Jang-Hoon Lee’s research while affiliated with Kyung Hee University and other places

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) on apoptosis and autophagy in the human leukemic cell line, MOLT-4.Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTS/PMS assay, and cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression levels of mRNA implicated in apoptosis and ER-stress were investigated with RT-qPCR. Lastly, apoptosis- and autophagy-related protein expressions were measured by Western blot analysis.Results: RVS inhibited proliferation of MOLT-4 in a dose-dependent manner over 24, 48 and 72 hours. RVS treatment also induced an increase in subG1 phase. Exposure to RVS increased the expression of the mRNAs encoding Bax and caspase-3, while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA, suggesting that RVS induced apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells. Additionally, RVS extract up-regulated ER-stress related mRNAs such as IRE1α, CHOP, PERK and ATF6. Changes in RVS extract-induced apoptosis and autophagy proteins on MOLT-4 cells were also investigated. The level of Bcl-2 was decreased, whereas the levels of Bax, caspase-3, AMPK, Beclin-1, Atg5, p62, and LC3II were increased.Conclusion: These results suggest that RVS would be beneficial in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Objectives: This case report describes the effect of complex Korean medical treatment on the clinical symptoms of a patient with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).Methods: A 60-year-old female woman diagnosed with FMS in 2015 was prescribed Youngsunjaetong-em-hap-Sopunghwalhyeol-tang from 2 May 2023 to 20 June 2023 to reduce excessive sweating and widespread pain. With the same objective, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping treatment were administered from 23 May 2023 to 11 June 2023. Changes in excessive sweating and widespread pain were recorded 2 months post-treatment.Results: Treatment with Youngsunjaetong-em-hap-Sopunghwalhyeol-tang led to a considerable improvement in clinical symptoms after 2 months, especially excessive sweating and widespread pain compared to the baseline parameters of the first visit. In addition, no adverse effects, such as liver injury or decreased kidney function, were recorded during the herbal medicine treatment.Conclusion: This case report points to the use of complex Korean medical treatment as a therapeutic option for the management of FMS.

Objectives: This study identified the effects of Korean medicine treatment on a patient with alcohol-associated cirrhosis.Methods: A 50-year-old male with alcohol-associated cirrhosis was treated with Cheongganhaeju-tang from 10 November 2023 to 18 January 2024 to reduce fatigue, dyspepsia, anorexia, and weight loss and to improve laboratory findings, such as liver enzymes. We observed changes in the patient’s symptoms and laboratory findings during a treatment period of approximately 2 months.Results: With Cheongganhaeju-tang treatment, serum levels of liver enzymes remained stable, clinical symptoms improved, and alcohol cravings decreased.Conclusion: This case points to Cheongganhaeju-tang as a therapeutic option to manage alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

Though Isoimperatorin from Angelicae dahuricae is known to have antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects, its underlying antitumor mechanism remains elusive so far. Hence, the apoptotic mechanism of Isoimperatorin was explored in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). In this study, Isoimperatorin inhibited the viability of Huh7 and Hep3B HCCs and increased the subG1 apoptotic portion and also abrogated the expression of pro-poly-ADP ribose polymerase (pro-PARP) and pro-caspase 3 in Huh7 and Hep3B cells. Also, Isoimperatorin abrogated the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E1, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6 and increased p21 as G1 phase arrest-related proteins in Huh7 and Hep3B cells. Interestingly, Isoimperatorin reduced the expression and binding of c-Myc and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) by Immunoprecipitation (IP), with a binding score of 0.884 in Huh7 cells. Furthermore, Isoimperatorin suppressed the overexpression of c-Myc by the proteasome inhibitor MG132 and also disturbed cycloheximide-treated c-Myc stability in Huh7 cells. Overall, these findings support the novel evidence that the pivotal role of c-Myc and SIRT1 is critically involved in Isoimperatorin-induced apoptosis in HCCs as potent molecular targets in liver cancer therapy.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, called Danshen in Chinese, is the dried root and rhizome of S. miltiorrhiza, which is part of the mint family, Lamiaceae; it has chiefly been used to treat blood stasis and improve blood flow in cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases for over 2000 years. Recent preclinical studies have indicated that S. miltiorrhiza has a wide range of pharmacological properties making it useful for the treatment of diverse liver diseases. S. miltiorrhiza protects the liver from harmful hepatotoxins, reduces hepatic oxidative stress, ameliorates steatosis, and alleviates hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer. Moreover, several key mechanisms, including apoptosis, AMP-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa B, may be involved in the benefits of S. miltiorrhiza in hepatic disorders. In particular, salvianolic acid B and cryptotanshinone, both compounds derived from S. miltiorrhiza, possess therapeutic activities similar to those of S. miltiorrhiza, and thus may play a crucial role in the therapeutic activity of S. miltiorrhiza in liver diseases. Because reports on the pharmacological effects of this herb are scattered, this review aimed to consolidate the available literature to allow the re-evaluation and identification of gaps to guide future research. This review focuses on the role of S. miltiorrhiza in improving the molecular pathology of liver diseases, as reported in in vitro and in vivo studies.

