% neutral phosphate-buffered formalin and processed for histological examination. Serotypes of A. pleuropneumoniae in pneumonic lesions were analyzed by PCR methods. And the antimicrobial susceptibility of A. pleuropneumoniae isolates was determined by a disc diffusion test. Grossly, unilateral distribution of hemorrhagic or necrotic pneumonic lesions was more common than bilateral distribution in lungs. In peracute or acute cases, histopathologic changes were characterized by necrosis, hemorrhage, neutrophils infiltration, vascular thrombosis, widespread edema and fibrinous exudates. Following the acute response, macrophage infiltration, marked fibrosis around zonal necrotic areas, and marked fibrous pleuritis were characteristic in chronic cases. A total of 50 pleuropneumonia were associated with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 in 46 cases (92%), serotype 2 in 3 cases (6%), and both 2 and 5 in 1 case (2%). More than 90% of collected isolates showed high sensitivity to ceftiofur, amoxicillin, and colistin. However, ampicillin, penicillin, and tylosin showed low susceptibility. The results of this study demonstrated that A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 was predominant at porcine pleuropneumonia cases in Jeju.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2023

Background: Dental evaluation and protection are important for preventing traumatic dental injuries when patients are under general anesthesia. The objective of the present study was to develop a questionnaire based on dentition-related risk factors that could serve as a valuable tool for dental evaluation and documentation. Methods: We developed a questionnaire for dental evaluation before administration of general anesthesia, investigated the association between patient-and-dentist responses and mouthguard fabrication, and assessed response agreement between 100 patients. Results: Protective mouthguards were fabricated for 27 patients who were identified as having a high risk of dental injury. There was a strong association between dentists' responses and mouthguard fabrication, depending on the general oral health status, use of ceramic prosthesis, presence of masticatory pain related to periodontal diseases, gingival edema, and implants (P < 0.05). Response agreement between patients and dentists for items related to dental pain, loss of dental pulp vitality, root canal therapy, dental trauma, aesthetic prosthesis, tooth mobility, and implant prosthesis was high (Cohen's kappa coefficient κ ≥ 0.6). Conclusions: A high agreement was observed between patient-dentist responses and a strong association with mouthguard fabrication for items pertaining to ceramic prosthesis, masticatory pain, and dental implants. Patients with a "yes" response to these items are recommended to undergo a dental evaluation and use a dental protective device while under general anesthesia.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2022

Objectives: Gout is an inflammatory arthritis of the joints and soft tissues occurring due to deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, which are caused by persistent hyperuricemia. Soyeom pharmacopuncture is one treatment method that has been traditionally used for pain management in Oriental medicine. However, studies on its effect in reducing gout pain have been insufficient. Therefore, we selected Soyeom pharmacopuncture among natural products used in Korea as the new target of our study. Methods: The effects of Soyeom pharmacopuncture were examined in mouse models of acute gout induced by injection of MSU crystals into footpads. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α production were examined by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as hallmarks of NLRP3 inflammasome and cytokine activation. Results: Soyeom pharmacopuncture reduced foot edema in gout-induced mice, as well as IL-1β, nitrite, IL-6, and TNF-α production. Moreover, Soyeom pharmacopuncture also reduced MSU-induced gout inflammatory gene expressions, specifically those in the NF-kB pathway. Conclusion: Pharmacopuncture may serve as a new solution for other inflammatory diseases as well. Through active follow-up studies, we could thoroughly understand the clinical value of Soyeom pharmacopuncture.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.97-103
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• 2023

