Effectiveness of Alternative Nostril Breathing on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Hypertension, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has a high prevalence rate globally. While drug use is the most common approach, lifestyle improvements are crucial. Recently, there has been a notable upsurge of interest in various breathing methods, including device-induced breathing techniques like Resperate. However, the reliance on a device for these techniques has prompted the popularity of alternative breathing methods that can be performed without any external devices. One such method that has gained significant attention is alternative nostril breathing, which serves as an alternative medical treatment known for its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically investigate the therapeutic effects of alternate nostril breathing. We selected 16 articles published in English, Korean, and Chinese databases, of which 14 met the eligibility criteria, and a systematic literature review was conducted. A meta-analysis was conducted on six qualified studies. Meta and sensitivity analyses were conducted using a random effects model of six randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Results of alternative nostril breathing (ANB) on 1,377 participants have been reported based on the effects of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP). Both the lone ANB and combined yoga programs resulted in significant reductions in SBP and DBP. Meta-analysis of the 6 trials with 525 participants demonstrated that ANB was better in reducing SBP than that of the control group (non-intervention or placebo) (mean difference [MD]: -7.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -7.86 to -6.45, I2:93%). Moreover, ANB was better in reducing DBP than that of the control group (non-intervention or placebo) (MD: -5.16, 95% CI: -5.89 to -4.44, I2:87%). The results of the study are valid, however, attention is needed when interpreting the results because the heterogeneity exceeds 75%. A systematic review of 14 studies found that ANB can improve cardiovascular indicators, such as SBP and DBP, as well as non-cardiovascular factors, such as fatigue, intraocular pressure, and memory. However, the review noted that implementing double blinding in studies on yoga breathing intervention is difficult, and most studies were not double-blinded, suggesting the need for high-quality RCTs in the future. Registration: CRD42023401177.

KoNA: Korean Nucleotide Archive as A New Data Repository for Nucleotide Sequence Data.

During the last decade, the generation and accumulation of petabase-scale high-throughput sequencing data have resulted in great challenges, including access to human data, as well as transfer, storage, and sharing of enormous amounts of data. To promote data-driven biological research, the Korean government announced that all biological data generated from government-funded research projects should be deposited at the Korea BioData Station (K-BDS), which consists of multiple databases for individual data types. Here, we introduce the Korean Nucleotide Archive (KoNA), a repository of nucleotide sequence data. As of July 2022, the Korean Read Archive in KoNA has collected over 477 TB of raw next-generation sequencing data from national genome projects. To ensure data quality and prepare for international alignment, a standard operating procedure was adopted, which is similar to that of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration. The standard operating procedure includes quality control processes for submitted data and metadata using an automated pipeline, followed by manual examination. To ensure fast and stable data transfer, a high-speed transmission system called GBox is used in KoNA. Furthermore, the data uploaded to or downloaded from KoNA through GBox can be readily processed using a cloud computing service called Bio-Express. This seamless coupling of KoNA, GBox, and Bio-Express enhances the data experience, including submission, access, and analysis of raw nucleotide sequences. KoNA not only satisfies the unmet needs for a national sequence repository in Korea but also provides datasets to researchers globally and contributes to advances in genomics. The KoNA is available at https://www.kobic.re.kr/kona/.

Oxygen-Releasing Composites: A Promising Approach in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

In diabetes, lower extremity amputation (LEA) is an irreversible diabetic-related complication that easily occurs in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Because DFUs are a clinical outcome of different causes including peripheral hypoxia and diabetic foot infection (DFI), conventional wound dressing materials are often insufficient for supporting the normal wound healing potential in the ulcers. Advanced wound dressing development has recently focused on natural or biocompatible scaffolds or incorporating bioactive molecules. This review directs attention to the potential of oxygenation of diabetic wounds and highlights current fabrication techniques for oxygen-releasing composites and their medical applications. Based on different oxygen-releasable compounds such as liquid peroxides and solid peroxides, for example, a variety of oxygen-releasing composites have been fabricated and evaluated for medical applications. This review provides the challenges and limitations of utilizing current oxygen releasable compounds and provides perspectives on advancing oxygen releasing composites for diabetic-related wounds associated with DFUs.

The role of Korean Medicine in the post-COVID-19 era: an online panel discussion part 1 - Clinical research.

