INHIBITORY EFFECT OF YANGKYUK-SANHWA-TANG ON INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS FROM THE CEREBRAL INFARCTION PATIENTS

Prediction of cold and heat patterns using anthropometric measures based on machine learning

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of body shape with cold and heat patterns, to determine which anthropometric measure is the best indicator for discriminating between the two patterns, and to investigate whether using a combination of measures can improve the predictive power to diagnose these patterns.

METHODS

Based on a total of 4,859 subjects (3,000 women and 1,859 men), statistical analyses using binary logistic regression were performed to assess the significance of the difference and the predictive power of each anthropometric measure, and binary logistic regression and Naive Bayes with the variable selection technique were used to assess the improvement in the predictive power of the patterns using the combined measures.

RESULTS

In women, the strongest indicators for determining the cold and heat patterns among anthropometric measures were body mass index (BMI) and rib circumference; in men, the best indicator was BMI. In experiments using a combination of measures, the values of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in women were 0.776 by Naive Bayes and 0.772 by logistic regression, and the values in men were 0.788 by Naive Bayes and 0.779 by logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with a higher BMI have a tendency toward a heat pattern in both women and men. The use of a combination of anthropometric measures can slightly improve the diagnostic accuracy. Our findings can provide fundamental information for the diagnosis of cold and heat patterns based on body shape for personalized medicine.

Traditional medicine yanggyuksanhwa-tang inhibits adipogenesis and suppresses proliferator-activated receptor-gamma expression in 3T3-L1 cells

Background:

Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (YGSHT) is a specific traditional Korean herbal formula for Soyangin according to Sasang constitutional philosophy. Although its biological activities against inflammation and cerebral infarction have been reporting, there is no information about the adipogenic activity of YGSHT. In the present study, we investigated the anti-adipogenic activity of YGSHT to evaluate effects of YGSHT on adipogenesis in vitro.

Materials and Methods:

Using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, we induced the cellular differentiation into adipocytes by adding insulin. Anti-adipogenic activity of YGSHT was measured by oil red O staining, triglyceride assay, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity test, and leptin assay.

Results:

YGSHT extract had no significant cytotoxicity in preadipocytes or differentiated adipocytes. YGSHT reduced the number of lipid droplets and content of triglyceride in adipose cells. YGSHT also significantly inhibited GPDH activity and decreased leptin production compared with control adipocytes. Down-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) expression at the messenger RNA level was observed in YGSHT-treated adipocytes.

Conclusion:

Taken together, our data suggest that YGSHT has potential as an anti-obesity drug candidate.

Recent progress and prospects in Sasang constitutional medicine: a traditional type of physiome-based treatment

The history of the constitution perspective in medical care dates back thousands of years and extends from the East to the West. Among the various forms of constitutional medicine, Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) is a holistic, tailored medical approach that is based on a well-structured theoretical system that includes physiopathological disciplines. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that SCM typology has a constitution-specific basis in anthropometrics, physiological characteristics, disease vulnerability, and genetic origins. Furthermore, the recent rise of systems biology, which requires whole body modeling, uses a state-of-the-art approach in interpreting the holistic spirit of Oriental medicine. This article aims to provide an overview of the recent achievements in SCM research and to discuss how the concept of balance in SCM may contribute to the development of large scale modeling in systems biology.

A new method of diagnosing constitutional types based on vocal and facial features for personalized medicine

The aim of the present study is to develop an accurate constitution diagnostic method based solely on the individual's physical characteristics, irrespective of psychologic traits, characteristics of clinical medicine, and genetic factors. In this paper, we suggest a novel method for diagnosing constitutional types using only speech and face characteristics. Based on 514 subjects, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) values of classification models in age and gender groups ranged from 0.64 to 0.89. We identified significant features showing statistical differences among three constitutional types by performing statistical analysis. Also, we selected a compact and discriminative feature subset for constitution diagnosis in each age and gender group. Our method may support the direction of improved diagnosis prediction and will serve to develop a personal and automatic constitution diagnosis software for improvement of the effectiveness of prescribed medications and development of personalized medicine.

