Biography
1. Affiliation: Department of Nursing, Dongshin University, Korea 2. Position: associate professor 3. Education: Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Basic Studies in Korea 4. Technical Experience - candidates screening for cancer/asthma treatment form natural products - immuno-pharmacological study 5. Publications - paper: 63 papers within in press - book chapter: 5
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease that affects an estimated 235 million people worldwide. Anti-asthmatic drugs such as inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, short/long-acting β2-agonists, and anticholinergic drugs are used to treat asthma; however, they may cause serious adverse health effects. Opuntia humifusa (eastern prickly pear) has been used as a food and traditional medicine worldwide; however, its anti-asthmatic effects have not been reported. In this study, we evaluated O. humifusa as a potential therapeutic or preventive component of anti-asthmatic drugs. We divided ovalbumin-sensitized mice into the following groups: normal control, asthma-induced control, dexamethasone-treated group (positive control), 50 mg/kg O. humifusa-treated group, 100 mg/kg O. humifusa-treated group, and 500 mg/kg O. humifusa-treated group. Levels of Th1/Th2/Th17-related cytokines were evaluated using RT-PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. O. humifusa dose-dependently suppressed the morphological changes typically observed in asthma, such as goblet cell hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, mucous hypersecretion, and relative basement membrane thickening in the respiratory system. These results may be attributable to regulation of Th1-/Th2-/Th17-related factors, especially interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. We conclude that O. humifusa is a potential anti-asthmatic drug candidate.
Biography
Zhijian LIN has his expertise in clinical Chinese Pharmacy and passion in ADR research on Chinese Materia Medica. He has well experience in rational use of Chinese Materia Medica after years of research and teaching in Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. He teaches Chinese Pharmacy and applied integrative teaching methods for simulating real world clinical practice to advance students’ problem solving skills. And he also has a strong interest in basic pharmacological research on hyperuricemia and metabolic disorders with Chinese Materia Medica.
Abstract
Chinese medicine is one of the great medical systems in the world, which performs treatment based upon principle of ZHENG Classification and Treatment (Bian Zheng Lun Zhi, 辨è‰è«–æ²»in Chinese). And ZHENG (TCM syndrome) classification could be identified as clinical special phenotypes by symptoms and signs of patients. In ancient times, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) performed two roles as clinical physicians and clinical pharmacists. And TCM practitioners provided an effective approach for personalized diagnosis and treatment in clinic. In other words, clinical Chinese pharmacists have been practicing personalized drug therapy for thousands of years. Modern education of Chinese medicine began in the 1950s. According to the modern education system, physicians and pharmacists of Chinese medicine are two different groups of health-care professionals. The fundamental role of Chinese pharmacists is to distribute drugs prescribed to patients, to produce drugs in the manufacturing companies, and to research and develop new drugs in laboratories. As is known to all, a medication may demonstrate effectiveness in clinic, yet it may be less effective to some particular patients, or even results in adverse drug reaction /adverse drug event (ADR/ADE) and failure to reach desired treatment goals. Clinical Chinese pharmacists have now moved from laboratory to the patients’ bedsides to provide pharmaceutical care. They are positioned to play an active role in pharmaceutical care to improve personalized medications, such as consulting with physicians on individual patient’s needs, discussing the therapy based on the principle of ZHENG Classification and Treatment, performing therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM), ADR/ADE supervision, medication prescription assessment, providing recommendations of alternative treatments as necessary, and educating patients and families about drug rational use.