BACKGROUND: As it is predicted that large-scale viral diseases will occur more frequently in the future, there are voices that Korean Medicine (KM) community need to discuss the role of KM and what to prepare to play a significant part of national disease control system in the post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. METHODS: This paper summarizes the edited highlights of an online video meeting by Google meet on 23 April 2020, organized by the Korean Medicine Convergence Research Information Center. Six speakers who are experts in respiratory medicine, cardiology and neurology, gastroenterology, and neuropsychiatry presented what KM community should prepare for the future acute infectious disease outbreaks by learning from experiences of KM teleconsultation center for COVID-19. RESULTS: Unlike in the past infectious disease outbreaks, KM community has played a bigger part in COVID-19 pandemic in spite of regulatory challenges via activities of KM teleconsultation centers. Telemedicine in pandemic could be more actively utilized in light of the present KM teleconsultation center's achievements. Data from KM teleconsultation centers would be useful to establish an evidence-base for effectiveness and safety of KM treatments if they are properly collected and analyzed. It might be beneficial to adopt an integrative medicine approach in response to acute viral infectious diseases in the future but the inclusion of KM in the national disease control system is required. CONCLUSION: The present online discussion suggested possible directions of clinical research in KM for the post-COVID-19 era.

Could herbal medicine (Soshihotang) be a new treatment option for COVID-19?: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: While the world struggles under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a variety of antiviral agents and symptomatic treatments are being administered to patients and urgent clinical trials are underway. Under these circumstances, it is important to explore various possibilities for the treatment of COVID-19 including herbal medicines. Among various herbal medicines, Soshihotang (SSHT, Xiao Chai Hu Tang in Chinese) has been prescribed to treat various viral diseases and is used in combination with other herbal medicines depending on the patient's symptoms. METHODS: For conducting the present review, we searched electronic databases focusing on the antiviral effect of SSHT in experimental and clinical study until April 2020. The search keywords included SSHT, constituents of SSHT, and antiviral effect. We also searched for materials related to topic directly from websites and published books. Based on these search results, we summarized the results of the included materials in the form of a narrative review. RESULTS: In a number of recent clinical studies, treatment with SSHT improved the infection status of the respiratory and hepatobiliary systems, and experimental studies demonstrated the antiviral effect of SSHT and its components. Furthermore, SSHT are being used in China-where COVID-19 outbreak first took place-and offer a new option to treat COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Based on the present evidences, it is believed that SSHT is likely to be a new therapeutic option for COVID-19. Conducting further studies might provide improved understanding regarding the use of SSHT in treating COVID-19.

Effects of taichi on grade 1 hypertension: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Medication is generally recommended to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients. However, considering the difficulties and economic factors associated with long-term medication, interest in taichi as an exercise treatment method has increased recently in Korean medical practice. Numerous studies have suggested that taichi can be used to treat various diseases and that is can affect psychosomatic factors such as anxiety. This study aims to evaluate the effect of taichi in reducing blood pressure among grade 1 hypertensive patients. METHODS/DESIGN: In this randomized, active-controlled, assessor-blinded, two parallel-armed trial, 80 grade 1 hypertension patients will be recruited and randomly assigned to the usual care group or to the taichi group (n = 40 in each group). Subjects who voluntarily sign a study agreement will be educated in managing their own blood pressure by restricting salt intake, losing weight, moderating alcohol consumption, performing exercise, and regulating dietary intake at their first visit. In addition to self-management, the taichi group will perform two 60-min taichi sessions per week for a total of 8 weeks. Blood pressure will be measured as the primary outcome. In addition, body composition, heart rate, and the perceived intensity and difficulty of the exercise will be measured as secondary outcomes. DISCUSSION: This study is a randomized controlled trial of taichi, which is not widely practiced in Korea. It may provide valuable data on the effects of taichi on hypertension, which will inform non-pharmaceutical treatment options for this disorder. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0003632. Registered on 18 March 2019.

Antihypertensive and Renal Protective Effects of Oryeongsan in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Oryeongsan (ORS), a traditional medicine used to regulate body fluids, has a long history of use as a diuretic in Korea, China, and Japan. ORS is commonly thought to lower blood pressure, but high-quality data on its effects are sparse. The purpose of this study was to determine the antihypertensive and renal protective effects of ORS in rats with hypertension. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were divided into two groups with similar mean baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Then, 10 mL/kg of vehicle (distilled water) or 200 mg/kg of ORS extract were administered orally once a day for 3 weeks. SBP and DBP were measured at weeks 1, 2, and 3. At the end of the experiment, blood was collected, and kidneys were removed for histology. By the 2nd and 3rd week after initiation of treatment, the ORS-treated group had significantly lower SBP than control-treated rats (191.3 ± 6.5 vs. 206.3 ± 9.8 mmHg, p = 0.022 at the 2nd week; 195.8 ± 7.8 vs. 217.0 ± 8.1 mmHg, p = 0.003 at the 3rd week, respectively). The ORS-treated group trended toward having a lower DBP than control, but there was no significant difference. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) were not different between the ORS-treated and control groups (BUN: 23.7 ± 1.1 vs. 22.7 ± 2.8 mg/dL, p = 0.508; Cr: 19.0 ± 2.2 vs. 21.6 ± 2.1 µM, p = 0.083, respectively). The percentage of renal tissue affected by tubulointerstitial fibrosis was significantly lower in the ORS-treated group (1.68 ± 0.60) compared to controls (3.17 ± 0.96, p = 0.019). These findings suggest that treatment with ORS reduces SBP and ameliorates renal damage in SHR.

