Korean Studies on Blood Stasis: An Overview

Blood stasis is one of the important pathological concepts in Korean medicine. We analyzed the Korean studies concerning blood stasis. We searched for articles in eight electronic databases from their inception to September, 2014. We included reviews, clinical studies, and preclinical studies that had studied blood stasis and excluded articles in which blood stasis was not mentioned or in which the original authors had not explained blood stasis. Of 211 total included studies, 19 were reviews, 52 were clinical studies, and 140 were preclinical articles. “Stagnant blood within the body” was the most frequently mentioned phrase of the traditional concept of blood stasis. Traumatic injury was the most frequently studied disease/condition in the clinical studies. In the preclinical studies, coagulopathy was studied most frequently, followed by hyperviscosity, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, neoplasm, ischemic brain injury, and atherosclerosis. Hyeolbuchukeo-tang and Angelicae Gigantis Radix were the most frequent formula and single herb, respectively, used in the blood stasis researches. The results showed that blood stasis was mainly recognized as disorder of circulation and many studies showed the effectiveness of activating blood circulating herbs for diseases and pathologies such as traumatic injury or coagulopathy. Further studies are needed in the pathologic mechanisms and various diseases of blood stasis

Korean Studies on Blood Stasis: An Overview

Blood stasis is one of the important pathological concepts in Korean medicine. We analyzed the Korean studies concerning blood stasis. We searched for articles in eight electronic databases from their inception to September, 2014. We included reviews, clinical studies, and preclinical studies that had studied blood stasis and excluded articles in which blood stasis was not mentioned or in which the original authors had not explained blood stasis. Of 211 total included studies, 19 were reviews, 52 were clinical studies, and 140 were preclinical articles. "Stagnant blood within the body" was the most frequently mentioned phrase of the traditional concept of blood stasis. Traumatic injury was the most frequently studied disease/condition in the clinical studies. In the preclinical studies, coagulopathy was studied most frequently, followed by hyperviscosity, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, neoplasm, ischemic brain injury, and atherosclerosis. Hyeolbuchukeo-tang and Angelicae Gigantis Radix were the most frequent formula and single herb, respectively, used in the blood stasis researches. The results showed that blood stasis was mainly recognized as disorder of circulation and many studies showed the effectiveness of activating blood circulating herbs for diseases and pathologies such as traumatic injury or coagulopathy. Further studies are needed in the pathologic mechanisms and various diseases of blood stasis

3-Hydroxybutyrate Ameliorates the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy

Studies report beneficial effects of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) on the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, but the effects of 3-OHB on diabetic nephropathy have not been elucidated. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of 3-OHB against progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Mice (db/db) were fed normal chow, high-fat, or ketogenic diets (KD) containing precursors of 3-OHB. Hyperglycemia was determined based on random glucose level (≥250 mg/dL). Fasting blood glucose and body weights were measured once a week. Twenty four-hour urine albumin to creatinine ratio was determined 5 weeks after the differential diet. Energy expenditure was measured 9 weeks after the differential diet. Body weights were significantly lower in the KD group than those in other groups, but no significant differences in fasting blood glucose levels among three groups were observed. Urine albumin to creatinine ratio and serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) to creatinine ratio in the KD group were significantly lower than in other groups. Histologic and quantitative analysis of mesangial area suggested that KD delayed the progression of DN phenotype in db/db mice. Metabolic cage analysis also revealed that KD increased energy expenditure in db/db mice. In vitro studies with proximal tubular cells revealed that 3-OHB stimulated autophagic flux. 3-OHB increased LC3 I to LC3 II ratio, phosphorylation of AMPK, beclin, p62 degradation, and NRF2 expression. Moreover, we found that 3-OHB attenuated high glucose-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in proximal tubular cells. In vivo study also confirmed increased LC3 and decreased ROS levels in the kidney of KD mice. In summary, this study shows in both in vivo and in vitro models that 3-OHB delays the progression of DN by augmenting autophagy and inhibiting oxidative stress

Metabolomics approach for discovering disease biomarkers and understanding metabolic pathway

Metabolomics, the multi-targeted analysis of endogenous metabolites from biological samples, can be efficiently applied to screen disease biomarkers and investigate pathophysiological processes. Metabolites change rapidly in response to physiological perturbations, making them the closest link to disease phenotypes. This study explored the role of metabolomics in gaining mechanistic insight into disease processes and in searching for novel biomarkers of human disease

Association of serum resistin with blood stasis syndrome in traditional Korean medicine for metabolic diseases: A cross-sectional multicenter observational study

Background: Blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is considered as the cause of several chronic disease including metabolic diseases in traditional East Asian medicine. In this study, we investigated the levels of serum resistin and other proteins related to metabolic syndrome (MS) and several other diseases categories to identify the association with BSS. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study of patients recruited from seven traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) hospitals. To identify whether there was an association with BSS in specific disease conditions, including MS, serum protein levels were evaluated using the multiplex method. Results: A total of 885 patients (419 patients with BSS, 376 patients without BSS, and 90 healthy controls) participated in the study, and 139 patients had MS. The resistin and insulin levels were significantly higher in patients with BSS than in patients without BSS and normal subjects (P = 0.002 and P = 0.046, respectively). Patients with BSS who had MS exhibited significantly higher resistin levels than those in patients without BSS and normal subjects (P = 0.049). In addition, the levels of serum resistin were significantly correlated with symptoms of the BSS, especially dark red gums, dark facial complexion, and nocturnal pain. Conclusions: Despite several limitations, these results demonstrated that resistin levels are potentially associated with the pathogenesis of BSS in MS. Trial registration number: Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS): KCT0000916

