Traditional Medicine in China, Korea, and Japan: A Brief Introduction and Comparison

Background and Purpose. Traditional medicine (TM) has been widely used in China (including the Taiwan region), Korea, and Japan. The purposes of this paper are to summarize the basic data on TM systems in these three countries and to compare them in terms of overall policy, education, and insurance. Methods. Government websites, national statistics, and authoritative papers from each country were fully searched. Further data were gathered by TM experts from each country. Results. China and Korea showed similar patterns in TM systems, whereas Japan showed different patterns. In China and Korea, TM was practiced in a dual system with conventional medicine (CM), and TM education was 6-year training programs on average for TM doctors, and acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping were completely insured. Whereas, CM was dominant in Japan, and TM was practiced by each health care worker who has received different TM education respectively, and main TM therapies were partially insured. Conclusions. TM was developed similarly or somewhat differently based on differences in cultural background and national policies in East Asia. We cautiously propose that this study could contribute to the development of TM and also be used for reference in complementary and alternative medicine systems

GASTROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF LEEJUNG-TANG, AN ORIENTAL TRADITIONAL HERBAL FORMULA, ON ETHANOL-INDUCED ACUTE GASTRIC INJURY IN RATS

Leejung-tang (LJT, Rechu-to in Japanese and Lizhong-tang in Chinese) is an oriental traditional traditional herbal formula. LJT has been used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in Korea, Japan, and China for a long time. In present study, we investigated the protective effects of LJT against absolute ethanol induced gastric injuries. Rats in the control group were given PBS orally (5 mL/kg body weight) as the vehicle, and the absolute-ethanol group (EtOH group) received absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg body weight) by oral gavage. Rats in the positive control group were given omeprazole orally (50 mg/kg body weight) 2 h prior to the administration of absolute ethanol. The treatment groups received LJT (400 mg/kg body weight) 2 h prior to absolute ethanol administration. All rats were sacrificed 1 h after receiving the ethanol treatment. The stomach was excised for macroscopic examination and biochemical analysis. The administration of LJT protected gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury, including hemorrhage and hyperemia. LJT reduced the increase in lipid peroxidation in ethanol-induced acute gastric lesions. LJT increased GSH content and activities of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. These results indicate that LJT protects gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury by increasing their antioxidant content. We suggest that LJT can be developed as an effective drug for the treatment of acute gastric injury

Carbonic anhydrase XII expression is associated with histologic grade of cervical cancer and superior radiotherapy outcome

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether expression of carbonic anhydrase XII (CA12) is associated with histologic grade of the tumors and radiotherapy outcomes of the patients with invasive cervical cancer. METHODS: CA12 expression was examined by immunohistochemical stains in cervical cancer tissues from 183 radiotherapy patients. Histological grading was classified as well (WD), moderately (MD) or poorly differentiated (PD). Oligonucleotide microarray experiment was performed using seven cervical cancer samples to examine differentially expressed genes between WD and PD cervical cancers. The association between CA12 and histological grade was analyzed by chi-square test. CA12 and histological grades were analyzed individually and as combined CA12 and histologic grade categories for effects on survival outcome. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical expression of CA12 was highly associated with the histologic grade of cervical cancer. Lack of CA12 expression was associated with PD histology, with an odds ratio of 3.9 (P = 0.01). Microarray analysis showed a fourfold reduction in CA12 gene expression in PD tumors. CA12 expression was marginally associated with superior disease-free survival. Application of the new combined categories resulted in further discrimination of the prognosis of patients with moderate and poorly differentiated tumor grade. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that CA12 may be used as a novel prognostic marker in combination with histologic grade of the tumors

Cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species production induced by different co-monomer eluted from nanohybrid dental composites

Background Safety issues for dental restorative composites are critical to material selection, but, limited information is available to dental practitioners. This study aimed to compare the chemical and biological characteristics of three nanohybrid dental composites by assessing filler particle analysis, monomer degree of conversion (DC), the composition of eluates, and cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in fibroblasts. Methods Three nanohybrid composites (TN, Tetric N-Ceram; CX, Ceram X Sphere Tec One; and DN, DenFil NX) were used. The size distribution and morphology of the filler particles were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (n = 5). The DC was measured via micro-Raman spectroscopy (n = 5). For the component analysis, methanol eluates from the light-polymerised composites were evaluated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (n = 3). The eluates were prepared from the polymerised composites after 24h in a cell culture medium. A live/dead assay (n = 9) and Water-Soluble Tetrazolium-1 assay (n = 9) were performed and compared with negative and positive controls. The ROS in composites were compared with NC. Statistical significance in differences was assessed using a t-test and ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results Morphological variations in different-sized fillers were observed in the composites. The DC values were not significantly different among the composites. The amounts of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were higher in TN than DN (p = 0.0022) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) in CX was higher than in others (p < 0.0001). The lowest cell viability was shown in CX (p < 0.0001) and the highest ROS formation was detected in TN (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Three nanohybrid dental composites exhibited various compositions of filler sizes and resin components, resulting in different levels of cytotoxicity and ROS production. Chemical compositions of dental composites can be considered with their biological impact on safety issues in the intraoral use of dental restorative composites. CX with the highest TEGDMA showed the highest cytotoxicity induced by ROS accumulation. DN with lower TEGDMA and HEMA presented the highest cell viability.This work was supported by the Korea Medical Device Development Fund grant funded by the Korea government (the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Health & Wel‑fare, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) (Project Number: 9991006717, KMDF_PR_20200901_0044)