Sorbus alnifolia protects dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans.

CONTEXT: The twigs of Sorbus alnifolia (Sieb. et Zucc.) K. Koch (Rosaceae) have been used to treat neurological disorders as a traditional medicine in Korea. However, there are limited data describing the efficacy of S. alnifolia in Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify the protective effects of the methanol extracts of S. alnifolia (MESA) on the dopaminergic (DA) neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To test the neuroprotective action of MESA, viability assay was performed after 48 h exposure to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MMP+) in PC12 cells and C. elegans (400 µM and 2 mM of MMP+, respectively). Fluorescence intensity was quantified using transgenic mutants such as BZ555 (Pdat-1::GFP) and and UA57 (Pdat-1::GFP and Pdat-1::CAT-2) to determine MESA's effects on DA neurodegeneration in C. elegans. Aggregation of α-synuclein was observed using NL5901 strain (unc-54p::α-synuclein::YFP). MESA's protective effects on the DA neuronal functions were examined by food-sensing assay. Lifespan assay was conducted to test the effects of MESA on the longevity. RESULTS: MESA restored MPP+-induced loss of viability in both PC12 cells and C. elegans (85.8% and 54.9%, respectively). In C. elegans, MESA provided protection against chemically and genetically-induced DA neurodegeneration, respectively. Moreover, food-sensing functions were increased 58.4% by MESA in the DA neuron degraded worms. MESA also prolonged the average lifespan by 25.6%. However, MESA failed to alter α-synuclein aggregation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These results revealed that MESA protects DA neurodegeneration and recovers diminished DA neuronal functions, thereby can be a valuable candidate for the treatment of PD.

Neuroanatomical assessment of the impact of negative emotion on explicit memory in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The aim of this study was to identify the brain activation patterns associated with emotionally neutral or unpleasant words during explicit memory tasks in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using a functional MRI. Sixteen patients with OCD (mean age=31.4±10.1 years) and 16 healthy controls (mean age=32.6±5.8 years) who had no history of neurological or psychiatric illness underwent functional MRI examinations on a 3-T Siemens MR Scanner. The stimulation paradigm consisted of five times rest-condition, two times encoding of two-syllable words, and two times explicit retrieval of the previously learned words. Six different words were presented for 3 s each in the encoding and retrieval tasks. In the retrieval task, the same words as those used at the encoding task were presented randomly. Brain activation maps were quantified and analyzed using SPM8 and MRIcron software. During the explicit retrieval tasks with emotionally neutral words, the predominant activation areas observed in patients with OCD included the angular gyrus and the supramarginal gyrus, whereas healthy controls showed significantly higher activity in the postcentral gyrus (P<0.005). During the explicit retrieval tasks with unpleasant words, patients with OCD showed significantly higher activity, compared with healthy controls, in the cerebellum, posterior cingulate gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus (P<0.005); however, no predominant activation areas in healthy controls over patients with OCD were observed. This study showed differential brain activation patterns in response to emotionally neutral and unpleasant words in patients with OCD. This finding will be useful in assessing the neural mechanisms associated with emotional effect on the impairment of memory retrieval in OCD.

Acupuncture for spinal cord injury survivors in Chinese literature: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE(S): To systematically review Chinese literature on the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). DATA SOURCES: The Chinese electronic databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched from their inceptions to May 2008. STUDY SELECTION: Trials reporting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where patients with SCI (with or without operation) were treated with acupuncture including electroacupuncture. DATA EXTRACTION: Methodological quality was assessed with the PEDro scale. Discrepancies were resolved through discussions and arbitration by two co-authors. RESULTS: The searches identified 236 potentially relevant studies, of which 7 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Five studies assessed functional recovery, and two bladder dysfunction. All the studies reported favourable effects of acupuncture on functional recovery or urinary function; however methodological quality of studies is poor in general. Meanwhile, pooled analysis of two trials assessing bladder dysfunction showed positive effectiveness compared with conventional treatment (n = 128, RR 1.51 [1.21, 1.90], P = 0.0004, heterogeneity Tau(2) < 0.01, Chi(2) = 0.01, P = 0.94, I(2) = 0%). CONCLUSION(S): Based on 7 RCTs done in China, the effectiveness of acupuncture for functional recovery and bladder dysfunction in SCI is suggestive. With the methodological quality of the included studies on functional recovery and the small number of studies on bladder dysfunction taken into consideration, further rigorous studies prove needed.

Localizome: a server for identifying transmembrane topologies and TM helices of eukaryotic proteins utilizing domain information.