Genetic approach to elucidation of sasang constitutional medicine

Sasang Constitutional Medicine (SCM) offers a medical principle that classifies humans into four constitution groups and guides their treatment with constitution-matched medical assistance. The principle of this traditional medicine, although requires significant scientific support, appears to suggest a genetic influence on constitution type. The relative frequency of constitution types in a population, for instance, has remained relatively constant since Jema Lee first described them from his observations. In addition, the body compartment concept of SCM appears to be related to the anterio-posterior patterning of the embryonic gut and associated internal organs. This study describes the attributes of the constitution concept of SCM that can be interpreted in the language of genetics and current approaches to identity the genetic factors that make up the constitution. These efforts should make it possible to interpret the principle of this traditional medicine scientifically. Considering the recent trend in medicine that pursues individualized or tailored medical offerings, once SCM is proven to be explainable with scientific evidence, it will be able to contribute to and take a place in the rapidly evolving medicine environment.

Perspective of the human body in sasang constitutional medicine

The Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM), a medical tradition originating from Korea, is distinguished from the traditional Chinese medicine in its philosophical background, theoretical development and especially, the fundamental rationale that analyzes the structure and function of the human body within a quadrifocal scheme. In SCM, the structure of the body is comprehended within the Sasang quadrifocal scheme, and the function of the body is understood within the context of the energy–fluid metabolism and the water–food metabolism controlled by the four main organs (lung, spleen, liver and kidney). Also, the concept of Seong–Jeong is used to explain the structural and functional variations between different constitutional types that arise from the constitutional variations in organ system scheme, which are in turn caused by deviations in the constitutional Seong–Jeong. Therefore, understanding the SCM perspective of the human body is essential in order to fully appreciate the advantages of the constitutional typological system (which focuses on individual idiosyncrasies) found in SCM.

Genome-wide association study of the four-constitution medicine

BACKGROUND

Four-constitution medicine (FCM), also known as Sasang constitutional medicine, and the heritage of the long history of individualized acupuncture medicine tradition, is one of the holistic and traditional systems of constitution to appraise and categorize individual differences into four major types.

OBJECTIVE

This study first reports a genome-wide association study on FCM, to explore the genetic basis of FCM and facilitate the integration of FCM with conventional individual differences research.

DESIGN

Healthy individuals of the Korean population were classified into the four constitutional types (FCTs). A total of 353,202 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were typed using whole genome amplified samples, and six-way comparison of FCM types provided lists of significantly differential SNPs.

RESULTS

In one-to-one FCT comparisons, 15,944 SNPs were significantly differential, and 5 SNPs were commonly significant in all of the three comparisons. In one-to-two FCT comparisons, 22,616 SNPs were significantly differential, and 20 SNPs were commonly significant in all of the three comparison groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the association between genome-wide SNP profiles and the categorization of the FCM, and it could further provide a starting point of genome-based identification and research of the constitutions of FCM.

A genome-wide scan for the Sasang constitution in a Korean family suggests significant linkage at chromosomes 8q11.22-23 and 11q22.1-3

OBJECTIVES

We aim to identify the genetic loci responsible for Sasang constitution type, which is important for effective personalized treatments in traditional Korean medicine.

SUBJECTS

Forty (40) individuals in a Korean family were recruited for linkage analysis and 310 unrelated individuals for association analysis to confirm the linkage result.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Genome-wide linkage analysis was performed for the Korean family using the Affymetrix 500K arrays. MERLIN software was used for multipoint nonparametric linkage (NPL) analysis. The significant candidate regions in linkage analysis were also investigated with association analysis of independent 310 individuals.

RESULTS

Linkage analysis showed four significant peaks, 3q27.3, 8p11.21, 8q11.22-23, and 11q22.1-3, whose NPL Z scores are greater than 5.0. Among the significant loci, the 8q11.22-23 and 11q22.1-3 regions were supported by independent association analysis at the level of p < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

The 8q11.22-23 and 11q22.1-3 regions were suggested as the candidate region for significant linkage to Sasang constitution.

Physiome and Sasang Constitutional Medicine

Sasang Constitutional Medicine (SCM) is a traditional Korean form of medicine widely used in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of disease. This paper reviews the main aspects of SCM and "physiome" with emphasis on integrative and holistic characteristics. Methodological and physiological aspects of SCM are summarized with reference to existing studies. The main characteristics of SCM, such as the four physical constitutions and diagnostic methods, are introduced. Moreover, physiome and systems medicine are introduced as plausible candidates for integrative medicine and are compared to reductionism-based molecular biology. We also discuss the conceptual similarity of SCM with predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory (P4) medicine. It is emphasized that the integrative and creative combination of SCM and physiome will unlock a new era of holistic medicine.