A Survey of Diabetic Educators and Patients for the Revision of Korean Food Exchange Lists

BackgroundFood exchange lists are one of the main methods of nutritional education. However, Korean food exchange lists have not been revised since 1994. Therefore, we surveyed the opinions of diabetes educators and patients with diabetes regarding the need for revision of the current food exchange lists.MethodsFor two weeks beginning on 10 March 2008, a 12-item questionnaire regarding the opinion and need for revision of the current food exchange lists was e-mailed to diabetes educators nationwide. Another 15-question survey was administered to patients with diabetes in 13 hospitals located in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions of Korea.ResultsWe obtained survey responses from 101 diabetes educators and 209 patients; 65 (64.3%) of the educators answered that the current food exchange lists should be revised. The items that needed revision were the glycemic index, addition of new foods and reaffirmation of exchange standard amounts. The patients demanded specific education about choosing appropriate foods, a balanced meal plan, proper snacks, and dining intake.ConclusionOur survey results demonstrate the need to revise the Korean food exchange lists. This process should focus on glycemic index, the addition of new foods and reconfirmation of one exchange reference unit

Pleural effusion after microtia reconstructive surgery -A case report-

Microtia reconstructive surgery is usually a multi-stage repair procedure that involves the use of cartilage and skin grafts. Complications can arise at both ear reconstruction sites and cartilage donor sites. In particular, pneumothorax, atelectasis, chest scars, and chest deformities are known to be associated with the harvesting of costal cartilage. However, delayed pleural effusion can also develop. Our patient complained of a cough and chest pain at 5 days postoperatively, and pleural effusion was detected by chest radiography. However, thoracentesis was not performed and the effusion resolved spontaneously and completely

Development of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Human IRF-5 and Their Use in Identifying the Binding of IRF-5 to Nuclear Import Proteins Karyopherin-α1 and -β1

PURPOSE: IRF-5 is a direct transducer of virus-mediated and TLR-mediated signaling pathways for the expression of cytokines and chemokines which form homodimers or heterodimers with IRF-7. However, direct IRF-5-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are not available at present. These could be used to further evaluate the functions of IRF-5. In this study, we produced and characterized three mouse mAbs to human IRF-5. The binding of IRF-5 to nuclear import proteins was first identified using a mAb. MATERIALS AND METHODS: His-tagged human IRF-5 protein spanning amino acid residues 193-257 was used as an antigen and three mAbs were produced. The mAbs were tested with ELISA, Western blot analysis (WB), immunofluorescent staining (IF), and immunoprecipitation (IP). In addition, the nuclear import protein which carried phosphorylated IRF-5 was identified using one of these mAbs. RESULTS: MAbs 5IRF8, 5IRF10 and 5IRF24 which reacted with the recombinant His-IRF-5(193-257) protein were produced. All mAbs bound to human IRF-5, but not to IRF-3 or IRF-7. They could be used for WB, IF, and IP studies. The binding of phosphorylated IRF-5 to karyopherin-alpha1 and -beta1 was also identified. CONCLUSION: Human IRF-5-specific mAbs are produced for studying the immunologic roles related to IRF-5. Phosphorylated IRF-5 is transported to the nucleus by binding to nuclear import proteins karyopherin-alpha1 and -beta1.ope

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation developed during incomplete epidural anesthesia -A case report-

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained tachyarrhythmia, and occurs in organic heart disease such as rheumatic, atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease. In recent studies, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have been shown to have important roles in initiating paroxysmal AF. We report here a patient who developed paroxysmal AF that might be a result of an imbalance of the sympathetic-parasympathetic systems due to epidural anesthesia, and that was potentiated by pain with inadequate analgesia. A 69-year-old woman was scheduled for operation of a right-sided ankle fracture. Twenty minutes after epidural drug injection, paroxysmal AF occurred. Even after intravenous administration of esmolol and digoxin, AF continued. After transfer to the intensive care unit, her heart rate gradually decreased and AF disappeared. During perioperative anesthetic management, the proper preoperative prevention and intraoperative treatment are needed in AF high-risk patients