Daehwan Youn

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Potential of the New Ganghwaljetongyeum on Adjuvant-Induced Inflammatory Arthritis in Rats

Ganghwaljetongyeum (GHJTY) has been used as a standard treatment for arthritis for approximately 15 years at the Korean Medicine Hospital of Dongshin University. GHJTY is composed of 18 medicinal herbs, of which five primary herbs were selected and named new Ganghwaljetongyeum (N-GHJTY). The purpose of the present study was to observe the effect of N-GHJTY on arthritis and to determine its mechanism of action. After confirming arthritis induction using complete Freunds adjuvant (CFA) in rats, N-GHJTY (62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg/day) was administered once a day for 10 days. In order to determine pathological changes, edema of the paws and weight were measured before and for 10 days after N-GHJTY administration. Cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) levels and histopathological lesions in the knee joint were also examined. Edema in the paw and knee joint of N-GHJTY-treated rats was significantly decreased at 6, 8, and 10 days after administration, compared to that in the CFA-control group, while weight consistently increased. Rats in N-GHJTY-treated groups also recovered from the CFA-induced pathological changes and showed a significant decline in cytokine levels. Taken together, our results showed that N-GHJTY administration was effective in inhibiting CFA-induced arthritis via anti-inflammatory effects while promoting cartilage recovery by controlling cytokine levels.

Effects of Pear Extracts Containing Herbal Medicine (Lycii Fructus, Coicis Semen, Alimatis Rhizoma, and Astragali Radix) on Body Weight, Lipid Metabolism, and Immune Responses of Rats Fed with High Fat Diets ( I )

Objective : This study was conducted to observe the anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the metabolic benefits, of pear extract and herbal drug mixture (Lycii Fructus, Coicis Semen, Alimatis Rhizoma, and Astragali Radix) on rats fed with a high fat diet. Methods : The animals used were male rats and the control group was fed a high fat diet only. The experimental groups were divided into four. Exp I group was fed a high fat diet with a mixture of pear extract and 3% Lycii Fructus; Exp II group was fed a high fat diet with a mixture of pear extract and 3% Coicis Semen; Exp III group was fed a high fat diet with a mixture of pear extract and 3% Alimatis Rhizoma; and Exp IV group was fed a high fat diet with a mixture of pear extract and 3% Astragali Radix for 4 weeks. Results : The body weight gain increased in all groups, but attenuated gradually in the experimental groups compared to the control group. The food intakes were significantly lower in Exp I and Exp III groups than the control group. The concentrations of serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) were significantly higher in Exp II than in the control group, and lower in Exp III group than in the control group. Also the concentration of serum free fatty acid was significantly lower in the Exp III group than in the control group. In inflammatory activities, the Exp II group was significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion : The results indicated that Exp III group (administered a mixture of pear extract and Alimatis Rhizoma) most efficiently reduced fat accumulation and body weight, while the Exp II group (administered the mixture of pear extract and Coicis Semen) had the highest elevated lipid metabolism and immune activity.

Laser Acupuncture Exerts Neuroprotective Effects via Regulation of Creb, Bdnf, Bcl-2, and Bax Gene Expressions in the Hippocampus

Acupuncture has a positive effect on cognitive deficits. However, the effects of laser acupuncture (LA) on cognitive function and its mechanisms of action are unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of LA on middle cerebral artery occlusion- (MCAO-) induced cognitive impairment and its mechanisms of action. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was modeled in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by MCAO. After LA or manual-acupuncture (MA) treatment at the GV20 and HT7 for 2 weeks, hippocampal-dependent memory was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. The hippocampus was dissected to analyze choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity and Creb, Bdnf, Bcl-2, and Bax gene expressions. MWM test demonstrated a significant improvement in hippocampal-dependent memory in the MCAO rats after LA treatment. LA treatment significantly reversed the postischemic decrease in ChAT immunoreactivity in the hippocampal CA1 region. LA treatment significantly normalized gene expression in the hippocampus which had been altered by MCAO, especially upregulating gene expression of Creb, Bdnf, and Bcl-2 and downregulating gene expression of Bax. This study suggests that LA treatment could improve cognitive impairment in MCAO rats to enhance the cholinergic system in the hippocampal CA1 region and to exert a neuroprotective effect by regulating Creb, Bdnf, Bcl-2, and Bax gene expressions.

Low-level Green and Red Laser Treatment of Shaochong (HT9)·Dadun (LR1) and Shaohai (HT3)·Yingu (KI10) Acupoints in a Rat Model of Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has facilitated an improvement in acupuncture treatment. In this study, we stimulated Shaochong (HT9), Dadun (LR1), Shaohai (HT3), and Yingu (KI10) acupoints with pulsed laser diodes 532 nm [green laser] and 658 nm [red laser] in rats with induced middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). The animals were divided into 6 groups: intact control; MCAO control without LLLT; LLLT with red laser at HT9·LR1 and HT3·KI10 (RR); LLLT with green laser at HT9·LR1 and HT3·KI10 (GG); LLLT with green laser at HT9·LR1 and red laser at HT3·KI10 (GR); and LLLT with red laser at HT9·LR1 and green laser at HT3·KI10 (RG). We evaluated the immunohistochemical changes in the hippocampal CA1 region, and complete blood count changes. Compared to the MCAO control group, the RG group showed a significant decrease in Bax and cytochrome c levels in the hippocampus, and a significant increase in hemoglobin level, hematocrit, total white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and erythrocyte counts.

Comparison of Temperature in the Deep Part of the Dummy by the Electronic Moxibustion and the Gu-Gwan Moxibustion

This study compared the characteristics of temperature of the electronic moxibustion and Gu-Gwan moxibustion using a cotton dummy by designing and manufacturing the electronic moxibustion using a heat-wire heater easy to control temperature and time. As a result, as for Gu-Gwan moxibustion, the maximum temperature on the surface of dummy was measured 41.6°C, and infrared sensor 42.7°C while the electronic moxibustion measured 44.3°C of thermocouple and 46.43°C of infrared sensor, showing higher thermal efficiency. Also, as a result of measuring temperature change in the depth of 0mm, 2mm, 4mm, 6mm and 10mm for the same period of time, the electronic moxibustion showed better thermal conductivity than Gu-Gwan moxibustion.