KJCKorea
Journal Central

Objectives This study explores the immunological effects of Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) by analyzing the interaction between Bomyeongjiju herbs and immune-related processes through network pharmacology. Methods Bomyeongjiju herbs for each Sasang type were identified from Dongmuyoogo and selected formulas, focusing on 23 herbs. Compound and target data were obtained from OASIS and related databases, creating a network of 420 targets and 1,000 interactions. Enrichment analysis was conducted using 122 immune-related Gene Ontology terms to identify significant associations by Sasang type. Results Network analysis found that Bomyeongjiju herbs were associated with immune functions at rates significantly above chance, with an average of 18.56 immune terms per herb. So-eum’s herbs were linked to microglial and macrophage activation, So-yang’s to MyD88-dependent Toll-like receptor signaling, Tae-eum’s to leukocyte migration, and Tae-yang’s to T-helper 17 Cell Differentiation. Conclusions Bomyeongjiju herbs demonstrate constitution-specific immunomodulatory potential, supporting SCM’s personalized approach. The findings indicate that SCM can influence distinct immune functions by constitution, which may help address immune-related diseases effectively.

Objectives The types and severity of symptoms reported by patients with sleep disorders vary widely depending on the subtype. The objective of this study is to examine the characteristics of concurrent conditions and reimbursed herbal prescriptions according to Sasang constitution-based diagnoses among patients with sleep disorders over the past decade. Methods In this study, we extracted patients who visited with a primary diagnosis of sleep wake disorder based on National Health Insurance claims data of Korea from 2011 to 2020 and received Sasang constitutional diagnosis. We analyzed their demographic information and prescribed and covered by insurance herbal medications. Results A total of 81,237 patients with sleep-wake disorders were observed, with 54.6% of the cohort being Taeeum. When analyzing the distribution of Sasang constitution types across different subtypes of sleep disorders, Taeeum had the highest prevalence in both insomnia (54.7%) and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (81.8%). In contrast, Soyang was most prevalent in sleep apnea (73.2%) and central disorders of hypersomnia (44.7%). Soeum accounted for the majority of parasomnia cases (50.0%). Regarding herbal medications prescribed for sleep disorders, Hwanlyeonhaedok-tang was commonly prescribed for Soeum, Soyang, and Taeeum patients. Gamisoyo-san was frequently prescribed for Soeum and Soyang patients, while Sosiho-tang was most often prescribed for Soyang patients. Conclusion This study confirmed differences in the prevalence of sleep disorder subtypes according to Sasang constitution type. To gain a more detailed understanding of specific constitutions and their relationship with sleep disorders, well-designed clinical studies are recommended.

Objectives This study investigated the impact of Korean medicine treatments on quality of life and immune-related hematologic indicators in patients with advanced cancer. Methods The study involved patients diagnosed with stage III or IV cancer who were admitted to a Korean medicine hospital from 2021 to 2024. These patients underwent quality-of-life assessments using the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL(European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 for Palliative Care) at admission and discharge, coupled with blood tests analyzing immune markers such as NLR(neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), MLR(monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio), and PLR(platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio). Paired t-tests were conducted to compare pre- and post-treatment results. Results Among 15 patients, significant improvement was observed in total QoL scores after Korean medicine treatment (p=0.017), with notable enhancements in fatigue, weakness, and sleep quality. While trends indicated stabilization of immune markers (e.g., reduction in NLR from 3.57 to 3.23), changes were not statistically significant. Conclusions Korean medicine treatments contributed to improved QoL, particularly in alleviating fatigue and sleep disturbances. Though immune marker changes were observed, further studies with larger samples are needed to substantiate these findings.