The Localizome server predicts the transmembrane (TM) helix number and TM topology of a user-supplied eukaryotic protein and presents the result as an intuitive graphic representation. It utilizes hmmpfam to detect the presence of Pfam domains and a prediction algorithm, Phobius, to predict the TM helices. The results are combined and checked against the TM topology rules stored in a protein domain database called LocaloDom. LocaloDom is a curated database that contains TM topologies and TM helix numbers of known protein domains. It was constructed from Pfam domains combined with Swiss-Prot annotations and Phobius predictions. The Localizome server corrects the combined results of the user sequence to conform to the rules stored in LocaloDom. Compared with other programs, this server showed the highest accuracy for TM topology prediction: for soluble proteins, the accuracy and coverage were 99 and 75%, respectively, while for TM protein domain regions, they were 96 and 68%, respectively. With a graphical representation of TM topology and TM helix positions with the domain units, the Localizome server is a highly accurate and comprehensive information source for subcellular localization for soluble proteins as well as membrane proteins. The Localizome server can be found at http://localizome.org/.

A protein domain interaction interface database: InterPare.

BACKGROUND: Most proteins function by interacting with other molecules. Their interaction interfaces are highly conserved throughout evolution to avoid undesirable interactions that lead to fatal disorders in cells. Rational drug discovery includes computational methods to identify the interaction sites of lead compounds to the target molecules. Identifying and classifying protein interaction interfaces on a large scale can help researchers discover drug targets more efficiently. DESCRIPTION: We introduce a large-scale protein domain interaction interface database called InterPare http://interpare.net. It contains both inter-chain (between chains) interfaces and intra-chain (within chain) interfaces. InterPare uses three methods to detect interfaces: 1) the geometric distance method for checking the distance between atoms that belong to different domains, 2) Accessible Surface Area (ASA), a method for detecting the buried region of a protein that is detached from a solvent when forming multimers or complexes, and 3) the Voronoi diagram, a computational geometry method that uses a mathematical definition of interface regions. InterPare includes visualization tools to display protein interior, surface, and interaction interfaces. It also provides statistics such as the amino acid propensities of queried protein according to its interior, surface, and interface region. The atom coordinates that belong to interface, surface, and interior regions can be downloaded from the website. CONCLUSION: InterPare is an open and public database server for protein interaction interface information. It contains the large-scale interface data for proteins whose 3D-structures are known. As of November 2004, there were 10,583 (Geometric distance), 10,431 (ASA), and 11,010 (Voronoi diagram) entries in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) containing interfaces, according to the above three methods. In the case of the geometric distance method, there are 31,620 inter-chain domain-domain interaction interfaces and 12,758 intra-chain domain-domain interfaces.

PSIbase: a database of Protein Structural Interactome map (PSIMAP).

UNLABELLED: Protein Structural Interactome map (PSIMAP) is a global interaction map that describes domain-domain and protein-protein interaction information for known Protein Data Bank structures. It calculates the Euclidean distance to determine interactions between possible pairs of structural domains in proteins. PSIbase is a database and file server for protein structural interaction information calculated by the PSIMAP algorithm. PSIbase also provides an easy-to-use protein domain assignment module, interaction navigation and visual tools. Users can retrieve possible interaction partners of their proteins of interests if a significant homology assignment is made with their query sequences. AVAILABILITY: http://psimap.org and http://psibase.kaist.ac.kr/

A study on the central neural pathway of the heart, Nei-Kuan (EH-6) and Shen-Men (He-7) with neural tracer in rats.

The purpose of this morphological study was to investigate the relations between meridians, acupoints and viscera using neuroanatomical tracers. The labeled areas of the spinal ganglia, sympathetic chain ganglia, spinal cord and the brain projecting to the heart, Nei-Kuan (EH-6) and Shen-Men (He-7) were observed following injection of WGA-HRP and pseudorabies virus (PRV). The results were as follows. Overlapping bilaterally labeled ganglion areas after heart, Nei-Kuan (EH-6) or Shen-Men (He-7) injection of WGA-HRP were found in middle cervical, stellate and T4 sympathetic and T2-T6 spinal ganglia. In brain, labeled neurons from all three sites were found in the A1 noradrenalin cell group/C1 adrenalin cell group/caudoventrolateral reticular n., n. tractus solitarius, n. ambiguus, rostroventrolateral n., C3 adrenaline cell group, raphe obscurus n., raphe pallidus n., raphe magnus n., lateral paragigantocellular reticular n., locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus n., Kolliker-Fuse n., A5 cell group, central gray matter, paraventricular hypothalamic n. and arcuate hypothalamic n.. In conclusion, these morphological results suggest that the interrelationship of acupoints (Nei-Kuan and Shen-Men) and viscera (heart) may be related to the central autonomic centers of the spinal cord and brain.