Seon-jong Kim
Dongshin University, Republic of Korea
Title: Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Potential of The New Ganghwaljetongyeum on Adjuvant-Induced Inflammatory Arthritis in Rats
Biography
Seonjong Kim is the director of Mokpo Korean Medicine Hospital of Dongshin University in Republic of Korea. He has completed his PhD at the age of 35 years from Wonkwang University and He is currently a professor of Korean medicine at Dongsin University. With support from the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea, he is developing a new drug of arthritis medicine composed of oriental herbs
Abstract
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 Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in rats,N-GHJTY (62.5, 125, and 250mg/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-GHJTYtreated 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.
Mei Kuen Li
Open University of Hong Kong
Title: Knowledge on Chinese dietary therapy among Chinese people in Hong Kong
Biography
LI, M. K. is the Associate Professor of School of Nursing and Health Studies, The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK). She is the Programme Leader of the Master of Nursing (Chinese Medicinal Nursing) Programme in OUHK
Abstract
Background Chinese people constitute the major population in Hong Kong. They believed that Chinese dietary therapy (CDT) helps them to bring about a balanced state which is regarded as healthy from the perspective of Chinese medicine. Such therapeutic effects can only be maximized with food taken appropriately according to factors such as types of body constitution, age, climates and so on. Otherwise, the body’s balanced state may be changed to an imbalanced state. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge on CDT among the Chinese people in Hong Kong. Methodology It was a cross-sectional survey using a self-developed questionnaire. Chinese people of aged 18 or above were recruited in this study. Knowledge on CDT was assessed from five categories with 7 questions in each category and one score for one correct answer. Higher scores indicated better knowledge of CDT. Results A total of 384 respondents participated in this study with 100% response rate. Of which, 380 questionnaires were valid for analysis (99%). The overall mean score of the knowledge on CDT was 18.49±6.46. Knowledge on “Compatibility of food consumption with different types of body constitution” was the best (3.95±1.79) whereas knowledge on “Compatibility of food consumption with various age groups” was the worse. Conclusion The findings reflected that the knowledge on CDT among Chinese people in Hong Kong was rather weak. A series of health education on CDT should be organized to enrich people’s related knowledge to achieve a balanced state through appropriate CDT in order to maintain health.