Objectives : These days many people tend to prefer spicy taste. The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between prefer spicy and physical symptoms. Methods : We examined the subjective physical condition of patients who visited L/C clinic during the period between January and June 2023 by conducting a survey. The survey was completed voluntarily, and the anonymity and confidentiality of the research data were strictly protected, and it was stated that patients could withdraw at any time if they did not want to participate. Patients who refused to complete the survey and patients with limited capacity to give consent were excluded. The survey took about 10 minutes to complete. We analyzed 248 cases who answered the survey and found that 66 patients had a high spicy preference. Results : As a result, participants with high spicy taste preference tended to have general body symptoms such as fever, sweat, and thirst; digestive symptoms such as belching, constipation, bloody stools, and abdominal distension; genitourinary symptoms such as yellowish urine, urinary retention, white fluor albus, and premenstrual tension; and neuromuscular symptoms such as edema, blepharospasm, and cold hands. Conclusion : People who have general body symptoms, digestive symptoms, genitourinary symptoms and neuromuscular symptoms described above should try to eat as little spicy food as possible and make sure they get a good balance of the five flavors.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2022

The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of Lindera glauca (ELG). We found that ELG significantly suppressed NO production through decreased enzyme activity and expression of iNOS in the IFN-γ/LPS-activated murine peritoneal macrophages. The treatment of ELG also down-regulated the expression of COX-2. Our western blot data revealed that inhibitory effects of ELG on these pro-inflammatory mediators were attributed to inactivation of NF-κB. In addition, ELG-fed mice showed a marked decrease in paw edema induced by subplantar injection of trypsin, suggesting in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of ELG. We further investigated the anti-nociceptive properties of ELG using thermal and chemical nociception model. We found that ELG has a strong anti-nociceptive activities in both central and peripheral mechanism. An additional combination test with naloxone revealed that opioid receptor was not involved in the ELG-mediated anti-nociception. In conclusion, ELG may possibly be used as valuable anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and pains.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.239-252
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• 2024

Dexmedetomidine displays multiple mechanisms of neuroprotection in ameliorating ischemic brain injury. In this study, we explored the beneficial effects of dexmedetomidine on blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h to establish a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dexmedetomidine (9 ㎍/kg) was administered to rats 30 min after MCAO through intravenous injection, and SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor, 200 ㎍/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before MCAO. Brain damages were evaluated by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining, Nissl staining, and brain water content assessment. BBB permeability was examined by Evans blue staining. Expression levels of claudin-5, zonula occludens-1, occludin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as well as M1/M2 phenotypes-associated markers were assessed using immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and gelatin zymography. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine inflammatory cytokine levels. We found that dexmedetomidine or SB203580 attenuated infarct volume, brain edema, BBB permeability, and neuroinflammation, and promoted M2 microglial polarization after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Increased MMP-9 activity by ischemia/reperfusion injury was inhibited by dexmedetomidine or SB203580. Dexmedetomidine inhibited the activation of the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways. Moreover, activation of JNK or p38 MAPK reversed the protective effects of dexmedetomidine against ischemic brain injury. Overall, dexmedetomidine ameliorated brain injury by alleviating BBB permeability and promoting M2 polarization in experimental cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model by inhibiting the activation of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 2004

The eyes, the saying goes, are the windows of the soul. It's the first thing you notice about a person. Therefore, many people want to possess beautiful eyelids. Surgical formation of a palpebral fold and sulcus divides the lid into two well-defined segments (palpebral and pretarsal), producing the double eyelid desired by many Oriental women as well as an increasing number of man recently. Upper lid blepharoplasty is the Oriental eye is one of the variations of standard upper lid blepharoplasty. In Oriental double eyelid surgery, there have been two approaches to form a superior palpebral fold: the buried suture(nonincision) method and the full external incision method. Conventionally, the nonincision technique has been shown to produce little postoperative edema. However, the probability of the fold disappearing is high, and this technique cannot be performed in patients with fatty eyelids. Conversely, the incision technique has contrary characteristics. Recently, partial incision(or semi-open) technique which is combination of mentioned methods is used, this technique is removal of pretarsal tissue, muscle, and/or orbital fat around 2 or 3 incision site to facilitate tarsus-dermal adhesion. Our method is on the basis of this technique, furthermore, compared with conventional semi-open method, Y(Yang's) needle assisted double eyelid operation is more easy, convenient, saving-time method and provide satisfactory results.