Integrated Omics Analysis Uncovers the Culprit behind Exacerbated Atopic Dermatitis in a Diet-Induced Obesity Model

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is exacerbated by obesity, yet the precise linking mechanism remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate how obesity amplifies AD symptoms. We studied skin samples from three mouse groups: sham control, AD, and high-fat (HF) + AD. The HF + AD mice exhibited more severe AD symptoms than the AD or sham control mice. Skin lipidome analysis revealed noteworthy changes in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, including increased expression of pla2g4, a key enzyme in AA generation. Genes for phospholipid transport (Scarb1) and acyltransferase utilizing AA as the acyl donor (Agpat3) were upregulated in HF + AD skin. Associations were observed between AA-containing phospholipids and skin lipids containing AA and its metabolites. Furthermore, imbalanced phospholipid metabolism was identified in the HF + AD mice, marked by excessive activation of the AA and phosphatidic acid (PA)-mediated pathway. This imbalance featured increased expression of Plcb1, Plcg1, and Dgk involved in PA generation, along with a decrease in genes converting PA into diglycerol (DG) and CDP-DG (Lpin1 and cds1). This investigation revealed imbalanced phospholipid metabolism in the skin of HF + AD mice, contributing to the heightened inflammatory response observed in HF + AD, shedding light on potential mechanisms linking obesity to the exacerbation of AD symptoms

Development of Immersive VR Device for Gait Training Rehabilitation with Biofeedback System-Preliminary Study

Gait-training rehabilitation machines (MGTR) are contraptions used for the motor rehabilitation of patients with movement disorders resulting from stroke and Parkinson’s disease. This study was aimed at implementing a walking pattern similar to the normal gait. Background: Immersion and motivation are important factors in repetitive rehabilitation exercises. This was addressed by synchronizing walking speed and virtual reality (VR) visons to provide a sense of immersion in a convergence environment of MGTR and VR. Methods: The difference in joint angle and gait event was confirmed when the step length was adjusted in this system to control the joint movement. Results: It was confirmed that the joint range of motion also increased significantly as the step length increased. Conclusions: The possibility of developing a more immersive MGTR system that feedback the actual gait state in the VR system was confirmed by applying that the joint movement varies according to the step length. It will be possible to provide an immersive feeling more similar to the actual walking by modifying the gait trajectory of the MGTR

Development of electromyographic indicators for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders: a protocol for an assessor-blinded cross-sectional study

Background: Noninvasive and easy-to-use surface electromyography (EMG) is frequently utilized for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). However, few EMG parameters that consider TMDs in addition to the cranio-cervical-mandibular system have been regarded as important in traditional Korean medicine. Methods: This clinical trial will be conducted as an assessor-blinded cross-sectional study. The participants will be classified based on the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs Symptom Questionnaire (DC/TMD SQ) and 30 TMD patients and 30 healthy controls will be enrolled. The primary outcome will be the percentage overlapping coefficient (POC; %) in the masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles between the patient group and healthy control group in clenching and cervical side flexion. The secondary outcomes include the score from temporomandibular joint-related questionnaires, the difference in the absolute values of EMG for the healthy group and TMD group before/after wearing intraoral appliances, and the change in the location of the temporomandibular joint as determined by X-ray imaging and 3D face photography. Discussion: This study will provide information about the objective diagnostic method for TMD using surface EMG and will verify the effectiveness of surface EMG in diagnosing TMD. Furthermore, the method or device for diagnosis TMD will improve the expansion of treatment area to TMD by accumulating evidence for the efficacy of TKM treatment

Perspectives on the Market Globalization of Korean Herbal Manufacturers: A Company-Based Survey

The growth of herbal markets has increased substantially in South Korea, but the worldwide market share remains small despite significant governmental efforts. This study aimed to characterize manufacturing employment and identify employees’ general perceptions of market expansion. A survey study covering 567 companies was conducted using face-to-face interviews in 2012. Data were analyzed using comparisons among three manufacturing groups (i.e., the herbal dietary supplement manufacturing group, the herbal medicine manufacturing group, and the personal care product manufacturing group) or among the manufacturers themselves. We found that the majority of the manufacturing employee respondents were regular permanent and production workers. The domestic distributors were primarily chain stores/direct outlets or retailers/wholesalers, and the dominant product was red ginseng (hongsam). Although the responding companies exhibited a variety of perspectives, “advertisement/public relations” was cited as the most important factor in the development of the herbal industry. In contrast, “low manpower/seeking business partners” were the most crucial limiting and challenging factors for market globalization. Our results can be used to design a proper national plan by reducing the gaps in perspective between herbal product producers and policy makers