Continentalic Acid Rather Than Kaurenoic Acid Is Responsible for the Anti-Arthritic Activity of Manchurian Spikenard In Vitro and In Vivo.

The aim of this study was to identify the active compound responsible for the pharmacological activities of Manchurian spikenard ( Kitag.). Interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated human chondrocytes and monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritic rats were treated with the 50% ethanolic extract of spikenard or its major components, such as continentalic acid (ent-pimara-8(14),15-diene-19-oic acid) and kaurenoic acid (ent-kaura-16-en-19-oic acid).

Electroacupuncture ameliorates poloxamer 407-induced hyperlipidemia through suppressing hepatic SREBP-2 expression in rats.

Aims: Acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to have the lipid-lowering effects, but not completely investigated. The present study was aimed to examine whether EA could attenuate poloxamer-407 (P-407)-induced hyperlipidemia in the rats and to investigate its potential mechanisms.

Main Methods: Rats received P-407 (0.

An herbal formula consisting of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill, Lycium chinense Mill and Eucommia ulmoides Oliv alleviates disuse muscle atrophy in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (SC), Lycium chinense Mill (LC) and Eucommia ulmoides Oliv (EU) are representative tonic herbal medicines that help to strengthen body muscles and bones making them stronger according to the Donguibogam, a tradition medical book of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate effects of an herbal formula consisting of SC, LC and EU on muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes and in a rat model of immobilization-induced muscle atrophy.

Extract of Polygala tenuifolia Alleviates Stress-Exacerbated Atopy-Like Skin Dermatitis through the Modulation of Protein Kinase A and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and stress create a vicious cycle: stress exacerbates atopic symptoms, and atopic disease elicits stress and anxiety. Targeting multiple pathways including stress and allergic inflammation is, therefore, important for treating AD. In this study, we investigated the remedial value of Willd.

The Seoul Metropolitan Lifestyle Intervention Program and Metabolic Syndrome Risk: A Retrospective Database Study.

Since 2011, the Seoul Metabolic Syndrome Management (SMESY) program has been employed as a community-wide, lifestyle modification intervention in Seoul, Korea. We aimed to determine if the SMESY intervention would be significantly associated with improvements in metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors. This retrospective database study included data from 25,449 participants aged 30-64 years between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2013.

Bee venom acupuncture alleviates trimellitic anhydride-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice.

Background: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA), a novel type of acupuncture therapy in which purified bee venom is injected into the specific acupuncture point on the diseased part of the body, is used primarily for relieving pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms. In the present study, therapeutic potential of BVA to improve atopic dermatitis, a representative allergic dysfunction, was evaluated in the mouse model of trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced skin impairment.

Methods: Mice were treated with 5% TMA on the dorsal flank for sensitization and subsequently treated with 2% TMA on the dorsum of both ears for an additional 12 days after a 3-day interval.

Traditional herbal medicine as adjunctive therapy for breast cancer: A systematic review.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine (THM) as adjunctive therapy for breast cancer as evidenced by randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: Five electronic English and Chinese databases were systematically searched up to February, 2014. All RCTs involving THM in combination with conventional cancer therapy for breast cancer were included.

Traditional herbal medicine for cancer pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine (THM) as an adjunctive therapy for cancer pain is unclear.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of THM as an adjunctive therapy for cancer pain using randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: Five electronic databases, including those from the UK and China, were systematically searched for the period before September 2013.

Traditional herbal medicine as adjunctive therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine (THM) as treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has not been clearly demonstrated. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of THM as adjunctive therapies for NPC using the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Five electronic databases, including English and Chinese databases, were systematically searched up to February 2014.

Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a multicenter, randomized, patient-assessor blind, sham-controlled clinical trial.

Study Design: Multicenter, randomized, patient-assessor blind, sham-controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment with individualized setting for reduction of bothersomeness in participants with chronic low back pain (cLBP).

Summary Of Background Data: Low back pain is one of the main reasons of disability among adults of working age.