Objectives: This study identified the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a patient with iron overload who discontinued iron chelation therapy.Methods: A 64-year-old woman with iron overload was treated with Saenggangunbi-tang from November 14, 2022, to March 15, 2023, to reduce fatigue and improve laboratory findings. We observed changes in the symptoms and improvement of laboratory findings during the four-month treatment.Results: The approximately four-month treatment with Saenggangunbi-tang showed considerable improvement in laboratory findings and fatigue. In addition, no adverse effects, such as liver injury, were observed during Korean medicine treatment.Conclusion: This study suggests the availability of Saenggangunbi-tang as a therapeutic option for managing patients with iron overload.

Objective: This study identified the effects of Korean medicine treatment on a patient with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).Methods: A 43-year-old man with MAFLD was treated with Saenggangunbi-tang with regular exercise from August 13, 2022, to December 24, 2022, to reduce fatigue and dyspepsia and to improve laboratory findings, such as liver enzymes and lipid profiles. We observed changes in symptoms and laboratory findings during the approximately four-month treatment.Results: Treatment with Saenggangunbi-tang resulted in decreased serum levels of liver enzymes, triglycerides, hepatic steatosis index scores, and clinical symptoms. During the treatment, the patient performed regular exercise; however, there was no significant change in body weight until the end of the study.Conclusion: This study suggests the availability of Saenggangunbi-tang as a therapeutic option for managing MAFLD patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of herbal medicine on the clinical symptoms and abnormal blood tests of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome.Methods: A 64-year-old woman diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2020 was prescribed Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang from January 6, 2022 to June 22, 2022 to reduce bleeding tendency and frequent defecation and to improve laboratory findings, such as platelet count. We observed changes in the symptoms and improvement of laboratory findings after six months of treatment.Results: In this study, approximately six months of treatment with Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang showed considerable improvement in laboratory findings and clinical symptoms, especially frequent defecation, petechiae, and gum bleeding, compared to the baseline parameters of the first visit. Also, no adverse effects, such as liver injury or decreased kidney function, were observed during herbal medicine treatment.Conclusion: This study suggests the availability of herbal medicine as a therapeutic option for managing patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Objectives: This study aims to report the clinical efficacy of Korean medical treatment of a patient with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accompanied by obesity and dyslipidemia.Methods: A 52-year-old man with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and dyslipidemia was treated with Saenggangunbi-tang extract from November 3, 2021 to January 8, 2022. During the treatment period, the patient also undertook exercise and maintained a hypocaloric diet to reduce body weight. Changes were observed in the patient’s symptoms, laboratory findings, such as liver enzymes and lipid profiles, and bioelectrical impedance analyzer results.Results: After taking Saenggangunbi-tang extract for approximately two months, with concomitant adjustments to exercise and diet, the serum levels of liver enzymes and triglyceride were decreased and the patient’s body weight, body mass index, hepatic steatosis index, and visceral fat area were also reduced. In addition, symptoms including fatigue and dyspepsia improved.Conclusion: This study suggests that Saenggangunbi-tang extract with exercise and a regulated diet could be a helpful treatment strategy for managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with metabolic disorders.

The genus Crataegus (hawthorn), a flowering shrub or tree, is a member of the Rosaceae family and consists of approximately 280 species that have been primarily cultivated in East Asia, North America, and Europe. Consumption of hawthorn preparations has been chiefly associated with pharmacological benefits for cardiovascular diseases, including congestive heart failure and angina pectoris. Treatment with hawthorn extracts can be related to improvements in the complex pathogenesis of various hepatic and cardiovascular disorders. In this regard, the present review described that the presence of hawthorn extracts ameliorated hepatic injury, lipid accumulation, inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer in an abundance of experimental models. Hawthorn extracts might have these promising activities, largely by enhancing the hepatic antioxidant system. In addition, several mechanisms, including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling and apoptosis, are responsible for the role of hawthorn extracts in repairing the dysfunction of injured hepatocytes. Specifically, hawthorn possesses a wide range of biological actions relevant to the treatment of toxic hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accordingly, hawthorn extracts can be developed as a major source of therapeutic agents for liver diseases.