In vitro and in vivo activities of LCB01-0371, a new oxazolidinone.

LCB01-0371 is a new oxazolidinone with cyclic amidrazone. In vitro activity of LCB01-0371 against 624 clinical isolates was evaluated and compared with those of linezolid, vancomycin, and other antibiotics. LCB01-0371 showed good activity against Gram-positive pathogens.

Recovery of nitric acid from waste etching solution using solvent extraction.

A process was developed to recover nitric acid from the waste stream of wafer industry using solvent extraction technique. Tributyl phosphate (TBP) was selected among several extractants because of its better selectivity towards HNO(3), overall superiority in operation, favorable physical properties and economics. The waste solution containing 260 g/L CH(3)COOH, 460 g/L HNO(3), 113 g/L HF and 19.

A solvent extraction approach to recover acetic acid from mixed waste acids produced during semiconductor wafer process.

Recovery of acetic acid (HAc) from the waste etching solution discharged from silicon wafer manufacturing process has been attempted by using solvent extraction process. For this purpose 2-ethylhexyl alcohol (EHA) was used as organic solvent. In the pre-treatment stage >99% silicon and hydrofluoric acid was removed from the solution by precipitation.

Efficacy of combined treatment by scalp and penetration acupunctures with TKM medication (tang) on stroke patients.

Background: Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) therapy of scalp and penetration acupuncture has been used for the treatment of stroke in Korea. This study investigated the efficacy of scalp and penetration acupuncture in combination with TKM medication.

Methods: Twenty-four stroke patients were enrolled in the program.

Korean acupuncture: the individualized and practical acupuncture.

Background: Acupuncture has long been a central part of medicine in East Asia. Recently its therapeutic effects are world-widely recognized with scientific bases being established by means of basic research and clinical studies in the biomedical sciences. Even though Korean acupuncture (KA) shares its origins with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it has developed into its own unique system.

A systematic review of randomised clinical trials of Tripterygium wilfordii for rheumatoid arthritis.

Tripterygium wilfordii is a Chinese herb with immunosuppressive effects and an established history of use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have carried out a systematic review of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) which assess the effectiveness of T. wilfordii in this indication.

Acupuncture prevents 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neuronal death in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in the rat Parkinson's disease model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder, and it has been suggested that treatments promoting survival and functional recovery of affected dopaminergic neurons could have a significant and long-term therapeutic value. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture on the nigrostriatal system in rat unilaterally lesioned with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 4 microg/microl, intrastriatal injection) using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, trkB, immunohistochemistries. Two weeks after the lesions were made, rats presented with asymmetry in rotational behavior (118.

Evaluation of a Apo-1/Fas promoter polymorphism in Korean stroke patients.

Apoptosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Apo-1/Fas gene is one of the mediators of apoptosis in stroke. Mval polymorphism is the first polymorphic marker identified in the Apo-1/Fas gene promoter, which was typed by PCR and followed by Mval digestion and gel electrophoresis.

Acupuncture enhances cell proliferation in dentate gyrus of maternally-separated rats.

Maternal separation in early life can increase vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders over the lifespan. To investigate the effect of acupuncture on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus (DG), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-immunohistochemistry was performed in maternally-separated rat pups. Maternal separation, for 7 days from postnatal day 14, induced a significant decrease of BrdU-immunoreactive cells in DG, while acupuncture treatment at acupoint Shenmen (HT7), at the end of the transverse crease of the ulnar wrist, resulted in the significant increase in the number of BrdU-positive cells in DG.

Decrease of the electroacupuncture-induced analgesic effects in nuclear factor-kappa B1 knockout mice.

To investigate the involvement of nuclear factor kappa B1 (NF-kappaB1; p50/p105) in electroacupuncture (EA)-induced analgesia, 2 and 100 Hz EA stimulations were applied at acupoint ST36 (Zusanli) in NF-kappaB1 knockout mice. EA was performed for 30 min and tail-flick latencies (TFLs) were evaluated every 15 min for 1 h. Wild-type mice displayed a 63.